The aim of the study: We evaluated the connection between the presence of the -2518 A/G MCP-1 as well as 190 G/A CCR2 polymorphic variants and colorectal cancer (CRC) occurrence. Material and methods: Study group consisted of subjects with different stages of CRC as well as healthy controls. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: W observed an association between the colorectal cancer and the GG genotype of the -2518 A/G MCP-1 single nucleotide polymorphism. No statistically significant correlation was found between CRC and the 190 G/A CCR2 polymorphism. Conclusion: The results of this study support the hypothesis that polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene may contribute to the etiology of colorectal cancer.

Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) improves local control and complete response (CR) rates in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). CR is associated with favorable local tumor control, allowing non-operative management (NOM). However, it remains unclear whether short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) or long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) is preferable within TNT. LARC patients undergoing TNT between 2015 and 2024 were included in this retrospective multicenter analysis (DRKS00033000). The primary endpoint was CR. Secondary endpoints comprised NOM rates, toxicity, and tumor control. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to assess the influence of LCRT. Of 295 included patients with a median age at diagnosis of 62 (Q1-Q3: 54-68) years and 210 (71.2 %) men, 172 (58.3 %) underwent LCRT. CR was achieved in 46 (37.4 %) SCRT and 96 (55.8 %) LCRT patients. Acute toxicity grade ≥ 3 occurred in 24 (20.5 %) of 117 SCRT and in 62 (36.3 %) of 171 LCRT patients. Within a median follow-up of 19.4 months (SCRT) and 19.6 months (LCRT), 23 (19.8 %) of 116 and 30 (19.4 %) of 155 patients experienced recurrence, respectively. Regression modelling revealed an increased likelihood for CR (adjusted odds ratio: 3.11; 95 % confidence interval: 1.37-7.07) and NOM (4.40; 1.46-13.21) with LCRT, whereas no significant associations of LCRT with acute toxicity (0.90; 0.40-2.02), chronic toxicity (1.16; 0.48-2.78), postoperative complications (0.89; 0.62-1.28) or recurrence (0.81; 0.31-2.16) were observed. LCRT was associated with higher CR and NOM rates. Whether it might be preferred over SCRT for intended NOM remains a relevant question to be answered by ongoing randomized trials.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), comparing outcomes with the German general population and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with curative intent. Methods: In a multicenter, cross-sectional study within the “TNTox” study framework (DRKS 00033000), EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires were distributed to LARC patients who had completed TNT. Mean reference values were compared descriptively, and further exploratory comparisons based on clinical features were performed. Results: The study included responses from 72 patients. Compared to the German general population, a reduction in mean HRQoL across most domains was observed; the strongest effect was observed for role functioning (− 28.7 points, Cohen’s d = − 0.95), social functioning (− 25.3 points, d = − 0.89), and for diarrhea (+ 9.9 points, d = 0.80). General HRQoL was similar to that of CRC patients following curative treatment. However, some symptom scores, notably fecal incontinence (+ 13.4 points, d = 0.52), impotence (+ 29.0 points, d = 0.73), and dyspareunia (+ 10.4 points, d = 0.40) appeared to be higher. Significant factors associated with HRQoL included the presence of chronic treatment-related toxicity and duration of TNT; no major differences were observed between patients with or without NOM or stoma. Conclusion: LARC patients undergoing TNT showed comparable HRQoL outcomes to CRC patients treated with curative intent, but with reductions when compared to the general population. The presence of chronic toxicity significantly impacts HRQoL. Survivors may experience HRQoL impairments post-TNT, underscoring the necessity for ongoing management of chronic toxicity tailored to their needs.

Increasing evidence suggests that the significance of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) for disease prognostication in invasive breast carcinoma is subtype-specific but equivalent studies in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are limited. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing data on immune cell composition in DCIS in relation to the clinicopathological features and molecular subtype of the lesion. We discuss the value of infiltration by various types of immune cells and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis as potential markers of the risk of recurrence. Analysis of the literature available in PubMed and Medline databases overwhelmingly supports an association between densities of infiltrating immune cells, traits of immune exhaustion, the foci of microinvasion, and overexpression of HER2. Moreover, in several studies, the density of immune infiltration was found to be predictive of local recurrence as either in situ or invasive cancer in HER2-positive or ER-negative DCIS. In light of the recently reported first randomized DCIS trial, relating recurrence risk with overexpression of HER2, we also include a closing paragraph compiling the latest mechanistic data on a functional link between HER2 and the density/composition of TIME in relation to its potential value in the prognostication of the risk of recurrence.