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Query: UMLS:C0699790 (colon cancer)
 28,837 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Colon cancer usually metastasizes initially to regional lymphatics and later through the bloodstream. Hematogenous metastasis usually includes the liver, lungs, and brain. In colorectal cancer, osseous and/or subcutaneous metastasis without liver metastasis is a very uncommon event. We present here a case of colon adenocarcinoma, which synchronously metastasized to facial and other subcutaneous tissue and to bone within a short period after definitive therapy. Although such a pattern is uncommon, diagnostic biopsy for any new or suspicious lesion of the skin and bone scintigraphy for symptomatic patients should be done for patients with a colorectal cancer history.
J Dermatol 2002 Jun
PMID:Colon carcinoma with synchronous subcutaneous and osseous metastasis: a case report. 1212 74

It is now possible to identify a small number of genes in which identifiable abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of melanoma, and a large number of phenotypic factors, which are associated with a lesser risk affecting a very much larger proportion of the melanoma population. As with colon cancer, it seems likely that there is a stepwise development of invasive malignant melanoma, and that interaction between genotype and environmental stimuli may be very different at each successive stage of melanoma progression. Unraveling these steps is the current challenge.
Dermatol Clin 2002 Oct
PMID:Risk factors for the development of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. 1238 46

Prostaglandin synthesis occurs via the coordinate action of a phospholipase that liberates arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and a cyclooxygenase (COX) that converts the free arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Several lines of evidence suggest that prostaglandins play a role in carcinogenesis. Two isoforms of COX have been described. COX-2 is highly regulated and induced by inflammation while COX-1 is considered primarily a housekeeping form. The acute up-regulation of COX-2 by UV radiation suggests that it may contribute to photocarcinogenesis in the same way that COX-2 has recently been shown to contribute to colon cancer.
J Drugs Dermatol 2002 Jul
PMID:The role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the pathogenesis of skin cancer. 1284 53

Development of cutaneous metastases from colon cancer is a rare event, usually occurring in the setting of diffusely-disseminated disease and commonly carrying a dismal prognosis. Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases in surgical scars occur extremely rarely, with only a few cases reported. We describe two cases of cutaneous metastases from colon cancer. A 62-year-old woman developed an 11-cm midline abdominal mass that slowly grew on the skin surface. The mass occurred at the scar site of her previous surgery performed 5 years prior for resection of a colon adenocarcinoma. A 46-year-old male presented with a subcutaneous 4.5-cm nodule in midline-abdominal scar, 3 years after resection of the primary colon cancer. These cases illustrate the pathological features and natural history of cutaneous metastases observed until the tumors have reached a very large size. Particular features of cutaneous scar metastases from colon cancer observed in our cases are a superficial pattern of spread, strong positivity for EGFR, low serum carcinoembrionic antigen, and long survival of the patients, possibly contributed to by the use of chemotherapy.
Dermatol Online J 2005 Aug 01
PMID:Unusually large colon cancer cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases occurring in resection scars. 1615 Feb 30

We report the incidence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in patients with multiple myeloma and colon cancer who were treated with arsenic trioxide for their disease. In this report, we discuss the effects of arsenic on immune system, and suggest arsenic compounds as a possible predisposing factor for viral reactivation in these patients.
J Drugs Dermatol 2006 Feb
PMID:The incidence of recurrent herpes simplex and herpes zoster infection during treatment with arsenic trioxide. 1648 89

A 69-year-old Hispanic woman presented for the evaluation of nodules on the head and back. In the past, she had been treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the face; the referring physician was concerned that the new lesions might also be BCC. The patient had an extensive past medical history. In addition to BCC, she had been treated for breast cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer prior to emigrating to the USA. Her colonic malignancy had been localized proximal to the splenic flexure. She also had a history of colonic polyps and distal colonic villous adenoma. She denied ever being treated with radiation. Further details of her medical history and cancer staging were not available. Her family history was significant for a sister with colon cancer and transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. In addition, she had a great aunt with oral cancer and a great uncle with lung cancer. Neither the patient or her relatives had any history of tobacco use. On physical examination, in addition to scars from a radical mastectomy and midline abdominal laparotomy, four skin lesions were noted: two on the scalp, one on the tragus, and one on the mid-back. The first lesion on the vertex of the scalp was a yellow-brown waxy papule measuring 0.6 x 0.5 cm. This lesion was similar to that on the mid-back, except in size. The lesion on the back measured 1.2 x 1.0 cm. The second lesion on the frontal scalp measured 0.8 x 0.6 cm and was red-brown with a pearly appearance and some central hyperkeratosis. The tragus lesion was similar in appearance to that on the frontal scalp. Shave biopsies of all lesions were obtained. The lesions on the scalp and mid-back revealed lobules of sebaceous cells in the dermis with a minority of surrounding basaloid cells, consistent with a diagnosis of sebaceous adenoma (Fig. 1). Although the lesion on the frontal scalp also showed sebaceous differentiation, there were a greater number of basaloid cells, some with hyperchromatic nuclei and mitotic figures; this was consistent with a diagnosis of sebaceous epithelioma (Fig. 2). The final lesion (tragus) was histologically consistent with a keratotic BCC. No further treatment was required for these benign sebaceous tumors, but their presence defined our patient's condition as Muir-Torre syndrome. Mohs' micrographic surgery was performed on the tragus BCC and the margins were tumor free in one stage. The patient returned 1 year later with a lesion anterior to the left axilla which was biopsied to rule out BCC (Fig. 3). Histologically, this lesion was also consistent with sebaceous epithelioma.
Int J Dermatol 2006 Mar
PMID:Muir-Torre syndrome: a case of this uncommon entity. 1653 37

Iron deficiency is the world's most common nutritional deficiency and is associated with developmental delay, impaired behavior, diminished intellectual performance, and decreased resistance to infection. In premenopausal women, the most common causes of iron deficiency anemia are menstrual blood loss and pregnancy. In men and postmenopausal women, the most common causes of iron deficiency anemia are gastrointestinal blood loss and malabsorption. Hemoglobin concentration can be used to screen for iron deficiency, whereas serum ferritin concentration can be used to confirm iron deficiency. However, the serum ferritin concentration may be elevated in patients with infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions. Other tests may be needed, such as erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin concentration, transferrin concentration, serum iron concentration, and transferrin saturation. The cause of iron deficiency must be identified. If the patient is male, postmenopausal female, or has risk factors for blood loss, then the patient should be evaluated for sources of blood loss, especially gastrointestinal (eg, colon cancer). Several studies have examined the relationship between iron deficiency and hair loss. Almost all have addressed women exclusively and have focused on noncicatricial hair loss. Some suggest that iron deficiency may be related to alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and diffuse hair loss, while others do not. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend universal screening for iron deficiency in patients with hair loss. In addition, there is insufficient evidence to recommend giving iron supplementation therapy to patients with hair loss and iron deficiency in the absence of iron deficiency anemia. The decision to do either should be based on clinical judgment. It is our practice at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation to screen male and female patients with both cicatricial and noncicatricial hair loss for iron deficiency. Although this practice is not evidence based per se, we believe that treatment for hair loss is enhanced when iron deficiency, with or without anemia, is treated. Iron deficiency anemia should be treated. Treating iron deficiency without anemia is controversial. Treatment of nutritional iron deficiency anemia includes adequate dietary intake and oral iron supplementation. Excessive iron supplementation can cause iron overload and should be avoided, especially in high-risk patients such as those with hereditary hemochromatosis. Patients who do not respond to iron replacement therapy should undergo additional testing to identify other underlying causes of iron deficiency anemia.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 May
PMID:The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. 1731 91

A 65-year-old man presented with a history of multiple skin coloured papules on his face that were asymptomatic. He had an adenocarcinoma resected from his proximal colon 12 years prior to presentation as well as a family history of colon cancer on the maternal side. Diagnostic biopsies showed the lesions to be sebaceous adenomas and epitheliomas and the diagnosis of Muir-Torre syndrome was made. The sebaceous tumour tissue showed microsatellite instability and immunohistochemical staining indicated diminished expression in the DNA mismatch-repair protein complex MSH2/MSH6. Genetic analysis showed a germline mutation in the MSH2 gene confirming the diagnosis of Muir-Torre syndrome. The patient and his first-degree relatives have been referred for genetic counselling and screening. We review the diagnostic criteria in this syndrome and review the recommended screening guidelines.
Australas J Dermatol 2006 Nov
PMID:Muir-Torre syndrome: Diagnostic and screening guidelines. 1703 69

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is characterized by slow growth, virtual absence of metastases, and strong stroma-dependency. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor stroma influence tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. To comprehensively characterize CAFs of BCC in their in situ cancer environment, laser capture microdissection, linear gene amplification, microarray analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were combined. Pair-wise comparison of gene expression of microdissected CAFs and corresponding normal perifollicular fibroblasts identified 65 genes that were significantly upregulated in at least two of three different patients. Among the annotated genes, as many as 13 genes encoded secreted proteins, of which six were previously implicated as CAF-associated proteins in various tumor types. Four of the seven novel CAF genes--matrix Gla-protein, secreted frizzled-related protein 2, angiopoietin-related protein-2, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-like protein--were selected for further analyses by qRT-PCR and were found to be frequently upregulated in CAFs of three independent BCC tissues. Analyses of CAFs from squamous cell cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer did not indicate that these genes were upregulated in these cancers. This study thus validates a novel approach for comprehensive characterization CAFs in their in situ environment of BCC. The results suggest a specific expression profile of CAFs in BCC possibly accounting for disease-specific pathological roles.
J Invest Dermatol 2007 Jun
PMID:In situ identification of genes regulated specifically in fibroblasts of human basal cell carcinoma. 1727 63

In this case report of Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS), we describe a 47-year-old man with a personal and family history of colon cancer and a personal history of keratoacanthoma who presented with a sebaceous carcinoma and, subsequently, had a cystic sebaceous tumor. Immunohistochemical examination of the patient's colonic tumor, located proximal to the splenic flexure, revealed absence of MutL homolog (MLH)-1 protein. MTS is a rare genodermatosis defined clinically by the occurrence of a sebaceous neoplasm and an internal malignancy in the absence of other predisposing factors. Most patients present with sebaceous adenomas, but cystic sebaceous neoplasms have been reported as specific markers of MTS. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers are the most common internal malignancies, with colorectal cancers often occurring at or proximal to the splenic flexure, contrary to most sporadic colorectal cancers. MTS is most frequently found as a variant of the autosomal dominant disorder hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), with tumors demonstrating microsatellite instability and germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes MutS homolog (MSH)-2 and MLH1. However, the distribution of gene mutations of patients with MTS is slightly different from that seen in all HNPCC families, and some cases of MTS arise spontaneously. Physicians should consider MTS in patients presenting with a sebaceous neoplasm, and immunohistochemical examination of tumors for MSH2 and MLH1 protein can be used as a screening test to identify patients with MTS. While the sebaceous and internal neoplasms of MTS are thought to follow a more indolent course than sporadic malignancies, patients with this disorder should be treated with standard therapies and carefully followed. Evidence indicates that for individuals with or at risk of MTS or HNPCC, colonoscopy every 1-2 years beginning at age 20-25 or 10 years younger than the youngest age at diagnosis in the family can be strongly recommended. Additionally, most experts believe that an annual history and physical examination, including a complete skin examination and urinalysis, as well as periodic endometrial sampling and/or transvaginal ultrasound for women, are worthwhile screening tests for these high-risk patients.
Am J Clin Dermatol 2007
PMID:Muir-Torre syndrome. 1790 35


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