A population-based case-referent study on diet (total energy, protein, fat, dietary fiber), body mass and colorectal cancer was performed in Stockholm in 1986-1988. The study included 1,081 subjects. The relative risks (RR, with a 95% confidence interval, highest versus lowest quintile) for colon cancer were as follows: total energy (1.7, 1.0-3.0), protein (2.4, 1.5-4.0), total fat (2.2, 1.3-3.6), dietary fiber for men (0.5, 0.2-1.1), dietary fiber for women (1.2, 0.7-2.3) and body mass (2.0, 1.3-3.1). The relative risks for rectal cancer were: total energy (2.4, 1.2-4.7), protein (3.6, 2.0-6.4), total fat (2.5, 1.4-4.6), dietary fiber (0.5, 0.3-0.9), body mass for men (1.7, 0.7-4.0), and body mass for women (1.0, 0.5-1.9). Adjustment for physical activity, body mass (in the diet analysis), the above-mentioned dietary factors (in the body mass analysis), and browned meat surface had little or no influence on the results.

A population-based case-referent study on physical activity (during working and recreational hours) and colon cancer was performed in Stockholm in 1986-1988. The study included 1,081 subjects. Low physical activity was associated with an excess risk of colon (but not rectum) cancer for both men and women, showing a dose-response relationship with decreasing levels of physical activity. The effect was seen in the left colon (relative risk = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-7.0) rather than in the right colon (relative risk = 1.1, 0.5-2.5). These results persisted after adjustment for year of birth, gender, body mass, intake of total energy, protein, total fat, dietary fibre, and browned meat surface.

A group of 230 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery was analyzed for the presence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Prophylaxis against DVT was practiced with low-dose heparin (either 5000 IU every eight hours, or 5000 IU every 12 hours for seven days) in 199 patients. Prevention of infection was attempted with preoperative administration of Enterobiotic in 155 patients and of Vibramycin in 11 patients. DVT was diagnosed in 46 patients. The frequency of DVT did not differ significantly between patients who underwent resections of the colon and those who underwent rectal surgery. DVT was diagnosed in 27 of the 73 infected patients, which was significantly higher than the incidence of 19 with DVT among the 157 uninfected patients. The frequency of DVT among patients in the two heparin regimens was 15 and 17 per cent respectively, which was significantly lower than with untreated patients. No lethal pulmonary embolism was found and no patient showed clinical signs of embolism. It is assumed that measures aimed at reducing postoperative infection, combined with low-dose heparin, will reduce the incidence of postoperative DVT after colorectal surgery.

Ten patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were treated with MAb 17-1A (IgG2A). Before infusion, MAb was incubated in vitro with isolated autologous blood mononuclear cells. Treatment was given in repeated courses (2-4 times) to a maximum dose of 1000 mg of MAb 17-1A. One patient achieved a clinical complete remission, two patients had a minor response and one patient had stable disease for 5 months. The median survival for the four responders was 19 months compared to 7 months for the six non-responders. Therapy was well tolerated. In this series, 32 infusions of MAb 17-1A were given. The serum half-life of MAb 17-1A was approximately 22 hours. All patients developed anti-mouse antibodies of both IgG and IgM classes. No relation between adverse reactions and anti-mouse antibodies was seen. At 3 occasions allergic reactions were noted. Skin test with MAb 17-1A seems to reliably predict for allergic reactions.

Between 1980 and 1983, 373 patients with clinically resectable rectal adenocarcinoma entered a prospective randomized study aimed to evaluate the effect of short‐term preoperative radiotherapy. Protocol violations were identified in 21 instances. Of the remaining 352 patients, 182 were randomized to surgical treatment only (S‐group). Immediately, before surgery, 170 patients were irradiated to the pelvic region with 25 Gy (2500 rad) during a 5‐day period (RT‐group). Of these patients, 59% underwent abdominoperineal excision, 38% anterior resection, and 3% laparotomy only. At surgery distant metastases were discovered in 32 patients (9%). There were no significant differences between the groups in the distribution of age, sex, operative methods, and tumor stage according to the original Dukes' classification. During the follow‐up time, ranging between 6 months and 3 years, tumor recurrence occurred in 35 patients, 19 in the S‐group and 16 in the RT‐group. Fifteen patients in the S‐group had pelvic recurrence compared to 10 patients in the RT‐group. Distant metastases occurred in six and eight patients, respectively. Two patients in each group had both pelvic and distant recurrence. There was no correlation between tumor recurrence and type of operation. Median time interval from diagnosis to pelvic recurrence was 10 months in the S‐group and 16 months in the RT‐group. Postoperative complications in the form of wound sepsis were slightly more common in the RT‐group. In summary, the applied treatment regimen, is well‐tolerated and apparently does not affect the Dukes' stage of the tumor. Although there is no statistically significant difference, there is a trend of less pelvic recurrence in patients receiving preoperative radiotherapy. Cancer 55:1182‐1185, 1985.