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Microsatellite instability is a recognised pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis responsible for about 15% of all sporadic colorectal cancers. Recent evidence has suggested that these tumours may not have the same response as microsatellite stable colon cancers to 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy. The response to 5FU in four microsatellite unstable (MSI-H) cell lines was examined by cell viability assays and invasion assays. Flow cytometry was used to assess the effect of 5FU on MSI-H cell lines. In vivo response to 5FU was assessed by intraperitoneal injection of 5FU or control to 80 nude mice that had received intrasplenic injections of an MSI-H cell line KM12C prior to commencing treatment. There was inhibition of cell growth in MSI-H cell lines when treated with 5FU. There was no difference in invasiveness in the MSI-H cell lines when treated with 5FU. Primary tumours formed in 27 of the untreated and 25 of the 5FU treated mice (p=NS). There was a 36% reduction in splenic weight in those mice treated with 5FU (p<0.03). Metastases formed in 5 of the untreated and 9 of the treated mice (p=0.12). 5FU treatment of MSI-H tumours results in a reduction in growth but does not result in a reduction in invasion or metastasis.

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Abstract. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear receptors involved in lipid metabolism and liver response to injury. We hypothesised that differences in the expression of PPARs may reflect differences in the cellular microenvironment of the liver and, consequently, in the behaviour of colorectal liver metastases. Of the 145 patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases between 1998 and 2007, 103 had adequate tissue for PPAR staining and histological re-evaluation. The histological characteristics evaluated included sinusoidal dilatation, perisinusoidal fibrosis, ballooning and steatosis. PPAR-α and -γ staining was performed and the results were correlated with clinical and survival data. Lobular inflammation and sinusoidal dilatation were the most common histopathological abnormalities. A total of 50% of the patients were PPAR-α-negative and 34% were PPAR-γ-negative. More patients exhibited lobular inflammation in the PPAR-α-positive group (P=0.023) compared to patients with negative PPAR-α staining, as seen on the multivariate analysis. PPAR-γ positivity was associated with oxaliplatin use, surgical margins ≥1 mm and a trend towards a lesser degree of fibrosis. The median follow-up in this cohort of patients was 48 months. Patients with PPAR-α staining had a worse overall survival (median, 36 vs. 79 months, P=0.037) compared to those with no PPAR-α staining. There was no correlation between PPAR-α or -γ positivity and disease-free survival. In conclusion, PPAR-α staining is associated with lobular inflammation and worse overall survival in patients with colorectal liver metastases. The exact mechanism underlying this finding remains unclear and further research into the diagnostic and therapeutic implications is required.

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Heterotopic pancreatic tissue within the stomach is rare and dysplasia within heterotopic pancreatic tissue is very rare. We present the first report of a patient with concurrent occurrence of heterotopic pancreas in the stomach with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

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