BACKGROUND: Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood is a rapidly developing research field with clear clinical implications for the staging and monitoring of cancer patients. Current CTC assays, including the US Food and Drug Administration-cleared CellSearch system, typically use markers [e.g., cytokeratins (CKs), the transmembrane protein EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule)] that are expressed on normal and malignant epithelial cells but not on the surrounding normal leukocytes.

The sleeve gastrectomy seems to be a safe and effective restrictive bariatric procedure to treat morbid obesity in selected patients. LSG may be proposed for volume-eater patients or to prepare superobese patients for laparoscopic gastric bypass or laparoscopic duodenal switch. However, weight regained, quality of life, and evolution ofmorbidities due to obesity need to be evaluated in a long-term follow up.

BACKGROUND:The incidence and number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients are lower than in other cancer types, which may point to a particular biology of colorectal cancer affecting CTC detection.

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The prevention of postoperative adhesions is an important public health goal, particularly in light of the frequency of this complication. The routine use of anti-adhesion products is not recommended given the lack of studies with a high level of evidence concerning their efficacy and safety of use.