Advancing Horizons in Colorectal Surgery: Innovative Approaches and Outcomes

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 9349

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
The First University Surgery of Papageorgiou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: colorectal cancer; computed tomography; surgery

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Guest Editor
Director of Aristotle University Surgery Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: gastrointestinal; breast; biliary
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Colorectal surgery is a rapidly evolving field, with new techniques and innovations being developed at a rapid pace. As surgeons working in the field of colorectal surgery, we have recognized the need for a dedicated Special Issue that focuses on the latest advancements in this area.

Our experience in the field has shown us that there is a great deal of interest among practitioners in learning about new techniques and innovations in colorectal surgery, and we believe that a Special Issue could fill this need.

The proposed Special Issue in Cancers would be devoted to publishing cutting-edge research and clinical studies related to colorectal surgery innovations and new techniques. It would provide a platform for surgeons and researchers to disseminate their findings, share best practices, and foster collaboration within the field.

This proposed Special Issue would cover a wide range of topics, including new surgical techniques, technological advancements, clinical outcomes, and advances in the understanding and management of colorectal diseases.

One of the key focus areas of this Special Issue would be on the era period of colorectal surgery, which refers to the early postoperative period following colorectal surgery. This is a critical time for patients, as they are at risk for complications such as postoperative pain, surgical site infections, and anastomotic leaks. By focusing on this specific period, this Special Issue would provide practical insights and evidence-based guidance to help surgeons optimize patient outcomes and minimize complications.

In addition to the era period, this Special Issue would also cover other important aspects of colorectal surgery, such as minimally invasive techniques, robotic surgery, and advances in imaging and diagnostic tools. We believe that by bringing together the latest research and clinical experiences in these areas, this Special Issue could serve as a valuable resource for surgeons and researchers working in the field.

In terms of the types of content that this Special Issue would publish, we envision that it would include original research articles and review articles. It would also welcome submissions from multidisciplinary teams, as we believe that collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, and other specialists is essential for advancing the field of colorectal surgery. Another important aspect of this proposed Special Issue would be its commitment to fostering a global perspective on colorectal surgery.

We recognize that practices and challenges in colorectal surgery can vary widely across different regions and healthcare systems. As such, this Special Issue would seek to publish studies and perspectives from a diverse range of geographic locations, in order to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences on a global scale.

In conclusion, we believe that there is a clear need for a Special Issue dedicated to colorectal surgery innovations and new techniques. Our proposed Special Issue would provide a valuable platform for disseminating the latest research and clinical experiences in the field, with a particular focus on the era period and other critical aspects of colorectal surgery.

In conclusion, we have highlighted some sectors of colorectal surgery in order to emphasize the relevant innovative areas:

  1. Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS);
  2. Robotic surgery;
  3. TAMIS Surgery;
  4. TaTME procedures;
  5. ERAS PROTOCOLS;
  6. Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS);
  7. Colorectal Ccncer screening and advanced polypectomy techniques;
  8. Endoluminar Surgery;
  9. Biofeedback and neuromodulation for patients experiencing defecatory disorders;
  10. Regenerative medicine;
  11. New imaging technologies (3D Printing, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence);
  12. Gut microbiota, nutrition, and gut barrier dysfunction.

We are confident that this Special Issue would be well received by the colorectal surgery community, and we are excited about the potential impact it could have on advancing patient care and surgical practice in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Petros I. Bangeas
Prof. Dr. Vasileios N. Papadopoulos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • colorectal surgery
  • postoperative pain
  • surgical site infections
  • anastomotic leaks
  • minimally invasive techniques
  • robotic surgery

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 235 KiB  
Article
Association of Functional Polymorphisms in MSH3 and IL-6 Pathway Genes with Different Types of Microsatellite Instability in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer
by Anamarija Salar, Kristina Vuković Đerfi, Arijana Pačić, Anita Škrtić, Tamara Cacev and Sanja Kapitanović
Cancers 2024, 16(16), 2916; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16162916 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1322
Abstract
Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been recognized as an important factor in colorectal cancer (CRC). It arises due to deficient mismatch repair (MMR), mostly attributed to MLH1 and MSH2 loss of function leading to a global MMR defect affecting mononucleotide and longer microsatellite loci. [...] Read more.
Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been recognized as an important factor in colorectal cancer (CRC). It arises due to deficient mismatch repair (MMR), mostly attributed to MLH1 and MSH2 loss of function leading to a global MMR defect affecting mononucleotide and longer microsatellite loci. Recently, microsatellite instability at tetranucleotide loci, independent of the global MMR defect context, has been suggested to represent a distinct entity with possibly different consequences for tumorigenesis. It arises as a result of an isolated MSH3 loss of function due to its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm under the influence of interleukin-6 (IL-6). In this study the influence of MSH3 and IL-6 signaling pathway polymorphisms (MSH3 exon 1, MSH3+3133A/G, IL-6-174G/C, IL-6R+48892A/C, and gp130+148G/C) on the occurrence of different types of microsatellite instability in sporadic CRC was examined by PCR–RFLP and real-time PCR SNP analyses. A significant difference in distribution of gp130+148G/C genotypes (p = 0.037) and alleles (p = 0.031) was observed in CRC patients with the C allele being less common in tumors with di- and tetranucleotide instability (isolated MSH3 loss of function) compared to tumors without microsatellite instability. A functional polymorphism in gp130 might modulate the IL-6 signaling pathway, directing it toward the occurrence of microsatellite instability corresponding to the IL-6-mediated MSH3 loss of function. Full article

Review

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15 pages, 646 KiB  
Review
Copper and Colorectal Cancer
by Maciej Małyszko and Adam Przybyłkowski
Cancers 2024, 16(21), 3691; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16213691 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1990
Abstract
Minerals constitute only 5% of the typical human diet but are vital for health and functionality. Copper, a trace element, is absorbed by the human gut at 30–40% from diets typical of industrialized countries. The liver produces metallothioneins, which store copper. Copper is [...] Read more.
Minerals constitute only 5% of the typical human diet but are vital for health and functionality. Copper, a trace element, is absorbed by the human gut at 30–40% from diets typical of industrialized countries. The liver produces metallothioneins, which store copper. Copper is crucial for mitochondrial respiration, pigmentation, iron transport, antioxidant defense, hormone production, and extracellular matrix biosynthesis. Copper deficiency, often caused by mutations in the ATP7A gene, results in Menkes disease, an X-linked recessive disorder. On the contrary, Wilson disease is characterized by toxic copper accumulation. Cuproptosis, a unique form of cell death regulated by copper, is a subtype of necrosis induced by enhanced mitochondrial metabolism and intracellular copper accumulation. This process can reduce the malignant potential of tumor cells by inhibiting glucose metabolism. Therapeutically, copper and its complexes have shown efficacy in malignancy treatments. The disruption of copper homeostasis and excessive cuproplasia are significant in colorectal cancer development and metastasis. Therefore, manipulating copper status presents a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer, using copper chelators to inhibit copper formation or copper ion carriers to promote cuproptosis. This review highlights the role of copper in human physiology and pathology, emphasizing its impact on colorectal cancer and potential therapeutic strategies. Future AI-based approaches are anticipated to accelerate the development of new compounds targeting cuproptosis and copper disruption in colorectal cancer. Full article
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26 pages, 1756 KiB  
Review
Current and Future Trends of Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Exploring Advances in Immunotherapy
by Taxiarchis Konstantinos Nikolouzakis, Emmanuel Chrysos, Anca Oana Docea, Persefoni Fragkiadaki, John Souglakos, John Tsiaoussis and Aristidis Tsatsakis
Cancers 2024, 16(11), 1995; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16111995 - 24 May 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3828
Abstract
Cancer of the colon and rectum (CRC) has been identified among the three most prevalent types of cancer and cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Even though significant progress in surgical and chemotherapeutic techniques has markedly improved disease-free and overall survival rates in contrast [...] Read more.
Cancer of the colon and rectum (CRC) has been identified among the three most prevalent types of cancer and cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Even though significant progress in surgical and chemotherapeutic techniques has markedly improved disease-free and overall survival rates in contrast to those three decades ago, recent years have seen a stagnation in these improvements. This underscores the need for new therapies aiming to augment patient outcomes. A number of emerging strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT), have exhibited promising outcomes not only in preclinical but also in clinical settings. Additionally, a thorough appreciation of the underlying biology has expanded the scope of research into potential therapeutic interventions. For instance, the pivotal role of altered telomere length in early CRC carcinogenesis, leading to chromosomal instability and telomere dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for future treatments. Thus, this review explores the advancements in CRC immunotherapy and telomere-targeted therapies, examining potential synergies and how these novel treatment modalities intersect to potentially enhance each other’s efficacy, paving the way for promising future therapeutic advancements. Full article
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Other

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18 pages, 2361 KiB  
Systematic Review
Outcomes of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Populations with Obesity and Their Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer: Where Do We Stand? An Umbrella Review on Behalf of TROGSS—The Robotic Global Surgical Society
by Aman Goyal, Christian Adrian Macias, Maria Paula Corzo, Daniel Tomey, Sachin Shetty, Victor Peña, Halil Bulut, Adel Abou-Mrad, Luigi Marano and Rodolfo J. Oviedo
Cancers 2025, 17(4), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17040670 - 17 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease associated with increased risk for several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The majority of CRC cases are associated with modifiable risk factors. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a proven, [...] Read more.
Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease associated with increased risk for several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The majority of CRC cases are associated with modifiable risk factors. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a proven, durable, and successful intervention for obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MBS on CRC risk through measures of association, such as relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR). Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Embase was conducted to identify systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses examining the relationship between obesity treated with MBS and CRC incidence. The PICO framework guided inclusion criteria, and three independent reviewers screened articles using Rayyan software. Quality assessment was performed using AMSTAR2. Results: Of 1336 screened articles, 10 SR met inclusion criteria, encompassing 53,452,658 patients. Meta-analyses consistently showed a significant reduction in CRC risk following MBS in patients with severe obesity. Risk reductions were reported by Liu et al. (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32–0.67, p < 0.01), Chierici et al. (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.28–0.75, p = 0.018), Wilson et al. (RR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53–0.88, p = 0.003), and Pararas et al. (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.40–0.80, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings. For colon cancer, Liu and Chierici both reported an RR of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.46–1.21, p = 0.2444) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 89%). A trend towards reduced rectal cancer risk (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.40–1.39, p = 0.3523) was noted but limited by fewer studies. Sex-specific analyses revealed protective effects in both sexes, with a more pronounced impact in females (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37–0.79, p = 0.0014). Conclusions: This umbrella review synthesizes current evidence on the impact of MBS on CRC risk, highlighting a consistent protective association. The findings also indicate a potential risk reduction for both colon and rectal cancer, with a more pronounced effect observed among females compared to males. Given the profound implications of MBS on cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality, further high-quality, long-term studies are essential to deepen our understanding and optimize its role in cancer prevention and patient care. Full article
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