SUMMARY – The purpose of the study was to assess the level of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and its association with the stage and histopathologic sizes of colorectal cancer (CRC). One hundred and two patients having undergone surgical treatment of CRC between January 2014 and December 2015 were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into four groups (stage I-IV) according to the TNM classification. Control group included 30 subjects with no signs of malignancy and inflammatory diseases. In each patient, preoperative blood samples were obtained for determination of MDA concentration by ELISA immunoassay. Serum levels of MDA were progressively increased in patients with CRC, reaching the highest value in the fourth stage of CRC. Serum concentrations of MDA were significantly higher in pT4 group as compared with pT3 and pT2 groups of CRC patients (p<0.01). Significantly higher levels of MDA were found in the N1 and N2 groups of CRC patients as compared with N0 group, as well as in patients with metastatic disease as compared with those without metastasis (p<0.001). In conclusion, the progression of CRC is associated with a significant increase in serum MDA levels.

Background Tumor development and growth are driven in many cases by inflammatory cells, which can produce cytokines and other factors that can stimulate the development of the malignant process. The aim of this study was to evaluate interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), serum levels in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and their association with the stage of CRC. Methods IL-6, MMP-9, and CRP serum levels were measured in 75 patients with CRC just before surgical treatment, as well as in 20 healthy individuals as controls. Surgically obtained tissue material was subjected to pathological analysis. Results Significant increase in CRP and IL-6 serum concentration is associated with increasing stage of CRC (p <0.05), where MMP-9 serum level was significantly higher in stages III and IV compared to the stage II CRC. Significant correlation was found between IL-6 and MMP-9 serum levels (rho=0.478; p <0.001) as well as between IL-6 and CRP serum levels (rho=0.720; p <0.001) and between MMP-9 and CRP serum levels (rho=0.379; p <0.001). Serum levels of MMP-9 and CRP have been shown to be independent predictors of the CRC stage. Conclusion Combined quantification of IL-6, MMP-9, and CRP serum levels seems to be a reliable index of inflammation-related processes during colorectal carcinogenesis.

Aim To determine the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) concentration and their association with the stage and histopathologic sizes of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods One hundred and two patients with clinically diagnosed and histologically confirmed colorectal cancer ready for surgical treatment were included in the study. In each patient, preoperative peripheral venous blood samples were taken for determination of the concentration of MMP-9 using ELISA immunoassay test. Resected tumour specimens were studied pathologically according to the criteria of the TNM classification. All patients were divided into groups according to the TNM classification. The control group presented 30 subjects of the appropriate age and gender with no family history of cancer, clinical signs of malignancy or inflammatory bowel disease. Results The serum levels of MMP-9 were progressively increased in patients with CRC reaching the highest value in the fourth stage of CRC. It was also confirmed that the serum concentrations of MMP-9 were significantly higher in patients with pericolonic lymph nodes involvement compared to the patients with no involvement of lymph nodes, 456.4 (445.9-464.7) ng/mL vs. 438.4 (418.4-447.8) ng/mL (p<0.001). Significantly higher serum levels of MMP-9 were found in the patients with metastatic CRC, 458.5 (452.0-468.1) ng/mL compared with the CRC patients without metastasis, 445.8 (436.9-456.5) ng/mL (p<0.001). Conclusion It was confirmed that serum concentration of MMP-9 presented the significant independent risk factors for the progression of CRC.

Objectives: The percentage of patients with difficult and prolonged healing of the wound is still high, while the immediate complications such as wound dehiscence occurs in up to 3 % of all treated patients in abdominal surgery. The aim of study was to analyze the risk factors and comorbidities in the group patients undergoing laparotomy and associated with early postoperative wound dehiscence. Methods: The retrospective study included all patients treated surgically at Clinic of General and Abdominal surgery, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo in the period from January 1, 2013 until January 1, 2016, with clinically verified surgical wound dehiscence. Results: The results showed statistically proportion of male patients (70%) compared to female (30%). The largest number of respondents were in age group 71-80. Surgical wound infection was evident in 61% of patients, malignant staining in 52%, hypoproteinemia was found in 50% of patients, anemia in 43%, peritonitis in 36% and diabetes in 14% of respondents. Of the total respondents with surgical wound dehiscence, 30 (68%) had comorbidities present. By analyzing the prevalence of comorbidity and risk factors recorded in relation to comorbidity, it was noted that hypertension is most often associated with hypoproteinemia (X2=4.399; p=0.036), wound infection (X2=4.112; p=0.043) and malignant diseases (X2=4.016; p=0.045). The frequency of the anemia, peritonitis and diabetes in the sample was not different in relation to the comorbidity conditions (p >0.05). Conclusions: The risk factors occurrence of surgical wound dehiscence in our study were identified as hypoproteinemia, malignant disease, anemia and peritonitis. The highest incidence of dehiscence was in patients operated on in medical emergencies, and in patients with malignant disease.

Objectives: The association of inflammatory reactions with almost all types of cancer supports the concept that inflammation is a critical component of tumor progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum markers of chronic inflammation with the stage of and histopathological size of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 patients of both sexes, mean age 66.2 (range 47-78) years, with clinically and histologically confirmed CRC, who were admitted to the Clinic for abdominal surgery UCCS for surgical treatment of CRC. The patients according to the stage of disease were divided into three groups (stage II–IV). The control group consisted of 30 subjects with no signs of malignancy and acute inflammatory diseases. Staging of CRC was done according to the TNM classification. In each patient, the preoperative blood samples were taken for determination of the parameters of inflammation: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and alpha 2 globulins. Results: It was confirmed that increasing markers of inflammation followed increasing stages of colorectal cancer, depth of tumor invasion and the occurrence of metastatic disease. CRP is a biomarker that consistently and significantly increases from the second to the fourth stage of colorectal cancer (7.2 (2.3-14.6) mg/L vs. 21.85 (12.3-41) mg/L vs. 38.6 (21.5-79) mg/L; p<0.01) and significantly correlates positively with the stage of CRC (r= 0.783, p<0.001), and the tumor size (r=0.249, p<0.05). Conclusion: The study results point to an increase in the degree of chronic inflammation throughout the progression of colorectal cancer. The most consistent marker of chronic inflammation that accompanies the progression of colorectal carcinoma is CRP.