Woo Ram Kim

Background Peritoneal carcinomatosis is a fatal clinical presentation of colon cancer, characterized by unresponsiveness to conventional anticancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we elucidated the immune-evasion mechanisms during the peritoneal carcinomatosis of colon cancer and developed a novel immunotherapy by activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway. Methods We generated a syngeneic peritoneal carcinomatosis model of colon cancer. Mice were intr

<b>Background</b>: Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) is an innate immune sensor for cytosolic DNA. STING signaling activation is indispensable for type I interferon response and the anti-cancer immune response by CD8⁺ T cells. The aim of this study was to characterize intratumoral STING expression pattern and its clinical implication in colorectal cancer (CRC). <b>Methods</b>: We analyzed STING and CD8 expression in 225 CRC patients who underwent surgical resection. Clinicopathol

Background Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a common and devastating manifestation of colon cancer and refractory to conventional anticancer therapeutics. During the peritoneal dissemination of colon cancer, peritoneal immunity is nullified by various mechanisms of immune evasion. Here, we employed the armed oncolytic vaccinia virus mJX-594 (JX) to rejuvenate the peritoneal antitumor immune responses in the treatment of PC. Methods PC model of MC38 colon cancer was generated and intraperitoneal

BACKGROUND: Compared with conventional laparoscopic surgery, single-incision laparoscopic surgery produces better cosmetic benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the learning curve for single-incision laparoscopic anterior resection (SILAR) for sigmoid colon cancer using multidimensional methods. STUDY DESIGN: From September 2009 through May 2014, one hundred and thirteen patients underwent SILAR for sigmoid colon cancer by a single surgeon at Severance Hospital. The learning curve w

BACKGROUND: The lack of anti-fibrotic agents targeting intestinal fibrosis is a large unmet need in inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Previous studies have found that perinatal tissue (umbilical cord, UC; placenta, PL)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reduce fibrosis in several organs. However, their effects on human intestinal fibrosis are poorly understood. This study investigated the anti-fibrogenic properties and mechanisms of MSCs derived fr

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard of care for patients with stage II and III rectal cancer. This strategy leads to pathologic complete response (pCR) in a significant number of patients. Factors predictive of pCR are currently being extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical factors that might be predictive of pCR.This study was a retrospective analysis of rectal cancer patients from January 2004 through December 2012. A total of 332 stage II and I

Although microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancers (CRCs) have been shown to exhibit a distinct phenotype, the clinical value of MSI-low (MSI-L) in CRC remains unclear. We designed this study to examine the clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic implications associated with MSI-L CRCs. We retrospectively reviewed data of CRC patients from 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Korea, who underwent surgical resection between January 2003 and December 2009 and had available MSI

Background: DaVinci® single-port (SP) robotic surgery offers several benefits compared to traditional multiport laparoscopic or robotic surgeries. One of the main advantages is that it allows for a minimally invasive approach, resulting in a single, smaller incision and reduced trauma to the patient’s body, leading to less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and reduced risk of complications. The cosmesis of a single port with minimal visible scarring is also an attractive aspect to the patient

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic resection for transverse colon cancer is a technically challenging procedure that has been excluded from various large randomized controlled trials of which the long-term outcomes still need to be verified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes for transverse colon cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy (LAC) or open colectomy (OC). METHODS: This retrospective review included patients with transverse colon cancer who received a co

The dPNI is predictive of long-term outcomes in pCRT-treated patients with LARC. Further prospective studies should investigate whether immune-nutritional status correction during pCRT would improve oncologic outcomes.

Gastrointestinal surgeons seldom encounter inverted Meckel's diverticulum in their clinical practice. We describe two cases of inverted Meckel's diverticulum. If the patient has a disease-related complication such as intussusception, as with our first case, it can be easily detected. However, if the patient has subacute or chronic symptoms, as with our second case, the diagnosis might be delayed. Regardless of the disease-related complication, intussusception of inverted Meckel's diverticulum ca

BACKGROUND: A significant unmet need in inflammatory bowel disease is the lack of anti-fibrotic agents targeting intestinal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic properties and mechanisms of the conditioned medium (CM) from human umbilical cord/placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC/PL-MSC-CM) in a murine intestinal fibrosis model and human primary intestinal myofibroblasts (HIMFs). METHODS: UC/PL-MSC-CM was concentrated 15-fold using a 3 kDa cut-off filter. C57BL/6