Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis remains a clinical priority, yet current biopsy techniques are invasive, spatially limited, and may not capture the molecular heterogeneity of tumors. We evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic potential of electroporation-based biopsy (e-biopsy) as a minimally invasive technique for proteomic sampling of colorectal cancer tissues. We conducted a multicenter, multinational study involving 19 patients undergoing surgical resection for CRC. Paired tumor and adjacent normal tissues were sampled ex vivo using e-biopsy. Proteins extracted from each sample were analyzed via LC-MS/MS. Bioinformatics pipelines, including differential expression, PCA, and pathway analysis, were used to identify CRC-specific signatures. E-biopsy consistently retrieved more proteins from tumor tissues than from adjacent healthy tissues (mean: 1300 vs. 800). Of the 3246 proteins identified, 54% were significantly upregulated in tumor tissues. Notably, proteins such as DLAT, LETM1, RBBP4, PPIB, and BCAP31 emerged as potential CRC biomarkers. Functional analyses revealed dysregulation in RNA processing, immune response, and metabolic pathways, consistent with known CRC biology. The integrated workflow, spanning tissue collection, electroporation, protein isolation, and mass spectrometry analysis across four institutions in two countries, was successfully executed, demonstrating the feasibility of multi-institutional implementation of the e-biopsy protocol while preserving tissue integrity throughout. E-biopsy enables rapid, reproducible, and minimally invasive molecular sampling of CRC tissue. This study demonstrates its potential to complement standard histopathology, aid in early diagnosis, and support molecularly guided treatment strategies in colorectal oncology.

From past few years, there has been an emerging interest in environmentally friendly synthesis methods for nanoparticles due to their potential applications in catalysts, electronics, photonics, and ceramic drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attention for their potential biomedical applications, including anticancer activity. This study aims to develop a sustainable approach for producing AgNPs using Artocarpus hirsutus as a biological source and to explore their phytochemical constituents with anticancer properties and apoptotic gene expression. The obtained AgNPs were assessed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. SEM examinations demonstrated that the produced AgNPs predominantly displayed both spherical and irregular morphologies, with an average dimension falling within the 20 to 50 nm range. FTIR analysis results indicated the availability of biological compounds in the methanol flower extract of Artocarpus hirsutus which function as reducing and capping agents for the bio fabrication of AgNPs. To assess their cytotoxic effects, experiments were conducted on human colon cancer HT-29 cells in vitro through DNA fragmentation, DCFDA staining, flow cytometry, and MTT assays. Different doses (25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 µg/ml) of the methanol flower extract were exposed to HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and the synthesized AgNPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity, promoting apoptosis in the cell lines. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to confirm the Significant down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 in HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells treated with synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The findings indicate that the green synthesized AgNPs exhibit significant cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. However, further studies involving normal cell lines and in vivo models are required to validate their therapeutic potential.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies; however, its clinical translation to solid tumors, including colon cancer, remains challenging. This review comprehensively examines the current landscape of CAR-T cell therapy for colon cancer, focusing on its underlying mechanisms, recent clinical advances, major challenges, and future perspectives. We provide an overview of CAR-T therapy, highlighting its significance in colorectal cancer and comparing its clinical performance in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The review discusses the structural design and functional evolution of CAR-T cells, with particular emphasis on tumor-associated antigens such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mucin-1 (MUC1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and Frizzled receptors. Mechanistic insights into the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and its impact on CAR-T cell efficacy are also presented. Despite promising preclinical and early clinical outcomes, several barriers continue to limit therapeutic success, including antigen heterogeneity, immune evasion, T-cell exhaustion, poor tumor infiltration, and manufacturing complexities. Current clinical trials targeting CEA, EGFR, and other emerging antigens are critically discussed to highlight recent progress and remaining limitations. In addition, we summarize emerging strategies to enhance CAR-T efficacy, including tumor microenvironment modulation, biomarker-guided patient selection, next-generation CAR designs, and combination therapies. Finally, we discuss future directions for optimizing CAR-T therapy through precision immunotherapy approaches, improved biomarker integration, and well-designed clinical trials. Overall, this review highlights the transformative potential of CAR-T cell therapy in colon cancer while providing a critical perspective on the challenges and opportunities that will shape its future clinical application.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers an effective and minimally invasive approach to cancer treatment; however, its efficacy is intrinsically constrained by limited light penetration, which fails to target deep tumor tissues, and treatment-induced hypoxia arising from the reduction in intratumoral oxygen levels. Here, we report an injectable optoelectronic probe integrating microscale light-emitting diodes (microLEDs) to enable low-frequency metronomic PDT (mPDT), together with a microLED-photodetector system for real-time, in situ oxygen monitoring. We engineered light-activatable prodrug nanoparticles (PNPs) composed of verteporfin (VPF), a cathepsin B-cleavable peptide (FRRG), and doxorubicin (DOX). The self-assembled VPF-FRRG-DOX prodrug forms stable nanoparticles via π-π stacking, remaining inactive under physiological conditions but releasing and activating VPF and DOX in cathepsin B-overexpressing cancer cells during mPDT. In colon tumor-bearing mice, PNPs showed high tumor accumulation via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, while the microLED-photodetector probe monitored intratumoral in situ oxygen dynamics. Periodic oxygen depletion and recovery at 0.1 Hz for 1.5 h significantly improved therapeutic efficacy (p = 0.0047) compared with continuous PDT. Collectively, oxygen-guided mPDT combined with light-activatable PNPs provides a minimally invasive strategy for synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy of deep tumors, with favorable systemic and local biocompatibility.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, yet it carries the risk of iatrogenic perforation. A rare, hazardous subtype involves colonoscope incarceration and perforation within an inguinal hernia sac, mechanically driven by a "hinge effect" during withdrawal. The confined anatomical space often masks typical peritoneal signs, challenging diagnosis. A case is presented of a 71-year-old male (Body Mass Index: 24.2 kg/m2) undergoing a routine screening colonoscopy. Significant resistance occurred at the sigmoid colon during withdrawal, revealing a 1.0 cm full-thickness defect. First, an immediate endoscopic "damage control" strategy was employed using a through-the-scope purse-string suture technique combining a nylon endoloop with titanium clips to seal the defect acutely within 15 min. Crucially, an emergency contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) scan performed at Hour 1:00 post-event identified the perforated segment entrapped within a 4 cm left inguinal hernia sac, suggesting surgical exploration over exclusive conservative observation due to visceral ischemia risks. Consequently, the patient underwent laparoscopic partial sigmoidectomy of a 10 cm segment and high ligation of the hernia sac with internal ring closure under a stable 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum (operative duration: 165 min; blood loss: 15 mL). The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. Quantified follow-up at 1 and 3 months confirmed complete functional recovery and zero recurrence. This case highlights the need for pre-procedural hernia assessment and suggests that a hybrid approach, pairing immediate endoscopic containment with planned surgical repair, may present a feasible alternative pathway for managing this rare emergency.

Long-segment bowel wall thickening with ascites and omental involvement is usually attributed to abdominal tuberculosis, particularly in areas endemic to tuberculosis. However, certain cancers, like diffuse infiltrative colorectal carcinomas, can mimic the imaging findings. We present a case of a 24-year-old male who presented with long-standing abdominal pain and underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, which showed target-like diffuse thickening from the terminal ileum to the entire transverse colon, along with ascites and omental thickening. His CA 19-9 levels were significantly raised at >1000U/ml, posing difficulty in clearly distinguishing it from abdominal tuberculosis. Biopsy from the thickening revealed signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon. In young patients, diffuse colonic thickening with peritoneal involvement can look like tuberculosis. However, raised tumor markers should prompt a thorough search for cancer, even in unusual age groups and presentations.

A biocompatible, injectable, and self-healing hydrogel was constructed via electrostatic self-assembly of anionic pectin (PEC) and cationic quaternized guar gum (QGG). The optimized PEC/QGG hydrogel (QPE5, 1:3.5 ratio) exhibited rapid gelation (1.5 min), high yield (95.7%), shear-thinning behavior (viscosity decrease from 430 to 1.7 Pa·s), and excellent self-healing with ∼90% recovery of compressive strength. Zeta potential analysis confirmed charge neutralization (+2.9 mV for QPE5), indicating strong electrostatic interactions. The hydrogel displayed pH- and enzyme-responsive degradation, with accelerated disintegration under acidic (pH 5.5) and pectinase-rich conditions. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was loaded with encapsulation efficiency of ∼72% and loading efficiency of ∼15% for QPE3 formulation. Drug release was adequately described by kinetic models, with the best-fitting model depending on the release conditions. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility (>80% cell viability) and hemocompatibility (<2% hemolysis), while enabling selective inhibition of CT-26 colon carcinoma cells (viability reduced to ∼40% with enzyme-triggered release). This PEC/QGG platform integrates injectability, self-healing, and colon-specific degradability, offering a promising approach for localized colorectal cancer therapy.

Colorectal cancer is predominantly an adult malignancy and is extremely rare in children. In pediatric patients, it is often associated with genetic predisposition syndromes such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis. We report the case of a 15-year-old patient admitted for progressively worsening peri-umbilical abdominal pain. Thoraco-abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed parietal thickening of the right third of the transverse colon associated with deep lymphadenopathy and a focal lesion in segment III of the liver. The patient underwent a colonic biopsy, which revealed intramucosal colorectal adenocarcinoma. The clinical course was complicated by bowel obstruction requiring surgery, during which a diverting ileostomy, liver biopsy, and mesenteric lymph node resection were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed metastatic involvement from the primary colonic tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated microsatellite instability (MSI) (loss of MLH1/PMS2). The patient subsequently received treatment with pembrolizumab.