Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2018

Increased relative abundance of Fusobacterium species contributes to the difference in intestinal bacterial composition between healthy individuals and patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A new study now reveals that live Fusobacterium originating from primary CRC associate with liver metastasis, suggesting a potentially important function for this bacterial genus in metastatic tumour growth.

Predicting clinical outcomes in cancer using neoantigen burden is imperfect because current algorithms use only the binding affinity of putative neoantigens to HLA. A new study models pancreatic tumour response through a deeper understanding of tumour immunology, providing new tools for identifying neoantigens and characteristics that define their quality.

A growing body of evidence implicates non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in liver carcinogenesis. In this Review, the authors summarize the pathological roles of ncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma and explore the potential applications of ncRNAs as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.

Hirschsprung disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition affecting the enteric nervous system and defined by the absence of enteric neurons in the distal bowel. This Review provides an update on the basic science discoveries that link to clinical manifestations of the disease.

Chronic opioid use is increasing worldwide and has negative effects in the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. This Review summarizes the evidence and consequences of opioid misuse in gastroenterology, as well as alternative pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies for pain management in patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

If gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis is to be both timely and affordable in the future, the roles of health-care professionals need to be reframed. In this Perspectives, the authors consider how the relationship between medical specialists and generalists can be better integrated for optimal clinical outcomes and patient experience.