Reviewer’ s report
Title: Analysis of β-catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant
and Malignant Colorectal Lesions
Version: 0Date: 20 May 2020
Reviewer: Andrzej Wincewicz
Reviewer's report:
In the first words of abstract of the paper (numbered BMGE-D-20-00480 titled Analysis of β-
catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant and MalignantColorectal Lesions), there is statement that as African Americans acquire some of disease-inducing habits of American Society (as physical inactivity, diet oriented on obesity and metabolicsyndrome etc.) they also experience increase in the risk of CRC to approximate the level of thatrisk for the rest of American Society. The study is well-designed and aimed on examination of betacatenin immunoreactivity in premalignant and malignant colorectal lesions as the proof ofactivation of a common WNT/beta catenin signaling on the pathway of carcinogenesis. The studyhas its value because it shows WNT/beta catenin signaling participates in colorectalcarcinogenesis also in population of African Americans. The intensity of beta catenin expressiongrow gradually from normal normal via advanced adenoma to colorectal cancer in that population( this manner of growth of beta-catenin in mechanism of colorectal carcinogenesis is similar toPolish, German or French population). Colorectal cancer has no racial borders but any ethnicgroup can be similarly affected as incidence of colorectal cancer is based on modifiable habitualand environmental factors. However, beta catenin expression was not significantly higher incomparison of obese to non-obese patients. Thus, the authors have not proved existence of
statistical significant relationship between BMI and beta-catenin expression on the way of
colorectal carcinogenesis. The study group was large enough for this kind of evaluation. Thequality of staining look very good. The conclusions are based on results. However, as the topic isworth further investigation, this paper encourages to extend such research on thousands of AfricanAmericans (as demographic studies on really large populations are needed to really excluderelation of BMI and beta catenin expression in African Americans).
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
AcceptableDeclaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of thismanuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below.
If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I have no competing interests.Reviewer Publication Consent. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access
Creative Commons CC-BY License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) if this manu-script is accepted for publication. Any comments that I do not wish to be included in the publishedreport have been included as confidential comments to the editor, which will not be published.Ifyou are not happy for us to publish this report, please contact the editorial office before completingthe review.If you wish, you can include your name in your published report. Please note you must
decide whether to include your name at the start of the process and confirm this decision whenever
prompted. If you change your decision later, we will not be able to publish your name.
I agree to the terms of the CC-BY 4.0 license; please publish my name with my report.
Reviewer’ s report
Title: Analysis of β-catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant
and Malignant Colorectal Lesions
Version: 0Date: 20 May 2020
Reviewer: Andrzej Wincewicz
Reviewer's report:
In the first words of abstract of the paper (numbered BMGE-D-20-00480 titled Analysis of β-
catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant and MalignantColorectal Lesions), there is statement that as African Americans acquire some of disease-inducing habits of American Society (as physical inactivity, diet oriented on obesity and metabolicsyndrome etc.) they also experience increase in the risk of CRC to approximate the level of thatrisk for the rest of American Society. The study is well-designed and aimed on examination of betacatenin immunoreactivity in premalignant and malignant colorectal lesions as the proof ofactivation of a common WNT/beta catenin signaling on the pathway of carcinogenesis. The studyhas its value because it shows WNT/beta catenin signaling participates in colorectalcarcinogenesis also in population of African Americans. The intensity of beta catenin expressiongrow gradually from normal normal via advanced adenoma to colorectal cancer in that population( this manner of growth of beta-catenin in mechanism of colorectal carcinogenesis is similar toPolish, German or French population). Colorectal cancer has no racial borders but any ethnicgroup can be similarly affected as incidence of colorectal cancer is based on modifiable habitualand environmental factors. However, beta catenin expression was not significantly higher incomparison of obese to non-obese patients. Thus, the authors have not proved existence of
statistical significant relationship between BMI and beta-catenin expression on the way of
colorectal carcinogenesis. The study group was large enough for this kind of evaluation. Thequality of staining look very good. The conclusions are based on results. However, as the topic isworth further investigation, this paper encourages to extend such research on thousands of AfricanAmericans (as demographic studies on really large populations are needed to really excluderelation of BMI and beta catenin expression in African Americans).
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
AcceptableDeclaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of thismanuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below.
If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I have no competing interests.Reviewer Publication Consent. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access
Creative Commons CC-BY License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) if this manu-script is accepted for publication. Any comments that I do not wish to be included in the publishedreport have been included as confidential comments to the editor, which will not be published.Ifyou are not happy for us to publish this report, please contact the editorial office before completingthe review.If you wish, you can include your name in your published report. Please note you must
decide whether to include your name at the start of the process and confirm this decision whenever
prompted. If you change your decision later, we will not be able to publish your name.
I agree to the terms of the CC-BY 4.0 license; please publish my name with my report.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer’ s report
Title: Analysis of β-catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant
and Malignant Colorectal Lesions
Version: 0Date: 20 May 2020
Reviewer: Andrzej Wincewicz
Reviewer's report:
In the first words of abstract of the paper (numbered BMGE-D-20-00480 titled Analysis of β-
catenin Association with Obesity in African Americans with Premalignant and MalignantColorectal Lesions), there is statement that as African Americans acquire some of disease-inducing habits of American Society (as physical inactivity, diet oriented on obesity and metabolicsyndrome etc.) they also experience increase in the risk of CRC to approximate the level of thatrisk for the rest of American Society. The study is well-designed and aimed on examination of betacatenin immunoreactivity in premalignant and malignant colorectal lesions as the proof ofactivation of a common WNT/beta catenin signaling on the pathway of carcinogenesis. The studyhas its value because it shows WNT/beta catenin signaling participates in colorectalcarcinogenesis also in population of African Americans. The intensity of beta catenin expressiongrow gradually from normal normal via advanced adenoma to colorectal cancer in that population( this manner of growth of beta-catenin in mechanism of colorectal carcinogenesis is similar toPolish, German or French population). Colorectal cancer has no racial borders but any ethnicgroup can be similarly affected as incidence of colorectal cancer is based on modifiable habitualand environmental factors. However, beta catenin expression was not significantly higher incomparison of obese to non-obese patients. Thus, the authors have not proved existence of
statistical significant relationship between BMI and beta-catenin expression on the way of
colorectal carcinogenesis. The study group was large enough for this kind of evaluation. Thequality of staining look very good. The conclusions are based on results. However, as the topic isworth further investigation, this paper encourages to extend such research on thousands of AfricanAmericans (as demographic studies on really large populations are needed to really excluderelation of BMI and beta catenin expression in African Americans).
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
AcceptableDeclaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of thismanuscript, either now or in the future?
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below.
If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I have no competing interests.Reviewer Publication Consent. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access
Creative Commons CC-BY License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) if this manu-script is accepted for publication. Any comments that I do not wish to be included in the publishedreport have been included as confidential comments to the editor, which will not be published.Ifyou are not happy for us to publish this report, please contact the editorial office before completingthe review.If you wish, you can include your name in your published report. Please note you must
decide whether to include your name at the start of the process and confirm this decision whenever
prompted. If you change your decision later, we will not be able to publish your name.
I agree to the terms of the CC-BY 4.0 license; please publish my name with my report.
assistant