Prognostic impact of cancer-related symptoms in recurrent gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Although routine postoperative follow-up is generally performed for early detection of recurrences, there is no evidence that the periodic follow-up improves survival in patients with gastric cancers. This study aimed to assess the prognostic impact of cancer-related symptomatic status during postoperative followup in gastric cancer patients.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 81 gastric cancer patients, who developed recurrences after curative surgery, were retrospectively evaluated for clinicopathological findings with regard to the relationship to cancer-related symptoms at the time recurrences were diagnosed.

RESULTS

Undifferentiated tumor type, advanced T-stage (T3/4) and peritoneal recurrence were more common in symptomatic patients groups, whereas differentiated tumor type and both locoregional and hematogenous recurrences were more common in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.02, 0.03 and 0.03, respectively). Disease-free survival showed that there were no significant differences between the asymptomatic and symptomatic patient group. However, the post-recurrence survival in patient with symptoms was significantly worse than that in those without symptoms (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer-related symptomatic status at the time recurrences are diagnosed might provide prognostic information predicting post-recurrence survival. However, we have to conclude that even intensive follow-up did not contribute to the early detection of recurrences in patients with gastric cancers.

Optimal surgical treatment for patients with pT2 gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Wall invasion is one of the significant prognostic factors of gallbladder cancer (GBC). Even extended surgery associated with hepatectomy does not always improve the prognosis of pathological T2 (pT2) (the tumor invades perimuscular connective tissue pathologically) GBC patients. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with long-term survival of pT2 GBC patients.

METHODOLOGY

Fifty-three patients with GBC had undergone radical resection from 1995 to 2009 in our institution. Among them, there were 23 pT2 patients. We reviewed clinico-pathologic features of the pT2 GBC patients and evaluated prognostic factors.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rates for pT1, pT2, pT3, and pT4 in TNM classification by the International Union against Cancer (UICC) were 100%, 55.2%, 38.5% and 25.0%, respectively. In the 23 patients with pT2 GBC, the absence of lymph node metastasis and a periductal cancer-free surgical margin were significant favorable factors by univariate analysis. The 5-year survival rate of pT2 GBC patients with a periductal cancer-free surgical margin was 65.8% and that of pT2 GBC patients who did not have lymph node metastasis was 71.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of pT2 GBC patients, radical resection to achieve RO including surgical margins and lymph nodes in spite of surgical procedures contributes to a better survival.

Dermokine as a novel biomarker for early-stage colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is a common disease that is usually detected at an advanced stage, because early-stage cancer is mostly asymptomatic and appropriate serologic biomarkers have not been established. We have previously identified dermokine (DK) as a peptide secreted by keratinocytes and we found that DK-β/γ was expressed in colorectal tumors. Therefore, we focused on DK-β/γ as a new candidate diagnostic serum marker for early colorectal cancer.

METHODS

DK-β/γ expression in human colorectal cancer cell lines and tissues was assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. We established an experimental enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect DK-β/γ in the serum of colorectal cancer patients, and we compared the sensitivities of common diagnostic markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, and serum p53 antibody (S-p53).

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining of colon tumor tissue with anti-DK monoclonal antibody (mAb) revealed that DK-β/γ was more commonly expressed in the early stages of colorectal cancer (Tis-T1; i.e., cancer in situ, intraepithelial or invasion of lamina propria [Tis]; tumor invades the submucosa [T1]) than in late-stage tumors (T2-T4; i.e., tumor invades the muscularis propria [T2]; tumor invades through the muscularis propria into the subserosa, or into the nonperitonealized pericolic or perirectal tissues [T3]; tumor directly invades other organs or structures and/or perforates visceral peritoneum [T4]). Serum DK-β/γ levels were determined in 130 patients with colorectal cancer and 25 healthy volunteers. Serum DK-β/γ was detected in 33.3% of patients with early colorectal cancer (Tis-T1), which was higher than the rates for S-p53 (24.2%), CEA (9.1%), and CA19-9 (0%). The serum DK-β/γ test was complementary to the other marker tests. Therefore, when the combined four-marker test (DK/CEA/CA19-9/S-p53) was carried out, the diagnostic sensitivity for Tis and T1 tumors reached 60.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum DK-β/γ is the most promising of the existing tumor biomarkers for the diagnosis of early-stage colorectal cancer.

[Early prediction of treatment response by serum CRP levels in patients with advanced esophageal cancer who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy]

Serum CRP has been shown to be associated with the progression of esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between treatment response and serum CRP levels in time course during definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in terms of early prediction of CRT response by serum CRP. The subjects of this study were 36 patients with cT3/cT4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent definitive CRT in our hospital. Serum CRP levels during definitive CRT (pretreatment, 1W, 2W and 3W after CRT initiation) were compared between CR and non-CR group. In addition, partition model was constructed to discriminate CR with non-CR and the prediction accuracy was evaluated. The patients were consisted of 28 males and 8 females. At pretreatment diagnosis, tumors were categorized as T3 (n=21) and T4 (n=15). Thirty four patients received FP-based chemotherapy and 2 patients received docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Treatment responses were categorized as CR (n=8), PR (n=14), NC (n=2) and PD (n=12). Serum CRP levels at the time of 2W after CRT initiation (CRT2W) in CR group were low compared to those in non-CR group (p=0.071). The partition model was constructed based on CRP levels at CRT2W. The prediction accuracies to discriminate CR from non-CR by CRP≤0.1 were 50%, 82%, and 75% in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, respectively. Serum CRP is a useful biomarker for an early prediction of CRT response.

Prognostic impact of histological blood vessel invasion in patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS

Ampullary adenocarcinoma (AmpCA) has a greater overall survival (OS) rate than other periampullary cancers such as pancreatic cancer or bile duct cancer. Nevertheless, the OS of AmpCA is still poor. In the present study we evaluated the clinicopathologic features of AmpCA with respect to its impact on OS.

METHODOLOGY

Records of 28 patients with AmpCA undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy from 1995 to 2009 in Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine were reviewed retrospectively. The mean age was 65.6 and mean +/- S.D. tumor size was 2.08 +/- 1.13 cm. Of the 28 patients, nine (32%) were > or = T3 tumors and nine (32%) were pN1 stage. There were seven (25%) cases of pancreatic invasion (Panc-invasion) and 15 (54%) cases of duodenal invasion (Du-invasion). Further, 14 (50%) cases involved lymphatic vessel invasion (ly+) and five (18%) cases involved histological blood vessel invasion (v+). Eleven (39%) patients experienced recurrences, of which eight were liver metastases. The median OS was 37 months (range 0.6-139.6 months) and the five-year survival rate was 56.4%. The clinicopathologic features and prognoses of these patients were analyzed and the prognostic factors determined.

RESULTS

On log-rank testing, Du-invasion (p = 0.029), ly+ (p = 0.022), and v+ (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with worse survival. According to multivariate Cox's hazard analysis using these three factors by Backward Elimination of Stepwise method, blood vessel invasion was the only significant prognostic indicator for survival (p = 0.046; Hazard ratio, 4.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Blood vessel invasion was an independent prognostic indicator, while prevention of liver metastases was important for longer survival.

[A case report--locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma was resected after chemotherapy]

The case was a 36-year-old male whose chief complaints were anorexia and weight loss. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed circumferential stenosis in the fourth portion of the duodenum, while CT revealed a tumor with a diameter of 60 mm continuing as a single mass from the pancreatic body and tail to the fourth portion of the duodenum, and this was accompanied by findings that raised suspicions of circumferential invasion of the superior mesentric artery (SMA). Based on these results and biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with pancreatic and SMA invasion of duodenal cancer that was considered to be unresectable. After performing gastrojejunostomy, we administered DOC (40 mg/m2, day 1), CDDP (60 mg/m2, day 1), and S-1( 80 mg/m2, day 1-14) for 3 courses. The tumor response was PR and the images indicated the SMA invasion was disappeared. We judged that the tumor could be gone by a resection while preserving the SMA. In the surgical findings, the tumor continued as a single mass from the pancreatic body and tail to the third portion of the duodenum, and the surrounding area exhibited marked fibrosis. We performed a pancreatic tail resection along with combined resection of third and fourth portions of the duodenum, transverse colon and splenic flexure, and left adrenal gland. The case was diagnosed to be well-differentiated invasive ductal pancreatic cancer with duodenal invasion. Cancer invasion was not observed in any of the stripped surfaces surrounding the pancreas. The T3, N1, M0, fStage III antitumor effects were mildly effective. In this case, the treatment was initially started by considering the case as one of duodenal cancer, but the final results of a pathological diagnosis revealed that it was pancreatic cancer. However, either way, even though the case was unresectable before the chemotherapy performed for duodenal cancer was significantly effective for the pancreatic cancer. Therefore, a resection became possible, and an R0 resection was also effective.

[Usefulness of esophageal stenting by using a covered self-expandable metallic stent for esophagorespiratory fistula associated with esophageal carcinoma]

We report three cases of esophagorespiratory fistula associated with esophageal carcinoma successfully treated with esophageal stenting by using a covered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS). All three cases had advanced esophageal carcinoma at middle thoracic esophagus with esophagorespiratory fistula at the level of esophageal carcinoma. Case 1 is a 58-year-old man who had lung abscess due to esophagopulmonary fistula caused after induction chemoradiotherapy. He underwent a surgical resection of the affected lung and intraoperative esophageal stenting with dietary intake starting on day 26 after stenting. Case 2 is a 60-year-old man with esophagopulmonary fistula caused after primary chemotherapy. He started to take an oral intake on day 3 after esophageal stenting. Case 3 is a 68-year-old man with esophagobronchial fistula detected at the first medical examination. He started to take an oral diet on day 7 after esophageal stenting. All three cases had a rapid improvement of respiratory symptoms, pneumonia and malnutrition by esophageal stenting leading to marked improvement of impaired general condition. Esophageal stenting is a useful method for palliation of esophageal carcinoma with respiratory fistula.

[A case of esophageal cancer with sigmoid colon tumor treated by laparoscopic surgery]

We performed a subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction by hand assisted laparoscopic surgery and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy simultaneously for the patient with middle thoracic esophageal cancer and lateral spreading tumor in the sigmoid colon. Upper abdominal and transumbilical incisions were made and Lap Discs (regular, mini) were set respectively. Two 12 mm ports were inserted in the right flank and lower quadrant, and two 5 mm ports were inserted in the left flank and lower quadrant. First, by using video-scope from upper Lap Disc, laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed. Anastomosis was performed via lower Lap Disc. For the gastric tube reconstruction, upper Lap Disc was used for hand assistance, and video-scope was inserted from lower Lap Disc. The patient was discharged at 26 days after surgery without complications. In conclusion, our surgical procedure provided a good surgical view and decreased a surgical stress.

[The role of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for gastric cancer patients]

A randomized controlled trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for gastric cancer (ACTS-GC) demonstrated that the chemotherapy with S-1 improved the relapse-free survival and overall survival rates of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. We examined retrospectively 47 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, who received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 after curative gastrectomy. Patients who received more than 50% of the total scheduled dose of S-1 during the first 1 year after starting the chemotherapy showed a tendency to favorable outcome in terms of relapse-free survival compared with patients who received less than 50% of the dose, although no statistical significance was detected. Age did not show a significant correlation with tolerability. The number of elderly people with gastric cancer will increase in the next decade. They should be candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy on the basis of a geriatric assessment.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with severe intratumoral arterioportal shunt

We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that caused a severe arterioportal shunt (APS). A 49-year-old man was admitted to hospital due to esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage and HCC, and underwent endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). He was then referred to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a low-density lesion in the posterior segment of the liver and an intratumoral APS, which caused portal hypertension. Although the patient underwent EVL, EIS, Hassab’s operation, and transcatheter arterial embolization for APS, he vomited blood due to rupture of esophagogastric varices. Right hepatectomy was performed for the treatment of HCC and APS, although the indocyanine green retention value at 15 min after intravenous injection was poor (30%). The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful. Eventually, APS disappeared and the esophagogastric varices improved.

RUNX3 promoter methylation in colorectal cancer: its relationship with microsatellite instability and its suitability as a novel serum tumor marker

BACKGROUND/AIM

RUNX3 is a novel gastric cancer tumor suppressor. RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation is associated with many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the RUNX3 promotor is one of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-specific promotors. CIMP is a distinct phenotype associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer. In this study, the suitability of the quantitative analysis of RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation as a novel serum tumor marker was investigated. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between RUNX3 promoter methylation and MSI in colorectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A RUNX3 real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (RTQ-MSP) technique we developed was used to analyze the CpG sites in the RUNX3 promoter of 119 colorectal tumors and 344 sera from colorectal cancer patients. MSI analysis of 119 colorectal tumors was performed with five microsatellite markers (BAT25, BAT26, D5S346, D2S123, and D17S250).

RESULTS

Proximal colon tumors exhibited significantly higher RUNX3 methylation than their paired normal tissues (p=0.0438). Analysis of the clinicopathological parameters revealed that a proximal location (p=0.0054), lymphatic invasion (p<0.0001), and an advanced pathological stage (p=0.0018) were associated with significantly higher RUNX3 methylation. Assessment of the relationship between RUNX3 methylation and tumor MSI revealed 11 out of 13 tumors with high-frequency MSI (85%) were positive for RUNX3 hypermethylation, significantly more than the tumors with low-frequency MSI or which were microsatellite stable (34%, p=0.0070). In preoperative sera from 344 colorectal cancer patients, significantly higher RUNX3 methylation was associated with lymphatic invasion (p=0.0487) and an advanced pathological stage (p=0.0466). Post-operative follow-up data revealed that recurrence cases exhibited significantly higher preoperative serum RUNX3 methylation than non-recurrence cases (p=0.0003). Concomitant analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the preoperative sera showed that 17.7% (61/344) were CEA-negative but RUNX3 methylation-positive, which means assessing both serum RUNX3 methylation and CEA should improve diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

RTQ-MSP-based quantification of serum RUNX3 methylation is useful for the detection and monitoring of colorectal cancer.

Usefulness of standardization in spreading of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study investigated outcomes of standardized laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (sLADG).

METHODOLOGY

Although laparoscopic surgery was performed in patients with early gastric cancers in our hospital, a number of staff surgeons performed individualized variations of the procedure. We introduced sLADG to our hospital, and the short-term outcomes of these patients were examined.

RESULTS

The mean surgical duration was significantly reduced (299 min. vs. 358 min, p < 0.01), and the amount of blood loss was also significantly decreased (98 ml vs. 207 ml, p < 0.05) in the standardized procedures in comparison with the previous procedures. However, there was no significant difference in the total number of retrieved lymph nodes among open procedure, conventional and standardized LADG series. Postoperative hospital stay and the occurrence of complications were significantly shorter and less frequent in the sLADG group.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance of sLADG by experienced surgeons is expected to promote a safe procedure without reducing surgical curability.

Application of polyethylene glycolic acid felt with fibrin sealant to prevent postoperative pancreatic fistula in pancreatic surgery

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this nonrandomized retrospective study was to report our new procedures using polyethylene glycolic acid (PGA) felt with fibrin sealant to prevent severe pancreatic fistula in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2008, 54 and 63 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP), respectively. Of those patients, we applied PGA felt with fibrin sealant to 18 PD patients and 26 DP patients. In PD patients, the PGA felt was wrapped around the pancreatic suture site, while in DP patients, the PGA felt was wrapped around the predictive division site. The pancreaticojejunostomy site in PD patients and the cut stump in DP patients were coated with fibrin sealant. We compared the occurrence rates for severe postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) that occurred after PD or DP both with and without our new procedures.

RESULTS

Before introduction of our procedures, severe POPF developed in 14 of 36 PD patients (39%) and 10 of 37 DP patients (27%). In contrast, after introduction of our procedures, the incidence of POPF was only one in both of 18 PD (6%; P = 0.016) and 26 DP (4%; P = 0.017) patients.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our procedure using PGA felt with fibrin sealant may reduce the risk of severe POPF.

A case report of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of the right adrenal gland successfully treated with chemotherapy and surgery

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma has a poor prognosis, especially when associated with distant metastasis. A 60-year-old man was admitted to a private hospital because of dyspnea at work in 2007. Computed tomography revealed lung infarction and a right adrenal tumor sized 12 cm in diameter that was tightly compressed against the inferior vena cava (IVC). Moreover, multiple lymph node metastases around the celiac axis and a solitary liver metastasis at the lateral segment were observed. Thus, we planned chemotherapy without surgery. We selected a combination therapy of irinotecan (CPT-11) and cisplatin (CDDP) (i.e., IP therapy): administration of CDDP [60 mg/m(2) body surface area (BSA)] on day 1 plus CPT-11 (80 mg/m(2)) BSA on days 1 and 8. Thereafter, this protocol was repeated at 3-week intervals. After 15 months of this chemotherapy strategy, the whole lesions showed a partial response by RECIST. The primary tumor had shrunk to 4.2 cm in diameter. In November 2008, we planned surgery to perform resection of the whole lesions. Histological diagnosis of the specimen was a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma based on the immunostaining features, i.e., synaptophysin- and chromogranin positive. There were no viable tumor cells at the dissected lymph nodes or at the liver tumor. After surgery, CPT-11 administration was continued. The patient has remained well for 9 months without recurrence.

Gene transfer of NK4, an angiogenesis inhibitor, induces CT26 tumor regression via tumor-specific T lymphocyte activation

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be involved in malignant behaviors, such as invasion and metastasis, in different tumors. Hence, HGF could be a target molecule for control of the malignant potential of cancer. NK4 is a competitive antagonist for HGF and exerts an antitumor activity, not only by HGF antagonism but also by antiangiogenesis. Here, we studied the participation of cellular immunity in CT26 tumor regression by NK4 gene transfer. In vivo experiments showed that NK4-induced inhibition of subcutaneous tumor growth (as demonstrated in immunocompetent BALB/c mice) was weakened in T lymphocyte-deficient nude mice. In addition, the immunocompetent BALB/c mice that had shown complete regression of CT26-NK4 tumors generated an immune memory against repeated challenge with the same tumor antigen. Immunohistochemistry of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes showed that the ratio of CD8/CD4 in CT26-NK4 tumors was significantly higher than that in control tumors. Also, the presence of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was demonstrated by cytotoxicity assays. Depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes markedly abrogated the antitumor activity of NK4. However, NK4 had no direct effect on the in vitro cellular immune system. Taken together, these data indicate that NK4 expression by gene transfer, at the tumor site, triggers tumor-specific CTL activation, resulting in complete CT26 tumor regression in vivo. This action was considered to be due to apoptosis induced by NK4's potent antiangiogenic and HGF antagonistic effects.

[PSK-mediated growth suppression and enhancement of 5-FU/docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity in human esophageal cancer cell lines]

PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide, is widely used for treating cancer patients as an immunostimulant. However, its direct action on cancer cells is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated direct effects of PSK alone or in combination with 5-FU, CDDP and docetaxel on tumor growth by using esophageal cancer cell lines, KYSE170 and TE13. Cells were incubated with different concentrations of PSK for 72 hour, and cell viability was determined by WST-8 assay, and cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. As a result, PSK of 100 microg/mL induced growth suppression dose-dependently in the both cell lines, and flow cytometric analysis showed a PSK dose-dependent increase of sub-G1 cells indicating apoptotic cells. In addition, when cells were incubated with different concentrations of 5-FU and docetaxel in the presence of PSK at the dose of 5 microg/mL showing no growth suppression, cytotoxicity induced by 5-FU and docetaxel was significantly enhanced. These results indicate that PSK not only shows tumor growth suppression by apoptosis induction, but also enhances 5-FU and docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity.

Outcomes of total pelvic exenteration for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Pelvic recurrence occurs in 4-33% of patients who have undergone a curative resection of primary rectal cancer and is thus a serious problem. However, the best treatment for primary rectal cancer remains unclear. In the present study was assessed the outcomes of total pelvic exenteration for colorectal cancer retrospectively.

METHODOLOGY

In the present study was investigated the medical charts of 25 patients who underwent total pelvic exenteration for primary colorectal cancer (n = 12) or postoperative local recurrence of colorectal cancer (n = 13) at the Department of Surgery (Division of Digestive Surgery) of the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine between the years 1997-2005.

RESULTS

The mean disease-free time interval between the first operation for primary colorectal cancer and total pelvic exenteration for the recurrence was 919 days (range, 203-3460 days). Total pelvic exenteration required a mean operation time of 940 minutes (range, 540-1395 minutes). The mean carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value was 25.5 ng/ml (range, 1-171.8 ng/ml). Five-year survival was achieved in 9 patients (36%) and inhospital death occurred in 3 patients (12%). The patients with curative resection survived significantly longer than the patients with non-curative resection.

CONCLUSIONS

When curative resection is achieved, total pelvic exenteration for colorectal cancer can result in long-term survival.

[The IL-6 and COX-2 expression related to sensitivity of chemoradiotherapy and prognosis in esophageal carcinoma]

Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer induces inflammatory responses within tumor tissues. Inflammatory cells infiltrated into the tumor tissues may modulate the CRT responses via inflammation-related molecules such as IL-6 or COX-2. In the present study, we investigated a relationship between IL-6/COX-2 expression and CRT responses for esophageal cancer. A surgical resection following CRT was performed, and the specimens from the patients with cT3/T4 esophageal squamous cell examined for IL-6/COX-2 expression in both residual cancer and stromal cells by immunohistochemical staining. CRT responses were divided into responder group (Grade 1b and Grade 2) and non-responder group (Grade 1a). COX-2 in cancer cells and IL-6 in stromal cells were associated with non-responder and responder, respectively. In addition, IL-6 in stromal cells was significantly correlated with overall survival. Our data suggest that inflammatory responses concomitant with CRT responses could play a role in chemoradiation responses and prognosis.

[Radiofrequency ablation for postoperative recurrent of metastatic lesions of esophageal cancer]

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed for the postoperative recurrent of metastatic lesions of esophageal cancer in 6 patients. All patients were males, and the median age was 59. Surgical curativities were A (3 cases), B (2) and C (1). The recurrent sites were intramediastinal omentum of gastric tube (2 cases), rt lung (2), rt adrenal grand (1) and liver (1). Four cases had a single recurrent lesion and the two had multiple lesions consisted of a single lesion as RFA target, and the lesions in a different site that were simultaneously treated by other therapeutic modalities. The median time of recurrence was 12 months after esophagectomy. RFA was performed once in the 3 cases, and twice in the other 3 cases. Therapeutic effect evaluated by CT was CR (2 cases), PR (3) and SD (1). No serious complications associated with RFA procedure were observed. Three patients died due to cancer recurrence within 7 months after RFA. However, RFA-treated lesions were well controlled to the end. RFA are safe and minimally invasive, thus, can be repeatedly performed technique that can induce a good local control of the target lesion equivalent to surgical resection. RFA is applicable as an effective local therapy for the recurrent or metastatic lesions of esophageal cancer.

[Surgically resected local recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal cancer--a case report]

We report a case of surgically resected esophageal cancer which was locally recurred after endoscopic submucosal dissection. A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of further examination and a treatment of superficial esophageal cancer. A type 0-IIb+IIa cancer occupying the whole circumference of the lumen of the middle to lower esophagus was revealed. The depth of the invasion was judged to be T1a-EP or LPM by endoscopic ultrasonography, and no metastasis to other organs or lymph nodes was detected. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed. However, macroscopic residual cancer didn't seem to exist. Pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma, moderately differentiated, the depth of tumor invasion was T1a-LPM. The presence of the residual cancer of the horizontal cut margin could not be judged because en bloc resection could not be achieved. After that, endoscopic balloon dilatation of the esophageal stenosis was performed repeatedly for about one year. Then, he was diagnosed as the local recurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Thoraco-abdominal esophagectomy reconstructed by stomach tube via a retrosternal route was undergone. The final stage of the lesion was judged T3N1M0 (Stage III, UICC) by the histological examination from the resected specimen. After the operation, he is receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and alive without recurrence. When endoscopic resection of the esophageal cancer is performed to the lesion, which relatively indicated to endoscopic resection or outside the guideline criteria for endoscopic resection, it is important that we choose the appropriate treatment protocol obtaining an informed consent from the patient sufficiently.

Management of Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Occlusion by Thrombolytic Therapy

Acute occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) causes extensive bowel necrosis, resulting in a poor prognosis with an extremely high mortality rate. An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of abdominal pain. She was diagnosed as having acute SMA occlusion by enhanced CT. Five hours from onset, the first thrombolytic therapy with urokinase was performed, but failed to complete thrombolysis and recanalization of peripheral blood flow. An exploratory laparotomy following the first thrombolytic therapy showed a mild ischemic change in the affected intestine and mesentery, but no sign of necrosis. After the laparotomy, local thrombolytic therapy with angiographic evaluation of blood flow at 24, 36 and 48 h from the first thrombolysis was performed. As a result, the residual thrombus disappeared and all branches of the SMA became well visualized. The patient was discharged well without a second-look operation or major bowel resection. Sequential intermittent thrombolytic therapy with meticulous angiographic evaluation of blood flow is effective for early-stage acute SMA occlusion.

Prognostic impact of lymphatic invasion in patients with node-negative gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the prognostic impact of lymphatic invasion on the outcome of patients with node-negative gastric cancer.

METHODS

A total of 828 patients with node-negative gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy were reviewed retrospectively. The clinicopathological features and prognoses of patients with lymphatic invasion were compared to those of patients without such invasion.

RESULTS

The total rate of lymphatic invasion was 18.2% in node-negative gastric cancers, with a significant difference between early gastric cancers (9.8%) and advanced gastric cancers (49.2%). The presence of lymphatic invasion correlated significantly with tumor location, size and depth of tumor (P < 0.01). Lymphatic invasion was significantly associated with a poorer overall survival in node-negative gastric cancer patients on univariate analysis (P < 0.001) as well as multivariate analysis (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphatic invasion provides additional useful information that could be applied to identify patients at high risk for recurrence who might be candidates for adjuvant therapies in patients with node-negative gastric cancers.

[A case of multiple hepatic metastases of gastric cancer that showed complete regression by systemic chemotherapy using paclitaxel and UFT-E]

We report a case of gastric cancer with simultaneous multiple liver metastasis that was successfully treated by paclitaxel and UFT-E. A 54-year-old man with gastric cancer was admitted to our hospital for further examination and treatment. A type III gastric cancer was located in the lower to middle part of the gastric body. Abdominal CT revealed multiple liver metastases and lymph node metastases. Then, we performed distal gastrectomy and cholecystectomy. Postoperative pathological diagnosis was stage IV(a type 3 tumor( 78x65 mm), pT3, por 2, INF g, ly3, v0, pN2(+)(26/ 28), H1(bilobular multiple metastases), CY0, P0). Postoperatively, he was treated with S-1 po at 100 mg/body/day as first-line chemotherapy. Thirteen days after S-1 initiation, he was readmitted due to grade 3 diarrhea, and S-1 was immediately stopped. After his general condition was improved, paclitaxel was administered biweekly at a dose of 80 mg/m2. He was discharged after twice administration, and the regimen was continued at an outpatient clinic. Four months after the operation, abdominal computed tomography(CT)showed a remarkable reduction of the multiple liver metastases, and the serum levels of tumor markers(CEA, CA19-9)were reduced. Five months after the operation, the serum levels of tumor markers elevated again. Then, additional administration of UFT-E po(300 mg/body daily) was started. Seven months after the operation, abdominal CT showed a complete regression of the multiple liver metastasis, and the serum levels of tumor markers were also reduced within the normal range. During chemotherapy at an outpatient clinic, critical adverse effects did not appear. Paclitaxel or paclitaxel combined with UFT-E might be an effective regimen as second- or third-line chemotherapy for the liver metastases of gastric cancer.