Spontaneous Remission of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in the Stomach and the Continuation of Remission for 10 Years

According to the literature, spontaneous remission of aggressive lymphomas is extremely rare; gastric non-Hodgkin lymphomas, such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas, often regress due to Helicobacter pylori treatment or no progression, even in a watch-and-wait strategy. Although spontaneous remission of diffuse large B cell lymphomas in the stomach was very rarely reported, the follow-up periods of the cases of spontaneous remission are within 2 years and most cases are likely to relapse after the first remission. Here, we report that a diffuse large B cell lymphoma in the stomach showed spontaneous remission within 2 months after the initial diagnosis and the remission is still continuing for 10 years without any specific treatments against this aggressive lymphoma.

PIK3CA mutation is a favorable prognostic factor in esophageal cancer: molecular profile by next-generation sequencing using surgically resected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue

Background

Practical and reliable genotyping procedures with a considerable number of samples are required not only for risk-adapted therapeutic strategies, but also for stratifying patients into future clinical trials for molecular-targeting drugs. Recent advances in mutation testing, including next-generation sequencing, have led to the increased use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. We evaluated gene alteration profiles of cancer-related genes in esophageal cancer patients and correlated them with clinicopathological features, such as smoking status and survival outcomes.

Methods

Surgically resected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was collected from 135 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy. Based on the assessment of DNA quality with a quantitative PCR-based assay, uracil DNA glycosylase pretreatment was performed to ensure quality and accuracy of amplicon-based massively parallel sequencing. Amplicon-based massively parallel sequencing was performed using the Illumina TruSeq® Amplicon Cancer Panel. Gene amplification was detected by quantitative PCR-based assay. Protein expression was determined by automated quantitative fluorescent immunohistochemistry.

Results

Data on genetic alterations were available for 126 patients. The median follow-up time was 1570 days. Amplicon-based massively parallel sequencing identified frequent gene alterations in TP53 (66.7%), PIK3CA (13.5%), APC (10.3%), ERBB4 (7.9%), and FBXW7 (7.9%). There was no association between clinicopathological features or prognosis with smoking status. Multivariate analyses revealed that the PIK3CA mutation and clinical T stage were independent favorable prognostic factors (hazard ratio 0.34, 95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.96, p = 0.042). PIK3CA mutations were significantly associated with APC alterations (p = 0.0007) and BRAF mutations (p = 0.0090).

Conclusions

Our study provided profiles of cancer-related genes in Japanese patients with esophageal cancer by next-generation sequencing using surgically resected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, and identified the PIK3CA mutation as a favorable prognosis biomarker.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4733-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Patient with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Complicated by Multiple Myeloma

A 68-year-old woman with liver dysfunction was diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) stage 1. Three years later, she showed massive ascites and jaundice. A trans-jugular liver biopsy confirmed advanced cirrhosis, suggesting that her liver fibrosis had progressed rapidly. At the same time, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). In this case, the plasma levels of osteopontin (OPN), a proinflammatory cytokine that promotes liver fibrosis progression through the hedgehog pathway and is increased in patients with MM, were increased. This increased OPN expression was accompanied by the upregulation of the hedgehog pathway in this patient, suggesting that the MM-associated increase in OPN had promoted the progression of liver fibrosis through the hedgehog pathway. The progression of liver fibrosis should be monitored in patients with NASH if other diseases, such as MM, are present.

Effects of Etamsylate on Platelet Functions and Arachidonic Acid Metabolism

The effects of etamsylate on human platelet aggregation and ATP release as well as on the arachidonate metabolism by the platelet have been studied. Etamsylate enhanced these platelet functions induced by arachidonic add (AA), thromboxane A2, collagen and caldum ionophore A23187 but not those induced by ADP and epinephrine. In experiments with cyclooxygenase-inhibited platelets, AA-induced platelet aggregation was completely inhibited and it was not enhanced by etamsylate, while A23187-induced aggregation was partially inhibited and this aggregation was enhanced by etamsylate. Platelet AA metabolism including thrombin-induced AA liberation from phospholipids as well as the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways was not significantly affected by etamsylate. These results suggested that etamsylate enhanced platelet response to thromboxane A2 and calcium ionophore and that this could be included as a mechanism for its potentiating effect on platelet functions.

Multiple Synchronous Sporadic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Stomach and Jejunum

A 77-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital for the further examination of melena. A computed tomography scan detected two submucosal tumors (SMTs) in the stomach and jejunum. Double-balloon endoscopy revealed the presence of a delle on the jejunal SMT, suggesting that the SMT was the origin of the gastrointestinal bleeding. Both tumors were surgically resected and subsequently diagnosed via histology as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Furthermore, the two GISTs had different mutations in the c-kit gene, suggesting that they were derived from different clonal origins. This report depicts an extremely rare case of multiple synchronous sporadic GISTs in the stomach and jejunum.

Factor X heterozygous mutation in a patient with potential risk of bleeding: A case report

RATIONALE

Factor X (FX) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. The majority of patients carry a missense mutation in F10, and patients with bleeding disorders are either homozygous or compound heterozygous for F10. Nonsense mutations are exceptionally rare, and a heterozygous nonsense mutation is not considered to cause bleeding disorders.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 35-year-old Japanese female with an incidental hemorrhage after gynecologic polypectomy was referred to our hospital.

DIAGNOSES

Following differential diagnostic workup, including cross-mixing test, congenital FX deficiency was strongly suspected.

INTERVENTION

Coagulation tests and mutation analyses were conducted for the patient and her parents.

OUTCOMES

Mutation analysis revealed that she carried a heterozygous nonsense mutation in F10. Pedigree analysis revealed that the mutation was inherited from her mother although there was no familial history of bleeding or hemostatic disturbance.

LESSONS

Hemostatic disturbance may occur even in a patient with heterozygous F10. Because heterozygous nonsense mutation in F10 is expected to be hidden in an apparently healthy population, as observed in our patient, unexpected hemostatic disturbance may occur, particularly during the use of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)-targeting factor Xa for thrombotic diseases. FX activity should be evaluated before prescribing DOACs to patients.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy in localized gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A prospective, nationwide, multicenter study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was approved in Japan for the first-line, standard treatment of H. pylori-positive gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Although several retrospective studies or small-scale single-center studies have been reported, a prospective, large-scale, nationwide, multicenter study has not been reported from Japan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective, nationwide, multicenter study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of rabeprazole-based triple H. pylori eradication therapy for patients with localized gastric MALT lymphoma in practice-based clinical trial. A total of 108 H. pylori-positive patients with stage I/II₁ gastric MALT lymphoma underwent H. pylori eradication therapy. The primary endpoints were complete remission (CR) rate and the rate of transfer to secondary treatment. The secondary endpoints were CR maintenance duration and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

CR of lymphoma was achieved in 84 of 97 patients (86.6%), during the period 2.0-44.7 months (median, 5.3 months) after starting H. pylori eradication treatment. CR was maintained in 77 of 81 patients (95.1%) for 0.4-53.2 months (median, 33.1 months). Secondary treatments (radiotherapy, rituximab, or gastrectomy) for gastric MALT lymphoma were needed in 10 of the 97 patients (10.31%). During follow-up, OS rate was 96.9% (94/97) and the causes of 3 deaths were not related to lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Rabeprazole-based H. pylori eradication therapy demonstrated a high CR rate, long CR maintenance, and a good OS for patients with localized gastric MALT lymphoma in this prospective, practice-based, multicenter study.

[Rhabdomyolysis associated with long-term treatment of esomeprazole]

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been widely used in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease. Although they have a potent acid suppressive effect and excellent efficacy in acid-related diseases, PPI-induced rhabdomyolysis has been reported. Here, we report the case of a patient with reflux esophagitis who developed rhabdomyolysis after esomeprazole treatment. A 67-year-old man with reflux esophagitis who had started esomeprazole treatment for the preceding 10 months complained of back and limb fatigue and myalgia. His serum creatinine kinase (CK) level was markedly elevated, and CK isozyme exhibited an MM pattern. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis induced by esomeprazole. The cessation of esomeprazole rapidly improved his symptoms, and the serum CK level was normalized within 16 days. PPI-induced rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication. In most cases, PPI-induced rhabdomyolysis occurs within 3 months after starting PPIs. However, rhabdomyolysis occurred at 10 months after starting esomeprazole treatment in our patient. Early diagnosis of PPI-induced rhabdomyolysis is required even in long-term PPI users.

Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Stomach: A Response to Combination Chemotherapy Consisting of Ramucirumab Plus Paclitaxel

Extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare disease, and there is no standard chemotherapy. A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced gastric NEC. He received chemotherapy of irinotecan plus cisplatin, and amrubicin monotherapy. After failure of second-line chemotherapy, he received ramucirumab plus paclitaxel; this treatment was chosen because vascular endothelial growth factor 2 was strongly expressed in the tumor endothelial cells. After two cycles, his NEC had markedly reduced in size, and he continued with this treatment for over eight months. In this case, the combination of an anti-angiogenic inhibitor and a cytotoxic agent was highly effective for gastric NEC.

Baseline factors associated with acute progression of metastatic lesions after primary tumor resection in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer

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Background: In patients with unresectable colorectal cancer, primary tumor resection is expected not only local control but also prolongation of survival time. However, in some cases, metastatic tumors have been known to rapidly progress after primary tumor resection. We examined clinical factors associated with acute metastatic progress after primary tumor resection, and it might lead to worse survival. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 183 patients who were newly diagnosed with unresectable colorectal cancer in our institution between April 2007 and April 2016. Among all patients, 83 patients received resection of primary tumor without the presence of symptoms. They were divided into progression and non-progression group according to metastatic progression that evaluated CT scan from four to six weeks after surgery. We analyzed clinicopathological factors related to acute progression after primary tumor resection using Cox proportional hazards. Results: After resection of the primary tumor, 25 patients were classified into progression group and 58 patients were classified into non-progression group. In progression group, the median percent change in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions was 29.6% (10.0-191.7%), and 22 (88.0%) patients showed to have new lesions after resection of the primary tumor. Multivariate analysis revealed LDH (HR 4.44, 95%CI 1.15-18.5, p = 0.02), number of liver metastasis (HR 3.28, 95% CI 1.09-10.0, p = 0.03) and RAS status (HR 3.08, 95% CI 1.05-9.46, p = 0.03) were independent baseline factors associated with acute progression after resection of the primary tumor. The median overall survival (OS) was 12.3 and 27.8 months in progression and non-progression group, respectively. Conclusions: Serum LDH, number of liver metastasis, and RAS mutation were baseline factors associated with acute progression of metastatic tumors after resection of primary tumor in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer. These results indicated that the resection of the primary tumor in patients with these factors might be avoided when they have no clinical symptoms.

Mucosal injury of small intestine in patients with advanced gastric cancer who developed chemotherapy induced diarrhea (CID)

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Background: Fluoropyrimidine is a key drug for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. It causes diarrhea, a common non-hematological toxicity. The consensus guideline suggests aggressive treatment including intravenous fluids and antibiotics, is necessary for patients with severe diarrhea accompanied by fever and sepsis. However, the frequency of complicating signs and the actual degree of damage of small intestinal mucosa have not been reported. We evaluated complicating signs and mucosal injury in patients with complicated CID. Methods: Between April 2007 and December 2016, 170 patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer who underwent S-1 or capecitabine based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Diarrhea was evaluated with CTCAE v4.0, and complicated CID was defined as CTC grade 3 or 4 diarrhea or grade 1 or 2 diarrhea with following signs: cramping, vomiting, decreased performance status, fever, sepsis, neutropenia, frank bleeding, and dehydration. To evaluate mucosal injury of small intestine, capsule endoscopy was performed in patients with complicated CID. Results: Among 170 patients, 15 patients (8.8%) showed complicated CID during chemotherapy (S-1 based chemotherapy, n = 13/148; capecitabine based chemotherapy, n = 2/22). Among the profile of complicated signs, cramping, fever, and vomiting were frequent, and observed in 11 (73%), 7 (47%), and 5 (33%) patients, respectively. Ten patients received capsule endoscopy after improvement of CID, and 6 (60%) patients had multiple erosions or ulcerations in small intestine. Conclusions: The incidence of complicated CID caused by fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy was less frequent in patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. However, most patients showed mucosal injury of small intestine in capsule endoscopy. Therefore, these findings strongly support the guideline that recommends aggressive therapeutic approach for patients with complicated CID.

[Ego-state Therapy: Psychotherapy for Multiple Personality Disorders]

The author describes ego-state therapy. This psychotherapy is used for treating multiple personality disorders. The author mentions the theoretical background of this method, and practical points. Initially, ego-state therapy was developed as a type of hypnotherapy, but it evolved as a safe therapeutic method in combination with trauma processing therapies. The author presents a case study, and discusses the clinical significance of this treatment.