Abstract P1-14-07: Randomized phase 3 study of anthracycline-containing regimens versus S-1 as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (SELECT BC-CONFIRM)–A combined analysis of two randomized phase 3 studies (SELECT BC-CONFIRM and SELECT BC)–

Background: Anthracycline-containing regimens and taxane have been standard as the first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We conducted SELECT BC (randomized phase 3 study of taxane versus S-1 as first-line treatment for MBC) for evaluating the efficacy of S-1 for patients with HER2-negative MBC from 2006 to 2010 in Japan. This study demonstrated non-inferiority of S-1 in overall survival (OS) (median OS was 37.2 months in taxes group and 35.0 months in S-1 group (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.86–1.27, p=0.015)), and superiority in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) to taxanes. S-1 was also shown as less toxic than taxane (Lancet Oncol 2016; 17: 90-98). S-1 might provide clinical benefit as first-line treatment for patients with HER2-negative MBC. To confirm this suggestion, we have conducted further study (randomized phase 3 study of anthracycline-containing regimens versus S-1 as first-line treatment for HER2-negative MBC: SELECT BC-CONFIRM) from 2011 to present, and a combined analysis of two randomized studies (SELECT-BC CONFIRM and SELECT-BC).

Methods: In SELECT BC-CONFIRM, 230 patients receiving first-line treatment for MBC were randomly assigned to either anthracycline group (n=115) or S-1 group (n=115). Anthracycline group patients received anthracycline-containing regimens (AC, EC, FAC, FEC, q3w) at the discretion of the treating physician. S-1 group patients received S-1 40–60 mg twice daily based on the patient's body surface area for 28 days on, 14-day off. The primary endpoint was OS, and secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), adverse events, HRQOL, and cost-effectiveness. The results were combined with SELECT-BC, to confirm the hypothesis that S-1 treatment is not inferior to the standard therapy (taxanes / anthracycline) for HER2-negative MBC.

Results: A combined analysis of the two studies showed that HR was 1.06, 95%CI 0.90-1.253, and p=0.0071 between the standard therapy group and S-1 group. In addition, the Bayesian posterior probability for which HR would be less than 1.333 was about 99.6%.

Conclusions: A combined analysis of SELECT BC-CONFIRM and SELECT BC clearly demonstrated that OS with S-1 was not inferior to that with the standard therapy in patients receiving first-line treatment for HER2-negative MBC. S-1 could become a standard therapy for this patient population.

Citation Format: Park Y, Akabane H, Watanabe T, Takahashi M, Sagara Y, Nishimura R, Tsurutani J, Takashima T, Fujisawa T, Hozumi Y, Uemura Y, Mukai H. Randomized phase 3 study of anthracycline-containing regimens versus S-1 as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (SELECT BC-CONFIRM)–A combined analysis of two randomized phase 3 studies (SELECT BC-CONFIRM and SELECT BC)– [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-14-07.

Abstract P3-13-03: NEOS: A randomized, open label, phase 3 trial of adjuvant chemotherapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients who responded to neoadjuvant letrozole: First report of long-term outcome and prognostic value of response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy

Background: Whether adjuvant chemotherapy is required for patients (pts) with intermediate-risk endocrine-responsive postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) remains unknown. Sufficient data have not been available about the long-term prognosis of patients with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (ET). NEOS is a randomized phase III study that assessed the long-term prognosis of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) primary breast cancer (PBC) pts who received neoadjuvant ET with/without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Postmenopausal BC pts with ER +/HER2 negative, T1c-2, clinically node negative, under 76 years old were enrolled at primary registration. Pts were treated by leterozole (LET) in weeks 24-28 after primary enrollment. Pts experienced progression (PD) during neoadjuvant phase were excluded at randomization and received any systemic therapy driven by investigators before or after surgery. The long-term prognosis was followed in all registered pts including PD pts. Response to neoadjuvant ET was evaluated as complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) using calipers, ultrasound and MRI (or CT) at the baseline and end of treatment before surgery. Pts who met eligibility criteria were randomized 1:1 to LET for 4.5-5 years after chemotherapy or LET alone for 4.5-5 years without chemotherapy after surgery. Pts excluded at second registration were treated any systemic therapies driven by investigators. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), clinical response rate in neoadjuvant phase, pathological response, and breast-conserving surgery rate. The randomization code have been blinded to the investigators.

Results: Between May 2008 and June 2013, 904 patients were enrolled at primary registration from 100 institutions in Japan (median follow-up: 4.0 years) and 24 pts were withdrawn during neoadjuvant phase. The median age was 63 years, T1c:37%, T2:63%, and PgR+:78%. Clinical response rates (CR, PR, SD and PD) were2% (16pts), 48% (421pts), 45% (400pts) and 5% (43pts), respectively and, in each response category, 0% (0/16), 5.5% (23/421), 7.8% (31/400), and 20.9% (9/43) experienced DFS events. DFS in PD pts to neoadjuvant ET were statistically significantly worse than CR, PR, SD pts (p<0.0001, hazard ratio 4.7 (95% CI:2.3-9.5). The prognosis after surgery in 669 randomized pts was good regardless with/without chemotherapy, forty four pts (6.6%) experienced DFS events after surgery. The predictive markers of PD for neoadjuvant ET were yet unclear among evaluated clinical factors.

Conclusion: This is the first report of DFS in the largest neoadjuvant ET trial (NEOS). The DFS of postmenopausal, ER+/HER2-, PBC pts excluding PD pts to neoadjuvant ET is highly good regardless with/without chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant ET with utilization of PD response as a prognostic marker can be considered as a standard treatment option for these patients. Clinical trial information: UMIN000001090.

Citation Format: Iwata H, Masuda N, Fujisawa T, Toyama T, Ohtani S, Yamamoto Y, Kashiwaba M, Taira N, Sakai T, Hasegawa Y, Nakamura R, Akabane H, Shibahara Y, Sasano H, Yamaguchi T, Ohashi Y. NEOS: A randomized, open label, phase 3 trial of adjuvant chemotherapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients who responded to neoadjuvant letrozole: First report of long-term outcome and prognostic value of response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-13-03.

Abstract PD5-03: TransNEOS: Validation of the oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) testing core needle biopsy samples from NEOS as predictor of clinical response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer patients

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced breast cancer has the potential to improve surgical therapeutic outcomes without sacrificing the survival advantages of adjuvant therapy. However, determining whether ER+ patients (pts) will respond to neoadjuvant (NA) chemotherapy (CT) or hormone therapy (HT) can be difficult. Not all ER+ pts respond to NACT, while response to NAHT can vary across ER+ pts. Thus, the ability to select pts more likely to benefit from NAHT would represent progress in clinical management of breast cancer. NEOS is a randomized phase III study assessinglong-term prognosis of ER+ primary breast cancer with/without adjuvant CT following NAHT (UMIN 000001090, http://www.umin.ac.jp/). We used archived core biopsy tumor samples from the NEOS study to validate the RS result as a predictor of clinical response and its association with successful breast conserving surgery (BCS) in pts treated with 6 months of NAHT.

Methods: NEOS enrolled 904 postmenopausal pts with ER+, HER2-, clinically node negative (cN0) breast cancer to evaluate whether adjuvant CT was necessary for pts who responded to NAHT. In this current study, we enrolled pts with tumors ≥2cm from the NEOS study. Biopsy samples of 333 pts were assessed for the Oncotype DX assay. Response to NAHT was recorded as complete/partial response (CR/PR), or stable/progressive disease (SD/PD).

Primary endpoint of this study was to evaluate clinical response (CR/PR) to NA letrozole between pts with low (<18) and high (≥31) RS result. Secondary endpoints include evaluating the relationships between clinical response and continuous RS results, and other covariates including age, tumor size, grade, Ki67 by IHC, ER and PR single gene scores, and ER and proliferation gene group scores by RT-PCR.

Results: The analysis included 294 pts with median age of 63 yrs, median tumor size of 25mm, and 66% were nuclear grade 1. 156 (53.0%), 83 (28.6%) and 54(18.4%) cases were low, intermediate, and high RS groups by Oncotype DX, respectively. Six (2%), 126 (42.8%), 149 (50.3%), 13 (4.4%) cases experienced CR, PR, SD, PD as clinical response, respectively, similar to that of all NEOS pts. Clinical response rate was 54%, 42% and 22% in low, intermediate, and high RS groups, respectively. The proportion of pts with clinical response was significantly higher in the low RS group vs the high RS group (p<0.001). In univariate analyses, continuous RS was significantly associated with clinical response (p<0.001), along with ER (p=.02), PR (p<0.001), and ER gene group score (p<0.001). Other covariates were not associated with clinical response.

Conclusion: The Oncotype DX RS test in core biopsy samples is validated as a predictive assay for clinical response of NAHT in postmenopausal, ER+/HER2-, cN0, primary early breast cancer pts. Further results on the association of RS results with BCS outcomes following NAHT will be presented. These results when combined with previously published data on RS in NACT studies help guide pts with ER+, HER2- breast cancer with NAHT vs NACT treatment options to maximize clinical response.

Citation Format: Yamamoto Y, Iwata H, Masuda N, Fujisawa T, Toyama T, Kashiwaba M, Ohtani S, Taira N, Sakai T, Hasegawa Y, Nakamura R, Akabane H, Shibahara Y, Sasano H, Yamaguchi T, Sakamaki K, Chao C, McCullough D, Sugiyama N, Ohashi Y. TransNEOS: Validation of the oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) testing core needle biopsy samples from NEOS as predictor of clinical response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD5-03.

Long-term health status as measured by EQ-5D among patients with metastatic breast cancer: comparison of first-line oral S-1 and taxane therapies in the randomized phase III SELECT BC trial

Purpose

The goal of chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is to prolong survival and maintain health-related quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate long-term health status of patients with MBC who participated in the phase III randomized SELECT BC trial.

Methods

In the SELECT BC trial, patients were randomly allocated to the S-1 or taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel) arm. Health status was assessed by EQ-5D at pre-treatment, 3 and 6 months after randomization, and every 6 months thereafter to the extent possible. Least square mean scores were assessed to compare EQ-5D index values between groups. Time to deterioration analysis was also performed by defining the minimally important difference of EQ-5D as 0.05 or 0.1.

Results

The number of patients for EQ-5D analysis was 175 and 208 in the taxane and S-1 arms, respectively. Least square mean EQ-5D index values up to 60 months were 0.741 (95 % CI [0.713–0.769]) in the taxane arm and 0.748 [0.722–0.775] in the S-1 arm. The EQ-5D index value during PFS up to 12 months in the S-1 was superior to the corresponding index value in the taxane (0.812 [0.789–0.834] vs. 0.772 [0.751–0.792], P = 0.009). Time to deterioration analysis also revealed that S-1 significantly delayed the deterioration of EQ-5D index value during the period before progression (P = 0.002 and 0.003).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the EQ-5D index value was higher in patients treated with S-1 during first-line chemotherapy. Considering non-inferiority of S-1 in terms of OS, obtained quality-adjusted life years may be greater in the S-1 arm.

Constant involvement of the Betz cells and pyramidal tract in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dementia: a clinicopathological study of eight autopsy cases

We investigated clinicopathologically pyramidal signs, including hyperreflexia, Babinski sign, and spasticity, and the involvement of the primary motor cortex and pyramidal tract, in eight Japanese autopsy cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with dementia. Pyramidal signs were observed in seven (88%) of the eight autopsy cases. Hyperreflexia and Babinski sign were evident in seven (88%) and three (38%) patients, respectively, but spasticity was not observed in any of the eight patients. Loss of Betz cells in the primary motor cortex was evident in the seven cases in which this structure was examined. Astrocytosis in the fifth layer of the primary motor cortex was noticed in three cases. In all eight cases, involvement of the pyramidal tract was obvious in the medulla oblongata, but no involvement of the pyramidal tract was found in the midbrain. Involvement of the pyramidal tract in the spinal cord, particularly of large myelinated fibers, was observed in all six cases in which the spinal cord was examined. In ALS with dementia, pyramidal signs were shown to be present more frequently than previously believed, and the clinicopathological correlation between pyramidal signs and involvement of the pyramidal tract was obvious. Constant involvement of Betz cells and the pyramidal tract in ALS with dementia has not been reported. Our clinicopathological findings may make a contribution to the understanding of the clinicopathological hallmarks of this disorder. Furthermore, we believe that this study will also contribute to the elucidation of the nosological status of ALS with dementia.

p53 mutations in tumor and non-tumor tissues of thorotrast recipients: a model for cellular selection during radiation carcinogenesis in the liver

Concerns over cancer development from exposure to environmental sources of densely ionizing, high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, such as alpha-particles from radon, is a current public health issue. The study of tumors attributable to high LET irradiation would greatly augment our insights into the biological mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Chronic low-dose-rate internal exposure to alpha-radiation from thorium dioxide deposits following intravascular administration of the radiographic contrast agent Thorotrast is known to markedly increase the risk of cancer development, especially that of hepatic angiosarcomas and cholangiocarcinomas. Although the mechanism is hypothesized to be via cellular damage, DNA being a major target, wrought by the high LET alpha-particles, the specific genes and the actual sequence of events involved in the process of transforming a normal cell into a malignant one are largely unknown. To shed some light on the molecular mechanisms of cancer development during a lifetime exposure to alpha-radiation, we analyzed the most commonly affected tumor suppressor gene in humans, p53, in 20 Thorotrast recipients who developed cancer, mostly of hepatic bile duct and blood vessel origin. Of the 20 cases, 19 were found to harbor p53 point mutations. Moreover, the accompanying non-tumor tissues from these patients also had p53 mutations, albeit at lower frequency. The distribution pattern of the point mutations was significantly different between the non-tumor and tumor tissues, with most mutations in malignant tissues located in the highly conserved domains of the p53 gene. Our results support the idea that p53 mutations are important in the genesis of Thorotrast-induced tumors but that these point mutations are a secondary outcome of genomic instability induced by the irradiation. Additionally, non-tumor cells harboring p53 mutations may gain some survival advantage in situ but mutations in the domains responsible for the formation of structural elements critical in binding DNA may be necessary for a cell to reach full malignancy.

MELAS with prominent white matter gliosis and atrophy of the cerebellar granular layer: a clinical, genetic, and pathological study

This report concerns an autopsy case of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) with unusual neuropathological findings. The patient was a Japanese woman who was 21 years old at the time of death. Her mother is a patient with genetically confirmed MELAS. Her clinical manifestations included convulsions and lactic acidosis in the latter half of the first decade of life, followed by deafness, dementia, muscle weakness in the lower extremities, slight ataxia in the upper and lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus. Muscle biopsy revealed ragged-red fibers, and genetic study showed a point mutation at nucleotide pair 3243 in mitochondrial DNA. She died of lactic acidosis. In the clinical course, she did not develop stroke-like episodes. The neuropathological examination revealed not only minute to small necrotic foci in the cerebral cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum, but also prominent white matter gliosis in the central nervous system and cerebellar cortical degeneration of granular cell type. Our neuropathological findings, including prominent white matter gliosis of the central nervous system and cerebellar cortical degeneration of granular cell type, may indicate morphologically widespread cellular dysfunction, not restricted to either neuronal or vascular derangement, in the brain pathology of MELAS.

Assessment of mutations of Ha- and Ki-ras oncogenes and the p53 suppressor gene in seven malignant mesothelioma patients exposed to asbestos--PCR-SSCP and sequencing analyses of paraffin-embedded primary tumors

To examine whether malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos has genetic alterations in the Ha- and Ki-ras oncogenes or in the p53 suppressor gene, we analyzed the point mutations of these genes in paraffin-embedded autopsy samples of the primary tumors of malignant mesothelioma in seven asbestos patients who died from malignant mesothelioma. The genetic analysis was conducted by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand comformation polymorphysms (PCR-SSCP) method in all patients, and through the sequencing of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) bases in one patient. No genetic alterations were found in exons 1 or 2 of Ha- and Ki-ras oncogenes, or in exons 5 to 9 of the p53 gene, in any of the patients. Further studies on a larger number of patients are required to reach a definite conclusion concerning the genetic effects of asbestos on malignant mesothelioma.

[The clinical utility of asbestos body counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid]

To assess the clinical utility of measuring the number of asbestos bodies (AB) present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), we counted the number of AB in BALF from 119 subjects using light microscopy. The results were analyzed according to occupational histories, radiological findings of asbestos-induced lung and pleural changes, and asbestos-related diseases. The 94 subjects in group 1 had a history of dust exposure, whereas group 2 subjects (n = 25) had no dust exposure. Group 1 was subdivided into subjects with obvious exposure to asbestos (group 1A, n = 61), and subjects with no known exposure to asbestos (group 1B, n = 33). The distribution of AB counts per ml of BALF (means +/- SEM) differed significantly between groups 1 and 2 (38.8 +/- 17.4 vs 0.06 +/- 0.04, p < 0.0001). The AB counts were significantly different between groups 1A and 1B (57.9 +/- 26.6 vs 3.4 +/- 1.2, p = 0.01). Subject, exposed to dust who had radiological evidence of pleural thickening had significantly higher AB counts than subjects in whom pleural thickening was absent (66.0 +/- 31.1 vs 5.1 +/- 4.2, p = 0.03). In group 1, the BALF was positive for AB in 7 of 14 patients with pulmonary fibrosis, 4 of 5 patients with lung cancer, all 6 patients with malignant mesothelioma, and all 4 patients with benign asbestos pleural effusion. We conclude that AB counts in BALF are useful for evaluating both the history of asbestos exposure in a population exposed to dust, as well as patients having asbestos-related diseases.

Malignant lymphoma involving the penis following malignant pleural mesothelioma

A 74-year-old man who had been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma developed malignant lymphoma of B-cell origin involving the penis. He had a history of occupational exposure to asbestos as a construction worker. The association of malignant mesothelioma with lymphoma is rare, and the possibility of asbestos exposure as a common etiology is discussed. The intense stimulation of B lymphocytes and decreased T lymphocyte activity in asbestos-exposed populations may result in development of B-cell malignancies. Though the relationship between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma is firmly established, the relationship between asbestos exposure and lymphoma remains to be investigated.

[An autopsy case of corticobasal degeneration mimicking frontal Pick's disease]

A pathologically proven case of corticobasal degeneration (CBD) with marked psychiatric symptoms was reported. A 59-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in October 1989 because of her "forgetfulness". Her abnormal behavior began in August 1989, and she had no psychiatric signs before that time. On this admission she was diagnosed to have panhypopituitarism due to Sheehan syndrome. Cortisone and levothyroxine were administered, but her mental symptoms deteriorated. Strange behaviors such as buying same materials every day and wandering around all day long fully dressed with all of her jewels were observed. She could not perform her housework after March 1991. She was in a bed ridden state after 1992 and died in March 1993, at the age of 62. The total duration of her illness was 3 years and 7 months. Her clinical course resembled frontal Pick's disease. At autopsy advanced gastric cancer without metastasis and infarct of the pituitary gland were found. The weight of the brain was 987g and atrophy of the bilateral frontal lobes was evident on macroscopical examination. Neuronal loss, proliferation of the glia, and spongy state were observed in the superficial layer of the frontal cerebral cortex. Widespread appearance of ballooned neurones was also observed in the deep layers of the frontal cerebral cortex. Neuronal loss and gliosis were found in the striatum, pallidum, thalamus, and substantia nigra. There was neither senile plaques nor Pick bodies. Numerous argyrophilic threads were found by Gallyas-Braak method and all these pathological findings were compatible with the previously reported cases of CBD. Although CBD is considered as predominantly a motor disorder, there are a few reports of pathologically proven cases of CBD mimicking Pick's disease. These cases suggest clinical diversity of CBD and further investigations are essential to establish the disease entity of CBD and Pick's disease.

[A case of CEA and CA19-9 producing recurrent transitional cell carcinoma in an Indiana pouch after total cystectomy]

A 73-year-old female with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder underwent total cystectomy and Indiana pouch replacement in April, 1992. Histological examination revealed grade 3 TCC. In February 1995, she complained of gross hematuria. Intravenous pyelography (IVP) revealed a right non-functional kidney and filling defect in the Indiana pouch. We suspected colon cancer in the Indiana pouch because the levels of serum carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 were elevated. Endoscopic biopsy of intrapouch tumor was done. Pathological examination revealed grade 2 TCC. In July 1995, right nephroureterectomy with resection of Indiana pouch was performed and the surgical specimen revealed renal pelvic and ureteral cancer, grade 2 TCC. The levels of serum CEA and CA19-9 returned to the normal range 21 days after the operation. CEA and CA19-9 histochemical stain of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer were positive. Also CEA-, CA19-9-positive cells were detected in the specimens of the bladder tumor from the total cystectomy performed in 1992. This rare case is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

[Advantages and disadvantages of the intraarterial chemotherapy using a reservoir as postoperative adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma]

We conducted a retrospective study on the efficacy and disadvantages of intraarterial chemotherapy using a reservoir (ICUR), as postoperative adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred and seventy HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy since 1987 to 1992 in our institute were enrolled in this study. Ninety-two patients were postoperatively treated with ICUR (group R), and seventy-eight patients without it (group N). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the preoperative evaluations of the characteristics of patients, tumors, and operative procedures. Although statistical significances were not found, disease-free rates within 1 year and cumulative survival rates appeared to be higher in group R than in group N. Patency of the catheter of reservoirs at one and two years were maintained in 80.3 and 44.1% of the patients, respectively. HCC recurred after an occlusion of the reservoir in 18 patients. In four out of these 18 patients, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for recurrent tumors was not feasible, because of occlusion of the hepatic artery. TAEs for recurrent lesions would have been impossible in about 10% of all patients treated with ICUR. Thus, both the advantages and disadvantages should be taken into consideration on the indication of ICUR, and the maintainance of the catheter is important for successful ICUR.

Choledochocele with obstructive jaundice: a case report and a review of the Japanese literature

A case of a 57-year-old farmer with a rare type of choledochal cyst (choledochocele; Alonso-Lej's type III) is described. The patient was admitted because of obstructive jaundice and acute biliary infection. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a cystic lesion in the head of the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography disclosed cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the common bile duct. It was suspected that the choledochocele could swell and compress the common bile duct, causing obstructive jaundice and acute cholangitis; therefore, it was surgically resected. We also reviewed 61 cases of choledochocele reported in Japan; the findings were similar to those reported in the English literature.

Production and characterization of antibodies reactive with leukotoxin

A sensitive radioimmunoassay was developed for the determination of leukotoxin (9: 10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid), which was reported to exist in human burned skin and neutrophils, and was regarded as a toxic and/or defensive substance in living beings. The leukotoxin was conjugated with bovine serum albumin by means of the mixed anhydride technique as immunogen and rabbits were immunized over 4 months. According to a titration test of antiserum, forty-fold diluted antiserum was found to bind approximately 50% of about 4,000 dpm of methylated leukotoxin labeled with [14C] carbon. The detection limit of leukotoxin was at least as low as 5 ng in this radioimmunoassay by use of a polyetylene glycol precipitation method. This antiserum had a strong specificity to leukotoxin and no cross-reactivity with the other analogs tested.

Production of monoclonal antibodies against diquat and its enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Monoclonal antibodies(MoAbs) very specific to diquat (DQ) were produced. An immunogen was synthesized by binding DQ to bovine serum albumin via a diazo-coupled derivative. BALB/c mice were immunized i.p. monthly with 0.25mg of the immunogen for five months. Their spleen cells were fused with P3U1 myeloma cells and hybridoma clones secreting MoAbs were obtained. Two MoAbs were selected and subtyped to be IgM and IgG3. The MoAbs recognized DQ but did not bind to paraquat and other analogues at all. A datum obtained from a clinical sample demonstrates that an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system using one of the MoAbs is useful in the practice of toxicological analysis.

[Synthesized leukotoxin: its biological activity and establishment of radioimmunoassay]

Leukotoxin, 9: 10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid, was reported to exist in human burned skin and neutrophils, and to have toxic effects in experimental animals and antifungal effects against rice blast disease. Leukotoxin was regarded as a toxic and/or defensive substance in living beings. The author synthesized leukotoxin from linoleic acid with peracetic acid and purified practically by thin layer chromatography. The leukotoxin synthesized was injected into guinea pigs intravenously and caused a systemic convulsion of the animal body and cardiac arrest. The leukotoxin synthesized, on the other hand, was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by means of the mixed anhydride technique and immunized in rabbits. After immunization of leukotoxin conjugated with BSA over 4 months, the author succeeded in producing anti-leukotoxin antiserum for the first time. According to a titration test of antiserum, sixty-folds diluted antiserum was found to bind approximately 50% of methylated leukotoxin labeled with carbon 14. And unlabeled leukotoxin was detected at least 5 ng in this radioimmunoassay by use of polyethylene glycol precipitation. This antiserum had a strong specificity to leukotoxin and no cross-reactivity to the other analogs tested. The role of leukotoxin in living creatures had not been clarified yet. Therefore both the leukotoxin synthesized by this simple procedure and the anti-leukotoxin antibodies would aid the study of the mechanism of its biological activities and its histochemical investigations.

Determination of dimethyl sulphide in blood and adipose tissue by headspace gas analysis

A method for the headspace analysis of dimethyl sulphide in blood and adipose tissue has been established. Blood (0.2 ml) or adipose tissue (0.5 g) with added dimethyl sulphide was sealed in a 10-ml vial using PTFE sheet to prevent escape of dimethyl sulphide from the headspace. Equilibration was performed at 60 degrees C for 4 h, and 20 microliters of gaseous phase sampled from the headspace was subjected to gas chromatography (with flame photometric detection). Calibration curves were prepared for the two samples. Linearity was observed in the range from 5-10 micrograms to 2 mg.

[An autopsy case of atypical hanging: were arteries and air passage obstructed?]

A housewife hanged herself with her left foot on a washstand and her right foot above the floor. The ligature mark encircled once horizontally at the height of the laryngeal prominence (horizontal part), crossed at the front of the neck, rose to the posterior regions of the mandibular angles and extended upward to the preauricular regions (ascending part). Petechial haemorrhage was in the conjunctivae and froth was in the air passage. Vertebral arteries are not obstructed by the compression of the horizontal part (Brinkmann et al., 1981). Vertebral arteries are possibly not obstructed by the traction of the ascending part (experiment on our own necks). An air passage is not obstructed by the compression of the horizontal part (Langreuter, 1886; Strassmann, 1922). Obstruction of an air passage by typical hanging is removed by putting the bent head to upright position (Langreuter, 1886). From these experimental observations we clarified that in our case the vertebral arteries and air passage had very possibly not been obstructed by the hanging while 70-80% of her body weight, i.e. 40-45 kg, had loaded on the neck. The force to obstruct the arteries and air passage by hanging, which has been quoted in texts and articles in Japan, is absolutely due to the value for "typical" hanging.

Immunohistochemical localization and dynamics of paraquat in small intestine, liver and kidney

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to observe the localization of paraquat in the small intestine, liver and kidney, organs that absorb and eliminate chemicals. Paraquat-poisoned rats were killed 3 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, 7 days and 10 days after intravenous administration of paraquat. Three hours after injection, paraquat was localized in hepatocytes and in the kidney in the epithelial cells of the distal tubule. The amount of paraquat in the liver and kidney increased by 24 h after the administration and thereafter decreased with time, suggesting that paraquat is secreted into bile and urine. In the intestine, 3 h after injection, paraquat was localized in the epithelial cells. The same finding was also made in rats with a cannulated bile duct. Therefore, it is likely that paraquat is secreted into the gut lumen from epithelial cells and that paraquat secreted from liver into the duodenum is reabsorbed into the epithelial cells of the intestine.

[Hodgkin's disease associated with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome]

A thirty-eight-year-old man developed gradually progressing right retro-orbital pain, diplopia on the left lateral gaze, and left ptosis. On examination paresthesia was present on the first division of right trigeminal nerve. Orbital venography revealed obstruction of right superior orbital vein on the entering portion to the cavernous sinus. A daily administration of 30 mg of prednisolone resulted in a rapid improvement of the symptoms. Diagnosis of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome was made on the basis of neurological symptoms, roentgenographic findings and responsiveness to prednisolone. One year later, weakness of right leg accompanied with left cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy was developed. A biopsy specimen of cervical lymph node was identical with the Hodgkin's disease, lymphocyte predominance type. He was treated with COPP regimen; lymphadenopathy decreased in size. We reported a rare case of Hodgkin's disease preceded by Tolosa-hunt syndrome which might be caused by the extranodal lesions.

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with paraquat

A set of three anti-paraquat monoclonal antibodies(MoAbs), named APM-1, APM-2 and APM-3, has been isolated. In order to evaluate the ability of these MoAbs to recognize various kinds of bipyridyl herbicides and similar congeners of paraquat, a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using avidin-biotin complex (ABC) was developed. All three antibodies strongly recognized paraquat and slightly did the other analogs. These three MoAbs are therefore advantageous to a toxicological study of paraquat and of its localization in tissues.

Immunotherapy for the treatment of acute paraquat poisoning

For the purpose of sequestering paraquat in the plasma compartment and preventing it from accumulating in tissues the effects of intravenous administration of anti-paraquat antibodies to rats were studied. After an intravenous paraquat injection of 0.1 mg/kg, the plasma paraquat concentration from rats pretreated with anti-paraquat antibodies was significantly increased and the amount of paraquat excreted in urine was significantly decreased compared to the control group. The concentration of paraquat in bile and organs except liver, was not changed by the treatment, but the paraquat level in the liver was significantly increased. Although immunotherapy succeeded in sequestering paraquat in the plasma compartment, it could not prevent paraquat from accumulating in tissues.