The correlation of antibodies to nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and nuclear acidic protein (Sm) with nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The role of antibodies to Sm and RNP in renal diseases in SLE was investigated using counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). Antibody to RNP was found in about 50% of lupus patients irrespective of the degree of renal involvement as evaluated clinically, histologically and immunopathologically. Antibody to Sm was found more frequently in lupus patients with renal lesions than in those without renal disease. Antibody to RNP was demonstrated in 8 of 10 (80%) and antibody to Sm in 4 of 10 (40%) specimens obtained by elution of autopsied kidneys. These results suggest that antibodies to RNP and Sm are also of importance in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis in addition to the already recognized role of antibody to ds-DNA.

Robot-assisted surgical approach to bladder cancer: a decade of progress!

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has gained popularity and proven its efficacy, safety and reproducibility in the last decade. RARC has resulted in less blood loss, enhanced recovery, and shorter hospital stay. RARC has proven to have similar or better postoperative morbidity, mortality and equal oncologic, outcomes. Limiting factors to the acceptance of this surgical approach have included its steep learning curve and the lack of both long-term outcome data. This article systematically reviews the literature comparing the outcomes for RARC (comparisons with open radical cystectomy when performed at the same institution) with a focus on operative, complications, oncologic, functional and survival outcomes.

Retroperitoneoscopic pyeloplasty with concomitant neophropexy for a ureteropelvic junction obstruction in combination with nephroptosis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

We herein describe our technique for retroperitoneoscopic pyeloplasty with concomitant nephropexy in patients with a ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction in combination with nephroptosis.

METHODS

We performed this operation on three female patients with a right UPJ obstruction and nephroptosis diagnosed by intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, computed tomography and an isotopic renogram. All patients underwent the insertion of a ureteral stent before laparoscopy, and they were placed in the flank position. A four-port, balloon-dissecting, retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach was used. Gerota's fascia was incised and the perirenal fat was completely dissected from the kidney. A UPJ obstruction was identified and pyeloplasty was performed using Anderson-Hynes dismembered anastomosis. Next, kidney fixation to the abdominal wall was performed by rows of renal capsular 2-0 nylon sutures which were secured to the quadratus lumborum fascia. All procedures were performed retroperitoneoscopically.

RESULTS

The median operative time was 350 min with a range from 204 to 414 min. The median estimated blood loss was 50 ml with a range from 10 to 200 ml. The postoperative hospital stay was 6 days. There were no postoperative complications. The ureteral stent was removed at 6 weeks after surgery. Postoperative urography revealed a complete resolution of hydronephrosis in all cases with one complete resolution and two cases with an improvement of nephroptosis. All patients had a complete resolution of their symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Retroperitoneoscopic pyeloplasty with concomitant nephropexy seems to be a feasible, effective and minimally invasive procedure for treating UPJ obstruction in combination with nephroptosis.

Detection and Separation of Two Kinds of Acidic Arginine Amidases from Boar Sperm Using Lima Bean Trypsin Inhibitor and Aprotinin Affinity Adsorptions

Two kinds of acidic arginine amidase activity were found in boar sperm. One enzyme was separated by a treatment consisting of lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) affinity adsorption and elution. The other enzyme was separated by aprotinin affinity adsorption and elution through the same solutions as those used for first enzyme; the two enzymes provisionally named boar sperm acidic arginine amidases 1 (BSAA-1) and 2 (BSAA-2), respectively. The amidolytic activity of BSAA-1 was increased by high concentrations of calcium chloride, while the activity of BSAA-2 was independent of calcium chloride. Their behavior with LBTI and aprotinin, and profiles of their substrate specificities, were also different. The affinity of LBTI to BSAA-1 was approximately 14 times higher than that to BSAA-2.

Aortic and vena caval reconstruction with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for metastatic germ cell tumor

A 49-year-old man who had a huge testicular tumor with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis and bilateral multiple pulmonary metastases was referred to our hospital. Firstly orchiectomy was done obtaining the pathological diagnosis of mixed type germ cell tumor. After cisplatin-based chemotherapy, he underwent resection of the retroperitoneal lymph node involving the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava. Both great vessels were resected with the tumor and reconstructed with prosthetic grafts. Two months after the laparotomy, 12 metastatic nodules in the left lung were resected. Seven months later, he furthermore underwent resection of 4 metastatic nodules in the right lung. Microscopically, all resected metastatic tumors were diagnosed to be mature teratoma without viable malignant cells. The patient remains well 30 months after the first operation. Follow-up CT scan demonstrates patency of aortic and vena caval bypass grafts without local recurrence or distant metastasis.

Identification of parathyroid hormone-related protein-derived peptides immunogenic in human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen-A24+ prostate cancer patients

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a key factor in the development of bone metastases, which are a major barrier in treating prostate cancer patients. In this study, we attempted to identify PTHrP-derived peptides immunogenic in human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24(+) prostate cancer patients. Among four different PTHrP peptides carrying the HLA-A24 binding motif, both the PTHrP(36-44) and PTHrP(102-111) peptides efficiently induced peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HLA-A24(+) prostate cancer patients. Peptide-stimulated PBMCs showed cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells in an HLA-A24-restricted manner. Experiments using antibodies and cold inhibition targets confirmed that their cytotoxicity was dependent on PTHrP peptide-specific and CD8(+) T cells. Immunoglobulin G reactive to the PTHrP(102-111) or PTHrP(110-119) peptide was frequently detected in the plasma of prostate cancer patients, suggesting that the PTHrP(102-111) peptide is able to elicit cellular and humoral immune responses in cancer patients. These results indicate that the PTHrP could be a promising target molecule for specific immunotherapy of HLA-A24(+) prostate cancer patients with metastases.

Evaluation of swallowing function after intraoral soft tissue reconstruction with microvascular free flaps

This study assessed swallowing function after tumour resection and reconstruction utilizing free vascularized flap closures in patients with oral cancer. Swallowing function was evaluated postoperatively in 23 patients (21 men and 2 women) who had undergone reconstruction with either a lateral upper arm free flap (LUFF, n=16) or a radial forearm free flap (RFFF, n=7). Videofluoroscopy was used to assess tongue mobility and abnormalities of swallowing function. All patients who underwent reconstruction with LUFF or RFFF free flaps had decreased tongue mobility, except for the tip of the tongue. Patients who underwent anterior or posterior resection had greater decreases in tongue mobility than those who underwent medial resection. Swallowing impairment was similar in patients with LUFFs and those with RFFFs. Anterior resection of the oral cavity had a significant negative effect on swallowing function. Silent aspiration occurred in five patients. In conclusion the resection site affected swallowing function, but the type of flap did not, in patients with oral carcinoma, who underwent tumour resection with reconstruction

Significance of cancer detection in the anterior lateral horn on systematic prostate biopsy: the effect on pathological findings of radical prostatectomy specimens

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the significance of cancer detection in the anterior lateral horn (ALH) on systematic prostate biopsy in relation to its effect on the pathological findings from retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 84 consecutive patients who underwent RRP at our institution between January 1999 and December 2002, after being diagnosed as having prostate cancer, based on systematic prostate biopsies that included the areas taken by standard sextant biopsies and the bilateral ALHs. Several clinicopathological factors of these patients were analysed in relation to the presence or absence of cancer in the ALH on systematic biopsy.

RESULTS

Of the 84 patients, cancer was detected in the ALH in 44 (group A), but not in the remaining 40 (group B). There were no significant differences in age, preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen level, or prostate volume between the groups. However, the incidence of bilateral positive cores and the percentage of positive biopsy cores in group A were significantly higher than those in group B. Pathological examinations of RRP specimens showed no significant differences in the incidence of lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and perineural invasion, or Gleason score between the groups, but group A had a significantly larger tumour volume and higher incidence of extraprostatic disease than group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite similar biological tumour characteristics and irrespective of the cancer location in the ALH, advanced and extensive disease frequently involves the ALH. Therefore, more aggressive treatment should be considered if cancer is detected in the ALH by systematic prostate biopsy.

Swallowing and speech function after intraoral soft tissue reconstruction with lateral upper arm free flap and radial forearm free flap

Swallowing, speech, and morbidity were assessed postoperatively in 25 patients, 18 of whom had had intraoral defects reconstructed by lateral upper arm free flaps (LUFF) and 7 by radial forearm free flaps (RFFF). Video fluoroscopy was used to assess swallowing, the Freiburger audiometric test to assess speech; and measurement of arm circumference to assess donor site morbidity. A questionnaire was used to evaluate swallowing, speech, and donor site morbidity subjectively. The degree of impairment in swallowing depended on the site of resection. Anterior and posterior resections affected swallowing more than lateral resections. Anterior resection and the use of LUFFs reduced intelligibility. There was no significant difference in impairment between LUFF and RFFF. We conclude that the LUFFs are superior to RFFFs because they can be closed primary and the incidence of donor site morbidity is slight.

Increased urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion after ileal neobladder replacement

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether orthotopic neobladder replacement using either ileum or colon segments results in increased oxidative stress, by measuring urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), one of the most commonly used markers for evaluating oxidative DNA damage.

PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Urinary levels of 8-OHdG and creatinine, urine analysis, nutritional status, and acid-base and electrolyte balances, were assessed in 22 patients with an ileal neobladder, 28 with a colon neobladder, 37 with an ileal conduit and 22 healthy volunteers. The results from both types of orthotopic neobladder, the ileal conduit and in the healthy controls were compared.

RESULTS

The mean (sd) ratios of urinary 8-OHdG to urinary creatinine in patients with an ileal neobladder, colon neobladder, ileal conduit and in controls were 20.4 (7.8), 15.2 (4.3), 15.9 (5.1) and 15.2 (5.4) ng/mg, respectively. The urinary 8-OHdG ratio in the first group was significantly higher than in the other three groups. Among patients with a neobladder, the urinary 8-OHdG ratio was closely associated with the degree of pyuria, but not age, gender, the interval from surgery, body weight, height, serum creatinine or the degree of metabolic acidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that creating an ileal neobladder caused significantly greater oxidative stress than a colon neobladder, ileal conduit, or that in healthy controls. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct a careful long-term follow-up considering the possible development of malignant disease after urinary diversion, especially by an ileal neobladder.

Primary embryonal carcinoma of heart with SVC syndrome

We present a case report of a 25-year-old man with embryonal carcinoma of right atrium and multiple lung metastases featuring SVC syndrome. We resected the cardiac tumor which occupied the right atrium and performed left upper lobectomy. No tumor mass or vestige was detected in the testes. Cis-platinum based combination chemotherapy was performed for residual lung tumors, which leads to the complete remission.

Role of percutaneous image-guided biopsy in the evaluation of renal masses

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the indications, accuracy, complications and impact of image-guided percutaneous biopsy of renal masses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1994 and 1999, percutaneous biopsies under ultrasonography or computerized tomography guidance were performed in 33 patients with renal mass (22 men and 11 women, mean age 57.5 years, range 21-88). We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between clinical and histopathological findings, and discuss the appropriateness of the indications for image-guided percutaneous biopsy in the diagnosis of renal masses.

RESULTS

The indications used in our institution were as follows: (1) clinical and radiological findings to suggest a diagnosis other than primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (n = 15); (2) suspicious lesions of RCC in multiple cystic renal masses (n = 7); (3) differentiation of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis from RCC (n = 7); (4) differentiation of angiomyolipoma from RCC (n = 4). Sufficient amounts of tissues were obtained from all patients for pathological diagnosis. Among 33 patients, 21 (63.6%) were diagnosed positive for malignancy, and 15 underwent surgical intervention. The histopathological findings between percutaneous biopsy and surgically resected tissue were identical in 13 cases (86.7%). No patient developed major complications requiring surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

If performed under appropriate selection of patients, percutaneous image-guided biopsy is a safe, reliable and accurate method of managing suspicious and/or indeterminate renal mass, and may contribute to the selection of appropriate clinical management by avoiding unnecessary procedures.

Acquisition of resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis by overexpression of clusterin in human renal-cell carcinoma cells

Recent studies have shown the antiapoptotic activity of clusterin against a wide variety of stimuli; however, the functional role of clusterin in Fas-mediated apoptosis has not been well characterized. We transfected the clusterin cDNA into human renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) ACHN cells that scarcely express clusterin protein in order to examine whether overexpression of clusterin inhibits the Fas-mediated signal pathway for apoptotic cell death. No significant difference was observed in the in vitro cell growth rates between the clusterin-transfected cell line (ACHN/CL) and the vector-only-transfected control cell line (ACHN/C), whereas the colony-forming efficiency in soft agar of ACHN/CL was significantly higher than that of ACHAN/C. The anti-Fas monoclonal antibody CH11 induced apoptosis in ACHAN/C cells in a dose-dependent manner; however, the growth-inhibitory effect of CH11 on ACHN/CL cells was markedly suppressed, with corresponding increases in p53 expression and decrease in the fraction of cells in the sub-G(1) phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of CH11 on ACHN/CL cells was augmented by treatment with interferon-gamma, but a corresponding effect on ACHN/C cells was not observed. These findings suggest that overexpression of clusterin may contribute to a phenotype resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis, and that if interferon-gamma treatment is added according to the clusterin expression level, Fas-mediated therapy could be a novel approach to RCC.

Bladder reconstruction with autotransplanted ileum in the dog: better functional results than standard enterocystoplasty

OBJECTIVE

To compare, in a dog model, the properties of a reconstructed bladder (peristalsis, histological changes and absorption) using an autotransplanted ileal segment with standard enterocystoplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female beagle dogs were divided into two groups. In group 1 (autotransplantation, six dogs), a Heineke-Mikulicz-type pouch was constructed using autotransplanted terminal ileum. The artery and vein of the terminal ileum were anastomosed to the iliac artery and vein, respectively. The pouch was anastomosed to the bladder remnant immediately above the vesical triangle. In group 2 (control, five dogs) the same type of bladder reconstruction using terminal ileum was undertaken but with no vessel anastomosis. Bladder function in these two groups was then compared for peristalsis (by monitoring intravesical pressure), histological changes (by microscopy) and glucose reabsorption (by measuring the amount of glucose remaining in the reconstructed bladder). The mean (range) follow-up was 11 (7-18) months for group 1 and 9.2 (7-12) months for group 2; the recovery time before examination was 4.6 (2-7) months for group 1 and 4.0 (2-6) months for group 2.

RESULTS

In group 1, there were no major complications in five dogs after the procedure and they survived for > 7 months; the autotransplant became necrotic in one dog where the arterial diameter was < 1 mm. In the control group, all five dogs survived for > or = 7 months after surgery. Intestinal peristalsis was inhibited in group 1 but not in group 2. The bladder was oval/spherical in group 1 and elongated in group 2, with a thinner epithelium and fewer goblet cells in the latter. Glucose reabsorption was greater in group 2 than in group 1.

CONCLUSION

Bladder reconstruction using autotransplanted terminal ileum in dogs is technically feasible. For bowel peristalsis and reabsorption of glucose, autotransplanted ileum may have functional advantages over a standard enterocystoplasty.

Health-related quality of life after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: a comparison of ileal conduit and orthotopic bladder replacement

OBJECTIVE

To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after radical cystectomy in patients with an ileal conduit or an orthotopic neobladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 85 men who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, comprising 48 with an orthotopic neobladder (26 with an ileal and 22 with a colon neobladder) and 37 with an ileal conduit. HRQoL was evaluated using the Short Form-36 survey containing 36 questions assessing eight aspects, including physical functioning, role-physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional functioning and mental health.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up periods for patients with a neobladder (ileal and sigmoid) and with an ileal conduit was 45.9 (38.2 and 53.1, respectively) and 130.9 months, respectively. Scale scores were not affected by the duration of follow-up in either group. There was no significant difference in any scale scores between the neobladder and ileal conduit groups. However, general health and social functioning in both the neobladder and ileal conduit groups appeared to be significantly lower than those in the general population in the USA. Furthermore, patients with a colon neobladder had a significantly higher score for role-emotional functioning than those with an ileal neobladder, while there was no significant difference in the remaining seven scores between patients with ileal and colon neobladders.

CONCLUSIONS

Six of the eight scales of HRQoL were favourable in both patients with a neobladder or an ileal conduit, and there was no significant difference between these groups. In addition, the HRQoL of patients with an orthotopic neobladder (except for role-emotional functioning) was unaffected by the segment of the intestine used for neobladder construction. Therefore, patients with both types of urinary diversion were generally satisfied with their overall health and quality of life.

Synergistic chemsensitization and inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis by the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting clusterin gene in a human bladder cancer model

Clusterin expression is highly up-regulated in several normal and malignant tissues undergoing apoptosis. Although recent studies have demonstrated a protective role of clusterin expression against various kinds of apoptotic stimuli, the functional role of clusterin in the acquisition of a therapy-resistant phenotype in bladder cancer remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine whether antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) targeting the clusterin gene enhances apoptosis induced by cisplatin and to evaluate the usefulness of combined treatment with AS clusterin ODN and cisplatin in the inhibition of KoTCC-1 tumor growth and metastasis in a human bladder cancer KoTCC-1 model. We initially revealed the dose-dependent and sequence-specific inhibition of clusterin expression by AS clusterin ODN treatment in KoTCC-1 cells at both mRNA and protein levels. Clusterin mRNA was increased in a dose-dependent manner by cisplatin treatment at concentrations < or =10 mg/ml, and clusterin mRNA up-regulation induced by 10 mg/ml cisplatin peaked by 48-h post-treatment and began decreasing by 72-h post-treatment. Although there was no significant effect on growth of KoTCC-1 cells, AS clusterin ODN treatment significantly enhanced cisplatin chemosensitivity of KoTCC-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, reducing the IC(50) by >50%. Characteristic apoptotic DNA ladder formation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein were detected after combined treatment with AS clusterin ODN and cisplatin but not either agent alone. In vivo systemic administration of AS clusterin and cisplatin significantly decreased the s.c. KoTCC-1 tumor volume compared with mismatch control ODN plus cisplatin. Furthermore, after the orthotopic implantation of KoTCC-1 cells, combined treatment with AS clusterin and cisplatin significantly inhibited the growth of primary KoTCC-1 tumors, as well as the incidence of lymph node metastasis. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that clusterin helps confer a chemoresistant phenotype through inhibition of apoptosis and that combined AS clusterin ODN may be useful in enhancing the effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with bladder cancer.

Over expression of inhibitor of caspase 3 activated deoxyribonuclease in human renal cell carcinoma cells enhances their resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy in vivo

PURPOSE

We determined whether inhibitor of caspase-3 activated deoxyribonuclease (ICAD) enhances resistance to apoptotic stimuli or inhibits DNA fragmentation by inactivating caspase-3 activated deoxyribonuclease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The liposome mediated gene transfer method was used to introduce ICAD complementary DNA into ACHN cells and the expression of ICAD protein per clone was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Effects of cisplatin treatment on growth inhibition and apoptosis in the ACHN sublines were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, DNA fragmentation assay and Western blot analysis of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. The limiting dilution assay was also performed to examine the effect of cisplatin treatment under anchorage independent conditions. Furthermore, nude mice bearing the ACHN sublines were given intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg./kg. cisplatin 1 and 2 weeks after the implantation of tumor cells and changes in tumor volume was measured.

RESULTS

ICAD transfected ACHN cells inhibited DNA degradation after cisplatin treatment but not control vector only transfected ACHN cells, whereas a similar degree of apoptotic cell death induced by cisplatin in ICAD and control vector only transfected ACHN cells was observed on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and Western blot analysis of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. However, the limiting dilution assay revealed that ICAD transfected ACHN cells had high resistance to pretreatment with cisplatin compared with control vector only transfected ACHN cells. Moreover, although there was no significant difference in the in vivo growth of ACHN sublines, cisplatin treatment induced the elimination of control vector only transfected ACHN cell tumors. In contrast, most ICAD transfected ACHN cell tumors continued to grow after cisplatin treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that when ICAD is over expressed in tumor cells, it renders them highly resistant to therapy induced apoptosis, resulting in enhanced tumor progression.

[Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: initial 17 case report]

PURPOSE

We report our early experience of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostatic cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Between April and December 2000, 17 patients with clinical stage T1c to T2b prostatic cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The median age was 70.9 year old, the median preoperative PSA and the median Gleason score of biopsy specimens was 7.1 ng/ml, 6, respectively. We followed the operation technique from the "Montsouris technique". Briefly, we used five trocars (two 10-mm and three 5-mm trocars) and the operation was performed transperitoneally. Pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in only one patient (case 3). Urethrovesical anastomosis was performed with 6 to 9 interrupted 3-0 absorbable sutures.

RESULTS

No conversion to open surgery or reoperation was required in all cases. Median operation time was 450 minutes (range 290 to 750) and median intraoperative bleeding (including urine) was 600 ml (range 100 to 3,135). Only one case (case 3) needed homologous blood transfusion. Median postoperative Foley catheterization period was 9 days (range 5 to 19). Intraoperative complications related to operation procedure were one rectal injury and three vesical injuries, which were treated by absorbable suturing laparoscopically. Major complication was one complete A-V block (case 3) who was required a transient discontinuance of the procedure. Surgical margins were negative in 13 cases. Postoperative pathological evaluation was one pT0, five pT2a, seven pT2b and four pT3a. PSA value decreased less than 0.2 ng/ml after surgery in all patients. Although six months have passed after the surgery in only 4 patients, all of them were fully continent.

CONCLUSION

Although the operation time is still longer than that of conventional open procedures, intraoperative magnified vision allows a more precise and safer dissection, especially for apical dissection. We believe that operative time will decrease with more experience. These results show that laparoscopic radical prostatectomy can be an acceptable treatment option for localized prostatic cancer.

Effects of retinoic acid and interferon-gamma on expression of the retinoic acid receptor in mouse renal cell carcinoma

The clinical outcome of interferon-gamma treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma remains unsatisfactory. To overcome this, a reagent that has a different action on cancer cells is desired. One such candidate may be 13-cRA (cis retinoic acid), a vitamin A derivative known to markedly regulate the differentiation and proliferation of normal and neoplastic cells. Moreover, 13-cRA demonstrates a remarkable synergistic effect with IFN-gamma in certain types of cancer. We investigated the efficacy of concomitant administration of 13-cRA and IFN-gamma. The in vivo anti-tumor effects were evaluated in a lung metastasis model using a mouse renal cell carcinoma cell line (RenCa). The in vitro anti-tumor effects were also assessed by MTT assay. The presence of retinoic acid receptors (RAR)-alpha, -beta and -gamma was examined by PCR analysis. The influence of IFN-gamma on these retinoic acid receptors was evaluated by Northern blotting. IFN-gamma showed anti-tumor effects both in vivo and in vitro. This effect was enhanced synergistically with concomitant 13-cRA treatment. RenCa cells expressed RAR-alpha, and -gamma, but not -beta according to PCR analysis. IFN-gamma treatment increased the expression level of RAR-alpha and RAR-gamma according to Northern blot analysis. Combination therapy using IFN-gamma and 13-cRA showed synergistic anti-tumor effects, which exceeded those of each therapy alone. Moreover, IFN-gamma treatment increased RAR-alpha and RAR-gamma expression. Thus, the augmented anti-tumor effects of IFN-gamma and 13-cRA may be attributable to enhanced expression of RAR-alpha and RAR-gamma by IFN-gamma treatment.

[Prospects for molecular research in urological oncology: gene therapy]

The recent great advances in genetic engineering are now making possible the identification and isolation of the trigger genes of many hereditary illnesses, and the clarification of the relevant molecular mechanisms. The idea that if the genetic abnormalities responsible for illness could be established at a DNA level, treatment at the genetic level repairing damaged genes or supplying absent ones would also be possible was the incentive for the recent boom in gene therapy. Clinical research into gene therapy began in 1990 and currently over 3,000 patient cases are being studied. Some 70% of these are cancer patients. This is not simply because such patients are relatively numerous, but is also a sign of the wish, held earnestly by many researchers and clinicians as well as cancer patients and their families, to at last overcome this intractable disease. Gene therapy, so far conducted mainly in the United States, has hitherto not lived up to initial expectations in its concrete results. The reason for this results mainly in technical factors, such as the rate of success in implanting genes into target cells, the rate of successful expression of the implanted genes, and the successful achievement of specific expression at the target site. Gene therapy in the form of clinical research into renal cancer and lung cancer is now under way in Japan. It is too early at this stage to evaluate this work, but the present paper takes this opportunity to give an outline of gene therapy, and to examine its current state, future prospects and problem areas with particular reference to cancer.

Value of prostate specific antigen alpha1-antichymotrypsin complex for the detection of prostate cancer in patients with a PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/mL: comparison with PSA-related parameters

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of prostate specific antigen alpha1-antichymotrypsin complex (PSA-ACT) in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer in patients with a PSA level of 4.1-10.0 ng/mL compared to several PSA- and PSA-ACT-related parameters.

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from 103 patients with no evidence of malignancy on biopsy and 29 with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. All patients had pretreatment serum PSA levels between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL. The different forms of serum PSA, including total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA) and PSA-ACT were measured using immunofluorometric techniques with different monoclonal antibodies against PSA and ACT. Furthermore, tPSA and PSA-ACT densities of the whole prostate (PSAD and ACTD, respectively) and the f-to-tPSA and the f-to-PSA-ACT ratios (F/T ratio and F/ACT ratio, respectively) were calculated.

RESULTS

The differences between patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic disease were significant with respect to all six parameters examined in this study. Analysis of receiver operating characteristics revealed that the areas under the curve for PSA-ACT, ACTD and the F/ACT ratio were larger than those for tPSA, PSAD and the F/T ratio, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in discrimination between benign and malignant diseases among these six parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients who have an intermediate serum PSA level, PSA-ACT and its associated parameters may not be significantly superior in the differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and benign prostatic diseases compared to tPSA and its traditional relatives.

Introduction of clusterin gene into human renal cell carcinoma cells enhances their resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy through inhibition of apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo

Recent studies have revealed the powerful antiapoptotic activity of clusterin in various malignant tumors; however, the significance of clusterin expression in the acquisition of a resistant phenotype against several kinds of treatment in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been well characterized. We, therefore, transfected the clusterin cDNA into RCC ACHN cells, that scarcely express clusterin protein, to examine whether overexpression of clusterin inhibits chemotherapy-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Although no significant differences were observed in the in vitro growth rates between clusterin-transfected ACHN (ACHN/CL) and the vector only-transfected cell line (ACHN/Co), ACHN/CL exhibited high resistance to cisplatin treatment compared with ACHN/Co, with a greater than 5-fold higher IC(50) through the inhibition of apoptotic cell death, which was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation analysis and western blotting of PARP protein. Moreover, intravenous administration of cisplatin into athymic nude mice bearing ACHN/CL tumors resulted in 2- to 3-times faster tumor growth compared with ACHN/Co tumors. These findings suggest that clusterin overexpression helps confer a chemoresistant phenotype through inhibition of apoptosis in human RCC cells.

Significance of prostate-specific antigen--alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin complex for diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical significance of measuring the prostate-specific antigen-alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (PSA-ACT) for differentiating prostate cancer from benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and for the staging of prostate cancer.

METHODS

Before treatment, total PSA (tPSA) and PSA-ACT were measured in 120 patients with prostate cancer and in 150 patients with BPH using immunofluorometric techniques with different monoclonal antibodies against PSA and ACT. Furthermore, the tPSA and PSA-ACT densities of the whole prostate (PSAD and ACTD, respectively) were calculated.

RESULTS

tPSA, PSAD, PSA-ACT and ACTD levels in patients with prostate cancer paralleled the clinical stage and were significantly higher than those in patients with BPH. Furthermore, these four values were significantly higher in patients with pathologically extraprostatic disease than those with organ-confined disease. Receiver operating characteristics analysis among patients with PSA values of 4.1-10 ng/ml revealed that the areas under the curve for tPSA and ACTD were similar to those for PSA-ACT and ACTD, respectively and that no significant differences in the differentiation between prostate cancer and BPH were observed among these parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of PSA-ACT provides useful information for the clinical staging of prostate cancer and differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and BPH; however, compared with tPSA, PSA-ACT may not be significantly superior in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer.

Oxidative modification of tryptophan 43 in the heme vicinity of the F43W/H64L myoglobin mutant

The F43W/H64L myoglobin mutant was previously constructed to investigate the effects of electron-rich tryptophan residue in the heme vicinity on the catalysis, where we found that Trp-43 in the mutant was oxidatively modified in the reaction with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA). To identify the exact structure of the modified tryptophan in this study, the mCPBA-treated F43W/H64L mutant has been digested stepwise with Lys-C achromobacter and trypsin to isolate two oxidation products by preparative fast protein liquid chromatography. The close examinations of the (1)H NMR spectra of peptide fragments reveal that two forms of the modified tryptophan must have 2,6-disubstituted indole substructures. The (13)C NMR analysis suggests that one of the modified tryptophan bears a unique hydroxyl group in stead of the NH(2) group at the amino-terminal. The results together with mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analysis (30 Da increase in mass of Trp-43) indicate that oxidation products of Trp-43 are 2,6-dihydro-2,6-dioxoindole and 2,6-dihydro-2-imino-6-oxoindole derivatives. Our finding is the first example of the oxidation of aromatic carbons by the myoglobin mutant system.

Increased Fas ligand expression in the tumor tissue and serum of patients with testicular germ cell tumors with seminomatous elements

OBJECTIVES

To measure the expression levels of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) and to determine whether the serum level of soluble FasL (sFasL) could be used as a marker for patients with TGCT.

METHODS

The expression of Fas and FasL in 51 specimens obtained from patients with TGCT was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and the results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The serum levels of sFasL in 24 patients with TGCT were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system.

RESULTS

Of 33 TGCT specimens that included seminomatous elements, Fas and FasL was expressed in 24 (73%) and 24 (73%), respectively. On the other hand, 10 (56%) and 2 (11%) specimens expressed Fas and FasL, respectively, in 18 TGCT specimens without seminomatous elements. Moreover, the serum levels of sFasL were significantly higher in patients with TGCT with a seminomatous element than in those without it.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that FasL is strongly expressed in tumor tissue and is present at high levels in the serum of patients with TGCT with a seminomatous element compared with those without it and that the serum levels of sFasL could be used as a novel diagnostic marker for TGCT with seminomatous elements.

Simultaneous determination of six adenyl purines in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence derivatization

A sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of six adenyl purines in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. The adenyl purines (adenine, adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP and cyclic AMP) were derivatized using 2-chloroacetaldehyde for fluorescence detection, and the reaction and separation conditions were reinvestigated to improve sensitivity for small volume sample analysis. Each derivatized purine was separated on a Capcell Pack SG120A column with mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M citric acid-0.1 M dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (pH 4.0)-methanol (97+3). The detection limits were 100-1000 fmol/ml by fluorescence detection, some 500 times better than previous reports. The proposed method was applied to determine adenyl purines in human plasma. The purine levels were as follows: ATP (9.2-22.2 pmol/ml), ADP (5.5-22.2 pmol/ml), AMP (0.8-3.2 pmol/ml). Other purines, adenine, adenosine, cAMP were lower than 0.1 pmol/ml.

Usefulness of Ureteropyeloscopy for diagnosis of upper urinary tract tumors

BACKGROUND

Upper urinary tract tumors have historically been diagnosed using urinary cytology examination and radiography. As the technique and instrumentation of ureteroscopic inspection and biopsy have advanced, ureteroscopic examination has become more routine. We studied the applicability and safety of using ureteropyeloscopy to diagnose upper urinary tract tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1994 and October 1999, 50 patients at Kobe University Hospital underwent ureteropyeloscopy for suspected upper urinary tract tumors.

RESULTS

The sensitivity values of radiography, urinary cytology, and ureteroscopy were 96%, 60%, and 92%, respectively. The specificity values of the three procedures examination were 12%, 84%, and 88%, respectively. No major complications or dissemination of malignant cells were evident.

CONCLUSION

Ureteroscopic examination is a safe, sensitive, and specific means of detecting upper urinary tract tumors.

Prognostic variables in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether several clinicopathological factors could be used as prognostic predictors in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

METHODS

Between January 1985 and June 2000, 154 patients underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for TCC of the bladder at a single institution. Their clinicopathological findings were analyzed based on the criteria of the Japanese Urological Association.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination revealed that the tumor grade was 1 or 2 in 22 patients and 3 in 132 patients; the pathological stage was pT1 or less in 30 patients, pT2 in 51 patients, pT3 in 53 patients and pT4 in 20 patients. Vascular involvement and lymph node metastasis were found in 85 and 33 patients, respectively. The cause-specific 5-year survival rate was 64.2% for all patients, 74.4% for patients with grade 1 or 2 tumors, 62.9% for those with grade 3 tumors; 90.9% for those with stage pT1 or less, 77.9% for those with stage pT2, 45.0% for those with stage pT3 and 29.2% for those with stage pT4 (p < 0.001); 83.2% for patients without vascular involvement and 42.0% for those with vascular invasion (p < 0.001); and 76.5% for patients without lymph node metastasis and 22.7% for those with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed a strong independent correlation of the pathological stage and lymph node metastasis with poor prognosis and, furthermore, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was significantly related to the increase in pathological stage.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, the pathological stage, lymph node metastasis and vascular involvement, but not tumor grade, were significantly useful prognostic factors in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy for TCC and among them only pathological stage and lymph node metastasis could be used as independent predictors for poor prognosis.

Voiding dysfunction of sigmoid neobladder in women: a comparative study with men

OBJECTIVE

We compared results of urodynamic testing in male and female patients with sigmoid neobladders following radical cystectomy to determine factors important to voiding status, especially in women.

METHODS

Continence status, urodynamics by pressure-flow measurements, and neocystograms were evaluated in 14 male and 9 female patients.

RESULTS

Of 14 male patients, 11 (78.6%) showed acceptable urinary continence during the day, as did all of the 9 female patients. At night, 6 of the 14 men and 6 of the 9 women were continent with or without voiding at regular intervals. All 14 male patients could void volitionally during the follow-up period. In contrast, 1 of 9 female patients required clean intermittent catheterization to manage the large amount of residual urine. Her neocystourethral angle was 90 degrees and pelvic descent of the bladder (pouchocele) was observed. The intrareservoir pressure at maximal flow was significantly lower in female than in male patients (p<0.05). The ratio of abdominal pressure to intrareservoir pressure did not differ significantly between males and females. Abdominal straining generated most of the intrareservoir pressure. An increase in intrareservoir pressure was associated with urinary flow, but the magnitude of pressure did not correlate with the peak urinary flow.

CONCLUSION

The location of the neobladder and avoidance of angulation at its outlet are important for obtaining good voiding after the reconstruction of neobladder in women, but the intrareservoir pressure is less critical.

Bcl-2 modulates Fas-mediated apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma cell lines

The objective of this study was to characterize the role of Bcl-2 expression in Fas-mediated apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. RT-PCR analyses showed that 10 different RCC cell lines expressed Fas, but not Fas ligand. Seven of 10 cell lines expressed Fas strongly, while 3 cell lines weakly expressed Fas by flow cytometric analyses. Measurement of the LDH concentration in the culture supernatant revealed that 6 of the 7 cell lines which expressed Fas strongly were sensitive to treatment with an agonistic anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (CH11), whereas all cell lines which weakly expressed Fas did not show Fas-mediated cell death. Furthermore, Bcl-2 expression was found only in three cell lines which were all susceptible to CH11, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 protein by treatment with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting Bcl-2 gene resulted in an enhancement of cell death induced by CH11. These findings suggest that strong Fas expression is necessary for Fas-mediated cell death in RCC cell lines, and Bcl-2 has a protective role against treatment with an anti-Fas monoclonal antibody, despite the fact that Bcl-2 expression was observed only in sensitive cell lines to Fas-mediated cell death.

Novel therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting anti-apoptotic genes upregulated after androgen withdrawal to delay androgen-independent progression and enhance chemosensitivity

Progression to androgen-independence remains the main obstacle to improving survival for patients with advanced prostate cancer. In this review, findings are summarized that have recently been demonstrated to establish novel therapeutic strategy targeting several genes playing functionally important roles after androgen withdrawal and during androgen-independent progression. The authors initially characterized changes in gene expression after androgen withdrawal in the androgen-dependent Shionogi and LNCaP tumor models using cDNA arrays. Based on these results, they focused on genes highly upregulated after androgen ablation (i.e. bcl-2, bcl-xL, TR.PM-2, IGFBP-5), which have anti-apoptotic or mitogenic activities, and thereby confer a resistance to androgen withdrawal as well as cytotoxic chemotherapy. The authors further demonstrated the efficacy of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) strategy for patients with advanced prostate cancer through the inhibition of target gene expression, resulting in a delay in the progression to androgen-independence by enhancing apoptotic cell death induced by androgen ablation and chemotherapy. The authors also showed the effectiveness of combined antisense ODN therapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy by achieving additive or synergistic effects. These findings provide a basic significance for the design of clinical studies using antisense ODN either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Purpura due to aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction aggravated by drinking alcohol

We report a rare case of prominent purpura induced by aspirin and enhanced by alcohol. A 44-year-old woman presented with a history of generalized purpura. She drank alcohol once or twice a week and regularly took an analgesic preparation, containing aspirin and acetaminophen, for alleviation of headaches. When purpura was evident the patient's liver function was within normal limits and her coagulation time was normal but her bleeding time was prolonged. Red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were normal but a poor response to platelet agonists demonstrated platelet dysfunction. After stopping the analgesic and abstaining from alcohol for 5 days, platelet aggregation, in response to the agonists, returned to normal and purpura disappeared. When the patient took further doses of the analgesic preparation for 3 days for headache relief, but did not drink alcohol, platelet aggregation was again abnormal but purpura was only slight.

A therapeutic strategy for isolated plasmacytoma of bone

Two cases of solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) were diagnosed. The first case was a 41-year-old woman, complaining of fatigue from her lumbar region to her legs. The second case was a 56-year-old man complaining of poor gait and severe lumbago with numbness in the toes of both feet. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the osteolytic lesion in the 12th thoracic bone in the first patient and around the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar bones in the second patient. In both patients serum analysis revealed the monoclonal component of immunoglobulin G (IgG) protein with kappa-light chain, and considering this and other findings SPB was diagnosed. Both patients were first treated with irradiation around the involved bone and then with a course of chemotherapy. In the first patient the tumour region of the bone was surgically removed and replaced with a ceramic spacer. The symptoms of both patients were ameliorated, and the patients remained in good condition for around 3 years without conversion to multiple myeloma. In view of the overall effectiveness of treatments for SPB, our therapeutic strategy deserves careful evaluation.

Long-term results of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer: biochemical and pathological effects

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term biochemical and pathological effects induced by neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) in patients with clinically localized disease. Between March 1993 and May 1997, 24 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer received NHT for 3 to 11 months (median: 5 months) using luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue prior to radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The clinical stage was T1 in 1 patient, T2 in 17 and T3 in 6, the pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was < or = 10 ng/ml in 5 patients, 10 to 20 ng/ml in 4 and > 20 ng/ml in 15 (mean: 34.7 micrograms/l), and the Gleason score was < or = 4 in 9 patients, 5 to 7 in 11 and > 8 in 3. The mean prostate specific antigen (PSA) value 3 months after NHT had reduced below 2 ng/ml in 18 of the 24 patients (67%), and finally decreased by an average of 95% (i.e., 1.9 ng/ml) prior to surgery. The pathological stage was pT0 in 2 patients, pT2 in 10 and pT3 in 12. The incidence of organ-confined disease (OCD) was significantly higher in patients with clinical stage T1 or T2a than with T2b or T3, with pretreatment PSA values < or = 10 ng/ml than with PSA values > 10 ng/ml, and with PSA values < or = 2 than with PSA values > 2 at 3 months after NHT; in contrast, the Gleason score had no significant impact on the rate of OCD. After a median follow-up of 49 months (range 34 to 85 months), 6 patients (25%) had a recurrence evidenced by rising PSA, and the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 79%. These results suggest that NHT appears not to be of significant additional benefit to patients who have a higher clinical T stage, higher pretreatment PSA values and/or in patients whose PSA values do not normalize early in the treatment process.

Overexpression of Bcl-2 regulates sodium butyrate- and/or docetaxel-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo

Sodium butyrate (NaBt), a physiologically occurring short-chain fatty acid, induces differentiation as well as apoptosis in numerous cell types, and this induction is partially regulated by Bcl-2 expression. The objectives of our study were to characterize the in vitro effects of NaBt and/or docetaxel on the growth, cell cycle and apoptosis of human bladder cancer cells, and to determine whether tumor growth in vivo is inhibited by isobutyramide, an orally bioavailable Bt analogue, and/or docetaxel by using Bcl-2-transfected human bladder cancer cell line KoTCC-1/BH and control vector only-transfected cell line KoTCC-1/C. NaBt caused a decrease in growth of both KoTCC-1/C and KoTCC-1/BH cells, however, its growth inhibitory effect was significantly greater in KoTCC-1/C cells. One mM NaBt resulted in G1 cell cycle arrest, accompanied by up-regulation of p21 (waf1/cip1) and down-regulation of cyclin D1 in KoTCC-1/C cells, whereas KoTCC-1/BH showed resistance to G1 cell cycle arrest. An amount of 5 mM NaBt induced apoptosis, accompanied by up-regulation of Bak in KoTCC-1/C cells but failed to induce apoptosis in KoTCC-1/BH cells despite substantial down-regulation of Bcl-2. Oral administration of isobutyramide significantly reduced the KoTCC-1/C tumor volume compared with the KoTCC-1/BH tumor volume in nude mice. Furthermore, docetaxel induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation in KoTCC-1/BH cells and combined treatment with isobutyramide and docetaxel synergistically inhibited the growth of KoTCC-1/BH cells both in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that isobutyramide therapy could be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with bladder cancer if docetaxel is combined according to the Bcl-2 expression status.

Value of the serum prostate-specific antigen-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin complex and its density as a predictor for the extent of prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether serum levels of the prostate-specific antigen-alpha1-antichymotrypsin complex (PSA-ACT) and its density (ACTD) in patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer can predict organ-confined vs extraprostatic disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from 62 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer before they underwent radical prostatectomy. PSA and PSA-ACT were measured using immunofluorometric techniques with different monoclonal antibodies against PSA and ACT, respectively. Furthermore, the PSA and PSA-ACT densities of the whole prostate (PSAD and ACTD, respectively) were calculated. The relationships of serum PSA, PSA-ACT, PSAD, ACTD and the pathological stage of the prostatectomy specimens were analysed.

RESULTS

The disease was organ-confined or extraprostatic in 30 and 32 men, respectively. In men with organ-confined cancer, the mean PSA and PSA-ACT levels were significantly lower than in those with extraprostatic disease. Furthermore, there were significantly higher mean PSAD and ACTD levels in men with extraprostatic than with organ-confined disease. There were also significant differences in PSA, PSA-ACT, PSAD and ACTD levels at each pathological stage, whereas there was no significant association between these variables and the Gleason score. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis for detecting organ-confined disease showed that PSA-ACT and ACTD had a larger area under the curve than PSA and PSAD, respectively, but these differences were not significant. Furthermore, PSA-ACT and ACTD provided significantly better sensitivity for detecting organ-confined disease than PSA and PSAD, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Measuring PSA-ACT and ACTD may improve the preoperative evaluation of patients scheduled to undergo radical prostatectomy, because these factors better differentiate extraprostatic from organ-confined disease than PSA and PSAD.