Radiotherapy plus cetuximab for locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer in patients with cisplatin-ineligible renal dysfunction: A retrospective study.

Clinical trials have not fully demonstrated the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy plus cetuximab for locally advanced squamous cell head and neck cancer (LA-SCCHN) in patients with cisplatin-ineligible renal dysfunction. Patients who received radiotherapy plus cetuximab for LA-SCCHN at Chiba University Hospital (Chiba, Japan) between July 2013 and October 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Background characteristics and locoregional control and overall survival rates were compared between patients with and without renal dysfunction.

Evolution of Survival Impact of Molecular Target Agents in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: The prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to improve as multiple molecular target agents (MTAs) are now available. However, the impact of the availability of sequential MTAs has not been fully verified yet.

Approach And Results: We retrospectively collected the data on the whole clinical course of 877 patients who received any MTAs as first-line systemic therapy for advanced HCC between June 2009 and March 2019.

Exploring microsatellite instability in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and its tumor microenvironment.

Background And Aim: Immune checkpoint inhibitors and their combination with other agents have recently been available in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hence, a thorough understanding of the tumor microenvironment based on tumor samples is yet to be achieved. This study aimed to explore the tumor microenvironment in advanced HCC in terms of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) by using tumor samples from advanced HCC patients eligible for systemic therapy.

Contrasting functions of the epithelial‑stromal interaction 1 gene, in human oral and lung squamous cell cancers.

The epithelial‑stromal interaction 1 gene () is known to play multiple roles in the malignant progression of breast cancer and also in some aspects of the immune responses to the tumor. However, the relevance of the gene in the onset/progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is not yet known. The present study was aimed at revealing the roles of in conferring malignant characteristics to OSCC and LSCC, and the underlying mechanisms.

Posttreatment after Lenvatinib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: There is no standard posttreatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom lenvatinib therapy has failed. This study aimed to investigate rates of migration to posttreatment after lenvatinib and to explore candidates for second-line agents in the patients with failed lenvatinib therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients with advanced HCC who received lenvatinib as the first-line agent in 7 institutions.

Rapid Response to Pembrolizumab in a Chemo-Refractory Testicular Germ Cell Cancer with Microsatellite Instability-High.

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is highly chemo-sensitive cancer; however, there is no established treatment for TGCT relapsed after multiple chemotherapy. Although pembrolizumab showed durable stable disease in some patients, no reliable biomarker for predicting response is available. High microsatellite instability (MSI) is rare in chemo-naïve TGCT.

Current status of medical oncology in Japan and changes over the most recent 7-year period: results of a questionnaire sent to designated cancer care hospitals.

Background: According to a questionnaire sent to Designated Cancer Care Hospitals in Japan in 2013, only 39.4% of the institutes had medical oncology departments. Furthermore, most of these medical oncology departments were primarily responsible for the treatment of limited disease categories and the administration of newly developed therapeutic modalities, including molecular-targeted therapy.

Controlling Major Portal Vein Invasion Progression during Lenvatinib Treatment by Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Macrovascular invasion (MVI), including portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While recommended standard treatment for patients with advanced HCC is systemic therapy, various treatment approaches, including resection, transarterial chemoembolization, and radiation, have been empirically suggested to improve prognosis by eliminating or controlling MVI. Herein, we report our experience of a case with advanced HCC where MVI was controlled by carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) while on systemic therapy, resulting in a prolonged survival.

Serum Angiopoietin 2 acts as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is typically accompanied by abundant arterial blood flow. Although angiogenic growth factors such as Angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) play a central role in tumor angiogenesis in HCC, the role of serum Ang2 as a biomarker in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of Ang2 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in HCC using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The impact of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling inhibition in antitumor activity of multi-kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

FGF19/FGFR4 autocrine signaling is one of the main targets for multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in the antitumor effects to MKIs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, the impact of FGFR4/ERK signaling inhibition on HCC following MKI treatment was analyzed in vitro and in vivo assays.

Propofol midazolam for sedation during radiofrequency ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Standardization of the sedation protocol during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is needed. This randomized, single-blind, investigator-initiated trial compared clinical outcomes during and after RFA using propofol and midazolam, respectively, in patients with HCC.

Methods: Few- and small-nodule HCC patients (≤3 nodules and ≤3 cm) were randomly assigned to either propofol or midazolam.

Colonoscopic evaluation of diarrhea/colitis occurring as an immune-related adverse event.

Objective: Diarrhea is often observed as an immune-related adverse event. In this study, we conducted a retrospective review of the severity of diarrhea, its treatment and the endoscopic findings in patients developing diarrhea as an immune-related adverse event.

Methods: From August 2015 to June 2019, a total of 369 patients received treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors at our hospital.

Analyses of Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Receiving Transarterial Chemoembolization prior to Designing Clinical Trials.

Background: Intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high frequency of recurrence and progression to advanced stage after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), particularly in patients with high tumor burden. Promising new results from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and ICI-based therapies are expected to replace TACE, especially in HCC patients with high tumor burden.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TACE with a view to design clinical trials comparing TACE and ICIs.

Potential of Lenvatinib for an Expanded Indication from the REFLECT Trial in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib and verify the possibility of lenvatinib for the expanded indication from the REFLECT trial in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in real-world practice, primarily focusing on the population that was excluded in the REFLECT trial.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients with advanced HCC who were administered lenvatinib in 7 institutions in Japan.

Results: Of 152 advanced HCC patients, 95 and 57 patients received lenvatinib in first-line and second- or later-line systemic therapies, respectively.

Interferon-γ induced PD-L1 expression and soluble PD-L1 production in gastric cancer.

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) plays an essential role in tumor cell escape from anti-tumor immunity in various types of cancer, including gastric cancer (GC). The present study investigated the intracellular and membrane-bound expression of PD-L1 in the GC cell lines MKN1, MKN74, KATO III and OCUM-1. Furthermore, soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) level in the supernatant of GC cells and the serum of patients with GC and healthy controls was determined by ELISA.

Switching to systemic therapy after locoregional treatment failure: Definition and best timing.

In patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without both macrovascular invasion and extrahepatic metastasis, the initial treatment choice recommended is transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Before sorafenib came into wide use, TACE had been pointlessly carried out repeatedly. It was in the early 2010s that the concept of TACE refractory was advocated.

Simultaneous chylous ascites and chylothorax during ramucirumab plus docetaxel chemotherapy in a patient with non-small lung cell cancer.

A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed as having non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, T1aN3M1b). She had no history of surgery or abdominal trauma. She was treated with ramucirumab (10 mg/kg) plus docetaxel (60 mg/m) intravenously (RAM + DTX) every 3 weeks.

Sequential therapy with sorafenib and regorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study in Japan.

Background Conversion from sorafenib to regorafenib is primarily an evidence-based treatment strategy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of sequential therapy with sorafenib and regorafenib in patients with advanced HCC by analysis of outcomes in clinical practice with the aim to complement phase III findings. Methods The medical records of patients with advanced HCC receiving regorafenib were retrieved to collect data on sorafenib administration at seven Japanese institutions.

Transarterial chemoembolization as a substitute to radiofrequency ablation for treating Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard procedure for treating Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is often carried out in the treatment of BCLC stage 0/A HCC for various reasons. This study aimed to elucidate the prognosis for BCLC stage 0/A HCC patients treated with TACE or with radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Association of Genotype with Hepatic Steatosis in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Peginterferon and Ribavirin Combination Therapy.

Background: Genetic variation near the interferon lambda 3 () is known to be associated with response to pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which is often accompanied by hepatic steatosis.

Aims: We examined whether this genetic variation is associated with host lipids and treatment response.

Methods: A total of 101 Japanese patients who had underwent liver biopsy before treatment with pegIFN and ribavirin for HCV genotype 1b infection were retrospectively analyzed for association between genotypes (rs8099917) and clinical factors including histopathological features of the liver.

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Complicated by Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Although Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is known to be accompanied by malignancies, cases with hepatobiliary cancer are extremely rare. A 62-year-old man with palpable purpura rapidly extending to both lower legs was admitted to our hospital. He was undergoing follow-up for cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Characteristics of patients with sorafenib-treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma eligible for second-line treatment.

Background Regorafenib has been investigated for its efficacy and safety as a second-line treatment in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We assessed the characteristics of patients with HCC treated with sorafenib who might be eligible for second-line treatment in general and regorafenib in particular. Methods Patients with HCC treated with sorafenib were retrospectively analyzed.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of prophylactic dexamethasone for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated dexamethasone efficacy at preventing fever, anorexia, and nausea/vomiting, the most frequent adverse events of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Child-Pugh class A/B patients with HCC and no macrovascular invasion/extrahepatic metastases were randomly assigned to either a dexamethasone regimen (day 1, intravenous dexamethasone [20 mg] and granisetron [3 mg] before TACE; days 2 and 3, intravenous dexamethasone [8 mg]) or a control regimen (day 1, intravenous placebo [saline] and granisetron [3 mg]; days 2 and 3, intravenous placebo). The primary endpoint was complete response, defined as the absence of grade ≥1 fever, anorexia, or nausea/vomiting according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.