CPT-11 Chemotherapy Rescued A Patient with Atypical Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma from Emergent Condition.

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare and poorly defined variant of fibrosarcoma, but generally insensitive to chemotherapy and progresses with poor prognosis. We report the marvelous effect of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) chemotherapy in rescuing a patient with atypical SEF from emergent condition, who underwent recurrences after several treatment methods. Small dose of CPT-11 was administered to the patient, with which, the size of superficial mass (cervical lymph node) gradually decreased observed by the naked eyes in 5 days.

Undifferentiated liver embryonal sarcoma in adults: a report of four cases and literature review.

Aim: To evaluate the undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of liver (UESL) in adults in order to improve its diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: Four primary and one recurrent cases of UESL were clinicopathologically evaluated and immunohistochemically investigated with a panel of antibodies using the EnVision+ system. Relevant literature about UESL in adults was reviewed.

Primary mixed germ cell tumor of the liver with sarcomatous components.

Germ cell tumor (GCT) of the liver is extremely rare. Here, we describe a case of hepatic mixed GCT with significant sarcomatous components and elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in a 34-year-old man. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of two GCTs components: yolk sac tumor and immature teratoma.

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha pretreatment for in vitro culture of mature dendritic cells].

Objective: To explore a new method for in vitro culture of mature dendritic cells (DCs) by utilizing the maturation-inducing effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) on DC precursors.

Methods: Freshly isolated DC precursors (peripheral blood-derived monocytes) were initially cultivated for 4 h in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and containing TNF-alpha (200 U/ml), followed by treatment with rhGM-CSF (800 U/ml) and interleukin (IL)-4 (500 U/ml) added into the medium. After 48 and 96 h, the 3 cytokines were simultaneously added to the medium for further culture.

[Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the morphology of dendritic cells].

Objective: To study the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the morphology and ultrastructure of dendritic cells (DCs).

Methods: Freshly isolated precursors of DCs were cultured in the medium consisting of RPMI 1640 medium and 10 % inactivated fetal bovine serum. In one experiment, the cells were pretreated by TNF-alpha (200 U/ml) for 4 h, followed by treatment with human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF, 800 U/ml) and interleukin-4 (IL-4, 500 U/ml).