Progression of remnant gastric cancer is associated with duration of follow-up following distal gastrectomy.

Aim: To re-evaluate the recent clinicopathological features of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) and to develop desirable surveillance programs.

Methods: Between 1997 and 2008, 1149 patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Department of Digestive Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. Of these, 33 patients underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for RGC.

Differences of the lymphatic distribution and surgical outcomes between remnant gastric cancers and primary proximal gastric cancers.

Background: Although remnant gastric cancer (RGC) following distal gastrectomy is located in the proximal stomach, little is known about the differences of the lymphatic distribution and surgical outcomes between RGC and primary proximal gastric cancer (PGC).

Methods: Between 1997 and 2008, 1,149 patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Of these, 33 (2.

[Quantification of circulating plasma DNA fragments as tumor markers in patients with esophageal and gastric cancer].

The quantity and quality of circulating DNA fragments was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) in plasma from patients with esophageal and gastric cancer, in order to assess their diagnostic value. Plasma was collected preoperatively from 24 patients with esophageal cancer 53 patients with gastric cancer and from 21 healthy controls. qPCR was performed using two primer sets for the BETA-actin gene, amplifying short (102 bp) and long (253 bp) segments.

Quantification of plasma cell-free DNA in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: The circulating DNA concentration and integrity was examined by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the plasma from patients with gastric cancer and their diagnostic value for the detection of gastric cancer assessed.

Patients And Methods: Plasma samples were collected preoperatively from 53 patients with gastric cancer and 21 healthy controls. qPCR was performed using two different primer sets for the beta-actin gene, amplifying short and long segments.

Quantification of circulating plasma DNA fragments as tumor markers in patients with esophageal cancer.

Unlabelled: The quantity and quality of circulating DNA fragments was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) in plasma from patients with esophageal carcinomas, in order to assess their diagnostic value.

Patients And Methods: Plasma was collected preoperatively from 24 patients with esophageal cancer and 21 healthy controls. qPCR was performed using two primer sets for the beta-actin gene, amplifying short and long segments.

Clinical application of methylation specific-polymerase chain reaction in serum of patients with gastric cancer.

Background/aims: We previously reported that aberrant methylation of p16 and/or E-cadherin genes in serum DNA could serve together as a tumor marker in gastric cancer. We presently investigated whether sensitivity could be increased by consideration of a third gene, which encodes retinoic acid receptor-1 (RARbeta).

Methodology: We performed a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in serum DNA to detect aberrant methylation of RARbeta from 109 preoperative gastric cancer patients, in which the first two genes had been characterized.

Circulating cell-free mRNA in plasma as a tumor marker for patients with primary and recurrent gastric cancer.

Background: The diagnostic value of circulating mRNA for the early detection of primary and recurrent gastric cancer was evaluated.

Patients And Methods: Circulating hTERT and MUC1 mRNA were amplified in the plasma from 52 gastric cancer patients (40 preoperative and 12 postoperative patients) and 20 healthy controls. The results were compared with those of a circulating cancer cell assay and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay.

Circulating tumor cells and aberrant methylation as tumor markers in patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: This study was designed to compare the detection rates of conventional tumor markers with two molecular diagnostic approaches on blood samples from patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative blood samples were obtained from 44 esophageal cancer patients and were subjected to CEA-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) assay for p16, E-cadherin and RARbeta genes.

Results: Circulating tumor cells were detected in 12 patients (27%); 14 patients (32%) had aberrant methylation in the promoter region of at least one gene (6, 4 and 4 patients, for p16, E-cadherin and RARbeta, respectively).

[An early detection of recurrence using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) from peripheral blood in patients after gastrectomy].

Several molecular approaches, using peripheral blood of patients with cancers, have been assessed recently for ability to detect various primary and recurrent cancers at an early stage. One is the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, which can detect a small number of circulating cancer cells. Another is the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), which detects tumor-specific alterations of cell-free serum DNA released from tumor into the circulation by necrosis and/or apoptosis.

[Plasma methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool for esophageal cancer patients].

This study was designed to perform methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) assay for p16, E-cadherin, and retinoic acid receptor beta genes on peripheral blood samples from patients with esophageal squamous cell cancers, and compare the results of MS PCR with conventional serum tumor markers and the CEA-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Preoperative blood samples were obtained from 30 patients with esophageal cancer, and were subjected to MS PCR and RT-PCR assays. Eleven patients (37%) showed aberrant methylation of the promoter region of at least one gene.

Correlation between serum DNA methylation and prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Gastric carcinogenesis is thought to involve multiple genetic and epigenetic changes. The relationships between the promoter methylation status of relevant genes in the serum and outcomes in patients undergoing curative gastrectomy for cancer were investigated.

Materials And Methods: Pre-operative serum samples obtained from 97 gastric cancer patients, who underwent radical gastrectomy, were subjected to methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) assays for the p16, E-cadherin and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) genes.

Comparison of serum aberrant methylation and conventional tumor markers in gastric cancer patients.

Background/aims: This study was designed to compare a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) assay for three genes [p16, E-cadherin, and retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta)] and conventional serum tumor markers using blood samples from gastric cancer patients.

Methodology: Preoperative blood samples obtained from 63 consecutive patients with gastric cancer were subjected to MSP and conventional serum marker assays.

Results: MSP assay detected hypermethylation of p16 in 17 patients (27%), E-cadherin in 15 patients (24%), and RARbeta in 11 patients (17%).

Detection of aberrant methylation as a tumor marker in serum of patients with gastric cancer.

Background: This study aimed to detect hypermethylation in serum DNA from patients with gastric cancer at various stages and to assess the assay for early detection of primary and recurrent disease.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative serum samples were obtained from 109 patients with gastric cancer. Blood samples were subjected to methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis to determine the methylation status of the promoter region of the p16 and E-cadherin genes.