Gasless single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Purpose: Single-port laparoscopic surgery is anticipated to become the future of minimally invasive surgery. We have devised an alternative approach for laparoscopic cholecystectomy by inserting a single port at the umbilicus and using the abdominal wall-lifting method, without establishing pneumoperitoneum.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 130 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done to compare the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) (n = 69) and the novel single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) using the abdominal wall-lifting method (n = 61).

Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study of Triweekly Nab-Paclitaxel Combined With S-1 for HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, maximum tolerated dose, and recommended dose of triweekly nab-paclitaxel (nab-PTX) and S-1 combination chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: This phase 1 study was conducted with a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design. Every 3 weeks, the patients received nab-PTX at 180-260 mg/m on day 1 and S-1 at 65-80 mg/m daily on days 1 to 14.

Phase II Study of S-1 Combined With Low-Dose Docetaxel as Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Operable Breast Cancer Patients (N-1 Study).

Background: To improve the pathological complete response (pCR) rate, we devised new neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Efficacy and safety of the oral fluoropyrimidine derivative S-1 (Taiho Pharmaceutical Co, Tokyo, Japan) combined with low-dose docetaxel (S-1+DOC) were evaluated.

Patients And Methods: Patients were treated with docetaxel (40 mg/m intravenously on day 1) and S-1 (40 mg/m orally twice per day on days 1-14) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles.

The effects of the herbal medicine Daikenchuto (TJ-100) after esophageal cancer resection, open-label, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Daikenchuto (TJ-100), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, is widely used in Japan. Its effects on gastrointestinal motility and microcirculation and its anti-inflammatory effect are known. The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of TJ-100 after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients.

Thirty percent of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in Japan is extremely low-grade ER(+)/HER2(-) type without comedo necrosis.

Background Overdiagnosis in mammography (MMG) is a problem. Combination of MMG and ultrasonography for breast cancer screening may increase overdiagnosis. Most cases of overdiagnosis are low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (LGD), but no reports have focused on them.

CXCR4 Expression is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Chemokines and their receptors are known to play important roles in the tumorigenesis of many malignancies. The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 were suggested to be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on unplanned treatment interruption and nutritional status in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer.

Objective: Efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) on unplanned treatment interruption and nutritional status was examined in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed hospital charts of 44 patients with advanced head and neck cancer who were treated with CRT.

Results: CRT-induced mucositis of grade 3 or worse and inadequate oral intake of less than one third of their usual intake developed in 33 patients who were recommended PEG placement, but not in 11 patients.

Preoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis using 3D CT lymphography (CTLG).

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) became a standard procedure for patients with early breast cancer, however, an indication of SLN navigation to metastatic disease may lead to misdiagnosis for staging. Preoperative CTLG with a water-soluble iodinated contrast medium visualizes the correct primary SLNs and its afferent lymphatic channels surrounding detailed anatomy, therefore it can predict LN metastasis by visualizing the lymph vessel obstruction or stain defect of the SLN by tumor. The current study presents the value of CTLG for preoperative prediction for SLN status.

Immunocytochemical results for HER2 and Ki67 in breast cancer touch-smear cell specimens are reliable.

Background: Re-evaluation of the subtype of recurrent breast cancer is necessary for deciding the treatment approach, but it is often not performed due to the difficulty of obtaining tissue specimens from a recurrent lesion, etc. However, when a recurrent lesion is close to the body surface, fine-needle aspiration cells (FNA cells) can be easily obtained, and immunocytochemical (ICC) analysis of hormone receptors expression in FNA cells is said to be highly reliable. However, there is no consensus regarding ICC analysis of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) expression and the Ki67 index using FNA cells.

Triple assessment of sentinel lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer using preoperative CTLG, intraoperative fluorescence navigation and OSNA.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) became a standard surgical procedure for patients with early breast cancer; however, the optimal method of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification remains controversial. The current study presents the protocol of our institution for preoperative and intraoperative SLN detection.

Methods: Fifty female patients with early breast cancer and clinically node-negative axilla were enrolled in this study.

Glutamine protects the small intestinal mucosa in anticancer drug-induced rat enteritis model.

Supportive therapy during chemotherapy has become essential, but effective preventive therapies to gastrointestinal mucosal injury are few. We investigated the efficacy of glutamine in rat anticancer drug-induced enteritis model. In this study, we used twenty male SD rats.

[Pathological complete response in a case of advanced esophageal cancer invading aorta treated by preoperative chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin plus 5-FU].

The patient was a 64-year-old man, diagnosed as cStage IVa esophageal cancer invading the aorta with lymph node metastasis. He received combination chemotherapy with docetaxel/cisplatin/5-FU(DFP therapy). After one course, CT and endoscopic examination showed remarkable reduction of the primary lesion and lymph node metastasis.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and CD44 act as important biomarkers in several solid tumors. However, few studies have examined the relationships between ALDH1 expression and the prognosis and clinical characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: This study was a retrospective case-control study and included 152 patients with ESCC.

Prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor family can be improved by initial chemotherapy with docetaxel, fluorouracil, and cisplatin.

Background: The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family, Ki-67 and p53 are important biomarkers for several malignancies. However, few studies have examined the role of these in prognosis and therapeutic sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The efficacy of triple-drug combination therapy with docetaxel, fluorouracil and cisplatin has recently been expected for ESCC.

[A case of a patient with stage IVa esophageal cancer surviving over 4 years by combination chemotherapy with docetaxel,5 -FU and cisplatin, without operation].

A male patient in his 50s was found to have lower thoracic advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with the chief complaint of dysphagia in July 2006. CT revealed supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, and he was diagnosed as clinical stage IVa. He underwent two courses of combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, 5-FU and cisplatin(DFP therapy: docetaxel at 25mg/m / / 2 on day 1, 5-FU at 370 mg/m2 on days 1-5, and cisplatin at 7 mg/m2 on days 1-5 were repeated weekly for 4 weeks).

Sentinel lymph node biopsy using intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging navigated with preoperative CT lymphography for superficial esophageal cancer.

Background: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept has been gaining attention for gastrointestinal neoplasms but remains controversial for esophageal cancer. This study evaluated the feasibility of SLN identification using intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging (IGFI) navigated by preoperative computed tomographic lymphography (CTLG) to treat superficial esophageal cancer.

Methods: Subjects comprised 20 patients clinically diagnosed with superficial esophageal cancer.

Gene expression changes in a chemoresistant model with human esophageal cancer xenografts using cDNA microarray.

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin combined chemotherapy (FP) is commonly used for esophageal cancer. Acquired resistance needs to be overcome to improve the chemotherapeutic effect.

Materials And Methods: The FP-resistant xenograft model using severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice was established as an acquired resistance model.