Single chain precursor prohaptoglobin promotes angiogenesis by upregulating expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor2.

Prohaptoglobin (proHp) is processed into mature haptoglobin via site-specific cleavage. Although haptoglobin has been well studied, the functions of proHp remain unclear. We investigated the angiogenic action of proHp in endothelial cells, demonstrating that proHp upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression and endothelial sprouting and branching.

Prognostic factors for non-small cell lung cancer with bone metastasis at the time of diagnosis.

Introduction: The skeletal system is one of the most common distant sites of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which may lead to skeletal-related event (SRE). The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of SRE and the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in patients presenting bone metastasis in NSCLC.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty NSCLC patients with skeletal metastases at the time of diagnosis between January 2000 and August 2007 were investigated retrospectively.

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II production is a strong predictive marker for extrahepatic metastases in early hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective evaluation.

Background: Clinicians often experience extrahepatic metastases associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even if no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence after treatment is observed. We investigated the pretreatment predictors of extrahepatic metastases in HCC patients.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with HCC without evidence of extrahepatic metastases were prospectively enrolled.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

A 16-yr-old girl received liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis. Aplastic anemia developed, and she received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Eleven months after liver transplantation, abdominal lymph node enlargement and colon ulcers were observed, and colon biopsy showed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

Palliative chemotherapy for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is a rare tumor of the lung, which is believed to spread at an early stage and to have an aggressive clinical course. The efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma has not been defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of palliative chemotherapy for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.