High prevalence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in occult hepatitis B virus-infected patients in the Tohoku district in Eastern Japan.

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a clinical challenge, but its relationship to clinicopathologic features and the risk of progression to malignant lymphoma (ML) are poorly defined. We estimated the prevalence of HBV infection of 1,358 patients with newly diagnosed ML. HBV infection was more prevalent in ML than in control patients.

Sequential irinotecan hydrochloride/S-1 for S-1-resistant inoperable gastric cancer: A feasibility study.

Irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) is reported to be involved in the downregulation of thymidylate synthase (TS), a target molecule of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral fluoropyrimidine S-1. Therefore, we hypothesized that a preceding administration of CPT-11 against S-1-resistant tumors may recover sensitivity to S-1. To this end, we planned a S-1/CPT-11 sequential therapy as a feasibility study in S-1-refractory gastric cancer patients.

[A case of gastric cancer treated with modified docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil(mDCF)with ingestion inability].

The standard regimen of S-1 and cisplatin is not adaptable for patients with gastric cancer with an ingestion inability. A 74- year-old man was revealed to have unresectable gastric cancer with severe pyloric stenosis(cT4, cN3, cH1, cP0, cStage IV). He was treated with systemic chemotherapy using modified docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil(mDCF).

Methylation of the KEAP1 gene promoter region in human colorectal cancer.

Background: The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway has been reported to be impaired in several cancers. However, the status of Keap1-Nrf2 system in human colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been elucidated.

Methods: We used colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and surgical specimens to investigate the methylation status of the KEAP1 promoter region as well as expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidative stress genes, NQO-1 and AKR1C1.

Comparison of long-term clinical outcomes of CHOP chemotherapy between Japanese patients with nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas and those with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the study group of the Tohoku Hematology Forum.

To clarify the clinical outcome of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), we conducted a retrospective review comparing the outcomes of patients with PTCL (nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, n=34 ; angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, n=12) to those with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, n=48). All patients received CHOP-based chemotherapy without rituximab. PTCL patients presented at a more advanced clinical stage (91% vs.

Mesenchymal stromal cells promote tumor growth through the enhancement of neovascularization.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), also called mesenchymal stem cells, migrate and function as stromal cells in tumor tissues. The effects of MSCs on tumor growth are controversial. In this study, we showed that MSCs increase proliferation of tumor cells in vitro and promote tumor growth in vivo.

[A case of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma successfully treated with second-line chemotherapy (CPT-11 and CDDP)].

Gastric adenosquamous carcinoma is known as an infrequent histological cancer with a poor prognosis. A 69-year-old man was revealed to have gastric squamous carcinoma on the gastric body remote from esophagus (cT4 cN3, cStage IV). A curative operation was impossible so he was treated with systemic chemotherapy using S-1+docetaxel.

[Survey on the compliance of patients with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil via portable infusion pumps].

A portable infusion pump is essential to sustain the 46-hour continuous administration of 5-fluorouracil in the folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and folinic acid, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) protocols in colorectal cancer chemotherapy. However,the accuracy of the 5-fluorouracil dose administered via the infusion pump and patient compliance varies because the infusion rate changes depending on the viscosity of the drug, temperature, etc. In addition, the termination of administration based on the patient's judgment may influence these factors.

Intratracheal delivery of CX3CL1-expressing mesenchymal stem cells to multiple lung tumors.

The lung is one of the organs to which cancers from solid tumors frequently metastasize. Multiple tumors in the lung are usually treated by systemic chemotherapy because of the lack of efficient methods of targeting antitumor agents to the lung. Although intratracheal administration is an ideal route for targeting multiple lung tumors, antitumor agents are often harmful to the organ or induce inflammation.

[A case of unresectable advanced gastric cancer with Trousseau syndrome].

Cancer-related coagulopathy is known as Trousseau syndrome with a poor prognosis. A 55-year-old woman was revealed to have gastric cancer (cT3 cN3, cStage IV) with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. A curative operation was impossible so she was treated with systemic chemotherapy using S-1 combined with an anticoagulant agent (warfarin).

Chronic nicotine stimulation modulates the immune response of mucosal T cells to Th1-dominant pattern via nAChR by upregulation of Th1-specific transcriptional factor.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The etiology has not been clarified yet, but immune disorder is thought to be involved in the pathogenic physiology. Recently, general consensus has been reached that CD and UC are distinct, especially in respect of the immune response.

[A case of gastric cancer with severe lymph node metastasis effectively treated with docetaxel / S-1 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

A 75-year-old male patient had advanced gastric cancer with severe lymph node metastasis. He was treated with docetaxel 60 mg/body (day 1) and S-1 120 mg/body (2 weeks administration and 1 week rest) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After two courses of this neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the primary lesion and lymph node swelling were remarkably improved.

[A case of unresectable advanced gallbladder cancer treated by systemic chemotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion].

A 53-year-old woman was revealed to have gallbladder cancer with liver metastases (H 1). Since a curative operation is impossible in this case, we started systemic chemotherapy employing S-1 combined with hepatic arterial infusion using epirubicin hydrochloride and mitomycin C. After three months, the primary lesion was reduced in size.

[A case of unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer treated by S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy].

Chemotherapy (5-FU) with concurrent radiotherapy is recommended as an effective treatment for locally unresectable pancreatic cancer. A phase I study of S-1 with concurrent radiotherapy demonstrated promising results in late years. A 70-year-old man was revealed to have metastatic pancreatic cancer (T 4 N 3 M 1 (PER), Stage IVb).

p53 negatively regulates intestinal immunity by delaying mucosal T cell cycling.

To mount an effective immune response, T cells must divide in response to antigen contact. To maintain tolerance, mucosal lamina propria T cells (LPTs) may adapt their cycling to an antigen-rich gut stimulatory environment. Here, we compared the cell cycle kinetics of LPTs and peripheral blood T cells (PBTs) before and after CD3- and CD2-mediated activation.