Clinical significance of evaluating hormone receptor and HER2 protein using cell block against metastatic breast cancer: a multi-institutional study.

Hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein tests in metastatic breast cancer tissue are recommended in the guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Pathology Association. As part of a multi-institutional study by the National Hospital Organization, we conducted an investigation to examine these molecular markers, using cytological specimens as a substitute for tissue specimens from breast cancer metastasis. To confirm the usefulness of receptors tested in metastatic lesions, the treatment course of registered metastatic breast cancer patients was analyzed.

[Correlations between hormonal receptor and HER2 status or nuclear grades and response rate in breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel alone].

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been considered the standard care in locally advanced breast cancer. However, about 10-35% of the patients don't benefit from this treatment. This study was designed to evaluate predictive values of biological markers in response of breast cancers treated with docetaxel alone as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Laparoscopic colectomy for colorectal cancer patients with previous abdominal surgery.

Background/aims: Laparoscopic colectomy has been widely accepted as a standard operation for colorectal cancer. The use of this procedure for patients with previous abdominal surgery is now well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the peri-operative and long-term outcomes of such patients, and to compare them to patients without previous surgery.

Higher incidence of gastric remnant cancer after proximal than distal gastrectomy.

Background/aims: Proximal gastrectomy has been widely accepted as a standard operation for early stage gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach. Therefore, cancer of the distal gastric remnant is now increasing. The aims of this study were to clarify and compare the incidences of gastric remnant cancer after proximal and distal gastrectomy.

[Pulmonary resection for metastatic colorectal cancer].

We reviewed the clinical courses of 25 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for metastatic lesions from colorectal cancer between January 1991 and December 2001. The cumulative survivals at 3 and 5 years were 72% and 63%, respectively. Sex, site of the primary tumor, presence of extrapulmonary metastases, disease-free interval, location of pulmonary metastases (PM), number of PM, size of PM, mode of operation, pre-thoracotomy serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, and post-thoracotomy chemotherapy were not found to be statistically significant prognostic factors.