Prognostic value of peritoneal cytology and the combination of peritoneal cytology and peritoneal dissemination in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The value of positive peritoneal cytology in colorectal cancer has been controversial. In this study, we aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of peritoneal cytology and the impact of the combination of peritoneal dissemination and peritoneal cytology on the prognostic evaluation of colorectal cancer.

Methods: From January 1997 to December 2005, intraoperative peritoneal cytology was performed on 410 patients who had at least serosal invasion.

Chromosome 18q deletion as a novel molecular predictor for colorectal cancer with simultaneous hepatic metastasis.

Currently, surgical treatment for colorectal hepatic metastasis is performed with low mortality and morbidity rates. However, there is no definitive marker that predicts patient outcome. The aim of this study is to identify the molecular predictor of survival along with its clinical properties.

Inhibition of autophagy potentiates sulforaphane-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells.

Background: Sulforaphane (SUL), an isothiocyanate naturally present in widely consumed vegetables, particularly broccoli, has recently attracted attention due to its inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth by inducing apoptosis. We investigated the ability of SUL to induce autophagy in human colon cancer cells and whether inhibition of autophagy could potentiate the proapoptotic effect of SUL.

Methods: The proliferation of cells treated with SUL was assessed by MTS assay and colony-forming assay.

Adiponectin suppresses tumorigenesis in Apc(Min)(/+) mice.

Recent reports have shown that adiponectin has a suppressive effect on various types of malignancy. In order to clarify the role of adiponectin in colorectal carcinogenesis, we examined the effect of exogenous administration of adiponectin on intestinal polyp formation in C57BL/6J-Apc(Min)(/+) mice, which possess a point mutation in the Apc gene. And we found that adiponectin treatment significantly decreased the number of adenomatous polyps, especially polyps larger than 2mm in diameter, in the small intestine.

Preoperative evaluation of enterovesical fistula using magnetic resonance imaging: case report.

We report a case of sigmoido-vesical fistula due to sigmoid diverticulitis. Magnetic resonance imaging enabled us to visualize the fistula itself in the bladder wall. Magnetic resonance imaging was highly effective in making a precise diagnosis and also provided important additional information for the preoperative work-up of the patient.

Phase II study of weekly intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1 for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

Background: A phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of weekly i.v. and i.

Intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel solubilized with poly(2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co n-butyl methacrylate) for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of paclitaxel (PTX) is a hopeful therapeutic strategy for peritoneal malignancy.

Id1/Id3 knockdown inhibits metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer.

Background: The Id (inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation) proteins belong to the helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulatory factors, and play important roles in tumor development. Previously, we and others have shown that targeting Id in tumor cells could have important clinical implications. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Id inhibition in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Antiangiogenic effect of a selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist.

Background: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is reported to regulate cell growth in a wide variety of cell types in different carcinomas. 5-HT exerts complex actions on blood vessels, dependent on its interactions with a multiplicity of 5-HT receptors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential antiangiogenic effect of mosapride citrate, a selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist, known to have prokinetic properties on the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharmacological synergism between cannabinoids and paclitaxel in gastric cancer cell lines.

Orally applicable Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its synthetic derivatives have been used as antiemetic drugs during chemotherapy in cancer patients. However, it is not well known how cannabinoids influence the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on malignant tumors. In this study, we investigated how the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) changes the effect of paclitaxel on gastric cancer cell lines.

Effect of preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia on recurrence of colorectal cancer without a systemic inflammatory response.

Background: Disorders in the blood coagulation system are often associated with malignancy. Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have been shown to have abnormal data for various coagulation tests.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the relation between the preoperative plasma fibrinogen level and tumor recurrence in 569 patients with CRC who underwent curative surgical resection and were followed up without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Different tissue distribution of paclitaxel with intravenous and intraperitoneal administration.

Purpose: Paclitaxel is considered to be suitable for disseminated cancer in the peritoneal cavity because of its high molecular weight and lipophilic characteristics. However, the difference in pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel after intraperitoneal (i.p.

Intraoperative blood loss is a critical risk factor for peritoneal recurrence after curative resection of advanced gastric cancer.

Background: Perioperative blood transfusion has been shown to be associated with poor outcome in various types of malignancy. However, the relationship between the amount of blood loss and specific types of cancer recurrence has not been documented.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the amount of intraoperative blood loss and the recurrence pattern in 146 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer and assessed the possible correlation between intraoperative blood loss and peritoneal, locoregional, and hematogenous recurrences.

Phase I pharmacokinetic study of weekly intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1 for advanced gastric cancer.

Objectives: A dose-escalation study of weekly intraperitoneal paclitaxel (PTX) combined with S-1 and intravenous PTX was performed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose (RD) in gastric cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Nine gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination and/or cancer cells on peritoneal cytology were enrolled. PTX was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 at a fixed dose of 50 mg/m(2), and intraperitoneally with an initial dose of 20 mg/m(2), stepped up to 30 or 40 mg/m(2).

Signet ring cell carcinoma of the appendix manifesting as colonic obstruction and ovarian tumors: report of a case.

Appendiceal cancer is rare and associated with a poor prognosis because it is usually found at an advanced stage. We report a case of appendiceal adenocarcinoma manifesting as a colonic obstruction with a lower abdominal mass. Laparotomy revealed bilateral ovarian tumors and a small appendiceal tumor with peritoneal metastases.

Angleplasty in gastric tube reconstruction after esophagectomy.

Anastomotic leakage after radical esophagectomy is mostly caused by the hypoxia and high tension at the esophagogastric anastomotic site. Here, we introduce a new surgical technique, 'Angleplasty,' to enable the tensionless anastomosis at a highly oxygenic site of gastric conduit. In short, the seromuscular layer is cut for a perpendicular direction against a lesser curvature at a gastric angle and the gastric wall is carefully divided between the muscular and submucosal layers for longitudinal direction for 4-5 cm in length.

Adiposity and gastrointestinal malignancy.

Recent epidemiologic studies have shown a positive association between obesity and certain cancers. Our retrospective studies show that hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for the development of colonic adenoma and nodal metastasis in early gastric and esophageal cancer in men. High-fat condition may be favorable for the growth of malignant cells.

Telomerase activity of blood samples and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Background/aims: Recurrence, which occurs in about 20-30% of colorectal cancer patients after curative surgical treatment, is an important factor in determining prognosis. Therefore, early detection and prediction of recurrence is an important issue in the treatment of the disease. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that synthesizes telomere DNA, thereby compensating for telomere loss that occurs with each replication cycle, and limits proliferation cells.

Sulforaphane stimulates activation of proapoptotic protein bax leading to apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells.

Sulforaphane (SUL) is an isothiocyanate naturally present in widely consumed vegetables, particularly in broccoli. SUL has recently been focused as a result of its inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. We used endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as an in vitro model to investigate the effect of SUL on the various steps of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis.

Intra-peritoneal administration of paclitaxel with non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid as a vehicle--a new strategy against peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.

Background And Aim: Intra-peritoneal administration (i.p.) of Taxanes has recently been reported to be effective for the treatment of peritoneal dissemination, presumably because extremely high concentration of the drug is achievable onto the disseminated nodules as compared to intra-venous administration.

Resovist-enhanced MRI for preoperative assessment of colorectal hepatic metastases: a case of multiple bile duct hamartomas associated with colon cancer.

Extensive preoperative assessment of hepatic metastases is required in colon cancer patients. We report a case in whom the preoperative investigation by ultrasound scan and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed numerous cystic lesions of the liver, suspicious of von Meyenburg complex. Magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance cholangiographic images demonstrated typical features of von Meyenburg complex.

Apoptosis induction by p38 MAPK inhibitor in human colon cancer cells.

Background/aims: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPKs) function in a wide variety of signaling pathways. However, the role of p38s is cell type- and stimulus-dependent. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of p38 MAPK inhibitor on human colon cancer cells.

Anti-angiogenic property of zoledronic acid by inhibition of endothelial progenitor cell differentiation.

Background: Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is clinically available for the treatment of skeletal complications. In preclinical studies, strong anti-cancer activities against breast cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia were reported. It also inhibited the proliferation of cultured human endothelial cells, suggestive of an anti-angiogenic activity.

Early gastric cancer shows different associations with adipose tissue volume depending on histological type.

Background: Visceral obesity is known to be a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Cancer of the gastric cardia has been shown to have a close association with obesity in Western countries. In order to examine the possible relationship between fat volume and the development of gastric cancer (GC), we quantified visceral and subcutaneous fat areas of computed tomography (CT) images of patients with early GC.