Randomized Controlled Study of the Efficacy, Safety and Quality of Life with Low Dose bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation Therapy for Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: The optimal dose of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin for the treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer is controversial. We investigated if induction therapy with low dose bacillus Calmette-Guérin could achieve a complete response rate similar to that of standard dose bacillus Calmette-Guérin, with less toxicity and higher quality of life.

Materials And Methods: After transurethral resection, patients with unresectable multiple nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer and/or carcinoma in situ were randomized to receive standard (80 mg) or low dose (40 mg) bacillus Calmette-Guérin instillation induction therapy (weekly, 8 times).

Oncological outcomes of hormonal therapy with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist combined with a steroidal or non-steroidal antiandrogen in patients with prostate cancer.

Aim: To determine the treatment outcome of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy using the non-steroidal antiandrogen bicalutamide or the steroidal antiandrogen chlormadinone in patients with prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: In total, 124 patients with prostate cancer enrolled in the present study were randomized to receive CAB therapy using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, combined with bicalutamide or chlormadinone. The survival of patients was analyzed.

Use of low-dose combined therapy with gemcitabine and paclitaxel for advanced urothelial cancer patients with resistance to cisplatin-containing therapy: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: The prognosis of patients with advanced and recurrent urothelial cancer (UC) is poor. Although cisplatin (CDDP)-containing chemotherapy is the most effective regimen in these patients, there is no other established chemotherapeutic regimen. We administered combination therapy with low-dose gemcitabine (GEM) and paclitaxel (PTX), named low-dose gemcitabine-paclitaxel (LD-GP) therapy, as salvage therapy for these patients.

[A case of a patient with bladder cancer who received warfarin and showed a significantly prolonged PT-INR after gemcitabine and cisplatin combination therapy].

A 74-year-old female patient with bladder cancer presented with edema in the right lower limb in a follow-up at the outpatient department.She was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in the right lower limb, and warfarin treatment was started.Subsequent gemcitabine and cisplatin combination(GC)therapy for prevention of bladder cancer recurrence prolonged the PT-INR to an immeasurable level on day 6 of therapy.

Randomized controlled study of natural interferon α as adjuvant treatment for stage II or III renal cell carcinoma.

Background: The prophylactic effect of postoperative interferon on recurrence and distant metastasis in stage II or III renal cell carcinoma is unclear. In most studies, interferon has been administered for 6 months or less. Therefore, we performed a clinical study of the efficacy of 1-year postoperative administration of natural interferon α, which is generally used in Japan.

[Efficacy of naftopidil in patients with overactive bladder associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: prospective randomized controlled study to compare differences in efficacy between morning and evening medication].

A total of 100 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms (BPH/OAB), enrolled between June 2006 to March 2008, were randomly divided into 2 groups of morning medication (M) and evening medication (E) groups, then 50 mg of naftopidil was given once a day after breakfast or supper for 8 weeks. Data were available for efficacy analysis on 80 patients (M group ; 43, E group ; 37). Naftopidil significantly improved the overall international prostatic symptom score ; from 19.

Green tea polyphenol suppresses tumor invasion and angiogenesis in N-butyl-(-4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine-induced bladder cancer.

Background: Green tea polyphenol (GTP) suppresses malignancy in bladder cancer cell lines. However, the detail of its anti-carcinogenic effect in vivo is not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of GTP on bladder tumor size and angiogenesis in mice given N-butyl-(-4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN), with and without GTP.

TFE3-renal carcinoma in an adult patient: a case with strong expression of phosphorylated hepatocyte growth factor (HGFR)/Met.

TFE3-renal carcinoma is rare in adults. Patients with this disease often have a poor prognosis, because it has reached an advanced stage at presentation, and there is lack of an effective therapy. The exact mechanism of its malignant behavior is still unclear.

Immunohistochemical analysis of connexin43 expression in infertile human testes.

Connexin43 (Cx43) is abundantly expressed in mammalian testes and implicated in the regulation of cell-to-cell interaction between germ cells and Sertoli cells, which is essential to the normal process of spermatogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the relation between Cx43 expression and the degree of spermatogenesis in infertile human testes. Immunohistochemical analysis of Cx43 was performed on testicular biopsies from 29 patients with azoospermia (n=23) and severe oligospermia (n=6), who gave informed consent to this experiment.

Long-term follow up of patients with invasive bladder carcinoma receiving combined cisplatin-based intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Objectives: Combined cisplatin-based intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy is an effective treatment for patients with locally invasive bladder carcinoma. We report long-term follow-up data regarding definitive treatment of locally invasive bladder carcinoma, regardless of whether bladder preservation was possible.

Methods: The follow-up data from 24 patients (18 males and six females; aged, 31-85 years; median, 73 years) with invasive bladder carcinoma, between 1993 and 2003, was examined.

Calreticulin represses E-cadherin gene expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells via Slug.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multifunctional Ca(2+)-binding molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum. In mammals, the expression level of CRT differs markedly in a variety of organs and tissues, suggesting that CRT plays a specific role in each cell type. In the present study, we focused on CRT functions in the kidney, where overall expression of CRT is quite low, and established CRT-overexpressing kidney epithelial cell-derived Madin-Darby canine kidney cells by gene transfection.

Tumor lymphangiogenesis in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: association with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Purpose: Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in many types of cancer. Recently several specific markers for lymphatic endothelium were developed that facilitate the quantification of lymphangiogenesis in human cancer tissues. We investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of lymphangiogenesis in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Pathological function of prostaglandin E2 receptors in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

The prostaglandin E2 receptor, EP4 receptor (EP4R), plays an important role in the development of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT). However, the clinical significance of other EP receptors (EP1R-3R) is not clear. Furthermore, the pathological function of EP receptors in such patients is not understood.

Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in bladder cancer: prognostic implications and regulation by vascular endothelial growth factors-A, -C, and -D.

Purpose: Lymph vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) correlate with the malignant potential of tumors and patient survival. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D could modulate LVD and MVD. We investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of LVD and MVD on lymphangiogenic and angiogenic function of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in human bladder cancer.

Decreased cellular membrane expression of gap junctional protein, connexin 43, in rat detrusor muscle with chronic partial bladder outlet obstruction.

Objectives: To investigate alterations in gap junctional protein, connexin-43 (Cx-43), in the rat detrusor muscle with partial bladder outlet obstruction (P-BOO). Muscle cell actions, such as detrusor contractions, are thought to be synchronized by way of gap junctional intercellular communication. Gap junctions may play an important role in voiding, and P-BOO is a common medical problem.

The preventive effect of green tea on the gap junction intercellular communication in renal epithelial cells treated with a renal carcinogen.

Objective: Clinical studies imply that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a main ingredient of green tea catechins, has a chemopreventive action against cancers and suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells. However, there is no report about its chemopreventive effect for renal cancer. We previously determined that renal carcinogens suppressed the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) of renal epithelial cells.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and EP4 receptor in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Purpose: Prostaglandin E2, produced by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, affects the behavior of tumor cells possibly through 1 of the prostaglandin E2 receptors, the EP4 receptor (EP4R). The relationship between tumor development and EP4R in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT) has not been fully understood. We determined the relationships between clinicopathological features and prognosis with expressions of COX-2 and EP4R in nonmetastatic TCC-UUT.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with transitional cell carcinoma in the renal pelvis and the bladder.

We report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS). Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the renal pelvis and CIS were also observed adjacent to the adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical assessment of the pelvic adenocarcinoma revealed positive expressions for mucin, epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 19 and carcinoembryonal antigen, but not vimentin or chromogranin.

Long-term effects of bacille Calmette-Guérin perfusion therapy for treatment of transitional cell carcinoma in situ of upper urinary tract.

Objectives: To report our experience with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) perfusion therapy for transitional cell carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract. BCG perfusion therapy is widely used to treat transitional cell carcinoma in situ of the upper urinary tract. However, it has not yet been established as a standard treatment.

Expression of metalloproteinase-2, metalloproteinase-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in transitional cell carcinoma of upper urinary tract: correlation with tumor stage and survival.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and TIMP-2 and pT stage or survival in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are associated with tumor invasion in several malignancies. TIMPs exert an anti-invasive effect by blocking MMP activity.

Natural course of voiding function in patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1-associated myelopathy.

Objectives: Patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) frequently experience voiding dysfunction. In patients with HAM/TSP, the major symptoms are gait disturbance and voiding dysfunction. However, the detailed natural course of voiding function and the management of their urination has not previously been investigated.

Restoration of gap junctional intercellular communication by dibutyryl-cAMP in renal epithelial cells treated with renal carcinogen.

Dimethylnitrosamine(DMN) is an alkylating agent and a known renal carcinogen. A short exposure of renal epithelial cells to cytotoxic concentrations of DMN influences the expression of gap junction proteins. In this study, we examined gap junctional intercellular communication and connexin 43 expression in renal epithelial cells treated with 1% DMN and also examined the effects of dibutyryl-cAMP on preventing gap junctional disturbances.

Sonic hedgehog induces capillary morphogenesis by endothelial cells through phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) acts as a morphogen in many cell types. Recent studies have shown that hedgehog signaling is involved in vascular development as well as postnatal angiogenesis. However, the direct action of Shh on cultured endothelial cells has not been clearly shown.

Renal cell carcinoma with solitary metachronous metastasis to the urinary bladder.

We report a case of renal cell carcinoma with solitary metachronous metastasis to the urinary bladder occurring 6 years after radical nephrectomy. The patient was treated with partial cystectomy and survived for 60 months. Other cases like this one were reviewed in published reports, and the 3-year survival rate for patients with this type of cancer with solitary metastasis to the urinary bladder was found to be 80%.

Transient decrease in gap junction expression during compensatory renal growth in mice.

Objectives: To examine gap junction expression during compensatory renal growth. Compensatory renal growth is a normal response to the removal of renal cells. Gap junctional intercellular communication plays important roles in homeostatic regulation, differentiation, and synchronization of cellular electronic and metabolic functions.