Down-regulation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) expression and CD8 T-cell infiltration depending on HER2 heterogeneity in HER2-positive gastric cancer.

Background: HER2 signaling might be involved in the regulation of immune cell activation in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of gastric cancer (GC). However, the relationship between HER2 status and immune cell condition in the HER2-positive GC TME is not clearly understood.

Methods: To investigate the effect of HER2 signaling on the activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which contributes to immune cell activation in the GC TME, we evaluated the associations among the expressions of HER2, cGAS-STING, and the number of CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by considering HER2 heterogeneity in HER2-positive GC tissues.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Induces IL34 Signaling and Promotes Chemoresistance via Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in solid tumors including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the TME profile of ESCC treated with NAC is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of NAC on the TME especially tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), the important immunosuppressive components of the TME, in ESCC.

PD-L1 overexpression in EBV-positive gastric cancer is caused by unique genomic or epigenomic mechanisms.

Epstein-Barr virus-positive gastric cancer [EBV (+) GC] is a distinct GC subtype with unique genetic and epigenetic aberrations. Here, we examined resected GC samples and publicly available microarray data and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to identify the mechanism underlying overexpression of PD-L1 in EBV (+) GC. We found that high levels of PD-L1 overexpression in EBV (+) GC were caused by focal amplification of CD274.

Tn Antigen Expression Defines an Immune Cold Subset of Mismatch-Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells often express Tn antigen, a tumor-associated truncated immature O-glycan (GalNAcα-O-Ser/Thr) that can promote tumor progression. Immunotherapies against Tn antigen have been developed and are being evaluated in clinical trials. Tn antigen can also be considered a novel immune checkpoint that induces immunosuppressive signaling through glycan-biding lectins to lead effector T cell apoptosis.

ARID1A deficiency in EBV-positive gastric cancer is partially regulated by EBV-encoded miRNAs, but not by DNA promotor hypermethylation.

AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A), which is a tumor suppressor gene, is frequently mutated in Epstein-Barr virus-positive gastric cancer [EBV (+) GC]. While most ARID1A mutations in GC are truncating mutations, leading to loss of ARID1A protein expression, epigenetic modifications appear to contribute to ARID1A deficiency in EBV (+) GC harboring wild-type ARID1A. Based on the significant role of epigenetic modifications in EBV (+) GC that contributes to ARID1A deficiency, the methylation status of ARID1A was evaluated in EBV-infected cells and GC patients using a publicly available microarray and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Tuberculous peritonitis; The effectiveness of diagnostic laparoscopy and the perioperative infectious prevention: A case report.

Background: Tuberculous peritonitis (TBP) is uncommon in Japan, and its diagnosis with conventional methods is time taking and requires a high clinical index of suspicion. Laparoscopy with peritoneal biopsy is a tool for rapid and accurate diagnosis of TBP. However, few cases have mentioned the infectious control and prevention during the perioperative period.

Selective sensitivity of EZH2 inhibitors based on synthetic lethality in ARID1A-deficient gastric cancer.

Background: AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A) is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in gastric cancer (GC). Although ARID1A mutations are not a druggable target for conventional treatments, novel therapeutic strategies based on a synthetic lethal approach are effective for ARID1A-deficient cancers. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 acts in a synthetic lethal manner in ARID1A-mutated ovarian cancer, although its role in GC remains unknown.

A TGFβ-Dependent Stromal Subset Underlies Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Efficacy in DNA Mismatch Repair-Deficient/Microsatellite Instability-High Colorectal Cancer.

Patients with DNA mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer represent a biomarker-defined population with distinct clinicopathologic features who are susceptible to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, their survival outcomes vary considerably and nearly half of them exhibit primary resistance to current ICIs, suggesting substantial molecular heterogeneity even among tumors with dMMR/MSI-H. We conducted an extensive analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) using multiple transcriptomic, proteomic, and IHC cohorts of colorectal cancer, comprising 222 dMMR/MSI-H and 1440 MMR-proficient/microsatellite stable tumors.

[A Case of Rectovaginal Fistula after Rectal Cancer Surgery Cured with Estriol Vaginal Tablet and Vaginal Lavage].

Although rectovaginal fistula is a rare complication of rectal cancer surgery, it is usually difficult to cure with conservative treatment, and patients generally need surgical intervention. A woman in her 70s underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection with right lateral lymph node dissection for rectal cancer. On postoperative day(POD)6, she had an anastomotic leakage and received conservative treatment.

KRT17 as a prognostic biomarker for stage II colorectal cancer.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is considered for patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) characterized by poor prognostic clinicopathological features; however, current stratification algorithms remain inadequate for identifying high-risk patients. To develop prognostic assays, we conducted a step-wise screening and validation strategy using nine cohorts of stage II patients based on multiple platforms, including microarray, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Four microarray datasets (total n = 458) were used as the discovery set to screen for single genes associated with postoperative recurrence.

[A Case Receiving Gastric Tube Resection for the Recurrence after a Proton Beam Irradiation in a Patient with Gastric Tube Cancer after Esophagectomy].

A 74-year-oldman underwent transthoracic esophagectomy andgastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer 15 years ago. Eleven years after the esophagectomy, he was diagnosedwith gastric tube cancer. He receivedproton beam irradiation therapy.

[A Case of Simultaneous Recurrence of Colon Cancer at the Drain Placement and Anastomotic Sites Postoperatively].

A woman in her 70s presented to our hospital with abdominal pain and right lower abdominal mass. Colonoscopy revealed circumferential ascending colon cancer. She underwent right hemicolectomy, D3 lymphadenectomy, and ileocolonic functional end-to-end anastomosis.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival of Metastatic and Recurrent Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Treated with Multimodality Managements].

We hereby report a case of long-term survival of metastatic and recurrent duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) treated with multimodality managements. A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with duodenal GIST and underwent surgical resection of a primary lesion of the duodenum. Since the pathological findings on mitotic rate indicated its high risk of recurrence, the systemic treatment by imatinib mesylate was given shortly after the surgery.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival of the Pancreatic Tail Cancer with the Concomitant Small Liver Metastasis].

We hereby report a case of long-term survival of the pancreatic tail cancer with a synchronous small liver metastasis. A 62- year-old male with pancreatic tail cancer was incidentally diagnosed with single tiny metastasis in the left medial section of the liver duringthe distal pancreatectomy. The lesion was also resected together with primary lesion.

[Risk Evaluation and Prognostic Prediction of Colorectal Cancer in Elderly Patients Over 80 Years of Age].

This study aimed to investigate risk factors and prognosis ofcolorectal cancer in patients over 80 years ofage. Surgical risk was evaluated by colorectal POSSUM(CR-POSSUM)and prognosis by Glasgow prognostic score(GPS). The analysis included 56 patients aged over 80 years with colorectal cancer during 2002-2012.

[A Case of Port Site Recurrence after Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer].

It has been suggested that port site recurrence is a potential complication after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, especially considering the increased number of laparoscopic surgeries being performed. We encountered a case of an 84-year-old man who was diagnosed with 2 port site recurrences at the navel and right hypochondrium after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy(D2). Pathological diagnosis for the original tumor was tub2, pT4a, pN1(1/38), M0, pStage III A, and HER2(0).

[Deceased Schizophrenic Patients--Focus on QT Prolongation].

We retrospectively evaluated factors affecting the lifespan of schizophrenic patients, who are known to have a shorter life expectancy than healthy people, focusing on the relationship with QT prolongation associated with antipsychotics. In a total of 406 patients who died at Asai Hospital the mean age at death was compared between schizophrenic patients and nonpsychiatric patients. In deceased schizophrenic patients, drug-related factors, hematology results, and electrocardiographic findings for 3 years before death were compared with those for the same period in age-matched surviving schizophrenic patients.