Prognostic significance of tumor necrosis factor receptor in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The expression pattern and prognostic impact of tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNFR1) in colorectal cancers are not known.

Patients And Methods: Immunohistochemical evaluation of TNFR1, Ki-67 and apoptosis was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 56 curatively-resected Dukes' stage C-colorectal cancer patients.

Results: Thirty-seven (66%) cases had a high expression and 19 (34%) cases had a low expression of TNFR1.

Concurrent expression of angiogenic growth factors and neovascularization during tumourigenesis in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Details of concurrent expression of angiogenic growth factors (AGFs) and microvessel density (MVD) in human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas remain obscure. Eighty lesions, 20 each from colorectal adenoma, Tis, T1 and T2 cancers were evaluated immunohistochemically for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and MVD. MVD (p = 0.

Enhanced apoptosis and transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas after Sulindac therapy.

Purpose: We tried to elucidate the effects of sulindac on human colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: Sulindac (300 mg/day) was administered for two weeks before operation to 33 patients with sporadic colorectal carcinoma (Sulindac Group). Resected specimens were used to detect apoptosis by terminal dUTP nick end labeling and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 expression by immunohistochemistry.

Prognostic factors in node-negative squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

Background: Among several clinicopathological factors influencing the outcome of patients with esophageal carcinoma, the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis is the most important. Prognostic indicators, however, in patients without lymph node involvement have not been fully understood.

Materials And Methods: Out of 247 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus between February 1981 and December 1998, 154 patients (62.

Esophageal cancer with cirrhosis of the liver: results of esophagectomy in 18 consecutive patients.

Background: Patients with cirrhosis of the liver sometimes are candidates for esophagectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy.

Materials And Methods: Of 271 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma, 19 patients (7.0%) had pathologically proven cirrhosis of the liver.

Esophageal cancer with distant lymph node metastasis: prognostic significance of metastatic lymph node ratio.

The cervical and celiac lymph node metastases are defined as distant metastasis (Mlym) from thoracic esophageal carcinoma by TNM (primary tumor, regional lymph nodes, and distant metastasis) classification. The prognostic factors, however, of such distant node metastases are not fully understood. Of 85 patients with node-positive thoracic esophageal carcinoma who were treated with the same modalities of treatment, 31 (37%) had Mlym.

Sulindac inhibits growth of rat colon carcinoma by inducing apoptosis.

Sulindac possesses an inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer development. Rat colon cancer cells, ACL-15, inoculated subcutaneously in F344 rats were used. Sulindac was administered at 8 mg/kg twice daily for 7 consecutive days.

A tailored perioperative blood transfusion might avoid undue recurrences in gastric carcinoma patients.

In a large retrospective study, the prognostic significance of blood transfusion (BT) and type of blood product transfused were searched in 640 curatively resected gastric carcinoma patients. Out of 640 patients, 222 (34.7%) received BT and the incidence of BT was reduced from 45% in the early period to 21% in the most recent period.

Body mass index determines the success of lymph node dissection and predicts the outcome of gastric carcinoma patients.

We tried to determine the role of the body mass index (BMI) on the extent of lymph node dissection in gastric cancer surgery. Seven hundred and eighty-seven patients with gastric carcinoma were reviewed. Ninety-two (11%) patients exceeded the upper limit of the optimum BMI.

Impact of screening survey of gastric cancer on clinicopathological features and survival: retrospective study at a single institution.

Background: Detection of gastric cancer in an early stage is important to improve the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. This study compared the clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical results in patients with asymptomatic gastric cancer detected by a screening program with those of patients with symptomatic cancer. The efficacy of 2 screening methods (barium meal and endoscopy) was also compared.

Long-term survival of transmural advanced gastric carcinoma following curative resection: multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.

Patients with transmural (T2N0-T3N2) advanced gastric carcinoma comprise the largest group with uncertain outcome. These patients must be stratified according to the prognostic variables so the high risk group can be precisely identified. A total of 152 patients with transmural advanced gastric carcinomas were uniformly treated with a curative intent between 1979 and 1989 with at least a 7-year follow-up.

Gastric resection in the aged (> or = 80 years) with gastric carcinoma: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.

Background: The incidence of gastric neoplasm is increasing in the elderly population. Therefore, a rational method of treatment for gastric cancer in the elderly should be constituted to improve the survival. The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether the patient's age is an independent prognostic factor and to determine clinicopathological characteristics in the elderly.

An evaluation of malignancy and prognostic factors based on mode of lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma.

This study was conducted to evaluate lymph node metastasis as a key prognostic factor in esophageal cancer. Metastatic lesions in lymph nodes were grouped by histological morphology as intracapsular or extracapsular, and the significance of lymph node metastasis was evaluated by relating metastatic lesions to clinical pathologic factors and patient prognosis. In our hospital, 46 of 81 patients who underwent resection of esophageal cancer developed lymph node metastasis.

Prognostic factors after extended esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

Backgrounds And Objectives: In Japan, extended esophagectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy has become the standard surgical procedure for carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. Although mortality and morbidity rates after such extensive esophagectomy have been acceptable, the long-term outcomes are not necessarily satisfactory.

Methods: Among 235 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus between June 1981 and March 1998, 143 patients (60.

Prognostic significance of Fas and Fas ligand expressions in human esophageal cancer.

Esophageal carcinomas have recently been shown to express Fas ligand (FasL) and down-regulate Fas to escape from host immune surveillance. However, the prognostic importance of Fas/FasL and their correlation with clinicopathological characteristics are yet to be delineated in this highly malignant carcinoma. Specimens from 106 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients were used for immunohistochemical evaluation of Fas, FasL, and CD8 expressions.

Clinicopathological features of early gastric cancer: results of 100 cases from a rural general hospital.

Objective: To evaluate 100 patients with early gastric cancer from the point of view of early detection, clinicopathological variables, and long term results.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Rural general hospital, Japan.

Antiangiogenic therapy of human esophageal cancers with thalidomide in nude mice.

Background: Thalidomide (alpha-N-phthalimidoglutarimide) is attracting new attention because of its antiangiogenic effect in corneal neovascularization models. However, the effect of this agent on esophageal carcinoma is yet to be established.

Methods: The human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma strains ES63 and ES80 implanted subcutaneously in nude mice were used to evaluate the antiangiogenic effect of thalidomide (200 mg/kg/d) after daily gavage or intraperitoneal administration.

Prognostic significance of perioperative blood transfusions in resectable thoracic esophageal cancer.

Objective: The perioperative blood transfusions have been associated with tumor recurrence and decreased survival in various types of alimentary tract cancer. There exist, however, contradictory studies showing no relationship between blood transfusions and survival. For patients with esophageal cancer, only one report suggested that blood transfusions did not by itself decrease the chance of cure after esophagectomy.

nm23 in the primary and metastatic sites of gastric carcinoma. Relation to AFP-producing carcinoma.

Tumor metastasis is the major cause of treatment failure and death in cancer patients. The present study was designed to extrapolate the association of nm23 expression with acquisition of metastatic potential of gastric carcinoma with special reference to the alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric carcinoma (APGC). The primary tumor with surrounding normal mucosa and metastatic lymph nodes of 30 patients with APGC and 29 randomly selected matched controls of non-AFP gastric carcinoma (NAGC) were immunostained for nm23 and an image analyzer system was used for quantitative evaluation.

Prognostic factors in T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

Background: Prognostic indicators in patients with T2 tumor have not been fully understood.

Objective: To clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics and long-term results of T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the thoracic esophagus.

Design: Consecutive case series.

Prognostic factors and rational approach in the treatment of submucosal cancer of the stomach.

In early gastric cancer, lymph node metastasis is known to be a prognostic factor. A retrospective study of 134 patients with submucosal gastric cancer (SMGC) who had undergone gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors and indication of postoperative chemotherapy. Five-year disease-free survival rate for 121 patients without nodal metastasis was 100% with (n = 62) or without postoperative chemotherapy (n = 59).

Tumor vascularity predicts recurrence in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background: New prognosticators are necessary for optimizing the extent of thyroidectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: Tumor microvessel density (MVD), expression of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and CD68 stained macrophages were evaluated in 71 differentiated thyroid carcinomas by an immunohistochemical method.

Results: The recurrence-free survival was significantly (P <0.

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen as a prognostic factor in resectable gastric cancer.

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been widely accepted as a tumor marker useful in the diagnosis and management of colorectal cancer. When CEA levels are positive in gastric cancer patients, they could be useful prognostic indicators. However, the value of CEA as a tumor marker for gastric cancer remains a matter of controversy.

[A case of remarkable response of colon cancer with multiple liver and bone metastasis treated with tegafur and cisplatin].

A 47-year-old man with ascending colon cancer with multiple liver metastases and bone metastasis (VII thoracic vertebra) showed a remarkable response to the combination therapy of tegafur and cisplatin. Tegafur (1,200 mg/day) was administered through continuous intravenous infusion mixed with IVH, and cisplatin was given every two weeks at a dose of 100 mg. The total dose of tegafur was 39.

[A case of retroperitoneal lymph node recurrence with gallbladder cancer responding to UFT and CDDP combination chemotherapy].

A 64-year-old women with gallbladder cancer was treated by extended cholecystectomy and regional lymph node dissection. At 18 months after surgery, an enlarged retroperitoneal lymph node due to recurrence was demonstrated by computed tomography, and CEA and CA 19-9 showed high serum levels. Combination chemotherapy consisting of UFT administered orally at 200 mg daily and CDDP infused at 40 mg/m2 every 2 weeks was performed in 3 courses.