Feasibility of esophageal reconstruction using a pedicled jejunum with intrathoracic esophagojejunostomy in the upper mediastinum for esophageal cancer.

Objective: An alternative conduit is needed when the gastric tube cannot be used as an esophageal substitute for reconstruction after esophagectomy. We adopted pedicle jejunal reconstruction with intrathoracic anastomosis in the upper mediastinum under such circumstances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of this technique.

VEGF is a target molecule for peritoneal metastasis and malignant ascites in gastric cancer: prognostic significance of VEGF in ascites and efficacy of anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody.

Background: In gastric cancer, poor prognosis is associated with peritoneal dissemination, which often accompanies malignant ascites. We searched for a target molecule in peritoneal metastasis and investigated its clinical utility as a biomarker.

Methods: Biopsy specimens from both primary lesions and peritoneal metastasis, and if possible, malignant ascites, were obtained from 40 patients with gastric cancer.

Oncologic outcomes of thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection: 10-year experience from a single center.

Background: The oncologic feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has yet to be proven. We evaluated the oncologic outcome of VATS-esophagectomy by reviewing our 10-year experience, with particular emphasis on the effect of lymph node dissection.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2012, 146 patients with esophageal cancer underwent completion of VATS-esophagectomy in the left lateral position.

[A case of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma producing granulocyte-colony stimulating factor].

We report a case of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma producing granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). A 60- year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of upper abdominal pain. Endoscopic examination revealed a large type 5 advanced gastric cancer with bleeding from the low body of stomach to the antrum, accompanied with para-aortic and mesenteric lymph node metastasis.

Tumor-derived trypsin enhances proliferation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells by activating protease-activated receptor-2.

In primary malignant liver tumors, trypsinogen-immunoreactivity was present in 70% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) specimens, but absent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens. We suggest the secretion of trypsinogen to be a key difference in biological behavior between ICC and HCC cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the secretion of tumor-derived trypsin and the expression of its specific receptor, protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), in ICC using cell lines and surgical specimens.