Lack of involvement of the GNAS1 T393C polymorphism in prostate cancer risk in a Japanese population.

Background: GNAS1 encodes the a-subunit of the Gs protein (Gsa), which binds GTP and stimulates adenylyl cyclase. Activating mutations lead to somatotroph, thyroid, adrenal and gonadal adenomas or the McCune-Albright syndrome and recently the T399C polymorphism in GNAS1 has been reported to be associated with malignancies. The purpose of the present case-control study with 349 Japanese prostate cancer patients and 203 urological controls was to determine whether the GNAS1 T393C polymorphism is associated with prostate cancer risk.

A G/A polymorphism in the androgen response element 1 of prostate-specific antigen gene correlates with the response to androgen deprivation therapy in Japanese population.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene expression is regulated by androgen receptor (AR) through androgen response elements (AREs) in the promoter region of the PSA gene. A single nucleotide polymorphism with guanine (G) to adenine (A) substitution is identified at position -158 in the ARE of the PSA gene. The purpose of this study was to investigate the allelic differences in the PSA promoter activity in vitro and the relation to several clinical factors of prostate cancer patients in the Japanese population.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with renal arterial embolization for the treatment of unresectable renal cell carcinoma larger than 3.5 cm: initial experience.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and therapeutic effects of the combination of renal arterial embolization and radiofrequency (RF) ablation to reinforce the anticancer effect on renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) measuring 3.5 cm or larger. This study was undertaken to evaluate this combined therapy on large RCCs-based tumor geometry.

Comparison of cyclosporine concentrations in renal transplant recipients using ACMIA and mFPIA methods.

Objective: This study investigated the performance and data comparability of a new, relatively specific immunoassay method, affinity column mediated immunoassay (ACMIA) run on the Dimension Xpand-HM, and the established less specific monoclonal fluorescence polarization immunoassay (mFPIA) method on the TDx analyzer (mFPIA/TDx) in determining cyclosporine (CsA) concentrations.

Methods: Accuracy and within and between-run precision were tested. Then we measured CsA concentrations of 216 samples obtained from 51 patients and divided the 113 samples from 21 patients with renal transplants into two groups based on sampling time.

[Two cases of renal cell carcinoma arising in the native kidney following renal transplantation--clinical study and review of 26 cases reported in Japan].

Renal transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing malignancies due to long-term immunosuppression. Two cases of renal cell carcinoma arising from the native kidney following renal transplantation are reported. Case 1; A 60-year-old man underwent cadaveric renal transplantation on July 31, 1995.

Decreased expression of KAI1 metastasis suppressor gene is a recurrence predictor in primary pTa and pT1 urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Objective: To examine the expression of the KAI1 metastasis suppressor gene and to evaluate its relationship with tumor recurrence in primary pTa and pT1 urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Methods: Samples were obtained from 87 patients after transurethral resection (TUR). Tumor stage and grade were reviewed in 33 patients with pTa and in 54 patients with pT1, with a mean follow-up time of 47.

[A case of cystic renal cell carcinoma: clinical usefulness of CT arteriography].

We report a case of cystic renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). In general, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are sufficient for diagnosing renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, we often have difficulty in diagnosing CRCC based on these modalities alone.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is involved in androgen-independent PSA gene expression in LNCaP cells.

Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is regulated by growth factors and hormones through functional androgen responsive elements in the promoter region of the PSA gene. However, the molecular basis for androgen independent PSA elevation in hormone refractory prostate cancer is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of MAP kinase activation in androgen independent regulation of PSA expression.

Phenylacetate inhibits growth and modulates cell cycle gene expression in renal cancer cell lines.

Background: Phenylacetate (PA), an aromatic fatty acid, is now undergoing evaluation as a potential anticancer reagent. Our previous study showed that PA induces cell growth inhibition in prostate cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether PA is effective against three renal cancer cell lines in vitro.

Renal angiomyolipoma: relationships between tumor size, aneurysm formation, and rupture.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationships between tumor size, aneurysm formation, and spontaneous rupture in renal angiomyolipomas.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three patients with renal angiomyolipoma were examined with angiography and computed tomography (CT). The single largest lesion in each kidney was evaluated.

[Renal oncocytoma with synchronous contralateral renal cell carcinoma].

A 60-year-old male was admitted with bilateral renal masses with a diameter of 50 mm (right kidney), and 15 mm (left kidney) found incidentally by computed tomography. Renal angiography demonstrated neovascularization in the lower pole of the right kidney, but no remarkable findings in the left kidney. We could not deny the possibility of bilateral renal cell carcinoma.