A multicenter, prospective, phase II trial of second-line aflibercept plus FOLFIRI in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to an anti-EGFR antibody: HGCSG1801.

Aflibercept (AFL) plus FOLFIRI prolongs overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI previously treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. Therefore, we conducted a prospective open-label phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of AFL plus FOLFIRI in Japanese patients with mCRC failing a prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy plus an anti-EGFR agent.

Correlation of Gene Polymorphisms or Prior Irinotecan Treatment and Treatment Outcomes of Nanoliposomal-Irinotecan plus 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study (HGCSG2101).

The effects of gene polymorphisms or prior irinotecan treatment on treatment outcomes of nanoliposomal-irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI+5-FU/LV) in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not established. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study compared treatment outcomes in patients with and those with or genotypes. We also analyzed the impact of prior irinotecan treatment on survival outcomes in 54 patients treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV.

Feasibility of edoxaban for asymptomatic cancer-associated thrombosis in Japanese patients with gastrointestinal cancer: ExCAVE study.

Background: Although initial therapy with a parenteral anticoagulant is required before edoxaban, this strategy is frequently avoided in actual clinical practice because of its complexity. This study assessed the feasibility of edoxaban without initial heparin usage for asymptomatic cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) in Japanese patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) at high risk of bleeding.

Methods: In this multicenter prospective feasibility study conducted at 10 Japanese institutions, patients with active GIC who developed accidental asymptomatic CAT during chemotherapy were recruited.

Phase II Study of Ramucirumab Plus Irinotecan Combination Therapy as Second-Line Treatment in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: HGCSG1603.

Background: Ramucirumab is a human IgG1 monoclonal vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 antibody that inhibits tumor cell growth and affects the tumor cell microenvironment. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab plus irinotecan combination therapy as second-line treatment in patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory or intolerant to primary chemotherapy were included.

Study protocol of the HGCSG1803: a phase II multicentre, non-randomised, single-arm, prospective trial of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and S-1 (OX-IRIS) as first-line treatment for metastatic or relapsed pancreatic cancer.

Introduction: Combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) has become one of the standard treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, the use of FOLFIRINOX requires prolonged infusion. Therefore, we planned to develop a new combination chemotherapy regimen with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and S-1 (OX-IRIS) for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Multicenter, prospective, observational study of chemotherapy-induced dysgeusia in gastrointestinal cancer.

Purpose: Dysgeusia is an adverse event caused by chemotherapy. Although retrospective studies have shown zinc administration improves dysgeusia, there have been no prospective studies. The present study examined effects of zinc therapy on dysgeusia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Impact of single-heterozygous UGT1A1 on the clinical outcomes of irinotecan monotherapy after fluoropyrimidine and platinum-based combination therapy for gastric cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: It is unclear whether the UGT1A1 status, single heterozygous (SH) or wild type (WT), is associated with the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan monotherapy in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). We investigated the association between clinical outcomes (efficacy and safety) and UGT1A1 status in patients who received irinotecan monotherapy.

Methods: We evaluated AGC patients who received irinotecan monotherapy between January 2011 and December 2017.

Safety of Cold Polypectomy for Colorectal Polyps in Patients on Antithrombotic Medication.

Background: The cold polypectomy (CP) technique has been increasingly used in recent years. However, there have been few studies about post-polypectomy bleeding (PPB) in patients who underwent CP and who were on antithrombotic drugs. The objective of this study was to determine the safety of CP in patients on antithrombotic medication.

Study protocol of HGCSG1404 SNOW study: a phase I/II trial of combined chemotherapy of S-1, nab-paclitaxel and oxaliplatin administered biweekly to patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background: In Japan, S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) regimen has become a standard therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Moreover, the S-1 plus oxaliplatin regimen is now a standard treatment. Nab-paclitaxel was developed for chemotherapy of gastric cancer in Japanese clinical practice.

Constitutive aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling constrains type I interferon-mediated antiviral innate defense.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the toxic activity of many environmental xenobiotics. However, its role in innate immune responses during viral infection is not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that constitutive AHR signaling negatively regulates the type I interferon (IFN-I) response during infection with various types of virus.

[Clinical impact of addition of bevacizumab to the first-line chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer].

Background: Combination regimens containing bevacizumab(BV)are regarded as one of the standard first-line chemotherapy (1stCTx) regimens in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, some patients cannot be treated with BV because of the short interval from the palliative operation or other reasons. We present a study of some patients who were treated with add-on BV in the middle of the 1stCTx before disease progression(referred to as "midway BV" regimen hereafter), and here, we report the efficacy of the midway BV regimen as observed in our patients.

[Repetition of Helicobacter cinaedi infections during chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma].

A 70-year-old male, who had undergone resection of gastric malignant lymphoma in 1992, presented with cervical lymph node swelling in January 2008. Pathological examination of the lymph node biopsy demonstrated recurrence of malignant lymphoma, and he was treated with the R-CHOP regimen. Although he did not develop fever during the first through third course of R-CHOP, from the fourth course, he repeatedly demonstrated fever over 38°C for about one week after each course of chemotherapy, despite the absence of neutropenia.

Undiagnosed collecting duct carcinoma presenting as meningeal carcinomatosis and multiple bone metastases.

A 54-year-old woman presented with blepharoptosis, numbness in the lower lip, dysgeusia and pain in the extremities and back. MRI showed marked meningeal thickening and multiple bone lesions accompanying a prominent enhancing effect. CT scan of the chest and abdomen appeared to be unremarkable for primary cancer.

POEMS syndrome complicated by follicular lymphoma.

A 59-year-old woman presented with ascites and intraperitoneal lymph node swelling. Pathological examination of the lymph node revealed follicular lymphoma. After a lymph node biopsy, she developed atypical genital bleeding, multiple endocrine disorders, polyneuropathy with a high plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome.

[Imatinib mesylate plus G-CSF therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia in the blastic crisis].

Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) has shown significant effects in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, hematological toxicity often occurs and requires dosage reduction or discontinuation of imatinib treatment. A patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in the blastic crisis received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) simultaneously with imatinib.