ZEB1 expression is associated with prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aim: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumours, so the identification of molecular targets for ICC is an important issue. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a key inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical significance of ZEB1 in ICC and the associations between ZEB1 expression and EMT-related proteins.

Laparoscopic liver biopsy using cup-shaped punch biopsy forceps and argon beam coagulator in children.

Needle liver biopsy is insufficient for measuring enzyme activity in liver tissue in child cases of intrahepatic cholestasis because the biopsy specimen obtained is too small. This study was undertaken to validate the feasibility of a new, relatively non-invasive laparoscopic liver biopsy technique combining the use of laparoscopic cup-shaped punch biopsy forceps (CPBF) and an argon beam coagulator (ABC) handpiece for the diagnosis and examination of liver enzyme activity in cases of intrahepatic cholestasis in children. The authors performed laparoscopic liver biopsy with the combined use of laparoscopic CPBF and an ABC handpiece in 10 children aged 4 months to 9 years old.

[Case of solitary necrotic nodule of the liver difficult to distinguish from malignant hepatoma].

In a 72 years old woman, abdominal computed tomography (CT) disclosed multicentric hypervascular tumor in S4 of the liver, and it was T1.T2 by the MRI, and a high signal was presented together. Stenosis was shown by ERCP at the same site.

Number of lymph node metastases is a significant prognostic factor in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) is a rare primary hepatic tumor. Outcomes after resection and the use of lymph node dissection have not been well described. From a prospective database, we identified 53 patients with IHCC who underwent exploration between April 1983 and March 2004.

Real-time monitoring of a digestive tract marker to reduce adverse effects of moving organs at risk (OAR) in radiotherapy for thoracic and abdominal tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of real-time monitoring of a fiducial marker in/near the digestive tract and to analyze the motion of organs at risk to determine a reasonable internal margin.

Methods And Materials: We developed two methods to insert a fiducial marker into/near the digestive tract adjacent to the target volume. One method involves an intraoperative insertion technique, and the other involves endoscopic insertion into the submucosal layer of the normal digestive tract.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy with the hook blade of ultrasonic coagulating shears and bipolar cautery with a saline irrigation system.

Background: The number of patients who have undergone laparoscopic hepatectomy is small, and the operative procedure is not yet well established.

Methods: We performed laparoscopic hepatectomy in eight patients, using the hook blade of ultrasonic coagulating shears, and bipolar cautery with a saline irrigation system, with minilaparotomy. The operative time, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay of patients with laparoscopic left lateral segmentectomy were compared with these parameters in ten patients who had had a left lateral segmentectomy with laparotomy.

[In vitro chemosensitivity test for hepatocellular carcinoma using collagen-gel droplet embedded cultures].

This study evaluated an in vitro assay for chemosensitivity test using a collagen-gel droplet-embedded culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 25 patients with HCC, in vitro chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), epirubicin (EPI), and cisplatin (CDDP) was examined by CD-DST, and 5-FU, EPI, and paclitaxel (PTX) were examined in 38 patients with breast cancer. Successful rates of chemosensitive evaluation by CD-DST were 64% for HCC and 79% for breast cancers.

[Postoperative adjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy of combined cisplatin and 5-FU for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

Postoperative adjuvant intraarterial infusion chemotherapy was performed for 22 hepatectomized patients with Stage III and Stage IV-A hepatocellular carcinoma from July, 1997, to December, 1999. One course of this chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin (10 mg/body/day on days 1-5) followed by 5-FU (250 mg/body/day on days 1-5). One hundred forty-eight patients of Stage III and Stage IV-A underwent hepatectomy from 1992 to 2001 and were enrolled as historical control.

Feasibility of insertion/implantation of 2.0-mm-diameter gold internal fiducial markers for precise setup and real-time tumor tracking in radiotherapy.

Purpose: To examine the feasibility and reliability of insertion of internal fiducial markers into various organs for precise setup and real-time tumor tracking in radiotherapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: Equipment and techniques for the insertion of 2.0-mm-diameter gold markers into or near the tumor were developed for spinal/paraspinal lesions, prostate tumors, and liver and lung tumors.

[Modified pharmacokinetic modulation chemotherapy (PMC) with medication of UFT and intraarterial infusion of 5-FU for advanced unresectable HCC].

Unlabelled: Advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was treated with modified pharmacokinetic modulation chemotherapy (PMC).

Method: Modified PMC consists of medication with UFT and intraarterial infusion of 5-FU. The dose of UFT is 300 or 400 mg/day.