Serum interferon alpha receptor 2 mRNA may predict efficacy of interferon alpha with/without low-dose sorafenib for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Interferon (IFN) alpha is one of the central agents in immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It acts by binding to the IFN-alpha receptor (IFNAR). We previously reported that increased tumor expression of IFNAR2 mRNA was associated with the metastatic potential and progression of RCC, as well as with a poor response of metastatic RCC to IFN-alpha therapy.

Increased Rac1 activity and Pak1 overexpression are associated with lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis of upper urinary tract cancer.

Background: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and lymph node metastasis are conventional pathological factors associated with an unfavorable prognosis of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UC-UUT), but little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying LVI and nodal metastasis in this disease. Rac1 small GTPase (Rac1) is essential for tumor metastasis. Activated GTP-bound Rac1 (Rac1 activity) plays a key role in activating downstream effectors known as Pak (21-activated kinase), which are key regulators of cytoskeletal remolding, cell motility, and cell proliferation, and thus have a role in both carcinogenesis and tumor invasion.

Single minimum incision endoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal tumors with preoperative virtual navigation using 3D-CT volume-rendering.

Background: Single minimum incision endoscopic surgery (MIES) involves the use of a flexible high-definition laparoscope to facilitate open surgery. We reviewed our method of radical nephrectomy for renal tumors, which is single MIES combined with preoperative virtual surgery employing three-dimensional CT images reconstructed by the volume rendering method (3D-CT images) in order to safely and appropriately approach the renal hilar vessels. We also assessed the usefulness of 3D-CT images.

[Interferon alpha and half-dose sorafenib is an effective treatment modality for interferon alpha-resistant metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a case report].

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is notoriously resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Immunotherapy with interferon alpha is widely used for the disease, but its treatment effects are poor. A 69-year-old Japanese women presented with gross hematuria.

Possible role of the RhoC/ROCK pathway in progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

To clarify the role of the Rho small GTP-binding protein (Rho) and its major downstream target, ROCK (Rho-associated serine-threonine protein kinase), in progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we examined mRNA expression for Rho and ROCK genes in surgical specimen of RCC tissues from 78 Japanese patients and in the corresponding non-tumor tissues originating from the same patient using a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of mRNA for RhoA did not differ between tumor and non-tumor tissues. RhoB mRNA expression was higher in the tumor (P < 0.

Accumulation of radiocesium in wild mushrooms collected from a Japanese forest and cesium uptake by microorganisms isolated from the mushroom-growing soils.

Mushrooms and soils samples collected from a sub-alpine forest of Mt. Fuji in Japan were measured for 137Cs and stable Cs. The ranges of 137Cs specific activities and stable Cs concentrations in the mushrooms were 291-7950 Bq kg(-1) dry weight and 4.