Albumin-derived Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Score as a Marker of Nivolumab Treatment Sensitivity in Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Study.

Background/aim: Establishment of powerful and easy-to-evaluate biomarkers that can predict immune checkpoint inhibitor sensitivity in patients with gastric cancer (GC) would be highly useful. The albumin-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (Alb-dNLR) score reportedly is an excellent measure of both immunity and nutritional status. However, the association between nivolumab treatment sensitivity and Alb-dNLR in GC has also not been adequately investigated.

Examining the Efficacy of Nivolumab for Gastric Cancer Focusing on Using an Inflammation-based Prognostic Score: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background/aim: To discover the positive therapeutic effects of nivolumab in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC), it is necessary to establish a useful biomarker to predict therapeutic efficacy. This multicenter retrospective study sought to evaluate the predictive impact of inflammation-based prognostic score (IBPS) on the therapeutic efficacy of nivolumab in patients with AGC.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 58 AGC patients treated with nivolumab from October 2017 to November 2018 at five institutes.

Changes in the Gustave Roussy Immune Score as a Powerful Prognostic Marker of the Therapeutic Sensitivity of Nivolumab in Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background: Identification of positive biomarkers for the effects of nivolumab on patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is significant. The Gustave Roussy Immune Score (GRIm-s) is associated with therapeutic resistance of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in other cancers. This multicenter, retrospective study was designed to analyze the association of GRIm-s with therapeutic sensitivity of nivolumab in patients with AGC.

Clinical features as potential prognostic factors in patients treated with nivolumab for highly pretreated metastatic gastric cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Although nivolumab (anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody) is a promising approach for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), the response rate remains limited. The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to determine if clinical features could serve as prognostic factors of the efficacy of nivolumab in patients with AGC.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with AGC who were treated with nivolumab as a third or later line from October 2017 to December 2018 at any of five clinical sites were enrolled in the study.

Learning curve for robotic bedside assistance for rectal cancer: application of the cumulative sum method.

Background: This investigation assesses the learning curve for dedicated bedside assistance at a facility that recently adopted robot-assisted rectal resection.

Methods: Data from patients with rectal cancer who underwent robotic rectal resections from September 2019 through April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Before starting robotic surgery, we set the rule that a console surgeon would not enter the sterile field and all of those maneuvers would be left to a dedicated physician.

FDG-PET for preoperative evaluation of tumor invasion in ampullary cancer: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Tumor invasion is the most significant prognostic factor in ampullary cancer and is thus a crucial factor in decision making for treatment. Endoscopic ultrasound can be performed to evaluate tumor invasion, but its diagnostic accuracy varies depending on the endoscopist. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for preoperatively predicting tumor invasion in ampullary cancer.

Thyroid hormone activated upper gastrointestinal motility without mediating gastrointestinal hormones in conscious dogs.

This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between thyroid function and gastrointestinal motility. We established an experimental configuration in which the feedback of thyroid function was completely removed using conscious dogs. With hypothyroidism, time of phase I of interdigestive migrating contractions (IMC) was longer, time of phase II and phase III was significantly shortened, and both the continuous time of strong tetanic contraction at antrum and 10-h frequency of phase III counted from the first IMC after meal significantly decreased.

Conversion surgery for metastatic gastric cancer at 2 years after initial diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary with metastasis of cervical lymph nodes and ovary: a case report.

Background: Patients with stage IV gastric cancer have a poor prognosis despite improvements in intensive treatment regimens, including chemotherapy. Recently, conversion surgery has received much attention as it can provide long-term survival in stage IV gastric cancer patients who are responsive to chemotherapy. Herein, we describe the case of a patient who underwent conversion surgery for metastatic gastric cancer that was performed over 2 years after an initial diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary (CUP) with metastasis of the cervical lymph nodes and the ovary.

Role of PD-L1 Expression during the Progression of Submucosal Gastric Cancer.

Introduction: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a prognostic marker for gastric cancer that correlates with tumor diameter and depth of penetration. But the role of PD-L1 and mechanism(s) employed in the initial phase of invasion in early gastric cancer is yet to be understood.

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the role of PD-L1 during the progression of gastric cancer, specifically invading the submucosa beyond the lamina muscularis mucosa.

Migrating contractions of the afferent and Roux limbs show peristaltic movement independently of each other in conscious dogs after Roux-en-Y reconstruction after distal gastrectomy.

Purpose: The Roux-en-Y (RY) procedure is used frequently for surgical reconstruction after gastrectomy. However, a minority of patients suffer a serious motility disorder of the Roux and afferent limb postoperatively. We conducted this study to clarify the association between the motility and peristaltic direction of two limbs in conscious dogs.

High RAD18 Expression is Associated with Disease Progression and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Background: RAD18 plays an important role in DNA damage repair by inducing monoubiquitinated PCNA (mUB-PCNA) in both cancer and normal tissues. Previous studies have not determined the significance of RAD18 expression in clinical gastric cancer (GC) samples. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the expression and functional significance of RAD18 in GC.

High Stromal TGFBI in Lung Cancer and Intratumoral CD8-Positive T Cells were Associated with Poor Prognosis and Therapeutic Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Background: We investigated whether the expression of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein (TGFBI) and intratumoral immune cells including CD8- and Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3)-positive T cells in clinical lung cancer patients could predict the therapeutic response to nivolumab.

Methods: Thirty-three patients who were treated with nivolumab were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical analyses of TGFBI, PD-L1, CD8, Foxp3, and vimentin expression were conducted.

Low IRBIT Levels Are Associated With Chemo-resistance in Gastric Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: We investigated whether the expression of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor-binding protein released with inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IRBIT) in clinical gastric cancer (GC) patients could predict the therapeutic response to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate IRBIT expression in 115 GC patients. To clarify whether IRBIT had a relationship with the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy, we compared two groups - 62 patients treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and 53 patients treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

A prospective pilot study of an elemental nutritional supplement for prevention of oral mucositis during S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer.

Purposes: Oral mucositis is one of the most common reasons for discontinuation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy after radical gastrectomy. Some studies suggest that nutritional support with amino acids may improve oral mucositis. We conducted a prospective, randomized clinical trial of patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer to examine whether an oral elemental diet prevents chemotherapy associated oral mucositis and body weight loss.

Comparison of the Physiological Effect of Billroth-I and Roux-en-Y Reconstruction Following Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy.

Background: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is a widely used minimally invasive surgery. Following LDG, Billroth-I (B-I) provides physiological reconstruction by preserving the duodenal passage but results in a high incidence of reflux esophagitis that decreases postoperative quality of life. Because of this, Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction is often considered the first choice after LDG.

Long-Term Imatinib Treatment for Patients with Unresectable or Recurrent Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

Background: Only limited data are available concerning the long-term outcomes of imatinib treatment among Japanese or Asian patients with advanced or recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Our multicenter study, which was conducted in northern Kanto, Japan, aimed to assess the efficacy of imatinib mesylate against advanced or recurrent GIST.

Summary: The clinicopathological data of 234 GIST patients who were treated at one of the 11 participating hospitals from 2001 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed (GREAT study).

Nuclear heat shock protein 110 expression is associated with poor prognosis and hyperthermo-chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis.

Aim: To investigate the significance of heat shock protein 110 (HSP110) in gastric cancer (GC) patients with peritoneal metastasis undergoing hyperthermo-chemotherapy.

Methods: Primary GC patients ( = 14) with peritoneal metastasis or positive peritoneal lavage cytology who underwent distal or total gastrectomy between April 2000 and December 2011 were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent postoperative intraperitoneal hyperthermo-chemotherapy using a Thermotron RF-8 heating device two weeks after surgery.

Heat shock-induced HIKESHI protects cell viability via nuclear translocation of heat shock protein 70.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), particularly HSP70, help restore normal cellular function following damage caused by stressors. HSP expression in tumor tissues indicates cancer progression, and while the development of HSP inhibitors is progressing, these substances are not widely used to treat cancer. HIKESHI (C11orf73) does not control the intracellular movement of HSP70 at normal temperatures; however, it does regulate the function and movements of HSP70 during heat shock.

High STMN1 level is associated with chemo-resistance and poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Stathmin1 (STMN1) is a cytosolic phosphoprotein that regulates cellular microtubule dynamics and is known to have oncogenic activity. Despite several reports, its roles in gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear owing to a lack of analyses of highly metastatic cases. This study aimed to investigate STMN1 as a prognostic and predictive indicator of response to paclitaxel therapy in patients with GC, including inoperable cases.

Double Endoscopic Intraluminal Operation (DEILO) for Early Gastric Cancer: Outcome of Novel Procedure for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been used to treat patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). Although several endoscopic devices have been developed to ensure easy and safe ESD, this technique still requires an experienced, highly skilled endoscopist, as it is performed through a single gastroscope, thus requiring one-handed surgical techniques. To overcome these limitations, many ESD procedures with counter-traction have been developed, such as the double scope, double channel scope, clip with line, magnetic anchor, percutaneous traction and external grasping forceps methods.

Low Expression of FBXO45 Is Associated with Gastric Cancer Progression and Poor Prognosis.

Background: F-Box protein 45 (FBXO45) is reported to be associated with cancer aggressiveness. We investigated the relationship between FBXO45 and clinicopathological factors in gastric cancer (GC).

Materials And Methods: We used immunohistochemistry to investigate FBXO45 expression in 104 GC samples; the prognostic value of FBXO45 was also calculated.

High Expression of MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Chemoresistance in Gastric Cancer.

Background: The MRN complex of meiotic recombination 11 (MRE11), DNA repair protein Rad50 (RAD50) and Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBS1) proteins coordinate the detection and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). DNA DSB repair-dependent chemoresistance likely has an effect on the treatment of human cancer.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the expression of MRN complex in human gastric cancer (GC) tissues using immunohistochemistry and analyzed its clinical significance and prognostic relevance.

Restoration of gastrointestinal motility ameliorates nutritional deficiencies and body weight loss of patients who undergo laparoscopy-assisted proximal gastrectomy.

Background: Esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy (PG) is a simple and safe reconstruction, but it leads to a high incidence of reflux esophagitis and impairs postoperative quality of life. We have already reported gastric tube (GT) reconstruction after PG and performed it on more than 100 patients. No studies have reported long-term outcomes after PG-GT.

Nuclear heat shock protein 110 expression is associated with poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer.

Heat shock protein (HSP) expression is induced by the exposure to stress, such as fever, oxidative stress, chemical exposure, and irradiation. In cancer, HSP promotes the survival of malignant cells by inhibiting the induction of apoptosis. In colorectal cancer, a loss-of-function mutation of HSP110 (HSP110ΔE9) has been identified.

Nuclear PRMT1 expression is associated with poor prognosis and chemosensitivity in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Metastatic and refractory gastric cancer (GC) are associated with a poor prognosis; therefore, the identification of prognostic factors and chemosensitivity markers is extremely important. Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) may play a role in chemosensitivity/apoptosis induction via activation of the tumor suppressor forkhead box O1 (FOXO1). The purpose of this study was to clarify the expression of and relationship between PRMT1 and FOXO1 to evaluate the applicability of PRMT1 as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic tool in GC.