[Two Cases of Laparoscopic Partial Resection of Stomach Using a Trans-Gastric Wall Approach for Submucosal Tumors].

We performed laparoscopic partial resection of the stomach with a trans-gastric wall approach for submucosal tumors. Case 1: A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of tarry stool. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a well demarcated, round, 45mm intraluminal-type submucosal tumor with delle on the anterior wall of the gastric upper body.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and S-1 for resectable and borderline pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: results from a prospective multi-institutional phase 2 trial.

Background: Surgical resection is the only curative strategy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but recurrence rates are high even after purported curative resection. First-line treatment with gemcitabine and S-1 (GS) is associated with promising antitumor activity with a high response rate. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of GS in the neoadjuvant setting.

[A case of distal cholangiocarcinoma with high sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy].

We hypothesized that neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for cholangiocarcinoma (NACRAC) using gemcitabine would improve the prognosis of resected cases. Phase II trial of NACRAC is ongoing. We report a very effective case to NACRAC for distal cholangiocarcinoma, which markedly reduced the size and levels of the tumor markers.

Clinicopathological characteristics and molecular analyses of multifocal intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Objective: To examine the clinicopathologic features and clonal relationship of multifocal intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are increasingly diagnosed cystic precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms can be multifocal and a potential cause of recurrence after partial pancreatectomy.

Severe cholestatic liver failure associated with gemcitabine adjuvant monotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

We report a case of severe hepatic failure caused by gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM) monotherapy after pancreaticoduodenectomy for advanced pancreatic cancer. A 73-year-old woman received GEM as an adjuvant chemotherapy. She suffered from progressive edema, fatigue, and jaundice after the third GEM administration.

Paclitaxel as second-line chemotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: We evaluated the efficacy and feasibility of paclitaxel in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. We also evaluated the correlation between tumor marker decline and response rate.

Methods: Thirty patients histologically diagnosed with pancreatic cancer who had undergone paclitaxel treatment as salvage chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.

[Long-term survival case after liver resection and postoperative hepatic arterial infusion for multiple liver metastases from rectal cancer].

A 45-year-old man underwent a low anterior resection for rectal cancer [T3, N1, M0, Stage IIa: UICC]. He received a postoperative systemic chemotherapy with 5-FU and LV. Five months after the operation, multiple liver metastases were detected in the right hepatic lobe (S5, 6, 8).

Assessment of Frey procedures: Japanese experience.

Background/purpose: The Frey procedure, the coring out of the pancreatic head and longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy, is a safe, easy, and reliable method to solve most of the problems associated with chronic pancreatitis. During long-term follow up, unexpected relapse in the pancreatic tail was encountered. The pattern of failure and the rationale for a new procedure to treat or prevent such relapse were investigated.

Institutional indications for islet transplantation after total pancreatectomy.

Background/purpose: This study was designed to establish institutional indications for pancreatic islet transplantation by examining patients with total pancreatectomy as candidates for islet allotransplantation.

Methods: In 12 patients who underwent total pancreatectomy, we compared pre-and postoperative plasma glucose level, body mass index, HbA1c, and daily insulin use; we examined candidacy for islet allotransplantation based on the guidelines of Japan's islet transplantation registry.

Results: Eight of the 12 patients with total pancreatectomy were operated for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

Oncolytic virotherapy as a novel strategy for pancreatic cancer.

We have developed a novel gene therapy that targets genetic alterations in pancreatic cancer using oncolytic replication-selective adenoviruses in tumor cells. E1B-55kDa-deleted adenovirus (AxE1AdB) can selectively replicate in TP53-deficient human cancer cells but not cells with functional TP53. Consecutive injection with AxE1AdB markedly inhibited the growth of human pancreatic tumors in severe combined immunodeficiency disease mice.

[Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer].

Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst prognosis of any malignant disease. The National Registry of Japan Pancreas Society has reported that only 13% of patients achieve 5 years survival after surgical resection. The vast majority of patients present with metastatic or unresectable disease.

Gene therapy for pancreatic cancer targeting the genomic alterations of tumor suppressor genes using replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus.

In order to develop an effective therapeutic intervention for patients with pancreatic cancer, we examined the genetic alternations of pancreatic cancer. Based on these results, we are developing a new gene therapy targeting the genetic character of pancreatic cancer using mutant adenoviruses selectively replication-competent in tumor cells. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 30% or more were observed on chromosome arms 17p (47%), 9p (45%), 18q (43%), 12q (34%), and 6q (30%).