Long-term quality of life after open and laparoscopic total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer: A prospective multi-institutional study (CCOG1504).

Background: Little information is available from prospective clinical trials on the influences of surgical approaches on postoperative quality of life (QOL). We aimed to prospectively compare chronological changes in postoperative body weight and QOL between laparoscopic and open total gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective study (CCOG1504) of patients who undergo laparoscopic or open total gastrectomy.

Protocol of a phase II study investigating the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil plus ramucirumab as a third-line or later treatment for advanced gastric cancer.

In Japan, systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for unresectable, advanced, or recurrent gastric cancer. However, numerous patients with gastric cancer do not receive late-line treatment because of the rapid progression of gastric cancer. Additionally, late-line treatments, such as nivolumab, trifluridine tipiracil (FTD/TPI), or irinotecan, have limited effects on improving clinical symptoms and delaying the onset of symptoms associated with cancer progression.

A multi-institutional prospective observational study to compare postoperative quality of life of patients who undergo total or proximal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer (CCOG1602).

Background: Proximal gastrectomy (PG) has become an increasingly preferred procedure for treating early cancer in the upper third of the stomach. However, advantages of PG in postoperative quality of life (QOL) over total gastrectomy (TG) has not fully proven.

Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional prospective observational study (CCOG1602) of patients who undergo TG or PG for cStage I gastric cancer.

Effect of Wnt5a on drug resistance in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Previously, we reported that Wnt5a-positive breast cancer can be classified as estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer; its prognosis is worse than that of Wnt5a-negative breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the poor prognosis in Wnt5a-positive breast cancer patients.

Methods: In total, 151 consecutive ER-positive breast cancer patients who underwent resection between January 2011 and February 2014 were enrolled.

Performance of dedicated breast positron emission tomography in the detection of small and low-grade breast cancer.

Purpose: This study compares the sensitivity of dedicated breast positron emission tomography (DbPET) and whole body positron emission tomography (WBPET) in detecting invasive breast cancer based on tumor size and biology. Further, we explored the relationship between maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of DbPET and biological features of the tumor.

Methods: A total of 639 invasive breast cancer lesions subjected to both DbPET and WBPET before surgery, between January 2016 and May 2019, were included in the study.

[Liver Herniation through a Diaphragmatic Defect Mimicking Pleural Tumor;Report of a Case].

Liver herniation is rare and sometimes difficult to differentiate from pleural or diaphragmatic tumor. A 64-year-old woman was admitted due to a mass-like shadow in the right lower lung field. Computed tomography, coronal view, showed a well-defined mass forming an acute angle with the right diaphragm, mimicking pleural tumor.

Prediction of biological characteristics of breast cancer using dual-phase FDG PET/CT.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether the retention index (RI) determined using dual-phase F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) reflects the malignant features of breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 1,523 patients with breast cancer were retrospectively evaluated. PET/CT scans were performed at 1 h and 2 h after FDG administration before treatment.

Prognostic relevance of expression in gastric cancer.

The prognosis for patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) remains poor. The identification of biomarkers relevant to the recurrence and metastasis of GC is advantageous for stratifying patients and proposing novel molecular targets. In the present study the oncological roles of SAM domain, SH3 domain and nuclear localization signals 1 (), a mediator of B-cell function, were elucidated in GC.

A Case of Spontaneously Reduced Ileoileal Intussusception Caused by a Lipoma.

Intussusception in adulthood is unusual. We describe herein a rare case of adult ileoileal intussusception caused by an ileal lipoma, which was diagnosed preoperatively and was confirmed at the operation to have reduced spontaneously. A 68-year-old woman experienced sudden-onset colicky pain in the upper abdomen accompanied by vomiting and was brought to our hospital by ambulance.

Neurotrophin Receptor-Interacting Melanoma Antigen-Encoding Gene Homolog is Associated with Malignant Phenotype of Gastric Cancer.

Background: Identification of novel molecules implicated in the malignancy of gastric cancer (GC) is key to the development of personalized treatments and the improvement of patient outcome. Neurotrophin receptor-interacting melanoma antigen-encoding protein (NRAGE) regulates apoptosis and metastasis via interactions with various genes. This study aimed to evaluate the function and clinical significance of NRAGE in GC.

NRAGE promotes the malignant phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease, primarily due to the limited effective therapies available for patients with advanced or recurrent stages of the disease. Therefore, in order to improve patient prognosis, it is important to identify an informative biomarker for HCC progression, as well as a molecular target for therapy. Neurotrophin receptor-interacting melanoma antigen-encoding protein (), a member of the type II melanoma-associated antigen family, mediates apoptosis and cell death through interactions with a wide range of proteins, and is implicated as a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on cell type.

Adherens junctions associated protein 1 serves as a predictor of recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common esophageal cancer in East Asia, is among the six cancers with the highest fatality rates worldwide. Unfortunately, multidisciplinary treatment strategies have not achieved satisfactory outcomes. Therefore, novel insights into the molecular biology of ESCC are required to improve treatment.

Function and diagnostic value of Anosmin-1 in gastric cancer progression.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major global health problem that urgently requires novel molecular biomarkers for patient stratification as well as therapeutic targets. Anosmin-1 (ANOS1) gene encodes a cell adhesion molecule that plays diverse roles in multiple malignancies. We performed global expression profiling of GC cell lines and small interfering RNA (siRNA) experiments to determine the effect of ANOS1 expression on phenotype.

Reduced Expression of Adherens Junctions Associated Protein 1 Predicts Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Hepatectomy.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently recurs after curative resection. Therefore, the availability of sensitive biomarkers for progression and recurrence is essential for managing patients' clinical course. Adherens junctions associated protein 1 (AJAP1) may serve this purpose, because it mediates activities of tumor cells.

Translational implication of Kallmann syndrome-1 gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Accumulation of epigenetic alterations causes inactivation of tumor suppressors and contributes to the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Identification of methylated genes is necessary to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of HCC and develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The Kallmann syndrome-1 (KAL1) gene encodes an extracellular matrix-related protein with diverse oncological functions.

Suppression of SAMSN1 Expression is Associated with the Malignant Phenotype of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Identification of molecular markers for sensitive detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is required to achieve efficacious personalized therapy.

Methods: We focused here on SAM domain, SH3 domain, and nuclear localization signals 1 (SAMSN1) and investigated expression and methylation status of SAMSN1 in HCC cell lines and 144 pairs of surgical specimens.

Results: SAMSN1 was expressed at significantly lower levels in tumor tissue compared with the corresponding noncancerous tissues of patients with HCC.

Diversity of clinical implication of B-cell translocation gene 1 expression by histopathologic and anatomic subtypes of gastric cancer.

Background: Genetic signatures may differ by histopathologic and anatomic subtypes of gastric cancer (GC). B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) was identified as one of genes downregulated in GC tissues from our microarray data.

Aims: To evaluate the clinical implications of BTG1 expression in GC and the genetic diversity among GC subtypes.

[A case of gastric cancer that responded to a preoperative combination therapy of S-1/CDDP plus trastuzumab].

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer (cT3, N1, M0, cStage II B) showing regional bulky lymph node metastasis. Invasion of the pancreas and common hepatic artery was suspected. He was treated with S-1/CDDP plus trastuzumab therapy as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) regimen.

The effect of the kampo medicine yokukansan on preoperative anxiety and sedation levels.

Background. Preoperative anxiety can lead to unfavorable physiological response such as tachycardia and hypertension. Prevention of preoperative anxiety improves surgical outcome and decreases inpatient stay.

[A case of anaphylactic shock caused by granisetron].

A 60-year-old man suffered from inoperable recurrent undifferentiated thyroid cancer and was scheduled to undergo chemotherapy. He had no known allergy to medications. In the first regimen, he was given IV granisetron and betamethasone before IV 120 mg paclitaxel was administered.