Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide as a marker for the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors.

Background: Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) is an established tumor marker of small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine if ProGRP could serve as a tumor marker for the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs).

Methods: Sixteen patients with ESFTs (mean age 32 years) were included in this study.

Radiotherapy combined with zoledronate can reduce skeletal-related events in renal cell carcinoma patients with bone metastasis.

Background: Skeletal-related events (SRE) are common in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that includes bone metastasis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of zoledronate with and without sunitinib, combined with radiotherapy, for the treatment of bone metastasis from RCC.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 62 RCC patients with bone metastasis, who had been treated with radiotherapy at our institution.

Fracture after radiation therapy for femoral metastasis: incidence, timing and clinical features.

We analyzed 428 femoral metastases initially treated with radiotherapy between 2002 and 2011 to clarify the clinical details of post-irradiation fractures of femoral metastasis. Patients included 161 men and 167 women, with a mean age of 62 years. Fracture incidence, fracture site, fracture risk based on X-ray images before radiotherapy, and interval from completion of radiotherapy to fracture occurrence were assessed.

Asymmetrical vertebral collapse from spinal metastasis in lower thoracic and lumbar spine.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between spinal metastasis and osteoporotic compression fractures on plain X-ray images, focusing on asymmetrical vertebral collapse and fracture level.

Materials And Methods: This study included 180 patients with pathological collapse from spinal metastasis (188 vertebrae) who were treated at our institution and 70 patients (92 vertebrae) with osteoporotic compression fractures. Anteroposterior X-ray images of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine were evaluated for asymmetrical collapse deformity.

Clinical outcome for patients of solitary bone only metastasis.

Background: Solitary bone only metastasis (SBOM) is a rare condition in which metastasis is limited to a single skeletal lesion originating from a previously treated or controllable primary lesion. The study objective was to evaluate the clinical features and survival regarding this rare condition and to clarify its treatment strategy.

Methods: A total of 1453 patients with bone metastasis registered in our hospital database were enrolled.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome with simultaneous osteosarcoma and liver cancer: increased expression of a CD44 variant isoform after chemotherapy.

Background: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome that is commonly associated with a germline mutation in the tumor suppressor gene p53. Loss of p53 results in increased expression of CD44, a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker, which is involved in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we report a change in the expression of a CD44 variant isoform (CD44v8-10) in an 8-year-old female LFS patient with osteosarcoma and atypical liver cancer after chemotherapy.

Metastatic patterns of myxoid/round cell liposarcoma: a review of a 25-year experience.

Myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (MRCL), unlike other soft tissue sarcomas, has been associated with unusual pattern of metastasis to extrapulmonary sites. In an attempt to elucidate the clinical features of MRCL with metastatic lesions, 58 cases, from the medical database of Keio University Hospital were used for the evaluation. 47 patients (81%) had no metastases, whereas 11 patients (11%) had metastases during their clinical course.

A novel multi-kinase inhibitor pazopanib suppresses growth of synovial sarcoma cells through inhibition of the PI3K-AKT pathway.

Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma with only a modest response to conventional cytotoxic agents. In the present study, we evaluated the potential antitumor effects of a novel anti-angiogenesis agent, pazopanib, against synovial sarcoma cells. We found that pazopanib directly inhibited the growth of synovial sarcoma cells by inducing G1 arrest.

Anaplastic transformation of follicular thyroid carcinoma in a metastatic skeletal lesion presenting with paraneoplastic leukocytosis.

Background: Anaplastic transformation of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is a rare event with a poor clinical outcome. It usually occurs in the primary site or in regional lymph nodes, but rarely in distant metastatic lesions.

Summary: A 55-year-old woman with persistent pain in the left hip joint visited our hospital.

Postoperative deep infection in tumor endoprosthesis reconstruction around the knee.

Background: Although deep infection remains one of the most difficult complications to manage in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumor reconstructed with an endoprosthesis, limited information with respect to its incidence and risk factors has been reported.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, uncontrolled study reviewed the medical records of 82 patients who underwent reconstruction with an endoprosthesis or temporary spacer for bone-immature patients after resection of malignant bone tumor around the knee. Risk factors for deep infection and the impact of deep infection on prosthesis survival and oncological outcomes were analyzed.