[A pilot study of the reduced effects of adverse events caused by oral morphine and oxycodone after rotating to fentanyl patch in patients with metastatic breast cancer].

Background: It has been confirmed by several clinical trials that the fentanyl patch causes less adverse events than sustained-release oral morphine, and after rotation. However, there has been no evidence comparing the fentanyl patch with controlled-release oral oxycodone in terms of adverse events.

Purpose: We prospectively investigated the reduced effects of adverse events caused by sustained-release oral morphine and controlled-release oxycodone after rotating to the fentanyl patch in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

[A case of HER2 overexpressing advanced breast cancer with CTF therapy [cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin (THPADM), fluorouracil] showed long-term effectiveness after paclitaxel shock].

A 53-year-old woman with left breast tumor was diagnosed as bilateral breast cancer(left; T3N3M0, Stage III C/right; T2N0M0, Stage II )in our hospital, both of which were revealed as invasive ductal carcinoma shown to be ER-negative, PgR negative and HER2-positive by core needle biopsy. In December 2004, paclitaxel and trastuzumab combination therapy was tried, but she went into shock just during administration of paclitaxel, and this therapy was discontinued. After that the triweekly CTF therapy was tried as an anthracycline containing regimen, and the lymph node metastases obtained a complete response after a month and a 38.

Preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy predicts sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with early breast cancer.

Background: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is commonly used in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with early breast cancer; however, its significance to predict SLN metastasis remains to be determined.

Patients And Methods: Sixty patients were enrolled in a feasibility study of SLNB. Patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer were eligible for this study.

[Evaluation of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and trastuzumab combination therapy as salvage treatment in patients with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer].

Background: Though irinotecan hydrochloride(CPT-11)was approved in Japan in 1994, there have been few reports since that evaluated the efficacy of CPT-11. The position of this agent in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC)is not definite. In addition, no report has been published to date about CPT-11 and trastuzumab combination therapy.

[A case of paclitaxel and trastuzumab-resistant recurrent breast cancer with liver metastasis responding to S-1].

We experienced a case of paclitaxel- and trastuzumab-resistant recurrent breast cancer with liver metastases showing significant improvement by S-1. A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with left breast cancer (T2N1M0, Stage II B). She received total mastectomy and CEF (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2), epirubicin 60 mg/m(2), 5-FU 750 mg/m(2)) as adjuvant chemotherapy in March 2004.

[Efficacy of sequential treatment with anastrozole following exemestane compared with exemestane following anastrozole in patients with metastatic breast cancer].

Background: There are three third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AI) available in Japan. Though it is supposed that they can be administered sequentially because of their little cross-resistant effect, it is not definite which sequential treatment is best.

Purpose: To examine retrospectively the difference in efficacy by the AI sequence when anastrozole ( ANA) and exemestane (EXE) are clinically administered sequentially for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

[Docetaxel administration for radioiodine-resistant patients with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma].

We report three radioiodine-resistant patients with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma administered docetaxel. Patient 1: Bi-weekly docetaxel was administered to a 67-year-old woman with clavicle, cervical lymph node and lung metastases that had progressed after external irradiation and radioiodine therapy. Stable disease was maintained for 18 months without elevation of serum thyroglobulin.

[Therapeutic efficacy of capecitabine on advanced and recurrent breast cancer with special reference to time to progression].

We investigated 29 patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancers who underwent capecitabine therapy in the department. Patients'backgrounds: 41-89 years of age (median, 57 years of age). Advanced breast cancers, 5; recurrent breast cancers, 24.

Combined measurement of serum sialyl Lewis X with serum CA15-3 in breast cancer patients.

Background: Serum CA15-3 has been one of the most reliable tumor markers used in monitoring breast cancer patients; however, its sensitivity in detecting metastases is limited. To increase its sensitivity, the combined measurement of other tumor markers with CA15-3 was investigated.

Methods: Serum CA15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and sialyl Lewis X (CSLEX) were simultaneously measured in a prospective series of 455 postoperative breast cancer patients with or without metastasis.

[Undifferentiated carcinoma(endocrine cell carcinoma) of the colon].

Recently, several cases of undifferentiated carcinoma and endocrine cell carcinoma are reported in the Japanese literature. In some reports, it is seemed to be confused in differentiating the diagnosis of these carcinomas, and considered that these carcinomas are in the same entity. When undifferentiated carcinoma of the large intestine is indicated, aggressive exploration such as immunohistochemical staining entertaining a possible existence of endocrine cell carcinoma is essential.