Long-term prognosis of patients with lung cancer detected on low-dose chest computed tomography screening.

The effectiveness of lung cancer screening using low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) remains elusive. The present study examined the prognosis of patients with lung cancer detected on CT screening in Japanese men and women. Subjects were 210 patients with primary lung cancer identified on CT screening at two medical facilities in Hitachi, Japan, where a total of 61,914 CT screenings were performed among 25,385 screenees between 1998 and 2006.

[Surgical treatment of pulmonary mycobacteriosis for the past 10 years].

For the past 10 years (2000-2009), 50 patients of pulmonary mycobacteriosis underwent surgical treatment at Ibarakihigashi National Hospital. Three MDR-TB cases received lobectomy and one case of MDR-TB received intracavity aspiration and thoracoplasty. One bronchial tuberculosis received sleeve lobectomy.

Japanese ethnicity compared with Caucasian ethnicity and never-smoking status are independent favorable prognostic factors for overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer: a collaborative epidemiologic study of the National Hospital Organization Study Group for Lung Cancer (NHSGLC) in Japan and a Southern California Regional Cancer Registry databases.

Background: We previously reported that Asian ethnicity was a favorable prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we performed a combined data analysis from a Japanese Cancer Registry and a regional California Cancer Registry to further validate this observation.

Methods: Retrospective population-based analysis of Japanese and Caucasian patients with NSCLC with known smoking status from the Japanese National Hospital Organization Study Group for Lung Cancer and a Southern California Regional Cancer Registry between 1991 and 2001.

Gender, histology, and time of diagnosis are important factors for prognosis: analysis of 1499 never-smokers with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in Japan.

Background: There has been a growing interest in lung cancer in never-smokers.

Methods: Utilizing a database from the National Hospital Study Group for Lung Cancer, information for never-smokers and ever-smokers with advanced non-small cell lung cancer was obtained from 1990 to 2005, including clinicopathologic characteristics, chemotherapy response, and survival data. Time of diagnosis was classified into two periods: 1990-1999 and 2000-2005.

[A DRG/PPS simulation in the medical care of tuberculosis].

Purpose: To study the expected usefulness of the introduction of the DRG-PPS (Diagnosis-Related Group/Prospective Payment System, in which an insurer pays a fixed medical fee per hospitalization) into the current medical care of tuberculosis (TB) in Japan.

Method: The medical fees were reviewed for all TB inpatients at 19 hospitals under the National Hospital Organization who were discharged in either June 2007 or February 2008. The sum of the fixed fee by the DRG was assumed based on the bivariate regression analysis of each patient's hospital days and his or her total actual fees during the hospital stay under the current (fee for care) system, since it was difficult to directly calculate the daily fees for every patient that would be the basis of DRG-PPS.

Performance status and smoking status are independent favorable prognostic factors for survival in non-small cell lung cancer: a comprehensive analysis of 26,957 patients with NSCLC.

Background: Performance status (PS) is an important factor in determining survival outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but is generally confounded by stage, age, gender, and smoking status. We investigated the prognostic significance of PS taking into account these important factors.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of registry database of the National Hospital Study Group for Lung Cancer (NHSGLC) between 1990 and 2005.

Impact of main bronchial lymph node involvement in pathological T1-2N1M0 non-small-cell lung cancer: multi-institutional survey by the Japan National Hospital Study Group for Lung Cancer.

Purpose: According to the TNM classification revised in 1997, stage II non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has an unfavorable prognosis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors for pathological T1-2N1M0 patients with NSCLC and elucidate the significance of main bronchial lymph nodes involvement.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients in a prospective database of cases from an 11-year period (operations from 1992 to 2002, follow-up data until March 2008) obtained from the Japan National Hospital Study Group for Lung Cancer.

Effect of gefitinib re-challenge to initial gefitinib responder with non-small cell lung cancer followed by chemotherapy.

Purpose: We investigated the efficacy of gefitinib re-challenge for the patients who responded to initial treatment with gefitinib and acquired resistance to gefitinib thereafter.

Experimental Design: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in the hospitals of National Hospital Organization from August 2002 to August 2008. Patients histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC were eligible if they once responded to initial treatment with gefitinib (CR, PR or SD) and then re-treated with gefitinib following subsequent chemotherapy.

Phase I/II study of docetaxel and S-1 in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the recommended dose of docetaxel in combination with a novel oral 5-fluorouracil analogue S-1 and evaluate the efficacy and safety in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: In phase I, patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer were treated with docetaxel (starting dose 40 mg/m) intravenously on day 1 and oral administration of S-1 at a fixed dose of 80 mg/m on days 1 to14 every 3 weeks. The recommended dose was the dose level preceding the maximum tolerated dose; once determined, patients were enrolled in phase II.

Lung cancer in patients with chronic pyothorax.

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the features of lung cancers associated with chronic tuberculous pyothorax.

Methods: Clinicopathological data from patients with coexisting lung cancer and chronic latent pyothorax caused by tuberculosis (TB) were analysed, and cancer tissue samples were investigated for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus.

Results: Twelve patients were identified, and all had a history of tuberculous pleuritis or surgical intervention for TB.

[Case of laboratory cross-contamination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the broth-based culture system].

We experienced a case of laboratory cross-contamination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the broth based culture system. These false-positive cultures were confirmed by analysis of DNA fingerprinting, RFLP method, which showed the same pattern in three specimens with that of the first manipulated specimen in our laboratory on that day, out of 7 specimens examed. We found possible several process causing cross-contamination where mixture of the foreign body could occur in buffer or NALC-NaOH.

The ACIN1 gene is hypermethylated in early stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction And Hypothesis: In recent years, many studies have performed genome-wide searching for differentially methylated genes in cancer. We hypothesized that characteristic aberrant hypermethylation of CpG islands of certain genes may exist in the early stages of lung adenocarcinoma and that such alterations may be useful in the detection and treatment of early lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A pair of immortalized cell lines originating from atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (PL16T) and from the resected end of the bronchus of the same patient (PL16B) was searched for aberrantly and differentially hypermethylated DNA fragments by a combination of the methylated CpG island amplification and suppression subtractive hybridization methods.

Second primary cancers in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer successfully treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

Background: Patients successfully treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain at risk for developing second primary cancer (SPC). The purpose of the current study is to assess the incidence of SPC and the impact of smoking status on the SPC in long-term survivors with stage III NSCLC after chemo-radiotherapy.

Methods: Using the database from the Japan National Hospital Lung Cancer Study Group between 1985 and 1995, information was obtained on 62 patients who were more than 3 years disease-free survivors.

Smoking history before surgery and prognosis in patients with stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer--a multicenter study.

The prognosis of lung cancer patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be predicted generally from age, sex, histologic type, stage at diagnosis, and additional treatment. Nine studies have reported that a history of smoking before diagnosis influences the prognosis of the disease in lung cancer patients. In this study, a total of 3082 patients who underwent surgery and were diagnosed with primary pathological stage IA NSCLC at 36 national hospitals from 1982 to 1997 were analyzed for the effect of smoking on survival.

Impact of large tumor size on survival after resection of pathologically node negative (pN0) non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The current TNM staging system first adopted the tumor size of 3 cm for subdivision of stage I and II disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of tumor size on survival in patients with pathologically node negative (pN0) non-small cell lung cancer after complete resection.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 603 patients with pN0 non-small cell lung cancer patients (403 men and 200 women) who underwent a complete resection in five national chest hospitals between 1992 and 1996, with follow-up duration of more than 5 years, and analyzed tumor size and survival.

Loss of function of p16 gene and prognosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Background: Stepwise progression of peripheral-type lung adenocarcinoma was characterized morphologically and was related to prognosis. Expression of the tumor suppressor gene p16 in pulmonary adenocarcinoma decreased, mainly as a result of aberrant methylation of the CpG islands of the promoter region.

Methods: Aberrant methylation status of the p16 promoter region, the expression of its product, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 9p21 were examined in surgically resected lung specimens from 57 patients (28 males and 29 females) with peripheral-type lung adenocarcinoma measuring View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Does the lobectomy plus lymph node dissection still remain a standard surgical procedure for patients with cT1N0M0 adenocarcinoma of the lung?

Objectives: Controversies still exists regarding treatment for cT1N0M0 adenocarcinoma of the lung. The following topics need to be answered: 1) Should all patients undergo lobectomy plus lymph node dissection? and 2) Is there poor-prognostic subgroup that may need adjuvant therapy?

Methods: Between 1990 and 1999, 141 patients with cT1N0M0 adenocarcinoma of the lung underwent lobectomy plus lymph node dissection. Fifteen clinicopathological characteristics of the entire population were investigated with regard to survival.

The impact of residual multi-level N2 disease after induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The presence of residual N2 disease following induction therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been proposed as a contraindication to surgery. However, single level N2 metastases found in the operative specimens of patients with clinical N0 NSCLC who did not receive induction therapy is associated with prolonged survival. In order to investigate whether residual single level N2 disease following induction therapy was similarly associated with prolonged survival, we conducted a retrospective review of patients with stages IIIa and IIIb NSCLC who had undergone induction therapy followed by surgery.

Malignant minor pleural effusion detected on thoracotomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer: is tumor resection beneficial for prognosis?

Background: This study attempts to clarify the benefit of surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with malignant minor pleural effusion that is detected at thoracotomy.

Methods: Records of surgical patients with NSCLC were reviewed, with a definition of minor pleural effusion as less than 300 mL. The patients were divided into three groups as follows: (1) group C consisted of patients who underwent grossly complete resection; group I, patients with incomplete tumor resection; and group E, patients who underwent exploratory thoracotomy only.