[A Case of Successful Collective Treatment of Colon Cancer with Multiple Metachronous Pulmonary Metastases].

A case is a 46-year-old woman visited us with a chief complaint of bloody stools. A diagnosis of rectal cancer(Rs)was made, and laparoscopic resectomy plus D3 was performed. After progressing to pT4a(SE)N2, M0, pStage III b, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy(6 courses of XELOX)was administered.

Pulmonary Apical Opacities on Thin-Section Computed Tomography: Relationship to Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Young Male Patients and Corresponding Histopathologic Findings.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that apical opacities on computed tomography (CT) are related to occurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in young male patients.

Methods: We compared the frequency of apical opacities on thin-section CT between 70 male patients with PSP (PSP group) and 74 male patients without a history of PSP (non-PSP group). We also evaluated histopathologic findings of 39 specimens from 37 surgical cases in the PSP group.

Predictive biomarkers and effectiveness of MUC1-targeted dendritic-cell-based vaccine in patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine targeting the highly immunogenic tumor antigen, MUC1, has been promising for a cancer immunotherapy; however, predictive biomarkers for beneficial clinical responses of the vaccine remain to be determined.

Methods: DCs loaded with MUC1-derived peptide were subcutaneously administered to patients with MUC1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that was refractory to standard anticancer therapies, every 2 weeks. The effectiveness and tolerability of the vaccine were evaluated, and predictive biomarkers of clinical responses were explored.

Serum Type IV Collagen Concentration Correlates with Indocyanine Green Retention Rate.

Background/aims: Assessment of oxaliplatin-associated hepatotoxicity in patients receiving oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy (FOLFOX) for colorectal cancer remains controversial. The aims of this study were to clarify which variables are indicators of such hepatotoxicity.

Methodology: Twenty-seven patients who were to receive FOLFOX for colorectal cancer were included in this study.

Serum Type IV Collagen Concentration Correlates with Indocyanine Green Retention Rate and is an Indicator Of Hepatotoxicity In Patients Receiving FOLFOX for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Assessment of oxaliplatin-associated hepatotoxicity in patients receiving oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy (FOLFOX) for colorectal cancer remains controversial. The aims of this study were to clarify which variables are indicators of such hepatotoxicity.

Methodology: Twenty-seven patients who were to receive FOLFOX for colorectal cancer were included in this study.

Complications associated with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a nationwide survey by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy.

Background: With the recent widespread use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), there have been occasional reports on complications associated with its use. Previous reviews on EBUS-TBNA have been limited to studies by skilled operators, thus the results may not always be applicable to recent clinical practice. To assess the safety of EBUS-TBNA for the staging and diagnosis of lung cancer in Japan, a nationwide survey on its current usage status and complications associated with its use was conducted by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy (JSRE).

Micropapillary components in a lung adenocarcinoma predict stump recurrence 8 years after resection: a case report.

We report a rare case of lung adenocarcinoma in which micropapillary components were considered to cause stump recurrence. A woman in her fifties was diagnosed with lung cancer in the right middle lobe with invasion to the upper lobe, which was treated by a right middle lobectomy together with upper lobe partial resection. The cancer was pathologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma and had a free surgical margin.

Pulmonary focal fibrosis associated with microscopic arterio-venous fistula manifesting as focal ground-glass opacity on thin-section CT.

Background: Focal ground-glass opacity (GGO) on thin-section computed tomography (CT) may be seen in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), adenocarcinoma in situ that has recently been renamed from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and various benign conditions.

Case Presentation: We report a case of pulmonary focal fibrosis associated with microscopic arterio-venous fistula (AVF), which showed a focal area of GGO on thin-section CT. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with a GGO on thin-section CT which had increased in size over the period of 2 years.

Well differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung in a 38-year-old woman: dynamic computed tomography findings.

We report a case of well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma (WDFA) of the lung, with emphasis on dynamic CT (computed tomography) findings. The patient was a 38-year-old woman who was found to have a mass in the left upper lung field in chest radiograph screening. Chest radiograph showed a 5.

Bronchoscopic practice in Japan: a survey by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy in 2010.

Background And Objective: To ensure the safety of bronchoscopic practice, the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy conducted a national survey to investigate the current state of procedure for this technique.

Methods: A questionnaire survey about procedures carried out during the whole of the year 2010 was mailed to 538 facilities accredited by the society.

Results: Responses were obtained from 511 facilities (95.

A phase II study of docetaxel plus nedaplatin in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Nedaplatin is a cisplatin derivative, which has similar activity to cisplatin in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when combined with vindesine, and causes less nausea/vomiting and nephrotoxicity compared with cisplatin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with docetaxel plus nedaplatin in patients with metastatic NSCLC.

Methods: Patients with metastatic stage IIIB excluding locally advanced diseases or stage IV NSCLC were enrolled between March 2004 and March 2006.

Deaths and complications associated with respiratory endoscopy: a survey by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy in 2010.

Background And Objective: In order to survey the current status of the use and complications associated with respiratory endoscopy, the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy conducted a nationwide postal questionnaire survey.

Methods: The survey was mailed to all 538 facilities certified by the society. The subjects were patients who underwent respiratory endoscopy in 2010.

Podoplanin expression in cancerous stroma induces lymphangiogenesis and predicts lymphatic spread and patient survival.

Context: Podoplanin is a mucin-type glycoprotein and a lymphatic endothelial marker. Immunohistochemical staining for podoplanin is currently used as a routine pathologic diagnosis tool in Japan to identify lymphatic invasion of cancer cells. Recent reports suggest that podoplanin and other proangiogenic molecules are expressed in stromal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

Inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta-mediated immunosuppression in tumor-draining lymph nodes augments antitumor responses by various immunologic cell types.

Tumor-draining lymph nodes (DLN) are the most important priming sites for generation of antitumor immune responses. They are also the location where an immunosuppressive cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), plays a critical role in suppressing these antitumor immune responses. We focused on TGF-beta-mediated immunosuppression in DLNs and examined whether local inhibition of TGF-beta augmented antitumor immune responses systemically in tumor-bearing mice models.

Bronchoscopy in Japan: a survey by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy in 2006.

Background And Objective: In order to obtain information on the clinical application of bronchoscopy in Japan, the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy (JSRE) conducted a postal survey.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 526 authorized institutes of the JSRE. The subject was bronchoscopy procedures performed during 2006.

HER1-4 expression status correlates with the efficacy of gefitinib treatment and tumor cell proliferative activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

The expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family proteins was examined in specimens of 52 non-small cell lung cancers to evaluate their significance in tumor cell proliferation and their response to gefitinib. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; HER1) protein was expressed most frequently (43/52 cases). HER2 and HER3 were detected in 13 and 18 cases, respectively.

Pulmonary infarction associated with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Computed tomography findings of pathologically proven pulmonary infarction associated with bronchogenic carcinoma are reported for two patients. In one case, the infarction was demonstrated as a well-defined pleura-based large nodule in the peripheral portion of the same lobe of the tumor. The nodule had a smooth, convex border and a linear strand from the apex of the lesion toward the hilum.

Assessment of diaphragmatic motion after lung resection using magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess quantitatively the impairment of diaphragmatic motion after lung resection, with special reference to the location of the resected lobe, duration of the postoperative period, and patient posture. We used magnetic resonance imaging to make the assessments.

Materials And Methods: In 44 patients (29 men, 15 women; mean age 62.

Preparation of fully activated dendritic cells capable of priming tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in patients with metastatic cancer using penicillin-killed streptococcus pyogenes (OK432) and anti-CD40 antibody.

In order to achieve sufficient therapeutic potency, it has been proposed that vaccine therapy with dendritic cells needs to be combined with manipulation of immunological checkpoints, such as inhibition of regulatory T cells and blockade of negative signals, and enhancement of T cell trafficking to tumor sites. In the combinatorial cancer immunotherapy, use of matured/activated dendritic cells (DCs) with more potent antigen presenting capacity seems to be essential for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses. We herein established an ex vivo induction strategy for activated DCs capable of eliciting efficient tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from patients with metastatic cancer as well as healthy donors.

Successful tumor eradication was achieved by collaboration of augmented cytotoxic activity and anti-angiogenic effects following therapeutic vaccines containing helper-activating analog-loaded dendritic cells and tumor antigen DNA.

We reported previously that pigeon cytochrome c-derived peptides (Pan-IA), which bind broad ranges of MHC class II molecules efficiently, activate T helper (Th) function in mice. In an experimental model, Pan-IA DNA vaccines augmented antitumor immunity in tumor antigen-immunized mice. To elicit more potent antitumor immunity and to eradicate tumors in a therapeutic setting, Pan-IA-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) were inoculated in combination with vaccines including ovalbumin (OVA) antigen DNA in tumor-bearing mice.

Spontaneous elicitation of potent antitumor immunity and eradication of established tumors by administration of DNA encoding soluble transforming growth factor-beta II receptor without active antigen-sensitization.

Since immunity is generally suppressed by immunoregulatory factors, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), interleukin (IL)-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), produced by tumor cells or stromal cells surrounding tumor cells, various kinds of cancer immunotherapy mostly fail to elicit potent antitumor immunity. Herein, we tested whether neutralization of TGF-beta can elicit strong antitumor immune responses and tumor regression in tumor-bearing mice. A plasmid DNA, pcDNA-sTGFbetaR/huIg, encoding a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of TGF-beta type II receptor (TGFbetaRII) and the Fc portion of human IgG heavy chain, was injected through different routes into B6 mice carrying established tumors of E.

[Bi-weekly chemotherapy with medium-dose docetaxel for advanced and recurrent breast cancers (The 15th study of Keiji Breast Cancer Study Group)].

The efficacy and safety of bi-weekly administration of medium-dose docetaxel (TXT) were evaluated in patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancers. The additional effect of 5'-DFUR for non-responders was also evaluated. Forty patients with advanced and recurrent breast cancers were treated and 38 cases of 40 were evaluated (34 with recurrent cases and 4 with advanced cases).

Bilateral multiple pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma.

We present herein a rare case of bilateral pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma, for which a differential diagnosis was made from metastatic lung tumors. A 32-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of abnormal chest shadows. A chest computed tomogram revealed two round, well-circumscribed masses in both sides of the lungs.

Identification of antigenic epitopes recognized by Mac-2 binding protein-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in an HLA-A24 restricted manner.

We previously reported that 90K/Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) is highly expressed in lung cancer and that M2BP-specific immunity was observed in many patients with lung cancer. These findings suggested the possibility of using M2BP as a target antigen in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we selected 11 peptides derived from M2BP with an HLA-A24 binding motif and analyzed their ability to induce M2BP-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL).