Integrin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: loss of the physiological integrin expression pattern correlates with disease progression.

The integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane signaling receptors that mediate the adhesive properties of epithelial cells affecting cell growth and differentiation. In many epithelial malignancies, altered integrin expression is associated with tumor progression and often correlates with unfavorable prognosis. However, only few studies have investigated the role of integrin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Recurrent Fistula between Ileal Pouch and Vagina-Successful Treatment with a Gracilis Muscle Flap.

Fistulae between an ileal pouch and the vagina are an uncommon complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis following proctocolectomy and mucosectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis coli. Several reports describe the successful use of muscle flaps to close recurrent pouch-vaginal-fistulae (PVF). However, series only contain small numbers and an optimal management has not yet been determined.

Occult disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes of patients with gastric carcinoma. A critical appraisal of assessment and relevance.

Background And Aims: In gastric cancer, regional lymph node metastasis verified by histopathological examination is the most important prognostic factor after complete surgical tumor resection (R0). However, the prognostic value of immunohistochemically identifiable disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes without histopathological tumor burden in patients with gastric cancer is still controversially discussed. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and prognostic impact of minimal tumor cell spread to lymph nodes in these patients.

Direct genetic analysis of single disseminated cancer cells for prediction of outcome and therapy selection in esophageal cancer.

The increasing use of primary tumors as surrogate markers for prognosis and therapeutic decisions neglects evolutionary aspects of cancer progression. To address this problem, we studied the precursor cells of metastases directly for the identification of prognostic and therapeutic markers and prospectively analyzed single disseminated cancer cells from lymph nodes and bone marrow of 107 consecutive esophageal cancer patients. Whole-genome screening revealed that primary tumors and lymphatically and hematogenously disseminated cancer cells diverged for most genetic aberrations.

Complete remission of a metastatic pancreatic carcinoma after modified G-FLIP therapy.

This is a report about a patient who had a complete remission of a metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma after a modified G-FLIP therapy administered in an outpatient setting. The patient underwent surgery and the complete remission could be proven histologically. The administered chemotherapy was very effective and is even more attractive since it could be administered without admission to hospital.

Occult tumor cells in lymph nodes as a predictor for tumor relapse in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Occurrence of tumor relapse is frequent in patients with pancreatic cancer despite the absence of residual tumor detectable at primary surgery and in histopathological examination. Therefore, it has to be assumed that current tumor staging procedures fail to identify minimal amounts of disseminated tumor cells, which might be precursors of subsequent metastatic relapse. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of minimal tumor cell spread detected in lymph nodes classified as "tumor-free" in routine histopathologic evaluation.

Portal vein embolization and autologous CD133+ bone marrow stem cells for liver regeneration: initial experience.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of portal vein embolization (PVE) and CD133(+) bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) administration to the liver, compared with PVE alone, to augment hepatic regeneration in patients with large hepatic malignancies.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee; informed consent was obtained. Thirteen patients underwent PVE of liver segments I and IV-VIII to stimulate hepatic regeneration prior to extended right hepatectomy.

Benefit of surgical treatment of lung metastasis in soft tissue sarcoma.

Hypothesis: Patients with pulmonary metastatic soft tissue sarcoma benefit from resection, with long-term cure possible.

Design: Retrospective medical records review.

Setting: Academic tertiary care center.

TRAIL-R4-beta: a new splice variant of TRAIL-receptor 4 lacking the cysteine rich domain 1.

Transcriptional modification by alternative splicing is known to be involved in the regulation of programmed cell death. Recently, alternative splice variants of the TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL/APO2L) and of the death receptor TRAIL-R2/DR5 have been identified. In this study, we report the identification of a novel alternative splice variant of the decoy receptor with a truncated death domain TRAIL-R4 lacking exon 3, which we designated TRAIL-R4-beta.

Ep-CAM expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker.

Background: To evaluate the expression and test the clinical significance of the epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to check the suitability of esophageal SCC patients for Ep-CAM directed targeted therapies.

Methods: The Ep-CAM expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 70 primary esophageal SCCs using the monoclonal antibody Ber-EP4. For the interpretation of the staining results, we used a standardized scoring system ranging from 0 to 3+.

Recipient levels and function of von Willebrand factor prior to liver transplantation and its consumption in the course of grafting correlate with hepatocellular damage and outcome.

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a major platelet adhesion molecule at sites of vascular injury, such as observed in ischemia/reperfusion injury following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Thirty-three OLT patients were divided into groups with elevated or low markers of hepatocellular damage (high and low-HD). Whole-blood aggregometry was performed to evaluate platelet function.

Portal application of autologous CD133+ bone marrow cells to the liver: a novel concept to support hepatic regeneration.

The liver has a large capacity for regeneration after resection. However, below a critical level of future liver remnant volume (FLRV), partial hepatectomy is accompanied by a significant increase of postoperative liver failure. There is accumulating evidence for the contribution of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to participate in liver regeneration.

O-linked glycosylation and functional incompatibility of porcine von Willebrand factor for human platelet GPIb receptors.

Background: Xenograft rejection is associated with vascular inflammation, thrombocytopenia and the accelerated consumption of coagulation factors. Primary biological incompatibilities of the xenograft in the regulation of clotting appear to amplify pathological processes associated with rejection. The functional incompatibility of porcine von Willebrand factor (vWF) expressed within the xenograft vasculature may heighten interactions with the primate platelet receptor GPIb, hence augmenting formation of platelet microthrombi and vascular injury.

Copy number of chromosome 17 but not HER2 amplification predicts clinical outcome of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and the potential clinical use of HER2 (17q21) gene amplification and chromosome 17 aneuploidy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Materials And Methods: Serial tissue sections of 50 resected PDACs were analyzed with chromogenic in situ hybridization using locus-specific HER2 probes and centromeric probes for chromosome 17. Centromeric probes for chromosome 7 and 8 were hybridized to confirm ploidy levels.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus can be detected by microsatellite analysis in tumor and serum.

Purpose: Esophageal squamous cell cancer can be treated effectively by potentially curative surgery if diagnosed at an early stage. Our aim was to develop a novel molecular approach as a noninvasive test for squamous cell cancer detection and as an indicator for the prognosis of the patients.

Experimental Design: Matched normal, tumor, and serum samples were obtained from 28 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus.

Molecular markers and staging of early esophageal cancer.

Background: Patients with early esophageal cancer experience varying clinical outcomes despite identical tumor staging by standard diagnostic methods because clinical and histopathological staging fail to reveal the underlying complex biology of cancer.

Methods And Focus: This review discusses some of the current concepts of molecular staging with the potential to enhance the current staging methods of patients with early esophageal cancer.

Conclusions: Understanding the molecular biology of esophageal cancer has increased substantially, and clinicians anticipate the translation of the gained knowledge into patient care.

Micrometastases from HBP malignancies and metastatic cancer.

Despite advances in early diagnosis and surgical treatment, the prognosis for patients with primary malignant tumors of the hepatobiliary tract and pancreas has not changed markedly over the last decades. Early metastatic relapse after complete resection indicates the presence of disseminated tumor cells undetectable by current tumor staging methods. Sensitive immunohistocytochemical and nucleic acid-based assays have been developed to detect single tumor cells present in lymph nodes, bone marrow, or blood.

Extrahepatic portal hypertension in chronic pancreatitis: an old problem revisited.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of concomitant nonhepatic portal hypertension in chronic pancreatitis on immediate and long-term outcome after major pancreatic surgery.

Methods: A total of 154 patients (96 male, 58 female) with a history of pancreatitis of at least 12 months, severe incapacitating pain, and radiologic evidence of pancreatic head enlargement was evaluated. One hundred thirty-five patients underwent duodenum-preserving resections of the pancreatic head according to Beger or Frey, and 19 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy without (classical Whipple) or with pyloric preservation (PPPD) in cases of suspected malignancy.