The long-term outcome of atomic bomb survivors with gastric carcinoma.

Objective: During the decade following the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a high incidence of leukemia was observed among atomic bomb survivors. Subsequently, the incidence of other cancers gradually increased while that of leukemia decreased. We examined the long-term clinical outcome of gastric cancer and second primary cancer in atomic bomb survivors.

Prognostic re-evaluation of peritoneal lavage cytology in Japanese patients with gastric carcinoma.

Background/aims: The aim of the present study was to re-evaluate CY(+) with gastric carcinoma in Japanese patients to identify the characteristics that might distinguish patients with a poor prognosis from those with an intermediate prognosis among CY(+) patients.

Methodology: CY(+) was found in 56 of 566 patients (9.9%) who had undergone surgery for gastric carcinoma between January 2000 and December 2006.

Upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha mRNA and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in tumor growth by regulating the energy metabolism and angiogenesis. We herein investigated the mRNA expression level of HIF-1alpha in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues to clarify the impact on the clinical aspects of NSCLC patients.

Experimental Design: HIF-1alpha mRNA derived from either a tumor or an adjacent lung tissue was quantified using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 66 patients with NSCLC.

Resection of radiation-induced sarcoma of the clavicle.

We report here the resection of a radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) of the left clavicle developed in a 59-year-old woman 13 years after radiation for breast cancer. Surgery consisted of extirpation of the tumor with a combined resection of the total layer of the chest wall, the left brachiocephalic vein, and the left subclavian vein, reconstructed with a pediculated musculocutaneous graft using the right latissimus dorsi muscle. RIS of the clavicle is rare, and the prognosis might be poor.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with Schnitzler's metastases effectively treated by the combination of paclitaxel and S-1].

The patient was a 70-year-old woman who underwent combined chemotherapy of paclitaxel (PTX) and S-1 after diagnosis of non-resectable advanced gastric cancer with Schnitzler's metastases. The administration schedule was as follows: 120 mg/m(2) of PTX on days 1 and 15 intravenously and 80 mg/m(2) of S-1 on days 1-14 orally. One course lasted for 4 weeks.

[Long- and short-term survivors after chemotherapy among patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer in our hospital].

Since S-1 was approved in 1999, the response rate and the disease control rate of this chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer has been improved. Aa a result, we can plan for chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer, because the median survival time (MST) with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer was over 20 months. We examined the characteristic findings of long- and short-term survivors in chemotherapy patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.

Leiomyosarcoma originating from the superior mesenteric vein: a case report and review of the literature.

We describe a rare case of leiomyosarcoma originating from the superior mesenteric vein with concomitant liver metastases in a 62-year-old woman. She underwent a tumor resection and venous reconstruction, right hemicolectomy, and right hepatic lobectomy. Since the tumor was weakly positive for c-kit, she was treated with imatinib mesylate for the recurrent liver tumors.

[Present status and prospects for chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer in our hospital].

Since S-1 was approved in 1999, the response rate and the disease control rate of the chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer have improved. It is important to perform chemotherapy using key drugs and to plan the chemotherapy for each case. Of the 32 patients in our hospital, the median survival time (MST) was 21 months for chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent gastric cancer during 2003-2006.

Use of small-bore silastic drains in general thoracic surgery.

Study Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of small-bore, silastic drains for patients undergoing general thoracic surgery.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-five patients who received soft, small-bore, silastic drains were compared with 17 patients who received semi-rigid double lumen (DL) tubes retrospectively.

Results: The pain score was significantly lower in patients who received the silastic tubes in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) cases on postoperative days 5 and 6 , after continuous epidural analgesia had finished (P=0.

Clinically predictive factors of pathologic upstaging in patients with peripherally located clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Post-surgical pathologic examination often reveals a more advanced state than clinically defined in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), posing the need for careful consideration of a lesser resection. We investigated the predictive factors for the pathologic upstaging in clinical stage IA NSCLC.

Methods: The clinical features of 253 consecutive patients with peripherally located T1N0M0 NSCLC who underwent complete resection between 1991 and 2004 were investigated in relation to pathologic T- and N-factors.

Ectopic pleural thymoma presenting as a giant mass in the thoracic cavity.

We describe a rare case of a giant thymoma that developed in the right thoracic cavity, and seemed to originate from the visceral pleura. We believe that there have been few reports of thymoma developing from such an unusual origin.

Extension of liver tissue into the thorax following a right extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

A 56-year-old male underwent a right extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Two years after the operation, an intrathoracic mass was suspected of recurrence by imaging, however, biopsy revealed that the mass was actively proliferating liver tissues. We discussed this condition in terms of ectopic liver proliferation.

Thoracoscopic surgery combined with a supraclavicular approach for removing a cervico-mediastinal neurogenic tumor: a case report.

The neurogenic tumors in the posterior mediastinum sometimes extend into the vertebral canal, known as dumbbell tumors, but cases in which the neurogenic tumor extends to the cervical region are rare. A 19-year old female with a right-sided posterior mediastinal mass, without either Horner's syndrome or pain on the right upper extremity, was referred to our hospital. The chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a large posterior mediastinal mass, measuring 80x50x50 mm in size, which was suspected to be a neurogenic tumor, and the right vertebral artery (RVA) was involved in the tumor at the Th1 to C7 spinal level.

Overexpression of Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer and its significance in p27 expression and clinical features.

Background: Decreased expression of p27, which is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, is associated with cancer aggressiveness. It is believed that Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) plays a role in p27 degradation in a manner that is independent from the role played by S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2). To examine the clinical significance of Jab1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the protein expression of Jab1 in tumor tissues was investigated with regard to the expression of p27 and Skp2.

Completely wide resection of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the chest wall; expect for long survival.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) rarely occurs in the chest wall. A case of MFH originating from the chest wall is herein reported. We performed radical en-block resection of the whole chest wall together with the tumor and reconstructed it with Marlex mesh.

Intrapleural hypotonic cisplatin treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma: in vitro experiments and clinical application.

Purpose: We studied the inhibitory effects of hypotonic cisplatin on the growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell lines in vitro, and assessed the effectiveness of intraoperative intrapleural hypotonic cisplatin treatment combined with extrapleural pneumonectomy for patients with this tumor.

Methods: In the in vitro experiments, mesothelioma cell lines were exposed to various concentrations of cisplatin in either saline solution or distilled water for up to 5 min. After 48 h incubation, we calculated the inhibition of cell growth.

Blockage of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression by short interference RNA inhibited the rejection of an allogeneic tracheal graft.

We investigated the inhibitory effect of blocking the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on the fibrous obstruction of a transplanted allograft in a murine model of obstructive bronchiolitis (OB). Tracheal grafts from C57BL/6 mice were transplanted into a subcutaneous pouch of BALB/c. Three days after transplantation, liposome including short interference (si) RNA for MIF was injected into the lumen of the grafts.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in non-small cell lung cancer: difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer, a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is frequently observed; however, few studies have investigated the differences in the LOH status between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: In a consecutive series of 49 patients with adenocarcinomas and 22 patients with squamous cell carcinomas, the LOH in tumors was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction employing 5 fluorescence-labeled dinucleotide markers (D2S123, D5S107, D10S197, D11SS904, D13S175) and an autosequencer.

Results: LOH was more frequently observed in squamous cell carcinoma (20 of 22, 90%) than in adenocarcinomas (33 of 49, 67%) (P=0.

Regulation of p27 by S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 is associated with aggressiveness in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The F-box protein S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is one of the positive regulators of the cell cycle that promote ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. In this study, we investigated the significance of Skp2 expression in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical expression of Skp2 and p27 proteins were studied in 138 patients with NSCLC.

Surgical treatment of neurogenic tumors of the chest.

Background: Neurogenic tumors are commonly found in the mediastinum, especially in the posterior mediastinum or in the chest wall, and have a variety of clinical and histological features. We reviewed our experience with these types of tumors and assessed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Patients And Methods: A series of 60 consecutive patients with a neurogenic tumor of the chest, all seen at a single institute, was retrospectively reviewed.

Elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy for interstitial lung disease.

Lung biopsy is often required for the definitive subtype classification of interstitial lung disease. The video-assisted thoracoscopic approach has been advocated as an alternative to standard open lung biopsy because it is less invasive; however, whether it makes a positive contribution to treatment strategy remains contentious. We investigated the safety and efficacy of the video-assisted approach in a retrospective review of 30 consecutive patients who underwent the procedure in an elective setting after being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease by chest radiography and computed tomography.

Higher expression of RhoC is related to invasiveness in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Purpose: The activation of Rho proteins has been shown to lead to loss of polarity in cancer cells, as well as reorganization of the cytoskeleton and facilitation of cell motility, possibly resulting in their malignant potential. The clinicopathological significance of RhoC, however, is not yet well known in the case of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Experimental Design: The intratumor expression level of RhoC mRNA was determined and compared with that in adjacent nontumorous lung tissue using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in 49 patients with NSCLC.

Operative results of non-small cell lung cancer clinically presenting mediastinal lymph adenopathy.

Objective: Selection of treatment for operable N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still controversial. If considered resectable, we have actively performed surgery even for clinical stage IIIA-N2 disease. In this retrospective study, surgical results in NSCLC with clinically presenting mediastinal lymph adenopathy examined to investigate its indication.

Operative results of clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Clinical stage (c-stage) I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is generally indicated for surgery, however, surgical exploration sometimes reveals advanced disease, thus resulting in incomplete resection.

Patients And Methods: A total of 645 consecutive patients were investigated in which 347 were diagnosed to have c-stage IA in 347 and 298 were diagnosed to have IB disease. All cases underwent operation and were investigated for resectability and the cause of an incomplete resection.