[Case of a Patient with Cancer of Unknown Primary in the Poor Prognosis Group Who Had a Experienced a Beneficial Treatment Course].

A 47-year-old woman with general malaise and abdominal pain presented with multiple liver tumors and lymph node metastasis. She was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma on the basis of a lymph node biopsy; however, the primary lesion was not identified. Finally, we diagnosed her with cancer of unknown primary lesion and placed her in the poor prognosis group.

A Phase II Study of FOLFIRI Plus Ziv-Aflibercept After Trifluridine/Tipiracil Plus Bevacizumab in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: WJOG 11018G.

Background: Non-inferiority of trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) plus bevacizumab (BEV) to irinotecan/fluoropyrimidine plus BEV in metastatic colorectal cancer was investigated in the phase III TRUSTY study, and we conducted a phase II study of FOLFIRI (5-FU+leucovorin+irinotecan) plus zib-aflibercept (AFL) after FTD/TPI plus BEV. However, the TRUSTY study failed during the recruitment of our patients.

Objective: We present the findings of a phase II study on the efficacy of FOLFIRI plus zib-aflibercept (AFL) after FTD/TPI plus BEV, including clinical results with plasma biomarker analyses.

Exploratory Biomarker Analysis Using Plasma Angiogenesis-Related Factors and Cell-Free DNA in the TRUSTY Study: A Randomized, Phase II/III Study of Trifluridine/Tipiracil Plus Bevacizumab as Second-Line Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: The TRUSTY study evaluated the efficacy of second-line trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) plus bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Objective: This exploratory biomarker analysis of TRUSTY investigated the relationship between baseline plasma concentrations of angiogenesis-related factors and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and the efficacy of FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab in patients with mCRC.

Patients And Methods: The disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between baseline plasma samples of patients with high and low plasma concentrations (based on the median value) of angiogenesis-related factors.

Phase III study of bilayer sustained-release tramadol tablets in patients with cancer pain: a double-blind parallel-group, non-inferiority study with immediate-release tramadol capsules as an active comparator.

Purpose: We investigated whether twice-daily administration of a bilayer tablet formulation of tramadol (35% immediate-release [IR] and 65% sustained-release) is as effective as four-times-daily IR tramadol capsules for managing cancer pain.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-comparator, non-inferiority study enrolled opioid-naïve patients using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen (paracetamol) to manage cancer pain and self-reported pain (mean value over 3 days ≥ 25 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale [VAS]). Patients were randomized to either bilayer tablets or IR capsules for 14 days.

Updated Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer.

Surgical resection is currently the best curative approach for gastric cancer (GC); however, the prognosis of patients with advanced GC remains poor even with curative resection. For this reason, perioperative chemotherapy has been combined with surgery to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence. Standard perioperative chemotherapy for resectable advanced GC varies from region to region.

Phase II Study of Intraperitoneal Administration of Paclitaxel Combined with S-1 and Cisplatin for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis.

Background: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is promising for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. Although a phase III study failed to show a statistically significant superiority of intraperitoneal paclitaxel combined with S-1 and intravenous paclitaxel, the sensitivity analysis suggested clinical efficacy. Thus, attempts to combine intraperitoneal paclitaxel with other systemic therapies with higher efficacy have been warranted.

Cancer of unknown primary eventually diagnosed as poorly differentiated prostate cancer: a case report.

Background: Prostate cancer has been well known to have a high prevalence among middle-aged and older men, with high incidence of metastases to the bone-the main metastatic site. However, prostate cancer among those less than 50 years of age is extremely rare, and neck swelling is seldom the initial symptom.

Case Presentation: We herein report case of a 47-year-old Japanese male with poorly differentiated prostate cancer that had been initially diagnosed as a cancer of unknown primary with multiple lymph node and bone metastases before reaching a definitive diagnosis.

Early prediction of treatment outcome for lenvatinib using F-FDG PET/CT in patients with unresectable or advanced thyroid carcinoma refractory to radioiodine treatment: a prospective, multicentre, non-randomised study.

Background: Lenvatinib is widely used to treat unresectable and advanced thyroid carcinomas. We aimed to determine whether F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) performed 1 week after lenvatinib treatment initiation could predict treatment outcomes.

Results: This was a prospective, nonrandomised, multicentre study.

Phase II Study of Ramucirumab Plus Irinotecan Combination Therapy as Second-Line Treatment in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: HGCSG1603.

Background: Ramucirumab is a human IgG1 monoclonal vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 antibody that inhibits tumor cell growth and affects the tumor cell microenvironment. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab plus irinotecan combination therapy as second-line treatment in patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory or intolerant to primary chemotherapy were included.

Study protocol of the HGCSG1803: a phase II multicentre, non-randomised, single-arm, prospective trial of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and S-1 (OX-IRIS) as first-line treatment for metastatic or relapsed pancreatic cancer.

Introduction: Combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX) has become one of the standard treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, the use of FOLFIRINOX requires prolonged infusion. Therefore, we planned to develop a new combination chemotherapy regimen with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and S-1 (OX-IRIS) for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy as Adjuvant or Perioperative Chemotherapy for Patients with Type 4 Scirrhous Gastric Cancer: PHOENIX-GC2 Trial.

The prognosis of patients with type 4 scirrhous gastric cancer remains poor due to a high risk of peritoneal metastasis. We have previously developed combined chemotherapy regimens of intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel (PTX) and systemic chemotherapy, and promising clinical efficacy was reported in gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. Herein, a randomized, phase III study is proposed to verify the efficacy of IP PTX to prevent peritoneal recurrence.

Phase II study of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) therapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (T-CORE1401): geriatric assessment tools and plasma drug concentrations as possible predictive biomarkers.

Purpose: The current study aimed to determine the efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil for elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods: This single-arm, open-label, multicenter, phase II study included elderly patients aged 65 years or more who had fluoropyrimidine-refractory advanced colorectal cancer and received trifluridine/tipiracil (70 mg/m, days 1-5 and 8-12, every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), toxicities, association between efficacy and geriatric assessment scores, and association between toxicity and plasma drug concentrations.

Phase II study of an oxaliplatin-based regimen for relapsed colon cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy (INSPIRE study).

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy with re-introduction of oxaliplatin (OX) more than 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy including OX.

Methods: Stage II/III colon cancer patients with neuropathies of grade ≤ 1 who relapsed more than 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy including OX were considered eligible. Eligible patients were treated with 5-fluorouracil, l-leucovorin and OX plus molecularly targeted agents or capecitabine and OX plus bevacizumab (BV) or S-1 and OX plus BV.

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study of recombinant thrombomodulin (ART-123) to prevent oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to be the first to explore whether ART-123, a recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, prevents oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN).

Methods: This randomized, phase IIa trial enrolled stage II/III colon cancer patients who received adjuvant mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy. Participants were randomly allocated to 3 arms in a double-blind manner: placebo (placebo: days 1-3); 1-day ART (ART-123: day 1, placebo: days 2-3); and 3-day ART (ART-123: days 1-3).

Cu-Catalyzed three-component coupling reactions using nitriles, 1,3-dienes and silylboranes.

This paper reports novel Cu-catalyzed three-component coupling reactions using nitriles, 1,3-dienes and silylboranes. The desired reactions proceed at room temperature and yield β,γ-unsaturated ketones with a (dimethylphenylsilyl)methyl moiety at the α-position. Diverse nitriles participate in the reaction and the corresponding products were obtained in good to high yields with high regioselectivity.

Pd-Catalyzed intermolecular C-H bond arylation reactions: effect of bulkiness of carboxylate ligands.

A bulky carboxylic acid bearing one 1-adamantylmethyl and two methyl substituents at the α-position is demonstrated to work as an efficient carboxylate ligand source in Pd-catalyzed intermolecular C(sp)-H bond arylation reactions. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, taking advantage of the steric bulk of the carboxylate ligands.

Complementary Color Tuning by HCl via Phosphorescence-to-Fluorescence Conversion on Insulated Metallopolymer Film and Its Light-Induced Acceleration.

An insulated metallopolymer that undergoes phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion between complementary colors by an acid-stimulus is proposed as a color-tunable material. A Pt-based phosphorescent metallopolymer, where the conjugated polymeric backbone is insulated by a cyclodextrin, is depolymerized by HCl via acidic cleavage of Pt-acetylide bonds to form a fluorescent monomer. The insulation enables phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion to take place in the solid film.

Insulated conjugated bimetallopolymer with sigmoidal response by dual self-controlling system as a biomimetic material.

Biological systems are known to spontaneously adjust the functioning of neurotransmitters, ion channels, and the immune system, being promoted or regulated through allosteric effects or inhibitors, affording non-linear responses to external stimuli. Here we report that an insulated conjugated bimetallopolymer, in which Ru(II) and Pt(II) complexes are mutually connected with insulated conjugations, exhibits phosphorescence in response to CO gas. The net profile corresponds to a sigmoidal response with a dual self-controlling system, where drastic changes were exhibited at two threshold concentrations.

Zinc-Catalyzed Synthesis of Acylsilanes Using Carboxylic Acids and a Silylborane in the Presence of Pivalic Anhydride.

Zinc-catalyzed synthesis of acylsilanes using carboxylic acids and a silylborane has been achieved in the presence of pivalic anhydride. Various carboxylic acids were converted to the corresponding acylsilanes. The in situ formation of mixed anhydrides was essential in the present reaction.