Prognostic significance of isolated tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer in recent 10-year studies.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that detach from the primary tumor and move into the circulation are detected in patients with metastatic cancer. The discovery of such cancer cells has been used as a predictor of recurrence and prognosis, although a consensus regarding such applications has not been reached. Peritoneal cytology may be used for identifying high risk of recurrence or mortality, whereas the intraoperative presence of tumor cells in drainage veins, bone marrow, or the liver is not always useful for evaluating the prognosis.

Prognostic impact of lymphatic invasion of colorectal cancer: a single-center analysis of 1,616 patients over 24 years.

Background: The degree of lymph node metastasis represents an important prognostic factor for cancer. Lymphovascular invasion is a traditional tool for estimating the aggressiveness of colorectal cancer.

Aim: To determine correlations between lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis or disease stage, and clarify the prognostic impact of lymphatic invasion.

Lymph node evaluation and survival in colorectal cancer: review of population-based, prospective studies.

Aim: The total number of lymph nodes retrieved, the number of positive nodes, and/or their ratio are used to evaluate the degree of progression of colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study is to review the relevant literature in order to improve lymph node evaluation and the quality of clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: The English language literature on large, population-based, prospective clinical studies of the evaluation of lymph nodes in colorectal cancer was reviewed.

Clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma evaluated by vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

Aim: To evaluate the significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its correlation with clinicopathological variables were studied in the tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and surrounding liver.

Methods: In 56 samples (tumor and non-tumor liver tissue) collected from 28 patients, VEGF expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.

Results: The value of VEGF expression by western blotting was correlated with immunohistochemical staining grade.

Development of gastric tumors in Apc(Min/+) mice by the activation of the beta-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway.

Although several lines of evidence suggest the involvement of the Wnt pathway in the development of gastric cancers, the functional significance of the pathway in gastric carcinogenesis is still poorly defined. To examine the role of the Apc/beta-catenin signaling pathway in the development of gastric cancers, we investigated the gastric mucosa of the Apc(Min/+) mouse, which is a murine model for familial adenomatous polyposis, carrying a germ-line mutation at codon 850 of Apc. We found that aged Apc(Min/+) mice spontaneously develop multiple tumors in the stomach, which are accompanied by loss of heterozygosity of Apc.

Depletion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells enhances interleukin-2-induced antitumor immunity in a mouse model of colon adenocarcinoma.

Interleukin 2 (IL)-2 induces antitumor immunity and clinical responses in melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. However, IL-2 also increases the number of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells that suppress antitumor immune responses. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effect of depletion of Treg cells on IL-2-induced antitumor immunity.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors is closely related to the histological grade of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Angiogenesis is important for tumor growth, and is regulated by angiogenetic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In the present study, we investigated whether or not expression of VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) is related to the proliferation of tumor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We simultaneously stained proliferation marker Ki-67 antigen and either VEGFR1 (Flt-1) or VEGFR2 (Flk-1) on paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 50 cases of surgically resected human HCC.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor with diffuse mesenteric metastases.

Although malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) sometimes show peritoneal dissemination, diffuse metastasis to only the mesentery is rare. We describe the unusual case of GIST in a 69-year-old woman who showed multiple nodules restricted only to the mesentery except the surface of the small and large bowel, omentum, and abdominal wall. These small nodules were similar to those seen in leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata.

Diffusive separation of the lower atmosphere.

The separation of atmospheric constituents by gravity has been proposed theoretically for almost two centuries. However, turbulent mixing has prevented the detection of this phenomenon in the lower atmosphere. By using precise measurements of the Ar/N2 ratio of air samples taken under strong nocturnal inversions, we have detected such separation in near-surface layers.

Length of laparotomy incision and surgical stress assessed by serum IL-6 level.

Background: Because surgical stress is thought to have an effect on morbidity, mortality, and remnant tumour progression after surgery, diminishing surgical stress is important. The purpose of this study was to assess in a murine model whether the length and type of laparotomy incision influence surgical stress.

Methods: Serum IL-6 concentrations were measured sequentionally in 220 male BALB/c mice who were assigned to different basic laparotomies, (1-cm versus 2-cm versus 3-cm laparotomy with or without caecal resection), other types of laparotomy (3-cm, 1-cm x 3, 3-cm transverse, 3-cm laparotomy with rapid closure), or 3-cm skin incision with or without laparotomy.

Adenocarcinoma in bladder diverticulum, metastatic from gastric cancer.

Background: Metastasis to the urinary bladder from gastric cancer is rare. Metastasis to a diverticulum of the bladder from gastric cancer is extremely rare. We report a case of isolated bladder metastasis from gastric cancer and invasion localized to the muscularis propria of the primary site (stomach).

Identification of an immune tolerance reaction in response to pretreatment with frozen pancreatic tissue in islet cell transplantation in rats.

Objectives: Whereas transplantation of insulin-secreting pancreatic islets may provide long-term control of glucose metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus, transplant rejection remains a problem. In this study, we tried pretreatment with frozen pancreatic tissue in a rat model of islet cell transplantation to determine whether induction of immune tolerance is feasible.

Methods: Isolated islet cells from Wistar rats were transplanted into the spleen of recipient rats that were sensitized and rats that were not sensitized with frozen pancreatic tissue.

Less impaired cell-mediated immune response in the murine peritoneal cavity after CO(2) pneumoperitoneum.

Purpose: We compared changes in the populations of peritoneal T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells after CO(2) pneumoperitoneum and laparotomy to clarify whether pneumoperitoneum affects cell-mediated immune responses in the peritoneal cavity.

Methods: We analyzed and compared populations of T lymphocytes and NK cells among peritoneal exudative cells (PECs) collected from 185 female mice subjected to pneumoperitoneum, laparotomy, or anesthesia only. PECs were collected postoperatively, and the populations of T lymphocytes and NK cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Surgical technique influences bowel function after low anterior resection and sigmoid colectomy.

Background/aims: Since June 1996, we have changed surgical strategies to preserve the pelvic autonomic nerve and abandon high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of this surgical technique on subjective bowel function of patients with low anterior resection and sigmoid colectomy for cancer.

Methodology: Forty-eight patients who underwent low anterior resection or sigmoid colectomy for cancer during June 1996 and February 2000 replied to the questionnaire which consisted of eight categories of bowel symptoms.

Quality of life after laparoscopic or open colonic resection for cancer.

Background/aims: Although laparoscopic colectomy has been widely accepted, little is known about the subjective clinical results of this less invasive surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients who had undergone laparoscopic or open colonic resection for cancer.

Methodology: The study included 26 patients with laparoscopic colectomy and 87 with conventional open colectomy for cure of colon cancer.

AFP-producing gastric carcinoma: multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in 270 patients.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is sometimes high in patients with primary gastric carcinoma, and there is no comprehensive study on the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of AFP-producing gastric carcinoma (AGC). To clarify the variables associated with the survival after gastrectomy for AGC, we reviewed the data of patients with AGC and examined the independent prognostic factors. We studied 270 cases of AGC reported in the Japanese literature from June 1982 to March 2001, together with 1 patient of our own experience.

Gastric remnant cancer compared with primary proximal gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Recently, detections of early-stage gastric remnant cancer and small proximal gastric cancer are increasing. The aim of this study was to compare pathologic and prognostic data of gastric remnant cancer with those of primary proximal gastric cancer including upper gastric cancer based on a recent 15-year experience at a single institute in Japan.

Methodology: Among 698 patients who underwent gastrectomy for cancer between 1984 and 1998, 15 (2.

Modern treatment of early gastric cancer: review of the Japanese experience.

Background: Recently, detections of early gastric cancer (EGC) have been increasing, and the treatment strategies for gastric cancer have been changing. To demonstrate recent clinical experience of EGC in Japan and to assess modern strategies for the treatment of EGC, we investigated the English-language literature of the past 10 years through computer searches.

Methods: This article intends to provide gastric surgeons with recent Japanese experience of the treatment for EGC.

Prognostic effect of lymph node micrometastasis in patients with histologically node-negative gastric cancer.

Background: There is no consensus as to the impact of lymph node micrometastasis on survival of patients with gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of lymph node micrometastasis in patients with histologically node-negative gastric cancer.

Methods: Lymph nodes (n = 2039) from 64 patients with histologically node-negative gastric cancer (T2, T3) were evaluated for micrometastasis.

Clinical outcome of proximal versus total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer.

Tumors in the upper one-third of the stomach has been increasing. Although the standard operation for proximal gastric cancer has been total gastrectomy, some have used proximal gastrectomy reconstructed by jejunum or gastric tube. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical results, hospital costs, and quality of life after gastrectomy for cancer.