A Theoretical Model for the Hormetic Dose-response Curve for Anticancer Agents.

In the present article, we quantitatively evaluated the dose-response relationship of hormetic reactions of anticancer agents in vitro. Serial dilutions of gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, vinorelbine, and paclitaxel were administered to the A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cell line. The bi-phasic sigmoidal curve with hormetic and cytotoxic effects is given by the formula y=(a-b/(1+exp(c(*)log(x)-d)))/(1+exp(e(*)log(x)-f)), that was used to perform a non-linear least square regression.

Class III Beta-tubulin Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Predictive Factor for Paclitaxel Response.

Aim: In order to clarify whether class III beta-tubulin (TUBB3) is a predictive marker for paclitaxel (PTX) chemotherapy, chemosensitivity was examined using an in vitro drug sensitivity assay.

Patients And Methods: Twelve specimens from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were obtained for dose-response curve analysis and measurement of the half-maximal effective dose (ED50) of PTX using the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA). Forty-one specimens were evaluated using the HDRA and the inhibition ratio (IR) at a concentration of 25 μg/ml PTX (IR25) was measured.

In vitro evaluation of dose-response curve for paclitaxel in breast cancer.

Background: The dose-response curve for anticancer agents cannot be evaluated by studying patients directly. To investigate individual differences in the dose-response curve for paclitaxel in breast cancer, we utilized the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) technique.

Materials And Methods: Twenty specimens obtained from breast cancer patients who underwent surgical resection were used in this study.

Data acquisition for the histoculture drug response assay in lung cancer.

Objective: Application of the histoculture drug response assay for lung cancer was investigated by using data acquired from lung cancer specimens.

Methods: From May 1994 through February 2005, histoculture drug response assay data were obtained from 359 lung cancer specimens held in our institute. We examined chemosensitivities of the tissues to cisplatin, doxorubicin, mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, docetaxel, paclitaxel, etoposide, irinotecan, and gemcitabine.

Limited mediastinal lymph node dissection for non-small cell lung cancer according to intraoperative histologic examinations.

Background: Although radioisotopic procedures are commonly used to detect sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer surgery, these procedures are often problematic and not necessarily suitable for lung cancer surgery.

Methods: Our previous study revealed that the mediastinal sentinel lymph node, defined as the regional mediastinal lymph node, consisted of nodes 2, 3, or 4 in right upper lobe cancers; 3, 7, or 8 in right lower lobe cancers; 4, 5, or 7 in left upper lobe cancers; and 4, 7, or 8 in left lower lobe cancers. On the basis of these findings, we pathologically investigated one representative lymph node at each of the 3 levels dissected during surgical intervention in 69 patients with non-small cell lung cancer from September 1993 through December 2002.

[Cut-off level of docetaxel, paclitaxel and gemcitabine in histoculture drug response assay for non-small cell lung cancer].

Cut-off levels of docetaxel (DOC), paclitaxel (PAC), and gemcitabine (GEM) in histoculture drug response assay are determined by data acquisition of non-small cell lung cancer. Inhibition rates were 47.5 +/- 22.

[Dose response curve of paclitaxel measured by histoculture drug response assay].

Dose response curves of paclitaxel were measured by histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) in 11 lung cancer patients. Inhibition rates of paclitaxel at several concentrations were measured and fitted to the sigmoid dose response curve, using non-linear least square analysis, with fitting equation y=A (1-1/(1+exp (b (x-log (ED50)). Parameters A, b, and ED50 were 88.

[Anastrozole-resistant breast cancer responsive to exemestane--a case report].

We describe a postmenopausal woman suffering from advanced breast cancer with pleural effusion. She had prior anastrozole therapy, and was referred to our hospital with dyspnea. The use of exemestane, a highly selective steroidal aromatase inhibitor (25 mg daily), successfully induced remission of pleural effusion.

A case of serum CEA disappearance curve after resection of breast carcinoma.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) elimination kinetics after tumor resection were measured in a case of breast cancer. A 45-year-old woman with a left breast carcinoma underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The serum CEA level before surgery was 34.

[Histoculture drug response assay for solitary fibrous tumor--a case report].

A 49-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow in his left lower lung field on chest X-ray. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed a large mass on the left diaphragm. The tumor was surgically extirpated.

[Histoculture drug response assay guided concurrent chemoradiotherapy for lung metastasis from adrenocortical carcinoma--a case report].

A 50-year-old woman underwent surgical resection of a left adrenocortical carcinoma in April 2000. Bilateral pulmonary metastases and abdominal lymph node metastasis were detected in June 2001. After radiation therapy for the abdominal lymph node metastasis, a pulmonary metastatic lesion was thoracoscopically resected.

Increased expression of integrin alpha3beta1 in highly brain metastatic subclone of a human non-small cell lung cancer cell line.

To clarify the roles of integrin and extracellular matrix (ECM) in the process of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastasis, we established an in vivo model of brain metastasis of human NSCLC cell line EBC-1/original in athymic mice, and established highly brain metastatic subclone EBC-1/brain and highly bone metastatic subclone EBC-1/bone. Integrin expression of these subclones was evaluated by flow cytometry. In vitro cell attachment, migration and proliferation assays with ECMs were performed using these subclones.

[Successful management of malignant pericardial effusion with weekly paclitaxel therapy in a lung adenocarcinoma patient].

A 67-year-old woman had undergone lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy on December 17, 1999, for lung adenocarcinoma. On June 29, 2001, the patient was readmitted because of acute deterioration of diabetic chronic renal failure due to cardiac dysfunction. Serum CEA level was high at 724 ng/ml.

Time course of carcinoembryonic antigen after resection of lung cancer: a predictor of recurrence.

Unlabelled: We investigated whether the early postoperative time course of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level after resection of lung cancer could be used to predict patients' prognosis. Fifty-three lung cancer patients were included in this study. Postoperative serum CEA levels were calculated by means of non-linear least-squares fitting to the equation C(t) = (C(0)-C(p))exp(-kt) + C(p), where C(t) is postoperative CEA level, t is days after surgery, C(0) is CEA level at postoperative time 0, C(p) is CEA level at plateau, and k is the rate constant of elimination.

[Histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) guided induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy for mediastinal node-positive non-small cell lung cancer].

To improve the response to chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), effective drugs should be selected for each patient. In 1994 we introduced histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) for NSCLC patients. For clinical N2 patients, biopsy of mediastinal lymph node is performed both for histological diagnosis and for HDRA.

Clinical efficacy of bisphosphonate therapy for bone metastasis from breast cancer.

Bisphosphonates inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption and are being used as treatment for bone metastases from breast cancer. Intravenous bisphosphonate therapy can significantly reduce skeletal related events (SREs) when administered concurrently with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. In addition, intravenous bisphosphonate monotherapy is also able to alleviate cancer induced bone pain, and to improve bone metastases in some patients.

[Weekly administration of gemcitabine in outpatient clinic for non-small cell lung cancer].

We treated inoperable or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with weekly outpatient administration of gemcitabine. The aim of this therapy was to improve or to maintain the patients' performance status. From November 1999 to December 2001, 15 NSCLC patients were treated with gemcitabine.

A case of granulomatous mastitis mimicking breast carcinoma.

A 58-year-old woman presenting with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis mimicking breast carcinoma is described. The mass was elastic, hard and painless, and located in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology did not provide any diagnostic information.