Prognostic Nutritional Index and Lung Immune Prognostic Index as Prognostic Predictors for Combination Therapies of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cytotoxic Anticancer Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors and cytotoxic chemotherapies (chemoimmunotherapy) is associated with significantly better survival outcomes than cytotoxic chemotherapies alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there are no prognostic markers for chemoimmunotherapy. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) are prognostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy or cytotoxic chemotherapies.

Survey of malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment in Japan: Patterns of practice and clinical outcomes in tomotherapy facilities.

We conducted a nationwide survey of tomotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Japan. Fifty-six facilities were surveyed and data on 31 patients treated curatively between 2008 and 2017 were collected from 14 facilities. Twenty patients received hemithorax irradiation after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) (first group).

Impact of cerebrovascular comorbidity on prognosis in Japanese patients undergoing PCI: 1-year data from Japanese multicenter registry (KICS).

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are considered the principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; the effect of stroke-induced cardiac manifestations is well recognized; however, not enough clinical data have been found about the impact of stroke with underlying cardiac disease. This study's objective is to assess the impact of stroke on the prognosis of patients with underlying IHD, who underwent PCI treatment. This was a multicenter, 1-year observational study in patients undergoing PCI in one of the 17 participating centers across Japan.

Impact of maintenance therapy following induction immunochemotherapy for untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to identify the potential predictors to assess the impact of maintenance therapy after induction immunochemotherapy in the real-world setting of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 152 patients with advanced NSCLC who received immunochemotherapy at 8 hospitals in Japan between January 2019 and December 2019. Patients who received at least four cycles of induction immunochemotherapy and one cycle of maintenance therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors were included.

Short-Term Outcomes of Colorectal Stenting Using a Low Axial Force Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Malignant Colorectal Obstruction: A Japanese Multicenter Prospective Study.

(1) Background: Endoscopic colorectal stenting with high technical success and safety is essential in discussing the oncological outcomes for the management of malignant colorectal obstruction. Mechanical properties of self-expandable metal stents are usually considered to affect clinical outcomes. (2) Methods: A multicenter, prospective study was conducted in Japan.

Randomized Phase III Study of Gefitinib Versus Cisplatin Plus Vinorelbine for Patients With Resected Stage II-IIIA Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With Mutation (IMPACT).

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of gefitinib as an adjuvant therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer patients with mutation.

Patients And Methods: IMPACT (WJOG6410L; University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000006252), a randomized, open-label, phase III study, included patients with completely resected pathologic stage II-III non-small-cell lung cancer harboring mutations (exon 19 deletion or L858R) during September 2011 to December 2015. Patients were randomly assigned to receive gefitinib (250 mg once daily) for 24 months or cisplatin (80 mg/m on day 1) plus vinorelbine (25 mg/m on days 1 and 8; cis/vin) once every 3 weeks for four cycles.

Catheter-based ultrasound renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension: the randomized, controlled REQUIRE trial.

Renal denervation is a promising new non-pharmacological treatment for resistant hypertension. However, there is a lack of data from Asian patients. The REQUIRE trial investigated the blood pressure-lowering efficacy of renal denervation in treated patients with resistant hypertension from Japan and South Korea.

Does Urinary Catheterization Affect the Quality of Death in Patients with Advanced Cancer? A Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Patients with life-limiting illnesses frequently experience urinary difficulties, and urinary catheterization is one of the interventions for managing them. However, evidence supporting the effects of urinary catheters on the quality of death (QoD) is lacking in this population. To investigate whether urinary catheterization affects QoD in patients with advanced cancer in palliative care units.

Real-World Clinical Outcomes of IN.PACT Admiral Drug-Coated Balloon for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease - 12-Month Results From Japan Post-Market Surveillance Study.

Background: To confirm the safety and efficacy of the IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon (DCB) based on the indication approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency Japan in real-world patients with femoropopliteal artery disease.

Methods and results: IN.

Treatment response after palliative radiotherapy for bleeding gastric cancer: a multicenter prospective observational study (JROSG 17-3).

Background: Palliative radiotherapy seems to be rarely performed for incurable gastric cancer. In this first multicenter study, we examined the effectiveness of palliative radiotherapy and investigated whether biologically effective dose (BED) is associated with survival, response, or re-bleeding.

Methods: Eligibility criteria included blood transfusion or hemoglobin levels < 8.

One-year results for Japanese patients in RANGER II SFA.

The RANGER II SFA objective was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Ranger Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) for treating superficial femoral artery and/or proximal popliteal artery lesions; the purpose of this cohort analysis is to assess the results among Japanese study participants. Patients eligible for RANGER II SFA had symptomatic lower limb ischemia (Rutherford classification 2-4) and were randomly assigned (3:1) to treatment with the Ranger DCB or standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). At 12 months, assessments included freedom from major adverse events (i.

Efficacy of combined use of a stent retriever and aspiration catheter in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.

Background: The efficacy of combined stent retriever (SR) and aspiration catheter (AC; combined technique: CBT) use for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. We investigated the safety and efficacy of single-unit CBT (SCBT)-retrieving the thrombus as a single unit with SR and AC into the guide catheter-compared with single use of either SR or contact aspiration (CA).

Methods: We analysed 763 consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for AIS between January 2013 and January 2020, at six comprehensive stroke centers.

Dual blockade of macropinocytosis and asparagine bioavailability shows synergistic anti-tumor effects on KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer.

Mutations of KRAS gene are found in various types of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite intense efforts, no pharmacological approaches are expected to be effective against KRAS-mutant cancers. Macropinocytosis is an evolutionarily conserved actin-dependent endocytic process that internalizes extracellular fluids into large vesicles called macropinosomes.

Component gap control during posterior-stabilised total knee arthroplasty using the posterior condylar pre-cut technique.

Purpose: Adjusting the gap lengths to ensure equal lengths in both extension and flexion during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for achieving successful outcomes. We designed a new pre-cut trial component (PCT) for posterior-stabilised (PS) TKA and aimed to determine whether the pre-cut technique is useful for component gap (CG) control in PS TKA.

Methods: A total of 70 knees were included.

Early discontinuation of induction therapy in chemoimmunotherapy as an effective alternative to the standard regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether induction chemotherapy with less than four courses is as effective as induction chemotherapy with more than four courses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 249 patients with NSCLC who received chemoimmunotherapy at 12 centers in Japan between January and December 2019. The patient group that completed less than four courses owing to adverse events (AEs), and received subsequent maintenance therapy was compared to the group that received at least four courses of induction chemotherapy followed by maintenance therapy.

Clinical impact of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Combination therapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy is considered to be one of the standard treatment options for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the clinical significance of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients with NSCLC has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how aging affects the therapeutic impact of chemotherapy combine with immune checkpoint inhibitors in elderly patients.

A multi-institutional study of salivary gland cytopathology: Application of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology in Japan.

Background: The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) is a risk-stratification reporting system that was introduced in 2018. The objective of this multi-institutional study was to evaluate the utility of the MSRSGC in Japan.

Methods: In total, 1608 fine-needle aspiration samples with matching histologic diagnoses were retrieved from 12 large institutions in Japan.

Nivolumab Versus Gemcitabine or Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin for Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: Open-Label, Randomized Trial in Japan (NINJA).

Purpose: This phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label study investigated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab versus chemotherapy (gemcitabine [GEM] or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [PLD]) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Materials And Methods: Eligible patients had platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer, received ≤ 1 regimen after diagnosis of resistance, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of ≤ 1. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to nivolumab (240 mg once every 2 weeks [as one cycle]) or chemotherapy (GEM 1000 mg/m for 30 minutes [once on days 1, 8, and 15] followed by a week's rest [as one cycle], or PLD 50 mg/m once every 4 weeks [as one cycle]).

Utility of B-Mode, Color Doppler and Elastography in the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: Results of the CD-CONFIRM Multicenter Study of 1351 Breast Solid Masses.

The usefulness of color Doppler ultrasound (CD) in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions remains controversial. Our prior study, the Japan Association of Breast and Thyroid Sonology (JABTS) BC-04 study (malignant: 839, benign: 569), found CD was useful in breast cancer diagnosis, and we developed CD diagnostic criteria. The first aim of the current study (the CD-CONFIRM study) was to evaluate the usefulness of the CD diagnostic criteria.