Usefulness of unwinding the colonoscope shaft loop via the universal cord for colorectal endoscopic resections.

The colonoscope shaft loop can be unwound by establishing a loop in the universal cord of the colonoscope to maintain the same endoscopic view during colorectal endoscopic resections.

A New Self-Expandable Metallic Stent with Low Axial Force and a High Axial Force Zero-Border Shows a Very Low Perforation Rate in Malignant Colorectal Obstruction: A Japanese Multicenter Prospective Study.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the utilization of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) for treating malignant colorectal obstructions through colorectal stenting. The mechanical properties of SEMSs are usually considered to affect clinical outcomes of patients with malignant colorectal obstructions. : This single-arm, prospective, multicenter study of SEMS with a lower axial force and high axial force zero-border included 200 patients with malignant colorectal obstruction.

Correlation between postoperative treatment selection and prognosis determined using the Oncotype DX® test data: a retrospective multicenter study in Japan.

Purpose: Oncotype DX® is a frequently used multigene assay for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. However, limited evidence is available regarding its application in Japan owing to the lack of insurance coverage. Therefore, we conducted this large-scale, retrospective study by collecting data from nine Japanese institutes and assessed postoperative treatment choice and prognosis by using Oncotype DX®.

Preliminary report on ultrashort perioperative partial-breast irradiation with multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose: Perioperative partial-breast irradiation (PBI) with multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MIB) is less invasive and more convenient than postoperative one. This study aimed to compare ultrashort perioperative MIB-PBI (uPBI) and conventional perioperative MIB-PBI (cPBI) performed during the same period of time.

Methods: Inclusion criteria of the study were patients aged ≥ 40 years and those with T0-2 (≤ 3 cm), N0-mi, and negative margins on mammography.

Impact of de-escalating systemic therapy guided by 21-gene assay on locoregional recurrence after partial-breast irradiation.

Purpose: Partial-breast irradiation (PBI) has been performed as alternative to whole-breast irradiation (WBI) in breast-conserving therapy (BCT). Recently, the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) was introduced to determine the adjuvant therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative diseases. However, the impact of RS-based systemic therapy on locoregional recurrence (LRR) following BCT with PBI remains uninvestigated.

Splenic Abscess due to a Perforated Duodenal Ulcer Successfully Treated with Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Transgastric Drainage.

Splenic abscesses are rare, with a reported prevalence of 0.14-0.7% in autopsy studies.

Computed tomography-guided partial-breast brachytherapy using implanted catheters as fiducial markers versus co-registered magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: Partial-breast irradiation (PBI) needs accurate cavity delineation with computed tomography (CT). In perioperative PBI using multicatheter-interstitial brachytherapy (MIB), catheters implanted during surgery were enabled as fiducial markers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also assist delineation with CT.

Predicting adherence of dose-volume constraints for personalized partial-breast irradiation technique.

Purpose: Multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MIB) and external-beam (EB) radiotherapy are established partial-breast irradiation (PBI) techniques. Although EB-PBI is widely available, it requires extra irradiated margins for target uncertainties. We examined the impact of EB-PBI on dose-volume constraints as compared to MIB-PBI.

Genotype-Guided Tamoxifen Dosing in Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer (TARGET-1): A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Study.

Purpose: In patients taking tamoxifen, the genotype causes different exposure of active metabolite endoxifen. The objective of this randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II study was to prospectively evaluate whether genotype-guided tamoxifen dosing in patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer could have an impact on the clinical outcome.

Methods: Patients who needed first-line tamoxifen therapy were enrolled.

Efficacy of Single-Plane Implant Technique in Partial Breast Brachytherapy in Small-Breasted Patients.

Purpose: Partial-breast irradiation (PBI) using multicatheter-interstitial brachytherapy (MIB) has been supported by some randomized trials to date. However, it remains underused in Asian countries because of the population's typically smaller breasts. Single-plane implantation has been recommended in these individuals, but limited data on the clinical efficacy exist.

Moving incision for covert breast-conserving surgery may prevent early wound complications in brachytherapy-based partial-breast irradiation.

Purpose: Brachytherapy-based partial-breast irradiation (PBI) is a treatment option for breast-conserving therapy. Although intraoperative catheter implantation has been introduced, early wound complications are a concern. Covert operations with a moving incision are widely performed to hide surgical scars and may reduce the incision-site radiation dose.

Catheter-based delineation of lumpectomy cavity for accurate target definition in partial-breast irradiation with multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy.

Purpose: In partial-breast irradiation (PBI), accurate lumpectomy cavity (LC) delineation is critical. Seroma-based delineation (SBD) using computed tomography (CT) with clips remains uncertain, causing an expansion of the LC and planning target volume (PTV). In catheter-based delineation (CBD), the implanted catheters were used as reference markers for LC delineation in multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MIB).

A randomized phase II trial of trastuzumab plus capecitabine versus lapatinib plus capecitabine in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and taxanes: WJOG6110B/ELTOP.

Background: For human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with progression on trastuzumab-based therapy, continuing trastuzumab beyond progression and switching to lapatinib combined with chemotherapy are both valid options. We conducted an open-label, randomized phase II trial to compare the efficacy of these strategies.

Patients And Methods: Women with HER2-positive MBC previously treated with trastuzumab and taxanes were randomly assigned to receive trastuzumab plus capecitabine (HX) or lapatinib plus capecitabine (LX).

Validating the efficacy of single-stage breast-conserving therapy using multicatheter partial-breast brachytherapy based on updated ASTRO guidelines.

Based on the accumulating evidence for equivalent results of partial-breast irradiation (PBI) and whole-breast irradiation (WBI) in breast-conserving therapy (BCT), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) updated the consensus statement (CS) to expand the range of potential candidates for PBI outside clinical trials. Of the various techniques, PBI using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MCB) is the oldest and has long-term data. In this study, the efficacy of single-stage BCT using MCB-PBI achieved by an intraoperative catheter placement was validated on updated ASTRO guidelines.

Efficacy of single-stage breast-conserving treatment using multicatheter partial breast brachytherapy evaluated by GEC-ESTRO phase 3 trial.

Purpose: The GEC-ESTRO has reported the equivalent outcomes of partial breast irradiation (PBI) using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (MCB) to whole breast irradiation (WBI) in breast-conserving therapy (BCT). We performed single-stage BCT with partial breast brachytherapy by intraoperative catheter placement. After the categorization of patients into inclusion and exclusion criteria on this trial, our databases were evaluated in order to translate it to Japanese patients.

Efficacy of reduced dose of pegfilgrastim in Japanese breast cancer patients receiving dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide therapy.

Background: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a 3.6-mg dose of pegfilgrastim for primary prophylaxis in Japanese breast cancer patients receiving dose-dense chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients treated with adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer at the Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital were included in this analysis.

Impact of young age on local control after partial breast irradiation in Japanese patients with early stage breast cancer.

Background: Partial breast irradiation (PBI) is an alternative to whole breast irradiation (WBI) for breast-conserving therapy (BCT). A randomised phase 3 trial demonstrated that PBI using multicatheter brachytherapy had an equivalent rate of local recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival as compared to WBI. However, limited data are available on PBI efficacy for young patients with breast cancer.

Transplantation of Restored Kidneys From Unrelated Donors After Resection of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From 10 Patients.

Purpose: To relieve the chronic shortage of donor kidneys, we conducted a prospective kidney transplantation trial using kidneys removed from 10 unrelated patients (51 to 79 years of age) who had undergone nephrectomy for small renal cell carcinoma (1.5 to 3.9 cm) of low-to-moderate complexity based on RENAL (radius, exophytic/endophytic properties, nearness of tumor to the collecting system or sinus in millimeters, anterior/posterior location relative to polar lines) nephrometry (objective description helpful for operative indication and planning).