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Carbon ion beams have the unique property of higher linear energy transfer, which causes clustered damage of DNA, impacting the cell repair system. This sometimes triggers apoptosis and the release in the cytoplasm of damaged DNA, leading to type I interferon (IFN) secretion via the activation of the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway. Dendritic cells phagocytize dead cancer cells and damaged DNA derived from injured cancer cells, which together activate dendritic cells to present cancer-derived antigens to antigen-specific T cells in the lymph nodes. Thus, carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) activates anti-cancer immunity. However, cancer is protected by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of pro-cancerous immune cells, such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages. The TME is too robust to be destroyed by the CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity. Various modalities targeting regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages have been developed. Preclinical studies have shown that CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity exerts its effects in the presence of these modalities. In this review article, we provide an overview of CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity, with a particular focus on recently identified means of targeting the TME.

Background/Aim: We investigated the postoperative treatment status for diabetes mellitus and perioperative HbA1c levels in patients with diabetes mellitus and examined the effects of clinical factors on the remission of diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: In this study, 126 patients with gastric cancer were considered to have diabetes mellitus preoperatively, of whom 79 were treated with oral antidiabetic drugs and/or insulin treatment. We compared diabetic treatment status and HbA1c values between the preoperative and postoperative periods in patients who underwent gastrectomy and examined the effects of clinical factors on improving diabetes mellitus. Results: Of the 79 patients treated preoperatively for diabetes mellitus, 34 (43%) discontinued all medications for diabetes mellitus and for 37 (47%) the therapeutic dose was reduced or switched from insulin to oral antidiabetic drugs. Total gastrectomy was an independent factor for remission of antidiabetic treatments after gastrectomy. Concerning HbA1c levels, only the absence of preoperative insulin use was an independent factor for improvement. However, reconstruction was not a significantly correlated factor for the improvement of postoperative HbA1c levels and reduction of antidiabetic medications after distal gastrectomy. Conclusion: Almost all patients discontinued or had their dose of antidiabetic medications reduced after gastrectomy in clinical practice, and special attention should be paid in the management methods for diabetes mellitus in patients who underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Pancreatic cancer has the poorest survival rate among all cancer types. Therefore, it is essential to develop an effective treatment strategy for this cancer. Methods: We performed carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in human pancreatic cancer cell lines and analyzed their survival, apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. To investigate the role of CIRT-induced autophagy, autophagy inhibitors were added to cells prior to CIRT. To evaluate tumor formation, we inoculated CIRT-treated murine pancreatic cancer cells on the flank of syngeneic mice and measured tumor weight. We immunohistochemically measured autophagy levels in surgical sections from patients with pancreatic cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) plus CIRT or NAC alone. Results: CIRT reduced the survival fraction of pancreatic cancer cells and induced apoptotic and necrotic alterations, along with autophagy. Preincubation with an autophagy inhibitor accelerated cell death. Mice inoculated with control pancreatic cancer cells developed tumors, while those inoculated with CIRT/autophagy inhibitor-treated cells showed significant evasion. Surgical specimens of NAC-treated patients expressed autophagy comparable to control patients, while those in the NAC plus CIRT group expressed little autophagy and nuclear staining. Conclusions: CIRT effectively killed the pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting their autophagy-inducing abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Sigmoid conduit is one of the methods for achieving urinary diversion, but it is performed less frequently than ileal conduit and ureterostomy. Herein, we report a case in which a sigmoid colon conduit was performed after nephrostomy and transverse colostomy. Case presentation A 70‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital because of a bladder tumor. Computed tomography and transurethral biopsy revealed advanced bladder cancer with ureteral and rectal invasion. Despite drug therapy, the tumor progressed. Thus, nephrostomy and transverse colostomy were performed for urinary and fecal diversion, respectively. Subsequently, chemotherapy was administered for 8 months. As nephrostomy‐related complications occurred frequently during chemotherapy, a sigmoid colon conduit was performed instead of nephrostomy for urinary diversion to improve the patient's quality of life. Conclusion In patients with advanced bladder cancer requiring a double stoma of the urinary and fecal tracts, sigmoid colon conduit may be selected as a urinary diversion method.