Search

Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) is an important chemotherapeutic agent recommended by the Japanese guidelines as third- or fourth-line treatment for colorectal cancer. Some studies have reported that administration of TAS-102 concomitant with bevacizumab prolongs progression-free and overall survival in colorectal cancer. We describe 2 patients treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen comprising TAS-102 concomitant with bevacizumab for recurrent colorectal cancer. No adverse events ≥Grade 3(except for hematotoxicity)were observed in these patients. The patient received several courses of chemotherapy with adjustments of the dose and dosing intervals to prevent neutropenia. Combination therapy using TAS-102 and bevacizumab is a feasible Late-line chemotherapeutic regimen for colorectal cancer.

Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy(CART)is useful for relief of the symptoms caused by malignant ascites. We experienced 2 cases of untreated gastric cancer with massive ascites due to peritoneal dissemination, to whom chemotherapy was successfully introduced as a result of improvement of general conditions achieved by CART. Case 1: A 56-year-old woman with massive ascites was introduced for the treatment of gastric cancer. After a CART, oral ingestion became possible and S-1 plus oxaliplatin(SOX)therapy was introduced. Three courses of SOX therapy were possible until just before her death with 6 times of maintenance CART in total. Case 2: An 80-year-old man was introduced for the same reason. After a CART, he was treated with 4 courses of trastuzumab plus capecitabine plus oxaliplatin(Tra plus CapeOX)therapy with 5 times of maintenance CART in total.CART is useful for alleviating symptoms caused by malignant ascites and makes systemic chemotherapy possible because it improves and maintains the general conditions.

Background This study aimed to review and evaluate the surgical outcomes, particularly intraoperative severe blood loss and postoperative blood complications, of emergency gastrointestinal surgery in patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy (AT). Emergency surgeries for patients with antithrombotic medication have been increasing in the aging population. However, the effect of AT on intraoperative blood loss and perioperative complications remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 732 patients who underwent emergency gastrointestinal surgery between April 2014 and March 2019. Patients were classified into AT group and Non-AT group, and propensity score-matched analysis was performed to compare the short surgical outcomes between the groups. Additionally, risk factors in severe estimated blood loss (EBL) and postoperative bleeding complications were assessed. Results Altogether, 64 patients received AT; 50 patients and 12, and 2 were given antiplatelet and anticoagulant, and both drugs, respectively. After propensity score matching, EBL (101 vs. 99 mL; p = 0.466) and postoperative complications (14 vs. 16 patients; p = 0.676) were similar between the groups (63 patients matched paired). Intraoperative severe bleeding (EBL ≥ 492 mL) occurred in 44 patients. Multivariate analysis using the full cohort revealed that antithrombotic drug use was not an independent risk factor for severe bleeding and postoperative bleeding complications. Conclusions This study demonstrated antithrombotic drugs do not adversely affect the perioperative outcomes of emergency gastrointestinal surgery.

A 71-year-old male presented with abdominal distension and fever to our hospital. Abdominal CT revealed a huge tumor in abdomen, and non-curative surgery was performed. Peritoneal dissemination was widespread and the tumor invaded the bladder and sigmoid-colon mesenterium. Two months after the initial surgery, CT showed liver metastasis, and oral administration of imatinib mesylate was started. The peritoneal dissemination and liver metastasis showed a decrease, and this was well controlled for 45 months without severe side effects. Abdominal CT revealed peritoneal dissemination in the ileocecum after 43 months since the administration of imatinib. Therefore, sunitinib treatment was initiated. After 3 months of sunitinib administration, the tumor perforated. Emergency operation was performed to resect the ileocecum, and sunitinib was continued for 1 year. In GIST with liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination, repeated surgical resection combined with chemotherapy is important to improve the patient's survival.

Currently, chemotherapy against unresectable advanced gastric cancer is progressing with the development new drugs and due to results of several clinical trials. Here, we reported a case of long-term survival of gastric cancer with multiple liver and lymph node metastases. A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with gastric cancer and Virchow lymph node, para-aortic lymph node, and multiple liver metastases at another hospital. He was referred to our hospital from Yamashita Naika Syokakika. We administrated 4 courses of S-1 plus CDDP. The main tumor and all metastatic lesions were significantly reduced. Subsequently, total gastrectomy, partial liver resection, and left neck and para-aortic lymph node resection(conversion surgery)were performed. The cancer cell was remnant at the main tumor and para-gastric lymph node. No cancer cells were detected in another lesion(R0 resection). Postoperatively, only S-1 was administered. However, 28 months after undergoing gastrectomy, liver metastasis occurred. Therefore, S-1 plus oxaliplatin, paclitaxel plus ramucirumab, and CPT-11 plus CDDP were administered. Liver metastases again increased and decreased, respectively. However, 46 months after gastrectomy, liver metastasis recurred and nivolumab was administered. Subsequently, liver metastases disappeared. At 55 months after gastrectomy, rectal resection was performed against rectal cancer and partial liver resection against liver metastases. Cancer cells were not detected in the resected specimens.

Background Gastric lipomatosis is characterized by multiple gastric lipomas or a diffuse gastric infiltration of the submucosal or subserosal layer by the adipose tissue; diffuse-type gastric lipomatosis is an extremely rare condition. Here, we present the case of a patient with gastric lipomatosis treated by total gastrectomy. Case presentation A 54-year-old man diagnosed with gastric submucosal tumor in 2008 was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment in September 2016. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with an associated ulcer on the anterior wall of the lower body of the stomach. A compressing mass was observed on the anterior wall of the greater curvature and the posterior wall of the stomach. Following a biopsy of the submucosal tumor and ulcer, lipoma without malignancy was diagnosed by microscopy. A giant gastric lipoma was suspected because endoscopic ultrasound revealed a high-echoic lesion on the antral wall that extended to the stomach. Therefore, total gastrectomy was performed, and gastric lipomatosis was confirmed by a histological examination of the resected specimen. Conclusions Surgical treatment is a highly effective treatment for symptomatic gastric lipomatosis with extensive involvement or multiple lipomas and can be used for patient diagnosis.

The safety and feasibility of chemotherapy for elderly patients is unclear. We report a super-elderly patient with liver metastases from colorectal cancer successfully treated with capecitabine plus bevacizumab chemotherapy. An 87-year-old woman underwent a colectomy for transverse colon. At 4 months postoperatively, she underwent hepatectomy for liver metastases. At 9 months after the first surgery, a new liver metastases(S4)was found. At this time, she rejected another hepatectomy. Therefore, we selected capecitabine plus bevacizumab chemotherapy, considering her age. After 18 courses of administration, the liver metastasis did not progress, and no new metastatic lesions were found on CT examination. Although as adverse events Grade 2 hand-foot syndrome developed, no other adverse event occurred. The patient's PS score was maintained at 0. We suggest capecitabine plus bevacizumab chemotherapy is an effective regimen for super-elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

We report a case of unresectable pancreas cancer. A 70-year-old woman presented with worsening diabetes and serum CA19-9 elevation. A tumor with portal vein and supra-mesenteric vein invasion was observed by computed tomography. She was diagnosed with unresectable pancreas head cancer that was locally advanced. Chemotherapy was administered with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for 19 courses, followed by gemcitabine alone for 4 courses. After the addition of 6 courses of chemotherapy, a 60%dose of chemotherapy was administered for 13 courses due to severe neutropenia. The patient died 32 months after the first visit. The 60% dose of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel also inhibited tumor growth. These findings suggest the effective and safe long-term use of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.

We reviewed 21 patients with locally advanced breast cancer with distant metastasis.The median age was 61 years.The median time to presentation at hospital was 13 months, and the median neoplasm diameter on the first visit was 10 cm.The main histological type was scirrhous carcinoma.Sixteen cases tested positive for hormone receptor(76%), 4 tested positive for HER2(19%), and 3 were triple negative(14%).Four patients underwent surgery.The techniques performed included mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection.Three patients experienced local recurrence.The first-line treatment was surgery for 1 patient, chemotherapy for 12 patients, hormonal therapy for 7 patients, and trastuzumab for the HER2 positive patients.The median follow-up period was 49 months.The patients for where an operation was performed were 49 months and the operation not- enforcement patients were 54 months.If treatment is possible for patients with locally advanced breast cancer with distant metastasis, multidisciplinary treatment according to individual patient characteristics is recommended. In the case of surgical treatment, careful consideration must also be given to these characteristics.

We report a case of resection of a paraaortic lymph node recurrence, wherein complete response to bevacizumab was observed. Our patient was a 50-year-old woman who had a paraaortic lymph node recurrence during adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX 6 months after surgery for sigmoid colon cancer. She was treated with chemotherapy consisting of FOLFOX plus bevacizumab/FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab, which suppressed progression of the periaortic lymph node recurrence. She underwent surgery for the paraaortic lymph node recurrence, and the pathologic result was complete response. We report that bevacizumab was effective for her paraaortic lymph node recurrence.

Background Recently the strictures of esophageal cancer were treated by the balloon dilation and/or stenting. These treatments were effective but several cases made to reduce a QOL with perforation after intervention. Especially a radiation-induced esophageal stricture with esophageal cancer presented high rate of perforation after stenting. Therefor we researched retrospective prognostic analysis that patient with stenosis by esophageal cancer was treated the balloon dilation only. Methods We performed the balloon dilation for 10 patients with stenosis by esophageal cancer in our hospital. The age mean was 76.3 years old (68–91). The men were 7. Eight patients were after chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) and two patients were after chemotherapy (CT). We used CRE™ Fixed Wire Balloon Dilators C.R.E. (Controlled Radial Expansion, Boston Scientific®). The balloon dilation was performed with air injection (not used liquid) and not used stent. The air prevented over dilatation. Results The median survival time after dilation was 4.95 months. All patient were improve the dysphagia and possible to swallowing. The perforation induce balloon dilation did not occurred. Conclusion Generally, the prognosis of advanced esophageal cancer patient with stenosis after CRT or CT was short. Therefor it may unnecessary that the stent insertion had risk of perforation against these patients. The insufficient balloon dilation with air injection preserved sufficient inner cavity of esophagus for esophageal cancer patient with stenosis after CRT or CT. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Use of a standard open stent or self-expanding metal stent for patients with malignant dysphagia is associated with a risk of gastroesophageal reflux especially when placed across the esophagogastric junction. We report 3 cases of malignant esophageal stenosis treated with a long cover-type Niti-STM stent with an antireflux mechanism. Case 1: A 87-year-old man presented with dysphagia due to esophageal cancer at the middle thoracic esophagus. Two months after surgery using a standard open stent, the dysphagia relapsed because of tissue overgrowth. Case 2: A 73-year-old woman presented with lung cancer and severe dysphagia due to enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Case 3: A 66-year-old man presented with dysphagia due to esophageal cancer at the lower thoracic esophagus. All 3 patients received an antireflux stent across the esophagogastric junction. In cases 1 and 2, dysphagia was relieved immediately without complications. In case 3, the patient experienced severe reflux and chest pain associated with stent placement and could not ingest any solid food. We conclude that the antireflux stent may be useful for palliation in patients with severe malignant esophageal obstruction; however, patients should be informed about the risk of failure to prevent reflux.

Stage IV gastric cancer has poor prognosis, and median survival time (MST) is reported to range from 6 to 13 months. We report a case of long-term survival in a Stage IV gastric cancer patient who was successfully treated with multi combination chemotherapy with S-1. A 73-year-old woman presenting with gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and peritoneal dissemination at the sigmoid colon underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and sigmoidectomy. She received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and CDDP after surgery. During the twelfth administration of S-1 and CDDP, she developed an anaphylactic reaction against CDDP; therefore, only S-1 was administered for the next 6 courses. Thirty one months postgastrectomy, a left ovarian metastasis (about 4 cm) was detected by computed tomography. Two courses of S-1 and CPT-11 were administered; however, the ovarian metastasis grew to twice its initial size. She underwent hysterectomy and bilateral ovariectomy. The pathological diagnosis was metastatic tumors in the uterus and ovary(Krukenberg tumor). After the second surgery, S-1 and docetaxel therapy was initiated. A metastasis (S2, 5mm diameter) appeared in the right lung around 65 months after the gastrectomy. The patient received a total of 28 courses, up until 69 months post-gastrectomy. At present, she hopes to finish the chemotherapy and is consulting a palliative care facility. At 80 months post-gastrectomy, she has no symptoms because the lung metastasis exhibits slow growth (15 mm diameter), and is maintaining her quality of life (QOL).

There is insufficient evidence for the pre-operative use of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in treatment of advanced rectal cancers, and its efficiency and safety are unclear. However, it has recently been suggested that a new class of carcinostatic agents are more effective during preoperative CRT. Under the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, 5-FU and capecitabine have been recommended as the standard drugs for use during combination chemoradiotherapy. The Japanese Society for Cancer of Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines for 2014 also recommend the use of both drugs during preoperative CRT. We report a case of rectal cancer, which was successfully treated with radical resection and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases in December 2009, and low anterior resection of the rectum was performed. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with 6 courses of oxaliplatin, Leucovorin, and 5-FU (FOLFOX4) and bevacizumab was initiated, followed by 5 courses of fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and bevacizumab. Right posterior segment (S6, S7) hepatectomy with enucleation of S2, S3 and S5 was performed, and chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (11 courses) was administered. New metastases in the S5 segment were observed in August 2011 and right hepatic lobectomy was performed. The patient then underwent 8 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4. However, left hepatic lobe lateral segment and caudate lobe metastases then appeared. Subsequent repeated chemotherapy with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (3 courses) and irinotecan plus cetuximab was interrupted in August 2013 owing to adverse events resulting in rapid growth of hepatic metastases. The patient underwent hepatic left lateral segmentectomy and left caudate lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has currently survived 4 years and 7 months after the initial surgery.

症例は50歳,女性. 2001年5月左乳房外側上に小豆大の腫瘤を自覚.摘出生検でスキルスパターンを呈する充実腺管癌と診断され,生検から二週間後,鏡視下乳房温存扇状切除術(Br+Ax)を施行した.癌残存組織やリンパ節転移はなかったが,術後5'DFURの経口投与と乳房内照射を行った. 2002年1月喘息症状の悪化と4月に両足のしびれが出現し多発性単神経炎症状を認めた.また,著明な好酸球増多症と高γグロブリン血症,リウマトイド因子および抗核抗体陽性を認めChurg-Strauss症候群(以下CSS)と診断された.約1年間のステロイド療法によりCSSは寛解したが, 2003年4月に多発性肝転移が認められ,現在化学療法施行中である. CSSは稀な疾患で乳癌を合併した症例は未だ報告されていない.乳癌術後にCSSを発症しステロイド療法で寛解した後,多発性肝転移をきたしたことから,自己免疫疾患における免疫学的異常が悪性腫瘍発現に関与しているのではないかと考えられた.

Hosts after severe burn injury are known to have a defect in the Th1 immune response and are susceptible to bacterial infections. We herein show that liver NK cells are potent IFN-γ producers early after burn injury. However, when mice were injected with LPS 24 h after burn injury, IFN-γ production from liver mononuclear cells (MNC; which we previously showed to be NK cells) was suppressed, and the serum IFN-γ concentration did not increase, while serum IL-10 conversely increased compared with control mice. Interestingly, a single injection of IL-18 simultaneously with LPS greatly restored the serum IFN-γ concentration in mice with burn injury and also increased IFN-γ production from liver MNC. Nevertheless, a single IL-18 injection into mice simultaneously with LPS was no longer effective in the restoration of serum IFN-γ and IFN-γ production from the liver MNC at 7 days after burn injury, when mice were considered to be the most immunocompromised. However, IL-18 injections into mice on alternate days beginning 1 day after burn injury strongly up-regulated LPS-induced serum IFN-γ levels and IFN-γ production from liver and spleen MNC of mice 7 days after burn injury and down-regulated serum IL-10. Furthermore, similar IL-18 therapy up-regulated serum IFN-γ levels in mice with experimental bacterial peritonitis 7 days after burn injury and greatly decreased mouse mortality. Thus, IL-18 therapy restores the Th1 response and may decrease the susceptibility to bacterial infection in mice with burn injury.

SUMMARYWe have reported recently that mouse liver NK cells and NK1·1+ T cells were activated by bacterial superantigens via the IL-12 production from Kupffer cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of staphyloccoccal enterotoxin A (SEA) on human T cells with NK cell markers, CD56 or CD57 (NK-type T cells). After stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with SEA, PBMC produced a large amount of IFN-γ and acquired a potent antitumour cytotoxicity. The in vitro depletion of either CD56+ TCR– NK cells, CD56+ T cells or 57+ T cells from PBMC significantly inhibited the IFN-γ production from PBMC. When purified NK-type T cells, NK cells and regular T cells were cultured with monocytes and SEA they all produced IFN-γ, while the IFN-γ amounts produced by both NK-type T cells were greater than those produced by NK cells. NK cells as well as CD56+ T cells showed cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive K562 cells, whereas both NK-type T cells showed a more potent cytotoxicity against NK-resistant Raji cells than did NK cells. The IFN-γ production from each population as well as from whole PBMC was greatly inhibited by anti-IL-12 antibody but not by anti-IL-18 antibody. The antitumour cytotoxicity of whole PBMC was also significantly inhibited by anti-IL-12 antibody while the SEA-induced proliferation of PBMC was not affected by anti-IL-12 antibody. Furthermore, SEA-activated NK-type T cells as well as NK cells showed cytotoxicities against vascular endothelial cells. Our findings suggest that human NK-type T cells are thus involved in bacterial superantigen-induced immune response.

In cases of advanced rectal cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy( CRT) serves to improve the local control rate, survival rate, radical resection rate, and/or probability of sphincter muscle preservation. According to the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2010 for the treatment of colorectal cancer, preoperative CRT is the standard treatment for rectal cancer in Europe and the United States. However, there is insufficient evidence in support of its efficacy and safety in Japan, and therefore, CRT needs to be evaluated in properly designed clinical trials. Recently, several studies have reported on the efficacy of preoperative CRT in Japan. Herein, we report a case of rectal cancer in which radical resection was successfully performed with neo-adjuvant CRT.

In the present study, we evaluated the outcome of preoperative treatment with S-1 and CDDP for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Fifty-five cases of advanced gastric cancer received pre-operative treatment with S-1 and CDDP. The tumor control rate( PR and CR according to RECIST criteria) was 55%. The clinical response and histological response to the treatment and curative resection were closely related to favorable postoperative survival. We noted that patients who demonstrated CR or PR received S-1 as postoperative treatment, whereas those with SD or PD were more likely to receive paclitaxel as postoperative treatment. Preoperative treatment with S-1 and CDDP was not only an effective initial treatment, but also demonstrated favorable results in a S-1 in vivo sensitivity test.

We report a case of gastric cancer accompanied by disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow treated with S-1 and cisplatin( CDDP) combination chemotherapy. The patient was a 68-year-old woman who was detected as having disseminated intravascular coagulation( DIC) during an examination for gastric cancer and she was diagnosed as having disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow by lumbar puncture. She was immediately treated with S-1 and CDDP combination chemotherapy( S-1, 80 mg/body orally administered[ po] on days 1-21 and CDDP, 60 mg/body intravenously [iv] administered on day 8) and her DIC improved on the fourth day. Subsequently, the patient was treated with 3 courses of combination chemotherapy and she survived for 184 days from the initiation of the treatment. Although disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow is associated with a poor prognosis, we believe that the duration of survival of our patient was extended due to initiation of chemotherapy at an early stage.

The patient was an 87-year-old woman who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which was treated with an anticoagulant, and with chronic kidney disease. The patient was diagnosed as having liver dysfunction and lower cholangiocellular carcinoma (cStage I) on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Since it was impossible to perform curative resection owing to the patient's decreased cardiac and renal function, we performed palliative endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) with a plastic stent (PS), and the patient was discharged 11 days later. However, the patient was readmitted because of fever (38.0°C) and vomiting 124 days after ERBD. We assumed that the patient had developed cholangitis due to PS obstruction. Moreover, her blood culture was positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. We were unable to replace the PS as the tumor had increased in size and hemorrhage from the papilla of Vater continued after the stent had been removed. The signs of inflammation improved after treatment of sepsis with antibiotics and immunoglobulins, and we performed percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage( PTCD) and eventually inserted a percutaneous transhepatic biliary endoprosthesis (PTBE) with an expandable metallic stent (EMS). The patient died 2 months later; no stent occlusion was observed. Our experience suggests that endoscopic biliary stents should be selected bearing in mind the patency of the stent and the prognosis.

We investigated the function of CD56+ CD8+ T cells (CD56+ T cells) and CD56- CD57+ CD8+ T cells (CD57+ T cells; natural killer (NK)-type T cells) and compared them with those of normal CD56- CD57- CD8+ T cells (CD8+ T cells) and CD56+ NK cells from healthy volunteers. After the stimulation with immobilized anti-CD3 antibodies, both NK-type T cells produced much larger amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) than CD8+ T cells. Both NK-type T cells also acquired a more potent cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive K562 cells than CD8+ T cells while only CD56+ T cells showed a potent cytotoxicity against NK-resistant Raji cells. After the stimulation with a combination of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IL-15, the IFN-gamma amounts produced were NK cells > or = CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxicities against K562 cells were NK cells > CD56+ T cells > or = CD57+ T cells > CD8+ T cells while cytotoxicities against Raji cells were CD56+ T cells > CD57+ T cells > or = CD8+ T cells > or = NK cells. However, the CD3-stimulated proliferation of both NK-type T cells was smaller than that of CD8+ T cells partly because NK-type T cells were susceptible to apoptosis. In addition to NK cells, NK-type T cells but not CD8+ T cells stimulated with cytokines, expressed cytoplasmic perforin and granzyme B. Furthermore, CD3-stimulated IFN-gamma production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) correlated with the proportions of CD57+ T cells in PBMC from donors. Our findings suggest that NK-type T cells play an important role in the T helper 1 responses and the immunological changes associated with ageing.

NC/Nga (NC) mice raised under conventional conditions (Conv. NC mice) spontaneously develop dermatitis similar to human atopic dermatitis, whereas NC mice raised under the specific pathogen-free conditions do not develop dermatitis. In the present study, we show that the representative Th1 cytokine, IFN-γ levels in the sera of NC mice, injected with either staphylococcal enterotoxin B or endotoxin (LPS), to be severalfold lower than those of normal mice. The low IFN-γ response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B was correlated to the lack of regular Vβ8+ T cells and Vβ8+ NK T cells, and the low IFN-γ response to LPS was correlated to an impaired IL-18 production of macrophages. The CD3-stimulated IL-4 production from liver and spleen T cells from Conv. NC mice in vitro was greatly augmented. The serum IL-4 levels of untreated Conv. NC mice also were higher than those of normal mice and specific pathogen-free NC mice. Treatment of Conv. NC mice either with IFN-γ, IL-12, or IL-18 twice a week from 4 wk of age substantially inhibited the elevation of the serum IgE levels, serum IL-4 levels, and dermatitis, and IL-12 or IL-18 treatment also reduced the in vitro IL-4 production from CD3-stimulated liver T cells. The systemic deficiency in the Th1 response to bacterial stimulation thus leads to a Th2-dominant state and may induce an abnormal cellular immune response in the skin accompanied with an overproduction of IgE and a susceptibility to dermatitis in NC mice.

原発巣切除後に急速な進行をきたした胆嚢原発悪性神経上皮腫の1例を報告する.症例は84歳の女性. 右季肋部痛の精査にて胆嚢腫瘤を指摘され入院となった. 胆嚢に70×50×80mm大の造影効果良好な腫瘤を認め, また肝十二指腸間膜部には腫大リンパ節が多数みられ, 十二指腸下行脚および膵頭部への浸潤が疑われた. 手術は原発巣切除および腫大リンパ節の郭清を行った.病理学的検索により, 悪性神経上皮腫と診断された.術後2か月で黄疸, 腹水貯留が出現. 精査で肝十二指腸間膜部転移リンパ節の腫大による閉塞性黄疸ならびに肝転移, 癌性腹水との診断に至った. 肝門部腫瘤に対する放射線治療により腫瘤の縮小を認めたが, 肝転移巣および腹膜播種巣の急激な増大により死亡した.本疾患には積極的な集学的治療による局所, 全身治療が必要であると思われた.

Radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is minimally invasive and is easy to perform. In the RFA procedure, puncture and passing of the electrical current are painful. Therefore, some facilities use general anesthesia for RFA. In order to evaluate the use of general anesthesia for RFA of hepatocellular carcinoma, a questionnaire survey was conducted.With the cooperation of Tokyo liver-tomo-no-kai(Tokyo Liver Association), a questionnaire survey was conducted for patients who underwent RFA. In the survey, data on the following were obtained "type of anesthesia used", "number of RFA treatment points", "duration of treatment", "length of impact of pain", and "if you need to receive RFA treatment again, how would you feel about this."The ratio of local anesthesia (LA) to general anesthesia (GA) was 113:24. The ratios of the numbers of patients who felt pain to those who felt no pain were 64:49 (LA) and 0:24 (GA). The ratios of the patients who wished to not receive RFA again to the patients who were comfortable with receiving RFA were 65:45 (LA) and 4:20 (GA).GA achieves better pain control compared to LA, and the patients who receive GA have greater tolerance of RFA.

It is common to use systemic chemotherapy, instead of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or other cytotoxic agents, for unresectable hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer patients. Nevertheless, systemic administration of anticancer agents such as FOLFOX or FOLFIRI is sometimes difficult to continue for infirm patients. A 71-year-old female who had undergone sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer received HAI for 12 months because of big bilobar hepatic metastases and poor performance status. Thereafter, a two-stage hepatectomy(first, left lobe: second, S7+8 and S5) was performed successfully. She has been alive for 2.5 years after the first operation but with two small lung metastases in the left lobe. Because of bad performance status and her weak social and familial conditions, treatment with standard systemic chemotherapy could not be continued. In such cases, HAI should be performed if the metastases are limited to the liver.

At present, fluorouracil and cisplatin combination therapy is the standard chemotherapy against esophageal cancer, but the choice of second-line chemotherapy is controversial. Furthermore, the effect of radiation therapy against lung metastasis from esophageal cancer is unclear. We report a case of lung metastasis from esophageal cancer resistant to fluorouracil and cisplatin combination therapy but responsive to radiation therapy. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who had undergone an operation for esophageal cancer at another hospital. A single right lung metastasis appeared 1 year after the operation. Combined fluorouracil and cisplatin therapy was administrated for 5 courses, but the lung metastasis increased in size. Afterwards, she was admitted to our hospital. We treated her with 14 courses of S-1 and docetaxel combination therapy administered over 13 months. The lung metastasis was decreased for a period. Furthermore, radiofrequency ablation under computed tomography was performed against the lung metastasis re-growth at another hospital. Although the lung metastasis increased in size, no further metastases were detected during the clinical course. The patient was treated with radiotherapy for the lung metastasis re-growth. The tumor had almost disappeared by 10 months after the completion of radiotherapy. Currently, she is receiving palliative care as an outpatient and the lung metastasis has not been evident for 2 years since the completion of radiotherapy.

We report 4 cases of malignant airway obstruction treated by airway stenting. Three cases were caused by esophageal cancer and the fourth case by malignant lymphoma. Two patients with esophageal cancer received chemoradiotherapy after airway stenting and survived for 24 months and 54 months, respectively (without cancer recurrence). One patient with esophageal cancer died of airway bleeding 2 months after stent placement. The malignant lymphoma patient was treated by cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine+prednisolone(CHOP) with rituximab. Airway obstruction due to malignancy is an urgent oncological situation that should be treated immediately. Airway stenting shows a marked and immediate improvement in dyspnea. Consequently, the induction of chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy is possible. Two patients were successfully treated by chemoradiotherapy, of which 1 survived for more than 4 years without any evidence of cancer recurrence. Additional chemoradiotherapy for patients who receive esophageal stenting is controversial because of the high frequency of adverse events. However, chemoradiotherapy after airway stenting may demonstrate acceptable anti-cancer effects with fewer adverse events. Airway stenting was an effective treatment for airway obstruction, and additional treatment is essential for longer survival.

We have experienced a case of esophageal carcinoma developing esophago-bronchial fistula that was successfully treated by esophageal bypass surgery followed by chemo-radiation. A man aged 64 years old with developed esophago- bronchial fistula after initial chemo-radiation was undergone a gastric bypass surgery to separate esophagus and bronchus. Though closure of fistula was just 4 months after definitive chemo-radiation, an oral feeding was possible until the death of the patient. Stent placement for esophageal carcinoma was less invasive treatment though chemo-radiation after a stent placement was accompanied by high incidence of stent associated morbidity. Since esophageal bypass surgery can definitely separate airway from esophagus, chemo-radiation with oral feeding can be easily carried out. Esophageal bypass surgery was a treatment recommendation for the patient with esophageal carcinoma invading trachea or bronchus.

A 69-year-old male was operated on sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer (SS, N2, H0, P0, M0, stage IIIb) 7 years ago. Two years later, he was diagnosed for rectal cancer and bilateral lung metastases by TBLB. We performed Mile's operation, and the rectal focus was pathologically diagnosed with a recurrence of sigmoid colon cancer. After surgery, chemotherapy with FOLFOX was started for bilateral lung metastases, resulting in CR during the 22 months. But bilateral lung metastases were exacerbated, and then we administered several other chemotherapies. Five years have passed since chemotherapy started, although the focuses tended to progress. Right now, he has been a chemotherapy outpatient for last 5 years.

A 37-year-old female, who had undergone a low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer, had been received chemotherapy (FOLFOX4, FOLFIRI) for 2 years because of right ovarian metastasis occurred and removed 9 months after the first operation. One month after 2 years of continued chemotherapy, progressive metastases happened to occur successively (rt lunge, left ovarium, liver, para-aortic lymphonode, Virchow lymphonode and bone). Right upper lobe pnemonectomy was performed first, then, peritonectomy, total hysterectomy with left oophorectomy and a partial resection of the small bowel were done. IRIS, as postoperative chemotherapy, performed with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of CPT-11 and 5- FU resulted in getting a minimal response for about 10 months. Because of the hepatic arterial thrombosis at 10 months after the previous operation, we could not continue HAI with systemic chemotherapy, that was resulted in the progresion of mutiple metastases, and that the patient died 62 months after the first surgery. Immunohistochemical analyses with MIB-1 stainning of four surgical specimens revealed 80% positive cells in the cancerous tissues.

We report a case of encephalopathy that was suspected to be caused by chemotherapy for liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer. A 72-year-old male was suspected that he had drug-induced eukoencephalopathy because he was presented with physical disorders during the FOLFOX/bevacizumab therapy. Although a brain MRI revealed Alzheimer disease, leukoencephalopathy was not excluded from the diagnoses due to a fact that his findings could not be compared before and after the chemotherapy. If leukoencephalopathy was suspected, chemotherapy should have been discontinued as soon as possible. Although a partial response was achieved, chemotherapy had to be discontinued in this case. The cases whose physical and neurological disorders were at risk due to a past history need an examination for nervous system in order to make a comparison with the findings before and after chemotherapy.

The treatment of hepatic metastasis of colon cancer was in progress by new biochemical agents. Generally, a resection was the first alternative treatment against hepatic metastasis of colon cancer, but new antitumor agents were more effective than conventional antitumor agents. Disappearance of metastasis for colon cancer treated with only antitumor agents was commenced to report. We were experienced a case of transverse colon cancer without a recurrence lesion after five years from the resection of hepatic metastasis. A case was a 77-year-old man. He was operated against transverse colon cancer in February 2003. Pathological stage was ss, n0, Stage II. In April 2004, serum CEA was increased. CT examination was not detected a hepatic metastasis but ultrasound examination and MRI detected the metastasis at S7 lesion in the liver. In July 2004, he was admitted to S-1 and PSK until October 2004. In December 2004, the lesion of hepatic metastasis was reduced and serum CEA was decreased. But in September 2005, the metastatic lesion was re-grown. A resection for hepatic metastasis was executed in November 2005. After the resection for hepatic metastasis, he was admitted to UFT/ UZEL from January 2006 to October 2006. Present time( June 2011), the lesion of recurrence was not detected by several examinations (CT, MRI, Ultrasound etc).

Although combination of S-1 and cisplatin (CDDP) is a standard therapy for advance or recurrent gastric cancer patients, there are some cases where a CDDP administration is difficult for patients. We here report three such cases of gastric cancer treated by S-1 and docetaxel (DOC) combination therapy. Based on our three cases, we believe that S-1 and DOC combination therapy could be suitable for outpatients showing safety and efficacy.

Frequently advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer was invasive trachea and often causing hemoptysis, stenosis and dyspnea. Occasionally, these cases were treated by a placement of tracheal stent. The placement effect was quickly and a main symptom of dyspnea was improved dramatically. However, the most of the cases were in poor prognosis with advanced cancer treated by chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). We experienced a case of recurrent esophageal cancer with tracheal invasion treated by placement of tracheal expandable metallic stent (EMS). A case was a 73-year-old man (at first admission). He was performed esophagectomy with tracheotomy against esophageal carcinoma at cervical portion. Eighteen month later, a local recurrence with tracheal invasion was appeared. The tracheal covered stent was inserted at the recurrent site. After stenting, CRT was performed with 5-FU and docetaxel. The effect of CRT was complete response (CR). Hence, a stent was removed from trachea. No recurrence was observed at the site and maintained a CR condition for two years after CRT.

A 68-year-old male patient with mediastinal node metastasis 40 months after total gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer, and a 72-year-old male patient with para aortic node metastasis were treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy of 1.8 Gy × 5 × 6 week with S-1 (100 mg/body, days 1-14 and 22-35) + docetaxel (30 mg/body, days 1, 8, 22, 29). Although two patients developed a lymph node recurrence during multiple chemotherapies including S-1, they have responded well and demonstrated complete response after chemo-radio therapy. Grade 3 esophagitis was sole adverse side effect. In contrast to the western countries, chemo-radio therapy was not recognized as a standard treatment for gastric cancer in Japan. However, our report suggested that chemo-radio therapy can be an option for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

A case was a 66-year-old man. He visited our hospital for dysphagia, abdominal distention and body weight loss. He was underwent gastro-endoscopy and made a diagnosis of the advanced cardiac gastric cancer. The early esophageal and gastric cancer also detected. Furthermore, computed tomography was performed and detected multiple liver and spleen, para-aortic lymph-node metastases and the ascites (suspected for dissemination). We decided that curative resection was impossible. Therefore, we performed an abdominal puncture to remove the ascites and combination chemotherapy with S-1 and docetaxel. The combination therapy was effective. The main tumor and multiple metastatic lesions were reduced. But after six months, a tumor marker was increased. The anticancer drug was changed to S-1 and CDDP. After eight months from the first-line chemotherapy started, the stenosis was appeared at esophago-gastric junction. We performed balloon dilation, and a metallic stent was detention with gastroscopy and radiography at stenotic lesion. He improved swallowing and discharged from hospital. After eleven months from the first-line chemotherapy started, he was died of increased liver metastases and peritonitis carcinomatousa.

Recently, chemotherapy against gastric cancer has been diversified with an appearance of new agents such as S-1, capecitabine, CPT-11, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel. But a prognosis of advanced or recurrent gastric cancer patient, who was failure of first- and second-line chemotherapy, was poor. We reported that a case of recurrence gastric cancer patient who was post operated and multi drug chemotherapy was effective for administration of S-1 and docetaxel combination therapy. A case was a 50-year-old man. He underwent distal gastrectomy and administered of multi anticancer drugs until about eight years after operation. But multi lung and liver and lymph-node metastases were appeared. We administered S-1 and docetaxel combination chemotherapy. After two courses, multi metastatic lesions were reduced in size, and tumor markers were decreased. The same combination therapy was administered for six courses, but metastatic lesions were increased again. At one hundred four months after the operation, he died in the palliative care unit.

We report a case of unresectable pancreatic cancer who survived for 29 months after a successful treatment by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy by gemcitabine and systemic administration of gemcitabine. A 65-year-old woman who was diagnosed as unresectable pancreas body cancer received concurrent chemo (gemcitabine 800 mg/body/w) -radiotherapy (1.8x30 Gy) and systemic chemotherapy (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/body/w) at an outpatient clinic. Twenty nine months after the initial treatment, she was died of peritoneal dissemination. Recently, there are some reports of synergistic effect for combined treatment of gemcitabine and radiation. Clinical course of our case supports the synergistic effect of radiation and gemcitabine.

A 33-year-old man, who underwent ileo-cecal resection and sigmoidectomy for concomitant cecal cancer and sigmoid colon cancer which was diagnosed during the emergent operation for the perforated acute appendicitis, suffered simultaneous multiple hepatic metastases. Postoperative hepatic aerial infusion chemotherapy with 5-FU was done (total dose 63 g), and the metastases were successfully disappeared (CR). Although 16-month passed from the operation, locoregional recurrence at the colorectal anastomosis and peritoneal dissemination were occurred. Aggressive resections of the recurrent sites (anterior resection of the rectum, ileum, ascending colon and other recurrent sites) and successive systemic administration of FOLFOX4(9-course), FOLFIRI (20-course) and capecitabine (15-course) were achieved. The patient survived for 4.5 years after the initial treatment.

We have evaluated the result of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer to estimate the future of loco- regional therapy. Twenty patients with advanced gastric cancer accepted 2 courses of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with S- 1 and cisplatin. In 13 patients (52%), chemotherapy could successfully control the growth of tumor. Thirteen patients with curative resection demonstrated a better survival (MST 682 days) than 12 patients with non-curative resection (MST 377 days). Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy using S-1 and cisplatin was an effective treatment for advanced gastric cancer. However, no survival benefit could be obtained for patients with non-curative resection. Administration of loco-regional treatment, such as intra peritoneal paclitaxel, should be considered for those cases with positive peritoneal cytology.

Frequently advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer was invasive trachea and occurred with hemoptysis or dyspnea. Occasionally, these cases were treated by a placement of tracheal stent for hemostasis and an establishment of airway for life saving. We experimented the four cases of recurrent esophageal cancer with tracheal invasion treated by a placement of tracheal stent. These 4 cases were for patients treated with no prior chemotherapy (CRT) had a better prognosis and quality of life (QOL) than the patient with a placement of tracheal stent after CRT. Therefore, the patient without CRT was a good indication to a placement of tracheal stent. However, even if the patient of previously performed CRT, it was important and effective treatment that a placement of tracheal stent was avoided the state of lethal condition with dyspnea.

We report a case of perforated metastatic small intestine tumor from the lung. A 56-year-old male admitted for lung cancer with multiple distant metastases developed severe epigastralgia. As radiographic examination revealed free air below diaphragm, we have suspected perforation of upper digestive tract. Exploratory laparoscopy carried out the next day demonstrating perforation of proximal jejunum. Despite jejunal resection, the patient has died of respiratory failure. Pathological evaluation of resected intestine showed a metastatic jejunal tumor with perforation. Metastatic tumor in the digestive tract from lung is a rare condition, and it usually occurs as a part of systemic involvement. To achieve an early diagnosis and treatment, perforation of metastatic tumor should be taken into notice.