Synergistic antiproliferative effect of delta 12-prostaglandin J2 (delta 12-PGJ2) and hyperthermia on human esophageal cancer cell lines.

delta 12-PGJ2, one of the cyclopentenone prostaglandins and the ultimate metabolite of prostaglandin D2, has been reported to have potent antiproliferative activity on various tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the combined effect of delta 12-PGJ2 and hyperthermia on six established cell lines of human esophageal carcinoma (SGF series) was analyzed by an in vitro assay, and the degree of apoptosis induced by this combination was examined to clarify the mechanism of supra-additive effects. In five SGF cell lines, except SGF-7 cells, combination therapy with delta 12-PGJ2 and hyperthermia showed synergistic antiproliferative effects. The supra-additive combined effect of delta 12-PGJ2 and hyperthermia on esophageal cancer cells is attributed to the synergistic induction of apoptosis. delta 12-PGJ2 induced G1 accumulation and apoptosis was induced by delta 12-PGJ2 from G1 phase. Hyperthermia induced G1 accumulation and apoptosis was induced by hyperthermia during all cell phases. Both augmented G1 arrest followed by G1 phase-selective induction of apoptosis and increased apoptotic induction without cell-cycle specificity are responsible for the synergism of combined treatment with delta 12-PGJ2 and hyperthermia.

[A case of small cell carcinoma of the stomach with multiple liver metastases].

We report a very rare case of small cell carcinoma of the stomach. A 69-year-old man, complaining of epigastric discomfort, was admitted to our hospital. Gastric endoscopy showed a Borrmann type 3 tumor at the lesser curvature of the cardia. Multiple liver metastases were observed in CT-scan, and total gastrectomy and cannulation to the hepatic artery were carried out. Macroscopically it was gastric cancer with P0H3N1T3M0, Stage IV b, histologically small cell carcinoma, intermed, INF gamma, ss, ly1, v3, n1(+), ow(-), aw(-). Immunochemotherapy was carried out, but liver metastases developed. The prognosis of this disease is very poor, resulting from rapidly developing metastases and invasion, in spite of treatments such as gastrectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. More effective treatments are needed.

[A case report of carcinoid of the rectum coexisting with adenocarcinoma in a single lesion].

A 69-year-old female, chiefly complaining of diarrhea, was admitted to the Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University Hospital. A barium enema and an endoscopic examination revealed a villous adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Computerized tomography disclosed multiple metastatic lesions in the liver. She underwent an amptatio recti and an intra-arterial cannulation of the common hepatic artery in order to administer anticancer agents. Gross findings of the resected specimen showed villous adenocarcinoma containing a small ulcerated lesion. Histologic findings of this lesion revealed a collision neoplasm containing both an adenocarcinoma and a carcinoid with no obvious transitional region between the two lesions. The type D carcinoid, determined according to Soga's histologic classification, showed positive argyrophil granules but no argentaffin granules in the cytoplasm. The electron-microscopic findings of the carcinoid revealed small electron-dense endocrine granules measuring about 150 approximately 300 nm in diameter. The woman died 4 months after this operation.

[Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix].

A 50-year-old man was admitted with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis on January, 5, 1984 and an appendectomy was performed on the same day. The acutely inflamed appendix measured 7 cm in length, and a gross tumor, was seen at the apex. Histologic examination of the gross tumor, which was 1.7 cm in diameter, revealed a neoplasm representing a goblet cell carcinoid. Silver impregnation by both the Grimelius and Masson-Fontana methods disclosed a positive reaction in some neoplastic cells. Electron microscopically, endocrine granules with both limiting membranes and ahlos, 100-210 nm in diameter, were present in the neoplastic cells, Because of the relatively large size of the tumor and neoplastic invasion to the mesoappedix in this case and, in addition, the possible malignant nature of carcinoid tumor, ileoascendocolectomy was performed as an additional operation.

The fine structure of atypical ciliated cells in the human gastric epithelium.

Gastric mucosa obtained from the body and pyloric portions of the human stomach were observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. Ciliated cells were found in two of 18 subjects examined, one patient with gastric ulcer and the other one with gastric adenocarcinoma. The ciliated cells were found in epithelia at sites away from the main lesions. The tissues containing ciliated cells showed intestinal metaplasia combined with mild chronic gastritis in both cases. The epithelial layer facing the gastric lumen was composed of columnar cells with numerous uniform microvilli and goblet cells. This epithelium extended to the superficial parts of the tubules surrounded by the lamina propria. The deeper portions of the tubules were composed of mucous secretory, endocrine, and rarely ciliated cells. These ciliated cells were provided with numerous cilia the numbers of which varied considerably from cell to cell. This was in contrast to the primary cilium which is usually single. The central part of the apical cell membrane was sometimes concave in the area from where cilia tended to arise. It was also observed that numerous basal bodies as well as mucus-like granules were contained in the same cell. The axonemal pattern was different from that of ordinary cilia and showed 9 + 0 and 8 + 1 patterns. In longitudinal sections it was found that one peripheral doublet was displaced to the center of the axoneme as it left the basal body.