Effects of hydrogen-rich water prepared by alternating-current-electrolysis on antioxidant activity, DNA oxidative injuries, and diabetes-related markers.

Hydrogen-rich water is conventionally prepared by direct current-electrolysis, but has been not or scarcely prepared by alternating current (AC)-electrolysis. The AC preparations from tap water for 20-30 minutes exhibit a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 1.55 mg/L, which was close to the theoretical maximum value of 1.6 mg/L. These preparations also displayed an oxidation-reduction potential of -270 mV (tap water: +576 mV) and pH of 7.7-7.8, being closer to physiological values of body fluids than general types of direct current-electrolytic hydrogen-rich water. We examined whether AC-electrolytic hydrogen-water is retained for hydrogen-abundance after boiling or for antioxidant abilities, and whether the oral administration of this water is clinically effective for diabetes and prevention against systemic DNA-oxidative injuries. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide spin trapping and electron spin resonance revealed that the hydrogen-rich water generated by AC-electrolysis exhibited hydroxyl-radical-scavenging activities. Laser nanoparticle tracking method revealed that nanoparticle suspensions as abundant as 5.4 × 107/mL were efficiently retained (up to 3.5 × 107/mL) even after boiling for 10 minutes, being thermodynamically contrary to Henry's law. Oral intake of hydrogen-rich water, 1500 mL per day, lasted for 8 weeks in nine people with the diabetes-related serum markers beyond the normal ranges. The subjects exhibited significant tendencies for the decreased fasting blood glucose and fructosamine, and for the increased 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, concomitantly with significant decreases in urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine contents and its rate of generation. Hydrogen-rich water prepared by AC-electrolysis may be effective in improving diverse diabetes-related markers and systemic DNA oxidative injuries through the formation of abundant heat-resistant nanobubbles and the increased hydrogen concentrations. The study protocol was officially approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Japanese Center for Anti-Aging Medical Sciences (approval No. 01S02) on September 15, 2009.

Sensitivity to CPT-11 and platinum derivatives of stage I/II node-negative breast, lung, and gastric cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

Tumor sensitivity to anticancer drugs such as CPT-11 and platinum derivatives was investigated by assessing Topo-1 and Bax/ERCC-1 expression in patients with stage I/II breast, lung, and gastric cancer who were positive for ONCs, and tumor sensitivity was compared between CPT-11 and platinum derivatives. In the recurrence group (RG) (n=5), immunohistochemistry revealed high expression of Topo-1 in 3 patients (60%) and low expression in 2 patients (40%), while the non-recurrence group (N-RG) (n=17) showed high Topo-1 expression in 3 patients (17.6%) and low expression in 14 patients (82.4%) (not significant; N.S.). High Bax expression combined with low ERCC-1 expression was observed in 2 patients (40%) from the RG and other patterns of expression were seen in 3 patients (60%), while high Bax/low ERCC-1 expression was observed in 3 patients (17.6%) from the N-RG and other patterns were found in 14 patients (82.4%) (N.S.). PCR analysis of Topo-1 expression in the RG (n=4) revealed high expression in 4 patients (100%), while the N-RG (n=5) showed high expression in 3 patients (60%) and low expression in 2 patients (40%) (N.S.). With respect to ERCC-1, PCR analysis of the RG (n=4) also revealed high expression in 4 patients (100%), while the N-RG (n=5) again showed high expression in 3 patients (60%) and low expression in 2 patients (40%) (N.S.). There were significant differences between the expression of high Topo-1 and low ERCC-1 in the RG (p<0.01). These results suggest that tumor sensitivity to CPT-11 may be higher than that for platinum derivatives in patients with node-negative stage I/II breast, lung, or gastric cancer who are positive for ONCs.

Sensitivity to CPT-11 and platinum derivatives of stage III/Dukes' C colorectal cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

The sensitivity of LN metastases to anticancer drugs such as CPT-11 and platinum agents was investigated by assessing Topo-1 and Bax/ERCC-1 expression in patients who had stage III/Dukes' C colorectal cancer with ONCs. In the recurrence group (RG) (n=21), immunohistochemical expression of Topo-1 was high in 8 patients (38.1%), and low in 13 patients (61.9%), while the non-recurrence group (N-RG) (n=12) showed high expression in 1 patient (8.3%) and low expression in 11 patients (91.7%) (not significant; N.S.). Regarding the immunohistochemical expression of Bax/ERCC-1, high Bax/low ERCC-1 expression was observed in 6 patients (28.6%) from the RG and other patterns of expression were seen in 15 patients (71.4%), while high Bax/low ERCC-1 expression level was observed in 3 patients (25.0%) from the N-RG and other patterns were found in 9 patients (75.0%) (N.S.). PCR analysis of Topo-1 expression in the RG (n=13) revealed high expression in 10 patients (76.9%) and low expression in 3 patients (23.1%), while the N-RG (n=3) showed high expression in 3 patients (100%) and low expression in none (N.S.). With respect to ERCC-1, PCR analysis of the RG (n=13) revealed high expression in 6 patients (46.2%) and low expression in 7 patients (53.8%), while the N-RG (n=3) showed high expression in 2 patients (66.7%) and low expression in 1 patient (33.3%) (N.S.). These results suggest that tumor sensitivity to CPT-11 and platinum derivatives is similar in stage III colorectal cancer patients with ONCs.

Sensitivity to CPT-11 and platinum derivatives of stage II/Dukes' B colorectal cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

Among 13 patients with recurrent colorectal cancer (recurrence group: RG), immunohistochemical expression of Topo-1 was high in 4 patients (30.8%) and low in 9 patients (69.2%), while the non-recurrence group (N-RG) (n=8) showed high expression in 1 patient (12.5%) and low expression in 7 patients (87.5%) (NS). Regarding immunohistochemical expression of Bax/ERCC-1, high Bax/low ERCC-1 expression was observed in 6 patients (46.2%) from the RG and other patterns of expression were seen in 7 patients (53.8%), while high Bax/low ERCC-1 expression was observed in 4 patients (50.0%) from the N-RG and other patterns were found in 4 patients (50.0%) (NS). PCR analysis of Topo-1 expression revealed high expression in 9 patients (75.0%) from the RG (n=12) and low expression in 3 patients (25.0%), while the N-RG (n=8) showed high expression in all 8 patients (100.0%) and low expression in none (NS). With respect to ERCC-1, PCR analysis revealed high expression in 7 patients (58.3%) from the RG (n=12) and low expression in 5 patients (41.7%), while the N-RG (n=8) showed high expression in 1 patient (12.5%) and low expression in 7 patients (87.5%) (p<0.05). These results suggest that tumor sensitivity to CPT-11 and platinum derivatives is similar in stage II colorectal cancer patients with ONCs.

Long-term survival and tumor 5-FU sensitivity in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer and peritoneal dissemination.

Among 125 patients with peritoneal dissemination (P1-3) of colorectal cancer, including those with other synchronous metastases, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 13.3% for P1 patients (n=30), 12.8% for P2 patients (n=39), and 1.8% for P3 patients (n=56) (P1 vs. P2, p=N.S.; P2 vs. P3, p=0.02; P1 vs. P3, p=0.001), while the median survival time (MST) was 12.0, 14.1, and 3.1 months, respectively. The 5-year OS rates for patients who had peritoneal dissemination without other metastases were 17.6% (n=17), 12.5% (n=19), and 3.4% (n=28) (P1 vs. P2, p=N.S.; P2 vs. P3, p=N.S.; P1 vs. P3, p=0.039), while the MST was 25.1, 15.1, and 12.5 months, respectively. In the P3 short survival group (SSG; n=13), TS expression was high in 7.7% (1/13) and low in 92.3% (12/13) of tumors, while DPD expression was high in 38.5% (5/13) and low in 61.5% (8/13) of tumors. In the P3 long survival group (LSG; n=15), the corresponding values were 80.0% (12/15), 20.0% (3/15), 33.3% (5/15), and 66.7% (10/15). High TS and low DPD expression was found in only 7.7% (1/13) of the SSG tumors vs. 46.7% (7/15) of the LSG tumors (p=0.028). These results suggest that the prognosis of stage IV colorectal cancer with P3 peritoneal dissemination is extremely poor. In addition, patients fitting the SSG criteria are unlikely to respond to treatment with 5-FU+LV, and may need combination chemotherapy using CPT-11 and/or L-OHP.

Predicting recurrence and metastasis of primary esophageal cancer with or without lymph node metastasis.

We studied 42 patients, consisting of 11 stage I/II patients who were node-negative (LN-) and 31 stage II/III patients who were node-positive (LN+). In the LN- patients, detection of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes had a sensitivity of 0.0% (0/5), a false-positive (FP) rate of 33.3% (2/6), a specificity of 66.7% (4/6), a false-negative (FN) rate of 100% (5/5), a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.0% (0/2), and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 44.4% (4/9). In the LN+ patients, the sensitivity of ONCs was 25.0% (5/20), FP rate was 36.4% (4/11), specificity was 63.6% (7/11), FN rate was 75.0% (15/20), PPV was 55.6% (5/9), and NPV was 31.8% (7/22). In LN- patients, positivity for at least 2 of the 3 high-risk criteria had a sensitivity of 20.0% (1/5), FP rate of 16.7% (1/6), specificity of 83.3% (5/6), FN rate of 80.0% (4/5), PPV of 50.0% (1/2), and NPV of 55.6% (5/9). In LN+ patients, these criteria had a sensitivity of 75.0% (15/20), FP rate of 9.1% (1/11), specificity of 90.9% (10/11), FN rate of 25.0% (5/20), PPV of 93.8% (15/16), and NPV of 66.7% (10/15). These results suggest that the high-risk criteria may be useful for predicting recurrence or metastasis in stage II/III lymph node-positive patients with esophageal cancer.

Recurrence and 5-FU sensitivity of stage I/II node-negative breast, lung, or gastric cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between the presence of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes (LNs) and survival in 238 patients with stage I/II LN-negative cancer of the breast, lung, or stomach. In addition, immunohistochemistry for TS and DPD was used to compare the 5-FU sensitivity of the primary tumor in ONC (+) patients. The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate of 215 ONC (-) patients and 23 ONC (+) patients was 95.2 and 82.6%, respectively (p=0.0107). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the ONC (-) and (+) patients was 97.4 and 77.4%, respectively (p=0.0000). The 6 ONC (+) patients with recurrence showed high and low TS expression in 33.3% (2/6) and 66.7% (4/6), respectively, while high and low DPD expression was observed in 16.7% (1/6) and 83.3% (5/6), respectively. In the 17 ONC (+) patients without recurrence, the corresponding values were 64.7% (11/17), 35.3% (6/17), 29.4% (5/17), and 70.6% (12/17). Patients with a combination of high TS and low DPD expression accounted for 33.3% (2/6) of the ONC (+) patients with recurrence and 52.9% (9/17) of those without recurrence, showing no significant difference between the two groups. These results suggest that ONCs are associated with a lower survival rate and that ONC (+) patients are unlikely to respond to 5-FU+LV therapy.

Prospective study on the recurrence/metastasis of stage II/III colorectal cancer and gastric cancer associated with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses: three-year interim results.

This study was designed to prospectively examine whether the presence of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes or positive high-risk (HR) criteria were related to the survival of patients with stage II/III colorectal cancer or gastric cancer. The 3-year relapse-free survival (3Y-RFS) rate was calculated for 79 patients who were registered during a 2-year period. The 3Y-RFS rate was 80.5% in patients without ONCs (n=54) and 84.3% in patients with ONCs (n=25; p=0.9089). Among patients who had stage II/III colorectal cancer, it was 89.0% (n=47) and 76.2% (n=15), respectively (p=0.4131). For patients with stage III colorectal cancer alone, it was 80.8% (n=24) and 62.5% (n=9), respectively (p=0.4006). The 3Y-RFS rate was respectively 88.1% and 77.6% for the HR patients (n=31) and low-risk (LR) patients (n=48) with stage II/III colorectal cancer or gastric cancer (p=0.5545). It was respectively 92.3% and 84.3% for the HR patients (n=20) and LR patients (n=42) with stage II/III colorectal cancer (p=0.5073). Also, the rate was respectively 80% and 76.2% for the HR patients (n=7) and LR patients (n=26) with stage III colorectal cancer alone (p=0.9506). These results indicate that the 3Y-RFS rate is lower in ONC-positive patients with stage II/III colorectal cancer, suggesting that ONCs may have an influence on survival.

Alternating hepatic arterial infusion and systemic chemotherapy for stage IV colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis.

Among 41 patients with synchronous liver metastases of colorectal cancer, 15 patients underwent synchronous resection of their liver metastases and achieved a median survival time (MST) of 1,441 days (versus 748 days for the 26 patients without resection, p=0.038), a median relapse-free survival time of 652 days (MST not reached), and a recurrence rate in the residual liver of 20% (3/15 patients). The alternating hepatic arterial infusion and systemic chemotherapy showed partial response (PR) in 6 cases, stable disease (SD) in 8 cases, and progressive disease (PD) in 1 case (n=15/26). They had an objective response rate of 40% (6/15), tumor control rate (>/= SD) of 93.3% (14/15), one-year progression-free survival rate of 35.7%, 50% time to progression of 270 days, one-year survival rate of 76.2%, and two-year survival rate of 50.8% (MST not reached). Grade 3 leucopenia was observed in 2/15 patients (13.3%). These results suggest that the present alternating therapy may become a standard regimen for patients in whom synchronous resection of liver metastases is impossible and patients who have stage IV colorectal cancer with a risk of recurrence in the remnant liver and/or at extrahepatic sites such as the lungs.

Recurrence and 5-FU sensitivity of stage III/Dukes' C colorectal cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

In 72 patients without occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in their lymph node sinuses, the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were 71.3% and 69.2%, respectively. In 33 patients with ONCs, the 5-year RFS rate and OS rate were 33.9% and 31.3%, respectively. There was a marked difference of survival between the two groups (p=0.0001 and p=0.0003). The metastatic lymph nodes of the 33 ONC-positive patients had high and low levels of thymidilate synthase (TS) expression in 38.1% (8/21) and 61.9% (13/21) of the recurrence group (n=21), respectively, while high and low levels of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) expression were found in 38.1% (8/21) and 61.9% (13/21), respectively. In the non-recurrence group (n=12), high and low levels of TS or DPD expression were detected in 58.3% (7/12) and 41.7% (5/12) versus 16.7% (2/12) and 83.3% (10/12), respectively. Patients with high TS and low DPD expression accounted for 9.5% (2/21) of the recurrence group and 50.0% (6/12) of the non-recurrence group (p<0.01). These results suggest that ONCs are clearly associated with the 5-year RFS and OS rates. Unlike the non-recurrence group, the recurrence group of ONC-positive patients with Dukes' C colorectal cancer is unlikely to respond well to treatment with 5-FU plus LV and require combination chemotherapy based on CPT-11 and/or L-OHP.

Recurrence and 5-FU sensitivity of stage II/Dukes' B colorectal cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

In 103 patients without occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in the lymph node sinuses, the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were 90.2% and 91.8%, respectively. In 21 patients with ONCs, the 5-year RFS and OS rates were 34.9% and 62.3%, respectively. There were marked differences of survival between the two groups (p=0.0000 and p=0.0003). In the primary tumors of the 21 ONC-positive patients, high and low TS levels were found in 46.2% (6/13) and 53.8% (7/13) of the recurrence group (n=13), respectively. High and low DPD levels were found in 23.1% (3/13) and 76.9% (10/13), respectively. In the non-recurrence group (n=8), high and low TS or DPD levels were found in 75.0% (6/8) and 25.0% (2/8) versus 12.5% (1/8) and 87.5% (7/8), respectively. The percentage of patients with high TS and low DPD levels was 23.1% (3/13) in the recurrence group and 62.5% (5/8) in the non-recurrence group (p=0.07). These results suggest that the presence of ONCs had a clear association with the 5-year RFS and OS rates. The recurrence group of ONC-positive patients with stage II/Dukes' B colorectal cancer was unlikely to be highly responsive to 5-FU-based treatment, thus requiring multi-combination chemotherapy using CPT-11 and/or L-OHP.

Recurrence and 5-FU sensitivity of stage II/III node-positive gastric cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses.

The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for patients without occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) were 43.0% in stage II (n=15), 52.2% in stage III (n=23), and 48.5% for stages II and III combined (n=38). For ONC-positive patients, the 5-year OS rates were 44.4% in stage II (n=7; p=0.88322), 11.3% in stage III (n=30; p=0.0006), and 17.5% for stages II and III combined (n=37; p=0.0019). Among the ONC(+) recurrence group (75.7%, 28/37), 42.9% (12/28) showed high TS expression in metastatic lymph nodes and 57.1% (16/28) showed low TS expression. In the case of DPD expression, 32.1% (9/28) showed high expression and 67.9% (19/28) showed low expression. Among the ONC(+) non-recurrence group (24.3%, 9/37), 66.7% (6/9) showed high TS expression and 33.3% (3/9) showed low TS expression, while high and low DPD expression was seen in 22.2% (2/9) and 77.8% (7/9), respectively. A combination of high TS and low DPD expression was found in 32.1% (9/28) of the recurrence group vs. 66.7% (6/9) of the non-recurrence group (p=0.070). These results suggest that ONCs are associated with OS. Unlike the non-recurrence group, the ONC(+) patients with recurrence of stage II/III node-positive gastric cancer are unlikely to respond to treatment with 5-FU + LV and may need combination chemotherapy based on L-OHP and/or CPT-11.

Clinical usefulness of serum and immunohistochemical markers in patients with stage Ia and Ic ovarian cancer.

We compared the preoperative serum tumor marker values and diameters of ovarian tumors between 14 stage Ia ovarian cancer patients with a good prognosis and 14 stage Ic patients with a poor prognosis. The aim was to examine the usability of tumor markers and diameter of ovarian tumors for prognostic diagnosis of clinically advanced phases. In occult neoplastic cells (ONCs), a tumor marker indicative of recurrence and metastasis, the cytokeratin-positive cells in lymph node biopsies, were also compared. In a preoperative comparison of serum tumor markers, CA125 levels in stage Ia and Ic patients were 47.1+/-15.9 (median, 31.9 U/ml) and 370.6+/-146.2 U/ml (median, 135.6 U/ml), respectively (p=0.0457), and CA19-9 levels were 25.5+/-5.5 (median, 20.4 U/ml) and 564.5+/-192.4 U/ml (median, 248.0 U/ml), respectively (p=0.0131). In a comparison of tumor diameters during surgery, diameters of stage Ia and Ic patients were 117.3+/-11.4 (median, 100.0 mm) and 182.0+/-29.2 mm (median, 145.0 mm), respectively (p=0.0457). ONCs were not detected in any stage Ia patients, but detected in 3 (30%) stage Ic patients. In conclusion, clinical progression was evaluated using CA125 and CA19-9 serum markers and tumor diameters in stage Ia and Ic patients, and demonstrated significant differences between stage. ONCs were only detected in the lymph nodes of stage Ic patients.

Successful Endoscopic Resection in a Case of Ectopic and Metachronous Quintuple Gastric Cancers.

A 71-year-old man was referred to us from another hospital for endoscopic treatment of a IIc lesion at the anterior wall of the lower body of the stomach. In November 2008, he underwent resection of this lesion with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Follow-up endoscopy revealed a IIc lesion in the posterior wall of the lower body of the stomach, and ESD was again performed in February 2009. At the same time, Helicobacter pylori was detected, and successful first-line eradication therapy was verified in May 2009. Subsequent follow-up endoscopy detected multiple ectopic and metachronous gastric cancers at three sites, all of which were endoscopically resected (quintuple gastric cancer). Although ectopic and metachronous recurrence of gastric cancer was detected immediately after H. pylori eradication, recurrence of gastric cancer has not been detected in the 5 years since eradication. Future directions include determining the time point at which the preventative effects of H. pylori eradication therapy appear against gastric cancer recurrence. We report our findings herein, along with a review of the related literature.

Cytological Study of Grade 3 Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma of Endometrial Origin: Cytoarchitecture and Features of Cell Clusters Assessed With Endometrial Brushing Cytology--Focusing on a comparison with endometrioid adenocarcinoma Grade 1, 2.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of study was to clarify the cytological characteristics of grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma of endometrial origin (G3 EA) by endometrial brushing cytology. METHODS: The subjects were 11 patients in whom G3 EA was diagnosed by review of preoperative cytological specimens obtained at our hospital and related institutions between 2000 and 2010. These patients were investigated with respect to the preoperative cytological diagnosis, background changes, cell cluster patterns, and individual cellular findings. Background changes were classified as inflammatory or tumorous, while cell clusters were classified as overlapping cell cluster, sheet-like cell cluster, clump of high dense gland, papillary, or other cell cluster. Cellular findings were investigated by comparing the incidence of squamous and clear cell metaplasia, the nuclear rounding rate, and the nuclear area with the findings in a control group (35 patients with G1-2 EA). RESULTS: Background changes were classified as inflammatory in 63.6% and necrotic in 36.4%. The cell clusters were classified as overlapping cell cluster in 44.8%, cell cluster in 21.7%, clump of high dense gland in 10.0%, papillary in 4.0%, and other cell cluster in 19.5%. The incidence of squamous and clear cell metaplasia was 27.2% and 18.1%, respectively. The mean nuclear rounding rate was 0.97, and the mean nuclear area was 55.98 µm2. CONCLUSION: Investigation of the cytoarchitecture of G3 EA with endometrial brushing cytology revealed overlapping cell cluster and tumor cells of a relatively uniform size. These findings suggest that it is necessary to recognize that there are differences between the cytological findings of G3 EA and the usual features of G1-2 EA.

Criteria for predicting the recurrence and metastasis of stage I and II gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis.

This study examined whether detection of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes or the high-risk criteria for recurrence/metastasis of colorectal cancer were useful for predicting the recurrence of primary gastric cancer. The subjects were 122 patients with node-negative stage I or stage II primary gastric cancer. Prediction of recurrence using ONCs showed a sensitivity of 25.0% (2/8), specificity of 97.1% (100/103), and accuracy of 61.1% in stage I patients, while the respective values were 75.0% (3/4), 100.0% (7/7), and 87.5% in stage II patients. Prediction of recurrence in patients who fulfilled 2 or more of the high-risk criteria showed a sensitivity of 37.5% (3/8), specificity of 94.2% (97/103), and accuracy of 65.9% for stage I patients, while the respective values were 100.0% (4/4), 85.7% (6/7), and 92.9% for stage II patients. These results suggest that the prediction of recurrence based on the high-risk criteria shows a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in patients of stage II gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis.

Predicting recurrence and metastasis of stage III/Dukes' C colorectal cancer with lymph node metastasis.

This study was designed to compare the prediction of recurrence based on detection of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes or using specific criteria to identify patients at high risk of recurrence/metastasis among 105 patients with Dukes' C colorectal cancer. Prediction of recurrence based on the detection of ONCs had a sensitivity of 50.0% (22/44), specificity of 80.3% (49/61), and an accuracy of 65.2%. Prediction of recurrence based on positivity for at least 2 of the 3 high-risk criteria had a sensitivity of 54.5% (24/44), specificity of 83.6% (51/61), and an accuracy of 69.1%. Among the 34 patients with ONCs, prediction of recurrence based on positivity for all 3 high-risk criteria had a sensitivity of 27.3% (6/22), specificity of 91.7% (11/12), an accuracy of 59.5%, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 85.7% (6/7). These results suggest that the predictive value of ONCs and the high-risk criteria was similar, and that recurrence is likely to occur in patients who fulfill < or =2 of the high-risk criteria. Accordingly, combined use of these parameters may be more effective for the early prediction of recurrence/metastasis to assist in the choice of postoperative systemic chemotherapy.

Predicting recurrence and metastasis of Dukes' A primary colorectal cancer with or without proper muscle invasion.

This study compared the prediction of recurrence based on detection of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes or using 3 criteria to identify high-risk patients among 72 patients who had Dukes' A colorectal cancer with or without proper muscle invasion. Predicting recurrence based on the detection of ONCs had a sensitivity of 40.0% (2/5) and a false-negative rate of 60.0% (3/5), while there was a specificity of 97.0% (65/67) and false-positive rate of 3.0% (2/67), resulting in an accuracy of 68.5%, PPV of 50.0% (2/4), and NPV of 95.6% (65/68). Predicting recurrence based on the presence of at least 2 of the 3 high-risk criteria showed a sensitivity of 60.0% (3/5) and a false-negative rate of 40.0% (2/5), while it had a specificity of 74.6% (50/67) and a false-positive rate of 25.4% (17/67), resulting in an accuracy of 67.3%, PPV of 15.0% (3/20), and NPV of 96.2% (50/52). These results suggest that a prediction based on ONCs was similar to use of the high-risk criteria, with both methods having a high specificity for recurrence/metastasis of Dukes' A colorectal cancer.

Predicting recurrence and metastasis of stage II/Dukes' B colorectal cancer without lymph node metastasis.

This study was designed to compare the prediction of recurrence based on detection of occult neoplastic cells (ONCs) in lymph nodes or by using high-risk criteria for recurrence/metastasis in patients with Dukes' B colorectal cancer. Prediction of recurrence based on the detection of ONCs had a sensitivity of 59.1% (13/22), a false-positive rate of 7.8% (8/102), a specificity of 92.2% (94/102), and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.3% (94/103). Prediction of recurrence based on positivity for at least 2 of the 3 high-risk criteria had a sensitivity of 90.9% (20/22), a false-positive rate of 49.0% (50/102), a specificity of 51.0% (52/102), and an NPV of 96.3% (52/54). Among the 21 patients in whom ONCs were detected, prediction of recurrence based on the presence of all 3 high-risk criteria including ONCs had a sensitivity of 84.6% (11/13) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 78.6% (11/14). These results suggest that colorectal cancer is unlikely to recur in patients without ONCs, while recurrence is likely in patients who fulfill 2 or more of the high-risk criteria. Accordingly, a combination of these parameters may be useful for the early prediction of recurrence/metastasis to assist in the choice of postoperative systemic chemotherapy.