Financial burden of surgical treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to compare the financial burden of surgery for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) and gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery for GC or RPS between 2020 and 2021 at Nagoya University Hospital were included. The clinical characteristics, surgical fees per surgeon, and surgical fees per hour were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The GC and RPS groups included 35 and 63 patients, respectively. In the latter group, 37 patients (59%) underwent tumor resection combined with organ resection; the most common organ was the intestine (n = 23, 37%), followed by the kidney (n = 16, 25%). The mean operative time (248 vs. 417 min, p < 0.001) and intraoperative blood loss (423 vs. 1123 ml, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in the RPS group than in the GC group. The mean surgical fee per surgeon was USD 1667 in the GC group and USD 1022 in the RPS group (p < 0.001) and USD 1388 and USD 777 per hour, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The financial burden of surgical treatment for RPS is unexpectedly higher than that for GC.

Potential drug interactions between pazopanib and proton pump inhibitors/potassium-competitive acid blockers in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Because absorption of the oral drug pazopanib depends on gastric pH, concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)/potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) may inhibit pazopanib absorption by elevating the gastric pH. This study investigated to what extent the concomitant use of PPIs/P-CABs affects treatment with pazopanib in patients with soft tissue sarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with soft tissue sarcoma who had received at least one dose of pazopanib at our institution, among which those who had received concomitant PPIs/P-CABs were included in this analysis. Using paired sample t tests, the frequency of dose reduction or interruption of pazopanib and the major adverse events (AEs) were compared in each patient between periods with and without PPIs/P-CABs. Between January 2018 and December 2022, eight patients were eligible. The median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 3.9 months (2.1-38.2 months). Two patients received concomitant PPIs/P-CABs throughout their treatment with pazopanib. Among the other six patients, dose reduction or interruption of pazopanib occurred less frequently (P = 0.021), and neutropenia tended to be milder (P = 0.155) with the concomitant use of PPIs/P-CABs. Although the concomitant use of PPIs/P-CABs had no apparent effect on TTF in patients undergoing pazopanib treatment, dose reduction or interruption of pazopanib occurred less frequently, and neutropenia was milder, suggesting that concomitant use of PPIs/P-CABs might decrease the pharmacological activity of pazopanib. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13691-023-00638-2.

TGF-ß signaling promotes desmoid tumor formation via CSRP2 upregulation.

Desmoid tumors (DTs), also called desmoid-type fibromatoses, are locally aggressive tumors of mesenchymal origin. In the present study, we developed a novel mouse model of DTs by inducing a local mutation in the Ctnnb1 gene, encoding ß-catenin in PDGFRA-positive stromal cells, by subcutaneous injection of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Tumors in this model resembled histologically clinical samples from DT patients and showed strong phosphorylation of nuclear SMAD2. Knockout of SMAD4 in the model significantly suppressed tumor growth. Proteomic analysis revealed that SMAD4 knockout reduced the level of Cysteine-and-Glycine-Rich Protein 2 (CSRP2) in DTs, and treatment of DT-derived cells with a TGF-ß receptor inhibitor reduced CSRP2 RNA levels. Knockdown of CSRP2 in DT cells significantly suppressed their proliferation. These results indicate that the TGF-ß/CSRP2 axis is a potential therapeutic target for DTs downstream of TGF-ß signaling.

Clinical Outcome in Patients With High-grade Soft-tissue Sarcoma Receiving Prosthetic Replacement After Tumor Resection of the Lower Extremities: Tokai Musculoskeletal Oncology Consortium Study.

AIM: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to clarify the surgical and oncological outcomes of patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS) who underwent prosthetic replacement reconstruction after lower extremity tumor resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of 27 patients with high-grade STS. The mean follow-up duration after prosthetic replacement was 44.7 months. RESULTS: The mean age at surgery was 63 years. The mean tumor size was 16 cm. For reconstruction, proximal femur replacement was performed in 15 patients, distal femur replacement in six, and total femur replacement in six. The major complications were infections in nine patients and aseptic loosening in four. Nine patients developed local recurrence. The cause of revision surgery was infection in five patients, aseptic loosening in three, and metal allergy in one. The 5-year prosthetic survival rate was 51.1%. At the final follow-up, amputation was performed in five patients. The 5-year limb salvage rate was 76.8%. The mean functional score of the 25 patients who could be assessed was 16.0 (53%). Of the 27 patients, five were excluded from the survival analysis because they underwent prosthetic replacement for local recurrence. The 5-year overall survival rate in the remaining 22 patients was 45.3%. CONCLUSION: We identified a high rate of surgical complications and poor survival in patients with high-grade STS who underwent tumor resection and reconstruction using prosthetic replacement of the lower extremities, although limb salvage was achieved in 81.5% of the patients. Careful follow-up is needed for surgical complications and oncological events after surgery.

Development of Therapeutic Agent for Osteoarthritis via Inhibition of KIAA1199 Activity: Effect of Ipriflavone In Vivo.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of ipriflavone, which effectively reduces KIAA1199 activity, on osteoarthritis (OA) development and progression in an in vivo OA mouse model. The OA model mice were divided into the ipriflavone (200 mg/kg/day) group and the control group. OA onset and progression were evaluated with the Mankin score, and KIAA1199 expression and hyaluronan (HA) accumulation were analyzed by immunostaining. The molecular weight of HA in the cartilage tissue and serum HA concentration were analyzed by chromatography and competitive HA enzyme-linked immunoassay. The effects of ipriflavone on the bovine cartilage explant culture under the influence of IL-1ß were also investigated. In the ipriflavone group, Safranin-O stainability was well-preserved, resulting in significant reduction of the Mankin score (p = 0.027). KIAA1199 staining positivity decreased and HA stainability was preserved in the ipriflavone group. The serum HA concentration decreased, and the molecular weight of HA in the cartilage tissue increased in the ipriflavone group. The results of the cartilage explant culture indicated that ipriflavone could reduce GAG losses and increase the molecular weight of HA. Thus, ipriflavone may have an inhibitory effect on OA development/progression. Ipriflavone could be a therapeutic drug for OA by targeting KIAA1199 activity.

Significance of expression of CD109 in osteosarcoma and its involvement in tumor progression via BMP signaling.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumor, is defined by the formation of neoplastic osteoid and/or bone. This sarcoma is a highly heterogeneous disease with a wide range of patient outcomes. CD109 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various types of malignant tumors. We previously reported that CD109 is expressed in osteoblasts and osteoclasts in normal human tissues and plays a role in bone metabolism in vivo. While CD109 has been shown to promote various carcinomas through the downregulation of TGF-ß signaling, the role and mechanism of CD109 in sarcomas remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular function of CD109 in sarcomas using osteosarcoma cell lines and tissue. Semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis using human osteosarcoma tissue revealed a significantly worse prognosis in the CD109-high group compared with the CD109-low group. We found no association between CD109 expression and TGF-ß signaling in osteosarcoma cells. However, enhancement of SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation was observed in CD109 knockdown cells under bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) stimulation. We also performed immunohistochemical analysis for phospho-SMAD1/5/9 using human osteosarcoma tissue and found a negative correlation between CD109 expression and SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. In vitro wound healing assay showed that osteosarcoma cell migration was significantly attenuated in CD109-knockdown cells compared with control cells in the presence of BMP. These results suggest that CD109 is a poor prognostic factor in osteosarcoma and affects tumor cell migration via BMP signaling.

Clinical results of active surveillance for extra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of choice for desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) has been changed to active surveillance (AS). However, few studies have reported clinical outcomes of AS modality in Asian countries. This study aimed to clarify the significance of AS as a DF treatment modality. METHODS: A total of 168 lesions from 162 patients with extra-abdominal DF were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 39 years (1-88 years), and the median maximum tumor diameter at the first visit was 64.1 mm (13.2-255.8 mm). The clinical outcomes of AS and the risk factors requiring active treatment (AT) (defined as an event) from AS modality were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 168 lesions, 94 (56%) were able to continue AS, with a 5-year event-free survival of 54.8%. Of the 68 lesions with PD, 21 (30.9%) lesions were able to continue AS. Neck location (p = 0.043) and CTNNB1 S45F mutation (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with the transition to AT, and S45F mutation was a significant factor associated with the transition to AT by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio: 1.96, p = 0.048). AT outcomes after AS were evaluable in 65 lesions, and 49 (75%) lesions did not require a transition to a second AT. CONCLUSIONS: AS was revealed as an effective treatment modality. The transition to AT needs to be considered for neck location and CTNNB1 S45F mutation DF. Good results can be obtained by selecting a treatment method that considers the tumor location even in cases that require intervention.

Hyaluronan in articular cartilage: Analysis of hip osteoarthritis and osteonecrosis of femoral head.

Hyaluronan (HA) plays crucial roles in the maintenance of high-quality cartilage extracellular matrix. Several studies have reported the HA in synovial fluid in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), but few have described the changes of HA in articular cartilage of OA or idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). KIAA1199 was recently reported to have strong hyaluronidase activity. The aim of this study was to clarify the HA metabolism in OA and ONFH, particularly the involvement of KIAA1199. Immunohistochemical analysis of KIAA1199 and HA deposition was performed for human OA (n = 10), ONFH (n = 10), and control cartilage (n = 7). The concentration and molecular weight (MW) of HA were determined by competitive HA ELISA and Chromatography, respectively. Regarding HA metabolism-related molecules, HAS1, HAS2, HAS3, HYAL1, HYAL2, and KIAA1199 gene expression was assessed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Histological analysis showed the overexpression of KIAA1199 in OA cartilage, which was accompanied by decreased hyaluronic acid binding protein (HABP) staining compared with ONFH and control. Little KIAA1199 expression was observed in cartilage at the collapsed area of ONFH, which was accompanied by a slight decrease in HABP staining. The messenger RNA (​​​​​mRNA) expression of HAS2 and KIAA1199 was upregulated in OA cartilage, while the mRNA expression of genes related to HA catabolism in ONFH cartilage showed mostly a downward trend. The MW of HA in OA cartilage increased while that in ONFH cartilage decreased. HA metabolism in ONFH is suggested to be generally indolent, and is activated in OA including high expression of KIAA1199. Interestingly, MW of HA in OA cartilage was not reduced.

Surgical Treatment and Complications of Deep-Seated Nodular Plexiform Neurofibromas Associated with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

BACKGROUND: Nodular plexiform neurofibromas in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 often cause significant symptoms and are treated with surgical excision despite the potential risk of complications. This study aimed to clarify the surgical outcomes of deep-seated nodular plexiform neurofibromas and identify the factors associated with postoperative complications. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 who underwent surgical excision for deep-seated nodular plexiform neurofibromas in our hospital from 2015 to 2021. Enucleation while preserving the nerve fascicles was attempted first, and en bloc resection, ligating the nerve origin in cases in which the parent nerve was entrapped by the tumor, making the tumor difficult to dissect, was performed. RESULTS: In 15 patients, 24 nodular plexiform neurofibromas received surgical excision. Sixteen tumors were enucleated, and eight were en bloc resected. The symptoms of all 10 patients with preoperative symptoms resolved after surgery. Four patients developed new neurological deficits immediately after surgery, two of whom had retained neurological symptoms at the last visit, but these symptoms were mild. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that surgical treatment of nodular plexiform neurofibromas, even deep-seated neurofibromas, is safe with a low risk of severe complications and improvement in preoperative symptoms.

Efficacy of auranofin as an inhibitor of desmoid progression.

Anticancer drugs and molecular targeted therapies are used for refractory desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF), but occasionally cause severe side effects. The purpose of this study was to identify an effective drug with fewer side effects against DF by drug repositioning, and evaluate its efficacy. FDA-approved drugs that inhibit the proliferation of DF cells harboring S45F mutations of CTNNB1 were screened. An identified drug was subjected to the investigation of apoptotic effects on DF cells with analysis of Caspase 3/7 activity. Expression of ß-catenin was evaluated with western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. Effects of the identified drug on in vivo DF were analyzed using Apc1638N mice. Auranofin was identified as a drug that effectively inhibits the proliferation of DF cells. Auranofin did not affect Caspase 3/7 activity compared to control. The expression level of ß-catenin protein was not changed regardless of auranofin concentration. Auranofin effectively inhibited the development of tumorous tissues by both oral and intraperitoneal administration, particularly in male mice. Auranofin, an anti-rheumatic drug, was identified to have repositioning effects on DF. Since auranofin has been used for many years as an FDA-approved drug, it could be a promising drug with fewer side effects for DF.

Case report: Novel NIPBL-BEND2 fusion gene identified in osteoblastoma-like phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of the fibula.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) is a rare tumor that secretes fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and causes hypophosphatemia and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). Fusion genes FN1-FGFR1 and FN1-FGF1 have been detected in some PMTs, but the pathogenesis of PMTs without these fusion genes remains unclear. Here, we report a 12-year-old boy with persistent muscle weakness and gait disturbance. Roentgenographic examination revealed a radiolucent lesion with endosteal scalloping in the left fibula, while his serum level of FGF23 was markedly increased. Combined with simple X-ray findings of other body parts, we suspected that TIO was caused by PMT, and resected the tumor. After resection, the serum level of FGF23 started to decrease immediately and normalized within 3 hours after resection, with this being earlier than normalization of the serum phosphorus level. In RNA sequencing, FN1-FGFR1 and FN1-FGF1 were not detected, but a novel NIPBL-BEND2 fusion gene was identified. When we forcedly expressed this fusion gene in HEK293T cells and MG63 cells, cell proliferation was enhanced in both cell lines. Furthermore, Gene set enrichment analysis of HEK293T cells showed significant upregulation of MYC-target genes. Our results suggest that this novel NIPBL-BEND2 fusion gene promotes cell proliferation possibly via the MYC pathway and might be one of the etiologies of PMTs other than FN1-FGFR1 or FN1-FGF1.

Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improves the Accuracy of Differentiation of Benign from Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), it is important to accurately determine when plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) transforms to a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating pNF and MPNST in NF1 patients. METHODS: Among the NF1 patients who were referred to our hospital between 1985 and 2015, 10 cases of MPNST and 19 cases of pNF were included. We evaluated features of standard magnetic resonance imaging according to the differentiation criteria of malignancy from benignancy as previously reported, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value based on the DWI and the correlation between ADC value and benignancy/malignancy. ROC analysis was performed to determine the appropriate cutoff value of ADC. RESULTS: There were significant differences between MPNST and pNF in the size of the tumor (P = 0.009), peripheral enhancement pattern (P = 0.002), perilesional edema-like zone (P = 0.0008), and intratumoral cystic change (P = 0.02). The mean and minimum values of ADC were significantly lower in MPNST than those in pNF (P = 0.03 and P = 0.003, respectively). When we set a cutoff value of mean ADC as 1.85 × 10-3 mm2/s, the sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 74%, respectively. The area under the curve value improved by adding the Wasa score to the mean ADC evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: ADC values determined by DWI are useful in differentiating MPNST from pNF and adding ADC evaluation to standard MRI evaluation improved the diagnostic accuracy.

Successful treatment with denosumab for pelvic fibrous dysplasia: A case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Fibrous dysplasia is a rare disorder that results in fractures, pain, and disability and can affect any bone in the body. The treatment of symptomatic fibrous dysplasia is determined based on the affected bones. Although some lesions are often too extensive for surgical procedures, there are currently no effective or recommended medical treatments available for them. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old woman developed right buttock pain and was diagnosed with a bone tumor in the right ilium. Clinical images revealed an expansive osteolytic lesion with thinning of the cortex and cystic change from the acetabulum to the sacroiliac joint. DIAGNOSIS: An incisional biopsy was performed, and the lesion was diagnosed as cystic fibrous dysplasia. Occasional osteoclast-like giant cells and woven bone were observed. The patient had no evidence of polyostotic lesions or findings of McCune-Albright syndrome. Biochemical blood test results showed no obvious abnormal values, except for an increase in serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b to 459 mU/dL. INTERVENTIONS: Since surgical treatment appeared to be challenging, she was treated with denosumab with decreased dose-intensity schedules. OUTCOMES: The administration of denosumab caused osteosclerosis within the lesion, resulting in the elimination of bone pain. The patient received denosumab treatment for 18 months. Pain relief and lesion radiodensity were maintained for 9 months after denosumab discontinuation. The serum level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b was measured to monitor the response to denosumab, which was suppressed during denosumab treatment. LESSONS: We described successful denosumab treatment in a patient with cystic fibrous dysplasia (FD) who maintained efficacy for 9 months after treatment. Although the use of denosumab in fibrous dysplasia is currently off-label, our experience with this patient supports the potential of denosumab therapy for patients for whom surgical treatment is challenging.

Reconstruction of the extensor mechanism augmented with reverse transferred iliotibial band after proximal tibia tumor resection and mega-prosthetic replacement.

BACKGROUND: The optimal procedure for functional reconstruction of the extensor mechanism after proximal tibia mega-prosthetic replacement remains unclear. METHODS: Since 2006, 14 consecutive patients with aggressive bone tumors in the proximal tibia who underwent mega-prosthetic replacement were prospectively treated with reconstruction of the extensor mechanism using an ipsilateral iliotibial band. The surgical procedure consisted of wrapping the reversed iliotibial band around the tibia component, firmly suturing it to the remaining patellar tendon and tibialis anterior fascia, and covering it with a muscle flap. At the last follow up, the function was assessed based on extensor lag, active flexion of the knee, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. Patellar height was measured with the Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR) preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow up. RESULTS: At the last follow up, the extensor lag and active flexion in 14 patients averaged 2.5° and 86°, respectively. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score could be obtained in nine surviving patients at the last follow up and was a mean of 20.7 points. The mean ISR preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow up was 1.04, 0.75, and 0.89, respectively. The extensor lag was not associated with the ISR value at any points, while reduced active flexion significantly correlated with a low ISR at the last follow up (P = 0.015). Four patients underwent additional surgeries due to postoperative infection, but none required eventual revision or amputation. CONCLUSION: The extensor mechanism reconstruction with the reverse transferred iliotibial band for mega-prosthetic replacement after proximal tibia resection yielded reliable outcomes with functional benefit to stabilize active knee extension.

Less-invasive fascia-preserving surgery for abdominal wall desmoid.

The mainstay of treatment for desmoid has been shifted to active surveillance (AS). However, surgery is still being performed on abdominal wall desmoid with a wide surgical margin. The purposes of this study are to clarify the treatment results of less-invasive, fascia preserving surgery for patients with abdominal wall desmoid, and to propose a new treatment modality. Since 2009, 34 patients with abdominal desmoid have been treated in our institution. Among them, as a final treatment modality, 15 (44%) were successful with AS, 15 were subjected to less-invasive surgery, and 4 methotrexate and vinblastine treatment. The clinical results of less-invasive surgery were clarified. In the surgical group, although the surgical margin was all microscopic positive (R1), only one patient (6.7%), who has the S45F mutation type of CTNNB1, showed recurrence, at a mean follow-up of 45 months. There were no patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)-related desmoid in this cohort. Only two patients (13%) required fascia lata patch reconstruction after removal of the tumor. In patients with non FAP-related abdominal wall desmoid, less-invasive, fascia preserving surgery is recommended as a favorable option as active treatment. Based on the results of this study, multi-institutional further research is warranted with an increased number of patients.

Spontaneous Regression of Brown Tumor in a Patient Treated With Peritoneal Dialysis.

A 52-year-old man, with a history of diabetic nephropathy and renal cancer, had been treated with peritoneal dialysis for four months before consulting our hospital. At the time of imaging evaluation, three years after surgery for renal cancer, fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation was found at the distal metaphysis of the left radius. After the biopsy, he was diagnosed with giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB), and surgery was scheduled. However, osteogenesis was observed in the images retaken before surgery. It was found that his intact parathyroid hormone level had been abnormally high four months prior to his visit to us but had subsequently normalized. The tissue obtained by re-biopsy revealed osteogenesis with the disappearance of multinucleated giant cells, suggesting a brown tumor (BT). The tumor was thought to have been caused by secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) associated with peritoneal dialysis. When osteolytic lesions mimicking GCTB are found, the possibility of BT should be considered based on comorbidities and clinical information.

Trends in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for extra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis: Japanese musculoskeletal oncology group questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVE: The mainstay of treatment modality for extra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) has shifted from surgery, which often impairs ADL/QOL, to conservative treatment including active surveillance. In the present study, we conducted a longitudinal survey on the diagnosis and treatment of DF at facilities belonging to the Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group, which is a research group of facilities specializing in the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors in Japan to clarify the transition of medical care for extra-abdominal DF. METHODS: The same questionnaire was administered in 2015 and 2018, and responses were obtained from 46 (69%) of 67 facilities and 42 (53%) of 80 facilities in 2015 and 2018, respectively. RESULTS: Although immunostaining for ß-catenin was often used for the pathological diagnosis in both 2015 and 2018, CTNNB1 mutation analysis was not performed either in 2015 or in 2018. As for the treatment strategy for resectable cases, surgical treatment including wide resection was selected at 11 facilities (24% of respondents) in 2015, and further decreased to 5 facilities (12%) in 2018. Conservative treatment with active surveillance or medical treatment was the most common treatment for both resectable and difficult-to-resect cases. COX-2 inhibitors and tranilast were often used in the drug treatment of both resectable and difficult-to-resect cases. Few facilities provided radiotherapy, methotrexate and vinblastine, or DOX-based chemotherapy for refractory cases in both 2015 and 2018. CONCLUSIONS: A good trend was found in the questionnaire survey. It will be further necessary to disseminate clinical practice guidelines to physicians more widely, and to have them understand and implement the most up-to-date medical practice strategies for this rare disease.

Effect of Neoadjuvant Therapies on Soft Tissue Sarcomas with Tail-like Lesions: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Several types of soft tissue sarcomas have peripheral infiltrative growth characteristics called tail-like lesions. The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy for tumors with tail-like lesions has not been elucidated. From 2012 to 2019, we analyzed 36 patients with soft tissue sarcoma with tail-like lesions treated with neoadjuvant therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both. The effect of neoadjuvant therapy on the tail sign was investigated by analyzing the change in tail-like lesions during neoadjuvant therapy and histological responses. The median length of the tail-like lesion reduced from 29.5 mm at initiation to 19.5 mm after neoadjuvant therapy. The extent of shrinkage in tail-like lesions was related to the histopathological responses in the main part of the tumor. Complete disappearance of the tail-like lesion was observed in 12 patients; however, it was not related to achieving a microscopically negative margin. The oncologic outcomes did not significantly differ between cases with and without the complete disappearance of tail-like lesions. This study indicated that the shrinkage of tail-like lesions did not have a significant effect on complete resection or improvements of clinical outcomes. A more comprehensive evaluation is needed to elaborate on the surgical strategy.

Overexpression of KIAA1199, a novel strong hyaluronidase, is a poor prognostic factor in patients with osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronan (HA) has been shown to play important roles in the growth, invasion, and metastasis of malignant tumors. KIAA1199, which has potent HA-degrading activity, has been reported to be expressed in various malignancies and associated with patient prognosis. However, there are no reports on the expression of KIAA1199 in osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of KIAA1199 and HA expression in osteosarcoma tissues on the prognosis and other clinical characteristics of osteosarcoma patients. METHODS: From 2003 to 2013, we included 49 patients with osteosarcoma at our institution, whose FFPE (formalin fixed paraffin embedded) tissue was available at the time of biopsy. The expressions of KIAA1199 and HA in each sample were assessed by immunohistochemistry using the primary antibody for KIAA1199 and HA-binding protein (HABP), respectively. For evaluation of the positivity of KIAA1199 staining, we divided the samples into two groups: High group with more than 75% positive staining and Low group with less than 75% positive staining. In the HABP staining, those with more than and less than 60% were assigned to a High group, and Low group respectively. Various clinical features were correlated with staining positivity. Prognostic factors including positivity of the staining were analyzed. Levels of mRNA expression for enzymes related to HA metabolism were assessed in two osteosarcoma cell lines using real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: In KIAA1199 staining, high positivity was significantly correlated with occurrence of distant metastases (P = 0.002). The necrosis rate after preoperative chemotherapy was significantly lower in the High positivity group (59%), compared to that in the Low group (84.8%) (P = 0.003). HABP positivity was not correlated with any demographic variables, although the Low positivity group had a significantly better overall survival than the High group with KIAA1199 and HABP staining (P = 0.026 and P = 0.029, respectively). In multivariable analysis, KIAA1199 (P = 0.036) and HABP staining (P = 0.002), location (P = 0.001), and distant metastasis at initial diagnosis (P < 0.001) were identified as significant prognostic factors. KIAA1199 and hyaluronan synthase mRNA were expressed at different levels in the two osteosarcoma cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that high expression of KIAA1199 and HA are both poor prognostic factors in osteosarcoma. KIAA1199 may be a useful marker for distant metastasis and chemoresistance.

Limitations and benefits of FDG-PET/CT in NF1 patients with nerve sheath tumors: A cross-sectional/longitudinal study.

The purposes of this study were to re-confirm the usefulness of PET/CT in the differentiation of benignity/malignancy of neurogenic tumors in NF1 patients, and to analyze the natural course of plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) and clarify whether PET/CT is also useful for detecting tumors other than neurogenic tumors. PET/CT was prospectively imaged in 36 NF1 patients. There were 14 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) in 14 patients, and 54 pNFs in 30 patients. Nine patients had both MPNST and pNF. Maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was significantly higher in MPNST (median 7.6: range 4.1-10.4) (P < .001) compared with that of pNF (median 3.7: range 1.6-9.3). The cut-off value of 5.8 resulted in a sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 88.9%. Median age was 29 y, and median maximum tumor diameter was 82 mm in 14 MPNST patients. The 5-y overall survival rate was 46.8%. Three patients with low-grade MPNST were alive without disease at the time of this report. In 9 patients in which pNF and MPNST co-existed, 2 showed a higher SUVmax of pNF than that of MPNST. Natural history analysis of pNF (n = 43) revealed that no factors significantly correlated with increased tumor size. Nine lesions other than neurogenic tumors were detected by PET/CT including 5 thyroid lesions and 3 malignant neoplasms. This study revealed the usefulness and limitation of PET/CT for NF1 patients. In the future, it will be necessary to study how to detect over time the malignant transformation of pNF to MPNST, via an intermediate tumor.