Coefficient of variation of T2-weighted MRI may predict the prognosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether non-enhancement MRI features, including measurement of the heterogeneity of the tumor with MR T2 imaging by calculating coefficient of variation (CV) values, were associated with the prognosis of non-metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). METHODS: This retrospective study included 42 patients with MPNST who had undergone surgical resection (mean age, 50 years ± 21; 20 male participants). Non-enhancement MR images were evaluated for signal intensity heterogeneity on T1- and T2-weighted imaging, tumor margin definition on T1- and T2-weighted imaging, peritumoral edema on T2-weight imaging, and CV. We measured the signal intensities of MR T2-weighted images and calculated the corresponding CV values. CV is defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean. The associations between factors and overall survival (OS) were investigated via the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The mean CV value of MR T2 images was 0.2299 ± 0.1339 (standard deviation) (range, 0.0381-0.8053). Applying receiver operating characteristics analysis, the optimal cut-off level for CV value was 0.137. This cut-off CV value was used for its stratification into high and low CV values. At multivariate survival analysis, a high CV value (hazard ratio = 3.63; 95% confidence interval = 1.16-16.0; p = 0.047) was identified as an independent predictor of OS. CONCLUSION: The CV value of the signal intensity of heterogenous MPNSTs MR T2-weighted images is an independent predictor of patients' OS.

[Two Cases of Retroperitoneal Synovial Sarcoma].

We experienced two cases of renal primary synovial sarcoma. Case 1: A 29-year-old man underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and was originally diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. Case 2: A 25-year-old man was treated by open radical nephrectomy since radiographical findings indicated tumor invasion to the ureter causing hydronephrosis. Both cases were pathologically diagnosed as renal synovial sarcomas, and were followed using computed tomography. Recurrence was observed within a year in both cases.

[Diffuse large B cell lymphoma with HIV infection presented with disseminated thromboembolism during antiretroviral therapy].

Patients with HIV are at higher risk of developing thrombosis than the general population. We present a rare case of a 57-year-old Japanese man with HIV infection and a malignant lymphoma. He had fever with unknown origin and cervical lymph node swelling 2 months before his hospital visit. Because he was positive for the HIV antibody, he was referred to our HIV special outpatient section. HIV RNA level was found to be 846,680 copies/ml. Therefore, antiretroviral therapy of DTG/ABC/3TC was initiated. However, the high fever continued for 7 days after treatment initiation; moreover, renal dysfunction was progressive. After admission, antibiotic therapy was initiated, due to which the fever subsided. However, renal dysfunction continued to progress. Fourteen days later, he died due to acute renal failure with hyperkalemia. An autopsy revealed a large mass in the spleen, and histological findings revealed a diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Furthermore, thrombi were detected in the right and left ventricles, right atrium, iliac artery, and renal artery. Pathological findings revealed that the thrombus induced the renal failure. These thrombi contained fibrin with inflammatory cell infiltration but not tumor cells. Patients with HIV and malignant lymphoma are at a higher risk of thrombosis. It is important to consider thrombosis during the treatment of patients with HIV.

EPO-R+ myelodysplastic cells with ring sideroblasts produce high erythroferrone levels to reduce hepcidin expression in hepatic cells.

Recently, a new erythroid regulator, erythroferrone (ERFE), which downregulates hepatic hepcidin production, has been identified. However, the relationship between ERFE and abnormal iron metabolism in MDS is unclear. In this study, we examined the level of ERFE mRNA during ex vivo erythroid differentiation using cord blood CD34+ cells and we further analyzed whether ERFE could be produced by MDS cells using a public database (GSE58831). ERFE mRNA was increased during normal erythroid differentiation. An analysis of GSE58831 indicated that ERFE expression in bone marrow (BM) MDS cells was higher than that in healthy volunteer (HV)-derived BM cells. ERFE expression significantly and positively correlated with the expression of erythropoietin (EPO) receptors (EPO-R), ALAS2 (5'-Aminolevulinate Synthase 2), STEAP3 (STEAP family member 3) and the presence of ring sideroblasts or the SF3B1 mutation. These results suggest that EPO-R+ MDS cells with ring sideroblasts or an SF3B1 mutation produce high levels of ERFE that may be associated with a reduction in hepcidin.

[Treatment of POEMS syndrome with lenalidomide and dexamethasone].

We report three cases of POEMS syndrome treated with lenalidomide and dexamethasone who presented with peripheral neuropathy. All of them had markedly elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels treated with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for severe peripheral neuropathy, which normalized serum VEGF levels and improved peripheral neuropathy. The standard treatment of POEMS syndrome has not been established, but has been effectively treated with high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation. Newer agents currently used for plasma cell dyscrasias include bortezomib and immunomodulatory drugs, such as thalidomide and lenalidomide. A randomized controlled trial on thalidomide plus dexamethasone for POEMS syndrome showed reduced serum VEGF levels after therapy; however, the incidence of peripheral neuropathy, a well-known side effect of both thalidomide and bortezomib, increased. Lenalidomide is associated with lower incidence of peripheral neuropathy compared to thalidomide and bortezomib, making it a reasonable treatment option for POEMS syndrome.

[A Case of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia That Developed Fibrous Pericarditis Owing to Nilotinib Use].

A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML)in May 2009. He was treated with imatinib and achieved complete cytogenetic response(CCyR)in 2 months. After 4 months of treatment, he developed interstitial pneumonia and became intolerant to imatinib. He was then switched to nilotinib from October of the same year. In June 2013, he was diagnosed with drug-induced pericarditis resulting from nilotinib use, and thus, nilotinib was discontinued. Subsequently, he was followed up without specific treatment for CML. In January 2014, he was admitted to the Dept. of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Medicine at our hospital because of heart failure. After examinations of cardiac function, he was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis. Therefore, pericardiolysis was performed by the Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery at our hospital. Pathologic findings showed hyaline-like fibrous tissue proliferation in the pericardium, which was diagnosed as fibrous pericarditis induced by nilotinib. We report a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia that developed fibrous pericarditis owing to nilotinib use.

Extracellular vesicle miR-7977 is involved in hematopoietic dysfunction of mesenchymal stromal cells via poly(rC) binding protein 1 reduction in myeloid neoplasms.

The failure of normal hematopoiesis is observed in myeloid neoplasms. However, the precise mechanisms governing the replacement of normal hematopoietic stem cells in their niche by myeloid neoplasm stem cells have not yet been clarified. Primary acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome cells induced aberrant expression of multiple hematopoietic factors including Jagged-1, stem cell factor and angiopoietin-1 in mesenchymal stem cells even in non-contact conditions, and this abnormality was reverted by extracellular vesicle inhibition. Importantly, the transfer of myeloid neoplasm-derived extracellular vesicles reduced the hematopoietic supportive capacity of mesenchymal stem cells. Analysis of extracellular vesicle microRNA indicated that several species, including miR-7977 from acute myeloid leukemia cells, were higher than those from normal CD34(+)cells. Remarkably, the copy number of miR-7977 in bone marrow interstitial fluid was elevated not only in acute myeloid leukemia, but also in myelodysplastic syndrome, as compared with lymphoma without bone marrow localization. The transfection of the miR-7977 mimic reduced the expression of the posttranscriptional regulator, poly(rC) binding protein 1, in mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, the miR-7977 mimic induced aberrant reduction of hematopoietic growth factors in mesenchymal stem cells, resulting in decreased hematopoietic-supporting capacity of bone marrow CD34(+)cells. Furthermore, the reduction of hematopoietic growth factors including Jagged-1, stem cell factor and angiopoietin-1 were reverted by target protection of poly(rC) binding protein 1, suggesting that poly(rC) binding protein 1 could be involved in the stabilization of several growth factors. Thus, miR-7977 in extracellular vesicles may be a critical factor that induces failure of normal hematopoiesis via poly(rC) binding protein 1 suppression.

BAK is a predictive and prognostic biomarker for the therapeutic effect of docetaxel treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative chemotherapy is a promising strategy for downstaging advanced gastric cancer before radical resection, although severe adverse events can occur and clinical outcomes are often unsatisfactory. To identify predictive biomarkers of drug sensitivity, we used a well-designed functional apoptosis assay and assessed the correlations between chemosensitivity and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Drug sensitivity to docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil was examined in 11 gastric cancer cell lines. BCL2-homology domain 3 (BH3) profiling was performed and assessed for correlations with drug sensitivity. Immunohistochemical staining of clinical gastric cancer specimens was performed before preoperative chemotherapy, and correlations with histopathological responses and clinical outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: BIM (BCL2L11)-BH3 profiling results correlated with docetaxel sensitivity and BAK protein expression, whose knockdown caused docetaxel resistance. The BAK expression indexes of 69 gastric cancer specimens before preoperative chemotherapy (including docetaxel treatment) were determined by multiplying numerical values describing the degrees of BAK positivity and staining intensity observed. Patients whose specimens showed good chemotherapeutic histopathological responses had higher BAK indexes than those with poor responses. Patients with BAK index values ≥3 showed improved progression-free survival (HR, 2.664; 95 % CI, 1.352-5.248; P = 0.005) and overall survival (HR, 3.390; 95 % CI, 1.549-7.422; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: BH3 profiling clearly showed that BIM expression, which depends on BAK expression, correlated with docetaxel sensitivity. BAK expression in gastric cancer is thus predictive of chemotherapeutic responses to docetaxel and clinical prognosis in patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy.

RNAi-mediated gene silencing of ST6GalNAc I suppresses the metastatic potential in gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: ST6GalNAc I is a sialyltransferase controlling the expression of sialyl-Tn antigen (STn), which is overexpressed in several epithelial cancers, including gastric cancer, and is highly correlated with cancer metastasis. However, the functional contribution of ST6GalNAc I to development or progression of gastric cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of suppression of ST6GalNAc I on gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Gastric cancer cell lines were transfected with ST6GalNAc I siRNA and were examined by cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays. We also evaluated the effect of ST6GalNAc I siRNA treatment in a peritoneal dissemination mouse model. The differences in mRNA levels of selected signaling molecules were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays associated with tumor metastasis in MKN45 cells. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) signaling pathways that reportedly regulate the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: ST6GalNAc I siRNA inhibited gastric cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of ST6GalNAc I siRNA- liposome significantly inhibited peritoneal dissemination and prolonged the survival of xenograft model mice with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. PCR array confirmed that suppression of ST6GalNAc I caused a significant reduction in expression of IGF-1 mRNA. Decreased IGF-1 expression in MKN45 cells treated with ST6GalNAc I siRNA was accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of STAT5b. CONCLUSION: ST6GalNAc I may regulate the gene expression of IGF-1 through STAT5b activation in gastric cancer cells and may be a potential target for treatment of metastasizing gastric cancer.

[Neurolymphomatosis of the sciatic nerve diagnosed by FDG-PET/CT].

Neurolymphomatosis is a rare manifestation of malignant lymphoma. The involvement of peripheral nerves has mostly been described as dissemination of a systemic lymphoma. In contrast, primary peripheral nerve lymphoma is extremely rare. A 68-year-old man presented in January 2014 with a sensory disturbance in the left lower extremity. There were no obvious findings on MRI or CT that could account for his symptoms. After 1 year of symptomatic treatment, the patient was managed conservatively for an additional year. However, his symptoms worsened. FDG-PET/CT showed high FDG uptake in the left sciatic nerve. Biopsy of the lesion revealed diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

[Treatment Outcomes of Adult-Onset Ewing Sarcoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study of Five Cases].

UNLABELLED: We report the treatment outcomes of 5 cases of adult-onset Ewing sarcoma(ES)managed between 2011 and 2014. We examined prognostic factors including the primary lesion, tumor size, metastatic status, and serum LDH levels. RESULTS: The locations of the primary lesions included the limbs in 1 case and the trunk in 4; the cases in the trunk had a worse prognosis than that in the limbs. Tumor size was greater than 8 cm in only 1 patient, who also displayed evidence of metastases at presentation and high LDH levels. All the patients received chemotherapy consisting of alternating vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide(VDC)and etoposide and ifosfamide(IE). Surgery was selected for the treatment of 4 patients, and radiotherapy was administered to 1 patient for local treatment of the tumor. A median follow-up duration of 31.6 months revealed the 2-year overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate to be 80.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with adult-onset ES is poor; however, combined modality therapy, including VDC-IE, was demonstrated to improve the outcome of patients in the present study. Nevertheless, the patient with tumor size exceeding 8 cm, metastasis, and high LDH levels, relapsed 1 year after treatment, as reported previously. Further investigation is required to clarify the factors affecting prognosis in adults, and to develop effective therapies for patients with a poor prognosis.

Activated hepatic stellate cells are dependent on self-collagen, cleaved by membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase for their growth.

Stellate cells are distributed throughout organs, where, upon chronic damage, they become activated and proliferate to secrete collagen, which results in organ fibrosis. An intriguing property of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is that they undergo apoptosis when collagen is resolved by stopping tissue damage or by treatment, even though the mechanisms are unknown. Here we disclose the fact that HSCs, normal diploid cells, acquired dependence on collagen for their growth during the transition from quiescent to active states. The intramolecular RGD motifs of collagen were exposed by cleavage with their own membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). The following evidence supports this conclusion. When rat activated HSCs (aHSCs) were transduced with siRNA against the collagen-specific chaperone gp46 to inhibit collagen secretion, the cells underwent autophagy followed by apoptosis. Concomitantly, the growth of aHSCs was suppressed, whereas that of quiescent HSCs was not. These in vitro results are compatible with the in vivo observation that apoptosis of aHSCs was induced in cirrhotic livers of rats treated with siRNAgp46. siRNA against MT1-MMP and addition of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2), which mainly inhibits MT1-MMP, also significantly suppressed the growth of aHSCs in vitro. The RGD inhibitors echistatin and GRGDS peptide and siRNA against the RGD receptor αVß1 resulted in the inhibition of aHSCs growth. Transduction of siRNAs against gp46, αVß1, and MT1-MMP to aHSCs inhibited the survival signal of PI3K/AKT/IκB. These results could provide novel antifibrosis strategies.

Effect of duloxetine in Japanese patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a pilot randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is difficult to manage. A phase III trial conducted in the United States demonstrated that duloxetine was effective for CIPN caused by taxane and platinum-based chemotherapy. No randomized trial of duloxetine for CIPN has been conducted in Japan. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized, crossover study, eligible patients were randomized to Group A or Group B. Group A received duloxetine 20 mg/day orally for the first week and 40 mg/day for the next 3 weeks. Group B received vitamin B12 (VB12) 1.5 mg/day orally for 4 weeks. After a 2- to 4-week washout period, treatment was crossed over for another 4 weeks. The severity of numbness and pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Obvious decreases in the mean VAS scores for numbness and pain were observed for the periods of duloxetine administration. Significant differences were observed between the duloxetine-first (Group A) and the VB12-first (Group B) groups with respect to numbness (p = 0.03) and pain (p = 0.04) at 4 weeks after administration. Fatigue was observed in six of the 34 participants (17.6 %). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that duloxetine has a beneficial effect on CIPN caused by oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, vincristine, or bortezomib in Japanese patients.

Contribution of anterior cingulate cortex and descending pain inhibitory system to analgesic effect of lemon odor in mice.

BACKGROUND: Affections are thought to regulate pain perception through the descending pain inhibitory system in the central nervous system. In this study, we examined in mice the affective change by inhalation of the lemon oil, which is well used for aromatherapy, and the effect of lemon odor on pain sensation. We also examined the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and descending pain inhibitory system to such regulation of pain. RESULTS: In the elevated plus maze, the time spent in the open arms was increased by inhalation of lemon oil. The pain behavior induced by injection of formalin into the hind paw was decreased. By inhalation of lemon oil, the number of c-Fos expression by formalin injection was significantly increased in the ACC, periaqueductal grey (PAG), nucleu raphe magnus (NRM) and locus ceruleus, and decreased in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH). The destruction of the ACC with ibotenic acid led to prevent the decrease of formalin-evoked nocifensive behavior in mice exposed to lemon oil. In these mice, the change of formalin-induced c-Fos expression in the ACC, lateral PAG, NRM and SDH by lemon odor was also prevented. Antagonize of dopamine D1 receptor in the ACC prevented to the analgesic effect of lemon oil. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the analgesic effect of lemon oil is induced by dopamine-related activation of ACC and the descending pain inhibitory system.

Increased mitochondrial apoptotic priming of human regulatory T cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

CD4 regulatory T cells play a critical role in establishment of immune tolerance and prevention of graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The recovery and maintenance of regulatory T cells is dependent on homeostatic factors including the generation of naïve regulatory T cells from hematopoietic precursor cells, the proliferation and expansion of mature regulatory T cells, and the survival of regulatory T cells in vivo. In this study, quantitation of mitochondrial apoptotic priming was used to compare susceptibility of regulatory T cells, conventional CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells to intrinsic pathway apoptosis in 57 patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 25 healthy donors. In healthy donors, regulatory T cells are more susceptible to mitochondrial priming than conventional T cells. Mitochondrial priming is increased after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in all T-cell subsets and particularly in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Regulatory T cells express high levels of CD95 and are also more susceptible than conventional T cells to apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway. However, CD95 expression and extrinsic pathway apoptosis is not increased after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Decreased expression of BCL2 and increased expression of BIM, a mitochondrial cell death activator protein, in regulatory T cells contributes to increased mitochondrial priming in this T-cell subset but additional factors likely contribute to increased mitochondrial priming following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

[Effective treatment of metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma with pazopanib].

Pazopanib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the first molecular-targeted agent approved for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma(STS). Rhabdomyosarcoma in adults is rare, accounting for less than 3%of all adult STS cases. A 57-year old woman presented with cervical lymphadenopathy. Computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous mass in the retroperitoneum, replacing the entire right kidney. On the basis of the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. She was first treated with 4 courses of vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide(VAC), which resulted in a partial response. Dose reduction and delay occurred owing to hematological toxicity and febrile neutropenia. As second-line chemotherapy, the patient was administered a single daily dose of 800 mg of pazopanib. Because of an episode of hand-foot syndrome and hepatic impairment, the 800-mg daily dose of pazopanib was reduced to a daily dose of 600 mg, which had to be further reduced to a daily dose of 400 mg owing to fatigue and anorexia. The patient maintained a partial response for a total of 4.3 months when treated with pazopanib. Therefore, this drug may be a new treatment option for patients showing metastatic STS after previous chemotherapy.

Treatment of pancreatic fibrosis with siRNA against a collagen-specific chaperone in vitamin A-coupled liposomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fibrosis associated with chronic pancreatitis is an irreversible lesion that can disrupt pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function. Currently, there are no approved treatments for this disease. We previously showed that siRNA against collagen-specific chaperone protein gp46, encapsulated in vitamin A-coupled liposomes (VA-lip-siRNAgp46), resolved fibrosis in a model of liver cirrhosis. This treatment was investigated for pancreatic fibrosis induced by dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) and cerulein in rats. METHODS: Specific uptake of VA-lip-siRNAgp46, conjugated with 6'-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) by activated pancreatic stellate cells (aPSCs), was analysed by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Intracellular distribution of VA-lip-siRNAgp46-FAM was examined by fluorescent microscopy. Suppression of gp46 expression by VA-lip-siRNAgp46 was assessed by immunoblotting. Collagen synthesis in aPSCs was assayed by dye-binding. Specific delivery of VA-lip-siRNAgp46 to aPSCs in DBTC rats was verified following intravenous VA-lip-siRNA-FAM and (3)H-VA-lip-siRNAgp46. The effect of VA-lip-siRNA on pancreatic histology in DBTC- and cerulein-treated rats was determined by Azan-Mallory staining and hydroxyproline content. RESULTS: FACS analysis revealed specific uptake of VA-lip-siRNAgp46-FAM through the retinol binding protein receptor by aPSCs in vitro. Immunoblotting and collagen assay verified knockdown of gp46 and suppression of collagen secretion, respectively, by aPSCs after transduction of VA-lip-siRNAgp46. Specific delivery of VA-lip-siRNAgp46 to aPSCs in fibrotic areas in DBTC rats was confirmed by fluorescence and radioactivity 24 h after the final injection. 10 systemic VA-lip-siRNAgp46 treatments resolved pancreatic fibrosis, and suppressed tissue hydroxyproline levels in DBTC- and cerulein-treated rats. CONCLUSION: These data suggest the therapeutic potential of the present approach for reversing pancreatic fibrosis.

Bloody Diarrhea in a 27-year-old Man with Adult-onset Still's Disease.

A 27-year-old man presented with quotidian fever, rash, knee arthralgia, sore throat, and bloody diarrhea. Laboratory findings showed neutrophilia, elevated CRP, ferritin, and liver enzyme levels, and decreased hemoglobin levels. Radiological investigations revealed splenomegaly, systemic lymphadenopathy, thickening of the descending colon wall, and an abnormal uptake in the bone marrow and spleen as seen in F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Malignant lymphoma was initially suspected, but biopsies showed no malignant findings. Colonoscopy revealed mucosal friability, erosions, and shallow ulcers, and pathological findings included crypt abscesses suggestive of either acute infectious colitis or inflammatory bowel disease. The patient was eventually diagnosed with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and started on prednisolone, which resolved bloody diarrhea, leading to the diagnosis of comorbid ulcerative colitis (UC). The combination of AOSD and UC presents a diagnostic challenge due to overlapping symptoms. An accurate diagnosis requires careful exclusion of other diseases and a comprehensive assessment.

Marked Response to Nivolumab by a Patient With SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Urothelial Carcinoma Showing High PD-L1 Expression: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: SMARCA4 is a component gene of the SWI/SNF (SWItch/Sucrose NonFermentable) chromatin remodeling complex; undifferentiated tumors associated with its functional deletion have been described in several organs. However, no established treatment for these tumors currently exists. CASE: In this study, we report a case of a SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated urothelial carcinoma with high PD-L1 expression that was effectively treated with nivolumab after early relapse following treatment for non-invasive bladder cancer. The histological morphology of the rhabdoid-like undifferentiated tumor of unknown primary led us to suspect a SWI/SNF-deficient tumor, and subsequent immunostaining led to the diagnosis of a SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor. This effort also led to the identification of the developmental origin of this SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor as a non-invasive bladder cancer. We also carried out a detailed immune phenotypic assay on peripheral T cells. In brief, a phenotypic change of CD8+T cells from naive to terminally differentiated effector memory cells was observed. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the organ of cancer origin or cancer type, SWI/SNF-deficient tumors should be suspected in undifferentiated and dedifferentiated tumors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be considered as a promising treatment option for this type of tumor. The pathogenesis of SMARCA4-deficient anaplastic tumors awaits further elucidation for therapeutic development.