NRP1 knockdown inhibits the invasion and migration of rhabdoid tumor of the kidney cells.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to detect candidate oncogenes of rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK) and evaluate their roles in RTK in vitro. METHODS: An integrated analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) sequencing was performed to determine the expression profile of exosome-derived miRNAs and mRNAs in human RTK-derived cell lines and a human embryonic renal cell line. A Gene Ontology enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the functional characteristics of differentially expressed mRNAs in RTK cells. Matrigel invasion and wound-healing assays were performed to evaluate the cell invasion and migration abilities. RESULTS: Forty mRNAs were highly expressed in RTK cells targeted by exosomal miRNAs, the expression of which was lower in RTK cells than in the controls. These mRNAs were primarily related to cell adhesion. Of these mRNAs, we selected neuropilin 1 (NRP1) as a candidate oncogene because its upregulated expression is associated with a poor prognosis of several types of tumors. RTK cells in which NRP1 had been knocked down exhibited decreased invasive and migratory abilities. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that NRP1 acts as an oncogene by promoting the invasion and migration of RTK cells and that it could serve as a therapeutic target.

Long-Term Survey of Japanese Children with Recurrent Nephroblastoma: A Report from Japan Children's Cancer Group.

In prospective Japanese studies of pediatric renal tumors, 5-year event-free survival and overall survival (OS) for patients with nephroblastoma ranges from 75-90% and 89-97%, respectively. However, treatments strategies for recurrent nephroblastoma in Japanese patients remain unclear. This retrospective study aimed to inform the development of treatment strategies by analyzing the long-term results and side effects of salvage therapies for recurrent nephroblastoma in Japan. A questionnaire survey involving 41 institutions (74 patients) collected clinical data on recurrent cases reported to the Renal Tumor Committee of the Japan Children's Cancer Group. Survey forms from 54 cases were evaluated. Median time to recurrence was 9.5 months among 51 patients without underlying disorders. Recurrence occurred at lung-only in 18 patients and at other sites in 33. The 5-year OS for all 51 patients was 70.6%, with recurrent disease causing death in 15 patients and one patient dying from treatment-related complications. Patients with lung-only recurrence had higher 5-year OS rates than those with other-site recurrence. Initial chemotherapy intensity also affected prognosis, with lower intensity associated with higher 5-year OS. In 17 survivors with lung-only recurrence, the most frequent treatment approach combined chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Conventional chemotherapy included platinum-containing regimens and/or Regimen I-based treatment containing cyclophosphamide and etoposide. Salvage therapies showed remarkable effectiveness for patients with lung-only recurrence or low intensity of the initial chemotherapy, highlighting the need to standardize prospective studies for post-recurrence treatment and identify risks of late complications for long-term survivors.

Current practice of diagnosis and treatment for rectourethral fistula in male patients with anorectal malformation: a multicenter questionnaire survey in Japan.

PURPOSE: Surgical procedures for anorectoplasty for anorectal malformations (ARMs), particularly rectourethral fistula (RUF), depend on the institution. We investigated the diagnosis and treatment of RUF in male patients with ARMs in Japan using a questionnaire survey. METHODS: An online survey inquiring about the diagnosis and treatment (diagnostic modalities, surgical approaches, fistula dissection devices, and fistula closure techniques) of each type of ARM in male patients was conducted among institutional members of the Japanese Study Group of Anorectal Anomalies. Fisher's exact test was used to compare surgical methods between posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) and laparoscopy-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP). RESULTS: Sixty-one institutions (100%) completed the survey. LAARP was the preferred approach for high-type ARM (75.4%). PSARP was preferred for intermediate-type ARM (59.0%). Monopolar devices were most commonly used (72.1%) for RUF dissection. Blunt dissection was more frequent in the PSARP group (PSARP vs. LAARP: 55.6 vs. 20.0%, p < 0.005). Cystoscopy/urethroscopy to confirm the extent of dissection was used more frequently in the LAARP group (70.0% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.005). Clips and staplers were used more frequently in the LAARP group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Distinct fistula management strategies for PSARP and LAARP were revealed. Further studies are needed to investigate the postoperative outcomes associated with these practices.

FGFR2 loss sensitizes MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma CHP134 cells to CHK1 inhibitor-induced apoptosis.

Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) plays a key role in genome surveillance and integrity throughout the cell cycle. Selective inhibitors of CHK1 (CHK1i) are undergoing clinical evaluation for various human malignancies, including neuroblastoma. In this study, one CHK1i-sensitive neuroblastoma cell line, CHP134, was investigated, which characteristically carries MYCN amplification and a chromosome deletion within the 10q region. Among several cancer-related genes in the chromosome 10q region, mRNA expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) was altered in CHP134 cells and associated with an unfavorable prognosis of patients with neuroblastoma. Induced expression of FGFR2 in CHP134 cells reactivated downstream MEK/ERK signaling and resulted in cells resistant to CHK1i-mediated cell growth inhibition. Consistently, the MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, potentiated CHK1 inhibitor-mediated cell death in these cells. These results suggested that FGFR2 loss might be prone to highly effective CHK1i treatment. In conclusion, extreme cellular dependency of ERK activation may imply a possible application for the MEK1/2 inhibitor, either as a single inhibitor or in combination with CHK1i in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas.

A phase III clinical trial evaluating efficacy and safety of minimal residual disease-based risk stratification for children with acute myeloid leukemia, incorporating a randomized study of gemtuzumab ozogamicin in combination with post-induction chemotherapy for non-low-risk patients (JPLSG-AML-20).

The purpose of this study is to establish a treatment with appropriate intensity for children (<16 years old at diagnosis) with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia and myeloid leukemia associated with Down syndrome) according to a risk stratification based on recurrent leukemic cytogenetic abnormalities and flow-cytometric minimal residual disease at end of initial induction chemotherapy and to validate the safety and efficacy of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO)-combined post-induction chemotherapy for the non-low-risk (non-LR) patients. The primary endpoint of this phase III study is three-year disease-free survival rate, which will be compared between the GO and non-GO arms of the non-LR (intermediate-risk and high-risk [HR]) patients. All HR patients will be allocated to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first remission. This trial has been registered at the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs041210015).

Laparoscopic approach for abdominal neuroblastoma in Japan: results from nationwide multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND: Some neuroblastoma (NB) cases are suitable for minimally invasive surgery (MIS), but indication and technical issue are unclear. We assessed the current status of MIS for abdominal NB after mass screening period in Japan. METHODS: Preliminary questionnaires requesting the numbers of NB cases that underwent MIS from 2004 to 2016 were sent to 159 Japanese institutes of pediatric surgery. The secondary questionnaires were then sent to the institutions that reported MIS cases of NB in order to collect detailed data. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four (84.2%) institutions responded to the preliminary questionnaires, and 83 (52.2%) reported managing operative cases. The total number of operative cases was 1496. MIS was performed for 175 (11.6%) cases, of which the completed forms of 140 patients were returned, including 100 abdominal NB cases. The male/female ratio was 51/49. Forty-seven cases underwent a laparoscopic biopsy, and 2 (4.3%) cases were converted to laparotomy due to bleeding. Sixty-five cases underwent MIS for radical resection, and 7 (10.8%) were converted to laparotomy. The reasons for open conversion were bleeding and severe adhesion. Regarding open conversion, there were no significant relationships between conversion and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, biopsies, stage, size, or MYCN amplification. We found no relationship between resectability and vascular encasement in this study. There was relationship between the resected tumor size and the patients' height, which was expressed using the following formula: [Formula: see text] (x, patients height, y, tumor size; p = 0.004219, SE: 1.55566). Postoperative complications after radical resection were recognized in 7 (10.8%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: MIS was performed in limited cases of abdominal NB. A laparoscopic biopsy with careful attention to bleeding is feasible. The resected tumor size was shown to correlate with the patients' height. Tumor size within 6 cm of maximum diameter can be resected safely.

Effects of dedifferentiated fat cells on neurogenic differentiation and cell proliferation in neuroblastoma cells.

PURPOSE: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can induce differentiation of neuroblastoma (NB) cells. Properties of dedifferentiated fat cells (DFATs) are similar to those of MSCs. Here, we investigated whether DFATs can induce NB cell differentiation and suppress cell proliferation. METHODS: DFATs were obtained from mature adipocytes isolated from adipose tissue from a ceiling culture. NB cells were cultured in a medium with or without DFATs and, subsequently, cultured in a DFAT-conditioned medium (CM) with or without phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. The neurite lengths were measured, and mRNA expression levels of the neurofilament (NF) and tubulin beta III (TUBß3) were assessed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Cell viability was assessed using the WST-1 assay. RESULTS: NB cells cultured with DFATs caused elongation of the neurites and upregulated the expression of NF and Tubß3. NB cells cultured in DFAT-CM demonstrated increased cell viability. NB cells cultured with DFAT-CM and PI3K inhibitors suppressed cell viability. NB cells cultured with DFAT-CM and PI3K inhibitor demonstrated increased neurite length and expression, and upregulation of Tubß3. CONCLUSION: The combined use of DFAT-CM and PI3K inhibitors suppresses the proliferation of NB cells and induces their differentiation. Thus, DFAT may offer new insights into therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma.

Frequent breakpoints of focal deletion and uniparental disomy in 22q11.1 or 11.2 segmental duplication region reveal distinct tumorigenesis in rhabdoid tumor of the kidney.

SMARCB1 is mutated in most rhabdoid tumors (RTs) developing in the kidney (RTK) and various other organs. Focal deletions found in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome show breakpoints within clusters of segmental duplications (SDs), and those in some RTs show breakpoints in the 22q11-q12 region. SDs are known to cause focal deletion mediated by non-allelic homologous recombination. The present study identified SMARCB1 alterations in all 30 RTKs, using SNP array CGH, MLPA, and sequence analyses. Twenty-eight tumors had a total of 51 breakpoints forming focal 22q deletion and/or uniparental disomy (22qUPD), and the other two had compound mutation with no breakpoints in 22q. Twenty-four (47.1%) of the 51 breakpoints were within SDs, and occurred in 16 (53.3%) of the 30 tumors. The association of breakpoints with SDs was found not only in focal deletion, but also in 22qUPD, indicating that SDs mediate the first and second hits (focal deletion) and the second hit (22qUPD) of SMARCB1 alteration. Of the 51 breakpoints, 14 were recurrent, and 10 of the 14 were within SDs, suggesting the presence of hotspots in the 22q11.2 region. One recurrent breakpoint outside SDs resided in SMARCB1, suggesting inactivation of the gene by out-of-frame fusion. The association between SDs and focal deletion has been reported in two other types of cancer. RTKs may be the third example of SD-associated tumors. Thus, the present study indicated that RTKs exploit genomic instability in the 22q11.1-11.2 SDs region, and 22qUPD caused by mitotic recombination may also be mediated by SDs.

Comparative analysis of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Wilms tumor in the United Kingdom and Japan.

BACKGROUND: Wilms tumor (WT) demonstrates epidemiological differences by world region and ethnicity. To enhance understanding of these differences, we retrospectively analyzed clinical trial data sets from the UK and Japan over a 20-year period. PROCEDURE: We used data from three consecutive clinical trials in the UK and a single study in Japan that enrolled patients diagnosed during 1996-2015, to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between countries. RESULTS: During 1996-2015, 1395 patients in the UK and 537 in Japan were included. Japanese patients have a significantly younger median age at diagnosis than those in the UK (28 months vs 39 months). The proportion of patients with stage IV, large tumors, and anaplastic histology appears to be higher in the UK than in Japan (18% vs 11%, 62% vs 49%, 8% vs 3%, respectively). During 2005-2015, 77 hospitals treated WT in Japan compared with only 20 hospitals in the UK. Five-year overall survival of patients with WT was over 90% in both countries, but five-year event-free survival of patients with stage IV was significantly lower in Japan than in the UK (50.0% vs 76.2%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in age of onset, tumor size at diagnosis, and histology may reflect differences in the genetic background of patients with WT between countries, but population-based phenotype-genotype data are lacking. The difference in survival probability for stage IV patients may be due to different diagnostic criteria or different treatment strategies. Prospective, international clinical studies including genomic analyses are needed to confirm these findings and improve clinical practice.

Ileal Dieulafoy lesion arose 15 years after partial small bowel resection for meconium obstruction of the neonate: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic or perianastomotic ulcers present with symptoms such as chronic anaemia and occult bleeding as long-term complications of bowel resection performed in infancy. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we describe a 15-year-old girl with a history of surgery for meconium obstruction without mucoviscidosis in infancy who was hospitalized with chief complaints of presyncope and convulsions. Seven hours after admission, she developed melena and went into shock. An emergency laparotomy was performed, and a Dieulafoy lesion was detected near the site of ileal anastomosis from the surgery that had been performed during infancy. CONCLUSIONS: Although overt massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding necessitating emergency care is rare in the long term after infant bowel resection, Dieulafoy lesions can cause serious bleeding, requiring rapid life-saving haemostatic procedures.

Diagnosis and management of genital injuries in girls: 14-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with genital injuries are often recommended to receive an examination under general anesthesia; however, detailed clinical data of such patients are rarely reported. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review was conducted in 45 girls less than 16 years of age with genital injuries between January 2005 and December 2018. RESULTS: The median patient age was 5.0 years. Forty-two patients were hospitalized, of whom 38 required an examination under general anesthesia and all consequently required surgical repair. The diagnosis obtained after a thorough examination under general anesthesia was inconsistent with the diagnosis obtained at the emergency room in five patients. In 20 patients, the source of bleeding was not clarified at the time of initial examination at the emergency room; four of these patients were later revealed to have vaginal or rectal injuries that had been overlooked during the examination at the emergency room. Injuries occurring in the bathroom were the most frequent and tended to be serious. Multiple injuries were found in 10 patients. The exterior of the labia minora was the most commonly injured site, found in 18 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We analyzed the clinical data of girls with genital injuries in detail, which allowed us to find a detailed classification of injured sites and the characteristics of serious cases, and to re-recognize the importance of a thorough examination under general anesthesia.

Exosomal miR-214-3p as a potential novel biomarker for rhabdoid tumor of the kidney.

PURPOSE: Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK) is a rare, highly aggressive pediatric renal tumor. No specific biomarkers are available for detection of RTK, and the initial differential diagnosis from other pediatric abdominal tumors, including neuroblastoma (NB), is difficult. Exosomal miRNAs are novel cancer biomarkers that can be detected in biological fluids. We explored candidate RTK-specific exosomal miRNAs as novel biomarkers of RTK. METHODS: Exosomal miRNAs were collected from conditioned media of human RTK-derived cell lines, a human embryonic renal cell line, and human NB-derived cell lines. miRNA sequencing (miRNA-Seq) was performed to detect candidate RTK-specific exosomal miRNAs. The exosomal miRNA expression in conditioned media of tumor cell lines and serum from RTK xenograft-bearing mice was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The expression of exosomal miR-214-3p detected by miRNA-Seq was highest in RTK-derived cell lines. Exosomal miR-214-3p expression level determined by qRT-PCR was significantly higher in RTK-derived cell lines than in the human embryonic renal cell line or NB-derived cell lines. Furthermore, the serum exosomal miR-214-3p expression level was significantly higher in RTK xenograft mice than controls. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that exosomal miR-214-3p has potential as a novel biomarker of RTK.

Current thoracoscopic approach for mediastinal neuroblastoma in Japan-results from nationwide multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is appropriate for the treatment of some neuroblastomas (NBs); however, the indications and technical issues are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the current status of MIS for mediastinal NB in Japan. METHODS: Preliminary questionnaires requesting the numbers of neuroblastoma cases in which MIS was performed from 2004 to 2016 were sent to 159 Japanese institutes of pediatric surgery. Secondary questionnaires were sent to institutions with MIS cases to collect detailed data. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four (84.2%) institutions returned the preliminary questionnaire and 83 institutions (52.2%) reported a total of 1496 operative cases. MIS was performed for 175 (11.6%) cases. Among the 175 cases, completed forms of 140 patients were returned and 40 (male, n = 28; female, n = 12) cases had mediastinal NB. Fourteen patients received thoracoscopic biopsy, none were converted to thoracotomy. Twenty-eight patients received MIS for radical resection, none were converted to thoracotomy. Perioperative complications (Horner's syndrome) were recognized after radical resection in one (2.5%) case. CONCLUSIONS: MIS was performed in a limited number of mediastinal NB cases. A thoracoscopic approach would be feasible for mediastinal NB.

[Prediction of Prognosis in Breast Carcinoma Using Klotho Immunohistochemistry].

Klotho is one of the known anti-aging genes, and functions as an inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) pathway. However, the clinical significance of Klotho expression in cancer tissues have not been elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of Klotho expression in breast cancer patients. We evaluated Klotho expression through immunohistochemical analysis and evaluating Ki-67 positive cell index in 142 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer in our hospital. There was no significant correlation between age, menopausal state, historical type, hormone status, HER2 status, and distant metastases. High expression of Klotho was observed in the non-invasive compared to the invasive ductal carcinomas. The number of metastatic lymph nodes, clinical stage, and tumor size were correlated to Klotho expression level in the cancer tissues. The Klotho positive group exhibited low score for Ki-67 positive cell index than the Klotho negative group. No significant correlation in cumulative survival rates between Klotho positive and Klotho negative groups was observed. The Klotho negative group exhibited good prognosis than the Klotho positive group for the disease- free survival after the operation. These results suggest that the analysis Klotho expression in the breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry is a useful tool to assess the disease-free survival for breast cancer patients.

Polyethylene glycol derivative 9bw suppresses growth of neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood malignancy originating from the sympathetic nervous system, and accounts for approximately 15% of all pediatric cancer-related deaths. As the 5-y survival rate of patients with high-risk NB is <50%, novel therapeutic strategies for NB patients are urgently required. Nonaethylene glycol mono('4-iodo-4-biphenyl)ester (9bw) is a polyethylene glycol derivative, synthesized by modifying a compound originally extracted from filamentous bacteria. Although 9bw shows remarkable inhibition of tumor cell growth, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we examined the efficacy of 9bw on human NB-derived cells, and investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects of 9bw on these cells. Our results indicated that 9bw induced cell death in NB cells by decreasing the production of ATP. Metabolome analysis and measurement of oxygen consumption indicated that 9bw markedly suppressed oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Further analyses indicated that 9bw inhibited the activity of mitochondrial respiratory complex I. Moreover, we showed that 9bw inhibited growth of NB in vivo. Based on the results of the present study, 9bw is a good candidate as a novel agent for treatment of NB.

Therapeutic potential of mature adipocyte-derived dedifferentiated fat cells for inflammatory bowel disease.

PURPOSE: Our previous studies demonstrated that mature adipocyte-derived dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells possess similar multipotency as mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we examined the immunoregulatory potential of DFAT cells in vitro and the therapeutic effect of DFAT cell transplantation in a mouse inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) model. METHODS: The effect of DFAT cell co-culture on T cell proliferation and expression of immunosuppression-related genes in DFAT cells were evaluated. To create IBD, CD4+CD45RBhigh T cells were intraperitoneally injected into SCID mice. One week later, DFAT cells (1 × 105, DFAT group) or saline (Control group) were intraperitoneally injected. Subsequently bodyweight was measured every week and IBD clinical and histological scores were evaluated at 5 weeks after T cell administration. RESULTS: The T cell proliferation was inhibited by co-cultured DFAT cells in a cell density-dependent manner. Gene expression of TRAIL, IDO1, and NOS2 in DFAT cells was upregulated by TNFα stimulation. DFAT group improved IBD-associated weight loss, IBD clinical and histological scores compared to Control group. CONCLUSION: DFAT cells possess immunoregulatory potential and the cell transplantation promoted recovery from colon damage and improved clinical symptoms in the IBD model. DFAT cells could play an important role in the treatment of IBD.

Blastemal predominant type Wilms tumor in Japan: Japan Children's Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: Persistence of blastemal components after chemotherapy is a marker of poor outcome in Wilms tumor (WT). Recent reports from local Japanese areas have described pre-chemotherapy blastemal predominant type WT to also be a risk factor for relapse. The significance, however, of blastemal predominant WT remains to be evaluated in a larger study. This study retrospectively evaluated the prognostic significance of pre-chemotherapy blastemal predominant type WT in the Japan Wilms tumor Study (JWiTS) trials. METHODS: The JWiTS trial (1996-2013) was a prospective, single-arm study. The outcomes of blastemal predominant type WT were retrospectively evaluated compared with non-blastemal type WT excluding anaplasia between 1996 and 2013. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. RESULTS: Of 319 primary renal tumors diagnosed by the central pathology review system, advanced stage of pre-chemotherapy blastemal predominant type WT (n = 53; 16.1%) occurred more frequently in older children than non-blastemal type WT (n = 225), and was especially frequent in female patients registered in the JWiTS trials. No significant difference in 10 years RFS and OS (78.8% vs 84.5; P = 0.201) or in 10 years RFS and OS (89.3% vs 93.5; P = 0.45) was seen between pre-chemotherapy blastemal predominant type and non-blastemal type WT. CONCLUSIONS: Relapse-free survival and OS are not significantly different between pre-chemotherapy blastemal predominant type and non-blastemal type WT.

Factors responsible for stage III disease in patients with Wilms tumor enrolled in the JWiTS-2 study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Treatment is more intensive for stage III Wilms tumor (WT) than for stages I and II non-metastatic WTs. Various factors including tumor spillage, unresectability, and lymph node metastasis are responsible for stage III disease. The present study aimed to not identify clinical factors associated with the features of stage III WT to establish new treatment strategies. DESIGN/METHODS: Of 166 patients with non-metastatic WT enrolled in the Japan Wilms Tumor Study (JWiTS)-2, 51 patients had stage III disease. The treatment protocol for JWiTS-2 was essentially the same as that in the National Wilms Tumor study (NWTS)-5. Local hospitals were surveyed to collect details of clinical findings related to stage III disease, and data regarding 45 (88%) patients were obtained. RESULTS: Nine patients with massive tumors underwent preoperative chemotherapy. Biopsy was performed in 6. Reduction in the tumor size was achieved in 8 of the 9 cases. Nephrectomy was finally performed in all of them. Thirty-six patients underwent primary nephrectomy. The reason for the stage III disease was lymph node metastasis (n = 9, 25%), tumor spillage (n = 20, 56%), and tumor extension/incomplete resection (n = 17, 47%). Some patients had more than one of these factors. Most patients were treated with the DD-4A regimen, and 43 (95.6%) of the 45 patients received abdominal radiation therapy. Tumors recurred in three patients (local, 1; metastasis, 2), and two patients died. Overall and relapse-free survival rates were 95.2% and 90.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of stage III WT was good. In the next stage, the doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be reduced to avoid late effects. The high rate of tumor spillage after primary resection suggests that preoperative chemotherapy should be started instead of aggressive tumor resection in the large tumor cases with surgical risks.

Acquired isolated hypoganglionosis as a distinct entity: results from a nationwide survey.

PURPOSE: Acquired isolated hypoganglionosis (A-IH) is a late-onset intestinal pseudo-obstruction disorder and shows different pathophysiological findings from congenital isolated hypoganglionosis (C-IH). In this study, we retrospectively examined five cases of A-IH and investigated the features of A-IH. METHODS: Five cases of A-IH were extracted from a nationwide retrospective cohort study in 10 years, from which totally 355 cases of Allied Disorders of Hirschsprung's Disease (ADHD) were collected. RESULTS: Ages of onset were between 13 and 17 years in three cases, and 4 years and 4 months in ones. Initial symptoms were abdominal distension and/or chronic constipation in 4 cases, whereas one exhibited intestinal perforation. Affected lesions varied from case to case, extending various length of intestinal tracts. All cases underwent multiple operations (average: 4.6 times), such as enterostomy, resection of dilated intestines, and/or pull-through. Pathological findings showed the decreased numbers of ganglion cells and degeneration of ganglion cells, whereas the size of the plexus was normal. Currently, all cases were alive and almost all eat regular food without requiring parenteral feeding. CONCLUSION: A-IH is rare, but distinct entity characterized by different clinical courses and pathological findings from those of C-IH. The outcome is considered to be favorable after a resection of affected intestine.

Co-Inhibition of the DNA Damage Response and CHK1 Enhances Apoptosis of Neuroblastoma Cells.

Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a central mediator of the DNA damage response (DDR) at the S and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints, and plays a crucial role in preserving genomic integrity. CHK1 overexpression is thought to contribute to cancer aggressiveness, and several selective inhibitors of this kinase are in clinical development for various cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB). Here, we examined the sensitivity of MYCN-amplified NB cell lines to the CHK1 inhibitor PF-477736 and explored mechanisms to increase its efficacy. PF-477736 treatment of two sensitive NB cell lines, SMS-SAN and CHP134, increased the expression of two pro-apoptotic proteins, BAX and PUMA, providing a mechanism for the effect of the CHK1 inhibitor. In contrast, in NB-39-nu and SK-N-BE cell lines, PF-477736 induced DNA double-strand breaks and activated the ataxia telangiectasia mutated serine/threonine kinase (ATM)-p53-p21 axis of the DDR pathway, which rendered the cells relatively insensitive to the antiproliferative effects of the CHK1 inhibitor. Interestingly, combined treatment with PF-477736 and the ATM inhibitor Ku55933 overcame the insensitivity of NB-39-nu and SK-N-BE cells to CHK1 inhibition and induced mitotic cell death. Similarly, co-treatment with PF-477736 and NU7441, a pharmacological inhibitor of DNA-PK, which is also essential for the DDR pathway, rendered the cells sensitive to CHK1 inhibition. Taken together, our results suggest that synthetic lethality between inhibitors of CHK1 and the DDR drives G2/M checkpoint abrogation and could be a novel potential therapeutic strategy for NB.