Simultaneous occurrence of autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia after COVID-19 infection: case report and literature review.

Various autoimmune diseases have been reported to develop as a result of a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection. There have been some reports of COVID-19-triggered autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia infection, but none have reported simultaneous onset of these diseases. A 15-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with severe liver injury and anemia. Three weeks before admission, her father was diagnosed with COVID-19, after which she became aware of a sore throat. Two weeks later, she visited her doctor for malaise. She was referred to our hospital due to severe anemia, elevated hepatobiliary enzymes, and jaundice. A COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test was positive at the time of referral. She was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia based on decreased hemoglobin and haptoglobin, positive direct Coombs test, and increased urinary urobilinogen. Blood tests were positive for antinuclear antibodies, and a liver biopsy revealed interface hepatitis and plasma cell infiltration, consistent with autoimmune hepatitis. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia triggered by COVID-19 infection was made. Steroid therapy was initiated, which resulted in rapid improvement of blood markers and symptoms.

Shrinkage of Enlarged Hepatic Nodules by an Embolizing Congenital Extrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt.

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to our university hospital with loss of muscle strength. She was diagnosed with dermatomyositis and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the entire body to check for malignant tumors. Computed tomography revealed multiple enhanced hepatic nodules and an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Although a needle biopsy of the nodule could not diagnose definitive hepatocellular carcinoma, some nodules increased in size after three months. Because of the inconclusive results of the second biopsy, we performed shunt embolization using a vascular plug. After another three months, the hepatic nodules shrank markedly, as expected.

Gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting complete durable response by nivolumab treatment for multiple metastases and radiotherapy to oligoprogressive metastasis.

Gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) are highly aggressive cancer with dismal prognosis. Platinum-based chemotherapy is used as the first-line treatment for this entity. However, there are no established therapeutic guidelines for platinum-resistant gastric NEC. We herein report a patient with metastatic gastric NEC who achieved durable and complete response to nivolumab with radiotherapy for oligoprogressive metastasis. A 70-year-old male patient had recurrences of resected gastric NEC, involving the liver and lymph nodes. His disease became refractory to cisplatin and etoposide combination therapy, after which he was treated with nivolumab. All the tumors showed marked shrinkage. However, 1 year after starting nivolumab, one metastatic lesion of the liver began to enlarge, and radiotherapy was performed to the lesion. Thereafter, a complete response was obtained, which has been maintained without any treatment for the past 2 years.

Triple modal treatment comprising with proton beam radiation, hyperthermia, and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I/II study protocol (TT-LAP trial).

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), accounting for about 30% of PDAC patients, is difficult to cure by radical resection or systemic chemotherapy alone. A multidisciplinary strategy is required and our TT-LAP trial aims to evaluate whether triple-modal treatment with proton beam therapy (PBT), hyperthermia, and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is a safe and synergistically effective treatment for patients with locally advanced PDAC. METHODS: This trial is an interventional, open-label, non-randomized, single-center, single-arm phase I/II clinical trial organized and sponsored by the University of Tsukuba. Eligible patients who are diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, including both borderline resectable (BR) and unresectable locally advanced (UR-LA) patients, and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria will receive triple-modal treatment consisting of chemotherapy, hyperthermia, and proton beam radiation. Treatment induction will include 2 cycles of chemotherapy (gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel), proton beam therapy, and 6 total sessions of hyperthermia therapy. The initial 5 patients will move to phase II after adverse events are verified by a monitoring committee and safety is ensured. The primary endpoint is 2-year survival rate while secondary endpoints include adverse event rate, treatment completion rate, response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, resection rate, pathologic response rate, and R0 (no pathologic cancer remnants) rate. The target sample size is set at 30 cases. DISCUSSION: The TT-LAP trial is the first to evaluate the safety and effectiveness (phases1/2) of triple-modal treatment comprised of proton beam therapy, hyperthermia, and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol was approved by the Tsukuba University Clinical Research Review Board (reference number TCRB22-007). Results will be analyzed after study recruitment and follow-up are completed. Results will be presented at international meetings of interest in pancreatic cancer plus gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic surgeries and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, jRCTs031220160. Registered 24 th June 2022, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031220160 .

Relationship Between Safety and Cumulative Bevacizumab Dose in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Who Received Long-term Bevacizumab Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bevacizumab-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) but has several specific adverse events. The cumulative bevacizumab dose (CBD) increases with long-term treatment as it is often used beyond the first disease progression, based on existing evidence. However, the association between CBD and the frequency and severity of adverse events in mCRC patients who received bevacizumab for long-term treatment remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the mCRC patients who received bevacizumab-based chemotherapy between March 2007 and December 2017 at the University of Tsukuba Hospital, those who continued treatment for more than 2 years were eligible for the study. The onset and worsening of proteinuria, hypertension, bleeding, and thromboembolic events were assessed to determine their relationship with CBD. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients who received bevacizumab-based chemotherapy, 24 were included in the study. Grade 3 proteinuria was observed in 21 (88%) and 9 (38%) patients. The severity of proteinuria markedly increased after administering >100 mg/kg of CBD and progressed to grade 3 at concentrations exceeding 200 mg/kg. Thromboembolic events were observed in three (13%) patients, and two of them developed acute myocardial infarction after receiving a CBD of >300 mg/kg. Grade 2 or higher hypertension and grade 1 bleeding were observed in 9 (38%) patients and in 6 (25%) patients, respectively, regardless of the CBD. CONCLUSION: Proteinuria and thromboembolic events occurred and worsened in mCRC patients when the bevacizumab dose exceeded the threshold dose.

Systemic chemotherapy combined with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody therapy for RAS wild-type appendiceal signet-ring cell carcinoma: a series of three cases.

The effect of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody-containing chemotherapy on appendiceal signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) remains unknown. Herein, we report three patients, diagnosed as having synchronous metastases, who underwent this treatment for unresectable appendiceal SRCC with RAS wild type. Cases 1, 2, and 3 received FOLFOX with panitumumab, FOLFOX with cetuximab, and FOLFIRI with cetuximab, respectively, and their progression-free survival were 6.2, 7.2, and 18.7 months, respectively. The subsequent anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody-containing therapy was ineffective, and their overall survival was 8.2, 11.4, and 22.9 months, respectively. The anti-EGFR antibody-containing chemotherapy showed moderate efficacy for appendiceal SRCC. Further studies including molecular analysis should be needed.

Severe Gastrointestinal Disorder Due to Capecitabine Associated with Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Deficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency induces severe adverse events in patients receiving fluoropyrimidines. We encountered a 64-year-old DPD-deficient man with a severe capecitabine-related gastrointestinal disorder. He received capecitabine-containing chemotherapy after rectal cancer resection. During the first course of chemotherapy, he developed severe diarrhea, a fever, and hematochezia. Endoscopy revealed mucosal shedding with bleeding throughout the gastrointestinal tract. DPD deficiency was suspected because he developed many severe adverse events of capecitabine early and was finally confirmed based on the finding of a low DPD activity level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After one month of intensive care, hemostasis and mucosal healing were noted, although his gastrointestinal function did not improve, and he had persistent nutritional management issues.

Clinical Outcomes Following Trifluridine/Tipiracil Treatment for Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Ineligible for Regorafenib Treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In later-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), trifluridine/tipiracil is often selected because regorafenib is difficult to use in patients with comorbidities such as thrombosis, hemorrhage, or cardiac events. However, the safety and efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil in these patients is not clear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical outcomes of trifluridine/tipiracil were retrospectively investigated in patients who were ineligible for regorafenib because of comorbidities. RESULTS: Among the 27 patients who received trifluridine/tipiracil, many had comorbidities of deep venous thrombosis or hemorrhage. The median overall survival was 12.4 months, and the median progression-free survival was 2.8 months. The median overall survival was 7.7 months in 19 patients without subsequent regorafenib. Grade 3 or higher toxicities were found in 51% of patients. No treatment discontinuation because of comorbidities was observed. CONCLUSION: Trifluridine/tipiracil can be safely administered while maintaining efficacy in patients who were ineligible for regorafenib.

A Durable Response after the Discontinuation of Nivolumab in an Advanced Gastric Cancer Patient.

A durable response after the discontinuation of immune checkpoint-inhibitor therapy has previously been reported in several cancers. We herein describe a patient with gastric cancer who maintained a durable response after the discontinuation of nivolumab. A 65-year-old man was treated with nivolumab as a sixth-line therapy for recurrent gastric cancer. After four cycles of nivolumab therapy, he showed a partial response. But the treatment was discontinued when two immune-related adverse events occurred after six cycles. Disease regression was sustained for approximately 2 years, without the re-administration of nivolumab. The characteristics leading to such responses are unclear, and further studies are warranted in this regard.

Successful Long-term Management with a Single Administration of Tri-weekly Nab-paclitaxel in a Patient with Advanced Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination.

Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel has shown promising activity in advanced gastric cancer treatment. We herein report a case of advanced gastric cancer involving long-term management with a single administration of nab-paclitaxel. A 71-year-old man diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with malignant ascites was treated with nab-paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy. He refused treatment continuation because of various severe toxicities in the first treatment cycle; he was therefore followed-up without any further treatments. Despite this, no disease progression was observed over 9 months. After progression, he received dose-dense paclitaxel, but he did not respond to this treatment and eventually died.