Extracellular glypican-1 affects tumor progression and prognosis in esophageal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cells are covered with a glycan surface layer that is referred to as the glycocalyx (GCX). It has been reported that the formation of the GCX is promoted on cancer cells and is associated with tumor growth and metastasis. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan glypican-1 (GPC1) is a core protein of the GCX that is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and is involved in the development and progression of cancer cells. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the utility of GPC1 as a new biomarker ralated to glycocalyx that reflects therapeutic effect and prognosis of ESCC. METHODS: We measured the concentration of GPC1 protein in preoperative plasma from advanced esophageal cancer patients and examined its relationships with clinicopathological factors and therapeutic efficacy, and the effects of extracellular GPC1 were investigated. RESULTS: The following clinical factors were significantly correlated with the preoperative high GPC1 concentration: male, tumor size ≥30 mm, venous invasion, pT factor ≥2, pStage ≥3, residual tumor, and distant metastatic recurrence. Both overall and recurrence-free survival were significantly worse in the high GPC1 group. Extracellular GPC1 protein concentration reflected intracellular GPC1 expression. Furthermore, we examined the effects of extracellular recombinant human (rh)GPC1 on ESCC cells, and found that extracellular rhGPC1 affects cell motility, including migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated the utility of extracellular GPC1 as a biomarker, which can be assayed from a less invasive blood sample-based liquid biopsy. Extracellular GPC1 protein plays a role in both tumor cell motility and cancer progression. Thus, plasma GPC1 is a useful biomarker for esophageal cancer progression and may be a potential candidate of therapeutic target.

Carcass traits and fat quality of breeding emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) in Northern Japan.

Characterization of carcass traits and fat quality is important to effectively produce and genetically improve emus. We investigated carcass traits in 309 emus. The meat production of female emus showed a significantly higher value than that of males (P < 0.01). The fat weight of male (9.232 ± 3.156 kg) was larger than that of the female (7.772 ± 2.697 kg). The fat yield (fat weight per kg of body weight) was strongly correlated to body weight (r = 0.79 and r = 0.75 in male and female, respectively). The fat melting points of females and males were 19.19 ± 3.39°C and 19.39 ± 3.39°C, respectively, without significant difference. Since the fat melting point did not correlate to body and fat weights, we predicted that it was an independent trait from body growth and was highly influenced by genetic elements. Percentages of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids were 22.27 ± 3.50%, 9.37 ± 1.90%, 54.11 ± 5.17%, 13.54 ± 7.80% and 0.71 ± 0.59%, respectively. Among them, linoleic acid contents showed a wide individual difference (range 0.3-19.9%). The oleic/stearic acid ratio showed a negative correlation to the fat melting point. These results suggest that the fat melting point is a good indicator of C18:1/C18:0 ratio in emu fat.

The Role of Inflammation-associated microRNA-4257 as a Promoter of Malignancy in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The clinical significance ofmiR-4257 in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the usefulness of measuring miR-4257 levels in the plasma and cancer tissues of patients with CRC, and the function of miR-4257 in CRC cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miR-4257 levels were measured in the plasma and cancer tissues of patients with CRC using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between miR-4257 level and clinicopathological features were examined. Proliferation, transwell, wound healing, and adhesion assays were performed using a miR-4257 mimic and inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: Relapse-free survival was significantly lower in patients with high miR-4257 levels in the plasma and cancer tissue (p<0.001 andp=0.016, respectively). High miR-4257 expression was an independent predictive factor for recurrence (p=0.017 and p=0.028). Addition of inflammatory cytokines to CRC and normal cell lines increased the expression of miR-4257 in the cell lines and cell culture medium. Over-expression of miR-4257 in CRC cells increased malignancy, while over-expression in normal cells increased adhesion to CRC cells. The addition of inflammatory cytokines to normal cell lines enhanced adhesion to CRC cell lines. CONCLUSION: miR-4257 level in plasma and cancer tissues is a biomarker of disease recurrence in patients with CRC. Moreover, miR-4257 promoted tumour growth and was associated with cancer-induced inflammation.

The therapeutic strategy for advanced gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and liver metastasis; successfully treated by gastro-jejunal bypass and chemotherapy first, followed by curative R0 resection.

BACKGROUND: The indication of surgical resection for liver metastasis from gastric cancer (GC) is still limited and controversial because of its more aggressive oncological characteristics than liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Pyloric stenosis causes an inadequate oral intake and malnutrition in GC patients. We herein report a case of GC with these two factors that was successfully treated by the combination of gastro-jejunal bypass and chemotherapy, followed by curative R0 resection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with type 2 GC with liver metastasis and pyloric stenosis, which was confirmed as the HER2-positive type. He underwent gastrojejunostomy and received capecitabine and cisplatin (XP) + trastuzumab chemotherapy. After three courses of the XP + trastuzumab regimen, shrinkage of the primary lesion and liver metastasis was confirmed and his nutritional parameters markedly improved with a stable oral intake after bypass surgery. He underwent curative R0 resection by distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and partial hepatectomy. Histologically, viable tumor cells were observed in less than one-third of the primary lesion, and only scar tissue without viable cancer cells was noted in the resected liver specimen. His postoperative course was uneventful, and recurrence has not been detected in the 30 months after surgery without adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The present case report describes a successful strategy for advanced GC with pyloric stenosis and liver metastasis.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy(TANKO)for Gallbladder Cancer with Torsion].

Gallbladder torsion is comparatively rare. Gallbladder cancer is found in 1.5% of cases of acute cholecystitis. We report a case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO)for gallbladder cancer with torsion. CASE: A 54-year-old woman with epigastric pain underwent enhanced computed tomography. Gallbladder torsion and a tumor at the gallbladder neck were suspected, and ascites was observed. She was diagnosed with gallbladder torsion, and surgery was performed the same day. Intraoperative findings: The gallbladder was movable, minimally attached to the liver bed, rotated 360°around the cystic duct and cystic artery, and appeared necrotic. The torsion was relieved and laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO)was performed. We accidentally perforated the gallbladder and bile leaked out. COURSE: The patient did well postoperatively. Pathological diagnosis revealed gallbladder cancer. DISCUSSION: Gallbladder cancer with torsion has been reported in 14 cases, not including ours. Among these, none were performed using laparoscopic cholecystectomy(TANKO). We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is appropriate for such cases, but the approach must be carefully considered because of the risk of perforation.