[Pathological Complete Response and Long-Term Survival of a Gastric Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Patient Treated by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy].

A 64-year-old man with gastric tumor in the antrum had been diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC) by biopsy and multiple lymph node metastases(#3 and #6)by abdominal computed tomography. After staging laparoscopy showed that there were no non-curative factors, neoadjuvant chemotherapy(S-1/cisplatin[CDDP]: 2 courses)and distal gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection were performed. The pathological diagnosis was shown as pathological complete response(pCR). After adjuvant chemotherapy(S-1/CDDP: 2 courses, S-1: 6 courses)was administered, the patient is alive at 8 years without recurrence.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival by Multidisciplinary Surgical Treatment for Metastatic Multi-Organ Metastasis after Radical Resection of Esophageal Cancer].

A 78-year-old man with advanced thoracic esophageal cancer underwent radical esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-FU. He had left adrenal metastasis 10 months after surgery and removed it, but 3 months later he had liver metastases. After 2 courses of chemotherapy with nedaplatin plus 5-FU, resection was performed. One course of nedaplatin plus 5-FU for adjuvant chemotherapy was added, but the patient was followed up without another chemotherapy after surgery because of intestinal obstruction due to infection and increase of the lymphatic cyst in the abdominal cavity. Six months after the liver resection, nodules appeared in the right lung, and 4 months later, multiple nodules extending to both lungs were observed. Therefore, it was judged that there were multiple lung metastases, and administration of nivolumab was started. He has been 3 years since the recurrence of esophageal cancer and 17 months after the start of nivolumab administration, but the recurrence lesion is only progressing to lung metastasis.

[Two-year remission of a relapsed primary gastric peripheral T-cell lymphoma treated with total gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy].

A 67-year-old man was diagnosed with a submucosal primary gastric T-cell lymphoma (PGTL) via upper gastroenteroscopy following an annual health check-up. He received six cycles of CHOP and achieved a complete remission. However, the patient relapsed 4 months post therapy. A second remission, which was maintained for years, was achieved after surgical gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapies. Prior reports have shown that surgery combined with chemotherapies was curative for patients with newly-diagnosed PGTL. In this report, surgery combined with chemotherapies was successfully applied for early-relapsed PGTL.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival Achieved after Nivolumab Treatment for Recurrence of Postoperative Advanced Gastric Cancer].

A 75-year-old man with a Type 3 advanced gastric cancer in the middle gastric body and paraaortic lymph node swelling was treated chemotherapy. After treatment, we performed an exploratory laparotomy and curative total gastrectomy. As adjuvant chemotherapy, S-1 treatment was administrated for 4 courses but multiple metastases from left supraclavicular to paraaortic lymph nodes. First, Cape plus CDDP plus T-mab therapy treated. Because of acute renal failure, Cape plus L-OHP plus T-mab was administrated but response evaluation was PD. In the second-line therapy, Ramucirumab plus paclitaxel was performed 4 courses. Third, we administrated Nivolumab. After 6 courses, response evaluation was PR and we continued 24 courses. At the same time, there was acute-onset Nivolumab-induced organizing pneumonia and we treated steroid pulse, azithromycin and introduced home oxygen therapy. At the present, 47 months long-term survival achieved after Nivolumab treatment.

Clinical and image features: large-vessel vasculitis after granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to cause vasculitis, mainly in the small vessels. Several cases of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) caused by G-CSF have recently been reported in the literature; we retrospectively suspect that some cases of LVV in our institution were associated with administration of G-CSF. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological findings in our cases and to compare them with those in previous reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated clinical and radiological findings in four cases of LVV that occurred after administration of G-CSF in our institution. We also reviewed papers on G-CSF-related LVV and compared their findings to ours. RESULTS: G-CSF-related LVV occurred in patients aged > 50 years and more frequently in women. Most patients developed vasculitis within 15 days after the last administration. While 14/16 patients were symptomatic, the remaining two patients were asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. In all cases, laboratory inflammatory markers increased, but there were no autoantibodies that clearly indicated other autoimmune vasculitis. Computed tomography revealed elevated soft tissue density around the affected vessels. CONCLUSION: LVV is among the potential adverse events of G-CSF administration. We should keep this outcome in mind when we interpret medical images of patients with previous G-CSF treatment history even if they are asymptomatic.

A three-dimensional computed tomography angiography study of the anatomy of the accessory middle colic artery and implications for colorectal cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we focused on the accessory middle colic artery and aimed to increase the safety and curative value of colorectal cancer surgery by investigating the artery course and branching patterns. METHODS: We included 143 cases (mean age, 70.4 ± 11.2 years; 86 males) that had undergone surgery for neoplastic large intestinal lesions at the First Department of Surgery at Yamagata University Hospital between August 2015 and July 2018. We constructed three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiograms and fused them with reconstructions of the large intestines. We investigated the prevalence of the accessory middle colic artery, the variability of its origin, and the prevalence and anatomy of the arteries accompanying the inferior mesenteric vein at the same level as the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery. RESULTS: Accessory middle colic artery was observed in 48.9% (70/143) cases. This arose from the superior mesenteric artery in 47, from the inferior mesenteric artery in 21, and from the celiac artery in two cases. In 78.2% (112/143) cases, an artery accompanying the inferior mesenteric vein was present at the same level as the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery; this artery was the left colic artery in 92, the accessory middle colic artery in 11, and it divided and became the left colic artery and the accessory middle colic artery in 10 cases. CONCLUSION: 3D CT angiograms are useful for preoperative evaluation. Accessory middle colic arteries exist and were observed in 14.9% of cases.

[Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy(LTG)in Patient with Multiple Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor Related to Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 - Two Case Reports].

We herein report 2 cases of laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG)in patient with multiple gastric neuroendocrine tumor (NET)related to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1(MEN1). Case 1: A 66-year-old female was diagnosed with multiple gastric NET. There was no finding of any other tumor, and parathyroid function was normal. She underwent LTG. Case 2: A 58-year-old female was diagnosed with multiple gastric NET. The patient had a previous history of surgery for pituitary gland tumor. There was no finding of any other tumor, and parathyroid function was normal. She underwent LTG. In our cases, we could perform complete resection of gastric NET by laparoscopic surgery. Multiple gastric NET is a good indication of laparoscopic gastrectomy.

[Total Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using the Right Gastroepiploic Artery: Report of a Case].

An 82-year-old man, who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) with the right gastroepiploic artery( RGEA) 13 years previously, suffered with abdominal pain after meal and tarry stools, and was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. Gastroscopy revealed an advanced Borrmann type 4 cancer at the lesser curvature of the gastric body to the pyloric ring. The gastrogram showed poor extension and stenosis at the same part. Abdominal computed tomography showed the tumor reached the subserosal layer and infrapyloric lymph nodes were swollen. Abdominal angiography showed the RGEA graft remained well patent. Total gastrectomy with D2 lymph nodes dissection and arterial reconstruction between the splenic artery and the RGEA graft was performed. He has been well without any sign of cancer recurrence since the operation. Recently, more patients with CABG using RGEA are found to have gastric cancer and require the resection of RGEA for lymph nodes dissection as this case. We consider this procedure one of the options for advanced gastric cancer after coronary bypass grafting using RGEA.

Potential urinary function benefits of initial robotic surgery for rectal cancer in the introductory phase.

We aimed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of initial robotic surgery for rectal cancer in the introduction phase. This study retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent initial robotic surgery (n = 36) vs. patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic surgery (n = 95) for rectal cancer. We compared the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients using a propensity score analysis and clarified short-term outcomes, urinary function, and sexual function at the time of robotic surgery introduction. The mean surgical duration was longer in the robot-assisted laparoscopy group compared with the conventional laparoscopy group (288.4 vs. 245.2 min, respectively; p = 0.051). With lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, no significant difference was observed in surgical duration (508.0 min for robot-assisted laparoscopy vs. 480.4 min for conventional laparoscopy; p = 0.595). The length of postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the robot-assisted laparoscopy group compared with the conventional laparoscopy group (15 days vs. 13.0 days, respectively; p = 0.026). Conversion to open surgery was not necessary in either group. The International Prostate Symptom Score was significantly lower in the robot-assisted laparoscopy group compared with the conventional laparoscopy group. Moderate-to-severe symptoms were more frequently observed in the conventional laparoscopy group compared with the robot-assisted laparoscopy group (p = 0.051). Robotic surgery is safe and could improve functional disorder after rectal cancer surgery in the introduction phase. This may depend on the surgeon's experience in performing robotic surgery and strictly confined criteria in Japan.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the transverse colon with rhabdoid features that developed during treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma with pembrolizumab: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated carcinoma of the colon is rare, and its prognosis is very poor. We report a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the colon with rhabdoid features developed during treatment of non-small lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with pembrolizumab. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer during chemotherapy with pembrolizumab for NSCLC. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features and lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemically, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) showed positivity. The microsatellite instability (MSI) status was low. He continued to receive pembrolizumab for NSCLC, and there have been no signs of colon cancer recurrence and progression of NSCLC for 15 months. CONCLUSION: We present the case of an undifferentiated carcinoma of the transverse colon with rhabdoid features. The development of the tumor with the expression of PD-L1 during pembrolizumab might have been associated with the low MSI.

Intrahepatic micrometastases around liver metastases from gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify the association between the presence of micrometastases around liver metastases from gastric cancer and the results of hepatic resection. In addition, we investigated the influence of E-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 expression on the development of micrometastases. METHODS: Micrometastases around liver metastases were examined microscopically in 31 metastatic liver tumor specimens resected from 17 patients who had undergone hepatic resection for liver metastases from gastric cancer. E-cadherin and MMP-7 expression in the primary gastric tumor, the liver metastases, and the micrometastases were examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Hepatic micrometastases were present in around 48% of the liver metastases, accounting for 59% of the patients. The tumor recurrence rate in the remnant liver after hepatic resection was significantly higher, and survival significantly poorer, in patients with such micrometastases than in those without. Micrometastases tended to appear around the liver metastases that had reduced E-cadherin expression. Most of the micrometastases in the lymph ducts and sinusoids showed reduced E-cadherin expression. MMP-7 expression was not correlated with the presence of micrometastases. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the hepatic metastases from gastric cancer had seeded off micrometastases, and the presence of these micrometastases was associated with a poorer result of hepatic resection. Reduced E-cadherin expression in metastatic liver tumors may be associated with the development of micrometastases.

[Advanced gastric cancer showing complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CPT-11 and S-1-a case report].

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer that showed a complete histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The patient, a 56-year-old man, was diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer with lymph node metastases( cT3 cN1 cH0 cP0 cM0, cStageIIIA). He was initially treated with combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprising CPT-11+S-1. S-1(120 mg/day)was administered orally for 21 days, followed by CPT-11(130 mg/body)divon days 1 and 15. The primary lesion and lymph node metastases were diminished by 2 courses of chemotherapy, and no serious toxicities were observed. Distal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection(D2)were performed. Only a small ulcer was observed on the resected stomach. Histological examination of the resected stomach and lymph nodes revealed no remaining viable cancer cells. The patient has been doing well without any recurrence for 1 year since the start of treatment.

Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein.

Preservation of the spleen at distal pancreatectomy has recently attracted considerable attention. Since our first successful trial, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for tumors of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis has been performed more frequently. The technique for spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein are outlined. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane. The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. An important issue is to remove the splenic vein from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen, since a different approach may be very difficult. The pancreas is preferably removed from the splenic artery toward the head of the pancreas itself. This procedure is much easier than removing the pancreas from the vein side. One patient had undergone distal gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer, with reconstruction by Billroth II technique. If distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy had been performed for the lesion of the distal pancreas at the time, the residual stomach would also have to be resected. The potential damage done to the patient by reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract in combination with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy would have been much greater than with distal pancreatectomy only with preservation of the spleen and residual stomach. Benign lesions as well as low-grade malignancy of the body and tail of the pancreas may be a possible indication for this procedure.

[The clinical effect of TS-1 in advanced and recurrent gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination].

Eighteen patients with far advanced and recurrent gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination were treated with a novel oral anticancer drug, TS-1, and assessed according to clinical effect. TS-1 was administered at a dose of 80-120 mg/day. One course consisted of consecutive administration of TS-1 for 28 days followed by 14 days rest. The 1- and 2-year survival rates and median survival time after administration of TS-1 were 63.2%, 23.7% and 437 days, respectively. Eight patients (44.4%) survived for 1 year or more. Adverse reactions consisted of reduction in hemoglobin level and hyperbilirubinemia at grades 3 and 4, which were observed in 3 patients and 1 patient, respectively. TS-1 is a promising drug for gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

[A case of unresectable rectal cancer with liver and pulmonary metastases that responded remarkably to pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy].

We treated a patient with unresectable rectal cancer with multiple liver, pulmonary and lymph node metastases that responded remarkably to pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy (PMC). The patient was a 63-year-old male. Colonoscopy showed a type 3 advanced lower rectal cancer. Examinations by computed tomography and chest X-ray revealed unresectable rectal cancer invading the sacrum and bladder with multiple liver and pulmonary metastases and swollen para-aortic lymph nodes. The patient was treated by colostomy and postoperative PMC. UFT (400 mg/day) was orally administered daily and a continuous infusion of 5-FU (1,000 mg/24 h) was given once a week. After 10 courses of treatment with PMC, the primary lesion was remarkably reduced. This chemotherapy also produced partial responses in the pulmonary metastases and para-aortic lymph node swelling. The patient experienced few side effects and had good QOL in the terminal stage. This chemotherapy regimen appears to be an effective and promising therapy with few side effects, even for patients with unresectable advanced colorectal cancer.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer resected after successful treatment with the novel oral anticancer drug TS-1].

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer resected after successful treatment with the novel oral anticancer drug TS-1. The patient was a 52-year-old male. Gastrointestinal fiberscopy showed advanced gastric cancer. Examinations by computed tomography revealed gastric cancer invasion of the pancreas and swollen para-aortic lymph nodes. This patient was treated by preoperative chemotherapy with oral administration of TS-1 (120 mg per day). After 3 courses of treatment of TS-1, the primary lesion and swollen lymph nodes were remarkably reduced. This chemotherapy enabled total gastrectomy in curative resection. The pathological effectiveness of chemotherapy was Grade 1b in the primary lesion and Grade 2 or 3 in the lymph nodes. The patient sustained few side effects. This preoperative chemotherapy regimen seems to be an effective and promising therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms of the gastric and intestinal types may have less malignant potential than the pancreatobiliary type.

OBJECTIVES: Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are classified into 4 types--gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic--on the basis of their morphology and immunohistochemistry. We classified IPMNs at our institute and used this classification to determine the clinicopathological features, prognosis, and malignant potential of the 4 types. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with IPMN who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 24 tumors of the gastric type, 22 intestinal, 12 pancreatobiliary, and 3 oncocytic. Patients with the intestinal or gastric type had a better prognosis than those with the pancreatobiliary type. The intestinal and pancreatobiliary types had almost the same frequencies of carcinoma, but the intestinal type tended to have a lower frequency of invasive carcinoma than the pancreatobiliary type. Patients with invasive carcinomas derived from intestinal-type IPMNs tended to have a better prognosis than those whose invasive carcinomas were derived from the pancreatobiliary type. CONCLUSIONS: Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm of the gastric and intestinal types may have less malignant potential than that of the pancreatobiliary type. Invasive carcinomas derived from intestinal-type IPMNs may be less invasive and slower growing than those derived from the pancreatobiliary type.

Clinicopathological significance of cell cycle regulatory factors and differentiation-related factors in pancreatic neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the expression levels of the cyclins and the differentiation-related factors in pancreatic neoplasms. METHODS: The expression levels of cyclins A and B1, E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation 1 (EID-1), p300, 3'-5'-cyclic sdenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) binding protein (CBP), and acetylated histone H3 (AcH3) in ordinary ductal carcinoma (ODC) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas were investigated. RESULTS: More cells positive for cyclin A and EID-1 were present in the ODC than in the IPMNs. Cells positive for both cyclins and EID-1 were observed more frequently in invasive carcinoma derived from the IPMN than from the IP mucinous carcinoma. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that EID-1 and cyclin A overexpressions were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. Overall survival was significantly lower in ODC patients with overexpressions of cyclin A, EID-1, and AcH3 than in those without such overexpressions. There were significant differences in the survival curves between patients with ODC and invasive carcinoma derived from IPMN, regarding high frequency for cyclin A or B1. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the expressions of cyclins A and B1, EID-1, and AcH3 may be correlated with a malignant potential in IPMNs. Invasive carcinoma derived from IPMN may be slow growing as compared with ODC.