[A case of acute appendicitis which occurred during chemotherapy for breast cancer].

The patient was a 66-year-old woman with left breast cancer who underwent left segmental mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy. The histopathological diagnosis was estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), progesterone receptor-positive( PgR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-equivocal( HER2()2+)( with no HER2 gene amplification by fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis) invasive ductal carcinoma (scirrhous carcinoma) with Ki-67 expression of less than 10% (pathological T1c, N0, M0, stage I). The patient requested chemotherapy, and 4 cycles of docetaxel plus cyclophosphamide (TC) were scheduled. Fever and epigastric pain developed on day 13 of cycle 2. On day 22, the patient was examined before the third cycle of TC, and right lower abdominal pain was reported. Computed tomography revealed appendicitis and an intraperitoneal abscess. She was admitted to the hospital and underwent partial ileocecal resection. The patient was discharged on the 12th postoperative day with no further complications. Acute abdomen during chemotherapy for malignant tumors has been reported sporadically in patients with leukemia. A diagnosis of acute abdomen in patients undergoing cancer treatment requires careful assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, fever associated with granulocytopenia, and findings indicative of local inflammation. The patient in this case recovered uneventfully because imaging studies and surgery were performed promptly after presentation.

[A patient with thyroid cancer evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors during treatment for breast cancer recurrence in hepatic and cervical lymph nodes].

We describe a case of a 69-year-old woman who underwent left breast-preserving surgery and axillary dissection for left-sided breast cancer at 60 years of age. The histopathological diagnosis was papillotubular carcinoma, luminal A (pathological T1N0M0).In the eighth year after surgery, computed tomography (CT) revealed recurrence in the liver and cervical lymph node metastasis. The patient did not respond to 3 months of treatment with letrozole (progressive disease [PD]). Six courses of chemotherapy with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) were administered. Subsequently, the attending physician was replaced while the patient was receiving paclitaxel( PTX).After 4 courses of treatment with PTX, the liver metastasis disappeared (complete response [CR]).However, the cervical lymph nodes did not shrink (PD).The cytological diagnosis was papillary thyroid cancer with associated cervical lymph node metastasis. Total thyroidectomy and D3b cervical lymph node dissection were performed. The pathological diagnosis was pEx0T1bN1Mx, pStage IVA disease. Replacement of the attending physician is a critical turning point for patients. During chemotherapy or hormone therapy for breast cancer, each organ should be evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).In the case of our patient, thyroid cancer was diagnosed according to RECIST. Cancer specialists should bear in mind that the treatment policy may change dramatically depending on the results of RECIST assessment.

[A case of diabetic mastopathy which was difficult to diagnose].

The patient was a 73-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus who was receiving insulin therapy. A poorly demarcated mass of 2 cm in diameter was palpated in the C region of the left breast. Mammography showed a dense locally asymmetric shadow. Ultrasonography revealed an irregular, poorly demarcated, hypoechoic mass measuring 14×21×10 mm accompanied by an attenuated posterior echo. Needle biopsy showed no evidence of malignancy, and the patient was kept under observation. An ultrasonographic examination performed 6 months later showed no change, but the possibility of cancer could not be ruled out on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor resection at the patient's request was therefore performed. Histopathological examination of the breast revealed interstitial fibrosis with superimposed ground-glass opacities and lymphocyte infiltration around the ducts, leading to a diagnosis of diabetic mastopathy. Diabetic mastopathy occurs primarily in patients with a prolonged history of diabetes mellitus. It is difficult to distinguish diabetic mastopathy from breast cancer by palpation and imaging studies. Most cases are conclusively diagnosed by needle biopsy. Clinicians should be aware of diabetic mastopathy to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In our patient, diabetic mastopathy could be diagnosed on the basis of clinical characteristics and needle biopsy.

Analysis of the risk factors for wound infection after surgical treatment of colorectal cancer: a matched case control study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study, with a matched case-control study design, was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of high-pressure washing for preventing postoperative wound infection by comparing the outcomes in cases in which the high-pressure washing was performed with those in which the procedure was not adopted. METHODOLOGY: A total of 100 of the above-mentioned 264 patients were selected for this study and divided into two groups (the high- pressure washing group (n=50) and the non-high pressure washing group (n=50)) in such as manner as to obtain good matching of the following 6 parameters between the two groups. RESULTS: Postoperative wound infection was noted in 11% of all cases (11/100). Univariate analysis revealed that postoperative wound infection was significantly more frequent in cases where the tumor site was the rectum (p = 0.011), the surgical approach was open abdominal surgery (p = 0.032) and high- pressure washing of the wound was not adopted (p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that in order to prevent wound infection after surgery for colorectal cancer, it is advisable to select, as far as possible, the laparoscopic surgical approach and to undertake high- pressure washing of the wound immediately before closure of the abdomen.

Retrospective, matched case-control study comparing the oncologic outcomes between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery in patients with right-sided colon cancer.

PURPOSE: The short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for right-sided colon cancer remain largely uninvestigated. This study was undertaken to compare the morbidity and mortality after either a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRHC) or an open right hemicolectomy (ORHC) for this type of tumor. METHODS: The study group included 100 patients who underwent an LRHC and 100 patients who underwent an ORHC for right-sided colon cancer from 1990 through 2004. The two groups were retrospectively well matched with respect to sex, age (+/-5 years), and pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 83 months in the LRHC group and 105 months in the ORHC group. The LRHC group had a lower volume of intraoperative bleeding (P < 0.001), a lower rate of wound infection (P = 0.019) or postoperative intestinal obstruction (P = 0.013), and a shorter hospital stay (P < 0.001) than the ORHC group. The rate of recurrence did not differ significantly between the LRHC group (19%) and the ORHC group (22%). In patients with TNM stage I or II, the disease-free survival (DFS) rate (94.9% vs 95.1%) and overall survival (OS) rate (95.8% vs 95.0%) did not differ significantly between the two groups. A similar tendency was observed in patients with stage III with the rates for DFS (71.3% vs 60.4%) and OS (73.6% vs 64.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An LRHC for right-sided colon cancer has the advantage over an ORHC of better short-term outcomes, and both groups have similar long-term oncologic outcomes. An LRHC is thus an acceptable alternative to an ORHC for the treatment of this type cancer.

Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer by protein-tyrosine phosphatase type 4A, 3 (PRL-3) is mediated through lymph node metastasis and elevated serum tumor markers such as CEA and CA19-9.

Phosphatase of regenerating liver (PRL)-3 was identified as a molecule associated with liver metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), although its precise causative role in distant metastasis remains elusive from a clinical point of view. The aim of this study was to promote the mechanistic insight of PRL-3 involvement in liver metastasis in CRC. One hundred and seven CRC patients with resection of the primary lesions were studied for clinicopathological and prognostic association with PRL-3 and were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in univariate and multivariate analyses. Intense immunostaining of PRL-3 was found in Dukes' A (0/26), Dukes' B (0/30), Dukes' C (18/30) and Duke's D (20/21) although the PRL-3 expression could not predict metachronous liver metastasis (MLM) in Dukes' C patients. PRL-3 expression showed an inverse correlation of prognosis in a univariate prognostic analysis (P<0.0001), though a multivariate assay failed to demonstrate PRL-3 relevance as an independent prognostic factor. PRL-3 expression was closely associated with classic prognostic factors such as the pN factor (P<0.0001), H factor-synchronous liver metastasis (SLM) (P<0.0001), pT factor (P=0.0002), preoperative CEA (P<0.0001) and preoperative CA19-9 (P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of PRL-3 expression revealed that the pN factor (P<0.0001), CEA (P<0.0001) and CA19-9 (P<0.0001) were finally remnant as an independent association with PRL-3. However, the H factor (SLM) was eliminated. Our data suggested that liver metastasis by PRL-3 is putatively mediated through lymph node metastasis and elevated tumor markers in the serum and the PRL-3 expression may not represent a direct causative mechanism of liver metastasis.

Diminishing impact of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in prognosis of Dukes' C colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: In curable colorectal cancer (CRC), preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (preCEA) has been reported to have predictive prognostic value. However, data remains insufficient to support its clinical use. The aim of the current study was to validate the prognostic impact of preCEA in Dukes' C CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prognostic significance of preCEA for 237 Dukes' C CRC patients assessed retrospectively (between 1990 and 2000: previous cases) and the prospective relevance for 197 counterparts (between 2001 and 2004: recent cases) according to preCEA, were both examined. RESULTS: The previous cases showed the most potent impact of preCEA as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=2.0, p=0.003) among the clinicopathological factors using a multivariate proportional hazard model, while the recent cases did not even show a univariate prognostic impact. A significant difference in the prognosis between the two periods was only found in the patients with elevated preCEA administered adjuvant chemotherapy (ADT) (p=0.03). Between the two terms, a dramatic change of ADT regimens from 5FU alone (p<0.001) to 5FU in combination with leucovorin (p<0.001) and/or irinotecan (p-0.0009/0.005) was introduced, and N2 patient survival was dramatically improved. However, a significant prognostic difference for the elevated preCEA patients with ADT could not be demonstrated by sub-analysis of N1 and N2 disease due to diminished correlation of preCEA and the N factor (p=0.02 to 0.5), indicating that preCEA did not predict chemosensitivity. CONCLUSION: The preCEA is no longer useful in predicting prognosis with Dukes' C CRC patients, because of the loss of preCEA association with the N factor, putatively through undefined diagnostic or therapeutic advancement.

Comparison between the oncologic outcome of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery for T1 and T2 rectosigmoidal and rectal carcinoma: matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The long-term outcome of laparoscopic resection (Lap-R) of rectal cancer is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the validity of Lap-R by comparing the short-term and mid-term outcome of Lap-R performed in our hospital to treat T1 and T2 rectal cancer patients with that of patients with the same clinicopathological background treated for rectal cancer by open surgery (O-R). METHODOLOGY: We conducted a matched case-control study of the oncologic outcome of T1 and T2 rectal cancer patients who had undergone Lap-R between 1996 and 2002 by matching them for sex, age, location, and TNM classification with patients who underwent O-R during the same period, and the total number of subjects in both groups combined was 76. RESULTS: The median follow-up period in the Lap-R group was 36 months, as opposed to 58 months in the O-R group. There were no operative deaths in either group. Comparison of the postoperative complications showed that intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the Lap-R group than in the O-R group (P < 0.0001), and there were fewer cases of intestinal obstruction (p = 0.0312). The number of postoperative hospital days was also significantly shorter (p = 0.00046). The overall survival rate was 91.6% in the Lap-R group and 92.7% in the O-R groups, and the difference was not significant (p = 0.5306). The recurrence-free survival rate was 96.7% in the Lap-R group and 82.4% in the O-R group, and the difference was not significant (p = 0.4587). The difference in recurrence rate between the groups was not significant (p = 0.446), and there were no differences in modes of recurrence, but local recurrence was the most common mode in both groups. No recurrences were observed at the site of the port in the Lap-R group. CONCLUSIONS: When we performed our matched case-control study of Lap-R and O-R as surgical procedures for T1 and T2 rectal cancer, Lap-R was less invasive based on the short-term outcome. Moreover, there were no significant differences in mode of recurrence or recurrence rate, and no significant difference between the two groups was observed in oncologic outcome. It will be necessary to await the results of both Japanese and international randomized controlled trials (RCT). However, short- and mid-term follow-up of identical patients at a single institution as in the present study also appeared to have sufficient significance.

Laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

More so than with other types of colon cancer, rectal cancer is associated with a range of laparoscopic surgical techniques. Treatment of cancer of the lower rectum requires favorable operative fields, minimal contact with the tumor during dissection, and delicate surgical procedures to avoid nerve damage. Such surgery thus requires immobilizing the trunk so the patient can be repositioned as needed, placing ports at appropriate locations, as well as careful handling of surgical equipment. To minimize the risk of disseminating cancer cells during the procedure, the surgery should be restricted to patients with early-stage cancer. The most difficult surgical procedure is resection of the lower rectum. While safe resection of the intestinal tract was difficult using previously available surgical equipment, newly developed equipment makes today's resections much safer and easier. Indications for surgical intervention should be broadened carefully, based on a deeper understanding of the surgical anatomy within the pelvis and on various relevant oncological and technical factors.

[Outpatient chemotherapy of an advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer].

We report the outpatient chemotherapy of an advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. From April 2005 to May 2006, 50 patients were treated with FOLFIRI or FOLFOX in our hospital. Forty five patients (90%) had an intravenous catheter and a port for the chemotherapy, 23 patients (46%) were treated at the outpatient booths. We used the clinical pathway in chemotherapy for patients and co-medical roles. We were not experiencing emergency admission of side effects. Outpatient chemotherapy utilizing FOLFIRI or FOLFOX for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer can be enforced safely by using the clinical pathway.

A Phase II trial of neoadjuvant preoperative chemoradiotherapy with S-1 plus irinotecan and radiation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: clinical feasibility and response rate.

PURPOSE: We aimed to validate our hypothesis that a preoperative chemoradiotherapy regimen with S-1 plus irinotecan is feasible, safe, and active for the management of locally advanced rectal cancer in a single-arm Phase II setting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients had previously untreated, locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. Radiotherapy was administered in fractions of 1.8 Gy/d for 25 days. S-1 was administered orally in a fixed daily dose of 80 mg/m2 on Days 1 to 5, 8 to 12, 22 to 26, and 29 to 33. Irinotecan (80 mg/m2) was infused on Days 1, 8, 22, and 29. Four or more weeks after the completion of the treatment, total mesorectal excision with lateral lymph node dissection was performed. The primary endpoint was the rate of completing treatment in terms of feasibility. The secondary endpoints were the response rate and safety. RESULTS: We enrolled 43 men and 24 women in the study. The number of patients who completed treatment was 58 (86.6%). Overall, 46 patients (68.7%) responded to treatment and 24 (34.7%) had a complete histopathologic response. Three patients had Grade 3 leukopenia, and another three patients had Grade 3 neutropenia. Diarrhea was the most common type of nonhematologic toxicity: 3 patients had Grade 3 diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: A preoperative regimen of S-1, irinotecan, and radiotherapy to the rectum was feasible, and it appeared safe and effective in this nonrandomized Phase II setting. It exhibited a low incidence of adverse events, a high rate of completion of treatment, and an extremely high rate of pathologic complete response.

Treatment of advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer with irinotecan in Japan and elsewhere.

BACKGROUND: Dramatic prolongation of the survival of patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer has been achieved by multi-drug chemotherapy using agents such as continuous 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, irinotecan (CPT-11), L-OHP, bevacizumab and cetuximab. OBJECTIVE: To explain the background of CPT-11 and to discuss its role in the treatment of advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer in Japan and elsewhere together with the authors' own experience.

Surgical resection of stage IV colorectal cancer and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) harbors accumulated genetic alterations with cancer progression, which results in uncontrollable disease. To regulate the most malignant CRC, we have to know the most dismal phenotype of stage IV disease. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Kitasato University Hospital was performed (from 1990 to 2001) to extract the 162 resected stage IV CRC. Clinical variables were tested for their relationship to survival in a multivariate prognostic analysis and revealed the interaction of the prognostic factors. RESULTS: In stage IV CRC with noncurable resection, the most robust univariate predictors for poor prognosis were preoperative high value of CA19-9, peritoneal dissemination, depth of invasion, age, extent of liver metastases, pathologic lymph node metastasis status, and gender as tumor factors, and postoperative therapy, perioperative transfusion, and lymph node dissection extent as treatment factors. Among these factors, postoperative therapy (p < 0.0001), perioperative transfusion (0.0002), CA19-9 (0.001), extent of liver metastases (0.004), and peritoneal dissemination (0.02) were identified as independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. Interestingly, among the independent prognostic factors, treatment factors did not depend upon tumor factors and the combination of the three tumor factors (CA19-9, extent of liver metastases, and peritoneal dissemination) can clearly classify the patients into the definite prognostic groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the most dismal CRC harbors three definite vectors that may represent the strongest phenotype of putative systemic immune (CA19-9), distant metastasis (extent of liver metastases), and local progression (peritoneal dissemination).