[Long-Term Survival after Surgical Resection for Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder].

A 60-year-old woman was not accompanied by any symptom. She had a gallstone which was identified 20 years prior. Ultrasonography performed by a local doctor revealed that the gallbladder was filled with small stones, and the patient was referred to our department for further examination and treatment for gallbladder stone. Tumor markers are elevated. Contrast- enhanced CT revealed gallbladder stones and thickening in the gallbladder body. PET-CT showed abnormal accumulation of FDG-PET with SUVmax 3.6 in the body of the gallbladder. With a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, extended cholecystectomy and gallbladder bed resection with regional lymph node dissection were performed. The tumor was diagnosed histologically as small cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder(pT2a[SS], pN0, pStage ⅡA; Japanese society of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery, the 7th edition). The postoperative course was uneventful. This patient has been followed up for 8 years without obvious signs of recurrence. R0 resection and lack of lymph node metastasis can allow long- term survival.

Circulating microRNA-1246 as a possible biomarker for early tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: Early tumor recurrence (ETR) after hepatic resection is a crucial predictor of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to identify clinically significant serum microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the ETR of HCC. METHODS: We compared expression profiles of circulating miRNAs from serum samples between five HCC patients with ETR (recurrence within 12 months after hepatectomy) and five HCC patients without recurrence using microarray analysis of miRNA. The identified miRNA associated with ETR was further verified in 121 HCC patients, 73 liver disease patients, and 15 health controls by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Of the approximately 2000 miRNAs analyzed, we identified 15 miRNAs for which expression levels correlated significantly with ETR. Of these miRNAs, we further investigated expression of miRNA-1246 (miR-1246). Quantitative PCR confirmed that miR-1246 was upregulated in HCC with ETR, compared to the level in HCC without ETR (P < 0.001). Serum miR-1246 showed a receiver operating characteristic curve area of 0.762, with 77.4% specificity and 54.1% sensitivity in discriminating HCC patients with ETR from HCC patients without ETR. Altered expression of miR-1246 was associated with aggressive tumor characteristics, including tumor-node-metastasis classification (P = 0.0413), tumor differentiation (P = 0.0419), and portal vein invasion (P = 0.0394). Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis identified serum miR-1246 level as an independent risk factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.784; 95% confidence interval, 1.528-5.071; P = 0.0008). CONCLUSION: Circulating miR-1246 in serum has strong potential as a novel ETR and prognostic biomarker for HCC.

High-Mobility Group Box 1 expression predicts survival of patients after resection of adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

BACKGROUND: Expression of High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), a multifunctional protein involved in DNA function as well as cell proliferation, inflammation, and the immune response, has been reported to be prognostic in several types of malignancies. However, the prognostic value of HMGB1 in ampullary cancer has not been studied. METHODS: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater who underwent R0 resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2001 and 2011 were included in the present multi-institutional study. The degree of HMGB1 expression was examined in each resected specimen by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled of which, 79 patients were eligible. High expression of HMGB1 was observed in 31 (39%) patients. Blood loss, transfusion, tumor stage, nodal status, and HMGB1 expression were identified as predictors with univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that transfusion, lymph-node metastasis, and high HMGB1 expression were independent predictors of poor overall survival. Subgroup analysis showed that high HMGB1 expression was predictive, especially in patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: High HMGB1 expression is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer Responding to Neoadjuvant Docetaxel/CDDP/S-1 Therapy with Metallic Stent Placement, Leading to Curative Surgery].

A 59-year-old man presented with epigastralgia. A diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer MLU, Circ, Type 3, 160 mm, tub2, cT4b (SI: panc), cN1, cM0, cH0, cP0, cCY0, cStage ⅢB was made. Because of difficulty with oral intake due to malignant outlet obstruction and tumor bleeding, endoscopic self-expanding metallic stent placement was performed. We administered chemotherapy involving docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1(DCS). After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes had reduced in size. His response was judged as SD according to the RECIST criteria. The patient elected to undergo explorative laparotomy for assessment of the gastric cancer. The intraoperative findings showed that there was no pancreatic invasion, peritoneal dissemination, or distal metastasis, so a total gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection was performed. The pathological findings showed that there were very few cancer cells in the primary lesion, and a lymph node metastasis was found. The final stage was gastric cancer MLU, Circ, Type 3, 100 mm, muc, ypT4a(SE), ypN3a (13/51), ypM0, ypH0, ypP0, ypCY0, ypStage ⅢC. The therapy evaluation was Grade 1b. In summary, we encountered a patient with gastric cancer in whom curative surgery was made possible by undergoing chemotherapy and metallic stent placement.

CRMP4 Up-regulates M2 Macrophages and Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells to Promote Pancreatic Cancer in Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We previously observed higher prevalence of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) in LSL-KrasG12D/+; Pdx1Cre/+ (KC-Crmp4wild) mice than LSL-KrasG12D/+; Pdx1Cre/+; Crmp4-/- (KC-Crmp4-/-) mice. This study investigated the relationship between collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) and immune cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PanIN was induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein into KC-Crmp4wild and KC-Crmp4-/- mice, and immune cells in PanIN lesions were compared. Subcutaneous tumors were created by injecting Pan02 cells, and tumor diameter was compared between Crmp4wild and Crmp4-/- mice every 7 days. Peritumoral immune cells were examined immunohisto chemically. RESULTS: High-grade PanIN in KC mice showed statistically significantly high expression of CD163 (p=0.031) and CD11b (p=0.027). Following subcutaneous injection of Pan02 cells, tumor diameter was greater in Crmp4wild mice than Crmp4-/- mice. Crmp4wild mice exhibited higher CD163 and CD11b expression than Crmp4-/- mice in tumors (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: CRMP4 might promote pancreatic cancer by up-regulating M2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Low Incidence of High-Grade Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia Lesions in a Crmp4 Gene-Deficient Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), the most common premalignant lesion of the pancreas, is a histologically well-defined precursor to invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of PanINs have not been fully elucidated. Previously, we demonstrated that the expression of collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) in PDAC was associated with poor prognosis. The expression of CRMP4 was also augmented in a pancreatitis mouse model. However, the role of CRMP4 in the progression of PanIN lesions remains uncertain. In the present study, we examined the relationship between CRMP4 expression and progression of PanIN lesions using genetically engineered mouse models. PanIN lesions were induced by peritoneal injection of the cholecystokinin analog caerulein in LSL-KRASG12D; Pdx1-Cre (KC-Crmp4 wild-type, WT) mice and LSL-KRASG12D; Pdx1-Cre; Crmp4-/- (KC-Crmp4 knockout, KO) mice. We analyzed pancreatic tissue sections from these mice and evaluated PanIN grade by hematoxylin and eosin staining. CRMP4 expression was examined and the cellular components assessed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against CRMP4, CD3, and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The incidence of high-grade PanIN in KC-Crmp4 WT mice was higher than that in KC-Crmp4 KO animals. CRMP4 was expressed not only in epithelial cells but also in αSMA-positive cells in stromal areas of PanIN lesions. The CRMP4 expression in stromal areas correlated with PanIN grade in WT mice. These results suggested that the expression of CRMP4 in stromal cells may underlie the incidence or progression of PanIN.

Blunt penetration technique for treatment of a completely obstructed anastomosis after rectal resection: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: We present a case of completely obstructed anastomosis after rectal resection which was nonsurgically and successfully treated with a blunt penetration technique using a commonly used device for transanal ileus drainage. The technique we used in this case has not been previously reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old Japanese man underwent redo rectal resection for completely separated anastomosis which was caused by anastomotic leakage after a sigmoidectomy performed 3 years previously that was remedied by diverging ileostomy. Immediately after the redo surgery, fluoroscopy showed good passage through the colorectal anastomosis but no anastomotic leakage. However, fluoroscopy and colonoscopy prior to the ileostomy takedown showed complete obstruction of the anastomosis. Unlike usual anastomotic strictures, the lumen between colon oral and rectum anal to the anastomosis was completely discontinued by a membranous structure. Therefore, a conventional balloon dilatation technique was unsuitable for this condition. We applied a blunt penetration technique using a commercially available device designed as a transanal drainage system for obstructing colorectal cancer to restore the continuity between the colon oral and rectum anal to the anastomosis. After restoring the continuity, we performed conventional balloon dilatation for the anastomosis and successfully treated the anastomotic obstruction. Subsequently, the patient underwent ileostomy takedown and is currently doing well 12 months after the ileostomy takedown. CONCLUSIONS: The penetration technique we applied is easy and less stressful to adopt because it does not require usage of materials specialized for other particular purposes. Furthermore, we believe that this technique is superior in safety to other reported methods for this condition even if applied in the wrong direction because this technique does not utilize electrocision or sharp needle puncture.