大肠癌围手术期血清血管内皮生长因子表达与预后的关系

为探讨大肠癌围手术期患者血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）表达与预后的关系,采用酶链免疫吸附测定试剂盒检测8名健康体检者和40例大肠癌患者术前与术后1周血清VEGF的含量,并分析大肠癌患者术后VEGF水平下降程度对持续无瘤生存期的影响。结果显示,大肠癌患者术前VEGF水平为（497．68±128．36）pg／ml,术后1周为（368．56±98．72）Pg／ml,均明显高于健康体检者（224．54±68．23）pg／ml,q术前=8．951,q术后=4．720,P均〈0．01。大肠癌患者术后1周VEGF水平明显下降,q=7．329,P〈0．01。术后VEGF水平下降〈50％组持续无瘤生存期低于VEGF水平下降≥50％组,x2=8．903,P〈0．05。结果表明,VEGF在大肠癌患者血清中高表达,与患者预后显著相关,可作为判断大肠癌预后的有效指标。     

内皮抑素cDNA联合反义内皮生长因子核苷酸对胶质瘤生长的影响

目的观察大鼠内皮抑素cDNA联合反义血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）核苷酸对胶质瘤生长的影响。方法利用经抗性筛选可表达内皮抑素的C6细胞（C6／endo）、有效转染有反义VEGFl64核苷酸片段的C6细胞（C6／VEGF^-）及转染有可表达内皮抑素和反义VEGFl64核苷酸片段的C6细胞（C6／endo-VEGF^-）裸鼠皮下注射制作胶质瘤模型，21d后测定移植瘤瘤体和瘤重，ELISA法检测肿瘤组织中的VEGF含量，免疫组织化学方法检测肿瘤组织的微血管密度。结果C6／endo、C6／VEGF^-和C6／endo—VEGF^-的胶质瘤组织生长明显较C6胶质瘤慢（P〈0．01或P〈0．05），但C6／endo和C6／endo—VEGF^-生长差异无统计学意义，前三者VEGF含量也明显低于后者，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），其中C6／endo—VEGF^-的VEGF含量低于C6／endo、C6／VEGF^-（P〈0．01）；C6／endo和C6／endo—VEGF^-的血管密度较C6／VEGF^-低（P〈0．05），但是前两者间差异无统计学意义。结论C6／endo和C6／endo—VEGF^-可通过下调VEGF来达到抑制肿瘤生长；C6／endo—VEGF^-抗肿瘤生长更多可能是依赖于内皮抑素。     

复方丹参滴丸对冠心病患者内皮细胞生长因子及内皮抑素的影响

目的观察冠心病患者使用复方丹参滴丸前后血管内皮生长因子及内皮抑素水平的变化。方法选择2009年6月-2011年6月笔者所在医院住院患者86例,随机分为观察组及对照组,观察组给予复方丹参滴丸,10粒／次,3次,d,连续用药8周。两组受试者均于用药前及用药8周后清晨抽取空腹静脉血检测VEGF及ES。结果在治疗前两组VEGF和ES差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;同对照组相比,观察组用药后VEGF水平明显降低,而ES升高（P〈0．05）;同用药前相比观察组用药后VEGF水平同样明显降低,ES升高（P〈0．05）。结论冠心病患者使用复方丹参滴丸可使VEGF水平降低,而ES水平升高。     

腹腔镜与开腹直肠癌根治术对血浆血管内皮生长因子水平的影响

目的比较腹腔镜与开腹直肠癌根治术对血浆血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）水平的影响。方法前瞻性纳入汕头市中心医院在2011年1月至2012年12月间的100例直肠癌根治术患者,根据患者个人意愿分为腹腔镜手术组（LR组,63例）和开腹手术组（OR组,37例）。LR组直肠前切除（Dixon）术44例,腹会阴联合直肠癌切除（Miles）术19例;OR组Dixon术26例,Miles术11例。采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验检测两组术前1d和术后第1、3、7天血浆VEGF水平。结果LR组术后患者血浆VEGF水平均缓慢上升,至术后第7天时VEGF水平较术前明显升高（P〈O．01）：OR组术后第1天VEGF水平即较术前明显升高（P〈O．05）。LR组与OR组在术前1d和术后第1天VEGF水平的差异均无统计学意义（均P〉O．05）,但术后第3天和术后第7天OR组VEGF水平显著高于LR组（均P〈O．05）。结论与开腹手术相比,腹腔镜直肠癌根治术对患者血浆VEGF水平的短期影响较小。     

明胶海绵微粒化疗栓塞肝细胞癌后外周血中血管内皮生长因子水平变化

目的通过观察肝细胞癌（HCC）患者外周血中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）水平在GSPs化疗栓塞治疗前后的变化,探讨该方法对肿瘤血管生成的影响。方法应用ELISA双抗体夹心法检测30例原发性HCC患者（HCC组）GSPs化疗栓塞术前1天、术后4、7及28天和30名健康志愿者（对照组）外周血中VEGF水平。结果 HCC患者术前外周血中VEGF含量明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）。HCC患者术后4天[（232.56±119.40）pg/ml]、7天[（290.33±97.17）pg/ml]外周血中VEGF水平较术前1天[（106.79±55.85）pg/ml]明显增高（P均〈0.05）;术后28天[（233.54±106.60）pg/ml]低于术后7天[（290.33±97.17）pg/ml],但差异无统计学意义。结论 GSPs化疗栓塞治疗HCC术后VEGF规律性的变化可反映肿瘤血管生成状态,为术后抗血管内皮生长治疗提供理论依据。     

大肠癌组织中LYVE-1、HIF-1α和VEGF的表达及其临床意义

为探讨淋巴管内皮细胞透明质酸受体1（LYVE-1）、缺氧诱导因子-1α（HIF-1α）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在大肠癌组织中的表达及其与大肠癌临床病理特征的关系,本研究应用免疫组化法检测78例大肠癌组织中LYVE-1、HIF-1α和VEGF蛋白的表达,并与38例正常大肠组织进行比较。结果显示,LYVE-1、HIF-1α和VEGF在大肠癌组织中的表达率分别为64．10％、56．41％和61．54％,均明显高于正常对照组21．05％、0和31．57％（P〈0．05）。三者表达与大肠癌患者性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、分化程度、远处转移均无关（P〉0．05）,与淋巴结是否转移和Dukes分期有关（P〈O．05）。HIF-1α与LYVE-1和VEGF均显著相关（P〈0．01）。结果表明,LYVE-1、HIF-1α及VEGF在肿瘤淋巴管、血管生成和转移过程中起重要作用,联合检测LYVE-1、HIF-1α和VEGF可作为判断大肠癌转移和预后的重要指标。     

血管内皮生长因子D和微淋巴管密度及微血管密度与直肠癌进展的关系

目的研究血管内皮生长因子D（VEGF—D）、微淋巴管密度（MLD）和微血管密度（MVD）在直肠癌中的表达情况及它们与直肠癌发展、转移的相关性。方法选取手术切除并经病理证实的中低位直肠癌标本80例、直肠息肉标本40例和正常直肠组织80例，应用免疫组织化学方法测定其VEGF—D的表达和MLD、MVD水平。结果（1）VEGF—D在直肠癌组织中的阳性率为55％（44／80），直肠息肉和正常直肠组织则均为0（P〈0．05）；MLD在直肠癌组织中为2．80±1．31，直肠息肉中为0．50±0．72，正常直肠组织中MLD为0．25±0．44，直肠癌组织中的MLD明显高于直肠息肉和正常直肠组织（P〈0．05）；MVD在直肠癌组织中为80．10±23．18，直肠息肉中为27．00±11．01，正常直肠组织中为10．45±5．34，直肠癌组织中的MVD明显高于直肠息肉和正常直肠组织（P〈0．05）。（2）直肠癌组织中的VEGF-D表达和MLD、MVD水平与淋巴结转移、术前远处转移有明显相关性（P〈0．01，P〈0．05）。（3）直肠癌组织中的MLD与VEGF—D呈正相关，随着VEGF—D表达的增高MLD明显增高（P〈0．01）。结论VEGF-D和MLD是反映直肠癌淋巴管生成的理想指标，同时也是反映直肠癌进展程度的重要指标，直肠癌淋巴管生成及血管生成可能具有协同作用。     

血管内皮生长因子和内抑素在STZ大鼠肾脏中的表达及意义

目的：研究血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和内抑素（ENS）在2型糖尿病大鼠肾脏中的表达状况、比值变化及与肾脏微血管病变的关系。方法：将Wister大鼠设正常对照组和模型组，使用STZ诱导形成2型糖尿大鼠肾病模型，分别于2、4、8、12周，采用RT-PCR的方法观察大鼠肾脏VEGF和ENSmRNA的表达，并观察其比值变化，同时采用免疫组化观察VEGF蛋白的表达变化。结果：（1）糖尿病组2周时肾脏中VEGFmRNA开始上调（P〈0．05），4、8、12周时较正常对照组明显上调（P〈0．01）。（2）糖尿病组2周时肾脏中ENSmRNA的表达开始上调（P〈0，05），8、12周时表达明显上调（P〈0．01）。（3）糖尿病组2周时肾脏的VEGFmRNA／ENSmRNA值未见变化（P〉0．05），4周时升高（P〈0．05），12周时明显升高（P〈0．01）。（4）免疫组化显示糖尿病肾病组2周时VEGF升高，12周时升高更明显。结论：VEGF和ENS同时参与了糖尿病肾病的血管生成调控，两者表达水平的失衡是其新生血管形成的关键。     

心衰患者尿酸对血管内皮功能的影响及别嘌呤醇的干预

目的探讨心力衰竭（心衰）患者尿酸（UA）升高对血管内皮功能的影响及别嘌呤醇干预对尿酸升高的慢性心衰内皮依赖性血管舒张功能的影响。方法将30例心衰患者随机分为别嘌呤醇组和对照组，对照组15例，用常规药物治疗2周；别嘌呤醇组15例，在常规药物治疗基础上加用别嘌呤醇。采用高分辨超声技术检测血流介导和硝酸甘油介导的肱动脉舒张功能，并测定治疗前后血浆UA和内皮素（ET-1）。结果（1）用药前，二者比较UA水平及ET-1水平，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；用药后，别嘌呤醇组UA水平及ET-1水平和对照组比较均降低，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。各组用药后UA水平及ET-1水平均明显降低（P〈0．01）。（2）别嘌呤醇组和对照组肱动脉内径基础值无明显差异（P〉0．05），反应性充血引起肱动脉内径变化别嘌呤醇组明显增加（P〈0．01）。含服硝酸甘油后两组肱动脉内径均明显扩张，但两组肱动脉内径变化无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论心衰患者经药物干预后，UA水平降低，ET-1水平随之下降，尤以别嘌呤醇组降低明显。别嘌呤醇治疗后UA水平明显降低，内皮依赖性血管舒张功能明显改善，别嘌呤醇是慢性心衰的一种便宜而有效的辅助药物。     

血管内皮生长因子936 T/C基因多态性与结直肠癌及术后吻合口瘘的关系

目的通过研究血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）936T／C基因多态性了解该因子对结直肠癌生成及术后结肠吻合口瘘的影响。方法采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR—RFLP）方法检测结直肠癌及正常对照的VEGF936T／C基因型。结果结直肠癌患者VEGF936T／C基因型或等位基因与对照组相比无差异。伴有术后结肠吻合口瘘的结直肠癌患者其VEGF936C／C基因型及C等位基因比例低于无术后结肠吻合口瘘的患者,两者差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论VEGF936C／C基因型或936C等位基因与结直肠癌的发生无关,但提示术后结肠吻合口瘘的发生率降低。     

Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor and decreased survival in advanced laryngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor (s-VEGF) levels at the time of diagnosis correlate with any known tumor variables and overall survival in patients with advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Comparisons with a cohort of normal healthy controls were also performed to determine the potential usefulness of s-VEGF as a screening tool. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Serum from patients enrolled in the VA Laryngeal Cooperative Study #258 (n = 183), as well as normal healthy controls (n = 40) was used in this analysis. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for VEGF were performed in duplicate on each serum sample. Demographic and survival data were available for each patient enrolled in the study. Univariate analyses, multivariate Cox regression analyses, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of s-VEGF for the healthy control group was 47.83 +/- 0.13 pg/mL. For all patients enrolled in the VA Cooperative Study, regardless of treatment group, the mean s-VEGF level was 317.22 +/- 25.46 pg/mL. The patients randomly assigned to the surgical arm (n = 97) had a mean value of 315.44 +/- 30.44 pg/mL. Those randomly assigned to the induction chemotherapy arm (n = 86) had a mean s-VEGF level of 319.22 +/- 42.11 pg/mL. Serum VEGF levels were significantly elevated in patients with laryngeal carcinoma compared with healthy controls (p < .001). The serum VEGF levels in each arm of the trial were also elevated versus the healthy controls (p < .001, surgery arm plus radiotherapy; p < .001, chemotherapy plus radiotherapy). In a univariate analysis, elevated s-VEGF correlated with poor Karnofsky performance status for all patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma (p < .008). High s-VEGF levels also correlated with a poor performance score in patients on the chemotherapy arm of the VA Laryngeal Trial (p < .004). Elevated s-VEGF levels in the surgical plus radiotherapy arm correlated with node-positive disease (p = .047) and supraglottic location of the tumor (p = .022). In a multivariate analysis using all known tumor variables and s-VEGF levels, elevated s-VEGF levels and infiltrating growth pattern correlated with decreased survival for all evaluated patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma (p = .065, and p = .018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Serum VEGF levels are significantly elevated in patients with advanced laryngeal carcinoma versus healthy controls. Elevated pretreatment s-VEGF levels tended to indicate a more aggressive disease state and a poorer overall survival in advanced laryngeal carcinoma.     

结直肠癌术前区域动脉灌注化疗疗效的组织学评价

目的 评估腹腔镜结直肠癌手术联合术前区域动脉灌注化疗的组织学疗效及其临床应用价值.方法 对23例结、直肠癌患者于术前应用Seldinger技术行区域动脉造影并行选择性动脉灌注化疗,针对直肠癌以及肝转移的患者同时行碘油栓塞,1-11 d后行腹腔镜手术,标本行病理组织学检测.参照化疗组织学疗效评定标准评级,分析其与肿瘤分化程度、TNM分期之间的联系,比较术前区域动脉灌注化疗与术前区域动脉灌注化疗联合栓塞的组织学疗效差异.应用χ2检验组内差异.结果 经术前动脉灌注化疗的23例患者其肿瘤组织学疗效0级2例,Ⅰ级7例,Ⅱ级10例,Ⅲ级4例,总有效率为91%(21/23),在15例有淋巴结转移的患者中有效率为87%(13/15).肿瘤分化程度、TNM分期与组织学疗效无明显相关性.术前介入化疗联合栓塞较单独应用化疗疗效有显著性优势.结论 对不同分化程度、不同TNM分期的结直肠癌患者,术前选择性区域动脉灌注化疗均有良好的组织学疗效,直肠癌患者联合栓塞治疗可进一步提高疗效.     

手术前区域动脉灌注化疗治疗结肠直肠癌的远期疗效观察

目的：总结应用术前区域动脉灌注化疗（preoperative regional intraarterial chemotherapy,PRAC)治疗结肠直肠癌的临床经验,探讨结肠直肠癌综合治疗方法的远期临床疗效。方法;采用Seldinger方法选择肿瘤的供应动脉,造影明确诊断后,注入化疗药物,术后10d进行结肠直肠癌的根治手术,术后应用5－氟脲嘧啶加甲酰四氢叶酸钙化疗方案6个疗程,同期未行PRAC而直接接受手术治疗者作为对照组,结果：PRAC组患者术后1年生存率为93．05％,对照组为80．78％,3年生存率则分别为71．80％和40．76％,2组对比差异有显著性意义（P＝0．023）,通过对2组多项临床病理因素对术后生存期的影响进行COX多因素分析,发现肿瘤的Dukes分期以及是否行PRAC对预后有明显影响,行PRAC组患者术后生存期明显延长,结论：PRAC治疗结肠直肠癌可以提高患者术后长期生存时间。     

大肠癌患者VEGF和Endostatin的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系

目的：探讨大肠癌患者手术前后血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）和Endostatin的动态变化规律及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法：ELISA法检测大肠癌患者（大肠癌组）术前及术后2周血清VEGF和Endostatin水平,并与大肠腺瘤患者（大肠腺瘤组）和健康对照者（对照组）进行比较。结果：1）大肠癌组术前血清VEGF水平显著高于大肠腺瘤组及对照组（P均〈0.01）。2）大肠癌组术前血清Endostatin水平显著高于大肠腺瘤组及对照组（P均〈0.01）。3）大肠癌组术前血清VEGF、Endostatin水平与原发肿瘤大小、细胞分化程度、区域淋巴结转移、肝转移及Dukes分期密切相关（P均〈0.05）,与性别、肿瘤部位等因素无关（P〉0.05）。4）大肠癌组术后2周血清VEGF水平较术前显著下降,而血清Endostatin水平较术前升高（P均〈0.01）。结论：大肠癌患者血清VEGF和Endostatin水平升高,且与原发肿瘤大小、细胞分化程度、区域淋巴结转移、肝脏转移及Dukes分期等因素有密切关系;血清VEGF和Endostatin水平是评价大肠癌恶性行为、预测浸润和转移程度的有效指标。     

膀胱癌组织及血清中内皮抑素表达的意义

目的　探讨原发性膀胱癌患者血清内皮抑素水平和组织表达与肿瘤分级、分期的关系。　方法　采用免疫组织化学方法检测 4 5例膀胱癌组织及 12例正常膀胱组织中内皮抑素表达情况。ELISA法检测 5 8例膀胱癌患者术前血清内皮抑素水平 ,4 3例健康者血清作对照。　结果　浅表性膀胱癌组内皮抑素表达率 6 1.5 % ,浸润性癌组为 90 .6 % ,正常膀胱组织为 33.3%。膀胱癌患者血清内皮抑素 4 6 .3ng/ml,显著高于对照组的 2 9.8ng/ml(P <0 .0 1)。局部浸润性膀胱癌患者血清内皮抑素 4 8.6ng/ml,显著高于浅表性癌组的 31.1ng/ml(P <0 .0 1) ;远处转移组血清内皮抑素 6 9.8ng/ml,显著高于局部浸润组 (P <0 .0 1) ;浅表性癌组与对照组血清内皮抑素水平差异无显著性意义。G3级肿瘤患者血清内皮抑素水平显著高于G1和G2 级 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　膀胱癌患者血清内皮抑素水平和组织表达显著增高 ,并与肿瘤分级、分期相关 ,检测内皮抑素表达及血清水平有助于判断膀胱癌的恶性程度。     

心瓣膜疾病患者围手术期脑钠素浓度的变化

目的 观察心瓣膜置换术患者围手术期血清脑钠素(brain natriuretic peptide, BNP)浓度的变化规律.方法 20例心瓣膜置换术患者按NYHA心功能标准分级,术前进行超声心动图检查,测量左心室射血分数(LVEF),于术前、术后24小时、7天、14天和30天测量血清BNP浓度,分析围手术期BNP浓度变化趋势,术前BNP浓度与心功能、LVEF的关系. 结果心瓣膜疾病患者术后BNP浓度急剧上升,24小时达峰值(P＝0.003);术后7天明显下降,但仍高于术前水平(P＝0.015);术后14天恢复至术前水平,术后30天略低于术前水平.术前心功能NYHA分级与BNP水平呈正相关(r=0.69,P＜0.05),LVEF与BNP浓度无相关关系(r＝0.29,P＞0.05). 结论术前血清BNP浓度能反映心瓣膜置换术患者术前心功能状况,血清BNP浓度越高,心功能越差.术后早期BNP浓度升高,后期呈下降趋势.     

结直肠癌患者血浆胆固醇水平相关研究

目的 探讨结直肠癌患者手术前后血浆胆固醇水平变化及其与结直肠癌分期的相关性.方法 术前及术后1、3、7d测定临床确诊的结直肠癌患者血浆胆固醇含量,记录相应病例的肿瘤侵润、淋巴结转移及分化情况.并取健康查体者30例做术前对照.结果 结直肠癌患者术前胆固醇水平较对照组显著降低,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,且与临床病理分期有相关性.术后胆固醇水平升高,与术前比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 结直肠癌患者术前胆固醇降低,术后升高,并且与临床分期相关,分期越晚,降低越明显.     

Serum amylase isoenzymes in patients undergoing operation for ruptured and non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Previous work has suggested that hyperamylasemia in patients who undergo operation for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with poor outcome. The aims of this study were to determine, for the first time, the source of serum amylase in such patients and to examine the prognostic significance of amylase isoenzyme expression. METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective clinical and laboratory study. The study consisted of 40 patients who underwent operation for ruptured AAA and 10 patients who underwent operation for non-ruptured AAA. The main outcome measures were serum total and pancreatic and salivary amylase activities determined with enzymatic colorimetric assay before operation and 6 hours after aortic clamp release. RESULTS: Five of 40 patients (12.5%) with rupture and one of 10 patients (10%) with non-rupture had elevated total amylase levels before operation, and seven of 31 patients (23%) with rupture and five of 10 patients (50%) with non-rupture had elevated total amylase levels after operation. The preoperative salivary amylase (P =.05) and postoperative pancreatic amylase (P <.02) levels were significantly lower in ruptured AAA as compared with non-ruptured AAA. The preoperative salivary amylase level was significantly lower in non-survivors of rupture, such that a level equal to or less than 45 U/L was associated with death in 11 of 13 patients (85%). CONCLUSION: These data do not support previous works that suggest that hyperamylasemia is associated with poor outcome in ruptured AAA. By contrast, a low preoperative salivary amylase level was associated with increased mortality in ruptured AAA and may be a marker of the severity of shock.     

术前区域化疗联合放疗对低位直肠癌术后复发及P53表达的影响

目的探讨术前区域动脉灌注化疗（Preoperative regional intra-aterial chemotherapy,PRAC）联合放疗对低位直肠癌术后复发及P53表达的影响。方法对45例低位直肠癌病例随机分为3组,每组各15例,A组进行术前化、放疗,B组术前单纯放疗,C组术前未行任何化、放疗。采用免疫组化S-P法检测每例治疗前及手术后的P53表达。所有病例均得到12个月以上的随访。结果全部施行根治性切除术。A组治疗前后P53阳性表达分别为53.33%（8/15）和20.00%（3/15）,B组分别为60.00%（9/15）和33.33%（5/15）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;C组分别为53.33%（8/15）和40.00%（6/15）,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。3组治疗前P53阳性表达之间无明显差异,3组术后P53阳性表达之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。A组复发率6.67%（1/15）,B组13.33%（2/15）,C组26.67%（4/15）,A组与B组的复发率均低于C组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。A组保肛率40.00%（6/15）,B组26.67%（4/15）,C组6.67%（1/15）,A组与B组的保肛率均高于C组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论低位直肠癌采用PRAC联合放疗可以降低P53表达和减少复发率、提高保肛率,它是对低位直肠癌治疗的有效和合理的的措施。     

Does preoperative chemotherapy cause adverse effects on the perioperative course of patients undergoing esophagectomy for carcinoma?

The aim of this study was to clarify whether preoperative chemotherapy caused adverse effects on the perioperative course of patients undergoing esophagectomy. A total of 42 esophageal cancer patients were entered into a randomized trial and were analyzed. Twenty-one patients were assigned to immediate surgery (Surgery Group). The other 21 received two 5-day courses of chemotherapy comprising cisplatin (70 mg/m2) on day 1, and fluorouracil (700 mg/m2) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2) on each of days 1 to 5 (chemotherapy group). Hospital mortality comprised of one patient (2.3%) who had undergone an operation in the beginning of this series at 21 days after chemotherapy. Thereafter, the interval between the chemotherapy and operation was prolonged, with the average being 35 +/- 7 days. Preoperatively, both the lymphocyte counts and serum albumin levels were not increased in the chemotherapy group of patients even though their body weights increased. In the chemotherapy group, the operation time and the blood loss were increased and, on the 1st postoperative day, the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was high but the level of C-reactive protein was low. The incidence of positive microbial cultures of sputum and/or wound discharge within 8 postoperative days was higher in the chemotherapy group (42.9%) than in the surgery group (4.8%). The host defense damage caused by chemotherapy may be prolonged and may show adverse effects in patients undergoing esophagectomy in the early postoperative period. Minimally, a 4-week interval between the completion of chemotherapy and operation is recommended for preventing surgical mortality related to the preoperative chemotherapy.