Two cases of primary peritoneal cystadenocarcinoma--diagnosis, treatment, and clinical feature

Primary peritoneal adenocarcinoma is rare, originating in the paramesonephric duct (müllerian duct). We report two cases of primary peritoneal adenocarcinoma. Both patients received a surgical resection. The pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was papillary adenocarcinoma with clear cell carcinoma. The response after the combination chemotherapy using CDDP and TS-1 was "PR", and these treatments were effective to improve the patients' quality of life in each case.     

HEMATOGENOUS DEVELOPMENT OF RAT MATURE GRANULOCYTIC LEUKEMIA—COMPARISON OF 2,7-FAA-INDUCED AND TRANSPLANTED LEUKEMIA—

The oral administration of N,'N-2,7-fluorenylenebis-acetamide (2,7-FAA) induces leukemia, especially mature granulocytic leukemia in rats. We compared the degree of infiltration of 2,7-PAA-induced mature granulocytic leukemia with that of transplanted leukemia for the purpose of proving hema-togenous development of leukemia. The bone marrow, spleen and liver were examined in the cases of diffuse lesion of 2,7-FAA-induced and transplanted leukemia. The average degree of infiltration of both 2,7-PAA-induced and transplanted leukemia was high in the bone marrow, medium in the spleen, and low in the liver. Intravenous transplantation of malignant neoplasm is an example of hematogenous metastasis. The similarity of infiltration between 2,7-FAA-induced and transplanted leukemia suggests that the former is spread by hematogenous metastasis.     

Upregulation of thymidine phosphorylase in rectal cancer tissues by mitomycin C

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We have investigated the regulation by mitomycin C (MMC) of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), which enhances or reduces the efficacy of capecitabine and its metabolite 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), in rectal cancer tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 31 patients with a rectal cancer, tumor biopsies were performed before and after pre-operative venous administration of 4 mg/m2, 6 mg/m2, or 10 mg/m2 of MMC. The dThdPase and DPD levels in the biopsy and surgical specimens were measured using ELISA, and immunostaining for dThdPase was performed. RESULTS: The fitting multiple linear regression models indicated that the dThdPase levels increased after MMC administration, in particular in the patients with a pre-treatment dThdPase level less than 56.2 U/mg protein (median value). The time course analysis indicated that the increase in the dThdPase level by 4 mg/m2 of MMC administration continued for 3 weeks. The dThdPase/DPD ratio was increased after MMC administration in patients with a pre-treatment dThdPase/DPD ratio less than 1.79 (median value). MMC enhanced the expression of dThdPase protein both in the tumor cells and in the stromal cells. The disease free-survival rate in the Dukes B or C patients with a high dThdPase/DPD ratio in surgical specimen who received 5'-DFUR based adjuvant chemotherapy tended to be higher than that in those with a low dThdPase/DPD ratio. CONCLUSION: MMC may upregulate the dThdPase level and the dThdPase/DPD ratio in rectal cancer tissues. Combined use of MMC with capecitabine or 5'-DFUR may offer a more effective colorectal cancer therapy.     

Value of Visual Inspection, Bimanual Palpation, and Intraoperative Ultrasonography During Hepatic Resection for Liver Metastases of Colorectal Carcinoma

Background  

Intraoperative detection of new nodules is common in patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases, although the value of intraoperative diagnosis is not well assessed.     

Evaluation of tissue-engineered vascular autografts

This study evaluated the endothelial function and mechanical properties of tissue-engineered vascular autografts (TEVAs) constructed with autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells (MN-BMCs) and a biodegradable scaffold using a canine inferior vena cava (IVC) model. MN-BMCs were obtained from a dog and seeded onto a biodegradable tubular scaffold consisting of polyglycolide fiber and poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) sponge. This scaffold was implanted in the IVC of the same dog on the day of surgery. TEVAs were analyzed biochemically, biomechanically, and histologically after implantation. When TEVAs were explanted and stimulated with acetylcholine at 1 month, they produced nitrates and nitrites dose dependently. N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester significantly inhibited these reactions. With stimulation by acetylcholine, factor VIII-positive cells of TEVAs produced endothelial nitric oxide synthase proteins, and the ratio of endothelial nitric oxide synthase/s17 mRNA was similar among native IVC and TEVAs 1 and 3 months after implantation. TEVAs had biochemical properties and wall thickness similar to those of native IVC at 6 months after implantation, and tolerated venous pressure well without any problems such as calcification. The number of inflammatory cells in TEVAs and the ratio of CD4/s17 mRNA decreased significantly with time. These results indicate that TEVAs are a biocompatible material with functional endothelial cells and biomechanical properties and do not have unwanted side effects.