Distinctive Multidrug Sensitivity and Outcome of Acute Erythroblastic and Megakaryoblastic Leukemia in Children With Down Syndrome

We assessed the in vitro chemosensitivity of acute erythroblastic and megakaryoblastic leukemia cells from children with Down syndrome (DS) compared to non-DS children. We conducted in vitro tests using the MTT assay of bone marrow samples from 12 children with DS and 16 children without DS. Patients were newly diagnosed based on the morphology and expression of platelet-specific antigens. Induction failure occurred more frequently in the non-DS group (n = 4) than in the DS group (n = 0, P = .053). Children with DS had a superior event-free survival (EFS) probability of 0.750 at 4 years, compared to an EFS probability of 0.375 for non-DS children (P = .049). Blast cells from DS patients were significantly more sensitive to daunorubicin, melphalan, mitoxantrone, 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide, vincristine, etoposide, bleomycin, and pirarubicin than those from non-DS patients. Four of the 16 non-DS patients were found to have acquired an extra chromosome 21 in their leukemia cells: blasts from these patients also tended to have greater chemosensitivity than those from patients without an extra chromosome 21. Blast cells from DS patients are markedly sensitive to various drugs. These results suggest that the fragility of blast cells derived from DS patients may be related to an increased susceptibility to apoptosis.     

Identification of the layered morphology of the esophageal wall by optical coherence tomography

AIM： To assess each layer of the optical coherence tomography （OCT） image of the esophageal wall with reference to the histological structure, METHODS： Resected specimens of fresh pig esophagus was used as a model for the esophageal wall. We injected cyanoacrylate adhesive into the specimens to create a marker, and scanned them using a miniature OCT probe. The localization of these markers was assessed in the OCT images. Then we compared the OCT-imaged morphology with the corresponding histological section, guided by the cyanoacrylate adhesive markers. We prepared a second set of experiments using nylon sutures as markers. RESULTS： The OCT image of the esophageal specimen has a clear five-layered morphology. First, it consisted of a relatively less reflective layer; second, a more reflective layer; third, a less reflective layer; fourth, a more reflective layer; and fifth, a less reflective layer. Comparing the OCT images with marked histological sections showed that the first layer corresponded to stratified squamous epithelium; the second to lamina propria; the third to muscularis mucosa; fourth, submucosa; and fifth, muscularis propria with deeper structures of the esophageal wa CONCLUSION： We demonstrated that the OCT image of the normal esophageal wall showed a five- layered morphology, which corresponds to histological esophageal wall components.     

Establishment and characterization of pleomorphic adenoma cell systems: an in-vitro demonstration of carcinomas arising secondarily from adenomas in the salivary gland

Background  

Among the salivary gland carcinomas, carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma has been regarded as a representative carcinoma type which arises secondarily in the background of a pre-existent benign pleomorphic adenoma. It is still poorly understood how and which benign pleomorphic adenoma cells transform into its malignant form, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.     

A Phase I Trial of 5-Fluorouracil with Cisplatin and Concurrent Standard-dose Radiotherapy in Japanese Patients with Stage II/III Esophageal Cancer

Objective: In Japan, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m² on Days 1–5,8–12, 36–40 and 43–46 with cisplatin (CDDP)40 mg/m² on Days 1, 8, 36 and 43 plus concurrent radiotherapywith 2 weeks planned interruption (60 Gy) was standard for thepatients with esophageal cancer. This Phase I trial was designedto determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limitingtoxicity (DLT) of 5-FU on Days 1–4 and 29–32 withCDDP on Days 1 and 29 plus concurrent radiotherapy (50.4 Gy)among the Japanese. Methods: Escalating doses of 5-FU and CDDP were administered with concurrentradiotherapy (50.4 Gy). Treatment was continued until DLT appeared. Results: Twelve patients with previously untreated clinical Stage II/IIIsquamous cell esophageal carcinoma were studied. One of sixpatients given Level 1 (5-FU 800 mg/m² on Days 1–4 and29–32 with CDDP 75 mg/m² on Days 1 and 29) developed aDLT of incomplete protocol treatment due to Grade 3 esophagitis.The MTD was not reached at Level 2 (5-FU 1000 mg/m² with CDDP75 mg/m²). The complete response rate was 67% at Level 1 and100% at Level 2. Conclusions: Dose Level 2 with 50.4 Gy radiotherapy was recommended for Japanesepatients.     

Carcinoid tumors of the pancreas: dynamic CT and MRI features with pathological correlation

Background  

Carcinoid tumor of the pancreas is rare, and there are few reports that described its CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. We describe the characteristic CT and MRI findings in four cases of carcinoid tumor of the pancreas.     

The up-regulation of vimentin and ezrin in the Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 gene transfected cells

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the development of a variety of highly metastatic carcinomas, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is essential for B-cell transformation. In this study, we used two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to study the mechanism behind tumor invasion and metastasis. Eight proteins, including Vimentin and Ezrin, were identified from the alteration of expressed proteins in HEK-293 cells responding to LMP1 gene transfection. Vimentin is a major protein of the mesenchymal intermediate filament, which maintains the cytoskeleton conformation. Ezrin is also an essential protein that links the cell membrane to the actin cytoskeleton. The up-regulation of Vimentin and Ezrin in the LMP1 gene-transfected cells suggests that EBV LMP1 is involved in the progression and metastasis of NPC.