[Primary adenocarcinoma of small intestine with peritoneal dissemination treated with S-1 and CPT-11 combination chemotherapy].

A 62-year-old woman was admitted for epigastralgia, nausea and tarry stool.Abdominal CT showed a tumor to the jejunum from the duodenum, and peritoneal dissemination.Gastroduodenoscopy showed a type 2 tumor, and the histopathological examination revealed a well-to moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma.Accordingly, she was diagnosed with primary adenocarcinoma of the small intestines and underwent surgery.The first-line chemotherapy with S-1/CPT-11 was started after surgery, and the tumor marker returned to normal.The treatment of 14 courses was continued until PD due to the enlargement of the peritoneal dissemination.Second - and third-line chemotherapy were performed; however, she died 20 months after the initial treatment.Although the incidence of primary adenocarinoma of the small intestines is relative- ly low, and there is no established chemotherapy at present, this case suggested that S-1/CPT-11may be an effective regimen for advanced primary adenocarcinoma of the small intestines.

Gene expression profile of 5-fluorouracil metabolic enzymes in primary colorectal cancer: potential as predictive parameters for response to fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) have been reported to be predictive parameters for the efficacy of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. Therapy guided by chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays may lead to rational treatment decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: mRNA expression of TS, DPD, TP, and OPRT were quantified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after harvesting from paraffin embedded specimens through microdissection. In vitro chemosensitivity testing by histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) was performed with fresh specimens of the primary tumor from 49 patients with colorectal cancer. Correlations between the results of a chemosensitivity test (the T/C ratio; the percentage of optical density of a tumor treated with anticancer drugs in relation to the optical density of the tumor cultured in RPMI 1640 medium only) and the gene expression were assessed. RESULTS: The gene expression of TS, TP, and OPRT had no correlation with clinicopathological factors, survival, and T/C ratio. The DPD mRNA levels (0.295 vs. 0.381, p = 0.2460) and OPRT/DPD ratio (5.535 vs. 4.394. p = 0.226) had a weak correlation with the T/C ratio. Of the eleven patients who were actually treated with chemotherapy, the responders had higher OPRT/DPD ratios (8.065 vs. 4.081, p = 0.090). CONCLUSION: The DPD mRNA level and OPRT/DPD ratio evaluated from paraffin embedded specimens are candidates for further evaluation as predictors of response against 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Expression level of thymidylate synthase is a good predictor of chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: It is important to seek the appropriate chemotherapy drugs to effectively eliminate colorectal cancers. To avoid unnecessary medication and uncomfortable side effects, it is important to estimate the chemosensitivity of cancers to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) before chemotherapy. METHODS: We examined thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) gene expressions in 23 colorectal cancers, using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We then evaluated the relationship between TS and DPD gene expression levels and the sensitivity of colorectal cancers to 5-FU, as determined by histoculture drug response assay (HDRA). RESULTS: A significant increase in the TS expression score was observed in 5-FU-sensitive colorectal cancers (0.57 +/- 0.19) compared to 5-FU-resistant ones (1.16 +/- 0.98; P = 0.029), whereas no significant differences in DPD expression scores were observed in 5-FU-sensitive colorectal cancers (0.86 +/- 1.19) compared to 5-FU-resistant ones (0.56 +/- 1.05; P = 0.603). CONCLUSIONS: TS mRNA may be useful as a predictor of the 5-FU chemosensitivity of colorectal cancers.

Effect of moisture content on the expansion volume of popped Amaranth seeds by hot air and superheated steam using a fluidized bed system.

The effect of the initial moisture content (X(0)) of amaranth seeds on expansion volume after popping was examined in hot air and superheated steam (SHS), using a fluidized bed system (FBS). The moisturized seeds were prepared under various vapor pressures due to various saturated salt solutions. In hot air, the maximum expansion volume was shown by seeds having X(0) of 0.16 at 260 degrees C for 15 sec, reaching 8.7-fold of the pre-popped seeds. Heating by SHS decreased the volume slightly. Thus, popping of amaranth seeds is influenced not only by the moisture content of the seeds, but also by moisture in the heat media.