[A Case of Successful Treatment of Small Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder with Pembrolizumab].

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder (SCCB) is a rare cancer that accounts for approximately 1% of primary malignant bladder tumors. It is highly malignant and has a poor prognosis. Similar to small cell lung cancer, platinum-based chemotherapy is recommended as the first-line therapy, and amrubicin (AMR) is recommended as the second-line therapy, but there is no established therapy after the second line. We report a case of SCCB that was refractory to multiple chemotherapies but responded to pembrolizumab. A 77-year-old male, diagnosed with clinical stage T3N0M0 small cell carcinoma and invasive urothelial carcinoma by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy after three cycles of neoadjuvant cisplatin-irinotecan chemotherapy, and pathological examination revealed only small cell carcinoma in his cystectomy specimen. After three courses of adjuvant carboplatin-etoposide chemotherapy, the patient developed liver and bone metastases. Furthermore, after two courses of amrubicin, we started pembrolizumab due to the progression of metastases. Metastases decreased after starting pembrolizumab and continued to decrease after discontinuation because of immunerelated adverse events (irAEs). Therefore, pembrolizumab may be an option for the treatment of refractory SCCB.

Height, body mass index, physical activity, and risk of colorectal cancer in relation to expression of insulin receptor: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

To ascertain the involvement of insulin receptors (IRs) in colorectal carcinogenesis, we investigated the association of height, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity with colorectal cancer (CRC) and two subtypes of CRC according to the expression level of IR. We utilized data from a large-scale, population-based prospective cohort study of 18,158 middle-aged and elderly subjects in Akita and Okinawa, Japan. In the statistical analysis, we used the Cox proportional hazards model and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of CRC and its subtypes as defined by immunohistochemistry of IRß, a transmembrane subunit of IR. In the IRß-defined subtypes, height showed no apparent association with the risk of IRß-positive CRC. In contrast, a multivariable HR of IRß-positive CRC was 1.77 (95% CI = 1.04-3.03) with a BMI of ≥30.0 kg/m2 (i.e., obesity), compared to a BMI of <25.0 kg/m2. Further, an increase in physical activity was significantly associated with decreased risk of IRß-positive CRC (multivariable HR per 5 METs-hour/day = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88-0.99). Meanwhile, we found no significant association between any exposure and IRß-negative CRC. Likewise, heterogeneity between the two subtypes of CRC was not statistically significant. These findings imply that obesity and physical activity exert promoting and suppressing effects on the development of CRC expressing IRs, respectively.

A case of pancreatic PEComa with prominent inflammatory cell infiltration: the inflammatory subtype is a distinct histologic group of PEComa.

BACKGROUND: PEComa is a mesenchymal tumor that can occur in various organs including the uterus and soft tissues. PEComas are composed of perivascular epithelioid cells, and angiomyolipoma (AML), clear cell sugar tumor (CCST), and lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) are considered lesions of the same lineage as tumors of the PEComa family. Histologically, a common PEComa shows solid or sheet-like proliferation of epithelioid cells. This is accompanied by an increase in the number of dilated blood vessels. Here, we report a case of pancreatic PEComa with marked inflammatory cell infiltration. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old male patient underwent an appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Postoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 30 × 25 mm non-contrast-enhanced circular lesion in the tail of the pancreas. The imaging findings were consistent with a malignant tumor, and distal pancreatectomy was performed. Histologically, most area of the lesion was infiltrated with inflammatory cells. A few epithelioid cells with large, round nuclei, distinct nucleoli, and eosinophilic granular cytoplasm were observed. Spindle-shaped tumor cells were observed. Delicate and dilated blood vessels were observed around the tumor cells. Immunohistochemically, the atypical cells were positive for αSMA, Melan A, HMB-45, and TFE3. The cytological characteristics of the tumor cells and the results of immunohistochemical staining led to a diagnosis of pancreatic PEComa. CONCLUSIONS: A histological variant known as the inflammatory subtype has been defined for hepatic AML. A small number of tumor cells present with marked inflammatory cell infiltration, accounting for more than half of the lesions, and an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor-like appearance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pancreatic PEComa with severe inflammation. PEComa is also a generic term for tumors derived from perivascular epithelioid cells, such as AML, CCST, and LAM. Thus, this case is considered an inflammatory subtype of PEComa. It has a distinctive morphology that is not typical of PEComa. This histological phenotype should be widely recognized.

Increased Wnt5a/ROR2 signaling is associated with chondrogenesis in meniscal degeneration.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between chondrogenic differentiation and Wnt signal expression in the degenerative process of the human meniscus. Menisci were obtained from patients with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA), and degeneration was histologically assessed using a grading system. Immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blot analysis were performed to examine the expressions of chondrogenic markers and of the components of Wnt signaling. Histological analyses showed that meniscal degeneration involved a transition from a fibroblastic to a chondrogenic phenotype with the upregulation of SOX9, collagen type II, collagen type XI, and aggrecan, which were associated with increased Wnt5a and ROR2 and decreased TCF7 expressions. OA menisci showed significantly higher expressions of Wnt5a and ROR2 and significantly lower expressions of AXIN2 and TCF7 than non-OA menisci on real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. These results potentially demonstrated that increased expression of Wnt5a/ROR2 signaling promoted chondrogenesis with decreased expression in downstream Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. This study provides insights into the role of Wnt signaling in the process of meniscal degeneration, shifting to a chondrogenic phenotype. The findings suggested that the increased expression of Wnt5a/ROR2 and decreased expression of the downstream target of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling are associated with chondrogenesis in meniscal degeneration.

Two acute kidney injury episodes after ICI therapy: a case report.

A 74-year-old Japanese male with lung squamous cell carcinoma received his first dose of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs): ipilimumab and nivolumab. He developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and was admitted to our department. We diagnosed kidney immune-related adverse effects (irAE), and a kidney biopsy revealed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. We started oral prednisolone (PSL) and his AKI immediately improved. The patient maintained stable findings after PSL was tapered off. However, seven months after the ICI administration, he developed rapid progressive glomerular nephritis and was admitted to our department again. The second kidney biopsy showed findings consistent with anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis. Although the patient was treated with pulse methylprednisolone followed by oral PSL and plasma exchange, he became dependent on maintenance hemodialysis. To our knowledge, no case report has described two different types of biopsy-proven nephritis. In cases of suspected relapsing kidney irAEs, both a relapse of previous nephritis and the development of another type of nephritis should be considered.

A Case of Myxoid Pleomorphic Liposarcoma with Rhabdoid Cells: A Diagnostic Pitfall.

Myxoid pleomorphic liposarcoma (MPLS) is an extremely rare tumor listed in the fifth edition of the WHO classification (2020). Histologically, it mainly comprises a mixture of myxoid and pleomorphic liposarcoma-like components. Genetically, it lacks FUS/EWSR1::DDIT3 fusion and MDM2 amplification. Herein, we describe an example of MPLS with rhabdoid cells in a 10-year-old girl who presented with a growing mass in the right inguinal region. The specimen from the wide excision measured 68 mm × 55 mm × 43 mm, and a circumscribed and lobulated mass was observed in the subcutaneous tissue. Histologically, oval-to-short, spindle-shaped, proliferating tumor cells with moderate nuclear atypia and mesh-like capillaries against a myxoid background were noted. Adipocytes were observed focally, while rhabdoid cells were observed multifocally. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed inconsistent reactivity for desmin but was negative for MYOD1, myogenin, MDM2, and CDK4. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed no DDIT3 rearrangement. Despite adjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor metastasized to the thoracic cavity 24 months after excision. The metastatic lesions contained abundant lipoblasts rather than rhabdoid cells, and we concluded this tumor was a MPLS. The presence of rhabdoid cells could be a diagnostic pitfall, and recognizing such a variation in histology would help improve diagnostic accuracy.

Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of osteoclast maturation in giant cell tumor of bone.

INTRODUCTION: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign but locally aggressive tumor characterized by the occurrence of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells that play a key role in GCTB pathogenesis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoclast differentiation in GCTB. Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody against RANKL, is used for GCTB treatment. Here, we performed morphological and immunohistochemical examinations of pre- and post-denosumab treatment changes by analyzing each stage of osteoclast differentiation. METHODS: We retrieved 15 archival cases of GCTB with tumor samples from both pre- and post-denosumab treatment. We selected three immunohistochemical markers from the expression data from a previous single-cell RNA study: FOS, a progenitor osteoclast marker, and JDP2 and NFATc1, mature osteoclast markers. RESULTS: The mean positivity of the markers decreased after denosumab treatment from 11.1% to 8.9% for FOS, from 10.6% to 7.2% for JDP2, and from 10.0% to 0.2% for NFATc1. Only NFATc1 positivity decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after denosumab treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a new differentiation stage of osteoclast maturation, intermediate cell, by comparing histological findings before and after denosumab treatment. We demonstrated that discrepancies exist between histological and molecular data and highlight the need for establishing an integrated definition of osteoclasts considering morphology and marker expression.

Intraoperative Integrated Diagnostic System for Malignant Central Nervous System Tumors.

PURPOSE: The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors uses an integrated approach involving histopathology and molecular profiling. Because majority of adult malignant brain tumors are gliomas and primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL), rapid differentiation of these diseases is required for therapeutic decisions. In addition, diffuse gliomas require molecular information on single-nucleotide variants (SNV), such as IDH1/2. Here, we report an intraoperative integrated diagnostic (i-ID) system to classify CNS malignant tumors, which updates legacy frozen-section (FS) diagnosis through incorporation of a qPCR-based genotyping assay. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: FS evaluation, including GFAP and CD20 rapid IHC, was performed on adult malignant CNS tumors. PCNSL was diagnosed through positive CD20 and negative GFAP immunostaining. For suspected glioma, genotyping for IDH1/2, TERT SNV, and CDKN2A copy-number alteration was routinely performed, whereas H3F3A and BRAF SNV were assessed for selected cases. i-ID was determined on the basis of the 2021 WHO classification and compared with the permanent integrated diagnosis (p-ID) to assess its reliability. RESULTS: After retrospectively analyzing 153 cases, 101 cases were prospectively examined using the i-ID system. Assessment of IDH1/2, TERT, H3F3AK27M, BRAFV600E, and CDKN2A alterations with i-ID and permanent genomic analysis was concordant in 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 96.4%, respectively. Combination with FS and intraoperative genotyping assay improved diagnostic accuracy in gliomas. Overall, i-ID matched with p-ID in 80/82 (97.6%) patients with glioma and 18/19 (94.7%) with PCNSL. CONCLUSIONS: The i-ID system provides reliable integrated diagnosis of adult malignant CNS tumors.

[A Case of Desmoid Fibromatosis of the Small Intestinal Mesentery Institutions].

The patient was a 27-year-old man. He was referred to our hospital because he was aware of a mass in his abdomen. An abdominal ultrasound showed a 70-mm mass lesion. Enhanced computed tomography showed a 70-mm mass with well- defined margins and heterogeneous internal enhancement near the proximal jejunum. The patient was diagnosed with a suspected primary submucosal tumor of the duodenum or small intestine, and surgery was planned to diagnose and treat the tumor. The tumor was located in the upper jejunal mesentery, and tumor resection and partial small bowel resection were performed. Histopathological examination revealed proliferation of spindle-shaped cells without karyomitosis, and mixed collagen fibers in the tissue. Immunohistochemistry showed ß-catenin(+), SMA(+), AE1/AE3(-), KIT(-), CD34(-), and S-100(-). Based on these findings, we diagnosed primary desmoid fibromatosis of the small intestinal mesentery. In this report, we describe a case of primary desmoid fibromatosis of the small intestinal mesentery with a review of the literature.

A case of lung carcinoma with a unique biphasic feature: Implications for histogenesis of "fake mucoepidermoid carcinoma" developing in the peripheral lung.

We present a case of lung carcinoma with a unique biphasic feature. The patient was a 67-year-old male smoker with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A subpleural tumor in the left lower lobe, embedded in fibrotic tissue, was resected. Histologically, the tumor consisted of major and minor components of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and surrounding conventional lepidic adenocarcinoma, respectively. Both components had the same TP53 somatic mutation (p.V157F) but not Mastermind-like 2 (MAML2) gene rearrangement. The two components may have developed from an identical origin. The tumor could be trans-differentiating from lepidic adenocarcinoma to MEC, possibly promoted by IPF-induced tissue damage. The final diagnosis was "adenosquamous carcinoma with mucoepidermoid-like features (that may originate from lepidic adenocarcinoma)." This case has implications for the potential histogenesis of peripheral lung MEC. Over time, the MEC would expand and outgrow the lepidic adenocarcinoma, making it impossible to distinguish between fake and true MEC. The present case suggests that peripheral MEC could differ from proximal MEC in its histogenesis and molecular genetics. Thus, careful examination is necessary to diagnose peripheral lung MEC, particularly in patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Comparative analyses define differences between BHD-associated renal tumour and sporadic chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, caused by germline alteration of folliculin (FLCN) gene, develops hybrid oncocytic/chromophobe tumour (HOCT) and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC), whereas sporadic ChRCC does not harbor FLCN alteration. To date, molecular characteristics of these similar histological types of tumours have been incompletely elucidated. METHODS: To elucidate renal tumourigenesis of BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours, we conducted whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of sixteen BHD-associated renal tumours from nine unrelated BHD patients, twenty-one sporadic ChRCCs and seven sporadic oncocytomas. We then compared somatic mutation profiles with FLCN variants and RNA expression profiles between BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours. FINDINGS: RNA-seq analysis revealed that BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic renal tumours have totally different expression profiles. Sporadic ChRCCs were clustered into two distinct clusters characterized by L1CAM and FOXI1 expressions, molecular markers for renal tubule subclasses. Increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number with fewer variants was observed in BHD-associated renal tumours compared to sporadic ChRCCs. Cell-of-origin analysis using WGS data demonstrated that BHD-associated renal tumours and sporadic ChRCCs may arise from different cells of origin and second hit FLCN alterations may occur in early third decade of life in BHD patients. INTERPRETATION: These data further our understanding of renal tumourigenesis of these two different types of renal tumours with similar histology. FUNDING: This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants, RIKEN internal grant, and the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research.

TFEB-translocated and -amplified renal cell carcinoma with VEGFA co-amplification: A case of long-term control by multimodal therapy including a vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor inhibitor.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma with TFEB amplification is rare and reportedly aggressive. We herein report a case of renal cell carcinoma with TFEB translocation and amplification in which long-term control was achieved by multimodal therapy including a vascular endothelial growth factor -receptor inhibitor. Case presentation: A 70-year-old man was referred to our institution for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma with multinodal metastases. Open nephrectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. Immunohistochemistry for transcription factor EB was positive, and fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed TFEB rearrangement and amplification. The diagnosis was TFEB-translocated and -amplified renal cell carcinoma. VEGFA amplification was also demonstrated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The residual and recurrent tumors were treated and controlled for 52 months by vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor target therapy, radiation therapy, and additional surgery. Conclusion: A good long-term response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug therapy may be due to VEGFA amplification and subsequent vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression.

Mortality associated with the development of acute liver failure after a single dose of nivolumab.

AIM: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors are reported in all organs; however, the frequency of liver injury is low compared to irAEs in other organs. We describe a case of fulminant hepatitis after administration of the first dose of nivolumab for the management of esophageal cancer. METHODS: A man in his 80s was treated with nivolumab as a second-line therapy after his overall health worsened during preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. He was admitted to the hospital as an emergency case 30 days later with complaints of vomiting, following which acute liver failure was diagnosed. RESULTS: The patient developed hepatic encephalopathy on the third day after admission and died on the seventh day. The pathological results showed sub-extensive spread hepatocellular necrosis throughout the liver, and immunostaining confirmed the presence of CD8-positive cells, which is consistent with irAEs. CONCLUSIONS: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have proven to be effective for the treatment of malignant tumors, and although fatalities due to acute liver failure are extremely rare, such cases have been reported previously. Among the immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-programmed death-1 receptor is associated with less hepatotoxicity. However, even a single dose of this treatment can cause acute liver failure, which could be fatal.

A rare case of intra-articular synovial sarcoma of the hip joint: a case report with intra-articular findings via hip arthroscopy.

Although synovial sarcoma is a relatively common soft tissue sarcoma, primary intra-articular cases are extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of primary intra-articular synovial sarcoma arising from the hip joint, that was initially treated with hip arthroscopy. A 42-year-old male presented with a history of pain in the left hip for 7 years. Radiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the primary intra-articular lesion and simple excision with an arthroscopy was performed. Histological findings revealed spindle cell proliferation with abundant psammoma bodies. SS18 gene rearrangement was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the tumor was diagnosed as synovial sarcoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were performed. Local control without metastasis was achieved 6 months after excision. This is the first case of intra-articular synovial sarcoma of the hip joint excised via hip arthroscopy. When an intra-articular lesion is identified, malignancies such as synovial sarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma: A Genetically Confirmed Case Showing Bone Invasion Accompanying a Non-neoplastic Respiratory Epithelium.

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma is a newly established tumor entity that is associated with distinct clinicopathological findings. Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma is a rare, low-grade spindle cell sarcoma that arises in middle-aged females, exclusively in the sinonasal tract. A fusion gene involving PAX3 is detected in most biphenotypic sinonasal sarcomas, which aids in its diagnosis. Here, we report a case of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma with its cytological findings. The patient was a 73-year-old woman who presented with purulent nasal discharge and dull pain in the left cheek area. Computed tomography showed a mass extending from the left nasal cavity to the left ethmoid sinus, the left frontal sinus, and the frontal skull base. She underwent a combined transcranial and endoscopic approach for en bloc resection with a safety margin. Histologically, spindle-shaped tumor cells have been thought to proliferate mainly in the subepithelial stroma. Here, nasal mucosal epithelial hyperplasia was noted, and the tumor had invaded the bone tissue accompanying the epithelial cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed a PAX3 rearrangement, and next-generation sequencing identified a PAX3::MAML3 fusion. Based on FISH, split signals were observed not in respiratory cells but in stromal cells. This indicated that respiratory cells were non-neoplastic. In the diagnosis of biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma, the inverted growth of the respiratory epithelium can be a diagnostic pitfall. FISH analysis using a PAX3 break-apart probe is helpful not only for an accurate diagnosis but also for detecting the true neoplastic cells.

Giant Cell Tumor of Bone Without Giant Cells with a Long Clinical Course: A Case Report.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) consists of a mixture of neoplastic mononuclear cells and non-neoplastic cells, including polynuclear giant cells. Recently, with the spread of the immunohistochemical staining marker H3.3 G34W corresponding to specific genetic abnormalities, the histological diversity of GCTB has been recognized. GCTB without giant cells is uncommon, although it has also been reported previously. Herein, we describe a 45-year-old man with GCTB without giant cells who was successfully diagnosed using H3.3 G34W immunohistochemistry. Other unusual findings in GCTB that were identified in this patient include bone and osteoid formation with a long clinical course of 13 years. We also compared the histological findings of the current patient to those who received denosumab therapy.

Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap Revisited as a Workhorse for Reconstruction for Defects in the Upper Arm: A Case Report.

Many previous reviews of the literature have described the grafts and techniques for management of defects in the upper arm. However, the alternatives are limited in cases where some conventional flaps are not available and the nearby donor vessels have been previously sacrificed for free flaps. A 77-year-old man presented with a tumor in the right upper arm just above the axilla. The patient had already undergone surgeries for three recurrences of low-grade myxofibrosarcoma, the primary site of which was around the right scapula. The pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap was used for the defect caused by tumor resection, since there was no other available option. An acceptable result was obtained without any major complications. Thus, the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap may be a candidate for reconstruction of defects in the proximal part of the upper arm.

Rhabdomyosarcoma With FUS::TFCP2 Fusion in the Scalp: A Rare Case Report Depicting Round and Spindle cell Morphology.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a nonepithelial malignant tumor that differentiates into immature skeletal muscle. It is currently classified into 4 main subtypes according to the WHO classification. However, based on clinicopathological and molecular findings, there has been an increasing number of cases that do not fit into any of these subtypes. TFCP2-rearranged RMS is a rare tumor with characteristic clinicopathological findings including a preference for the craniofacial bones, a spindle and epithelioid histomorphology, and positive immunohistochemistry for epithelial markers, ALK, and myogenic markers. In this report, we describe a rare case of RMS with FUS::TFCP2 fusion in the scalp of a 58-year-old man. Histologically, the tumor showed a biphasic pattern, with solid proliferation of round cells in the superficial areas and of spindle cells in the deep areas. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for pan keratin, myogenic markers (desmin, MYOD1, and myogenin), and ALK. Additionally, fluorescence in situ hybridization using a break-apart FUS probe revealed FUS rearrangement. RMS with FUS::TFCP2 fusion was suspected, and the fusion gene was finally confirmed by target fusion sequencing. We believe that detailed histological, immunohistochemical, and genetic findings were important for the diagnosis. The unique traits of this tumor were the biphasic histological appearance consisting of round and spindle cells and development in the skin and soft tissue.

Effect of Tranilast on the Frequency of Invasive Treatment for Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Fibromatosis.

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance (AS) has been suggested for managing extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis (EADF), but a substantial percentage of such patients transitioned to invasive secondary treatments. The anti-keloid medication tranilast is frequently used in Japan but its effectiveness for EADF is not well understood. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of EADF patients treated with tranilast between January 2009 and March 2021. EADF has been reported to shrink spontaneously, so the effects of all drugs must be compared with AS. To assess the effect of tranilast, we compared the clinical courses of patients receiving tranilast with those managed by AS (as identified in a systematic review). A systematic review of AS outcomes was conducted on July 22, 2021, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The primary endpoint was rate of conversion to secondary treatment. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events. The rates of conversion to secondary treatment, ORRs, and DCRs were compared between the two groups by using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Eighteen patients who received tranilast as initial treatment for EADF were included. Two patients (11.1%) underwent surgical resection for treatment of tumor growth and persistent pain. The rate of conversion to secondary treatment was significantly lower for tranilast than for a pure AS approach (40.1%; p = 0.01). ORR and DCR did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tranilast was better than AS for initial management of EADF.