[Long-Term Survival for a Patient with Stageâ £ Gastric Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases for Ten Years Who Was Treated with Only S-1Chemotherapy].

An 82-year-old woman presented with a dull feeling in her stomach and anemia. The gastroscopy and abdominal CT scan showed a progressive gastric tumor with multiple liver metastases, and a biopsy specimen revealed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. A subtotal gastrectomy with D1 plus lymph node dissection was performed. The final diagnosis was as follows: H1, P0, CY0, M1, pT3, pN2, and fStageⅣ. We considered her age, and postoperative chemotherapy with of an oral anticancer drug, S-1, was initiated at a daily dose of 100 mg, with a 2-week administration and 1-week suspension schedule. The multiple liver metastases obviously reduced in size(PR)by 3 months, and the CT scan revealed complete response(CR)by 8 months after beginning S-1 administration. However, grade 2 anorexia and general malaise developed, so the S-1 administration was changed to a daily dose of 80 mg, with a 2-week administration and 2-week suspension schedule. However, an adverse event of nausea appeared again, and the patient needed a 2-month discontinuation. Therefore, S-1 administration was changed to alternate-day administration, at a daily dose of 100 mg. Subsequently, no side effects were observed, and we continued the S-1 administration for 4 years. She has maintained a complete response(CR) for 10 years, with no obvious cancer recurrence.

Hybridization between an endangered freshwater fish and an introduced congeneric species and consequent genetic introgression.

Artificial transplantation of organisms and consequent invasive hybridization can lead to the extinction of native species. In Matsuyama, Japan, a native bitterling fish, Tanakia lanceolata, is known to form hybrids with another bitterling species, T. limbata, which was recently introduced from western Kyushu, Japan. These bitterlings spawn in the gills of two freshwater unionid species, Pronodularia japanensis and Nodularia douglasiae nipponensis, which have rapidly declined on the Matsuyama Plain in the past 30 years. To gauge the effect of invasive hybridization, we determined the genetic introgression between T. lanceolata and T. limbata and analyzed the morphology of these species and their hybrids to infer their niche overlap. We collected adult individuals of Tanakia spp. and genotyped them based on six microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. We analyzed their meristic characters and body shapes by geometric morphometrics. We found that 10.9% of all individuals collected were hybrids. Whereas T. lanceolata were more densely distributed downstream and T. limbata were distributed upstream, their hybrids were widely distributed, covering the entire range of native T. lanceolata. The body height and anal fin length of T. limbata were greater than those of T. lanceolata, but their hybrids were highly morphologically variable, covering both parental morphs, and were widely distributed in the habitats of both parental species. Hybridization has occurred in both directions, but introduced T. limbata females and native T. lanceolata males are more likely to have crossed. This study shows that invasive hybridization with the introduced T. limbata is a potential threat to the native population of T. lanceolata via genetic introgression and replacement of its niche in streams.

[A resected case of squamous cell carcinoma of the breast successfully treated by FU plus cisplatin (CDDP) adjuvant therapy against recurrent metastases].

A resected case of squamous cell carcinoma associated with ductal carcinoma in the hemilateral breast successfully treated by FU plus cisplatin (CDDP) adjuvant therapy against recurrent metastases is reported with some discussion. A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of right breast tumor. By physical examination, mammography, ultrasound examination and aspirated cytology, we diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the right breast. Before operation SCC antigen was elevated. Standard mastectomy was performed, and SCC antigen was decreased within normal range. Then, a standard regimen of chemotherapy using docetaxel with anti-hormonal therapy by LH-RH analog and tamoxifen was done as first-line adjuvant therapy. Four months after operation the SCC antigen level was elevated again, and recurrence of cancer (skin and liver metastases) was recognized. Next, we tried 5-FU/UFT plus CDDP for squamous cell carcinoma of other organs such as the esophagus. These anti-tumor drugs proved effective, and no metastasis of the skin was detected thereafter, and liver metastatic lesion was decreased in ten months. The SCC antigen level was within the normal range again. Additionally, when metastases redeveloped, TS-1 plus CDDP controlled growth of tumors in seven months. Based on the present findings,we recommend adjuvant chemotherapy by FU plus CDDP for squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.