Formation of keratinocyte multilayers on filters under airlifted or submerged culture conditions in medium containing calcium, ascorbic acid, and keratinocyte growth factor.

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is a powerful in vitro technique to study the stratification and differentiation of keratinocytes. However, culture conditions, including culture media, supplements, and scaffolds (e.g., collagen gels with or without fibroblasts), can vary considerably. Here, we evaluated the roles of calcium, L-ascorbic acid phosphate magnesium salt n-hydrate (APM), and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in a chemically defined medium, EpiLife, in 3D cultures of primary human epidermal keratinocytes directly plated on polycarbonate filter inserts under airlifted or submerged conditions. Eight culture media containing various combinations of these three supplements were examined. Calcium was necessary for the stratification and differentiation of keratinocytes based on the localization of keratins and involucrin. However, the localization patterns of keratins and integrin ß4 were partially disrupted and Ki67-positive basal cells almost disappeared 3 weeks after airlift. The addition of KGF, but not APM, prevented these changes. Further addition of APM markedly improved the tissue architecture, including basal cell morphology and the appearance of keratohyalin granules and localized involucrin in the upper suprabasal cells, even after 1 week. Although the submerged culture also formed cornified epithelium-like multilayers, involucrin was localized in the cornified layer, where nuclei were often found. Based on these results, it is most effective to culture keratinocytes at the air-liquid interface in EpiLife medium supplemented with calcium, APM, and KGF to form well-organized and orthokeratinized multilayers as skin analogues.

[Liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer with peritoneal dissemination showed a complete response to TS-1].

A 64-year-old man with unresectable sigmoid adenocarcinoma due to peritoneal dissemination (P3) and liver metastasis (H2) treated with TS-1, showed a complete response. TS-1 is an oral anticancer drug that produces biochemical modulation. It is composed of tegafur, gimestat and ostat potassium in a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1 to increase the effect of 5-FU and to decrease toxicity in the digestive canal. Treatment with TS-1 requires no hospitalization and can enhance the quality of life of the patient. TS-1 is expected to be an effective agent for the treatment of colon cancer with liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination.

[Hepatectomy and intraarterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer].

Hepatectomy and intraarterial chemotherapy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer have been performed in our department. Intraarterial infusion chemotherapy has also been performed for unresectable liver metastasis. One hundred twenty-seven cases of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer were studied. The cases were divided into groups according to radicability of the original colorectal cancer, whether or not hepatectomy was performed, and whether or not they received intraarterial chemotherapy. Group I is cur C of origin. Group II is cur A or B without hepatectomy. Group III is cur A or B with hepatectomy. Each group was divided into a group without intraarterial chemotherapy (A) and a group with it (B). IA 23 cases, IB 13 cases, IIA 14 cases, IIB 21 cases, IIIA 28 cases, and IIIB 28 cases. The survival rate of group III was better than that of group II. The survival rate of group II was better than that of group I. There was no significant difference in survival rates between IA and IB. The survival rate of group IIB was significantly better than that of group IIA. The survival rate of group IIIB was significantly better than that of group III A. Hepatectomy and intraarterial chemotherapy after hepatectomy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer were effective.

Irradiation up-regulates CD80 expression through induction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and CD40 ligand expression on B lymphoma cells.

Previously, we reported that 100 Gy X-ray irradiation followed by 24 hr incubation up-regulates CD80 expression in murine B lymphoma cells, A20-2J. In the present study, we analysed the underlying mechanisms of such up-regulation using A20-HL cells derived from A20-2J cells. Irradiation of A20-HL cells with 100 Gy enhanced CD80 expression. Incubation of untreated A20-HL cells with those 100 Gy irradiated induced up-regulation of CD80 expression. Irradiation of A20-HL cells also up-regulated the expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and CD40 ligand (CD40L), and the amount of immunoprecipitable TNF-alpha and CD40L in cell lysates. The addition of anti-TNF-alpha or anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the incubation of irradiated A20-HL cells partially inhibited up-regulation of CD80 expression, and the addition of both antibodies together almost completely inhibited the up-regulation, suggesting that irradiation up-regulated the CD80 expression through the induction of TNF-alpha and CD40L expression. Irradiation also increased the accumulation of CD80, TNF-alpha and CD40L mRNA. n-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), a nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB inhibitor, markedly decreased irradiation-induced accumulation of CD80 mRNA and CD80 expression. FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, and nifedipine, a calcium channel inhibitor, inhibited not only the expression of TNF-alpha and CD40L, but also the up-regulation of CD80 on irradiated A20-HL cells. These results strongly suggested that irradiation induced TNF-alpha and CD40L expression, which then up-regulated CD80 mRNA and CD80 expression through activation of NF-kappaB transcription factor in A20-HL cells.

[A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal tumor thrombus effectively treated by arterial infusion chemotherapy with low-dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil].

A 69-year-old female with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with continuous arterial infusion of low-dose cisplatin (10 mg/body/day) and 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/body/day). The regimen was continued for 5 days then discontinued for 2 days, and repeated for 4 weeks. The portal tumor thrombus almost disappeared and HCC was smaller than before chemotherapy. Tumor marker (AFP and PIVKA-II) decreased remarkably. As tumor markers increased again 2 months later, the same regimen chemotherapy was performed once more. The patient was treated with arterial chemotherapy as an outpatient. The present case of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal tumor thrombus was effectively treated by arterial infusion chemotherapy with low dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.