Erythropoietin attenuates intestinal inflammation and promotes tissue regeneration.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. Since patients usually need long-term treatment and suffer from reduced quality of life, there is a need to develop new therapeutic strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of erythropoietin (EPO) for the treatment of IBD. METHODS: Murine colitis was induced by 3.0% Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS). Recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) was given to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects on intestinal inflammation. The effect of rhEPO on human colon epithelial cells was also evaluated. Immunohistochemical analysis of EPO receptor was performed in human IBD tissues. RESULTS: While about 62% of control mice with severe colitis induced by 5-day DSS died, 85% of mice treated with rhEPO survived. Histological analysis confirmed that EPO treatment reduced the colonic inflammation. Furthermore, EPO treatment significantly downregulated the local expressions of IFN-γ, TNF-α and E-selectin in the colon, suggesting that the effect was associated with inhibiting local immune activation. In a 4-day DSS-induced colitis model, rhEPO significantly improved the recovery of body weight loss compared to controls. Furthermore, proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was significantly upregulated in the colon tissue from mice treated with rhEPO compared to controls. In addition, rhEPO increased the growth of cultured human colon epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EPO-receptor expression was confirmed in human IBD colon tissues. CONCLUSION: Three major functions of EPO, hematopoiesis, anti-inflammation and regeneration, may produce significant effects on intestinal inflammation, therefore suggesting that rhEPO might be useful for IBD.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival after Pancreatoduodenectomy for Gastric Cancer with Pancreatic Invasion].

A 79-year-old woman with symptomatic pyloric stenosis was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. CT revealed that the tumor had invaded into the pancreatic head.Since no contraindications were found at laparotomy, we performed pancreatoduodenectomy. The histopathologic diagnosis was pT4b (panc), pN3a (11/35), P0, CY0, H0, M0, pStage ⅢC, R0. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for 1 year. The patient has survived without recurrence for more than 2 years. The efficacy of pancreatoduodenectomy for advanced gastric cancer is still controversial. Pancreatoduodenetomy may be indicated for selected cases of advanced gastric cancer, if an R0 resection can be achieved.

[Field report of cancer rehabilitation at Kensekai Dongo Hospital].

In 2010, a newly-created medical fee was established for "Cancer Patient Rehabilitation." We acquired the facility criteria for cancer rehabilitation in August 2011. In December 2005, we started a preventive rehabilitation program to provide comprehensive respiratory physical therapy. Maintenance rehabilitation, palliative rehabilitation and home visiting rehabilitation have been increasing recently. All our staff hope to provide safer, improved skills cancer medical care for all patients by using better rehabilitation skills.

[The treatment plan for squamous cell anal canal carcinoma].

The current treatment plan for squamous cell anal canal carcinoma using chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is becoming more standardized. We use CRT rather than surgery to select the appropriate treatment. We experienced 4 patients treated with abdominoperineal resection(APR), of which 1 underwent adjuvant CRT. We also experienced 3 patients treated with radiotherapy(RT) and 2 treated with CRT. A patient treated with RT underwent APR because of radiation colitis. RT and CRT are advantageous for quality of life and are expected to be effective for controlling the disease. We hope that the standard treatment plan for anal cancer in Japan will be determined on the basis of histological features.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation at the kinase domain and EGFR gene amplification are reported to be predictors of the response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer cases. In malignant mesothelioma (MM), the role of EGFR is less clear. METHODS: Thirty-eight MM specimens were submitted to EGFR mutation evaluation, and compared with the results of immunohistochemical staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. DNA was extracted from paraffin blocks and PCR was performed to amplify exon regions 18-21 of the EGFR gene. Direct sequencing of the purified PCR products was performed. RESULTS: Five EGFR missense mutations were detected in six of the 38 patients (16%); two of these mutations were novel, two were originally detected in non-small cell lung carcinoma, and one resembled a location previously noted for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. CONCLUSION: As far as the authors are aware there has been no report of the EGFR mutation of MM in Japanese cases, but in this study EGFR missense mutations were detected in some cases. EGFR mutation results were not related to immunohistochemical and FISH analysis.

[A surgical (right lobectomy) case of liver metastasis of colon cancer after chemotherapy using mFOLFIRI and cetuximab].

A man in his early seventies underwent low anterior resection and partial resection of the liver for the rectal cancer and liver metastasis. However, 4 months after the surgery, he was found to have a liver tumor at S5 and S7 by abdominal CT scan. Then, he underwent chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6), but the metastatic tumor was progressive. We selected FOLFIRI + cetuximab regimen for second-line therapy to resect the metastatic tumor. As the metastatic lesion was become smaller after 4-course of the regimen including cetuximab, we decided to perform a radical resection. We conducted a right lobectomy of the liver, and the tumor was completely resected.

[A surgical (pancreatoduodenectomy) case of lymph node metastatic recurrence of colon cancer after chemotherapy].

A woman in her fifties underwent a right hemicolectomy (D3) for cancer of the ascending colon in October 2007, definitively and pathologically diagnosed as papillary adenocarcinoma invading to the subserosa, and no metastasis was detected to lymph node. But 13 months after the surgery, she was found to have a mass near the anastomosis by an abdominal CT scan. Colonoscopy showed an evaluating lesion with ulcer in the anal side of the anastomosis. We tried to resect the metastasis, but it was not resectable because of the invasion to the pancreas. The mFOLFOX regimen was effective. After the chemotherapy (6 courses), we decided to perform a radical resection. We conducted pancreatoduodenectomy in May 2009. She is still alive 12 months after surgery.

[The introduction of the clinical study in the general hospital].

Our hospital fights against a clinical study clearly. However, our hospital did not participate in a clinical study here. When I widened a clinical study in cooperation with the staff, I make a progress report. I started a clinical study only with a doctor first. Therefore it was recognized many problems happened and to promote a clinical study without cooperation of the work of many kinds. I studied with the staff to promote a clinical study and deepened understanding. Thereafter the clinical study was led by a nurse of the chemotherapy room; , in addition, was able to get various cooperation from a skiagrapher. When OGSG0603 began, the nurse and the pharmacist served to become the key than a doctor. I was able to promote a clinical study by cooperation of much staff. In addition, I was able to carry out the system improvement of each section by performing a clinical study.