[Usefulness in predicting parameters for the selection of responders who received immunochemotherapy with PSK in patients with colorectal cancer].

It is very important for immunotherapy to release Th2-dominated immunological conditions in patients with malignant diseases. In the present study, we assessed the intracellular cytokine profiles of CD4 positive cells in peripheral blood in patients with colorectal cancer using a flow cytometric analysis and we investigated whether Th2-dominated immunological conditions could be released by PSK. Peripheral blood samples were collected preoperatively from 57 patients with colorectal cancer before and after the oral administration of PSK (3g/day x 1 week). After the PSK treatment, CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cell percentages decreased significantly, whereas no significant change occurred in proportions of CD4(+)IL-6(+)T-cells. In the after/ before PSK treatment percentages, the ratio of CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cells were significantly lower in non-recurrent patients compared with recurrent patients, whereas no significant difference was seen in the ratio of CD4(+)IL-6(+) T-cells. These results suggest that the after/before percentage ratio of CD4(+)IL-10(+)T-cells may be useful predicting parameters for the selection of responders.

Mesenteric paraganglioma: report of a case.

We report a rare case of a solitary primary paraganglioma arising in the mesentery, found in a 72-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. This extra-abdominal paraganglioma developed from paraganglionic cells that travelled by vertebral migration from the root of the superior mesenteric artery. Extra-adrenal paraganglia extend anywhere from the neck down to the base of the pelvis. Ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and angiography showed a solid and cystic heterogeneously enhanced mass, which was fed by the superior mesenteric artery, without distant metastasis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a large, dark, brownish-red mass in the mesentery of the ileum, which was distinct from the ileum. The mass consisted of peripherally solid areas with central hemorrhage and cystic degeneration. It was diagnosed as a paraganglioma histologically. The patient is free from recurrence of paraganglioma after 1 year of follow up. To our knowledge, this represents only the seventh case of a paraganglioma arising in the mesentery.