[A case of double cancer of sigmoid colon cancer with lung metastases, peritoneal dissemination and early gastric cancer responding to S-1].

A 73-year-old man was referred to our hospital with complaints of constipation and defecation caused by a sigmoid colon tumor. After examination, he was diagnosed as sigmoid colon cancer with lung metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and early gastric cancer. To prevent bowel obstruction, a sigmoid colon resection was performed. On postoperative day 20, S-1 (100 mg/body for 4 weeks followed by 2 drug-free weeks) treatment was started. After 13 courses of treatment, gastrointestinal fiberscope revealed that the gastric cancer was remarkably reduced, and after 16 courses, computed tomography revealed that the lung metastasis was remarkably reduced. Although after 12 courses, elevation of bilirubin, the treatment could be possible to continued on a lowered dose of S-1 from 100 mg to 80 mg/body. Twenty-four months after the operation, good control of cancer has been maintained, and the treatment is continuing. S-1 treatment was proved effective for double cancer of the advanced colorectal cancer and the gastric cancer.

Real-time energy metabolism of intestine during arterial versus venous occlusion in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Although it is less frequently encountered, mesenteric vein occlusion poses as important a problem as mesenteric artery occlusion. The energy metabolism of intestinal tissue during venous occlusion and reperfusion was studied. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were studied in four groups of 17 animals each. Intestinal ischemia was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery ([SMA] occlusion [O]) or vein (SMVO) for 30 or 60 min, followed by reperfusion. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to continuously monitor the energy metabolism. Additionally, intestinal motility was monitored and histological examination was performed on resected specimens. RESULTS: Energy metabolism in SMVO during ischemia was reduced more slowly than in SMAO, but recovery after reperfusion was poorer in SMVO. During ischemia, the contractive response of the intestine lasted longer in SMVO than in SMAO. Histologically, mucosal and subserosal hemorrhage was more severe in SMVO. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to SMAO, SMVO caused less severe reduction of energy metabolism, at the expense of hemorrhage and tissue damage.

Role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in in vitro invasion of esophageal carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although some investigators recently suggested that MMP-9 may play a critical role in invasion and metastasis, along with MMP-2, in esophageal carcinoma, there has been no direct evidence that MMPs play a critical role in the actual invasion of esophageal carcinoma cells. Here, we investigated the role of MMPs in the in vitro invasion of esophageal carcinoma cell lines (TE-series). METHODS: Our methods included in vitro invasion assay, gelatin zymography, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Four cell lines (but not TE-5) secreted MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the culture medium. Using a quantitative in vitro invasion assay, we found a significant (P = 0.002) correlation between the extent of in vitro invasion and the amount of MMP-9, but not of MMP-2, secreted into the conditioned medium in the four cell lines. In these cell lines, R-94138, a specific MMP-9 inhibitor, inhibited in vitro invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Although TE-5 did not secrete MMP-2 or MMP-9, the cells showed a strong in vitro invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that most of the esophageal carcinoma cell lines use MMP-9 for in vitro invasion, but others may use proteinase(s) other than MMP-9.

Telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: down-regulation by chemotherapeutic agent.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Telomerase has been suggested as being necessary for continued cell growth and progression of cancer. Esophageal cancer and matched normal esophageal tissue from 54 patients were analyzed for telomerase activity, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression, and their correlation with clinicopathological factors. METHODS: Telomeric repeat amplification protocol was used for detection of telomerase activity and real time quantitative RT-PCR was used for hTERT mRNA. An esophageal carcinoma cell line was used to study the effect of chemotherapeutic agent on telomerase. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detectable in 79.6% of the tumor and 59.3% of the normal esophageal tissue. The level of telomerase activity in the tumor was significantly higher than that in the normal tissue. A significantly higher telomerase activity was observed in tumors with extensive blood vessel invasion. A significantly lower telomerase activity was observed in tumors that showed good response to preoperative chemotherapy than those with poor response. TE-9 cells exposed to 5-FU showed a diminished telomerase activity preceded by a time-dependent decrease in the mRNA expression of hTERT. CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase activity was high in esophageal cancer tissue and showed positive correlation with blood vessel invasion. Chemotherapeutic agents may down-regulate telomerase activity.