Hitoshi Mishina

Redifferentiation of Cancer Cells: Bestatin, Estradiol, and Prostaglandin D2

The induction of redifferentiation of cancer cells was studied. This was achievable with bestatin, especially in combination with sex hormones or prostaglandin D2, in murine undifferentiated mammary adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Prostaglandin D2 also exerted a similar redifferentiating effect on M1 murine leukemia cells and a consecutive bestatin-hormone regimen was effective in endocrine tumors in man. Cancer redifferentiation may one day be developed into a clinical technique.

Compton soft-tissue imaging and its capability expanded by direct magnification and Shinozaki color TV system.

To improve the spatial and density resolution of Compton radiography, the authors utilized direct magnification with a pin-hole collimator and contrast magnification with the Shinozaki color TV system, a digital color display. Great improvement was attained in spatial resolution. Contrast magnification resulted in sharp delineation of soft-tissue lesions including cancer and its infiltrations into normal surrounding breast tissue. It is expected that in the future, Compton radiography will have wide raiological application with reduced radiation dosage.

The Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging and the Gastrogram Using 99mTc-Pertechnetate

99mTc-pertechnetate was used for the diagnoses of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Oral administration was useful for the detection of the stenosis and obstruction on the esophagus and the pylorus to the poor risk patients. Mucosal imaging of the stomach was clearly revealed by intravenous administration, and the scintigram of the patient with stomach cancer showed a cold region. Taking the gastric scintiphoto, temporal radioactivity in the stomach region was recorded (gastrogram). This seems to be a new and prospective approach to the clinical gastroenterology.