Jun Yasutomi

Adoptive immunotherapy for advanced cancer patients using in vitro activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes

We evaluated the clinical efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy using in vitro activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer.

Multicenter randomized comparison of LigaSure versus conventional surgery for gastrointestinal carcinoma

PurposeWe conducted this randomized trial to compare the LigaSure Vessel Sealing System with conventional methods in gastrointestinal carcinoma surgery at five specialty cancer hospitals.MethodsPatients with resectable stomach or colorectal cancers were randomized to the LigaSure (n = 100) or conventional surgery (n = 74) groups according to sealed envelopes. The operative data were compared.ResultsThere were no significant differences in operating times, blood loss, postoperative complications, or hospital stay. However, at the hospital where most of the procedures took place, the LigaSure was associated with a shorter operating time (173 ± 43 min for gastric carcinoma and 157 ± 43 min for colorectal carcinoma vs 211 ± 55 min and 202 ± 55 min for conventional surgery; P = 0.0046 and P = 0.0200, respectively) and less blood loss (300 ± 196 ml and 150 ± 133 ml, respectively, vs 453 ± 387 ml and 382 ± 444 ml; P = 0.0482 and P = 0.0465, respectively).ConclusionsThe LigaSure is safe for both gastric and colorectal cancer surgery with extended lymph node dissection. Used effectively, the device appears to reduce operating times and blood loss, although this requires confirmation in a larger series.

Lessons learned about the therapeutic potential of the natural human immune response to lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths; patients with this disease often develop antibodies to their own tumour antigens. TB94 is one such human antibody, and was obtained from the natural immune response from a patient with lung cancer. The data generated so far on TB94 suggest that this human antibody may have clinical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Since humans make antibodies to tumour antigens, the intelligence of the human immune response can be exploited for the discovery of potential novel antigens. These novel antigens can then be developed for vaccine applications. Creating effective strategies to analyse systematically the natural human immune response to tumour antigens will open up new areas of immunotherapy for the control and eradication of disease.