Michio Abe

Medroxyprogesterone acetate inhibits human pancreatic carcinoma cell growth by inducing apoptosis in association with Bcl-2 phosphorylation.

A previous study found that medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) delayed the in vivo growth of three (AsPC‐1, Capan‐2, and MiaPaCa‐2) of nine human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines transplanted into nude mice (Cancer 1995;75:1263–72). The current study was undertaken to evaluate the basis for this inhibitor.

Endocrine Therapy in Pancreatic Carcinoma

There are indications of the possible effects of sex hormones on pancreatic carcinoma. Estrogen receptor (ER) has been demonstrated in pancreatic tumors in experimental animals and in humans and it has been suggested that endocrine manipulation may be effective in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma. However, it is still controversial whether this lethal cancer can potentially benefit from endocrine therapy. One explanation for the conflicting data on the benefit of hormonal manipulation in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma may stem from the fact that there is no adequate marker to assess estrogen dependency of the pancreatic tumors. In this article, we review our work on tissue plasminogen activator as a prognostic guide to evaluate the efficacy of hormonal therapy in human pancreatic carcinoma, and also suggest that a selected subgroup of patients with this lethal cancer may have a potential clinical benefit from endocrine therapy, especially medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment.

High levels of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor in diffuse‐type bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a potent mitogen for various neoplastic cells, including neoplastic bronchial epithelia.

Protective effect of leuprolide acetate on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats

The anti-carcinogenic effect of TAP-144-SR biodegradable microcapsules of copoly (DL-lactic/glycolic acid) copolymer containing a potent LHRH agonist, TAP-144 (D-Leu6-(des-Gly10-NH2)-LHRH ethylamide, leuprolide acetate) was investigated in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumours. At 50 days of age, all rats were given 20 mg doses of DMBA by gastric intubation. Rats on the Initiation Group were given a single s.c. injection of TAP-144-SR (3 mg/kg) 1 week before DMBA treatment, and rats in the Promotion Group were given repeated s.c. injections every fourth week from 1 week after DMBA treatment until the end of the experiment. In the Initiation Group, tumour incidence and multiplicity were reduced to 20.8% and 15.0% of the Control Group values, respectively. In the Promotion Group, tumour incidence and multiplicity were also reduced to 17.7% and 7.9%, respectively. It was suggested that TAP-144-SR may be a potential candidate as an agent for hormonal chemoprevention in breast cancer.

Transcatheter cooling of intrahepatic bile duct during microwave coagulation therapy: A procedure to prevent bile duct injury

Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) is a widely used and effective minimal invasive therapy for liver tumor. Bile duct injury, however, is a major obstacle to complete tumor necrosis. To facilitate the use of MCT for a liver tumor adjacent to the major bile duct, we developed a method for transcatheter cooling of the major intrahepatic bile duct. The procedure for this technique is: (1) an angular catheter is inserted into the designated bile duct via the cystic duct after cholecystectomy, and a small longitudinal cut is made in the common bile duct for drainage of the cooling liquid; (2) cool saline is continuously infused into the bile duct via the inserted catheter during MCT; (3) after the MCT, the small opening in the common bile duct is simply closed with two or three sutures, and a C-tube is inserted to prevent stenosis of the common hepatic duct. MCT with this newly developed surgical technique enabled complete tumor necrosis and bile duct preservation, and the technique is strongly recommended for treatment of liver tumor adjacent to the major bile duct.