Yasuharu Ikeda

The impact of preoperative serum C‐reactive protein on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The authors evaluated the significance of the preoperative serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) level as a prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Early experiences of endoscopic procedures in general surgery assisted by a computer-enhanced surgical system.

We performed a variety of complete total endoscopic general surgical procedures, including colon resection, distal gastrectomy, and splenectomy, successfully with the assistance of the da Vinci computer-enhanced surgical system. The robotic system allowed us to manipulate the endoscopic instruments as effectively as during open surgery. It enhanced visualization of both the operative field and precision of the necessary techniques, as well as being less stressful for the endoscopic operating team. This technological innovation can therefore help surgeons overcome many of the difficulties associated with the endoscopic approach and thus has the potential to enable more precise, safer, and more minimally invasive surgery in the future.

The association between transfusion and cancer‐free survival after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background. In cases of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), postoperative intrahepatic recurrence is the main obstacle to long‐term survival of patients. The association between perioperative transfusion and recurrence‐free survival was studied in 126 patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection between 1985 and 1990 and in whom complete follow‐up information was available until 1992.

Effective follow-up for recurrence or a second primary cancer in patients with early gastric cancer

Patients with early gastric cancer have an excellent prognosis with low rates of recurrence, but may have an increased risk of developing a second primary cancer. Because the number of early gastric cancers has increased, clarification of both recurrences and second primary cancers is important for the development of effective postoperative follow‐up programmes.

Preliminary report of tumor metastasis during liver regeneration after hepatic resection in rats

In an attempt to ascertain possible facilitation of tumor metastasis during liver regeneration after hepatectomy, a series of experiments in rats was carried out using the RBT-1 carcinoma. WKA rats were separated into three groups: Group A received a sham operation; Group B underwent one-third hepatectomy; and Group C underwent two-thirds hepatectomy. Three groups had viable tumor cells injected into the tail vein after treatment. Survival period and lung metastases were analysed 14 days after initial injection of tumor. When comparisons were made between all groups, survival was shown to be significantly shorter in Group C than Group A (P < 0.05). The number of metastatic nodules in the lungs was significantly increased in Group B (P < 0.05) and C (P < 0.01), compared to Group A and in Group C, compared with Group B (P < 0.05). These results suggest that facilitation of tumor metastasis during liver regeneration may be proportional to the extent of liver resection.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in surgically resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has recently been reported to be related to cancer cell invasion. This study was performed to clarify the expression of MMP-9 in surgically resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). METHODS In 37 patients with IHCC who underwent a surgical resection, the expression of MMP-9 and the clinicopathologic characteristics of MMP-9-positive IHCC were investigated. The expression of MMP-9 was immunohistochemically detected in 16 (43%) of 37 IHCC. The patients were divided into MMP-9 (-) IHCC (n = 21), MMP-9 (+) IHCC (n = 12), and MMP-9 (++) IHCC (n = 4). RESULTS The survival rate after surgical resection in patients with MMP-9 (-), (+), and (++) IHCC, was 66%, 39%, and 0% at one year, 50%, 32% and 0% at 3 years, respectively (P = .001). The incidence rate of lymph node metastasis was 6 (28%) of 21 in MMP-9 (-) patients, 7 (58%) of 12 in MMP-9 (+) patients and 4 (100%) of 4 in MMP-9 (++) patients. The incidence rate of lymph node metastasis increased in proportion to an increase in the expression of MMP-9 in IHCC (P = .02). Recurrence in the lymph node was more common in patients with MMP-9 (+) and (++) cancers than in those with MMP-9 (-) cancers. CONCLUSIONS The expression of MMP-9 in IHCC was a prognostic factor related to lymph node metastasis.

Technical standardization of laparoscopic splenectomy harmonized with hand‐assisted laparoscopic surgery for patients with liver cirrhosis and hypersplenism

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The aims of this study were to standardize the techniques of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) to improve safety in liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension. METHODS From 1993 to 2008, 265 cirrhotic patients underwent LS. Child-Pugh class was A in 112 patients, B in 124, and C in 29. Since January 2005, we have adopted the standardized LS including the following three points: hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) should be performed in patients with splenomegaly (> or =1,000 mL), perisplenic collateral vessels, or Child-Pugh score 9 or more; complete division and sufficient elevation of the upper pole of the spleen should be performed before the splenic hilar division; and when surgeons feel the division of the upper pole of the spleen is too difficult, conversion to HALS should be performed. RESULTS There were no deaths related to LS in this study. After the standardization, conversion to open surgery significantly reduced from 11 (10.3%) of 106 to 3 (1.9%) of 159 patients (P < 0.05). The average operation time and blood loss significantly reduced from 259 to 234 min (P < 0.01) and from 506 to 171 g (P < 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS With the technical standardization, LS becomes a feasible and safe approach in the setting of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Clinical efficacy of S-1 combined with cisplatin for advanced gastric cancer

Several chemotherapy regimens used against advanced gastric cancer have been studied extensively over the decades in an attempt to further improve the prognosis of patients. To date, no standard chemotherapeutic regimens have been established worldwide. S-1 (TS-1®), a combination of ftorafur and two modulators, gimestat (CDHP) and oxonic acid, in a molar ratio of 1 : 0.4 : 1, has been widely used in Japan for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer, and much attention has been paid to attempts to increase its antitumor effect by combining it with other chemotherapeutic drugs. We treated 12 patients with advanced gastric cancer with 80 mg/m2 of S-1 for 21 days and 60 mg/m2 of cisplatin (CDDP) on day 8 every 5 weeks. The treatment was continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or the patients refusal. Eight out of 12 evaluable patients achieved a partial response (PR), with a response rate of 66.7%. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse effects, including myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicities, was 16.6%. None of the patients treated with this regimen died of adverse effects and none required hospitalization for the toxicity. We conclude that the combination of S-1 and CDDP seems to have a high therapeutic index, enhancing the antitumor effect of S-1 while maintaining modest adverse effects, thus suggesting the possible use of this combination based at the outpatient clinic (apart from a short stay in hospital during the infusion of CDDP with hydration). Further study with a large number of patients may be needed to confirm the combination of S-1 and CDDP to be an appropriate first-line chemotherapy for gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic splenectomy may be a superior supportive intervention for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism.

Background and Aims:  To evaluate and compare laparoscopic splenectomy and partial splenic embolization as supportive intervention for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism to overcome peripheral cytopenia before the initiation of and during interferon therapy or anticancer therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in relation to high frequency of p53 protein accumulation in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the Japanese.

We investigated levels of p53 protein expression in Japanese patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A significantly larger proportion of heavy alcohol drinkers and cigarette smokers was evident in the p53-positive group. The combination of drinking and smoking was associated with a high frequency of p53 protein accumulation.