Yoji Furukawa

Establishment and Characterization of a New Human Testicular Seminoma Cell Line, JKT‐1

Background: A new human testicular cancer cell line (JKT‐1) was established, successfully transplanted into nude mice, and has been maintained for over 2 years. We examined the biological characteristics of JKT‐1 cells.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels and Prognosis in Patients with Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer Treated with Low-Dose Dexamethasone

Objective: The efficacy of low-dose dexamethasone (DXM) therapy in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) was evaluated. Patients and Methods: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and survival following DXM therapy were analyzed in 27 Japanese patients exhibiting HRPC. Concurrent therapies and antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome, which may affect PSA levels and palliative effects, were excluded from the study. A dose of 1.5 mg of DXM was administered, and androgen deprivation therapy was maintained during DXM therapy. A decline in PSA levels of at least 50% from baseline was considered a significant PSA response. Prognostic factors for PSA response and survival were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A significant PSA response was observed in 16 of the 27 cases (59.3%). Median survival period of patients exhibiting significant PSA response was 15.9 months and was significantly longer than that of patients demonstrating a decline in PSA of less than 50% (median 7.7 months, p < 0.0001). Effect on pain control also correlated with the significant PSA response. No meaningful prognostic factors for PSA response were detected; however, a PSA decline of greater than 50% was the prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: DXM therapy remains one of the most beneficial treatment modalities in patients with HRPC.

Prognostic factors for survival and bladder recurrence in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Abstract Background: Prognostic factors for survival in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract have been extensively evaluated, but detailed analyses of patterns of bladder recurrence after surgery have been rare.

Bone Mineral Density for Patients with Bone Metastasis of Prostate Cancer: A Preliminary Report

Patients with prostate cancer frequently have osseous metastases which are qualitatively assessed with bone scannings. We have studied the quantitative evaluation of skeletal diseases by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar vertebrae and radius. Forty-four patients with prostate cancer, nine with non-prostatic urogenital cancer and 90 controls were entered in this study. Among the patients with prostate cancer, the values of BMD in the lumbar vertebrae were significantly higher in patients with osseous metastasis than in those without metastasis, whereas the values of BMD in the radius were insignificantly different. Most of the patients with high levels of BMD in the lumbar vertebrae had osseous metastatic disease with no relationship between BMD in the lumbar vertebrae and the radius. The values of BMD in the lumbar vertebrae where hot spot scans were observed were related to X-ray findings. The alterations of BMD levels in the lumbar vertebrae were quantitatively evaluable as responses to androgen deprivation therapy. Measurement of BMD is useful for the accurate diagnosis of osteosclerotic lesions. BMD measurements of the lumbar vertebrae compared with those in the radius were variable in individuals.

Multiple Primary Malignant Neoplasms in Urologic Patients

One hundred and four patients with multiple primary malignant neoplasm (MPN) with at least one genitourinary organ involved were analyzed. The 104 patients represented 0.9% of all cancer patients and 9.0% of all urologic tumor cases. Tumors of the prostate and bladder in urologic cancers and tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly stomach cancer, in non-urologic cancers were predominantly involved. In 79 cases (76.0%), the second tumors were discovered within 5 years from the diagnosis of the first cancer. Renal cell carcinoma tended to be discovered incidentally and concomitantly. In contrast, bladder cancer tended to be an initial primary tumor presenting with symptoms, and tumor of prostate tended to be found incidentally, as a second cancer in metachronous cancer associations. All second tumors of the liver were found incidentally with ultrasonographic examination after a small interval. Strict follow-up at regular intervals at least the initial 5 years are essential for the detection of second malignant neoplasms.

Incidentally discovered pheochromocytoma in long-term hemodialysis patients.

Two cases of pheochromocytoma incidentally discovered in long‐term hemodialysis patients are reported. Case 1 was a 47‐year‐old‐man who had been receiving hemodialysis for 18 years. Case 2 was a 33‐year‐old woman who had been receiving hemodialysis for 12 years. Both cases were normotensive, and no specific symptoms suggesting pheochromocytoma were seen. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were not elevated in both cases; however, the level of epinephrine (E) was double the normal range in Case 2. After surgery, plasma E level returned to the normal range in Case 2; however, the level of NE remained almost the same as the preoperative value in both cases. Plasma catecolamine levels in long‐term hemodialysis patients with pheochromocytoma are reviewed in the present report, and the efficacy of imaging methods in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma are discussed.

Efficacy of preoperative donation of autologous blood in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy

Background: Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has resulted in substantial blood loss and the frequent need for homologous blood transfusion. In this study, the efficacy of autologous blood transfusion, from medical and financial perspectives, was evaluated in patients undergoing RRP.

Monotypic epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney: A case report

Abstract  A case of monotypic variant of epithelioid angiomyolipoma (AML) observed in a 62‐year old woman is reported. The patient complained of abdominal fullness caused by a huge left renal mass without evidence of tuberous sclerosis complex. Imaging studies showed a left renal mass with an area showing hemorrhage and necrosis. The left renal mass, spleen and pancreatic tail were removed en bloc transabdominally. The resected tumor weighed 1200 g and showed focal necrosis and hemorrhage. Microscopically, the tumor was composed exclusively of atypical polygonal cells with copious eosinophilic cytoplasm, pleomorphic nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Tumor cells were considered to derive from perivascular epithelioid cells, and exhibited strong positive staining for HMB‐45 and c‐KIT, but were negative for epithelial, smooth muscle, and neural markers. As this tumor had none of the typical elements of classic AML, the final pathological diagnosis was monotypic epithelioid AML.

Primary adrenal lymphoma discovered as an incidentaloma: case report and review of the literature

Abstract Primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) discovered at an early stage is extremely rare. We report a case of PAL incidentally discovered by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan as a 4.5-cm solid mass in the left adrenal gland. The patient was an 80-year-old man, and, from imaging studies, the left adrenal mass was considered to be a non-functioning adrenal cortical cancer. Left adrenalectomy was performed, and the resected tumor proved to be non-Hodgkins lymphoma of diffuse large B-cell type. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, and the patient has been well with no evidence of the disease for 20 months postoperatively.