Yuta Kasagi

Discrimination of p53 immunohistochemistry‐positive tumors by its staining pattern in gastric cancer

Immunohistochemistry staining of p53 is a cheap and simple method to detect aberrant function of p53. However, there are some discrepancies between the result of immunohistochemistry staining and mutation analysis. This study attempted to find a new definition of p53 staining by its staining pattern. Immunohistochemistry staining of p53 and TP53 gene mutation analysis were performed in 148 gastric cancer patients. Also SNP‐CGH array analysis was conducted to four cases. Positive staining of p53 was observed in 88 (59.5%) tumors. Tumors with positive p53 staining showed malignant features compared to negative tumors. Mutation of TP53 gene was observed in 29 (19.6%) tumors with higher age and differentiated type. In positive p53 tumors, two types could be distinguished; aberrant type and scattered type. With comparison to TP53 gene mutation analysis, all the scattered type had wild‐type TP53 gene (P = 0.0003). SNP‐CGH array showed that scattered‐type tumors had no change in the structure of chromosome 17. P53‐scattered‐type staining tumors may reflect a functionally active nonmutated TP53 gene. In interpretation of p53 immunohistochemistry staining, distinguishing p53‐positive tumors by their staining pattern may be important in gastric cancer.

Prognostic Significance of Postoperative Complications After Curative Resection for Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of postoperative complications on long-term survival after curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Background: The relation between postoperative complications and long-term survival after curative surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is controversial; thus, this issue should be resolved with a large-scale, well-designed study. Methods: Clinicopathological features and survival of 580 consecutive patients who received curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were investigated according to the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage. Results: The 5-year survival rates of patients with pStage 0, I, and II disease with postoperative complications (n = 116) were significantly poorer than those of patients without postoperative complications (n = 288) (overall 69.6% vs 46.9%, P < 0.0001; disease-specific; 76.7% vs 58.9%, P < 0.0022), whereas no differences were found in patients with pStage III and IV disease (n = 176). In the univariate and multivariate analyses for disease-specific survival, pT3, pT4, pN positivity, and development of postoperative complications were significant prognostic factors in all patients. Also, when the analysis was limited to the pStage 0, I, and II patients, development of postoperative complications, and pT3, pT4, and pN positivity, were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.41, P = 0.0476). Conclusions: The development of postoperative complications is an independent disease-specific poor prognostic factor after curative resection for patients with less-advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of postoperative complications on long-term survival after curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. BACKGROUND The relation between postoperative complications and long-term survival after curative surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is controversial; thus, this issue should be resolved with a large-scale, well-designed study. METHODS Clinicopathological features and survival of 580 consecutive patients who received curative resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were investigated according to the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage. RESULTS The 5-year survival rates of patients with pStage 0, I, and II disease with postoperative complications (n = 116) were significantly poorer than those of patients without postoperative complications (n = 288) (overall 69.6% vs 46.9%, P < 0.0001; disease-specific; 76.7% vs 58.9%, P = 0.0022), whereas no differences were found in patients with pStage III and IV disease (n = 176). In the univariate and multivariate analyses for disease-specific survival, pT3, pT4, pN positivity, and development of postoperative complications were significant prognostic factors in all patients. Also, when the analysis was limited to the pStage 0, I, and II patients, development of postoperative complications, and pT3, pT4, and pN positivity, were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio: 1.56, 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.41, P = 0.0476). CONCLUSIONS The development of postoperative complications is an independent disease-specific poor prognostic factor after curative resection for patients with less-advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The Expression of CCAT2, a Novel Long Noncoding RNA Transcript, and rs6983267 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotypes in Colorectal Cancers

Colon cancer-associated transcription 2 (CCAT2) was recently identified as a novel long noncoding RNA transcript encompassing the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs6983267. CCAT2 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) where it promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and chromosomal instability, although the clinical relevance of this enhanced expression is unknown. In this retrospective study, CCAT2 expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction in 149 CRC patients, and its associations with clinicopathological characteristics, outcome, rs6983267 genotypes, microsatellite status, DNA ploidy, and BubR1 expression were analyzed. CCAT2 expression in cancer tissue was significantly higher than in noncancer tissue (p < 0.001), particularly in cases of metastatic cancer (p < 0.001). However, relative CCAT2 expression levels and rs6983267 genotypes were not correlated with clinicopathological features or patient prognosis. CRC cases demonstrating high CCAT2 expression were all microsatellite stable (p < 0.005). Together, this indicates that CCAT2 expression was associated with microsatellite-stable CRC.

Clinicopathological Features of Cervical Esophageal Cancer: Retrospective Analysis of 63 Consecutive Patients Who Underwent Surgical Resection

Objective: The objectives of this retrospective study were to elucidate the clinicopathological features and recent surgical results of cervical esophageal cancer. Summary Background Data: Cervical esophageal cancer has been reported to have a dismal prognosis. Accurate knowledge of the clinical characteristics of cervical esophageal cancer is warranted to establish appropriate therapeutic strategies. Methods: The clinicopathological features and treatment results of 63 consecutive patients with cervical esophageal cancer (Ce group) who underwent surgical resection from 1980 to 2013 were analyzed and compared with 977 patients with thoracic or abdominal esophageal cancer (T/A group) who underwent surgical resection during that time. Results: Among the patients who received curative resection, the 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates of the Ce patients were significantly better than those of the T/A patients (overall: 77.3% vs 46.5%, respectively, P = 0.0067; disease-specific: 81.9% vs 55.8%, respectively, P = 0.0135). Although total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy procedures were less frequently performed in the recent period, the rate of curative surgical procedures was markedly higher in the recent period (2000–1013) than that in the early period (1980–1999) (44.4% vs 88.9%, P = 0.0001). The 5-year overall survival rate in the recent period (71.5%) was significantly better than that in the early period (40.7%, P = 0.0342). Conclusions: Curative resection for cervical esophageal cancer contributes to favorable outcomes compared with other esophageal cancers. Recent surgical results for cervical esophageal cancer have improved, and include an increased rate of curative resection and decreased rate of extensive surgery.

Current status of and perspectives regarding neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The significance of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial with regard to the pathological response and long-term survival. We herein review the current status of and future perspectives regarding NACRT followed by esophagectomy for locally advanced ESCC. Some studies have suggested that a pathological complete response with NACRT is more common in patients with ESCC than in those with adenocarcinoma and that NACRT provided a survival benefit limited to patients with ESCC. However, NACRT may increase the risk of postoperative complications after esophagectomy. It is obvious that a favorable pathological response is the most important factor for obtaining a survival benefit, although no established parameters have been implemented clinically to predict the response to NACRT. Prospective clinical studies and basic research studies to identify predictive biomarkers for the response to NACRT are needed to aid in the development of NACRT treatment strategies for patients with ESCC.

Liver Parenchyma Perforation following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective modality for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases, it is still related with several severe complications. We report on the case of a female patient who developed liver parenchyma perforation following ERCP. She underwent ERCP with sphincterotomy and extraction of a common bile duct stone. Shortly after ERCP, abdominal distension was identified. Abdominal computed tomography revealed intraabdominal air leakage and leakage of contrast dye penetrating the liver parenchyma into the space around the spleen. Since periampullary perforation related to sphincterotomy could not be denied, she was referred for immediate surgery. Obvious perforation could not be found at surgery. Cholecystectomy, insertion of a T tube into the common bile duct, placement of a duodenostomy tube and drainage of the retroperitoneum were performed. She did well postoperatively and was discharged home on postoperative day 28. In conclusion, as it is well recognized that perforation is one of the most serious complication related to ERCP, liver parenchyma perforation should be suspected as a cause.

Recent advances in multidisciplinary approach for rectal cancer

Surgery is a major treatment option for rectal cancer, and total mesorectal excision has been demonstrated to be advantageous in terms of oncological outcome and thus has been the standard surgical approach. Radiotherapy before or after radical surgery is the optimal treatment to control local recurrence of advanced rectal cancer. To date, in many countries, the combination of neoadjuvant concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy is considered the standard therapy. A more recent interest in neoadjuvant therapy has been the use of oxaliplatin or targeted agents for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. However, despite many trials of oxaliplatin and targeted agents, 5-FU-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy has remained the only standard treatment option. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or induction chemotherapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy may further improve patient survival, as some clinical studies recently indicated. In Japan, neoadjuvant therapy is not the standard treatment method, because surgery with lateral lymph node dissection is usually performed and this type of surgery may reduce recurrence rate as does radiation therapy. The phase III study to evaluate the oncological effect of the Japanese standard operation (mesorectal excision, ME) with lateral lymph node dissection in comparison with ME alone for clinical stage II and III lower rectal cancer is currently ongoing.

A Case of Panitumumab-Responsive Metastatic Rectal Cancer Initially Refractory to Cetuximab

A 64-year-old man was initially diagnosed with rectal cancer and liver metastasis. He underwent rectal amputation and partial hepatectomy. mFOLFOX6 was begun as first-line chemotherapy, but multiple pulmonary and right femoral lymph node metastases were found 1 year postoperatively. FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab was then started, but the tumors recurred after 2 years and 11 months. The regimen was changed to cetuximab with CPT-11. The lesions partially responded after 3 months, and the patient was free from progression for 1.5 years. Four years and 7 months after the adjuvant chemotherapy was started, the metastatic lesions gradually increased again, and the regimen was changed to panitumumab. After 2 months, the lesions had markedly decreased again and showed a partial response for 6 months. Although the pulmonary lesions became progressive again, the patient has been alive for 5 years and 8 months since the first operation.

Correction to: Recurrence with pagetoid spread arising 17 years after surgery for intramucosal rectal cancer: a case report

After publication of the original article [1] the authors noted that the following errors had occurred: