Metastases of soft tissue sarcoma to the liver: A Historical Cohort Study from a Hospital-based Cancer Registry

Background: Hepatic metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma is rare compared to lung metastasis, and the literature is scarce. We examined the risk of hepatic metastasis according to the site of occurrence and histological type. Methods: From a Hospital-based Cancer Registry, 658 patients registered between 2007 and 2017 with soft tissue sarcomas were evaluated. The exclusion criteria were gastrointestinal stromal tumors, tumors of unknown origin, and follow-up periods of less than 1 month. SPSS 25 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The risk of hepatic metastasis was significantly higher in the retroperitoneum (HR, 5.981; 95% CI, 2.793-12.808) and leiomyosarcoma (HR, 4.303; 95% CI, 1.782-10.390). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk of hepatic metastasis as first distant metastasis was high in leiomyosarcoma (HR, 4.546; 95% CI, 2.275-9.086) and retroperitoneal onset (HR, 4.588; 95% CI, 2.280-9.231). The 2-year survival rate after hepatic metastasis was 21.7%. Conclusions: The onset of hepatic metastasis indicates a poor prognosis. However, hepatic metastasis from retroperitoneal sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma may be the first distant metastasis in some cases. For retroperitoneal sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, additional screening for hepatic metastasis such as contrast CT should be considered during staging and follow-up after treatment.ArticleCancer medicine 17(17) : 6159-6165(2020)journal articl

Enhancing customer-based brand equity through CSR in the hospitality sector

Corporate social responsibility is considered an important element in the development of brand equity. Extant research in this context is mainly focused on the relationship between this corporate philosophy and financial performance, overlooking its potential to develop competitive advantages through brand equity dimensions. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of socially responsible aspects on hotel brand equity. To test the proposed model personal surveys of hotel customers were conducted. A structural equation model was developed to test the research hypotheses. The findings show that corporate social responsibility has positive effects on brand image, perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand loyalty

Tumor-Specific Synergistic Therapy of Mitomycin C : Modulation of Bioreductive Activation

The bioreductive activation of mitomycin C (MMC) has been investigated using 10 human cancer cell lines. Except for 2 lines (COLO201 and COLO320DM), the cellular NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (DTD) activities correlated well with MMC-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity. In addition, when the DTD activity was inhibited with 50 mM dicoumarol, the MMC activity decreased significantly. On the other hand, no correlation between the NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (P450) activity and MMC efficacy was observed. We postulate that two electron reduction by DTD may be more important in MMC activation than one electron reduction by P450. The DTD-mediated metabolism was pH-dependent. In a nude mouse experimental model, the pH in the tumor decreased under hyperglycemic conditions due to unique glycolysis. The administration of m-iodobenzyl-guanidine (MIBG) enhanced the decrease in the pH of the tumor without affecting the pH of normal tissue (liver). It also significantly increased the antitumor activity of MMC. However, this biochemical modulation had no effect in the COLO201 and COLO320DM cells. Other mechanisms may be involved in the regulation of MMC activity in these cells. In conclusion, DTD may be an important target of MMC. Biochemical modulation using MIBG and glucose may selectively enhance the activity of MMC within cancer cells.This work was presented in part at the 95th and 96th Annual Meetings of the Japan Society for Surgery, Nagoya, 1994, and Makuhari, 1996

Update in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy of Prolactinoma

Prolactinomas comprise 30–50% of all pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, frequently occur in females aged 20 to 50, and cause hypogonadism and infertility. In typical cases, female patients exhibit galactorrhea and amenorrhea due to serum prolactin (PRL) elevation, and patients during pregnancy should be carefully treated. During diagnosis, other causes of hyperprolactinemia must be excluded, and an MRI is useful for detecting pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. For treating prolactinoma, dopamine agonists (DAs) are effective for decreasing PRL levels and shrinking tumor size in most patients. Some DA-resistant cases and the molecular mechanisms of resistance to a DA are partially clarified. The side effects of a DA include cardiac valve alterations and impulse control disorders. Although surgical therapies are invasive, recent analysis shows that long-term remission rates are higher than from medical therapies. The treatments for giant or malignant prolactinomas are challenging, and the combination of medication, surgery, and radiation therapy should be considered. Regarding pathogenesis, somatic SF3B1 mutations were recently identified even though molecular mechanisms in most cases of prolactinoma have not been elucidated. To understand the pathogenesis of prolactinomas, the development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment-resistant patients is expected. This review updates the recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of prolactinoma