NCRT with S-1 plus irinotecan for LALRC

Background and purpose: Preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy is a standard treatment for locally advanced lower rectal cancer (LALRC). We performed a phase I study to develop a new regimen combining irinotecan and S-1. Materials and methods: Patients with LALRC (T3-4, N0-2) were studied. The radiation dose was 45 Gy in 25 fractions. S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) was administered on days 1–5, 8–12, 22–26, and 29–33. Irinotecan was administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29. The dose of irinotecan was initially 60 mg/m2 (level 1). Surgery was performed 6–10 weeks after the chemoradiotherapy. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled, of whom 18 patients were analyzed. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) did not occur in the first 3 patients treated with irinotecan at 80 mg/m2 (level 2), but developed in 3 of the 6 patients who received irinotecan at 90 mg/m2 (level 3). Then DLT occurred in 3 other patients at level 2. At level 2 or 3, DLT comprised neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea. Level 2 was designated as the maximum tolerated dose, and level 1 as a recommended dose (RD). The pathological complete response rate was 28%, and the down-staging rate was 56%. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the RD of irinotecan when combined with preoperative S-1 and pelvic radiation was 60 mg/m2

Current Performance and On-Going Improvements of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope

An overview of the current status of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope constructed and operated at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is presented. The basic design concept and the verified performance of the telescope system are described. Also given are the status of the instrument package offered to the astronomical community, the status of operation, and some of the future plans. The status of the telescope reported in a number of SPIE papers as of the summer of 2002 are incorporated with some updates included as of 2004 February. However, readers are encouraged to check the most updated status of the telescope through the home page, http://subarutelescope.org/index.html, and/or the direct contact with the observatory staff.Comment: 18 pages (17 pages in published version), 29 figures (GIF format), This is the version before the galley proo

Positive Therapeutic Response to Bevacizumab Plus Paclitaxel in a Patient with Advanced, Life-Threatening Breast Cancer and Carcinomatous Lymphangitis:a Subsequent Treatment Change to Hormone Therapy

We present a case of advanced, life-threatening breast cancer with carcinomatous lymphangitis treatedwith bevacizumab plus paclitaxel. A positive therapeutic response was achieved and the treatment was subsequentlychanged to hormone therapy.The patient was a 53-year-old postmenopausal woman with a non-contributory medical history. She presentedto a nearby hospital with chief complaints of continued exertional dyspnea and coughing since March2012. Physical findings included a palpable mass in the left breast, and the patient was referred and presentedto our hospital in May. Examinations at our hospital revealed left-sided breast cancer (estrogen receptorpositive, progesterone receptor positive, and no amplification of the human epidermal growth factorreceptor 2 by FISH). The patient had bone metastasis and carcinomatous lymphangitis (cT2N3cM1-stageIV). The condition was life threatening, and administration of bevacizumab plus weekly paclitaxel was initiatedwith the expectation of a high response rate. Coughing and dyspnea resolved two weeks later. CTscans were taken in August after the completion of 3 cycles and showed improvement in carcinomatouslymphangitis. No major side effects were observed due to bevacizumab plus weekly paclitaxel. When theCT scans were taken in December after the completion of 6 cycles, the primary lesion and lymph node metastaseswere reduced in size. In the lung field, there was no thickening of the interlobular septa or subpleuralinterstitium, and the findings of carcinomatous lymphangitis were improved. Thus, bevacizumab plus paclitaxelwere discontinued and the treatment was changed to oral letrozole (2.5 mg/day). The patient hasbeen followed up with no recurrence as of March 2013

A Case of Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Breast after Augmentation Mammoplasty

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a benign reactive lesion which forms due to diverse tissue responses of inflammatory cells and mesenchymal cells. It can occur in various organs of the body but rarely in the breast. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the breast after augmentation mammoplasty. The patient was a 78-year-old woman who noticed a mass in her right breast in July 2012. She had a history of augmentation mammoplasty at age 24 years. She was referred to our hospital for thorough examination. A 3-cm immovable induration was palpated in the upper lesion of the right breast. Ultrasound examination revealed a hypoechoic mass at the same site. The mass was 2.9×1.7 cm with irregular, ill-defined borders. Mammography revealed some areas of elevated density with coarse, lucent-centered calcifications in bilateral breasts but no clear findings of malignancy. Core needle biopsy of this site revealed marked fibrous hyperplasia and proliferation of fibroblast-like spindle cells. Infiltration of neutrophils and plasma cells was observed in the stroma. There were spindle cells with no atypia and scarce mitotic figures. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor. The patient received only follow-up observation without surgical resection as per the patient\u27s wishes. There has not been any change as of May 2013