Repeated Hepatic Dearterialization for Unresectable Liver Metastases From Gastric Cancer: Review of Five Cases

A novel method of repeated hepatic dearterialization was evaluated in five patients with multiple metastases from gastric cancer in both hepatic lobes. After gastrectomy with extensive lymph node dissection (R2/3), all patients underwent implantation of a vascular occluder around the hepatic artery. Cannulation of the hepatic artery was added for later chemotherapy. The hepatic artery was occluded repeatedly for 1 hour twice daily in combination with intrahepatic infusion of anticancer drugs for as long as possible. Three of five patients demonstrated marked tumour regression with unexpectedly long survival (16 months in two patients and one still alive at 15 months). Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels decreased to almost normal in four patients who had initially high levels. The present experiences seems to indicate that long survival can be hoped for in patients with advanced gastric cancer with unresectable liver metastases

Hypomorphic mutation in an essential cell-cycle kinase causes growth retardation and impaired spermatogenesis

Cdc7 kinase is essential for initiation of DNA replication. Cdc7(–/–) mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are non-viable but their growth can be rescued by an ectopically expressed transgene (Cdc7(–/–)tg). Here we report that, despite the normal growth capability of Cdc7(–/–)tg ES cells, the mice with the identical genetic background exhibit growth retardation. Concomi tantly, Cdc7(–/–)tg embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) display delayed S phase entry and slow S phase progression. Furthermore, spermatogenesis of Cdc7(–/–)tg mice is disrupted prior to pachytene stage of meiotic prophase I. The impairment in spermatogenesis correlates with the extremely low level of Cdc7 protein in testes, and is rescued by introducing an additional allele of transgene, which results in increase of Cdc7 expression. The increased level of Cdc7 also recovers the growth of Cdc7(–/–)tg MEFs and mice, indicating that the developmental abnormalities of Cdc7(–/–)tg mice are due to insufficiency of Cdc7 protein. Our results indicate the requirement of a critical level of a cell-cycle regulator for mouse development and provide genetic evidence that Cdc7 plays essential roles in meiotic processes in mammals

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in Japan: Changes in clinical features, treatment, and prognosis during 1985–2004

We have conducted nationwide surveys of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) treated since 1985. In the present study, we newly collected data between 2000 and 2004 and investigated changes in clinical features and outcome over time. A total of 739 patients with histologically proven PCNSL undergoing radiotherapy were analyzed. Seventeen institutions were surveyed, and data on 131 patients were collected. These data were compared with updated data that were previously obtained for 466 patients treated during 1985–1994 and 142 patients treated during 1995–1999. Recent trends toward decrease in male/female ratio, increase in aged patients, and increase in patients with multiple lesions were seen. Regarding treatment, decrease in attempts at surgical tumor removal and increases in use of systemic chemotherapy and methotrexate (MTX)–containing regimens were observed. The median survival time was 18, 29, and 24 months for patients seen during 1985–1994, 1995–1999, and 2000–2004, respectively, and the respective 5-year survival rates were 15%, 30%, and 30%. In groups seen during 1995–1999 and during 2000–2004, patients who received systemic or MTX-containing chemotherapy had better prognosis than those who did not. Multivariate analysis of all patients seen during 1985–2004 suggested the usefulness of MTX-containing chemotherapy as well as the importance of age, lactate dehydrogenase level, and tumor multiplicity as prognostic factors. Thus, this study revealed several notable changes in clinical features of PCNSL patients. The prognosis improved during the last 10 years. Advantage of radiation plus chemotherapy, especially MTX-containing chemotherapy, over radiation alone was suggested