佐藤 美信

We report a case of a woman in her 70s who underwent conversion surgery after FOLFIRINOX, followed by radiation therapy for initially locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. She visited her local doctor with a chief complaint of upper abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed an irregular mass invading the superior mesenteric artery, and the first and second jejunal arteries(>180°)in the pancreatic uncinate region. Based on imaging, she was diagnosed as UR-LA(sm), cT4N0M0, cStage Ⅲ pancreatic cancer, and underwent 5 courses of modified FOLFIRINOX. Radiation therapy of 50.4 Gy was added for local control, and CA19-9 decreased from 394.1 U/mL to 10.5 U/mL. The treatment effect was judged as RECIST: partial response. The tumor was considered to be potentially curative, and a subtotal stomach preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed 8 months after the initial treatment. The tumor was found to be 3× 2 mm in size, pStage ⅠA, R0, and the response to preoperative chemotherapy: Evans Grade Ⅲ. The patient is alive at 5 months postoperatively without recurrence.

We report a case of a patient with sigmoid colon cancer and multiple liver metastases who underwent hepatectomy after chemotherapy and pathological results showed complete remission. However, after chemotherapy was discontinued, the patient developed a local recurrence of the liver metastasis and underwent rehepatectomy. The patient came to our hospital with lower abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed a circumferential type Ⅱ, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. Postoperative CT scan showed multiple liver metastases at S5, S7, and S8. 11 cycles of bevacizumab plus modified FOLFOX(mFOLFOX)were subsequently performed. The liver metastases shrank at all sites, and the patient underwent right hepatectomy. The resected specimen was considered to be in complete remission, with no evidence of viable malignant cells. Postoperatively, bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX was resumed for 6 cycles and the patient remained in remission. However, 3 months after stopping chemotherapy and 1 year and 6 months after hepatectomy, a follow-up CT scan showed local recurrence of the liver edge, and a diagnosis of local recurrence of liver metastasis was made, and a partial hepatectomy was performed. The patient is recurrence-free and resuming modified FOLFOX 9 months after surgery.

The outcomes of 88 patients with lower rectal T2 cancer who underwent radical A surgery(T2)were compared with those of 340 patients with T3 or T4a cancer(T3/T4a)and 51 patients with T1 cancer(T1). The rates of all lymph node(LN) metastasis, paraintestinal LN metastasis, intermediate and main LN metastasis, and lateral LN metastasis in T2 were all significantly lower than in T3/T4a and not different from those in T1. The recurrence rate of T2 was 15.9%, significantly lower than that of T3/T4a and not different from that of T1. Fifty percent of T2 recurrences were observed after 30 months postoperatively, significantly higher than that of T3/T4a and not different from that of T1. The 5-year survival rate of T2 was significantly higher than that of T3/T4a and did not differ from that of T1. In lower rectal T2, cancer LN dissection similar to that in T1 is appropriate, and high preoperative serum CA19-9 level is a risk factor for recurrence, suggesting the need for follow-up after 30 months postoperatively to take recurrence into consideration.

In this report, we describe a case of highly advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis extending into the main portal vein of the pancreas that was successfully treated with adjuvant lenvatinib after right hepatic resection with thrombectomy. A 70-year-old woman was referred from the clinic because of elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. The patient was positive for the hepatitis B virus antigen at our hospital. The tumor markers were highly elevated with alpha-fetoprotein (14.5 U/mL) and protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKAII) (1545 ng/mL), suggesting hepatocellular carcinoma. Dynamic abdominal computed tomography showed an early enhanced tumor approximately 6 cm in size and portal vein tumor thrombosis filling the main portal vein, but not extending into the splenic or superior mesenteric vein (SMV). On magnetic resonance imaging 1 week after CT, portal vein tumor thrombosis had extended to the confluence of the splenic vein with the SMV, indicating rapid tumor growth. Thus, we performed emergent right hepatectomy with tumor thrombectomy. Postoperatively, we treated the patient with lenvatinib for a tumor reduction surgery. Fortunately, the patient was alive 2 years postoperatively without recurrence. This case report suggests that a favorable outcome may be achieved with multidisciplinary treatment including resection and postoperative treatment with lenvatinib.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a problematic complication after stoma closure. The purse string suture (PSS) technique eliminates this problem, but the area takes longer to heal. The present retrospective study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system for the promotion of wound healing after stoma closure. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing stoma closure with the PSS technique were divided into two groups: those treated with and without use of the VAC system. The volume of dead space and the size of the wound were measured after stoma closure in both groups. The same measurements were performed on days 3 and 7 after closure. The time needed for wound closure was also examined in both groups. Outcomes were also evaluated according to age, body mass index, operative time, bleeding volume, wound consistency, patient satisfaction, perioperative inflammatory response, occurrence of SSI, and hospitalization days. RESULTS: The VAC group comprised 31 patients, and the non-VAC group comprised 34 patients. The volume of dead space on days 3 and 7 after closure was significantly smaller in the VAC group than in the non-VAC group (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively). The number of SSIs was significantly lower in the VAC group than in the non-VAC group (P=0.014). CONCLUSION: The dead space volume on days 3 and 7 after stoma closure with PSS significantly decreased by using the VAC system. The incidence of SSI after stoma closure also significantly decreased by using the VAC system.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the tongue menthol test, which measures the cold sensation detection threshold (CDT) of the tongue, used before and after oxaliplatin administration is an objective evaluation method for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OPN). METHODS: The tongue menthol test was administered to patients both before and after undergoing chemotherapy containing oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer. The tongue menthol test was conducted by applying a menthol solution (a selective agonist of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 [TRPM8]) to the tongue and measuring the CDT. RESULTS: The mean CDT before the first dose of oxaliplatin was 0.34% (0.005%-1%; n=38), and the mean CDT after the first dose was 0.32% (0.005%-1%; n=38). The CDT appeared to decrease after the first dose, but this difference was not significant. In patients who received five courses of oxaliplatin, changes in CDT values were compared before and after the five courses. In patients with Neurotoxicity Criteria of Debiopharm (DEB-NTC) grade 2 neuropathy, the pre-oxaliplatin administration CDT was compared between before grade exacerbation and when exacerbation occurred, and was found to decline when grade exacerbation occurred. Moreover, when the CDTs before and after administration were compared before grade exacerbation, there was a significant decrease in CDT after administration (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: By performing a menthol test in oxaliplatin-treated patients, it may be possible to objectively predict the exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy at an early stage.

AIM: The surgical treatment of inguinal lymph node (ILN) metastases secondary to anorectal adenocarcinoma remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the surgical treatment and management of ILN metastasis according to its classification. METHODS: This retrospective, multi-centre, observational study included patients with synchronous or metachronous ILN metastases who were diagnosed with rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma between January 1997 and December 2011. Treatment outcomes were analysed according to recurrence and prognosis. RESULTS: Among 1181 consecutively enrolled patients who received treatment for rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma at 20 referral hospitals, 76 (6.4%) and 65 (5.5%) had synchronous and metachronous ILN metastases, respectively. Among 141 patients with ILN metastasis, differentiated carcinoma, solitary ILN metastasis and ILN dissection were identified as independent predictive factors associated with a favourable prognosis. No significant difference was found in the frequency of recurrence after ILN dissection between patients with synchronous (80.6%) or metachronous (81.0%) ILN metastases. Patients who underwent R0 resection of the primary tumour and ILN dissection had a 5-year survival rate of 41.3% after ILN dissection (34.1% and 53.1% for patients with synchronous and metachronous ILN metastases, respectively, P = 0.55). CONCLUSION: The ILN can be appropriately classified as a regional lymph node in rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma. Moreover, aggressive ILN dissection might be effective in improving the prognosis of low rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma with ILN metastases; thus, prophylactic ILN dissection is unnecessary.

Obesity has been considered a risk factor for postoperative complications following colorectal cancer surgery. However, the usefulness of a combination of intracorporeal anastomosis and preoperative weight reduction for severely obese patients with colon cancer remains unclear. A 66-year-old man with a body mass index (BMI) of 43 kg/m2 presented with abdominal pain and iron deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy and computed tomography revealed advanced ascending colon cancer with regional lymph node metastasis and excessive abdominal fat. Preoperative diet-induced weight reduction was performed for severe obesity, which decreased his BMI to 39.7 kg/m2 after 1 month. Thereafter, curative resection was performed using intracorporeal anastomosis for reconstruction to achieve minimal colon and mesentery mobilization and a shorter incision. The patient was discharged from the hospital without complications. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy combining intracorporeal anastomosis and preoperative weight reduction was extremely useful in the current patient with severe obesity and ascending colon cancer.

We reviewed clinical records of 73 cases with anal canal adenocarcinoma who underwent bilateral inguinal lymph node (ILN)dissection. Eleven patients with positive ILN metastasis(ILNM)were compared with 62 patients with negative ILNM in clinicopathological items and treatment outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of ILN dissection. Positive ILNM were older, higher preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA19-9, more frequencies of undifferentiated carcinoma, T4b and severe lymphatic invasion than negative ILNM. And the number of mesorectal and lateral node metastasis were significantly more in positive ILNM than negative ILNM. Although the frequency of curability A surgery was significantly less in positive ILNM (63.6%)than negative ILNM(93.5%), there were no significant differences in recurrence rate and prognosis between positive ILNM and negative ILNM in Stage Ⅲ cancer. Recurrence in ILN occurred significantly more in positive ILNM (2 cases) than in negative ILNM(0 case)as initial recurrent site. And recurrence in pelvic local site occurred significantly more in positive ILNM(4 cases)than in negative ILNM(6 cases). Although there was no significant difference in oncological outcome in Stage Ⅲ anal canal adenocarcinoma, ILN recurrence and pelvic local recurrence should be cared for positive ILNM in postoperative follow-up.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with cancer cell exfoliation in Stage II and III colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study targeted 1,698 patients with cStage II and III CRC who underwent R0 resection between 2013 and 2017. Clinicopathological variables were analyzed for correlations with positive peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC). Results: The positive PLC rate was 2.7% (46/1,694 cases) at laparotomy and 1.6% (25/1,590 cases) after tumor resection. Logistic regression analyses identified that undifferentiated histologies diagnosed by preoperative biopsy specimen, cT4, and pN+ were independent factors that affected the positive PLC at laparotomy. The positive PLC rate at laparotomy was 4.5% (33/736 cases) among the patients with undifferentiated histology and/or cT4. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of ascites and undifferentiated histology by biopsy independently affected positive PLC after tumor resection. Conclusions: The undifferentiated histology and/or T4 indicated by preoperative diagnosis were identified as factors affecting PLC at laparotomy. Furthermore, ascites and preoperative histological type were identified as factors affecting positive PLC after tumor resection. As factors affecting positive PLC, these preoperative findings were found to be equivalent to pathological findings.

A variety of histologies is often mixed in neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) called mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN). However, tumors consisting of both large-cell NEC and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are rare. NEC of the large intestine is aggressive; however, an ideal treatment strategy has not been established. In this study, we have reported a case of rectal MiNEN containing large-cell NEC and SCC that was covered by tubulovillous adenoma. A 73-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of an upper rectal tumor. The results of preoperative biopsy indicated tubulovillous adenoma, whereas computed tomography revealed multiple liver tumors and swollen lymph nodes around the rectum. Laparotomy was performed because of severe dyschezia caused by rectal stenosis. Hartmann's operation was performed because of peritoneal metastases. Histopathological examination of the rectal tumor revealed MiNEN containing large-cell NEC, SCC, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and tubulovillous adenoma covering the surface of the tumor. The patient died 73 days after surgery due to liver metastases. It is important to consider NEC in the differential diagnosis and tissue sampling should be performed to ensure appropriate management when pathological findings and clinical diagnosis do not match. More research is required to determine the ideal treatment for these rare and aggressive tumors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) rarely spreads by implantation. We report a case of implantation of rectosigmoid cancer in an anal fissure. A 70-year-old woman with a 15-year medical history of anal fissure was referred to our hospital with anal pain of 3-month duration. Colonoscopy revealed a rectosigmoid tumor and a 10-mm submucosal tumor at the anal verge. Biopsy of the rectosigmoid and anal tumors revealed that both were moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas, and abdominoperineal resection (APR) was performed. The anal adenocarcinoma was surrounded by squamous cell epithelium and mainly proliferated in the submucosal and muscular layers. The patient was diagnosed as having rectosigmoid cancer with implantation of cancer in a preexisting anal fissure. The patient remains well 43 months post-surgery with no sign of recurrence. Implantation of CRC in anal fissure is a rare occurrence. Nevertheless, performing adequate anal examination of patients with CRC before surgery and during follow-up is necessary. Further, it is important to perform preoperative large bowel examination of patients with benign anal diseases to prevent implantation of CRC.

We reviewed clinical records of 354 cases with low rectal carcinoma(RC)after curative surgery(stage Ⅱ 149 cases and stage Ⅲ 205 cases). Stage Ⅱ with recurrence(23 cases)were compared with stage Ⅱ without recurrence(126 cases)in clinicopathological items to evaluate the factors affecting recurrence of stage Ⅱ RC, and were compared with stage Ⅲ with recurrence(89 cases)in treatment outcomes to identify the proper follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that sex and serum CA19-9 level were affecting factors for recurrence in stage Ⅱ low RC. The local recurrence rate of recurrence cases in stage Ⅱ RC(47.8%)was higher than in stage Ⅲ RC(29.2%). Recurrence was more found by serum tumor marker level in stage Ⅲ RC than in stage Ⅱ RC. Surgery for recurrent diseases was significantly more performed in stage Ⅱ RC(60.9%) than stage Ⅲ RC. Overall survival in stage Ⅱ RC with recurrence was significantly better than in stage Ⅲ RC with recurrence. And the prognosis after recurrence was also better in stage Ⅱ RC than in stage Ⅲ RC. It was thought that proper follow-up mainly by image examination would be effective to improve the prognosis.

A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with pain in the right lower quadrant. Abdominal enhanced CT showed a tumor in the pelvic cavity measuring 10 cm in size, invasion to the right external iliac vessels and the right ureter causing hydronephrosis. Volume rendering image showed many feeding vessels to the tumor from the right internal iliac artery and the ileocolic artery. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as desmoid tumor by CT-guided biopsy. Radical tumor resection and right hemicolectomy with combined resection of right ureter, right internal and external iliac vessels were performed. Diverting ileostomy, ureteroneocystostomy and bilateral femoral arteries bypass were performed, and complete tumor resection with a wide margin was able to be performed. Histological examination of the resected tumor revealed that it was comprised of uniform spindle cells arranged in flowing fascicles. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, ß-catenin and desmin, but not for S-100, caldesmon, CD34, ALK1, CD68 or STAT6. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as a retroperitoneal primary desmoid tumor. The ileostomy was closed 8 months after the surgery. The patient has been well more than 10 months after initial surgery, with no recurrence of disease. We report a rare case of retroperitoneal primary desmoid tumor that was treated by curative surgery with combined resection of multiple organs, while preserving postoperative anorectal and urinary functions.

Distal intramural spread refers to microscopic tumor implantation in the intestinal wall, distal to the inferior edge of a macroscopic tumor but rarely beyond 2 cm. We report a case of rectal cancer with preoperatively diagnosed distant intramural spread to approximately 6.5 cm. A 75-year-old woman diagnosed with upper rectal cancer was scheduled to undergo low anterior resection 5 weeks after initial presentation. However, preoperative digital rectal examination and anoscopy under general anesthesia revealed a rectal tumor 4 cm proximal to the anal verge; adenocarcinoma was diagnosed based on frozen section analysis of the rectal tumor. Therefore, abdominoperineal resection was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with distal intramural spread of 6.5 cm. The patient died 18 months postoperatively owing to lung metastasis. Although distal intramural spread is rare and can be difficult to detect prior to surgery, repeated rectal examination, with prompt histological examination of suspicious lesions, can ensure earlier diagnosis to achieve better local control by radical surgery including sufficient distal margin.

We reviewed the clinical records of 302 patients with low rectal carcinoma to evaluate the effectiveness of lateral lymph node(LLN)dissection in cases of skip metastases to the LLN. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to nodal status: group N(133 cases), no metastasis in both the mesorectum lymph node(MLN)and LLN; groupM(100 cases), metastasis in the MLN and no LLN metastasis; group L(15 cases), which was defined as skip metastasis, with no metastasis in the MLN and LLN metastasis; and group ML(54 cases), node metastases in both the MLN and LLN. LLN metastasis was found in 22.8% of all patients, and skip metastasis was found in 10.1%. The recurrence rate in group L(40.0%, 6 cases)was significantly lower than that in group ML(75.9%, 41 cases)and not different from that in group M(43.0%, 43 cases). The initial recurrence sites in group L were the lung(3 cases)and local recurrence(3 cases). In group L, 20.0% had hematogenous recurrence, which was lower than in group ML. There was no significant difference between group L(5-year survival rate: 57.1%)and group M(71.7%)in terms of prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that histology was a risk factor for LLN metastasis in lowrectal cancer without MLN metastasis. The positive predictive value of LLN metastasis based on computed tomography was 43.9%. It was believed that LLN dissection was important, especially for non-differentiated cancer, in consideration of skip metastases to the LLN.

Intestinal metastases from colorectal cancer typically occur by intraperitoneal spread, whereas those occurring via hematogenous route are exceedingly rare. We report a case of intestinal metastases from sigmoid colon cancer that presented as iliopsoas abscess and ileus. A 78-year-old man who had undergone sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer 5 years ago was referred to our hospital with recurrent ileus and fever. Abdominal computed tomography showed a left iliopsoas abscess and a mass near the abscess that had ostensibly caused ileus. The patient underwent segmental resection of the jejunum including the mass. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma proliferating mainly in the submucosal and muscular layers, which was pathologically identical to the colon cancer resected 5 years ago. He died 18 months after the surgery because of liver metastases. This case report highlights the delayed occurrence of colorectal metastases at unusual sites, such as the small bowel, more than 5 years after the resection of the primary cancer. Intestinal metastases should be considered in patients with a history of colon cancer, particularly in those with recurrent ileus or abdominal abscess with no obvious cause.

We evaluated the effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy(CRT)by reviewing 11 clinicalcases of analsquamous cellcarcinoma( SCC). Radiotherapy(RT)consisted of 40 Gy delivered to pelvic and bilateral inguinal lesions, and a perianal booster dose of 20 Gy in fractions of 2.0 Gy per day, 5 days per week. 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)and mitomycin C were administered twice every 4weeks as standard chemotherapy. On the first day of RT, patients received a single bolus dose of 10mg/m2 mitomycin C, and a continuous 24-hour infusion of 750mg/m2 5-FU for 5 days. One patient with a T3 tumor was orally administered S- 1 during RT because of his poor generalcondition, and 1 patient with a T2 tumor did not receive 1 course of 5-FU and MMC owing to an adverse event. Grade 3 adverse effects occurred in 3 patients, but all 11 patients completed CRT. The anal lesions of 10 patients had complete response after CRT. Recurrence of anal lesions occurred in 4 patients, including 2 patients who were not treated with standard CRT. Of 8 patients who received CR via standard CRT, 2 patients had recurrence of anal lesions more than 60 months after completion of CRT. CRT is believed to be safe and effective for improving the prognosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma; however, sufficient and appropriate follow-up is necessary after complete response.

Objective: The treatment policy of colorectal cancer in elderly patients is controversial due to a lack of specific guidelines. To clarify the present management of colorectal cancer for aged patients, a questionnaire survey was conducted by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Methods: Questionnaire forms were sent to the 430 member institutions of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Results: The response rate of the surgical department to the questionnaire was 39%. Performance status was used for preoperative assessments, and electrocardiogram and ultrasonic cardiograms were conducted for cardiovascular evaluations in many institutions. The same extent of surgical procedures was often adopted for elderly and younger patients, and the frequency of a laparoscopic procedure was the same regardless of a patient's age. A simultaneous hepatectomy for hepatic metastasis was considered in one-third of institutions. In many institutions, intersphincteric resection for patients with possible sphincter-saving surgery was not considered for elderly patients with low rectal cancer. Conclusion: Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum member institutions often used the same surgical treatment strategies for both elderly and younger patients with the exception of performing intersphincteric resection.

We reviewed the clinical records of 14 cases who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(CRT)to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the CRT for T4b rectal cancer. The preoperative radiotherapy consisted of 40-50 Gy delivered in fractions of 1.8-2.0 Gy per day, 5 days per week. A treatment with intravenous 5-fluorouracil, or oral tegafur-uracil(UFT)with l-leucovorin, or oral S-1, or capecitabine or intravenous irinotecan with oral S-1, was administered during radiotherapy. One patient died due to pelvic abscess at 69 days after CRT. Complete response(CR)or partial response(PR)was observed in 8 cases, 1 month after CRT. Curative surgery was performed in 10 patients. Among 10 patients who underwent curative surgery, both urinary and anal function were preserved in 5 patients. Although no lymph node metastasis was found in 9 patients of 10 patients who underwent curative surgery, recurrence was found in 5 patients, and local recurrence was found in 4 of these patients. Recurrence occurred in all patients who had recurrence within 1 year. Preoperative CRT was expected to be an effective treatment to improve the resection rate and prognosis for T4b rectal cancer. However, it was thought that it was necessary to be careful about local recurrence, especially within 1 year after surgery.

We analyzed the treatment outcomes after curative surgery for stage IV colorectal cancer to develop outcome-based follow-up protocols and treatment strategies. This study was a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in patients who underwent R0 surgery for stage IV colorectal cancer. A total of 1133 patients, of whom 837 had recurrence, were included in this study. Recurrence occurred within 12 and 24 months after R0 surgery in 452 (54.0 %) and 652 (77.9 %) patients, respectively. Surgical resection was performed less frequently for recurrence within 12 months of R0 surgery than for recurrence after more than 12 months (p = 0.003). Prognosis was significantly better in patients who had recurrence more than 24 months after R0 surgery than in those who had recurrence within 24 months; this was not only for all patients but also specifically for patients with resection for recurrent disease. Recurrence was less frequent in patients who received preoperative chemotherapy than in patients who did not receive preoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.04). Of significance, fewer patients who received preoperative chemotherapy (57.5 %) had recurrence within 24 months compared with patients who did not receive preoperative chemotherapy (79.8 %) (p = 0.00001). Intensive follow-up for at least 24 months was considered appropriate for monitoring disease recurrence after R0 surgery for stage IV colorectal cancer. In addition, preoperative chemotherapy contributed to improved outcomes.

We reviewed the clinical records of 7 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)to evaluate the effectiveness of radical chemoradiotherapy(CRT). The radiotherapy(RT)consisted of 40 Gy delivered to the pelvis and bilateral inguinal lesions, and a perianal booster dose of 20 Gy, in fractions of 2.0 Gy per day, 5 days per week. 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)and mitomycin C(MMC)were administered 3 times every 4weeks as standard chemotherapy. On the first day of RT, 750mg/m2 of 5-FU in the form of a continuous 24-hour infusion, for 5 days was administered. On the first day of chemotherapy, 10mg/ m2 of MMC was also administered as a single bolus infusion. One patient with a T3 tumor was administered oral TS-1 during RT because of advanced age. In the CRT group, there was 1 case each of T1 and T3, and the others were T2. Grade 2 adverse effects occurred in 5 patients, and Grade 3 in 2, but completion of CRT was achieved in all 7 patients. All patients had a complete response in the anal lesion after CRT. Three patients, including those with the T3 tumor treated with TS-1, developed recurrence of the anal lesion. Two patients with T2 tumors, who were treated with CRT comprising 5-FU and MMC, developed recurrence of the anal lesion more than 60 months after CRT. CRT is expected to be a safe and effective treatment to improve the prognosis for anal squamous carcinoma; however, sufficient and appropriate follow-up is necessary after a complete response.

Metastasis to the small intestine presents occasionally as multiple lesions and is associated with numerous complications. However, metastasis-induced intussusception in adults is a rare phenomenon. We report a case of recurrent intussusception induced by metastatic lesions from lung cancer. A 54-year-old male was referred to our hospital with intermittent lower right abdominal pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass, suggesting lung cancer, and abdominal CT showed characteristic target-shaped lesions highly suggestive of enteric intussusception in the ileum. The patient underwent segmental resection of the intussuscepted ileum, and analysis of the resected specimen identified a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma that was pathologically and immunohistologically identical to the lung specimen obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy. Although the symptoms transiently resolved after surgery, intussusception recurred 3 weeks later, and the patient died 28 days after surgery. Multiple metastatic lesions should be considered in adult intussusception, particularly in patients with a history of malignancy.

Purpose We devised a simple dichotomous classification system and showed sufficient reproducibility to indicate treatment strategies for peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer. Methods We included 67 patients with peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer and classified them according to the largest lesion size, number of lesions and number of regional peritoneal metastases. The oncological data were recorded and compared. Results According to the univariate analyses, the prognoses were significantly better in patients with &lt;= 3 disseminated lesions than in those with &gt;= 4, and in patients with disseminated lesions in only one region than in those with &gt;= 2 lesions. A multivariate analysis showed that primary tumor resection and the presence of peritoneal metastases in only one region were favorable factors for the patient survival. Patients with disseminated lesions in only one region (localized group) and those with nonlocalized lesions had three-year survival rates of 45.6 and 12.2 %, respectively. Finally, primary tumor resection improved the prognoses in both the localized and nonlocalized groups. Conclusions Colorectal cancer patients were categorized into localized and nonlocalized groups according to the number of regions with peritoneal metastasis, and significant prognostic associations were demonstrated. Subsequent analyses of the oncological data suggested that primary tumor resection contributes to an improved prognosis in all patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases.

Peritoneal metastases (PM) are a well-known poor prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting recurrence and prognosis after R0 resection for colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 72 patients without distant metastases who underwent R0 surgery between 1991 and 2007 for colorectal cancer with PM localized to the adjacent peritoneum. Clinicopathological variables were analyzed for their significance to recurrence and prognosis. Recurrence was found in 51 patients (70.8 %) after R0 surgery. In logistic regression analyses, lymph node metastasis was shown to be an independent factor affecting recurrence. Non-intensive or no postoperative chemotherapy and eight or fewer dissected lymph nodes were identified as independent poor prognostic factors using the Cox proportional hazards model. Among patients who received postoperative chemotherapy, prognosis was significantly better in those who received intensive adjuvant chemotherapy using camptothecin-11 or oxaliplatin after R0 surgery than in those who received non-intensive chemotherapy. Among 47 patients whose recurrence date was known, 33 patients (70.2 %) experienced recurrence within 18 months after R0 surgery for peritoneal metastases, and hematogenous recurrence was observed significantly more often than peritoneal recurrence. Harvesting of more than eight lymph nodes and administration of intense adjuvant chemotherapy after R0 surgery are recommended for greater prediction accuracy and improved prognosis. Intensive follow-up should be performed within 18 months after R0 surgery for colorectal cancer with synchronous peritoneal metastases.

Background/Aims: Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is a wellknown predictor of poor prognosis. This study aims at identifying factors affecting recurrence and prognosis after R0 resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) with synchronous PM. Methods: A multi-institutional, retrospective analysis of 172 patients with R0 surgery for CRC with PM was conducted. Clinicopathological variables were analyzed for their significance in contributing toward recurrence and prognosis. Results: Lymph node (LN) metastasis was an independent factor affecting recurrence as indicated by logistic regression analyses. The following factors were independent predictors of poor prognostic using the Cox proportional hazard model: LN metastasis, no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, five or fewer dissected LNs, and preoperative high serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels. Of the patients undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, no significant differences were observed in recurrence rate and disease-free interval between those with intensive adjuvant chemotherapy and those with non-intensive chemotherapy. After R0 surgery for PM, 90 patients (76.3%) experienced recurrence by 18 months, and hematogenous recurrence occurred significantly more often than peritoneal recurrence. Conclusion: Harvesting of more than 5 LNs and administration of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy after R0 surgery are recommended for prognosis improvement. Intensive follow-up should be performed within 18 months after R0 surgery for CRC with synchronous PM. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel

We reviewed the clinical records of 81 patients with stage Ⅳ low rectal carcinoma (LRC) (25 Cur B surgeries and 56 Cur C surgeries) to evaluate the effectiveness of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) by comparing the treatment outcomes with those of patients with stage Ⅲ LRC. Mesenteric lymph node metastasis was a risk factor for local recurrence in a multivariate analysis. There were no significant differences in the frequency of lateral node metastasis, local recurrence rate, or prognosis between Cur B and stage Ⅲ LRC patients. We suggest that LLND effectively improves prognosis as well as local control in Cur B patients. In Cur C patients, prognosis was poor regardless of lateral node metastasis. However, in patients with lateral node metastasis, there were no significant differences in between the Cur C (25.0%), Cur B, and stage Ⅲ groups, suggesting that LLND improves local control in Cur C patients with lateral node metastasis. Although the local recurrence rate was high (71.4%) in Cur C patients without lateral node metastasis, fewer lateral lymph nodes were harvested in these patients than in those with lateral node metastasis. Our results indicate that further examination of the local control effects of LLND in Cur C patients is necessary.

AimSeveral procedures have been described for rectovaginal fistula with a wide range of success, but there is little information on the long-term outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term outcome after transvaginal anterior levatorplasty (ALP) for intractable rectovaginal fistula. MethodData of 16 consecutive patients undergoing transvaginal ALP with fistulectomy and closure of the rectum and vagina between 1998 and 2011 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively investigated to study the long-term outcome. ResultsBirth injury (n=7), low anterior resection for rectal cancer (n=3), pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis (n=2) and a procedure for prolapse and haemorrhoids (n=2) were the main causes of the fistula. Nine patients had a covering stoma before surgery. All patients underwent ALP, with a covering stoma in two patients. Infection occurred in one patient and wound rupture after surgery in another patient. These patients underwent reoperation by ALP. All fistulae had healed at a median follow-up of 84 (8-193) months after initial surgery or stoma closure. ConclusionTransvaginal ALP is effective for the treatment of mid or low rectovaginal fistula. The results show that a graft is not necessary regardless of whether or not previous surgery has been performed.

We reviewed the clinical records of 9 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) chiefly to evaluate the effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Surgery was performed in 1 patient; radiotherapy (RT), in 2; and CRT, in 6. RT consisted of 40 Gy delivered to the pelvic and bilateral inguinal lesions, and a perianal booster dose of 20 Gy in fractions of 2.0 Gy/day, 5 days a week. 5-fluorouraci (l 750 mg/m², administered through a 24-h continuous infusion for 5 days) and mitomycin C (10 mg/m², administered as a single bolus infusion)were administered 3 times every 4 weeks as standard chemotherapy. One patient with a T3 tumor received oral TS-1 during RT because of advanced age. In the CRT group, 1 patient had a T1 tumor, another had a T3 tumor, and the others had a T2 tumor. Grade 2 adverse effects occurred in 3 patients, and grade 3 adverse effects occurred in 1 patient. Nevertheless, CRT was completed in all of the 6 patients. All the patients had complete response after CRT for the anal lesion. Two patients, one of whom had a T3 tumor treated with oral S-1, had recurrence of the anal lesion. The 2 patients (T2 and T3) who underwent RT and needed surgery because of residual tumor died of recurrent disease. The patient with a T4 tumor who underwent abdominoperineal resection also died of recurrent disease. CRT is considered a safe and effective treatment option to improve prognosis in anal SCC.

Malakoplakia in the gastrointestinal tract is rare in healthy young people without underlying disease. Sufficient tissue is required for accurate diagnosis. We describe a malakoplakia that developed in a healthy young woman and was treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). A 40-year-old woman with a history of taking oral contraceptives until one year earlier was referred to our hospital with anal bleeding and constipation. A colonoscopy carried out at our another hospital 18 months earlier disclosed no abnormal findings. Colonoscopy at presentation revealed a yellowish-white tumor, 5mm in diameter, in the rectum. The lesion was slightly protruded and had a smooth flat surface, without erosion or ulceration. EMR was carried out for a definitive diagnosis. Histopathological examination showed that the tumor contained granular histiocytes, positive for CD68 and negative forcytokeratin (AE1/AE3). Several histiocytes contained intracytoplasmic round bodies (Michaelis-Gutmann bodies), which reacted positively with periodic acid-Schiff and calcium (Von Kossa) stains. Intracytoplasmic Escherichia coli (von Hansemann bodies) were identified by Giemsa staining. Based on these results, the tumor in the rectum was diagnosed as a malakoplakia. Following EMR, the patient did not receive further treatment for malakoplakia because she had no symptoms associated with malakoplakia. She has been well for more than 9 months, with no symptoms of disease. Awareness of colorectal malakoplakia is important in patients taking steroids, including oral contraceptives.

This study was performed to clarify the clinical features of ischemic colitis (IC) after colorectal cancer surgery. This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 patients with IC. Patients were divided into two groups: those who had undergone colorectal cancer surgery (POIC group, n = 13) and those who had not undergone colorectal cancer surgery (NOIC group, n = 22). Gangrenous colitis was seen in one patient in the POIC group, and transient colitis was seen in the remaining 34 patients. Among the patients with transient colitis, there were significantly more patients without underlying diseases or promoting factors in the POIC group than in the NOIC group (P = 0.01). Abdominal pain was more frequently reported in the NOIC group than in the POIC group as both the initial symptom (P = 0.02) and throughout the disease course (P = 0.02). Ischemic changes occupying more than half the circumference of the intestinal wall were more frequently found in the NOIC group than in the POIC group (P = 0.03). Although transient POIC may occur without any underlying disease, severe symptoms rarely occur. However, if POIC occurs in a patient with severe underlying disease, then the occurrence of severe colitis should be considered.

To establish the efficiency of bowel ligatures in colon cancer surgery, focusing on the extent to which exfoliated cancer cells are shed in the colonic lumen during sigmoidectomy. Twenty consecutive patients who underwent sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer were prospectively randomized into two groups: the "ligatures group", in which bowel ligatures were placed, 3, 5, 10 cm from the tumor proximally and distally before dissection; and the "no ligatures group", in which the corresponding sites were ligated only immediately before taking the specimen out. Each colonic segment ligated was irrigated with saline and samples were sent for blind cytological examination. Cancer cells were found in the colonic segment where the tumor was located, in 18 of 20 samples. The frequency of free cancer cells decreased from 50 to 0 % (p &lt; 0.04) in the distal 3-5 cm colonic segment and from 80 to 20 % (p &lt; 0.03) in the proximal colonic segment after performing bowel ligatures. Free cancer cells were confirmed in 1 of 10 samples at both colonic segments 5-10 cm from the tumor, even after bowel ligatures. Intraluminal exfoliated cancer cells could be eliminated by placing bowel ligatures during sigmoidectomy. Measures should be considered to eliminate exfoliated cancer cells during colectomy, even after placing bowel ligatures.

We reviewed the clinical records of 13 patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of CRT for T4b rectal cancer. Preoperative radiotherapy consisted of 40-50 Gy delivered in fractions of 1.8-2.0 Gy per day, 5 days per week. Treatment with intravenous 5-fluorouracil, oral tegafur-uracil(UFT-E)with l-leucovorin, oral S-1, or intravenous irinotecan(CPT-11)with oral S-1 was administered during radiotherapy. At 63 days after CRT, 1 patient died because of pelvic abscess. Complete response(CR)or partial response(PR)was observed in 7 patients, 1 month after CRT. Curative surgery was performed in 9 patients. Among 10 patients who underwent surgery 70 days after CRT, 5 who showed PR 1 month after CRT underwent curative surgery; both urinary and anal function were preserved in 4 of these patients. Histological invasion to the adjacent organs was not observed in 6 patients, and 1 patient achieved histological CR. Of the 9 patients who underwent curative surgery, recurrence was observed in 2; however, the other patients survived without recurrence. Preoperative CRT was considered to be effective in improving the resection rate and prognosis in patients with T4b rectal cancer. However, careful attention should be paid to the severe toxicities associated with CRT, such as pelvic abscess.

The aim of the present study was to classify the short-term outcomes of local correction of stoma prolapse with a stapler device. The medical records of 11 patients undergoing local correction of stoma prolapse using a stapler device were retrospectively reviewed. No mortality or morbidity was observed after the surgery. Median operative time was 35 min (range 15-75 min), and blood loss was minimal. Median duration of follow-up was 12 months (range 6-55 months). One of the 11 patients had a recurrent stoma prolapse. This technique can be a feasible, safe and minimally invasive correction procedure for stoma prolapse.

We report what to our knowledge is the first documented case of "peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified" (PTCL-NOS) associated with a rectal adenoma. Colorectal lymphomas are relatively uncommon, but colorectal T-cell lymphomas are extremely rare. The patient was a 92-year-old woman, referred to our hospital for investigation of anal bleeding. Rectal examination revealed a 3-cm pedunculated polypoid mass 5 cm above the anal verge. We performed a transanal local excision, and histopathological examination revealed a tubulovillous adenoma, with the diffuse proliferation of large lymphoid cells mainly discernible in the mucus membrane lamina propria, with infiltration to the submucosal layer. Immunohistochemical examination of the lymphoid cells revealed positive staining for CD3, weak staining for CD4 and CD8, and negative staining for CD5, CD10, CD20, CD56, CD79a, TIA-1, and Granzyme B. The tumor was diagnosed as PTCL-NOS associated with rectal tubulovillous adenoma. The patient died 28 days after surgery, most probably of progression of the PTCL-NOS.

We reviewed the clinical records of 6 cases with anal squamous cell carcinoma to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The radiotherapy consisted of 40 Gy delivered to the pelvis and bilateral inguinal lesion, and a perianal booster dose of 20 Gy, in fractions of 2.0 Gy per day, 5 days per week. 5-FU and mitomycin C were administrated 3 times every 4 weeks as standard chemotherapy. On the first day of radiation therapy, 750 mg/m2 of 5-FU in the form of a continuous 24-hour infusion for 5 days was given. On the first day of chemotherapy, 10 mg/m2 of mitomycin C was also given as a single bolus infusion. One aged patient with a T3 tumor was administrated oral S-1 during radiotherapy. Four patients had a T2 tumor, 1 had a T1 tumor, and 1 had a T3 tumor. One patient had metastases in the Virchow lymph node that originated from synchronous vaginal cancer. No patient had hematogenous metastases. Grade 2 adverse effects occurred in 3 patients, and Grade 3 in 1 patient, during CRT, but the completion of CRT was achieved in all 6 patients. All patients had complete response (CR) in the anal lesion after CRT. Only the patient with a T3 tumor who was administrated S- 1 showed signs of recurrence in the anal lesion. CRT is expected to be a safe and effective treatment for improving the prognosis of anal squamous carcinoma.

Laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery with lymphadenectomy is rarely performed for multiple gastrointestinal cancers. We report four patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for synchronous cancer of the stomach and colon. Resection of each organ with lymphadenectomy was performed by each specialist and the region of the lymphadenectomy was determined according to the lesion of cancer and its depth. The selection of gastric anastomosis, whether intracorporeal or extracorporeal, depended on the resecting areas of the large bowel to allow a small incision. All four cases were male with the median age of 69 (range 59-77) years. The median number of trocars used were 6 (range 5-8) and median length of incision was 4.5cm (range 4-4.5cm). The median operative time and blood loss were 495.5 minutes (range 390-605) and 88g (range 36-245), respectively. In all four cases, laparoscopic surgery with a lymphadenectomy on each region was successfully accomplished according to the respective progression stage. Anastomosis was completed with a small incision by using techniques and devices to provide a variation of anastomosis methods and incision positions. Laparoscopic surgery with lymphadenectomy was also undertaken for a patient with gastric remnant cancer and colorectal cancer. The median length of the postoperative hospital stay was 14.5 days (range 12-29). No complications were observed after the surgery. There was no case of recurrence during a median follow-up of 84.3 months (range 54.9-111.5). Laparoscopic surgery was feasible for patients with double cancer of the stomach and colon.

In the guidelines on American National Comprehensive Cancer Network, local excision with adequate margin is recommended as a primary treatment for patients with T1, N0, and well-differentiated anal margin cancers. Otherwise, concurrent chemotherapy using mitomycin C(10mg/m², day 1 and 29)and 5-FU(1,000mg/m2/day, continuous intravenous infusion, day 1-4 and 29-32)with radiation(total dose of 45-59 Gy)is the recommended primary treatment for all other stages of nonmetastatic anal margin and anal canal cancer. Abdominoperineal resection is performed for patients with local recurrent diseases or residual tumor after chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy, using cisplatin(100mg/m², day 2)and 5-FU(1,000mg/m²/day, day 1-5)every four weeks, is recommended for patients with distant metastases, and radiotherapy can also be given for the local control of symptomatic anal lesions. Abdominoperineal resection has been performed in Japan; however, use of chemoradiotherapy is expected to increase for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma. Clarification of the correct positioning of chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin, and the development of treatment using oral anticancer agents, are expected in the future by a clinical trial now in progress.

Stomal prolapse is one of the common complications in transverse colostomy and can be managed conservatively in most cases; however, laparotomy and reconstruction of the stoma may sometimes be required, especially in case of irreducible colostomy prolapse. We have reported a simple local repair with reconstruction of the loop colostomy. We herein report a new more simple technique to avoid laparotomy and allow excision of the irreducible colostomy prolapse and complete closure of the distal limb of loop colostomy when no decompression is required in the distal limb of the stoma. In this procedure, the number of stapler and the time with blood loss for the operation can be saved.

We reviewed clinical records of 11 cases with preoperative chemoradiotherapy to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of chemoradiotherapy for T4 rectal cancer. The preoperative radiotherapy consisted of 40-50 Gy delivered in fractions of 1 .8- 2.0 Gy per day, five days per week. A treatment of 5-fluorouracil, 500 mg/body per day intravenously, or oral UFT-E (300 mg/m²) with l-leucovorin (75 mg) per day, or oral S-1 (80 mg/m²) per day five days per week, was given during radiotherapy. One patient died due to pelvic abscess in 63 days after chemoradiotherapy. Invasive findings to the adjacent organs identified by CT and MRI disappeared in 6 cases with complete or partial response 1 month after chemoradiotherapy. Curative surgery was performed in 7 patients. Although the adjacent organs were also removed during surgery in 7 patients, there was no histological invasion to the adjacent organs in 4 patients, and one patient had histological complete disappearance of tumor. Although complications after surgery were found in all of the patients, they were improved by conservative treatment. Two of 7 patients with curative surgery had recurrence, but the rest of them survived without recurrence. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy was expected to be an effective treatment to improve the resection rate and prognosis for T4 rectal cancer. However, it was thought that it was necessary to be careful about severe toxicity, such as pelvic abscess.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) develop most commonly in the pleura, although they have occasionally been reported to arise in the pelvic cavity. We report a case of an SFT presenting as a painless nodule in the pelvis of a 56-year-old woman. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped cells arranged without pattern, with short and narrow fascicles and interspersed bundles of thick collagen, and numerous blood vessels with a focally hemangiopericytoma-like appearance. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells strongly expressed vimentin, CD34, and bcl-2. The tumor was excised via a trans-sacral approach, without preoperative transcatheter embolization, and the patient remains well more than 2 years after her operation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an SFT in the pelvis, which was excised completely via a trans-sacral approach.

This study was performed to identify patients who would benefit from lateral lymph node (LLN) dissection for advanced low rectal carcinoma. Clinical outcomes were retrospectively studied in 149 patients with node positive low rectal carcinoma undergoing LLN dissection according to LLN status: patients with (group II) or without positive LLNs (group I), and the number (a parts per thousand currency sign3, &gt; 3), side (unilateral, bilateral), and site of positive LLNs. The overall 5-year survival rate was significantly worse in group II (36.2%) than that in group I (69.8%). The 5-year survival rate was significantly worse in patients with &gt; 3 positive LLNs, bilateral positive LLNs, and positive LLNs in both areas B and C (high-risk group) than that in patients with a parts per thousand currency sign3 positive LLNs, unilateral positive LLNs, and positive LLNs in either area B or C. The 5-year survival rate was significantly better in patients without any high-risk factors (54.2%, low-risk group II) than that in patients who belonged to the high-risk group (12.3%). There was no significant difference in 5-year survival rate between group I and low-risk group II. There were significantly more well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, tumors with less than minimal lymphatic invasion, and tumors with less than six involved LNs in the mesorectum in low-risk group II than in high-risk group II. LLN dissection for low rectal carcinoma was effective for patients with fewer than four positive unilateral LLNs in either area B or C.

We reviewed clinical records of 4 cases with squamous cell carcinoma in anus to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the chemoradiotherapy. The radiation therapy consisted of 40 Gy was delivered to pelvis and bilateral inguinal lesion, and perianal booster dose of 20 Gy, in fractions of 2.0 Gy per day, was given five days a week. On the first day of radiation therapy, 750 mg/m2 of 5-FU in the form of a continuous 24-hour infusion for 5 days was given. On the first day of chemotherapy, 10 mg/m2 of MMC was also given as a single bolus infusion. 5-FU and MMC were administered 4 times every 4 weeks. Three patients had T2 tumor, and one patient had T1 tumor. One patient had metastases in para-aortic and Virchow lymph node. No patients had hematogenous metastases. Grade 1 or 2 adverse effects occurred in 3 patients during chemoradiotherapy, but the completion of chemoradiotherapy was achieved in all of the 4 patients. All patients had complete response in the anal lesion after chemoradiotherapy. No patients had any sign of recurrence in anal lesion. Chemoradiotherapy was expected to be a safe and effective treatment to improve prognosis for anal squamous carcinoma.

Interaction of CA19-9 with E-selectin is involved in initiation of hematogenous metastases. We investigated whether serum concentrations of E-selectin and CA19-9 are good predictors of hematogenous metastases and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Pre-operative serum samples were obtained from 152 patients with colorectal cancer, and from 28 healthy volunteers. Correlation between serum E-selectin and CA19-9 was studied in terms of clinically detected hematogenous metastases and prognosis of patients. Low serum concentration of E-selectin was defined as &lt; 50 U/ml in healthy volunteers, and on that basis, 20.4% of all patients belonged to the high E-selectin group. Several distinctive characteristics were observed in the clinical course of patients with high serum concentrations of both CA19-9 and E-selectin. The rate of Dukes&apos; D cancer was significantly higher, and curative surgery was performed less frequently in patients with high serum concentrations of both CA19-9 and E-selectin (60 and 40%) than in others. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of recurrence after curative surgery between patients with high serum concentrations of both CA19-9 and E-selectin (25.0%) and others. Overall the 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with high serum concentrations of both CA19-9 and E-selectin (34.3%) than in other patients. Even if the serum concentration of CA19-9 was high, prognosis was not poor in patients with low serum concentration of E-selectin. These results suggested that it was useful to measure both CA19-9 and E-selectin as markers of hematogenous metastases and as predictors of prognosis in colorectal cancer.

We evaluated the effect of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. A total of 65 patients received HAI chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of weekly 5-FU (1, 500 mg/body) or 5-FU (400 mg/mm2) and /-LV (200 mg/mm2). The survival and response rates were assessed according to RECIST. Median survival time with HAI chemotherapy was 13.5 months, 5-year survival rate 8% and response rates 55%. There was no evidence of myelosuppression, and HAI could be continued for a long time even for poor PS patients. There were no differences in survival time between synchronous, metachronous and postoperative metachronous liver metastases. In the patients who underwent curative hepatectomy after HAI chemotherapy, the 5-year survival rate was 21%, which was better than in patients with HAI chemotherapy alone. HAI chemotherapy could thus be an option for unresectable liver metastases, which could be well tolerated.

We reviewed clinical records of 10 cases with preoperative chemoradiotherapy to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the chemoradiotherapy for T4 rectal cancer. The preoperative radiation therapy consisted of 40-50 Gy delivered in fractions of 1.8-2.0 Gy per day for five days per week. A treatment of 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/body) per day intravenously, or oral UFT-E (300 mg/m2) with l-leucovorin (75 mg/body) per day, or oral S-1 (80 mg/m2) per day for five days per week, was given during radiotherapy. Grade 1 or 2 adverse effects occurred in 3 patients during chemoradiotherapy, but a completion of chemoradiotherpy was achieved in all of the 10 patients. Invasive findings to the adjacent organs identified by CT and MRI disappeared in 6 cases with complete or partial response 1 month after chemoradiotherapy. Although the adjacent organs were also removed during surgery in 7 patients, curative surgery was performed in 7 patients. There was no histological invasion to the adjacent organs in 4 patients, and one patient had a histological complete disappearance of tumor. Although complications after surgery were found in all of the patients, they were improved by conservative treatment. Two of 7 patients with curative surgery had recurrence, but the rest of them survived without recurrence. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy was expected to be a safe and effective treatment to improve the resection rate and prognosis for T4 rectal cancer.

Metachronous multiple carcinomas at the site of a stoma is a rare condition after surgery. A 67-year-old man with a second tumor at the stoma site 15 years after abdominoperineal resection for rectal carcinoma is reported herein with a review of the Japanese literature. The patient visited our hospital 20 years after initial surgery, presenting with constipation and increasing tumor size in the stoma. A biopsy specimen of the tumor revealed adenocarcinoma. Block resection of the sigmoid colon and colostomy with the adjacent abdominal wall was performed. Histopathological examination showed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the stoma invading the adjacent skin. A median of 144 months from the initial operation was documented in 23 cases reported.