Published papers

Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is one of the most common lethal tumors in the world, and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods is needed. In this study, cancer-testis antigen, BORIS, was isolated by functional cDNA expression cloning using screening technique with serum IgG Abs from ESCC patients. BORIS was previously reported to show cancer-testis antigen like expression, but its immunogenicity has remained unclear in cancer patients. BORIS was considered to be an immunogenic antigen capable of inducing IgG Abs in patients with various cancers, including four of 11 ESCC patients. Immunohistochemical study showed that the BORIS protein was expressed in 28 of 50 (56%) ESCC tissues. The BORIS expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients with pT1 disease (P = 0.036). Furthermore, the patients with BORIS-positive tumors had a poor overall survival (5-year survival rate: BORIS-negative 70.0% vs BORIS-positive 29.9%, log-rank P = 0.028) in Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that BORIS expression was an independent poor prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 4.158 [95% confidence interval 1.494-11.57], P = 0.006). Downregulation of BORIS with specific siRNAs resulted in decreased cell proliferation and invasion ability of ESCC cell lines. BORIS may be a useful biomarker for prognostic diagnosis of ESCC patients and a potential target for treatment including by BORIS-specific immunotherapy and molecular target therapy. © 2012 Japanese Cancer Association.

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and recurrence of early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix, and to determine whether non-radical methods of management could be performed.|The medical and histopathological records of 50 patients with early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix treated at Keio University Hospital between 1993 and 2005 were reviewed, and compared with the literature.|The median follow-up period was 64.3 months. The depth of stromal invasion was ≤3 mm in 33 cases and >3 mm, but ≤5 mm in 17 cases. The horizontal spread was ≤7 mm in 25 cases and >7 mm in 25 cases. One of the 33 cases that had tumor volumes of ≤500 mm(3), and three of the 17 cases with tumor volumes of >500 mm(3) were positive for lymph node metastasis. When our data were combined with previously reported results, statistically significant differences were observed between the tumor volume and the frequency of pelvic lymph node metastasis/the rate of recurrence (p<0.0001). The frequency of pelvic lymph node metastases was significantly higher in the lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI)-positive group than in the LVSI-negative group (p=0.02). No adnexal metastasis or parametrial involvement was noted.|Assessment of the depth of stromal invasion, tumor volume, and LVSI is critical for selecting an appropriate therapeutic modality. Non-radical methods of management are considered suitable for patients with LVSI-negative adenocarcinoma of the cervix exhibiting a stromal invasion depth of ≤5 mm and a tumor volume of ≤500 mm(3).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk and recurrence of early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix, and to determine whether non-radical methods of management could be performed. Methods: The medical and histopathological records of 50 patients with early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix treated at Keio University Hospital between 1993 and 2005 were reviewed, and compared with the literature. Results: The median follow-up period was 64.3 months. The depth of stromal invasion was ≤3 mm in 33 cases and >3 mm, but ≤5 mm in 17 cases. The horizontal spread was ≤7 mm in 25 cases and >7 mm in 25 cases. One of the 33 cases that had tumor volumes of ≤500 mm 3, and three of the 17 cases with tumor volumes of >500 mm 3 were positive for lymph node metastasis. When our data were combined with previously reported results, statistically significant differences were observed between the tumor volume and the frequency of pelvic lymph node metastasis/the rate of recurrence (p<0.0001). The frequency of pelvic lymph node metastases was significantly higher in the lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI)-positive group than in the LVSI-negative group (p=0.02). No adnexal metastasis or parametrial involvement was noted. Conclusion: Assessment of the depth of stromal invasion, tumor volume, and LVSI is critical for selecting an appropriate therapeutic modality. Non-radical methods of management are considered suitable for patients with LVSI-negative adenocarcinoma of the cervix exhibiting a stromal invasion depth of ≤5 mm and a tumor volume of ≤500 mm 3. © 2012. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

1979年〜2009年に大学病院産婦人科で44歳以下で両側卵巣摘出術を受けた51例(卵摘群)、健康維持外来受診中で、有経、自然閉経後卵巣摘出を含めた323例(対照群)を対象に2008年に開発したFRAXを用い、骨折リスクを算出し、閉経前両側卵巣摘出という因子がFRAXに与える影響について検討した。卵摘群では骨量正常が45例、骨量減少が6例、骨粗鬆症例は認めなかった。一方、対照群では骨量正常が238例、骨量減少が59例、骨粗鬆症が26例であった。卵摘群と対照群の骨密度を比較すると、卵摘群においてYAM値90%未満の例が31.8%に認められ、両群間に有意差を認めず、平均値の比較でも対照群と有意差を認めなかった。卵摘群における骨量減少6例は共に低BMIで、うち2例ではBMIが16以下であった。61歳例のFRAX値は9.7で他の5例に比べ高値であった。卵摘群における骨正常例ではL2-4YAMと大腿骨骨密度が骨量減少例と比べ有意に高値であった。

Although the colposcopic features of cervical glandular disease and cervical adenocarcinoma are not widely well known, unique microvascular patterns are reportedly useful for identifying such diseases. The narrow band imaging (NBI) system used in endoscopy can be used to obtain high-contrast vascular images. Therefore, we examined the utility of NBI colposcopy and compared the results with those of conventional colposcopy.|Twenty-one patients with adenocarcinoma in situ or early invasive adenocarcinomas were examined using digital NBI colposcopy, and the photo records were compared with those of conventional colposcopy. The histological examination and immunohistochemistry with anti-CD31 antibody confirmed the microvascular pattern.|Digital NBI colposcopy depicted the fine vascular texture on the surface of the cervix more clearly than conventional colposcopy. The vascular pattern was depicted in 86% (18/21) of glandular disease cases. The characteristic fine vascular patterns were critical for identifying cervical glandular diseases.|Digital NBI colposcopy was useful for identifying early cervical adenocarcinoma as well as adenocarcinoma in situ. This system yields cervical glandular disease-related colposcopic findings that may be useful for both clinical and educational purposes.

Introduction: Although the colposcopic features of cervical glandular disease and cervical adenocarcinoma are not widely well known, unique microvascular patterns are reportedly useful for identifying such diseases. The narrow band imaging (NBI) system used in endoscopy can be used to obtain high-contrast vascular images. Therefore, we examined the utility of NBI colposcopy and compared the results with those of conventional colposcopy. Methods: Twenty-one patients with adenocarinoma in situ or early invasive adenocarci-nomas were examined using digital NBI colposcopy, and the photo records were compared with those of conventional colposcopy. The histological examination and immunohisto-chemistry with anti-CD31 antibody confirmed the microvascular pattern. Results: Digital NBI colposcopy depicted the fine vascular texture on the surface of the cervix more clearly than conventional colposcopy. The vascular pattern was depicted in 86% (18/21) of glandular disease cases. The characteristic fine vascular patterns were critical for identifying cervical glandular diseases. Conclusions: Digital NBI colposcopy was useful for identifying early cervical adeno-carcinoma as well as adenocarcinoma in situ. This system yields cervical glandular disease-related colposcopic findings that may be useful for both clinical and educational purposes.

Although vaginal radical trachelectomy is an effective treatment for early stage cervical cancer and has an acceptable live birth rate, there are concerns over its oncological safety and possible-surgical injury with this radical procedure. Moreover, most gynecologists have difficulty performing this unfamiliar procedure and require special training. Many of these problems can be overcome with the use of abdominal radical trachelectomy. The abdominal approach provides adequate resection of the parametrial and vaginal tissue and does not require special training. Only a few case studies have investigated abdominal radical trachelectomy. This retrospective study presents follow-up data and reviews a series of cases conducted in Japanese women with early stage cervical cancer who had undergone elective abdominal radical trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 2002 and 2008. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of the abdominal approach in this population. A total of 61 patients at a median age of 33 years (range, 26-44 years) were followed up for a median 27 months (range, 1-67 months). There were 6 recurrences (9.8%, 6/61); 1 occurred in a patient with adenocarcinoma. None of the other 5 recurrences were found in cases with a primary tumor diameter of <20 mm. Twenty-nine (47.5%) of the 61 patients attempted to conceive and 4 (13.8%) were successful. Of the 4 live births, 2 were preterm, the remaining 2 were full term. The rates of serious intraoperative and postoperative complications were similar to those reported in the literature for standard radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The investigators conclude from these findings that an abdominal radical trachelectomy is an effective and relatively safe procedure in selected patients and may be an acceptable treatment option for young women with early stage cervical cancer.