STI571 (Glivec) suppresses the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell line,GIST-T1

AIM:To estimate whether STI571 inhibits the expressionof vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in thegastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)cells.METHODS:We used GIST cell line,GIST-T1.It hasa heterogenic 57-bp deletion in exon 11 to produce amutated c-KIT,which results in constitutive activationof c-KIT.Cells were treated with/without STI571 orstem cell factor(SCF).Transcription and expression ofVEGF were determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometryor Western blotting,respectively.Activated c-KIT wasestimated by immunoprecipitation analysis.Cell viabilitywas determined by MTT assay.RESULTS:Activation of c-KIT was inhibited bySTI571 treatment.VEGF was suppressed at both thetranscriptional and translational levels in a temporal anddose-dependent manner by STI571.SCF upregulatedthe expression of VEGF and it was inhibited by STI571.STI571 also reduced the cell viability of the GIST-T1cells,as determined by MTT assay.CONCLUSION:Activation of c-KIT in the GIST-T1regulated the expression of VEGF and it was inhibited bySTI571.STI571 has antitumor effects on the GIST cellswith respect to not only the inhibition of cell growth,butalso the suppression of VEGF expression.

Cetuximab and panitumumab in a patient with colon cancer and concomitant chronic skin disease:A potential beneficial effect on psoriasis vulgaris

Monoclonal antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) are used in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. However, these agents can induce severe dermatological side effects that discourage their administration in patients with chronic dermatological disease. EGFR plays a key role in normal skin development and immunological function, and is expressed in various tissues and organs, although contrarily, it is overexpressed in psoriasis-related skin lesions. Thus, discussion is ongoing regarding the putative pathological role and therapeutic potential of this protein. We herein report on a patient with advanced colon cancer and concomitant long-standing psoriasis vulgaris who received antiEGFR antibody monotherapy as a third-line treatment for metastatic disease. One week after the initiation of treatment, the patient's skin lesions dramatically subsided and the improvement was sustained during therapy. Based on this case, we propose that anti-EGFR antibody therapy is not necessarily contraindicated in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Moreover, the findings reaffirmed that EGFR is an important molecule in the pathology of psoriasis.

Laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic hamartoma:Case management and clinical consequences

Splenic hamartoma is a rare benign tumor,and although minimally invasive surgery may be suitable for this condition,there have only been 2 previous reports of laparoscopic surgery.Here we report the third case of splenic hamartoma managed by laparoscopic splenectomy.A 37-year-old male was incidentally diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography with a hypoechoic mass measuring 2.5 cm × 2.4 cm in the spleen.Color Doppler sonography showed multiple flow signals within the mass and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed strong enhancement of the lesion.On T1-and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images,the splenic mass was demonstrated as isointense and hyperintense respectively.Although a malignant tumor could not be ruled out,a hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy was performed because the splenic mass was limited in size and had not invaded adjacent organs.The pathological diagnosis was splenic hamartoma.The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged by the seventh postoperative day.Although splenic hamartomas have some specific imaging features,more reports and analyses of these cases are required to increase the reliability of the diagnosis and management.Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy may play a pivotal role in the postoperative diagnosis and management of this condition.

Is there diversity among UGT1A1 polymorphism in Japan?

AIM: To investigate into the diversity of UGT1A1 polymorphism across three different districts in Japan and highlight genetic differences among the population in Japan. METHODS: We enrolled 50 healthy volunteers from each of the Yamaguchi (western part of Japan), Kochi(southern part of Japan) and Akita (northern part of Japan) prefectures. Blood samples (7 mL) were collected from each participant and stored in EDTA for subsequent genotyping by fragment size analysis, direct sequencing and TaqMan assay of UGT1A1*28, UGT1A7*3/UGT1A9*22 and UGT1A1*93/UGT1A1*6/ UGT1A1*27/UGT1A1*60/UGT1A7 (-57), respectively. RESULTS: The only statistically significant differences in allele polymorphisms among the group examined were for UGT1A1*6. The Akita population showed more UGT1A1*6 heterozygosity (P = 0.0496). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed no regional diversity among UGT1A1, UGT1A7 or UGT1A9 polymorphisms in Japan.

Adult intussusception with cecal adenocarcinoma:Successful treatment by laparoscopy-assisted surgery following preoperative reduction

We report a case of adult intussusception caused by cecal adenocarcinoma that was treated by laparoscopyassisted ileocecal resection following reduction by contrast enema and preoperative colonoscopy.A 68-yearold male with cecal cancer was admitted to our hospital because of colicky abdominal pain after taking a laxative.His abdomen was distended,and a mass was palpable in the right upper quadrant,which appeared as a target-or sausage-shaped lesion by ultrasonograhpy and computed tomography.A contrast enema using water-soluble material showed a cup-shaped filling defect characterized by intussusception in the ascending colon.This round defect with a clear margin was pushed gradually back into the cecum by the enema pressure.Re-occurrence of the intussusception is easilyreleased by colonoscopy.We performed laparoscopyassisted ileocecal resection of a protruding tumor measuring 6.5 cm × 5.0 cm × 3.5 cm from the cecum,with D3 lymph node dissection.Histological examination revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma that had invaded the serosa without permeating the lymphatic or venous capillaries,as well as lymph node metastasis.The postoperative course was uneventful,and the patient has been well without evidence of disease recurrence for 5 years following the operation.Preliminary reduction of adult colonic intussusception before surgical resection is therefore an option in cases of an early and correct diagnosis of intussusception.