Angiogenesis has an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. Several angiogenic factors have been identified, one being platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), which is identical to thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). We investigated the activity of dThdPase in 84 samples of 42 human gastric cancers, by liquid chromatography. The dThdPase activity significantly correlated to the microvessel density assessed by immunostaining to CD-31 antigen (P<0.05). Expression of dThdPase has an important role in the promotion of angiogenesis in human gastric cancer.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Total gastrectomy.

Total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is one of the standard operations for gastric malignancies without distant metastases. Surgical procedures of total gastrectomy are described with illustrations easy to understand anatomy. Practical application and survival of patients are also shown.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Macroscopic appearance and biological character of gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The natural history of gastric cancer, as to how an early gastric cancer develops into an advanced lesion, is still an open question. In this study, we focused on the gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria, and analyzed the relationship between gross appearance and the biological characteristics of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty six patients with gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria (pm) were studied with special reference to the macroscopic appearance of the primary tumor; Borrmann type vs. EGC type (advanced gastric cancer simulating early gastric cancer), and to the biologic characteristics such as p53 expression and mitotic activity. RESULTS: Borrmann type comprised 59.6% (87/146) and EGC type comprised 40.4% (59/146) of the cases. Borrmann type cancer was located more commonly in the antral region (71.3%), tended to grow expansively, and had higher rate of vascular vessel invasion and lymph node metastasis. The type of recurrence varied, and the prognosis was poor in patients with Borrmann type cancer. Incidence of p53 overexpression in Borrmann type cancer was 44.1% (15/34), and significantly higher than 25.8% (8/31) in EGC type cancer. Proliferating activity measured by MIB-1 labeling percentage was also higher in Borrmann type (49.8 +/- 11.6 vs. 38.9 +/- 10.9). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Borrmann type and EGC type pm gastric cancers are distinct in their inherent biological nature, and possibly represent the advanced form of penetrating growth (Pen) type and superficially-spreading growth (Super) type, respectively, of early gastric cancers.

Cell Division↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of routine annual esophagram for early detection of carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In order to achieve increased survival rates for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus, early detection of the disease is vital. Serial esophagrams were evaluated to clarify which interval would be effective for early detection of carcinoma of the esophagus during routine examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were grouped into three, according to the experience and the time of the previous roentgenograms before the definite diagnosis. RESULTS: Five patients were in Group 1, in which roentgenographic examination had been done within 12 months prior to the diagnosis. Retrospective observation revealed a slight but certain abnormal shadow at the same location as the esophageal tumor seen on the second films. In Group 2, seven had received an esophagram between 12 and 24 months before the diagnosis. In contrast to Group 1, neither abnormality nor findings indicating esophageal tumors were detected on the former x-ray films, in all seven cases. Group 2 was characterized by relatively small tumors and low stage of the disease. Mean tumor length was 4.1 +/- 2.9 cm, and three of seven were classified as Stage I and two as Stage IIA. On the other hand, most of the 177 patients in Group 3, with no previous examination of the esophagus within 24 months before the diagnosis, had far advanced disease. Mean tumor length was 6.3 +/- 2.6 cm. Only nine (5.1%) were classified as Stage I, whereas 115 (65.0%) were classified as Stage III or IV. CONCLUSION: In light of these data, for populations in which esophageal cancer frequently occurs, esophageal examination every 12 months will no doubt contribute towards the early detection of lesions.

Adult↗