Plasma appearance and tissue distribution of astaxanthin isomers in male Sprague-Dawley rats after oral administration of Z-isomer-enriched astaxanthin esters through thermal treatment.

Background: Astaxanthin Z-isomers have attracted much attention because recent studies have demonstrated that they exhibit greater bioavailability and biological activity than the naturally predominant all-E-isomer. However, the plasma appearance and tissue distribution of astaxanthin isomers when administered with a diet rich in astaxanthin Z-isomers are largely unknown. To understand the health benefits and safety of astaxanthin Z-isomers, it is important to study the in vivo kinetics of the isomers.

Overall survival and subsequent therapy patterns in Japanese patients with ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated with palbociclib plus letrozole in the first-line setting: a final analysis.

Background: An open-label, single-arm, multicenter Japanese phase 2 study (J-Ph2) found first-line palbociclib plus letrozole to be effective and tolerable in postmenopausal Japanese women with estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC), but overall survival (OS) data were immature. Here, we report the final analysis of a follow-up study of J-Ph2 evaluating OS and subsequent therapy.

Methods: Patients (N = 42) who participated in J-Ph2 were included in this follow-up study.

Unraveling the isomerization and extraction characteristics of ester-form astaxanthin originated from Haematococcus lacustris in supercritical CO for practical applications of Z-isomer-rich astaxanthin production.

In recent years, the superior bioavailability and biological activity of astaxanthin Z-isomers have become evident, with their application being highly anticipated. Currently, thermal treatment remains the most commonly used method for inducing Z-isomerization in astaxanthin. However, this approach often requires the use of toxic solvents and catalysts to achieve efficient thermal isomerization.

Tissue Distribution of Astaxanthin Geometrical Isomers in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats after Oral Administration of Astaxanthin Esters Derived from Haematococcus lacustris.

Recent studies have revealed that the biological activity of astaxanthin differs among E/Z-isomers. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the distribution of astaxanthin isomers in the body to comprehensively elucidate their role. However, owing to the technical complexity of astaxanthin isomer analysis, detailed information regarding the precise distribution of isomers in the body remains limited.

Accumulation of CD56 CD16 Natural Killer Cells in Response to Preoperative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

Background: The activation of the antitumor immune responses of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells is important to induce breast tumor shrinkage via preoperative chemotherapy. We evaluated how antitumor immune responses contribute to the effects of such therapy.

Methods: Forty-three patients with stages I - IV breast cancer who underwent surgery between August 2018 and Jun 2023 after preoperative chemotherapy were enrolled.

Long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant trastuzumab emtansine + pertuzumab (T-DM1 + P) and docetaxel + carboplatin + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (TCbHP) for HER2-positive primary breast cancer: results of the randomized phase 2 JBCRG20 study (Neo-peaks).

Purpose: The randomized phase 2 Neo-peaks study examined usefulness of neoadjuvant trastuzumab emtansine + pertuzumab (T-DM1 + P) following docetaxel + carboplatin + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (TCbHP) as compared with the standard TCbHP regimen. We previously reported that pCR rate after neoadjuvant therapy tended to be higher with TCbHP followed by T-DM1 + P. We conducted an exploratory analysis of prognosis 5 years after surgery.

Patients Offer Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Early Breast Cancer as Local Therapy (PO-RAFAELO) Study under the Patient-proposed Health Services.

Introduction: Due to the increase in the number of early-stage breast cancer patients, there is growing interest in minimally invasive local therapies for breast cancer. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy is one of the most promising minimally invasive treatments. The Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Early Breast Cancer as Local Therapy (RAFAELO) study, a multicenter collaborative study that aims to validate the efficacy and safety of RFA and to standardize its use for early-stage breast cancer, was conducted under the Advanced Medical Care B system in 2013.

Outcomes in patients with non-invasive breast carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Non-invasive breast carcinoma is considered to be localized disease and is distinguished from invasive ductal and lobular carcinomas. The local recurrence of non-invasive carcinoma after surgery may lead to development of invasive carcinoma and promote distant metastasis, which worsens the prognosis for breast cancer mortality. The distant metastasis of non-invasive carcinoma may involve the ductal microvasculature without invasion.

Subgroup analysis of Japanese patients in a phase III randomized, controlled study of neoadjuvant atezolizumab or placebo, combined with nab-paclitaxel and anthracycline-based chemotherapy in early triple-negative breast cancer (IMpassion031).

Background: In the global phase III IMpassion031 study, neoadjuvant atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel/anthracycline-based chemotherapy improved pathological complete response in patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer. Here, we report primary analysis results from a subgroup of Japanese patients.

Methods: Patients with histologically documented, previously untreated, stage cT2-cT4, cN0-cN3, cM0 triple-negative breast cancer were randomized 1:1 to receive intravenous atezolizumab 840 mg or placebo every 2 weeks in combination with chemotherapy consisting of nab-paclitaxel intravenous 125 mg/m2 once a week, followed by doxorubicin intravenous 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide intravenous 600 mg/m2 every 2 weeks.

Immune factors associated with the pathological and therapeutic effects of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Immune activation plays an important role in achieving the pathological and therapeutic effects of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. We evaluated how the immune response contributes to various therapeutic effects. This study was conducted on 43 patients with stages II-IV breast cancer who received preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery.

Utility of the Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Survival in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer on Eribulin: A Real-World Observational Study.

Introduction: Previous studies have suggested that the efficacy of eribulin is influenced by the activity of antitumor immunity of patients. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are easily available parameters associated with the immunological status of patients.

Objective: Here we tried to classify patients' immunological status by using the scatter plot of ALC and NLR, and investigated its utility for predicting survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving eribulin.

The feasibility of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography immediately after contrast-enhanced CT.

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a digital mammography method that requires an intravenous injection of iodinated contrast material to detect hypervascular lesions. In patients undergoing evaluation for metastases before breast tumor surgery, a contrast material must be injected for computed tomography (CT) and CESM studies. The purpose of our study was to investigate the feasibility of performing CESM immediately after contrast-enhanced CT, without injecting additional contrast material.

A potential role for peripheral natural killer cell activity induced by preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are an important prognostic factor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer. Natural killer (NK) cells play critical roles in antitumor immune surveillance. Here, we assessed the relationship between peripheral natural killer (pNK) cell activity, tumor microenvironmental factors (TMEFs), and the therapeutic efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Differences in immune response to anesthetics used for day surgery versus hospitalization surgery for breast cancer patients.

Background: Surgery/anesthetic technique-stimulated immunosuppression may be associated with outcome for cancer patients. Here, the immune responses of patients undergoing day surgery versus hospitalization surgery for breast cancer were compared in a prospective study.

Methods: Between February 2012 and August 2014, 21 breast cancer patients underwent day surgery and 16 breast cancer patients underwent hospitalization surgery.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with or without Concurrent Hormone Therapy in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: NACED-Randomized Multicenter Phase II Trial.

Although in the neoadjuvant setting for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers, chemotherapy or hormone therapy alone does not result in satisfactory tumor response, it is unknown whether concurrent chemo-endocrine therapy is superior to chemotherapy alone in clinical outcomes. We conducted a randomized phase II trial to test the responses of ER-positive patients to concurrent administration of chemo-endocrine therapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Women with stage II-III, ER-positive, invasive breast cancer (n=28) received paclitaxel followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide (T-FEC) and were randomized to receive concurrent chemo-endocrine therapy consisting of goserelin administered subcutaneously for premenopausal women or an aromatase inhibitor for postmenopausal women.

Radiofrequency ablation of early breast cancer followed by delayed surgical resection--a promising alternative to breast-conserving surgery.

To examine the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) reliability in early breast cancer, we performed RFA followed by delayed surgical resection on 41 patients with invasive or non-invasive breast carcinoma less than 2 cm. MRI scans were obtained before ablation and resection. Excised specimens were examined pathologically by haematoxylin-eosin and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-diaphorase staining.

Resistance to paclitaxel therapy is related with Bcl-2 expression through an estrogen receptor mediated pathway in breast cancer.

Taxanes are approved for the treatment of breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes, following surgery and doxorubicin containing chemotherapy. Taxanes have improved the survival of breast cancer patients, especially in estrogen receptor (ER) negative population in clinical settings. This time we examined the relationship between chemosensitivity to Taxanes and expresson of ERalpha in breast cancer cell lines.

Aggressive surgery for liver metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background/purpose: The utility of hepatectomy for patients with metastatic liver tumors from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) was evaluated in the present study.

Methods: Between 1989 and 2001, ten patients with liver metastases from GIST (four men and six women; age, 34-77 years) underwent hepatectomy at our hospital. All patients underwent complete resection of the primary tumor and hepatectomy with or without microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) for all detectable hepatic tumors.