[A clinical study of advanced large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma]

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a newly recognized clinicopathologic entity. The clinical features of advanced LCNEC are still unclear, because most of the previous reports have described resected cases. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics and response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced LCNEC. From June 2002 to July 2004, nine patients (seven men and two women, median age 61) with advanced LCNEC were admitted to our hospital. We reviewed the clinical manifestations, tumor markers, and treatment of these patients. Seven of nine patients (78%) were current or ex-smokers. As for tumor markers, the levels of progastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were elevated in six patients (67%) and five patients (56%), respectively. The diagnosis of LCNEC was made based on the resected specimens in 8 patients including resection of brain metastasis in 1 and CT-guided needle biopsy in 1. One patient was stage IIIA, 1 was stage IIIB, 3 were stage IV, and 4 had postoperative recurrence. Treatment included chemotherapy alone in 7 patients, chemotherapy plus whole brain radiation in 1, and postoperative radiotherapy in 1. Of 7 patients treated by chemotherapy alone who had received carboplatin-based chemotherapy. 5 showed partial response, yielding response rate of 71.4%. The proGRP level was frequently elevated in patients with advanced LCNEC and the response rate of LCNEC to carboplatin-based chemotherapy was comparable to that of small cell lung cancer.

[A case of pulmonary abscess in which Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Streptococcus intermedius were isolated by percutaneous needle aspiration]

Some microbes, including the Bacteroides species, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus milleri groups, can cause pulmonary abscess. Haemophilus parainfluenzae is usually categorized as one of the normal flora which colonizes in the ears and the nasopharynx, and it has been long considered that H. parainfluenzae has little pathogenicity in the lower respiratory tract and lung parenchymal. In this report, we present a case of pulmonary abscess caused by both H. parainfluenzae and Streptococcus intermedius. The patient was a 75-year-old man who had had total esophageo-gastrectomy because of esophageal cancer. He presented with purulent sputum, and chest X-ray film showed a dense consolidation in the right upper lung field. CT-guided transcutaneous fine needle aspiration was performed as a diagnostic procedure. Since both H. parainfluenzae and S. intermedius had been isolated from the lesion, pulmonary abscess caused by these two pathogens was diagnosed. The patient was treated with panipenem/betamipron, and his symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates on the chest X-ray film improved thereafter. So far, very few cases have been reported in which H. parainfluenzae caused lower respiratory tract infection. Although S. intermedius is known as one of the pathogens of pulmonary abscess, it is possible that H. parainfluenzae could also be pathogenic in infectious diseases of the lung.

Search for new physics in lepton+photon+X events with 305 pb(-1) of pp collisions at [square root of s] = 1.96 TeV

We present results of a search for anomalous production of events containing a charged lepton (l, either e or mu) and a photon (gamma), both with high transverse momentum, accompanied by additional signatures X, including missing transverse energy (ET) and additional leptons and photons. We use the same selection criteria as in a previous CDF search but with a substantially larger data set, 305 pb(-1), a pp collision energy of 1.96 TeV, and the CDF II detector. We find 42 lgammaET events versus an expectation of 37.3+/-5.4 events. We observe 31 llgamma+X events versus an expectation of 23.0+/-2.7 events. We find no events similar to the run I eegammagammaET event.

Measurement of the Bc+ meson lifetime using the decay mode Bc+ --> J/Psie+nue

We present a measurement of the Bc+ meson lifetime in the decay mode Bc+ --> J/Psie+nue using the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. From a sample of about of 360 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV, we reconstruct J/Psie+ pairs with invariant mass in the kinematically allowed range 4< M(J/Psie) < 6 GeV/c2. A fit to the decay-length distribution of 238 signal events yields a measured Bc+ meson lifetime of 0.463(-0.065)(+0.073)(stat) +/- 0.036(syst) ps.

Clinical and pathological features of Allen's type C classification of resected combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma: a comparative study with hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma

The clinical features of Allen's type C of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) are not well known. In this study, we aim to define the clinicopathologic features of cHCC-CC and to evaluate the preoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment results in comparison with those of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). We retrospectively analyzed 13 patients with cHCC-CC, 509 patients with HCC, and 41 patients with CCC treated in our hospital within past two decades. Viral hepatitis B or C backgrounds were more prominent in HCC and cHCC-CC groups than in the CCC group. Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were found in 60.3% of HCC patients and in 46.2% of cHCC-CC patients. Only one patient of cHCC-CC was correctly diagnosed before surgery. The postoperative survival rates between the cHCC-CC and HCC or the CCC group were not significantly different. Both intrahepatic and extrahepatic postoperative recurrences were frequent in cHCC-CC patients, and CCC component recurrences were more frequently seen. In conclusion, the preoperative diagnosis is difficult; liver masses similar to those of HCC, together with moderately elevated serum AFP and CA19-9 levels, are reliable indicators of cHCC-CC. Surgical resection of this tumor yields results intermediate between those of HCC and CCC in character. More cases are needed to further define the characteristics of this tumor.

The letrozole (L), exemestane (E), and anastrozole (A) pharmacodynamics (LEAP) trial: A direct comparison of bone biochemical measurements between aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in healthy postmenopausal women

555

Background: The LEAP trial is an open, randomized, multicenter, Phase I pharmacodynamic study comparing the effects of the AIs L, E and A on safety parameters, such as serum markers of bone formation and resorption, lipid profiles, and adrenal function in healthy postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density at the spine and hip. Elevated bone biochemical levels indicate high turnover of bone, and correlate with a loss in bone mineral density. It has been suggested that there are differences between the effect of the steroidal AIs (E) and non-steroidal AIs (A and L) on bone turnover, with steroidal AIs having a less negative effect. Methods: Healthy volunteersfrom the UK and Hungarywere randomized to receive A (1 mg/day), L (2.5 mg/day), or E (25 mg/day) orally, once daily for 24 weeks. Changes from baseline in log-transformed bone alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum C-telopeptide crosslinks (CTX), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) at 24 weeks on A, were compared with those on L and E by ANCOVA, adjusting for treatment, baseline measurement, BMI, smoking status and baseline estradiol. No adjustments were made for multiple comparisons. Results: A total of 102 healthy volunteers were recruited, with 90 participants evaluable at 24 weeks (29 A, 29 L, 32 E). Participant demographics were similar between the treatment groups in terms of age, years since menopause, and history of hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Bone biochemical measurement changes are presented in the table . With the exception of PTH, where there is a greater decrease in PTH with E than with A (p=0.04), there were no statistically significant differences between the AIs. Conclusions: The steroidal and non-steroidal AIs appear to have similar effects on bone biochemical measurements, and thus bone turnover. All three licensed AIs result in increases in bone turnover.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Long-term outocomes of preoperative chemoradiation therapy with gemcitabine and accelerated hyperfractionated radiation for respectable pancreatic cancer

14004

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) is recognized as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for non-curative pancreatic cancer and has an activity for radiosensitizer. Although preoperative chemoradiation therapy (preCRT) with GEM is one of the promising adjuvant therapies for potentially curative pancreatic cancer, the clinical significance of the treatment remains to obscure. Methods: Potentially resectable pancreatic cancer patients were recruited in this study from September 2001 through August 2004. Patients were randomly divided into preCRT group and a control group. Patients in preCRT group received GEM (400 mg/m2 or 800 mg/m2 on day 1 and 7) and concomitant accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation (1.5 Gy ×2/day, 5 days/weeks, total dose 30Gy or 36 Gy). After 3–4 weeks’ rest of the preCRT, patients were re-evaluated for resectability. Patients who underwent R0 resection did not received any postoperative adjuvant treatment until recurrence. Results: There were 23 patients in preCRT group and were 19 patients in control group. After re-evaluation, 4 patients (17%) were considered as unresectable due to the progressed disease. 19 patients (83%) in preCRT group and 19 patients (100%) in control group underwent laparotomy. Sixteen patients (70%) in preCRT group and 17 patients (89%) in control group underwent R0 resection. Median survival times were 17.6 months in preCRT group and 16.7 months in control group, respectively (p=0.65). Among patients underwent R0 resection, one and three-years survival rate were 81.2% and 27.1% in preCRT group, while these were 70.6% and 15.4% in the control group (p=0.26). Local recurrence was observed in 4 (25%) of 16 patients who underwent R0 resection in preCRT group and in 7 (41%) of 17 patients who underwent R0 resection in control group, while recurrence at distant organs (liver, lung, peritoneum, bone) were observed in 8 patients (50%) of preCRT group and 8 patients (47%) in control group. Conclusions: Although the preoperative chemoradiation therapy with GEM and accelerated hyperfractionated radiation for potentially curative pancreatic cancer is likely to be promising against local recurrence after R0 resection, survival benefit of the therapy was unsatisfactory.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

High efficacy of paclitaxel (P), carboplatin (C) and concurrent thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

17143

Background: Combined modality therapy with P, C and radiation for locally advanced NSCLC is active, but its clinical data are limited in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of the therapy in a Japanese general hospital. Methods: Patients with previously untreated and locally advanced NSCLC with stage IIIA and IIIB (PS 0–1, weight loss less than 5% over past 3 months) were treated with P (40 mg/m2 on days 1,8,15, 22, 29, 36, 43), C (AUC 2 on days 1,8,15, 22, 29, 36, 43) and TRT (66 Gy/33fr over 6.5 weeks starting on day1). Results: Fifteen evaluable patients entered this study between December 2001 and March 2005. They were 12 males, 3 females, with median age 67 (57–76); 6 patients with ECOG PS 0, 9 with PS 1, 8 with stage IIIA, and 7 with IIIB. Chemotherapeutic agents were administered a median of 6 cycles (4–7) and 66 Gy of TRT done in 14 patients. It achieved 13 PRs, 1 SD and 1 PD with a response rate of 86.7%. Survival was 85.5% at 1 year, 66.0% at 2 year and 66.0% at 3 year. Eleven patients are still alive. A relapse occurred in 10 patients (66.7%) and 5 were disease-free (33.3%). The site of first relapse was distant in 5 patients, local in 3, and both local and distant in 2. Toxicity was mild: grade 3 neutropenia in 2 patients, grade 3 nausea in 1, and grade 3 esophagitis in 1. No grade 3/4 pneumonitis was observed. After completion of chemoradiotherapy scheduled, 2 patients received additional chemotherapy of PC and 1 underwent lobectomy. Conclusion: Although the number of patients is small in this study, concurrent PC and TRT for locally advanced NSCLC is feasible and highly effective for Japanese patients with good PS and minimal weight loss.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Observation of B(0)(s)-->Psi(2S)Phi and measurement of the ratio of branching fractions Beta(B(0)(s)-->Psi(2S)Phi)/Beta(B(0)(s)-->J/PsiPhi)

We report the first observation of B(0)(s)-->Psi(2S)Phi decay in p(p_) collisions at square root of 8=1.96 TeV using 360 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We observe 20.2 +/- 5.0 and 12.3 +/- 4.1 B(0)(s)-->Psi(2S)Phi candidates, in Psi(2S)-->mu(+)mu(-) and Phi(2S)-->J/Phipi(+)pi(-) decay modes, respectively. We present a measurement of the relative branching fraction Beta(B(0)(s)-->Psi(2S)Phi)/Beta(B(0)(s)-->J/PsiPhi)=0.52 +/- 0.13(stat) +/- 0.04(syst) +/- 0.06(BR) using the Psi(2S)-->mu(+)mu(-) decay mode.

Search for Z' --> e+ e- using dielectron mass and angular distribution

We search for Z' bosons in dielectron events produced in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV, using 0.45 fb(-1) of data accumulated with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. To identify the Z' --> e+ e- signal, both the dielectron invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution of the electron pair are used. No evidence of a signal is found, and 95% confidence level lower limits are set on the Z' mass for several models. Limits are also placed on the mass and gauge coupling of a generic Z', as well as on the contact-interaction mass scales for different helicity structure scenarios.

Search for high-mass resonances decaying to emu in pp collisions at square root = 1.69 TeV

We describe a general search for resonances decaying to a neutral emu final state in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. Using a data sample representing 344 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment, we compare standard model predictions with the number of observed events for invariant masses between 50 and 800 GeV/c2. Finding no significant excess (5 events observed vs 7.7 +/- 0.8 expected for M(emu) > 100 GeV/c2 ), we set limits on sneutrino and Z' masses as functions of lepton family number violating couplings.

[S-1 treatment against advanced HCC]

We have reported a remarkably high anti-tumor efficacy using intra arterial 5-FU infusion chemotherapy combined with subcutaneous interferon-alpha injection to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombus. However, we have been confirming distant metastases along with a prognosis extension as hepatic lesions could possibly be controlled to a certain extent. Even though there has been no effective chemotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma with distant metastases, we performed S-1 and interferon-alpha combination chemotherapy for the cases where good results were exhibited from interferon-alpha combined with arterial 5-FU infusion. As a result, we confirmed CR in the anti-tumor effect against distant metastases with no severe adverse effects. It was suggested that a combination therapy of S-1 and interferon-alpha may be one of the most effective treatment modalities against advanced HCC with distant metastases.

Measurement of the tt production cross section in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV using missing E(T) + jets events with secondary vertex b tagging

We present a measurement of the tt production cross section in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV which uses events with an inclusive signature of significant missing transverse energy and jets. This is the first measurement which makes no explicit lepton identification requirements, so that sensitivity to W --> tau nu decays is maintained. Heavy flavor jets from top quark decay are identified with a secondary vertex tagging algorithm. From 311 pb(-1) of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab, we measure a production cross section of 5.8 +/- 1.2(stat)(-0.7)(+0.9)(syst) pb for a top quark mass of 178 GeV/c2, in agreement with previous determinations and standard model predictions.

Direct search for Dirac magnetic monopoles in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We search for pair-produced Dirac magnetic monopoles in 35.7 pb(-1) of proton-antiproton collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). We find no monopole candidates corresponding to a 95% confidence-level cross-section limit sigma < 0.2 pb for a monopole with mass between 200 and 700 GeV/c2. Assuming a Drell-Yan pair-production mechanism, we set a mass limit m > 360 GeV/c2.

Measurement of bottom-quark hadron masses in exclusive J/psi decays with the CDF detector

We measure the masses of b hadrons in exclusively reconstructed final states containing a J/psi --> mu-mu+ decay using 220 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II experiment. We find: m(B+) = 5279.10 +/- 0.41(stat.) +/- 0.36(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B0) = 5279.63 +/- 0.53(stat.) +/- 0.33(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B(s)0) = 5366.01 +/- 0.73(stat.) +/- 0.33(sys.) MeV/c2, m(lambda(b)0) = 5619.7 +/- 1.2(stat.) +/- 1.2(sys.) MeV/c2. m(B+) - m(B0) = -0.53 +/- 0.67(stat.) +/- 0.14(sys.) MeV/c2, m(B(s)0) - m(B0) = 86.38 +/- 0.90(stat.) +/- 0.06(sys.) MeV/c2, m(lambda(b)0) - m(B0) = 339.2 +/- 1.4(stat.) +/- 0.1(sys.) MeV/c2. The measurements of the B(s)0, lambda(b)0 mass, m(B(s)0) - m(B0) and m(lambda(b)0) - m(B0) mass difference are of better precision than the current world averages.

Measurement of the ratios of branching fractions and

We report an observation of the decay B(O)(S) --> D(-)(s)pi(+) in pp collisions at radical S = 1.96 TeV using 115 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We observe 83 +/- 11(stat) B(O)(s) --> D(-)(s)pi(+) candidates, representing a large increase in statistics over previous measurements and the first observation of this decay at a pp collider. We present the first measurement of the relative branching fraction Beta(B(O)(s) --> D(-)(s)pi(+))/Beta(B(0) --> D(-)(pi)(+)) = 1.32 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.38(syst). We also measure Beta(B(+) --> D(0)pi(+))/Beta(B(0) -->D(-)pi(+)) = 1.97 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.21(syst), which is consistent with previous measurements.

Surgical outcomes of noninvasive and minimally invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive and minimally invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) have a favorable surgical outcome. However, cases of recurrent noninvasive or minimally invasive IPMN are sometimes encountered, and the patterns of the recurrence of those tumors have not yet been fully clarified. In this study, we evaluated the surgical outcome of noninvasive and minimally invasive IPMNs, concentrating particularly on the pattern of recurrences.

METHODS

Twenty patients with noninvasive and minimally invasive IPMNs were assessed. Resected specimens were evaluated histopathologically with regard to the malignant nature of the tumors, the status of the surgical margin, and peripancreatic lymph node involvement. Cumulative overall survival rates and recurrence after surgery were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 20 patients, 13 had benign IPMNs, including adenomas (n = 10) and borderlines (n = 3), and 7 had malignant IPMNs, including carcinomas in situ (n = 4) and minimally invasive IPMNs (n = 3). Histopathologic examination confirmed the absence of tumor involvement in the resected lymph nodes and at the surgical margins. During the follow-up period, one patient with minimally invasive IPMN and one patient with noninvasive IPMN died of tumor recurrence in the peritoneum that was presumably caused by intraoperative manipulation. All of the patients with benign IPMNs survived, whereas the 10-year survival rate of the patients with malignant IPMNs was 67%.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection can offer a favorable outcome for noninvasive and minimally invasive IPMNs. Tumor recurrence was observed only in the peritoneal cavity. More careful perioperative management concerned with peritoneal recurrence should be emphasized for noninvasive and minimally invasive IPMNs.

Search for scalar bottom quarks from gluino decays in collisions at

We searched for scalar bottom quarks 156 pb(-1) of pp collisions at radicalS = 1.96 recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment at the Tevatron. Scalar bottom quarks can be produced from gluino decays in -parity conserving models of supersymmetry when the mass of the gluino exceeds that of the scalar bottom quark. Then, a scalar bottom quark can decay into a bottom quark and a neutralino. To search for this scenario, we investigated events with large missing transverse energy and at least three jets, two or more of which were identified as containing a secondary vertex from the hadronization of quarks. We found four candidate events, where 2.6 +/- 0.7 are expected from standard model processes, and placed 95% confidence level lower limits on gluino and scalar bottom quark masses of up to 280 and 240 GeV/c(2), respectively.

Expression pattern of angiogenic factors and prognosis after hepatic resection in hepatocellular carcinoma: importance of angiopoietin-2 and hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor and angiogenesis plays an important role in its progression. Angiogenesis is regulated by a balance between pro and antiangiogenic molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of angiogenic factors and elucidate their roles in angiogenesis in HCC.

METHODS

We investigated immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietins (Ang-1 and Ang-2), hypoxia-induced factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in 60 specimens of surgically resected HCC. We investigated the relationship between their expressions and clinicopathological factors or prognosis.

RESULTS

Ang-2 staining had a significant correlation with the grade of differentiation of HCC cells (P=0.0082). VEGF and Ang-2 expression correlated positively with microvessel density (MVD) (P=0.0061 and 0.0374, respectively). MVD of well-differentiated HCC were significantly lower than those of moderately and poorly differentiated HCC. The disease-free survival time of patients with high Ang-2 and/or HIF-1alpha expression was significantly shorter than that of the low expression group (P=0.0278 and 0.0374, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that the expression of VEGF and Ang-2 correlated with MVD. Strong Ang-2 expression and/or high nuclear expression of HIF-1alpha is a significant predictive factor for recurrence after curative resection in HCC patients.

Top-quark mass measurement from dilepton events at CDF II

We report a measurement of the top-quark mass using events collected by the CDF II detector from pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron. We calculate a likelihood function for the top-quark mass in events that are consistent with tt --> bl(-)nu(l)bl'+ nu'(l) decays. The likelihood is formed as the convolution of the leading-order matrix element and detector resolution functions. The joint likelihood is the product of likelihoods for each of 33 events collected in 340 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity, yielding a top-quark mass M(t) = 165.2 +/- 6.1(stat) +/- 3.4(syst) GeV/c2. This first application of a matrix-element technique to tt --> bl+ nu(l)bl'- nu(l') decays gives the most precise single measurement of M(t) in dilepton events. Combined with other CDF run II measurements using dilepton events, we measure M(t) = 167.9 +/- 5.2(stat) +/- 3.7(syst) GeV/c2.

Angiogenesis in cholangiocellular carcinoma: expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-1/2, thrombospondin-1 and clinicopathological significance

Angiogenesis in cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the angiogenesis status of CCC and assess its relationship with angiogenic factors and clinicopathological characteristics. We examined 33 surgically resected CCC specimens. Tumor angiogenesis was assessed by microvessel density (MVD) using the anti-CD34 antibody, and the expression of VEGF, Ang-1, Ang-2, and TSP-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. The mean (+/- SD) MVD was 87.2+/-52.6/mm2 (range, 0-229/mm2). A total of 75.6% cases were positive for VEGF expression, 36% for Ang-1, 57.6% for Ang-2 and 45.5% for TSP-1. VEGF and Ang-2 expression was associated with a significantly higher level of MVD (p=0.004 and 0.015, respectively). TSP-1 expression was associated with a significantly lower level of MVD (p=0.005) and a higher level of intrahepatic metastasis (46.7% vs. 5.6%, p=0.012). There was no significant correlation between VEGF, Ang-1, Ang-2, and TSP-1 expression and tumor size, capsule formation, infiltration of capsule, portal vein invasion, intrahepatic metastasis or CCC differentiation. There was no significant correlation between MVD levels, VEGF, Ang-1, Ang-2, and TSP-1 expression and postoperative survival. A considerable degree of angiogenesis, comparable to that of other solid tumors, was observed in CCC. VEGF and Ang-2 might play a proangiogenic role, and TSP-1 may play an inhibitory role in CCC. Although TSP-1 may increase intrahepatic CCC metastases, neither MVD levels nor the expression of VEGF, Ang-1, or Ang-2 was associated with clinicopathological factors and prognosis.

Measurement of the inclusive jet cross section using the kT algorithm in pp collisions at (square root s)=1.96 TeV

We report on a measurement of the inclusive jet production cross section as a function of the jet transverse momentum in pp collisions at (square root s)=1.96 TeV using data collected with the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab in run II, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 385 pb-1. The measurement is carried out for jets with rapidity 0.1</yjet/<0.7 and transverse momentum in the range 54<pjetT<700 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions are in good agreement with the measured cross section after the necessary nonperturbative parton-to-hadron corrections are included.

Association between recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and alpha-fetoprotein messenger RNA levels in peripheral blood

PURPOSE

Intra- and extrahepatic recurrence is common, even after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting preoperative or intraoperative tumor cell dissemination. Reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used to detect circulating liver cancer cells. We previously developed a quantitative method that allows estimation of the AFP mRNA level by real-time PCR. In the present study, we used this method to measure the AFP mRNA level before and after resection of HCC, then correlated the findings with various clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

METHODS

We prospectively examined peripheral blood samples from 38 patients with HCC, and bone marrow aspirate from 25 of these patients. As a control, we examined bone marrow from 20 patients with benign diseases. The follow-up period ranged from 32 to 66 months. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect AFP mRNA levels in the samples.

RESULTS

AFP was expressed in 9 (23.7%) of the 38 peripheral blood samples. The detection of AFP mRNA was significantly correlated with extrahepatic metastasis after primary surgery, and a shorter disease-free survival time (P = 0.0245 each). Bone marrow samples were defined as positive if they expressed AFP mRNA at levels higher than the maximum expressed level in the controls, because only 1 (5%) of the 20 control bone marrow samples had low AFP mRNA expression. Using this cutoff level, 12 (48%) of the 25 patients with HCC had positivity for AFP mRNA. The results of bone marrow RT-PCR did not correlate with the clinocopathological characteristics of prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Using real-time PCR to measure the AFP mRNA level in blood, but not bone marrow, could be useful for predicting postoperative tumor recurrence.