Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been successfully used to treat some patients with colorectal cancer and those with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). For the effective treatment, it is essential to first identify cetuximab-responsive patients. The level of EGFR expression and/or the presence of mutations in signalling molecules downstream of the EGFR pathway have been reported to be determining factors for cetuximab responsiveness in colorectal cancer patients; however, limited data have been reported for HNSCC patients. We previously reported that the chemokine CXCL14 exhibits tumour-suppressive effects against xenografted HNSCC cells, which may be classified into two groups, CXCL14-expressing and non-expressing cells under serum-starved culture conditions. Here we employed CXCL14-expressing HSC-3 cells and CXCL14-non-expressing YCU-H891 cells as representatives of the two groups and compared their responses to cetuximab and their CXCL14 expression under various conditions. The growth of xenografted tumours initiated by HSC-3 cells, which expressed CXCL14 in vivo and in vitro, was suppressed by the injection of cetuximab into tumour-bearing mice; however, neither the expression of the chemokine nor the cetuximab-dependent suppression of xenograft tumour growth was observed for YCU-H891 cells. Both types of cells expressed EGFR and neither type harboured mutations in signalling molecules downstream of EGFR that have been reported in cetuximab-resistant colon cancer patients. The inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling increased the levels of CXCL14 messenger RNA (mRNA) in HSC-3 cells, but not in YCU-H891 cells. We also observed that the CXCL14 promoter region in YCU-H891 cells was hypermethylated, and that demethylation of the promoter by treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine restored CXCL14 mRNA expression and in vivo cetuximab-mediated tumour growth suppression. Finally, we observed in vivo tumour growth suppression when YCU-H891 cells were engineered to express CXCL14 ectopically in the presence of doxycycline. These results indicate that CXCL14 expression may be a good predictive biomarker for cetuximab-dependent tumour suppression.

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It is not proved that only PSA mass screening for prostatic cancer contributes to detect early cancer and better prognosis cure case. For the proof, it will be nessary that PSA mass screening is examined more people in the wide area. We conclude men aged 65 to 69 also should take PSA check-up based on epidemiological feature of prostatic cancer.

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We report two cases of peripheral odontogenic fibroma of the maxillary anterior gingiva. The first patient was a 46-year-old woman with a three-year history of a painless mass near the left maxillary lateral incisor tooth. Intraoral examination revealed a firm nodule with a smooth surface. CT images showed a radiolucent lesion consistent with the mass. The second patient was a 41-year-old woman who had been aware of an asymptomatic hemorrhagic mass situated in the maxillary midline gingiva. The clinical examination revealed a coral pinkish nodule attached to the gingiva. CT examination did not show any abnormal findings. Both lesions were surgically resected with a 2mm safety margin under local anesthesia. The histological characteristics of both lesions included proliferation of fibroblasts and the presence of collagenous stromacontaining inactive odontogenic epithelium. Immunohistochemically, both cases were negative for CD34 and positive for Bcl-2. Both patients showed no evidence of recurrence associated with peripheral odontogenic tumors.

Two cases of ticlopidine induced hepatic injury were presented. Case I: A 70-year-old man was admitted to a hospital because of jaundice after administration of ticlopidine, 300mg/day for one week. Laboratory data was follows, GOT 32mu/ml, GPT 63mu/ml, T. Chol. 116mg/dl, T. Protein 6.4g/dl and so on. Ticlopidine induced hepatic injury was diagnosed by LST. Liver biopsy specimens showed the hepatocellular damage with cholestasis. Case 2: a 80-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital because of cerebral infarction. She was poineted out hypertransaminasemia after administration of ticlopidine, 300mg/day for one month. 548% on LST for ticlopidine was positive. Recently, the incidence of application for anti-platelet agents has been increasing associated with increasing of adult diseases. It is necessary for us to consider the presence of hepatic injury when we administrate the anti-platelet agents.