The effect of immunotherapy using sizofiran (SPG) on the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancers was prospectively studied in a total of 68 patients, who were randomly assigned to either a cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (PAC) therapy group or a PAC plus SPG combination therapy group. The survival rate was significantly higher in patients with stage Ic, II or III cancers treated with the PAC plus SPG combination, compared with the patients treated with PAC alone. In the SPG-receiving patients with stage Ic or more advanced cancers who were treated with four cycles or more of PAC, the outcome was improved (Cox-Mantel, p = 0.074; generalized Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.032). Similar improvement was also observed in the patients with non-serous adenocarcinomas (Cox-Mantel, p-0.076; generalized Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.045). No side effects attributable to SPG were recorded. The present results suggest that the use of SPG in combination with long-term chemotherapy improves the postoperative prognosis in ovarian cancer patients.
Depletion of granulocytes and monocytes (GM) by selective apheresis (GMA) with an Adacolumn exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or rheumatoid arthritis. However, the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of GMA is not fully understood yet. We investigated the effect of GMA on the plasma concentration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine. Twenty-six patients with active UC received GMA at one session per week for 5 consecutive weeks. Clinical response was defined as Deltaclinical activity index (DeltaCAI=CAI at entry - CAI at post)>or=4, while clinical remission was defined as CAI
Basigin is a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily which has strong homology with both Ig Vk domain and the b-chain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen. Human basigin is also known as M6 antigen, neurothelin and EMMPRIN (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer). In this study, we developed a novel anti-human basigin monoclonal antibody, J-BIT-1 and used it to map out the distribution of basigin in human tissues. The specificity of J-BIT-1 was confirmed by western blot analysis and immunocytochemical techniques utilizing basigin cDNA transfected L cells. J-BIT-1 appropriated to immunohistochemical staining for formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded tissues and methanol-fixed cells. Excellent immunostaining results were obtained with formalin-fixed tissues after the antigen retrieval procedure. Our immunohistochemical observations revealed that basigin is widely expressed in various organs, but on specific cell types, such as blood capillaries of the brain, proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney, cardiac muscle of the heart, trophoblasts of the placenta and basal cells of the stratified squamous epithelium. The location of basigin is the cell surface, especially the site of cell adhesion. These observations suggest that basigin might be involved in basic cell functions which are promoted with cellcell and cell-extracellular matrix interaction.
A patient with testicular cancer (non-seminoma, stage IIB) who had undergone resection for primary disease and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy 6 years before developed iatrogenic retrograde ejaculation. The infertility was treated by oral medications, including herbal medicine and injections of a hormone preparation as well as artificial insemination of husband (AIH). After 24 sessions of AIH for 4 years, his spouse gave birth to a healthy baby girl. We believe that for patients with iatrogenic retrograde ejaculation AIH is an effective method of increasing fertility to be employed more often.
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