We report a rare case of a solitary metastasis in which long-term complete remission was achieved with chemotherapy alone. An 81-year-old woman underwent a right hemicolectomy and D3 lymph node dissection for ascending colon cancer. Pathological findings showed type 2, 40×20 mm, tub2>muc, pT3, int, INF b, ly1, v0, pN1(1/32), pPM0, pDM0, and fStage Ⅲa. However, the patient chose not to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy and opted for further observation. Five months after the surgery, lymph node metastasis was observed near the right external iliac artery. Because the patient did not wish to undergo surgical treatment, SOX therapy was initiated. Owing to considerable side effects, the patient's treatment was switched to oral S-1. Gradually, the lesion disappeared, and the treatment was changed to UFT. The patient has maintained complete long-term remission for 10 years postoperatively. Here, we report this case along with a literature review.

A 65-years-old female was admitted to our hospital for treatment of fever and chest pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed an anterior mediastinal tumor with a thickened wall, and right pleural effusion. Ten days after antibiotic therapy, the fever, chest pain and pleural effusion disappeared. Thymectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Histopathologic diagnosis was type B2 thymoma with extensive necrotic area, Masaoka's stageⅠ. No recurrence has been observed for approximately two years since the surgery. Thymomas have a variety of pathological features such as cystic and hemorrhagic changes and necrosis. However, thymomas with extensive necrosis are very rare. We presented this case with a review of the literature.

A 67 year-old man consulted an urologist with the chief complaint of gross hematuria and discomfort in the urethral region. He was later diagnosed with malignant melanoma by transurethral biopsy. Urethrocystoscopy revealed lesions 3 cm peripherally from the sphincter muscle, and TUR of the urethra to the bladder neck revealed no malignant lesion in the prostatic area, urethra, or bladder. Radical penectomy was performed and the histopathologic diagnosis was pT2 malignant melanoma with negative urethral resection margins. At 9 months postoperatively, there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Primary malignant melanoma of the urethra is an extremely rare disease with a poor prognosis for which no effective treatment has been established other than surgical resection. We report this case with discussion of the literature.

Primary follicular lymphoma of the prostate is extremely rare, with this case representing only the 13th reported in the English literature. This report includes a review of the literature and details of a case in a 75-year-old male with concurrent primary follicular lymphoma and adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The patient was referred to our department due to prostate enlargement observed on CT and complaints of a decreased urinary stream. His PSA level was elevated at 8.9 ng/ml. MRI showed a PI-RADS category 4 lesion in the right peripheral zone of the prostate, with an estimated prostate volume of 60 ml. A transrectal prostate biopsy identified adenocarcinoma in two cores from the right base and one from the left apex, leading to a diagnosis of prostate cancer cT2aN0M0. Subsequently, the patient underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Pathological findings confirmed adenocarcinoma in the right and left lobes (pT2a, pN0, EPE0, SV0, LVl1, RM0) and identified concurrent primary follicular lymphoma within the anterior fibromuscular stroma, which was positive for CD20, CD10 and Bcl-2. A complete clinical investigation, including an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan and bone marrow biopsy, revealed no involvement of other sites, and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with Ann Arbor stage IE lymphoma. No additional treatment was administered, and the patient has been followed up regularly. At six months postoperatively, there was no evidence of recurrence of either prostate cancer or lymphoma.

The treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer has entered a new era, with immune checkpoint inhibitors now being used as first-line standard of care options. Meanwhile, there is a lack of second-line and subsequent treatment options that can adapt to this changing treatment landscape, highlighting the need for the development of new treatments with novel mechanisms of action. Tisotumab vedotin (recombinant) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of tisotumab, an anti-human tissue factor (TF) monoclonal antibody (IgG1κ), the microtubule inhibitor monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), and a valine-citrulline linker. When the linker is cleaved by a protease in a tumor cell, MMAE is released to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via disruption of the microtubular network. In non-clinical studies, tisotumab vedotin demonstrated concentration-dependent cytotoxic and anti-tumor activities. Tisotumab vedotin also mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) activities. In a global Phase III study of tisotumab vedotin as second- or third-line therapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer (Study SGNTV-003/innovaTV 301), the drug demonstrated higher efficacy than the investigator's choice of chemotherapy. Although some eye-related adverse events occurred as unique toxicities, the safety profile of tisotumab vedotin was generally manageable. The results of analysis in the Japanese subpopulation of the SGNTV-003 (innovaTV 301) study were consistent with those of the overall population. Based on these results, tisotumab vedotin received regulatory approval in Japan in March 2025 for the indication of "advanced or recurrent cervical cancer that has progressed after cancer chemotherapy".

The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, pericytes, and more. Previously, these non-cancer cells were considered inactive components in cancer pathology. However, it has become evident that these cells and their secretions play crucial roles in cancer progression. To unravel the complexity of the TME and elucidate its mechanisms, microphysiological systems (MPS) have gained attention. An MPS is defined as "a microscale cell culture platform for in vitro modeling of functional features of a specific tissue or organ of human or animal origin", allowing for the control of the chemical or physical conditions of the TME and the analysis of the responses of cancer cells and surrounding cells. In recent years, the incorporation of vascular networks into tumor MPS has enabled more accurate assessments of the dynamics within the TME. This review provides an overview of the latest research on cancer MPS with vascular networks and the cellular and molecular dynamics within the TME.

A man in his 60s presented with jaundice. He was diagnosed with BR pancreatic head cancer with SMV infiltration. He underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy(SSPPD)and SMV resection. He had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on day 13. Pathology revealed T4N1(3/28)M0, Stage Ⅳa. After adjuvant chemotherapy, a solitary left lung nodule was detected 2 years and 6 months postoperatively. It was diagnosed as recurrence. After chemotherapy, thoracoscopic partial lung resection was performed 3 years and 6 months postoperatively. Three months later, another solitary nodule was found in the left lung. Thus, a second thoracoscopic partial lung resection was performed 6 years and 1 month postoperatively to remove the lung metastasis. There has been no recurrence since, and the patient has achieved long-term survival of over 9 years after the initial surgery. This is a rare case of long-term survival after 2 metastasis resections, which we report with a brief literature review.

The case was a 68-year-old woman who presented with a complaint of an abdominal mass. She was diagnosed with the retroperitoneal liposarcoma. In the initial surgery, the primary tumor was resected together with the right colon involved. Since the histological type was the dedifferentiated type, imaging tests were performed every 10 weeks. After all there were seven local recurrences and one recurrence of lung metastasis, and each time the tumor relapsed, a combined resection of surrounding organs were repeated. At the time of the eighth recurrence, she requested chemotherapy. But her illness progressed. Five and a half years after the initial surgery, she passed away. The only effective treatment for retroperitoneal liposarcoma is surgical resection, but the prognosis varies depending on the histological type. The dedifferentiated type is a disease that often has a poor prognosis due to repeated local recurrence and inoperability. In this case, we report with a literature review on a case in which we were able to detect a recurrence in a state that was resectable by performing imaging tests at short intervals for dedifferentiated liposarcoma, and we were able to achieve long-term survival through 8 surgeries.

A 52-year-old man presented with a postoperative abdominal ultrasound of left renal cell carcinoma, which revealed a dilated main pancreatic duct in the pancreatic body tail. A 15 mm tumor was noted in the pancreatic head-neck region on CT, and was diagnosed as invasive pancreatic cancer on EUS-FNA. The tumor was diagnosed as resectable pancreatic head-body cancer, and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Postoperative histopathology showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, TS1(9 mm), T1bN0M0, Stage Ⅰ, preoperative chemotherapy efficacy was Grade 2, and R0 resection was obtained. At the same time, a 4 mm-sized nodule was found in the center of the pancreatic head, far from the primary pancreatic cancer, and was diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma intrapancreatic metastasis. He received 4 courses of S-1 therapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, and is alive 23 months postoperatively without recurrence. The coexistence of primary pancreatic cancer and pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma is extremely rare, and we report this case with a review of the literature.

A 72-year-old man complained of right lower abdominal pain. A CT scan showed an acute appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen identified goblet cell adenocarcinoma(GCA), predominantly extending through the muscularis propria of the appendix. The tumor invaded into the serosal tissue. Subsequently, robotic-assisted ileocecal resection with D3 lymphadenectomy was performed. The final pathological diagnosis was GCA(pT3N0M0, pStage ⅡA). GCA of the appendix is a rare entity that exhibits characteristics of both carcinoid and adenocarcinoma. We report this as a relatively rare and significant case, accompanied by a review of relevant literatures.

An 86-year-old man was referred to our hospital by his primary care physician because of epigastric pain. The patient was diagnosed with gastric cancer and underwent pyloric gastrectomy(D2 dissection and Roux-en-Y reconstruction)and partial hepatectomy. Based on the presence of squamous cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma components in postoperative pathological examination, a diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma(pT4bN2M0, pStage ⅢB)was made. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1+DTX was initiated; however, it was discontinued owing to severe general malaise. One year after surgery, the patient did not show any obvious signs of recurrence. Gastric adenosquamous carcinoma is a special type of gastric cancer with a relatively low incidence, accounting for approximately 0.4% of all gastric cancers. Here, we report a case of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma along with a review of the relevant literature.

The patient was a 72-year-old woman with a history of surgery for uterine, bladder, left breast, and rectal cancers. The patient was admitted to the emergency department due to abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography showed a mass lesion and bowel obstruction at the end of the ileum, and positron emission tomography showed a mass lesion with accumulation in the same area of the pelvis. The patient was referred to our department for surgical treatment. The tumor at the end of the ileum invaded the ileal conduit, abdominal wall, right-sided colon, and mouth of the ileum, and a right hemicolectomy of the colon was performed. Another mass was palpated in the pelvic jejunum during examination, and partial resection of the small intestine was performed simultaneously. The tumor at the end of the ileum was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, whereas the jejunal tumor was diagnosed as tubular adenocarcinoma. Synchronous double cancer of malignant lymphoma of the ileum and carcinoma of the jejunum is rare. Herein, we report this case and review the relevant literature.

Gastric schwannoma is a rare primary gastric tumor, with several reports of malignancy. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman and conducted a literature review. The patient complained of epigastric pain and was referred to our gastroenterology department by a local doctor. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 30 mm submucosal tumor in the greater curvature of the middle part of the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed, and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of gastric schwannoma. Abdominal contrast computed tomography revealed the swelling in the surrounding lymph nodes, and fludeoxyglucose F18(FDG)positron emission tomography showed FDG accumulation in the primary lesion. Although biopsy confirmed that the tumor was a schwannoma, not a gastrointestinal tumor or another malignant tumor, laparoscopic radical distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. Histopathological diagnosis showed no lymph node metastasis, but the MIB-1 index was high(10.9%), indicating a diagnosis of high-grade malignant schwannoma. The patient has been undergoing outpatient follow-up for approximately 2 years without recurrence. Gastric schwannoma is a rare primary gastric tumor, and radical surgical procedures should be carefully considered. Further collection and analysis of these cases are necessary in the future.

Spinal extramedullary tumors are the most common types of schwannomas and meningiomas. Therefore, most spinal cord surgeons should safely perform surgeries for these tumors. The posterior approach with conventional laminectomy is sufficient for the safe resection of almost all spinal extramedullary tumors. However, for specific tumors, it is necessary to consider mechanical stress on the spinal cord during surgery, invasion of the surrounding tissues, and postoperative spinal instability. In addition, if part of the tumor is left behind, the risk of recurrence should be considered in the treatment strategy. This study aimed to understand the key anatomical features and surgical techniques to choose the optimal approach for spinal extramedullary tumors, including dumbbell-shaped schwannomas and ventral meningiomas, which require a safer and more secure surgical approach.

A 78-year-old male patient came to our hospital with a chief complaint of fever. Computed tomography revealed an indistinct tumor in the pancreatic head, along with dilatation of the bile duct and main pancreatic duct. An endoscopic transpapillary biopsy demonstrated adenocarcinoma in the glandular epithelium and a dense formation of quasi-round cells. Pathology results indicated positive CK AE1/AE3 and INSM-1, negative CD45, and a Ki67 index of about 80%, leading to a diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) Grade 3 of the pancreatic head. Consequently, a pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Postoperative pathology revealed small cell NEC (SCNEC) at the pancreatic head, with infiltrative growth of atypical gland ducts around the bile ducts, indicating the presence of a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The adenocarcinoma contained in situ lesions and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), with SCNEC being contiguous. Therefore, the diagnosis was NEC originating from the extrahepatic bile duct, which invaded the pancreatic head. NEC of the extrahepatic bile duct is rare, accounting for approximately 0.2-2% of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, and it has a poor prognosis, similar to other gastrointestinal NECs, even when surgical treatment is performed. The patient remained an outpatient without recurrence 17 months postoperatively.

A 71-year-old woman visited our hospital with pain and itching in her left breast which had commenced the day before admission. On palpation, we detected a 2.0 cm nodule, indicative of an elastic and hard tumor located centrally in the left breast. Mammography revealed an oval, microlobulated mass in the central quadrant of the left breast. Ultrasonography indicated a 1.5×1.3 cm hypoechoic lesion at the 12 o'clock position near the left nipple. Core needle biopsy revealed an invasive ductal carcinoma. Therefore, we mastectomized the left breast. Histologically, the tumor mass exhibited total necrosis, with viable carcinoma cells detected in a paramammary lymph node at the resected breast edge. Consequently, the tumor was diagnosed as a solid tubular carcinoma with total infarction and necrosis. Here, we present a rare case of breast cancer associated with infarction and necrosis.

Claudins(CLDNs)are essential components of tight junctions, which are the most apical elements of apical junctional complexes. The family consists of more than 20 members in humans and shows distinct expression patterns in a tissue- and cell-type-specific manner. Recently, many studies have shown that CLDNs overexpressed in cancer cells positively regulate their malignant behavior. First, fusion genes between CLDNs and signaling molecules produce chimeric proteins that act as drivers. Second, cancer and non-cancer cells form heterocellular adhesions via CLDNs and they act as a metastatic niche. Third, CLDNs enhance cancer cell nutrition by conjugating with amino acid transporters on the cell membrane. Fourth, CLDN acts as an activation trigger for signalling cascades. In this review, we present these 4 representative examples of how CLDNs positively regulate cancer progression.

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with suspected appendicitis. Abdominal CT revealed an enlarged appendix, and findings consistent with some small nodules. She was diagnosed with appendicitis and successfully treated with antibiotics. Contrast-enhanced CT performed 2 months after discharge revealed a reduction in small nodules, and tumor markers were not elevated. Therefore, we concluded that this case was unlikely to be an appendiceal tumor. Interval appendectomy was performed laparoscopically, and histopathological analysis revealed a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm(LAMN). Herein, we present this case and review the relevant literature.

Mitochondrial metabolic dependencies characteristic of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have recently been identified, demonstrating that metabolic enzymes regulate AML gene expression and control cell differentiation and stemness. These mitochondrial metabolic adaptations occur independently of underlying genomic abnormalities and contribute to chemotherapy resistance and relapse. Mitochondrial alterations also lead to metabolic vulnerability of AML cells, whose metabolism is characterized by dependence on oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial dynamics. Currently, mitochondrial properties of AML cells and leukemia stem cells are being investigated, focusing on metabolism, signal transduction, mitochondrial respiration, ROS generation, and mitophagy. In addition, mitochondria-targeted agents have shown promising results in clinical trials. This paper outlines recent findings from preclinical and clinical trials on the utility of agents targeting mitochondria-related molecules and metabolic pathways and their efficacy in combination with existing chemotherapies.

EVI1 is a zinc finger transcription factor encoded by the MECOM locus and is essential for the development and maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells. However, overexpression of EVI1 in various myeloid malignancies is associated with aggressive clinical behavior and poor outcome. The locus encodes multiple isoforms that are differentially acting and independently regulated. EVI1 interacts with a variety of transcription and epigenetic factors via different domains. It also regulates cell survival, differentiation, and proliferation through a variety of mechanisms, including transcriptional activation and repression, regulation of other transcription factors' activity, and chromatin remodeling. While the mechanism by which 3q26 translocation leads to high EVI1 expression through enhancer hijacking of genes active in myeloid development is now better understood, regulation of EVI1 expression in the absence of chromosomal translocations and in normal hematopoiesis remains unclear. Recent studies have provided insight into the regulatory mechanisms of EVI1 expression and action, which may lead to development of targeted therapies in the near future.