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Despite recent advances in sequencing technology and large-scale drug screenings employing hundreds of cell lines, the predictive accuracy of mutation-based biomarkers is still insufficient as a guide for cancer therapy. Therefore, novel types of diagnostic methods using alternative biomarkers would be highly desirable. We have hypothesized that sensitivity-specific changes in the phosphorylation of signaling molecules could be useful in this respect. Here, with the aim of developing a method for predicting the response of cancers to cisplatin using a combination of specific biomarker(s) and patient-derived tumor organoids (PDOs), we found that cisplatin-sensitive cell lines or PDOs showed enhanced phosphorylation of c-Jun (p-c-Jun) within 24 h after cisplatin treatment. We also compared the responses of 6 PDOs to cisplatin with the therapeutic effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil) in 6 matched patients. Mechanistically, the c-Jun induction was partly related to TNF signaling induced by cisplatin. Our data suggest that enhanced phosphorylation of c-Jun in response to cisplatin treatment could be a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of cisplatin in selected cancer patients.

Background Pancreatic acinar cell metaplasia (PACM) has been rarely reported in the gastric mucosa. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the clinical and pathological characteristics of PACM associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Method 5930 patients who underwent five- or two-point gastric biopsy according to the updated Sydney system (USS) by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. The patients were categorized into current H. pylori infection (CHI), post-H. pylori eradication (PHE), and non-H. pylori infection (NHI) groups according to the H. pylori infection status, and the frequency and location of PACM were compared. Additionally, a case–control study was performed to compare the USS scores between patients with CHI and PACM and those with CHI but not PACM. Result The frequencies of PACM were 0.49% (10/2039), 0.75% (25/3332), and 0% (0/559) in the CHI, PHE, and NHI groups, respectively. PACM was found in the greater curvature of the antrum in 33 of the 35 patients with PACM. Among the patients with CHI, the inflammation scores in the greater curvature of the antrum and the greater curvature of the corpus were lower in patients with PACM than in those without PACM. Conclusion Although rarely reported in the gastric mucosa, PACM was closely related to H. pylori infection, especially in the antrum, and was associated with relatively mild inflammation.

Background: Astrocytic tumors of the retina are rare. We report and discuss the clinical features of two cases of retinal astrocytoma along with presenting a current literature review. Case Presentation: Case 1 was a 46-year-old Japanese female who became aware of her decreased visual acuity. A fundus photograph indicated the presence of a 5 mm hemispherical yellow-white tumor, retinal edema and hard exudate around the tumor. In case 2, a 36-year-old Japanese female became aware of her myodesopsia, and presented with a retinal tumor and vitreous hemorrhage in her right eye. Since the tumors occurred in the peripheral retina in both cases, endoresections were performed. Histological examination showed that the tumors were composed of spindle-shaped cells with small nuclei, which was consistent with astrocytes. Conclusion: Pathologically, it can be difficult to differentiate astrocytic tumors. Therefore, when making a diagnosis, it is important that comprehensive examinations be done in conjunction with the clinical findings. Since retinal astrocytoma has a favorable prognosis, provided proper treatment is administered, utilization of endoresection for peripheral astrocytoma may be advantageous in this patient group.

Meningiomas account for 25% of spinal tumors, and they are often located in the thoracic spine. The ossified subtype is even rarer, and those with hematopoiesis are rarely described. The mechanism of bone formation has not yet been clarified. A case of ossified spinal meningioma with hematopoiesis occurring in a 78-year-old woman is described. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion with a dural tail sign at the T9 level located dorsal to the spinal cord. Computerized tomography revealed a high density lesion, as high as the bone signal. Total resection was performed, and the symptoms improved. Pathological findings revealed many psammoma bodies (PBs), bone formation, and bone marrow with hematopoiesis. Both PBs and bone seemed to be based on the same background of calcified structures. This report is the second dealing with ossified spinal meningioma with hematopoiesis. The hardness of the tumor can make the operation more difficult, so that the operation should be performed carefully to avoid injuring the spinal cord.