Previous reports have shown that the biochemical activity of heparanase is significantly correlated with the invasion and metastasis of malignant cells in vitro. Recently, it was found that the human heparanase gene was cloned and highly expressed in malignant cell lines and human solid malignant tumors. In the present study, we investigated the heparanase mRNA expression by using in situ hybridization in 116 paraffin-embedded tissues of primary gastric carcinomas. To explore its clinicopathologic significance, it was detected in the various steps of tumor progression and then compared with prognostic indicators. As a result, the heparanase expression was more prevalent in late-stage rather than early-stage carcinomas (P < .0001) and was more frequent in tumors of large size (P ‫؍‬ .0212). Expression also correlated with lymphatic (P ‫؍‬ .0086) and venous (P ‫؍‬ .0171) invasion and with negative prognostic factors such as lymph nodal (P < .0001) and distant (P ‫؍‬ .0221) metastases. However, in a multivariate analysis, messenger RNA expression of heparanase was not an independent prognostic factor. It was concluded that heparanase might play an important role in the development of invasion and metastasis of the gastric cancer. It was indicated that patients with heparanase-positive gastric carcinoma would have a greater chance of metastasis with a poor prognosis.

ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to determine whether the recurrent laryngeal nerve involved in differentiated thyroid carcinoma could be preserved. Summary Background DataFew investigations have provided definitive results concerning preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve involved in thyroid cancer. Complete excision with resection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve reportedly did not improve survival over incomplete excision in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. MethodsA retrospective study was performed with the medical records of 50 patients with differentiated carcinoma and preoperative normal vocal cord function to investigate outcomes of recurrent laryngeal nerve preservation including local recurrence, prognosis, and postoperative vocal cord function. The recurrent laryngeal nerves on 1 or both sides were preserved in 23 patients (the preserved group), whereas the involved recurrent laryngeal nerve of the other 27 patients was resected (the resected group). ResultsBackgrounds of patients were similar between the resected and preserved groups. The number of patients with recurrences in each group was similar, and incidence of local, regional, and distant metastatic recurrences were not different between the groups. Postoperative overall survival of the preserved group was similar to that of the resected group (p = 0.1208). More than 60% of patients or of nerve at risk in the preserved group

The prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is relatively fair, with a 10-year survival rate above 80%. One of the important prognostic factors is cancer invasion to the airway. For the last 25 years we have been performing combined resection of the trachea and larynx and have reported a relatively good 10-year survival (67.7%) and improved quality of life (QOL). However, operative complications associated with the procedure, especially insufficiency of the anastomosis and bleeding from large vessels, are life-threatening. Of 40 patients who underwent resection of the trachea, insufficiency of the anastomosis occurred in 4 and subsequent massive bleeding from carotid artery due to neck infection in 2. Tracheal resection should be carried out carefully by avoiding insufficiency. We have concluded that combined resection is a good treatment choice for survival and good QOL when performed for local control in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Local radical thyroidectomy, including cervical lymph node dissection and combined circumferential resection of the trachea, has been performed over the past 20 years in 31 patients with differentiated cancer invading the trachea. The 5- and 10-year survival rates for these patients were 77.4% and 66.7%, respectively. In 19 of the 31 (61%) cases the recurrent nerve was resected because of direct cancer invasion. Bilateral recurrent nerve palsy occurred in 12 patients, 3 of whom were managed postoperatively using a T-shaped tube for preservation of the larynx. Hoarseness remained in 21 patients. In two patients with recurrent cancer invasion of the larynx, partial laryngectomy and hemilaryngectomy were performed, and reconstruction was done using ear cartilage without postoperative dyspnea or dysphagia. Parathyroid function is an important factor in regard to the quality of life of patients. In 22 patients at least one of the parathyroids was preserved. Postoperative calcium administration was necessary in 14 patients. Our long-term observations indicate that local radical thyroidectomy with combined resection of the trachea can serve as a useful treatment for advanced differentiated cancer invading the airway.

Lymph node metastasis is a critical prognostic factor for gastric cancer. In the present investigation we examined clinicopathologic factors influencing the metastatic processes to the lymph mode and their prognostic importance. A randomly selected group of 98 patients with adenocarcinomas of the stomach who underwent gastrectomy plus systematic lymph node dissection at Osaka Police Hospital from 1991 to 1996 were analyzed. Altogether 37 (38%) cancers were positive for CD44 variant 6 (v6) staining, 31 (32%) were intermediately stained, and 30 (30%) were negative. CD44-v6 expression correlated well with lymph node metastasis. Expression of CD44-v6 and lymphatic invasion were independent risk factors for metastatic lymph nodes. Among the patients with CD44-v6-positive and lymphatic invasion-positive cancers, 88% had lymph node metastasis, whereas only 13% of patients negative for both factors had lymph node metastasis. Although CD44-v6 expression and lymphatic invasion have been reported to be risk factors for recurrence and a poor prognosis, in this investigation these factors were found not to be significant for hematogenous and lymphatic recurrences or overall survival rates. Thus expression of CD44-v6 and lymphatic invasion may regulate lymph node metastases from gastric cancer.