These results suggest that the branch duct type IPMNs less than 30 mm and without mural nodules is benign and might be treatable with limited resection or careful observation.

BACKGROUND Intrahepatic disease recurrence is observed frequently after locoregional therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the indication for locoregional therapy is still unclear. To clarify the indication for locoregional therapy for small HCC tumors, the authors measured the distance of microsatellites from the main tumor and analyzed the relation between this distance and clinicopathologic factors. METHODS The authors retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with small HCC tumors (≤ 5 cm in dimension) treated by curative hepatectomy. A microsatellite was defined as invasion into the portal vein or intrahepatic metastasis, and the distance from the main tumor to the most distant microsatellite was determined under light microscopy. The current study investigated the relation between microsatellite distance (0 mm if none present, ≤ 5 mm, and > 5 mm) and clinicopathologic factors, as well as overall and disease‐free survival rates after hepatectomy. RESULTS Of the 100 patients, 46 had microsatellites with a mean distance of 9.9 mm (median, 5.0 mm). Of the clinicopathologic factors investigated, tumor grade and preoperative α‐fetoprotein level significantly correlated with the presence of a microsatellite. Tumor size and distance to the microsatellite were significantly correlated. All but 1 tumor associated with a microsatellite distance > 5 mm was a high‐grade tumor > 25 mm in greatest dimension. The overall survival rate of patients with a microsatellite distance of > 5 mm was lower than that of patients with a microsatellite distance < 5 mm. CONCLUSIONS Locoregional therapy, including limited resection and ablation therapies, was appropriate for patients with low‐grade HCC tumors or with tumors < 25 mm in diameter. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.

Some chemokines induced by interferon-gamma, such as Mig and IP-10, may promote lymphocyte recruitment to HCC and may thus play important roles in cancer immunology.

Abstract. The prognosis of pancreatic cancer with peritoneal dissemination has not improved. The aim of this study was to clarify whether oncolytic reovirus is effective against the peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer in an immunocompetent animal model. The hamster pancreatic cancer cells HaP-T1 were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of the hamster and reovirus (1x10 8 plaque-forming units) was administered into the peritoneal cavity on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after HaP-T1 inoculations. The number and weight of the disseminated nodules in each group were recorded. Reovirus protein in the disseminated nodules was examined by immunohistochemical staining. The tumor volumes of peritoneal dissemination in the treatment group were significantly less than those in the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the amount of ascites was decreased in the treatment group in comparison to the control group. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that reovirus replication was seen only in the disseminated nodules but not in surrounding normal tissues. There were no serious side effects observed in this study. These data suggested that intraperitoneal administration of reovirus might be an effective form of oncolytic viral therapy for peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer.

Our limited results, together with reported outcomes, suggest that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is safe and effective for selected patients. The potential advantages of this procedure include reduced morbidity and reduced hospital stay.