In 42% of the osteosarcomas, the tumor cells expressed ErbB-2. Expression of ErbB-2 was strongly correlated with early pulmonary metastasis and poor survival rate for the patient. These data suggest that ErbB-2 plays a significant role in aggressive tumor growth and in the promotion of metastatic potential in osteosarcomas. ErbB-2 in the osteosarcoma tissues would be a useful prognostic marker for patients.

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of Japan. 137 Cs) through rivers into the sea have been studied. The solid-water distribution of RCs in river water is important because hydrated RCs, which is not subject to flocculation and sedimentation processes in the estuary area, may be the main form of RCs transported into oceans. Takata et al. (2015) evaluated the flux of dissolved and particulate 137 Cs from the river to the ocean to calculate the migration of 137 Cs in the ocean. The solid-water distribution is also important in terms of the intake of organisms. Thus, the solid-water distribution of RCs has been intensively studied with respect to the emission of RCs associated with the FDNPP accident (

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumours (EADT) are benign lesions but difficult to cure because of their infiltrative nature and tendency to recur. Among many treatments recommended in the past, wide excision has been successful, even in difficult cases. We have analyzed retrospectively 41 cases of histologically confirmed EADTs. A total of 98 operations were performed on these patients: 29 wide excisions on 22 patients, 52 intra-lesional excisions with wide margins on 16 patients, and 17 incomplete excisions on 3 patients. One patient, with intra-pelvic lesions, died of a massive haemorrhage 3 days after surgery. Forty patients were followed from between 3 and 29 years. One, who had a multicentric EADT for 21 years, died from the disease. The significant factors concerning local recurrence after wide procedures were an unsatisfactory initial wide local excision, disease affecting 4 or more muscles and the invasive nature of the recurrences. We recommend wide local excision of these tumours in all anatomical areas that allow this procedure. When major nerves and vessels are involved, we recommend an intralesional excision with wide margins in order to preserve limb function. Radiation therapy should be confined to cases in which wide local procedures are not feasible. Overall, 37 of our patients (90%) were cured of the disease, 2 had their disease controlled, and 2 died.

BACKGROUND.It has been reported that the c-erbB-2 protooncogene is frequently amplified and overexpressed in many types of cancers, except sarcomas and hematological malignancies. METHODS. Expression of ErbB-2 in the tumors of 26 patients with conventiional osteosarcoma was evaluated by immunoblotting. DNA from osteosarcoma tissues that expressed ErbB-2 were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization to examine gross rearrangement of the gene. The DNA was also surveyed for the presence of genetic mutation in the transmembrane domain of ErbB-2 by polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded DNA conformation polymorphism analysis. In addition, possible correlation of ErbB-2 expression with gender, age, histopathologic subtype, and response to chemotherapy was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier test using the approximate chi-square statistic for the logrank test. RESULTS. The ErbB-2 protein was detected in 11 of 26 osteosarcoma tissues (42%) by immunoblot analysis. Expression of ErbB-2 was confirmed by imrnunohistochemical studies using specific anti-ErbB-2 monoclonal antibody. However, neither amplification of the c-erbB-2 gene nor evidence of significant genetic mutation was found in these osteosarcomas. Expression of ErbB-2 examined by immunoblot-