Significant correlations were found between mean ADC values and differentiation grade. ADC may be useful as an imaging biomarker of tumor aggressiveness, but it cannot serve as an independent biomarker of advanced rectal cancer.

The measurement of CEA is an efficient way to detect recurrence. The efficiency of measuring CA19-9 for the purpose of detecting recurrence is low, especially in patients with a normal level of preoperative CA19-9. Even in patients with a high preoperative level of CA19-9, CEA might be able to fill the role of CA19-9.

A 40-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-circumscribed multicystic mass measuring approximately 7 × 6 cm. The mass contained a solid lesion measuring 3 × 2 cm. Biopsy of a swollen cervical lymph node led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After initial chemotherapy for lymphoma, the multicystic mass was surgically resected. The tumor was composed of a multicystic lesion and a solid lesion. Histopathologic examination of the multicystic lesion revealed that the locules were lined by biliary epithelium, demonstrating various degrees of cytological atypia. The stroma was fibrous, and the tumor showed marked apocrine snouts. Part of the tumor showed papillary growth with strong cytological atypia. The solid lesion showed tubulocystic proliferation of tumor cells, with prominent apocrine snouts, embedded in dense and partially hyalinized fibrous stroma. The morphology of the solid part was quite similar to that of reported biliary adenofibroma. Despite lengthy discussion, an appropriate pathological diagnosis could not be found among the current classifications of biliary tumor. The tumor was finally diagnosed as unclassified multicystic biliary tumor with adenofibroma features.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently published a Clinical Practice Guideline entitled "Appropriate Chemotherapy Dosing for Obesity Adult Patients with Cancer." The panel recommended that full weight (actual weight)-based cytotoxic chemotherapy doses are used to treat obese patients with cancer, particularly when the goal of treatment is cure. However, no study has examined dosage calculation methods used for obese cancer patients in Japan. Here, we retrospectively studied the relationships between chemotherapy dose intensity, the occurrence of adverse events, and treatment outcomes in obese patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups: the actual BW group (BWg) was composed of patients receiving dosage amounts calculated using their actual BW (n = 64), and the ideal BWg was composed of patients receiving dosage amounts calculated using their ideal BW (n = 41). There were significant differences in the incidence of Grade 3/4 hematological toxicity in the actual and ideal BWg in solid tumor patients, but not in patients with hematological malignancies. In solid tumor patients with ≥30 body mass index (BMI), the incidence of Grade 3/4 hematological toxicity was significantly lower in the ideal BWg than in the actual BWg. Particularly, in patients with complications, incidence of Grade 4 hematological toxicity was significantly higher in the actual BWg than in the ideal BWg. These results suggest that the tumor type, degree of obesity, complications, and choice of chemotherapy regimen should be considered when determining chemotherapy dosage for obese patients.

Gemcitabine is widely accepted as the standard treatment for pancreatic cancer, but it can cause unpredictable side effects. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a rare complication with gemcitabine, but is sometimes fatal. We describe a cured case of acute, severe gemcitabine-induced pulmonary toxicity. The patient was a 76-year-old man with pancreatic cancer who was receiving adjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy after surgery. The patient received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 for three 4-week cycles, with intervals of 1 week. He developed severe general fatigue on day 1 of the third cycle. Computed tomography showed diffuse ground-glass opacity with pleural effusion. There was no increase in β-D-glucan, and cytomegalovirus antigenemia assays were negative. No bacteria or acid-fast bacilli were found. The number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was increased. Considering these data, we diagnosed eosinophilic pneumonia induced by gemcitabine. The patient was immediately treated with a steroid and neutrophil elastase inhibitor under respiratory supportive therapy. After 4 weeks, his pulmonary symptoms were markedly improved. Physicians should be cognizant of the possible association of serious pulmonary toxicity with gemcitabine treatment. A delay in diagnosis and treatment could lead to a fatal outcome.