Human beta-microseminoprotein (beta-MSP), isolated from seminal plasma, is one of the proteins secreted by the prostate gland. To determine whether the beta-MSP immunoreactivity can be a prognostic indicator of prostatic carcinoma, the beta-MSP immunohistochemical distribution has been examined in needle biopsy specimens taken from 96 patients with prostatic carcinoma. Although no significant correlation was found between the beta-MSP immunoreactivity and the histological grade (Gleason score), patients with a positive beta-MSP expression had a significantly better prognosis than those with a negative beta-MSP expression (P = 0.01). Further, a multivariate analysis of six possible parameters (age, clinical stage, histological grade, serum prostatic acid phosphatase, beta-MSP immunoreactivity, and the type of initial treatment) has shown the difference in the beta-MSP immunoreactivity to be a significant, independent, prognostic indicator of prostatic carcinoma (P = 0.04).

We report a case of papillary-cystic neoplasm (PCN) of the pancreas in a 42-yr-old woman. Because of complication with multiple hepatic metastases, the patient could not receive radical operation, and was treated palliatively. The right hepatic tumors decreased in volume by an average of 28% (range: 13-54%) following intra-arterial infusion of doxorubicin and gelatine sponge--i.e. chemoembolization therapy. On the other hand, the left lobe tumor increased by 15% in volume following intra-arterial infusion of doxorubicin alone without selective embolization. A subsequent systemic combination chemotherapy (combinations of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and mitomycin-C) was less effective for both the primary and metastatic sites of PCN of the pancreas. Intra-arterial chemoembolization proved useful--as expected--as a palliative measure. Papillary-cystic neoplasm of the pancreas accompanied by hepatic metastasis is very rare. We present herein its clinical behavior and response to the above treatment as documented by CT scan.

We have noticed that functional disorders of the liver characterized by hepatomegaly and an increase in serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase develop in patients with prostatic cancer who are placed under longterm therapy with massive doses of estrogen after castration. We performed laparoscopy in six cases of prostatic cancer with hepatomegaly so that we could study the morphology of the liver. Our findings were as follows. In five, the histological features of the liver biopsies were very similar to those seen in alcoholic hepatitis. In spite of this fact, two of the five had no history of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, in one other case, liver damage resembling alcoholic hepatitis developed during abstinence. The findings in these three cases suggested that long-term, massive doses of synthetic estrogen may lead to liver injury similar to alcoholic hepatitis in nonalcoholics. The ultrastructural findings of the liver cells were also suggestive of the adverse effect of treatment. All cases were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen. Recent reports have demonstrated some nonalcoholics with histological features of the liver indicative of alcoholic hepatitis. This particular condition was termed "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" by Ludwig et al. It is quite likely that synthetic estrogen is also responsible for "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" when it is used in massive doses.

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