藤原 慎一郎

Objectives: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that can predict its clinical outcome. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels after R-CHOP (posttreatment sIL-2R) in 72 patients with newly diagnosed FL who had either a complete response (CR) or partial response. With the use of a recursive partitioning analysis, we determined the cut-off values of post- and pretreatment sIL-2R levels that were associated with disease progression, which corresponded to 486.5 and 5405U/mL, respectively. Results: The high posttreatment sIL-2R group showed a significantly inferior progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the low posttreatment sIL-2R group in all patients (3-year PFS 52.6% vs. 77.4%, P=0.003), and in patients with CR (3-year PFS 57.1% vs. 82.1%, P=0.034). Although a multivariate analysis showed that pretreatment sIL-2R, but not posttreatment sIL-2R, was an independently significant predictive factor for disease progression, among patients with low pretreatment sIL-2R levels, those with high posttreatment sIL-2R levels tended to have inferior PFS. There was a significant trend in PFS among the high pretreatment sIL-2R group, the low pre- and high posttreatment sIL-2R group, and the low pre- and low posttreatment sIL-2R group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Among patients with a low pretreatment sIL-2R level who exhibited a positive response to R-CHOP, the posttreatment sIL-2R level may help to identify those with a poor prognosis.

The combination of mitoxantrone (MIT), etoposide (ETP), and cytarabine (Ara-C) (MEC) is a frequently used salvage therapy for acute leukemia, but has been associated with severe myelosuppression. Therefore, we investigated the miniMEC regimen with reduced doses of AraC and MIT. Thirteen ALL and 44 AML patients, all relapsed or refractory, received miniMEC, which consisted of MIT at 8 mg/m(2) for 3 d, ETP at 100 mg/m(2) for 5 d, and Ara-C at 100 mg/m(2) infused over 24 h for 7 d. CR + CRi was achieved in eight ALL patients (61.5%) and 16 AML patients (36.4%). Median duration of neutropenia was 30 d (range, 1-50). Thirty-one patients (54.4%) subsequently received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), and overall survival was significantly improved in this group (median OS 161 versus 481 d, p=0.006). We concluded that miniMEC is a safe and effective bridging therapy to SCT.

BACKGROUND: Improving apheresis technology may lead to an efficient and safe peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. Recently, the Spectra Optia (Optia, Terumo BCT) was introduced as an automated apheresis instrument, but comparisons with other instruments have been few. This is the first randomized multicenter and crossover comparison of the Optia with the automated program of the established apheresis instrument, the Spectra (Spectra-Auto, Terumo BCT). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 233 apheresis procedures performed in 46 autologous patients and 108 allogeneic donors were investigated. Apheresis performed in the first day for all subjects using the Spectra-Auto (n = 79) and the Optia (n = 75) were evaluated as first-day analysis. Seventy-nine subjects, who required another session on the second day, underwent apheresis using the other instrument than the first-day instrument and were compared with each other in a paired crossover analysis. RESULTS: The two instruments processed similar volumes with comparable run times and volumes of acid-citrate-dextrose used. The volumes of collected products were greater in the Optia. Yields of mononuclear cells and CD34+ cells were not different, but collection efficiencies were higher in the Optia (p = 0.008 in CE1 of crossover analysis). Spectra-Auto-collected products contained more contaminating red blood cells (RBCs), whereas there was a trend of more contaminating platelets (PLTs) in the Optia-collected products. Slight reductions were noted in the RBC or PLT counts of subjects who underwent apheresis with the Spectra-Auto or the Optia, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Optia is safe and more efficient in the PBSC collection compared with the Spectra-Auto.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is a key drug in immunosuppressive therapy for patients with aplastic anemia. The mainstay of ATG therapy had been a horse ATG (hATG) formulation, Lymphoglobulin or ATGAM, but Lymphoglobulin was recently discontinued, and Thymoglobulin, a rabbit ATG (rATG) formulation, is currently used as the first-line drug in many countries, including Japan. However, a recent randomized clinical trial reported significantly unfavorable outcomes associated with the use of rATG regimens. We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of adult patients with moderate to severe aplastic anemia who were treated with 3.5 mg/kg of Thymoglobulin (n = 22) or 15 mg/kg of Lymphoglobulin (n = 25) in our facility. The estimated overall response rates in the rATG and hATG groups were 64.6 versus 56.0 % at 6 months, and 76.4 versus 69.2 % at 12 months, respectively; and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.32). Overall survival at 24 months was not significantly different: rATG 89.8 % versus hATG 96.0 % (P = 0.39). Early phase infection was observed in 37.5 % of cases in the rATG and 14.8 % in the hATG group, but the frequency was not statistically different (P = 0.107). Our data indicate that Thymoglobulin at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg is a viable alternative when hATG is not available.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of late death and morbidity following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). Retinoic acid (tamibarotene) exerts multiple effects on cell differentiation and is clinically used for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Tamibarotene down-regulates both Th1 and Th17 differentiation in donor T cells after allogeneic HSCT, resulting in attenuation of experimental chronic GVHD. Based on preclinical data, we have launched a phase II study of tamibarotene in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD. This study will clarify whether tamibarotene can exert beneficial effects in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD.

The BEAM regimen consisting of carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (MEL) is widely used before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) for lymphoma. However, intravenous BCNU is not available in Japan, and therefore, ranimustine (MCNU) has been used instead of BCNU (the MEAM regimen). We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 79 adult patients who underwent auto-HSCT for lymphoma using this regimen in two centers, with 1- and 2-day dosing of MEL, respectively. Three-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) probabilities were 77.3 and 56.5 % in the entire population and 71.7 and 58.0 % in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. These outcomes were at least equivalent to those with the BEAM regimen. There was no regimen-related pulmonary toxicity. In a multivariate analysis, older age was the only factor that was significantly associated with for OS. In a comparison of the two MEL dosing schedules, while there was no significant differences in either OS or PFS, diarrhea was observed more frequently with 1-day dosing of MEL. In conclusion, the MEAM regimen appeared to be a promising conditioning regimen in auto-HSCT for lymphoma. A large prospective study is warranted to confirm the current findings.

This retrospective analysis compared the efficacy of intensive induction therapy consisting of daunorubicin and cytarabine (DNR-AraC) to that of less-intensive therapy including low-dose cytarabine, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor priming (CAG). Patients aged 60 years or older who were newly diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were analyzed. Sixty-four and 48 patients were treated with DNR-AraC and CAG, respectively. The complete remission rates, 3-year overall survival and event-free survival in the DNR-AraC group were significantly superior to those in the CAG group (65.6% vs. 29.2%, p < 0.001, 38.4% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.0033, and 20.3% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.0030, respectively), although these differences were not statistically significant in multivariate analyses. Next, we calculated a propensity score for selecting the CAG regimen from six factors. The DNR-AraC regimen was associated with better survival than the CAG regimen in a low propensity score group, but there was no difference in survival between regimens in a high propensity score group. Intensive therapy should be performed for patients with sufficient general and comorbid conditions, but less-intensive therapy may be sufficient for patients with higher age, myelodysplasia-related changes, and lower white blood cell counts, which were relevant factors in the propensity score calculation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are used to ameliorate anemia in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Serum erythropoietin (EPO) level < 500 IU/L is widely accepted as a major predictive factor for response to ESAs. However, few data about EPO levels in the Japanese population are available. We therefore evaluated distribution of serum EPO levels in Japanese patients with MDS. Forty-three cases were analyzed; 30 were classified as lower-risk MDS (low or intermediate-1 by the international prognostic scoring system). Twenty-two cases were transfusion dependent. The overall median hemoglobin level was 7.7 g/dL. The median value of serum EPO was 254 IU/L (range: 16.4-23,000). Serum EPO levels had a strong inverse correlation with hemoglobin levels, and a significantly larger proportion of patients showed high EPO levels (> 500 IU/L) in the transfusion-dependent group. In the higher-risk group, no significant correlation between EPO and hemoglobin was observed. Regression analyses showed that serum EPO of 500 IU/L corresponds to 8.29 g/dL of hemoglobin in lower-risk MDS. The results indicate that patients with hemoglobin levels of 8.0 g/dL or more, who are still transfusion independent, may be good candidates for ESA treatment.

CD25 expression in follicular lymphoma (FL) has not yet been investigated. Eighty-five patients with newly diagnosed FL were retrospectively evaluated. On two-color flow cytometric analysis, CD25 was detected on CD19 + and CD20 + lymphoma cells. CD25 expression in FL tended to be higher than in reactive lymphadenopathy, but was lower than in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients with CD25 + FL (n = 12) showed clinical features of elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) levels, B symptoms and an advanced age compared with CD25 - FL (n = 73). The overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with CD25 + FL were significantly inferior to those with CD25 - FL (ORR, 60 vs. 93%; 2-year PFS, 32 vs. 80.3%; 6-year OS, 47.4 vs. 85.9%, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CD25 positivity is an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS in FL. CD25 + FL may constitute a distinct subgroup associated with aggressiveness and an inferior prognosis.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which is associated with various underlying conditions, is characterized by hypercytokinemia. Because it is frequently lethal, immediate mitigation of the hypercytokinemia is vital to save patients, particularly when treatments for the patient's underlying condition are ineffective on HLH. We herein present a case of Hodgkin lymphoma associated with HLH in which the HLH did not improve even after chemotherapy. We attempted to save the patient using hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column to remove cytokines; following this treatment, the patient rapidly recovered. Hemoperfusion may be a strategic method to rescue intractable HLH patients.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is an aggressive lymphoma with a 5-year overall survival rate of &lt 30%. To identify carcinogenesis-related genes in PTCL, we conducted high-throughput resequencing of target-captured cDNA in a PTCL specimen, revealing a total of 19 missense mutations among 18 independent genes. One of such substitutions, c.2201G&gt A in STK10 cDNA, replaces an arginine residue to a histidine (R634H) in the encoded protein. Of note, while wild-type STK10 suppresses NF-κ B activity and potentiates dexamethasone-induced apoptosis, the R634H change significantly decreases such pro-apoptotic activity. This c.2201G&gt A change of STK10 was also identified in another PTCL specimen, but now registered as a single nucleotide polymorphism in the latest dbSNP database. Furthermore, other somatic mutations of STK10 have been reported, and we now reveal that some of them (L85P and K277E) have more profound anti-apoptotic effects compared to R634H. These results suggest that STK10 functions as a tumor suppressor gene, and that dysfunction of STK10 activity either through polymorphism or somatic mutations may confer anti-apoptotic effects contributing to carcinogenesis.

CD25 (interluekin-2 receptor) expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells has been not examined. To characterize CD25(+) DLBCL, 123 patients, who were newly diagnosed with DLBCL, were analyzed by single-color flow cytometry (FCM). CD25-positivity was significantly higher in DLBCL patients (n = 123; mean +/- SD, 27.8 +/- 30.6%) than in those with reactive lymphadenopathy (n = 16; mean +/- SD, 8.6 +/- 4.3%) and follicular lymphoma (n = 60; mean +/- SD, 12.7 +/- 12.4%). By two-color FCM, CD25/CD19 or CD25/CD20 dual positivity in DLBCL patients was shown: mean +/- SD, 63.7 +/- 25.5% (n = 13) and 55.0 +/- 28.1% (n = 14), respectively. Eighty-two percent of the patients with DLBCL received rituximab combined with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy. A cut-off value of 60% with CD25-positivity clearly divided patients with DLBCL into two groups: CD25-high or CD25-low DLBCL. Although clinical and immunophenotypic features were not significantly different in both groups, the former showed a significantly poorer response and more inferior progression-free survival than the latter. CD25 may be a new prognostic marker and could be a therapeutic target in DLBCL.

We herein report the findings of a case of myelodysplastic syndrome that was complicated by septicemia and meningoencephalitis, both of which were caused by Bacillus cereus. In contrast to all of the previous cases of B. cereus that have been seen at our institution, this patient did not have any invasive devices, such as a central venous catheter, that could have acted as a conduit for a B. cereus infection. Although B. cereus-induced meningoencephalitis is often lethal, the immediate treatment with a regimen of antibiotics including vancomycin was effective in eradicating the infection and, therefore, in reversing both the septicemia and the meningoencephalitis.

In the rituximab era, several large studies have suggested that full-dose rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) might be the best treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) aged 60 years and older. However, it remains unclear whether this is also the case for those aged 70 years and older. Previously untreated patients with DLBCL aged 70 years and older (elderly) were treated with R-70%CHOP, and patients younger than 70 years (younger) were treated with full-dose R-CHOP every 3 weeks, for a total of 6-8 cycles. Complete remission (CR) rates in elderly versus younger patients were 75 vs. 78% (p = 0.7), respectively. The 3-year overall survival, event-free survival and progression-free survival of elderly versus younger patients were 58 vs. 78% (p < 0.05), 45 vs. 70% (p < 0.05) and 64 vs. 72% (p = 0.43), respectively. Severe adverse events were more frequent in the elderly, even with the dose reduction in that age group. Three-year PFS with R-70% CHOP for patients aged 70 years and older was not significantly worse than that with full-dose R-CHOP for younger patients, suggesting that R-70% CHOP might be a reasonable choice for patients with DLBCL aged 70 years and older, especially for those with comorbidities.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal neoplasm that shows diverse clinical manifestations and courses of disease progression. The etiology and pathophysiology of LCH remain uncertain. We describe the clinical course of a 23-year-old Japanese woman with multi-system LCH, who showed rapid progression after steroid reduction and developed multi-organ failure. Liver biopsy showed LCH infiltration with fatty degeneration. She was treated with cytarabine, vincristine, and prednisolone according to the Japan LCH study group 02 protocol, without any clinical improvement. Low expression of Ki67 and bcl-2 failed to explain the rapid clinical course. Panhypopituitarism and hypothalamic dysfunction may have caused nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver failure. This case indicates that some multi-system LCH patients with hypopituitarism and hypothalamic dysfunction show very rapid progression and are difficult to treat. [J Clin Exp Hematopathol 52(2) : 121-126, 2012]

Transplantation with cryopreserved allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from related donors is widely conducted in Japan. To freeze PBSCs, a solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which can have various adverse effects, is added. DMSO-depleted allogeneic PBSCs were transplanted into 21 patients. The cryoprotectant was manually removed from thawed PBSCs and the cells were mixed with a solution containing citrate dextrose as an anticoagulant and RPMI-1640 medium. DMSO-depleted PBSCs were immediately infused into patients subjected to conditioning. Infusion-related adverse effects were only observed in three patients. The median neutrophil recovery (>= 0.5 x 10(9)/l) and platelet recovery (>= 20 x 10(9)/l) were 13.0 and 14.0 days, respectively. Only one patient with mixed-lineage leukemia in non-complete remission did not show engraftment, likely due to a second transplantation and a two-antigen disparity in human leukocyte antigen system A. The results suggest the removal of DMSO from thawed PBSCs to be safe and useful for transplantation.

According to the international working group response criteria for malignant lymphoma revised in 2007, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) combined with or without computed tomography (CT) is recommended for pre-treatment staging and response assessment among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. Recently, along with the widespread use of PET/CT, unexpected uptake and accumulation of (18)FDG has been reported. Discussed in the present report are patients with malignant lymphoma and second primary carcinomas that were incidentally found by PET/CT. A total of 497 consecutive PET/CT were performed on 290 patients with malignant lymphoma in our institution from April 2008 through March 2010. Eight patients (2.8%) had pathologically confirmed second primary carcinomas consisting of 4 colon cancers, 3 lung cancers, and 1 pancreatic cancer. Two cases were diagnosed at the initial staging, and the others were detected after treatment for lymphoma. It is noteworthy that PET revealed high accumulations of (18)FDG in 5 (62.5%) of the 8 patients without corresponding tumors in conventional CT. All of the 4 patients with colon carcinoma underwent curative surgery. The present study suggests that incidental findings by PET in malignant lymphoma can lead to early detection and successful treatment of second malignancies.

Small molecules are attractive agents for the treatment of leukemia. We found that a combination of a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, tipifarnib, and an mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, synergistically inhibited the growth of myeloid leukemia cell lines and primary leukemia cells by inducing apoptosis and cell-cycle blockage. The combined agents reduced the level of phospho-ERK1/2, suggesting that they altered the network of signaling pathways. They also showed synergistic effects in tipifarnib-resistant K562/RR cells. The results support the utility of this combination as a potential therapy for leukemia. The combination might also be effective in overcoming resistance to tipifarnib. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The purpose of this study was to screen for genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis in an attempt to develop an effective molecular-targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. We constructed retroviral expression libraries for the human ovarian cancer cell lines SHIN-3 and TYK-CPr, and performed a focus formation assay with 3T3 cells. As a result, proteasome subunit beta-type 2 (PSMB2), ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), and keratin 8 (KRT8) were identified from SHIN-3, and polymerase H RNA subunit (POLR2E), chaperonin containing T-complex polypeptide 1 subunit 4 (CCT4), glia maturation factor beta (GMFB), and neuroblastoma ras viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) from TYK-CPr. NRAS gene analysis revealed a CAA -> AAA substitution at codon 61, resulting in a Glu -> Lys change at position 61. When the mutant NRAS was introduced into fibroblasts for its expression, many transformed foci were generated, confirming the transforming ability of the mutant NRAS.

Improvement in the clinical outcome of lung cancer is likely to be achieved by identification of the molecular events that underlie its pathogenesis. Here we show that a small inversion within chromosome 2p results in the formation of a fusion gene comprising portions of the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) gene and the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts forced to express this human fusion tyrosine kinase generated transformed foci in culture and subcutaneous tumours in nude mice. The EML4-ALK fusion transcript was detected in 6.7% (5 out of 75) of NSCLC patients examined; these individuals were distinct from those harbouring mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene. Our data demonstrate that a subset of NSCLC patients may express a transforming fusion kinase that is a promising candidate for a therapeutic target as well as for a diagnostic molecular marker in NSCLC.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in humans. In order to identify novel cancer-promoting genes in CRC, we here constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library from a CRC cell line RKO, and used it for a focus formation assay with mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, leading to the identification of 42 independent cDNAs. One of such cDNAs turned out to encode purinergic receptor P2Y, G-protein coupled, 2 (P2RY2). The oncogenic potential of P2RY2 was confirmed in vitro with the focus formation assay as well as soft agar-growth assay, and also in vivo with a tumorigenicity assay in nude mice. While our P2RY2 cDNA encodes a protein with two amino-acid substitutions compared to the reported one, we have confirmed that the wild-type P2RY2 has a strong transforming potential as well. These results indicate an unexpected role of P2RY2 in the carcinogenesis of human cancers. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

To identify transforming genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) we here constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library from an AML patient, and then used this library to infect a mouse cell line 32Dcl3-mCAT. cDNA inserts of the cell clones which proliferated in the presence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were derived from JAK3 encoding a JAK3 mutant with a valine-to-alanine substitution at codon 674 and two additional amino acid substitutions. The transforming activity of JAK3(V674A) was confirmed by its introduction into 32Dcl3-mCAT. Sequencing of the original JAK3 cDNA derived from the patient, however, failed to detect the V674A mutation. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biphenotypic acute leukemia ( BAL) is a relatively rare subtype of acute leukemia characterized by the presence of both myeloid and lymphoid cell surface antigens. We have now screened for transforming genes in BAL blasts with the use of the focus formation assay with a retroviral cDNA expression library constructed from malignant blasts isolated from a BAL patient. Some of the retroviral inserts recovered from transformed foci were found to encode wild-type purinergic receptor P2Y, G protein coupled, 8 ( P2RY8). The oncogenic potential of P2RY8 was confirmed with the in vitro focus formation assay as well as with an in vivo tumorigenicity assay in nude mice. A variety of luciferase-based reporter assays revealed that P2RY8 increased both the trans-activation activities of CREB and Elk-1 as well as the transcriptional activities of the serum response element and enhancer-promoter fragments of the c-Fos and c-Myc genes. Quantitation of P2RY8 mRNA in CD34(+) cells of bone marrow showed that P2RY8 expression is frequently increased in leukemia patients, especially in those with refractory disease. Our data thus reveal an abundant expression of P2RY8 in leukemic cells and its unexpected role in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNA molecules of 21 to 24 nt that regulate the expression of target genes in a post-transcriptional manner. Although evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in embryogenesis, cell differentiation and pathogenesis of human diseases, extensive miRNA profiling in cells or tissues has been hampered by the lack of sensitive cloning methods. Here we describe a highly efficient profiling method, termed miRNA amplification profiling (mRAP), as well as its application both to mouse embryos at various developmental stages and to adult mouse organs. A total of 77 436 Small-RNA species was sequenced, with 11 776 of these sequences found to match previously described miRNAs. With the use of a newly developed computational prediction algorithm, we further identified 229 independent candidates for previously unknown miRNAs. The expression of some of these candidate miRNAs was confirmed by northern blot analysis and whole-mount in situ hybridization. Our data thus indicate that the total number of miRNAs in vertebrates is larger than previously appreciated and that the expression of these molecules is tightly controlled in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner.

Frequency and clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis in hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation were surveyed. Cyclosporine (CSA)- or tacrolimus (FK506)-based regimens were used as graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in allogeneic HSC transplantation. CSF pleocytosis with or without neurologic symptoms was detected in 12 of 25 patients receiving allogeneic HSC transplants but in none of 11 patients receiving autologous HSC transplants. Of the 12 patients with CSF pleocytosis, only one patient developed leukoencephalopathy later. There was a correlation between CSF cell numbers and trough levels of CSA but not with those of FK506. In patients receiving allogeneic HSC transplants, CSF pleocytosis may be relatively common and may reflect neurologic damage associated with calcineurin inhibitors.

Sox9 is a member of the Sry-type HMG-box (Sox) gene family. It encodes a transcription factor and is thought to be important for sexual differentiation in chicken. In the present study we have isolated Sox9 cDNAs from quail and duck, and examined the expression patterns of the corresponding genes in early embryonic gonads by whole-mount in situ hybridization. We developed a polymerase chain reaction-based protocol to identify the sex of quail and duck embryos before its morphological manifestation. Sox9 expression was first detected on days 5 and 7 in the gonads of male quail and duck embryos, respectively, and was not apparent in female gonads at these stages. These expression patterns are similar to that of chicken Sox9. Our results thus suggest that the expression of quail and duck Sox9 is associated with testis differentiation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC) remains one of the most intractable human malignancies. To obtain insight into the molecular pathogenesis of PDC we constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library with total RNA isolated from the PDC cell line MiaPaCa-2. Screening of this library with the use of a focus formation assay with NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts resulted in the identification of 13 independent genes with transforming activity. One of the cDNAs thus identified encodes an NH2-terminally truncated form of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTBR). The transforming activity of this short-type LTBR in 3T3 cells was confirmed by both an in vitro assay of cell growth in soft agar and an in vivo assay of turnorigenicity in nude mice. The full-length (wild-type) LTBR protein was also found to manifest similar transforming activity. These observations suggest that LTBR, which belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily of proteins, may contribute to human carcinogenesis. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDC) remains one of the most intractable malignancies in humans. In order to clarify the molecular events underlying the carcinogenesis in PDC, we constructed a retroviral cDNA expression library from a PDC cell line, and used it to screen transforming genes in PDC by a focus formation assay with mouse 3T3 fibroblasts. We could obtain a total of 30 transformed cell foci in the screening, and one of the cDNA inserts harvested from such cell clones turned out to encode a wild-type human ARAF1. Unexpectedly, a long terminal repeat-driven overexpression of ARAF1 mRNA was confirmed to induce transformed foci in fibroblasts. The oncogenic potential of ARAF1 was examined by injecting the transformed fibroblasts into athymic nude mice. Importantly, ARAF1 mRNA was highly expressed in pancreatic ductal cell specimens purified from patients with PDC. These results have unveiled the transforming potential of ARAF1 protein, and also suggest that quantity of intracellular ARAF1 may be important in carcinogenesis of various human cancers. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.