Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the world. It is important to develop biomarkers for detecting new cancers at an early stage and for treating them early during recurrence in order to guide optimal treatment. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is highly expressed in numerous human cancers and thus could potentially serve as such a biomarker, but the potential utility of measuring FAS for detecting gastric cancer has not been previously investigated. The aim of the present study was to provide a preliminary assessment of serum FAS as a marker of gastric carcinoma. The study included 47 patients with gastric cancer and 150 healthy subjects. Blood samples were collected from each cancer patient prior to treatment. Serum FAS levels were measured by ELISA and compared across the two groups of patients. Significantly higher levels of serum FAS were found in the gastric cancer patients [95% confidence interval (CI), 30.37‑52.46] compared with the healthy controls (95% CI, 1.331‑2.131), with elevated levels even in patients with early‑stage tumors. These results indicate that measuring serum FAS levels has strong potential to provide a biomarker for the detection of gastric cancer, with high sensitivity and specificity.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) who undergo abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal disease are at increased risk of postoperative complications. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the predictors of postoperative complications among such patients. The study group comprised 36 HD patients who underwent abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal disease between 2003 and 2012. The clinicopathological factors of the patients who did and did not suffer postoperative complications were compared. The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 39% (14/36) and 14% (5/36), respectively. Physical status according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (p = 0.0203) and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0013) were found to differ significantly between the groups. The morbidity and mortality rates of HD patients who underwent abdominal surgery for gastrointestinal disease were high. Physical status according to the ASA classification and intraoperative blood loss were found to be associated with postoperative complications. Therefore, patients with comorbidities, such as heart disease and diabetes mellitus, have to be treated appropriately before surgery. In addition, it is important that surgeons perform operations carefully and avoid excessive blood loss.

Background. Despite complete resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), recurrent and/or metastatic disease occurs, often depending on the grade of malignancy. As such, markers are needed that accurately predict patients at high risk for recurrence. Previously our group reported Pfetin as a prognostic biomarker for GIST. In order to create an approach for predicting risk of recurrence, we incorporated Pfetin expression with clinicopathological data to produce a predictive model.Object. Forty-five patients with localized primary GIST were treated with complete gross surgical resection surgically at our institution between 1995 and 2010 were included. The majority of tumors originated in the stomach (38 cases), as well as small intestine (6 cases) and rectum (1 case).Method. (1) We performed retrospective analysis of the connection between Pfetin expression, clinicopathological data, and incidences of recurrence, using bivariate and multivariate analyses. (2) The reactivity of the monoclonal antibody against Pfetin was examined by immunohistochemistry.Pfetin. We have reported Pfetin, identified microarray technology, and compared between statistically different GISTs for good and poor prognoses and for prognostic marker.Results. There were 7 cases of recurrences. (1) By univariate analysis, tumor size, mitoses, exposure to abdominal cavity, and complete tumor removal predicted risk of recurrence. (2) Pfetin-negative cases were significantly related to recurrence (P= 0.002).Conclusions. This analysis demonstrates that lack of Pfetin expression is an additional predictor of recurrence in resected GIST. Further study may determine the role of this variable added to the current predictive model for selection of adjuvant therapy.

Predicting malignancy is important for adequate adjuvant therapy in patients with cancer. Due to cancer being a genetic disease, the detection of gene mutations could be helpful in predicting the prognosis and efficacy of drugs. Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and is the third leading cause of cancer associated mortality worldwide. Mutations in genes may correlate with clinical information in patients with gastric cancer after surgery and, therefore, may be useful for predicting the prognosis of this disease. In the present study, to assess the usefulness of a commercial sequencing panel, TruSeq® Amplicon‑Cancer Panel (Illumina), using a next‑generation sequencer (Illumina MiSeq), mutation analysis of fresh as well as formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded (FFPE) gastric cancer tissues was performed retrospectively. The study group comprised of 4 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Cancer and normal stomach tissues were collected immediately following surgical removal. Thereafter, the specimens were fixed in 10% neutral formalin for 24‑72 h. Normal and FFPE cancer tissues were histologically examined and confirmed. A total of 3 mutations were identified in the driver genes (KRAS, TP53 and APC) in cancer tissues from 2 of the 4 patients, using fresh samples. In addition, FFPE samples were analysed for the same tissues and the same results were obtained by setting the threshold for the percentage of the mutation rate to avoid detection of pseudo‑positive mutations. In conclusion, the sequencing analysis using FFPE‑derived DNA samples was successfully performed.

Introduction: Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are rare. Therefore, difficulties are experienced when selecting the appropriate surgical procedure in patients with duodenal GISTs. This report presents the cases of three patients with duodenal GISTs who underwent wedge resection. This report would help surgeons identify clinical features and surgical procedures in patients with duodenal GISTs. Presentation of case: Three patients were diagnosed with duodenal submucosal tumours. The first patient presented with melena, the second with postoperative anaemia, and the third with an incidental finding of a large abdominal tumour after presenting with ischaemic colitis. All tumours arose in the 2nd portion of the duodenum and measured 3.5, 3, and 9.2 cm, respectively. Wedge resection of the duodenum was performed in all patients. In patients one and two, simple closure of duodenal wall was performed after wedge resection. In patient three, side-to-side anastomosis with the jejunum was performed because a large area of the wall was removed using the wedge resection technique. Pancreatoduodenectomy was avoided in all patients. Recurrence was not noted in any patient. Discussion: Since GISTs are not generally associated with lymph node metastasis, local resection with negative margins is sufficient to surgically manage patients with GISTs. Conclusion: Our results indicated the effectiveness of performing wedge resection for duodenal GISTs not in close proximity to the ampulla of Vater. Moreover, less invasive procedures should be adopted in patients with duodenal GISTs. Highlights: