start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=3 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=396 end-page=404 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2019 dt-pub=20190705 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Multidisciplinary oncolytic virotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Replication-selective tumor-specific viruses represent a novel approach for treating neoplastic diseases. These vectors are designed to induce virus-mediated lysis of tumor cells after selective intracellular virus propagation. For targeting cancer cells, the use of tissue- or cell-specific promoters that are expressed in diverse tumor types but silent in normal cells is required. Human telomerase is highly active in more than 85% of primary cancers, regardless of tissue origin, and its activity is closely correlated with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression. We constructed an attenuated adenovirus 5 vector (telomelysin, OBP-301) in which the hTERT promoter element drives expression of E1 genes. As only tumor cells that express the telomerase can activate this promoter, the hTERT proximal promoter allows for preferential expression of viral genes in tumor cells, leading to selective viral replication and oncolytic cell death. Upon US Food and Drug Administration approval, a phase 1 dose-escalation study of intratumoral injection of telomelysin for various solid tumors has been completed to confirm the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of the agent. Moreover, we found that adenoviral E1B 55-kDa protein in telomelysin inhibits the radiation-induced DNA repair machinery. Thus, tumor cells infected with telomelysin could be rendered sensitive to ionizing radiation. Recently, we assessed the safety and efficacy of intratumoral injection of telomelysin with radiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients not suited for standard treatments. This review highlights some very promising clinical advances in cancer therapeutic technologies using telomerase-specific oncolytic virotherapy. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=FujiwaraToshiyoshi en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Toshiyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= en-keyword=adenovirus kn-keyword=adenovirus en-keyword=clinical trial kn-keyword=clinical trial en-keyword=esophageal cancer kn-keyword=esophageal cancer en-keyword=radiotherapy kn-keyword=radiotherapy en-keyword=telomerase kn-keyword=telomerase END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=32 cd-vols= no-issue=4 article-no= start-page=925 end-page=931 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2017 dt-pub=201704 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dynamic computed tomography is useful for prediction of pathological grade in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pathological grading is important in defining the therapeutic strategy in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PNEN) but is difficult for unresectable cases. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is useful in the diagnosis of PNEN, but its usefulness for pathological grading is not well established. No studies have examined the diagnostic ability of dynamic computed tomography (CT) for pathological grading of PNEN. We investigated the usefulness of EUS-FNA and dynamic CT in the diagnosis and pathological grading of PNEN. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 39 PNEN patients finally diagnosed via EUS-FNA and/or surgical resection underwent dynamic CT. Pathological samples were diagnosed based on WHO2010; staging was based on the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society classification. The proportion of the quantification value in the tumor to the pancreatic parenchyma in arterial phase was defined as the CT ratio. Immunohistochemical staining with CD31 was performed to evaluate microvessel density (MVD). We evaluated the relationship between pathological grade, CT ratio, and MVD. RESULTS: By using EUS-FNA, 35 of 39 (90%) cases were diagnosed as PNEN. As for pathological grade, 15 of 35 (43%) cases could be identified correctly. CT ratio could predict pathological Grade 3 disease. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 100%, 94%, and 95%. MVD was significantly correlated with CT ratio (r?=?0.83, P?