Faculty Profiles - NASU Yasutomo

Synergistic anti-pancreatic cancer immunological effects by treatment with reduced expression in immortalized cells/dickkopf-3 protein and peripheral blood mononuclear cells Reviewed

Daisuke Uchida, Hidenori Shiraha, Hironari Kato, Hiroaki Sawahara, Teruya Nagahara, Masaya Iwamuro, Junro Kataoka, Shigeru Horiguchi, Masami Watanabe, Akinobu Takaki, Kazuhiro Nouso, Yasutomo Nasu, Hiromi Kumon, Kazuhide Yamamoto

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY 31 ( 6 ) 1154 - 1159 2016.6

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL

Background and AimReduced expression in immortalized cells/dickkopf-3 (REIC/DKK3) is a reported tumor suppressor gene and has potential to become an innovative therapy for various cancers. We examined the antitumor immunological effects of human REIC/DKK3 protein against pancreatic cancer.
MethodsActivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, mammalian target of rapamycin, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 by REIC/DKK3 protein was assessed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells using immunoblotting. Pancreatic cancer cell lines (AsPC-1 and MIA Paca-2) were cocultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and the anticancer effects of REIC/DKK3 protein were assessed using the methyl thiazole tetrazolium, cytotoxicity, and enzyme-linked immunospot assays. The antitumor immunological effects of the combined treatment with REIC/DKK3 protein and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also assessed in a pancreatic cancer model using non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice.
ResultsThe REIC/DKK3 protein activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, mammalian target of rapamycin, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. REIC/DKK3 protein inhibited in vitro cancer cell viability and enhanced cytotoxicity when incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. REIC/DKK3 protein induced significant production of interferon gamma from lymphocytes incubated with pancreatic cancer cells, indicating that CD8+ T cells were activated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells when cocultured with AsPC-1 and MIA Paca-2 in the presence of REIC/DKK3 protein. Combined treatment with REIC/DKK3 protein and peripheral blood mononuclear cells produced in vivo anticancer immunostimulatory effects on pancreatic cancer cells.
ConclusionsThe REIC/DKK3 protein and peripheral blood mononuclear cells synergistically enhanced anticancer immunological effects against pancreatic cancer cells. The observed immunomodulatory effect of combined treatment likely occurs in adenovirus-mediated REIC/DKK3 gene therapy and provides important clues to the therapeutic mechanisms involving immune cells.

DOI： 10.1111/jgh.13259

The induction of antigen-specific CTL by in situ Ad-REIC gene therapy Reviewed

Y. Ariyoshi, M. Watanabe, S. Eikawa, C. Yamazaki, T. Sadahira, T. Hirata, M. Araki, S. Ebara, Y. Nasu, H. Udono, H. Kumon

GENE THERAPY 23 ( 5 ) 408 - 414 2016.5

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

An adenovirus vector carrying the human Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cell (REIC)/Dkk-3 gene (Ad-REIC) mediates simultaneous induction of cancer-selective apoptosis and augmentation of anticancer immunity. In our preclinical and clinical studies, in situ Ad-REIC gene therapy showed remarkable direct and indirect antitumor effects to realize therapeutic cancer vaccines. We herein aimed to confirm the induction of tumor-associated antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by Ad-REIC. Using an ovalbumin (OVA), a tumor-associated antigen, expressing E.G7 tumor-bearing mouse model, we investigated the induction and expansion of OVA-specific CTLs responsible for indirect, systemic effects of Ad-REIC. The intratumoral administration of Ad-REIC mediated clear antitumor effects with the accumulation of OVA-specific CTLs in the tumor tissues and spleen. The CD86-positive dendritic cells (DCs) were upregulated in the tumor draining lymph nodes of Ad-REIC-treated mice. In a dual tumor-bearing mouse model in the left and right back, Ad-REIC injection in one side significantly suppressed the tumor growth on both sides and significant infiltration of OVA-specific CTLs into non-injected tumor was also detected. Consequently, in situ Ad-REIC gene therapy is expected to realize a new-generation cancer vaccine via anticancer immune activation with DC and tumor antigen-specific CTL expansion.

DOI： 10.1038/gt.2016.7

[Gene therapy]. Reviewed

Watanabe M, Sadahira T, Nasu Y

Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine 74 Suppl 3 221 - 225 2016.5

Promising Therapeutic Efficacy of a Novel REIC/Dkk-3 Expressing Adenoviral Vector for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reviewed

Sawahara Hiroaki, Hidenori Shiraha, Daisuke Uchida, Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Masami Watanabe, Yasutomo Nasu, Hiromi Kumon, Hiroyuki Okada

GASTROENTEROLOGY 150 ( 4 ) S1153 - S1153 2016.4

Factors Predicting Adhesion between Renal Capsule and Perinephric Adipose Tissue in Partial Nephrectomy Reviewed

Yasuyuki Kobayashi, Hiroaki Kurahashi, Yuko Matsumoto, Koichiro Wada, Katsumi Sasaki, Motoo Araki, Shin Ebara, Toyohiko Watanabe, Yasutomo Nasu

ACTA MEDICA OKAYAMA 70 ( 2 ) 69 - 74 2016.4

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：OKAYAMA UNIV MED SCHOOL

In minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN), it is important to preoperatively predict the degree of difficulty of tumor resection. When severe adhesions occur between the renal capsule and perinephric adipose tissue, detachment can be difficult. Preoperative prediction of adhesion is thought to be useful in the selection of surgical procedure. Subjects were 63 patients of a single surgeon who had received MIPN between April 2008 and August 2013 at Okayama University Hospital. Of these patients, this study followed 47 in whom the presence or absence of adhesions between the renal capsule and perinephric adipose tissue was confirmed using intraoperative videos. Data collected included: sex, BMI, CT finding (presence of fibroids in perinephric adipose tissue), comorbidities and lifestyle. Adhesion was observed in 7 patients (14.9). The mean operative time was 291.6min in the adhesion group, and 226.3min in the group without. The increased time in the adhesions group was significant (p<0.05). Predictive factors were a positive CT finding for fibroid structure and comorbidity of hypertension (p<0.05). In MIPN, difficulty of surgery can be affected by the presence of adhesion of the perinephric adipose tissue. Predicting such adhesion from preoperative CT is thus important.

DOI： 10.18926/AMO/54185

Development of a Novel REIC/DKK-3-Encoding Adenoviral Agent: Its Robust and Promising Therapeutic Effects in Pancreatic Cancer Reviewed

Daisuke Uchida, Hidenori Shiraha, Hironari Kato, Sawahara Hiroaki, Masakiyo Sakaguchi, Masami Watanabe, Yasutomo Nasu, Hiromi Kumon, Hiroyuki Okada

GASTROENTEROLOGY 150 ( 4 ) S294 - S294 2016.4

Comparison of implant quality between intraoperatively built custom-linked seeds and loose seeds in permanent prostate brachytherapy using sector analysis

Katayama N, Takemoto M, Takamoto A, Ihara H, Katsui K, Ebara S, Nasu Y, Kanazawa S

J Radiat Res 57 ( 4 ) 393 - 399 2016.3

The gender specific risk factors for prolonged hospitalization due to acute pyelonephritis in a Japanese tertiary emergency center Reviewed

Risa Muneishi, Ryuta Tanimoto, Koichiro Wada, Philip Hsiao, Jun Eguchi, Motoo Araki, Toyohiko Watanabe, Yasutomo Nasu, Naoki Akebi

JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY 22 ( 1-2 ) 108 - 111 2016.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Objectives: The aim of this study is to characterize the potential differences between male and female patients with acute pyelonephritis (AP) and to predict the severity of AP based on the length of hospital stay.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical chart review of 172 consecutive adult patients who were hospitalized in Tsuyama Central Hospital due to AP from January 2007 through June 2012. We analyzed the length of hospital stay by the proportional hazard model.
Results: A total of 172 patients were identified who were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of AP. Of them, 62% (106/172) were female. Except for urological malignancy, there was no significant difference between men and women in underlying disease. Out of 26 variables, univariate analysis in male showed that only urolithiasis (OR 1.75, p = 0.0294) was significantly associated with longer hospital stay, while septic shock (OR 3.18, P = 0.003), urological malignancy (OR 2.94, P = 0.002), age over 65 (OR 1.66, p = 0.018) and neurogenic bladder (OR 1.92, p = 0.014) were all associated with longer hospital stay in female patients.
Conclusions: This is the first report to identify the risk factors for prolonged hospital stay for the patients who were admitted with AP in the Japanese population. The risk factors causing prolonged hospital stay were totally different between males and females. Reviewing the medical history based on sex gender might enable a clinician to predict the severity of acute pyelonephritis during the initial evaluation. (C) 2015, Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jiac.2015.11.007

An Open-Label, Randomized Phase II Trial of Personalized Peptide Vaccination in Patients with Bladder Cancer that Progressed after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Reviewed

Masanori Noguchi, Kazumasa Matsumoto, Hirotsugu Uemura, Gaku Arai, Masatoshi Eto, Seiji Naito, Chikara Ohyama, Yasutomo Nasu, Masatoshi Tanaka, Fukuko Moriya, Shigetaka Suekane, Satoko Matsueda, Nobukazu Komatsu, Tetsuro Sasada, Akira Yamada, Tatsuyuki Kakuma, Kyogo Itoh

CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH 22 ( 1 ) 54 - 60 2016.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH

Purpose: The prognosis of platinum-based chemotherapy-resistant metastatic urothelial cancer of the bladder remains poor. Personalized selection of the right peptides for each patient could be a novel approach for a cancer vaccine to boost anticancer immunity.
Experimental Design: In this randomized, open-label, phase II study, patients ages >= 18 years with progressive bladder cancer after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned (1: 1) to receive personalized peptide vaccination (PPV) plus best supportive care (BSC) or BSC. PPV treatment used a maximum of four peptides chosen from 31 candidate peptides according to human leukocyte antigen types and peptide-reactive IgG titers, for 12 s.c. injections (8 injections, weekly; 4 injections, bi-weekly). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end-points were overall survival (OS), immune response, and toxicity.
Results: Eighty patients were randomly assigned to receive either PPV plus BSC (n = 39) or BSC (n = 41). No significant improvement in PFS was noted [HR, 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4-1.2, P = 0.17]. For the secondary endpoints, PPV plus BSC significantly prolonged OS compared with BSC (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34-0.99, P = 0.049), with median OS of 7.9 months (95% CI, 3.5-12.0) in the PPV plus BSC and 4.1 months (95% CI, 2.8-6.9) in the BSC. PPV treatment was well tolerated, without serious adverse drug reactions.
Conclusions: PPV could not prolong PFS, but OS appeared to be improved with low toxicity and immune responses. Further large-scale, randomized trials are needed to confirm these results. (C) 2015 AACR.

DOI： 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-1265

Tumor suppressor REIC/DKK-3 and co-chaperone SGTA: Their interaction and roles in the androgen sensitivity Reviewed

Kazuhiko Ochiai, Masami Morimatsu, Yuiko Kato, Toshina Ishiguro-Oonuma, Chihiro Udagawa, Oumaporn Rungsuriyawiboon, Daigo Azakami, Masaki Michishita, Yuichi Ariyoshi, Hideo Ueki, Yasutomo Nasu, Hiromi Kumon, Masami Watanabe, Toshinori Omi

ONCOTARGET 7 ( 3 ) 3273 - 3286 2016.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：IMPACT JOURNALS LLC

REIC/DKK-3 is a tumor suppressor, however, its intracellular physiological functions and interacting molecules have not been fully clarified. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein a (SGTA), known as a negative modulator of cytoplasmic androgen receptor (AR) signaling, is a novel interacting partner of REIC/DKK-3. Mammalian two-hybrid and pull-down assay results indicated that the SGTA-REIC/DKK-3 interaction involved the N-terminal regions of both REIC/DKK-3 and SGTA and that REIC/DKK-3 interfered with the dimerization of SGTA, which is a component of the AR complex and a suppressor of dynein motor-dependent AR transport and signaling. A reporter assay in human prostate cancer cells that displayed suppressed AR signaling by SGTA showed recovery of AR signaling by REIC/DKK-3 expression. Considering these results and our previous data that REIC/DKK-3 interacts with the dynein light chain TCTEX-1, we propose that the REIC/DKK-3 protein interferes with SGTA dimerization, promotes dynein-dependent AR transport and then upregulates AR signaling.

Percutaneous CT-guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma in von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Midterm Results

Multi-institutional retrospective analysis of learning curves on dosimetry and operation time before and after introduction of intraoperatively built custom-linked seeds in prostate brachytherapy. Reviewed International journal

Hiromichi Ishiyama, Takefumi Satoh, Atsunori Yorozu, Shiro Saito, Masaaki Kataoka, Katsuyoshi Hashine, Ryuji Nakamura, Susumu Tanji, Koji Masui, Koji Okihara, Toshio Ohashi, Tetsuo Momma, Manabu Aoki, Kenta Miki, Masako Kato, Masashi Morita, Norihisa Katayama, Yasutomo Nasu, Takashi Kawanaka, Tomoharu Fukumori, Fumitaka Ito, Ryoichi Shiroki, Yuji Baba, Akito Inadome, Yasuo Yoshioka, Hitoshi Takayama, Kazushige Hayakawa

Journal of radiation research 57 ( 1 ) 68 - 74 2016.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：OXFORD UNIV PRESS

This multi-institutional retrospective analysis examined learning curves for dosimetric parameters and operation time after introduction of intraoperatively built custom-linked (IBCL) seeds. Data from consecutive patients treated with seed implantation before and after introduction of IBCL seeds (loose seed, n = 428; IBCL seed, n = 426) were collected from 13 centers. Dose-volume histogram parameters, operation times, and seed migration rates were compared before and after introduction of IBCL seeds. At the 1-month CT analysis, no significant differences were seen in dose to 90% of prostate volume between before and after IBCL seed introduction. No learning curve for dosimetry was seen. Prostate and rectal volume receiving at least 150% of prescription dose (V150 and RV150) were higher in the loose-seed group than in the IBCL-seed group. Operation time was extended by up to 10 min when IBCL seeds were used, although there was a short learning curve of about five patients. The percentage of patients with seed migration in the IBCL-seed group was one-tenth that in the loose-seed group. Our study revealed no dosimetric demerits, no learning curve for dosimetry, and a slightly extended operation time for IBCL seeds. A significant reduction in the rate of seed migration was identified in the IBCL-seed group.

DOI： 10.1093/jrr/rrv065

Hideo Gobara, Takao Hiraki, Toshihiro Iguchi, Hiroyasu Fujiwara, Yasutomo Nasu, Susumu Kanazawa

Interventional Radiology 1 ( 1 ) 1 - 6 2016

Feasibility of Neoadjuvant Ad-REIC Gene Therapy in Patients with High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy Reviewed

Hiromi Kumon, Katsumi Sasaki, Yuichi Ariyoshi, Takuya Sadahira, Motoo Araki, Shin Ebara, Hiroyuki Yanai, Masami Watanabe, Yasutomo Nasu

CTS-CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 8 ( 6 ) 837 - 840 2015.12

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL

In a phase I/IIa study of in situ gene therapy using an adenovirus vector carrying the human REIC/Dkk-3 gene (Ad-REIC), we assessed the inhibitory effects of cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP), in patients with high risk localized prostate cancer (PCa). After completing the therapeutic interventions with initially planned three escalating doses of 1.0 x 10(10), 1.0 x 10(11), and 1.0 x 10(12) viral particles (VP) in 1.0-1.2 mL (n = 3, 3, and 6), an additional higher dose of 3.0 x 10(12) VP in 3.6 mL (n = 6) was further studied. Patients with recurrence probability of 35% or more within 5 years after RP as calculated by Kattan's nomogram, were enrolled. They received two ultrasound-guided intratumoral injections at 2-week intervals, followed by RP 6 weeks after the second injection. Based on the findings of MRI and biopsy mapping, as a rule, one track injection to the most prominent cancer area was given to initial 12 patients and 3 track injections to multiple cancer areas in additional 6 patients. As compared to the former group, biochemical recurrence-free survival of the latter showed a significantly favorable outcome. Neoadjuvant Ad-REIC, mediating simultaneous induction of cancer selective apoptosis and augmentation of antitumor immunity, is a feasible approach in preventing cancer recurrence after RP. (199)

DOI： 10.1111/cts.12362