title: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma responds to MK615, a compound extract from the Japanese apricot "Prunus mume".
abstract: MK615, a compound extracted from the Japanese apricot "Prunus mume" has been reported to have in vitro anti-tumor activities against several cancer cell lines, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the clinical effects and feasibility of administering MK615 for patients with HCC were unknown. We experienced a case with advanced HCC for which MK615 was effective against both lymph node and pulmonary metastases. A 60-year-old female underwent surgical resection of a 9 cm HCC in the right lobe. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated HCC with vascular invasion. The HCC recurred in the liver 8 mo after the surgery. Radiofrequency ablation and transarterial infusion chemotherapy were performed, but the recurrence was not controlled. One year after the intrahepatic recurrence, pulmonary and lymph metastasis appeared. Sorafenib was administered, but was not effective. Then, MK615 was administered as a final alternative therapy after informed consent was obtained from the patient. Three months later, her alpha-fetoprotein level decrease and both the lymph node and pulmonary metastases decreased in size. The patient has survived for more than 17 mo after the MK615 administration, and was in good condition. Although further investigations are necessary to clarify its safety and efficacy in humans, MK615 may be useful for the treatment of HCC, without serious adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Takashi Hoshino, Hitoshi Takagi, Atsushi Naganuma, Eri Koitabashi, Sanae Uehara, Naomi Sakamoto, Tomohiro Kudo, Department of Gastroenterology, Takasaki General Center Hospital, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0829, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naganuma
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koitabashi
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Japanese apricot; MK615; Prunus mume