Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are top priorities for cancer control in Korea. In terms of epidemiological, population-health and economic burden, GI cancers such as stomach, liver and colorectal cancers have been top four cancers in the nation during the past decade and this trend is likely to continue in the near future. In order to reduce the great burden of GI cancer in Korea, the nation might need the following strategies: (1) to put more focus on primary prevention on infection/diet and related research; (2) to improve screening rates for colorectal and stomach cancers, and conduct more cost-effectiveness analysis of these screening programs, e.g., Fecal Occult Blood Test vs. colonoscopy; (3) to establish a more consistent and integrative cost-effectiveness analysis system for new cancer treatments and anticancer drugs; and (4) to place more emphasis on hospice and other palliative care of GI cancer, as well as on the etiology, staging and treatment of pancreas cancer with its poor survival rate.

With advances in technology, advances in the understanding of biology of cancer, and the advent of improved and novel therapies, the role of the gastroenterologist has been modified greatly over the past 2 decades, and continues to be shaped by the knowledge, skill, and opportunity to capitalize on the unique position that gastroenterologists hold in the patient care continuum. The gastroenterologist is evolving from a "pure" diagnostician to an endoscopic surgeon, a geneticist, a nutritionist, an immunologist and chemotherapist, and palliative care physician.

Cancer is the first leading cause of death in Korea and the second leading cause of death in the USA. There is extensive research into prevention of cancer and the support of oncology patients with diet or dietary supplements. In vitro and in vivo animal studies have indicated that antioxidants, including beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid, can yield anti-cancer effects in addition to providing protection against oxidative damage. Although many observational studies have shown that consuming fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of some cancers, the results of several large-scale human intervention trials testing the benefits of a single or combined higher-dose of individual micronutrients have been inconsistent. Cancer can cause profound metabolic and physiological changes which may affect patients' nutrient requirements. Although the optimal route of nutrient delivery is through diet, cancer patients often suffer symptoms that disrupt their food intake, including anorexia, premature satiety, altered taste and smell, and changes in bowel mobility. In particular, micronutrient deficits can slow postoperative healing, contribute to depression symptoms, and decrease immune competence. Cancer patients are generally motivated to take dietary supplements to improve responses to treatment and quality of life. The Physician's Health Study II (PHS II) randomized controlled trial reported recently that daily multivitamin supplementation significantly, albeit modestly, reduced the risk of total cancer. Although evidence of multivitamin use benefits is limited in cancer patients, taking dietary supplements with constituents in the range of the recommended daily allowance according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendation is generally considered to be safe.

The dramatic increase in colorectal cancer incidence in the population of East Asia indicates that diet and lifestyle play a role in colorectal cancer risk. Colorectal cancer prevention and etiologic studies have long provided dietary modification strategies for colorectal cancer prevention. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiologic evidence on the association between diet and colorectal cancer risk. Several cohort studies and a few intervention studies, most conducted in Western countries, have shown a possible link between red and processed meat, alcoholic beverages, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B and the Western dietary pattern with colorectal cancer development. For colorectal cancer prevention in both Western and Asian populations, dietary modification is a key component of colorectal cancer prevention.

MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulations are associated with various types of human cancers, and miRNAs can function as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Emerging evidence has shown that miRNA pathway is also altered during colorectal tumorigenesis. The detection of cancer-related miRNAs in stool samples may become useful diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer, because miRNAs in stool samples has high stability, and maintains a high portion of its original level. Recent studies reported that stool-based miRNAs can offer more sensitivity and specificity than currently used stool-based screening methods for CRC. In addition, unlike fecal occult blood test, sampling on consecutive dates and special dietary restrictions are not required. In this review, the authors discuss stool-based miRNA for the early diagnosis of CRC and perspectives on future application.

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the gastric cardia. We performed proximal subtotal gastrectomy and started imatinib therapy as adjuvant treatment after surgery. Whole body skin rash with urticaria was onset on 10 days after imatinib treatment, and the patient decided to stop imatinib because of side effect. After 3 months, PET CT revealed GIST was recurred at spleen and abdominal lymph nodes, abdominal wall. The patient was then restarted on imatinib therapy. On follow-up imaging studies, the tumor almost disappeared, but both pleural effusion and pericardial effusion were found. In this paper, we describe a case of clinical course and side effects in recurred GIST after adjuvant imatinib mesylate treatment.

담낭암은 진행된 상태에서 발견되었을 경우 예후가 매우 불량한 암으로 전신항암화학요법으로 치료를 하게 되나 일반적으로 고식적인 역할에 그치는 경우가 대부분이다. 본 증례는 원위부 림프절 전이가 있어서 수술적 절제가 불가능한 담낭암 환자에서 gemcitabine과 cisplatin을 병합한 전신항암화학요법으로 여섯 주기 치료 후 부분 관해를 얻어서 확대 담낭절제술이 가능하였던 증례로 매우 드문 증례를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다. 담낭암에서 수술 전 항암화학요법의 효과는 아직까지 확립되어 있지 않으나, 최근 양호한 종양 반응률과 종양 억제율을 보이는 항암화학요법이 개발됨에 따라서 그 가능성이 기대되고 있다.

전체 정맥혈색전증 환자의 20% 이상이 암과 관련이 있고, 암 환자에 있어 혈색전증은 두 번째 사망 원인으로 작용하고 있어 이에 대한 효과적인 예방과 치료가 사망률을 감소시킬 수 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 혈색전증 진단에 있어 혈액검사로 D-dimer 측정 및 영상검사로 도플러 초음파, 전산화단층혈관 촬영술을 사용한다. 치료 약제로 경구 비타민 K 길항제가 사용되었으나, 최근에는 정기적인 모니터링이 필요하지 않은 약제들이 새롭게 사용되고 있다. 저자들은 진행성 위암환자에서 발생한 하지 심부정맥 혈전증 및 폐동맥 혈색전증에 있어 저분자량 헤파린을 투여하며, 호전된 사례를 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.