About 80% of all pancreatic cancer patients suffer from a wasting syndrome defined as the cancer cachexia characterized by abnormally low weight, weakness, and loss of skeletal muscle mass, which directly impacts physical activity, quality of life and overall survival. Over the past decades, we have gained new insights into the underlying mechanism of cachexia associated with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to explore recent findings about cancer cachexia pathophysiology and describe the current pharmacologic approach. Pancreatic cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome mediated by mechanical factors, inflammatory cytokines, neuropeptides, hormones and tumor-derived factors. The treatment of cancer cachexia remains controversial but is currently an active area of research. Several new targeted drugs are under investigation, and we hope to open a new prospect in the management of cancer cachexia in the future.

Along with the recent trend of improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become a significant outcome measure and its improvement is an important goal. The most widely adopted CRC specific HRQoL questionnaires are the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Qualityof-Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-C). CRC survivors without serious comorbidity or recurrence experience only minor deficits of overall HRQoL when compared to the general population. However, disease recurrence, progression, and more specific limitations, including weight loss, reduction in energy, and psychosocial problems like psychological distress and depression, could result in lower HRQoL. To improve HRQoL, further research is required to develop appropriate health education regarding lifestyle changes and personalized intervention strategies for CRC survivors.

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, oral mucositis and colitis, and hepatotoxicity are common occurrence during chemotherapy. Often they result in unplanned admission and interruption of scheduled therapy. Additionally they have a negative influence on patient's therapeutic outcome and quality of life. The assessment of gastrointestinal side effects is dependent on clinician assignment of a grade established by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Continued interest of gastrointestinal side effects has allowed identifying patients at higher risk and providing effective treatments to relieve painful symptom. Finally, proper prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal side effects will be needed to improve patient's survival and quality of life.

위에 발생하는 암 중 위 림프종이 1-6% 가량을 차지하고 있고, 이 중 50% 가량이 MALT 림프종이다. MALT 림프종의 60-70% 가량은 조기, 국소병기에서 진단된다. 위 MALT 림프종은 일반적으로 그 진행이 매우 느리며 상복부 통증, 소화불량, 오심, 구토 등의 비특이적인 증상을 보인다. 진단은 조직학적으로 진단하며, 헬리코박터필로리 연관 만성 위염에서 보이는 염증성 병변과의 감별을 위해 Wotherspoon score를 이용한다. 여러 연구를 통해 위 MALT 림프종이 헬리코박터필로리 감염과 관련이 있다는 것이 밝혀져 있고, 3세염색체증, 18세염색체증, t(11;18), t(1;14), t(14;18), t(3;14) 등 여러 유전적 이상을 가질 수 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 적절한 치료 방침을 결정하기 위해 병기를 결정하는 것은 매우 중요하며, Lugano International Conference classification을 주로 사용한다. 위 MALT 림프종의 1차 치료는 헬리코박터필로리 감염 유무 및 병기와 관계없이 헬리코박터필로리 제균치료이다. Stage I/II1 환자의 경우 제균치료로 60-90%의 완전 완화율을 보인다. 제균치료에 반응이 없는 경우에는 방사선치료, 항암화학요법, 면역치료 등을 시행해 볼 수 있고, 75-100%의 완전완화율을 보인다. 향후 헬리코박터필로리의 감염율이 감소하면서 위 MALT 림프종의 발생도 감소할 것으로 기대된다. 또한 향후 치료방침 확립을 위해 지속적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각한다.

The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer remains a controversial issue. Adjuvant chemotherapy aims to eliminate any micrometastatic disease that may have been missed, at the time of surgery. Although one prospective study showed a small but statistically significant benefit with respect to the overall survival for those who received adjuvant chemotherapy, multiple pooled data did not demonstrate any benefit of this therapy in patients with stage II colon cancer. Current national and international guidelines for the adjuvant treatment of stage II colon dose not advise routine implementation of adjuvant chemotherapy, but rather recommend selective use of this therapy for patients with high risk of recurrence. High risk features for recurrence include T4 disease, poorly differentiated histology, presence of lymphovascular invasion, presence of perineural invasion, inadequate retrieval of lymph nodes, bowel obstruction, localized perforation, or positive margins. More recently, prediction tools using gene expression cancer profiles are proposed to identify patients who are most likely to have recurrence and therefore may benefit from postoperative chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer. These novel methods together with conventional prognosticators, will allow us to implement more optimized personalizing adjuvant therapy in these patients.

Currently, inappropriate information regarding cancer is being disseminated indiscreetly via the media and Internet. Many people are confused due to the mixed presence of facts and misinformation concerning cancer. Owing to the flood of information, especially that concerning gastrointestinal cancer (the most common cancer in Korea), patients with gastrointestinal cancers, their family members, and medical staff, as well as the general public, are faced with a number of problems in understanding, treating, and overcoming this type of cancer. Therefore, investigating the level of recognition for and understanding of gastrointestinal cancers among these populations is very important for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of this disease. This review article investigated the differences in the recognition levels of the general understanding, prevention, quality of life, pain control, and the ethical issues of gastrointestinal cancer treatment among the general public, patients with gastrointestinal cancers, their family members, and medical staff via surveys.

A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for jaundice. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed a diffuse mass in the pancreas and peripancreatic area, with infiltration to of the whole pancreas, and overall reduced enhancement compared to normal pancreas. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed elevated mucosal lesion covered hyperemic mucosa at duodenal bulb and ulcerative lesion at body of stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed an irregular mass with unclear boundaries was observed within the pancreas. Abrupt narrowing of mid to distal common bile duct was seen and the stricture was caused by compression of pancreatic mass. Plastic stent was inserted and clinical improvement was achieved including resolution of jaundice. The patient is currently being treated with combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone. We report a case of primary pancreatic lymphoma presenting with obstructive jaundice.

췌장암은 예후가 매우 불량한 암으로 수술적 절제술을 시행하여도 대부분의 경우 재발을 한다고 알려져 있다. 재발을 하는 경우 대개 항암화학요법을 시행하게 되나, 그 반응 또한 좋지 않은 것으로 알려져 있다. 간에 국소적으로 재발을 했을 경우 종양절제술을 시행하는 것에 대해서는 몇몇 보고가 있는 정도이며, 생존율을 향상시킬 수 있는지에 대해서는 연구가 거의 없는 상태이다. 본 증례는 유문보존 췌십이지장 절제술 시행 후 간에 국소적으로 재발한 췌장암에 대하여 gemcitabine 및 capecitabine과 oxaliplatin 병합 항암화학요법을 시행하였으나 크기가 증가하였고, 이에 종양절제술을 시행하였으며, 이후 장기생존을 보였던 경우로 매우 드문 증례를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다.

위암의 재발은 환자의 예후를 불량하게 하며, 재발성 위암의 치료 방법은 재발 양상에 따라서 달라질 수 있고, 국내외적으로 항암치료를 제외한 치료 방법에 대해 뚜렷한 지침이 정해져 있지는 않다. 저자들은 근치적 위절제술 시행 후 림프절 전이가 발생한 진행성 위암 환자에서 고식적 항암화학치료와 구제 방사선요법을 시행한 뒤 완전 관해에 도달한 증례를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

본 증례는 전이성 췌장암에서 연수막전이로 발현된 국내 첫 사례이다. 또한 급성뇌졸중 양상이 첫 증상으로 발현된 경우도 이전에 보고된 바가 없다. 향후 전이성 췌장암의 뇌전이 양상에 대해 좀 더 많은 증례를 통한 연구가 필요하며, 췌장암의 빈번한 연수막전이 기전에 대해서도 추가 연구가 필요하다.