• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 1999

Purpose : Brain metastases are the most frequent metastatic neurologic complication of systemic cancer. Even if the prognosis of brain metastases is grave, with available treatments, most patients experience effective palliation of neurologic symptoms and meaningful extension of life. We evaluated the clinical features and prognostic factors of the patients who were diagnosed as solid tumors with brain metastasis and received radiotherapy for brain metastases. Materials and Methods: Between January 1987 and January 1998, 71 patients with brain metastases from solid malignancy were included. We reviewed neurologic symptoms and signs of patients and evaluated improvememt of neurologic symptoms and signs. Survival durations after brain metastasis were ana lysed according to several factors such as age, performance status, primary malignancies, the pre-sence of brain metastasis at initial diagnosis of primary tumor, multiplicity of brain metastass, the presence of metastases other than brain, and treatment method. Results: Frequent symptoms associated with brain metastasis were headache (47.9$\%$), motor weakness (40.8$\%$), nausea and vomiting (19.7$\%$) and mental change (19.7%). Palliation of these symptoms was accomplished in 64.9$\%$ of cases. The overall median survival time was 16 weeks and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 15.0$\%$ and 5.1$\%$ respectively. Patients without extracranial metastases (n=27) had longer median survival than patients with extracranial metastases (33 weeks vs 10 weeks, p=0.0018). In patients with single brain metastasis (n=37), the median survival time was longer in patients treated with surgery plus radiotherapy than in patients treated with radiotherapy alone (40 weeks vs 16 weeks, p=0.0438). Conclusion: Patients who has brain metastases only constitute a prognostically favorable group and they may be benefited from radiotherapy and surgery if indicated.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2006

Purpose: This study explored the anal sphincter-saving rate and down-staging rate after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for treating lower rectal cancer. We also explored the prognosis of the patients who refused surgery after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Thirty seven patients with histologically proven lower rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. In each case, the tumor location was 0 to 5 em from the anal verge, and curative resection of the cancer with performing a sphincter-saving procedure was not feasible before chemoradiotherapy. In each case, the staging examinations, including biopsy, were done before starting radiotherapy and this was repeated at 1 month after radiation therapy. Results: After chemoradiotherapy, among the 37 included patients, 56.8% and 32.4% were downstaged to the T stage and N stage, respectively, when comparing the postradiotherapy stage with pre-radiotherapy stage. Twenty five patients underwent complete resection of cancer at 6 weeks after radiotherapy: eleven, eight and six patients underwent abdominoperineal resection, low anterior resection and local excision, respectively. The sphincter-saving rate among the 24 completely resected cases was 54.2%. Twelve patients refused surgery after radiotherapy. Among 6 patients who refused surgery with biopsy-proven complete remission after chemoradiotherapy, 5 patients were alive without disease at a median follow up period of 31 months, and only 1 patient had local failure. Conclusion: For lower rectal cancer, a high sphincter-saving rate was accomplished with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The prognosis of the patients who refused surgery with biopsy proven complete remission after chemoradiotherapy was good and these patients need to be kept under close surveillance.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2002

Purpose : To analyze the treatment results of concurrent chemoradiation with oral 5-FU plus Gemcitabine or Paclitaxel for unresectable pancreatic cancer. Materials & Methods : The patients, who were diagnosed by imaging modalities or by explo-laparotomy, were treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Radiotherapy was delivered to primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, and the total dose was 45 Gy. Patients received Gemcitabine $1,000\;mg/m^2$ or Paclitaxel $50\;mg/m^2$ weekly and oral 5-FU daily The total number of cycles of chemotherapy ranged from 1 to 39 (median, 11 cycles). The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 36 months, Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results : Fifty-four patients between Jan. 1999 to Nov. 2001 were included in this study. Forty-two patients who completed the planned treatment were included in this analysis. The patients' age ranged from 37 to 73 years (median, 50 years) and the male to female ratio was 30:12. Treatment was interrupted for 12 patients due to: disease progression for 6 $(50\%)$, poor performance status for 4 $(33.3\%)$, intercurrent disease for 1 $(8.3\%)$, and refusal for 1 $(8.3\%)$. Response evaluation was possible for 40 patients. One patient gained complete remission and 24 patients gained partial remission, hence the response rate was $59\%$. The survival rates were $46.7\%\;and\;17.0\%$ at 1 year and 2 years, respectively with a median survival time of 12 months. Patients treated with Paclitaxel showed superior outcomes compared to those patients treated with Gemcitabine, in terms of both response rate and survival rate although this difference was not statistically significant. Grade III or IV hematologic toxicity was shown in 8 patients $(19\%)$, while grade III or IV non-hematologic toxicity was shown in 5 patients $(12\%)$. Conclusion : Concurrent chemoradiation with oral 5-FU and Gemcitabine or Paclitaxel improves both the response rate and survival rate in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. A prospective study should be investigated in order to improve both the patient selection and the treatment outcome as well as to reduce the toxicity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.311-317
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• 1991

Ten patients with deep muscle-invading bladder carcinoma (clinical stages T3a to T4b) who were not candidates for cystectomy were treated with combined modality treatment with transurethral resection, cisplatin chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation from 1989 through 1990, and were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were not candidates for cystectomy because the tumors were judged unresectable or they were not fit for a radical cystectomy. Of the patients 5 had clinical stage T3a, 3 stage T3b and 2 stage T4b disease. The minimum follow-up was 16 months. The complete response rate is 60$\%$ for all patients. The complete responses were achieved in 4 of 5(80$\%$) with stage cT3a, in 2 of 3(67$\%$)with stage cT3b and in none of 2(0$\%$) with stage cT4b. The partial responses were achieved in 2, so an overall response rate was 80$\%$. All six patients with grade I or II transitional cell carcinoma showed complete responses. Four patients with higher grade tumors showed partial responses in 2 and no response in 2, and all died of their bladder cancer. Six patients who showed complete responses after treatment are alive and only one of them showed a local recurrence 10 months after treatment. Distant metastases developed in 3 patients: lungs in 2(cT4b) of those who were never locally free of disease and spine in 1 patient (cT3b) among those with a partial response. Two patients died of metastases to lungs. During the follow-up diarrhea occurred in one which was improved after conservative treatment. On the basis of this analysis it is suggested that combined modality treatment seems to be a tolerable regimen and can be offered with a relatively high probability of success and conservation of bladder function in those with less advanced tumors by clinical stage and low grade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1996

From march 1989 to October 1993, 57 patients were diagnosed and operated for primary non-small cell lung cancer, and evaluated clinically. 1. There were 45 males and 12 females (M:F=3.8:1), and the peak incidence of age was 6th decade of life (45.6%). In the preoperative diagnostic methods and their positive rate, sputum cytology was 11%, bronchial washing cytology 50%, bronchoscopic biopsy 73%, and CT guided percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy 83%. 3. Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma was 56.1%, adenocarcinoma 22.8%, bronchioloal veolar cell carcinoma 1%, and undifferentiated large cell carcinoma 1.8%. 4. In the operation, pneumonectomy was 35.1%, lobectomy 38.6%, bilobectomy 3.5%, segmentec tony 7%, and exploratory thoracotomy 15.8%, and overall resectability was 84.2%. 5. In postoperative stagings, stage I was 28.1%, st ge II 22.8%, stage IIIa 31.6% and stage IIIb 17.5%. 6. Postoperative complications were developed in 11 cases (19.3%) and operative mortality was none. 7. One year survival rate in rejectable cases was 87.0%, 2 year 61.6% and 5 year 44.9%. According to stage, 3 year survival rate was 75.8% in stage I, 16.9% in stage II, 60.9% in stage IIIa, 50% in stage IIIb.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.420-426
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• 1996

We previously reported 344 cases of esophageal reconstruction for caustic esophageal stricture between 1959 and 1982, and this is the second report of 69 cases during 12 year period from Jan. 1983 to Feb. 1995. There were 32 males and 37 females, ranging in age from 4 to 65 years(mean 36.4 years). Caustic materials were acid in 37 (53.7%) and alkali in 31 (44.9%). All cases underwent colon interposition without esophageal resection except 3 cases of cancer complication which were resected through thoracotomy. In 64 cases isoperistaltic right colon with teminal ileum interposition were performed, and 5 cases were interposed with left colon either isoperistaltic (2 cases) or antiperistaltic (3 cases) method. Anastomotic leakage was the most frequently encountered c mplication (14.4%, 10 cases), and they were 11.6%(8 cases) from cervical, 2.8% (2 cases) from ileocolostoma. Overall operative mortality was 2.9% (2169), main causes of death were sepsis due to graft necrosis and mediastinitis. During 6 months to 12years (mean 2.Syears) follow-up of survived 67 cases, 88.1% (59 cases) ate normally, 7.5% (5 cases) complained of moderate dysphagia (eating liquid diet), and 4.5% (3 cases) were unable to eat by mouth. In our experience, reconstruction of the esphagus with the colon is a satisfactory method that can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality. The right colon is a durable and functional esophageal substitute.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2010

Cervical cancer is associated with low antioxidant status. It has a high prevalence especially amongst woman in Asia and is a leading cause of cancer death. Cancer chemotherapy in vivo improved in cases with high p53 expression in the tumor tissue. The restoration of p53 levels could be a potential strategy to increase chemoresponsiveness. Under circumstances where damage is extensive, p53 plays a direct role in trigering apoptosis. To investigate the effect of curcumin (CMN) as an antioxidant agent on anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil (5FU) induced apoptosis and p53 expression, HPV-18 positive HeLa cells were treated with noncytotoxic amounts of antioxidant. Curcumin induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Morphological hallmarks of apoptosis such as nuclear fragmentation and internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA were observed. CMN caused upregulation of p53 expression, evident from Western blotting data and also increased the susceptibility/apoptosis induced by 5FU. These results show that increasing drug sensitivity of cervical cancer cells by upregulation of p53 using CMN is novel approach and could have a possible therapeutic potential in cervical cancer.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.363-371
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• 1997

Backcross hybridization between female cyprinid loach(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) any male mud loach (M. mizolepis)$\times$cyjprinid loach hybrid were made, and its effect on early survival, cytogenetic traits, and gonad development were examined. Mean fertilization rate and hatching success of backcross hybrids were similar to those found in the maternal species, the cyprinid loach. However, the backcross hybrids revealed significantly improved early survival up to yolk sac absorption (86.0%) compared to cyprinid loach (0%) under low culture temperature ($15^{\circ}C$). the erythrocytic size and DNA content of backcross hybrids were nearly intermediate to those of the parents. Karyological analysis of backcross hybrids displayed two kinds of modal chromosome number of 2n=48 or 2n=49. Growth of backcross hybrids over 6 months after hatching was proven to be intermediate between their parental species. Although backcross hybrids had intermediate values between those of thier parents in most morphometric traits, overall external morphology of backcross hybrids was morer simlar to cyprinid loach than mud loach$\times$cyprinid loach hybrid. Histological examination of gonads at 2 and 4 months of age revealed that no female was obseved in backcross hybrid groups, suggesting the possibility of production of monosex male population.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.438-443
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• 1999

Germination and growth of Laminaria japonica microscopic stages were investigated under crossed gradients of temperatures and irradiances, and the results related to the seasonal temperature regime in the southeastern coast of Korea. Germination rates of $70\~86\%$ were observed in the temperature range of $5\~20^{\circ}C$, however, at $25^{\circ}C$ no germination of meiospores was observed. The primary factor affecting germination rates at the temperature range of $5\~20^{\circ}C$ was irradiance: germination was significantly reduced at $150 {\mu}E{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Vegetative cell production of female gametophytes was highest at $20^{\circ}C$, but plants were not fertile at the temperature. In the temperature range of $5\~15^{\circ}C$, higher irradiance caused females to reduce cell production, but increased fertility. Cell production was also low at lower temperatures with increased fertility rates. Optimal growth temperature for microsporophytes was $10^{\circ}C$ and their growth rates were light-saturated at $70 {\mu}E{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. We have concluded that meiospores released before July could develope to the young sporophytic stage in the southeastern coast of Korea which is off the southern limit of its geographical distribution. However, limiting factor in the development of natural sporophytic population in this region would be the upper temperature limit for the survival of young sporophytes, as water temperature at this area frequently exceeds $25^{\circ}C$ during the summer period.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2008

Purpose: This study evaluates the association of estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR), Her-2, COX-2, and survivin with the clinicopathological features and outcomes in young Korean women with breast cancer using recently developed tissue microarray(TMA) technology. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 212 young patients with breast cancer diagnosed at the age of 45 years or younger from March 1994 to August 2005, were enrolled in this study. The age range of patients was $23{\sim}45$ years(median age, 39 years). The minimum and median follow-up periods were 24 months and 60 months, respectively. Serial sections of primary tumors were processed by the use of a TMA for immunohistochemical staining for five biomarkers. The correlation of these five biomarkers and the clinicopathological features and outcomes were analyzed by statistical methods. Results: The majority of the patients were stage T1(90 patients) or T2(101 patients), and 105 patients(49.5%) had an axillary node metastasis. The 5-year overall and relapse free survival rates for all of the patients were 90.4% and 82.3%, respectively, and 36 patients had a locoregional or distant metastasis as a first event. Positive expression of ER, PR, Her-2, COX-2, and survivin was determined in 38.2%, 45.3%, 25.9%, 41.5%, and 43.4%, of the tumor samples, respectively. Tumor stage, nodal status, age, as well as expression of ER, PR, and HER-2 status were significantly associated with the disease free survival rate. Tumor stage, nodal status, as well as expression of ER, PR, and HER-2 were significantly related with the overall survival rate. Expression of COX-2 and survivin were not single independent prognostic factors for the disease free and overall survival rate although co-expression of HER-2 and COX-2 had a tendency as a poor prognostic factor. By multivariate analysis, only T stage and lymph node status were significant prognostic factors, and ER status was a marginally significant prognostic factor(p=0.075). Conclusion: Expression of ER, PR and HER-2 were significant prognostic factors for the relapse free and overall survival rate. Expression of COX-2 and survivin were not prognostic factors for young women with breast cancer.