• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7701-7706
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• 2013

Background: In a prospective cohort study of antiemetic therapy conducted in Malaysia, a total of 94 patients received low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC) with or without granisetron injections as the primary prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This study is a retrospective cost analysis of two antiemetic regimens from the payer perspective. Materials and Methods: This cost evaluation refers to 2011, the year in which the observation was conducted. Direct costs incurred by hospitals including the drug acquisition, materials and time spent for clinical activities from prescribing to dispensing of home medications were evaluated (MYR 1=$0.32 USD). As reported to be significantly different between two regimens (96.1% vs 81.0%; p=0.017), the complete response rate of acute emesis which was defined as a patient successfully treated without any emesis episode within 24 hours after LEC was used as the main indicator for effectiveness. Results: Antiemetic drug acquisition cost per patient was 40.7 times higher for the granisetron-based regimen than for the standard regimen (MYR 64.3 vs 1.58). When both the costs for materials and clinical activities were included, the total cost per patient was 8.68 times higher for the granisetron-based regimen (MYR 73.5 vs 8.47). Considering the complete response rates, the mean cost per successfully treated patient in granisetron group was 7.31 times higher (MYR 76.5 vs 10.5). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) with granisetron-based regimen, relative to the standard regimen, was MYR 430.7. It was found to be most sensitive to the change of antiemetic effects of granisetron-based regimen. Conclusions: While providing a better efficacy in acute emesis control, the low incidence of acute emesis and high ICER makes use of granisetron as primary prophylaxis in LEC controversial.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.294-305
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the preliminary effects of applying a developed web-based video education program in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A one-group pre-post test design was used. The web-based video education program to prevent infection consisted of 5 subjects. The program was confirmed to be valid by an expert group of doctors and nurses. Convenience sampling of 23 subjects was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the web-based video education program. Data were analyzed based on nonparametric statistics using SPSS 25.0 software. Results: Per the results of the study, knowledge and self-management behavior of infection prevention significantly improved after application of the program; however, there was no significant difference in self-efficacy. Conclusion: It was confirmed that the web-based video education program is effective to improve the knowledge and self-management behavior of infection prevention. However, as a preliminary study, this study did not have external validity. Therefore, it is necessary to verify the effectiveness of the program through randomized controlled trials and confirm the true infection prevention effect that was not considered in this research design.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 2009

Objectives : Cancer incidence is increasing in all countries and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients undergoing chemotherapeutic agents have been a clinically serious problems. So far therapeutic options for CIPN patients are limited and no confirmed methods have yet been established for dealing with peripheral neuropathy. Therefore this review is to provide an evidence-based summary of oriental medicine and CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) neuroprotective and treatment therapies which have gone through clinical trials. Methods : An overview of the domestic and international papers of adult clinical trials relating management of only CIPN symptoms through 1990 to present were searched by electronic databases. Search key words were chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapy toxicity & herb, chemotherapy toxicity & acupuncture, chemotherapy toxicity & CAM. Only English and Korean written papers were reviewed. Total 25 papers were reviewed in this study, 18 papers were retrieved by electronic search. Results : Clinical studies of managing CIPN were rare, two acupuncture clinical studies and four herb medicinal studies were found. Rest of 19 papers were about other CAM clinical studies. Total 25 papers were analyzed, and all interventions were focused on their pain control efficacy. Other 24 trials of potential therapies except one proved to be effective for CIPN, however some described to be inadequate positive or sufficient negative. Conclusions : As most of the studies were pilot studies, interventions for the prevention and treatment of CIPN have to go through prospective confirmatory studies, such as larger scale randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trials must be done for the safe and effective use of proposed therapies. Also standard measurement scales have to be developed for the better clinical study of CIPN.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2017

Background: Second line chemotherapy is often considered in advanced gastric cancers. We assessed irinotecan in combination with fluorouracil in patients experienced diseases progression after first line chemotherapy. Methods: Prospective trial was done at 7 centers in republic of Korea. Patients aged 18 years or older with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and disease progression on or within 4 months after first-line chemotherapy were assigned to receive irinotecan 180 mg/m² and 5-fluorouraicl 400 mg/m² intravenously bolus injection on days 1 and leucovorin 200 mg/m² for 2 hours and 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m² for 22 hours intravenously infusion on day 2 of a 14-day cycle (FOLFIRI group). The primary endpoint was objective tumor response (OR). Efficacy analysis was by per-protocol, and safety analysis included all patients who received at least one treatment with study drug. Results: Between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016, 28 patients were assigned to FOLFIRI treatment. Of those 20 patients were completed the study protocol. Per-protocol analysis, two patients among 20 subjects (10.0%) showed partial response. Overall survivals of FOLFIRI group; median 10.1 months [95% CI 4.9-15.3] Grade 3 and higher adverse event that occurred about 5%, but grade 3 or higher febrile neutropenia or life threatening complication was not reported. Conclusion: Combination chemotherapy with irinotecan, 5-FU, and LV is feasible in gastric cancer patients previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4413-4416
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• 2012

Aim: Individual differences in chemosensitivity and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy may be due to genetic factors. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of GSTP1, XRCC1 and XRCC3 in NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 460 cases were consecutively selected from The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between Jan. 2003 to Nov. 2006, and all were followed-up until Nov. 2011. Genotyping of GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met was conducted by duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with confronting-two-pair primer methods. Results: Patients with GSTP Val/Val exhibited a shorter survival time, and had a 1.89 fold greater risk of death than did those with the IIe/IIe genotype. For XRCC1 Arg194Trp, the variant genotype Trp/Trp was significantly associated with a decreased risk of death from NSCLC when compared with the Arg/Arg. Individuals carrying XRCC1 399Gln/Gln genotype had a longer survival time, with a lowered risk of death from NSCLC. Conclusion: This study indicated that GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and XRCC1Arg399Gln genes have a role in modifying the effect of platinum-based chemotherapy for NSCLC patients in a Chinese population. Our findings provide information for therapeutic decisions for individualized therapy in NSCLC cases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.441-444
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• 2017

A 15-year-old spayed female Miniature Schnauzer was presented for unilateral foreleg lameness and pain. On physical examination, left elbow joint swelling and stiffness were identified. On a computed tomography (CT) scan, a periosteal reaction of the left humerus from the distal metaphysis to the epiphysis and cortical destruction of the medial condyle was observed. Based on blood tests, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, it was concluded as a skeletal histiocytic sarcoma. Since the patient's pain was not controlled despite application of a fentanyl patch, a left forelimb amputation was decided upon as part of the palliative therapy. Metronomic chemotherapy with toceranib phosphate and pamidronate was initiated. Toceranib was administered for 3 months without the development of any adverse effects except mild neutropenia. However, 3 months after initiating treatment, the toceranib was discontinued due to moderate gastrointestinal disturbances. Over the next 2 months, a left mandibular bone mass and cortical bone destruction in the bilateral tibia and tarsal joint were identified on CT. The patient became unwilling to eat and was noted to have severe skeletal pain. The anorexia and lethargy were progressively worsening and the owner decided to euthanize the patient. A necropsy was performed and the patient was definitively diagnosed with disseminated histiocytic sarcoma based on histopathologic and immunohistochemical analyses. This report describes a Miniature Schnauzer dog with DHS managed with surgical removal and metronomic chemotherapy with toceranib that survived with an improved quality of life for 7 months.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.701-705
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• 2013

Polymorphisms in XPG are considered to contribute to the clinical outcome of patients receiving platinum drug chemotherapy. We aimed to investigate the role of five potential SNPs of XPG gene on the response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced Chinese NSCLC patients. A total of 451 patients with newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed primary NSCLC were consecutively collected. XPG rs2296147, rs4150261, rs17655, rs1047768 and rs2094258 were genotyped by the Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In our study, we found patients carrying rs1057768 TT genotype had a significantly lower treatment response when compared with the CC genotype (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.18-0.78). Patients carrying rs1047768 TT genotype showed a significantly short median PFS (11.2 months) and OS (13.6 months) than CC genotype, and the hazard ratios (HR) for PFS and OS were 2.06 (1.01-4.50) and 2.29 (1.21-2.49), respectively. Moreover, we found a significant decreased risk of death from NSCLC among patients carrying the rs2296147 TT genotype when compared with the CC genotype, the HR (95% CI) for OS being 0.50 (0.27-0.95). In conclusion, our study found that polymorphisms in rs1047768 C/T and rs2296147 C/T are associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC, and XPG polymorphisms could be predictive of prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.426-433
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• 2011

Objective : The Histoculture Drug Response Assay (HDRA), which measures chemosensitivity using minced tumor tissue on drug-soaked gelfoam, has been expected to overcome the limitations of in vitro chemosensitivity test in part. We analyzed interim results of HDRA in malignant gliomas to see if the test can deserve further clinical trials. Methods : Thirty-three patients with malignant gliomas were operated and their tumor samples were examined for the chemosensitivity to 10 chosen drugs by HDRA. The most sensitive chemotherapy regimen among those pre-established was chosen based on the number of sensitive drugs or total inhibition rate (IR) of the regimen. The response was evaluated by 3 month magnetic resonance image. Results : Among 13 patients who underwent total resection of the tumor, 12 showed no evidence of disease and one patient revealed progression. The response rate in 20 patients with residual tumors was 55% (3 complete and 8 partial responses). HDRA sensitivity at the cut-off value of more than one sensitive drug in the applied regimen showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 60% and predictability of 70%. Another cut-off value of >80% of total IR revealed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 69%, and predictability of 80%. For 12 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, median progression-free survival of the HDRA sensitive group was 21 months, while that of the non-sensitive group was 6 months ($p$=0.07). Conclusion : HDRA for malignant glioma was inferred as a feasible method to predict the chemotherapy response. We are encouraged to launch phase 2 clinical trial with chemosensitivity on HDRA.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-104
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• 2015

Purpose: To assess real-world treatment patterns, health care utilization, costs, and survival among Medicare enrollees with locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer receiving standard first-line chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database (2000~2009). The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) first diagnosed with locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer between July 1, 2000 and December 31, 2007 (first diagnosis defined the index date); (2) ${\geq}65$ years of age at index; (3) continuously enrolled in Medicare Part A and B from 6 months before index through the end of follow-up, defined by death or the database end date (December 31, 2009), whichever occurred first; and (4) received first-line treatment with fluoropyrimidine and/or a platinum chemotherapy agent. Results: In total, 2,583 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at index was $74.8{\pm}6.0years$. Over 90% of patients died during follow-up, with a median survival of 361 days for the overall post-index period and 167 days for the period after the completion of first-line chemotherapy. The mean total gastric cancer-related cost per patient over the entire post-index follow-up period was United States dollar (USD) $70,808{\pm}56,620$. Following the completion of first-line chemotherapy, patients receiving further cancer-directed treatment had USD 25,216 additional disease-related costs versus patients receiving supportive care only (P<0.001). Conclusions: The economic burden of advanced gastric cancer is substantial. Extrapolating based on published incidence estimates and staging distributions, the estimated total disease-related lifetime cost to Medicare for the roughly 22,200 patients expected to be diagnosed with this disease in 2014 approaches USD 300 millions.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.317-328
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to provide oncology nurses systemic guidelines designed to perform telephone counseling in outpatient settings treating patients with chemotherapy. Methods: Symptoms which are frequently questioned were identified through case reports recorded by 4 clinical nurse specialists from January 4 to December 31. 2010. Fifteen clinical experts and two hemato-oncologists reviewed the developed draft. Their opinions were synthesized to arrive at consensus on the ideal guidelines. This process confirmed content validity. The two hemato-oncologists also verified the face validity. Results: The six symptoms which were most frequently asked about were identified through 4,644 case reports and concerned pain, fever, skin alteration, nausea/vomiting, stomatitis and diarrhea. Evidence-based telephone triage guidelines for the 6 major symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy were developed. Conclusion: These guidelines will help oncology nurses from novice to expert incorporate evidence-based telenursing into their practice.