• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제73권5호
• /
• pp.273-277
• /
• 2012

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a rare syndrome characterized by memory impairment, affective and behavioral disturbances and seizures. Among many different neoplasms known to cause PLE, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most frequently reported. The pathogenesis is not fully understood but is believed to be autoimmune-related. We experienced a patient with typical clinical features of PLE. A 67-year-old man presented with seizure and disorientation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high signal intensity in the bilateral amygdala and hippocampus in flair and T2-weighted images suggestive of limbic encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid tapping revealed no evidence of malignant cells or infection. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a lung mass with pleural effusion and a consequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PLE associated with SCLC. The patient was subsequently treated with chemotherapy and neurologic symptoms gradually improved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.463-467
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of a gemcitabine plus docetaxel regimen as a second line therapy for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) resistant to doxorubicin and ifosfamide-based therapy. Patients and Methods: Medical records of 64 patients with advanced STS who received gemcitabine plus docetaxel regimen as a second line treatment between May 2006 and June 2011 were examined. All patients had been previously treated with doxorubicin plus ifosfamide-based regimen at first line setting. Patients received gemcitabine 900 $mg/m^2$ on days one and eight intravenously over 90 minutes, followed by docetaxel 75 $mg/m^2$ on day eight intravenously over one hour. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. Results: The male-to-female ratio was 37/27 and the median age was 44 years (range; 19-67 years). Objective responses were observed in 13 (20.3 %) patients (2 CR, 11 PR) and stable disease in 21 (32.8 %). Total clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD) was observed in 34 (53.1 %). Median overall survival (OS) was 18 months (95% confidence interval (CI):12.1-23.9) and Median time to progression (TTP) was 4.8 months (95% CI: 3.6-6). A total of 243 cycles of chemotherapy were administered. The median number of cycle was 3 (range;1-11). The most common grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity was neutropenia (35.9 %). The most common nonhematologic toxicities consisted of nausea/vomiting (37.5 %), mucositis (32.8 %), peripheral neuropathy (29.7%), and fatigue (26 %). There was no toxicity-related death. Conclusion: The combination of gemcitabine plus docetaxel is an active and tolerable regimen as a second line therapy for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have failed doxorubicin and ifosfamide-based therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권19호
• /
• pp.8069-8073
• /
• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide, with a high mortality. Most patients present with late stage disease, when the treatment options are limited to systemic chemotherapy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the significance of p53 and EGFR expression in HCC, and to determine whether these two markers correlate with conventional parameters of prognosis. Materials and Methods: Our study included a total of 45 patients, diagnosed histopathologically with HCC. Clinicopathological data including sex, age, tumor necrosis, tumor size, histologic grading, tumor stage, the presence of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, were recorded from the Institute database. Three independent microscopic fields were selected for each sample and all the tumor cells within each microscopic field were counted, and then the positive percent of p53 cells were calculated. Three staining patterns were recognized: diffuse, heterogenous and focal. The intensity of EGFR staining was scored on a scale of 0-3+: 0 no staining; 1+ when a weak membrane staining was observed; 2+ when membrane staining is more intense than in 1+, but less than 3+, and 3+ when intense dark brown staining delineated the membrane. To determine the relationship between EGFR expression and p53, we performed double staining in the same HCC specimens. Results: By immunohistochemical staining, p53 protein was detected in tumor cell nuclei in 20 HCCs (44%). We found a significant correlation between the intensity of p53 expression and the histological grade (p=0.008). EGFR expression was detected in 17 (38%) cases, linked to histological grade (p=0.039). Moreover, the intensity of p53 expression was significantly correlated with EGFR intensity (p=0.014). Conclusions: Our results suggest that overexpression of p53 and EGFR plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis and contributes to more advanced disease. These markers are not only valuable predictors of prognosis in HCC, but they are also rational targets for new anti-tumor strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권11호
• /
• pp.4733-4738
• /
• 2014

Purpose: We developed and evaluated a regimen including fotemustine, teniposide and dexamethasone (FTD) for treating patients with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma based on pharmacokinetic properties of individual agents and in combination. Patients and Methods: In a comparison study, 8 patients with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) and 8 with secondary CNS lymphoma (SCNSL) were treated with FTD (comprising fotemustine 100 mg/m2, 1h infusion, day 1; teniposide 60 mg/m2, >0.5 h infusion, on day 2, 3, 4; dexamethasone 40 mg, 1h infusion, on day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; and methotrexate 12 mg, cytosine arabinoside 50 mg plus dexamethasone 5 mg intrathecally, on day 2 and 7). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. After response assessment, patients received whole brain radiotherapy. Results: Of the 8 PCNSL patients, 4 (50%) achieved CR and 3 (38%) PR, an overall response rate of 88%. Four patients (50%) were in continuing remission at the end of this study after a median follow-up of 30 months (range 10 to 56 months). Of the 8 SCNSL patients the overall response rate was 63% (CR+PR: 38%+25%). All responses were achievable with predictable toxicity mainly reflecting reversible myelosuppression. Conclusion: This study suggests that FTD could be an effective treatment for CNS lymphoma, and is worthy of further evaluation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 1991

폐암의 방사선 치료후 발생하는 치료부위의 섬유성 변성과 암종의 재발의 구별이 어려울때가 많으나 아직 이렇다 할 감별진단 방법이 없다. 경북대학교 병원 치료방사선과에서 1989년 1월부터 1990년 6월까지 방사선 치료를 받은 폐암 환자 중 섬유성 변성이나 재발의 가능성이 높은 22명을 대상으로 Gallium-67 스캔의 유용성을 연구하였다. 대상환자는 편평 세포암 17명, 소세포암이 3명, 선암 2명이었고, 편평 세포암은 약물치료를 하지 않았고, 소세포암은 CAV와 Vp-16및 cis-platin으로 병용치료 하였으며, 선암은 폐엽절제술을 시행하였다. 방사선 치료는 조직형과 병용치료의 양상에 따라 5~6주에 걸쳐 45~60 Gy를 투여하였으며, 치료후 정기적으로추적 검진하였다. 재발과 상관 없이 방사선 폐염이 발생한군에서는 모두 Gallium 축적을 보였고, 12명의 재발 혹은 잔여 종양이 있는 군에서는 11명 이 Gallium 축적을 보였다(92%), 무병상태의 10명 중 방사선 폐염을 가진 5명에서는 Gallium축적이 있었으나, 섬유성 변성만 있는 5명에서는 4명에서 Gallium이 축적되지 않았다(80\%). 섬유성 변성은 모두 치료 종료 후 8개월 이후에 임상적으로 출현되었다. 이 시기에 재발과 섬유성 변성의 구별이 용이하지 않고 치료방침에도 결정적 영향을 미치므로, 치료 후 1년이 지난 환자에서 Gallium-67 scan이 임상적으로 유용할 것으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제76권5호
• /
• pp.218-225
• /
• 2014

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an extremely aggressive tumor with a poor clinical course. Although many efforts have been made to improve patients' survival rates, patients who survive longer than 2 years after chemotherapy are still very rare. We examined the baseline characteristics of patients with long-term survival rates in order to identify the prognostic factors for overall survivals. Methods: A total of 242 patients with cytologically or histologically diagnosed SCLC were enrolled into this study. The patients were categorized into long- and short-term survival groups by using a survival cut-off of 2 years after diagnosis. Cox's analyses were performed to identify the independent factors. Results: The mean patient age was 65.66 years, and 85.5% were males; among the patients, 61 of them (25.2%) survived longer than 2 years. In the multivariate analyses, CRP (hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-6.06; p=0.012), TNM staging (HR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.59-6.80; p=0.001), and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR, 11.14; 95% CI, 2.98-41.73; p<0.001) were independent prognostic markers for poor survival rates. Conclusion: In addition to other well-known prognostic factors, this study discovered relationships between the long-term survival rates and serum CRP levels, TNM staging, and PFS. In situations with unfavorable conditions, the PFS would be particularly helpful for managing SCLC patients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제51권6호
• /
• pp.711-717
• /
• 2013

Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) is a well-known causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in humans. CCA is very resistant to chemotherapy and is frequently fatal. To understand the pathogenesis of CCA in humans, a rodent model was developed. However, the development of CCA in rodents is time-consuming and the xenograft-transplantation model of human CCA in immunodeficient mice is costly. Therefore, the establishment of an in vivo screening model for O. viverrini-associated CCA treatment was of interest. We developed a hamster CCA cell line, Ham-1, derived from the CCA tissue of O. viverrini-infected and N-nitrosodimethylamine-treated Syrian golden hamsters. Ham-1 has been maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Essential Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for more than 30 subcultures. These cells are mostly diploid (2n=44) with some being polyploid. Tumorigenic properties of Ham-1 were demonstrated by allograft transplantation in hamsters. The transplanted tissues were highly proliferative and exhibited a glandular-like structure retaining a bile duct marker, cytokeratin 19. The usefulness of this for in vivo model was demonstrated by berberine treatment, a traditional medicine that is active against various cancers. Growth inhibitory effects of berberine, mainly by an induction of G1 cell cycle arrest, were observed in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we developed the allo-transplantable hamster CCA cell line, which can be used for chemotherapeutic drug testing in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.314-320
• /
• 2001

Matrix metalloproteinases have long been viewed as ideal candidates for proteinases that enables tumor cells to permeated basement membrane defenses and invade surrounding tissue. There is growing evidence that the MMPs have an expanded role, as they are important for the creation and maintenance of a microenvironment that facilitates growth and angiogenesis of tumors at primary and metastatic sites. MT-MMPs are not secreted but instead remaining attached to cell surfaces. Although not all of the MT-MMPs are fully characterized, MT-MMPs have important role in localizing and activating secreted MMPs. The MMP genes are transcriptionally responsive to a wide variety of oncogene, growth factors, cytokine, and hormones. Currently, a number of MMP inhibitors are being developed and some have reached clinical trials as anti-metastatic or anti-cancer therapies. MT1-MMP is involved in the activation of proMMP-2. MT1-MMP is significant not only as a tumor marker but as a new target for chemotherapy against cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein kinase C inhibitor(genistein) on the proliferation of HT1080 and expression of MT1-MMP mRNA. Human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080 was cultured and divided 2 groups. The experimental group was treated with $100{\mu}M$ genistein and incubated 12h, 24h for $[3^H]-thymidine$ uptake assay and northern hybridization individually. And the control group was treated with same amount of PBS for the above procedures. $[3^H]-thymidine$ incorporation was measured with ${\beta}$ ray detector. And RT-PCR and northern blotting for MT1-MMP mRNA was performed. The results were as follows 1. $[3^H]-thymidine$ uptake was reduced in experimental group with statistical significance. 2. MT1-MMP mRNA expression was significantly reduced in experimental group. These results showed that protein kinase C inhibitor (genistein) inhibited proliferation of HT1080 and almost completely blocked transcription of MT1-MMP mRNA. So, it is possible to use the protein kinase inhibitor (genistein) as anti-metastatic and anti-proliferative agent.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제51권3호
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2001

저자들은 운동성 호흡곤란과 경부 림프절 종대로 내원한 환자의 전종격동에서 발견된 편평상피세포암에 대한 면역조직화학 염색 검사상 cytokeratin 13에는 양성이고 CD5와 cytokeratin 7에는 음성이었지만 임상적, 방사선학적, 수술적 소견, 그리고 조직학적 소견을 바탕으로 흉선암에 준해 치료한 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제8권2호
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 1990

비인강암은 해부학적으로 두개저부 및 중추신경계와 인접하고 있어 수술적 접근이 어렵고, 또 최근 항암제요법의 발달로 복합항암제를 이용한 항암제요법으로 반응율을 높이기 위한 여러 연구들이 진행되고 있지만, 아직까지 비인강암에 대한 치료는 방사선치료가 그 근간을 이루고 있다. 비인강암의 연령분포곡선은 30세 이후에 급격히 증가하여 45세에서 54세까지에서 수평을 이룬후 서서히 감소하는 곡선을 그리는데, 10대 내지 20대에서도 작은 증가곡선을 나타내어 bimodal curve를 그리게 된다. 30세 이전에 생긴 비인강암은 그 빈도가 매우 적어서 이에 대한 연구보고가 많지 않지만 일반적으로는 30세 이후에 생긴 비인강암과는 다른 임상양상을 보이는 것으로 보고되어 있다. 이에 저자들은 1971년부터 1987년까지 연세대학교 의과대학 치료방사선과에서 치료받았던 113명의 비인강암 환자들을 30세 이전과 30세 이후 환자군으로 구별하여, 임상적 특성 및 치료에 대한 관해율, 이에 따른 생존율 및 생존에 영향을 미치는 인자들, 그리고 치료실패양상 등을 분석 비교하여 향후 30세 이전의 비인강암 환자의 치료에 지침을 마련하고자 본 연구를 시행하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 30세 이전의 비인강암 환자에서 치료에 대한 초기반응율이 높았다 2. 30세 이전의 비인강암 환자에서 통계적 의의는 없었으나 원격전이가 많았다. 3. 두 연령군간에 생존율의 차이는 없었다.