• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2003

Objectives: The best treatment for the malignant parotid tumor still remains to be defined, and a better knowledge about the tumor features that predict the treatment result is needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment outcomes and to suggest the optimal treatment modality for the parotid cancer. Materials and Methods: The clinicopathologic characteristics of 113 patients who were treated for parotid cancer from January 1990 to December 2002 were retrospectively analysed. Univalate analyses were performed to establish the prognostic influence of pateint age, gender, tumor size, histologic grade and lymph node metastasis. Results: The mean age was 46.4 years old (15-81 years) and. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.1. The chief complaint was a palpable mass in 85%, pain was in 12.4% and facial nerve palsy was accompanied with 2.7%. The mean tumor size was 3.5cm in diameter. The most common malignant tumor was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (33.6%), followed by acinic cell carcinoma (15%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (11%), carcinoma expleomorhpic adenoma (11%), basal cell carcinoma (7%). The most common operative procedure was total parotidectomy (47.8%) and various types of cervical lymph node dissection were added in 69.9%. Postoperative radiotherapy was done in 61.1 %. Postoperative complications developed in 54 cases (47.8%), including 46 cases (40.7%) of facial nerve palsy and 9 cases (8%) of Frey's syndrome. Recurrences developed in 21 cases (18.6%) and deaths in 15 (13.3%). Cumulative survival at 5 year was 75.4%. Univariate analysis of clinical factors showed that histologic grade and positive cervical lymph node significantly influenced survival (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggests that the radical resection with lymph node dissection and postopertaive XRT would be necessary to improve the survival of the patients with high grade cancer or positive lymphnode metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Objective: Over the last several years, immunotherapy has become one of the most promising therapeutic options for cancer. This study aims to summarize the updates on cancer immunotherapy focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, which have received attention as new anticancer therapeutic agents. Methods: A literature survey was carried out on PubMed to identify high-impact papers on cancer immunotherapy from 2010. The most recent data on clinical efficacy and safety have been included highlighting the response characteristics to recently approved immunotherapeutic agents. Results: In various cancers, immune checkpoints are a means for cancer cells to evade the immune system. Furthermore, CTLA-4 and PD-L1 can be overexpressed, allowing malignant cells to evade T-cells. Numerous clinical trials have been performed to seek appropriate indication of these products in various cancer types. Among them, the most conspicuous types are melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. The approval of ipilimumab by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commenced a new era of cancer immunotherapy. This was followed by the approval of nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Currently, combination therapies are being investigated for various cancer types. Conclusion: In this study, we reviewed recently reported scientific and clinical evidence for currently approved immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although these novel checkpoint inhibitors are ever evolving for cancer therapies, there exist limitations that need to be overcome, indicating the necessity for further studies aiming to improve their efficacy, toxicity, and cost.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2008

Purpose：To know the results after induction chemotherapy followed by curative radiation therapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer Methods and Materials：From August 1990 to December 2003, forty patients who were treated with induction chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy were analyzed retrospectively. Median age of patients was 60 years(range：40-78 years) and clinical stage was wholly stage 3 or 4. Induction chemotherapy used cisplatin with 5-FU or docetaxel, and its interval was 3 weeks. Irradiated radiation dose was 70 to 78Gy (median：70.8Gy). Results：Median follow-up time was 39.4 months(range：8-115 months). Treatment failures were observed in 52.5% patients, and main failure pattern was local recurrence in 16 patients. 3 and 5 year disease free survival were 52.6%, 48.2% respectively and values of overall survival were 60.0, 43.9% and median survival time was 44.7 months. Treatment response was only a prognostic factor for survival. Laryngeal preservation was observed in twenty-four(60.0%) patients. Conclusion：Initial primary tumor stage was a significant prognostic factor for laryngeal preservation, and response after radiation therapy was a prognostic factor for long-term survival after induction chemotherapy followed by curative radiation therapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2019

Purpose: The quality assurance (QA) chart rounds are multidisciplinary meetings to review radiation therapy (RT) treatment plans. This study focus on describing the changes in RT management based on QA round reviews in a single institution. Materials and Methods: After 9 full years of implementation, a retrospective review of all patients whose charts passed through departmental QA chart rounds from 2007 to 2015. The reviewed cases were presented for RT plan review; subcategorized based on decision in QA rounds into: approved, minor modifications or major modifications. Major modification defined as any substantial change which required patient re-simulation or re-planning prior to commencement of RT. Minor modification included treatment plan changes which didn't necessarily require RT re-planning. Results: Overall 7,149 RT treatment plans for different anatomical sites were reviewed at QA rounds. From these treatment plans, 6,654 (93%) were approved, 144 (2%) required minor modifications, while 351 (5%) required major modifications. Major modification included changes in: selected RT dose (96/351, 27%), target volume definition (127/351, 36%), organs-at-risk contouring (10/351, 3%), dose volume objectives/constraints criteria (90/351, 26%), and intent of treatment (28/351, 8%). The RT plans which required major modification according to the tumor subtype were as follows: head and neck (104/904, 12%), thoracic (12/199, 6%), gastrointestinal (33/687,5%), skin (5/106, 5%), genitourinary (16/359, 4%), breast (104/2387, 4%), central nervous system (36/846, 4%), sarcoma (11/277, 4%), pediatric (7/251, 3%), lymphoma (10/423, 2%), gynecological tumors (2/359, 1%), and others (11/351, 3%). Conclusion: Multi-disciplinary standardized QA chart rounds provide a comprehensive and an influential method on RT plans and/or treatment decisions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.734-743
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• 2021

Background: The underlying mechanisms of the potential tumor-suppressive effects of ginsenoside Rh2 are complex. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is usually dysregulated in cancer. This study explored the regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rh2 on m6A RNA methylation in cancer. Methods: m6A RNA quantification and gene-specific m6A RIP-qPCR assays were applied to assess total and gene-specific m6A RNA levels. Co-immunoprecipitation, fractionation western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect protein interactions and distribution. QRT-PCR, dual-luciferase, and ChIP-qPCR assays were conducted to check the transcriptional regulation. Results: Ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation and KIF26B expression in a dose-dependent manner in some cancers. KIF26B interacts with ZC3H13 and CBLL1 in the cytoplasm of cancer cells and enhances their nuclear distribution. KIF26B inhibition reduces m6A RNA methylation level in cancer cells. SRF bound to the KIF26B promoter and activated its transcription. SRF mRNA m6A abundance significantly decreased upon KIF26B silencing. SRF knockdown suppressed cancer cell proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo, the effect of which was partly rescued by KIF26B overexpression. Conclusion: ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation via downregulating KIF26B expression in some cancer cells. KIF26B elevates m6A RNA methylation via enhancing ZC3H13/CBLL1 nuclear localization. KIF26B-SRF forms a positive feedback loop facilitating tumor growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2187-2191
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• 2015

Background: Protrusive structures formed by migrating and invading cells are termed lamellipodia, filopodia, invadopodia and podosomes. Lamellipodia and filopodia appear on the leading edges of migrating cells and function to command the direction of the migrating cells. Invadopodia and podosomes are special F-actin-rich matrix-degrading structures that arise on the ventral surface of the cell membrane. Invadopodia are found in a variety of carcinomatous cells including squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region whereas podosomes are found in normal highly motile cells of mesenchymal and myelomonocytic lineage. Invadopodia-associated protein markers consisted of 129 proteins belonging to different functional classes including WASP, NWASP, cortactin, Src kinase, Arp 2/3 complex, MT1-MMP and F-actin. To date, our current understanding on the role(s) of these regulators of actin dynamics in tumors of the orofacial region indicates that upregulation of these proteins promotes invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma, is associated with poor/worst prognostic outcome in laryngeal cancers, contributes to the persistent growth and metastasis characteristics of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, is a significant predictor of increased cancer risk in oral mucosal premalignant lesions and enhances local invasiveness in jawbone ameloblastomas.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2024

Objectives: Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It has similar clinicopathological characteristics to SCC and verrucous carcinoma (VC). We present a case series of OCC and analyse its unique features, diagnosis, and management. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of oral cancer patients treated by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department from 2009 to 2020 with OCC biopsy findings. The clinicopathological characteristics and management of the OCC cases were analysed. Results: Four patients were identified with histologic findings of OCC, including three on the alveolar ridge mucosa and one on the tongue. Imaging revealed that two of the lesions located in the maxilla had osseous lysis. All four patients were all treated with radical excision, and the histopathology showed findings of SCC cuniculatum. It was decided that no further treatment was necessary. None of the patients has experienced recurrence during follow-up. Conclusion: OCC is a distinct entity that is more locally aggressive than VC but is associated with good prognosis. Radical surgical removal is considered appropriate for OCC. Emphasis should be given on an early diagnosis, as it remains challenging.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 1997

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is characterized by sloe growth, multiple recurrence, a long clinical course and late metastasis. It is less than 1% of all head and neck malignancy, but most prevalent malignancy in salivary gland origin. During 14 years(from 1982 to 1995), 24 patients were diagnosed as adenoid cystic carcinoma in oral and maxillfacial area, in department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital. We studied clinically about their age and sex distribution, primary site distribution, TNM staging, treatment modalities, overall survival rates, survival rates according to stages. The age range were from 15 years to 79 years, average age weas 51 years. 15 were men and 9 Were women. Maxilla and palate were the most prevalent primary site. The most cases were in stage III(37%) and stage IV(46%). The 3 year and 5 year overall survival rate were 65.0% and 58.5%. The 5 year survival rate of the stage III cases was 66.7%, and that of the stage IV cases was 38.4%.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2022

Reconstructive surgery in the management of head and neck cancer has evolved to include structure-specific approaches in which organ-specific treatment algorithms help optimize outcomes. Tongue cancer management and reconstruction are surgical challenges for which well-executed reconstructive plans should be completed promptly to avoid delaying any subsequently planned oncologic treatment. Crucial considerations in tongue cancer resection are the significant functional morbidity associated with surgical defects, particularly in terms of speech and swallowing, and the consequent negative impact on patients' quality of life. With the evolution of microsurgical techniques and the development of the perforator flap concept, flap options can be tailored to the characteristics of various tongue defects. This has allowed the implementation of pliable flaps that can help restore tongue mobility and yield subsequent functional outcomes. Using an evolutional framework, we present this series of reviews related to tongue reconstruction. The first part of the review summarizes flap options and flap-related factors, such as volume and tissue characteristics. Related functional aspects are also presented, including tongue mobility, speech, and swallowing, as well as ways to evaluate and optimize these outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.749-755
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• 2024

The recent surge in the incidence of small papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) has been linked to the widespread use of ultrasonography, thereby prompting concerns regarding overdiagnosis. Active surveillance (AS) has emerged as a less invasive alternative management strategy for low-risk PTCs, especially for PTCs measuring ≤1 cm in maximal diameter. Recent studies report low disease progression rates of low-risk PTCs ≤1 cm under AS. Ongoing research is currently exploring the feasibility of AS for larger PTCs (<20 mm). AS protocols include meticulous ultrasound assessment, emphasis on standardized techniques, and a multidisciplinary approach; they involve monitoring the nodules for size, growth, potential extrathyroidal extension, proximity to the trachea and recurrent laryngeal nerve, and potential cervical nodal metastases. The criteria for progression, often defined as an increase in the maximum diameter of the PTC, warrant a review of precision and ongoing examinations. Challenges exist regarding the reliability of volume measurements for defining PTC disease progression. Although ultrasonography plays a pivotal role, challenges in assessing progression and minor extrathyroidal extension underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in disease management. This comprehensive overview highlights the evolving landscape of AS for PTCs, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols, meticulous assessments, and ongoing research to inform decision-making.