• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

Objectives To investigate the therapeutic effects of intravenous cultivated wild ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) pharmacopuncture(CWGP) in treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Design Prospective case series. Setting This study was conducted at the East-West Cancer Center of Dunsan Oriental Hospital, Daejeon University. Patients Two non-small cell lung cancer patients. Intervention Two non-small cell lung cancer patients were injected CWGP(20mL/day) mixed with 0.9% normal saline(100mL) intravenously. Each patient received a total of 16 and 9 cycles, respectively. One cycle is composed of 14 days. Outcome Measures The effect of intravenous CWGP was measured by scanning with computed tomography(CT) after every 2 cycle and Positron emission tomography- computed tomography(PET/CT) after every 6 cycles. Response and progression was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST) Committee classification of complete response(CR), partial response(PR), progressive disease(PD) and stable disease(SD). Results They were treated with intravenous CWGP for 8 and 5 months respectively. time later, each tumor remains stable disease(SD). Conclusion These cases may give us a possibility that intravenous CWGP offers potential benefits for non-small cell lung cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2016

Purpose: Lung cancer patients are often stigmatized since lung cancer is closely associated with smoking, which is a self-administered life style. The stigma of lung cancer has been examined in some qualitative studies; however, their findings were diverse and not yet synthesized. Therefore, this meta-synthesis study aimed to explore how lung cancer patients experience stigma. Methods: A meta-synthesis method, as suggested by Sandelowski and Barroso in 2007, was applied by aggregating the findings after an evaluation according to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). Results: By synthesizing the findings of the selected seven papers, a synthesized theme was emerged as "experiencing external and internal distances, which mandates authentic and consistent supports." The four sub-themes included 'experiencing some distance from the surrounded world,' 'experiencing self-made distance between the disease and oneself,' 'the disease experience causes social isolation and loneliness,' and 'there is lack of supportive care for myself.' Conclusion: Health care providers should be more attentive to supporting lung cancer patients by providing more effective advocacy programs that improve patients' quality of life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4373-4378
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• 2012

Introduction: Hypercalcemia is mainly caused by bone resorption due to either secretion of cytokines including parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) or bone metastases. However, hypercalcemia may occur in patients with or without bone metastases. The present study aimed to describe the effect of chemotherapy treatment, regimens and doses on calcium levels among breast and lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia. Methods: We carried a review of medical records of breast and lung cancer patients hospitalized in years 2003 and 2009 at Penang General Hospital, a public tertiary care center in Penang Island, north of Malaysia. Patients with hypercalcemia (defined as a calcium level above 10.5 mg/dl) at the time of cancer diagnosis or during cancer treatment had their medical history abstracted, including presence of metastasis, chemotherapy types and doses, calcium levels throughout cancer treatment, and other co-morbidity. The mean calcium levels at first hospitalization before chemotherapy were compared with calcium levels at the end of or at the latest chemotherapy treatment. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test for categorical data, logistic regression test for categorical variables, and Spearman correlation test, linear regression and the paired sample t tests for continuous data. Results: Of a total 1,023 of breast cancer and 814 lung cancer patients identified, 292 had hypercalcemia at first hospitalization or during cancer treatment (174 breast and 118 lung cancer patients). About a quarter of these patients had advanced stage cancers: 26.4% had mild hypercalcemia (10.5-11.9 mg/dl), 55.5% had moderate (12-12.9 mg/dl), and 18.2% severe hypercalcemia (13-13.9; 14-16 mg/dl). Chemotherapy lowered calcium levels significantly both in breast and lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia; in particular with chemotherapy type 5-flurouracil+epirubicin+cyclophosphamide (FEC) for breast cancer, and gemcitabine+cisplatin in lung cancer. Conclusion: Chemotherapy decreases calcium levels in breast and lung cancer cases with hypercalcemia at cancer diagnosis, probably by reducing PTHrP levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5179-5183
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• 2016

Background: Prior series investigated the expression of prepro-gastrin releasing peptide (prepro-GRP) in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients. Our aim was to assess any prepro-GRP role as a prognostic factor for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and NSCLC and correlations with clinical presentation and treatment outcome. Methods: A prospective study was conducted during the time period from the beginning of January 2012 till the end of January 2014. Prepro-GRP expression was analysed using a nested RT-PCR assay in peripheral blood of 62 untreated lung cancer patients attending the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, and 30 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Results: Among the 62 lung cancer cases, there were 24 (38.7%) SCLC, and 38 (61.3%) NSCLC (10 squamous cell carcinomas, 12 adenocarcinomas, 11 large cell carcinomas, 4 undifferentiated carcinomas, and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma). Twenty six patients (41.9%) were prepro-GRP positive. Prepro-GRP expression was higher (58.3%) among SCLC patients compared to NSCLC (squamous cell carcinoma (15.4%), large cell carcinoma (36.4%), and adenocarcinoma (25%)). Mean OS among prepro-GRP negative cases was longer than that among preprogastrin positive cases (17.6 vs 14.9 months). The mean PFS durations among preprogastrin negative versus positive cases were 7.7 vs 4.6 months (p= 0.041). No difference in response to chemotherapy was identified between the groups (p=0.983). Conclusion: Prepro-GRP is suggested to be a useful prognostic marker for lung cancer patients, especially with the fast- growing, bad prognostic SCLC type. More studies should aim at detailed understanding of the mechanisms of prepro-GRP action and its use in monitoring the response to treatment in a larger cohort.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2909-2913
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting sleep quality of 100 patients with advanced stage lung cancer. Methods and Results: it was a descriptive study. A variety of assessment tools were used to provide sleep scores to examine the relation between adverse effects caused by the treatment (nausea, vomiting, fatigue) and sleep quality. As a result, no statistically significant relation between coughing and respiratory problems of patients, or existing depression, and average sleep quality score was found (KW:0.872, p=0.646, KW: 3.174, p=0.205, u: 441.000 p=0.916). It was revealed that nausea and loss of appetite experienced also did not affect the sleep quality score (p>0.05), whereas problems such as vomiting and fatigue did exert effects (p<0.01). Conclusions: Patients with advanced stage lung cancer suffer from sleep problems and cancer related symptoms also affect their sleep quality negatively. Nurses should plan interventions that can control symptoms such as pain, vomiting and fatigue, which affect the sleep of patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2001

Background : It has been reported that younger patients with lung cancer have characteristic features that differ from those in older patients. The prognosis for young patients with this disease is controversial. This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological characteristics, the survival rate, and the risk factors associated with the overall survival rate in younger patients with lung cancer. Methods : The records of 120 young(age${\leq}40$) patients with histologically confirmed lung cancer in the Korea Caneer Center Hospital(KCCH) between Jan. 1992 and Dec. 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Of 5,082 lung cancer patients registered at the KCCH from 1992 to 1998, 120 older(age>40) patients were randomly selected as the controls. Results : More female patients(45.0% vs. 20.0%, p<0.001) and more adenocarcinoma cases(64.2% vs.38.3%, p<0.001) were found in the younger group, when compared to the older patients. In NSCLC, advanced disease(stage IIIB and IV) was more common in the younger patients(90.2%) than in the older patients(62.7%) (p<0.001). The Median survival was 8.6 months in the younger patients and 12.2 months in the older(p=0.003). In a multivariate analysis, only the advanced-stage was an independent negative prognostic factor. Conclusions : Lung cancer in the younger age group presents with a more advanced stage resulting in a poor survival rate, which suggests that lung cancer in this population is more aggressive than in older patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3377-3380
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• 2016

The proportion of lung cancer patients under 50 years old is small at approximately 5-10%, but as with patients older than 50, the number is on the rise. Although lung cancer treatment strategies have undergone extensive transformation in recent years based on the presence or absence of oncogenic driver mutations, there are few reports regarding these mutations in the young or the relationship between clinical setting and prognosis. Therefore, we conducted a study of clinical features in 36 patients under the age of 50 who were diagnosed with primary lung cancer from October 2008 to November 2015. The 22 patients in stages I through III A underwent operations, and all 17 whose lung cancer were detected through screening were candidates for surgery. Gene analysis was conducted for 26 (72.2%); 10 (38.5%) were positive for EGFR gene mutations, and ALK gene translocation was present in 4 (15.4%). In stage IV patients, the median progression free survival (PFS) in the ALK translocation positive and negative patients was 518 days and 130 days, respectively, and the median overall survival (OS) was not reached and 280 days, respectively. A trend toward extended PFS (p=0.203) and OS (p=0.056) was observed in patients positive for ALK translocation. We must strive for early detection by increasing screening rates and evaluate oncogenic driver mutations important for prognosis of lung cancer in the young.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4369-4371
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the association of a diagnosis of lung cancer and combined detection of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrateantigen 19-9 (CA19-9), neuron specific enolase (NSE) as well as the cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1). Methods: Serum CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 were assessed in 150 patients with lung cancer, 100 patients with benign lung disease and 100 normal control subjects, and differences of expression were compared in each group, and joint effects of these tumor markers in the diagnosis of lung cancer were analyzed. Results: Serum CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 in patients with lung cancer were significantly higher than those with benign lung disease and normal controls (p<0.01). It is suggested that these four tumor markers combined together could produce a positive detection rate of 90.2%, significantly higher than that of any single test. Conclusion: Combination detection of CEA, CA19-9, NSE and CYFRA21-1 could significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of lung cancer, and could be important in early detection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4025-4028
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• 2014

Background: Relationships between smoking and bladder neoplasms, one of the common malignancies, are well-known. Different smoking-related malignancies may occur together. In this study, we evaluated the stage and grade of bladder neoplasms in patients also featuring lung or larynx cancer. Materials and Methods: From January 2006 to February 2012, patients who underwent surgery for bladder neoplasms in our clinic were screened retrospectively. In the evaluation, 5 patients had larynx cancer and 20 patients have lung cancer in addition, all having been smoking for a long time. The bladder tumor stage and grade were investigated in these 25 cases. Results: Mean age of patients was 66.8 (49-78). In the evaulation, all of 5 patients who had larnyx cancer also had high grade urothelial cancer. One had T2 urothelial, and 3 T1 urothelial cancer. In the same way, all of the 20 patients with lung cancer also have high grade urothelial cancer, three T2, and 13 T1. Bladder cancer stage and grade were determined to be significantly increased in patients with concomitant bladder and lung or larynx cancer. Conclusions: In the patients who have smoking releated second malignancy, bladder cancer prognosis appears more aggressive. We now need a larger series and multi-center studies for understanding relevant pathophysiology.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1993-1995
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• 2015

Purpose: This analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy in treating patients with small cell lung cancer. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy for patients with small cell lung cancer were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) of treatment were calculated. Results: In irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy, 4 clinical studies which including 155 patients with small cell lung cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. In all chemotherapy consisted of irinotecan with or without nedaplatin. Pooled analysis suggested that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 27.1% (42/155) in irinotecan based regimens. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and myelosuppression were the main side effects. No grade III or IV renal or liver toxicity was observed. No treatment related death occurred with the irinotecan based treatments. Conclusion: This systemic analysis suggests that irinotecan based regimens as second-line chemotherapy are associated with mild response rate and acceptable toxicity for patients with small cell lung cancer.