• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4207-4210
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• 2014

Several lines of evidence suggest that genetic variation in MUC5AC gene might contribute to the risk of gastric cancer. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the relationship between common genetic variations in MUC5AC gene and non-cardia gastric cancer using an LD-based tagSNP approach in Baotou, north-western China. We genotyped 12 tagSNPs by TaqMan method among 288 cases with non-cardia gastric cancer and 281 normal controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for non-cardia gastric cancer risk in association with alleles, genotypes and haplotypes. We observed that the frequencies of rs3793964 C allele and rs11040869 A allele were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Meanwhile, minor allele homozygotes of rs3793964 and rs11040869 were significantly associated with a decreased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer when compared with their major allele homozygotes. Furthermore, a statistically significantly protective effect of rs885454 genotypes on non-cardia gastric cancer was also observed (for CT vs. CC: OR=0.581, 95%CI=0.408-0.829; for CT/TT vs. CC: OR=0.623, 95%CI=0.451-0.884). Our results indicated that some common genetic variations in the MUC5AC gene might have effects on the risk of non-cardia gastric cancer in our studied population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3653-3657
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• 2015

We aimed to investigate the differences in health screening, including medical checkups and cancer screening, between HBV carriers and non-carriers in the Republic of Korea. In the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), conducted between 2010 and 2012, 17,865 persons who answered regarding their HBV-infection status, medical checkup history, liver cancer screening and general cancer screening within the past years were included in the final analysis. In total, 295 persons were HBV carriers. Logistic regression models were used to compare the health check-up rate between the HBV carriers and non-HBV carriers. The HBV carriers were more likely to have been screened for liver cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.83, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.90-4.21] or cancer [OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.04-1.99]. The HBV carriers showed a probability of receiving medical checkups that was identical to that of the non-carriers [OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.72-1.35]. The HBV carriers, who were at higher risk of developing chronic liver disease, were more likely to be screened for cancer, including liver cancer, than the non-HBV carriers; no difference in the rate of medical checkups was observed between the HBV carriers and non-HBV carriers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7685-7692
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• 2013

Background: Management of hypertension and diabetes in cancer survivors is an important issue; however, not much is known about the level of management of such chronic disease in Korea. This study therefore assessed the prevalence, awareness, control, and treatment of hypertension and diabetes in Korean cancer survivors compared to non-cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, wherein data were obtained from standardized questionnaires completed by 943 cancer survivors and 41,233 non-cancer survivors who participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2007-2011). We calculated adjusted proportions for prevalence and management of hypertension and diabetes in non-cancer survivors and cancer survivors. We also assessed the associated factors with prevalence and management of cancer survivors. Results: Cancer survivors are more likely than the general population to have higher prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. However, diabetic management was not significantly higher in cancer survivors than in non-cancer survivors, despite their having a higher prevalence. Several factors, such as, age, drinking, years since cancer diagnosis, self-perceived health status, and specific cancer types were found to affect to management of hypertension and diabetes. Conclusions: These data suggest that cancer survivors appear to be better than non-cancer survivors at management of hypertension, but not diabetes. There is a need for healthcare providers to recognize the importance of long-term chronic disease management for cancer survivors and for the care model to be shared between primary care physicians and oncologists.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1801-1810
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• 2016

Recent discovery showing the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the circulation sparked interest in their use as potential biomarkers. Our previous studies showed the diagnostic potential of miR-451 as a serological marker for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), miR-337-5p and miR-30b for non-inflammatory breast cancer (non-IBC). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic values of circulating miRNAs by comparing the amounts of 12 circulating miRNAs in the serum of IBC and non-IBC from Tunisian breast cancer patients, and by determinating whether correlated pairs of miRNAs could provide useful information in the diagnosis of IBC and non-IBC patients. TaqMan qPCR was performed to detect circulating expression of miRNAs in serum of 20 IBC, 20 non-IBC and 20 healthy controls. Nonparametric rank Spearman rho correlation coefficient was used to examine the prognostic value of miRNAs and to assess the correlation profile between miRNAs expression. Further, a large number of miRNAs were highly correlated (rho>0.5) in both patients groups and controls. Also, the correlations profiles were different between IBC, non-IBC and healthy controls indicating important changes in molecular pathways in cancer cells. Our results showed that miR-335 was significantly overexpressed in premenopausal non-IBC patients; miR-24 was significantly overexpressed in non-IBC postmenopausal patients. Patients with previous parity had higher serum of miR-342-5p levels than those without. Furthermore, patients with HER2+ IBC present lower serum levels of miR-15a than patients with HER2-disease. Together, these results underline the potential of miRNAs to function as diagnostic and prognostic markers for IBC and non-IBC, with links to the menopausal state, Her2 status and parity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.594-601
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• 2023

Objective: To demonstrate an improvement in metastatic cancer pain and a decrease in tumor size in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer. Method: A 53-year-old female patient diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in August 2022 underwent integrative cancer treatment (ICT) for two months to decrease the tumor size and improve back pain from bone metastasis. The patient underwent chemotherapy with ICT. Radiologic outcomes were assessed by chest, abdomen, and pelvis computed tomography based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) protocol. Clinical outcomes were assessed using National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (NCI-CTCAE), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), and a numeric rating scale (NRS). Result: During the two months of treatment, the NRS scores for back pain were improved, and the ECOG score improved from grade 2 to 1. The size and metabolic activity of the primary lung tumor decreased and underwent partial remission based on RECIST. No serious side effects of grade 3 or higher were noted on the NCI-CTCAE test. Conclusion: This case suggests that ICT may have a therapeutic effect for cancer pain and a synergetic effect with chemotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.232-238
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• 2013

Background: Although thromboembolism is common and one of the major causes of mortality in cancer patients, maintaining therapeutic anticoagulation effect with warfarin is challenging. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the causes of non-therapeutic INR (International Normalized Ratio) in cancer patients. Methods: Medical and pharmacy records for cancer patients managed by the pharmacist-run anticoagulation service (ACS) between May, 2010 and April, 2011 at Seoul National University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The causes of non-therapeutic INR were identified and compared with the results from a former study with mechanical heart valve patients. Results: A total of 335 cancer patients and 6,737 patient-visits were analyzed producing 68% (n=4,590) of non-therapeutic INR readings. Eighty-five percent of the non-therapeutic INR readings were categorized as sub-therapeutic. Frequent causes linked to non-therapeutic INR included inadequate dosage adjustment (21.8%), changes in health status (11.8%), dietary changes (8.1%), and drug interactions (4.2%). More than half of the non-therapeutic INR values had no known etiology. As causes for non-therapeutic INR, changes in health status (p<0.0001), adverse reactions (p<0.0001), and dietary changes (p=0.017) were statistically more frequent in cancer patients than in patients with mechanical heart valves. Furthermore, exposure to sub-therapeutic INR were more prevalent in cancer patients than in patients with mechanical heart valve (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This study shows that there is a tendency to keep the level of INR low and that health status change, dietary change, and drug interactions are found to be frequent causes for non-therapeutic INR in cancer patients.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.18.1-18.9
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• 2018

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are classified as RNAs that are longer than 200 nucleotides and cannot be translated into protein. Several studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs are directly or indirectly involved in a variety of biological processes and in the regulation of gene expression. In addition, lncRNAs have important roles in many diseases including cancer. It has been shown that abnormal expression of lncRNAs is observed in several human solid tumors. Several studies have shown that many lncRNAs can function as oncogenes in cancer development through the induction of cell cycle progression, cell proliferation and invasion, anti-apoptosis, and metastasis. Oncogenic lncRNAs have the potential to become promising biomarkers and might be potent prognostic targets in cancer therapy. However, the biological and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA involvement in tumorigenesis have not yet been fully elucidated. This review summarizes studies on the regulatory and functional roles of oncogenic lncRNAs in the development and progression of various types of cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 2016

Background: Epidemiological evidence indicates that individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) may have a modestly increased risk of bladder cancer. In the present study, we aimed to show any association between DM and risk of metastasis in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 698 patients between January 2007 and December 2014 who were diagnosed with and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TUR-BT). Comparisons of means was conducted by independent samples t test, and relations between categorical variables were investigated by non-parametric chi-square test. A p value of 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant in comparisons. Results: We analyzed 418 patients with non muscle invasive bladder cancer. 123 of whom were diabetic and 295 non-diabetic. In diabetic patients, 13 were N1 stage and 11 M1 stage. When compared with non diabetic patients that was statistically significant (p<0.001). TNM stages were more advanced in diabetic patients (p<0.001), but concurrent CIS (p=0.1) and squamous metaplasia did not significantly differ between diabetic and non-diabetic cases (p=1). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer may suffer metastases earlier than expected although they are non invasive. Therefore such patients must be followed-up carefully and early cystectomy decision may be necessary. Further prospective studies with more patients are needed to confirm these findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1773-1780
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• 2013

Background: This study was designed to evaluate prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors compared to non-cancer controls from a population-based sample and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by 2009 consensus criteria. Associated factors with were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis among cancer survivors. Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors (n = 335) was similar to that in the non-cancer population (n = 10,671). However, gastric cancer survivors showed lower risk of metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.86). Age of more than 60 years (aOR 4.83, 95% CI 1.94-12.03), BMI between 23 and 25 (aOR 6.71, 95% CI 2.90-15.6), BMI more than 25 (aOR 12.23, 95% CI 5.20-28.77) were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors. Conclusions: Cancer survivors are unlikely to have a higher risk of the metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls in Korea. This finding may be due to a relatively high proportion of gastric cancer survivors in Korea than in Western countries. The risk for metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors would appear to vary according to oncological and non-oncological factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4957-4961
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• 2014

Background: Head and neck cancer without distant metastases is amenable to various modalities of treatment. However, the stage at presentation is a very important determinant for treatment success. The present study was conducted to determine the stage-wise presentation of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the hilly regions in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and Methods: The hospital records for non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the only functional cancer centre of the region for the period of two-years (January 2012-December 2013) were included. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was excluded due to its staging system being different. Non-squamous histopathologies were also excluded. Patients hailing from nearby regions of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal were excluded, as were patients from non-hilly regions of Kumaon. Results: Of the 271 patients of head and neck cancer, 27 with distant metastases at diagnosis were excluded from the analysis. Of the 244 eligible patient records, 90.1% (n=222) were male, and 9.9% (n=22) were female. The proportions of patients with carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx and maxillary antrum were 31.9% (n=78), 27.9% (n=68), 20.5% (n=50), 12.7% (n=31) and 1.2% (n=3). A further 5.7% (n=14) were diagnosed as having secondary involvement of neck nodes with unknown primaries. The proportion of patients presenting in stages I, II, III, IVA and IVB were 0.8% (n=2), 2.5% (n=6), 9.4% (n=23), 51.6% (n=126) and 35.7% (n=87) respectively. Conclusions: An abysmally low proportion (3.3%) of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients presented in the early stages (I and II). A vast majority of the patients (88.1%) presented with stages IVA and IVB. Not only does this reflect a poor therapeutic outlook, but also exposes the dire need for programmes focusing on cancer awareness and early detection in the region.