• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.259-263
• /
• 2016

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate and is often diagnosed at the metastatic stage. Gefitinib is a targeted molecular therapeutic drug used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Korean herbal medicines may also have therapeutic efficacy against lung cancer, reduce the side effects associated with chemotherapy, and improve patient quality of life (QOL). This case report describes the effects of a Korean herbal medicine regimen combined with gefitinib in a patient with NSCLC and bone metastasis. The Korean herbal medicine regimen included woohwanggeosa-dan, hwanggibujeong-dan and geonchilgyebok-jeong. The computed tomography (CT) findings showed that following combination treatment, the size of the tumor was markedly decreased without serious adverse events. Moreover, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was improved and cancer-related pain was decreased. These results suggest that a combination of Korean herbal medicines and gefitinib may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with advanced NSCLC and bone metastasis. Further studies are needed to examine the mechanism and the clinical efficacy of Korean herbal medicines against NSCLC.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.161.2-162
• /
• 2001

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.2137-2139
• /
• 2013

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females, worldwide, accounting for 22.9% of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) in females. Mammography is a sensitive (77-95%) and specific (94-97%) screening method for breast cancer. Previously, females between the 40-50 years old were recommended to have mammograms every one to two years. However, based on current evidence, in 2009, USPSTF recommended that the decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography for females younger than 50 years should be an individual decision and take patient context into account, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms. This decision was based on findings regarding radiation exposure, false-positive and false-negative rates, over-diagnosis, and pain and psychological responses. The goal of this paper is to focus on evidence for updating the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation against routine mammography for females between 40-49 years of age.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2024

This review delved into the intricate relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiome and gastric cancer, particularly focusing on post-treatment alterations, notably following gastrectomy, and the effects of anticancer therapies. Following gastrectomy, analysis of fecal samples revealed an increased presence of oral cavity aerotolerant and bile acid-transforming bacteria in the intestine. Similar changes were observed in the gastric microbiome, highlighting significant alterations in taxon abundance and emphasizing the reciprocal interaction between the oral and gastric microbiomes. In contrast, the impact of chemotherapy and immunotherapy on the gut microbiome was subtle, although discernible differences were noted between treatment responders and non-responders. Certain bacterial taxa showed promise as potential prognostic markers. Notably, probiotics emerged as a promising approach for postgastrectomy recovery, displaying the capacity to alleviate inflammation, bolster immune responses, and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Several strains, including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium butyricum, exhibited favorable outcomes in postoperative patients, suggesting their potential roles in comprehensive patient care. In conclusion, understanding the intricate interplay between the gastrointestinal microbiome and gastric cancer treatment offers prospects for predicting responses and enhancing postoperative recovery. Probiotics, with their positive impact on inflammation and immunity, have emerged as potential adjuncts in patient care. Continued research is imperative to fully harness the potential of microbiome-based interventions in the management of gastric cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.956-962
• /
• 2007

In cancer patients showing nausea and vomiting, a number of factors can be considered as the cause including brain tumor, electrolyte imbalance, gastrointestinal diseases or types of chemotherapy agents and dose of the drugs. Though nausea and vomiting can be minimized through the use of various anti-emetic drugs, many people still suffer from severe nausea and vomiting with poor quality of life compared with patients who do not show significant nausea and vomiting. In this report, we introduce a case of a cancer patient who suffered from severe nausea and vomiting. The patient was female and 59 years old with NSCLC (non small cell lung cancer) with metastatic brain tumor. Though western conventional medical treatment was used to reduce the symptoms, persistent nausea and vomiting were noted during the admission period. Herbal decoction Gamibokryungbanha-tang was used for nausea and vomiting which were uncontrolled under conventional western medicine; the patient showed remarkable improvement in terms of frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting. Further study will be needed in order to determine the long-term effectiveness of oriental medical treatment on cancer patient with nausea and vomiting.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.72 no.1
• /
• pp.82-87
• /
• 2012

In 2005, a group of mycolic acid-containing bacteria was characterized as belonging to a novel genus, Segniliparus with species Segniliparus rugosus and S. rotundus. We report a case of the S. rugosus isolated from a 54-year-old woman with radiologic features mimicking that of non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM). When the patient first visited our hospital, an acid-fast bacteria (AFB) smear tested positive and Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (TB PCR) was negative in the bronchoalveolar lavage sample. After 2 months, the growing colonies were reported as NTM, but could not be identified because they had died. One year after the initial visit, induced sputum samples showed the same results, positive AFB smear and negative TB PCR. At this point, the growing colonies were identified as S. rugosus. Therefore, we should consider Segniliparus genus as a differential diagnosis for AFB in respiratory specimens in addition to the genus Mycobacterium.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.137-145
• /
• 2019

Among the participants of the 2012 Korea Medical Panel survey, 308 people who have used emergency, hospitalization and outpatient services for cancer have been selected. The average annual direct cost per cancer patient was analyzed by adding up the patient's medical expenses, industrial copayments, and non-salary costs. The average annual direct direct cost of cancer spent by cancer patients is about 129,093,792 per male, 158,100,612 won for men and 110,482,075 for women.For those with health insurance, the total direct cost per person from cancer was 183,095,125 won and the beneficiaries were 46,241,705 won. By household income, the average annual direct direct costs per person were 112,459,971 won per patient in the household income quartile, 137,910,890 won for patients in the second quartile, 149,556,570 won in the third quartile and 112,730,461 won, quartile 5, respectively.Was 142,926,331 won.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.4917-4920
• /
• 2016

For advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, a platinum-based regimen is the first-line chemotherapy treatment. The excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) plays an important role in DNA repair and has been related to resistance to platinum chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the ERCC1 (C118T) polymorphism on treatment response in 26 Thai advanced NSCLC patients receiving first line platinum-based chemotherapy during January to July 2015 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes and the single nucleotide polymorphism of ERCC1 was genotyped using a real-time PCR method with the TaqMan assay. The distribution of C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes was 57.7 %, 34.6 % and 7.7 %, respectively. The response rate to platinum-based chemotherapy in the wild type (C/C) of ERCC1 (C118T) was better than with the variant types (C/T and T/T) but the difference was not statistically significant (29.7% vs 9.1%, P=0.274). The results showed that a genetic polymorphism in ERCC1 might influence patient response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Further multicenter studies are now required to confirm the results of our study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.15
• /
• pp.6421-6423
• /
• 2014

Background: Recent studies have revealed a prognostic impact of the MPV (mean platelet volume)/platelet count ratio in terms of survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, there has been no direct analysis of the survival impact of MPV in patients with mCRC. The aim of the study is to evaluate the pretreatment MPV of patients with metastatic and non-metastatic colorectal cancer (non-mCRC) and also the prognostic significance of pretreatment MPV to progression in mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab-combined chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three metastatic and ninety-five non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients were included into the study. Data on sex, age, lymph node status, MPV, platelet and platecrit (PCT) levels were obtained retrospectively from the patient medical records. Results: The MPV was significantly higher in the patients with mCRC compared to those with non-mCRC ($7.895{\pm}1.060$ versus $7.322{\pm}1.136$, p=0.013). The benefit of bevacizumab on PFS was significantly greater among the patients with low MPV than those with high MPV. The hazard ratio (HR) of disease progression was 0.41 (95%CI, 0.174-0.986; p=0.04). In conclusion, despite the retrospective design and small sample size, MPV can be considered a prognostic factor for mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab-combined chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.3241-3245
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of mitomycin-C and chemo-hyperthermia in combination for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Between November 2011-September 2013, 43 patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing adjuvant chemo-hyperthermia in two centers were evaluated retrospectively. Treatment consisted of 6 weekly sessions, followed by 6 sessions. Recurrence and progression rate, recurrence-free interval and side effects were examined. Analyzed factors included age, gender, smoking status, AB0 blood group, body mass index, T stage and grade, concominant CIS assets. The associations between predictors and recurrence were assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. Results: A total of 40 patients completed induction therapy. Thirteen (32.5%) were diagnosed with tumor recurrence. Median follow-up was 30 months (range 9-39). Median recurrence-free survival was 23 months (range 6-36). The Kaplan-Meier-estimated recurrence-free rates for the entire group at 12 and 24 months were 82% and 61%. There was no statistically significant difference between patient subgroups. Cox hazard analyses showed that an A blood type (OR=6.23, p=0.031) was an independent predictor of recurrence-free. Adverse effects were seen in 53% of patients and these were frequently grades 1 and 2. Conclusions: Intravesical therapy with combination of mitomycin-C and chemohyperthermia seems to be appropriate in high-risk patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer who cannot tolerate or have contraindications for standard BCG therapy.