• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.3299-3304
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• 2014

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze whether Homer1 is a potential prognostic marker for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Materials and Methods: The expression of Homer1 in ICC tissue was detected with immunohistochemistry and levels of protein in ICC and paratumor tissues were evaluated by Western blotting. Survival analysis by the Kaplan-Meier method was performed to assess prognostic significance. Results: Homer1 expression was high in 67.4% (58/86) of ICC samples, and there was significant difference between ICC and adjacent noncancerous tissues (p<0.001); high expression was associated with poor histologic differentiation (p=0.019), TNM stage (p=0.014), lymph node metastasis (p=0.040), and lymphatic invasion (p=0.025). On Kaplan-Meier analysis, a comparison of survival curves of low versus high expressors of Homer1 revealed a highly significant difference in OS (p=0.001) and DFS (p=0.006), indicating that high expression of Homer1 was linked with a worse prognosis. Multivariate analyses showed that Homer1 expression was an independent risk factor predicting overall survival[Hazard ratio(HR), 7.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.63-21.47; p=0.002] and disease-free survival (HR, 11.56; 95%CI, 5.17-25.96; p<0.001) in ICC. Conclusions: Homer1 promotes lymphatic invasion and associates with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of ICC. The current study shows that Homer1 may be an independent prognostic factor for ICC patients after curative resection, and it provides an important basis for screening/treating high-risk patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.1759-1767
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• 2016

Background: Uterine sarcoma is a group of rare gynecologic tumors with various natures, and different lines of treatment. Most have a poor treatment outcome. This study targeted clinical characteristics, treatment, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and prognostic factors in uterine sarcoma patients in one tertiary center for cancer care. Materials and Methods: Uterine sarcoma patients who were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital between January 1994 and December 2014 were identified. Clinico-pathological data were analyzed. Prognostic outcomes were examined by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Results: We identified 46 uterine sarcoma patients: 25 carcinosarcoma (CS) (54.3%), 15 leiomyosarcoma (LMS) (32.6%), and 6 undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS) (13.1%) cases. Mean age was $54.0{\pm}11.9years$ (range 25-82 years). Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common presenting symptom (63.0%). Among 33 patients (71.7%) who had pre-operative tissue collected, diagnosis of malignancy was correct in 29 (87.9%). All patients received primary surgery and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were resected in 34 (73.9%). After surgery, 5 (10.9%) had gross residual tumors. Stage I disease was most commonly found (56.5%). Adjuvant treatment was given to 27 (58.7%), most commonly chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 16.0 months (range 0.8-187.4 months), recurrence was encountered in 22 patients (47.8%). Median time to recurrence was 5.8 months (range1.0-105.5 months). Distant metastasis was more common than local or locoregional failure. The 2-year PFS was 45.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.6%-59.7%) and the 2-year OS was 48.3% (95% CI, 33.3%-60.7%). Multivariable analyses found residual disease after surgery as a significant factor only for PFS. Conclusions: Uterine sarcoma is a rare tumor entity. Even with multimodalities of treatment, the prognosis is still poor. Successful cytoreductive surgery is a key factor for a good survival outcome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.2101-2107
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• 2012

Treatment responses of $N_0$ stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma were firstly analyzed comprehensively to evaluate long term outcomes of patients and identify prognostic factors. A total of 610 patients with $N_0$ NPC, undergoing definitive radiotherapy to their primary lesion and prophylactic radiation to upper neck, were reviewed retrospectively. Concomitant chemotherapy was administrated to 65 out of the 610. Survival rates of the patients were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Prognostic factors were identified by the Cox regression model. The study revealed the 5-year and 10-year overall, disease-free, disease-specific, local failure-free, regional failure-free, locoregional failure-free and distant metastasis-free survival rates to be 78.7% and 66.8%, 68.8% and 55.8%, 79.9% and 70.4%, 81.2% and 72.5%, 95.8% and 91.8%, 78.3% and 68.5%, 88.5% and 85.5%, respectively. There were 192 patients experiencing failure (31.5%) after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Of these, local recurrence, regional relapse and distant metastases as the first event of failure occurred in 100 (100/610, 16.4%), 15(15/610, 2.5%) and 52 (52/610, 8.5%), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that T stage was the only independent prognostic factor for patients with $N_0$ NPC (P=0.000). Late T stage (P=0.000), male (P=0.039) and anemia (P=0.007) were independently unfavorable factors predicting disease-free survival. After treatment, satisfactory outcome wasgenerally achieved in patients with $N_0$ NPC. Local recurrence represented the predominant mode of treatment failure, while T stage was the only independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Late T stage, male gender, and anemia independently predicted lower possibility of the disease-free survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5551-5556
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• 2014

Background: The prognostic value of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu) for survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still ambiguous. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to evaluate its prognostic significance. Materials and Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for published literature investigating associations between HER-2/neu status and overall survival of patients with CRC. A meta-analysis was performed using a DerSimonian-Laird model and publication bias was investigated by Begg's and Egger's tests. Subgroup analysis was also conducted according to the study design type, study quality score, cut-off value for HER-2/neu overexpression, publication region, patient number and publication year. Results: A total of 17 eligible studies involving 2,347 patients were identified for this meta-analysis. The combined hazard ratio (HR) was 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-1.79), suggesting that HER-2/neu overexpression was not significantly associated with overall survival of patients with CRC. However, subgroup analysis revealed that HER-2/neu overexpression had an unfavorable impact on survival when the analysis was restricted to subgroups of study quality score ${\leq}5 $(HR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.17-2.10), Asian patients (HR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.22-2.49), patient number ${\leq}106$ (HR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.01-2.44), publication year before 2003 (HR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.02-2.49), and prospectively designed study (HR=3.62, 95%CI: 1.42-9.24). The effect disappeared in subgroups of study quality scores > 5 (HR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.33-1.44), non Asian patients (HR=1.14, 95%CI: 0.77-1.70), patients' number > 106 (HR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.67-1.72), publication year after 2003 (HR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.76-1.69), and retrospectively designed study (HR=1.22, 95%CI: 0.89-1.67). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that HER-2/neu overexpression might not be a significantly prognostic indicator for patients with CRC. Further studies are required to confirm these results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.1103-1107
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• 2001

Objective : Atypical and malignant meningiomas(AM, MM) are known to be rare and show aggressive behavior. Limited data are available concerning the clinical features, effectiveness of surgical removal and role of radiation therapy with AM, MM. The authors report our experience of AM, MM, with respect to clinical features. Methods : Twenty-four cases of AM and 28 cases of MM, who were operated between 1988 and 1999 were retro-spectively studied review of medical records and radiological findings. These were compared with control group of 24 cases of menigiomas manifestating usual clinical course, which are selected arbitrarily among operative cases between Apr. 1999 and Dec. 1999. Mean follow-up periods were 26(1-91) months for AM and 23(1-62) for MM. Authors analyzed the prognostic factors for survival, and statistical analysis were accomplished by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results : Differences of clinical features between control groups and these atypical and malignant meningioma group were not significant. However, the location of MM was frequent in non-basal area(p<0.01). In AM, there were 4 patients of recurrence, and 3 patients of mortality. Among mortality cases, only one patient died of tumor progression, the other patients died of other causes. The survival at 2 year and 5 year in this group were 88% and 74% respectively, and in MM, 11 patients died due to tumor progression and 2 had spinal metastasis. The survival at 2 year and 5 year were 72% and 20%, respectively. For extent of resection, total removal(Simpson grade 1 or 2) was less often achieved in MM compared with AM(50% vs. 83%). Extent of resection of tumor and postoperative radiation therapy did not affect survival in both AM, MM. Conclusions : Clinical behavior of AM showed more benign than that of MM. Prognostic factor for survival is not related extent of resection of tumor and postoperative radiation therapy. However, further investigation with long-term follow-up and additional cases is mandatory.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2000

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the important factors affecting survival and pregnancy rate in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. Methods: we performed retrospective analysis in 738 cycles of frozen-thawed embryo transfers, in relation to the insemination methods, the freezing stage of embryo, patient's age, infertility factors and the origin of injected sperm in ICSI cycles. After conventional IVF or ICSI, the supernumerary PN stage zygotes or multicellular embryos were cryopreserved by slow freezing protocol with 1,2-propanediol (PROH) as a cryoprotectant. Results: The survival rates of thawed embryos were 69.3% (1585/2287) in conventional IVF group and 71.7% (1645/2295) in ICSI group. After frozen-thawed embryo transfers, 27.0% (92/341) and 32.0% (109/341) of pregnancy rates were achieved in conventional IVF and ICSI group, respectively. There were no significant difference in the survival and pregnancy rates according to the insemination methods, the freezing stage and patient's age. However, the pregnancy rate (36.2%) of male factor infertility was significantly higher than the tubal (27.2%) and other female factor infertility (22.9%). In ICSI group, the origin of injected sperm did not affect the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that acceptable clinical outcomes can be achieved after the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos regardless of the stage of embryos for freezing, the patient's age and the origin of injected sperm.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.132-144
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• 2017

Purpose: To identify baseline prognostic factors for survival in patients with disease progression, during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Materials and Methods: We pooled data from patients randomized between 2009 and 2012 in 2 phase III, global double-blind studies of ramucirumab for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and/or fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy (REGARD and RAINBOW). Forty-one key baseline clinical and laboratory factors common in both studies were examined. Model building started with covariate screening using univariate Cox models (significance level=0.05). A stepwise multivariable Cox model identified the final prognostic factors (entry+exit significance level=0.01). Cox models were stratified by treatment and geographic region. The process was repeated to identify baseline prognostic quality of life (QoL) parameters. Results: Of 1,020 randomized patients, 953 (93%) patients without any missing covariates were included in the analysis. We identified 12 independent prognostic factors of poor survival: 1) peritoneal metastases; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 1; 3) the presence of a primary tumor; 4) time to progression since prior therapy <6 months; 5) poor/unknown tumor differentiation; abnormally low blood levels of 6) albumin, 7) sodium, and/or 8) lymphocytes; and abnormally high blood levels of 9) neutrophils, 10) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and/or 12) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Factors were used to devise a 4-tier prognostic index (median overall survival [OS] by risk [months]: high=3.4, moderate=6.4, medium=9.9, and low=14.5; Harrell's C-index=0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.68). Addition of QoL to the model identified patient-reported appetite loss as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The identified prognostic factors and the reported prognostic index may help clinical decision-making, patient stratification, and planning of future clinical studies.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2002

Cryopreservation is commonly used for an efficient utilization of semen, oocytes and embryos but has disadvantage in the survival, development of the post-thawed eggs. The high risk in the survival, development of eggs after thawing is thought to be caused by inappropriate internal regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ and/or formation of intracellular ice crystals. In this experiment, we tested whether the $Ca^{2+}$ current (iCa), a decisive factor to $Ca^{2+}$ entry, was altered in post-thawed oocytes by using whole cell voltage clamp technique. The quality and survival rates of the oocytes derived from both fresh and frozen groups were examined by morphology and FDA-test. Vitrified oocytes (VOs) were incubated for 4 hr after thawing and then donated to this experiment. Ethyleneglycol-ficoll-galactose (EFG) was used as a cryoprotectant for vitrification. The membrane potential was held at -80 mV and step depolarizations of 250 ms were applied from -50 mV to 50 mV in 10 mV increments. The survival rates showed a higher in VOs vitrified with EFG containing $Ca^{2+}$ than in VOs vitrified with EFG under the $Ca^{2+}$-free condition (82.0% vs 14%). In group with/without $Ca^{2+}$, the survival rates were significantly (P<0.01) difference. In the fresh metaphase II oocytes (FOs), current-voltage (I-V) relationship showed that iCa began to activate at -40 mV and reached its maximum at -10 mV. With same voltage pulses, inward currents were elicited in VOs. I-V relationships observed in VOs were similar to those in FOs. Time constants of activation and inactivation of the inward current shown in VOs were not different to those in FOs. This accordance in I-V relations and time constants in FOs with those in VOs indicates that the inward currents in FOs are unaltered by vitrification and thawing. Therefore, vitrification with EFG does not play as a factor to deteriorate $Ca^{2+}$ entry across the membrane of the oocytes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.78-84
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• 2005

목적: 악성종양에 의한 상대정맥증후군에서 방사선치료 후의 증상완화율, 생존율, 예후인자를 알아보기 위해 연구를 시행 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1988년부터 2003년까지 계명의대 동산의료원 방사선종양학과에서 상대정맥증후군으로 방사선치료를 받고 추적관찰이 가능했던 72명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 남자가 64명, 여자가 8명이었으며 연령은 10세에서 83세로 평균 61세였고 원인으로는 폐암 64명, 전이성 폐암 4명, 림프종 2명, 흉선종 2명이었다. 방사선 치료는 모든 환자를 900 cGy 이상 조사하였으며 총방사선량이 6,600 cGy까지 조사하여 중앙값은 4,000 cGy였다. 추적기간은 1개월에서 180개월로 중앙값 5.6개월이었다. 결과: 주증상은 호흡곤란 $84.7\%$, 안면부종 $81.9\%$, 팔부종 $22.2\%$, 경정맥확장 $25\%$, 애성 $12.5\%$, 안면홍조 $5.6\%$순이었다. 방사선치료 후 $80.6\%$에서 매우 우수(excellent)또는 우수(good)한 증상완화를 보였고 $19.4\%$에서는 변화가 없거나 경미한(minimal) 증상완화가 있었다. 전체 환자의 중앙생존기간은 5.1개월이었고 2년 생존율은 $17.7\%$, 5년 생존율은 $14.8\%$이었다. 폐암환자에서는 각각 4.3개월, $16.7\%$, $13.4\%$였다. 단변량분석에서 폐암환자는 총방사선량을 30 Gy초과로 조사 받은 군이 그 미만의 방사선을 조사 받은 군보다 통계적으로 유의하게 생존율의 차이를 보였다(2YSR; 30 Gy 초과 $25.6\%$, 30 Gy 이하 $6.7\%$, p<0.01). 다변량분석에서도 폐암에 의한 상대정맥증후군의 예후인자로는 총방사선량(p<0.01)과 연령(p<0.05)이 통계적으로 유의한 인자였다. 비소세포성폐암이 소세포성폐암보다 생존율이 높았으나 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 결과: 악성종양에 의한 상대정맥증후군에서 방사선치료는 효과적인 치료방법이며 폐암으로 인한 상대정맥증후군에서 총방사선량을 30 Gy 이상 조사하는 적극적인 치료로 생존율이 연장될 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.311-319
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• 1993

본 국립의료원 치료 방사선과 에서는 1986년 1월부터 1990년 12월까지 5년간 방사선 치료를 받은 III병기 비소세포성 폐암 37예를 대상으로 후향성 조사를 통하여 임상적 특징과 생존율을 분석하여 보고하는 바이다. 이중 29예가 사망시 또는 1991년 8월까지 추적 관찰이 가능하였으며 치료후 추적 조사기간은 최소10개월, 최고60개월 이었고, 추적율은 $78.4\%$이었다. Kaplan-Meier법에 따른 전체 환자 37예의 2, 5년 생존율은 각각 $20.6\%,\;6.9\%$이었으며 중앙생존 기간은 10개월 이었다. Performance status에 의하면 KPS가 $80\%$ 이상인 I군의 2,5년 생존율과 중앙생존기간은 각각 $29.2\%,\;9.7\%,$ 13개월 이었고, KPS가 $80\%$ 이하인 II군의 2년 생존율과 중앙 생존기간은 $13.7\%$와 7개월 로서, 통계학적으로 유의 한 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). AJCC 병기에 따른 생존율 및 중앙 생존기 간을 보면 $III_a$ 병기의 2, 5년 생존율 및 중앙 생존기간이 $29.2\%,9.7\%$및 12개월 이었고 $III_b$ 병기의 2년 생존율과 중앙 생존기간은 $8.6\%$와 10개월로 생존율의 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(p>0.1). 그외 조직 병리학적 유형별, 방사선 선량별, 방사선 반응군별, 항암화학요법 유무에 따른 생존율은 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결론적으로 overall 5년 생존율 및 중앙 생존기간은 $6.7\%$와 10개월 이었고 performance status 만이 통계적으로유의한 예후인자였으며, 병리조직학적 유형, 병기, 방사선 치료선량, 방사선 반응유무와 항암화학요법 등의 예후인자들은 통계학적으로 유의하지 않았다.