• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-152
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• 2014

Purpose: At our hospital blood is collected from a patient before an imaging test, with the concern of any effect possible when a nuclear medicine imaging test and an in-vitro test are carried out at the same time. However, occasionally, the blood collection is performed after an imaging test, with the reasons that the patient is not properly guided or the patient doesn't follow the guide correctly. In that case, we prefer to gather blood again after a few days. The purpose of this study is not only to see whether there is any effect of an imaging test on the result of the in-vitro test performed with the blood collected after the imaging test, but also to study how many days waiting after each test is appropriate to take a blood sample, if the effect exists. Materials and Methods: From September to October 2013, blood were collected from 13 patients in our hospital regardless of age and sex each time before and after the injection of the radioactive isotope from the tests : PET-CT, Gated Myocardial SPECT, and DTPA GFR Scan. Considering a half-life, AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, and T3 were carried out right after the blood collection. In case of an iodine therapy, blood were taken each time before and after taking radioactive iodine, and, after AFP, CA19-9, and CEA, the difference between them in consistency and in cpm were compared. Results: With 10 patients after the imaging tests and 3 patients after the iodine therapy, their serum cpm was over 10,000. Over time, the cpm decreased in accordance with the half-life ($^{18}F$ 110minutes, $^{99}mTc$ 6hours, $^{201}Tl$ 72hours, $^{131}I$ 7days). Between the two cases, one before and the other after the injection of the radioactive isotope, the cpm and the results of AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, and T3 from three patients each test, PET-CT, Gated Myocardial SPECT, and DTPA GFR Scan, were very similar. In addition, in case of an iodine therapy, there was also not a meaningful difference in the cpm and the results of AFP, CA19-9, and CEA, from three patients in an iodine therapy, between the two cases, one before and the other after taking the radioactive iodine. Conclusion: In case a blood collection was performed after the imaging test which required a radioactive isotope injection, the cpm increased, differently according to the kind of the radioactive isotope. However, the results of the in-vitro tests like AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, T3, etc were nearly not affected. As the result, it's considered that there will not be any significant effect also from other tests, as the result from the performed seven tests.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 1998

Background & Objectives: Frameless fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy(FFSRT) is a modification of stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) with radiobiologic advantage of fractionation without losing mechanical accuracy of SRS. Local recurrence of head and neck cancer at or near skull base benefit from reirradiation. Main barrier to successful palliation is dose limitation secondary to normal tissue tolerance. We try to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FFSRT as a new modality of reirradaton in these challenging patients. Materials & Methods: Seven patients with recurrent head & neck cancer involving at or near skull base received FFSRT from September 1995 to November 1997. Six patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had received induction chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy. One patient with maxillary sinus cancer had received total maxillectomy and postoperative radiation therapy as a initial treatment. Follow-up ranged from 11 to 32 months with median of 24 months. Three of 7 patients received hyperfractionated radiation therapy(1.1-1.2Gy/fraction, bid, total 19.8-24Gy) just before FFSRT. All patients received FFSRT(3-5Gy/fraction, total 15-30Gy/5-10fractions). Chemotherapy(cis-platin $100mg/m^2$) were given concurrently with FFSRT in four patients. Second course of FFSRT were given in 4 patients with progression or recurrence after initial FFSRT. Because IF(irregularity factor; ratio of surface area of target to the surface area of sphere with same volume as a target) is too big to use conventional stereotactic RT using multiple arc method for protection of radiation damage to critical normal tissue, all patients received FFSRT with conformal method using irregular static ports. Results: Five of 7 patients showed complete remission in follow-up CT &/or MRI. Three of these five patients who developed marginal, in-field, and out-field recurrences, respectively. Another one of complete responders has been dead of G-I bleeding without evidence of local recurrence. One partial responder who showed progressive disease 15 months after initial FFSRT has received additional FFSRT, and then he is well-being with symptomatic improvement. One minmal responder who showed progression of locoregional disease 9 months after $1^{st}$ FFSRT has received 2nd FFSRT, and then he is alive with stable disease. Five of 7 case had showed direct invasion to skull base and had complaint headache and various symptoms of cranial nerve involvement. Four of these five case showed improvement of neurologic symptoms after FFSRT. No significant neurologic complicaltion related to FFSRT was observed during follow-up periods. Tumor volumes were ranged from 3.9 to 50.7 cc and surface area ranged from 16.1 to $114.9cm^2$. IF ranged from 1.21 to 1.74. The average ratio of volume of prescription isodose shell to target volume was 1.02 that indicated the improvement of target coverage and dose distribution with FFSRT with conformal method compared to target coverage with FFSRT with multiple arc method. Conclusion: Our initial experience suggests that FFSRT with conformal method was relatively effective and safe modality in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer involving at or near skull base. Treatment benefit included good palliation of symptoms and reasonable radiographic response. However, more experience and additional follow-up are needed to better assess its ultimate role in treating these challenging patients.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.168-175
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• 2014

This study was designed to assess whether the conventional tangential technique, using a multileaf collimator (MLC), allows a reduced dose to the organs at risk (OAR) in breast radiation therapy. A total of forty right and left 20 for each breast cancer patients that underwent radiation therapy after breast conserving surgery were included in this study. For each patient, the planning target volume (PTV) and OAR (heart, left anterior descending artery (LAD), liver and lung) were defined and dose distribution were produced for conventional tangential beams using 6 MV photons. The treatment plans were made using the following two techniques for all patients. For the first plan (P1), MLC was designed to shield as much of OAR as possible without compromising the coverage of PTV. In the second plan (P2), the treatment plan was created without using MLC. Dose-volume histograms for OARs were calculated for all plans. For left breast cancer, the percentage of maximum dose ($D_{max%}$) and mean dose ($D_{mean%}$) of OARs (heart and LAD) were calculated, and for right breast cancer, the percentage of the mean dose ($D_{mean%}$) of the liver was calculated. The $D_{mean%}$ of the lung was calculated in all patients. The mean values of $D_{max%}$ of the heart ($86.9{\pm}19.5%$ range, 35.1-100.6%) in P1 were significantly lower than in P2 ($98.3{\pm}3.4%$ range, 91.7-105.2%) (p=0.001). The mean values of $D_{max%}$ of LAD ($78.4{\pm}22.5%$ range, 26.5-99.7%) in P1 was significantly lower than in P2 ($93.3{\pm}8.1%$ range, 67.9-102.1%) (p<0.001). In P1, the mean values of $D_{mean%}$ of the liver ($4.8{\pm}2.0%$) were significantly lower than in P2 ($6.2{\pm}2.5%$) (p<0.001). The mean values of $D_{mean%}$ of the lung were significantly lower in P1 ($9.3{\pm}2.3%$) than in P2 ($9.7{\pm}2.4%$) (p<0.001). P1, by using MLC, allows a significantly reduced dose to OAR compared with P2. We can suggest that it is reasonable to routinely use MLC in the conventional tangential technique for breast radiation therapy considering the primary tumor location.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.502-512
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• 1995

Background: One quarter to one third of patients with NSCLC present with primary tumors that although confined to the thorax are too extensive for surgical resection. Until resently standard treatment for these patients had been thoracic radiation, which produces tumor regression in most patients but few cures and dismal 5-year survival rate. The fact that death for most patients with stage III tumors is caused by distant metastases has promped a reevaluation of combined modality treatment approaches that include systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, we report the results observed in a study to evaluate the effect of multimodality treatment in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer from 1/91 to 8/93 in CNUH. Method: We grouped the patients according to the treatment modalities and evaluated response rate, median survival and the effect of prognostic variables. Among 67 patients evaluated, twenty seven patients classified with group A, received cisplatin and etoposide containing combination chemotherapy alone, eighteen patients, classified with group B, received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, fifteen patients, group C, received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with/without radiation therapy, seven patients, group D, received only supportive care. Result: The major response rate for group A and B was 37% and 61% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in response rate between A and B groups(p=0.97). The analysis of prognostic factors showed that differences of age, sex, pathology, blood type, smoking year, stage and ECOG performance did not related to improvement in survival. Median survival time was 8.6 months for group A, 13.4 months for group B, 19.2 months for group C, and 5.4 months for group D, respectively and there was statistically significant difference(p=0.003), suggesting that multimodality therapy was associated with signigicant improvement in survival. Subset survival analysis showed a significant therapeutic effect for earlier stage and good performance state(p=0.007, 0.009, respectively). A possible survival advantages were observed for major response groups. Conclusion: It was suggested that multimodality therapy for the management of patients who had stage III disease, has yielded good median survival and long survival for seleted patients. But, it is necessory to validate above result with further investigation in large scale and in prospective randomized trials.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1998

Purpose : To improve the therapeutic results of postoperative recurrent disease and inoperable disease of stomach cancer, we used the thermoradiotherapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the results and compared the results of hyperthermia before radiotherapy and those of hyperthermia after radiotherapy Materials and Methods : From July 1994 to November 1996, we treated twenty patients with locally advanced stomach cancer and recurrent stomach cancer with thermoradiotherapy. We divided those patients into two groups : hyperthermia before radiotherapy group (PreRT group : 13 Patients) and hyperthermia after radiotherapy group (PostRT group : 7 patients). We performed radiation therapy with the total tumor dose of 3000-5040cGy in a traction of 180-300cGy and 5 fractions per week. Hyperthermia was performed with 8 MHz radiofrequency apparatus. PreRT group patients were treated daily for 30 minutes before the radiation therapy within the interval of ten minutes. And PostRT group patients were treated with 1-2 sessions Per week for 40-60 minutes after the radiation therapy within the interval of 10 minutes. Results : Overall response rate was $33.3\%$. This response rate appeared the same in both groups. Mean survival and 1 rear survival rate were 10.3 months and $16.5\%$. In PreRT group, mean survival and 1 year survival rate were 6.8 months and $9.0\%$, and in PostRT group, mean survival and 1 year survival rate were 7.7 months and $34\%$. There were no statistically significant difference between the prognostic factors and therapeutic results. Conclusion : The thermoradiotherapy was a safe treatment method in advanced and recurrent gastric cancer when compared with other treatment. Because the number of patients we treated was small and the follow up period was short. we were not able to draw any conclusions about the therapeutic efficacy of the sequence of radiation therapy and hyperthermia. Therefore, further clinical trials of thermoradiotherauy for stomach cancer appear to be warranted.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of 6 Dimensional Skull Tracking(6DST) in Cyberknife Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy(SBRT) for the first and second cervical vertebrae(C1 and C2) metastasis. Methode and material : The Computed Tomography (Lightspeed VCT 64, General Electric Co. Waukesha, WI, USA) was used to acquire the CT images of the 9 patients with cervical vertebrae(C1 and C2) metastasis. Treatment plans for Xsight spine tracking and 6 Dimensional skull tracking were established with planning system (Multiplan system Version 4.6, Accuray, US). The results of XST and 6DST for each patient were analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010. Result : The Maximum offsets of XST for C1 were 0.9 mm in Y(supero-inferior), 0.9 mm in Z(antero-posterior), 0.7 mm in X(left-right) direction, and rotations were and 1.0 degrees roll, 1.0 degrees pitch and 1.2 degrees yaw. The Maximum offsets of 6DST for C1 were 0.7 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm and $1.0^{\circ}$, $1.0^{\circ}$, $1.2^{\circ}$ for Y, Z, X and Roll, Pitch, Yaw. The Maximum offsets of XST and 6DST for C2 were 0.7 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm and $0.9^{\circ}$, $1.0^{\circ}$, $1.8^{\circ}$, and 0.9 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm and $0.9^{\circ}$, $0.9^{\circ}$, $1.0^{\circ}$ for Y, Z, X and Roll, Pitch, Yaw, respectively. Conclusion : XST and 6DST showed identical results for translations and rotations within the tolerance. It is possible to simplify the treatment time and procedure by using the 6DST. Therefore, 6DST is very useful methode with XST among the various tracking methods in Cyberknife for the patients with C1, C2 vertebral metastasis.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.35-46
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• 2021

Purpose : By comparing and analyzing treatment plans using abdominal compression and The Continuous Positive Air Pressure(CPAP) during SABR of lung cancer, we try to contribute to the improvement of radiotherapy effect. Materials & Methods : In two of the lung SABR patients(A, B patient), we developed a SABR plan using abdominal compression device(the Body Pro-Lok, BPL) and CPAP and analyze the treatment plan through homogeneity, conformity and the parameters proposed in RTOG 0813. Furthermore, for each phase, the X, Y, and Z axis movements centered on PTV are analyzed in all 4D CTs and compared by obtaining the volume and average dose of PTV and OAR. Four cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) were used to measure the directions from the center of the PTV to the intrathoracic contacts in three directions out of 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°, and compare the differences from the average distance values in each direction. Result : Both treatment plans obtained using BPL and CPAP followed recommendations from RTOG, and there was no significant difference in homogeneity and conformity. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis movements centered on PTV in patient A were 0.49 cm, 0.37 cm, 1.66 cm with BPL and 0.16 cm, 0.12 cm, and 0.19 cm with CPAP, in patient B were 0.22 cm, 0.18 cm, 1.03 cm with BPL and 0.14 cm, 0.11 cm, and 0.4 cm with CPAP. In A patient, when using CPAP compared to BPL, ITV decreased by 46.27% and left lung volume increased by 41.94%, and average dose decreased by 52.81% in the heart. In B patient, volume increased by 106.89% in the left lung and 87.32% in the right lung, with an average dose decreased by 44.30% in the stomach. The maximum difference of A patient between the straight distance value and the mean distance value in each direction was 0.05 cm in the a-direction, 0.05 cm in the b-direction, and 0.41 cm in the c-direction. In B patient, there was a difference of 0.19 cm in the d-direction, 0.49 cm in the e-direction, and 0.06 cm in the f-direction. Conclusion : We confirm that increased lung volume with CPAP can reduce doses of OAR near the target more effectively than with BPL, and also contribute more effectively to restriction of tumor movement with respiration. It is considered that radiation therapy effects can be improved through the application of various sites of CPAP and the combination with CPAP and other treatment machines.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Purpose : Short stature is an important complication that impairs the quality of life in survivors of childhood brain tumors. We studied their final adult height (FAH) to evaluate risk factors for short stature. Methods : We reviewed the medical data of 95 survivors of childhood brain tumors (64 males and 31 females) who had been followed up from 1982 to 2006, reached FAH, and had a more than five year-disease-free survival. Results : Final adult height standard deviation score (FAHTSDS: $mean{\pm}SD$) of the patients was lower than those of general population ($-1.15{\pm}1.72$), HTSDS at diagnosis ($-0.13{\pm}1.57$), and target HTSDS ($-0.49{\pm}0.69$). FAHTSDS of craniopharyngioma patients did not decrease ($0.57{\pm}1.17$), but those of germ cell tumor and medulloblastoma patients were significantly reduced ($-1.20{\pm}1.45$, $-2.70{\pm}1.46$; P<0.05). The patients treated with craniospinal radiation or chemotherapy had lower FAHTSDS ($-1.93{\pm}1.58$, $-2.27{\pm}1.44$; P<0.01). In the spinal irradiation group, the younger the age at diagnosis was, the more the loss of FAH (r=0.442, P<0.01). Growth hormone replacement (GHR) didn't improve FAHTSDS, but starting GHR under 12 years was an independent factor for improving FAH once treatment methods were taken into account (P=0.01). Conclusion : The younger age at diagnosis, spinal radiation and chemotherapy were all important risk factors of height loss, and height gain was expected in patients who received GHR under the age of 12 years. Therefore, regular check-ups of growth and early intervention with growth hormones are needed for high risk groups to improve FAH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.766-775
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• 1997

Background : Primary malignant tumors of the trachea are extremely rare entities and account for a mere 0.1 per cent of all malignancies of the respiratory tract. Because of vague localizing signs, symptoms and a usually negative routine chest film, the patients with tracheal tumors are often treated for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for considerable period of time before correct diagnosis. Method : We have made a review of the 17 cases of primary tracheal tumors in recent 15 years. We reviewed the clinical features including history of smoking and respiratory symptoms, the official readings of initial routine chest film, the cytologic examination of sputum, the time of delay in diagnosis, and the response according to the therapeutic modalities. Results : Eight out of 9 patients with squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) were above 50 years old, five out of 6 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC) were below 50 years old. The most common location of primary tracheal tumors was the upper one-third of trachea in 8 cases(47%). The most frequent symptoms were dyspnea in 13/17 cases(76%) and then stridor or wheezing, cough. and sputum in order. The routine chest roentgenographic examinations were not helpful to diagnose tracheal carcinoma and the cytologic examinations of sputums were helpful to diagnose tracheal carcinoma in only one case with adenocarcinoma. The mean times of delay in diagnosis of patients with sec and ACC were 5 months and 24.9 months respectively. We had bronchial asthma in 8 cases(47%) and tracheal tumors in 4 cases(23%) as initial clinical impression. Conclusion : We would like to perform more comprehensive diagnostic tools(high KVP technique, the fibroptic bronchoscopic examination, chest CT scan etc.) in patients who had the suggestive points for the tracheal tumorse(1. unexplained hemoptysis or hoarsness, 2. inspiratory wheezing or stridor, 3. wax and waning of dyspnea according to changes of position, 4. progressive asthmatics unresponsive to antiasthmatic therapy) and radical resection of tumor or external radiation therapy with curative aim as possible.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.631-646
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• 2011

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are multipotent and can be isolated from diverse human tissues including bone marrow, fat, placenta, dental pulp, synovium, tonsil, and the thymus. They function as regulators of tissue homeostasis. Because of their various advantages such as plasticity, easy isolation and manipulation, chemotaxis to cancer, and immune regulatory function, MSCs have been considered to be a potent cell source for regenerative medicine, cancer treatment and other cell based therapy such as GVHD. However, relating to its supportive feature for surrounding cell and tissue, it has been frequently reported that MSCs accelerate tumor growth by modulating cancer microenvironment through promoting angiogenesis, secreting growth factors, and suppressing anti-tumorigenic immune reaction. Thus, clinical application of MSCs has been limited. To understand the underlying mechanism which modulates MSCs to function as tumor supportive cells, we co-cultured human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) with cancer cell lines H460 and U87MG. Then, expression data of ASCs co-cultured with cancer cells and cultured alone were obtained via microarray. Comparative expression analysis was carried out using DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) and PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships) in divers aspects including biological process, molecular function, cellular component, protein class, disease, tissue expression, and signal pathway. We found that cancer cells alter the expression profile of MSCs to cancer associated fibroblast like cells by modulating its energy metabolism, stemness, cell structure components, and paracrine effect in a variety of levels. These findings will improve the clinical efficacy and safety of MSCs based cell therapy.