• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4967-4971
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• 2012

Background/Aims: Glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1), a phase-II enzyme, plays an important role in detoxification of carcinogen electrophiles. Many studies have investigated the association between GSTT1 polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk in Asian populations, but its actual impact is not clear owing to apparent inconsistencies among those studies. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to explore the effect of GSTT1 polymorphism on the risk of developing esophageal cancer. Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Wanfang databases up to August 2012 was conducted and 15 eligible papers were finally selected, involving a total of 1,626 esophageal cancer cases and 2,216 controls. We used the pooled odds ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) to estimate the association of GSTT1 polymorphism with esophageal cancer risk. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to further identify the association. Results: Meta-analysis of total studies showed the null genotype of GSTT1 was significantly associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer in Asians (OR=1.26, 95%CI=1.05-1.52, $P_{OR}=0.015$, $I^2=42.7%$). Subgroup analyses by sample size and countries also identified a significant association. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated a relationship of GSTT1 polymorphism to esophageal cancer risk in Asians. Conclusions: The present meta-analysis of available data showed a significant association between the null genotype of GSTT1 and an increased risk of esophageal cancer in Asians, particularly in China.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3237-3241
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• 2013

Background: Under-ascertainment and over-ascertainment are common phenomena in surveillance and registry systems of health-related events. Capture-recapture is one of the methods which is applied to determine the sensitivity of surveillance or registry systems to recognize cancer cases. This study aimed to estimate the number of cancers using data available both in the Cancer Registry Center of Northwestern Iran and in the Population-based Cancer Registry Center of Iran. Material and Methods: The studied population consisted of all cancerous cases in the northwest of Iran from 2008 to 2010. All data were extracted from two resources and entered into Microsoft Excel software. After removing common and repeat cases the data were statistically analyzed using a capture-recapture studies' specific software "CARE 1.4". Estimations were calculated by Chapman and Petersen methods with the approximate confidence interval of 95%. Results: From 2008 to 2010, the number of all cancer cases was estimated to be 21,652 (CI 95%: 19,863-22,101). Sensitivity rate of all cancer cases was 83.9% and that of Population-based Cancer Registry Center of Iran was 52%. It was 93.1% considering both resources. Conclusion: Using two resources and the capture-recapture method rather than a single resource may be a more reliable method to estimate the number of cancer cases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.475-484
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korean women with obesity. Methods: Cancer-free women (n=6 142 486) aged 40-79 years, who underwent National Health Insurance Service health examinations in 2009 and 2010 were included. The incidence of CRC was followed until 2018. The hazard ratio (HR) of MetS for the incidence of colon and rectal cancer was analyzed according to body mass index (BMI) categories, adjusting for confounders such as women's reproductive factors. In addition, the heterogeneity of associations across BMI categories was assessed. Results: Women with MetS were at increased risk of colon and rectal cancer compared to women without MetS (HR, 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 1.23 and HR,1.15; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.20), respectively. The HR of MetS for colon cancer across BMI categories was 1.12 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.19), 1.14 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.20), and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.21) in women with BMIs <23.0 kg/m², 23.0-24.9 kg/m², and ≥25.0 kg/m², respectively. The HR of MetS for rectal cancer across corresponding BMI categories was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.26), 1.14 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.23), and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.20). The heterogeneity of associations across BMI categories was not significant in either colon or rectal cancer (p=0.587 for colon cancer and p=0.927 for rectal cancer). Conclusions: Women with MetS were at increased risk of colon and rectal cancer. Clinical and public health strategies should be considered for primary CRC prevention with an emphasis on improving women's metabolic health across all BMI groups.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2022

Purpose: Tumor recurrence is the principal cause of poor outcomes in remnant gastric cancer (RGC) after resection. We sought to elucidate the recurrent patterns according to tumor locations in RGC. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from the Shanghai Cancer Center between January 2006 and December 2020. A total of 129 patients with RGC were included in this study, of whom 62 had carcinomas at the anastomotic site (group A) and 67 at the non-anastomotic site (group N). The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical results, recurrent diseases, and survival were investigated according to tumor location. Results: The time interval from the previous gastrectomy to the current diagnosis was 32.0±13.0 and 21.0±13.4 years in groups A and N, respectively. The previous disease was benign in 51/62 cases (82.3%) in group A and 37/67 cases (55.2%) in group N (P=0.002). Thirty-three patients had documented sites of tumor recurrence through imaging or pathological examinations. The median time to recurrence was 11.0 months (range, 1.0-35.1 months). Peritoneal recurrence occurred in 11.3% (7/62) of the patients in group A versus 1.5% (1/67) of the patients in group N (P=0.006). Hepatic recurrence occurred in 3.2% (2/62) of the patients in group A versus 13.4% (9/67) of the patients in group N (P=0.038). Patients in group A had significantly better overall survival than those in group N (P=0.046). Conclusions: The tumor location of RGC is an essential factor for predicting recurrence patterns and overall survival. When selecting an optimal postoperative follow-up program for RGC, physicians should consider recurrent features according to the tumor location.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.44.1-44.11
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• 2023

Background: A series of breast cancer cases were recently reported in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Nurses are generally exposed to risk factors for breast cancer such as night shift work, antineoplastic agents, and job strain. However, the epidemiological evidence of excess incidence among nurses remains lacking. This study aims to investigate the excess incidence of breast cancer among nurses in a tertiary university hospital and provide epidemiological evidence of occupational risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort was developed using personnel records of female workers in the nursing department who worked from January 2011 to June 2021 in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Sick leave records were used to identify cases of breast cancer. The standardized incidence ratio of breast cancer among nurses was compared to the general population. Results: A total of 5,509 nurses were followed up for 30,404 person-years, and 26 breast cancer cases were identified. This study revealed a significantly increased breast cancer incidence among all included nurses, with a standardized incidence ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.41), compared to the general population. Workers, who handle antineoplastic agents in their representative department and current and/or former department, had significantly elevated breast cancer standardized incidence ratios of 2.73 (95% CI: 1.008-5.94) and 3.39 (95% CI: 1.46-6.68), respectively. Conclusions: This study provides significant evidence of increased breast cancer risk among nursing staff in a hospital setting, particularly those who handle antineoplastic drugs. Measures that reduce exposure to risk factors should be implemented, especially anticancer drugs, to protect healthcare professionals. Further research at a national level that focuses on healthcare workers is necessary to validate breast cancer incidence and its contributing factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1139-1143
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• 2015

In order to explore the association between cadherin 13 (CDH13) gene promoter methylation and lung carcinoma (LC) risk, we carried out a meta-analysis with searching of PubMed, Web of Science. Ultimately, 17 articles were identified and analysised by STATA 12.0 software. Overall, we found a significant relationship between CDH13 promoter methylation and LC risk (odds ratio=6.98, 95% confidence interval: 4.21-11.56, p<0.001). Subgroup analyses further revealed that LC risk was increased for individuals carrying the methylated CDH13 compared with those with unmethylated CDH13. Hence, our study identified a strong association between CDH13 gene promoter methylation and LC and highlighted a promising potential for CDH13 methylation in LC risk prediction.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Adverse events such as hemoptysis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage during tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment are relatively rare, but the severity of the bleeding can be higher than other common adverse events. It is necessary to educate patients about its possibility so that they can be found early. In this case report of radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer patient, hemoptysis and gastrointestinal bleeding has occurred following lenvatinib administration. Drug interruption and dose modification and dose interruption were required in addition to management for bleeding itself. It is necessary to confirm the high risk of bleeding before the administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and to appropriately control the follow-up interval and drug dosage accordingly.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2017

Purpose: The role of radiotherapy (RT) was largely deserted after the introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy, but still survival rates are disappointingly low. This study focuses on assessing the clinical efficacy of RT in relation to chemotherapy resistance. Materials and Methods: From October 2002 to January 2015, 44 patients were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and treated with palliative RT for persistent or recurrent EOC. All patients received initial treatment with optimal debulking surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. The biologically effective dose (BED) was calculated with ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ set at 10. Ninety-four sites were treated with RT with a median BED of 50.7 Gy (range 28.0 to 79.2 Gy). The primary end-point was the in-field local control (LC) interval, defined as the time interval from the date RT was completed to the date any progressive or newly recurring disease within the RT field was detected on radiographic imaging. Results: The median follow-up duration was 52.3 months (range 7.7 to 179.0 months). The 1-year and 2-year in-field LC rates were 66.0% and 55.0%, respectively. Comparisons of percent change of in-field tumor response showed similar distribution of responses among chemoresistant and chemosensitive tumors. On multivariate analysis of predictive factors for in-field LC analyzed by sites treated, $BED{\geq}50Gy$ (hazard ratio, 0.4; confidence interval, 0.2-0.9; p = 0.025) showed better outcomes. Conclusion: Regardless of resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, RT can be a feasible treatment modality for patients with persistent of recurrent EOC. The specific role of RT using updated approaches needs to be reassessed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2012

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. To decrease its mortality rate, its early detection is very important. Screening for HCC detection has been accepted as the management modality for patients with chronic liver disease. Reported herein is a case involving the marked rapid growth of HCC detected at an advanced stage in a screening test with a 3 months interval. A 49-year-old male patient with chronic hepatitis B was admitted to the hospital due to a liver mass detected on CT scan. The patient underwent a first CT scan 3 months earlier, and no tumor was detected. Follow-up CT scan was performed and showed a 9.1 cm HCC with portal vein thrombosis. Percutaneous liver biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed. In the pertinent guidelines, the recommended screening interval for HCC is 6-12 months, but the screening interval and additional diagnostic methods should be considered due to the variation in the HCC growth rate according to the patient's clinical characteristics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2563-2566
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• 2013

Background: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has recently been implicated in tumor immunity. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical role of serum IL-33 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Sera collected from 250 healthy volunteers (HV), 256 patients with benign lung diseases (BLD) and 262 NSCLC cases were subjected to IL-33 ELISA and relationships between serum IL-33 and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Results: Circulating IL-33 levels were higher in the NSCLC group in comparison with the HV and BLD groups (p<0.001). Using a cut-off level 68 pg/ml (95% specificity in the HV group), IL-33 showed a good diagnostic performance for NSCLC. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that serum IL-33 was an independent prognostic factor in the entire NSCLC group [hazards ratio (HR) = 0.64 for low versus high IL-33 levels, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.82; p<0.001] and in 165 selected patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease receiving chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.94; p=0.013). Conclusions: IL-33 is a promising potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in NSCLC, independent of the therapeutic intervention.