• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness of external radiation therapy and the prognostic factors, we retrospectively analyzed therapeutic results of malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). Methods and Materials : We analyzed the results of the external radiation therapy in 59 patients of inoperable malignant EHBO who had been treated with more than 10 Gy of external radiation therapy from April 1984 to December 1990. There were 21 stomach cancer ($35.6\%$), 12 pancreas cancer ($20.3\%$), 15 extrahepatic biliary cancer ($18.0\%$) and 11 another cancer ($18.0\%$). Their pathologies were confirmed in 31 patients ($52.5\%$). They divided into 27 adenocarcinoma and 4 nonadenocarcinoma. Their chief complaints were jaundice in 47 patients ($79.7\%$) and abdominal pain in 15 patients ($49.2\%$). Twelve patients had slightly increased bilirubin level in liver function test without jaundice. We treated twenty four patients ($40.6\%$) with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and 32 patients ($54\%$) with systemic chemotherapy (CT). We performed external radiation therapy (ERT) upto $10.8\~55.8$ Gy (median 37.8 Gy) with palliative aim. Results : Overall median survival duration was $7.80\pm1.15$ months. The response rates of jaundice were $81.8\%$ in PTBO group and $66.7\%$ in non-PTBD group without statistical significance. The improving rate of jaundice was not significantly different in decreased ratio of total bilirubin level. But abdominal pain was more decreased in CT group than non-CT group (p<0.05). The significant prognostic factors were high performance status (Karnofski Performance Status >70), total radiation dose more than 35 Gy and good response of pain after therapy. There were increased in bacterial cholagitis in PTBD group and gastrointestinal complications in CT group. Conclusion : External radiotheapy could improve jaundice and abdominal pain in malignant EHBO patients, Overall survival duration was prolonged in patients with higher performance status and patients who had been treated with more than 35 Gy of total radiation dose. In the future, we expect not only better palliative role but also the prolongation of survival of using the ERT combined with other treatment method. But to achieve certain conclusion, we need luther study consisted with many kinds of treatment methods including new technologies in RT.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

The response correction factor ( h) is a factor to convert the response of the chamber in solid phantom to the response in water. In RW3 solid phantom, the dependency of beam quality and depth for high energy X-rays are known characteristics, however the dependency of field size, SSD, and chamber type are unknown. In this work we have studied the unknown characteristics on the dependency of response correction factor. The farmer type chamber (FC65G) and small chamber (CC13) were used and two beam qualities of 6 and 15 MV were evaluated. The measured response correction factors at the depth of 5 cm and 10 cm were h = 1.015 and 1.021 for 6 MV X-rays, and h = 1.024 and 1.029 for 15 MV X-rays. In conclusion the response correction factor did not depend on the field size and SSD while depending on the beam quality and depth. In the chambers, there are small differences between the two chambers used in this study but we think additional study for more chambers should be required. The results in this study can be used for analyzing the measured values from ionization chamber dosimetry in RW3.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2023

Five local governments along the Korea-Japan Sea (Jeju, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, Busan, Ulsan) operate a joint countermeasure committee regarding the marine discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant by Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Plant. This study compared and analyzed citizen surveys, response strategies, and detailed action plans conducted by the Jeju Research Institute, Busan Research Institute, and Ulsan Research Institute as part of a study on countermeasures for the marine discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The purpose was to present basic data for the preparation of effective measures. As a result of the perception survey, all citizens of local governments showed a strong negative perception of marine discharge regardless of scientific research results, and it is expected that future fisheries and tourism industries will suffer great damage. In response strategies for each local government, building a control tower was found to be the most urgent task common to all local governments. It is judged that this is because it is necessary to break away from the organization-centered system and to respond to the function-centered system for effective response. In terms of response methods, while Jeju and Busan established response plans for each sector, Ulsan City focused on practical responses with step-by-step response measures according to the release time. In terms of content, the establishment of a marine product radiation inspection system and publicity to relieve public anxiety were important. As the marine discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is scheduled to continue until 2030, strengthening the network for sharing research results and achievements among local government research institutes was deemed necessary.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.225-230
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• 1990

Twenty one patients of malignant thymoma treated with curative aim at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Seoul National University Hospital from 1979 to 1987 were analysed retrospectively. The 3 year overall and relapse free survival rate was $80.5\%\;and\;78.6$, respectively. Myasthenia gravis (MG) was seen in $43.5\%$ at presentation and disappeared in $40\%$ (4/10) after radiotherapy with or without operation. The 3 year cumulative survival rate with and without MG was $90\;and\;78.8\%$, respectively. We could consider that MG was no longer adverse prognostic factor. The complete response rate after partial resection was $100\%$ (3/3), and that after biopsy was $20\%$(3/15). The overall local control rate including complete and partial response rate ($33\;vs\;56\%$)was$89\%$ and the 3 year actuarial survival rate by the response rate was $88.9\%\;and\;81.7\%$, respectively. There was no statistically significant survival difference between two groups. The crude rate of relapse at 3 years was $23.8\%$ (5/21), and $80\%$ (4/5) were locoregional failures. All failures were observed in biopsy only group, while no failure was observed in resected group. The major pattern of the treatment failure was the locoregional failure and the distant metastases was rarely observed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8553-8557
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• 2016

Background: Accurate dose assessment and correct identification of irradiated from non-irradiated people are goals of biological dosimetry in radiation accidents. Objectives: Changes in the FDXR and the RAD51 gene expression (GE) levels were here analyzed in response to total body exposure (TBE) to a 6 MV x-ray beam in rats. We determined the accuracy for absolute quantification of GE to predict the dose at 24 hours. Materials and Methods: For this in vivo experimental study, using simple randomized sampling, peripheral blood samples were collected from a total of 20 Wistar rats at 24 hours following exposure of total body to 6 MV X-ray beam energy with doses (0.2, 0.5, 2 and 4 Gy) for TBE in Linac Varian 2100C/D (Varian, USA) in Golestan Hospital, in Ahvaz, Iran. Also, 9 rats was irradiated with a 6MV X-ray beam at doses of 1, 2, 3 Gy in 6MV energy as a validation group. A sham group was also included. After RNA extraction and DNA synthesis, GE changes were measured by the QRT-PCR technique and an absolute quantification strategy by taqman methodology in peripheral blood from rats. ROC analysis was used to distinguish irradiated from non-irradiated samples (qualitative dose assessment) at a dose of 2 Gy. Results: The best fits for mean of responses were polynomial equations with a R2 of 0.98 and 0.90 (for FDXR and RAD51 dose response curves, respectively). Dose response of the FDXR gene produced a better mean dose estimation of irradiated "validation" samples compared to the RAD51 gene at doses of 1, 2 and 3 Gy. FDXR gene expression separated the irradiated rats from controls with a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 87.5%, 83.5% and 81.3%, respectively, 24 hours after dose of 2 Gy. These values were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the 75%, 75% and 75%, respectively, obtained using gene expression of RAD51 analysis at a dose of 2 Gy. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that absolute quantification by gel purified quantitative RT-PCR can be used to measure the mRNA copies for GE biodosimetry studies at comparable accuracy to similar methods. In the case of TBE with 6MV energy, FDXR gene expression analysis is more precise than that with RAD51 for quantitative and qualitative dose assessment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6011-6017
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of selective radiotherapy after distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a study group treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil following selective radiotherapy and a control group receiving traditional cisplatin plus fluorouracil following selective radiotherapy according to a 1:1 distribution using a digital random table method. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, relapse or progression rate in the radiation field and treatment toxicity. Results: Of 52 patients in the study group, 20 cases underwent radiotherapy., while in the control group of 51 patients, 16 underwent radiotherapy. The median PFS, median OS, survival rates in 1, 2 and 3 years in study and control group were 20.9 vs 12.7months, 28.3 vs 18.8months, 85.2%vs 65.9%, 62.2% vs 18.3%, and 36.6%vs 5.2% (p values of 0.00, 0.00, 0.04, 0.00 and 0.00, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that the median OS and survival rates of 1, 2, 3 years for patients undergoing radiotherapy in the study group better than that in control group( 43.2vs24.1 months, 94.1% vs 86.7%, 82.4% vs 43.3%, 64.7% vs 17.3%, (p=0.00, 0.57, 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). The complete response rate, objective response rate after chemotherapy and three months after radiotherapy, relapse or progression rate in radiation field in study group and in control group were 19.2% vs 3.9%, 86.5% vs 56.9%, 85% vs 50%, 95% vs 81.3% and 41.3% vs 66.7% (p =0.03, 0.00, 0.03,0.30, 0.01 respectively). The grade 3-4 acute adverse reactions in the study group were significantly higher than in the control group (53.8% vs 9.8%, p=0.00). Conclusions: The survival of patients benefits from selective radiotherapy after distant metastasis of NPC treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1989-1992
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the response rates (clinical and pathological ) with docetaxel and epirubicin combination chemotherapy and its effect on outcome. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients who received NACT from January 2008 to December 2012 in our tertiary care centre. LABC constituted 37% of all breast cancer cases and 120 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The regimens used for NACT were, six cycles of DEC (docetaxel $75mg/m^2$, epirubicin $75mg/m^2$, cyclophosphamide $50mg/m^2$ on Day 1, 3 weekly) and a sequential regimen (4 cycles of FEC, 5-flurouracil $600mg/m^2$, epirubicin $75mg/m^2$, cyclophosphamide $600mg/m^2$ followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel $85mg/m^2$). Results: The median age was 47 years (range 23-72). Ninety six ( 80 %) had T4 disease and 90% had clinically palpable lymph nodes at diagnosis. The median size of primary tumor at presentation was 5.9 cm. Hormone receptor positivity was seen in 55% and HER2/neu positivity, in 25%. Triple negative breast cancers constituted 25 % of the cases. The overall clinical response rate (complete or partial ) was 85% and pathological complete responses were obtained in 15%. Four cases defaulted, 5 patients died of treatment related toxicity and 15% developed febrile neutropenia on DEC. The median duration of follow up was 22 months. The median time to relapse was 20 months and the 3 year relapse free and overall survival rates were 50% and 70% respectively. Conclusions: LABC constituted 37% of all breast cancer cases at our institute. With NACT, pCR was seen in 15% of the cases. Sequential chemotherapy was better tolerated than concurrent anthracyline and taxane chemotherapy with a similar pCR.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2023

Objective: It is difficult to predict the treatment response of tissue after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) because radiation necrosis (RN) and tumor recurrence can coexist. Our study aimed to predict tumor recurrence, including the recurrence site, after SRS of brain metastasis by performing a longitudinal tumor habitat analysis. Materials and Methods: Two consecutive multiparametric MRI examinations were performed for 83 adults (mean age, 59.0 years; range, 27-82 years; 44 male and 39 female) with 103 SRS-treated brain metastases. Tumor habitats based on contrast-enhanced T1- and T2-weighted images (structural habitats) and those based on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) images (physiological habitats) were defined using k-means voxel-wise clustering. The reference standard was based on the pathology or Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncologycriteria for brain metastases (RANO-BM). The association between parameters of single-time or longitudinal tumor habitat and the time to recurrence and the site of recurrence were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and Dice similarity coefficient, respectively. Results: The mean interval between the two MRI examinations was 99 days. The longitudinal analysis showed that an increase in the hypovascular cellular habitat (low ADC and low CBV) was associated with the risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-4.91; P = 0.001). During the single-time analysis, a solid low-enhancing habitat (low T2 and low contrast-enhanced T1 signal) was associated with the risk of recurrence (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.01-2.35; P = 0.045). A hypovascular cellular habitat was indicative of the future recurrence site (Dice similarity coefficient = 0.423). Conclusion: After SRS of brain metastases, an increased hypovascular cellular habitat observed using a longitudinal MRI analysis was associated with the risk of recurrence (i.e., treatment resistance) and was indicative of recurrence site. A tumor habitat analysis may help guide future treatments for patients with brain metastases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2535-2537
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• 2016

Background: Most of the cervical cancer patients, including those with cervical adenocarcinomas, come at advanced stage in the developing world so its mortality is high. Radiotherapy is one of the treatment modality for advanced stage cervical adenocarcinomas, but its efficacy depends on several prognostic factors such as the stage, histopathology, presence of organ dysfunction and expression of cellular biology markers mainly involve in cell proliferation such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Some research indicates that activation of EGFR in malignancy (including cervical cancer) correlates with aggressive behavior, a poor prognosis and decreasing sensitivity of radiotherapy. However, the combination between targeted therapies and radiotherapy are innovative approaches which may provide a good result. This study aimed to assess any correlation between expression of EGFR and response to radiotherapy in cervical adenocarcinoma cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 women were registered in a retrospective study period January 2007 and May 2014. Paraffin blocks from these patients were processed by classical histological techniques and for immunohistochemical staining of EGFR, scoring being accomplished according to the immunoreactive scoring (IRS) of Remmele and Stegner. Results: Among the studied molecular factors, there was significant correlation expression of EGFR with poor response to radiotherapy (p=0.0001). Conclusions: The result of this study showed a significant correlation between expression of EGFR and sensitivity of radiation in cervical adenocarcinoma cases. Further research is necessary to obtain information about new therapeutic management.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.219-222
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• 2002

Malignant glomus tumor is a very rare disease originating from the paraganglia system through the body. Glomus tumor, also known as paraganglioma, usually are considered benign, and arises in a variety of head and neck locations, most of which include the carotid body, the vagus nerve, and the jugulotympanic area. The most widely accepted management of benign glomus tumor is surgical extiration. Here, we report a case of recurrent laryngeal glomus tumor which is proven malignant and metastatic to the brain and the lungs. We have treated the patient with combination chemotherapy and radiation to the brain, the result of which is partial response in terms of decreased size of metastatic lung lesions.