• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this case report is to examine clinical application of Traditional Korean medicine including aconitum ciliare decaisne pharmacopuncture for cancer pain caused by bone metastasis of non small cell lung cancer. Methods : The patient diagnosed as non small cell lung cancer was treated with pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, electroacupuncture and herbal medicine. We used NRS(Numeric rating scale) and ECOG PS(Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) to observe the effect of the treatment. Results : After the treatment, NRS of cancer pain and ECOG PS score decreased. Also, the frequency of using rapid-onset opioids decreased. Conclusions : This study suggests Traditional Korean medicine treatment including aconitum ciliare decaisne pharmacopuncture is effective in cancer pain control caused by metastasis to bone with multiple organs with non small cell lung cancer.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2022

Objective: To report the improvements with Korean medicine-based integrative cancer therapies on adverse effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Method: There were two patients complained cough, rhinorrhea, numbness, general weakness, nausea and dyspepsia after chemotherapy. They got treated centered on Korean medicine including herbal medicine, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, hand and foot bath. They were also treated Western immunotherapies like Thymosin at regular intervals. The symptoms were measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 for Palliative Care(EORTC QLQ C-15 PAL) and their subjective assessments. Results: Their chief complaints were relieved and their quality of life scores was improved even though they have been receiving chemotherapy continuously. Conclusion: These cases revealed a possibility that Korean medicine-based integrative cancer therapies could improve some symptoms after chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8235-8238
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• 2016

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. An increasing incidence of lung cancer has been observed in India. Objectives:To evaluate the clinicpathological profile and haematological abnormalities associated with lung cancer in Bangalore, India. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out over a period of 2 years. A total of 96 newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed cases of lung cancer were included in the study. Results: Our lung cancer cases had a male to female ratio of 3:1. Distribution of age varied from 40 to 90 years, with a major contribution in the age group between 61 and 80 years (55.2%). Smoking was the commonest risk factor found in 69.7% of patients. The most frequent symptom was cough (86.4%) followed by loss of weight and appetite (65.6%) and dyspnea (64.5%). The most common radiological presentation was a mass lesion (55%). The most common histopathological type was squamous cell carcinoma (47.9%), followed by adenocarcinoma (28.1%) and small cell carcinoma (12.5%). Distant metastasis at presentation was seen in 53.1% patients. Among the haematological abnormalities, anaemia was seen in 61.4% of patients, leucocytosis in 36.4%, thrombocytosis in 14.5% and eosinophilia in 19.7% of patients. Haematological abnormalities were more commonly seen in non small cell lung cancer. Conclusions: Squamous cell carcinoma was found to be the most common histopathological type and smoking still remains the major risk factor for lung cancer. Haematological abnormalities are frequently observed in lung cancer patients, anaemia being the commonest of all.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.481-485
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• 2004

Lung cancer has become a leading cause of cancer death in Korea. Accurate staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is essential to the ability to offer a patient the most effective available treatment and the best estimate of prognosis. PET with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is indicated for the nodal staging of NSCLC and detection of distant metastases. Use of PET for mediastinal staging should not be relied on as a sole staging modality, and positive findings should be confirmed by mediastinoscopy. FDG PET avoids futile surgery by a more accurate selection of patients, especially by the detection of unexpected distant metastases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

Background: The expression of calcium signaling pathway molecules is altered in various carcinomas, which are related to the proliferation and altered characteristics of cancer cells. However, changes in calcium signaling in anti-cancer drug-resistant cells (bearing a T790M mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]) remain unclear. Methods: Afatinib-mediated changes in the level of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE)-related proteins and intracellular Ca²⁺ level in non-small cell lung cancer cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene were analyzed using western blot and ratiometric assays, respectively. Afatinib-mediated autophagic flux was evaluated by measuring the cleavage of LC3B-II. Flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays were conducted to assess cell apoptosis and proliferation. Results: The levels of SOCE-mediating proteins (ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 [ORAI1], stromal interaction molecule 1 [STIM1], and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase [SERCA2]) decreased after afatinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer cells, whereas the levels of SOCE-related proteins did not change in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9/GR; bearing a T790M mutation in EGFR). Notably, the expression level of SOCE-related proteins in PC-9/GR cells was reduced also responding to afatinib in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Moreover, extracellular Ca²⁺ influx through the SOCE was significantly reduced in PC-9 cells pre-treated with afatinib than in the control group. Additionally, afatinib was found to decrease the level of SOCE-related proteins through autophagic degradation, and the proliferation of PC-9GR cells was significantly inhibited by a lack of extracellular Ca²⁺. Conclusion: Extracellular Ca²⁺ plays important role in afatinib-mediated autophagic degradation of SOCE-related proteins in cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene and extracellular Ca²⁺ is essential for determining anti-cancer drug efficacy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.646-652
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• 1993

Background: Lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease often coexist in the same person who are elderly and cigarette smoking. There are several reports that the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constitutes an independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Moreover, the association between mucus hypersecrtion and lung cacer has been reported. Method: In 72 cases with primary lung cancer which were confirmed histopathologically at Chonbuk University Hospital from August 1986 to July 1991, We evaluated the relationship between spirometry and lung cancer characteristics. Results: Six cases(8.3%) showed normal lung function, 16(22.2%) cases showed pure restrictive lung disease, 46(63.9%) cases showed moderated obstructive lung disease and 4(5.6%) cases showed severe obstructive lung disease. $FEV_1$(%) was lower in central type than in peripheral type, lower in advanced non-small cell cancer and lower in subjects with phlegm. $FEV_1$/FVC(%) was higher in small cell cancer than in squamous cell cancer and higher in patients without previous pulmonary disease than with previous pulmonary disease. But there was no statistically significant difference in lung function according to histologic types and smoking history. Lung cancers with $FEV_1$/FVC less than 75% consisted of 35 cases of squamous cell cancer, 7 of small cell cancer(14%), 5 of adenocarcinoma(10%), 2 of large-cell carcinoma and 1 of unclassified carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occured more in patients with $FEV_1$/FVC<75% than with $FEV_1$/FVC$\geq$75%(p<0.05). Conclusion: It was suggest that low $FEV_1$/FVC, as reflection of obstructive lung disease, may be at greater risk for squamous cell carcinoma in cigarette smoker.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.205-213
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• 2014

The outcomes of first-generation EGFR-TKIs (Gefitnib and Erlotinib) have shown great advantages over traditional treatment strategies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but unfortunately we have to face the situation that most patients still fail to respond in the long term despite initially good control. Up to now, the mechanism of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs has not been fully clarified. Herein, we sought to compile the available clinical reports in the hope to better understanding the subsequent treatment choices, particularly on whether restoring after a drug holiday or switching to another EGFR-TKI is the better option after failure of one kind of EGFR-TKI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4639-4643
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• 2012

The burden of lung cancer in terms of mortality is the highest among all types of cancers globally. The present study aimed to evaluate lifestyle related habits, clinico-pathological profile and treatment details of lung cancer patients who were registered at Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), Kerala, during the calendar year 2010. A retrospective evaluation was made from medical records to gather data from 281 registered lung cancer cases in 241 males and 40 females, with a male to female ratio of 6.03: 1. Approximately 89% of the cases were above 50 years of age. Among males about 91% of the cases were smokers and 62% of them had a chronic smoking habit. Adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, non-small cell carcinomas and small cell cancers accounted for 10.7, 13.9, 17.0 and 5.7% respectively. Out of 281 cases around 67% were diagnosed with distant metastasis and the remainder had regional lymph node involvement. However, no statistically significant difference was observed for secondary site of tumor according to gender. As majority of the cases reported at MCC were in an advanced stage of the disease, histology of the secondary site from supraclavicular lymph nodes or liver was taken for diagnosis. Initiation of population based screening for early detection of cancer, and primary and secondary prevention strategies for reducing the prevalence of tobacco consumption are high priorities to reduce the lung cancer burden in Kerala.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4765-4768
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• 2013

Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum of patients with non- small cell lung cancer, for assessing their possible diagnostic and prognostic roles. Methods: We enrolled 48 patients newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and 40 healthy controls. TNF- ${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured in the serum of all the subjects with specific radioimmunoassay kits, while EGF was analyzed by sandwich enzyme immunoassay techniques. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between lung cancer patients and the control group regarding the values of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in serum. Moreover, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and VEGF levels were higher in patients with advanced stages compared to early stages. In addition, higher serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were found in smokers than in non-smokers, both in patients and controls. Conclusion: Serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were all elevated in lung cancer patients, suggesting that inflammatory cytokines could be jointly used as a screening tool. Though TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8 and VEGF levels were related to advanced disease, long-term survival studies of NSCLC patients should be performed to confirm whether they can act as biomarkers of advanced disease. In addition, smoking would be an important contributor to the processes of inflammation and lung cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.258-261
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• 2014

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement, is a kind of driver mutation, accounts for 3%-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC patients harboring ALK fusion genes have distinct clinical features and good response to ALK inhibitors. Metastasis from lung cancer to the ovary has rarely been known. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with bilateral ovarian metastases from ALK rearranged NSCLC. She underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for ovary masses, which were progressed after cytotoxic chemotherapy although primary lung mass was decreased. Histopathological examination of the ovary tumor showed characteristic adenocarcinoma patterns of the lung and ALK rearrangement.