• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2006

Purpose: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of twice daily radiation therapy plus concurrent chemotherapy for limited-stage small cell lung cancer in terms of treatment response, survival, patterns of failure, and acute toxicities. Materials and Methods: Between February 1993 and October 2002, 76 patients of histologically proven limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) were treated with twice daily radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy. Male was in 84% (64/76), and median age was 57 years (range, 32-75 years). Thoracic radiation therapy consisted of 120 or 150 cGy per fraction, twice a day at least 6 hours apart, 5 days a week. Median total dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 45-51 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of CAV ($cytoxan\;1000mg/m^2,\;adriamycin\;40mg/m^2,\;vincristine\;1mg/m^2$) alternating with PE ($cisplatin\;60mg/m^2,\;etoposide\;100mg/m^2$) or PE alone, every 3 weeks. The median cycle of chemotherapy was six (range, 1-9 cycle). Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was recommended to the patients who achieved a complete response (CR). PCI scheme was 25 Gy/10 fractions. Median follow up was 18 months (range, 1-136 months). Results: Overall response rate was 86%; complete response in 39 (52%) and partial response in 26 (34%) patients. The median overall survival was 23 months. One, two, and three year overall survival rate was 72%, 50% and 30%, respectively. In univariate analysis, the treatment response was revealed as a significant favorable prognostic factor for survival (p<0.001). Grade 3 or worse acute toxicities were leukopenia in 46 (61%), anemia in 5 (6%), thrombocytopenia in 10 (13%), esophagitis in 5 (6%), and pulmonary toxicity in 2 (2%) patients. Of 73 evaluable patients, 40 (55%) patients subsequently had disease progression. The most frequent first site of distant metastasis was brain. Conclusion: Twice daily radiation therapy plus concurrent chemotherapy produced favorable response and survival for LS-SCLC patients with tolerable toxicities. To improve the treatment response, which proved as a significant prognostic factor for survival, there should be further investigations about fractionation scheme, chemotherapy regimens and compatible chemoradiotherapy schedule.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome according to the salvage treatment modalities and identify the prognostic factors influencing the survival. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer treated between 1994 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median time from initial surgery to loal recurrence was 16months. Of the patients, 25 (56%) recurred at presacral and perirectal space. Among the 18 (40%) patients who received salvage surgery, 14 patients were treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Among 27 (60%) patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, 16 were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 11 were treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy was given with total dose ranging from 37.5 to 64.8 Gy. Results: Five-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of all patents were 49.5% and 34.3%, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of patients undergoing salvage surgery were 77.0% and 52.1% compared with 36.0% and 37.9% f3r patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and 0% and 0% for patients treated with radiotherapy alone, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression free survival and overall survival of patients who recurred earlier than 24 months were higher (67.5% and 59.1%) than the other patients (39.5% and 24.9%). Among the 27 patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, there was no significant difference for locoregional progression free survival and overall survival between re-irradiated patients and radiation-naive patients. Conclusion: Surgical resection is preferred to treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer. If salvage surgery is not possible, chemoradiotherapy may achieve higher locoregional progression free survival and overall survival than radiotherapy alone.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.243-247
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• 2006

$\underline{Purpose}$: To evaluate the treatment results and prognostic factors of palliative radiation therapy in the patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer. $\underline{Materials\;&\;Methods$: Thirty-seven evaluable patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer who were treated by palliative radiation therapy for pain relief at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Kangnam St. Mary's hospital, the Catholic University of Korea between March 1984 and February 2005 were analysed retrospectively. There were 22 men and 15 women. Age at diagnosis ranged from 30 to 80 (median 57) years. Twelve patients (32.4%) had liver metastases and 22 patients (59.5%) had lymph node metastases. Radiation therapy was delivered to primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with $1{\sim}2\;cm$ margin, and total dose was $3,240{\sim}5,580\;cGy$ (median 5,040 cGy). Chemotherapy with radiotherapy was delivered in 30 patients (81%) with 5-FU alone (21 patients) or gemcitabine (9 patients). The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 44 months. Survival and prognostic factors were analysed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test respectively. $\underline{Results}$: Overall mean and median survival were 11 and 8 months and 1-year survival rate was 20%. Among 33 patients who were amenable for response evaluation, 7 patients had good response and 22 patients had fair response with overall response rate of 87.9%. Mild to moderate toxicity were observed in 14 patients with nausea, vomiting, and indigestion, but severe toxicity requiring interruption of treatment were not observed. Chemotherapy didn't influence the survival and symptomatic palliation, but the group containing gemcitabine showed a tendency of longer survival (median 12 months) than 5-FU alone group (median 5.5 months) without statistical significance (p>0.05). The significant prognostic factors were Karnofsky performance status and liver metastasis (p<0.05). Age, sex, tumor location, lymph node metastasis, and CA 19-9 level did not show any prognostic significance (p>0.05). $\underline{Conclusion}$: Radiation therapy was effective for symptomatic palliation in the patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer and would play an important part in the survival benefit with gemcitabine or other targeted agents.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2006

$\underline{Purpose}$: Combined modality therapy including chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy is considered the standard of care for the treatment of stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIB NSCLC. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between July 2000 and October 2005, thirty-nine patients with stage IIIB NSCLC were treated with two cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The induction chemotherapy included the administration of paclitaxel ($175\;mg/m^2$) by intravenous infusion on day 1 and treatment with cisplatin ($75\;mg/m^2$) by intravenous infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy included the use of paclitaxel ($60\;mg/m^2$) plus cisplatin ($25\;mg/m^2$) given intravenously for 6 weeks on day 43, 50, 57, 71, 78 and 85. Thoracic radiotherapy was delivered with 1.8 Gy daily fractions to a total dose of $54{\sim}59.4\;Gy$ in $6{\sim}7$ weeks (median: 59.4 Gy). $\underline{Results}$: The follow up period was $6{\sim}63$ months (median: 21 months). After the induction of chemotherapy, 41.0% (16 patients) showed a partial response and 59.0% (23 patients) had stable disease. After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, 10.3% (4 patients) had a complete response, 41.0% (16 patients) had a partial response, and the overall response rate was 51.3% (20 patients). The 1-, 2-, 3-year overall survival rates were 66.7%, 40.6%, and 27.4% respectively, with a median survival time of 20 months. The 1-, 2-, 3-year progression free survival rates were 43.6%, 24.6%, and 24.6%, respectively, with median progression free survival time of 10.7 months. Induction chemotherapy was well tolerated. Among 39 patients who completed the entire treatment including chemoradiotherapy, 46.3% (18 patients) had esophagitis greater than grade 3 and 28.2% (11 patients) had radiation pneumonitis greater than grade 3. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Paclitaxel and cisplatin with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIB NSCLC seems to be an effective treatment. Occurrence of esophagitis and pneumonitis represents a significant morbidity and suggests a modification of the treatment regimen, either with the chemotherapy schedule or with radiotherapy treatment planning.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was performed to examine the neck failure patterns after a complete response (CR) to definitive radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer patients, as well as evaluate the clinical significance of the results of this study. Materials and Methods: Between 1987 and 2008, the clinical data of patients who had been treated with radical radiotherapy for primary squamous cell carcinomas and enlarged cervical lymph nodes was analyzed retrospectively. Ultimately, the cases that showed CR of the cervical lymph node lesions to full-dose radiotherapy were included in this study. The recurrent rate and sites in the cervical lymphatic area were evaluated periodically by radiologic imaging studies, along with some factors which might have affected the rate of recurrence. Results: A total of 73 patients who achieved CR in neck area after radiotherapy were included in this study. The rate of subsequent neck failure among those patients was 19.2%. There was only a 5.5% failure rate in the 55 patients who underwent radiotherapy in their primary site. Eighty percent of the recurrent cases were found within 3 years (median follow-up, 68 months). The majority of neck recurrent cases (47%) were accompanied with the failure of the primary lesions. The initial response of the primary site and the method of radiotherapy simulation were significant prognostic factors associated with the nodal recurrence rate. Conclusion: The recurrence rate of cervical nodes in patients with CR to radiotherapy in the primary site and neck area was about 5%. These patients could be followed up with close observation without a planned neck dissection.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: We performed a retrospective non-randomized clinical study of locally advanced rectal cancer, to evaluate the anal sphincter preservation rates, down staging rates and survival rates of preoperative chemoradiotherapy. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: From January 2002 to December 2005, patients with pathologically confirmed rectal cancer with clinical stage T2 or higher, or patients with lymph node metastasis were enrolled in this study. A preoperative staging work-up was conducted in 36 patients. All patients were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and curative resection was performed for 26 patients at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. Radiotherapy treatment planning was conducted with the use of planning CT for all patients. A total dose of $45.0{\sim}52.2\;Gy$ conventionally fractionated three-dimensional radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis. Chemotherapy was given at the first and fifth week of radiation therapy with continuous infusion i.v. 5-FU (Fluorouracil) and LV (Leucovorine). Surgical resection was performed 2 to 4 weeks after the completion of the chemoradiotherapy regimen. $\underline{Results}$: The complete resection rate with negative resection margin was 100% (26/26). However, a pathologically complete response was not seen after curative resection. Surgery was done by LAR (low anterior resection) in 23 patients and APR (abdomino-perineal resection) in 3 patients. The sphincter preservation rate was 88.5% (23/26), down staging of the tumor occurred in 12 patients (46.2%) and down-sizing of the tumor occurred in 19 patients (73%). Local recurrence after surgical resection developed in 1 patient, and distant metastasis developed in 3 patients. The local recurrence free survival rate, distant metastasis free survival rate, and progression free survival rate were 96.7%, 87% and 83.1%, respectively. Treatment related toxicity was minimal except for one grade 3, one grade 4 anemia, one grade 3 leukopenia, and one grade 3 ileus. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Preoperative concurrent chmoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer seems to have some potential benefits: high sphincter preservation and down staging. Treatment related toxicity was minimal and a high compliance with treatment was seen in this study. Further long-term follow-up with a larger group of patients is required.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this in vitro study was to estimate surface characteristic after peptide coating and investigate biological response of human mesenchymal stem cell to anodized titanium discs coated with RGD peptide by physical adhesion and chemical fixation. Materials and methods: Fluorescence isothiocyanate (FITC) modified RGD-peptide was coated on the anodized titanium discs (diameter 12 mm, height 3 mm) using two methods. One was physical adhesion method and the other was chemical fixation method. Physical adhesion was performed by dip and dry procedure, chemical fixation was performed by covalent bond via silanization. In this study, human mesenchymal stem cell was used for experiments. The experiments consisted of surface characteristic evaluation after peptide coating, analysis about cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization. Obtained data are statistically treated using Kruskal-Wallis test and Bonferroni test was performed as post hoc test (P=.05). Results: The evaluation of FE-SEM images revealed no diffenrence at micro-surfaces between each groups. Total coating dose was higher at physical adhesion experimental group than at chemical fixation experimental group. In cell adhesion and proliferation, RGD peptide coating did not show a statistical significance compared with control group (P>.05). In cell differentiation and mineralization, physical adhesion method displayed significantly increased levels compared with control group and chemical fixation method (P<.05). Conclusion: RGD peptide coating seems to enhance osseointegration by effects on the response of human mesenchymal stem cell. Especially physical adhesion method showed more effective than chemical fixation method on response of human mesenchymal stem cell.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2011

Purpose: To assess the degree and clinical impact of location error of the dens on the X-axis during radiotherapy to brain and head and neck tumors. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with brain tumors or head and neck tumors who received three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy from January 2009 to June 2010 were included in this study. In comparison two-dimensional verification portal images with initial simulation images, location error of the nasal septum and the dens on the X-axis was measured. The effect of set-up errors of the dens was simulated in the planning system and analyzed with physical dose parameters. Results: A total of 402 portal images were reviewed. The mean location error at the nasal septum was 0.16 mm and at the dens was 0.33 mm (absolute value). Location errors of more than 3 mm were recorded in 43 cases (10.7%) at the nasal septum, compared to 133 cases (33.1%) at the dens. There was no case with a location error more than 5 mm at the nasal septum, compared to 11 cases (2.7%) at the dens. In a dosimetric simulation, a location error more than 5 mm at the dens could induce a reduction in the clinical target volume 1 coverage (V95: 100%${\rightarrow}$87.2%) and overdosing to a critical normal organ (Spinal cord V45: <0.1%${\rightarrow}$12.6%). Conclusion: In both brain and head and neck radiotherapy, a relatively larger set-up error was detected at the dens than the nasal septum when using an electronic portal imaging device. Consideration of the location error of the dens is necessary at the time of the precise radiation beam delivery in two-dimensional verification systems.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2002

A hot water extract was prepared from the artificially grown Gastrodia elata to investigate its chemical composition and various in vitro biological activities as an effort to develop G. elata as health/functional food materials. The contents of crude protein, ash, fat, fiber, moisture and total sugar were 5.4, 2.6, 3.6, 3.3, 8.1 and 77% (w/w), respectively. The extract of G. elata had greater amount of potassium (1,150 mg/100 g) than phosphorus (300 mg/100 g). Dose-dependence against human carcinoma (Hep3B, MCF-7, A549 and AGS) were observed from 0.2 mg/ml to 1.0 mg/ml. Especially, the treatment of 1.0 mg/ml extracts showed the highest cytotoxicity with 83% against gastric carcinoma (AGS). The extracts showed weak antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but practically no antimicrobial activity against the other microorganisms tested. The effect of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition was 64% at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. The inhibitory effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) of the extract in the range of $0.2{\sim}1.0mg/ml$ showed $63{\sim}89%$, and the highest ACE inhibition was 89% at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml of extracts. The highest activity of glutathion S-transferase (GST) was 221 % at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml of the G. elata extracts. These results suggest that G. elata may be used as health/functional food materials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.95-104
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• 2005

Objectives: This was a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study for evaluation of safety and effective dose finding of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ in patients with chest pain and discomfort. Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ are composed of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (丹蔘), Notoginseng Radix (三七根) and Borneolum (龍腦). Major effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and Notoginseng Radix are vasodilatation, sedation and analgesic action. Borneolum has an antibacterial effect, and can stimulate the central nervous system. All of these substances are oriental herbs that have been used for a long time in east Asia. Cardiotonic Pills fi received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and 40 million people in the world take this pill. We performed a phase IV clinical study to confirm its efficacy and safety in patients who have probable cardiogenic or psychogenic chest pain or chest stifling. Methods: This study was planned for a multi-center clinical trial including four university hospitals of oriental medicine in Korea. This was the first time to evaluate the 'planning treatment according to diagnosis (辨證施治)' of chest pain or chest discomfort according to oriental medical guidelines. The patients who were included in this trial were adult volunteers from 20 to 70 years old who had chest pain or chest discomfort more than twice during a recent month, and we received written consent to participate in this study from all of them. After administration of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ for 8 weeks, number of occurrences, duration, appearance and degree of chest pain or chest discomfort was observed and degree of symptoms (severity of illness, global improvement) were measured using a patient's global assessment composite scale. Results: In the patient's global assessment scale, the severity of illness of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group (n=25) was 14/25=0.56 but of the placebo group (n=25) was 7/25=0.28 (p-value=0.0449). This result indicates Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$have a positive effect on the symptoms of chest pain and discomfort. However, the global improvement of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$group was 23/25=0.92, and of the placebo group was 22/25=0.88 (p-value=0.6374). The total symptom score of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $1.68\pm20.06$, and of the placebo group was $16.76\pm72.l4$(p-value=0.2285). The number of symptom events of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $72\pm29.78$, and of the placebo group (n=25) was $10.80\pm38.42$ (p­value=0.3660). We could not find any effects on the other factors examined besides the severity of illness, beyond the difference of standard deviations. Conclusions: Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ significantly reduced chest pain and chest discomfort in patients. Therefore, we expect that Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ will be helpful for patients with chest pain and chest discomfort not only caused by heart disease but also by other diseases.