• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.691-701
• /
• 2004

Background: Tissue hypoxia is a characteristic of many human malignant neoplasms, and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in essential adaptive response to hypoxia, and activates a signal pathway for the expression of the hypoxia-regulated genes, resulting in increased oxygen delivery or facilitating metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Increased level of HIF-1 a has been reported in many human malignancies, but in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the influence of HIF-1 a on tumor biology, including neovascularization, is not still defined. Material and Method: The influence of HIF-1 a expression on angiogenic factors, correlation between the tumor proliferation and HIF-1 a expression, interaction of HIF-1 a expression and p53, and correlation between HIF-1 a expression and clinicopathological prognostic parameters were investigated, using immunohistochemical stains for HIF-1 a, VEGF, CD34, p53, and Ki-67 on 77 cases of resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Result: HIF-1 a expression in cancer cells was found in 33 of 77 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases. The 33 cases (42.9%) showed positive stain for HIF-1 a. High HIF-1 a expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as histologic grade (p=0.032), pathological TMN stage (p=0.002), the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.022), regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.002), distant metastasis (p=0.049), and lymphatic invasion (p=0.004). High HIF-1 a expression had significant VEGF immunoreactivity (p=0.008) and Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.001), but was not correlated with microvascular density within tumors (p=0.088). The high HIF-1 a expression was correlated with aberrant p53 accumulation with a marginal significance (p=0.056). The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.9%. The survival rate of patients with a high HIF-1 a expression was worse than that of patients with low-expression tumors (log-rank test, p=0.0001). High HIF-1 a expression was independent unfavorable factors although statistical significance is marginal in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: It is suggested that (1) high HIF-1 a expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with tumor hypoxia, or with genetic alteration in early carcinogenesis and progressive stages, (2) high HIF-1 a expression may be associated with intratumoral neovascularization through HIF-VEGF pathway, and (3) high HIF-1 a expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and may playa role as biomarker for regional lymph node metastasis.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess TLE1 as a target molecule of synovial sarcoma. Method: We obtained tissue samples and clinical data from 36 patients who were diagnosed and treated for synovial sarcoma in our hospital. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of TLE1 in synovial sarcoma and normal tissues such as fat, skeletal muscle, peripheral nerve, vascular endothelium, and epithelium. Univariate survival analysis was performed to find whether overexpression of TLE1 is correlated to poor prognosis. Results: TLE1 was expressed in 35 (97%) cases (grade 1 was 5 cases, grade 2 was 28 cases, grade 3 was 2 cases.). Normal tissues from mesenchymal origin did not express TLE1. However, epithelial and endothelial cells showed weak expression (grade 1) of TLE1. The level of TLE1 expression did not have any prognostic significance according to univariate survival analysis. Conclusion: TLE1 may be a new molecular target of synovial sarcoma that differentiates synovial sarcoma from normal mesenchymal cells.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2007

Purpose: We proposed the method using dose-volume Histogram index to compare prospective plan trials in tomotherapy planning optimization. Materials and Methods: For 3 patients in cranial region, thorax and abdominal region, we acquired computed tomography images with PQ 5000 in each case. Then we delineated target structure and normal organ contour with pinnacle Ver 7.6c, after transferred each data to tomotherapy planning system (hi-art system Ver 2.0), we optimized 3 plan trials in each case that used differ from beam width, pitch, importance. We analyzed 3 plan trials in each region with isodose distribution, dose-volume histogram and dose statistics. Also we verified 3 plan trials with specialized DVH-indexes that is dose homogeneity index in target organ, conformity index around target structure and dose gradient index in non-target structures. Results: We compared with the similarity of results that the one is decide the best plan trial using isodose distribution, dose volume histogram and dose statistics, and the another is using DVH-indexes. They all decided the same plan trial to better result in each case. Conclusion: In some of case, it was appeared a little difference of results that used to DVH-index for comparison of plan trial in tomotherapy by special goal in it. But because DVH-index represented both dose distribution in target structure and high dose risk about normal tissue, it will be reasonable method for comparison of many plan trials before the tomotherapy treatments.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.1
• /
• pp.70-73
• /
• 2006

Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) is a plasma protein produced in the fetal liver, yolk sac and gastrointestinal tract. The plasma level of AFP decreases markedly 1 year after birth. The AFP level is usually increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and yolk sac tumor but is rare in a primary lung cancer. We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of lung producing high levels of AFP.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.40-47
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has variable degree of F-18 FDG avidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between F-18 FDG uptake and pathological or immunohistochemical features of DTC. Materials and Methods: DTC patients who underwent both pre-operative F-18 FDG PET/CT scan and surgery were included in the study. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of primary tumor were calculated. If the primary tumor showed no perceptibly increased F-18 FDG uptake, region of interest was drawn based on finding of a portion of the PET/CT images. Pathological and immunohistochemical markers such as presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis and underlying thyroiditis, tumor size, Ki-67 labeling index, expressions of EGFR, COX-2, and Galectin-3 were evaluated. Results: Total of 106 patients was included (102 papillary carcinomas, 4 follicular carcinomas). The mean SUVmax of the large tumors (above 1 cm) was significantly higher than the mean SUVmax of small (equal to or less than 1 cm) ones ($7.8{\pm}8.5$ vs. $3.6{\pm}3.1$, p=0.004). No significant difference in F-18 FDG uptake was found according to the presence or absence of LN metastasis and underlying thyroiditis, or the degree of Ki-67 labeling index, expression of EGFR, COX- 2 and Galectin-3. Conclusion: In conclusion, the degree of F-18 FDG uptake in DTC was associated with the size of primary tumor. But there seem to be no relationship between F-18 FDG uptake of DTC and expression of Ki-67, EGFR, COX-2 and Galectin-3.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.306-323
• /
• 2001

종양발생에서 유전자 발현을 확인하고 profile 변화를 monitor하는 것은 병리학적 변화의 원인뿐 아니라 질병탐지와 진료의 새로운 목표를 확인하기 위한 새로운 기회를 제공해준다. cDNA microarray는 수천개의 유전자 발현을 동시에 연구할 수 있는 최신의 방법으로 피부, 유방, 간을 비롯한 다른 인체장기에서는 일부 이루어졌으나 array를 이용해 타액선 종양 연구에서는 전혀 이루어지지 않았다. 인간의 타액선 세포의 악성형질전환을 조절하는 분자적 상태를 연구하기 위해 본 연구는 약 2,000개의 유전자가 print된 cDNA microarray를 이용하여 인간 타액선 도관상피세포주(HSG)와 악하선에서 기원한 미분화 선암종(SGT)간에 비교연구를 하였다. Cy3와 Cy5 dye로 각각의 세포주에서 얻은 RNA와 reciprocal hybridize시키고 GenePix 4000 scanner로 스캔하고 GenePix Pro로 분석한 후 log2로 평균발현비율을 전환시켜 최소 2배이상의 발현을 보이는 유전자를 분석대상으로 하였다. 90%이상의 유전자가 비슷한 발현을 보였으며 2배이상의 발현을 보이는 경우 HSG가 SGT에 비해 72개 유전자가, SGT가 HSG에 비해 111개의 유전자 발현이 up-regulation되어 총 10%미만의 발현차이를 보였고 반복된 hybridization 으로부터 얻은 선택된 spot의 Pearson 상관계수는 -0.85이였다. HSG에서는 6번 p 염색체에서 과발현되는 유전자가 가장 많았고, SGT에서는 11번 q 염색체에서 가장 많았는데 HSG에서는 SGT에 비해 9, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22염색체에서 과발현 되는 유전자 수가 많았고, SGT에서는 HSG에 비해 2, 7, 10, 15 염색체에서 유전자 발현 증가가 관찰되었다. HSG와 SGT간의 유전 발현을 기능별로 분석한 결과 몇 가지 주요 경로가 세포악성에 관련됨을 발견하였고, 타액선 도관상피세포에서 선암종을 구별하는데 기여하는 관련된 몇종의 과다 발현된 유전자를 찾았는데 전사인자, 성장인자 및 수용기, 세포골격 및 세포외기질 단백, 세포내 신호전달조절자 및 인자, 세포표면 항원등의 그룹으로 분류할 수 있었다. 따라서 이러한 microarray를 이용한 분자학적 표지자 연구가 악성 타액선 종양 발생과정에서 큰 도움을 줄 수 있을 뿐 아니라 유전자 조절에 의한 진단, 예후, 치료에서의 정확성을 개선시킬 수 있으리라 여겨진다.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.120-128
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Early detection of recurrence is an important factor for long term survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Measurement of serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9, CT and PET/CT has been commonly used in the postoperative surveillance of colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic ability of PET/CT, tumor marker and CT for recurrence in colorectal cancer patients after treatment. Materials and Methods: F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging was performed in 189 colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgical resection and/or chemotherapy. Measurement of serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9 and CT imaging were performed within 2 months of PET/CT examination. Final diagnosis of recurrence was made by biopsy, radiologic studies or clinical follow-up for 6 months after each study. Results: Overall sensitivity, specificity of PET/CT was 94.7%, 91.1%, while those of serum CEA were 44.7% and 97.3%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 94.2%, 90.4% for PET/CT and better than those of combined CEA and CA 19-9 measurement(52.1%, 88.5%) in 174 patients measured available both CEA and CA 19-9 data. In 115 patients with both tumor markers and CT images available, PET/CT showed similar sensitivity but higher specificity(92.9%, 91.3%) compared to combination of tumor markers and CT images(92.9%, 74.1%). Conclusion: PET/CT was superior for detection of recurred colorectal cancer patients compared with both CEA, CA 19-9, and even with combination of both tumor markers and CT. Therefore PET/CT could be used as a routine surveillance examination to detect recurrence or metastasis of colorectal cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.371-379
• /
• 1992

악성종양의 진단 및 치료에 있어서 특정 종양에 대한 항체를 이용하는 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 단세포군항체를 이용한 방사면역신티그라피로 암의 조기 진단 및 영상화가 가능하고 나아가 방사면역치료는 암의 선택적 치료에 도움이 될 수 있다. 위암은 우리나라에서 가장 흔한 악성종양으로 방사면역신티그라피와 방사면역치료법이 새로운 방법으로 모색되고 있다. 이러한 진단 및 치료법의 성공여부를 결정하는 중요한 인자의 하나가 종양조직내에서 종양관련 항원의 농도와 분포이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 단세포군 항체를 이용한 방사면역학적 방법의 임상 이용을 위한 기초 연구의 일환으로 in vitro quantitative autoradiography를 이용하여 종양 관련항원인 TAG-72와 CEA의 위암조직내 농도 및 분포를 측정하였다. 33예의 위암조직에서 얻은 동결절편을 $1.3\sim83.3$ nmol/liter의 $^{125}I$ 표지 항 TAG-72 단세포군 항체 B-72.3과 항 CEA 단세포군 항체 CEA-79로 반응시킨 후 이 표본들의 자가방사법 디지탈 영상을 H & E 염색과 immunoperoxidase염색 표본과 비교하였으며, 특정 단세포군 항체의 결합에 대한 컴퓨터 분석으로 조직내 항원의 농도와 분포를 측정하였다. TAG-72는 25예(75.7%)의 조직에서 검출되었으며 그 농도는 $8.4\sim525.3$ pmol/gram이었고, CEA는 32예 (96.9%)에서 검출되었으며 그 농도는 $8.8\sim592.9$ pmol/gram 이었다. CEA의 위암 조직내 발현농도는 중앙치가 101.7 pmol/gram 으로 TAG-72의 중앙치인 27.9 pmol/gram 보다 높았다. TAG-72의 조직내 분포는 41.4%에서 병변 부위의 암세포 분포와 일치하였고, CEA의 분포는 병변 부위의 80.5%에서 암세포와 일치하는 소견을 나타내었다. TAG-72의 농도는 점액성 선종(mucinous adenocarcinoma)과 점액함유 선종(mucin containing adenocarcinoma)에서 다른 선종보다 더 높았다. CEA의 농도는 위암의 병리학적 종류에 따른 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이상의 결과로 위암조직에서 TAG-72와 CEA항원이 다양하게 발현됨을 알 수 있었고 CEA는 TAG-72 보다 더 빈번하게 균일한 분포로 발현하는 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.1 s.258
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2006

Background: CD44 is a glycoprotein on the cell surface which is involved in the cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interaction. The standard form, CD44s and multiple isoforms are determined by alternative splicing of 10 exons. Recent studies have suggested that CD44 may help invasion and metastasis of various epithelial tumors as well as activation of Iymphocytes and monocytes. The expression pattern of CD44 can be different according to tumor types. The author studied the expression pattern of CD44s and one of its variants, CD44v6 in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) to find their implications on clinicopathologic aspects, including the survival of the patients. Material and Method: A total of 89 primary NSCLSs (48 squamous cell carcinomas, 33 adenocarcinomas, and 8 undifferentiated large cell carcinomas) were retrieved during the years between 1985 to 1994. The immunohisto chemistry was done by using monoclonal antibodies and the CD44 expression for angiogenesis was evaluated by counting the number of tumor microvessels. Result: Seventy-one (79.8$\%$) and 64 (71 .9$\%$) among 89 NSCLSs revealed the expression of CD44s and CD44v6, respectively. The expression of CD44s was well correlated with that of CD44v6 (r=0.710, p < 0.0001). The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was associated with the histopathologic type of the NSCLCs, and squamous cell carcinoma was the type that showed the highest expression of CD44s and CD44v6 (p < 0.0001). Microvessel count was the highest in adenocarcinomas (113.6$\pm$69.7 on 200-fold magnification and 54.8$\pm$41.1 on 400-fold magnification) and correlated with the tumor size of TNM system (r=0.217, p=0.043) and CD44s expression (r=0.218, p=0.040). In adenocarcinoma, the patients with higher CD44s expression survived shorter than those with lower CD44s expression (p=0.0194) but there was no statistical significance on multivariate analysis(p=0.3298). Conclusion: The expression of both CD44s and CD44v6 may be associated with the squamous differentiation in non-small cell lung carcinomas. The relationship of CD44s expression with micro-vessel density of the tumor suggests an involvement of CD44s in tumor angiogenesis, which in turn would help tumor growth.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.120-129
• /
• 1999

Purpose : Serum squamous cell (SCC) antigen levels were examined in uterine cervix cancer undergoing radiation therapy, and authors analyzed the relationship between SCC antigen levels and treatment results. Materials and Methods :This is a retrospective study of 181 conical carcinoma patients who received radiotherapy and examined serial serum SCC antigen from 1991 to 1997 at Soonchunhyang University Hospital. One hundred and eighteen patients underwent SCC antigen evaluation at diagnosis The relationship between the serum tumor marker level and disease free survival, recurrence pattern, and other prognostic factors were analyzed according to various statistical methods. Results : The Positivity rate (initial serum value above 2.5 ng/ml) was increased with FIGO stage (IB-IIA 57% to IV 91%) and more discriminative than cutoff value of 1.5 ng/ml. Five year disease free survival rates for the stage IB-IIA, IIB, III and IV were 79.2%, 68.7%, 33.4% and 0%, respectively. The 5-year disease free survival rate for patients with serum SCC antigen levels above 5.0 ng/ml was 34% versus 55~62% for patients with normal range (>1.5 ng/ml) or mildly elevated levels (1.5~5.0 ng/ml). Rising SCC antigen levels preceded the clinical detection of disease by a mean of 4.8 months (range 1 ~13 months). Negative linear correlation was observed between initial SCC antigen levels and relapse free survival (r=-0.226), and by multivariate analysis, initial SCC antigen level had a large impact on the relapse free survival. Conclusion : SCC antigen assay is a useful aid to predict the prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and to detect recurrence.