• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.501-506
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• 2022

Echogenic liposome contains both liquid and gas inside the shell. In ultrasound mediated drug delivery, sonoporation, these new microbubbles can be an attractive drug carrier since they can be loaded water soluble drugs and drug molecules can be unloaded at the specific location with ultrasound sonication. In this paper, the structure of the echogenic liposome was confirmed with EF-TEM and the positive effect of sonoporation with echogenic liposome was comparatively evaluated on MDA-MB-231 cells which is a type of breast cancer cell with Doxorubicin. Control group (Group 1), Doxorubicin only (Group 2), sonoporation with Doxorubicin and hollow microbubbles (Group 3), sonoporation with Doxorubicin loaded echogenic liposome (Group 4) were classified and experiments were conducted. According to the results, Group 4 is at least 1.4 times better in inducing necrosis of cancer cells. Therefore, we conclude echogenic liposome could be one of the most useful form of microbubbles in sonoporation.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2009

Purpose: There are few studies evaluating the usefulness of dedicated high-resolution scintimammography and no studies using delayed washout with this dedicated high resolution scintimammography for the evaluation of breast lesions. We underwent this study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of Tc-99m MIBI in evaluating patients with palpable breast lesions using dedicated high-resolution scintimammography. Materials and Methods: This study included 19 patients with 23 palpable breast lesions who underwent mammography. Tc-99m MIBI was taken to further characterize these lesions. Scintimammography images were acquired with standard craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique views and delayed images were additionally taken. Final conclusions were based on histopathology, either by biopsy or mastectomy results. Results: Eighteen lesions were malignant and five were benign. Mammography was indeterminate for thirteen lesions, nine of those were malignant. Mammography also categorized one lesion as benign in a dense breast, but scintimammography and pathology results showed malignancy. Of the five benign lesions, two were visible on scintimammography, but delayed images showed washout. Conclusion: Based on our preliminary results, dedicated high resolution scintimammography seems to be very useful in characterizing palpable lesions that were indeterminate or negative on mammography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.743-749
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• 2023

Breast ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) refers to cases in which breast epithelial cells have become malignant but are still limited to normal ducts, and has been increasing rapidly in recent years. In this case, a two-year follow-up revealed findings on mammography and ultrasonography that indicated a small mass classified as BI-RADS Category 3, However far from typical malignant tumor these findings were. In the second year of follow-up, a hypoechoic mass with an indistinct boundary of the right breast in the 6 o'clock direction, on mammography appeared to be about 2.1×1.3 cm in size, and biopsy diagnosed it as ductal carcinoma. Since ductal endothelial cancer has no characteristic clinical findings and can show positive clinical and imaging findings in the early stages, regular follow-up is considered important for early diagnosis, and detection of ductal endothelial cancer through mammography and ultrasound is important for improving the prognosis of all breast cancer patients. During the initial examination conducted four years ago, we reported cases of intra ductal cancer in which asymmetric shading, microcalcification, and branched mass, indicative of intra ductal cancer, were observed during follow-up. It is advisable to concurrently explore methods for reducing X-ray dosage to mitigate potential side effects of contrast medium.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.204-212
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the disease-free survival and risk factors of recurrence in early breast cancer patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: From March 1997 to December 2002, 77 breast cancer patients who underwent breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy were reviewed retrospectively. The median follow-up time was 58.4 months (range $43.8{\sim}129.4$ months) and the mean subject age was 41 years. The frequency distribution of the different T stages, based on the tumor characteristics was 38 (49.3%) for T1, 28 (36.3%) for T2, 3 for T3, 7 for T is and 1 for an unidentified sized tumor. In addition, 52 patients (67.5%) did not have axillary lymph metastasis, whereas 14 patients (18.1%) had $1{\sim}3$ lymph node metastases and 3 (0.03%) had more than 4 lymph node metastases. The resection margin was negative in 59 patients, close (${\leq}2\;mm$) in 15, and positive in 4. All patients received radiation therapy at the intact breast using tangential fields with a subsequent electron beam boost to the tumor bed at a total dose ranging from 59.4 Gy to 66.4 Gy. Patients with more than four positive axillary lymph nodes received radiation therapy ($41.4{\sim}60.4\;Gy$) at the axillary and supraclavicular area. Chemotherapy was administered in 59 patients and tamoxifen or fareston was administered in 29 patients. Results: The 5 year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 98.08% and 93.49%, respectively. Of the 77 patients, a total of 4 relapses (5.2%), including 1 isolated supraclavicular relapse, 1 supraclavicular relapse with synchronous multiple distant relapses, and 2 distant relapses were observed. No cases of local breast relapses were observed. Lymph node metastasis or number of metastatic lymph nodes was not found to be statistically related with a relapse (p=0.3289) nor disease-free survival (p=0.1430). Patients with positive margins had a significantly shorter disease-free survival period (p<0.0001) and higher relapse rates (p=0.0507). However, patients with close margins were at equal risk of relapse and disease-free survival as with negative margins (p=1.000). Patients younger than 40 years of age had higher relapse rates (9.3% vs. 0%) and lower disease-free survival periods, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.1255). The relapse rates for patients with tumors was 14% for tumor stage T2, compared to 0% for tumor stage T1 tumors (p=0.0284). A univariate analysis found that disease-free survival and relapse rates, T stage, positive resection margin and mutation of p53 were significant factors for clinical outcome. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that breast conservation surgery and radiation therapy in early breast cancer patients has proven to be a safe treatment modality with a low relapse rate and high disease-free survival rate. The patients with a positive margin, T2 stage, and mutation of p53 are associated with statistically higher relapse rates and lower disease-free survival.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.236-242
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• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the role of surgical clips and scars in determining electron boost field for early stage breast cancer undergoing conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy and to provide an optimal method in drawing the boost field. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients who had $4{\sim}7$ surgical clips in the excision cavity were selected for this study. The depth informations were obtained to determine electron energy by measuring the distance from the skin to chest wall (SCD) and to the clip implanted in the most posterior area of tumor bed. Three different electron fields were outlined on a simulation film. The radiological tumor bed was determined by connecting all the clips implanted during surgery Clinical field (CF) was drawn by adding 3 cm margin around surgical scar. Surgical field (SF) was drawn by adding 2 cm margin around surgical clips and an Ideal field (IF) was outlined by adding 2 cm margin around both scar and clips. These fields were digitized into our planning system to measure the area of each separate field. The areas of the three different electron boost fields were compared. Finally, surgical clips were contoured on axial CT images and dose volume histogram was plotted to investigate 3-dimensional coverage of the clips. Results : The average depth difference between SCD and the maximal clip location was $0.7{\pm}0.55cm$. Greater difference of 5 mm or more was seen in 12 patients. The average shift between the borders of scar and clips were 1.7 1.2, 1.2, and 0.9 cm in superior, inferior, medial, and lateral directions, respectively. The area of the CF was larger than SF and IF in 6y20 patients. In 15/20 patients, the area difference between SF and if was less than 5%. One to three clips were seen outside the CF in 15/20 patients. In addition, dosimetrically inadequate coverage of clips (less than 80% of prescribed dose) were observed in 17/20 patients when CF was used as the boost field. Conclusion: The electron field determined from clinical scar underestimates the tumor bed in superior-inferior direction significantly and thereby underdosing the tissue at risk. The electron field obtained from surgical clips alone dose not cover the entire scar properly As a consequence, our technique, which combines the surgical clips and clinical scars in determining electron boost field, was proved to be effective in minimizing the geographical miss as well as normal tissue complications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1383-1391
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• 2016

Anti-estrogen drugs such as tamoxifen have been used for treating patients with ER-positive, early breast cancer. However, resistance to anti-estrogen treatment is inevitable in most patients. Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance-3 (BCAR3) has been identified as the protein responsible for the induction of tamoxifen resistance in estrogen-dependent human breast cancer. We have previously reported that BCAR3 regulates the cell cycle progression and the signaling pathway of EGF and insulin leading to DNA synthesis. In this study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in regulating c-Jun transcription in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial MCF-12A cells. A transient transfection of BCAR3 increased both the mRNA and protein of c-Jun expression, and stable expression of BCAR3 increased c-Jun protein expression. The overexpression of BCAR3 directly activated the promoter of c-jun, AP-1, and SRE but not that of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Furthermore, single-cell microinjection of BCAR3 expression plasmid in the cell cycle-arrested MCF-12A cells induced c-Jun protein expression, and co-injection of dominant negative mutants of Ras, Rac, and Rho suppressed the transcriptional activity of c-Jun in the presence of BCAR3. Furthermore, stable expression of BCAR3 increased the proliferation of MCF-12A cells. The microinjection of inhibitory materials such as anti-BCAR3 antibody and siRNA BCAR3 inhibited EGF-induced c-Jun expression but did not affect IGF-1 induced upregulation of c-Jun. Taken together, we propose that BCAR3 plays a crucial role in c-Jun protein expression and cell proliferation and that small GTPases (e.g., Ras, Rac, and Rho) are required for the BCAR3-mediated activation of c-Jun expression.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.192-200
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• 2006

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To evaluate the movement of surgical clips implanted in breast tumor bed during normal breathing. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Seven patients receiving breast post-operative radiotherapy were selected for this study. Each patient was simulated in a common treatment position. Fluoroscopic images were recorded every 0.033 s, 30 frames per 1 second, for 10 seconds in anterior to posterior (AP), lateral, and tangential direction except one patient's images which were recorded as a rate of 15 frames per second. The movement of surgical clips was recorded and measured, thereby calculated maximal displacement of each clip in AP, lateral, tangential, and superior to inferior (SI) direction. For the comparison, we also measured the movement of diaphragm in SI direction. $\underline{Results}$: From AP direction's images, average movement of surgical clips in lateral and SI direction was $0.8{\pm}0.5\;mm$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2\;mm$ and maximal movement was 1.9 mm and 1.2 mm. Surgical clips in lateral direction's images were averagely moved $1.3{\pm}0.7\;mm$ and $1.3{\pm}0.5\;mm$ in AP and SI direction with 2.6 mm and 2.6 mm maximal movement in each direction. In tangential direction's images, average movement of surgical clips and maximal movement was $1.2{\pm}0.5\;mm$ and 2.4 mm in tangential direction and $0.9{\pm}0.4\;mm$ and 1.7 mm in SI direction. Diaphragm was averagely moved $14.0{\pm}2.4\;mm$ and 18.8 mm maximally in SI direction. $\underline{Conclusion}$: The movement of clips caused by breathing was not as significant as the movement of diaphragm. And all surgical clip movements were within 3 mm in all directions. These results suggest that for breast radiotherapy, it may not necessary to use breath-holding technique or devices to control breath.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 1988

Though the occurrence of multiple primary malignant tumor is a rare finding but the reported cases of it has increased in recent years. We collected multiple primary cancer of different organ, tissue and the multicentric origin of bilaterally paired organs. This paper reports 6 cases of multiple primary malignant tumors which were experienced at Yeungnam university hospital in Taegu during the past 2 years with review of journals. The results were as follows. 1. The incidence of multiple primary cancer was 0.31% for 2 years(1987-1988). 2. The ratio between male and female was 1:1 and mean age of incidence was 54.1 years. 3. The ratio between synchronous and metachronous(interval more than 6 months) was 1:1. 4. The time interval between first and second cancer was average 2.7 years in metachronous cases. 5. The most frequent involved organ was stomach, breast and colon in order of frequency. 6. The incidence of familial cancer associations was found in one out of 6 cases. 7. The test of DNCB, multi test CMI and ratio of T4 to T8 were performed in 4 cases but there was no definitive evidence of abnormality. We concluded that every effort should be made to discover the presence of synchronous malignancies in the patients who are being treated for a known tumor, and also special care should be given to detect new metachronous lesions is required.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.109-116
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Surface-Guided Patient Setup by comparing the patient positioning accuracy when image-guided radiation therapy was used for Markerless patients(unmarked on the skin) using Surface-Guided Patient Setup and Marker patients(marked on the skin) using Laser-Based Patient Setup. Materials And Methods: The position error during IGRT was compared between a Markerless patient initially set up with SGPS using an optical surface scanning system using three cameras and a Marker patient initially set up with LBPS that aligns the laser with the marker drawn on the patient's skin. Both SGPS and LBPS were performed on 20 prostate cancer patients and 10 Stereotactic Radiation Surgery patients, respectively, and SGPS was performed on an additional 60 breast cancer patients. All were performed IGRT using CBCT or OBI. Position error of 6 degrees of freedom was obtained using Auto-Matching System, and comparison and analysis were performed using Offline-Review in the treatment planning system. Result: The difference between the root mean square (RMS) of SGPS and LBPS in prostate cancer patients was Vrt -0.02cm, Log -0.02cm, Lat 0.01cm, Pit -0.01°, Rol -0.01°, Rtn -0.01°, SRS patients was Vrt 0.02cm, Log -0.05cm, Lat 0.00cm, Pit -0.30°, Rol -0.15°, Rtn -0.33°. there was no significant difference between the two regions. According to the IGRT standard of breast cancer patients, RMS was Vrt 0.26, Log 0.21, Lat 0.15, Pit 0.81, Rol 0.49, Rtn 0.59. Conclusion:. As a result of this study, the position error value of SGPS compared to LBPS did not show a significant difference between prostate cancer patients and SRS patients. In the case of additionally performed SGPS breast cancer patients, the position error value was not large based on IGRT. Therefore, it is considered that it will be useful to replace LBPS with SGPS, which has the great advantage of not requiring patient skin marking..

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2013

Objective : As treatments for breast cancer require long period of time, the patients need continuous monitoring and management of their health related quality of life. The purpose of this preliminary study is to explore the utility of monitoring quality of life using a mobile phone based application, which was developed to enable the patients to report daily quality of life more efficiently. Methods : Department of psychiatry, breast cancer center and U-health team of Asan Medical Center collaborated in developing a mobile application titled 'DugunDugun'. Through the application, patients with breast cancer receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy could report on various questions about their daily quality of life. We extracted and explored the daily basis of the data of sleep duration, number of awake, sleep satisfaction, mood and anxiety from nine patients who reported on the questionnaire for more than a month. Results : The longitudinal data collected using our mobile application well represented the characteristics of individual sleep patterns and daily emotional changes. Most of the patients showed high daily variations in the scores of their quality of life while their averaged scores were similar among patients. The patient with highest daily variations in the subjective sleep quality and daily emotional change had highest score corresponding to moderate depression in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Conclusion : The results suggest that mobile application could be a useful tool for monitoring and collecting the daily quality of life in the patients with breast cancer. We expect that mobile application could facilitate early detection and proper intervention for the cancer patients at psychological crisis.