• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1811-1815
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• 2014

Background: In clinical trials with no upper age limit, the proportion of older patients is usually small, probably reflecting the more conservative approach adopted by clinicians when treating the elderly. An exploratory analysis of elderly patients in the RECORD-1 Trial showed that patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. had superior median PFS than overall RECORD-1 population (5.4 months and 4.9 months, respectively). We investigated the efficacy, relative benefit and safety of Everolimus (EVE) as sequential therapy after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy for older patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC), in daily practice. Materials and Methods: 172 consecutive IRB approved patients with mRCC (median age 65, M:F 135/37, 78% clear cell) who received salvage EVE at 39 tertiary institutions between October 2009 and August 2011 were included in this analysis. Some 31% had progressed on sunitinib, 22% on sorafenib, 1% on axitinib, 41% on sequential therapy, and 5% had received other therapy. Patients with brain metastases were not included and 95% of the patients had a ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1. Previous radiotherapy was an exclusion criterion, but prior chemotherapy was permitted. Adequate organ function and hematologic parameters were mandatory. EVE administration was approved by the institutional review board at each participating institution and signed informed consent was obtained from all patients. Results: Median time of the whole cohort to last follow-up was 3.5 months (range 0.4-15.2 months). Forty four percent were continuing to take EVE at last followup. There were 86 (50%) patients ${\geq}$ 65 y.o. and 86 (50%) <65 y.o. The percentage of patients who showed PR/SD was higher in the older group than in the younger one (5.9%/61.2% vs 1.2%/46.5%, respectively). Median survival of older patients was also significantly longer (3.5 +/- 0.31 vs 3.1 +/- 0.34, hazard ratio=0.45, CI; 0.255-0.802). Analysis using Cox regression model adjusted for gender, PS, number of metastases, site of metastases, histology, smoking history and age detected an association between age and PFS (p=0.011). The frequency of adverse events in elderly patients treated with EVE was no greater than that in younger patients, although such toxicity may have had a greater impact on their quality of life. Conclusions: Older patients should not generally be excluded from accepted therapies (mTOR inhibitors after failure of VEGFr-TKI therapy) for mRCC.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.592-599
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• 2018

Objective : Metastatic brain tumors (MBTs) often present with intracerebral hemorrhage. Although Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) is a valid treatment option for hemorrhagic MBTs, its efficacy is unclear. To achieve oncologic control and reduce radiation toxicity, we used a radiosurgical targeting technique that confines the tumor core within the hematoma when performing GKS in patients with such tumors. We reviewed our experience in this endeavor, focusing on local tumor control and treatment-associated morbidities. Methods : From 2007 to 2014, 13 patients with hemorrhagic MBTs were treated via GKS using our targeting technique. The median marginal dose prescribed was 23 Gy (range, 20-25). GKS was performed approximately 2 weeks after tumor bleeding to allow the patient's condition to stabilize. Results : The primary sites of the MBTs included the liver (n=7), lung (n=2), kidney (n=1), and stomach (n=1); in two cases, the primary tumor was a melanoma. The mean tumor volume was $4.00cm^3$ (range, 0.74-11.0). The mean overall survival duration after GKS was 12.5 months (range, 3-29), and three patients are still alive at the time of the review. The local tumor control rate was 92% (tumor disappearance 23%, tumor regression 46%, and stable disease 23%). There was one (8%) instance of local recurrence, which occurred 11 months after GKS in the solid portion of the tumor. No GKS-related complications were observed. Conclusion : Our experience shows that GKS performed in conjunction with our targeting technique safely and effectively treats hemorrhagic MBTs. The success of this technique may reflect the presence of scattered metastatic tumor cells in the hematoma that do not proliferate owing to the inadequate microenvironment of the hematoma. We suggest that GKS can be a useful treatment option for patients with hemorrhagic MBTs that are not amenable to surgery.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.84-88
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• 2008

Purpose : Radiotherapy is effective in local treatment for retinoblastoma. However, asymmetric facial hypoplasia after radiation is a serious late effect. This study was performed to investigate the effects of enucleation and chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy in advanced intraocular and intraorbital retinoblastoma. Methods : Between 1985 October and 2006 December, the records of thirty five patients who were diagnosed as retinoblastoma at Yeungnam University Hospital were reviewed. Advanced intraocular and intraorbital retinoblastoma patients classified as Reese-Ellsworth group III, IV, and V and Grabowski- Abramson class II were selected for the study. Results : Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were enucleated and had received chemotherapy. Nine patients received radiotherapy and nine patients didn't receive radiotherapy. Tumor cells were found on resection margin of optic nerve in five of nine patients who received radiotherapy, but none of nine who didn't receive radiotherapy. Chemotherapy included vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, VM-26, cisplatin before 2001, and vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin after 2001. There were no recurrences or metastases in nine patients who didn't receive radiotherapy. But two of nine patients who received radiotherapy had metastases to brain. However, all survivors who received radiotherapy had significant facial asymmetry. Conclusion : In advanced intraocular and intraorbital retinoblastoma without tumor cell on resection margin of optic nerve, enucleation and chemotherapy without local radiotherapy appears to be safe for long-term survival. However, in those with tumor cells on resection margin of optic nerve, enucleation and chemotherapy with local radiotherapy seems to be necessary to improve survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.647-652
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• 2015

Background: Lung cancer was one of the most common cancers in both men and women all over the world. In this study, we aimed to clarify who could survive after long term chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We enrolled 186 patients with stage IV NSCLC after long term chemotherapy from Jun 2006 to Nov 2014 diagnosed in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital. Multiple variables like age, gender, smoking, histology of adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell cancer, number of metastatic sites, metastatic sites (e.g. lung, brain, bone, liver and pleura), hemoglobin, lymphocyte rate (LYR), Change of LYR during multiple therapies, hypertension, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, treatments (e.g.radiotherapy and targeted therapy) were selected. For consideration of factors influencing survival and response for patients with advanced NSCLC, logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used in an attempt to develop a screening module for patients with elevated survival after long term chemotherapy become possible. Results: Of the total of 186 patients enrolled, 69 survived less than 1 year (short-term group), 45 one to two years, and 72 longer than 3 years (long-term group). For logistic regression analysis, the short-term group was taken as control group and the long-term group as the case group. We found that age, histology of adenocarcinoma, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), treatments (e.g. targeted therapy and radiotherapy), LYR, a decreasing tendency of LYR and chronic bronchitis were individually associated with overall survival by Cox regression analysis. A multivariable Cox regression model showed that metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), histology of adenocarcinoma, treatments (e.g. targeted therapy and radiotherapy) and chronic bronchitis were associated with overall survival. Thus metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver) and chronic bronchitis may be important risk factors for patients with advanced NSCLC. Gender, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), LYR and the decreasing tendency of LYR were significantly associated with long-term survival in the individual-variable logistic regression model (P<0.05). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, gender, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver) and the decreasing tendency of LYR associated with long-term survival. Conclusions: In conclusion, female patients with stage IV adenocarcinoma of NSCLC who had decreasing tendency of LYR during the course therapy and had accepted multiple therapies e.g. more than third-line chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or targeted therapy might be expected to live longer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 1992

We have performed surgical operations for 184 primary lung carcinomas over a 10 year period from December, 1979 to December, 1990 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We have reviewed 77 cases confirmed to be dead in the post-operative follow-up period among 184 cases. There were 68 males and 9 females [M: F=7.56: 1], with 76.62% ranging between 50 to 70 years old There were 50 cases[64.94%] of squamous cell carcinoma, 15[19.48%] of adenocarcinoma, 4[5.19%] of large cell carcinoma, 4[5.19%] of mixed cell carcinoma 3 [3.90%] of small cell carcinoma % 1 case of bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma. There were 25 cases[32.47%] in stage I, 12 [15.58%] in stage II 32 [41.56%] in stage IIIa and 8 [10.39%] in stage IIIb according to the new international staging system for lung cancer. The operative methods were left pneumonectomy in 38 cases, right pneumonectomy in 21, bilobectomy in 5, lobectomy in 12, and wedge resection in one case.ase. There were 9 operative mortalities; one case by bleeding, 5 cases by respiratory failure, one case by bleeding & renal failure, one case by empyema thoracis with BPF and one case by brain metastases. The actuarial mean survival length was 14.636$\pm$18.188months overall and 16.441$\pm$18. 627months in 68 cases excluding 9 operative deaths. The actuarial mean survival length was 18.568$\pm$11.057 months in 43 squamous cell carcinomas, 14.385$\pm$11.057 months in 14 adenocarcinomas, 10.250$\pm$8.884months in 4 large cell carcinomas and 12.250$\pm$17.193months in 4 mixed cell carcinomas. The actuarial mean survival length was 14.051$\pm$16.963months in 59 pneumonectomy cases, 15.200$\pm$12.478 months in 5 bilobectomy cases, 18.417$\pm$26.026months in 12 lobectomy cases. The actuarial mean survival length was 28.952$\pm$25.738months in 22 stage I cases, 19. 455$\pm$16.723months in ll stage II cases, 8.633$\pm$6.584months in 29 stage IIIa cases and 6. 167$\pm$4.355months in 6 stage IIIb cases. The differences of actuarial mean survival length according to the stages were statistically significant [a=0.003]

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2023

Background: We reviewed the clinical outcomes of patients with oligometastatic (OM) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received multimodal therapy including lung surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 117 patients with OM NSCLC who underwent complete resection of the primary tumor from 2014 to 2017. Results: The median follow-up duration was 2.91 years (95% confidence interval, 1.48-5.84 years). The patients included 73 men (62.4%), and 76 patients (64.9%) were under the age of 65 years. Based on histology, 97 adenocarcinomas and 14 squamous cell carcinomas were included. Biomarker analysis revealed that 53 patients tested positive for epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, or ROS1 mutations, while 36 patients tested negative. Metastases were detected in the brain in 74 patients, the adrenal glands in 12 patients, bone in 5 patients, vertebrae in 4 patients, and other locations in 12 patients. Radiation therapy for organ metastasis was performed in 81 patients and surgical resection in 27 patients. The 1-year overall survival (OS) rate in these patients was 82.8%, and the 3- and 5-year OS rates were 52.6% and 37.2%, respectively. Patients with positive biomarker test results had 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of 98%, 64%, and 42.7%, respectively. These patients had better OS than those with negative biomarker test results (p=0.031). Patients aged ≤65 years and those with pT1-2 cancers also showed better survival (both p=0.008). Conclusion: Surgical resection of primary lung cancer is a viable treatment option for selected patients with OM NSCLC in the context of multimodal therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1992

Between August 1988 and December 1991, 24 patients with intracranial tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery(RS) using a 10 MV linear accelerator at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 5 meningiomas, 3 craniopharyngiomas, 9 glial tumors, 2 solitary metastases, 2 acoustic neurinomas, 2 pineal tumors, and 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ten patients were treated as primary treatment after diagnosis with stereotactic biopsy or neuroimaging study. Nine patients underwent RS for post-op. residual tumors and three patients as a salvage treatment for recurrence after external irradiation. Two patients received RS as a boost followed by fractionated conventional radiotherapy. Among sixteen patients who were followed more than 6 months with neuroimage, seven patients (2 meningiomas, 4 benign glial tumors, one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) showed complete response on neuroimage after RS and nine patients showed decreased tumor size. There was no acute treatment related side reaction. Late complications include three patients with symptomatic peritumoral brain edema and one craniopharyngioma with optic chiasmal injury. Through this early experience, we conclude that stereotactically directed single high doses of irradiation to the small intracranial tumors is effective for tumor control. However, in order to define the role of radiosurgery in the management of intracraniai tumors, we should get the long-term results available to demonstrate the benefits versus potential complications of this therapeutic modality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 1997

Purpose : This study was done to evaluate the survival rate and Prognostic factors of patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) treated with radiation therapy. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 62 Patients who had inoperable NSCLC treated with radiation therapy from January 1991 through December 1993. According to AJCC slaging, stage IIIA was 14 patients and stage IIIB was 48 patients. Forty Gy to 70.2Gy to the primary tumor site was delivered with daily fractions of 1.8Gy or 2Gy, 5days per week. Thirty-seven patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results : Complete, partial and no response to radiation therapy were 3 patients, 34 Patients and 25 patients, respectively The median survival period of all patients was 11 month. One rear survival rate, 2 year survival rateand 5 rear survival rate for all patients were 45.0%, 14.3%, and 6.0% respectively The median survival period was 6.5 months in stage IIIA and 13 months in stage IIIB. One year survival rates were 28.6% in stage IIIA and 50.3% in stage IIIB In univariaite analysis, prognostic factors affecting survival were T-s1aging, AJCC staging, and response after radiation therapy (P<0.05) . Pretreatment peformance status affected survival but was not statistically significant (0.050.1). In multivariate analysis, Pathology and response to radiation therapy are independently significant prognostic factor. T stage was marginally significant (P=0.0809). During follow-up duration, distant metastasis developed in 20 patients-bone metastasis in 10 patients, brain metastasis in 3 patients, liver mentastasis in 3 patients, contralateral lung metastasis in 1 patients and multiple metastases in 3 patients. Conclusion :　Conventional radiotherapy alone or combined chemoradiotherapy are unlikely to achieve long term survival in patients with NSCLC.　Surgery after concurrent chemoradiotherapy is Ivied to improve the local　control in our hospital

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-225
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• 1989

An analysis has been made of two hundred seven patients who were treated at the department of Radiation Oncology of Korea University Hospital for lung cancer from January 1981 through December 1986. There were 137 patients of nonsmall cell carcinoma (137/207, 66%), 26 patients of small cell carcinoma (26/207, 12.5%) and 44 patients of unproven histology. By aims of treatment, there were 104 patients (104/207, 50%) treated for cure, 89 patients (89/207, 42.9%) for palliation and 14 patients treated postoperatively. In 22 out of 207 patients, chemotherapy was done with radiotherapy, 12 of which were patients with small cell carcinoma. Stage II patients were 49 (49/207, 23.6%), stage III patients were 157 (157/207, 75.8%) and one patient had an occult cancer The tumor was initial Iy measured by CAT scan and chest X-rays in the 165 (165/207, 79.7%) patients, among which 117 patients had tumor diameter more than 5cm and 48 patients less than 5cm. Radiation therapy was given with Cobalt 60 teletherapy unit and the treatment volume encompassed primary tumor and the mediastinum. For curative aim, daily tumor dose of 180 cGy was given up to the range of 5,400~6,120cGy/30~34F/6~7 week period and for palliative aim, daily tumor dose of 300 cGy was given up to the range of 3,600~4,500 cGy/12~15F/2~3 week period. Postoperatively, mediastinum was treated for total dose of 5,040 cGy/28F/5.5 week period. 123 patients (123/207, 59%) were followed up after completion of radiotherapy for 14 months to 7 years. Local tumor response to the irradiation was measured by chest X-ray taken at one month follow up and was evaluated for response rate, if they were regressed more than 50% or less than 50% of the initial tumor size. The treatment results were as follows; 1. The median survival time was 8.5 months and survival rates for 1 year, 2 year and 5 year was 25%, 3.5% and 1% of nonsmall cell lung ca of 74 evaluable patients. 2. More than 50% of local tumor response rate was obtained in about half of overall cases; 90.5% for small cell ca, 50% for squamous cell ca, 25% for adenoca and 57% for large cell ca. 3. Response rate more than 50% was seen in the 50% of the patient group with tumor diameter more than 5cm and in the 55% of those with tumor diameter less than 5cm. 4. By total raidation dose given, patient group which was given 5,400~6,120 cGy equivalent dose or higher showed tumor response rate more than 50% in 53% of the patients, whereas the group with dose less than 5,400cGy equivalent, in 25% of the patients. 5. Survival rate for 6 month, 1 year and 2 year was compared between the group of local tumor response rate more than 50% vs. group with response rate less than 50%; 74% vs. 43%, 33% vs, 23%, 10% vs. 1%, respectively. 6. Local failure was seen in 21%(44/207) of the patients, which occured mostly within 15 months after completion of radiation therapy. Distant metastases were seen in 49.7%(103/207) of the patients, of which 43 cases were found before initiation of radiotherapy. The most common metastatic sites were bone and brain. In this sutdy, 1 year,2 year and S year survival rates were somewhat poor compared to the other studies. It mainly seems to be due to the poor general status of the patients and the far-advanced stage of the disease. In nonsmall cell cancer patients who had limited local disease and had small primary tumor size, we observed better local response. In addition, dose higher than 6,000 cGy group showed better tumor control than lower dose group. Survival rate was better for the local control group. For imporvement of local control of the lung cancer and hence, the survival of the patients with lung cancer, proper radical radiotherapy with high dose for localized disease is needed. New modality of treatment such as high LET beam in radiation therapy or drugs for the advanced disease as well as early diagnosis is also needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1999

Purpose : This is a retrospective study to evaluate the response rate, acute toxicity, and survival rate of a combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy in limited disease small cell lung cancer, Materials and Methods : Firty-six patients with limited disease small-cell lung cancer who underwent combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy between October 1994 and April 1998 were evaluated. Six cycles of chemotherapy were planned either using a VIP regimen etoposide, ifosfamide, and cis-platin) or a EP regimen (etoposide and cis-platin). Thoracic radiation therapy was planned to deli- ver 44 Gy using 1 OMV X-ray, starting concurrently with chemotherapy. Response was evaluated 4 weeks after the completion of the planned chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the prophylaetic cranial irradiation was planned only for the patients with complete responses. Acute toxicity was evaluated using the SWOG toxicity criteria, and the overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier Method. Results : The median follow-up period was 16 months (range:2 to 41 months). Complete response was achieved En 30 (65$\%$) patients, of which 22 patients received prophylactic cranial irradiations. Acute toxicities over grade III were granulocytopenia in 23 (50$\%$), anemia in 17 (37$\%$), thrombo- cytopenia in nine (20$\%$), alopecia in nine (20$\%$), nausea/vomiting in five (11$\%$), and peripheral neuropathy in one (2$\%$). Chemotherapy was delayed in one patient, and the chemotherapy doses were reduced in 58 (24$\%$) out of the total 246 cycles. No radiation esophagitis over grade 111 was observed, while interruption during radiation therapy for a mean of 8.3 days occurred in 21 patients. The local recurrences were observed in 8 patients and local progressions were in 6 patients, and the distant metastases in 17 patients. Among these, four patients had both the local relapse and the distant metastasis. Brain was the most common metastatic site (10 patients), followed by the liver as the next common site (4 patients). The overall and progression-free survival rates were 79$\%$ and 55$\%$ in 1 year, and 45'/) and 32% in 2 years, respectively, and the median survival was 23 months. Conclusion : Relatively satisfactory local control and suwival rates were achieved after the combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy with mild to moderate acute morbidities in limited disease small cell lung cancer.