• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.27-32
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• 2006

Expression of invasion/metastasis suppressor, E-cadherin, is reduced in many types of human carcinomas. Although somatic and germline mutations in the CDH1, which encodes the human E-cadherin, have frequently been reported in cases with diffuse gastric and lobular breast cancers, irreversible genetic inactivations are rare in other human carcinomas. Recently, it has been well documented that some genes in human cancers may be inactivated by altered CpG methylation. Herein, we determined the expression and methylation status of E-cadherin in oral squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) by immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly higher in the well-differentiated oral SCCs than the moderately or poorly differentiated ones. None of eight tested benign epithelial hyperplasias showed aberrant methylation, whereas five of 12 oral squamous cell carcinomas showed aberrant methylation. When we compared E-cadherin expression with methylation status, oral SCCs with normal methylation showed a higher expression of E-cadherin than those with methylation. These findings suggest that aberrant CpG methylation of CDH1 promoter region is closely associated with transcriptional inactivation and might be involved in tumor progression of the oral mucosa.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2015

We evaluate the influence of MR contrast agent on positron emission tomography (PET) image using phantom, animal and human studies. Phantom consisted of 15 solutions with the mixture of various concentrations of Gd-based MR contrast agent and fixed activity of [$^{18}F$]FDG. Animal study was performed using rabbit and two kinds of MR contrast agents. After injecting contrast agent, CT or MRI scanning was performed at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 minutes. PET image was obtained using clinical PET/CT scan, and attenuation correction was performed using the all CT images. The values of HU, PET activity and MRI intensity were obtained from ROIs in each phantom and organ regions. In clinical study, patients (n=20) with breast cancer underwent sequential acquisitions of early [$^{18}F$]FDG PET/CT, MRI and delayed PET/CT. In phantom study, as the concentration increased, the CT attenuation and PET activity also increased. However, there was no relationship between the PET activity and the concentration in the clinical dose range of contrast agent. In animal study, change of PET activity was not significant at all time point of CT scan both MR contrast agents. There was no significant change of HU between early and delayed CT, except for kidney. Early and delayed SUV in tumor and liver showed significant increase and decrease, respectively (P<0.05). Under the condition of most clinical study (< 0.2 mM), MR contrast agent did not influence on PET image quantitation.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2006

Bone metastasis is a common sequelae of solid malignant tumors such as prostate, breast, lung, and renal cancers, which can lead to various complications, including fractures, hypercalcemia, and bone pain, as well as reduced performance status and quality of life it occurs as a result of a complex pathophysiologic process between host and tumor cells leading to cellular invasion, migration adhesion, and stimulation of osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity. Several sequelae occur as a result of osseous metastases and resulting bone pain can lead to significant debilitation. A multidisciplinary approach is usually required not only to address the etiology of the pain and its complicating factors but also to treat the patient appropriately. Pharmaceutical therapy of bone pain, includes non-steroidal analgesics, opiates, steroids, hormones, bisphosphonates, and chemotherapy. While external beam radiation therapy remains the mainstay of pain palliation of a solitary lesions, bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals have entered the therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of multiple painful osseous lesions. $^{32}P,\;^{89}SrCl,\;^{153}Sm-EDTMP,\;^{188}Re/^{186}Re-HEDP,\;and\;^{177}Lu-EDTMP$ can be used to treat painful osseous metastases. These various radiopharmaceuticals have shown good efficacy in relieving bone pain secondary to bone metastasis. This systemic form of metabolic radiotherapy is simple to administer and complements other treatment options. This has been associated with improved mobility in many patients, reduced dependence on narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics, improved performance status and quality of life, and, in some studios, improved survival. All of these agents, although comprising different physical and chemical characteristics, offer certain advantages in that they are simple to administer, are well tolerated by the patient if used appropriately, and can be used alone or in combination with the other forms of treatment. This article illustrates the salient features of these radiopharmaceuticals, including the usual therapuetic dose, method of administration, and indications for use and also describe about the pre-management checklists, and jndication/contraindication and follow-up protocol.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.716-725
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• 2021

Objective : The anti-tumor effect of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol in breast cancer is well known; however, its activity in glioblastoma is not well-evaluated. The Notch-Hes pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of propranolol to human glioblastoma cell lines, and the role of Notch and Hes signaling in this process. Methods : We performed immunohistochemical staining on 31 surgically resected primary human glioblastoma tissues. We also used glioblastoma cell lines of U87-MG, LN229, and neuroblastoma cell line of SH-SY5Y in this study. The effect of propranolol and isoproterenol on cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay (absorbance 570 nm). The impact of propranolol on gene expression (Notch and Hes) was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, whereas protein levels of Notch1 and Hes1 were measured using Western blotting (WB), simultaneously. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to suppress the Notch gene to investigate its role in the proliferation of glioblastoma. Results : Propranolol and isoproterenol caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (MTT assay). RT-PCR showed an increase in Notch1 and Hes1 expression by propranolol, whereas WB demonstrated increase in Notch1 protein, but a decrease in Hes1 by propranolol. The proliferation of U87-MG and LN229 was not significantly suppressed after transfection with Notch siRNA. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that propranolol suppressed the proliferation of glioblastoma cell lines and neuroblastoma cell line, and Hes1 was more closely involved than Notch1 was in glioblastoma proliferation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2024

Background: Pericardial effusion (PE) is a serious condition in cancer patients, primarily arising from malignant dissemination. Pericardial window formation is a surgical intervention for refractory PE. However, the long-term outcomes and factors associated with postoperative survival remain unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 166 oncology patients who underwent pericardial window formation at Samsung Medical Center between 2011 and 2023. We analyzed survival and PE recurrence regarding surgical approach, cancer type, and cytopathological findings. To identify factors associated with survival, we utilized Cox proportional-hazards regression. Results: All patients had tumors documented in accordance with the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual, including lung (61.4%), breast (9.6%), gastrointestinal (9.0%), hematologic (3.6%), and other cancers (16.4%). Surgical approaches included mini-thoracotomy (67.5%) and thoracoscopy (32.5%). Postsurgical cytopathology confirmed malignancy in 94 cases (56.6%). Over a median follow-up duration of 50.0 months, 142 deaths and 16 PE recurrences occurred. The 1-year overall and PE recurrence-free survival rates were 31.4% and 28.6%, respectively. One-year survival rates were significantly higher for thoracoscopy recipients (43.7% vs. 25.6%, p=0.031) and patients with negative cytopathology results (45.1% vs. 20.6%, p<0.001). No significant survival difference was observed between lung cancer and other types (p=0.129). Multivariate analysis identified New York Heart Association class, cancer stage, and cytopathology as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: This series is the largest to date concerning window formation among cancer patients with PE. Patients' long-term survival after surgery was generally unfavorable. However, cases with negative cytopathology or earlier tumor stage demonstrated comparatively high survival rates.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1210-1215
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• 2020

Sparganosis is an uncommon human parasitic infection caused by plerocercoid cysts of the genus Spirometra. Sparganosis of the neck is a rare condition, thus making it difficult to diagnose. It is often initially misdiagnosed as a lymphadenopathy or a soft tissue tumor. Herein, we describe a rare case of apparent sparganosis presenting as a palpable mass in the left neck of a 53-year-old female patient. Imaging studies played a key role in the diagnosis. In this case report, we emphasize that sparganosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a palpable superficial mass. We also stress the importance of meticulous radiological review in the context of appropriate clinical suspicion.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.207-212
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• 2004

Purpose: Invasion and metastasis in solid tumors require the action of tumor-associated proteases. The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA) and receptor (uPAR) appear to have a major function in these processes. Expression of the uPAR is elevated in breast and colon carcinomas, and this is often associated with invasiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression of the uPAR gene correlates with clinico-pathological parameters in human gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We examined the expression of uPAR mRNA by using northern blot analysis and RT-PCR in 35 gastric carcinomas and the surrounding normal mucosa. Macroscopic and histopathological tumor findings and survival rates were obtained from the patient records and from endoscopic, surgical, and pathological reports. Results: The expression of uPAR and was higher in most neoplasms than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue. uPAR mRNA expression in tumors correlated well with lymph-node metastasis (P<0.02) and tumor stage (P<0.01). The survival rate of patients with tumors displaying high uPAR expression levels was significantly lower (P<0.04) than that of patients without uPAR expression, but IL-8 showed only the tendency of survival difference. Conclusion: These results suggest that uPAR may be an important prognostic factor in human gastric carcinomas.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.140-144
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to retrospectively analyze patient survival by weighting according to the primary tumor oncotype in 160 patients with brain metastasis and who underwent whole brain radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 metastatic brain cancer patients who were treated with whole brain radiotherapy of 30 Gy between 2002 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary tumor oncotype of 20 patients was breast cancer, and that of 103 patients was lung cancer. Except for 18 patients with leptomeningeal seeding, a total of 142 patients were analyzed according to the prognostic factors and the Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA) class. Weighted Partitioning Analysis (WPA), with the weighting being done according to the primary tumor oncotype, was performed and the results were correlated with survival and then compared with the RPA Class. Results: The median survival of the patients in RPA Class I (8 patients) was 20.0 months, that for Class II (76 patients) was 10.0 months and that for Class III (58 patients) was 3.0 months (p<0.003). The median survival of patients in WPA Class I (3 patients) was 36 months, that for the patients in Class II (9 patients) was 23.7 months, that for the patients in Class III (70 patients) was 10.9 months and that for the patients in Class IV (60 patients) was 8.6 months (p<0.001). The WPA Class might have more accuracy in assessing survival, and it may be superior to the RPA Class for assessing survival. Conclusion: A new prognostic index, the WPA Class, has more prognostic value than the RPA Class for the treatment of patients with metastatic brain cancer. This WPA Class may be useful to guide the appropriate treatment of metastatic brain lesions.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2001

Cellular proliferation is an intricately regulated process mediated by the coordinated interactions of critical growth control genes. Two of these factors in mammalian cells are the p53 and mdm-2 genes. A protein product of the mem-2 oncogene has been recently shown to associate with the protein encoded by the tumor suppressor gene p53. The p53 tumor suppressor protein is stabilized in response to DNA damage and other stress signals and causes the cell to undergo growth arrest or apoptosis, thus preventing the establishment of mutations in future cellular generations. Mutation or loss of p53 is a very common event in tumor progression. It occurs in about 50% of all tumors analysed including of colon, lung, breast and liver. The cellular mdm-2 gene, which has potential transforming activity that can be activated by overexpression, is amplified in a significant percentage of human sarcoma and in other mammalian tumors. Proteins encoded by the mdm-2 gene are able to bind to the p53 protein and, when overexpressed, can inhibit p53's transcriptional activation function, thus mdm-2 can act as a negative regulator of p53 function. Experimental study was performed to observe the relationship between p53 gene mutation and mdm-2 protein expression and apply the results to the clinical activity. 36 golden syrian hamster each weighing $60{\sim}80g$ were used and painted with 0.5% DMBA by 3 times weekly on the right buccal cheek(experimental side) for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. Left buccal cheek(control side) was treated with mineral oil as the same manner to the right side. The hamsters were sacrificed on the 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks. Normal and tumor tissues from paraffin block were examined for histology and immunohistochemistry observation, and were completely dissected by microdissection and DNA from both tissue were isolated by proteins K/phenol/chloroform extraction. Segments of the hamster p53 exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 were amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotide primers, and then confirmational change was observed by SSCP respectively. The results were as follows : 1. Dysplasia at 6 weeks, carcinoma in situ at 8 weeks and invasive carcinoma from 10 weeks could be observed in experimental groups. 2. p53 mutations were detected in 10 of the 36(28%) and the exons 6(6 of the 10 : 60%) was the most hot spot area among the highy conserved region(exons 5, 6, 7 & 8). 3. Immunohistochemical study confirmed 22 of the 36(61%) of p53 expression involving 10 of p53 mutations. 4. mdm-2 expression of was showed in 3 of the 36(8%) involving 1 of the 22 of p53 expression and 2 of the 14 of p53 non-expression. From the above results, mutation of p53 gene or expression of p53 protein may have the influence of the DMBA induced carcinoma of hamster buccal pouch but the expression of mdm-2 protein may not have relationship with tumorigenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.34
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

Purpose: To evaluate usefulness of Tomotherapy and Halcyon VMAT treatment in radiation therapy for bi-breast cancer Materials and Methods: For 10 patients with bi-breast cancer, volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) treatment plan was established using helical Tomotherapy(Accuray. USA) with field width of 5.0-cm and pitch of 0.287, and Halcyon(Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA, Version 3.0 USA) of 6arc and 8arc. Prescribed dose was 42.4 Gy/16, and V _40.3Gy of Planning Target Volume(PTV) was 90%. The quality of plan was evaluated by comparing the dose to tumor and normal organs, and the efficiency was evaluated by comparing total MU and beam on time. Results: About three treatment plans(Tomotherapy, Halcyon 6Arc VMAT, Halcyon 8Arc VMAT) , the mean homogeneity index(H.I) of PTV were 1.07, 1.10, 1.11, and the mean conformity index(C.I) of PTV were 1.21, 1.16, 1.17, respectively. The average value of the dose assessment item for a normal organ is V _5Gy(%) of both lung was 36.3, 31.2, 29.7, and V _15Gy(%) were 18.6, 15.5, 14.6, respectively. The mean heart dose(Gy) were 4.17, 2.69, 2.51. Total MU were (7498.6, 2494.2, 2471.5), and beam on time(sec) were 462.5, 195.4, 198.0. Conclusion: Halcyon VMAT showed similar quality of treatment plan compared to helical Tomotherapy, while also protecting normal organs. In addition, the efficiency of radiotherapy increased due to a decrease in Beam On Time and MU.