• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.868-880
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• 2018

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive cancers presenting with high rates of invasion and metastasis, and unfavorable prognoses. The current study aims to investigate whether EZH2/miR-139-5p axis affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in PC, and the mechanism how EZH2 regulates miR-139-5p. Human PC and adjacent normal tissues were collected to determine expression of EZH2 and miR-139-5p, and their relationship with clinicopathological features of PC. Human PC cell line was selected, and treated with miR-139-5p mimics/inhibitors, EZH2 vector or shEZH2 in order to validate the regulation of EZH2-mediated miR-139-5p in PC cells. Dual-luciferase report gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were employed to identify the relationship between miR-139-5p and EZH2. RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of miR-139-5p, EZH2 and EMT-related markers and ZEB1/2. Tumor formation ability and in vitro cell activity were also analyzed. Highly-expressed EZH2 and poorly-expressed miR-139-5p were detected in PC tissues, and miR-139-5p and EZH2 expressions were associated with patients at Stage III/IV, with LNM and highly-differentiated tumors. EZH2 suppressed the expression of miR-139-5p through up-regulating Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation (H3K27me3). EMT, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were impeded, and tumor formation and LNM were reduced in PC cells transfected with miR-139-5p mimics and shEZH2. MiR-139-5p transcription is inhibited by EZH2 through up-regulating H3K27me3, thereby down-regulation of EZH2 and up-regulation of miR-139-5p impede EMT and LNM in PC. In addition, the EZH2/miR-139-5p axis presents as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PC.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.32
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• pp.73-83
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to confirm the matching of the electron density between tissue and gas due to variation of abdominal gas volume in MRgART (Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy) for pancreatic cancer patients, and to confirm the effect on the dose change and treatment time. Materials and Methods: We compared the PTV and OAR doses of the initial plan and the AGC(Abdominal gas correction) plans to one pancreatic cancer patient who treated with MRgART using the ViewRay MRIdian System (Viewray, USA) at this clinic. In the 4fx AGC plans, Beam ON(%) according to the patient's motion error was checked to confirm the effect of abdominal gas volume on treatment time. Results: Comparing the Initial plan with the average value of AGC plan, the dose difference was -7 to 0.1% in OAR and decreased by 0.16% on average, and in PTV, the dose decreased by 4.5% to 5.5% and decreased by 5.1% on average. In Adaptive treatment, as the abdominal gas volume increased, the Beam ON(%) decreased. Conclusion: Abdominal gas volume variation causes dose change due to inaccurate electron density matching between tissue and gas. In addition, if the abdominal gas volume increases, the Beam ON(%) decreases, and the treatment time may increase due to the motion error of the patient. Therefore, in MRgART, it is necessary to check the electron density matching and minimize the variability of the abdominal gas.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.259-262
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• 2000

There are many difficulties in the management of terminal cancer pain. We often encounter difficulties when nerve blocks or epidural injection of drugs do not produce good results. Local anesthetics, opioids and adjunctives, were administered to two patients intrathecally. The results were very satisfactory. It has complications such as hypotension or infection due to intrathecal route. In the first case, the pancreatic cancer patient complicated with severe epigastic pain but unfortunately no management was effective in pain control. Intrathecal injection of bupivacaine and morphine mixture was successful even if syncope which was relieved by bed rest. In the second case, the patient complicated with lower abdominal pain due to ovarian cancer who very well controlled by epidural injection of morphine and clonidine mixture but morphine demand was greatly increased. Intrathecal injection of morphine and ketamine were tried. The patient had comportable analgesic effect. CSF leakage to subcutaneous occurred but resolved by change of the catheter position or retunnelling. There were no significant complications reported in two cases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.2 s.133
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• pp.145-149
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• 2003

Many chemotherapeutic drugs were developed and contributed to the increase of cure rate of cancer, however severe side effect of these drugs is a major cause of poor quality of life of cancer patients. Effect of deer blood on cancer therapy was investigated in mouse tumor model. Deer blood itself was shown to have mild antitumor activity. However it has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Deer blood recovered the reduction of WBC and platelet (myelotoxicity) during fluorouracil chemotherapy. Deer blood also recovered the increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN; indicator of renal toxicity) and increase of serum amylase activity (AMY; indicator of pancreatic toxicity) almost to the control level during cisplatin chemotherapy. Fluorouracil and cisplatin are major chemotherapeutic drugs which are currently used in clinical cancer therapy, and the results strongly suggest that deer blood can be used for reducing the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.717-722
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• 2001

This study was performed on the basis of clinical consideration about patient who has hepatocholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancer. Cancer has gradually increased morbidity and mortality all over the world including Korea. Western medicine has treated with surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, but has not obtained outstanding results and has a difficulty due to side effects by those therapies. In this study, we recognized that symptom including hypochondriac pain by cancer are rapidly decreased with herbal medication treatment and acupuncture therapy. Oriental medicine treatment is applied throughly on the basis of the oriental medicine principle and the prescriptions were used Naeso-oksultang(內消沃雪湯). According to the above results, we can know this patient has improvement of patient's symptom on administration of oriental medicine treatment, it is helpful in decresing symptoms of patient and in improving quality of life.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2013

Among cause of carcinogenesis, heredity is believed to take about 10 percent in ovarian cancer. BRCA1 or BRCA2 account for largest portion of Hereditary Breast and Ovary Cancer (HBOC). Frequency of BRCA1/2 germ line mutations varies according to region and ethnicity from 1.1-39.7 percent. The identification of ovarian cancers with a BRCA mutation is will be more and important due to the possibility to offer a genetic counseling and also due to potential beneficial treatment effects with a poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor in some individuals. We report the case of a 41 year old woman with a stage Ic mucinous ovarian adenocarcinoma and carrier daughter found on family genetic counseling. We indentified other family members with a history of breast cancer of 1st degree and pancreatic cancer of 2nd degree relative. After a screening with immunohistochemistry, the absence of nuclear expression for BRCA1 and BRCA2 was revealed. The gene sequencing confirmed heterozygous mutations of BRCA2 gene. The daughter of the case subject consented for a test. This test was shown the daughter is positive for BRCA2 mutation. Regular surveillance, chemoprophylaxis with oral contraceptive and prophylactic surgery after childbearing were offered to her.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 1998

This study was performed on the basis of clinical consideration about patient who has hepatoma, cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer. Cancer has gradually increased morbidity and mortality all over the world including Korea. Western medicine has treated with surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, but has not obtained outstanding results and has a difficulty due to side effects by those therapies. In this study, we recognized that symptom including pain by cancer are rapidly decreased with oriental medicine treatment. Oriental medicine treatment is applied throughly on the basis of the oriental medicine principle and the prescrptions were used Bulwhankumjunggisan(不換金正氣散), Sojukbaekchulsan(消積白朮散) Banhabackchulchunmatang(半夏白朮天麻湯). The communitial effect of those prescriptions are invigorating the spreen and benefiting vital energy(健脾益氣), supporting healthy energy to eliminate evils(扶正祛邪) and those treatments are corresponed with traditional oriental treatment principle. Also we can know this patient has a little improvement in the general test including biochemistry, blood test, urine analysis and etc. in spite of outstanding improvement of patient's symptom on administration of oriental medicine. According to the above results, though we has not got satisfaction in getting rid of cancer completely on administration of oriental medicine, it is helpful in decreasing symptoms including pain by cancer and in improving quality of life of patient and in improving quality of patient life.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2017

Purpose: This study sought to identify potential candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy and patterns of regional failure in patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for gallbladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Records for 70 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent curative resection at a single institution between 2000 and 2016 were analysed retrospectively. No patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Initial patterns of failure were evaluated. Regional recurrence was categorized according to the definitions of lymph node stations suggested by the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery. Results: Median follow-up was 23 months. Locoregional recurrence as any component of first failure occurred in 29 patients (41.4%), with isolated locoregional recurrence in 13 (18.6%). Regional recurrence occurred in 23 patients, and 77 regional recurrences were identified. Commonly involved regional stations were #13, #12a2, #12p2, #12b2, #16a2, #16b1, #9, and #8. Independent prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence were ${\geq}pT2$ disease (hazard ratio [HR], 5.510; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.260-24.094; p = 0.023) and R1 resection (HR, 6.981; 95% CI, 2.378-20.491; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with pT2 disease or R1 resection after curative surgery for gallbladder cancer may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Our findings on regional recurrence may help physicians construct a target volume for adjuvant radiotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3703-3708
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• 2015

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with colorectal, lung, gastric cancer, pancreatic and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We here evaluated whether preoperative NLR is an independent prognostic factor for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: Data from 327 patients who underwent curative or palliative nephrectomy were evaluated retrospectively. In preoperative blood routine examination, neutrophils and lymphocytes were obtained. The predictive value of NLR for non-metastatic RCC was analyzed. Results: The NLR of 327 patients was $2.72{\pm}2.25$. NLR <1.7 and NLR ${\geq}1.7$ were classified as low and high NLR groups, respectively. Chi-square test showed that the preoperative NLR was significantly correlated with the tumor size (P=0.025), but not with the histological subtype (P=0.095)and the pT stage (P=0.283). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Effects of NLR on OS (P=0.007) and DFS (P=0.011) were significant. To evaluate the independent prognostic significance of NLR, multivariate COX regression models were applied and identified increased NLR as an independent prognostic factor for OS (P=0.015), and DFS (P=0.019). Conclusions: Regarding patient survival, an increased NLR represented an independent risk factor, which might reflect a higher risk for severe cardiovascular and other comorbidities. An elevated blood NLR may be a biomarker of poor OS and DFS in patients with non-metastatic RCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.3993-4003
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• 2013

Scientific evidence for the primary prevention of cancer caused by physical activity of regular moderate-intensity or greater is rapidly accumulating in this field. About 300 epidemiologic studies on the association between physical activity and cancer risk have been conducted worldwide. The objectives of this paper were three-fold: (i) to describe briefly the components of physical activity and its quantification; (ii) to summarize the most important conclusions available from comprehensive reports, and reviews of the epidemiologic individual and intervention studies on a role physical activity in cancer prevention; (iii) to present proposed biological mechanisms accounting for effects of activity on cancer risk. The evidence of causal linked physical activity and cancer risk is found to be strong for colon cancer - convincing; weaker for postmenopausal breast and endometrium cancers - probable; and limited suggestive for premenopausal breast, lung, prostate, ovary, gastric and pancreatic cancers. The average risk reductions were reported to be 20-30%. The protective effects of physical activity on cancer risk are hypothesized to be through multiple interrelated pathways: decrease in adiposity, decrease in sexual and metabolic hormones, changes in biomarkers and insulin resistance, improvement of immune function, and reduction of inflammation. As there are several gaps in the literature for associations between activity and cancer risk, additional studies are needed. Future research should include studies dealing with limitations in precise estimates of physical activity and of a lack of consensus on what defines sedentary behavior of individuals and those linked with the proposed biomarkers to cancer risk and controlled exercise intervention trials.