• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5741-5746
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• 2012

Aim: Although preoperative chemoradiatherapy (CRT) has proven its benefits in terms of decreased toxicity, there is still a considerable amount of cases that do not receive postoperative CRT. Oncologists at different geographic locations still need to know the long-term effects of this treatment in order to manage patients successfully. The current paper reports on long-term quality of life (QOL) and late side effects after adjuvant CRT in rectal cancer patients from 5 centers in Anatolia. Methods: Rectal cancer patients treated with postoperative CRT with minimum 1-year follow-up and were in complete remission, were evaluated according to RTOG and LENT-SOMA scales. They were also asked to complete Turkish version of EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the CR-38 module. Each center participated with the required clinical data. Results: Two hundred and thirty patients with median age of 55 years participated and completed the study. Median follow-up time was 5 years. All patients received RT concomitant with chemotherapy. Common parameters that both increased functional health scales and yielded better symptom scores were long term interval after treatment and sphincter-saving surgery. In addition, surgery type and follow-up time were determined to be predictors of QOL scores and late toxicity grade. Conclusion: Postoperative CRT was found to have a great impact on the long term QOL and side effects in rectal cancer survivors. The factors that adversely affect these are abdominoperineal resection and shorter interval. The findings may encourage life-long follow-up and cooperation with patients, which should be mentioned during the initial counseling.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7663-7670
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• 2015

DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is a relatively large protein family responsible for maintenance of normal methylation, cell growth and survival in mammals. Toxic industrial chemical exposure associated methylation misregulation has been shown to have epigenetic influence. Such misregulation could effectively contribute to cancer development and progression. Methyl isocyanate (MIC) is a noxious industrial chemical used extensively in the production of carbamate pesticides. We here applied an in silico molecular docking approach to study the interaction of MIC with diverse domains of DNMT1, to predict cancer risk in the Bhopal population exposed to MIC during 1984. For the first time, we investigated the interaction of MIC and its hydrolytic product (1,3-dimethylurea) with DNMT1 interacting (such as DMAP1, RFTS, and CXXC) and catalytic (SAM, SAH, and Sinefungin) domains using computer simulations. The results of the present study showed a potential interaction of MIC and 1,3-dimethylurea with these domains. Obviously, strong binding of MIC with DNMT1 interrupting normal methylation will lead to epigenetic alterations in the exposed humans. We suggest therefore that the MIC-exposed individuals surviving after 1984 disaster have excess risk of cancer, which can be attributed to alterations in their epigenome. Our findings will help in better understanding the underlying epigenetic mechanisms in humans exposed to MIC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6941-6943
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of pregnancy on prognosis of thyroid cancer. Methods: A total of 72 patients aged between 15-45 years who underwent total or subtotal thyroidectomy and subsequently radioablation were followed up under suppression. Individuals who had term pregnancies after diagnosis of cancer (group 1, n: 36) and who were non-pregnant (group 2, n:36) were included in the study. Both groups were compared in terms of scintigraphic relapse and metastasis, ultrasonographic relapse, stage change of lympadenopathy at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: Relapse was detected in 4 out of 36 pregnant patients (11.1%) and in 5 out of 36 non-pregnant patients (13.9%) with no significant difference between groups (p=1.00). Pathologic lymphadenopathy was detected in 2 out of 36 pregnant patients (5.6%) and in 2 out of 36 non-pregnant patients (5.6%) (p=1.00), and metastasis in 3 (8.3%) and in 1 (2.8%), respectively (p=0.61). While stage change was detected in only one pregnant patient (2.8%), and none of the non-pregnant again there was no significant difference (p=1.00). Conclusions: We conclude that pregnancy does not have an influence on prognosis of thyroid cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 1984

To assess the result of radiation therapy for fifteen fears experience, a total of 125 cases of pathologically proven supraglottic laryngeal cancer had been analyzed according to patient survival retrospectively. All the patients had been treated with radiation therapy in curative aim using Co-60 teletherapy machine. The results are as follows ; 1. According to AJCC staging, five year survival rate was $58.3\%$ in stage I, $44.4\%$ in II, $31.8\%$ in II, and $28.6\%$ in IV. 2. According to T-staging, five year survival rate was $57.1\%$ in T1, $40.5\%$ in T2, $34.0\%$ in T3, and $19.0\%$ in T4. 3. According to N staging, five year survival rate was $43.5\%$ in negative node group and $26.8\%$ in positive node group. 4. According to the histologic grade, the better in differentiation, the more in number of cases and the better in prognosis. 5. In summary, five year actuarial survival rate was $37.3\%$ and ten year surrival rate was $34.2\%$, and ten year survivors totalled 16 cases.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1990

Total of 154 patients of pathologically proven and previously untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital during the period from 1964 to 1984 were analyzed. Minimal follow-up period of survivors was 3 years. Thirteen percent of the patients had $T_4$ primary lesions and $65\%$ had stage IV disease. Total radiation dose to the primary site was $1550\~1750$ ret in 82 and above 1750 ret in 72 patients. Local control was obtained in $79\%$ of patients. Significant prognostic factors for the survival were tumor dose (above vs. below 1750 ret), age (below vs. above 30 years), stage (AJCC I-III vs. IV), T stage ($T_1\;vs.\;T_2-4$), and N stage (NO vs. $N^+$).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1985

To assess the result of radiation therapy for fifteen years experience, a total of 81 cases of pathologically proven vocal cord cancer had been analysed according to patient survival retrospectively. All the patients had been treated with radiation therapy using Co-60 teletherapy unit in curative aim. The results are as follows ; 1. According to AJCC staging, (ive year survival rate was $75.0\%$ in stage I, $73.1\%$ in stage II, $36.0\%$ in stage III, and $20.0\%$ in stage IV. 2. According to T-staging, five year survival rate was $75.0\%$ in T1, $73.1\%$ in T2, $24.3\%$ in T3, and $25.0\%$ in T4. 5, According to nodal status, five year survival rate was $59.4\%$ in negative node group and $14.2\%$ in positive group. 4. According to the histologic grade, the better in differentiation, the more in number of cases and the better in prognosis. 5. In summary, five year actuarial survival rate was $55.5\%$ and ten year survival rate was $49.8\%$ and ten year survivors totalled 12 cases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.968-973
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• 2008

The study was to provide basic data and to examine the effect of combined exercise for 12 months on functional fitness and bone mineral density (BMD) in breast cancer survivors. The subjects of this study were 40 to 60-year-old married women (N=24) who finished their treatments chemotherapy and radiation therapy. They were divided into two groups that exercise group and exercise with alendronate group. Eighteen (T-score=$-2.2{\pm}0.8$) of the 24 women who were diagnosed osteopenia (N=15) and osteoporosis (N=3), participated in combined exercise (EG). The other six (T-score=$-4.6{\pm}0.9$) women who were diagnosed as osteoporosis (EDG), participated in the combined exercise program with osteoporosis drug (Alendronate 70 mg/w). The result of the analysis was as follows: Twelve months after, the participants (N=24) had a significant increase of the items such as sit and reach ups, grip strength (R and L) and sit ups test of functional fitness in the periods. In body composition, FM (fat mass) had significant decrease in periods. In the comparison of BMD, EG (N=18) had no change, while EDG (N=6) had significant improvement in L1, T12 and T-score after 12months. Consequently, complex exercise program (Hatha yoga, elastic band, gym ball) had positive effect on functional fitness and bone mineral density. We suggest that complex exercise program can be applied as recovery program after breast cancer surgery. Further research needs various and repetitive studies from more different targets or methods in the exercise program for its improvement.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2015

Late complications of head and neck cancer survivors include neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis. We present an autopsy case of neck muscle atrophy and soft-tissue fibrosis (sternocleidomastoid, omohyoid, digastric, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and platysma muscles) within the radiation field after modified radical neck dissection type I and postoperative radiotherapy for floor of mouth cancer. A 70-year-old man underwent primary tumor resection of the left floor of mouth, left marginal mandibulectomy, left modified radical neck dissection type I, and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. The patient received adjuvant radiotherapy. The dose to the primary tumor bed and involved neck nodes was 63 Gy in 35 fractions over 7 weeks. Areas of subclinical disease (left lower neck) received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not administered.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.156-168
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to examine factors influencing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and compare them between young-aged and old-aged patients with cancer. Methods: Data of 291 patients (young-aged: 168, old-aged: 123) were obtained from the 10th wave of the 2015 Korea Health Panel Survey. The HRQOL was measured using the Korean version of Euro-QoL-5D. Independent t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis were performed to identify factors influencing HRQOL. Results: The average HRQOL score was 0.87±0.10 and 0.82±0.15 among young-aged and old-aged, respectively. The factors differed partially between the two groups. For young-aged, the influencing factors were activity restriction, subjectively perceived health status, and smoking. For old-aged, the influencing factors were activity restriction, subjective health status, and unmet healthcare needs. Conclusion: Strategies to improve the HRQOL of elderly adults need to be developed considering the age group. Additionally, studies that include clinical factors such as symptoms are required to prepare need-based practical approaches for better quality of life of such patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify key educational and counseling needs of breast cancer patients in Korea. The data were collected from 102 breast cancer survivors. The instrument consisted of 66 items and the items were divided into five treatment stages: pre-admission, admission, discharge, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The subjects' mean age was 50 years and most of them were housewives. All had a mastectomy and among them 69 had chemotherapy and 42 had radiation therapy. Average post-surgical period was 47 months. The mean score of the subjects' needs was 2.99 out of 4 points. The highest educational need was to know about the method of recurrence prevention. In terms of the treatment stages, mean score for pre-admission was 3.09, admission 3.06, chemotherapy 3.03, after discharge 2.95, and radiation therapy 2.80. In the pre-admission period, etiology, diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention of the breast cancer were needed the most. During the admission period, symptom management after the operation had the highest score. After discharge, prevention of recurrence had the highest score. The results of this research will help in developing educational and counseling programs by understanding the specific needs of breast cancer patients based on the treatment stages.