• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4511-4515
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• 2012

Background: In the Middle East, including Iran, breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women. Without treatment, a malignant breast tumor advances in stage, diminishing a woman's chances of survival. In this study we aimed to gain insight into the causes of delay in seeking treatment in patients with breast cancer. Methods: The participants in this qualitative, content analysis study were 10 women in whom a diagnosis of breast cancer in the stages of II b, III or IIV had been made. They were selected from patients of a major oncology clinic in Kerman, Iran. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews that lasted between 20 to 30 minutes. Sampling was discontinued when data saturation was achieved. Content analysis was conducted by classifying the data into themes and sub-themes. Results: The results of our study revealed several factors that interfered with patients' professional consultation seeking and prompt treatment. These factors included; lack of knowledge, fear of being diagnosed with cancer, not seeing oneself at risk, mental preoccupation and wrong diagnosis by physicians. Conclusions: This study suggests that women and even physicians need further information about breast cancer symptoms. Women need encouragement to seek medical advice when they encounter suspicious symptoms. Additionally, women may benefit from awareness of the pros of early detection and reassurance about the improvements in the success of breast cancer treatment.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.169-182
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• 2007

Receive operating characteristic (ROC) approach can be employed to rank candidate genes from a microarray experiment, in particular, for the biomarker development with the purpose of population screening of a cancer. In the cancer microarray experiment based on n patients the researcher often wants to compare the tumor tissue with the normal tissue within the same individual using a common reference RNA. Ideally, this experiment produces n pairs of microarray data. However, it is often the case that there are missing values either in the normal or tumor tissue data. Practically, we have $n_1$ pairs of complete observations, $n_2$ "normal only" and $n_3$ "tumor only" data for the microarray. We refer to this data set as a mixed data set. We develop a ROC approach on the mixed data set to rank candidate genes for the biomarker development for the colorectal cancer screening. It turns out that the correlation between two ranks in terms of ROC and t statistics based on the top 50 genes of ROC rank is less than 0.6. This result indicates that employing a right approach of ranking candidate genes for the biomarker development is important for the allocation of resources.

• 응용통계연구
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.395-406
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• 2006

임상시험 연구나 역학 연구에서 환자들의 예후는 흔히 생존을 추정을 통해 수량화 되곤 한다. 하지만 코호트 분석이나 완전분석에 의한 생존율 추정량들은 수년 전에 진단된 환자에 크게 의존하기 때문에 실제 생존율보다 더 낮게 추정하곤 한다. 본 연구에서는 최근의 생존정보를 잘 반영하는 생존을 추정을 위해 기간분석 방법을 통한누적한계 추정량을 제안하였고, 그 방법을 1993년 1월-1997년 12월 사이에 조사된 서울시 암등록 자료(Ahn등, 2002)에 적용하여 결과를 고찰하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2012

Purpose: the study aimed to compare the quality of life (QOL) and radiotherapy complications among Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients at different 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) stages adjusting for other variables. Methods: 511 NPC patients at different 3DCRT stages were enrolled. They were interviewed regarding SF-36, complications and socio-demographic variables and cancer- or treatment-related variables. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) based on SF-36, complications scores as dependent variables, 3DCRT stages as independent variables, and other variables as covariate were established. Results: The influencing factors of PCS included 3DCRT stages and age group. The influencing factors of MCS included 3DCRT stages and income. Most QOL scores of NPC patients were significantly associated with 3DCRT stage, after accounting for other variables. QOL scores of the patients receiving 3DCRT were the lowest, QOL scores of people after 3DCRT gradually increased. PCS scores of people greater than 5 years after 3DCRT was improved to or even better than the level before 3DCRT. The complications with significantly different scores of patients at different 3DCRT status included xerostomia, throat ache, hypogeusia, caries, hearing loss, snuffles. Conclusions: Clinicians should pay more attention to older NPC patients and patients with lower income. When patients receive 3DCRT, measures should be taken to reduce radiation injury to improve the patients' QOL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5477-5482
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• 2012

Background: The HER-2/neu gene is altered in 15-20% of breast cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is considered to be the most cost-effective method for HER-2 detection in many countries. Approximately 8,000 new cases of breast cancer are observed annually in Iran. The aims of this study were to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the rate of HER-2-positive breast cancer diagnosed by IHC in Iran. Methods: A systematic search of the medical literature using the Medline/PubMed, ISI and SID databases revealed articles published in the English and Persian languages evaluating HER-2-positive breast cancer in Iran. Results: From 22 studies, 3,033 patients were evaluated, of whom 1,350 were diagnosed as HER-2-positive by IHC HER-2 testing. The mean percentage of HER-2-positive patients was 44.5%, which is higher than that recorded in international statistics. Results of this meta-analysis showed a significant heterogeneity between ratios. There was a statistically significant difference between the results of pre- and post implementation of 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) guideline. IHC HER-2 testing has been performed in Iran for over 10 years. Similar to many other countries, before establishment of an infrastructure for IHC diagnostic tests, HER-2 testing was routinely performed in Iran. Our study showed that the statistics reported from Iran varied widely; for instance, the rate of HER-2-positive cases varied from 23.3% to 81.0%. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the lack of standardization and harmonization of this test have led to marked variations in breast cancer diagnosis in Iran.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권17호
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• pp.7507-7512
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• 2015

Background: In the low incoming country Bangladesh, breast cancer is second most common neoplasm and is increasing at an alarming rate among females. Lack of awareness and illiteracy are contributory factors for late presentation and therefore mortality. Purpose: To examine associations of different factors with breast cancer mortality and to raise awareness among the women of society in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This descriptive case-control study was conducted on 160 participants from April 2011 till July 2014. Through a valid questionnaire covering personal and family history, data were collected by face to face interview. For analyzing correlations among factors with breast cancer data, binary logistic regression, Pearson's ${\chi}^2$-value, odd ratios and p-value tests were conducted with SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.0 ($SD={\pm}11.12$). In ascending order the leading significant factors were hormone therapy (p<0.0000, OR=4.897), abortion (p<0.0001, OR=3.452), early start menarche (p<0.0002, OR=3.500), family history (p<0.0022, OR=3.235), and late menopause (p<0.0093, OR=3.674) with both ${\chi}^2$ test and logistic regression analyses. Non-significant factors were cancer experience, fatty food habits, marital status and taking alcohol. Conclusions: Regarding the investigation of this study, significant and insignificant factor's correlation visualization with breast cancer will be helpful to increase awareness among Bangladeshi women as well as all over the world.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.3265-3269
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• 2016

Background: Around half of input data in the global burden of disease cancer collaboration (GBD-CC) and GLOBOCAN projects come from low quality sources, mainly from developing countries. This may lead to loss of precision in estimates. Our question was: Are the absolute values and trends of the GBD-CC and GLOBOCAN estimates for lung cancer (LC) in Iran consistent with available statistics?. Materials and Methods: Incidence and mortality statistics were extracted from national reports (N.IRs & N.MRs) and GBD-CC (GBD-incidence & mortality) and GLOBOCAN databases for 1990-2013 where available. Trends were analyzed and absolute values and annual percentage changes (APCs) were estimated and compared. Incompleteness of case ascertainment at the Iranian national cancer registry and Iranian national civil registration was assessed for better understanding. Results: Trends of N.IRs were significantly rising for males (APC: 19.4; 95% CI: 12.5-26.7) and females (23.2; 16.0-30.8). Trends of GBD-incidence were stable for males (-0.2; -1.5-1.1) and females (-1.0; -2.3-0.4). Absolute N.IRs were less than GBD-incidence steadily except for 2009. Trend of N.MRs was increasing up to 2004, but stable thereafter. Trends of GBD-mortality were also stable. Absolute N.MRs were less than GBD-mortality for years up to 2003 and more than GBD-mortality since 2005. The estimates of GLOBOCAN were more than N.IRs and N.MRs. Conclusions: The GBD-CC and GLOBOCAN values for LC in Iran are underestimates. Generation of data quality indices to present along with country specific estimates is highly recommended.

• 한국학교ㆍ지역보건교육학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.45-58
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• 2012

Purpose: The study was done to identify health behavior for cancer prevention in university students according to characteristics of the university students and other factors affecting health behavior for cancer prevention and to provide data to set up a strategy to reduce the cancer. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaires from 353 university students in G city. To analyze the sample survey data, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, and multiple regression analysis were performed with SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: Significant factors that affect health behaviors for cancer prevention in university students were perception of health status, knowledge and attitudes about cancer, and smoking. These variables explained 21% of health behaviors for cancer prevention. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in order to improve the health behavior for cancer prevention in university students it is important to development health education programs that focus on positive perception of health status. This development could be enhanced with structured and on-going education about cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5137-5141
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• 2015

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among males worldwide, and is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in United States. According to GLOBOCAN (2012), an estimated 1.1 million new cases and 307,000 deaths were reported in 2012. The reasons for the increase of this disease are not known, but increasing life expectancy and modified diagnostic techniques have been suggested as causes. The established risk factors for this disease are advancing age, race, positive family history of prostate cancer and western diet (use of fat items). Several other risk factors, such as obesity, physical activity, sexual activity, smoking and occupation have been also associated with prostate cancer risk, but their roles in prostate cancer etiology remain uncertain. This mini-review aims to provide risk factors, disease knowledge, prevalence and awareness about prostate cancer.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.23-30
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to identify the relationship between mental adjustment to cancer and anxiety. Method: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. A total of 124 ambulatory cancer patients completed the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Results: There was a significantly negative correlation between anxiety and fighting spirit which was adaptive adjustment to cancer (r=-0.29, p<0.001). However, anxiety had significantly positive correlation with helplessness/hopelessness (r=0.38, p<0.001), anxious preoccupation (r=0.55, p< 0.001), and fatalism (r=0.22, p<0.05) to cancer. Conclusion: Cancer patients' mental adjustment is correlated with the degree of the psychosocial distress. Anxious preoccupation and helplessness/hopelessness are the most maladaptive adjustments whereas fighting spirit is one of the most adaptive adjustment to cancer.