• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.785-789
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• 2012

Background and Purpose: Cisplatin is the most common chemotherapeutic agent for loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, toxicity is a limiting factor for some patients. We retrospectively compared the efficacy and toxicity of weekly docetaxel-based and cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in loco-regionally advanced NPC. Methods and Materials: Eighty-four patients with Stage III and IVA-B NPCs, treated between 2007 and 2008, were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty received weekly docetaxel-based concurrent chemotherapy, and 43 were given weekly cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was administered using a conventional technique (seven weeks, 2.0 Gy per fraction, total dose 70-74 Gy) with 6-8 Gy boosts for some patients with locally advanced disease. Results: Median follow-up time was 42.3 months (range, 8.6-50.8 months). There were no significant differences in the 3-year loco-regional failure-free survival (85.6% vs. 92.3%; p=0.264), distant failure-free survival (87.0% vs. 92.5%; p=0.171), progression-free survival (85.7% vs. 88.4%; p=0.411) or overall survival (86.5% vs. 92.5%, p=0.298) of patients treated concurrently with docetaxel or cisplatin. Severe toxicity was not common in either group. Conclusions: Weekly docetaxel-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is potentially effective and has a tolerable toxicity; however, further investigations are required to determine if docetaxel is superior to cisplatin for advanced stage NPC.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1303-1310
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• 2008

Inhibitors of farnesyltransferase (FT), a key enzyme in the post-translational modifications of Ras proteins, have been extensively studied as novel anticancer agents in the preclinical stages, some of which are currently in clinical development. Previously, it has been reported that a novel FT inhibitor LB42907 inhibits Ras farnesylation in the nanomolar range in vitro. The aim of this study was to assess the antitumor efficacy of LB42907 in vitro and in vivo. Anchorage-independent growth of various human tumor cell lines was potently inhibited by treatment with LB42907, comparable to other FT inhibitors in clinical development. In the nude mouse, oral administration of LB42907 demonstrated potent antitumor activity in several human tumor xenograft models including bladder, lung and pancreas origin. Interestingly, significant tumor regression in EJ (bladder) and A549 (lung) xenografts was induced by LB42907 treatment. The effectiveness of LB42907 was also investigated in simultaneous combination with paclitaxel, vincristine, cisplatin or gemcitabine against NCI-H460, A549, and HCT116 cells in vitro using median-effect analysis. LB42907 markedly synergized with most anticancer drugs tested in this study in NCI-H460 cell. In contrast, LB42907 displayed antagonism or partial synergism with these drugs in A549 and HCT116 cells, depending on the class of combined drugs and/ or the level of cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that LB42907 is an effective antitumor agent in vitro and in vivo and combination of LB42907 with other chemotherapeutic drugs results in synergistic or antagonistic effects mainly in a cell line-dependent manner. Further preclinical study is warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.462-470
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• 2012

Mountain cultivated ginseng (MCG) is a type of Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer, grown in the mountains by artificial seeding. In general, it has been known that the biophysical activities of MCG is greater than that of ginseng. However, the in vivo efficacy of MCG on cancer has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the anti-carcinogenic effect of MCG and ginseng using the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) two stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Six weeks of female ICR mice were divided into control, MCG, and ginseng diet groups and were subjected into two different experimental protocols. In the first study, each experimental diet was fed with TPA promotion for 24 weeks. The result showed that supplementation of MCG reduced tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and tumor size compared to those of the control and ginseng groups. In the second study, 3 groups of mice were supplied with each diet 4 weeks before DMBA tumor initiation, until the end of experiment. The result showed that tumor incidence, tumor multiplicity, and tumor size were reduced in the ginseng diet group compared to those of the control and MCG groups. TPA-induced BrdU incorporation was also significantly reduced in the ginseng diet group. Taken together, these results suggest that MCG is chemotherapeutic, whereas ginseng has a chemopreventative effect on mouse skin cancer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.691-700
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• 2002

Interstitial therapy using biodegradable polymeric device loaded with anticancer agent can deliver the drug to the tumor site at high concentration, resulting in an increase of therapeutic efficacy. 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is most commonly used as chemotherapeutic agent for brain tumors. The design of implantable device is regarded as an important factor lot the efficient delivery of antitumor agent to targeting site. In order to control the release profile of drug, the release pattern of BCNU with the changes of various dimension and additives was investigated. The PLGA wafers containing 3.85, 10, 20 and 30% of BCNU were prepared in various shape (diameter of 3, 5 and 10 mm, thickness of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm) by direct compression method. In vitro drug release profile of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers could be controlled by changing the dimension of wafers such as initial drug content, weight, diameter, thickness, volume and surface area of wafers, as well as PLGA molecular weight and additives. Drug release from BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers was facilitated with an increase of BCNU-loading amount or presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) or sodium chloride (NaCl). The effects of various geometric factors and additives on the BCNU release pattern were confirmed by the investigation of mass loss and morphology of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 2009

Objectives : Cancer incidence is increasing in all countries and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients undergoing chemotherapeutic agents have been a clinically serious problems. So far therapeutic options for CIPN patients are limited and no confirmed methods have yet been established for dealing with peripheral neuropathy. Therefore this review is to provide an evidence-based summary of oriental medicine and CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) neuroprotective and treatment therapies which have gone through clinical trials. Methods : An overview of the domestic and international papers of adult clinical trials relating management of only CIPN symptoms through 1990 to present were searched by electronic databases. Search key words were chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapy toxicity & herb, chemotherapy toxicity & acupuncture, chemotherapy toxicity & CAM. Only English and Korean written papers were reviewed. Total 25 papers were reviewed in this study, 18 papers were retrieved by electronic search. Results : Clinical studies of managing CIPN were rare, two acupuncture clinical studies and four herb medicinal studies were found. Rest of 19 papers were about other CAM clinical studies. Total 25 papers were analyzed, and all interventions were focused on their pain control efficacy. Other 24 trials of potential therapies except one proved to be effective for CIPN, however some described to be inadequate positive or sufficient negative. Conclusions : As most of the studies were pilot studies, interventions for the prevention and treatment of CIPN have to go through prospective confirmatory studies, such as larger scale randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trials must be done for the safe and effective use of proposed therapies. Also standard measurement scales have to be developed for the better clinical study of CIPN.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7367-7369
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• 2013

Background: Inoperable and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis and low chemotherapeutic efficiency. Sorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor exerting its effects via the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-${\beta}$) tyrosine kinases. Randomized studies have shown a significant contribution of sorafenib to life expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of sorafenib therapy in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Data for 103 patients (82 males, 21 females) receiving sorafenib therapy in 13 centers from February 2008 to December 2012 were evaluated. Median age was 61 years and median ECOG performance status was 1 (range: 0-2). 60 patients (58%) had hepatitis B, 15 patients (15%) had hepatitis C infection and 12 patients (12%) had a history of alcohol consumption. All of the patients had Child scores meeting the utilization permit of the drug in our country (Child A). Results: A total of 571 cycles of sorafenib therapy were administered with a median of four per patient. Among the evaluable cases, there was partial response in 15 (15%), stable disease in 52 (50%), and progressive disease in 36 (35%). Median progression-free survival was 18 weeks and median overall survival was 48 weeks. The dose was reduced only in 6 patients and discontinued in 2 patients due to grade 3-4 toxicity, 18 patients (17%) suffering hand-foot syndrome, 7 (7%) diarrhea, and 2 (2%) vomiting. Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated better efficacy of sorafenib therapy in patients with advanced HCC compared to the literature while progression-free survival and overall survival findings were comparable. The side effect rates indicate that the drug was tolerated well. In conclusion, among the available treatment options, sorafenib is an efficient and tolerable agent in patients with inoperable or metastatic HCC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2002

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy using ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Materials and methods: Thirty-three patients with inoperable NSCLC(stage IIIb+IV) who had measurable diseases, and had not been treated with chemotherapeutic drugs, were enrolled in this study(from March 1995 to December 1996). The patients received ifosfamide($1500mg/m^2/day$, a full drop with Mesna on days 1-5), Cisplatin ($80mg/m^2/day$ infusion with a hydration on day 2), and Etoposide ($100mg/m^2/day$ infusion for 2 hours on days 1-3). The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. Results: Ten patients showed a partial responses (30.3%). The overall survival time of the responders was longer than that of the non-responders (median 55 vs 22 weeks, p=0.01). The toxicities of this treatment were tolerable. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was observed in 21%. There was 1 death related to febrile neutropenia. The non-hematologic toxicity was mild. The relative dose intensity given to the patients was 0.86 ifosfamide, 0.87 cisplatin, and 0.89 etoposide, showing an average dose intensity of 0.87. Conclusions: A combination regimen of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide is effective and tolerable for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2004

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of dolasetron mesylate in controlling nausea and vomiting in the first 24 hours and to extend these comparisons over the next 4 days in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Methods: This was a single center, open-labeled study with single arm. Dolasetron (1.8 mg/kg) was given intravenously (I.V.) prechemotherapy with 10 mg of dexamethasone IV, followed 24 hours later by oral dolasetron (200 mg once daily) for the subsequent 4 days. The frequency of vomiting, severity of nausea and the presence of rescue antiemetics were assessed daily. Results: Of 30 patients enrolled, 28 were eligible and evaluable for the efficacy. Four out of 28 patients had complete control of nausea and vomiting without any rescue antiemetics through 5 days. The complete control got better as time went by with the rates of 17.9/46.4/42.9/53.6/60.7% on days 1 to 5. Vomiting was better controlled than nausea in both cisplatin-containing and non-containing chemotherapy. The adverse events were mild to moderate degrees of headache, diarrhea and fever, but were recovered spontaneously. Conclusion: Dolasetron was effective and safe for the control of nausea and vomiting in the patients with moderately emetogenic chemotherapeutic agents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 1995

Background: Despite advances in chemotherapy, the treatment of inoperable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung remains poor. According to the recent reports, the response rates of mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin(MVP) chemotherapy are higher than those of other cisplatin based polychemotherapy and MVP chemotherapy can be used as neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic regimen. But the overall response rates of MVP chemotherapy range from 17 to 53 percent, so we studied the effect of MVP chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Method: We treated forty patients with stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer with two courses of MVP chemotherapy($8mg/m^2$ of mitomycin on day 1, $6mg/m^2$ of vinblastine on day 2 & day 14, and $100mg/m^2$ of cisplastin on day 1) at 4 weeks interval. Then all patients were evaluated the response of chemotherapy 4 weeks later, and received further chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy or supportive therapy according to the patient's condition. We also determined the median survival time and prognostic factors. Results: 1) Nine patients(23%) had a partial reponse, 23 patients(57%) had a stable disease, and disease progressed in 8 patients(20%). There were no patients with complete response. 2) The overall median survival time was 36 weeks(range, 9 to 119+ weeks). The median survival time of responder(partial response) and non-responder(stable and progressed) groups were 60 weeks(range, 36 to 82+ weeks) and 31 weeks(range, 9 to 119+ weeks) respectively(p=0.03). 3) The median survival time of the female group was 71 weeks and significantly prolonged in comparision with 35 weeks of the male group(p=0.01). But, the other prognostic factors didn't affect the survival time and response rate. 4) The median survival times of chemotherapy group and chemotherapy with palliative radiotherapy group were not significantly different. Conclusion: MVP combined chemotherapy is unsatisfactory in improving survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, further studies are needed to find more active new agents and to estabilish the efficacy of the combined treatment with radiotherapy and/or surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2004

Background : There are many combinations of treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recent studies have showed the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in NSCLC. At present, however, there is no consensus about the optimal dosages and timing of radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. The aims of study were to determine the feasibility, toxicity, response rate, and survival rate in locally advanced NSCLC patients treated with doxetaxel and cisplatin based CCRT. Method : Sixteen patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were evaluated from May 2000 until September 2001. Induction chemoradiotherapy consisted of 3 cycles of docetaxel (75 $mg/m^2/IV$ on day 1) and cisplatin (60 $mg/m^2/IV$ on day 1) chemotherapy every 3 weeks and concomitant hyperfractionated chest irradiation (1.15 Gy/BID, total dose of 69 Gy) in 6 weeks. Patient who had complete or partial response, and stable disease were applied consolidation chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin. Results : All patients showed response to CCRT. Four patients achieved complete response (25%), partial responses in 12 patients (75%). The major common toxicities were grade III or more of neutropenia (87.3%), grade III esophagitis (68.8%), pneumonia (18.8%) and grade III radiation pneumonitis (12.5%). Thirteen patients were ceased during follow-up period. Median survival time was 19.9 months (95% CI; 4.3-39.7 months). The survival rates in one, two, and three years are 68.7%, 43.7%, and 29.1%, respectively. Local recurrence was found in 11 patients (66.8%), bone metastasis in 2, and brain metastasis in 1 patient. Conclusion : The response rate and survival time of CCRT with docetaxel/cisplatin in locally advanced NSCLC were encouraging, but treatment related toxicities were high. Further modification of therapy seems to be warranted.