• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2014

Purpose: According to current guidelines, perioperative chemotherapy is an integral part of the treatment strategy for advanced gastric cancer. Randomized controlled studies have been conducted in order to determine whether perioperative chemotherapy leads to improved R0 resection rates, fewer recurrences, and prolonged survival. The aim of our project was to critically appraise three major studies to establish whether perioperative chemotherapy for advanced, potentially resectable gastric cancer can be recommended on the basis of their findings. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the validity of the three most important studies (MAGIC, ACCORD, and EORTC) using a standardized questionnaire. Each study was evaluated for the study design, patient selection, randomization, changes in protocol, participating clinics, preoperative staging, chemotherapy, homogeneity of subjects, surgical quality, analysis of the results, and recruitment period. Results: All three studies had serious shortcomings with respect to patient selection, homogeneity of subjects, changes in protocol, surgical quality, and analysis of the results. The protocols of the MAGIC and ACCORD-studies were changed during the study period because of insufficient recruitment, such that carcinomas of the lower esophagus and the stomach were examined collectively. In neither the MAGIC study nor the ACCORD study did patients undergo adequate lymphadenectomy, and only about half of the patients in the chemotherapy group could undergo the treatment specified in the protocol. The EORTC study had insufficient statistical power. Conclusions: We concluded that none of the three studies was sufficiently robust to justify an unrestrained recommendation for perioperative chemotherapy in cases of advanced gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2014

Purpose: The aims of this study were to make serial comparisons of the quality of life (QoL) between patients who underwent total gastrectomy and those who underwent distal subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to identify the affected scales with consistency. Materials and Methods: QoL data of 275 patients who were admitted for surgery between September 2008 and June 2011 and who underwent subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. The Korean versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the gastric cancer specific module, the EORTC QLQ-STO22, were used to assess QoL. Results: QoL, as assessed by the global health status/QoL and physical functioning, revealed a brief divergence with worse QoL in the total gastrectomy group 3 months postoperatively, followed by rapid convergence. QoL related to restrictive symptoms (nausea/vomiting, dysphagia, reflux, and eating restrictions) and dry mouth was consistently worse in the total gastrectomy group during the first 2 postoperative years. Conclusions: The general QoL of patients after gastrectomy is highly congruent with subjective physical functioning, and the differences between patients who undergo total gastrectomy and subtotal gastrectomy are no longer valid several months after surgery. In order to further reduce the differences in QoL between patients who underwent total gastrectomy and subtotal gastrectomy, definitive preoperative informing, followed by postoperative symptomatic management, of restrictive symptoms in total gastrectomy patients is the most rational approach.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.487-493
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• 2020

Objectives: This case report aimed to present the effect of Korean medicine therapies, including Sikyungbanga-tang, on cough in a breast cancer patient with metastasis to the lung. Methods: The patient was treated for 48 days with Sikyungbanga-tang and Saengmaek-san to control cough and other symptoms. To assess the changes in the symptoms and the patient's quality of life, the numeric rating scale (NRS), the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and the EORTC quality of life questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were used. Results: Following treatment with herbal medicine, the clinical symptoms and quality of life improved. Moreover, the patient's cough did not recur even one month later. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that Korean herbal medicine, including Sikyungbanga-tang, may be effective in treating cough in breast cancer patient with metastasis to the lung. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.104-113
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• 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report on the effectiveness of Korean medicine to improve symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Some patients are treated with medication, but medications may have no effect in some patients. Korean medicine treatments have been used in such patients, but few reports exist. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old female patient with CIPN reported symptoms of bilateral limb pain and tingling sensations as well as cold sensations in bilateral lower legs and hands, fatigue, and bilateral limb weakness. To reduce the patient's symptoms, we provided Korean medical treatment, including herbal medicine (Uchashinki-hwan), acupuncture, and moxibation. To evaluate the results of this treatment, we used a numeric rating scale (NRS), the manual muscle test (MMT), the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire about CIPN (EORTC-QLQ-CIPN20). After 49 days of treatment, the NRS scores decreased for bilateral limb pain and tingling, for bilateral lower leg and hand cold sensation, and for fatigue. The MMT results for the upper and lower extremities were improved. CTCAE Grade and EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 score were also decreased. Conclusion: According to these results, Korean medicine treatment may be considered an effective treatment for CIPN. Prospective studies are needed in the future to confirm and expand these findings.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2023

목적: 항암유발말초신경병증은 암 환자가 겪는 흔한 항암 부작용이나 현재까지 효과적으로 알려진 치료법은 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 항암유발말초신경병증에 대한 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법의 효과와 안전성을 평가하는 것이다. 방법: 항암유발말초신경병증을 겪고 있는 24명의 암 환자를 침 치료 단독군 (AG, acupuncture group)과 침과 가바펜틴의 병용요법군 (CG, combined acupuncture and gabapentin group)으로 무작위 배정하였다. 두 그룹 모두 침 치료는 주 3회, 4주간 수행하였다. 병용 요법군은 침 치료와 더불어 1일 900mg의 가바펜틴을 복용하도록 하였다. 치료 효과는 Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), visual analogue scale (VAS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 items (EORTC-CIPN20)를 이용하여 측정하였다. 치료로 인한 부작용은 대상자가 방문할 때마다 조사하였다. 결과: 총 23명의 대상자(AG, n=12; CG, n=11)의 평가지표를 분석한 결과, 치료 4 주 후 침 치료 단독군은 NPSI 점수가 44.33±25.04에서 30.58±21.55으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군은 30.55±25.59에서 18.64±19.42로 감소하였으며, 두 군 모두 통계적으로 유의미하게 감소하였다(p<0.001). VAS점수는 침 치료 단독군에서는 4.79±2.17 에서 3.42±2.49으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군에서는 3.55±2.07에서 2.73±2.49 로 감소하였다(p<0.05). 치료 효과는 치료 완료 2주후까지 지속되었으며, 두 군간의 유의미한 차이는 없었다. EORTC-CIPN20은 침 치료 단독군은 30.27±18.87에서 20.84±16.35으로 감소하여(p<0.01), 두 군 모두에서 삶의 질이 향상되었다. 결론: 본 연구로 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법이 항암유발말초신경병증 환자의 증상 및 삶의 질 개선에 효과적이며 안전한 치료법임을 확인하였다. 그러나 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 시너지 효과에 대해서는 확인 할 수 없었으며, 이를 확인하기 위해 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.18-24
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• 2014

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men and women and thus has a profound impact on health care. The majority of patients (75%) with newly diagnosed urothelial tumors have non-muscle invasive disease confined to the bladder mucosa or the lamina propria. The most important risk factors for the development of bladder cancer are smoking and occupational exposure to toxic chemicals. Painless visible hematuria is the most common presenting symptom of bladder cancer. Cystoscopy and urine cytology are currently the recommended tools for diagnosis of bladder cancer. Excluding muscle invasion is an important diagnostic step, as outcomes for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) are less favorable. For non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), the high rate and frequency of recurrence and the concern for disease progression - especially in patients with high-risk tumors - mandate careful strategies for tumor surveillance. The surveillance strategies should be based on available prognostic factors and in particular data from the EORTC risk tables.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2016

In oncologic practice, treatment guidelines provide appropriate treatment strategies based on evidence. Currently, many guidelines are used, including those of the European Association for the Study of the Liver and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EASL-EORTC), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE), and Korean Liver Cancer Study Group and National Cancer Centre (KLCSG-NCC). Although radiotherapy is commonly used in clinical practice, some guidelines do not accept it as a standard treatment modality. In this review, we will investigate the clinical practice guidelines currently used, and discuss the application of radiotherapy.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2015

Along with the recent trend of improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become a significant outcome measure and its improvement is an important goal. The most widely adopted CRC specific HRQoL questionnaires are the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Qualityof-Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CR38) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-C). CRC survivors without serious comorbidity or recurrence experience only minor deficits of overall HRQoL when compared to the general population. However, disease recurrence, progression, and more specific limitations, including weight loss, reduction in energy, and psychosocial problems like psychological distress and depression, could result in lower HRQoL. To improve HRQoL, further research is required to develop appropriate health education regarding lifestyle changes and personalized intervention strategies for CRC survivors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 1998

Purpose : The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the necessity of s1aging laparotomy in the management of supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease. Prognostic factors and the usefulness of prognostic factor groups were also analyzed. Materials and Methods : From 1985 to 1995, fifty one Patients who were diagnosed as supradiaphragmatic CS I-II Hodgkin's disease at Yonsei Cancer Center in Seoul, Korea were enrolled in this study Age range was 4 to 67 with median age of 30. The number of patients with each CS IA, II A, and IIB were 16, 25, and 10, respectively. Radiotherapy(RT) was delivered using 4 or 6 MV photon beam to a total dose of 19.5 to 55.6Gy (median dose : 45Gy) with a 1.5 to 1.BGy per fraction. Chemotherapy(CT) was given in 2-12 cycles(median : 6 cycles). Thirty one Patients were treated with RT alone, 4 patients with CT alone and 16 patients with combined chemoradiotherapy. RT volumes varied from involved fields(3), subtotal nodal fields(18) or mantle fields(26). Results : Five-year disease-free survival rate(DFS) was $78.0\%$ and overall survival rate(05) was $87.6\%$. Fifty Patients achieved a complete remission after initial treatment and 8 patients were relapsed. Salvage therapy was given to 7 patients, 1 with RT alone, 4 with CT alone, 2 with RT+CT. Only two patients were successfully salvaged. Feminine gender and large media-stinal adenopathy were significant adverse prognostic factors in the univariate analysis for DFS. The significant adverse prognostic factors of OS were B symptom and clinical stage. When patients were analyzed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC) prognostic factor groups, the DFS in Patients with very favorable, favorable and unfavorable group was 100, 100 and $55.8\%$(p<0.05), and the 05 in each patients' group was 100, 100 and $75.1\%$(p<0.05), respectively. In very favorable and favorable groups, the DFS and 05 were all $100\%$ by RT alone, but in unfavorable group, RT with CT had a lesser relapse rate than RT alone. The subtotal nodal irradiation had better OFS than mantle RT in patients treated with RT. Conclusion : In present study, the DFS and OS in patients who did not undergo s1aging laparotomy were similar with the results in the literatures of which patients were surgically staged. Therefore, we may suggest that staging laparotomy would not influence the outcome of treatments. In univariate analysis, gender, large mediastinal adenopathy. B symptoms and clinical stage were significant prognostic factors for the survival rate. We confirm the usefulness of EORTC prognostic factor groups which may be a good.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2001

Purpose : It is very important to endow the cancer patients underwent chemotherapy with satisfactory quality of life (QOL). However, little is known about the factors influencing QOL during chemotherapy. Therefore, we designed this study to find out the factors influencing QOL in the cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy. Methods : Ninety-seven cancer patients were studied, prospectively. The patients' characteristics were as follows; median age(range): 48(19{\sim}83) years, male:female; 57:40, PS:0,1/2,3;55/42 patients, diagnosis(number): lymphoma (28), lung cancer (22), gastrointestinal cancer (18), sarcoma (12), breast cancer (12), gynecological cancer (5), Stage: I,II/III.IV;37/60 patients. We used EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires to evaluate QOL. EORTC QLQ-C30 scores were performed before the onset of chemotherapy and after the end of 3 cycles of chemotherapy. The correlation of these scores with performance status (PS), diagnosis, disease stage, response to chemotherapy, and regimen related toxicity was evaluated. Results : The responder group (CR, PR) demonstrated marked improvement of social functional and emotional scales to non-responder group (SD,PD) (P=0.024, 0.045). Non-hematologic regimen related toxicity such as mucositis, nausea and vomiting was significantly correlated with pain scale change (P=0.043). Other factors had no notable correlation with QOL changes. Conclusion : Our preliminary study results may suggest as follows. The response to chemotherapy is associated with the change of social functional and emotional scales and the severity of non-hematologic regimen related toxicity is associated with pain scale change.