• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.132-136
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• 2015

Studies of cancer heterogeneity have received considerable attention recently, because the presence or absence of resistant sub-clones may determine whether or not certain therapeutic treatments are effective. Previously, we have reported G64, a co-regulated gene module composed of 64 different genes, can differentiate tumor intra- or inter-subpopulations in lung adenocarcinomas (LADCs). Here, we investigated whether the G64 module genes were also expressed distinctively in different subpopulations of other cancers. RNA sequencing-based transcriptome data derived from 22 cancers, except LADC, were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Interestingly, the 22 cancers also expressed the G64 genes in a correlated manner, as observed previously in an LADC study. Considering that gene expression levels were continuous among different tumor samples, tumor subpopulations were investigated using extreme expressional ranges of G64-i.e., tumor subpopulation with the lowest 15% of G64 expression, tumor subpopulation with the highest 15% of G64 expression, and tumor subpopulation with intermediate expression. In each of the 22 cancers, we examined whether patient survival was different among the three different subgroups and found that G64 could differentiate tumor subpopulations in six other cancers, including sarcoma, kidney, brain, liver, and esophageal cancers.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.74-81
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the health effects of exposure to oil-contaminated water in G village near the area of Daecheon beach on which air force had test fired. Methods: Eighty residents consented and were divided into three groups; 33 residents(drinking well water and still living there), 23 residents(drinking well water but do not live there any more), and 24 residents(did not drink well water but live there now: control group). Data were collected from August to September, 2010 from the survey questionnaires, general health examination, specific functional test, and biological marker tests. Results: Current residents showed higher levels of body mass index, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose that are related to adult diseases. 64 participants received specific test for cancer. Only one person had esophageal cancer. Perchloroethylene was not found in the Urine Samples. Current residents showed a higher level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, an indicator of oxidative damage, and there was a statistically significant difference after correcting the confounding variables. Conclusion: We need education programs for managing the risk factors that are related to adult diseases in people who are now living in this village. We also need to expand further studies for investigating oxidative damage indicators.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 2018

The incidence of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJAC) in Western countries has increased in recent decades, in addition to a rise in the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and low Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection rate have been nominated as risk factors for such cancers. Among these risk factors, the increased prevalence of GERD and obesity and the decreased prevalence of HP infection are of special interest owing to the currently increasing prevalence of GEJAC in Western countries. Although similar trends in the prevalence of GERD, obesity, and HP infection are observed in Asian countries after a time lag from Western countries, it is still uncertain if the prevalence of GEJAC in Asian countries is increasing, especially in Korea. The incidence of GERD in Korea is currently increasing; it was below 3% in the 1990s. The incidence of obesity in the Korean population is increasing owing to the adoption of westernized lifestyles, including food preferences, and the HP infection rate in Korea is known to be decreasing. Therefore, based on logical extrapolation of observations of Western countries, the incidence of GEJAC will increase in Korea. However, the proportion of GEJAC among other upper gastrointestinal malignancies in Korea appears to be currently unchanged compared with that in the 1990s. Presently, there is a lack of epidemiologic studies on this issue in this region; therefore, more studies are needed to clarify the characteristics of these tumors and to improve clinical outcomes for patients with these tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2269-2272
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• 2013

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade various components of the extracellular matrix and functional polymorphisms in encoding genes may contribute to genetic susceptibility to many cancers. Up to now, associations between MMP-7 (-181A>G) and digestive system cancer risk have remained inconclusive. To better understand the role of the MMP-7 (-181A>G) genotype in digestive cancer development, we conducted this comprehensive meta-analysis encompassing 3,518 cases and 4,596 controls. Overall, the MMP-7 (-181A>G) polymorphism was associated with higher digestive system cancer risk on homozygote comparison (GG vs. AA, OR=1.21, 95% CI = 1.12-1.60) and in a dominant model (GG/GA vs. AA, OR=1.16, 95% CI =1.03-1.46). On subgroup analysis, this polymorphism was significantly linked to higher risks for gastric cancer (GG vs. AA, OR=1.22, 95% CI = 1.02-1.46; GA vs. AA, OR=1.82, 95% CI =1.16-2.87; GG/GA vs. AA, OR=1.13, 95% CI =1.01-1.27; GG vs. GA/AA, OR= 1.25, 95% CI = 1.06-2.39. We also observed increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer and esophageal SCC in both homozygote (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.06-1.26) and heterozygote comparisons (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.11-1.91). In the stratified analysis by controls, significant effects were only observed in population-based studies (GA vs. AA, OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.08-1.50; GA/AA vs. GG, OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.01-1.72). According to the source of ethnicity, a significantly increased risk was found among Asian populations in the homozygote model (GG vs. AA, OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.12-1.69), heterozygote model (GA vs. AA, OR=1.26, 95% CI=1.02-1.51), and dominant model (GG/GA vs. AA, OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08-1.55). Our findings suggest that the MMP-7 (-181A>G) polymorphism may be a risk factor for digestive system cancer, especially among Asian populations.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1989

While cisplatin has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of cancers, nephrotoxicity is one of the major problems which frequently limit clinical usefulness of cisplatin. This study has been conducted to investigate nephrotoxicity of cisplatin in terms of changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (EFPF) measured by the simultaneous use of $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ and $^{131}I-OIH$, before and after administration of cisplatin, in 12 patients with lung cancer and four patients with esophageal cancer. Cisplatin was administrated at total doses of $75\sim100mg/m^2$ with two hour hydration and diuresis method. GFR determined by the use of $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ had a good correlation with 24-hour creatinine clearance rate (r=0.77, p<0.001). GFR and filtration fraction decreased immediately after administration of cisplatin, however, they showed a tendency to be in completely recovered four weeks after administration. ERPF was not changed immediately after and four weeks after administration of cisplatin. GFR before and immediately after administration of cisplatin were analyzed with regard to age, sex, performance status, previous adminstration of cisplatin and method of administration. None of these factors had any influence on the rate of decrease in GFR except method of administration. Administration of cisplatin as a single dose lowered GFR more compared with that as divided doses. In this study, we have also demonstrated that the simultaneous use of $^{99m}Tc-DTPA$ and $^{131}I-OIH$ was a useful tool for the measurement of GFR and ERPF respectively.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 1991

Reconstruction of the pharynx and cervical esophagus presents a tremendous surgical challenge to the Head and Neck Surgeon. Because life expectancy of patients with advanced carcinoma of the hypopharynx, and cervical esophagus is limited, treatment must be aimed at palliation. A variety of techiques have been proposed over the years with none proving entirely satisfactory. These techiques include prosthesis; skin graft; cervical flaps; tubed cutaneous and myocutaneous chest flaps; visceral reconstruction with stomach, colon. and jejunum; and jejunal free autografts. Many factors dictate the best method of reconstruction in any given clinical situation. The goal of the surgery is a one-stage reconstruction of swallowing function with minimal morbidity to allow as short a hospital stay as posible. Nine patients underwent the free jejunal autograft reconstruction of the pharyngoesophagus after the ablative surgery for the advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. Postoperative complications included one perioperative death, two abdominal wound dehiscences, two neck hematomas, one carotid rupture, one funtional dysphagia, one late strictures. There were no graft failure, no immediate stenosis and no fistula. An oral diet was started between days 8 and 16, with an average of 9 days and median of 8 days. Patients left the hospital between days 9 and days 38, with an average of 23.4 days and median of 23 days. This method of reconstruction is advocated as reliable palliative procedure with short-term follow-up. In conclusion, we at Korea Cancer Center Hospital are of the opinion that the free jejunal autograft offers an excellent, safe and relative easy method of the pharyngeal and cervical esophageal reconstruction with significant advantages over other techiques.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.247-250
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• 2012

Objective: To determine whether CDX2 and villin protein expression are associated with intestinal metaplasia (IM) in gastric cardiac mucosa and to explore the relationship with evolution of gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA). Methods: We studied 143 gastric cardiac biopsy or resection specimens from Henan province China, including 25 cardiac gastritis specimens with IM, 65 dysplasia specimens with IM and 35 gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma specimens and stained them for CDX2 and villin by the immunohistochemical SP method. 15 normal gastric cardiac biopsy specimens were also collected as control. Results: (1) Normal gastric mucosa presented no CDX2 and villin expression. The positive rates of CDX2 protein in cardiac gastritis with IM, dysplasia with IM, and carcinoma tissues were 84.0% (21/25), 66.7% (32/48) and 36.4% (20/55), respectively. While the positive rates of villin protein in cardiac gastritis with IM, dysplasia with IM, and carcinoma tissues were 76.0% (19/25), 70.8% (34/48) and 45.5% (25/55), respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups for both CDX2 and villin (P<0.01). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient(rho) showed a close correlation between the two proteins (r=0.843, P<0.01) and both were positively related with tumor differentiation (both P<0.05), but not associated with age, sex, invasion and metastasis of lymph node (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that ectopic expression of CDX2 and villin may be involved in early-stage IM and tumorigenesis in gastric cardia and the expression of villin may be regulated by CDX2.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) for the treatment of cancerous upper abdominal pain in a tertiary university hospital in Korea. Methods: At the tertiary university hospital in Korea, electronic medical records of cancer patients who underwent CPN and died in the hospital from November 2009 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The total number of subjects was 51. The 17 patients were from the Department of Gastroenterology (33.0%), followed by 11 patients from the Department of Hemato-oncology (21.6%), 11 patients from the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (21.6%), 9 patients from the Department of General Surgery (17.6%). The diagnosis was pancreatic cancer in 15 patients (29.4%), stomach cancer in 8 patients (15.7%), hepatobiliary cancer in 20 patients (39.2%), colon cancer in 1 patient (2.0%), esophageal cancer in 2 patient (3.9%) and intra-abdominal metastasis in 5 patients (9.8%). The mean survival time after the surgery was 66.4±55.0 days. The pain intensity before and 1 week after the procedure significantly decreased, but the amounts of opioids consumed before and 1 week after the procedure were not statistically significant. Side effects occurred after the procedure including temporary localized pain in 24 patients (47.0%), hypotension in 12 (23.5%), and diarrhea in 6 (11.8%). Conclusion: CPN is an effective and safe procedure for reducing upper abdominal pain caused by cancer, and it is necessary to perform CPN within the appropriate time by establishing a system of interdepartmental cooperation.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.82-84
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• 2007

Treatment options for anastomotic recurrence occurring after Ivor Lewis operation are limited. Reoperation for resection can be technically challenging and several reports suggest a potential survival benefit from re-resection. Specific care must be taken to avoid compromise of the previously transposed conduit to not endanger its vascular supply and the recurrent nerves in either the chest or neck. We report our surgical experience of a case of esophagogastric anastomotic site recurrence occurring after Ivor Lewis operation with review of literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.98-100
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• 2016

We present a rare case of critically compromised airway secondary to a massively dilated sequestered colon conduit after several revision surgeries. A 71-year-old male patient had several operations after the diagnosis of gastric cancer. After initial treatment of pneumonia in the pulmonology department, he was transferred to the surgery department for feeding jejunostomy because of recurrent aspiration. However, he had respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed pneumonic consolidation at both lower lungs and massive dilatation of the substernal interposed colon compressing the trachea. The dilated interposed colon was originated from the right colon, which was sequestered after the recent esophageal reconstruction with left colon interposition resulting blind pouch at both ends. It was treated with CT-guided pigtail catheter drainage via right supraclavicular route, which was left in place for 2 weeks, and then removed. The patient remained well clinically, and was discharged home.