• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2003

Ectopic cervical thymic tumor, first described in 1941 by Boman, is a rare tumor of the neck displaying the same histologic features as mediastinal thymoma. It was classified into benign thymoma, invasive (or malignant) thymoma, thymic carcinoma histopathologically and clinically. The ectopic cervical thymic tumor is misdianosed as the thyroidal mass on radiologic examination and FNA cytology due to its rarity and unusual location. Recently, we have experienced two cases of ectopic cervical thymic tumor misdiagnosed as thyroid mass ; a case of thymic carcinoma;the other of invasive thymoma. So, we report these cases with review of the literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4919-4923
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the effect of celecoxib on telomerase activity and apoptosis in a human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (Hep-2 cells). Materials and Methods: The growth inhibition rate of Hep-2 cells in vitro was measured by MTT assay, and apoptosis by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The TRAP-ELISA method was used to determine telomerase activity in Hep-2 cells. The mRNA expression of human telomerase RNA component(hTR), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and human telomerase-associated protein(hTEP1) was determined by RT-PCR assay. Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was assessed by Western blotting. Results: Celecoxib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, repress telomerase activity, decrease hTERT mRNA and Bcl-2 protein expression and increase Bax protein expression, PGE2 had no effect on telomerase. Conclusions: Celecoxib had the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect in Hep-2 cells. Apoptosis was accompanied by a decrease in telomerase activity which was directly correlated with hTERT mRNA and up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2. Bcl-2 may thus play an important role in telomerase activity as well as apoptosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG PET) with computed tomography (CT) before and during radiotherapy (RT) in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: Twenty patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study, of whom 6 had oropharyngeal cancer, 10 had hypopharyngeal cancer, and 4 had laryngeal cancer. Fifteen patients received concurrent cisplatin and 2 received concurrent cetuximab chemotherapy. FDG PET/CT was performed before RT and in the 4th week of RT. The parameters of maximum standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) of the primary tumor were measured, and the prognostic significance of each was analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Higher TLG (>19.0) on FDG PET/CT during RT was a poor prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (p = 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.007). In the multivariate analysis, TLG during RT as a continuous variable was significantly associated with OS and PFS rate (p = 0.023 and p = 0.016, respectively). Tumor response worse than partial remission at 1 month after RT was another independent prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.024). Conclusions: Higher TLG of the primary tumor on FDG PET/CT during RT was a poor prognostic factor for OS and PFS in patients with head and neck cancer.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.228-234
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• 1997

Squamous cell carcinoma originating in the parotid gland has rare occurrence. The primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland comprise about 0.3% and 9.8% of all parotid malignant tumor. We investigated the clinical behavior and treatment outcome of patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. We reviewed all cases of possible primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland treated at Yonsei Cancer Center, Seoul, Korea, from 1981 through 1995. A total of 128 had primary parotid malignancy. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were excluded in this study. Ten cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland were identified. 6 cases of them are men & 4 cases are women. The age of patients ranged from 31 to 68 years with median age of 55 years. On physical examination, 5 cases had palpated cervical neck node and 6 cases had facial nerve palsy. Staging was done according to the current guidelines established by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (1992). Two cases were stage I, 1 in stage III, and 7 in stage IV. Six cases were performed operation and postoperative radiation therapy. Four cases were treated by curative radiation therapy, dose of more than 65 Gy on parotid gland region. The 5 year actual survival rate and the 5 year disease free survival rate were 30.8%, and 40.0%. Initial complete response rate was 70% for all patients. Local failure were occurred 3 of 7 patients with local controlled cases, failure sites were primary site, ipsilateral cervical neck node, contralateral supraclavicular node. Most recurrences developed within 1 year of initial treatment. Distant metastasis was appeared 2 of 3 patients who did not achieved local control. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland occured infrequently. A retrospective study at the Yonsei Cancer Center indicates incidence of 7.8%. At diagnosis, advanced stage, neck node presentation, facial nerve paralysis were associated with a poor prognosis. These results may suggested that radical surgical excision may be treatment of choice and that planned postoperative radiotherapy may be bendicial for reducing locoregional recurrence rates.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 1998

Objectives: Deletion in the short arm of chromosome 3 is common in many human cancers, including sporadic and hereditary renal carcinomas, small cell lung carcinomas, non-small cell lung carcinomas, and carcinomas of the ovary, breast, and cervix. A high frequency of chromosomal aberrations in head and neck cancers involving chromosome 3p has also been reported. These findings suggest that multiple tumor suppressor genes may be present on the short arm of chromosome 3. Materials and Methods: To investigate the possibility of chromosome 3p deletions in the Korean head and neck cancer patients, we applied a polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-based Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis to the DNA samples of matched normal mucosa and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas from 19 patients. Results: In the 19 normal samples heterozygosity at the polymorphic loci varied: 6 at the D3F15S2 locus(on telomeric 3p21), 2 at the D3S32 locus(on centromeric 3p21), and 4 at the THRB locus(on centromeric 3p24). In 12 matched carcinoma specimens, LOH(loss of heterozygosity) was observed at D3F15S2 in 1 of 6(17%), D3S32 in 1 of 2(50%), and at THRB in 2 of 4 cases(50%). Conclusion: The frequency of chromosome 3p deletion in the Korean head and neck carcinomas appear as other country did.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.538-543
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• 2016

Background Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which occurs in keratinocytes of the epidermis and is the second most common skin cancer, has a more invasive growth pattern and higher potential to metastasize than basal cell carcinoma. Total excision of the primary tumor is the treatment of choice. For clear excision of the tumor, invasion depth is one of the most important factors. This study was conducted to clarify the relationship between the size and the invasion depth of cutaneous SCC. Methods Twenty-six cases were collected for this prospective study. Frozen biopsies were examined after complete resection of the tumor, followed by histological confirmation by pathological examination. The major and minor axis lengths of the tumor, the invasion depth, and the level of invasion were measured. Recurrence or metastasis was recorded through regular follow-up. Results The Pearson correlation coefficient was used for statistical analysis. Significant results were observed for the relationship between the major and minor axis lengths and the invasion depth of the tumor (0.747, 0.773). No cases of recurrence or metastasis were observed. Conclusions In head and neck cutaneous SCC, the invasion depth of the tumor is closely related to the major and minor axis lengths of the tumor. Therefore, the invasion depth of the tumor can be estimated by measuring the size of the tumor, and a standard vertical safety margin for head and neck cutaneous SCC can be established, which could be helpful in the development of a preoperative reconstruction plan.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-33
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• 2015

The extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma is uncommonly occurred in larynx, accounting for less than 1% of all laryngeal neoplasm. In general, the laryngeal lymphoma is appeared as submucosal mass without mucosal ulceration and is most commonly found in supraglottis. The primary laryngeal lymphoma constitute a diagnostic challenge because they are characterized by absence of clinical and gross differential criteria, compared with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We encountered a 74-year-old man with hoarseness and lump sensation in the throat. On direct laryngoscope, multiple ulcerative and exudative mass in glottis and supraglottic areas were observed. The patient was finally diagnosed as large B-cell lymphoma through the laryngeal microsurgery. He received radiation therapy and there is no evidence of recurrence. Although the laryngeal mass has superficial mucosal change, primary laryngeal lymphoma must be included in the differential diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2017

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally with high morbidity and mortality. Immune surveillance is well recognized as an important mechanism to prevent development or progression of HNSCC. HNSCC can escape the immune system through multiple mechanisms including development of tolerance in T cells and inhibition of T-cell-related pathways, generally referred to as checkpoint inhibitors. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a clear advantage in advanced HNSCC patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Right at the front of the new era of immunotherapy, we will review current knowledge of immune escape mechanisms and clinical implication for HNSCC.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2009

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas are epithelial neoplasm derived from nasopharyngeal mucosa. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma involved cervical lymph nodes frequently. However, nasopharyngeal carcinoma with metastatic axillary node after concurrent chemoradiotherapy was reported rarely. We report the patients who was a 34-year-old man diagnosed as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. He was treated by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. But axillary node metastasis was found after treatment in 2 years. After surgical resection of axillary lymph node, there is no evidence of disease.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2001

Sclerosing rnucoepidermoid carcinoma with eosinophilia(SMECE)는 1991년 Chan 등이 처음 보고한 이후로 현재까지 전세계적으로 단 17예 만이 보고된 매우 희귀한 갑상선 암종이다. 조직학적으로는 종양 내에 일부 점액성 세포와 증식된 상피성 세포들을 관찰할 수 있고, 조직내 호산구성 세포들이 자주 관찰된다. 대부분의 기질은 밀집된 섬유성 조직으로 구성되어 있으며, 하시모토 갑상선염이 동반되어 있는 것이 특장적이다. 종양의 악성도는 최초 보고인 Chan 등에 의하면 국소 재발 및 원격전이를 거의 하지 않는 예후가 좋은 암종으로 보고되었는데, 이후 여러 문헌에서 국소 침윤, 국소 재발, 원격 전이 및 사망이 발생하여 예후가 매우 불량했던 증례들을 보고한 바 있어 악성도에 대한 시각은 달라지고 있다. 본 저자들은 최근 병리적 진단이 매우 어려웠고, 국소침윤과 림프절 전이 소견을 보였으며, 수술 후 빠른 시일 내에 급속히 재발하였던 악성도가 매우 높은 sclerosing mucoepidermoid thyroid carcinoma with eosinophilia (SMECE) 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.