• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 2009

Solitary necrotic nodule (SNN) of the liver is a very uncommon benign lesion, and it is detected incidentally as a rule. It is important to differentiate SNN radiologically from various single hepatic nodules because SNN mimics hepatic metastasis, especially in staging work up of known primary malignancy. The reported imaging findings of SNN are well-defined nodule without enhancement or with subtle peripheral enhancement. There has been no report about the target-like SNN of the liver and about the imaging finding of 3T magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. We report a case of targetlike SNN of the liver, mimicking hepatic metastasis, with findings of various imaging modalities and try to find a cause of this nodule according to the pathologic and literature review.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.703-706
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• 2014

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sequential transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein embolization (PVE) before major hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellur carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, data were collected from patients who underwent sequential TACE and PVE prior to major hemihepactectomy. Liver volumes were measured by computed tomography volumetry before TACE, and preoperation to assess degree of future remnant liver (FRL) hypertrophy and to check whether intro- or extrohepatic metastasis existed. Liver function was monitored by biochemistry after TACE, prior to and after major hepatectomy. Results: Mean average FRL volume increased 32.3-71.4% (mean 55.4%) compared with preoperative FRL volume. After TACE, liver enzymes were elevated, but returned to normal in four weeks. During PVE and resection, no patient had intro- or extrohepatic metastasis. Conclusion: Sequential TACE and PVE is an effective method to improve resection opportunity, expand the scope of surgical resection, and greatly reduce postoperative intra- and extrahepatic metastasis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2024

Previous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling pathway in stimulating cancer metastasis induced by chronic stress. According to the theory of traditional Korean medicine, chronic stress can induce Qi stagnation. Based on the traditional role of premature citrus unshiu peel in moving Qi, we hypothesized that an ethanol extract of premature citrus unshiu peel (EPCU) can attenuate chronic stress-induced cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCU on modulating the adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic properties of liver cancer cells. Our findings revealed that adrenergic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and isoproterenol (ISO), augmented the migratory capacity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was completely abrogated by EPCU treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, EPCU inhibited the E-induced invasive property of Hep3B cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPCU efficiently attenuates adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic abilities of liver cancer cells. As a molecular mechanism, EPF suppressed the phosphorylation of major components of β-AR signaling pathway, including Src, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ERK, induced by E treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EPCU impedes the adrenergic agonists-driven metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting β-AR signaling pathway. This study provides basic evidence supporting the probable use of premature citrus unshiu peel to prevent metastasis in liver cancer patients under chronic stress.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.220-225
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary type of liver cancer, is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. HCC patients have poor prognosis due to intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of various liver diseases including HCC. Among HBV gene products, HBV X protein (HBx) plays an important role in the development and metastasis of HCC. However, the mechanism of HCC metastasis induced by HBx has not been elucidated yet. In this study, for the first time, we report that HBx interacts with the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) which negatively controls NF-κB by degrading p65, a subunit of NF-κB. NF-κB activates the transcription of factors associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial cellular process associated with invasiveness and migration of cancer cells. Here, we report that HBx physically binds to SOCS1, subsequently prevents the ubiquitination of p65, activates the transcription of EMT transcription factors and enhance cell migration and invasiveness, suggesting a new mechanism of HBV-associated HCC metastasis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.94-97
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• 2017

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare, but are the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common sites of metastasis are liver and peritoneum, while bone metastasis is rare. We report on a patient with skull metastasis after seven years of treatment with imatinib for metastatic GIST. She underwent metastasectomy consisting of craniectomy with excision of the mass, and cranioplasty and continued treatment with imatinib and sunitinib, without evidence of cranial recurrence. She died of pneumonia sepsis one year after metastasectomy. Skull metastasis of GIST is a very rare presentation, and an aggressive multidisciplinary approach should be considered whenever possible.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2005

A hepatoid adenocarcinoma of stomach, a subtype of gastric cancr, is characterized by a histologic resemblance to a hepatocellular carcinoma and $\alpha$-feto protein production. Another feature is early metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes, thus revealing a poor prognosis. We report a case of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastasis. A 52-year-old male visited our hospital with a chief complaint of indigestion. Gastroscopic examination showed a Borrmann type-II lesion on the lesser curvature of the antrum. The CT scan showed a suspected advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis. The serum AFP level was 123 ng/ml. A radical subtotal gastrectomy and a right hemihepatectomy were performed simultaneously. Pathologic examination confirmed the lesion to be confined to the submucosa. The gastric lesion was a hepatoid adenocarcinoma, and the hepatic lesion was a metastatic adenocarcinoma from the stomach. Therefore, he was classified as having stage IV (T1N1M1) gastric cancer. In cases of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach, even patients with early gastric cancer can be staged into the poor prognostic group.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2009

The clinical significance of hepatic resection for gastric metastases is controversial, even though hepatic resection has been widely accepted as a modality for colorectal metastases. Very few patients with gastric hepatic metastases are good candidates for hepatic resection because of multiple bilateral metastases, extrahepatic disease, or advanced cancer progression, such as peritoneal dissemination or extensive lymph node metastases. Therefore, several authors have reported the clinical significance of hepatic resection for gastric metastases in a small number of patients. Considering the present results with previous reports. The number and distribution of tumors in hepatic metastases from gastric cancer was considered based on the present and previous reports. Several authors have reported significantly better survival in patients with metachronous metastasis than in those with synchronous disease. However, metachronous hepatic resection necessitates the dissection of adhesions between the pancreas, liver, and residual stomach to prepare for Pringle's maneuver. Patients with unilobar liver metastasis, and/or metastatic tumors <4 cm in diameter may be good candidates for hepatic resection. Synchronous metastasis is not a contraindication for hepatic resection. Most of the long-term survivors underwent anatomic hepatic resection with a sufficient resection margin. After hepatic resection, the most frequent site of recurrence was the remaining liver, which was associated with a high frequency of mortality within 2 years. A reasonable strategy for improvement in survival would be to prevent recurrence by means of adjuvant chemotherapy and careful follow-up studies.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.368-380
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• 2002

Purpose: Liver transplantation (LT), one of the therapeutic options of primary liver cancer has been suffering from recurrence caused by metastasis in 8-54% of patients. This study was performed to investigate whether FDG-PET is useful for detecting hidden metastasis in LT candidates. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients (male:female=23:3, mean age 55.7 years) underwent FDG-PET. Their previous conventional diagnostic studies (CDS) like abdomen US and CT, chest x-ray and CT, and bone scan were negative (n=22) or equivocal (n=4) for metastasis. Positive FDG-PET findings were confirmed by biopsy or clinical follow-up. Results: Among 4 patients with equivocal metastatic lesions on CDS, 3 had 6 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as metastasis and subsequently LTs were cancelled. Of these, 5 lesions were initially negative on CDS. Remained 1 patient underwent LT with a negative FDG-PET result. Among 22 patients without metastasis on CDS, 5 had 7 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET. One of these patients proved to have 2 metastatic lesions, and LT was cancelled. The other 4 patients had S hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as benign lesions, and 3 patients of them underwent LT. In summary, FDG-PET was useful in avoiding 4 unwarranted LT by detecting unsuspected metastatic lesions on CDS. A total of 17 patients underwent LT. In comparison with pathology, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for detecting viable primary liver cancer were 55.6% (5/9) and 87.5% (7/8), respectively. Conclusion: FDG-PET can detect additional hidden metastasis and contribute to reducing unwarranted LT in the patients with primary liver cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1665-1669
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• 2015

Background: The optimal surgical strategy for the treatment of synchronous resectable gastric cancer liver metastases remains controversial. The aims of this study were to analyze the outcome and overall survival of patients presenting with gastric cancer and liver metastases treated by simultaneous resection. Materials and Methods: Between January 1990 and June 2009, 35 patients diagnosed with synchronous hepatic metastases from gastric carcinoma received simultaneous resection of both primary gastric cancer and synchronous hepatic metastases. The clinicopathologic features and the surgical results of the 35 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 5-year overall survival rate after surgery was 14.3%. Five patients survived for more than 5 years after surgery. No mortality has occurred within 30 days after resection, although two patients (5.7%) developed complications during the peri-operative course. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with the presence of lymphovascular invasion of the primary tumor, bilateral liver metastasis and multiple liver metastases suffered poor survival. Lymphovascular invasion by the primary lesion and multiple liver metastases were significant prognostic factors that influenced survival in the multivariate analysis (p=0.02, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The presence of lymphovascular invasion of the primary tumor and multiple liver metastases are significant prognostic determinants of survival. Gastric cancer patients without lymphovascular invasion and with a solitary synchronous liver metastasis may be good candidates for hepatic resection. Simultaneous resection of both primary gastric cancer and synchronous hepatic metastases may effectively prolong survival in strictly selected patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.274-278
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• 1990

Metastases to the liver presents a common clinical problem in the management of patients with cole-rectal cancer, and are responsible for a high degree of morbidity and mortality associated with this malignancy. Unfortunately, attempts at preventing the development of liver metastases in "high risk" patients has so far been unsuccessful. Ongoing studies of adjuvant chemotherapy have not yet illustrated a significant increase in survival in patients receiving such therapy. The purpose of the study is to investigate the value of adjuvant radiotherapy given in the form of colloidal chromic phosphate P-32 suspension administered via portal vein after radical resection of the primary cancer, in preventing the growth of occult metastases in the liver. Twenty one patients (10 patients of treated group with 11 controls) were followed 18 months after operation. There was no significant change in the CBC and liver functions after administration of P-32 labeled colloidal chromic phosphate. The number of patients who showed local metastases at 18 months were 2 in the treated group and 3 in the control group. While liver metastases occurred in one patient at 6 months and in three at 12 months in the control group, there was no development of liver metastases by 12 months in the treated group. At 18 month follow-up CT scan one patient in the treated group showed a single nodule in the liver. In conclusion liver metastasis rate was lower in the patients who received colloidal P-32 chromic phosphate via portal vein after radical resection of the primary cole-rectal cancer.