• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.11
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• 2020

Cancer immunotherapy, in the form of vaccination, adoptive cellular transfer, or immune checkpoint inhibitors, has emerged as a promising practice within the field of oncology. However, despite the developing field's potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, the presence of immunotherapeutic-resistant tumor cells in many patients present a challenge and limitation to these immunotherapies. These cells not only indicate immunotherapeutic resistance, but also show multi-modal resistance to conventional therapies, abnormal metabolism, stemness, and metastasis. How can immunotherapeutic-resistant tumor cells render multi-malignant phenotypes? We reasoned that the immune-refractory phenotype could be associated with multi-malignant phenotypes and that these phenotypes are linked together by a factor that acts as the master regulator. In this review, we discussed the role of the embryonic transcription factor NANOG as a crucial master regulator we named "common factor" in multi-malignant phenotypes and presented strategies to overcome multi-malignancy in immunotherapeutic-resistant cancer by restraining the NANOG-mediated multi-malignant signaling axis. Strategies that blunt the NANOG axis could improve the clinical management of therapy-refractory cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2015

Aim: To assess the treatment outcome in patients with malignant skin melanoma and prognostic factors for distant metastases (DM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 113 patients with malignant skin melanoma (60 females, 53 males, average age-55 years) who were treated surgically. Primary treatment consisted of local excision. In 12 cases, it was accompanied by lymph node excision. In 93 (82%) cases, radicalization was necessary, which was either local only (19 cases) or accompanied by lymph node surgery/biopsy (74 cases). Possible prognostic factors such as Clark's stage and Breslow's depth of invasion, ulceration, average tumor dimensions, lymph nodes metastases (pN+), gender, tumor location and primary excision margins were considered. Results: In 51 (45%) cases, treatment failure occurred. The 5-year DM rate was 47%, the 5-year DFS was 38%, and the 5-year OS was 56%. In the univariate analysis, the important factors with respect to at least one endpoint included Clark's stage, Breslow's depth of invasion, ulceration, average tumor dimensions, lymph nodes metastases, gender and primary tumor localization. The presence of metastasic nodes was the most important prognostic factor, with a 5-year DM rates of 30% for pN(-) and 76% for pN(+) and a 5-year DFS and OS of 56% and 76% for pN(-) and 13% and 24% for pN(+), respectively. The average tumor dimension was independently significant for DFS and OS, with 5-year rates of 69% and 80% for ${\leq}1cm$, 28% and 53% for 1-2 cm, and 18% and 30% for >2 cm, respectively. Tumor location was also significant for DM and OS, with 5-year rates of 69% vs 33% and 41% vs 66% for trunk vs other locations, respectively. Conclusions: The natural course of a malignant skin melanoma treated radically is disadvantageous, with unsuccessful outcome in nearly half of the cases. Common clinical factors, such as Clark's tumor stage, Breslow's depth of invasion and the presence of metastatic nodes, have high prognostic significance. The size and location of the primary lesion may be considered independent prognostic factors. The most important negative prognostic factor is the presence of metastatic regional lymph nodes. Only one quarter of patients with metastases in lymph nodes survive 5 years from primary surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of anterolateral thigh free flap on soft tissue defect following wide excision in malignant soft tissue tumor of lower extremities. Methods: Between February 2005 to April 2010, we followed up 19 cases who were undergoing anterolateral thigh free flap because of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity, including 9 cases were heel, 5 cases in foot, 3 cases in ankle, 2 cases in knee and leg. We observed that of implanted area's color, peripheral circulation at 3, 5, 7 days after operation and evaluated operating time, amount of hemorrhage, implanted skin necrosis, additional operations, complications. And we also evaluated the oncologic results, including local recurrence, metastasis, and morbidity. Results: Average operation time of wide excision and anterolateral thigh free flap was 7 hour 28 minutes. 18(94.7%) of total 19 cases showed successful engraftment, on the other hand, failure of engraftment due to complete necrosis of flap in 1 case. In 18 cases with successful engraftment, reoperation was performed in 4 cases. Among them, removal of hematoma and engraftment of flap after bleeding control was performed in 3 cases, because of insufficient circulation due to the hematoma. In the remaining 1 case, graft necrosis due to flap infection was checked, and grafted after combination of wound debridement and conservative treatment such as antibiotics therapy, also skin graft was performed at debrided skin defect area. Skin color change was mainly due to congestion with hematoma, flap was not observed global congestion or necrosis except 4 cases which shows partial necrosis on margin that treated with conservative therapy. Conclusions: Anterolateral thigh free flap could be recommended for reconstruction of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5477-5482
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• 2015

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for a prethrombotic state in patients with malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: Plasma d-dimer (D-D) in patients with malignant tumors was measured. Abnormal rates of D-D and possible risk factors like gender, age, type of tumor, and staging of tumor were analyzed. Results: Of 1,453 patients, 629 demonstrated plasma D-D abnormality (43.3%). The D-D abnormal rate of male patients (n=851, 43.5%) was not statistically significantly different from that for female patients (n=602, 43.0%) (p>0.05). D-D abnormal rate increased with age and was statistically significant among different age groups (p<0.05). Regarding staging of tumor, D-D abnormal rate in patients with phase I was 2.0%, 6.2% in phase II, 47.6% in phase III and 83.1% in phase IV, with statistically significant differences between phase III and II, as well as phase III and IV (p<0.01). Conclusions: A prethrombotic state was closely related to malignancy of tumors. The risk factors for a prethrombotic state include age and tumor stage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.11 s.268
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• pp.810-814
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• 2006

Background: Tumors of the heart are uncommon. The aim of this study is to review our clinical experience and outcome of surgical treatment of cardiac neoplasm. Material and Method: From March 1990 to December 2005, 35 patients(14 males and 21 females) with mean age of 52.4 years underwent surgical treatment of cardiac neoplasm. The clinical and pathologic data were analyzed retrospectively. Surgical treatment consisted in complete resection of the tumor in all cases but 1 patient who was left ventricular fibroma received biopsy only. Result: Thirty cases were benign and five cases were malignant tumor. Benign tumors were myxoma(29 cases) and fibroma(1 case). Five malignant tumors were osteosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell cancer, yolk sac tumor, and unclassified myxoid spindle cell type sarcoma. There were no operative mortality in benign cases and twenty seven cases of myxoma were followed up for 8 months to 15 years without recurrence. But four patients of malignant tumor were expired within six months after operation. Conclusion: Left atrial myxomas are most common benign neoplasm. Surgical treatment is effective for the benign cardiac tumors but prognosis is poor in patients with malignant cardiac tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2004

Granular cell tumor is characterized by large eosinophilic cells with granular appearances. These are mostly benign. Approximately $1\sim2%$ are malignant, and establishment of reliable criteria for diagnosing malignant granular cell tumor has been difficult to establish because oi the rarify. Reports on the cytologic features of this neoplasm are hardly found in Korea. We report a case of rarely-occurring granular cell tumor in the lower leg of a 40-year-old male, diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology, together with a review of the literature regarding significant adverse histology and prognostic factors. The aspirates revealed cellular smears of isolated cells, syncytial clusters, and occasionally stripped nuclei in a nine, bluish-purple, granular background. Tumor cells were polygonal, rounded, or slightly spindled, and showed ill-defined granular cytoplasm. Nuclei were small and round or oval, with inconspicuous or small, prominent nucleoli. The nuclei showed rare intranuclear cytoplasmic invagination. Occasionally, there were mild to moderate nuclear pleomorphisms with vesicular nuclei, with large, prominent nucleoi, but no mitosis. The immunocytochemical stain for S-100 was strongly positive in the cytoplasm of tumor cells with occasional nuclei.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.31-35
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• 2002

Background and Objectives : Salivary gland neoplasms are unique because of their infrequency, inconsistent classification, and highly variable biologic behavior. The aim of this study is to analysis the histopathologic classification of salivary glnad neoplasm and to suggest a guideline of management. Materials and Methods : The medical records of 310 patients with salivary gland neoplasm who treated at Asan medical center between 1992 and 2001 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the 310 patients, 138 patients were male and 172 patients were female. Mean age was 50.5 years. Results : Benign salivary neoplasms were 213 cases. They consisted of 153 cases (71.8%) of parotid tumor, 41 cases (19.2%) of submandibular gland tumor and 19 cases (8.9%) of minor salivary gland tumor. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign neoplasm. Malignant salivary neoplasms were 97 cases. They consisted of 45 cases (46.4%) of parotid tumor, 26 cases(26.8%) of minor salivary gland tumor, 24 cases(24.7%) of submandibular gland tumor and 2 cases(2.1%) of sublingual gland tumor. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common malignant neoplasm. Conclusions : The most commonly involved gland was parotid (64%) and the most frequent tumor was pleomorphic adenoma (52%). Although the majority of minor salivary gland neoplasms are malignant, three of parotid tumors are benign.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2001

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) of the stomach who were treated in our hospital. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 31 patients who were treated for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach from 1990 to 1999 at Korea University Guro Hospital. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex and tumor size were analyzed. In addition, the relation between the 5-year survival rate and tumor size, operative procedure, and malignancy were analyzed to identify the factors that predict survival. Results: The malignant GISTs were 11 cases, borderline GISTs were 2 cases, and benign GISTs were 18 cases. The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate of the patients was $84.6\%$, and the 5-year survival rates according to malignancy were $100\%$ for benign and borderline GISTs and $78.1\%$ for malignant GISTs, p=0.1119. The 5-year survival rates according to tumor size were $100\%$ for tumor sizes smaller than 5 cm and $78.4\%$ for tumor sizes larger than 5 cm, p=0.0453. The 5-year survival rate according to lymph node dissection during operative procedure of malignant GISTs was not significant statistically. Conclusions: GISTs of the stomach are infrequently encountered tumors. Tumor size was the most important factor for predicting survival in a clinical situation, and performing a complete resection of the tumor, especially tumors larger than 5 cm, will improve the outcome of treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1995

Recently limb-salvage operation is widely used for the treatment of malignant bone tumor. But distal leg is out of range of limb-salvage operation due to its technical problem. We report satisfactory limb-salvage operation with tumor prosthesis in 3 cases of osteosarcoma of the distal tibia and fibula. Two cases involved in the tibia and 1 case in the fibula. Average age at operation was 23 years. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy were performed in all 3 cases. We used custom made tumor prosthesis which is designed by Seoul National University Orthopaedic Department. Overall Functional Evaluations by Enneking rating system were good in all 3 cases. All cases are CDF(continuosly disease free since the surgical procedure) state at mean follow-up 2 year and 9 months. In conclusion limb-salvage with tumor prosthesis is useful treatment modality for malignant bone tumor of distal tibia and fibula. Good functional results and few complications suggests limb salvage of distal lower leg may be replaceable with B-K amputation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.802-804
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• 2006

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a tumor which most often develops in the soft tissues of the extremities and retroperitoneum, but very rarely originates in the mediastinum. We report a 71-year-old man who admitted with anterior mediastinal tumor and underwent surgical resection of tumor in our hospital. The mass was histologically confirmed as MFH.