• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5829-5834
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• 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Although different metabolic factors have been implicated in breast cancer development, the relationship between hypertension and breast cancer has not been elucidated. Aim: To evaluate hypertension as a risk factor for breast cancer in Chilean women of low and middle socio-economic status. Methods: We conducted an age-matched (1:1) case-control study in 3 hospitals in Santiago, Chile. Breast cancer cases (n=170) were histopathologically confirmed. Controls had been classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System I (negative) or II (benign findings) within 6 months of recruitment. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer and standardized procedures. We used 2 hypertension cut-off points: blood pressures of ${\geq}140/90$ mmHg and ${\geq}130/85$ mmHg. Fasting insulin and glucose levels were assessed, and anthropometric, sociodemographic, and behavioral information were collected. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the entire sample and restricted to postmenopausal women using multivariable conditional logistic regression models. Results: Hypertension (${\geq}140/90$ mmHg) was significantly higher in cases (37.1%) than controls (17.1%) for the entire sample and in postmenopausal pairs (44.0% compared to 23.8%). In crude and adjusted models, hypertensive women had a 4-fold increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.8; 9.6) compared to non-hypertensive women in the entire sample. We found a similar association in the postmenopausal group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.1; 7.4). A significant effect was also observed when hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ${\geq}130/85$ mmHg. Conclusion: A significant association was found between hypertension and breast cancer over the entire sample and when restricted to postmenopausal women. Hypertension is highly prevalent in Latin America and may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer; therefore, a small association between hypertension and breast cancer may have broad implications.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1995

We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the preventive effect of ginseng on the development of cancer in the population over 40 years old residing in Kangwha-eup from August 1987 to December 1992. Alnong 4, 634 persons (2, 362 men, 2, 272 women), 335 (7.6%) persons had died. Cancer accounted for 79 (22.8%) of the total death. Of 4, 634 persons eligible for analysis, 70.475 (3, 263) were ginseng intakes. Ginseng intakes had a decreased risk (RR=0.48, 95% Cl : 0.34~0.67) compared with non-intakes. The relative risk of cancer according to the kind of ginseng was 0.23 (95% Cl : 0.08~ 0.63) for fresh ginseng extract intakes. There was a decrease in risk with rising the frequency of ginseng intake, showing statistically significant dose-response relationship. The longer the duration of ginseng intake or the greater the total number of ginseng consumed, the lower the risk. Newly diagnosed cancer cases have been identified: 42 stomach, 24 lung, 14 liver and 57 at other sites. The relative risks of ginseng intakes were 0.34 (95% Cl 0.19~0.60) in gastric cancer and 0.27 (95% Cl : 0.12-0.60) in lung cancer. Among ginseng preparations, fresh ginseng intakes were significantly associated with the decreased risk of gastric cancer (RR: 0.19, 95% Cl : 0.04~0.98). These results strongly revealed that Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer (Korean ginseng) has preventive effect against cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the rate, patterns, and risk factors associated with tumor recurrence in patients with T1N0 gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 8,753 patients with pathological T1N0M0 gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy between 1994 and 2014 at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine were examined. Results: Among the 8,753 patients, 95 patients (1.1%) experienced tumor recurrence; this included 31 remnant, 27 hematogenous, 9 lymph nodal, 5 peritoneal, and 23 multiple-site recurrences. When patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of tumor recurrence, the following characteristics were higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group: older age (${\geq}65years$), male gender, undifferentiated histology, submucosal invasion, and venous invasion. In multivariate analysis, older age, male gender, tumor depth (sm2 and sm3 invasion), and venous invasion were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. The recurrence rates were 0.7% in patients with less than two risk factors, 1.7% in those with two risk factors, 3.0% in those with three risk factors, and 6.3% in those with four risk factors (P<0.001). Conclusions: Although tumor recurrence is rare in pT1N0M0 gastric cancer, some patients with certain risk factors demonstrate an increased rate of tumor recurrence. Careful follow-up is required for patients with three or four risk factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2311-2314
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• 2012

Genetic polymorphisms of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases 1A6 (UGT1A6) and 1A7 (UGT1A7) may lead to genetic instability and colorectal cancer carcinogenesis. Our objective was to measure the interaction between polymorphisms of these repair genes and tobacco smoking in colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 68 individuals with CRC and 112 non-cancer controls were divided into non-smoker and smoker groups according to pack-years of smoking. Genetic polymorphisms of UGT1A6 and UGT1A7 were examined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). We found a weak association of UGT1A6 polymorphisms with CRC risk (crude odds ratio [OR], 1.65;95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.9-3.1, P=0.107; adjusted OR 1.95%, 95% CI 1.0-3.8, P=0.051). The ORs for the UGT1A7 polymorphisms were statistically significant (crude OR: 26.40, 95% CI: 3.5-198.4, P=0.001; adjusted OR: 21.52, 95% CI: 2.8-164.1, P=0.003). The joint effect of tobacco exposure and UGTIA6 polymorphisms was significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in non-smokers (crude OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 0.9-5.0, P=0.092; adjusted OR 2.63, 95% CI, 1.0-6.7, P=0.042). In conclusion, our findings suggest that UGT1A6 and UGT1A7 gene polymorphisms are associated with CRC risk in the Japanese population. In particualr, UGT1A6 polymorphisms may strongly increase CRC risk through the formation of carcinogens not associated with smoking.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Objectives: Laboratories have various latent physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomical factors according to the diversification and fusion of research and development activities. This study aims to investigate the chemical exposure concentrations of college laboratories and evaluate their health risks, and use them as basic data to promote the health of college students. Methods: The sampling and analysis of harmful chemicals in the air in laboratories were performed using Method 1500 of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)의 Method 1500. The harmful chemicals in the laboratories were divided into carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic chemicals. Risk assessment was performed using the cancer risk (CR) for carcinogenic chemicals and using the hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic chemicals. Results: The harmful chemicals in college laboratories consisted of acetone, diethyl ether, methylene chloride, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and xylenes. They showed the highest concentrations in laboratories A (acetone 0.001~2.34ppm), B (chloroform 0.95~6.35ppm), C (diethyl ether 0.08~8.68ppm), and D (acetone 0.07~14.96ppm). The risk assessment result for non-carcinogenic chemicals showed that the HI of methylene chloride was 2.052 for men and 2.333 for women, the HI of N-hexane was 4.442 for men and 5.05 for women. Thus, the HI values were higher than 1. The risk of carcinogenic chemicals is determined by an excess cancer risk (ECR) value of 1.0×10^-5, which means that one in 100,000 people has a cancer risk. The ECRs of chloroform exceeded 1.0×10^-5 for both men and women, indicating the possibility of cancer risk. Conclusion: College laboratories showed the possibility of non-carcinogenic health risks for methylene chloride, n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and xylenes, and carcinogenic health risks for chloroform, methylene chloride. However, this study used the maximum values of measurements to determine the worst case, and assumed that the subjects were exposed to the corresponding concentrations continuously for 8 hours per day for 300 days per year. In consideration of the nature of laboratory environment in which people are intermittently exposed, rather than continuously, to the chemicals, the results of this study has an element of overestimation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8187-8190
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• 2016

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect epithelial tissues. Specific genotypes of human papillomavirus are the single most common etiological agents of cervical intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer. Cervical cancer usually arises at squamous metaplastic epithelium of transformation zone (TZ) of the cervix featuring infection with one or more oncogenic or high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types. A hospital-based study in a rural set up was carried out to understand the association of HR-HPV with squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and cervical cancer. In the present study, HR-HPV was detected in 65.7% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), 84.6% of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and 94% of cervical cancer as compared to 10.7% of controls. The association of HPV infection with SIL and cervical cancer was analyzed with Chi square test (p<0.001). The significant association found confirmed that detection of HR-HPV is a suitable candidate for early identification of cervical precancerous lesions and in the prevention of cervical cancer in India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3505-3508
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• 2015

Background: Ras genes are thought to play an important role in human cancer since they have been found to be activated frequently in several types of tumors including breast cancer, where the overall incidence of K-RAS oncogene activation is 0-10%. Evaluation of K-RAS gene not only for mutational frequency but also for mutation types in this downstream signaling gene pathway is necessary to determine the mechanisms of action. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that K-RAS activation is involved in breast cancer risk of south Indian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 paired pathologically confirmed tumor and non-tumor tissues from the same breast cancer patients were analysed for most common K-RAS mutations of codon 12,13 and 61 by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion and direct nucleotide sequencing method. Results: We found that a high rate of homozygous and heterozygous mutations of codon 12, but not codon 13 and 61, may influence the invasive ductal carcinoma of breast risk in this study. Conclusions: Our study indicated that only codon 12 may be involved in initiating breast carcinogenesis in India.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2021

Objectives: Horse trainers ensure the horses they are training and monitor horse's health, hygiene. While most of the studies on horse trainer's health focused on musculoskeletal disorders, few studies have examined the health effect of occupational exposure. This study aimed to investigate the risk of lung cancer in Korean Horse trainers. Methods: Among the largest health screening program of health screening service of the National Health Insurance Corporation, 2,246 workers were selected for study. We utilized data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) National Cohort Data Base 2005-2017. We performed analyses using a Cox's proportional hazards model to identify the risk of lung cancer in Horse trainers. Results: This study found that the horse trainers group had a higher risk of lung cancer 10.07 (95% CI :2.38-42.64) compared to other occupational group. Additionally, there was 6.5 times higher risk of lung cancer in non-smoker horse trainers group. Conclusions: We, thus, verified horse trainers could have relation with increase of lung cancer risk. As lung cancer is known as a cancer with a high contribution of occupational factors compared to other cancers, it is necessary to determine the efficacy of continuous attention and active management of occupational exposure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2024

Background: Early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that abuts adjacent structures requires careful evaluation due to its potential impact on postoperative outcomes and prognosis. We examined stage I NSCLC with invasion into adjacent structures, focusing on the prognostic implications after curative surgical resection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 796 patients who underwent curative surgical resection for pathologic stage IA/IB NSCLC (i.e., visceral pleural invasion only) at a single center from 2008 to 2017. Patients were classified based on tumor abutment and then reclassified by the presence of visceral pleural invasion. Clinical characteristics, pathological features, and survival rates were compared. Results: The study included 181 patients with abutting NSCLC (22.7% of all participants) and 615 with non-abutting tumors (77.3%). Those with tumor abutment exhibited higher rates of non-adenocarcinoma (26.5% vs. 9.9%, p<0.01) and visceral/lymphatic/vascular invasion (30.4%/33.1%/12.7% vs. 8.5%/22.4%/5.7%, respectively; p<0.01) compared to those without abutment. Multivariable analysis identified lymphatic invasion and male sex as risk factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in stage I NSCLC measuring 3 cm or smaller. Age, smoking history, vascular invasion, and recurrence emerged as risk factors for OS, whereas the presence of non-pure ground-glass opacity was a risk factor for DFS. Conclusion: NSCLC lesions 3 cm or smaller that abut adjacent structures present higher rates of various risk factors than non-abutting lesions, necessitating evaluation of tumor invasion into adjacent structures and lymph node metastasis. In isolation, however, the presence of tumor abutment without visceral pleural invasion does not constitute a risk factor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to critically review the exposure surrogates and estimates used to associate health effects in wafer fabrication workers such as spontaneous abortion and cancer, as well as to identify the limitations of retrospective exposure assessment methods Methods: Epidemiologic and exposure-assessment studies of wafer fabrication operations in the semiconductor industry were collected. Retrospective exposure-assessment methods used in cancer risk and mortality and reproductive toxicity were reviewed. Results: Eight epidemiologic papers and two reports compared cancer risk among workers in wafer fabrication facilities in the semiconductor industry with the risk of the general population. Exposure surrogates used in those cancer studies were fabrication(vs. non-fabrication), employment duration, manufacturing eras, job title (operator vs. maintenance worker) and qualitative classifications of agents without assessing specific agent or job-specific exposure. In contrast, specific operation, job title and agents were used to classify the exposure of fabrication workers, contributing to finding a significant association with spontaneous abortion (SAB). Conclusion: Further epidemiologic studies of fabrication workers using more refined exposure assessment methods are warranted in order to examine the associations between fabrication work, environment, and specific agents with cancer risk or mortality as used in SAB epidemiologic studies.