• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2009

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death throughout the world. Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) is the most deadly form of lung cancer. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer are often found to be unavailable for operation at primary diagnosis. They are typically given conventional chemotherapy. When the tumor progresses during chemotherapy, a change in regimen is considered. The average period of administration differs with the regimen. In this case report, the authors introduce two cases of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with allergen removed Rhus verniciflua stokes based herbal medicine along with pemetrexed($Alimta^{(R)}$) and erlotinib($Tarceva^{(R)}$). The authors report this case because these molecular-targeted agents were used for longer periods than expected, while improving the performance and other symptoms. Further studies illuminating the synergistic effects through conjunctive treatment with both conventional and Eastern medicine in lung cancer treatment should be performed in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.258-261
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• 2014

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement, is a kind of driver mutation, accounts for 3%-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC patients harboring ALK fusion genes have distinct clinical features and good response to ALK inhibitors. Metastasis from lung cancer to the ovary has rarely been known. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with bilateral ovarian metastases from ALK rearranged NSCLC. She underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for ovary masses, which were progressed after cytotoxic chemotherapy although primary lung mass was decreased. Histopathological examination of the ovary tumor showed characteristic adenocarcinoma patterns of the lung and ALK rearrangement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.415-423
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• 2017

Background: Recently, many surgeons have chosen sublobar resection for the curative treatment of lung tumors with ground-glass opacity, which is a hallmark of lepidic lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncological results of sublobar resection for non-lepidic lung cancer in comparison with lobectomy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 328 patients with clinical N0 non-small cell lung cancer sized ${\leq}2cm$ who underwent curative surgical resection from January 2009 to December 2014. The patients were classified on the basis of their lesions into non-lepidic and lepidic groups. The survival rates following lobectomy and sublobar resection were compared within each of these 2 groups. Results: The non-lepidic group contained a total of 191 patients. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was not significantly different between patients who received sublobar resection or lobectomy in the non-lepidic group (80.1% vs. 79.2%, p=0.822) or in the lepidic group (100% vs. 97.4%, p=0.283). Multivariate analysis indicated that only lymphatic invasion was a significant risk factor for recurrence in the non-lepidic group. Sublobar resection was not a risk factor for recurrence in the non-lepidic group. Conclusion: The oncological outcomes of sublobar resection and lobectomy in small-sized non-small cell lung cancer did not significantly differ according to histological type.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4137-4142
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• 2015

The zinc finger transcription factor EGR 1 has a role in controlling synaptic plasticity, wound repair, female reproductive capacity, inflammation, growth control, apoptosis and tumor progression. Recent studies mainly focused on its role in growth control and apoptosis, however, little is known about its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we aim to explore whether EGR 1 is involved in TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in non-smallcell lung cancer cells. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ was utilized to induce EMT in this study. Western blotting, RT-PCR, and transwell chambers were used to identify phenotype changes. Western blotting was also used to observe changes of the expression of EGR 1. The lentivirus-mediated EGR 1 vector was used to increase EGR 1 expression. We investigated the change of migration to evaluate the effect of EGR 1 on non-small-cell lung cancer cells migration by transwell chambers. After stimulating with TGF-${\beta}1$, almost all A549 cells and Luca 1 cells (Non-small-cell lung cancer primary cells) changed to mesenchymal phenotype and acquired more migration capabilities. These cells also had lower EGR 1 protein expression. Overexpression of EGR 1 gene with EGR 1 vector could decrease tumor cell migration capabilities significantly after adding TGF-${\beta}1$. These data s howed an important role of EGR 1 in the EMT of non-small-cell lung cancer cells, as well as migration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4241-4244
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• 2012

The lung adenocarcinoma is considered more aggressive than other types of non-small cell lung cancer. As metabolites of tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway, including kynurenic acid, have been shown to induce immunosuppression and facilitate escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance, a hypothesis was set up that differences in biological behavior between types of lung cancer may be associated with altered activity of the kynurenine metabolic pathway. The aim of the study was to determine kynurenic acid levels in the serum of patients with bronchial adenocarcinoma for comparison with other types of non-small cell lung cancer. A total of 227 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were enrolled in the study, including 71 with adenocarcinoma and 96 with squamous cell carcinoma. Serum kynurenic acid concentration was determined with use of high performance liquid chromatography and fluorometry. The level of kynurenic acid in the serum of patients with adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than in those with squamous cell lung cancer ($107.1{\pm}62.8$ pmol/ml; 95%CI: 92.4 to 132.3 pmol/ml versus $82.1{\pm}47.6$ pmol/ml; 95%CI: 78.5 to 91.2 pmol/ml, respectively; p = 0.027). Differences between other histological types of lung cancer were insignificant. We conclude that increased activity of kynurenine metabolic pathway manifested by elevated serum kynurenic acid level may be one of the factors associated with clinically distinct biological behavior of adenocarcinoma, in particular high invasiveness and rapid progression.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3782-3786
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• 2013

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and that accounts for 85% of lung cancer patients. Although several EGFR-targeted drugs have been developed in the treatment of NSCLC, the clinical efficacy of EGFR-targeted drugs in NSCLC is limited by the occurrence of drug resistance. In this regard, Hsp90 represents great promise as a therapeutic target of cancer due to its potential to simultaneously disable multiple signaling pathways. In this study, we discovered that a natural product, flavokawain B disrupted Hsp90 chaperoning function and impaired the growth of gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (H1975). The result suggested that flavokawain B could serve as a potential lead compound to overcome the drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 2017

A 73-year-old non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient admitted due to cough, sputum, and dyspnea, aggravated a week ago. She was diagnosed as pneumonia based on the assessment of inflammation markers, chest X-ray and sputum culture. Computed tomography (CT) scan was conducted to exclude malignant tumor metastasis. At the initiation of treatment, considering underlying disease and inflammation marker level, herbal medicine and antibiotics were concurrently used and antibiotics had been discontinued after 10days. Using the monotherapy of herbal medicine in the next 6 days, chest X-ray showed remarkably decreased infiltration in right middle lung and right lower lung. This case represented additional improvement of chest X-ray when treated only with herb medicine after termination of antibiotic therapy and demonstrated the possibility of applying herbal medicine in patients with limited use of antibiotics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2017

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a effectively chemotherapeutic agent which is extensively able to treat the non-small cell lung, pancreatic, breast and other cancers. But it is a practically insoluble drug with water solubility less than $1{\mu}g/mL$, which restricts its therapeutic application. To overcome the problem, hyaluronic acid-complexed paclitaxel nanoemulsions (HPNs) were prepared by ionic complexation of paclitaxel (PTX) nanoemulsions and hyaluronic acid (HA) to specifically target non-small cell lung cancer. HPNs were composed of ${\small{DL}}-{\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, soybean oil, polysorbate 80, ferric chloride, and HA and fabricated by high-pressure homogenization. The HPNs were $85.2{\pm}7.55nm$ in diameter and had a zeta potential of $-35.7{\pm}0.25mV$. The encapsulation efficiency was almost 100%, and the PTX content was 3.0 mg/mL. We assessed the in vivo antitumor efficacy of the HPNs by measuring changes in tumor volume and body weight in nude mice transplanted with CD44-overexpressing NCI-H460 xenografts and treated with a bolus dose of saline, $Taxol^{(R)}$, PTX nanoemulsions (PNs), or HPNs at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Suppression of cancer cell growth was higher in the PN- and HPN-treated groups than in the $Taxol^{(R)}$ group. In particular, HPN treatment dramatically inhibited tumor growth, likely because of the specific tumor-targeting affinity of HA for CD44-overexpressed cancer cells. The loss of body weight and organ weight did not vary significantly between the groups. It is suggest that HPNs should be used to effective nanocarrier system for targeting delivery of non-small cell lung cancer overexpressing CD44 and high solubilization of poorly soluble drug.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2022

Background: The expression of calcium signaling pathway molecules is altered in various carcinomas, which are related to the proliferation and altered characteristics of cancer cells. However, changes in calcium signaling in anti-cancer drug-resistant cells (bearing a T790M mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]) remain unclear. Methods: Afatinib-mediated changes in the level of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE)-related proteins and intracellular Ca²⁺ level in non-small cell lung cancer cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene were analyzed using western blot and ratiometric assays, respectively. Afatinib-mediated autophagic flux was evaluated by measuring the cleavage of LC3B-II. Flow cytometry and cell proliferation assays were conducted to assess cell apoptosis and proliferation. Results: The levels of SOCE-mediating proteins (ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 [ORAI1], stromal interaction molecule 1 [STIM1], and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase [SERCA2]) decreased after afatinib treatment in non-small cell lung cancer cells, whereas the levels of SOCE-related proteins did not change in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC-9/GR; bearing a T790M mutation in EGFR). Notably, the expression level of SOCE-related proteins in PC-9/GR cells was reduced also responding to afatinib in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Moreover, extracellular Ca²⁺ influx through the SOCE was significantly reduced in PC-9 cells pre-treated with afatinib than in the control group. Additionally, afatinib was found to decrease the level of SOCE-related proteins through autophagic degradation, and the proliferation of PC-9GR cells was significantly inhibited by a lack of extracellular Ca²⁺. Conclusion: Extracellular Ca²⁺ plays important role in afatinib-mediated autophagic degradation of SOCE-related proteins in cells with T790M mutation in the EGFR gene and extracellular Ca²⁺ is essential for determining anti-cancer drug efficacy.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2014

Objectives : To study the effect of SB injection on tumor size in an advanced non-small cell lung cancer patient. Methods : A patient was clinically diagnosed as advanced non-small cell lung cancer (Stage IIIa). Four cycles of intravenous SB injection were conducted. Each cycle lasted 4 days. The content of 7vials SB was injected every day. To compare the tumor size before treatment and after four cycles of SB injection, chest computed tomography (CT) was performed. Results : Follow-up CT images showed that the tumor size was reduced. In admission, size of the tumor $6.7{\times}8.5{\times}9.5cm$ on the left lower lobe of lung. After SB injection, size of the tumor $5.6{\times}6.8{\times}8.4cm$ by Chest CT. The patient's symptoms such as cough, sputum were improving until four cycles of SB injection. Numerical rating scale (NRS) showed improvement of Chest pain from point 3 to point 0. Conclusions : This case study suggests that intravenous SB injection may have significant effects of anti-tumor for non-small cell lung cancer.