• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 1995

Eighty cases of malignant effusion were cytologically studied to elucidate the incidence of primary tumor site and cytologic characteristics of each tumor types. Eighty fluid specimens were composed of 43 ascitic, 35 pleural, and 2 pericardial effusion and primary tumor site had been confirmed by histology. The frequent primary sites were stomach(22 cases, 28%), lung(21 cases, 26%), ovary(11 cases, 14%), liver(7 cases, 9%), and breast (4 cases, 5%). The principal malignant tumors were adenocarcinoma (56 cases, 70%), squamous cell carcinoma (7 cases, 9%), liver cell carcinoma (7 cases, 9%), small cell carcinoma (4 cases, 5%), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (4 cases, 5%). The distinctive cytologic findings according to primary tumor types were as follows; the gastric adenocarcinomas were mainly characterized by isolated cells and irregular clusters sometimes with signet ring cells. Papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of ovary showed frequently papillary clusters and occasional psammoma bodies. Breast carcinoma of ductal type showed cell balls with smooth margins. Colonic adenocarcinoma showed rather irregular clusters or palisading pattern of cylindrical cells. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, liver cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and non-Hodgkln's lymphoma showed also characteristic features. These findings Indicate that the cytological features observed in the great majority of malignant effusion are similar to those of primary tumor types, which are very helpful to indentify the primary tumor site.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6267-6271
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• 2013

Objective: To determine clinical efficacy, safety and prognostic factors of pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Clinical characteristics, short-term efficacy, survival and adverse reactions of 47 advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients who had received pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The Chi-squared test was applied to statistically analyze the overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and toxicity reactions in both groups, while survival data wereanalyzed by Kaplan-Meier and logrank methods, and the COX proportional hazards model was adopted for a series of multi-factor analyses. Results: Only two patients were lost to follow-up. The ORR, DCR, medium progression-free survival time (PFS) and medium overall survival (OS) were 31.9%, 74.5%, 5 months and 15.2 months, while 1- and 2-year survival rates were 63.8% (30/47) and 19.2% (9/47), respectively. Single-factor analysis showed that tumor pathological patterns and efficacy were in association with medium PFS (P<0.05), whereas tumor pathological patterns, smoking history and efficacy were closely connected with medium OS (P<0.05). Multi-factor analyses demonstrated that pathological patterns and efficacy were independent factors influencing OS (P<0.05). The rate of toxicity reactions in degree III/IV was low, including hematologic toxicity marked by decline in white blood cell count and decrease in the platelet count (PLT), and non-hematologic toxicity manifested by gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: Pemetrexed plus platinum as first-line treatment has excellent efficacy and slight adverse reactions with favorable drug-tolerance in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1675-1679
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• 2014

Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of many physiological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this study, we sought to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms of metastatic cervical carcinoma by performing miRNA profiling. Methods: Tissue samples were collected from ten cervical squamous cancer patients who underwent hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node (PLN) dissection in our hospital, including four PLN-positive (metastatic) cases and six PLN-negative (non-metastatic) cases. A miRNA microarray platform with 1223 probes was used to determine the miRNA expression profiles of these two tissue types and case groups. MiRNAs having at least 4-fold differential expression between PLN-positive and PLN-negative cervical cancer tissues were bioinformatically analyzed for target gene prediction. MiRNAs with tumor-associated target genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Thirty-nine miRNAs were differentially expressed (>4-fold) between the PLN-positive and PLN-negative groups, of which, 22 were up-regulated and 17 were down-regulated. Sixty-nine percent of the miRNAs (27/39) had tumor-associated target genes, and the expression levels of six of those (miR-126, miR-96, miR-144, miR-657, miR-490-5p, and miR-323-3p) were confirmed by quantitative (q)RT-PCR. Conclusions: Six MiRNAs with predicted tumor-associated target genes encoding proteins that are known to be involved in cell adhesion, cytoskeletal remodeling, cell proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis were identified. These findings suggest that a panel of miRNAs may regulate multiple and various steps of the metastasis cascade by targeting metastasis-associated genes. Since these six miRNAs are predicted to target tumor-associated genes, it is likely that they contribute to the metastatic potential of cervical cancer and may aid in prognosis or molecular therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.311-314
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• 2018

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a form of neoplasm that origins from the epithelial surface of many organs. Ocular occurrence in small animals is rare, especially in the central cornea without the involvement of limbus or conjunctiva. In the current case, a 10-year-old, spayed female Shih-Tzu was presented with a central corneal mass. Through an ophthalmic examination the sign of corneal scarring around the mass was found. Pink fleshy lesion that protruded outward was removed through superficial keratectomy. The mass with the size of $8.5{\times}6.5$ millimeter was histopathologically diagnosed as corneal SCC infiltrating not only the epithelium, but also the superficial corneal stroma with surrounding superficial lymphoplasmacytic and neutrophilic chronic keratitis. Also, the adjacent, non-affected corneal epithelium was markedly hyperplastic and keratinized; the adjacent stroma was moderately vascularized and fibrotic. The pulse-dose therapy using 1% topical 5-flourouracil were applied for five cycles. The tumor has not recurred through nine months of follow-up time.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.289-300
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• 2001

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that synthesizes telomere repeats. It has been reported that activation of telomerase was associtated with immortalization, proliferative activity and carcinogenesis. Recently, telomerase activity has been extensively studied in many kinds of malignant tumors for clinical diagnostic and/or prognostic utilities. In neuroblastoma, breast carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, close relationship has been reported between high telomerase activity and lymph node metastasis, tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical implication of telomerase activity assay as an adjunctive factor in decision-making on neck node management, speedy pre-operative judging on histologic malignancy grading. Thus we performed semi-quantitative assay of telomerase activity using Telomerase PCR ELISA $kit^{(R)}$(Boeringer Manheim, Germany) and evaluated correlation between telomerase activity and tumor size, neck node metastasis, Anneroth malignancy score and influence of pre-operative chemotherapy on its activity in 27 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas and 18 cases of normal oral epithelium. Also, correlation between telomerase activities and PCNA indices was evaluated. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The telomerase activities were detected in 24 specimens out of 27 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens (88.9%) and in 5 specimens out of 18 normal oral epithelium specimens (27.8%). The mean value of telomerase activities was $0.9793{\pm}0.3428$ in 24 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens and $0.4855{\pm}0.1117$ in 5 normal oral epithelium specimens. The positivity rate and mean value of telomerase activities in oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens were significantly higher than those of normal oral epithelium specimens (p<0.05). 2. There was no significant correlation between total Anneroth malignancy score and telomerase activity (p>0.05), but points of mitosis index and depth of invasion were significantly correlated with telomerase activities (p<0.05). 3. The positive immunohistochemical staining for PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was observed in 26 specimens out of 27 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens and mean value of PCNA indices of 26 specimens was $53.67{\pm}26.46$. PCNA indices were significantly correlated with telomerase activities (p<0.05). 4. The mean value of telomerase activities was significantly higher in pathologic T3/T4 group than in T1/T2 group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference of mean value of telomerase activities between pathologic neck node positive group and negative group (p> 0.05). Pre-operative chemotherapy significantly lowered the telomerase activities (p<0.05). The above results suggested telomerase activity could be used as diagnostic marker and adjunctive parameter for judging on histologic malignancy in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2005-2008
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• 2013

Background: Pemetrexed (PEM) is effective in first-line treatment for patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However there are currently no definitive determinants to certify which patients could benefit from PEM. To improve the efficacy of PEM combined with platinum as first-line therapy for advanced non-squamous NSCLC, we conducted this retrospective study to detect potential determinants of this regimen. Methods: We recruited 109 patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC who received PEM with a platinum as first-line therapy from June 2006 to February 2013 in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital. Multiple variables (age, sex, smoking, degree of cell differentiation, hemoglobin, platinum drugs combined, positions of metastasis) were selected. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse relationships between these variables and tumor response. Result: In univariate analysis, we found that age and platinum significantly influenced the results of PEM therapy (P<0.05). In multivariable analysis, no factors were independently significant. Conclusion: Our analysis did not suggest that the age, sex, metastasis of liver or other organs, hemoglobin, smoking history and pathological differentiation are associated with the response of PEM. We should conduct further analyses with larger sample size to reconfirm this issue.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.23-36
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• 2015

Purpose : The object of this study was to observe anti-cachexic effects of Kwibi-tang extracts (KBTe) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous epithelial carcinoma), NCI-H520, xenograft Balb/c nu-nu nude mice. Methods : Three different dosages of KBTe, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 42 days from 11 days after tumor cell inoculation. Six groups, each of 8 mice per group were used in the present study. Changes on the body weight, the epididymal fat weight and serum IL-6 levels were detected with the thicknesses of deposited cervical brown adipose tissue and their mean diameters to monitor the tumor-related anticachexic effects. Results : Deceases on the body weight and gains were also demonstrated in tumor-bearing control with increases of serum IL-6 levels, decreases of epididymal fat pad weight, atrophic changes of cervical brown adipose tissues. These are means that tumor-related cachexia are induced by tumor cell inoculations in the present study. However, these tumor-related cachexia were markedly inhibited by all three different dosages of KBTe treatment as compared with tumor-bearing control. 5-FU showed somewhat deteriorated the tumor-related cachexia in the present study. Conclusion : The results obtained in this study suggest that over 50 mg/kg of KBTe showed favorable anticachexic effects on the NCI-H520 cell xenograft. However, detail mechanism studies should be conducted in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in this herb.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1477-1482
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• 2012

Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are the major histological types of non-small cell lung cancer. Because they differ on the basis of histopathological and clinical characteristics and their relationship with smoking, their etiologies may be different; for example, different tumor suppressor genes may be related to the genesis of each type. We used microarray data to construct three regulatory networks to identify potential genes related to lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and investigated the similarity and specificity of them. In the network, some of the observed transcription factors and target genes had been previously proven to be related to lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. We also found some new transcription factors and target genes related to SCC. The results demonstrated that regulatory network analysis is useful in connection analysis between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.35-41
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• 2020

Objectives : The object of this study was to observe anticancer and immunomodulatory effects of Formosa plum aqueous extracts (PLe) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous epithelial carcinoma), NCI-H520, xenograft Balb/c nu-nu nude mice. Method : Three different dosages of PLe, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days from 11 days after tumor cell inoculation. Five groups, each of seven mice per group were used in the present study as follows. Tumor volume and weights, serum interferon (IFN)-γ levels, serum IL-6 were observed with tumor mass and lymphatic organ histopathology to detect anticancer and immunomodulatory effects. Result : Although no meaningful changes on the tumor weights and volumes were observed after treatment of all three different dosages of PLe, decreases of tumor cell volumes in tumor masses were dose-dependently decreased mediated by increases of apoptosis among tumor cells by treatment of PLe 100 and 200 mg/kg as compared with tumor-bearing control. In addition, decreases on the body weight and gains were also demonstrated in tumor-bearing control with increases of serum IL-6 levels. Conclusion : The results obtained in this study suggest that over 50 mg/kg of PLe showed favorable immunomodulatory and anticachexic effects with anticancer effects in 100 and 200 mg/kg of PLe treated groups on the NCI-H520 cell xenograft. However, detail mechanism studies should be conducted in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in this herb.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.192-196
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• 2013

Background: This study focused on the association between preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1) levels and pathologic parameters in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: The records of 527 patients who underwent pulmonary resection of NSCLC were reviewed. The association between preoperative serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels and variables that had p-values of less than 0.05 in a t-test or one-way analyses of variance was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The mean serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels prior to surgery were $6.8{\pm}23.1$ mg/dL (range, 0.01 to 390.8 mg/dL) and $5.4{\pm}12.3$ mg/dL (range, 0.65 to 140.2 mg/dL). The serum CEA levels were associated with tumor (T) and lymph node (N) stage and histology. The serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with T stage, tumor size, and histology. Multiple linear regression indicated that serum CEA levels were associated with T (T3/4 vs. T1: ${\beta}$=8.463, p=0.010) and N stage (N2/3 vs. N0: ${\beta}$=9.208, p<0.001) and histology (adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell: ${\beta}$=6.838, p=0.001), and serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with tumor size (${\beta}$=2.579, p<0.001) and histology (squamous cell vs. adenocarcinoma: ${\beta}$=4.420, p=0.020). Conclusion: Serum CEA level was correlated with T and N stage, and Cyfra 21-1 with tumor size. CEA and Cyfra 21-1 showed histologic correlation. CEA is mainly elevated in adenocarcinoma and Cyfra 21-1 in squamous cell carcinoma. These results might be helpful for predicting pathologic status in preoperative NSCLC.