• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2014

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on 46 patients who received 3D-CRT for PVTT alone between June 2002 and December 2011. Response was evaluated following the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Prognostic factors and 1-year survival rates were compared between responders and non-responders. Results: Thirty-seven patients (80.4%) had category B Child-Pugh scores. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was 2 in 20 patients. Thirty patients (65.2%) had main or bilateral PVTT. The median irradiation dose was 50 Gy (range, 35 to 60 Gy) and the daily median dose was 2 Gy (range, 2.0 to 2.5 Gy). PVTT response was classified as complete response in 3 patients (6.5%), partial response in 12 (26.1%), stable disease in 19 (41.3%), and progressive disease in 12 (26.1%). There were 2 cases of grade 3 toxicities during or 3 months after radiotherapy. Twelve patients in the responder group (15 patients) received at least 50 Gy irradiation, but about 84% of patients in the non-responder group received less than 50 Gy. The 1-year survival rate was 66.8% in responders and 27.4% in non-responders constituting a statistically significant difference (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Conformal radiotherapy for PVTT alone could be chosen as a palliative treatment modality in patients with unfavorable conditions (liver, patient, or tumor factors). However, more than 50 Gy of radiation may be required.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.331-335
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• 1993

From January 1981 to December 1991, forty patients with localized advanced carcinoma of the pancreas were treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital. The treatment protocol consisted of two split course external radiation therapy with each 2000 cGy over two weeks separated by two week rest period. Intravenous 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was administered on the first three days of each radiotherapy course. Twenty three of these patients were treated by maintenance 5-FU or FAM (5-FU, adriamycin, mitomycin) chemotherapy. Median survival was 9 months and the 2-year survival rate was $10.0\%.$ Good prognostic indicators were good performance status, palliative bypass surgery and tumor located in the head of pancreas.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 1996

Purpose : Respiratory symptoms related with malignant airway disease have been the main causes of lowered qualify of life and also sometimes may be life-threatening if not properly managed. The authors report the short-term experiences of endobronchial brachytherapy for symptomatic malignant airway obstruction using high dose rate after-loading brachytherapy unit. Materials and Methdos : Twenty-five Patients with symptomatic malignant airway obstruction were treated with endobronchial brachytherapy between the period of December 1994 and March 1996 at Department of Radiation Oncology of Samsung Medical Center Twenty-one ($84\%$) were patients with non-small cell lung cancer, three with tracheal malignancies, and one with recurrence of esophageal cancer. Twenty Patients were given elective external beam radiation therapy, while six were given endobronchial laser evaporation therapy on emergency bases in addition to endobronchial brachytherapy. Three procedures for each patient were planned and total of 70 procedures were completed. Results : Improvement rates of major respiratory symptoms after endobronchial brachytherapy procedures were $88\%$(22/25). $96\%$(22/23), $100\%$ (15/15), and $100\%$(9/9) for cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonia, respectively. ECOG performance scores were improved in $56\%$ of total patients group, while there was no case with worsened ECOG score. Fifteen patients died and the median interval from the start of treatment to death was 4 months (range: $1\~17$ months), while that of ten survivors was 9 months (range $5\~19$ months). There were five patients with controlled intrathoracic disease, who have survived over one rear. All deaths were associated with uncontrolled local and/or distant disease. Four Patients died of massive fatal hemoptysis, three of who received emergency endobronchial laser evaporation therapy before the start of endobronchial brachytherapy. Conclusion : Endobronchial brachytherapy has been confirmed as an excellent palliative treatment modality improving respiratory symptoms as well as patients' general performance status. Based on the current observations, use of endobronchial brachytherapy in curative setting as a boost technique may be warranted.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.881-886
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• 1990

Thirty-three patients less than 40 years of age were diagnosed at CS Dept. of Catholic University Medical College between 1979 and 1988 as having primary lung cancer. There were 22 men and 11 women; the average age was 36.3 years. The youngest patients was 23 years old. Eighteen male patients were only habitual smokers more than 1 pack per day. In the 33 cases, the distribution by tumor type was as follows: squamous cell carcinoma 36.4%[13 cases]; adenocarcinoma 33.3%[11 cases]; small cell carcinoma 24.2%[8 cases]; and large cell carcinoma 3.0%[1 case]. At the time of diagnosis, 2 patients[6.1%] had stage I disease, 2[6.1%] had stage II disease, 5[15.6%] had stage IIIA disease, 10[30.3%] had stage lllB disease, and 14[42.4%] had stage IV disease. Thirteen patients[36.4%] underwent an exploratory thoracotomy. Of these patients, 9[27.3%] had surgical resection[six lobectomies, two pneumonectomies, and one wedge resection]. Thirty-one patients were treated with palliative radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or combinations of each. The survival rate at 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year were 48.2%, 14.5%, and 8.3% respectively. But in the resectable 9 patients, they were 78.1%, 43.6%, and 33.3% respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.286-289
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• 2010

A 55-year old woman with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer was admitted to hospital for the management of severe chest pain, which measured 7 out of 10 on a numerical rating scale (NRS). Despite palliative radiation and the application of multiple epidural blocks, she continued to experience severe cancer pain. We gradually increased the dose of transdermal fentanyl patches from $500{\mu}g/hr$ to $3,650{\mu}g/hr$, for 3 months without any significant side effects. Concomitantly, adjuvant therapy with antidepressants and anticonvulsants were added, decreasing the patient's pain to NRS 3~4 down from 7. After being transferred to a hospice clinic, her chest pain was well-controlled below NRS 4 by means of strong opioid medications, including the highest dose of transdermal fentanyl $4,050{\mu}g/hr$ for more than 16 months.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.176-180
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• 2007

Background : Advanced-stage endometrial cancer patients show a poor prognosis because of limited success from surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Recently, the uses of complimentary and alternative medicines have gained popularity for these patients. Cases : The first case is a 46-year-old patient with FIGO stage IVb endometrial cancer who had distant metastasis on her supraclavicular LNs area; the second, a 72-year-old stage Ib patient who could not be treated with surgery or chemotherapy because of chronic heart disease and her refusal of radiation therapy due to her advanced age. They remain alive and in stable condition under a strict traditional herbal medicine regiment 41 and 52 months, respectively, after diagnosis. Conclusion : We present two cases of endometrial cancer patients who desire to be treated by traditional herbal medication with no further development.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2016

A 67-year-old male was admitted due to abdominal pain. Abdominal CT scan performed in a local clinic showed about 2 cm sized pancreatic tail mass with extensive liver and multiple regional lymph node metastasis. Histology of liver biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. He underwent chemotherapy with gemcitabine and erlotinib for 5 cycles followed by 8 cycles of second line chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. At 12 months after diagnosis, follow-up abdominal CT scan revealed marked reduction of tumor mass in the liver and pancreas with small residual tumor. After one month of last chemotherapy, he complained radiating pain along left leg. Blood chemistry revealed isolated elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and multiple bone metastasis were demonstrated in bone scan. Palliative radiation therapy to pelvic bone was performed for the relief of bone pain. The prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer is extremely poor. We report late occurrence of multiple bone metastasis in a patient with well controlled advanced pancreatic cancer with chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3897-3901
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer of women (23% of all cancers), ranking second overall when both sexes are considered together. Since there has been change in clinico-pathological factors and treatment profiles for breast cancer patients over the years, the present study to evaluate the change trends in India. Materials and Methods: A detailed analysis was carried out with respect to age, menopausal status, family history, disease stage, surgery performed, histopathology, hormone receptor status, and use of chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Change in various clinico-pathological factors and treatments of breast cancer cases was recorded and analysed. Results: Mean age at presentation was found to be earlier in 2005-2006 compared with 1997-98 (p value: 0.046). More premenopausal women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005-2006 when this was compared with initial years of assessment (p value ${\leq}0.001$). When change in the receptor status was evaluated, we observed that there was a decrease in cases of ER and PR receptor positivity which was significant (p value: 0.007). Over the period of time, more f patients were not offered surgery initially in view of advanced disease when the two time periods were compared (p value: ${\leq}0.001$). There was a significant increase in patients who were initially offered neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in view of advanced disease at presentation (p value: ${\leq}0.001$). There was increasing number of patients who received palliative treatment for symptoms in 2005-2006 when compared to patients treated in 1997-98((p value: ${\leq}0.001$). Conclusions: Changes in mean age at presentation, premenopausal status, and stage at presentation have occurred over the years. More aggressive patterns of disease have become more common with early age at presentation and aggressive biological behaviour with receptor negative tumours.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 1995

Purpose : Intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy is an accepted treatment for the tumors of GI tract. However, there is only some limited clinical data for intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy for the tumors of GI tract. Materials and Methods : Between February 1991 and July 1993, 18 Patients who have the tumors of GI tract (esophageal cancer-8 cases, rectal cancer-10 cases) were treated with high dose rate Iridium-192 afterloading system (Microselectron-HDR, Nucletron CO, Netherland) at the department of therapeutic radiology, St. Mary's hospital, Catholic university medical college. Age range was 47-87 years with a mean a9e 71 years. All patients were treated with intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy within two weeks after conventional external radiation therapy and received 3-5 Gy/fraction 3-4 times per week to a total dose 12-20 Gy (mean 17 Gy). Standard fractionation and conventional dose were delivered for external radiation therapy. Total dose of external radiation therapy ranged 41.4-59.4 Gy (mean 49.6 Gy). Median follow up was 19 months Results : The analysis was based on 18 patients, The complete response and partial response in esophageal cancer was similar (38%). Two year rates for survival and median survival were 13% and 10 months, respectively. Among 10 patients of rectal cancers, partial response was obtained in 6 patients (60%). There was no complete response in the patients with rectal cancer, but good palliative results were achieved in all patients. Conclusion : Although the number of patients was not large and the follow-up period was relatively short, these findings suggested that intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy could be useful in the treatment of the patients with advanced tumors of GI tract.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1996

Purpose : This is a retrospective study to compare the Palliation rates, survival rates and complications of low dose rate and high dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy in the management of malignant airway obstruction. Materials and methods : Forty three consecutive patients with malignant airway compromise from primary or metastatic lung tumors were treated with low dose rate(LDR) endobronchial Iridium-192 insertion(21 patients) between October 1988 and June 1992, and high dose rate(HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy(22 patients) between August 1992 and April 1994 with palliative aim Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy under fluoroscopic control was utilized in all 91 procedures. Twenty seven LDR Procedures delivered a dose of 5-7.5 Gy to a 1.0 cm radius respectively. Results : Subjective and objective responses to treatments were evaluated on follow-up examinations by clinical examination, chest x-rays and CT scan of the chest on some patients. Fifteen of 21 LDR patients and 19 of 22 HDR Patients showed subjective improvement in terms of better breathing and less Productive cough as well as complete disappearance of hemoptysis. Objective improvement on chest x-rays and CT scan of the chest had been demonstrated on 8 LDR Patients and 10 HDR patients. Conclusion : The technique of LDR and HDR endobronchial brachytherapy is simple and well tolerated procedure with minimal morbidity It Provides excellent palliation by keeping airway Patent in these short life-spanned patients.