• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2013

Cancer is the first leading cause of death in Korea and the second leading cause of death in the USA. There is extensive research into prevention of cancer and the support of oncology patients with diet or dietary supplements. In vitro and in vivo animal studies have indicated that antioxidants, including beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid, can yield anti-cancer effects in addition to providing protection against oxidative damage. Although many observational studies have shown that consuming fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of some cancers, the results of several large-scale human intervention trials testing the benefits of a single or combined higher-dose of individual micronutrients have been inconsistent. Cancer can cause profound metabolic and physiological changes which may affect patients' nutrient requirements. Although the optimal route of nutrient delivery is through diet, cancer patients often suffer symptoms that disrupt their food intake, including anorexia, premature satiety, altered taste and smell, and changes in bowel mobility. In particular, micronutrient deficits can slow postoperative healing, contribute to depression symptoms, and decrease immune competence. Cancer patients are generally motivated to take dietary supplements to improve responses to treatment and quality of life. The Physician's Health Study II (PHS II) randomized controlled trial reported recently that daily multivitamin supplementation significantly, albeit modestly, reduced the risk of total cancer. Although evidence of multivitamin use benefits is limited in cancer patients, taking dietary supplements with constituents in the range of the recommended daily allowance according to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendation is generally considered to be safe.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3779-3784
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• 2013

Aims: To determine the clinical, pathological and prognostic features associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: Clinical and histologic data of 21,749 breast cancer patients who were treated at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between July 2002 and December 2011 were collected. Patients were divided into two groups: those with TNBC and those with other types of breast cancer. Patients and tumor characteristics were compared between the two groups using the Chi-square test. The prognostic results of 9,823 patients in the study population were also analyzed to determine long-term survival rates in the two groups of breast cancer patients. Results: Among the breast cancer patients treated in our hospital between 2003 and 2011, 10.4%-13.5% of them had triple-negative breast cancers. Data analyses revealed significant differences in disease onset age, family history of breast cancer, tumor size, tumor histologic grade, lymph note positivity and metastatic status between TNBC and non-TNBC patients. There were also significant differences in 5-year, 7-year and 9-year disease-free and 7-year and 9-year overall survival probability between the groups. Conclusions:TNBC are associated with younger disease onset age, larger tumor size, higher rate of axillary lymph node positivity, and higher tumor histologic grade. TNBC is also related to family history of breast cancer, increased metastatic risk and poor prognosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.326-328
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• 2017

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive solid tumor. Patients with metastases from pancreatic cancer have poor survival rates. Here, we report the outcomes of 6 patients for whom resection of lung metastases was performed after a pancreatectomy to treat pancreatic cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative clinical data of patients with lung metastases resulting from primary pancreatic cancer who were treated with lung resection between 2008 and 2015. We report 6 cases where lung resection was performed to treat lung metastases after a pancreatectomy. Results: The number of lung metastases was 1 in 5 cases and 2 in 1 case. The surgical procedures performed to treat the lung metastases included 4 wedge resections and 2 lobectomies. The cell type of the primary tumor and metastases was tubular adenocarcinoma in 5 cases and intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma in 1 case. All 6 patients survived with a mean follow-up period of 65.6 months, although the disease recurred in 2 patients. Conclusion: Resection of lung metastases resulting from primary pancreatic cancer may lengthen survival, provided the patient can tolerate surgery.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.4-28
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• 2024

Liquid biopsy, a minimally invasive procedure that causes minimal pain and complication risks to patients, has been extensively studied for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, it facilitates comprehensive quantification and serial assessment of the whole-body tumor burden. Several biosources obtained through liquid biopsy have been studied as important biomarkers for establishing early diagnosis, monitoring minimal residual disease, and predicting the prognosis and response to treatment in patients with cancer. Although the clinical application of liquid biopsy in gastric cancer is not as robust as that in other cancers, biomarker studies using liquid biopsy are being actively conducted in patients with gastric cancer. Herein, we aimed to review the role of various biosources that can be obtained from patients with gastric cancer through liquid biopsies, such as blood, saliva, gastric juice, urine, stool, peritoneal lavage fluid, and ascites, by dividing them into cellular and acellular components. In addition, we reviewed previous studies on the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer using liquid biopsy and discussed the limitations of liquid biopsy and the challenges to overcome these limitations in patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2016

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of the non-operative management of post-gastrectomy duodenal stump leakage in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,230 patients underwent gastrectomy at our institution between 2010 and 2014. Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in 19 patients (1.5%), and these patients were included in this study. The management options varied with patient condition; patients were managed conservatively, with a pigtail catheter drain, or by tube duodenostomy via a Foley catheter. The patients' clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Duodenal stump leakage was diagnosed in all 19 patients within a median of 10 days (range, 1~20 days). The conservative group comprised of 5 patients (26.3%), the pigtail catheter group of 11 patients (57.9%), and the Foley catheter group of 3 patients (15.8%). All 3 management modalities were successful; none of the patients needed further operative intervention. The median hospital stay was 18, 33, and 42 days, respectively. Conclusions: Non-operative management of duodenal stump leakage for selected groups of patients with gastric cancer was effective for control of intra-abdominal sepsis. This management modality can help obviate the need for surgical intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2315-2320
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• 2016

Background: This study investigated the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenient sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to the samplings, and the data of 200 cancer patients were collected. Results: The effects of religion on the health of cancer patients achieved an average score of 3.58. The top five effects are presented as follows: (a) Religion provides me with mental support and strength, (b) religion enables me to gain confidence in health recovery, (c) religion motivates me to cope with disease-related stress positively and optimistically, (d) religion helps me reduce anxiety, and (e) religion gives me courage to face uncertainties regarding disease progression. Moreover, among the demographic variables, gender, type of religion, and experience of religious miracles contributed to the significantly different effects of religion on patients. Specifically, the effect of religion on the health of patients who were female and Christian and had miracle experiences was significantly (p< .01) higher than that on other patients. Conclusions: These results are helpful in understanding the influence of religious beliefs on the health of cancer patients and identified the factors contributing to the influence. The result can serve as a reference for nursing education and clinical nursing practice.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.154-163
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• 2007

There become more people suffering from cancer, so the number of cancer patients are increasing as well. However, cancer patients should go through a lot of psychological and physical stress because of side effects of drugs, especially alopecia, during the treatments for cancer. Especially female patients relatively more take care of their appearance, therefore it imposes much more psychological stress for them. Most of the patients choose wig as an alternative, but it is difficult for them to choose right wigs because of their lack of knowledge about wigs. Wigs not only make up for the bald hair but helps asthetically if patients choose right wig which goes well with their face, and eventually helps patients have self-esteem and makes them be positive in their social activities. The purpose of this research to offer right data and qualitative aid about wig, so that it can enhance the quality of cancer patients' lives.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10957-10960
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• 2015

Background: The CYP2C19 genotype has been found to be an important factor for peptic ulcer healing and H. pylori eradication, influencing the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical correlations of the CYP2C19 genotype in patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) and gastric cancer in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Clinical information, endoscopic findings and H. pylori infection status of patients were assessed between May 2012 and November 2014 in Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand. Upper GI endoscopy was performed for all patients. Five milliliters of blood were collected for H. pylori serological diagnosis and CYP2C19 study. CYP2C19 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) and classified as rapid metabolizer (RM), intermediate metabolizer (IM) or poor metabolizer (PM). Results: A total of 202 patients were enrolled including 114 with gastritis, 36 with PUD, 50 with PUB and 2 with gastric cancer. Prevalence of CYP2C19 genotype was 82/202 (40.6%) in RM, 99/202 (49%) in IM and 21/202 (10.4%) in PM. Overall H. pylori infection was 138/202 patients (68.3%). H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 72% in RM genotype, 69.7% in IM genotype and 47.6% in PM genotype. Both gastric cancer patients had the IM genotype. In PUB patients, the prevalence of genotype RM (56%) was highest followed by IM (32%) and PM(12%). Furthermore, the prevalence of genotype RM in PUB was significantly greater than gastritis patients (56% vs 36%: p=0.016; OR=2.3, 95%CI=1.1-4.7). Conclusions: CYP2C19 genotype IM was the most common genotype whereas genotype RM was the most common in PUB patients. All gastric cancer patients had genotype IM. The CYP2C19 genotype RM might be play role in development of PUD and PUB. Further study in different population is necessary to verify clinical usefulness of CYP2C19 genotyping in development of these upper GI diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4289-4294
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive effect of preoperative CEA and CA 19-9 levels on the prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: CEA and CA 19-9 were evaluated preoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (n=116) and gastric cancer (n=49). Patients with CEA levels <5 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 1, 5-30 ng/mL as CEA Group 2 and >30 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 3. Similarly the patients with a CA 19-9 level <35 U/mL were classified as CA 19-9 Group 1, with 35-100 U/mL as Group 2 and with >100 U/mL as Group and 3. TNM stages and histologic grades were noted according to histopathological reports. Patients with a TNM grade 0 or 1 were classified as Group A, TNM grade 2 patients constituted Group B and TNM grade 3 and 4 patients constituted Group C. Demographic characteristics, tumor locations and blood types of the patients were all recorded and these data were compared with the preoperative CEA and CA19-9 values. Results: A significant correlation between CA 19-9 levels (>100 U/mL) and TNM stage (in advanced stages) was determined. We also determined a significant correlation between TNM stages and positive vlaues for both CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal and gastric cancer patients. In comparison between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and age, gender, tumor location, ABO blood group, and tumor histologic grade, no significant correlation was found. Conclusions: Positive levels of both CEA and CA 19-9 can be considered to indicate an advanced stage in colorectal and gastric cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Cancer is the disease of aging and Korea is one of the fastest aging country in the world. Older patients have decreased organ function and stress tolerance, therefore are at high risk of functional decline and developing complication from cancer and cancer treatment. Before beginning cancer treatment, it is important to assess patients' life expectancy, whether the patient is likely to die of cancer or of other comorbidity, and also the risks with cancer treatment. In order to estimate patient's physiologic age, it is recommended to perform geriatric assessment and implement appropriate geriatric intervention together with meticulous supportive care, when planning cancer treatment for older patients. In a resource limited country such as Korea, two step approach of applying screening tool followed by geriatric assessment can be more efficient. Geriatric assessment is used to predict toxicity from cancer treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, predict survival, and also to aid treatment decision. Number of randomized trials are ongoing to compare usual care versus oncogeriatric care, and with these results we expect to improve outcome of older patients with cancer.