• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3489-3493
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• 2012

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary hepatic tumor, is highly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region, including Thailand. Many genetic and epigenetic alterations in HCC have been elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine whether aberrant methylation of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 gene (SOCS1) occurs in HCCs. Methylation specific-PCR assays were performed to identify the methylation status of SOCS1 in 29 tumors and their corresponding normal liver tissues. An abnormal methylation status was detected in 17 (59%), with a higher prevalence of aberrant SOCS1 methylation significantly correlating with HCC treated without chemotherapy (OR=0.04, 95%CI=0.01-0.31; P=0.001). This study suggests that epigenetic aberrant SOCS1 methylation may be a predictive marker for HCC patients.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2013

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are top priorities for cancer control in Korea. In terms of epidemiological, population-health and economic burden, GI cancers such as stomach, liver and colorectal cancers have been top four cancers in the nation during the past decade and this trend is likely to continue in the near future. In order to reduce the great burden of GI cancer in Korea, the nation might need the following strategies: (1) to put more focus on primary prevention on infection/diet and related research; (2) to improve screening rates for colorectal and stomach cancers, and conduct more cost-effectiveness analysis of these screening programs, e.g., Fecal Occult Blood Test vs. colonoscopy; (3) to establish a more consistent and integrative cost-effectiveness analysis system for new cancer treatments and anticancer drugs; and (4) to place more emphasis on hospice and other palliative care of GI cancer, as well as on the etiology, staging and treatment of pancreas cancer with its poor survival rate.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2013

We report an unusual case of postoperative early gastric cancer with liver metastasis mimicking pancreaticobiliary carcinoma. A 73-year-old man with early gastric cancer was transferred for endoscopic treatment. The patient underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of the early gastric cancer. The pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma with extension to the deep submucosa and some lymphatic invasion. Therefore, subsequent a subtotal gastrectomy was performed. The histological results demonstrated residual adenocarcinoma confined to the mucosa. The resection margin and lymph node metastasis were negative. Thus, he was closely monitored for recurrence every 6 months. After 2 years, he was suddenly suspected of developing liver metastasis and local recurrence. He received a liver biopsy, and the pathological result was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining suggested pancreaticobiliary carcinoma rather than metastatic adenocarcinoma from the stomach or colon, but primary focus was not found. We were sure that the recurrent stomach cancer metastasized to the liver because stomach cancer can show heterogeneous cytokeratin (CK) expression pattern with various histological features. Therefore, no single CK expression pattern has diagnostic value for distinguishing gastric carcinoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy for metastatic stomach cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

Objectives: This study is conducted to identify the cancer incidence in Gwangju during the 5-year period from 1998 to 2002 and to assess the completeness and validity of the cancer registry data during this time period. Methods: All cases that had a diagnosis of invasive cancer (ICD-10 sites C00-C97) during the study period were retrieved from the records of the Gwangju Cancer Registry (GCR), which theoretically includes all the cancer cases in Gwangju. All the cases during the study period were analyzed by gender, age group and cancer sites. The completeness (mortality/incidence ratio and age-specific incidence curve) and validity (histologic verification, primary site unknown, age unknown and death certificate only) of the cancer registry in Gwangju were analyzed by gender, age group and cancer sites for the 5-year period. Results: The overall cancer incidence was higher in the males than in the females (age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) 299.8 and 172.4 per 100,000, respectively). In males, the most common cancer was stomach (ASR: 65.8), followed by liver (ASR: 50.5), bronchus and lung (ASR: 50.5), colo-rectum (ASR: 26.7), oesophagus (ASR: 10.6), and bladder (ASR: 10.3) in descending order. In females, the most common cancer was stomach (ASR: 26.8), followed by thyroid (ASR: 20.7), breast (ASR: 20.4), cervix uteri (ASR: 14.3), bronchus and lung (ASR: 13.0), liver (ASR: 10.7) and colo-rectum (ASR: 17.2) in descending order. The overall quality (completeness and validity) of the cancer registry was at the in 'good' level. Conclusions: These results will be useful in the overall context of planning and evaluating of cancer control activities in Gwangju.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2759-2764
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• 2014

Aim: This study aims to investigate the manifestation of CT, MRI and dynamic enhanced scans for primary hepatic neuroendocrine cell carcinoma. Methods: CT or MRI arterial and venous phase scan images of 19 cases of pathologically confirmed PHNEC were retrospectively analyzed. Results: 14 cases (73.68%) with single lesion, 5 cases (26.3%) with multiple lesions, with an average diameter of 13.2 cm. Some 12 cases (63.16%) showed inhomogeneous enhancement, seven cases (36.8%) showed homogeneous enhancement, 13 cases (68.4%) demonstrated significant enhancement in the arterial phase, 13 cases (68.4%) had significantly enhanced portal venous phase including 7 cases (36.8 %) with portal venous phase density or signal above the arterial phase and 5 cases (26.3%) with the portal vein density or signal below the arterial phase. Seven cases (36.8%) had continued strengthened separate shadows in the center of the lesion. Thrombosis were not seen in portal veins. Conclusion: CT and MRI images of liver cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have certain characteristics that can provide valuable information for diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2024

Malignant melanomas, which are rarely found in the Asian population, are malignant tumors or melanocytes that manifest in the skin mucosa. Malignant melanomas of the anorectum are very rare and account for approximately 1% of all malignant melanomas in the Asian population. Here, we present a rare case presenting a malignant melanoma of the anorectum. An 85-year-old woman visited the hospital with bloody stools and an anal mass. Sigmoidoscopy revealed a black mass protruding from the anus, and the scope was able to penetrate the anorectal mass. Close-up endoscopy revealed black moles of different sizes scattered across the rectal mucosa. PET-CT indicated multiple FDG uptakes in the liver, indicating multiple metastases. Pathologic examination led to the detection of malignant melanocytes with dark brown deposits. The patient's immunohistochemical markers were positive for melanin-A antibodies and HMB-45, indicating a malignant melanoma. As there was no evidence of malignant melanomas on the skin, the patient was diagnosed with primary malignant anorectal melanoma with liver metastases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5381-5384
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• 2012

Background and Aim: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon malignancy of the bile duct, occurring in nearly 2 out of 100,000 people. It is a type of adenocarcinoma that originates in the mucous glands of the epithelium, or surface layers of the bile ducts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic results and factors associated with survival, morbidity and mortalityof cholangiocarcinoma cases in Iranian patients. Method: In this retrospective study the hospital medical records of 283 patients with a primary or final diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma who had been admitted to gastroenterology ward of our hospital from 2004 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: 283 patients (180 male, 63%, and 103 female, 38.6%) with a mean age of $59.7{\pm}14.4$ years were studied. The most frequent symptoms were painless jaundice (190, 66.9%), abdominal pain (77, 27%), pruritus 133 (46.8%) and weight loss (169, 59.5%). The most frequent associated risk factors and diseases were as follows: gallstones (72, 25.4%), diabetes (70, 24.6%), HBV infection (52 (18.3%), HCV infection 43 (15%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (16, 5.6%) and smoking (120, 42.3%). The most frequent type of cholangiocarcinoma in ERCP and MRCP was hilar. The mean survival time was $7.42{\pm}5.76$ months. Conclusion: The mean survival time in our study was lower than one year. Moreover the most frequent risk factors and associated diseases were smoking, gallstones and diabetes. Painless jaundice, abdominal pain and weight loss were the most clinical features related to cholangiocarcinoma. Additionally survival time did not correlate with risk factors, associated diseases and clinical presentations, but was linked to biliary metallic stenting and surgery.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.104-107
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• 2013

Gallbladder (GB) cancer is highly malignant neoplasm found in advanced stage and chemotherapy commonly plays a palliative role in GB cancer. We report a case of unresectable GB cancer treated with chemotherapy followed by extended cholecystectomy. Fifty-six-year-old male visited our hospital with weight loss and dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography detected pulmonary embolism and diffuse GB wall thickening with para-aortic lymph node enlargement. The length of common channel was 23mm at magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography which stands for anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary duct. Anticoagulation was started for pulmonary embolism. GB wall mass was regarded as unresectable GB cancer with distant lymph node metastasis. Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy was carried out for 6 cycles. Primary tumor was stationary but multiple enlarged lymphnodes were almost completely disappeared. Extended cholecystectomy with hepaticojejunostomy was performed. Post-operative tumor stage was T3N1 (stage IIIB) and R0 resection was achieved. After operation he has no evidence of disease recurrence for 6 months.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.234-238
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• 2011

A 67 year old male at a regular checkup underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. On performing esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a lesion about 1.2 cm depressed was noted at the gastric angle. The pathology of the biopsy specimen revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. On performing an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan & positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan, no definite evidence of gastric wall thickening or mass lesion was found. However, lymph node enlargement was found in the left gastric and prepancreatic spaces. This patient underwent laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection. On final examination, it was found out that the tumor had invaded the mucosal layer. The lymph node was a metastasized large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with an unknown primary site. The patient refused chemotherapy. He opted to undergo a close followup. At the postoperative month 27, he had a focal hypermetabolic lesion in the left lobe of the liver that suggested metastasis on PET-CT scan. He refused to undergo an operation. He underwent a radiofrequency ablation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2011

The replication competent adenoviral vector (AV), AdLPCDIRESE1A was generated and reported previously to have cytotoxic effects in some cell lines. In AdLPCDIRESE1A, the expression of cytosine deaminse (CD) and E1A genes are under the control of tumor-specific L-plastin promoter. CD enzyme can deaminate the nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the toxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). E1A gene is essential for viral replication. Primary liver cancer, most of which is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the third common leading cancer in Korea. Thus, we have conducted in vitro preclinical study to evaluate effectiveness of AdLPCDIRESE1A on HCC. The efficacy of cytotoxicity was measured by generation of cytopathic effect (CPE) and cell counting. We infected HepG2 cells with various MOI of vector alone or concurrent with 5-FC. Exposure of cells to AdLPCDIRESE1A generated a significant cytotoxic effect as compared to the control. Almost 83% of the cell had manifested the characteristic cytotoxic effect on day 9 after infection of cells with 10 MOI of vector. We also observed the additive cytotoxic effects when AdLPCDIRESE1A vector had been coadministrated with 5-FC. The results suggest that the use of AdLPCDIRESE1A/5FC may be value in treatment of liver cancer. Further animal studies are needed for clinical trial.