• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2022

Purpose: Patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) apply various palliative care as well as drugs in their daily life to alleviate symptoms. There is a need to identify the influence of these efforts and patients' psychosocial status on the relief of CIPN symptoms. This short-term prospective study investigated how prescription drugs, non-pharmacological behaviors (exercise, massage, and heat therapy), and psychological states (social support, depression, and anxiety) affected CIPN symptoms. Methods: Participants scheduled to receive postoperative platinum or taxane-based chemotherapy were enrolled consecutively. CIPN was measured with the Neurotoxicity-12 subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity-12 instrument. Data were collected three times during the 4 or 5 cycles of chemotherapy. Results: At the end of the 2nd chemotherapy cycle, 93.1% of participants reported CIPN symptoms. Multiple regression analyses showed that a heat therapy (β= -.34, p< .001), massage (β= -.21, p= .012), and walking 5 times or more per week (β= -.26, p= .021) provided relieve for CIPN symptoms. Depression (β= .19, p= .027) significantly exacerbated CIPN symptoms. Conclusion: These results suggested that a comprehensive management program that includes walking, heat therapy, massage, and mood therapy should be encouraged. Moreover, patients should be educated at chemotherapy initiation to understand appropriate interventions that can relieve CIPN symptoms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.647-652
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• 2015

Background: Lung cancer was one of the most common cancers in both men and women all over the world. In this study, we aimed to clarify who could survive after long term chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We enrolled 186 patients with stage IV NSCLC after long term chemotherapy from Jun 2006 to Nov 2014 diagnosed in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital. Multiple variables like age, gender, smoking, histology of adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell cancer, number of metastatic sites, metastatic sites (e.g. lung, brain, bone, liver and pleura), hemoglobin, lymphocyte rate (LYR), Change of LYR during multiple therapies, hypertension, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, treatments (e.g.radiotherapy and targeted therapy) were selected. For consideration of factors influencing survival and response for patients with advanced NSCLC, logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used in an attempt to develop a screening module for patients with elevated survival after long term chemotherapy become possible. Results: Of the total of 186 patients enrolled, 69 survived less than 1 year (short-term group), 45 one to two years, and 72 longer than 3 years (long-term group). For logistic regression analysis, the short-term group was taken as control group and the long-term group as the case group. We found that age, histology of adenocarcinoma, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), treatments (e.g. targeted therapy and radiotherapy), LYR, a decreasing tendency of LYR and chronic bronchitis were individually associated with overall survival by Cox regression analysis. A multivariable Cox regression model showed that metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), histology of adenocarcinoma, treatments (e.g. targeted therapy and radiotherapy) and chronic bronchitis were associated with overall survival. Thus metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver) and chronic bronchitis may be important risk factors for patients with advanced NSCLC. Gender, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver), LYR and the decreasing tendency of LYR were significantly associated with long-term survival in the individual-variable logistic regression model (P<0.05). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, gender, metastatic site (e.g. lung and liver) and the decreasing tendency of LYR associated with long-term survival. Conclusions: In conclusion, female patients with stage IV adenocarcinoma of NSCLC who had decreasing tendency of LYR during the course therapy and had accepted multiple therapies e.g. more than third-line chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or targeted therapy might be expected to live longer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.155-168
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• 2021

Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in nutritional assessment and survival prediction of patients with various malignancies. However, its value in advanced gastric cancer (GC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative gastrectomy remains unclear. Materials and Methods: The CONUT score at different time points (pretreatment, preoperative, and postoperative) of 272 patients with advanced GC were retrospectively calculated from August 2004 to October 2015. The χ² test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to estimate the relationships between the CONUT score and clinical characteristics as well as short-term outcomes, while the Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate long-term outcomes. Survival curves were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results: The proportion of moderate or severe malnutrition among all patients was not significantly changed from pretreatment (13.5%) to pre-operation (11.7%) but increased dramatically postoperatively (47.5%). The pretreatment CONUT-high score (≥4) was significantly associated with older age (P=0.010), deeper tumor invasion (P=0.025), and lower pathological complete response rate (CONUT-high vs. CONUT-low: 1.2% vs. 6.6%, P=0.107). Pretreatment CONUT-high score patients had worse progression-free survival (P=0.032) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.026). Adjusted for pathologic node status, the pretreatment CONUT-high score was strongly associated with worse OS in pathologic node-positive patients (P=0.039). Conclusions: The pretreatment CONUT score might be a straightforward index for immune-nutritional status assessment, while being a reliable prognostic indicator in patients with advanced GC receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative gastrectomy. Moreover, lower pretreatment CONUT scores might indicate better chemotherapy responses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5507-5512
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the correlation between ERCC1 expression levels in tumor tissue and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with gastric cancer and assess the relationship between PBL DNA repair rate (DRR) and the efficacy of platinum chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 53 patients with gastric cancer receiving surgery and 20 controls were studied. ERCC1 protein expression in tumour tissue and PBL were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The PBL DRRs of 47 advanced patients and 20 controls were estimated by comet assay. Results: The positive expression rates of ERCC1 were 67. 9%, 56. 6% and 10.0% in tumour tissues, PBLs of gastric cancer patients, and PBLs of the control group. PBL ERCC1 expression correlated with that in tissue (${\chi}^2$=15. 463, p=0.000). Pearson contingency coefficient=0.475). DRRs of cancer patients by tail length (TL) (Z=4. 662, p=0.000) and tail moment (TM) (Z=3. 827, p=0.000) were significantly lower than that of control group. When TL was applied as an indicator, the correlation between DRR and chemotherapy efficacy was significant (Spearman rank correlation r=0.327, p=0.032). Patients with low levels of DRR in PBL presented better short-term efficacy of chemotherapy than those with high levels of DRR. Conclusions: The ERCC1 expression in PBLs may indirectly reflect ERCC1 expression in gastric cancer tissues. Compared with non-cancer populations, patients with gastric cancer may have lower DNA repair capacity. DRR in PBL may predict the short-term efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.852-861
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• 1996

Background : Many clinicians have experienced the difficulty of decision on termination of antituberculosis chemotherapy after the 6th month due to relapse of disease. There is still controversy in the effect of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ 6-month short course chemotherapy including pyrazinamide for 6 months in patiems with pulmonary tuberculosis. And there is no long term follow-up study of 6-month short course chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis in korea. So we had performed the study to find the result of 6-month antituberculosis chemotherapy for 4 years. Method : We studied prospectively the effect of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ in one hundred-fifty patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and followed up fifty-nine patients for more than 1 year to 4 years after the completion of 6-month short course therapy. Results : 1) Out of one hundred-fifty patients, seventy-two patients(48%) completed the prescribed 6-month chemotherapy. Sixty-eight patients(45.3%) have experienced premature discontinuation and the most common cause of premature discontinuation was drop-out against advice(thirty-six patients, 24%). Ten patients(6.7%) were treated beyond the 6 months mainly due to irregular treatment. 2) Fifty-nine patients(81.9%) among seventy-two patients with completed treatment have been followed up for more than 1 year and 32 patients(44.4%) for more than 4 years. There was three relapse patients of whom two patients have experienced relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis within 1 year after the termination of chemotherapy. 3) Among one hundred-thirty-four patients who have been assessible for more than two months of chemotherapy, including the patients who experienced within 2 months, there were eighty-two patients(61.2%) who have experienced adverse reactions and the treatment regimen was changed only in thirteen patients(9.7%). The most frequent cause of adverse reactions was arthralgia and/or hyperuricemia, which had occurred in 33 patients(24.6%). Conclusion : In a university hospital in Korea, 6-month shot course chemotherapy of 2S(K)HRZ/4HRZ had unnegligible relapses and premature discontinuation. Therefore, change of the regimen might be carefully considered by drug susceptibility results. Close monitoring of patients, retrial of sputum exam and radiologic evaluation during treatment might be required in the endemic area of drug resistant strains like in Korea. Further study about the effect of 6-month short course chemotherapy including pyrazinamide for 6-month might be needed.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2001

Objectives: We performed this study to compare the short term results of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: From Oct. 1985 to May 1998, 121 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were treated with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy (induction group) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (concurrent group), and a retrospective analysis was done. Induction chemotherapy was done for 97 patients, and concurrent chemotherapy for 24 patients. Age, sex, performance status, and pathologic types were evenly distributed between two groups. Primary site showed nasopharynx(72.2%), oropharynx(27.8%) in induction group, and nasopharynx(50%), oropharynx(50%) in concurrent group. Chemotherapy regimen was CF(cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) for 67 patients and CVB (cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin) for 30 patients in induction group, and CF for all of 24 patients in concurrent group. Proportion of patients treated with more than 2 cycles of planned chemotherapy was 94.8% in induction group and 87.5% in concurrent group. Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy with daily fraction size of 1.8-2.0Gy and 5 fractions/week was done. Total dose was 61-95Gy (median 73.4Gy) for induction group, and 69.4-75.4Gy (median 69.4Gy) for concurrent group. Follow-up time was 4-161 months (median 38 months) for induction group, 7-35 months (median 21.5 months) for concurrent group, respectively. Results: According to treatment modality, overall 2-year survival rates were 68.0% for induction group, 74.3% for concurrent group (p>0.05). two-year disease-free survival rates were 51 % and 74% (p=0.05). Complete response rates were 67.4% for induction group and 83.3% for concurrent group (p=0.09). The incidence of grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity (2.1% vs. 25%, p=0.001) and grade 3-4 mucositis (9.3% vs. 37.5%, p=0.002) during radiotherapy was higher in concurrent group. Conclusion: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy showed a trend of improvement in short-term survival and treatment response when compared with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck cancer. A more controlled randomized trial is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3825-3828
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• 2014

Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend not only on good surgery and tumor biology but also on an optimal perioperative care. The enhanced recovery program (ERP) - a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach, or so called 'fast-track surgery' - has been designed to minimize perioperative and intraoperative stress responses, and to support the recovery of organ function aiming to help patients getting better sooner after surgery. Compared with conventional postoperative care, the enhanced recovery program results in quicker patient recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. Although not firmly established as yet, the enhanced recovery program after surgery could be of oncological benefit in colorectal cancer patients because it can enhance recovery, maintain integrity of the postoperative immune system, increase feasibility of postoperative chemotherapy, and shorten the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy. This commentary summarizes short-term outcomes and potential long-term benefits of enhanced recovery programs in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4993-4996
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• 2015

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in treatment for patients with advanced esophageal cancer who failed in first-line chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: We collected29 advanced esophageal cancer patients who received albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy fromJune 2009 to September 2013, and the efficacy and safety of the compound were evaluated. These patients were treated with $100-150mg/m^2$ nab-paclitaxel on days 1,8. The cycle was repeated every 3 weeks. Clinical efficacy was evaluated every two cycles. Results: Of the 29 patients, two persons interrupted treatment because of adverse reactions, failed to evaluate efficacy effect. The rest of 27 patients who could be evaluated for short-term response, 10 patients (37%) achieved partial response, 2 (7.4%) remained stable disease, and 15 (55.6%) had progressivedisease. The objective response rate was 37%, and the disease control rate was 44.4%.The median time to progression was 6.6 months.The major adverse reactions includedalopecia (62.07%), neutropenia (65.5%), gastrointestinalreaction (10.3%) andsensory neuropathy(6.8%). Conclusions: The albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy is efficacy and safety in treatment for patients with advanced esophageal cancer who failed in first-line chemotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the effects of a short-term life review on spiritual well-being, depression, and anxiety in patients with terminal cancer. Methods: The study used a pre posttest quasi experimental design with a nonequivalent control group. Measurement instruments included the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual scale (FACIT-Sp12) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants were 32 patients with terminal cancer who were receiving chemotherapy or palliative care at hospitals or at home. Eighteen patients were assigned to the experimental group and 14 to the control group. A sixty minute short-term life review session was held twice a week as the intervention with the experimental group. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in spiritual well-being in the experimental group compared to the control group. There were also significant decreases in depression and anxiety in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results indicate that a short-term life review can be used as a nursing intervention for enhancing the spiritual well-being of patients with terminal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.731-736
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• 2014

Objective: To observe the short-term efficacy, long-term survival time and adverse responses with nedaplatin (NDP) or cisplatin (DDP) concomitant with other chemotherapy in treating non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, randomized, control study was conducted, in which 619 NSCLC patients in phases III and IV who were initially treated and re-treated were randomly divided into an NDP group (n=294) and a DDP group (n=325), the latter being regarded as controls. Chemotherapeutic protocols (CP/DP/GP/NP/TP) containing NDP or DDP were given to both groups. Patients in both groups were further divided to evaluate the clinical efficacies according to initial and re-treatment stage, pathological pattern, type of combined chemotherapeutic protocols, tumor stage and surgery. Results: The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in the NDP group were 48.6% and 95.2%, significantly higher than in the DDP group at 35.1% and 89.2%, respectively (P<0.01). In NSCLC patients with initial treatment, squamous carcinoma and phase III, there were significant differences in ORR and DCR between the groups (P<0.05), while ORR was significant in patients with adenocarcinoma, GP/TP and in phase IIIa (P<0.05). There was also a significant difference in DCR in patients in phase IIIb (P<0.05). According to the statistical analysis of survival time of all patients and of those in clinical phase III, the NDP group survived significantly longer than the DDP group (P<0.01). The rates of decreased hemoglobin and increased creatinine, nausea and vomiting in the NDP group were evidently lower than in DDP group (P<0.05). Conclusion: NDP concomitant with other chemotherapy is effective for treating NSCLC, with higher clinical efficacy than DDP concomitant with chemotherapy, with advantages in prolonging survival time and reducing toxic and adverse responses.