• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.579-588
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• 2023

Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous mesenchymal neoplasms originating from the bone or soft tissues, which pose significant treatment challenges. The current standard treatment for sarcomas consists of surgical resection, often combined with chemo- and radiotherapy; however, local recurrence and metastasis remain significant concerns. Although immunotherapy has demonstrated promise in improving long-term survival rates for certain cancers, sarcomas are generally considered to be relatively less immunogenic than other tumors, presenting substantial challenges for effective immunotherapy. In this review, we examine the possible opportunities for sarcoma immunotherapy, noting cancer testis antigens expressed in sarcomas. We then cover the current status of immunotherapies in sarcomas, including progress in cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and adoptive cellular therapy and their potential in combating these tumors. Furthermore, we discuss the limitations of immunotherapies in sarcomas, including a low tumor mutation burden and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and explore potential strategies to tackle the immunosuppressive barriers in therapeutic interventions, shedding light on the development of effective and personalized treatments for sarcomas. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and potential of immunotherapies in sarcoma treatment, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for developing effective therapies to improve the outcomes of patients with these rare malignancies.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.137-143
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• 2023

Purpose: Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is indicated for patients with a large osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT), accompanying subchondral cyst, and the failure of bone marrow stimulation (BMS) procedures. Despite the many reports on the clinical results of surgical treatment for medial osteochondral lesions, those of lateral lesions are rare. This paper reports the intermediate-term clinical outcomes after AOT for lateral OLTs. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with lateral OLTs were followed up for at least three years after AOT. The clinical evaluations comprised the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). The radiographic assessment included the irregularity of the articular surface (subchondral plate), the progression of degenerative arthritis, and the changes in talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation. Results: The mean FAOS and FAAM scores improved significantly from 42.1 to 89.5 and 39.5 to 90.6 points, respectively, at the final follow-up (p<0.001). The radiological evaluation revealed two cases (9.5%) of articular step-off ≥2 mm and 1 case (4.8%) of progressive arthritis. The mean talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation improved significantly. As postoperative complications, there was one case of a local wound problem, one case of superficial peroneal nerve injury, and one case of donor site morbidity. At a mean follow-up of 62.3 months, no patient showed a recurrence of instability or required reoperation for OLT. Conclusion: AOT for the lateral OLTs demonstrated satisfactory intermediate-term clinical outcomes, including daily and sports activity abilities. Most OLT could be accessed through lateral ligament division and capsulotomy, and the incidence of iatrogenic complications, such as recurrent sprains or chronic instability, was minimal. AOT appears to be an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with large lateral osteochondral lesions unresponsive to conservative therapy, with subchondral cysts, or with failed primary BMS.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2024

Severe cases of mandibular prognathism can be treated with orthodontic therapy or surgical correction, but there are situations where only prosthetic improvement is possible. An understanding of class III patients is needed, including a vertical chewing pattern and the absence of anterior guidance. Additionally, it is relatively easy to increase occlusal vertical dimension to correct the anterior crossbite, but this approach can sometimes lead to unfavorable results, necessitating careful diagnosis and treatment planning. In this case report, oral rehabilitation was conducted in a patient with mandibular prognathism and asymmetry, utilizing implants and fixed dental prosthesis. Through a step-by-step treatment approach, the existing occlusal vertical dimension was maintained, and the final fixed dental prosthesis restoration was completed. Accordingly, it shows functional and aesthetically appropriate results, and reports on the patient's diagnosis and treatment process.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2024

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma, with an incidence of about 0.8% to 5% per million people per year, accounting for 1% of soft tissue sarcomas. In its early stage, DFSP is typically found as a violet or pinkish macule or patch, and it can develop into a palpable mass with ulceration or bleeding. The standard treatment for DFSP is wide local excision of the tumor with a 2- to 3-cm negative margin, and radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be conducted with surgical treatment. A 35-year-old man had a palpable mass on the left side of his occipital scalp without color change, ulceration, or bleeding, which typically are present in malignancy. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a 3-cm homogenous enhanced mass without adhesion between the scalp and the mass. Unexpectedly, a biopsy revealed the round mass to be DFSP. A wide excision and rotation of the scalp flap were performed. The patient recovered without any complications and received adjuvant radiotherapy at a dose of 60 Gray (Gy) for six weeks. There was no recurrence through six months of follow-up. Here we report this unique case of DFSP with atypical presentation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 2024

Purpose: Tumors of the foot and ankle account for approximately 3%~5% of all musculoskeletal tumors, and accurate diagnosis is often delayed due to their rare prevalence. Therefore, the authors aimed to analyze the incidence, treatment methods, and prognostic factors of foot and ankle tumors treated at the authors' hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-center study examined 342 patients treated for foot and ankle tumors at the authors' hospital from January 2011 to February 2022. Data were collected from the electronic medical records (EMR) and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). The information analyzed included gender, age, follow-up period, diagnosis, tumor occurrence and recurrence, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Results: Most cases (93.3%) were benign, but 6.7% were malignant. The main treatment for malignant tumors was surgical resection (91.3%). Approximately 53.1% of benign tumors and 91.3% of malignant tumors were treated with surgery, and two of the malignant tumors that did not undergo surgery had metastatic cancer. After surgery, 8.2% of benign lesions and 19.0% of malignant lesions recurred, and 9.5% of the patients with malignant tumors died after surgery. Conclusion: Most foot and ankle tumors are benign tumors, and the prognosis is not poor if treated properly, but most malignant tumors often require amputation. In some cases, however, amputation can be avoided with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2024

Background: In the treatment of esophageal cancer, a gastric conduit is typically the first choice. However, when the stomach is not a viable option, the usual alternative is a colon conduit. This study compared the long-term surgical outcomes of gastric and colon conduits over the same interval and aimed to identify factors influencing the prognosis. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent esophagectomy followed by reconstruction for primary esophageal cancer between January 2006 and December 2020. Results: The study included 1,545 patients, with a gastric conduit used for 1,429 (92.5%) and a colon conduit for 116 (7.5%). Using propensity-matched analysis, 116 patients were selected from each group for comparison. No significant difference was observed in longterm survival between the gastric and colon conduit groups, irrespective of anastomosis level and pathological stage. A higher proportion of patients in the colon conduit group experienced postoperative complications compared to the gastric conduit group (57.8% vs. 25%, p<0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that age over 65 years, body mass index below 22.0 kg/m², neoadjuvant therapy, postoperative anastomotic leakage, and renal failure were risk factors for overall survival in patients with a colon conduit. Regarding conduit-related complications, cervical nastomosis was the only significant risk factor among those with a colon conduit. Conclusion: Despite the association of colon conduits with high morbidity rates relative to gastric conduits, the long-term outcomes of colon conduits were acceptable. More consideration should be given perioperatively to the use of a colon conduit, particularly in cases involving cervical anastomosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 2024

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are widely employed as a therapeutic option for end-stage heart failure. We evaluated the outcomes associated with centrifugal-flow LVAD implantation, comparing 2 device models: the Heartmate 3 (HM3) and the Heartware Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD). Methods: Data were collected from patients who underwent LVAD implantation between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2022. We analyzed overall survival, first rehospitalization, and early, late, and LVAD-related complications. Results: In total, 74 patients underwent LVAD implantation, with 42 receiving the HM3 and 32 the HVAD. A mild Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support score was more common among HM3 than HVAD recipients (p=0.006), and patients receiving the HM3 exhibited lower rates of preoperative ventilator use (p=0.010) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p=0.039). The overall early mortality rate was 5.4% (4 of 74 patients), with no significant difference between groups. Regarding early right ventricular (RV) failure, HM3 implantation was associated with a lower rate (13 of 42 [31.0%]) than HVAD implantation (18 of 32 [56.2%], p=0.051). The median rehospitalization-free period was longer for HM3 recipients (16.9 months) than HVAD recipients (5.3 months, p=0.013). Furthermore, HM3 recipients displayed a lower incidence of late hemorrhagic stroke (p=0.016). In the multivariable analysis, preoperative use of continuous renal replacement therapy (odds ratio, 22.31; p=0.002) was the only significant predictor of postoperative RV failure. Conclusion: The LVAD models (HM3 and HVAD) demonstrated comparable overall survival rates. However, the HM3 was associated with a lower risk of late hemorrhagic stroke.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.557-562
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• 2023

Augmentation mammoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries, but there is a high reoperation rate (29.7%) commonly due to capsular contracture, implant malpositioning, infection, and unsatisfactory size. Although infection only accounts for 2% of cases, its management is very challenging, especially with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection. Breast prosthetic NTM infection is a rare but is a disastrous condition with an incidence of approximately 0.013%. Immediate salvage reimplantation is usually not suggested, and most studies recommend a gap of 3 to 6 months after combination antibiotics therapy before reimplantation. However, delayed reimplantation often leads to great psychological stress and struggle between the doctor and patient. We present the case report of successful reimplantation in treating prosthetic NTM infections in a 28-year-old female. We discuss a novel technique "transaxillary capsulorrhaphy" to correct the bottoming-out deformity. One year after the combination of antibiotics and surgery, the follow-up computed tomography scan showed complete remission of NTM without recurrence. We discuss the surgical technique in detail. The 1-year follow-up assessment (photos and dynamic video) revealed good cosmesis and reliable correction using the new technique. This report is the first formal description and discussion of one-stage reimplantation following NTM infections. Transaxillary capsulorrhaphy allows for a successful salvage operation when an implant is displaced. This approach provides highly favorable result in eastern women undergoing revision augmentation mammoplasty. This study reflects level of evidence V, considering opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.16
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• 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death globally. The classification of advanced GC (AGC) according to molecular features has recently led to effective personalized cancer therapy for some patients. Specifically, AGC patients whose tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can now benefit from trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal Ab that targets HER2. However, patients with HER2^negative AGC receive limited clinical benefit from this treatment. To identify potential immune therapeutic targets in HER2^negative AGC, we obtained 40 fresh AGC specimens immediately after surgical resections and subjected the CD45⁺ immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to multi-channel/multi-panel flow cytometry analysis. Here, we report that HER2 negativity associated with reduced overall survival (OS) and greater tumor infiltration with neutrophils and non-classical monocytes. The potential pro-tumoral activities of these cell types were confirmed by the fact that high expression of neutrophil or non-classical monocyte signature genes in the gastrointestinal tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression and Gene Expression Omnibus databases associated with worse OS on Kaplan-Meir plots relative to tumors with low expression of these signature genes. Moreover, advanced stage disease in the AGCs of our patients associated with greater tumor frequencies of neutrophils and non-classical monocytes than early stage disease. Thus, our study suggests that these 2 myeloid populations may serve as novel therapeutic targets for HER2^negative AGC.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by its heterogeneity and high recurrence and lethality rates. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play a crucial role in therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Therefore, targeting GSCs is a key objective in developing effective treatments for GBM. The role of Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in GBM and its impact on GSCs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PTHrP on GSCs and its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM. Methods and Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found higher expression of PTHrP in GBM, which correlated inversely with survival. GSCs were established from three human GBM samples obtained after surgical resection. Exposure to recombinant human PTHrP protein (rPTHrP) at different concentrations significantly enhanced GSCs viability. Knockdown of PTHrP using target-specific siRNA (siPTHrP) inhibited tumorsphere formation and reduced the number of BrdU-positive cells. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, suppression of PTHrP expression led to significant inhibition of tumor growth. The addition of rPTHrP in the growth medium counteracted the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Further investigation revealed that PTHrP increased cAMP concentration and activated the PKA signaling pathway. Treatment with forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, nullified the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that PTHrP promotes the proliferation of patient-derived GSCs by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These results uncover a novel role for PTHrP and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM treatment.