• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8793-8796
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the influence of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level on therapeutic outcome and diagnosis/prognostic value in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 37 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer by biopsy were selected and treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted before treatment to assess VEGF levels, and its relationships with clinicopathological features and short-term therapeutic effects were analyzed. Results: The median VEGF level in 37 patients before treatment was 647.15 (393.35~1125.16) pg/mL. Serum VEGF levels in patients aged <50 years, in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIa~IVa, with lymph node metastasis and tumor size >4 cm were significantly increased (P<0.05). The complete remission (CR) rate was 48.7% (18/37), partial remission (PR) rate was 35.1% (13/37), stable disease (SD) rate was 13.5% (5/37) and progressive disease (PD) rate was 2.70% (1/37), so the objective remission rate (ORR) after treatment was 83.8% (31/37). Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size and serum VEGF level before treatment were independent risk factors affecting the therapeutic outcome, and the higher the level of serum VEGF, the worse the prognosis when tumor size>4 cm. Some 56.8% of patients manifested with myelosuppression, 37.8% with leucopenia, 24.3% with thrombocytopenia, 5.41% with diarrhea, 46.0% with nausea and vomiting, 21.6% with hair loss and 8.11% with hepatic and renal injury during the treatment. Conclusions: Serum VEGF level may reflect the degree of malignancy of cervical cancer and predict therapeutic effect, which is of great importance to cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6165-6169
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• 2014

Background: The advantage of intra-peritoneal (IP) chemotherapy (CT) in the initial management of ovarian cancer after cytoreductive surgery is well known. The feasibility and toxicity of a treatment regimen with an IP + intravenous CT (IPIVCT) for optimally debulked stage III ovarian cancer were here evaluated retrospectively. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients were treated in our institution between October 2006 and February 2011. Patients received IV paclitaxel $175mg/m^2$ over 3 hours followed by IP cisplatin $75mg/m^2$ on day 1; they also received IP paclitaxel $60mg/m^2$ on day 8. They were also scheduled to receive 6 courses of CT every 21 days. Results: The median age of the patients was 55 years (35-77), and the majority had papillary serous ovarian cancer (63.3%). The patients completed a total of 146 cycles of IPIVCT. Twenty-eight were able to receive at least three cycles of IPIVCT and 18 (60%) completed the scheduled 6 cycles. Two patients discontinued the IPIVCT because of toxicity of chemotherapy agents and 6 had to stop treatment due to intolerable abdominal pain during IP drug administration, obstruction and impaired access. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (6 patients; 20%), anemia (2 patients; 6.7%) and nausea-vomiting (2 patients; 6.7%). Doses were delayed in 12 cycles (8%) for neutropenia (n=6), thrombocytopenia (n=3) and elevated creatinine (n=3). Drug doses were not reduced. The median duration of progression-free survival (PFS) was 47.7 months (95%CI, 38.98-56.44) and overall survival (OS) was 51.7 months (95%CI, 44.13-59.29). Two and five-year overall survival rates were 75.6 % and 64.8%, respectively. Conclusions: IPIVCT is feasible and well-tolerated in this setting. Its clinically proven advantages should be taken into consideration and more efforts should be made to administer IPIVCT to suitable patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3587-3592
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• 2014

Burden of cancer is progressively increasing in developing countries like India which has also led to a steep rise in toxicity due to anti-cancer therapy. A cross-sectional analysis was here conducted for patients with different malignancies (except leukaemia) who while undergoing radical anti-cancer therapy were admitted to our oncology ward from January-July 2013. In a total of 280 patients, the total number of toxicity events was 473. Nine patients expired over this time period. Among the events, grade 2 anaemia the most common (n=189) while the most common grades of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were grade 4 (n=114) and grade 2 (n=48), respectively. Among the tracable microbial etiologies, gram negative bacteria were the most commonly found pathogens. Treatment interruptions took place in 240 patients (median duration=8.8 days). Prolonged hospital admission, intensive care and artificial ventilation support was needed to be given in 48, 7 and 13 patients respectively. Advanced NSCLC, KPS <70, pancytopenia and artificial ventilation requirement were found to have a significant impact on death. Such studies show the prevailing practice from institutes of our country and may guide us formulating a guideline for managing such toxicities for this part of the world.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3447-3450
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• 2014

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of bevacizumab concomitant with pemetrexed in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A total of 72 patients were randomly divided into a combination group (pemetrexed+bevacizumab, n=36) and a pemetrexed group (n=36) and assessed for disease control (CR+PR+SD) after 4-cycles of first-line GP chemotherapy (gemcitabine+cisplatin). Clinical efficacy, progression-free survival time (PFS), overall survival time (OS), overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and rate of adverse responses between two groups were observed and compared. Results: ORR and DCR were 27.8% and 83.4% in combination group, and 16.7% and 69.5% in the pemetrexed group, respectively, but there were no significant differences (P>0.05). PFS in combination group and pemetrexed group were 4.6 months and 3.9 months respectively (P=0.09), whereas OS in the combination group was 14 months, evidently higher than in the pemetrexed group (11 months, P=0.004). Adverse responses in both groups included high blood pressure, bleeding, thrombocytopenia, anemia, elevated transaminase, diarrhea, vomiting and proteinuria, but there were no significant differences (P>0.05). Conclusions: Bevacizumab concomitant with pemetrexed has better clinical efficacy and safety, giving rise to prolonged survival time in patients with advanced NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5385-5389
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• 2013

Background: For more than 80 years, the standard treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer was radiotherapy. However, based on several phase III randomized clinical trials in the past decade, concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy is the current standard for this disease. Gemcitabine has potent radiosensitizing properties in preclinical and clinical trials, so it can be utilized simultanously with radiation. Materials and Methods: Thirty women with untreated invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix of stage IIB to stage IVA were enrolled in the study in the Radiation Oncology Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran from September 2009 to September 2010. Sixty $mg/m^2$ gemcitabine followed by $35mg/m^2$ cisplatin were concurrently administered with radiotherapy to the whole pelvic region on day one of each treatment week for five weeks. One and three months after treatment, patients underwent a complete physical examination and MRI to determine the response to treatment. Results: The mean age of patients was $58.1{\pm}11.8$ (29-78) years. After 3 months of treatment, 73.3%had complete and 26.7% demonstrated partial response to treatment. Grade 3 anemia was seen in 10%, grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 3.3% and grade 3 leukopenia in 10% of the patients. Conclusions: According to the positive results of this study in stage IIB, further phase II and III clinical trials are suggested to evaluate the role of chemoradiation using Gemcitabine for advanced cervical cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5263-5267
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (GEMFUFOL) chemotherapy regimen as first line treatment of metastatic biliary tract cancer. Materials and Methods: All patients received folinic acid $400mg/m^2$ on day 1, 5-fluorouracil bolus $400mg/m^2$ on day 1, IV infusion of 5-fluorouracil $2400mg/m^2$ over 46 hours, and gemcitabine $1250mg/m^2$ on day 1. Results: A total of 29 patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer received GEMFUFOL regimen as the firstline treatment. The mean follow-up was 22.1 months (95%CI, 12.5-31.8). One patient (3.4%) achieved complete response, 5 (17.2%) had partial response, and 4 (13.8%) had stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 3.3 months (95%CI, 2.9-3.7), and the median overall survival was 8.8 months (95%CI, 3.5-14). The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 58.6% and 30%, respectively. Grade 3 and 4 toxicity included neutropenia in 4 patients (13.7%), thrombocytopenia in 2 (6.8%), anemia2 (6.8%), and alopecia in 1 (3.4%). Two patients (6.8%) developed febrile neutropenia. A dose reduction was achieved in 8 patients (27.6%) while 5 patients had extended-interval dosage (17.2%) for toxicity. Conclusions: The GEMFUFOL chemotherapy regimen was generally efficacious and tolerable as a first-line treatment of metastatic biliary tract cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1984

The death of cattle from acute bracken poisoning has been recognized for many years. Acute bracken poisoning is characterized by mucoidal nasal and anal hemorrhage, severe anorexia. pyrexia, gastric ulcer and myocardial damage. In 1958 Evans first suggested that clinical picture of bracken poisoning was very much similar to that of radiation injuries such as aplastic anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and increased capillary fragility. Bracken has been clearly demonstrated to contain a carcinogen as well as thiaminase. However, the nature of carcinogen in bracken has not definetely elucidated. Also it was warned by several workers that bracken could be a causative factor for stomach cancer in Korean and Japanese. It appears that little is known on the e(feet of bracken on the function of cardiovascular system. Therefore the present study was designed to explore effects of ethanol extract of raw and toiled bracken (RBEE:BBEE) on blood pressure in cats. Also studied was the mechanism underlying changed in blood pressure of cats by bracken. The result obtained were as follows; 1) Mean arterial blood pressure was invariably decreased following administration of either RBEE or BBEE. Tn general depressor responses to RBEE persisted longer than that to BBEE. Generally, depressor responses were proportional to debases of RBEE and BBEE administered. 2) After administration of 60 mg/kg RBEB and BBEE, blood Pressure decreased by $62.1{\pm}1.7mmHg$ and $68.0{\pm}3.0mmHg$, respectively. No change was observed between depressor responses to RBEE and that to BBEE. 3) Depressor responses to BBEE and RBEE were not affected by vagotomy, propranolol and regitine. 4) In atropinized animal depressor responses to BBEE and RBEE were reduced by 30-40% showing part of depressor response was resulted from cholinergic effect of bracken.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 1999

Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin caused platelet cytolysis and increased intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ of rat platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was increased from $1.3{\pm}0.4%$ of control to $64.3{\pm}3.4%$ in platelet suspension buffer. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ platelet suspension buffer, however, V. vulnificus cytolysin did not induce $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. Addition of EGTA (2 mM) to suspension buffer after the initial $Ca^{2+}$ influx reversed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ to the control level. However, a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker verapamil $(20\;{\mu}M)$ or mefenamic acid $(20\;{\mu}M)$ did not inhibit V. vulnificus cytolysin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. Divalent cations such as $Co^{2+},\;Cd^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ (2 mM each) also did not alter V. vulnificus cytolysin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml)-induced calcium influx was completely blocked by lanthanum (2 mM). Lanthanum (2 mM) also completely blocked V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml)-induced LDH release. Osmotic protectants such as, raffinose, sucrose or PEG600 (50 mM each) did not inhibit the lytic activity of V. vulnificus cytolysin. In conclusion, lanthanum sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ influx plays a significant role in Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin-induced platelet cytolysis and thrombocytopenia in V. vulnificus infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.197-201
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• 2006

A 2-year-old female mongrel dog was referred to the Veterinary Medical Center of Chungbuk National University due to anorexia, depression and weight loss after the administration of exogenous estrogen for contraception in the local hospital. Although the dog was medicated with antibiotics and fluid for two weeks in the local hospital, there was a deterioration in the patient's general condition. Therefore the dog was referred to our Veterinary Medical Center. Hematological and biochemical analysis showed non-regenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, severely immature leukocytosis, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperglycemia and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Abdominal ultrasonography showed double line of gallbladder and irregular hypertrophic wall of uterus. On the basis of these examination's results and history taking, final diagnosis was exogenous estrogen-induced myelotoxicosis with cholecystitis and endometritis. The symptomatic therapy for estrogen toxicosis was performed for 26 days after the final diagnosis. However, the symptom had no response to therapy except endometritis and anemia. On day 135 after administration of estrogen, platelet and neutrophil count were normalized, but monocytic leukocytosis was occurred.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.346-351
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• 1998

As an antitumor agents cyclophosphamide (CPA) is frequently used in animal clinic. Important adverse effects of its administration are leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. We investigated the effects of chicken egg white derivatives (EWD and EF-203) on the changes of blood cells and the neutrophil phagocytosis of rats administered with CPA. Rats were administered CPA peritoneally at dose of 50 mgag once a day far 3 days plus either EWD or EF-203 orally at dose of 200 mg/kg once a day far 3 days. Thereafterl the changes of blood cells by automatic blood cell counter and the phagocytosis of neutrophils by flow cytometry were examined far 7 days. There was no change in RBC values regardless of administration of either EWD or EF-203 throughout experimental period. But rats receiving CPA plus either EWD or EF-203 showed a significant higher PCV values than those of CPA alone (p<0.01). The numbers of peripheral blood platelets and WBC and the differential count of neutrophils in the ra% receiving CPA plus either EWD or EF-203 were significantly higher (p<0.05 to 0.01) than those of CPA alone. Moreover, these rats showed significanly enhanced phagocytoses of neutrophils when compared to rats with CPA alone (p<0.01). These result suggested that chicken egg white derivatives including EWD and EF-2% have immunomodulatory effects in regard to the increase of platelets, WBC, differential count of neutrophils, PCV, and the enhancement of phagocytic activity of neutrophils in immunosuppressed rats by CPA. Thus, co-adminstration of chicken egg white derivatives will be able to reduce the side effects in the animals treated with antitumor agents.