• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3635-3638
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• 2015

Several improvements in ovarian cancer treatment have been achieved in recent years, both in surgery and in combination chemotherapy with targeting. However, ovarian tumors remain the women's cancers with highest mortality rates. In this scenario, a pivotal role has been endorsed to the immunological environment and to the immunological mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer behavior. Recent evidence suggests a loss of the critical balance between immune-activating and immune-suppressing mechanisms when oncogenesis and cancer progression occur. Ovarian cancer generates a mechanism to escape the immune system by producing a highly suppressive environment. Immune-activated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in ovarian tumor tissue testify that the immune system is the trigger in this neoplasm. The TIL mileau has been demonstrated to be associated with better prognosis, more chemosensitivity, and more cases of optimal residual tumor achieved during primary cytoreduction. Nowadays, scientists are focusing attention on new immunologically effective tumor biomarkers in order to optimize selection of patients for recruitment in clinical trials and to identify relationships of these biomarkers with responses to immunotherapeutics. Assessing this point of view, TILs might be considered as a potent predictive immunotherapy biomarker.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1459-1463
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• 2014

Background: Urological cancers represent a major public problem associated with high mortality and morbidity. The pattern of these cancers varies markedly according to era, region and ethnic groups, but increasing incidence trends overall makes focused epidemiological studies important. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of most prevalent urological cancers in Iran from 2003 to 2009. Materials and Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the population-based Cancer Registry Center of the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Differences of mean age and age distributions of each cancer were compared between 2003 and 2009 in men and women. Results: Bladder cancer was the most common urologic cancer in both genders. The rate difference of age standardized ratio (ASR) of bladder and renal cell carcinoma in women were 1.54 and 2.01 percent per 100,000 population from 2003 to the 2009, respectively. In men, the rate difference of age standardized ratio of prostate, testis, kidney and bladder cancer was also 2.23, 1.2, 1.8 and 1.5 percent per 100,000 population from 2003 to 2009, respectively. The mean ages of patients in all cancers in both genders did not differ significantly through time (p value>0.05) but the distribution of ages of patients with bladder and prostate cancer changed significantly from 2003 to 2009 (p value<0.001). Conclusions: The results of present study suggest the general pattern and incidence of urological cancers in Iran are changing, the observed increase pointing to a need for urological cancer screening programs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2349-2354
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• 2012

Objective: Individual studies of the associations between P53 codon 72 polymorphism (rs1042522) and bladder cancer susceptibility have shown inconclusive results. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, we performed this systemic review and meta-analysis based on 15 publications. Methods: We used odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association. Results: We found that there was no association between P53 codon 72 polymorphism and bladder cancer risk in the comparisons of Pro/Pro vs Arg/Arg; Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg; Pro/Pro plus Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg; Arg/Arg vs. Pro/Arg plus Arg/Arg (OR=1.06 95%CI 0.81-1.39; OR=1.06 95%CI 0.83-1.36; OR=0.98 95%CI 0.78-1.23; OR=1.06 95%CI 0.84-1.32). However, a significantly increased risk of bladder cancer was found among Asians in the homozygote comparison (Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg, OR=1.36 95%CI 1.05-1.75, P=0.790 for heterogeneity) and the dominant model (Arg/Pro plus Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg, OR=1.26 95%CI 1.05-1.52, P=0.564 for heterogeneity). In contrast, no evidence of an association between bladder cancer risk and P53 genotype was observed among Caucasian population in any genetic model. When stratifying for the stage of bladder, no statistical association were found (Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg, OR=0.45 95%CI 0.17-1.21; Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg, OR=0.60 95%CI 0.28-1.27; Dominant model, OR=0.56 95%CI 0.26-1.20; Recessive model, OR=0.62 95%CI0.35-1.08) between P53 codon 72 polymorphism and bladder cancer in all comparisons. Conclusions: Despite the limitations, the results of the present meta-analysis suggest that, in the P53 codon 72, Pro/Pro type and dominant mode might increase the susceptibility to bladder cancer in Asians; and there are no association between genotype distribution and the stage of bladder cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6327-6330
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• 2013

Haematuria is a common presentation of bladder cancer and requires a full urologic evaluation. This study aimed to develop a scoring system capable of stratifying patients with haematuria into high or low risk groups for having bladder cancer to help clinicians decide which patients need more urgent assessment. This cross-sectional study included all adult patients referred for haematuria and subsequently undergoing full urological evaluation in the years 2001 to 2011. Risk factors with strong association with bladder cancer in the study population were used to design the scoring system. Accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A total of 325 patients with haematuria were included, out of which 70 (21.5%) were diagnosed to have bladder cancer. Significant risk factors associated with bladder cancer were male gender, a history of cigarette smoking and the presence of gross haematuria. A scoring system using 4 clinical parameters as variables was created. The scores ranged between 6 to 14, and a score of 10 and above indicated high risk for having bladder cancer. It was found to have good accuracy with an area under the ROC curve of 80.4%, while the sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% and 55.7%, respectively. The scoring system designed in this study has the potential to help clinicians stratify patients who present with haematuria into high or low r isk for having bladder cancer. This will enable high-risk patients to undergo urologic assessment earlier.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2445-2452
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• 2012

RNA interference has created a breakthrough in gene silencing technology and there is now much debate on the successful usage of RNAi based methods in treating a number of debilitating diseases. Cancer is often regarded as a result of mutations in genomic DNA resulting in faulty gene expression. The occurrence of cancer can also be influenced by epigenetic irregularities in the chromatin structure which leads to alterations and mutations in DNA resulting in cancer cell formation. A number of therapeutic approaches have been put forth to treat cancer. Anti cancer therapy often involves chemotherapy targeting all the cells in common, whereby both cancer cells as well as normal cells get affected. Hence RNAi technology has potential to be a better therapeutic agent as it is possible to deactivate molecular targets like specific mutant genes. This review highlights the successful use of RNAi inducers against different types of cancer, thereby paving the way for specific therapeutic medicines.

• The Korean Journal of Urological Oncology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.131-136
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the criteria of biochemical recurrence (BCR) and follow-up periods and methods with and without blood and imaging test of urologic oncology before established guidelines of prostate cancer in Korea. Materials and Methods: In December 2015, we sent the questionnaire to urologic oncologist in academic hospital and received the answer from 108 urologic oncologist (50%). Also, we analyzed the data of 1,141 patients underwent radical prostatectomy in 2005 from Korean Medical Insurance. Results: In follow-up, 72 physicians (66.7%) performed blood test every 3 months, 51 physicians (47.2%) performed imaging study in case of BCR. Bone scan was the most common imaging study in the follow-up (74 physicians, 68.5%). But, bone scan was only performed in case of BCR (43 physicians, 39.8%). The criteria of BCR was PSA 0.2 ng/mL (75 physician, 69.4%), 76 physicians (70.4%) was performed different follow-up according to risk of patients. In Korean Medical Insurance data analysis, PSA were performed average 2 times every year and magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, Bone scan were performed average 0.1, 0.2, 0.1 times every year, respectively. Conclusions: The criteria of BCR and the follow-up of prostate cancer patients in Korea were similar Korean prostate cancer guidelines. Blood and imaging test might be increased compared to 10 years ago, it is necessary to compare the Korean Medical Insurance data between 10 years ago and present.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2014

Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI- MS/MS) provides a high-speed method to screen a large number of samples for small molecules with specific properties. In this study, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was employed to screen urinary phospholipid (PL) content for biomarkers of prostate cancer. From lists of urinary PLs structurally identified using nanoflow LC-ESI-MS/MS, 52 PL species were selected for quantitative analysis in urine samples between 22 cancer-free urologic patients as controls and 45 prostate cancer patients. Statistical treatment of data by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis yielded 14 PL species that differed significantly in relative concentrations (area under curve (AUC) > 0.8) between the two groups. Among PLs present at higher levels in prostate cancer urine, phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and phosphatidylinositols (PIs) constituted the major head group PLs (3 PCs and 7 PIs). For technical reasons, PL species of low abundance may be underrepresented in data from UPLC-ESI-MS/MS performed in MRM mode. However, the proposed method enables the rapid screening of large numbers of plasma or urine samples in the search for biomarkers of human disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2871-2877
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• 2015

Background: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a malignant neoplasm that most commonly occurs in the urinary bladder. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features, recurrence and progression in patients with bladder urothelial cancer. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with UC in the state pathology laboratory between January 2006 and July 2014 were retrospectively included. Carcinomas were categorized according to age, gender, histologic grade, tumor configuration, pathologic staging, recurrence status, and progression. Results: A total of 125 (113 men, 12 women) patients were examined. The mean age was 65.9 years and the male-to-female urothelial cancer incidence ratio was 9.4:1. Low-grade UCs were observed in 85 (68%) and high-grade in 40 (32%). A papillary tumor pattern was observed in 67.2% of the UCs. Cases were classified with the following pathological grades: 34 (27.2%) cases of pTa, 70 (56%) of pT1, and 21 (16.8%) of pT2. Recurrence occurred in 27 (21.6%) patients. Ten progressed to a higher stage (pT1 to pT2), and three cases to higher grade (low to high). We also analyzed the results separately for 70 (56%) patients 65 years of age and older. Conclusions: With early detection and diagnosis of precursor lesions in older patients, by methods such as standard urologic evaluation, urinary cytology, ultrasound scanning and contrast urography, and cystoscopy, in addition to coordinated efforts between pathologists and urologists, early diagnosis may reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients with urothelial carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.363-365
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• 2015

Background: Kidney cancer is the third most frequent urologic cancer in Lebanon after prostate and bladder cancer, accounting for 1.5% of all diagnosed cancers. In this paper, we report the histologic characteristics and distribution of kidney cancer, never described in Lebanon or the Middle East. Materials and Methods: Pathology results of operated kidney cancer were collected during a two year period (2010-2011) from two different Lebanese hospitals (Hotel-Dieu de France University Hospital and Saint Joseph Hospital). A total of 124 reports were reviewed and analyzed according to WHO classification of 2009. Results: The 124 patients diagnosed with kidney cancer had a median age of 62.4 [18-86], 75% being men and 25% women. Some 71 % of the lesions were renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 25.8% had a urothelial histology, 1.6% were lymphomas and 1.6% were metastases to the kidney. Patients having RCC had a median age of 60.3 [18-85], 77.3% were men and 22.7% women. Of the RCCs, 59.1% were clear cell carcinoma, 22.7% papillary, 11.4% chromophobic, 3.4% rom the collecting ducts of Bellini and 3.4% were not otherwise classified. Conclusions: Histological distribution of Lebanese kidney cancer seems unusual when compared to the literature. The percentage of urothelial renal pelvis tumors is strikingly high. Moreover, clear cell carcinoma accounts for only 59.1% of RCCS in contrast to the 75% described elsewhere, while papillary carcinoma represents more than 22.7% compared to 10%.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9125-9130
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to determine the incidence of prostate cancer in Turkey in a population-based sample, and to determine clinical and pathological characteristics of the cases. Materials and Methods: All newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients were included in this national, multi-centered, prospective and non-interventional epidemiological registry study conducted in 12 cities representing the 12 regions of Turkey from July 2008 to June 2009. The population-based sample comprised 4,150 patients with a recent prostate cancer diagnosis. Results: Age-adjusted prostate cancer incidence rate was 35 cases per 100,000 in Turkey. At the time of diagnosis, median age was 68, median PSA level was 10.0 ng/mL. Digital rectal examination was abnormal in 36.2% of 3,218 tested cases. Most patients had urologic complaints. The main diagnostic method was transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy (87.8%). Gleason score was ${\leq}6$ in 49.1%, 7 in 27.8% and >7 in 20.6% of the cases. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum PSA level and Gleason score (p=0.000). The majority of patients (54.4%) had clinical stage T1c. Conclusions: This is the first population-based national data of incidence with the histopathological characteristics of prostate cancer in Turkey. Prostate cancer remains an important public health concern in Turkey with continual increase in the incidence and significant burden on healthcare resources.