• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.455-465
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• 1999

Background: Even though lung cancer has become a major cancer in Korea, national survey for lung cancer has not been available except several reports from individual hospitals. Methods: Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases retrospectively investigated the characteristics of lung cancer diagnosed from January 1997 to December 1997 at general hospitals over 400 beds. Results: Among 3,794 patients, 76.8% are smokers and 89.8% of male patients are smokers. Squamous cell carcinoma is the leading type of lung cancer(44.7%) followed by adenocarcinoma(27.9%). Smoking rate in adenocarcinoma was significantly lower than in squamous cell carcinoma and small cell cancer. Cough is the most common symptom, however, 7.2% are asymptomatic. Bronchoscopic biopsy has a main role in the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma and small cell cancer but percutaneous needle biopsy has more important role in adenocarcinoma. Two-thirds of NSCLC patients were found in unresectable advanced stages. Conclusion: In contrast to other countries, squamous cell carcinoma is still the most frequent type of lung cancer. High proportions of smoker and advanced, unresectable lung cancer urge us to develop the program for cessation of smoking and early detection.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.88-95
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• 2009

Purpose: p53 and bcl-2 are important markers of apoptosis. The expression of p53 and bcl-2 in gastric adenocarcinoma was examined in relation to prognosis and survival rate. Materials and Methods: The clinicopathologic data from 238 patients who underwent gastrectomies for gastric adenocarcinoma between December 1999 and July 2007 were reviewed. Immunohistochemical staining of gastric adenocarcinoma tissues embedded in paraffin blocks was performed using an Envision kit (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark). Statistical comparisons were made between age, gender, tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, Lauren's classification, cell differentiation, and the relationship with p53 and bcl-2. Results: The expression of p53 was related to cell differentiation (P=0.028) and UICC TNM stage (P<0.001). The expression of bcl-2 was related to UICC TNM stage (P=0.005). The co-expression of p53 and bcl-2 was related to UICC TNM stage (P=0.002). The co-expression group exhibited a greater reduction in the survival rate (P=0.001). Conclusion: The expression of p53 and bcl-2 nuclear proteins has significant relationships with other conventional prognostic factors and the survival rate. bcl-2 will be characterized through analysis of a greater number of patients and comparison with survival data over a longer period of time.

• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 1995

Background: Cytokeratin 19 is 40KD acidic molecule whose distribution is restricted to simple or pseudo-stratified epithelia, such as the epithelial layer of the bronchial tree. Immunohistochemical study have shown that cytokeratin 19 is overexpressed in lung carcinoma tissue. An immunoradiometric assay, CYFRA 21-1 has been developed using two monoclonal antibody, BM 19-21 and KS 19-1, reactive to different epitopes on cytokeratin 19. We studied the diagnostic value of CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer. Method: The serum CYFRA 21-1 level using immunoradiometric kit(ELSA-CYFRA 21-1) was measured in 54 patients who admit to Yeungnam University Hospital from April, 1993 to August, 1994. Lung cancer group was 39 primary lung cancer patients(19 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 11 patients with adenocarcinoma and 9 patients with small cell carcinoma). Control group was 15 patients with non malignant lung diseases(8 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 3 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 patients with pneumonia and 2 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with pulmonary tuberculosis). Results: The mean serum value of CYFRA 21-1 was $20.2{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ in squamous cell carcinoma, $7.2{\pm}1.6ng/ml$ in adenocarcinoma and $15.5{\pm}4.7ng/ml$ in non-small cell lung cancer. The serum value of CYFRA 21-1 in control group was $1.7{\pm}0.5ng/ml$. All of the serum values of 3 histologic types were significantly higher than that of control group(p<0.01). The serum value of CYFRA 21-1 of squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of adenocarcinoma(p <0.05). Serum value of CYFRA 21-1 in small cell lung cancer was $2.9{\pm}0.9ng/ml$ and not significantly different compared with control group. Using cut off value of 3.3ng/ml, sensitivity and specificity was 11.1%, 65.2% in small cell lung cancer, 70.0%, 62.5% in non-small cell lung cancer, 73.7%, 75% in squamous cell carcinoma and 63.6%, 78.9% in adenocarcinoma, respectively. Conclusion: The serum levels of CYFRA 21-1 may be useful in diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma, especially in squamous cell carcinoma with its high specificity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.389-396
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• 1994

Background : The two most important purposes of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in lung cancer patients are obtaining tissue diagnosis and staging. The direct sign of lung cancer on FOB includes visible tumor, with smooth or nodular surface, with or without necrosis and infiltration. Variant cell types of lung cancer have their characteristic biological behaviors respectively. For example, squamous cell carcinoma grows slowly, invades locally and has easy necrosis resulting in cavitation, whereas adenocarcinoma shows early metastasis, small cell carcinoma shows rapid growth and higher early metastasis rate. Based on this, it could be hypothesized that each cell type may have characteristic bronchoscopic finding. Method : To answer this question, we reviewed 106 cases which were diagnosed as primary lung cancer and had bronchoscopically visible specific cancerous lesions. Results : The results were as follows. 1) Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 66 cases(62.2%), adenocarcinoma 15 cases(14.2%), large cell carcinoma 3 cases(2.8%). 2) The endobronchial tumor lesion was arbitrarily classified into 5 types according to gross characteristics. Type A, multilobulating mass with necrosis, accounted for 24.5%, type B, multilobulating mass without necrosis, 25.5%, type C, round beefy mass, 9.4%, type D, infiltration with mucosal irregularity, 6.6%, and type E, infiltration without mucosal irregularity, 34%. 3) The analysis of correlation between endobronchial tumor pattern and specific cell type revealed that squamous cell carcinoma had relation with the morphologic type B and small cell carcinoma had relation with the morphologic type E, but adenocarcinoma had no preponderance in morphologic type. The gross appearance had influence on the diagnostic yields of biopsies and the diagnostic yields of lobulating mass types(type A, B) were higher than those of other types. Conclusion : From the above observations, it could be concluded that squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma have relations with specific types of bronchoscopic morphology, but not the case in adenocarcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 1998

Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma(PLGA) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary gland. It is characterized by diverse histology, bland-locking cytology indolent behavior and favorable prognosis. The fine needle aspiration cytologic features of PLGA are described. The aspirates from the hard palate in a 33-year-old woman showed cellular smear composed of monotonous small round to oval cells with scanty cytoplasm. Papillary, tubular and cell ball arrangements with characteristic dense stromal spheres were recognized. PLGA could be suggested by fine needle aspiration cytology, if one encountered cellular smear with various architectures and uniform bland-locking cytologic feature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1485-1492
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• 2015

Makgeolli is a traditional wine in Korea and has been traditionally believed to exhibit health benefits. However, the inhibitory effect of dealcoholized makgeolli (MK) on cancer has never been investigated scientifically. In this study, MK exhibited an anti-angiogenic effect by inhibiting tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, without cytotoxicity. Treatment with MK reduced the proliferation of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and increased the sub-G1 population. Next, we evaluated whether MK could induce apoptosis in AGS cells by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay or Annexin V method. Treatment with MK at 500 and 1,000 μg/ml increased the number of TUNEL-positive AGS cells. Under the same conditions, MK-treated (500 and 1,000 μg/ml) cells showed significant induction of early or late apoptosis, compared with untreated cells (no induction). In addition, MK also induced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in AGS cells. However, p53 expression in AGS cells was not changed by MK treatment. Furthermore, MK at 500 mg/kg·d reduced the tumor size and volume in AGS tumor xenografts. Taken together, MK may be useful for the prevention of cancer cell growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.695-700
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• 2013

Background: Mutations affecting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are good predictors of clinical efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are also regarded as predictive for the efficacy of EGFR-TKI and EGFR gene mutations. This study analyzed the association between EGFR gene mutations and clinical features, including serum tumor marker levels in lung adenocarcinomas patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 70 lung adenocarcinoma patients with complete clinical data and pathological specimens were investigated. EGFR gene mutations at exons 19 and 21 were assessed. Serum tumor markers were detected by protein chip-chemiluminescence at the corresponding time, and correlations were analyzed. Results: Mutations of the EGFR gene were detected in 27 of the 70 patients and the serum CEA and CA242 concentrations were found to be significantly associated with the incidence of EGFR gene mutations (P<0.05). The AUCs for CEA and CA242 were 0.724 (95% CI: 0.598~0.850, P<0.05) and 0.769 (95% CI: 0.523~0.800, P<0.05) respectively. Conclusions: Serum CEA and CA242 levels are associated with mutations of the EGFR gene in patients with lung adenocarcinomas.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.947-950
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• 1995

We have experienced a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma looked like cavitary lesion of pulmonary tuberculosis in 49-year-old male patient. He has taken antituberculous medication for 5 months under the impression of pulmonary tuberculosis with cavity at local hospital. The cavitary lesion was changed nodular mass on follow-up chest X-ray. Transthoracic fine needle aspiration was done and cytologic specimen suggested squamous cell carcinoma. Right middle lobectomy was performed. The nodular mass, which was confirmed as adenocarcinoma on microscopic examination, had central cavity filled with hemorrhage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7295-7300
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• 2013

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. The main types are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), the latter including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. NSCLCs account for about 80% of all lung cancer cases. Microcephalin (MCPH1), also called BRIT1 (BRCT-repeat inhibitor of hTERT expression), plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability. Recently, several studies have provided evidence that the expression of MCPH1 gene is decreased in several different types of human cancers. We evaluated the expression of protein MCPH1 in 188 lung cancer and 20 normal lung tissues by immunohistochemistry. Positive MCPH1 staining was found in all normal lung samples and only some cancerous tissues. MCPH1-positive cells were significantly lower in lung carcinoma compared with normal tissues. Furthermore, we firstly found that MCPH1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma is higher than its expression in squamous cell carcinoma. Change in MCPH1 protein expression may be associated with lung tumorigenesis and may be a useful biomarker for identification of pathological types of lung cancer.