• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.17-27
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate which information of cancer patients should be collected for the Korean medicine cancer registry in order to assess the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine (KM) treatment and to identify Korean medical prognostic predictors. Methods: A total of fifteen Korean medical specialists completed an online survey questionnaire including items about general characteristics of cancer patients and clinical practice patterns. Results: The four main types of cancer at Korean medical hospitals were breast, lung, stomach, and colorectal cancer. The majority of patients with cancer at Korean medical hospitals were in the advanced or metastatic stage (50.0%). The prominent purposes of KM treatment were to alleviate cancer-related symptoms, reduce the side effects of conventional therapy, and improve quality of life. The major options for treatment were traditional herbal medicine (THM), acupuncture, moxibustion, thermotherapy, pharmacoacupuncture, and meditation, with THM being the most frequently used (35.7%). Almost all Korean medical specialists (93.9%) used syndrome differentiation in clinical practice and identified over half the cancer patients as deficiency syndrome (57.2%). Conclusion: Physicians considered the primary goal of KM treatment for cancer patients to be symptom management since advanced or metastatic stage patients were the majority at Korean medical hospitals. THM were the most common treatment option and syndrome differentiation was used by almost all physicians. Further research is needed to monitor and ensure optimal KM treatment for patients with cancer.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제11권11호
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• pp.433-441
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• 2020

본 논문은 고식적 항암화학요법을 받는 진행성 암환자의 미충족 요구를 분석하고 영향요인을 파악하여 암 말기 환자들에게 적합한 융합적 간호중재 프로그램 개발에 기초자료로 활용하고자 시도되었다. 연구대상은 일 대학병원에 입원하여 고식적 항암화학요법을 받는 진행성 암환자 71명으로 구성되었으며, 연구도구는 Shin 등이 개발한 CNAT(Comprehensive Needs Assessment tool in Cancer)를 사용하였다. 자료분석은 독립표본 t-검정, ANOVA 및 다중회귀분석으로 분석하였다. 연구결과 대상자의 미충족 요구는 의료진 영역이 4점 만점에 2.34점으로 가장 높았으며 심리적 문제 2.09점, 정보교육 1.69점의 순으로 나타났다. 진행성 암환자의 미충족 요구에 영향을 미치는 요인은 학력(β=.207, p=.047), 죽음에 대한 생각(β=-.269, p=.018), 진단명(β=-.283, p=.013)으로 나타났다. 본 연구결과를 바탕으로 진행성 암환자들에게 의료진 영역의 요구를 배려하여 심리적 지지를 제공하고, 학력, 진단명에 따른 요구 충족 방안을 고려할 필요가 있다

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7119-7123
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• 2014

Background: The role of second-line therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore the second-line efficiency of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have received gemcitabine-based first-line therapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 47 patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer previously treated with gemcitabine-based first-line regimens. Treatment consisted of oxaliplatin $130mg/m^2$ and capecitabine $1000mg/m^2$ twice daily with a 3 week interval, until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Results: Median number of cycles was 4 (range, 2-10). The overall disease control rate was 38.3%. The median overall survival and progression-free survival from the start of second-line therapy were 23 weeks (95%CI: 16.6-29.5 weeks) and 12 weeks (95%CI: 9.8-14.4 weeks), respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were nausea, vomiting and hematologic side effects. Conclusions: Our result suggests that the combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin was tolerated with manageable toxicity and showed encouraging activity as second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with ECOG performance status 0-2.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8075-8077
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• 2016

Sarcopenia, characterized by a decline of skeletal muscle plus low muscle strength and/or physical performance, has emerged to be an important prognostic factor for advanced cancer patients. It is associated with poor performance status, toxicity from chemotherapy, and shorter time of tumor control. There is limited data about sarcopenia in cancer patients and associated factors. Moreover, the knowledge about the changes of muscle mass during chemotherapy and its impact to response and toxicity to chemotherapy is still lacking. This review aimed to provide understanding about sarcopenia and to emphasize its importance to cancer treatment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.214-225
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• 2013

Purpose: Peritoneal lavage cytology is part of the routine staging workup for patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, no quality assurance study has been conducted to show variations or biases in peritoneal lavage cytology results. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a test execution variation in peritoneal lavage cytology between investigating surgeons. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed for determination of the positive rate of peritoneal lavage cytology using a liquid-based preparation method in patients with potentially curable advanced gastric cancer (cT2~4/N0~2/M0). One hundred thirty patients were enrolled and underwent laparotomy, peritoneal lavage cytology, and standard gastrectomy, which were performed by 3 investigating surgeons. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and a logistic regression model. Results: The overall positive peritoneal cytology rate was 10.0%. Subgroup positive rates were 5.3% in pT1 cancer, 2.0% in pT2/3 cancer, 11.1% in pT4a cancer, and 71.4% in pT4b cancer. In univariate analysis, positive peritoneal cytology showed significant correlation with pT stage, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, ascites, and the investigating surgeon. We found the positive rate to be 2.1% for surgeon A, 10.2% for surgeon B, and 20.6% for surgeon C (P=0.024). Multivariate analysis identified pT stage, ascites, and the investigating surgeon to be significant risk factors for positive peritoneal cytology. Conclusions: The peritoneal lavage cytology results were significantly affected by the investigating surgeon, providing strong evidence of test execution variation that could be related to poor diagnostic accuracy and stage migration in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.2995-2999
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• 2016

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) often presents as an interval cancer with short survival upon metastasis and thus represents an important clinical challenge. The present study investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics and long term survival outcome of early and locally advanced TNBC. Materials and Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively for 148 consecutive confirmed cases of TNBC treated in a single unit at our centre. Demographic profile, tumor type, histopathology details, treatment and follow-up information was recorded and immunohistochemistry was performed. Results: Age group >50 years was associated with tumors of clinical stage 3 (53.8%), pathological stage 3 (46.2%), pathological grade 3 (45.7%), presence of extracapsular extension (ECE, 48.5%) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI, 64.9%). Locally advanced breast cancers (LABCs) were characterized by pathological stage 3 (96.2%), presence of ECE (100%) and absence of LVI (46.7%) as compared to early breast cancers (EBCs) which had higher incidence of lower stage tumors (100%), absence of ECE (82%) and presence of LVI (91.9%; p-value <0.001. Better relapse free survival was observed in patients with no axillary involvement (69%; p-value <0.001) and absence of ECE (64%; p-value <0.001). Improved overall survival was seen in patients with EBC (90%; p-value 0.008), clear axilla (86%; p-value <0.001), absence of ECE (87%; p-value <0.001) and negative lymph nodes (90%; p-value 0.006). Conclusions: TNBCs are aggressive tumors which show poor long term survival. Patients with TNBC benefit from chemotherapy, thus better and less toxic treatment options are needed. Identification of newer targets and development of targeted therapies are the need of the hour.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.361-365
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• 2012

Aims: To investigate the relationship between the expression of ${\beta}$-tubulin III and survivin in advanced breast cancers and chemotherapeutic effects of docetaxel. Methods: Clinical pathological data of 74 patients with advanced breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed after docetaxel chemotherapy. Expression of ${\beta}$-tubulin III and survivin was assessed by immunohistochemistry and analyzed with reference to therapeutical and adverse effects of docetaxel. Results: The positive expression rate of ${\beta}$-tubulin III was 38.1% (32/84), while that of survivin was 76.2% (64/84). The effective rate (complete response + partial response) was 52.4%. That for patients with the positive expression of ${\beta}$-tubulin III or/and survivin was significantly lower than for those with negative expression (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the non-progression of median diseases, 1-year and 2-year survival rates of between the patients with positive and negative expression (P<0.05). The main side effects were myelosuppression, alimentary canal response and alopecie, no differences being observed between groups. Conclusions: The combined detection of ${\beta}$-tubulin III and survivin is a predictive index for chemotherapy effects of docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권10호
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• pp.5319-5321
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• 2012

Objective: To observe efficacy and side effects, as well as the impact on quality of life, of Kanglaite$^{(R)}$ (Coix Seed Oil) injections combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients. Method: A consecutive cohort of 60 patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group receiving Kanglaite$^{(R)}$ Injection combined with chemotherapy and the control group with chemotherapy alone. After more than two courses of treatment, efficacy, quality of life and side effects were evaluated. Results: The response rate and KPS score of experimental group were significantly improved as compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). In addition, gastrointestinal reactions and bone marrow suppression were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Kanglaite$^{(R)}$ Injection enhanced efficacy and reduced the side effects of chemotherapy, improving quality of life of gastric cancer patients; use of Kanglaite$^{(R)}$ injections deserves to be further investigated in randomized control clinical trails.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권10호
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• pp.5307-5312
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• 2012

Introduction: Breast cancer cells and tumor stroma produce different cytokines and soluble factors. Cytokines, while playing crucial roles in immune responses to tumors, also favour tumor growth and progression. IL-7 and G-CSF are two cytokines that may exert influences on the pathophysiology of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Sera were collected from 136 females with breast cancer before receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The control group comprised of 60 healthy age-matched females without any acute or chronic diseases with no family history of breast cancer. Serum levels of IL-7 and G-CSF were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: While there was no significant difference in the level of G-CSF between patients ($92.81{\pm}594.54$ pg/ml) and controls (0.00 pg/ml), G-CSF level in sera of patients with advanced stages of breast cancer was elevated compared to early stages (p=0.0001). Moreover, the highest level of G-CSF was seen in patients with N3 phase tumors (p=0.0001). IL-7 was slightly but not significantly higher in the control group ($0.04{\pm}0.11$ pg/ml) in comparison with patients ($0.02{\pm}0.10$ pg/ml). Interestingly, a significant increase in the level of IL-7 in patients with skin involvement was observed (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed an elevation of G-CSF in sera of patients with advanced stages of tumor, while IL-7 elevation correlated with skin involvement of breast cancer. IL-7 can be produced by keratinocytes in skin tissue and may be involved in the pathologic establishment of metastatic tumor cells in skin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5353-5361
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• 2012

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an immune-stimulatory cytokine with antitumor activity in preclinical models. It plays pivotal roles in linking inflammatory immune responses and tumor progression and is a useful candidate in gene therapy of lymphoma or lymphoid leukemia. A phase I study of recombinant human IL-18 (rhIL-18) in patients with advanced cancer concluded that rhIL-18 can be safely given in biologically active doses to patients with advanced cancer. Some viruses can induce the secretion of IL-18 for immune evasion. The individual cytokine activity might be potentiated or inhibited by combinations of cytokines. Here we focus on combinational effects of cytokines with IL-18 in cancer progression. IL-18 is an important non-invasive marker suspected of contributing to metastasis. Serum IL-18 may a useful biological marker as independent prognostic factor of survival. In this review we cover roles of IL-18 in immune evasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, applications for chemotherapy and prognostic or diagnostic significance.