• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4791-4795
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to observe the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based chemotherapy in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancers as first-line, second-line or third-line therapy. Materials and Methods: From May 2011 to January 2015, we recruited 29 patients with advanced breast cancer, 19 patients with advanced ovary cancer, 17 patients with advanced esophageal cancer,5 patients with advanced gallbladder cancer,5 patients with advanced cervical cancer and 1 patient with advanced tongue cancer in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.All of them were pathologically confirmed and treated with pemetrexed based chemotherapy. After two cycles of treatment,efficacy and safety can be evaluated. Results: For pemetrexed based regimens,including 76 patients with 6 kinds of advanced cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. Complete remission represents CR, partial remission represents PR, stable disease represents SD, progressive disease represents PD. Among 29 patients with advanced breast cancer, 4 patients chose pemetrexed based regimens as second-line treatment,1 of them was PR,the other 3 got SD. The last 25 patients made use of this chemotherapy as third-line treatment, except one patient could not be assessed, 2 of them got PR,6 of them got SD,the remaining 16 of them finally were PD.19 patients with advanced ovary cancer,5 patients used this regimens as second-line treatment, 3 of them got PD,the remaining patients got SD, respectively. The last 14 patients made use of pemetrexed based regimens as third-line treatment,. RR (CR+PR) was 28.5%. Among 17 patients with advanced esophageal cancer, 2 patients made use of pemetrexed based regimens as first-line treatment,both of them got PR.4 of them used this chemotherapy as second-line regimen, except 2 patients could not be assessed,the remaining 2 was PD at last. The last 11 patients was third-line users, RR (CR+PR) was 18.2%. Among 5 patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, pemetrexed based regimens was used in 1 patient as first-line treatment and 1 patient as second-line treatment. The curative effect was SD and PD, respectively. 3 patients accepted pemetrexed based regimens as third-line treatment, 2 of them got PD as results and another was SD. Among 5 patients with advanced cervical cancer, just 1 patient adopted pemetrexed based regimens as first-line treatment, whose curative effect was PR.2 patients chose this chemotherapy regimens as second-line treatment. Both of them got PD as their consequence. The last 2 patients made use of the regimens as third-line treatment, the effect of them was PD and SD, respectively. The one who with advanced tongue cancer, pemetrexed based regimens was used as second-line treatment, and the consequence was PD. About 71.1% patients experienced bone marrow suppression. Among them, 5 patients reached 4 grade. Other toxicity of pemetrexed were neurotoxicity, fatigue, diarrhea, dysphagia and vomiting. No treatment related death occurred with pemetrexed-based treatment. Conclusions: Pemetrexed based chemotherapy has considerable effect in patients with advanced cancers such as breast cancer,esophageal cancer and ovary cancer. More randomly clinical trials are needed to verify the results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2583-2585
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• 2016

Objectives: To evaluate efficacy and toxicity in patients with advanced lung cancer, including non-small cell and small cell variants (NSCLC and SCLC), treated with thalidomide plus chemotherapy. Methods: Fourteen patients with advanced lung cancer were scheduled to receive chemotherapy combined with thalidomide. All patients in this study received thalidomide (100 mg orally per night before sleeping, produced by Changzhou Pharmaceutical Factory Co.Ltd) after the start of chemotherapy for at least 14 days. Chemotherapy was administered according to the condition of patients. After at least 14 days of treatment, efficacy and toxicity were evaluated. Results: There were 6 female and 8 male patients with advanced lung cancer recruited into this study, including 2 with SCLC and 12 with NSCLC. The median age was 56.7 (44-65) years. Progressive disease was observed in 12 patients (12/14), and stable disease in 2 (2/14). Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 4/14 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzymes was recorded in 5/14 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 2/14 patients, all beingGrade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicity was recorded. No treatment related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that thalidomide combined with chemotherapy is mildly effective and safe for treating patients with advanced lung cancer. However, further evaluation of this combination is warranted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7837-7841
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• 2015

Objective: To assess the safety of Liena polypeptide injection (produced by JILIN FSENS PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced cancers. Method: A consecutive cohort of patients with advanced cancers were treated with Liena polypeptide injection combined with chemotherapy. And chemotherapy for patients with advanced cancers were adopted from regimens suggested by NCCN guideline. Liena polypeptide injection was intravenously injected at a dosage of 2ml plus 100ml normal saline for continuous 7 days during chemotherapy as one course. After at least two courses of treatment, safety and side effects were evaluated. Results: There were 20 female and 14 male patients with advanced cancer recruited into this study, including 10 patients with breast, 8 patients with colorectal, 8 patients with lung, 4 patients with gastric, and 1 patient with esophageal cancer, as well as 1 patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 patient with low pharyngeal and 1 patient with urethral cancer. The median age of patients was 59 (40-82) years. Incidences of Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 5/34 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzyme was recorded in 3/34 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 5/34 patients, and were Grade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were diagnosed. No treatment related death was found. Conclusions: Liena polypeptide injection combined with chemotherapy was safe in treating several sites of tumors, that mainly included lung, colorectal and breast cancer. However, further study should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4831-4836
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• 2016

The study aimed to find out to what degree suicidal thoughts and associated factors affect the suicide risk of advanced cancer patients. The frequency of suicidal thoughts among patients with cancer, especially in the advanced stages, is about 3 times greater than the adult average in South Korea. We recruited 457 participants with four types of cancers (colon, breast, cervical, and lung) using stratified sampling. Data collection was carried out through one-on-one interviews by trained nurses using a structured questionnaire. Advanced cancer patients with high, vs. low, levels of anxiety and pain had a higher suicide risk. In contrast, having one's spouse as the primary care provider was associated with a low suicide risk. Overall, the three factors of anxiety, pain, and the primary caregiver being one's spouse explained 17.2% of the variance in suicide risk. In conclusion, we derived influencing factors of suicide risk using a sample of patients with various types of advanced cancer. The results provide systematic baseline data for preparing nurse-led interventions to prevent suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among advanced cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4953-4958
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine how nurses recognize the need for supportive care of advanced cancer patients and to provide preliminary data on how adequate circumstances are to be set up and maintained in Korea. For the purpose of this study, we developed a preliminary questionnaire based on a focus group of 8 nurses run by a clinical psychologist and administered it to 228 nurses in a cancer hospital, over a 3-month period. Participants of this study were nurses with more than 5 years' experience of treating advanced cancer patients. The result showed that 207 respondents (90.8%) agreed that a smooth communication system for treatment taking into account the symptoms experienced by patients and rehabilitation issues was needed. More than 80% agreed that the items needed for an integrated management service for advanced cancer patients should include psychological support, an integrated pain and symptom management, and education for the patient and his or her caregivers. These results strongly suggest that a new system distinct from palliative care or hospices is needed for patients with advanced cancer in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7867-7869
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• 2015

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide (produced by CHANGZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY CO.LTD) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Method: A consecutive cohort of pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with thalidomide combined with chemotherapy. And chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer were administered according to the condition of patients. Thalidomide was orally administered at a dosage of 50mg/day to 150mg/day before sleeping for at least 14 days. After at least 14 days of treatment, safety and side effects were evaluated. Results: There were 12 female and 3 male patients with advanced cancer recruited into this study, including 9 patients with colon, 6 patients with rectal cancer. The median age of patients was 57(41-82) years. Partial response was observed in 2 patients (2/15), and stable disease in 3 patients(3/15). Incidences of Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 1/15 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzyme was recorded in 1/15 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 1/15 patients, and were Grade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were diagnosed. No treatment related death was found. Conclusions: Thalidomide combined with chemotherapy was safe and mildly effective in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, further study should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this combination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6587-6590
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• 2014

Objective: To further observe the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed, combined with Irinotecan or oxaliplatin or cisplatin in treating patients with advanced gastric cancer as second-line or third-line chemotherapy. Methods: From September 2013 to February 2014 we recruited 50 patients with advanced gastric cancer, with stage IV disease or postoperative recurrence, or unresectable. Then treated with pemetrexed based chemotherapy. After two cycles of treatment, efficacy and toxicity were evaluated. Results: Pemetrexed based chemotherapy was used as second-line in 33 patients, RR(CR+PR) is 41.2%. And achieved 36.4% when used as third-line. Overall response rate of 50 patients treated with Pemetrexed based treatment was 38% (CR+PR). Treatment related side effects were bone marrow suppression, vomiting, hepatic dysfunction and malaise.No treatment related death occurred. Conclusions: Treatment with pemetrexed based chemotherapy is active and is well tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5933-5937
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• 2015

Background: We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of baseline neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts along with the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in local and advanced gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 103 patients with gastric cancer were included. For all, patient characteristics and overall survival (OS) times were evaluated. Data from a complete blood count test including neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (Plt) count, hemoglobin level (Hb) were recorded, and the NLR and PLR were obtained for every patient prior to pathological diagnosis before any treatment was applied. Results: Of the patients, 53 had local disease, underwent surgery and were administered adjuvant chemoradiotherapy where indicated. The remaining 50 had advanced disease and only received chemotherapy. OS time was $71.6{\pm}6$ months in local gastric cancer patients group and $15{\pm}2$ months in the advanced gastric cancer group. Univariate analysis demonstrated that only high platelet count (p=0.013) was associated with better OS in the local gastric cancer patients. In contrast, both low NLR (p=0.029) and low PLR (p=0.012) were associated with better OS in advanced gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NLR and PLR had no effect on prognosis in patients with local gastric cancer who underwent surgery and received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In advanced gastric cancer patients, both NLR and PLR had significant effects on prognosis, so they may find application as easily measured prognostic factors for such patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8475-8478
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• 2014

Purpose: This systematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed-based chemoradiotherapy in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based regimens on response and safety for relevant patients were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rates (RRs) were calculated. Results: For pemetrexed-based regimens, 4 clinical studies including 47 patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. Systematic analysis showed that, in all patients, the pooled RR was 51% (24/47). Major adverse effects of grade III/IV were esophagitis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia anorexia, fatigue, diarrhea, dysphagia and vomiting. No treatment related death occurred with pemetrexed-based treatment. Conclusion: This systematic analysis suggests that pemetrexed based radiotherapy is associated with reasonable activity and good tolerability in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4041-4044
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• 2015

Background: To verify whether serum tumor abnormal protein (TAP) would correlate with the responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer, and the variation of conventional serum tumor markers e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), antigen 125 (CA125),carbohydrate antigen19-9 (CA19-9) of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer and treated with chemotherapy were enrolled into this study. TAP values of these patients were determined by detecting abnormal sugar chain glycoprotein in serum, combined with the area of agglomerated particles. For patients with advanced gastric cancer, responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy was compared with variation of TAP and the relation between variation of TAP and tumor markers in patients with early gastric cancer was analyzed. Results: Totally 82 gastric cancer patients were enrolled into this study. The value of TAP is more closely related to responsiveness of palliative chemotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. The correlation between TAP and responsiveness to palliative chemotherapy is stronger than the correlation between several conventional serum tumor markers (CEA, CA125 and CA199). The variation of TAP was also positively correlated with the trend of CA125 in adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions: TAP is sensitive in monitoring the responsiveness to palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer. But this result should be confirmed by randomized clinical trials for patients with gastric cancer.