• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.179-182
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• 2009

Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer high risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Among BRCA1- and BRCA2- mutation carriers, the average cumulative risks for ovarian cancer by age 70 years were 39% and 11%, respectively. There are other hereditary cancer syndromes such as Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer also confer a higher risk for developing ovarian cancer, but over 90% of all hereditary ovarian cancers are thought to be associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. This report concerns a Korean woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer present with a family history of ovarian and various other cancers, in whom a germline BRCA1 mutation was identified and the same mutation was found in one of two daughters of her's. Since there could be more hereditary ovarian cancer patients in Korean than clinicians thought, both primary and secondary prevention of ovarian cancer based on family history and genetic information is important to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was to identify the influence of sexual behavior, body image, social support, and other characteristics on sexual satisfaction in patients with breast cancer according to their participation in a support group. Method: Data was collected by self-report questionnaires. Participants included 63 patients attending a support group and 76 patients who did not participate in the support group. The questionnaire sections consisted of sexual satisfaction, sexual behavior, body image, social support and information on general characteristics, disease-related characteristics, and sexual life-related characteristics. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in sexual behavior, body image and sexual satisfaction between the two groups. Social support scores were significantly higher in the support group. Sexual satisfaction was positively related with sexual behavior, post-op change of sexual intercourse frequency, body image, and patient's education level, and negatively related to age in the support group. Sexual satisfaction was positively related with sexual behavior, social support and body image in the non support group. Sexual behavior is predictable 37.0% of sexual satisfaction in the support group. Sexual behavior, body image, and social support is predictable for 38.0% of the sexual satisfaction in non support group participants. Conclusion: Implications point to the need for the development and implementation of programs that focus specifically on sexual life issues for breast cancer patients, as well as further research measuring the effects of such intervention programs. Continuous education and counseling through participation in support groups can contribute to promote and affirm a healthy sexual life for patients with breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3357-3362
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• 2013

The human skeleton is the most common organ to be affected by metastatic cancer and bone metastases are a major cause of cancer morbidity. The five most frequent cancers in Malaysia among males includes prostate whereas breast cancer is among those in females, both being associated with skeletal lesions. Bone metastases weaken bone structure, causing a range of symptoms and complications thus developing skeletal-related events (SRE). Patients with SRE may require palliative radiotherapy or surgery to bone for pain, having hypercalcaemia, pathologic fractures, and spinal cord compression. These complications contribute to a decline in patient healthrelated quality of life. The multidimensional assessment of health-related quality of life for those patients is important other than considering a beneficial treatment impact on patient survival, since the side effects of treatment and disease symptoms can significantly impact health-related quality of life. Cancer treatment could contribute to significant financial implications for the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to assess the health-related quality of life and treatment cost, among prostate and breast cancer patients in countries like Malaysia to rationalized cost-effective way for budget allocation or utilization of health care resources, hence helping in providing more personalized treatment for cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2016

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer in the world and by far the most frequent cancer among women, with an estimated 1.67 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2012 (25% of all cancers). Polygene expression analysis is used to predict the prognosis and determine the most appropriate treatment regimen. The objective of this study was to examine the gene expression profiles of SIRT3, HRAS, LSP1, SCUBE2 and AP2A2 in Iranian women with BC.A total of 136 patients including healthy controls were categorized into three groups based on the relapse of the disease. Expression of desired genes in formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues collected from all groups of participants was analyzed via the RT PCR method. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed then real-time quantitative PCR was carried out. Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of SIRT3 was equal among patient and control groups. LSP1 was down regulated in all patient groups relative to controls but reduced expression in the metastatic group relative to the non-metastatic one was not significant. HRAS was significantly overexpressed in total and metastatic tumor samples versus normal but not in non-metastatic cases. SCUBE2 expression showed significant over-expression in both overall tumor samples and the non-metastatic group as compared to normal tissues. Gene expression level of AP2A2 in all groups was not detectable. Our data are compatible with a tumor suppressor role of LSP1 related to potential prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and outcome. This study for the first time assayed the prognostic value and changes in the expression of SIRT3, LSP1, HRAS, SCUBE2 and AP2A2 genes in women with breast cancer in the Iranian population and findings confirmed potential biomarker and prognostic capability of these genes. Such expression profiling data can critically improve prognosis and treatment decisions in cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1277-1280
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• 2015

Aim: To report epidemiologic and anatomoclinical transitions of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in Tunisia. Materials and Methods: Data including clinico-pathological data for 208 cases of T4d or PEV 3 non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were collected from patient records. Chi2 and Z tests were used to compare variables with two Tunisian historical series and a series about Arab-American patients. Results: Thirty three percent of our patients had their first child before 23 years of age and 56% had their menarche before 12 years, 75% never receiving oral contraception. Obesity was observed in 42% of women and IBC occurred during pregnancy in 13% of cases. Tumor grade was II-III in 90% of cases, HR was negative in 52%, HER2 was over expressed in 31% and invasion of more than 3 axillary nodes occurred in 18% of patients. We observed a pCR rate of 19% after neoadjuvant treatment (anthracyline-taxane used in 79%, trastuzumab in 27% ). Compared to historical Tunisian series (since 1996), IBC epidemiology remained stable in terms of median age, menopausal status and obesity. However we observed a significant decrease in median clinical tumor size and number of positive axillary lymph nodes. Comparison to IBC in Arab-Americans showed a significant difference in terms of median age, menopausal status, positivity of hormonal receptors and educational level. Conclusions: Our assessment of epidemiologic transition showed a reduction of clinco-pathological stage of IBC, keeping the same characteristics as compared to Tunisian historical series over a period of 14 years. Features seem to be different in Arab-American patients, probably related to migration, "occidentalization" of life style and improvement in socio-economic level.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.487-493
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• 2020

Objectives: This case report aimed to present the effect of Korean medicine therapies, including Sikyungbanga-tang, on cough in a breast cancer patient with metastasis to the lung. Methods: The patient was treated for 48 days with Sikyungbanga-tang and Saengmaek-san to control cough and other symptoms. To assess the changes in the symptoms and the patient's quality of life, the numeric rating scale (NRS), the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and the EORTC quality of life questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were used. Results: Following treatment with herbal medicine, the clinical symptoms and quality of life improved. Moreover, the patient's cough did not recur even one month later. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that Korean herbal medicine, including Sikyungbanga-tang, may be effective in treating cough in breast cancer patient with metastasis to the lung. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.60-64
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• 2010

Purpose: Until now the general study for breast cancer patient has been mammography, breast sonography for anatomic diagnostics and $^{18}F$-FDG whole body PET for functional one. But the PEM (Positron Emission Mammography) was developed to increase sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to improve the disadvantage of each study. Therefore this present study aims to describe availability of PEM for improving diagnosis of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: During 3 months from January in 2010, PEM was performed on 100 patients who had history of breast cancer. Using Naviscan's PEM Flex Solo II scanner, PEM images of breast were acquired. And then we evaluated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PEM data by comparing results of PEM images with postoperative pathologic finding. Results: On the 100 patients, it could reveal 89 true positive, 9 false positive, 7 false negative and 87 true negative. Thus the results of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for PEM was evaluated 92.7%, 90.6% and 91.7%. Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy have been reported 83.7%, 68.5% and 77.1% in mammography, and that was 89.1%, 79.1% and 83.4% in breast sonography. However the results of PEM were more increased than others. Therefore the results of this study will be available that PEM used diagnosis with breast cancer, used preoperative operation plan and helps to discovery of a part recurrence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2645-2651
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• 2015

Background: The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key regulator for HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, but data about whether activation of PI3K/Akt is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to trastuzumab therapy is controversial. In this study we investigated predictive and prognostic significance of expression of p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K, which are components of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), retrospectively. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four HER2-positive MBC patients who had received first-line trastuzumab-based therapy were recruited for the study group. All of the patient's breast tissue samples were examined for p27 and Akt expression. In addition, twenty-five patients with sufficient amount of tumor tissue were also examined for PTEN and PI3K expression. p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and their relationship with patient demographic features, tumor characteristics, response to trastuzumab-based treatment and survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K were positive in 25.9%, 70.4%, 24% and 96% of the cases, respectively. Nomne were significantly associated with response to trastuzumab and time to progression (TTP). A trend toward statistical significance for longer overall survival (OS) was found for PTEN-positive patients (p=0.058); there was no significant relationship between the other immunohistochemical variables and OS. When we analyzed groups regarding co-expression, the PTEN-negative/Akt-negative group had a significantly lower objective response rate (ORR) (20% vs 80%, p=0.023) and the PTEN-negative/p27-negative and PTEN-negative/Akt-negative groups had significantly lower median OS compared to other patients (26.4 months vs 76.1 months, p=0.005 and 25.6 months vs 52.0 months, p=0.007, respectively). Conclusions: p27, Akt, PTEN and PI3K expression is not statistically significantly associated with ORR, TTP and OS, individually. However, the combined evaluation of p27, Akt and PTEN could be helpful to predict the response to trastuzumab-based therapy and prognosis in HER2-positive MBC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.179-183
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women around the world, and mortality is primarily caused by micro-metastatic disease. The complex mechanisms of breast cancer invasion and metastasis are intrinsically related to the malignant cell type so that early detection of micro-metastases can help prolongation of survival for patient. The aim of the present research work was evaluation of the expression status of mammoglobin protein as a candidate molecular marker in the negative sentinel lymph node (SLN). Fifty tumor specimens, and 50 normal adjacent breast tissue samples from the same patients were selected on the basis of having more than 10% tumor content for RNA extraction from SLNs. Tumor samples and normal adjacent breast tissue were archived in the form of frozen fresh tissue in liquid nitrogen. Real-time PCR was performed on a Bioner life express gradient thermal cycler system. Mammoglobin gene overexpression in breast cancer metastasis was investigated. Single marker results were mammaglobin 66.7% and CK19 50.0%, with 58.3% for the two in combination. Due to improved outcome with at least 3 genes (83.3%), it seems, triple marker evaluation will be most likely useful for detecting micro-metastases instead of studying separate genes.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.177-179
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• 2003

Lymphedema is the most common of complications after surgery and radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer or cervical cancer. The cancer itself is a worry, but the lymphedema ia an additional handicap for the patients, both physical and psychosoical. Recently the best treatment of lymphedema is complete lymphedema therapy, and Dr. Foldi developed in 1980s. But this treatment has not always given satisfactory and permanent results. We report a case of the lymphedema patient who was treated by partial decompression therapy.