• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.820-827
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• 2017

The prevalence of breast cancer is very high in Korea. Although the patients receive standard treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, they frequently experience recurrence or metastasis of their tumors. In addition, many patients with breast cancer also suffer from side effect symptoms induced by these standard treatments. Therefore, increasing numbers of patients now want to undergo treatment with traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in addition to conventional treatment. We present a case of 46-year-old female with recurred breast cancer. She first received two kinds of chemotherapy and then underwent surgery. She then also received 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. At a follow-up examination, she was informed of recurrent lesions on the right anterior chest wall. She started to receive TKM treatments together with a new chemotherapy. After about one month, the size of the recurred tumor in right chest wall had decreased. Her symptoms, such as shoulder pain, chest pain, and nausea induced by conventional therapy, were also improved. We suggest that a combination of TKM and chemotherapy is a promising treatment for breast cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2018

Mammary Paget's disease (MPD) is usually accompanied by underlying breast malignancy; however, a few cases have been reported as only skin lesions without any evidence of malignancy of the breast on imaging tests and microscopic examination of surgical specimen. Here, we describe a 47-year-old woman who visited our hospital who had an eczematous lesion on right nipple and areola for over 10 years. The lesion was diagnosed as Paget's disease by punch biopsy; however, imaging studies demonstrated no breast malignancy or lymph node metastasis. The patient underwent surgery of on the nipple and areola including underlying breast tissue. No underlying malignancy was found upon microscopic examination, except for Paget's disease. Immunohistochemical stains revealed that the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin 7, and negativity for p63, cytokeratin 5/6, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. We report a case of MPD without underlying malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third case reported in Korea.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Cancer stem cells, which are known to drive tumor formation and maintenance, are a major obstacle in the effective treatment of various types of cancer. Trans-membrane glycoprotein mucin 1 antigen and cell surface glycogen CD44 antigen are well-known surface markers of breast cancer cells and breast cancer stem cells, respectively. To effectively treat cancer cells and cancer stem cells, we developed a new drug-encapsulating liposome conjugated with dual-DNA aptamers specific to the surface markers of breast cancer cells and their cancer stem cells. These two aptamer (Apt)-targeted liposomes, which were prepared to encapsulate doxorubicin (Dox), were named "Dual-Apt-Dox". Dual-Apt-Dox is significantly more cytotoxic to both cancer stem cells and cancer cells compared to liposomes lacking the aptamers. Furthermore, we demonstrated the inhibitory efficacy of Dual-Apt-Dox against the experimental lung metastasis of breast cancer stem cells and cancer cells in athymic nude mice. We also showed the potent antitumor effects of dual-aptamer-conjugated liposome systems by targeting cancer cells as well as cancer stem cells. Thus, our data indicate that dual-aptamer-conjugated liposome systems can prove to be effective drug delivery vehicles for breast cancer therapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.363-374
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• 2010

Growing evidence suggests a prominent role for leptin in human cancer progression. The intricate pattern of leptin cross-talk with other associated signaling pathways is a critical area of research that will ultimately contribute to comprehending the role of leptin in cancer progression. This review summarizes a portion of the current understanding of leptin signaling, with a critical focus on its contribution to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Five topics are addressed in this review: (1) Leptin receptor, (2) Leptin signaling, (3) Leptin and cancer, and (4) Leptin and tumor invasion. Due to the complex cellular effects of leptin, a more precise understanding of leptin signaling pathways must still be elucidated. Leptin is clearly a major factor for stimulating tumor progression through a complex spectrum of interplay and cross-talk among various signaling molecules. An understanding of the role of leptin in invasion and metastasis will provide valuable information for establishing strategies to modulate leptin signaling, which should be a high priority for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1719-1722
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• 2012

The Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein family Verprolin - homologous proteins (WAVEs), encoded by a metastasis promoter gene, play considerable roles in adhesion of immune cells, cell proliferation, migration and destruction of foreign agents by reactive oxygen species. These diverse functions have lead to the hypothesis that WAVE proteins have multi-functional roles in regulating cancer invasiveness, metastasis, development of tumor vasculature and angiogenesis. Differentials in expression of WAVE proteins are associated with a number of neoplasms include colorectal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, lung squamous cell carcinoma, human breast adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer. In this review we attempt to unify our knowledge regarding WAVE proteins, focusing on their potentials as diagnostic markers and molecular targets for cancer therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2018

Metastases to the liver can be found in various malignancies, most commonly originating from the colon, rectum, pancreas, stomach, esophagus, breast, lung, and melanoma. Surgical resection of liver metastasis is generally considered to be the definitive therapy fore cure. However, many patients are unable to undergo surgical resection due to medical comorbidities or multifocal extent of malignant disease affecting the liver. Among patients not eligible for surgery, other therapies exist for treatment in order to down stage the disease for surgical resection or for palliation. Radioembolization of hepatic metastases has shown to improve outcomes among patients with variety of malignancies including more common malignancies such as colorectal cancer. Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization has been successfully used in the management of hepatic metastases. A small series of metastatic sarcoma to the liver treated with radioembolization showed a promising response. We report a case of metastatic gastric leiomyosarcoma to the liver treated with Y-90 glass microspheres therapy using the radiation segmentectomy approach, previously described for hepatocellular carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.7-8
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• 2023

A 50-year-old female patient referred by the department of breast and thyroid surgery was recommended for orthopedic surgery because lesion like herniation pit was found in the left proximal femur in bone mineral densitometry (BMD). She was later diagnosed with bone metastasis on biopsy in orthopedic surgery. Pelvic X-ray and Lt thigh MRI were performed . Intra-medually nail was operated later. The BMD is a diagnostic method that determines the results by numerical values, so it is inevitable to neglect to observe the bone shape, but as shown in the above case, the examiner's observation of changes in bone shape can return to beneficial treatment for patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.275-278
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• 2016

The membrane epithelial mucin MUC1 is expressed at the luminal surface of most simple epithelial cells, but expression is greatly increased in most breast cancers. The aims of present study were to investigate expression of the MUC1 gene and interactive affects in metastases. Whole cell RNA isolation from 50 sentinel lymph nodes (SNLs) of breast cancer patients was performed using reverse transcription and real-time PCR. All patients were diagnosed with breast cancer and without metastasis, confirmed by IHC staining. The evaluation of tumor and normal samples for expression of MUC1 gene, the results were 49.1% non-expressive and 45.3% expression (Student t, p = 0.03). Also in comparison of normal breast tissue and breast cancer SLN for MUC1 gene, MUC1 negative SLNs were 75.0% (18 samples) and MUC1 positive samples were 25.0% (6 samples). Over-expression of MUC1 gene may offer a target for therapy related to progression and metastasis in women with breast cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.126-128
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• 2013

Pyogenic liver abscess in patients with malignant disease is a fatal state and is easily diagnosed. We presented a rare case of sudden fatal septicemia following anticancer treatment for recurred gastric cancer due to multiple liver abscesses which could not be diagnosed. A 72-year-old male with recurred gastric cancer received anticancer agents. He had a history of distal gastrectomy with right hepatic lobectomy for hepatic metastasis. He received anticancer treatment in the outpatient's service center periodically, and his performance status was preserved with nothing in particular. After administrating docetaxel, he suddenly developed septicemia and multiple organ failure and died 5 days after strong medical supports. Pathological autopsy revealed that multiple minute abscesses of the liver which could not be detected macroscopically were the causes of fatal septicemia. The etiology, therapies and prognosis of rare entity are being discussed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.315-320
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the recurrence pattern and characteristics of patients based on the 2013 St. Gallen surrogate molecular subtypes after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in Chinese women. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 709 consecutive breast cancer patients undergoing BCS from 1999-2010 at our institution. Five different surrogate subtypes were created using combined expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. Locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were calculated. Results: The 5-year LRRFS, DMFS, and DFS rates were 90.5%, 88.2%, and 81.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that young age, node-positive disease, and HER2 enrichment were independent prognostic factors in LRRFS patients. There was also an independent prognostic role of lymph node-positive disease in DMFS and DFS patients. Patients with luminal A tumors had the most favorable prognosis, with LRRFS, DMFS, and DFS rates of 93.2%, 91.5%, and 87.4% at 5 years, respectively. Conversely, HER-2-enriched tumors exhibited the highest rate of locoregional recurrence (20.6%). Conclusion: Surrogate subtypes present with significant differences in RFS, DMFS, and LRRFS. Luminal A tumors have the best prognosis, whereas HER2-enriched tumors have the poorest.