• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.257-260
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• 2001

It is well known that bronchogenic carcinoma frequently metastasize to bony skeleton, although it is unusual for it to metastasize to soft tissue in the form of a musculoskeletal abscess. We report a bronchogenic cancer patient presenting with back pain after undergoing a celiac plexus block. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated inflammation with an abscess of the paraspinal muscle from T12 to L5; however, it was subsequently diagnosed as a metastatic pleomorphic carcinoma by histopathological study.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.133.2-134
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• 2003

The major hurdle of conventional chemotherapeutics is the toxicity to normal tissue. The possible therapeutic advantage(s) of nano-particle encapsulated chemotherapeutics (nano-molecules) may be the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Nano-molecules with increase volume may incorporated into the tumor tissue selectively, which is composed of rather sparse structure. EPR effect may cause of increased effectiveness with lower tixicity to normal tissue of nano-chemotherapeutics. (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effect of soft tissue technique (STT) in Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS) following sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in breast cancer patients by examining the upper extremity function, range of motion, and pain. Methods: Nineteen patients with breast cancer-related AWS were evaluated. STT was performed on the symptom area for treatment of AWS symptoms. We evaluated AWS symptoms and pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional disability using the Korean version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, glenohumeral joint (GHJ) flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM) with or without elbow extension. Results: Visual analyses of the data suggest a modest effect of STT in improving GHJ flexion, abduction ROM with or without elbow extension, DASH for upper extremity function, and Pain. The statistically significant improvement in baseline observed for pain, DASH, and ROM data made it impossible to assess the effects of STT on those outcomes. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: STT may be an effective and safe treatment option for AWS patients recovering from breast cancer treatment; however, further research is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1325-1332
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• 2016

Radioprotective effects of ginger essential oil (GEO) on mortality, body weight alteration, hematological parameters, antioxidant status and chromosomal damage were studied in irradiated mice. Regression analysis of survival data in mice exposed to radiation yielded LD50/30 as 7.12 and 10.14 Gy for control (irradiation alone) and experimental (GEO-treated irradiated) mice, respectively, with a dose reduction factor (DRF) of 1.42. In mice exposed to whole-body gamma-irradiation (6 Gy), GEO pre-treatment at 100 and 500 mg/kg b.wt (orally) significantly ameliorated decreased hematological and immunological parameters. Radiation induced reduction in intestinal tissue antioxidant enzyme levels such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione was also reversed following administration of GEO. Tissue architecture of small intestine which was damaged following irradiation was improved upon administration of GEO. Anticlastogenic effects of GEO were studied by micronuclei assay, chromosomal aberration and alkaline gel electrophoresis assay. GEO significantly decreased the formation of micronuclei, increased the P/N ratio, inhibited the formation of chromosomal aberrations and protected agaisnt cellular DNA damage in bone marrow cells as revealed by comet assay. These results are supportive of use of GEO as a potential radioprotective compound.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1713-1718
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• 2012

Advanced imaging approaches (computed tomography, CT; magnetic resonance imaging, MRI; $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, FDG PET) have increased roles in cervical cancer staging and management. The recent FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) recommendations encouraged applications to assess the clinical extension of tumors rather than relying on clinical examinations and traditional non-cross sectional investigations. MRI appears to be better than CT for primary tumors and adjacent soft tissue involvement in the pelvis. FDG-PET/CT has increased in usage with a particular benefit for whole body evaluation of tumor metabolic activity. The potential benefits of advanced imaging are assisting selection of treatment based upon actual disease extent, to adequately treat a tumor with minimal normal tissue complications, and to predict the treatment outcomes. Furthermore, sophisticated external radiation treatment and brachytherapy absolutely require advanced imaging for target localization and radiation dose calculation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.873-876
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• 2013

Our aim was to test the hypothesis that preoperative serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and -9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) levels correlate with pathological features. Serum levels of MMP-7, and MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were determined in 90 bladder cancer patients and 40 healthy controls using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Preoperative serum MMP-7 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in cancer patients than control groups (p<0.001). In contast, serum TIMP-1 levels were lower (p<0.001). Alteration in MMP-7, and MMP-9, and TIMP-1 production may contribute to tumor angiogenesis and be associated with clinic-pathological features.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9459-9465
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• 2014

Background: Structural maintenance of chromosomes 4 (SMC-4) is a chromosomal ATPase which plays an important role in regulate chromosome assembly and segregation. However, the role of SMC-4 in the incidence of malignancies, especially colorectal cancer is still poorly understood. Materials and Methods: We here used quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis to examine SMC-4 mRNA and protein levels in primary colorectal cancer and paired normal colonic mucosa. SMC-4 clinicopathological significance was assessed by immunohistochemical staining in a tissue microarray (TMA) in which 118 cases of primary colorectal cancer were paired with noncancerous tissue. The biological function of SMC-4 knockdown was measured by CCK8 and plate colony formation assays. Fluorescence detection has been used to detect cell cycling and apoptosis. Results: SMC-4 expression was significantly higher in colorectal cancer and associated with T stage, N stage, AJCC stage and differentiation. Knockdown of SMC-4 expression significantly suppressed the proliferation of cancer cells and degraded its malignant degree. Conclusions: Our clinical and experimental data suggest that SMC-4 may contribute to the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. Our study provides a new therapeutic target for colorectal cancer treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.8
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• 2023

Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Well-known risk factors include hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, along with exposure to aflatoxins, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Genomic variants play a crucial role in mediating the associations between these risk factors and liver cancer. However, the specific variants involved in this process remain under-explored. This study utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify genetic variants associated with liver cancer from various continents. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with liver cancer were retrieved from the genome-wide association studies catalog. Prioritization was then performed using functional annotation with HaploReg v4.1 and the Ensembl database. The prevalence and allele frequencies of each variant were evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients. Two variants, rs2294915 and rs2896019, encoded by the PNPLA3 gene, were found to be highly expressed in the liver tissue, as well as in the skin, cell-cultured fibroblasts, and adipose-subcutaneous tissue, all of which contribute to the risk of liver cancer. We further found that these two SNPs (rs2294915 and rs2896019) were positively correlated with the prevalence rate. Positive associations with the prevalence rate were more frequent in East Asian and African populations. We highlight the utility of this population-specific PNPLA3 genetic variant for genetic association studies and for the early prognosis and treatment of liver cancer. This study highlights the potential of integrating genomic databases with bioinformatic analysis to identify genetic variations involved in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. The genetic variants investigated in this study are likely to predispose to liver cancer and could affect its progression and aggressiveness. We recommend future research prioritizing the validation of these variations in clinical settings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2393-2399
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• 2013

Objective: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is considered a hotspot of mutations in various tumors. However, the relationship between microsatellite instability (MSI) and mtDNA copy number alterations in lung cancer has yet to be fully clarifieds. In the current study, we investigated the copy number and MSI of mitochondrial genome in lung carcinomas, as well as their significance for cancer development. Methods: The copy number and MSI of mtDNA in 37 matched lung carcinoma/adjacent histological normal lung tissue samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) assays for sequence variation, followed by sequence analysis and fluorogenic 5'-nuclease real-time PCR. Student's t test and linear regression analyses were employed to analyze the association between mtDNA copy number alterations and mitochondrial MSI (mtMSI). Results: The mean copy number of mtDNA in lung carcinoma tissue samples was significantly lower than that of the adjacent histologically normal lung tissue samples (p<0.001). mtMSI was detected in 32.4% (12/37) of lung carcinoma samples. The average copy number of mtDNA in lung carcinoma samples containing mtMSI was significantly lower than that in the other lung carcinoma samples (P<0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that mtMSI may be an early and important event in the progression of lung carcinogenesis, particularly in association with variation in mtDNA copy number.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.329-334
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• 2015

Objective : To comparatively investigate the expression of several integrins in specimens of human bone metastases and degenerative bone tissue. Methods : Degenerative cancellous tissue was obtained from a sample of human degenerative spine. Thirteen human specimens were obtained from metastatic spine tumors, whose primary cancer was colon cancer (n=3), hepatocellular cancer (n=3), lung cancer (n=4), and breast cancer (n=3). The expression of vimentin and integrins ${\alpha}v$, ${\beta}1$, and ${\beta}3$ was assessed in metastatic and degenerative specimens by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results : Immunohistochemical staining showed that vimentin and integrin ${\alpha}v$ was broadly expressed in all tissues examined. By contrast, integrin ${\beta}1$ was weakly expressed only in 38.4% (5/13) of tissues. Integrin ${\beta}3$ was consistently negative in all cases examined. qRT-PCR analysis showed that vimentin gene expression was higher in all metastatic specimens, as compared to degenerative bone. The gene expression of integrin ${\alpha}v$ in breast specimen was significantly higher than others (p=0.045). The gene expression of integrin ${\beta}1$ was also higher in all metastatic specimens than in degenerative bone tissue. The gene expression of integrin ${\beta}3$ was variable. Conclusion : Spinal metastatic tumors have mesenchymal characteristics such as increased expression of vimentin. The increased expression of integrin ${\alpha}v$ and ${\beta}1$ in spine metastatic tumors suggests that adhesive molecules such as integrin may have implications for the prevention of spine metastasis.