• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.544-550
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• 2010

Purpose: The result of all malignant neoplasms including oral cancer is decided by long-term prognosis. However, until now, there are only a few reports about long-term prognosis of cancer secluded in the oral cavity. So, we investigated all patients that visited our clinic for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) for the last 10 years. From this survey, we hope to find important factors that influence prognosis of the disease. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was performed for patients that visited the oral oncology clinic for oral cancers from Jan. 2001 to Feb. 2010. We selected the patients that were diagnosed with SCCa and received curative treatment. In these patients, we investigated basic epidemiology, smoking history, body mass index, recurrence rate, treatment methods, pathologic data and 5-yr survival rate. Results: There was a total of 185 patients (115 males, 70 females and mean age: 57.3 years) that visited the oral oncology clinic for oral SCCa. Areas of primary lesion were tongue (105 cases, 57%), lower gum (19 cases, 10%), floor of mouth (16 caess, 8%), retromolar trigone (12 cases, 6.5%), and buccal cheek (11 cases, 6%). Other involved areas were upper gum, palate, lip, and salivary glands-of 1 case each. The overall 5-year survival rate was 63.7%. The factors that influenced prognosis of the disease were stage of the disease, status of differentiation, recurrence, metastasis of cervical lymph node and age. Conclusion: The factors that influence prognosis of disease are stage of the disease, status of differentiation, recurrence, metastasis of cervical lymph node and age. To point out a current trend, the mean age of patients that developed oral cancer was lower than that of before. Secondly, the prevalence of oral cancer in non-smoker are on the rise. Thus, further studies on etiology and epidemiology should be done.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.397-401
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• 1993

We investigated the usefulness of tumor-associated antigen (TA-4) by a radioimmunoasay method in estimating the extent of disease and tracking the clinical course of disease in 58 patients with cervical cancer. According to our results and those of other authors, the normal range of serum TA-4 was arbitrarily taken to be less than 2 ng/ml. The proportion of the pretreatment positive serum TA-4 level of 48 squamous cell carcinoma patients was $60\%.$ And $40\%$ in 5 adenocarcinoma patients. Advanced disease group showed higher incidence of positive serum TA-4 level; $40\%,\;72\%,\;63\%,\;and\;100\%$ in stage I to IV, respectively. And the absolute values of TA-4 were higher in advanced disease. In patients treated with radiation, elevated serum TA-4 level usually declined after 3000 cGy and further dropped to normal range in $44\%$ after 5000 cGy. The positive rate in primary cervical cancer was $59\%,$ (32/54) and $100\%$ (4/4) in recurrent conical cancer. And 15 patients with recurrent or persistent disease during follow-up revealed $80\%$ positive serum TA-4 level. In conclusion, it would be suggested that serial serum TA-4 measurements may be helpful in tracking the clinical course during and after treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.469-472
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• 2012

The present study was conducted to assess utility of $p16^{INK4a}$ immunopositivity as a surrogate marker for genomic integration of high-risk human papillomavirus infection (hrHPV). A total of 29 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), 27 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and 53 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), histologically-diagnosed between 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2008 at the University of Malaya Medical Centre were stained for $p^{16INK4a}$ (CINtec Histology Kit (REF 9511, mtm laboratories AG, Heidelberg, Germany). Immunopositvity was defined as diffuse staining of the squamous cell cytoplasm and or nucleus (involving > 75% of the intraepithelial lesions or SCCs). Staining of basal and parabasal layers of intraepithelial lesions was pre-requisite. One (3.4%) LSIL, 24 (88.9%) HSIL and 46 (86.8%) SCC were $p^{16INK4a}$ immunopositive. All normal squamous epithelium did not express $p16^{INK4a}$. $p16^{INK4a}$ expression was significantly lower (p<0.05) in LSIL compared with HSIL and SCC with no difference in expression between HSIL and SCC. The increased $p16^{INK4a}$ immunopositivity in HSIL and SCC appears in line with the integrated existence of the hrHPV and may provide more insightful information on risk of malignant transformation of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions than mere hrHPV detection.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2012

In this study, we evaluated the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping test called MolecuTech REBA HPV-$ID^{(R)}$ (YD Diagnostics, Seoul, Korea) for 704 women who also had cervical cytological evaluations by Thin Prep. The infection rate of high-risk HPV genotypes was 56.6% in patients with normal cytology, 59.8% in those with benign, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 51.4% in those with atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance, 92.3% in those with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 94.1% in those with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. HPV 16 was the most common genotype detected in any lesion, followed by HPV 53, 58, 33, 52, 45, 31, and 35, in order. The HPV DNA test with PCR-REBA is a very highly sensitive, but less specific, method. The infection rates and HPV genotype distribution of non-Korean people versus people from South Korea showed regional differences.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1143-1147
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• 2014

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is considered to play a critical role in the development of cervical carcinoma, which is the third most common cancer among Korean females. Here, we performed a baseline study of HPV infection and genotyping using an HPV DNA chip, which is a type of oligonucleotide microarray. A total of 6,855 cervical swab specimens from 5,494 women attending Dankook University Hospital Health Improvement Center in Cheonan, Korea between 2006 and 2012, originally collected for HPV infection screening, were genotyped for HPV. The extracted DNA from the cervical specimens was investigated by an HPV DNA chip designed to detect 41 different HPV types. HPV was identified as positive in 1,143 (16.7%) of the 6,855 samples. The most frequently detected HPV genotypes were HPV types 16, 53, 56, 58, 39, 52, 70, 84, 68, 62, 35, 54, 81, 18, and 30, in descending order of incidence. The proportions of single and multiple HPV infections in the HPV-positive specimens were 78.1% and 21.9%, respectively. The average age of HPV-positive patients was 39.9 years, with the positive rate of HPV being the highest in the 10-29 age group (20.6%). We report here on the prevalence and distribution of 41 different genotypes of HPV according to age among women in Cheonan, Korea. These data may be of use as baseline data for the assessment of public health-related issues and for the development of area-specific HPV vaccines.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2018

Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a critical role in the development of cervical carcinoma. This study analyzed the efficiency of multiplex real-time PCR in detecting and identifying HPV genotypes in samples from women who visited a Korean hospital for checkups. Cervical swab specimens were obtained from women who attended a checkup at the Health Improvement Center of Hospital in Dankook University Cheonan, South Korea and were referred for an HPV genotyping test between January and September 2014. A total of 1703 cervical swab specimens were collected consecutively during this period. PCR results were compared with those of the traditional cytological assay for the same population. Among the 1,703 specimens, 19.91% were HPV positive, of which 14.50% indicated a single infection and 5.40% indicated multiple infections. However, cytology identified only 2.52% of positive cases, including 1.23% cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 1% of low grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion, and 0.29% of high grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion. The rate of high-risk and low-risk HPV in the abnormal cytology group was 48 and 23, respectively, and 274 and 136 in the normal group, respectively. HPV types 56, 52, 43 were the most prevalent in that order. Our results confirm the efficiency of the HPV DNA assay for the detection of 28 different HPV genotypes with reasonable sensitivity. A screening strategy that comprises the HPV DNA assay and cytology would help overcome the low sensitivity of a cytological diagnosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of short-course hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) for the palliation of uterine cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, who underwent palliative hypofractionated 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy between January 2002 and June 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. RT was delivered to symptomatic lesions (both the primary mass and/or metastatic regional lymph nodes). The total dose was 20 to 25 Gy (median, 25 Gy) in 5 Gy daily fractions. Results: The median follow-up duration was 12.2 months (range, 4 to 24 months). The median survival time was 7.8 months (range, 4 to 24 months). Vaginal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom followed by pelvic pain (9 patients). The overall response rates were 93.8% and 66.7% for vaginal bleeding control and pelvic pain, respectively. Nine patients did not have any acute side effects and 7 patients showed minor gastrointestinal toxicity. Only 1 patient had grade 3 diarrhea 1 week after completion of treatment, which was successfully treated conservatively. Late complications occurred in 4 patients; however, none of these were of grade 3 or higher severity. Conclusion: Short-course hypofractionated RT was effective and well tolerated as palliative treatment for uterine cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9117-9123
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the knowledge, perception and attitudes towards human papilloma virus (HPV) among pre-university students in Malaysia. Study design : In this cross sectional study, between November 2013 to March 2014, in a public university, a convenient sampling method was used. A total of 716 respondents were recruited and interviewed with a set of standard questionnaires for assessment of knowledge, perception and attitudes towards HPV and predictor variables associated with level of knowledge. Results: Almost half (48.9%) of the respondents scored less than 5 and were categorised as having poor knowledge. Three hundred and twelve (43.6%) respondents had moderate knowledge and only 54 (7.5%) respondents exhibited good knowledge with the score of 11 and above. Only 142 (20%) students perceived themselves to be vulnerable to HPV infection though 560 (78.2%) students thought that HPV infection is a serious disease. Perceived benefits and desire to be vaccinated were significantly associated with gender (p=0.000) and knowledge of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer (p=0.000). Conclusions: The level of knowledge regarding HPV among the pre-university students was low. However, student intention for vaccination increased with increasing level of knowledge. Thus, efforts to improve knowledge and awareness should be prioritised to increase uptake of the HPV vaccination programme and hence reduce morbidity and mortality from consequences of HPV infection, including cervical carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5131-5136
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• 2012

Cancer is one of the major health problems worldwide and its current treatments have a number of undesired adverse side effects. Natural compounds may reduce these. Currently, a few plant products are being used to treat cancer. In this study, goniothalamin, a natural occurring styryl-lactone extracted from Goniothalamus macrophyllus, was investigated for cytotoxic properties against cervical cancer (HeLa), breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and colon cancer (HT29) cells as well as normal mouse fibroblast (3T3) using MTT assay. Fluorescence microscopy showed that GTN is able to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells in a time dependent manner. Flow cytometry further revealed HeLa cells treated with GTN to be arrested in the S phase. Phosphatidyl serine properties present during apoptosis enable early detection of the apoptosis in the cells. Using annexin V/PI double staining it could be shown that GTN induces early apoptosis on HeLa cells after 24, 48 and 72 h. It could be concluded that goniothalamin showing a promising cytotoxicity effect against several cancer cell lines including cervical cancer cells (HeLa) with apoptosis as the mode of cell death induced on HeLa cells by Goniothalamin was.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

Functional defects in mitochondria are involved in the induction of cell death in cancer cells. We assessed the toxic effect of camptothecin against the human cervical and uterine tumor cell line SiHa with respect to the mitochondria-mediated cell death process, and examined the combined effect of camptothecin and anticancer drugs. Camptothecin caused apoptosis in SiHa cells by inducing mitochondrial membrane permeability changes that lead to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased Bcl-2 levels, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs (carboplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin and mitomycin c) or signaling inhibitors (farnesyltransferase inhibitor and ERK inhibitor) did not enhance the camptothecin-induced cell death and caspase-3 activation. These results suggest that camptothecin may cause cell death in SiHa cells by inducing changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, which leads to cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. This effect is also associated with increased formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination with other anticancer drugs (or signaling inhibitors) does not appear to increase the anti-tumor effect of camptothecin against SiHa cells, but rather may reduce it. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs does not seem to provide a benefit in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancer compared with camptothecin monotherapy.