• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.460-463
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• 2014

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) which is one of the common chemotherapy related toxicity poses a significant clinical challenge. Here we conducted a prospective pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on CIPN. Patients with CIPN were administered acupuncture procedure with continuation of previous conventional medication. Acupuncture procedures were conducted three times per week for 3 weeks. We assessed patients with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) at the time of baseline and every week after the acupuncture procedures. Total 5 patients were included and treated with acupuncture. CTCAE grades were the same of 2 in all patients. VAS mean value changed from 5.2 to 3.2, and FACT/GOG-Ntx total score that suggests the higher relates to better quality of life changed from 93.3 to 110 as mean value at the end of the 3rd week, though this index difference did not show any statistically significant difference. This pilot study suggests that acupuncture procedure may have a role for CIPN treatment. Launching a more larger and properly controlled study will be required to ascertain the efficacy of acupuncture.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2391-2395
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of response to continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination as second-line chemotherapy for patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma. Materials and Methods: Eighteen recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma patients who were treated with continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination between May 1999 and April 2011 were included in the analysis. Ifosfamide at $12g/m^2$ was administered by intravenous continuous infusion over 3 days, and doxorubicin $60mg/m^2$ was administered as an intravenous bolus injection on day 1. The combination therapy was repeated every 3 weeks. Treatment was continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: The patients (ages 7-53 years) received a total of 42 cycles of chemotherapy (median: 2 courses; range: 2-5 courses). The overall response rate was 0% and the disease control rate was 22.3%, with four patients having stable disease. The median time to progression and overall survival time were 2 months (range: 2-5 months) and 9 months (range: 3-29 months), respectively. Major severe toxicities were leucopenia 7 (38.9%), nausea and vomiting 3 (16.7%) and alopecia 9 (50%). There were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusions: In our experience, continuous-infusion ifosfamide and doxorubicin combination therapy at this dosage and schedule was found to be well tolerated and moderate effective, which could be considered as salvage therapy for patients with recurrent or refractory osteosarcoma. Further assessment is necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5699-5703
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of whole brain radiotherapy concomitant with targeted therapy for brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with chemotherapy failure. Materials and Methods: Of the 157 NSCLC patients with chemotherapy failure followed by brain metastasis admitted in our hospital from January 2009 to August 2012, the combination group (65 cases) were treated with EGFR-TKI combined with whole brain radiotherapy while the radiotherapy group (92 cases) were given whole brain radiotherapy only. Short-term effects were evaluated based on the increased MRI in brain 1 month after whole brain radiotherapy. Intracranial hypertension responses, hematological toxicity reactions and clinical effects of both groups were observed. Results: There were more adverse reactions in the combination group than in radiotherapy group, but no significant differences were observed between the two groups in response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) (P>0.05). Medium progression free survival (PFS), medium overall survival (OS) and 1-year survival rate in combination group were 6.0 months, 10.6 months and 42.3%, while in the radiotherapy group they were 3.4 months, 7.7 months and 28.0%, respectively, which indicated that there were significant differences in PFS and OS between the two groups (P<0.05). Additionally, RPA grading of each factor in the combination group was a risk factor closely related with survival, with medium PFS in EGFR and KRAS mutation patients being 8.2 months and 11.2 months, and OS being 3.6 months and 6.3 months, respectively. Conclusions: Whole brain radiotherapy concomitant with target therapy is favorable for adverse reaction tolerance and clinical effects, being superior in treating brain metastasis in NSCLC patients with chemotherapy failure and thus deserves to be widely applied in the clinic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3277-3280
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• 2016

Background: Gastric cancer is considered the fourth most common cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide. Gastric cancer develops more frequently among elderly. The oxaliplatin/5FU/leucovorin (FOLFOX) regimen has shown a notable activity against gastric cancer. Aim: To evaluate the responses and complications of FOLFOX-4 regimen as first line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: From October 2014 to November 2015, a total of 21 patients with metastatic or local AGC (advanced gastric cancer) were analyzed. All patients were administered a FOLFOX-4 regimen consisting of a 2h infusion of oxaliplatin $85mg/m^2$ (day 1), continuous infusion of $1000mg/m^2$ 5-Fu in 24h., and leucovorin $200mg/m^2$ in 2h infusion as a first-line chemotherapy. Results: A total of 18 patients were assessable for efficacy and toxicity. One of 18 patients achieved a complete response, and 12 had partial responses, giving an overall response rate of 72.6%. Three (16%) patients demonstrated stable disease and 2 (12%) progression. The median progression free survival was 7.3 months, and the median overall survival was 11.9 months. One patient had grade 3 neuropathy. No other grade 3 or 4 NCI-CTC were seen. Conclusions: The FOLFOX-4 regimen used in our study was both active and acceptable for AGC in elderly patients as neoadjuvant and main therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.303-309
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• 1993

Between November 1983 and December 1992, 121 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were treated with radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy in Inje University, Seoul Paik Hospital. Of these,97 patients were evaluable and analyzed retrospectively. Group 1 (n=62)was treated with radiotherapy alone and group 2 (n=35) combined with chemotherapy. There were 7 patients, 1 patient with stage I and II ,20 patients, 11 patients with stage IIIA,28 patients, 20 patients with stage IIIB, and 6 patients, 3 patients with stage IV, respectively. Ninety percent of patients received more than 5000 cGy of radiaton. Median survival of patients in group 1 was 9 months, group 2 was 15 months. Overall 2 year survival rates of group 1 and 2 were $37\%\;and\;27\%$, respectively. Relapse free survival rates at 2 year were $27\%\;and\;15\%$, respectively. Overall survival rates at 5 year for group 1 and 2 were $15\%\;and\;11\%$, and relapse free survival rates were $16\%\;and\;6\%,$ respectively. Median survival of complete and partial responders was 47 months in group 1,18 months in group 2, and those of stable or progression was 6 months,11 months, respectively. The proportion of locoregional relapse and distant metastasis was not significantly different between group 1 and 2. The majority of relapse developed within 2 years. Although 2 cases of severe esophagitis and myelosuppression were noted in group 2, the treatment related toxicity was relatively acceptable. Our analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in terms of response rate, survival, and sites of relapse.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2483-2487
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of gemcitabine and nedaplatin therapy among patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma previously treated with two lines of chemotherapy. Between February 2009 and August 2013, 30 patients were treated with gemcitabine and paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy. All had received a first-line chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin. Ten patients who had measurable histologically proven advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and upper urinary tract received gemcitabine $1,000mg/m^2$ on days 1, 8 and 15 and nedaplatin $70mg/m^2$ on day 2 as a third-line chemotherapy. Tumors were assessed by imaging every two cycles. The median number of treatment cycles was 3.5. One patient had partial response and three had stable disease. The disease-control rate was 40%, the median overall survival was 8.8 months and the median progression-free survival was 5.0 months. The median overall survival times for the first-line and second-line therapies were 29.1 and 13.9 months, respectively. Among disease-controlled patients (n=4), median overall survival was 14.2 months. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. There were no therapy-related deaths. Gemcitabine and nedaplatin chemotherapy is a favorable third-line chemotherapeutic option for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Given the safety and benefit profile seen in this study, further prospective trials are warranted given the implications of our results with regard to strategic chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9291-9293
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• 2014

Background: Patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma are considered to have a very poor prognosis, and new regimens are needed to improve the outcome. Gemcitabine, a nucleoside antimetabolite, is an analog of deoxycytidine which mainly inhibits DNA synthesis through interfering with DNA chain elongation and depleting deoxynucleotide stores, resulting in gemcitabine-induced cell death. Here we performed a systemic analysis to evaluate gemcitabine based chemotherapy as salvage treatment for patients with refractory and relapsed multiple myeloma. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the impact of gemcitabine based regimens on response and safety for patients with refractory and relapsed multiple myeloma were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated. Results: In gemcitabine based regimens, 3 clinical studies which including 57 patients with refractory and relapsed multiple myeloma were considered eligible for inclusion. Systemic analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 15.7% (9/57) in gemcitabine based regimens. Major adverse effects were hematologic toxicity, including grade 3 or 4 anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia i. No treatment related death occurred with gemcitabine based treatment. Conclusion: This systemic analysis suggests that gemcitabine based regimens are associated with mild activity with good tolerability in treating patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.465-472
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• 2005

Background : The survival benefit associated with first-line chemotherapy in lung cancer has led to the need for second-line chemotherapy, for which Docetaxel ($Taxotere^{(R)}$) has proven efficacy in both settings. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of docetaxel in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods : Thirty one patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, who had failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, between March 1999 and August 2003, were enrolled in this study. Patients received intravenous docetaxel, either $75mg/m^2$ or $100mg/m^2$, with routine premedication every three weeks. Results : Fourteen patients (45.2%) had a partial response. The median survival and progression-free survival times were 12.5 months (95% CI 7.3-17.6) and 3.0 months (95% CI 1.6-4.5), respectively. This study showed 2 factors gave different survival benefits; the age (< 60 years: 20.1 months vs. ${\geq}60years$: 6.6 months, p = 0.0105) and the histological type (adenocarcinoma: 25.6 months vs. others: 7.9 months, p=0.0055). The predominant toxicity was neutropenia, which occurred as WHO grade 3 or 4 in 38.7 % of patients. One treatment-related death was also reported. Non-hematological toxicity was minor and easily controlled. There were no significant statistical differences in the survival benefit and toxicity between the two doses. Conclusion : Docetaxel, as second-line monotherapy, was well tolerated and effective in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who failed first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2002

Background: The possibility that G-CSF recruits leukemic cells from the G0 to S phase, which may lead to a greater susceptibility to cytotoxic drugs, such as ara-C, has been presented in Harada's study. Methods: In this study, we referred to the protocol of Harada et al 1 to try G-CSF combined marrow-ablative chemotherapy and autologous PBSCT, for the treatment of AML patients in CR1 status. Between January 1997 and March 1998, six AML patients (3: children, 3: adults) in CR1 status were autografted and followed up to 3 years. Results: The major regimen related toxicity was composed of mucositis and diarrhea without death. The time of ANC recovery to 500/L and 1,000/L was 11~48 and 16~81 days, respectively. The mean time of platelet recovery to 20,000/L and 50,000/L was 21~233 and 35~370 days, respectively. The platelet recovery time to 50,000/L was markedly prolonged for more than 100 days in four patients (66.7%). Moreover, four patients (66.7%) experienced a relapse of leukemia after transplantation, with a mean interval of 147.5 days after PBSCT. Two patients were in CR status for 53 and 51 months after PBSCT, respectively. Conclusion: The G-CSF combined marrow-ablative chemotherapy and autologous PBSCT resulted in a markedly delayed platelet recovery and no advantages for decreasing the relapse rate of AML. But, further studies will be warranted.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.632-643
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• 1994

Background: The objective responses of cisplatin and etoposide (PVP) combination chemotherapy as second-line therapy following CAV was high (40~50%) and, in several reports, PVP yields survival results that are at least as good as those obtained with cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin-based regimens and with less host-related toxicity in chemotherapy-naive patients. We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the effect of a combination of cisplatin and etoposide as a fitst-line therapy in patients with small cell lung cancer. Methods: Sixty-one previously untreated small cell lung cancer patients with measurable lesion (s) received cisplatin(30 $mg/m^2$ IV, day 1~3) and etoposide(100 $mg/m^2$ IV, day 1~3). In patients with limited disease, after completion of 6 cycles of PVP chemotherapy, chest and prophylatic brain irradiation was performed in case of complete responder, chest irradiation on1y in partial responder. Results: 1) Of 55 evaluable patients, 13(24%) had a complete response and 29(53%) had a partial response. 2) The median survival time was 55.8 weeks for all patients(N=55), 61.1 weeks for limited disease(N=31), 51.3 weeks for extensive disease(N=24). 3) The response duration was 29.1 weeks for responders(N=42). 4) There was no significant prognostic factors influencing response rates. 5) The toxicity was tolerable and there was no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion: The PVP combination chemotherapy as a first-line therapy was effective and well-tolerated in patients with small cell lung cancer.