• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.5
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• pp.273-277
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• 2012

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a rare syndrome characterized by memory impairment, affective and behavioral disturbances and seizures. Among many different neoplasms known to cause PLE, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most frequently reported. The pathogenesis is not fully understood but is believed to be autoimmune-related. We experienced a patient with typical clinical features of PLE. A 67-year-old man presented with seizure and disorientation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high signal intensity in the bilateral amygdala and hippocampus in flair and T2-weighted images suggestive of limbic encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid tapping revealed no evidence of malignant cells or infection. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed a lung mass with pleural effusion and a consequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PLE associated with SCLC. The patient was subsequently treated with chemotherapy and neurologic symptoms gradually improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2003

Background : Proteasome inhibitors can promote either cell survival or programmed cell death, depending on both the specific type and proliferative status of the cell. However, it is not well known whether inhibition of proteasome activity is related to apoptosis in lung cancer cells. In addition, the exact mechanisms responsible for apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition are not well understood. In the present study, we have examined the effect of proteasome inhibition on lung cancer cells and tried to test the mechanisms that may be associated with the apoptosis of these cells. Methods : We examined the effect of proteasome inhibition with MG132 or PS-341 on cell survival in A549 and NCI-H157 lung cancer cells using MTT assay, and analyzed the cleavage of PARP by Western blot analysis to find evidence of apoptosis. Next, we evaluated the activation of caspase 3 by Western blot analysis and the activity of JNK by immunocomplex kinase assay. We also examined the changes in anti-apoptotic pathways like ERK and cIAP1 by Western blot analysis after inhibition of proteasome function. Results : We demonstrated that MG132 reduced cell survival by inducing apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H157 cells. Proteasome inhibition with MG132 or PS-341 was associated with activation of caspase 3 and JNK, reduced expression of activated ERK, and downregulation of cIAP1. Conclusion : Apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition may be associated with the activation of pro-apoptotic pathways like caspase 3 and JNK and the inactivation of anti-apoptotic pathways in lung cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1965-1969
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• 2015

Cancer prevalance and incidence is increasing with aging of populations and age is a critical factor in decision-making for anti-cancer treatment. However it is believed that chronological age is not enough to guide management in elderly cancer patients. Multidisciplinary evaluation and comprehensive geriatric assessment has gained importance regarding the treatment selection especially for definitive anti-cancer therapy recently. We here aimed to analyse the effect of the comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters on radiotherapy toxicity and tolerability in a series of geriatric cancer patients in Turkey.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.244-249
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• 2004

Background: Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH), an important regulator of stress response, has a potent immunoregulatory effect with the ability to promote the growth of various cancer through CRH receptor type 1 under stress. Although the metastasized cancers through cell migration are more aggressive than the primary cancers, little is known about the effect of CRH on cell migration. Gastric cancer is prone to metastasize to other tissues and it is reported that gastric cancer is response to various stresses such as oxidative stress. Herein, we studied the relationship between CRH and gastric cancer cell migration. Methods: We used gastric cancer cell line, MKN-28 and tested the CRH receptor type 1 expression on MKN-28 by RT-PCR. To examine the change in the ability of migration by CRH in MKN-28, cells were incubated with CRH and then migration ability was measured using a cell migration assay. Results: We confirmed that CRH receptor type 1 was expressed in MKN-28 and HaCaT cells. The migration ability of MKN-28 cells was increased by CRH in a time-, dose- dependent manner. Conclusion: These data suggest that CRH increases migration ability in gastric cancer cell line and that CRH may be a critical regulator in the metastasis of gastric cancer cell.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.sup1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2008

Ovarian cancer is often fatal since it is difficult to diagnose early and recurrence is quite frequent despite successful implementation of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy, thus exact diagnosis and early detection of recurrence are crucial to patient management. For pre-treatment staging, FDG PET could be helpful in a limited patient group possessing high risks of ovarian cancer. Besides, FDG PET could be recommended to patients with a high suspicion of recurrence i.e. rise of CA-125, especially in cases of conventional diagnostic imaging modalities presenting no evidence of disease because FDG PET provides critical information for treatment planning such as recurrence site or pattern. In order to expand the use of FDG PET to general population at staging or routine surveillance of ovarian cancer, more investigation is needed. The usefulness of FDG PET in evaluating treatment response and prognosis of ovarian cancer has not yet been determined, but it has been reported that FDG PET could evaluate treatment response early and show a close relationship with overall survival. PET/CT has been actively adopted in management of ovarian cancer. Not only in detecting tumor recurrence and evaluating treatment response but also in pre-treatment staging, FDG PET/CT is expected to playa role due to available anatomical information.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4267-4271
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• 2013

Background: As natural medicines in Asia, curcumin and triptolide extracted from different drug plants have proven to possess anticancer potential and widely used for anti-cancer research. The present study attempted to clarify that curcumin and triptolide synergistically suppress ovarian cancer cell growth in vitro. Methods: To test synergic effects, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after curcumin and triptolide combination treatment on ovarian cancer cell lines. Synergistic effects on apoptosis induction were determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss assay and flow cytometry analysis. Critical regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis related were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: We showed that the combination of curcumin and triptolide could synergistically inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth, and induce apoptosis, which is accompanied by HSP27 and HSP70, indicating that HSP27 and HSP70 play the important role in the synergic effect. Conclusions: From the result present here, curcumin and triptolide combination with lower concentration have a synergistic anti-tumor effect on ovarian cancer and which will have a good potential in clinical applications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5613-5618
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• 2015

Clinicians should looking for techniques that helps to early diagnosis of cancer, because early cancer detection is critical to increase survival and cost effectiveness of treatment, and as a result decrease mortality rate. Medical images are the most important tools to provide assistance. However, medical images have some limitations for optimal detection of some neoplasias, originating either from the imaging techniques themselves, or from human visual or intellectual capacity. Image processing techniques are allowing earlier detection of abnormalities and treatment monitoring. Because the time is a very important factor in cancer treatment, especially in cancers such as the lung and breast, imaging techniques are used to accelerate diagnosis more than with other cancers. In this paper, we outline experience in use of image processing techniques for lung and breast cancer diagnosis. Looking at the experience gained will help specialists to choose the appropriate technique for optimization of diagnosis through medical imaging.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5345-5351
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• 2012

Radiotherapy is an important part of modern cancer management for many malignancies, and enhancing the radiosensitivity of tumor cells is critical for effective cancer therapies. The Notch signaling pathway plays a key role in regulation of numerous fundamental cellular processes. Further, there is accumulating evidence that dysregulated Notch activity is involved in the genesis of many human cancers. As such, Notch inhibitors are attractive therapeutic agents, although as for other anticancer agents, they exhibit significant and potential side effects. Thus, Notch inhibitors may be best used in combination with other agents or therapy. Herein, we describe evidence supporting the use of Notch inhibitors as novel and potent radiosensitizers in cancer therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2003

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a critical regulator of mesenchymal cell migration and proliferation. The vital functions of PDGFs for angiogenesis, as well as development of kidney, brain, cardiovascular system and pulmonary alveoli during embryogenesis, have been well demonstrated by gene knock-out approaches. Clinical studies reveal that aberrant expression of PDGF and its receptor is often associated with a variety of disorders including atherosclerosis, fibroproliferative diseases of lungs, kidneys and joints, and neoplasia. PDGF contributes to cancer development and progression by both autocrine and paracrine signaling mechanisms. In this review article, important features of the PDGF isoforms and their cell surface receptor subunits are discussed, with regards to signal transduction, PDGF-isoform specific cellular response, and involvement in angiogenesis, and tumorstromal interactions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6489-6494
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• 2014

Cervical cytology remains the principal screening method to detect pre-invasive and invasive cervical lesions. Management of abnormal cervical cytology depends on the risk of encountering a significant cervical lesion or high-grade cervical disease. These risks may vary in different areas across the country. Thus, determining the rate of significant cervical lesion associated with each type of abnormal cervical cytology in each area is of critical importance for designing area-specific management approach. This review was conducted to evaluate the rate of high-grade cervical disease among Thai women with abnormal cervical cytology. A relatively high incidence of underlying significant lesions including invasive disease was demonstrated even in those having only minimal smear abnormality. This baseline information is crucial and must be taken into consideration in management of women with abnormal cytological screening to achieve the goals of comprehensive cervical cancer control in Thailand.