• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2015

About 80% of all pancreatic cancer patients suffer from a wasting syndrome defined as the cancer cachexia characterized by abnormally low weight, weakness, and loss of skeletal muscle mass, which directly impacts physical activity, quality of life and overall survival. Over the past decades, we have gained new insights into the underlying mechanism of cachexia associated with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this review was to explore recent findings about cancer cachexia pathophysiology and describe the current pharmacologic approach. Pancreatic cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome mediated by mechanical factors, inflammatory cytokines, neuropeptides, hormones and tumor-derived factors. The treatment of cancer cachexia remains controversial but is currently an active area of research. Several new targeted drugs are under investigation, and we hope to open a new prospect in the management of cancer cachexia in the future.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.89-94
• /
• 2013

The dramatic increase in colorectal cancer incidence in the population of East Asia indicates that diet and lifestyle play a role in colorectal cancer risk. Colorectal cancer prevention and etiologic studies have long provided dietary modification strategies for colorectal cancer prevention. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiologic evidence on the association between diet and colorectal cancer risk. Several cohort studies and a few intervention studies, most conducted in Western countries, have shown a possible link between red and processed meat, alcoholic beverages, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B and the Western dietary pattern with colorectal cancer development. For colorectal cancer prevention in both Western and Asian populations, dietary modification is a key component of colorectal cancer prevention.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.88-91
• /
• 2016

Pancreatic cancer is the lethal disease and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer has remained largely unchanged over the past years. Borderline advanced pancreatic cancer is a biological different from resectable pancreatic cancer due to higher risk of early recurrence because of artery/vein abutment. Therefore this unique subset of pancreatic cancer has a controversial issue with regard to their treatment policy. Some institutes managed borderline advanced pancreatic cancer by up-front neoadhuvant chemotherapy because neoadjuvant chemotherapy provide the opportunity to treat early micro-metastasis with unfavorable tumor biology. But, some institutes try aggressive up-front surgical procedures to provide a chance of long-term survival in highly selected patients. Therefore this unique subset of pancreatic cancer has a controversial issue with regard to their treatment policy. This review address recent treatment trend for patients with borderline advanced pancreatic cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.2349-2354
• /
• 2013

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T gene polymorphisms have been reported to influence the risk for digestive tract cancer (DTC) in many studies; however, the results remain controversial and ambiguous. We therefore carried out a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to derive a more precise estimation of any associations. Electronic searches were conducted on links between this variant and DTC in several databases through April 2012. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the strength of associations in fixed or random effect models. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed. A total of 21 case-control studies were identified, including 6,198 cases and 7,583 controls. Overall, there was a statistically significant association between the NQO1 C609T polymorphism and DTC risk (TT vs. CC: OR=1.224, 95%CI=1.055-1.421; TT/CT vs. CC: OR=1.195, 95%CI=1.073-1.330; TT vs. CT/CC: OR=1.183, 95%CI=1.029-1.359; T vs. C: OR=1.180, 95%CI=1.080-1.290). When stratified for tumor location, the results based on all studies showed the variant allele 609T might have a significantly increased risk of upper digest tract cancer (UGIC), but not colorectal cancer. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, we observed a significantly risk for DTC in Caucasians. For esophageal and gastric cancer, a significantly risk was found in both populations, and for colorectal, a weak risk was observed in Caucasians, but not Asians. This meta-analysis suggested that the NQO1 C609T polymorphism may increase the risk of DTC, especially in the upper gastric tract.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.112-116
• /
• 2022

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) is known for its association with malignant diseases. Moreover, various solid organ malignancies, such as ovarian, breast, lung, esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancers, have been reported to occur with IIM. Furthermore, its relationship with hematologic malignancies, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia, has been reported. However, to date, IIM related to pancreatic cancer has scarcely been reported, particularly in patients with polymyositis (PM). Therefore, here we report a case of PM developed immediately after the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2014

Cancer, especially GI cancer itself and any associated treatments have profound effect on the patient's nutritional status. It is therefore very important to understand various nutritional issues in GI cancer patients for the cure and for increasing the compliance during the course of the treatment. Screening and identification of nutritional risk for the GI cancer patients is very essential and is plays a critical part of the treatment to help improve patient outcomes. Maintaining optimal nutritional status is an important goal in the management of individuals diagnosed, treated with cancer. Maintenance of adequate nutritional intake is important whether patients are undergoing active therapy, recovering from cancer therapy, or are in remission and striving to avoid cancer recurrence. The goals of nutrition therapy are to prevent or reverse nutrient deficiencies, preserve lean body mass, help patients better tolerate treatments and minimize nutrition-related side effects and complications, etc. Recent interest in clinical settings is also in maximizing quality of life of the patients which can also be modulated by appropriate nutrition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1281-1283
• /
• 2014

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy characterized by high invasiveness and poor survival. In a nation-wide cancer survey, the age-standardized incidence rate of GBC was the highest in Jeju Island compared to 15 other provinces in Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of GBC according to the nature of diagnosis, that is, incidental versus non-incidental. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with GBC at the Digestive Disease Center and Department of Internal Medicine, Cheju Halla General Hospital, between November 2008 and November 2011, were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) and non-incidental gallbladder cancer (NIGBC). Clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared between the two groups. Results: Seventy-nine patients were enrolled and analyzed in our study. Thirty-three (41.8%) and 46 (58.2%) were identified as IGBC and NIGBC, respectively. The proportions of patients with gallstone disease, gallbladder polyp, and cholecystectomy were significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, the median survival rate was significantly higher for patients with IGBC than for those with NIGBC (11.4, 95% confidence interval, 5.6-13.7 vs 4.0, 95% confidence interval 3.03-5.96 months; p=0.01) during a median follow-up period of 5.7 months. Conclusions: Patients with IGBC showed better clinical prognosis than those with NIGBC. Therefore, patients with gallstone disease or gallbladder polyps, major predictive risk factors for IGBC, should undergo advanced work-up for chelecystectomy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.5095-5099
• /
• 2016

The relative lack of information on breast cancer etiology in Burkina Faso led us to undertake the present work to highlight risk factors. This prospective study was conducted using a questionnaire between January 2015 and February 2016 on women admitted to Yalgado OUEDRAOGO hospital, for consultation or supervision. The characteristics of multiparous breast cancer patients (n = 44) were compared with their non-multiparous counterparts (n = 36). The study found that increased risk of breast cancer among non-multiparous cases was related to body mass index (BMI) (p <0.001), age at menopause (p <0.004) and use of oral contraception (p <0.021) while abortion (p <0.002) was a risk factor among multiparous cases. These results suggest that even if multiparity is associated with a decreased risk in some women, avoidance of abortion during reproductive life should be recommended. The results provide preliminary information, which now need to be supplemented by survey of a larger sample in the national territory.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.42-44
• /
• 2015

Anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD) has been shown to predispose to carcinomas of the biliary tract (bile duct and gallbladder) and pancreatic cancer because of chronic recurrent inflammatory reaction due to pancreatic or bile juice refluxes. However, pancreatic duct would be less affected by the bile because of the relatively higher intraductal pressure of the pancreatic duct. We report a case of metachronous pancreatic cancer in AUPBD patient without choledochal cyst who underwent cholecystectomy because of gallbladder cancer.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2023

Dietary habits play a significant role in the development of colorectal cancer. Over the past decades, various epidemiological and meta-studies have indicated a close relationship among nutrient intake, dietary habits, and incidence of colorectal cancer. Less consumption of red or processed meat and alcohol, if possible, and high consumption of vitamins B and D, garlic, magnesium, fiber, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Additionally, balanced diet intake and proper weight maintenance are crucial for colon cancer prevention. All these factors are modifiable and associated with the recurrence and overall survival after cancer development, thereby greatly contributing to the nutritional treatment of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer.