• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: Multiple primary tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract are not unusual. We examined head and neck cancer patients to discover the presence of second primary cancer in their upper gastrointestinal tract, using esophagogastroscopy. Materials and Methods: Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed on 51 patients whose head and neck cancers were treated at department of therapeutic radiology from August 1996 to April 1999. Two of all patients had been studied by barium swallowing study. In 51 patients, twenty-four had a primary tumor in the larynx, 8 in the oropharynx, 6 in the nasopharynx, 6 in the oral cavity, 6 in the hypopharynx, and 1 in the nasal cavity. Endoscopically pathologic lesions were biopsied. In control group, endoscopy was performed on 1097 patients who didn't complain any symptoms. Results: Endoscopy showed early malignant lesions in 4 cases(7.7%). Histology of esophageal cancers showed squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant lesions of stomach in 2 cases were histologically identified as adenocarcinoma. Two esophageal cancers occurred in patients whose primary lesions had oropharynx and hypopharynx. Two cases of gastric cancer were also accompanied by oropharynx and hypopharynx. The incidence of second primary cancer was 2 in oropharynx and 2 in hypopharynx. In all cases, second primary cancers were found simultaneously. In control group, 9(0.8%) of 1097 patients were confirmed as early esophageal and gastric cancers. Conclusion: The majority of esophageal and gastric cancer detected by endoscopy were early stage in both head and neck cancer and control group. The incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer of head and neck cancer patients was 10 times as high as that of control group. Although followup period was short, all second primary cancers were detected simultaneously. We would recommend that endoscopic evaluation be included in the workup and followup of all patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and prognostic factors for patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery or with radiation therapy alone for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 132 esophageal cancer patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery or patients who were treated with radiation therapy alone at our institution from 1989 to 2006. Thirty-five patients had stage II disease, 88 patients had stage III disease and nine patients had stage IV disease. Tumors were located at the upper esophagus in 18 patients, the mid esophagus in 81 patients and the distal esophagus in 33 patients. Sixty patients were treated with radiation therapy alone and 72 patients were treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery. Eight patients received a dose less than 40 Gy and 78 patients received a dose of 40 to 50 Gy. The remaining 46 patients received a dose of 50 to 60 Gy. The majority of patients who underwent postoperative radiation therapy received a dose of 45 Gy. Results: Actuarial survival rates for all of the patients at two years and five years were 24% and 5%, respectively. The median survival time was 11 months. Survival rates for patients who underwent postoperative RT at two years and five years were 29% and 8%, respectively. The corresponding survival rates for patients who received radiation alone were 18% and 2%, respectively. Survival rates at two years and five years were 43% and 15% for stage II disease, 22% and 2% for stage III disease and 0% and 0% for stage IV disease, respectively; these findings were statistically significant. Two-year survival rates for patients with upper, middle and distal esophageal cancer were 19, 29% and 22%, respectively. Although there was a trend of slightly better survival for middle esophageal tumors, this finding was not statistically significant. Complete response to radiation was achieved in 13 patients (22%) and partial response to radiation was achieved in 40 patients (67%) who received radiation alone. No response to radiation was noted in seven patients (12%). A statistically significant difference in survival rates was seen between patients that had a complete response and patients that had a partial response. Two-year survival rates for patients that had a complete response versus patients that had a partial response were 31% and 17%, respectively. There were no survivors for patients with no response as determined at two-year follow-up. Conclusion: We conclude that radiation therapy is an effective treatment for esophageal cancer. Stage and response to radiation therapy were noted to be prognostic factors. A more effective treatment modality is needed to improve long term survival because of the relatively dismal prognosis for this tumor.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 1998

Double primary cancer is a rare disease in which two cancers occur in an individual independently. As prolonged survival of patients with malignant tumors is expected in the future due to advances in methods of treatment, the chance of double primary cancer will be increased. We experienced one case of double primary cancer which was developed in esophagus and chest wall. A 72 year-old male visited our hospital complaining of epigastric discomfort and right chest wall mass. We studied esophagus, chest wall, and other organs including gastrointestinal tract by various methods to exclude the cancer of other sites and could diagnose squamous cell carcinoma of mid-esophagus and adenocarcinoma of chest wall. The patient underwent esophagogastrostomy following esophagectomy and wide-resection of chest wall tumor. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.873-880
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• 2014

In our previous study, miRNA-183, a miRNA in the miR-96-182-183 cluster, was significantly over-expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In the present study, we explored the oncogenic roles of miR-183 in ESCC by gain and loss of function analysis in an esophageal cancer cell line (EC9706). Genome-wide mRNA micro-array was applied to determine the genes that were regulated directly or indirectly by miR-183. 3'UTR luciferase reporter assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot were conducted to verify the target gene of miR-183. Cell culture results showed that miR-183 inhibited apoptosis (p < 0.05), enhanced cell proliferation (p < 0.05), and accelerated G1/S transition (p < 0.05). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of miR-183 on apoptosis was rescued when miR-183 was suppressed via miR-183 inhibitor (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the expression of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4), which was predicted as the target gene of miR-183 by microarray profiling and bioinformatics predictions, decreased when miR-183 was over-expressed. The 3'UTR luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-183 directly regulated PDCD4 by binding to sequences in the 3'UTR of PDCD4. Pearson correlation analysis further confirmed the significant negative correlation between miR-183 and PDCD4 in both cell lines and in ESCC patients. Our data suggest that miR-183 might play an oncogenic role in ESCC by regulating PDCD4 expression.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 1998

We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients with esophageal cancer treated surgically between 1992 and 1996. They composed of 51(94.4%)men, 3(5.6%)women, and the age ranged from 42 to 78, the mean was 58.7$\pm$8.37. Symptoms were varied with dysphagia(72.2%), epigastric discomfort(16.6%), chest pain (5.6%), and so on(5.6%). Transthoracic esophagectomy(TTE) with esophagogastrostomy was done in 36 case, TTE with esophagocologastrostomy in 4 case, and transhiatal esophagectomy(THE) with esophagogastrostomy in 14 case. The operative mortality was 12.9%(7/54); 6 underwent TTE with esophagogastrostomy, and 1 underwent TTE with esophagocologastrostomy. Postoperative complications were of anastomotic leakage in 7 case, wound infection in 10 case, anastomotic stricture in 9 case, vocal cord paralysis in 2 case, bronchial tearing in 1 case, and pneumothorax in 3 case. Locations of esophageal cancer were upper thoracic esophagus in 4 case, middle thoracic esophagus in 34 case and lower thoracic esophagus in 16 case. Histological types were adenocarcinoma in 1 case and squamous cell carcinoma in 53 case. During the follow-up period, 25 cases died. Cumulative survival rate was 52.7% in 1 year, 45.5% in 2 year, 45.5% in 3 year, 45.5% in 4 year, 45.5% in 5 year.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2001

배경: 최근 치료법의 진보에도 불구하고 진행성 식도암의 예후는 5년 생존율이 10% 이하로매우 불량하기 때문에 식도암에 대한 새로운 치료방법의 하나로 암면역 치료가 대두되고 있다. 암면역 치료를 위해서 MAGE 등 종양 특이항원이 연구의 대상이 되고 있으나 국내에서는 아직 이에 대한 연구가 없다. 대상 및 방법: 1995년 1월부터 1998년 12월까지 고신대학교 복음병원 흉부외과에서 수술 치험한 125례의 식도암중 병리조직 보관상태가 양호한 편평세포암 79례를 병기에 따라(1병기 19례, IIa병기 19례, IIb병기 10례, III병기 21례, IV병기 10례) 무작위로 추출하고 대조군으로 평활근종 20례와 정상 식도점막 20례를 대조군으로 하여 DO7 단클론 항체와 항 MAGE-3 단클론 항체 57B를 이용하여 면역조직화학검사를 시행하여 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율을 조사하고 식도암 조직에서 질병의 진행도를 반영하는 병기에 따른 발현율 및 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율간의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 결과: 식도암조직에서 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현율은 각각 51.9%, 60.8%의 발현율을 보였으나 식도평활근종과 정상 식도점막에서는 한례도 발현되지 않아 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물은 대조군에 비해 식도암 조직에서 의미있게 발현되었다(p<0.001). 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현은 I병기에서 68.4%, 52.6%, IIa병기에서 57.9%, 47.6%, IIb병기에서 60%, 70%, III병기에서 33.3%, 71.4%, IV병기에서 40%, 70% 각각 발현되어 병기에 따른 발현율의 차이는 없었다(p=0.193, p=0.452). 식도암 조직내에서 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현간에는 상관관계가 없는 것으로 나타났다(p=0.679). 결론: 이상의 결과로 변형 p53 단백과 MAGE-3 유전자 산물의 발현은 식도암에서 예후인자로서의 역할은 할수 없으나 식도 편평세포 암조직에서만 특이하게 높은 빈도로 발현됨으로써 식도암도 면역치료의 대상이 될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5889-5893
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• 2014

Over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been identified as a common feature associated with clinical outcome in many types of cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus (SCCO). However, the clinical importance of EGFR over-expression in SCCO remains unsettled as conflicting results exist. Therefore we carried out the present meta-analysis of published studies for clarification. A total of 13 studies including 1, 150 patients were enrolled. EGFR over-expression was positive in 722 of these cases. With EGFR over-expression, patients had higher depth of invasion, vascular invasion, and poor prognosis. However, expression had no relation with degree of differentiation, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage or lymphatic invasion. EGFR over-expression is probably a valuable predictor for the T stage, vascular invasion and OS, and it could be used as a poor prognosis indicator for the esophageal SCC patients. Targeting therapy to EFGR should be considered to the combined treatment in SCCO.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2009

Purpose: The effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was analyzed in elderly patients when used in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: The retrospective analysis included 28 elderly patients aged 65 or older, with histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy from January 2001 to July 2007. The squamous cell carcinoma disease stages included 8 patients (28.8%) in stage IIa, 10 patients (35.7%) in stage IIb, and 10 patients (35.7%) in stage III. Fractionated radiotherapy was performed with a 6 MV or 10 MV X-ray for 45~63 Gy (median: 59.4 Gy). Chemotherapy was applied concurrently with the initiation of radiotherapy. A 75 mg/$m^2$ dose of Cisplatin was intravenously administered on day 1. Further, 5-FU 1,000 mg/$m^2$ was continuously administered intravenously from days 1 to 4. This regimen was performed twice at 3-week intervals during radiotherapy. Two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy was performed after radiotherapy. Results: The follow-up period was 3~72 months (median: 19 months). The treatment responses after concurrent chemoradiotherapy included a complete response in 11 patients (39.3%), a partial response in 14 patients (50.0%), and no response in 3 patients (10.7%). The overall response rate was 89.3% (25 patients). The overall 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 55.9%, 34.6% and 24.2%, respectively. The median survival time was 15 months. Two-year survival rates of patients with a complete response, partial response, and no response were 46.2%, 33.0%, and 0%, respectively. The stage and tumor response after concurrent chemoradiotherapy were statistically significant prognostic factors related with survival. No treatment-related deaths occurred in this study. Conclusion: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is a relatively effective treatment without serious complications in elderly patients with locally-advanced esophageal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1797-1802
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• 2014

Background: The prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A) genes encode enzymes that are involved in arachidonic acid and prostaglandin biosynthesis. Dysregulation of both genes is associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We therefore hypothesized that there is an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes and susceptibility to ESCC. Methods: We performed a gene-wide tag SNP-based association study to examine the association of SNPs in PTGS2 and PLA2G2A with ESCC in 269 patients and 269 healthy controls from Taihangshan Mountain, Henan and Hebei Provinces, the rural area of China which has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer in the world. Thirteen tag SNPs in PLA2G2A and 4 functional SNPs in PTGS2 were selected and genotyped using a high-throughput Mass Array genotyping platform. Results: We found a modest increased risk of ESCC in subjects with the PTGS2 rs12042763 AA genotype (OR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.00-3.04) compared with genotype GG. For PLA2G2A, a decreased risk of ESCC was observed in subjects with the rs11677 CT (OR=0.51, 95%CI, 0.29-0.85) or TT genotype (OR=0.51, 95%CI, 0.17-0.96) or the T carriers (CT+TT) (OR=0.52, 95%CI, 0.31-0.85) when compared with the CC genotype. Also for PLA2G2A, rs2236771 C allele carriers were more frequent in the control group (P=0.02). Subjects with the GC (OR=0.55, 95%CI, 0.33-0.93) or CC genotype (OR=0.38, 95% CI, 0.16-0.94) or the C carriers (GC+CC) (OR=0.52, 95%CI, 0.32-0.85) showed a negative association with ESCC susceptibility. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PTGS2 and PLA2G2A gene polymorphisms may modify the risk of ESCC development.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.193-200
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• 2007

Purpose: This study evaluated the pretreatment expression patterns of MDM2, p53, and pRb proteins to determine if the expression patterns could predict the outcome of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and aid in the decisions for the selection of treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients that were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy for stage $I{\sim}IVa$ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were selected for this study. Radiotherapy was administered with daily $1.8{\sim}2\;Gy$ fractions up to a median dose of 54 Gy for primary tumors, and with four cycles of cisplatin/5-fluorouracil chemotherapy that was administered every 4 weeks, the first two cycles of which were administered concurrently with radiotherapy. Expression of MDM2, p53, and pRb was investigated by immunohistochemical analysis using pretreatment biopsy specimens. Results: MDM2, p53, and pRb were detected with high immunoreactivity in 19.6%, 27.5%, and 66.7% of the patients, respectively. However, there was no significant correlation between expression of these factors and clinical outcome. By the use of multivariate analysis with nine covariates-age, tumor location, tumor length, stage, pathological response, clinical response, MDM2 expression, p53 expression, and pRb expression, only pathological response and stage were significant factors for cause-specific survival. Conclusion: Expression of MDM2, p53, and pRb was not found to be clinically significant for predicting outcomes after CCRT in this study. Further studies with a larger patient population and longer follow-up periods are needed to re-evaluate the expression pattern and to identify new predictors for CCRT response.