• Title/Summary/Keyword: non-small cell

Search Result 1,252, Processing Time 0.043 seconds

Expression of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Tissue Using Tissue Microarray Method (조직 미세배열법을 이용한 비소세포 폐암 조직에서 에스트로겐과 프로게스테론 수용체 발현)

  • Han, Hye-Seung;Kim, Min-Ji;Cho, Jae-Hwa;Yoon, Yong-Han;Kwak, Seung-Min;Lee, Hong-Lyeol;Kim, Kwang-Ho;Ryu, Jeong-Seon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.58 no.1
    • /
    • pp.54-58
    • /
    • 2005
  • Background : To evaluate the role of estrogen and progesterone in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC, IHC studies for the expression of the receptors of estrogen and progesterone have been performed with inconsistent results. Recently the TMA method has been developed and has become recognized as a useful and rapid method for extensively analysing molecular markers at the gene and protein level. We have investigated their expressions in the tissue from NSCLC using the microarray method. Methods : The TMA construction was made with 70 formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of NSCLC. After heat-induced epitope retrieval, IHC staining on primary tissues of NSCLC was performed with the monoclonal antibodies, ER1D5 and PR1A6. Results : Our sample of 70 consisted of 74% men and 26% women. Of the patients, 49% were current smokers, 27% were non-smokers and 24% were former smokers. By histologic classification, 34 patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 24 had adenocarcinoma, 9 had adenosquamous cell carcinoma, and 3 had other carcinomas. No cancer cells were immunostained with these monoclonal antibodies in any primary tissues of NSCLC. Conclusions : No expression of neither of the two receptors was found in any of the lung cancer tissues. This suggests that adequate genetic variants for IHC staining need to be developed for NSCLC.

Morphological Characteristics of Growth of Rice and Barnyardgrass under Various Cropping Patterns - II. Difference in Anatomical Characteristics (재배양식(栽培樣式)에 따른 벼와 피의 생장(生長) 및 해부형택학적(解剖形態學的) 차이(差異) - II. 재배양식(栽培樣式)에 따른 벼와 피간(間)의 해부학적(解剖學的) 차이(差異))

  • Chon, S.U.;Guh, J.O.;Park, S.J.
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.128-143
    • /
    • 1994
  • At 5 DAS/T, leaf primordia of rice stems that were grown under dry condition in transverse sections were strongly stained while those under water condition had many aerenchyma cells well developed. On the other hand, leaf primordia and large air spaces in stem of transplanted rice were well developed. Rice in leaf anatomy had small and fine epidermal cells, chlorophyllous mesophylls, and bulliform cells but had no chlorophyllous vascular bundle sheath cells, while barnyardgrass leaf had large, rough and irregularly arranged epidermal cells, chlorophyllous vascular bundle sheath cells, and non-bulliform cells but had no chlorophyllous mesophylls. Epidermal cells of transplanted rice, however, were well developed, differentiated and sclerified. Cross sections of rice root under dry condition showed cell contents, regularly arranged cells, non-intercellular spaces and non-aerenchyma while under water condition had well-developed intercellular spaces, aerenchyma cells, small and densely arranged epidermis, sclerified exodermis and sclerenchyma cells. But root anatomy of transplanted rice consisted of finely, regularly arranged epidermis, well-developed intercellular spaces and nucleous cells.

  • PDF

The intrinsic instabilities of fluid flow occured in the melt of Czochralski crystal growth system

  • Yi, Kyung-Woo;Koichi Kakimoto;Minoru Eguchi;Taketoshi Hibiya
    • Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
    • /
    • 1996.06a
    • /
    • pp.179-200
    • /
    • 1996
  • The intrinsic instabilities of fluid flow occurred in the melt of the Czochralski crystal growth system Czochralski method, asymmetric flow patterns and temperature profiles in the melt have been studied by many researchers. The idea that the non-symmetric structure of the growing equipment is responsible for the asymmetric profiles is usually accepted at the first time. However further researches revealed that some intrinsic instabilities not related to the non-symmetric equipment structure in the melt could also appear. Ristorcelli had pointed out that there are many possible causes of instabilities in the melt. The instabilities appears because of the coupling effects of fluid flow and temperature profiles in the melt. Among the instabilities, the B nard type instabilities with no or low crucible rotation rates are analyzed by the visualizing experiments using X-ray radiography and the 3-D numerical simulation in this study. The velocity profiles in the Silicon melt at different crucible rotation rates were measured using X-ray radiography method using tungsten tracers in the melt. The results showed that there exits two types of fluid flow mode. One is axisymmetric flow, the other is asymmetric flow. In the axisymmetric flow, the trajectory of the tracers show torus pattern. However, more exact measurement of the axisymmetrc case shows that this flow field has small non-axisymmetric components of the velocity. When fluid flow is asymmetric, the tracers show random motion from the fixed view point. On the other hand, when the observer rotates to the same velocity of the crucible, the trajectory of the tracer show a rotating motion, the center of the motion is not same the center of the melt. The temperature of a point in the melt were measured using thermocouples with different rotating rates. Measured temperatures oscillated. Such kind of oscillations are also measured by the other researchers. The behavior of temperature oscillations were quite different between at low rotations and at high rotations. Above experimental results means that the fluid flow and temperature profiles in the melt is not symmetric, and then the mode of the asymmetric is changed when rotation rates are changed. To compare with these experimental results, the fluid flow and temperature profiles at no rotation and 8 rpm of crucible rotation rates on the same size of crucible is calculated using a 3-dimensional numerical simulation. A finite different method is adopted for this simulation. 50×30×30 grids are used. The numerical simulation also showed that the velocity and flow profiles are changed when rotation rates change. Futhermore, the flow patterns and temperature profiles of both cases are not axisymmetric even though axisymmetric boundary conditions are used. Several cells appear at no rotation. The cells are formed by the unstable vertical temperature profiles (upper region is colder than lower part) beneath the free surface of the melt. When the temperature profile is combined with density difference (Rayleigh-B nard instability) or surface tension difference (Marangoni-B nard instability) on temperature, cell structures are naturally formed. Both sources of instabilities are coupled to the cell structures in the melt of the Czochralski process. With high rotation rates, the shape of the fluid field is changed to another type of asymmetric profile. Because of the velocity profile, isothermal lines on the plane vertical to the centerline change to elliptic. When the velocity profiles are plotted at the rotating view point, two vortices appear at the both sides of centerline. These vortices seem to be the main reason of the tracer behavior shown in the asymmetric velocity experiment. This profile is quite similar to the profiles created by the baroclinic instability on the rotating annulus. The temperature profiles obtained from the numerical calculations and Fourier transforms of it are quite similar to the results of the experiment. bove esults intend that at least two types of intrinsic instabilities can occur in the melt of Czochralski growing systems. Because the instabilities cause temperature fluctuations in the melt and near the crystal-melt interface, some defects may be generated by them. When the crucible size becomes large, the intensity of the instabilities should increase. Therefore, to produce large single crystals with good quality, the behavior of the intrinsic instabilities in the melt as well as the effects of the instabilities on the defects in the ingot should be studied. As one of the cause of the defects in the large diameter Silicon single crystal grown by the

  • PDF

Immunocytochemical Localization of Parvalbumin and Calbindin-D 28K in Monkey Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (원숭이 외측슬상체배측핵에서 칼슘결합단백 Parvalbumin과 Calbindin-D 28K의 분포)

  • Ko, Seung-Hee;Bae, Choon-Sang;Park, Sung-Sik
    • Applied Microscopy
    • /
    • v.24 no.4
    • /
    • pp.61-77
    • /
    • 1994
  • The calcium-binding proteins (CaBP), parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin-D 28K (calbindin) are particularly abundant and specific in their distribution, and present in different subsets of neurons in many brain regions. Although their physiological roles in the neurons have not been elucidated, they are valuable markers of neuronal subpopulations for anatomical and developmental studies. This study is designed to characterize dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) neurons and axon terminals in terms of differential expression of immunoreactivity (IR) for two well-known CaBPs, PV and calbindin. The experiments were carried out on 6 adult monkeys. Monkeys were perfused under deep Nembutal anesthesia with 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer. After removal, the brains were postfixed for 6-8 hr in 2% paraformaldehyde at $4^{\circ}C$ and infiltrated with 30% sucrose at $4^{\circ}C$. Thereafter, they were frozen in dry ice. Serial sections of the thalamus, at $20{\mu}m$, were made in the frontal plane with a sliding microtome. The sections were stained for PV and calbindin with indirect immunocytochemical methods. For electron microscopy, after infiltration with 30% sucrose the blocks of thalamus were serially sectioned at $50{\mu}m$ with a Vibratome in the coronal plane and stained immediately by indirect ABC methods without Triton X-100 in incubation medium. Stained sections were postfixed in 0.2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated and flat-embedded in Spurr resin. The block was then trimmed to contain only a selected lamina or interlaminar space. The dLGN proper showed strong PV IR in fibers in all laminae and interlaminar zones. Particularly dense staining was noted in layers 1 and 2 that contain many stained fibers from optic tract. Neuronal cell body stained with PV was concentrated only in the laminae. In these laminae staining was moderate in cell bodies of all large and medium-sized neurons, and was strong in cell bodies of some small neurons together with their processes. Calbindin IR was marked in the neuronal cell body and neuropil in the S layers and interlaminar zones whereas moderate in the neuropil throughout the nucleus. Regional difference in distribution of PV and calbindin IR cell is distinct; the former is only in the laminae and the latter in both the S layer and interlaminar space. The CaBP-IR elements were confined to about $10{\mu}m$ in depth of Vibratome section. The IR product for CaBP was mainly associated with synaptic vesicle, pre- and post-synaptic membrane, and outer mitochondrial membrane and along microtubule. PV-IR was noted in various neuronal elements such as neuronal soma, dendrite, RLP, F, PSD and some myelinated or unmyelinated axons, and was not seen in the RSD and glial cells. Only a few neuronal components in dLGN was IR for calbindin and its reaction product was less dense than that of PV, and scattered throughout cytoplasm of soma of some relay neurons, and was also persent in some dendrite, myelinated axons and RLP. The RSD, F, PSD and glial elements were always non-IR for calbindin. Calbindin labelled RLP were presynaptic to unlabeled dendrite or dendritic spine and PSD. Calbindin-labeled dendrite of various sizes were always postsynaptic to unlabeled RSD, RLP or F. From this study it is suggested that dLGN cells of different functional systems and their differential projection to the visual cortex can be distinguished by differential expression of PV and calbindin.

  • PDF

Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy Following Induction Chemotherapy for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer -Randomized for Adjuvant Chemotherapy vs. Observation- (절제 불가능한 제 3 기 비소세포 폐암의 MVP 복합 항암요법과 다분할 방사선 치료 -추가 항암요법에 대한 임의 선택 -)

  • Choi, Eun-Kyung;Chang, Hye-Sook;Ahn, Seung-Do;Yang, Kwang-Mo;Suh, Cheol-Won;Lee, Kyoo-Hyung;Lee, Jung, Shin;Kim, Sang-Hee;Ko, Youn-Suk;Kim, Woo-Sung;Kim, Won-Dong;Song, Koun-Sik;Sohn, Kwang-Hyun
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
    • /
    • v.11 no.2
    • /
    • pp.295-301
    • /
    • 1993
  • Since Jan. 1991 a prospective randomized study for Stage III unresectable non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been conducted to evaluate the response rate and tolerance of induction chemotherapy with MVP followed by hyperfractionated radiotherapy and evaluate the efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy in Asan Medical Center. All patients in this study were treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (120 cGy/fx BID, 6480 cGy/54 fx) following 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy, MVP (Mitomycin C 6 $mg/m^2,$ Vinblastin 6 $mg/m^2,$ Cisplatin 60 $mg/m^2$) and then the partial and complete responders from induction chemotherapy were randomized to 3 cycles of adjuvant MVP chemotherapy group and observation group. 48 patients were registered to this study until December 1992; among 48 patients 3 refused further treatment after induction chemotherapy and 6 received incomplete radiation therapy because of patient's refusal, 39 completed planned therapy. Twenty-three $(58\%)$ patients including 2 complete responders showed response from induction chemotherapy. Among the 21 patients who achieved a partial response after induction chemotherapy,1 patient rendered complete clearance of disease and 10 patients showed further regression of tumor following hyperfractionated radiotherapy. Remaining 10 patients showed stable disease or progression after radiotherapy. Of the sixteen patients judged to have stable disease or progression after induction chemotherapy, seven showed more than partial remission after radiotherapy but nine showed no response in spite of radiotherapy. Of the 39 patients who completed induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 25 patients $(64\%)$ including 3 complete responders showed more than partial remission. Nineteen patients were randomized after radio-therapy. Nine Patients were allocated to adjuvant chemotherapy group and 4/9 showed further regression of tumor after adjuvant chemotherapy. For the time being, there is no suggestion of a difference between the adjuvant chemotherapy group and observation group in distant metastasis rate and survival. Median survival time was 13 months. Actuarial survival rates at 6,12 and 18 months of 39 patients who completed this study were $84.6\%,\;53.7\%\;and\;40.3\%,$ respectively. The partial and complete responders from induction chemotherapy showed significantly better survival than non-responders (p=0.028). Incidence of radiation pneumonitis in this study group was less than that in historical control group inspite of induction chemotherapy. All patients tolerated hypertractionated radiotherapy without definite increase of acute complications compared with conventional radiotherapy group. The longer follow up is needed to evaluate the efficacies of induction and maintenance chemotherapy and survival advantage by hyperfractionated radiotherapy but authors are encouraged with an excellent tolerance, higher response rate and improvement of one year survival rate in patients of this study.

  • PDF

Expression of Phospholipase C Isozymes in Human Lung Cancer Tissues (인체 폐암조직에서 Phospholipase C 동위효소의 발현양상)

  • Hwang, Sung-Chul;Mah, Kyung-Ae;Choi, So-Yeon;Oh, Yoon-Jung;Choi, Young-In;Kim, Deog-Ki;Lee, Hyung-Noh;Choi, Young-Hwa;Park, Kwang-Ju;Lee, Yi-Hyeong;Lee, Kyi-Beom;Ha, Mahn-Joon;Bae, Yoon-Su
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.49 no.3
    • /
    • pp.310-322
    • /
    • 2000
  • Background : Phospholipase C(PLC) plays an important role in cellular signal transduction and is thought to be critical in cellular growth, differentiation and transformation of certain malignancies. Two second messengers produced from the enzymatic action of PLC are diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3). These two second messengers are important in down stream signal activation of protein kinase C and intracellular calcium elevation. In addition, functional domains of the PLC isozymes, such as Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, Src homology 3 (SH3) domain, and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain play crucial roles in protein translocation, lipid membrane modificailon and intracellular memrane trafficking which occur during various mitogenic processes. We have previously reported the presence of PLC-${\gamma}1$, ${\gamma}2$, ${\beta}1$, ${\beta}3$, and ${\delta}1$ isozymes in normal human lung tissue and tyrosine-kinase-independent activation of phospholipase C-${\gamma}$ isozymes by tau protein and AHNAK. We had also found that the expression of AHNAK protein was markedly increased in various mstologic types of lung can∞r tissues as compared to the normallungs. However, the report concerning expression of various PLC isozymes in lung canærs and other lung diseases is lacking. Therefore, in this study we examined the expression of PLC isozymes in the paired surgical specimens taken from lung cancer patients. Methods : Surgically resected lung cancer tissue samples taken from thirty seven patients and their paired normal control lungs from the same patients, The expression of various PLC isozymes were studied. Western blot analysis of the tissue extracts for the PLC isozymes and immunohistochemistry was performed on typical samples for localization of the isozyme. Results : In 16 of 18 squamous cell carcinomas, the expression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ was increased. PLC-${\gamma}1$ was also found to be increased in all of 15 adenocarcinoma patients. In most of the non-small cell lung cancer tissues we had examined, expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was decreased. However, the expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was markedly increased in 3 adenocarcinomas and 3 squamous carcinomas. Although the numbers were small, in all 4 cases of small cell lung cancer tissues, the expression of PLC-${\delta}1$ was nearly absent. Conclusion : We found increased expression of PLC-${\gamma}1$ isozyme in lung cancer tissues. Results of this study, taken together with our earlier findings of AHNAK protein-a putative PLD-${\gamma}$, activator-over-expression, and the changes observed in PLC-${\delta}1$ in primary human lung cancers may provide a possible insight into the derranged calcium-inositol signaling pathways leading to the lung malignancies.

  • PDF

Induction of c-Jun Expression by Breast Cancer Anti-estrogen Resistance-3 (BCAR3) in Human Breast MCF-12A Cells (정상적인 인간유방상피세포인 MCF-12세포에서 유방암 항에스토젠 내성인자-3 (BCAR3)에 의한 c-Jun 발현 유도 연구)

  • Oh, Myung-Ju;Kim, Ji-Hyun;Jhun, Byung Hak
    • Journal of Life Science
    • /
    • v.26 no.12
    • /
    • pp.1383-1391
    • /
    • 2016
  • Anti-estrogen drugs such as tamoxifen have been used for treating patients with ER-positive, early breast cancer. However, resistance to anti-estrogen treatment is inevitable in most patients. Breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance-3 (BCAR3) has been identified as the protein responsible for the induction of tamoxifen resistance in estrogen-dependent human breast cancer. We have previously reported that BCAR3 regulates the cell cycle progression and the signaling pathway of EGF and insulin leading to DNA synthesis. In this study, we investigated the functional role of BCAR3 in regulating c-Jun transcription in non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial MCF-12A cells. A transient transfection of BCAR3 increased both the mRNA and protein of c-Jun expression, and stable expression of BCAR3 increased c-Jun protein expression. The overexpression of BCAR3 directly activated the promoter of c-jun, AP-1, and SRE but not that of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Furthermore, single-cell microinjection of BCAR3 expression plasmid in the cell cycle-arrested MCF-12A cells induced c-Jun protein expression, and co-injection of dominant negative mutants of Ras, Rac, and Rho suppressed the transcriptional activity of c-Jun in the presence of BCAR3. Furthermore, stable expression of BCAR3 increased the proliferation of MCF-12A cells. The microinjection of inhibitory materials such as anti-BCAR3 antibody and siRNA BCAR3 inhibited EGF-induced c-Jun expression but did not affect IGF-1 induced upregulation of c-Jun. Taken together, we propose that BCAR3 plays a crucial role in c-Jun protein expression and cell proliferation and that small GTPases (e.g., Ras, Rac, and Rho) are required for the BCAR3-mediated activation of c-Jun expression.

Diagnosis of Malignant Pleural Effusion by using Aberrant Methylation of p16 and RARB2 (p16과 RARB2 유전자의 비정상적인 메틸화 검사를 이용한 악성 흉수의 진단)

  • Rha, Seo Hee;Lee, Su Mi;Koo, Tae Hyoung;Shin,, Bong Chul;Huh, Jung Hun;Um, Soo Jung;Yang, Doo Kyung;Lee, Soo-Keol;Son, Choonhee;Roh, Mee Sook;Bae, Ho-Jeong;Kim, Ki Nam;Lee, Ki Nam;Choi, Pil Jo
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.64 no.4
    • /
    • pp.285-292
    • /
    • 2008
  • Background: A diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion is clinically important, as the prognosis of lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion is poor. The diagnosis will be difficult if a cytological test is negative. This study was performed to investigate whether the detection of hypermethylation of the p16 (CDKN2A) and retinoic acid receptor b2 (RARB2) genes in pleural fluid is useful for a diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Methods: Pleural effusion was collected from 43 patients and was investigated for the aberrant promoter methylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes by use of methylation-specific PCR. Results were compared with findings from a pleural biopsy and from pleural fluid cytology. Results: Of 43 cases, 17 cases of pleural effusion were due to benign diseases, and 26 cases were from lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion. Hypermethylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes was not detected in the case of benign diseases, independent of whether or not the patients had ever smoked. In 26 cases of malignant pleural effusion, hypermethylation of RARB2, CDKN2A or either of these genes was detected in 14, 5 and 15 cases, respectively. The sensitivities of a pleural biopsy, pleural fluid cytology, hypermethylation of RARB2, hypermethylation of CDKN2A, or hypermethylation of either of the genes were 73.1%, 53.8%, 53.8%, 19.2%, and 57.7%, respectively; negative predictive values were 70.8%, 58.6%, 58.6%, 44.7%, and 60.7%, respectively. If both genes are considered together, the sensitivity and negative predictive value was lower than that for a pleural biopsy, but higher than that for pleural fluid cytology. The sensitivity of hypermethylation of the RARB2 gene for malignant pleural effusion was lower in small cell lung cancers than in non-small cell lung cancers. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that detection of hypermethylation of the RARB2 and CDKN2A genes showed a high specificity, and sensitivity was higher than for pleural fluid cytology. With a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lung cancer according to histological types at the molecular level, and if appropriate genes are selected for hypermethylation testing, more precise results may be obtained.

Bibliographic Study on the Therapy of Lung Cancer by Integrated Oriental and Western Medicine (폐암(肺癌)의 동서의결합치료(東西醫結合治療)에 관(關)한 문헌적(文獻的) 고찰(考察))

  • Whang, Choong-Yeon
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.16 no.2 s.30
    • /
    • pp.177-194
    • /
    • 1995
  • The following conclusions were obtained after bibliographic investigation on the therapy of lung cancer by western, oriental, and integrated oriental and western medicine. 1. Lung cancer is classified into small cell lung cancer(SCLC) or non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) in the treatment by western medicine, and applied with the means of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone or combined, depending on the stage and the symptom. 2. Treatment by oriental medicine includes the means of strengthening body resistance to dispel pathogenic factors(扶正祛邪), combined approach of reinforcement and expulsion(攻補兼施), and reinforcing both qi and blood(氣血雙補), depending on the initial, middle, and terminal stage. And also treatment based on differentiation of symptom(辨證施治) is applied according to the type of symptom; deficiency of qi of both lung and spleen(肺脾氣虛), heat symptom of lung by deficiency of yin(肺熱陰虛), stagnation of damp-phlegm and blood(濕痰瘀阻), stagnation of qi and blood(氣血瘀滯), deficiency of both qi and yin(氣陰兩虛). Single or combined herb drug is used according to the symptom. 3. Treatment by integrated oriental and western medicine improved survival rate and quality of life. It promoted recovery and improved survival rate in the patients receiving surgery. Integrated radiotherapy and oriental medicine treatment reduced adverse effect by radiotherapy and improved therapeutic effect and survival rate. Integrated chemotherapy with oriental medicine treatment reduced side effect by chemotherapy and improved quality of life and survival rate. These results suggest that therapy of lung cancer should be applied with integrated oriental and western medicine from diagnosis to treatment for promoting therapeutic effect. And further study on this therapy should be ensued.

  • PDF

Factors Influencing the Therapeutic Compliance of Patients with Lung Cancer (폐암환자의 치료순응도에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Chae, Sang-Chul;Park, Jae-Yong;Kim, Jeong-Suk;Bae, Moon-Seob;Shin, Moo-Chul;Kim, Keon-Yeob;Kim, Chang-Ho;Shon, Sang-Kyun;Kam, Sin;Jung, Tae-Hoon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.45 no.5
    • /
    • pp.953-961
    • /
    • 1998
  • Background : In recent years, lung cancer has been one of most common cause of death in Korea. Despite many physician's high degree of pessimism about the gains made in treatment, progressive improvement in the survival of lung cancer by treatment has occurred, particulary in the early stages of the disease. However, a lot of patients refuse treatment or give up in the fight against the disease. This study was done to evaluate factors influencing the compliance to therapy and to lead in the establishment of special programs to enhance compliance in patients with lung cancer. Methods: The medical records of 903 patients, whose ECOG(Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status was 3 or less and whose medical record was relatively satisfactory, among 1141 patients diagnosed with lung cancer between January 1989 and December 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. Compliance was classified into three groups based on the degree of compliance with physicians practice guideline: (a) compliants; (b) patients who initially complied but gave up of themselves midway during the course of treatment; (c) noncompliants who refused the treatment. Results: The overall compliance rate was 63.9%, which was progressively increased from 57.3-61.3% in 1989 and 1990 to 64.2-67.5% in 1995 and 1996. Age, education level and occupation of patients bore statistically significant relationship with the compliance but sex, marital status and smoking history did not. The compliance was significantly higher in patients without symptoms than with, and was also significantly higher in patients with good performance status. The compliance was significantly high in patients with NSCLC(non-small cell lung cancer) compared to SCLC(small cell lung cancer), but after exclusion of stage I and II, among NSCLC, which had higher compliance to surgery there was no significant difference of compliance by histology. The compliance was significantly lower in advanced stage. Conclusion: To enhance the compliance, special care including education programs about therapy including complication and prognosis are necessary, especially for educationally and economically disadvantaged patients.

  • PDF