• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 2021

Purpose: Promoter DNA methylation of various genes has been associated with metachronous gastric cancer (MGC). The cancer-specific methylation gene, cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1), has been implicated in the occurrence of residual gastric cancer. We evaluated whether DNA methylation of CDO1 could be a predictive biomarker of MGC using specimens of MGC developing on scars after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Materials and Methods: CDO1 methylation values (TaqMeth values) were compared between 33 patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) with no confirmed metachronous lesions at >3 years after ESD (non-MGC: nMGC group) and 11 patients with MGC developing on scars after ESD (MGCSE groups: EGC at the first ESD [MGCSE-1 group], EGC at the second ESD for treating MGC developing on scars after ESD [MGCSE-2 group]). Each EGC specimen was measured at five locations (at tumor [T] and the 4-point tumor-adjacent noncancerous mucosa [TAM]). Results: In the nMGC group, the TaqMeth values for T were significantly higher than that for TAM (P=0.0006). In the MGCSE groups, TAM (MGCSE-1) exhibited significantly higher TaqMeth values than TAM (nMGC) (P<0.0001) and TAM (MGCSE-2) (P=0.0041), suggesting that TAM (MGCSE-1) exhibited CDO1 hypermethylation similar to T (P=0.3638). The area under the curve for discriminating the highest TaqMeth value of TAM (MGCSE-1) from that of TAM (nMGC) was 0.81, and using the cut-off value of 43.4, CDO1 hypermethylation effectively enriched the MGCSE groups (P<0.0001). Conclusions: CDO1 hypermethylation has been implicated in the occurrence of MGC, suggesting its potential as a promising MGC predictor.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2008

Background: The melanoma antigen-encoding (MAGE) genes are known to be expressed in various cancer cells, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and are silent in all normal tissues except for the testis. In patients with peripheral NSCLC, bronchial washing fluid can be used to detect the MAGE genes, suggesting a diagnosis of lung cancer. In order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the MAGE test in patients with peripheral NSCLC, bronchial washing fluid was investigated in patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules, which were invisible as detected by bronchoscopy. Methods: Bronchial washing fluid from 37 patients was used for cytological examinations and MAGE gene detection, using RT-nested-PCR of common A1-A6 mRNA. Results were compared to a final diagnosis of patients as confirmed by pathology. Results: Among the 37 subjects, NSCLC was diagnosed in 21 patients, and benign pulmonary diseases were diagnosed in 16 patients. MAGE mRNA was detected in 10 of 21 (47.6%) NSCLC patients, while conventional cytology examinations were positive for MAGE expression in 2 of 21 (9.5%) cases. MAGE expression was observed in 4 of 16 (25%) benign pulmonary disease patients. Conclusion: The MAGE test of bronchial washing fluid can be used as a sensitive predictor of peripheral NSCLC patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2009

urpose : The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been demonstrated to play a major role in regulating blood pressure. Therefore, components of the RAS are likely candidate genes that may predispose an individual to essential hypertension and cardiovascular complications. Among them, the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene has been speculated to be associated with elevated circulating angiotensinogen concentrations and essential hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the angiotensinogen M235T polymorphism in hypertensive adolescents and investigate its relationship with cardiovascular risks. Methods : Forty Korean hypertensive adolescents (aged 16-17, systolic $BP{\geq}140 mmHg$ and/or diastolic $BP{\geq}90 mmHg$) and fifty seven normal adolescents were included. Obesity index (OI), body mass index (BMI) were calculated. BP was measured by oscillometric methods in resting state. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was performed on DNA from the hypertensives subjects to analyze the M235T polymorphism. Serum homocysteine, insulin, renin, aldosterone and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were tested according to each genotype. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid artery diameter, Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were measured according to each genotype. Results : Genotype frequencies of T/T, M/T and M/M were 62.5%, 35.0%, 2.5%, respectively in hypertensive adolescents. The results were not significantly different compared to control group. Serum insulin, renin levels, BMI and OI were significantly higher in thoses with the M/M genotype as compared to those with the T/T of M/T genotype. Conclusion : This study showed that the M235T polymorphism was not associated with essential hypertension or any cardiovascular risks. Further clinical research is required to ascertain the relationship between this polymorphism and cardiovascular complications in Korean hypertensive adolescents.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2006

Purpose: It is well known from clinical experience that acute complications of chemoradiation therapy vary from patients to patients. However, there are no known factors to predict these acute complications before treatment starts. The human XRCC1 gene is known as a DNA base excision repair gene. We investigated the possibilities of XRCC1 gene polymorphisms as a predictor for the acute complications of chemoradiation therapy in colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: From July 1997 to June 2003, 86 colorectal cancer patients (71 rectal cancer, 13 sigmoid colon cancer and 2 colon cancer patients) were treated with chemoradiation therapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Inha University Hospital. Twenty-two patients were in stage B, 50 were in stage C, 8 were in stage D and 6 patients were unresectable cases. External radiation therapy was delivered with 10MV X-ray at a 1.8 Gy fraction per day for a total dose of radiation of $30.6{\sim}59.4 Gy$ (median: 54 Gy). All the patients received 5-FU based chemotherapy regimen. We analyzed the acute complications of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract based on the RTOG complication scale. The initial and lowest WBC and platelet count were recorded during both the RT period and the whole treatment period. Allelic variants of the XRCC1 gene at codons 194, 280 and 399 were analyzed in the lymphocyte DNA by performing PCR-RFLP. Statistical analyses were carried out with the SAS (version 6.12) statistical package. Results: When all the variables were assessed on the multivariate analysis, recurrent disease revealed the factors that significantly correlated with upper gastrointestinal acute complications. Arg399Gln polymorph isms of the XRCC1 gene, the radiation dose and the frequencies of chemotherapy during radiation therapy were significantly correlated with lower gastrointestinal complications. Arg399Gln polymorph isms also affected the decrease of the WBC and platelet count during radiation therapy. Conclusion: Although the present sample size was too small for fully evaluating this hypothesis, this study suggests that Arg399Gln polymorph isms of the XRCC1 genes may be used as one of the predictors for acute complications of chemoradiation therapy in colorectal cancer patients.