Publications by authors named "Bhumsuk Keam"
Purpose: The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) has not been established prospectively. We conducted a phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (TPF) in this population.
Materials And Methods: Eligible patients had unresectable, locally advanced SNSCC, defined as T3/4 stage or potential compromise of critical organ function on surgery.
Individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer often experience stress and depression, factors linked to worse survival. Curability belief-defined as the hope and expectation of cure through treatment, based on affective forecasting-may differ from the patient's actual life expectancy (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study evaluates the prognostic significance of tumor size at disease progression (PD) and depth of response (DOR) in cancer patients.
Materials And Methods: We performed post hoc analysis using data from six prospective clinical trials conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group. Patients with tumor size at PD was categorized into 'Mild PD' and 'Significant PD' based on the cutoff values of relative change from baseline using maximally selected rank statistics.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the differences in tumor microenvironments (TMEs) between primary tumors and regional lymph node metastases (LNMs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and immune phenotypes.
- Results showed no significant correlation in TIL densities between primary tumors and LNMs, and discordance in immune phenotypes was observed in 57.1% of patients, suggesting variability in patient responses to treatment.
- Patients with higher TIL levels and inflamed immune phenotypes experienced longer progression-free survival, indicating that assessing TMEs in both primary tumors and LNMs could enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in
Background: This study evaluates functional larynx preservation in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) and laryngeal cancer (LC) who achieved complete remission following radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT).
Methods: HPC and LC patients treated with RT/CCRT from 1999 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Severe late dysphagia and tracheostomy cases were assessed to determine laryngeal function.
The expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells (TC) is used as an immunotherapy biomarker in lung cancer, but heterogeneous intratumoral expression is often observed. To better understand heterogeneity in the lung cancer tumor microenvironment, we performed proteomic and whole-transcriptomic digital spatial profiling analyses of TCs and immune cells (IC) in spatially matched areas based on tumor PD-L1 expression and the status of the immune microenvironment. We validated our findings using IHC, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and immunotherapy cohorts.
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- * The most common skin toxicity reported was papulopustular rash (74.3%), with other issues including pruritus (61.1%), xerosis (52.4%), and paronychia (39.6%), with younger males showing more severe cases.
- * Skin toxicities resulted in treatment adjustments for 26.7% of patients, particularly with second-generation inhibitors, emphasizing the need for effective management to optimize treatment outcomes.
Predictive value of early dynamic changes of NLR and PLR for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol
December 2024
Objective: We analyzed the predictive value of dynamic changes in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Study Design: A total of 104 patients with R/M HNSCC treated with ICIs during August 2018 to June 2023 were included. Dynamic changes were defined as the difference between NLR and PLR on day 1 of cycles 1 and 2.
Role of induction chemotherapy in advanced-stage olfactory neuroblastoma.
Int Forum Allergy Rhinol
December 2024
Objectives: To evaluate the treatment outcomes in patients with advanced-stage olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) who received induction chemotherapy (IC).
Materials And Methods: The clinical data of 38 patients with advanced-stage ONB who received initial IC were retrospectively analyzed. The response was defined using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.
Purpose: Histologic transformation from EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a key mechanism of resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). However, transcriptomic changes between NSCLC and transformed SCLC (t-SCLC) remain unexplored.
Experimental Design: We conducted whole-transcriptome analysis of 59 regions of interest through the spatial profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from 10 patients (lung adenocarcinoma, 22; combined SCLC/NSCLC, 7; and t-SCLC, 30 regions of interests).
Article Synopsis
- EGFR-variant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is prone to central nervous system (CNS) metastases, making new treatment options like lazertinib important for improving patient outcomes.
- This study was a phase 2 trial in South Korea involving patients with NSCLC and existing brain metastases who had not responded to first or second-generation EGFR inhibitors, assessing lazertinib's effectiveness.
- Results showed a 55% intracranial objective response rate (iORR) for patients, with higher responses in those with specific genetic markers, indicating that lazertinib could be a promising option for treating CNS metastases in these patients.
Article Synopsis
- FGFR genomic alterations are found in 5-10% of human cancers, and erdafitinib has shown promise in treating various advanced solid tumors but its effectiveness in Asian patients was unclear.
- A phase IIa study was conducted to assess the efficacy of erdafitinib in Asian patients with FGFR-altered advanced cholangiocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and esophageal cancer by evaluating various response rates and survival metrics.
- Results indicated a 40.9% objective response rate in cholangiocarcinoma patients, while NSCLC did not show any objective responses; however, all patients experienced adverse effects, highlighting the need for further safety assessment.
Purpose: The Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) is a nationwide cancer clinical trial group dedicated to advancing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) by conducting and supporting clinical trials. This study aims to review IITs conducted by KCSG and quantitatively evaluate the survival and financial benefits of IITs for patients.
Materials And Methods: We reviewed IITs conducted by KCSG from 1998 to 2023, analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) gains for participants.
Article Synopsis
- EGFR exon 20 insertions make up about 10% of EGFR mutations, but treatments like osimertinib have shown variable effectiveness in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients.
- In a phase II study, patients with advanced NSCLC and EGFR exon 20 insertions received 80 mg of osimertinib daily, aiming to measure objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).
- Results indicated that most patients only achieved disease stabilization (73.3%), with median PFS of 3.8 months and OS of 6.5 months, while some experienced severe side effects, suggesting osimertinib has limited effectiveness in this
Background: Mobocertinib, an EGFR exon 20 insertion (Ex20ins)-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor has been used for treatment of advanced/metastatic EGFR Ex20ins-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance mechanisms to EGFR Ex20ins-specific inhibitors and the efficacy of subsequent amivantamab treatment is unknown.
Methods: To investigate resistance mechanisms, tissue and cfDNA samples were collected before treatment initiation and upon development of resistance from NSCLC patients with EGFR Ex20ins mutations received mobocertinib, poziotinib, and amivantamab treatments.
Article Synopsis
- The JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial confirmed the effectiveness and safety of avelumab as a first-line maintenance treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) after platinum-based chemotherapy, with new real-world data from Korea.
- An open-label expanded access program involved 30 patients across five centers between September 2021 and June 2023, all progression-free after first-line treatment, receiving avelumab every two weeks.
- Results showed that 70% of participants experienced adverse events, with a median progression-free survival of 7.9 months, supporting the treatment's clinical activity and safety in this patient group.
Background: We investigated the role of tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 signaling in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the role of EMT as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.
Methods: PD-L1-overexpressing or PD-L1-knockdown NSCLC cells underwent RNA-seq and EMT phenotype assessment. Mouse lung cancer LLC cells were injected into nude mice.
Purpose: In this study, we report the results from the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cohort of a phase II, noncomparative, basket study evaluating the antitumor activity and safety of fibroblast activation protein-IL2 variant (FAP-IL2v) plus atezolizumab in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors (NCT03386721).
Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1; measurable metastatic, persistent, or recurrent esophageal SCC; progression on ≥1 prior therapy; and were checkpoint inhibitor-naïve. Patients received FAP-IL2v 10 mg plus atezolizumab 1,200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks, or FAP-IL2v weekly for 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks plus atezolizumab 840 mg intravenously every 2 weeks.
Background/aim: The lymph node ratio (LNR) indicates the number of involved lymph nodes divided by the number of lymph nodes found during axillary exploration. This study investigated the prognostic value of the LNR in de novo metastatic breast cancer (dnMBC). We hypothesized that LNR might predict long-term survival even in cases where the disease has already disseminated beyond the regional stage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In this study, we evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) enrolled in two Korean Cancer Study Group trials to investigate the response and progression patterns in recurrent and/or metastatic ACC treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs).
Materials And Methods: We evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with ACC who were enrolled in the Korean Cancer Study Group trials. The tumor measurements, clinical data, treatment outcomes, and progression patterns of therapy were analyzed.
Although Fanconi anemia patients accompany a high risk of multiple cancers, radiation therapy on these patients has been carried out only in limited cases due to the concern for radiation toxicity that stems from their susceptibility to radiation. We report a case of a 28-year-old female patient diagnosed as synchronous esophageal and tongue cancer, and underwent two cycles of radiation therapy, inevitably in the condition of coronavirus disease 2019 infection. She received radiation therapy of 30 Gy to esophageal mass with neoadjuvant aim in her first-round radiation therapy, and later received 27 Gy to tongue cancer surgical bed with adjuvant aim in her second-round radiation therapy.
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- This study explored how genetic changes in PI3KCA and cell cycle pathways affect the effectiveness of durvalumab in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who did not respond to prior platinum-based treatments.
- Data was collected from a phase II trial involving 87 patients segmented into three groups based on their genetic alterations: PIK3CA changes (Group A), cell cycle alterations (Group B), and no significant genetic changes (Group C).
- The results showed no significant differences in treatment outcomes between the groups, but lower neutrophil-lymphocyte and platelet-lymphocyte ratios were associated with better progression-free survival, suggesting these could be useful biomarkers for predicting treatment response.
Background And Objective: In comparison to chemotherapy, enfortumab vedotin (EV) prolonged overall survival in patients with previously treated advanced urothelial carcinoma in EV-301. The objective of the present study was to assess patient experiences of EV versus chemotherapy using patient-reported outcome (PRO) analysis of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Methods: For patients in the phase 3 EV-301 trial randomized to EV or chemotherapy we assessed responses to the validated European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) at baseline, weekly for the first 12 wk, and then every 12 wk until discontinuation.