Treatment results including more than third-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Recently, third-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was accepted as a reasonable therapeutic option in patients with a favorable performance status. In practice, however, palliative chemotherapy has been performed for patients with a favorable performance status, even after third-line chemotherapy. Although multiple cycles of palliative chemotherapy were performed for these patients, there are little data of observation for courses of treatment from first-line to the last chemotherapy.

The suggestion of a risk stratification system for febrile neutropenia in patients with hematologic disease.

We analyzed the prognostic factors from 259 cases of febrile neutropenia occurring in 137 patients with hematologic disease. Based on multivariate analysis, significant prognostic factors are recovery of neutropenia, respiratory infection, baseline serum albumin, baseline bicarbonate, baseline CRP, and CRP on the fifth day after antibiotic treatment. From these variables, we derived a predictive model for the prognosis of febrile neutropenia using baseline serum albumin, bicarbonate, and CRP, which could be easily checked before chemotherapy.

Clinical factors related to suspected second primary lung cancer development in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: The rate of second primary lung cancer development for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) has been noted. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of suspected second primary lung cancer that developed in patients with primary HNC.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 469 patients who were newly diagnosed with HNC at the Korea University Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2006.

The Bone Morphogenesis Protein-2 (BMP-2) is associated with progression to metastatic disease in gastric cancer.

Purpose: Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF-beta superfamily and it has been demonstrated that BMPs enhance migration, invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between the serum BMP-2 level and the progression status of gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-five patients with metastatic gastric cancer (metastatic disease group), six patients with early gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis (the EGC group), and ten healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study.

High-dose immunoglobulin infusion for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to plasma exchange and steroid therapy.

The outcomes of the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have been shown to be improved by the administration of plasma exchange. However, treatment options are currently limited for cases refractory to plasma exchange. The autoantibodies that block the activity of ADAMTS13 have been demonstrated to play a role in the pathogenesis of TTP; therefore, high-dose immunoglobulin, which can neutralize these autoantibodies, may be useful for refractory TTP.

Association study of TP53 polymorphisms with lung cancer in a Korean population.

The tumor suppressor gene, TP53, is located on chromosome 17p13.1 and is critical for DNA repair, cell-cycle control, and apoptosis. TP53 also plays a crucial function in the tumorigenesis of lung cancer.

Epirubicin, cisplatin, oral UFT, and leucovorin combination chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic esophageal cancer.

Background: The purpose of treatment in patients with advanced and metastatic esophageal cancer is to improve symptoms and maintain quality of life. Recently, the regimen including epirubicin, cisplatin, and 5-FU (ECF) has been used with protracted venous infusion (PVI), and has been reported to be an effective treatment for advanced and metastatic esophagogastric cancer. However, complications and the inconvenience associated with PVI cannot be justified for the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

Lack of association of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) polymorphisms with lung cancer in the Korean population.

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT), which was located on chromosome 3p14.2, was currently considered a promising candidate for a tumor suppressor gene. FHIT performed a crucial function in the tumorigenesis of lung cancer.

Treatment outcome of front-line systemic chemotherapy for localized extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma in nasal and upper aerodigestive tract.

We analysed the treatment outcome of localized extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma initially treated with CEOP-B chemotherapy based on the primary site of involvement (nasal cavity vs. upper aerodigestive tract) and treatment modality (chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

Prospective analysis of treatment outcome and prognostic factors in patients with T-cell lymphomas treated by CEOP-B: single institutional study.

The important prognostic factors were evaluated for T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients in a prospective study using the CEOP-B protocol [a modified cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP)-like regimen that uses epirubicin instead of doxorubicin with the addition of bleomycin]. Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study. The overall response rate was 63.

Phase II study with a combination of epirubicin, cisplatin, UFT, and leucovorin in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Because HCC usually presents as an advanced disease and occurs in the background of liver cirrhosis, most patients are not suitable for treatment with curative intent, thus effective systemic chemotherapy is required. However, the outcome of systemic chemotherapy has been disappointing in advanced HCC.

Efficacy of imatinib mesylate (STI571) in chronic neutrophilic leukemia with t(15;19): case report.

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare hematologic disorder, for which there is no standard therapy. Recently, STI (imatinib mesylate) has been shown to be effective in treating patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorder (CMPD) displaying the translocation of the PDGFbetaR gene. Here, we present a case of a patient with CNL carrying t(15;19)(q13;p13.