Advanced detection of recent changing trends in gastric cancer survival: up-to-date comparison by period analysis.

Objective: To establish a comprehensive cancer treatment and prevention policy, data collection should be performed in a timely manner, and survival analysis needs to reflect changes in treatment strategy. Therefore, we introduced the concept of period analysis for gastric cancer, the most prevalent cancer in Korea. We estimated 5- and 10-year survival trend of gastric cancer, based on data from the Yonsei Cancer Center Tumor Registry between 1990 and 2004.

Sunitinib for Asian patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: a comparable efficacy with different toxicity profiles.

Objective: We aimed to describe the efficacy and safety of sunitinib in unselected Korean advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients.

Patients And Methods: From November 2005 to August 2008, 132 histologically confirmed advanced RCC patients (100 in the global expanded access program) were enrolled. Response and toxicity were assessed regularly according to the protocol.

Quantitative detection of telomerase activity by real-time TRAP assay in the body fluids of cancer patients.

Real-time TRAP assay was developed to improve the sensitivity and quantitative detection of telomerase activity in the body fluids of cancer patients. The sensitivity and clinical significance of the real-time TRAP assay was investigated. Real-time PCR protocol was modified by using ACX primer and SYBR green mixture from the process of TS primer extension.

Gemcitabine monotherapy as salvage chemotherapy in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

Purposes: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine monotherapy in heavily pretreated, breast cancer patients as salvage chemotherapy.

Methods: A weekly infusion of gemcitabine at 850 mg/m2 for 30 min, for 3 of every 4 weeks, was introduced in advanced breast cancer patients who had failed previous doxorubicin and taxane based chemotherapy. There was no dose modification, and the treatment was delayed until the leukopenia was recovered with G-CSF support.