A Prospective, Single-Cohort, Open, Multi-Center, Observational Study of Sublingual Fentanyl for Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability in Korean Cancer Patients.

Purpose: Fentanyl, a highly lipophilic opioid, was developed as a sublingual fentanyl tablet (SFT) for the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP), and its efficacy and safety were confirmed in a randomized, controlled study. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of SFT administered to alleviate BTcP in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, open, single-cohort study, conducted in 13 referral hospitals in South Korea, opioid-tolerant cancer patients receiving around-the-clock opioids for persistent cancer pain were enrolled if the individual had BTcP ≥ 1 episode/day during the preceding week.

Early Integrated Palliative Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Limited data suggest that early palliative care (EPC) improves quality of life (QOL) and survival in patients with advanced cancer.

Objective: To evaluate whether comprehensive EPC improves QOL; relieves mental, social, and existential burdens; increases survival rates; and helps patients develop coping skills.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nonblinded randomized clinical trial (RCT) recruited patients from 12 hospitals in South Korea from September 2017 to October 2018.

Impact of primary prophylaxis by pegfilgrastim in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) are common conditions that lead to dose reduction or delayed chemotherapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Primary prophylaxis (PP) with long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was introduced in South Korea in 2014. We aimed to investigate the effects of PP on FN-related hospitalization and death in patients with DLBCL receiving rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP).

Prognostic implications of immune classification using IDO1 expression in extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is an immunomodulatory enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine and induces immune tolerance in tumor cells. The effects of IDO1 on extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EHBDC) are poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of IDO1 in EHBDC.

Novel Biomarker Panels Discriminating between Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Extrahepatic Bile Duct Carcinoma.

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC) are distinct entities with different clinicopathological implications. Therefore, research to differentiate between the two diseases is compulsory. In this study, four biomarkers were selected (Hippocalcin-like 1 (HPCAL1); annexin A10 (ANXA10); MUC5AC; sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit beta-1 (ATP1B1)) and focus was placed on clarifying the diagnostic performance of each biomarker and pioneering novel-combined biomarker panels to discriminate between PDAC and EBDC.

Identification and functional validation of HLA-C as a potential gene involved in colorectal cancer in the Korean population.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Although numerous genetic loci for CRC have been identified, the overall understanding of the genetic factors is yet to be elucidated. We sought to discover new genes involved in CRC applying genetic association analysis and functional study.

Korean Version of the Patient Dignity Inventory: Translation and Validation in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Context: The goal of palliative care is to maximize the quality of life and thus maintain the dignity of patients facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness. The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) is an instrument used to measure various sources of distress that can impact patients' sense of dignity at the end of life.

Objectives: We aimed to obtain a Korean translation of the PDI (PDI-K) and evaluate its psychometric properties in patients with advanced cancer.

Multicenter phase III trial of S-1 and cisplatin versus S-1 and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (SOPP trial).

Background: In East Asia, S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) is one of the standard first-line chemotherapy regimens for metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer (MRGC). Oxaliplatin is generally less toxic and more convenient to administer than cisplatin.

Patients And Methods: This was a multicenter, phase III study assessing whether S-1/oxaliplatin (SOX) was non-inferior/superior to SP in terms of progression-free survival (PFS).

Comparison of the short-term effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and complex decongestive therapy on breast cancer-related lymphedema: A pilot study.

Although there have been some reports that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is effective in treating breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), controversy regarding its therapeutic effects remains.We sought to evaluate the efficacy of HBOT in addition to conventional complex decongestive therapy (CDT) for BCRL.A prospective observational study was conducted on 10 patients with BCRL.

Interference with daily functioning by breakthrough pain in patients with cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the association between quality of life (QOL) and breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) intensity in patients who met the commonly accepted definition of BTCP.

Methods: This study was a subset analysis of a South Korean multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional, nationwide survey. Participants were recruited from March 2016 to December 2017.

Efficacy of a Decision Aid Consisting of a Video and Booklet on Advance Care Planning for Advanced Cancer Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Few randomized controlled trials of advance care planning (ACP) with a decision aid (DA) show an effect on patient preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care over time, especially in racial/ethnic settings outside the U.S.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a decision aid consisting of a video and an ACP booklet for EOL care preferences among patients with advanced cancer.

BioPATH: A Biomarker Study in Asian Patients with HER2+ Advanced Breast Cancer Treated with Lapatinib and Other Anti-HER2 Therapy.

Purpose: BioPATH is a non-interventional study evaluating the relationship of molecular biomarkers (PTEN deletion/downregulation, PIK3CA mutation, truncated HER2 receptor [p95HER2], and tumor HER2 mRNA levels) to treatment responses in Asian patients with HER2+ advanced breast cancer treated with lapatinib and other HER2-targeted agents.

Materials And Methods: Female Asian HER2+ breast cancer patients (n=154) who were candidates for lapatinib-based treatment following metastasis and having an available primary tumor biopsy specimen were included. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Correction to: The impact of caregiver's role preference on decisional conflicts and psychiatric distresses in decision making to help caregiver's disclosure of terminal disease status.

In the original publication of the article, the incorrect grant number HC13C1391 was published in the acknowledgement section. The correct grant number is HC15C1391.

A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Consolidation Chemotherapy After Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy Versus Chemoradiation Therapy Alone for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: KCSG CO 14-03.

Purpose: Preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) in locally advanced rectal cancer is the standard of care. To date, the role of consolidation chemotherapy after CRT has rarely been addressed through randomized trials. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CRT followed by consolidation chemotherapy compared with CRT alone.

The impact of caregiver's role preference on decisional conflicts and psychiatric distresses in decision making to help caregiver's disclosure of terminal disease status.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of caregivers' role preference in decision making on conflicts and psychiatric distresses.

Methods: The responses of 406 caregivers of terminal cancer patients enrolled in a trial determining the efficacy of a decision aid focused on the disclosure of terminal disease status were included in this secondary analysis. The outcomes include the change scores of the Decision Conflict Scale (DCS) and depression and anxiety subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the 1 and 3 months from baseline.

Efficacy and Safety of FOLFIRI Regimen in Elderly Versus Nonelderly Patients with Metastatic Colorectal or Gastric Cancer.

Background: Irinotecan-based chemotherapy is a standard backbone of therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) or gastric cancer (GC). However, there is still a paucity of information concerning the efficacy and safety of irinotecan-based regimens in elderly patients.

Patients And Methods: Using the patient cohort ( = 1,545) from the genotype study, we compared the efficacy and safety between elderly and nonelderly patients with metastatic CRC ( = 934) or GC ( = 611) who received first- or second-line FOLFIRI (irinotecan, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy.

Intravenous Oxycodone versus Intravenous Morphine in Cancer Pain: A Randomized, Open-Label, Parallel-Group, Active-Control Study.

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety of intravenous continuous infusion of oxycodone with morphine in patients with cancer pain.

Methods: A 5-day, randomized, open-label, exploratory study at 6 sites in the Republic of Korea. Sixty-six adults aged ≥19 years with moderate-to-severe cancer pain (Numeric Rating Scale [NRS] ≥ 4) were enrolled.

Paraneoplastic Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is defined as an acute, autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathy. It is a rare disease that occurs at a rate of 1.11 cases per 100,000 person-years.

Phase II study of gemcitabine and S-1 combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer.

Purpose: A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and S-1 combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed, unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic adenocarcinoma that originated from the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary ducts or gallbladder were assessed for eligibility. The primary end point was the overall response rate (ORR).

A challenging diagnosis: crystal-storing histiocytosis in plasma cell myeloma.

Objectives: Crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) is an uncommon finding in plasma cell neoplasms. CSH is thought to be an intralysosomal deposition of secreted paraproteins or immunoglobulins, which usually express κ immunoglobulin light chains that finally aggregate in crystals. Because of its rarity, CSH in bone marrow often makes diagnosis difficult.

Prognostic Implications of Primary Tumor Resection in Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer in Elderly Patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors in stage IVB colorectal cancer in elderly patients, focusing on the influence of treatment modalities, including palliative chemotherapy and primary tumor resection.

Methods: A cohort of 64 patients aged over 65 years who presented with stage IVB colorectal cancer at the Gangneung Asan Hospital between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009, was analyzed. Demographics, tumor location, tumor grade, performance status, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and distant metastatic site at diagnosis were analyzed.

Daurinol, a catalytic inhibitor of topoisomerase IIα, suppresses SNU-840 ovarian cancer cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest in S phase.

Daurinol, a lignan from the ethnopharmacological plant Haplophyllum dauricum, was recently reported to be a novel topoisomerase II inhibitor and an alternative to the clinical anticancer agent etoposide based on a colorectal cancer model. In the present study, we elucidated the detailed biochemical mechanism underlying the inhibition of human topoisomerase IIα by daurinol based on a molecular docking study and in vitro biochemical experiments. The computational simulation predicted that daurinol binds to the ATP-binding pocket of topoisomerase IIα.

Male breast adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare condition, and cases in male patients are even less common.

Case: We describe a case of ACC of the breast with axillary lymph node metastasis, disseminated osteolytic bone metastasis and bone marrow involvement in a 41-year-old man.

Conclusion: Male breast ACC is an extremely rare malignancy; there can be difficulty in obtaining a final diagnosis.