Establishment and Characterization of Paired Primary and Peritoneal Seeding Human Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines: Identification of Genes That Mediate Metastatic Potential.

Peritoneal metastasis is one of the major patterns of unresectability in colorectal cancer (CRC) and a cause of death in advanced CRC. Identification of distinct gene expressions between primary CRC and peritoneal seeding metastasis is to predict the metastatic potential of primary human CRC. Three pairs of primary CRC (SNU-2335A, SNU-2404A, and SNU-2414A) and corresponding peritoneal seeding (SNU-2335D, SNU-2404B, and SNU-2414B) cell lines were established to determine the different gene expressions and resulting aberrated signaling pathways in peritoneal metastasis tumor using whole exome sequencing and microarray.

Clinicopathological Features and Type of Surgery for Lynch Syndrome: Changes during the Past Two Decades.

Purpose: The Korean Hereditary Tumor Registry, the first and one of the largest registries of hereditary tumors in Korea, has registered about 500 families with hereditary cancer syndromes. This study evaluates the temporal changes in clinicopathologic features and surgical patterns of Lynch syndrome (LS) patients.

Materials And Methods: Data on 182 unrelated LS patients were collected retrospectively.

Effect of Visceral Obesity on Surgical Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery.

Background: Visceral obesity has been known to be more pathogenic than body mass index (BMI). There have been a few reports about the association between visceral obesity and surgical outcomes in laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of visceral obesity on surgical outcomes undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Survival paradox between stage IIB/C (T4N0) and stage IIIA (T1-2N1) colon cancer.

Background: The survival paradox between stage IIB/C (T4N0) and stage IIIA (T1-2N1) colon cancer remains in the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. This multicenter study aimed to compare the oncologic outcomes of T4N0 and T1-2N1 colon cancers and to investigate the presumptive prognostic factors that might influence the survival paradox.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative surgery for pT4N0 (n = 224) and pT1-2N1 (n = 135) primary colon cancer between January 1999 and December 2010 at five tertiary referral cancer centers were included for analysis.

Histopathologic factors affecting tumor recurrence after hepatic resection in colorectal liver metastases.

Purpose: Hepatic resection is a standard method of treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, the pathologic factors of metastatic lesions that affect tumor recurrence are less well defined in CRLM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for recurrence of CRLM, focusing on histopathologic factors of metastatic lesions of the liver.

KRAS mutation is associated with worse prognosis in stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer patients treated with adjuvant FOLFOX.

Background: Although KRAS mutation has a predictive role in stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with anti-EGFR therapy, there have been controversies in the prognostic impact of KRAS mutation in stage II or III disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of KRAS and BRAF mutation in patients treated with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX).

Methods: KRAS exon 2 and BRAF codon 600 were analyzed in patients with stage II and III CRC who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant FOLFOX.

RNA editing in RHOQ promotes invasion potential in colorectal cancer.

RNA editing can increase RNA sequence variation without altering the DNA sequence. By comparing whole-genome and transcriptome sequence data of a rectal cancer, we found novel tumor-associated increase of RNA editing in ras homologue family member Q (RHOQ) transcripts. The adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing results in substitution of asparagine with serine at residue 136.

The influence of the treatment response on the impact of resection margin status after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Circumferential resection margin (CRM) and distal resection margin (DRM) have different impact on clinical outcomes after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Effect and adequate length of resection margin as well as impact of treatment response after preoperative CRT was evaluated.

Methods: Total of 403 patients with rectal cancer underwent preoperative CRT followed by total mesorectal excision between January 2004 and December 2010.

Establishment and characterization of seven human breast cancer cell lines including two triple-negative cell lines.

Permanently growing cell lines can be invaluable because of their usefulness in a variety of experimental situations. We report the characteristics of seven cell lines designated, SNU-306, SNU-334, SNU-1528, SNU-1553, SNU-1581, SNU-1958 and SNU-2372, which were established from three primary carcinomas, two pleural effusion, one pericardial effusion and one ascitic fluid samples obtained from seven Korean breast carcinoma patients. The histopathology of the primary tumors and their in vitro growth characteristics are described.

Targeted sequencing of cancer-related genes in colorectal cancer using next-generation sequencing.

Recent advance in sequencing technology has enabled comprehensive profiling of genetic alterations in cancer. We have established a targeted sequencing platform using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology for clinical use, which can provide mutation and copy number variation data. NGS was performed with paired-end library enriched with exons of 183 cancer-related genes.

Pharmacogenetic analysis of adjuvant FOLFOX for Korean patients with colon cancer.

Purpose: Ethnic diversity of genetic polymorphism can result in individual differences in the efficacy and toxicity of cancer chemotherapy.

Methods: We analyzed 20 germline polymorphisms in 10 genes (TS, MTHFR, ERCC1, XPD, XRCC1, ABCC2, AGXT, GSTP1, GSTT1 and GSTM1) from prospectively enrolled 292 Korean patients treated with adjuvant oxaliplatin plus leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) for colon cancer.

Results: In contrast to previous studies in Caucasians, neutropenia (grade 3-4, 60.

Depth of mesorectal extension has prognostic significance in patients with T3 rectal cancer.

Background: More than half of all rectal cancers are T3 lesions, but they are classified as a single-stage category.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate prognostic significance of mesorectal extension depth in T3 rectal cancer.

Design: This study is a retrospective analysis of oncologic outcomes of patients with T3 rectal cancer grouped by mesorectal extension depth (T3a, <1 mm; T3b, 1-5 mm; T3c, 5-15 mm; T3d, >15 mm).

Methylation and microsatellite status and recurrence following adjuvant FOLFOX in colorectal cancer.

The prognostic impact of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and microsatellite instability (MSI) on the treatment outcome of colon cancer patients receiving adjuvant 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) is unclear. We investigated CIMP and MSI status in colorectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant FOLFOX. Stages II and III sporadic colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant FOLFOX were included.

Notch1 counteracts WNT/β-catenin signaling through chromatin modification in colorectal cancer.

Crosstalk between the Notch and wingless-type MMTV integration site (WNT) signaling pathways has been investigated for many developmental processes. However, this negative correlation between Notch and WNT/β-catenin signaling activity has been studied primarily in normal developmental and physiological processes in which negative feedback loops for both signaling pathways are intact. We found that Notch1 signaling retained the capability of suppressing the expression of WNT target genes in colorectal cancers even when β-catenin destruction by the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) complex was disabled.

Does t3 subdivision correlate with nodal or distant metastasis in colorectal cancer?

Purpose: We analyzed the clinical data of T3 colorectal cancer patients to assess whether T3 subdivision correlates with node (N) or metastasis (M) staging and stage-independent factors.

Methods: Five hundred fifty-five patients who underwent surgery for primary colorectal cancer from January 2003 to December 2009 were analyzed for T3 subdivision. T3 subdivision was determined by the depth of invasion beyond the outer border of the proper muscle (T3a, <1 mm; T3b, 1 to 5 mm; T3c, >5 to 15 mm; T3d, >15 mm).

Microsatellite instability testing in Korean patients with colorectal cancer.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) testing is useful for identifying patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and detecting sporadic colorectal cancer that develops through replication error pathways. A pentaplex panel is recommended by the National Cancer Institute for MSI testing, but simplified mononucleotide panels and immunohistochemistry of mismatch repair proteins are widely employed for convenience. This study was to evaluate the MSI status of colorectal cancer in Korean patients.

Establishment and characterization of six human gastric carcinoma cell lines, including one naturally infected with Epstein-Barr virus.

We report the characterization of six new gastric carcinoma cell lines (designated NCC-19, NCC-20, NCC-24, NCC-59, SNU-1750 and SNU-1967) established from primary tumor samples of Korean patients. Four cell lines grew as adherent monolayers, one as both adherent and floating cell clumps and one as floating cell aggregates. The cell phenotypes, including the histopathology of the primary tumors and in vitro growth characteristics, were determined.

Comparison of surgical-site infection between open and laparoscopic appendectomy.

Purpose: An inflamed appendix can be removed either openly (open appendectomy [OA]) or laparoscopically (laparoscopic appendectomy [LA]). Surgical-site infection (SSI) is a representative healthcare-associated infection and can impose serious economic burdens on patients as well as affect morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to compare LA with OA in terms of SSI.

Is neoadjuvant chemotherapy necessary for patients with initially resectable colorectal liver metastases in the era of effective chemotherapy?

Backgrounds/aims: Hepatic resection has only guaranteed long-term survival in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) even in the era of effective chemotherapy. The definite role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is to improve outcomes of unresectable CRLMs, but it its role has not been defined for initially resectable CRLMs (IR-CRLMs).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 226 patients, who had been diagnosed and treated for IR-CRLM between 2003 and 2008; the patients had the following pathologies: 10% had more than 4 nodules, 11% had tumors larger than 5 cm, and 61% had synchronous CRMLs.

The impact of heavy smoking on anastomotic leakage and stricture after low anterior resection in rectal cancer patients.

Background: Anastomotic complications after low anterior resection are associated with perianastomotic ischemia. Smoking is one of the main causes of microvascular disease that is correlated with tissue ischemia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of smoking on anastomotic complications after low anterior resection in rectal cancer patients.

Methylation-specific PCR.

DNA methylation patterns in CpG-rich regions of promoter, CpG islands, are concerned in regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells. Excessive methylation of CpG dinucleotides in promoter represses the gene expression. In cancer, especially, gene silencing is occurred through aberrant methylation in promoter of tumor suppressor genes.

Prevalence of gastric and duodenal polyps and risk factors for duodenal neoplasm in korean patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background/aims: The prevalence of gastric polyps, duodenal adenoma and duodenal cancer has been reported as being high among familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients, but there have been no reports of this association in Korea. This study evaluated the prevalence of gastric and duodenal polyps and risk factors for duodenal neoplasm in FAP patients in Korea.

Methods: We reviewed both initial and follow-up endoscopic results from FAP patients.

Analysis of KRAS, BRAF, PTEN, IGF1R, EGFR intron 1 CA status in both primary tumors and paired metastases in determining benefit from cetuximab therapy in colon cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the expression of molecular markers in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and the concordance between primary tumor and metastasis. We also aimed to determine the relationship between molecular markers and clinical outcomes of cetuximab-containing chemotherapy.

Methods: Seventy-five mCRC patients who received cetuximab-containing chemotherapy between 2000 and 2008 were consecutively enrolled.

Establishment and characterization of six human lung cancer cell lines: EGFR, p53 gene mutations and expressions of drug sensitivity genes.

Background: Six human lung cancer cell lines (SNU-371, SNU-963, SNU-1327, SNU-1330, SNU-2292 and SNU-2315) were newly established through primary cell cultures. These cell lines were derived from a pulmonary blastoma, a small cell lung cancer, three adenocarcinomas and a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung of six Korean lung cancer patients.

Methods: The histopathology of the primary tumors and their in vitro growth characteristics were described.

Comparison of the efficacy of low anterior resection with primary anastomosis and Hartmann's procedure in advanced primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: We compared the efficacy between low anterior resection with primary anastomosis (LARA) and Hartmann's procedure (HP) in advanced primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Study Design: We reviewed medical records of 61 patients with advanced primary or recurrent EOC who underwent LARA or HP between January 1998 and August 2008. In 37 patients with primary FIGO stage III-IV EOC, 22 and 15 received LARA and HP, whereas 10 and 14 underwent LARA and HP in 24 patients with recurrent EOC.