Real-world efficacy and safety of liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a study by the Korean Cancer Study Group.

Background: Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) was effective and well-tolerated in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPAC) that progressed on gemcitabine-based therapy in the global NAPOLI-1 trial. Real-world data may further clarify the outcomes and safety profile of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV in clinical practice.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients with mPAC who received nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV following gemcitabine-based therapy under a Managed Access Program in Korea.

STING activation reprograms tumor vasculatures and synergizes with VEGFR2 blockade.

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is a critical link between innate and adaptive immunity, and induces anti-tumor immune responses. STING is expressed in vasculatures, but its role in tumor angiogenesis has not been elucidated. Here we investigated STING-induced tumor vascular remodeling and the potential of STING-based combination immunotherapy.

Randomised phase II trial comparing four front-line doublets in Asian patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Introduction: Consensus has not been reached regarding the standard regimen for front-line chemotherapy of recurrent/metastatic gastric cancer. In this randomised phase II study, we compared four doublet regimens: S-1 and cisplatin (SP); oxaliplatin and 5-FU (FOLFOX); docetaxel and 5-FU (DF) and paclitaxel and 5-FU (PF).

Patients And Methods: Patients without prior history of chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic gastric cancer were randomised evenly to each regimen.

Efficacy of Polytetrafluoroethylene/Polylactide-co-glycolide (PTFE/PLGA) Laminate and PTFE/PLGA Laminate Containing Slow-Releasing Thalidomide in Delayed Adjustable Strabismus Surgery in a Rabbit Model.

: To evaluate the efficacy of polytetrafluoroethylene/polylactide-co-glycolide (PTFE/PLGA) laminate containing sustained-release thalidomide for delayed adjustable strabismus surgery. : This is a prospective, masked-observer, controlled study using 50 eyes of 25 rabbits. After superior rectus muscle (SRM) recession, a PTFE/PLGA laminate containing thalidomide (group PT, 20 eyes), PTFE/PLGA laminate alone (group P, 20 eyes), or no barrier (group C, 10 eyes) were applied around the SRM.

Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling by Intratumoral Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Enhances the Efficacy of Immune-Checkpoint Blockade.

Purpose: Cancer immunotherapy is a potent treatment modality, but its clinical benefit depends on the tumor's immune profile. Here, we used mJX-594 (JX), a targeted and GM-CSF-armed oncolytic vaccinia virus, as a strategy to remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME) and subsequently increase sensitivity to αPD-1 and/or αCTLA-4 immunotherapy.

Experimental Design: The remodeling of the TME was determined using histologic, flow-cytometric, and NanoString immune profiling analyses.

A Phase II Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Pegteograstim in Korean Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Dose-Dense Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide.

Purpose: Dose-dense chemotherapy (DD-CT) is a preferred (neo)adjuvant regimen in early breast cancer (BC). Although the results of reported randomized trials are conflicting, a recent metaanalysis showed improved overall and disease-free survival with DD-CT compared to conventional schedules. However, no DD-CT safety data for Korean BC patients are available.

A Prediction Model of Tumor Progression and Survival in HER2-Positive Metastatic Gastric Cancer Patients Treated with Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy.

The effects of different patient factors and dose levels of chemotherapeutic agents on clinical outcomes in advanced gastric cancer are not as yet fully characterized. We aimed at developing an integrative model that incorporates dose and covariate information to predict tumor growth and patient survival in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with trastuzumab (T), 5-FU(F)/capecitabine (X) (F or X), and cisplatin (P). Sixty-nine patients (training dataset) were used for model building and a separate 86 patients (test dataset) for model validation.

PTEN loss and level of HER2 amplification is associated with trastuzumab resistance and prognosis in HER2-positive gastric cancer.

Background: Trastuzumab is an active agent against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to characterize resistance to trastuzumab-based front-line chemotherapy in HER2+ GC patients and to establish factors predictive of this resistance.

Results: Among 129 HER2+ GC patients, 25% displayed rapid disease progression within 4 months from initiation of therapy.

A Rapid and Simple Liquid-Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Measuring 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 in Human Serum: Comparison with Two Automated Immunoassays.

Background: Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is well-known to be a reliable biomarker of human vitamin D status, with the recognition of widespread vitamin D insufficiency in general populations. The aims of this study are to validate a fast and simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for quantifying 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D in serum and to compare two automated immunoassays with the LC-MS/MS method.

Methods: Samples were prepared by protein precipitation with ethanol including 25(OH)D-d, followed by a liquid-liquid extraction with hexane.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Mammalian Target Rapamycin Inhibitors in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Renal Insufficiency: The Korean Cancer Study Group GU 14-08.

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of mammalian target rapamycin inhibitors in Korean patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with chronic renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis.

Materials And Methods: Korean patients with mRCC and chronic renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis treated with everolimus or temsirolimus between January 2008 and December 2014 were included. Patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and toxicities were evaluated.

Rho GTPase RhoJ is Associated with Gastric Cancer Progression and Metastasis.

Rho GTPases play a pivotal role in tumor progression by regulating tumor cell migration and invasion. However, the role of Rho GTPases in gastric cancer (GC) remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical implications of RhoJ, which is an uncharted member of Rho family.

Bone alkaline phosphatase as a surrogate marker of bone metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Bone metastasis is relatively uncommon in gastric cancer patients, but its incidence has been rising. Early detection of bone metastasis is important in preventing complications related to bone metastasis such as pain, fracture and the compromise of chemotherapy. In this pilot study, we investigated the feasibility of bone turnover markers as surrogate markers of bone metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

Effects of microsatellite instability on recurrence patterns and outcomes in colorectal cancers.

Background: Among colorectal cancers (CRCs), high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) is associated with a better prognosis, compared with low-frequency MSI or microsatellite stability (MSI-L/MSS). However, it is unclear whether MSI affects the prognosis of recurrent CRCs.

Methods: This study included 2940 patients with stage I-III CRC who underwent complete resection.

Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia in Korean Female Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Preoperative or Postoperative Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxel Chemotherapy.

Purpose: Doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel chemotherapy (AC-D) is an intermediate risk factor (incidence of 10%-20%) for febrile neutropenia (FN) in breast cancer. However, the reported incidence of FN while using this regimen was obtained mostly from Western breast cancer patients, with little data available from Asian patients. This study aimed to assess the incidence of FN in Korean breast cancer patients and to describe clinical variables related to FN.

Prognostic implications of PIK3CA amplification in curatively resected liposarcoma.

Background: We investigated the epidemiologic characteristics and prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutations/amplifications in curative resected liposarcoma.

Patients And Methods: A total of 125 liposarcoma tissue samples were collected over a 12-year period. PIK3CA mutations and gene copy number amplifications were analyzed by pyrosequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in hepatocellular carcinoma: detection of bone metastasis and prediction of prognosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (CT) in bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: Of 3912 consecutive HCC patients, 67 patients who had undergone both PET/CT and bone scintigraphy (BS) within a 3-month interval were evaluated.

Results: Bone metastases were most frequently found in the pelvis (20%), followed by the lumbar spine (14%) and long bones (13%).

The role of second-look endoscopy in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Delayed bleeding is a major complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection. Second-look endoscopy is routinely performed in most hospitals to reduce the possibility of delayed bleeding without solid evidence to support this practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether second-look endoscopy prevents delayed bleeding, and to verify clinicopathological features of delayed bleeding in order to identify lesions that may benefit from a second-look endoscopy.

Rectal dieulafoy lesion managed by hemostatic clips.

The classic Dieulafoy lesion is a minute gastric mucosal defect which bleeds massively from an exposed artery. The typical endoscopic appearance of this lesion is a single, round mucosal defect with an artery protruding from its base in the absence of surrounding ulceration. We encountered an 89-year-old man who developed sudden massive fresh rectal bleeding.

Risk factors for incomplete resection and complications in endoscopic mucosal resection for lateral spreading tumors.

Aim: Lateral spreading tumors (LST) are relatively large flat lesions with diameters exceeding 10 mm in length. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a commonly used technique for removing LST. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for incomplete resection and complications of EMR for LST.

[Comparison of treatments in patients with inoperable stage IV advanced esophageal cancer].

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to compare palliative treatments such as chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy with best supportive care in patients with inoperable advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: A total of 67 patients with inoperable advanced esophageal cancer visiting Kosin University Gospel Hospital between January 2000 and July 2010 were included in a retrospective analysis. Patients were categorized as having palliative treatment or best supportive care to compare their prognosis.

Are Food Constituents Relevant to the Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Young Adults? - A Rome III Based Prevalence Study of the Korean Medical Students.

Background/aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is prevalent in general population. This study investigates the prevalence of IBS in medical college students in Korea as well as the influence of dietary habits and nutritional intake on IBS.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study of 319 students (239 males and 80 females, age 22.

The effect of autologous serum eye drops on the conjunctivalization over exposed porous polyethylene orbital implant (Medpor(®)) in the rabbit model.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of autologous serum eye drops (AS) in enhancing conjunctivalization over a scleral patch graft on exposed porous polyethylene orbital implant (Medpor(®)).

Methods: Eighteen rabbits were underwent evisceration, implantation of Medpor(®) and homologous scleral patch graft. The conjunctival edge was sutured leaving 5 mm-diameter circular defect.

A case of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma with favorable response to systemic chemotherapy.

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare form of primary liver cancer composed of cells with histopathologic features of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC). Because of its low incidence, the information on clinical outcomes of cHCC-CC is very limited and there are no published reports describing non-surgical treatment options for cHCC-CC. We report a case of cHCC-CC exhibiting a favorable response to systemic chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cisplatin.

Clinicopathologic features of metachronous or synchronous gastric cancer patients with three or more primary sites.

Purpose: We investigated the clinicopathologic information of patients with gastric cancer with multiple primary cancers (GC-MPC) of three or more sites.

Materials And Methods: Between 1995 and 2009, 105,908 patients were diagnosed with malignancy at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System. Of these, 113 (0.