c-MET-positive circulating tumor cells and cell-free DNA as independent prognostic factors in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Endocrine therapy resistance in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) is a significant clinical challenge that poses several unmet needs in the management of the disease. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of c-MET-positive circulating tumor cells (cMET+ CTCs), ESR1/PIK3CA mutations, and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with HR+ mBC were prospectively enrolled during standard treatment at Samsung Medical Center.

No evidence of delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea.

Objectives: We evaluated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea, where there have been no regional or hospital lockdowns during the pandemic period.

Methods: Data on CRC patients (n=1,445) diagnosed in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province between January 2019 and December 2021 were assessed. The stage at the time of CRC diagnosis, route to diagnosis, time to initial cancer treatment, and length of hospital admission were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frequency and Type of Disputed Mutations in Isolates from South Korea.

Background: A disputed mutation is a specific type of mutation that can cause low-level resistances to rifampin (RIF). Here, we aimed to assess the frequency and types of disputed mutations in isolates from South Korea.

Methods: Between August 2009 and December 2015, 130 patients exhibited RIF resistance on the MTBDR assay at Asan Medical Center.

Difference of stage at cancer diagnosis by socioeconomic status for four target cancers of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea: Results from the Gwangju and Jeonnam cancer registries.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether stage at cancer diagnosis differed according to patient economic status.

Methods: A total of 10,528 patients with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, breast, or cervix, which are target organs of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP; fully implemented in 2005) were extracted from population-based cancer registries. The patients were classified into four groups based on socioeconomic status (SES), as determined using their National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly premium at the time of cancer diagnosis.

Performance of REBA MTB-XDR to detect extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in an intermediate-burden country.

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a serious worldwide problem. The REBA MTB-XDR (REBA-XDR) was recently developed in Korea to detect resistance to ofloxacin, kanamycin, and streptomycin. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the REBA-XDR.

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus sakei Strain wikim 22, Isolated from Kimchi in Chungcheong Province, South Korea.

We report the draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus sakei strain wikim 22, a Lactobacillus species isolated from kimchi in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, having 155 contigs with 2,447 genes and an average G+C content of 40.61%.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress influences bronchial asthma pathogenesis by modulating nuclear factor κB activation.

Background: Despite many studies on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in patients with various inflammatory diseases, there is scarce information on ER stress in patients with bronchial asthma.

Objective: In this study we aimed to elucidate the role of ER stress in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Methods: Using mice sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and LPS and challenged with OVA (OVA(LPS)-OVA mice), as well as mice sensitized and challenged with OVA (OVA-OVA mice), we investigated whether ER stress is involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Genetic and expressional alterations of CHD genes in gastric and colorectal cancers.

Aims: Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD) is a regulator of the chromatin remodelling process. The aim was to determine the CHD1, CHD2, CHD3, CHD4, CHD7, CHD8 and CHD9 mutational status of mononucleotide repeats in gastric and colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI).

Methods And Results: The repeats were determined in 28 gastric cancers (GCs) with high MSI (MSI-H), 45 GCs with low MSI (MSI-L)/stable MSI (MSS), 35 colorectal cancers (CRCs) with MSI-H and 45 CRCs with MSI-L/MSS by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis.

Novel somatic frameshift mutations of genes related to cell cycle and DNA damage response in gastric and colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability.

Aims And Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) in sporadic gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) causes frameshift mutations in gene sequences that contribute to cancer pathogenesis. Many mutations have already been identified in these two cancer types, but some are still undiscovered.

Methods: We analyzed seven genes (cell cycle control and DNA damage signaling/repair-related genes) with seven or more mononucleotide repeats in 30 GC samples with high MSI (MSI-H), 15 GC samples with low MSI (MSI-L), 45 GC samples that were microsatellite stable (MSS), 33 CRC samples with MSI-H, 15 CRC samples with MSI-L, and 45 CRC samples that were MSS.

Mutational analysis of mononucleotide repeats in dual specificity tyrosine phosphatase genes in gastric and colon carcinomas with microsatellite instability.

Coordinated protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are crucial in the regulation of cell signaling, and disruption of the coordination is known to play important roles in cancer development. Recent reports revealed that classical protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-encoded genes are somatically mutated in human colorectal cancer. However, data on dual specificity phosphatase (DPTP) gene mutations in human cancers are lacking.

Expression of CARD6, an NF-kappaB activator, in gastric, colorectal and oesophageal cancers.

Aims: Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signalling is considered a crucial mechanism in the development of cancers. Caspase-associated recruitment domain 6 (CARD6) is a protein that activates NF-kappaB signalling evoked by RIP1, RIP2, Bcl-10 and MEKK. In this study, we analysed tissue expression of CARD6 protein in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric adenocarcinomas (GC) and colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC).

NF-kappaB signalling proteins p50/p105, p52/p100, RelA, and IKKepsilon are over-expressed in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

Aims: Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation has been recognised as an important mechanism in the development of cancers. However, expression status of NF-kappaB-related proteins in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues is largely unknown. In this study, we analysed expressions of NF-kappaB members (p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA) and IKKepsilon in ESCC tissues.

Oncogenic NRF2 mutations in squamous cell carcinomas of oesophagus and skin.

Nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (NRF2) encodes a transcription factor that induces expression of cytoprotective proteins upon oxidative stress and oncogenic NRF2 mutations have been found in lung and head/neck cancers that inactivate KEAP1-mediated degradation of NRF2. The aim of this study was to catalogue NRF2 mutations in other human cancers. For this, we analysed 1145 cancer tissues from carcinomas from oesophagus, skin, uterine cervix, lung, larynx, breast, colon, stomach, liver, prostate, urinary bladder, ovary, uterine cervix, and kidney, and meningiomas, multiple myelomas, and acute leukaemias by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay.

Immunohistochemical analysis of NF-kappaB signaling proteins IKKepsilon, p50/p105, p52/p100 and RelA in prostate cancers.

Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling is considered an important mechanism in the development of prostate cancers. A recent study revealed that IkappaB kinase epsilon (IKKepsilon), an activator of NF-kappaB, was overexpressed in breast cancers and acted as an oncogene. Expression of NF-kappaB members has been reported in prostate cancer tissues, but expression of IKKepsilon has not yet been studied in prostate cancers.

Mutational analysis of IDH1 codon 132 in glioblastomas and other common cancers.

Missense somatic mutations in IDH1 gene affecting codon 132 have recently been reported in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other gliomas. The recurrent nature of the IDH1 mutations in the same amino acid strongly suggests that the mutations may play important roles in the pathogenesis of glial tumors. The aim of this study was to see whether the IDH1 codon 132 mutations occur in other human cancers besides glial tumors.

Frameshift mutations of autophagy-related genes ATG2B, ATG5, ATG9B and ATG12 in gastric and colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability.

Mounting evidence indicates that alterations of autophagy processes are directly involved in the development of many human diseases, including cancers. Autophagy-related gene (ATG) products are main players in the autophagy process. In humans there are 16 known ATG genes, of which four (ATG2B, ATG5, ATG9B and ATG12) have mononucleotide repeats with seven or more nucleotides.

Regulation of telomeric repeat binding factor 1 binding to telomeres by casein kinase 2-mediated phosphorylation.

Telomere maintenance is essential for continued cell proliferation and chromosome stability. Telomeres are maintained by telomerase and a collection of associated proteins. The telomeric protein telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1) negatively regulates telomere length by inhibiting access of telomerase at telomere termini.

Distribution patterns of chalcogens (S, Se, Te, and 210Po) in various tissues of a squid, Todarodes pacificus.

In order to elucidate the relationship between the chemically similar chalcogen elements S, Se, Te, and 210Po in marine invertebrates, we conducted a comparative study of the distribution patterns of these elements in a squid, Todarodes pacificus. Elemental concentrations of the four chalcogens were determined in (mantle) muscle, gill, stomach, and hepatopancreas tissues. No relationship between chalcogen concentrations and morphological parameters (mantle length, body weight, and sex) was evident.

Levels of intra- and extracellular heat shock protein 60 in Kawasaki disease patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.

Immune reactivity to autologous heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) has been reported to be associated with a favorable prognosis in autoimmune diseases. To provide a clue for the possible role of HSP60 in Kawasaki disease (KD), we investigated the levels of intra- and extracellular HSP60 in the course of KD. In KD patients, autologous HSP60 was abundantly expressed in CD11c(+) cells during the acute phase and subsequently decreased during the subacute phase.

Ubiquitin ligase MKRN1 modulates telomere length homeostasis through a proteolysis of hTERT.

Telomere homeostasis is regulated by telomerase and a collection of associated proteins. Telomerase is, in turn, regulated by post-translational modifications of the rate-limiting catalytic subunit hTERT. Here we show that disruption of Hsp90 by geldanamycin promotes efficient ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of hTERT.

Telomeric DNA damage by topoisomerase I. A possible mechanism for cell killing by camptothecin.

Topoisomerase I adjusts torsional stress in the genome by breaking and resealing one strand of the helix through a transient covalent coupling between enzyme and DNA. Camptothecin, a specific topoisomerase I poison, traps this covalent intermediate, thereby damaging the genome. Here we examined the activity of topoisomerase I at telomeric repeats to determine whether telomere structures are targets for DNA damage.