Prognostic implication of PD-L1 polymorphisms in non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Background: To investigate the impact of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) polymorphisms on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with curative radiotherapy.

Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs822336G>C, rs822337T>A, rs822338C>T, and rs2297136A>G) in the PD-L1 gene were evaluated in 124 NSCLC patients. Clinical stage was I in 28, II in 17, and III in 79 patients.

Small heterodimer partner as a predictor of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy response and survival in patients with rectal cancer: A preliminary study.

Small heterodimer partner (SHP) plays an essential role in the regulation of innate immune and inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study was to identify whether SHP levels are associated with cancer immunology and treatment outcomes in rectal cancer. SHP expression was analyzed via gene set enrichment analysis and the OncoLnc database.

Potential intrinsic subtype dependence on the association between metformin use and survival in surgically resected breast cancer: a Korean national population-based study.

Purpose: Numerous studies have suggested that metformin treatment can increase breast cancer survival; however, it is unclear whether its effects interact with intrinsic subtype or diabetic status. Therefore, we conducted a large nationwide study to assess this in women with surgically resected invasive breast cancer.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2007 and 2016 were identified using the national health insurance claims database of South Korea.

Development of an Individualized Prediction Calculator for the Benefit of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Surgically Resected De Novo Stage IV Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Locoregional treatment has been increasingly adopted for metastatic breast cancer at presentation. This study aims to develop an individualized calculator to predict the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for patients with surgically resected de novo stage IV breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for patients diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer between 2010 and 2014.

Clinicopathological Profiling of LC3B, an Autophagy Marker, and ESRRA (Estrogen-related Receptor-alpha) in Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background/aim: Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), an autophagy marker, has been used as a promising marker in various cancer types. However, the expression of LC3B in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and its prognostic significance have not been investigated. Recent studies pointed to the involvement of ESRRA in regulating autophagy via both transcriptional and post-translational control.

A national survey of lung cancer specialists' views on low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in Korea.

Lung cancer specialists play an important role in designing and implementing lung cancer screening. We aimed to describe their 1) attitudes toward low-dose lung computed tomography (LDCT) screening, 2) current practices and experiences of LDCT screening and 3) attitudes and opinions towards national lung cancer screening program (NLCSP). We conducted a national web-based survey of pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiological oncologists who are members of Korean Association for Lung Cancer (N = 183).

The Effect of Hospital Case Volume on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Analysis (KROG-1106).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hospital case volume on clinical outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: Data on 1,073 patients with cT1-4N0-3M0 NPC were collected from a multi-institutional retrospective database (KROG 11-06). All patients received definitive radiotherapy (RT) either with three-dimensional-conformal RT (3D-CRT) (n=576) or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) (n=497).

Lung cancer specialist physicians' attitudes towards e-cigarettes: A nationwide survey.

Objectives: Despite a sharp increase in e-cigarette use, there is debate about whether e-cigarettes are a viable alternative for harm reduction, and the forms that regulation should take. Healthcare providers can be effective in offering guidance to patients and their families and shaping regulatory policy. We described lung cancer specialists' attitudes toward e-cigarettes and its regulation.

Ionizing Radiation Induces Innate Immune Responses in Macrophages by Generation of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species.

During radiotherapy for tumors, the innate immune system also responds to ionizing radiation and induces immune modulation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which radiation modulates innate immune responses. In this study, we observed that radiation triggered the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS), leading to innate immune responses in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM).

Survey of the Patterns of Using Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Korea.

Purpose: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is an effective emerging technique for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the current practice of SABR for early-stage NSCLC in Korea.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey of SABR for NSCLC by sending e-mails to all board-certified members of the Korean Society for Radiation Oncology.

The Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study (KROG 11-06) Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Purpose: We compared the treatment results and toxicity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT) alone (the CRT arm) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by CCRT (the NCT arm).

Materials And Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective study was conducted to review NPC patterns of care and treatment outcome. Data of 568 NPC patients treated by CCRT alone or by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by CCRT were collected from 15 institutions.

Patterns of care for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (KROG 11-06) in South Korea.

Purpose: To investigate the patterns of care for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective study was performed (Korean Radiation Oncology Group [KROG] 11-06) on a total of 1,445 patients from 15 institutions.

Results: Of the 1,445 patients, more than half were stages III (39.

Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes after postoperative chemoradiotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the survival outcome, patterns of failure, and complications in patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2006, 80 patients with advanced gastric cancer who received postoperative concurrent CRT were included. Pathological staging was IB-II in 9%, IIIA in 38%, IIIB in 33%, and IV in 21%.

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme a synthase 2 expression is associated with chemoradiotherapy responses in colorectal cancer.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has become a standard treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer. Favorable long-term outcomes have been reported for patients with good responses to chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, predictive factors for chemoradiotherapy responses can be useful for their applicability to risk-adaptive therapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Pathologic complete response of primary tumor following preoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: long-term outcomes and prognostic significance of pathologic nodal status (KROG 09-01).

Objective: To investigate long-term outcomes of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients with postchemoradiotherapy (post-CRT) pathologic complete response of primary tumor (ypT0) and determine prognostic significance of post-CRT pathologic nodal (ypN) status.

Background: LARC patients with post-CRT pathologic complete response were suggested to have favorable long-term outcomes, but prognostic significance of ypN status has never been specifically defined in ypT0 patients.

Methods: The Korean Radiation Oncology Group collected clinical data for 333 LARC patients with ypT0 following preoperative CRT and curative radical resections between 1993 and 2007.

Prognostic significance of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/Ref-1) expression in rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Purpose: Human apurinic endonuclease/redox factor 1 (APE/Ref-1) mediates repair of radiation-induced DNA lesions and regulates transcription via redox-based activation. We investigated the predictive and prognostic significance of APE/Ref-1 expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) (cT3-T4 or N+).

Methods And Materials: APE/Ref-1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in pretreatment biopsy specimens obtained from 83 patients with LARC.

ID3 mediates X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes through the regulation of β-catenin.

Background: Ionizing radiation is used to treat many of cancers, however, it also produces unwanted side effect on normal tissues, such as radiodermatitis. We previously established an animal model for radiodermatitis, and found that X-ray irradiation induced the expression of ID3 in hairless mouse skin by cDNA microarray.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the functional role of ID3 in X-ray irradiated keratinocytes.

Differential gene expression profiles of radioresistant non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines established by fractionated irradiation: tumor protein p53-inducible protein 3 confers sensitivity to ionizing radiation.

Purpose: Despite the widespread use of radiotherapy as a local and regional modality for the treatment of cancer, some non-small-cell lung cancers commonly develop resistance to radiation. We thus sought to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to radiation.

Methods And Materials: We established the radioresistant cell line H460R from radiosensitive parental H460 cells.

Interstitial fluid pressure as a prognostic factor in cervical cancer following radiation therapy.

Purpose: To investigate tumor interstitial fluid pressure as a prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in patients with cervical cancer following radiation therapy.

Experimental Design: Tumor interstitial fluid pressure was measured in 55 cervical cancer patients who received radiation therapy between August 1998 and September 2002. Interstitial fluid pressure measurements were made before radiation therapy (pre-radiation therapy interstitial fluid pressure) and after a median of 28.

Role of protein kinase C delta in X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocyte.

In this study, we investigated the process of X-ray-induced apoptosis of skin keratinocyte, and the functional role of protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) and downstream signalling cascade. High-dose X-ray irradiation (10 Gy) led to the apoptosis of HaCaT keratinocyte, accompanied by PKCdelta cleavage. Treatment with PKCdelta inhibitor and adenoviral transduction of dominant-negative PKCdelta clearly inhibited the X-ray-induced apoptosis of keratinocyte.

Anti-apoptotic role of S100A8 in X-ray irradiated keratinocytes.

Background: Ionizing radiation is used to treat a lot of cancers, however, it also produced unwanted side effect on normal tissues, such as radiodermatitis. We previously established an animal model for radiodermatitis, and identified many of radiation-induced genes by cDNA microarray. Of the candidates, we chose S100A8 gene for a further study.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression as a predictor of para-aortic lymph node recurrence in uterine cervical cancer.

Purpose: The overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with a worse prognosis and the development of distant metastases in cervical cancer. This matched-pair analysis examined whether COX-2 expression is associated with para-aortic lymph node (PALN) recurrence in uterine cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: For this study, we matched 20 patients with PALN recurrence after definitive or postoperative RT by stage with 20 others who did not have PALN recurrence.

Epidermal growth factor receptor as a predictor of tumor downstaging in locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: To examine retrospectively whether levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression can predict tumor downstaging after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods And Materials: A total of 183 patients with rectal cancer (cT3-T4 or N+) were enrolled in this study. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy consisted of 50.

Epidermal growth factor receptor as a prognostic factor in locally advanced rectal-cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

Purpose: We investigated the prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

Methods And Materials: Pretreatment biopsy specimens from 92 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were examined for EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry. EGFR expression was assessed by immunoreactive score (IRS).

Altered immune cell proportions in the radiodermatitis induced hairless mice-1 (HR-1).

Accidental radiation exposures or radiation therapy can cause internal and external damage including radiodermatitis. Even though radiodermatitis is one of the dose limiting factors in radiotherapy, the immunological nature of it is not yet been clearly understood. In this study, we have examined the alteration in immune cell population during the radiodermatitis process.