Promoter mutation-independent TERT expression is related to the immune-enriched milieu in papillary thyroid cancer.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation (pTERT MT) promotes human carcinogenesis via aberrant expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). However, the tumorigenic impact of TERT expression independent of pTERT MT remains unclear despite numerous mechanisms of TERT being suggested. To tackle this issue, we employed comprehensive bioinformatics to assess biological variations noticed among different TERT expression mechanisms.

Identification of Lynch Syndrome in Patients with Endometrial Cancer Based on a Germline Next Generation Sequencing Multigene Panel Test.

We aimed to investigate the prevalence and relative contributions of LS and non-LS mutations in patients with endometrial cancer in Korea. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 204 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer who underwent a germline next generation sequencing multigene panel test covering MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and EPCAM at three tertiary centers. Thirty patients (14.

Long Non-Coding RNA-Based Functional Prediction Reveals Novel Targets in Notch-Upregulated Ovarian Cancer.

Notch signaling is a druggable target in high-grade serous ovarian cancers; however, its complexity is not clearly understood. Recent revelations of the biological roles of lncRNAs have led to an increased interest in the oncogenic action of lncRNAs in various cancers. In this study, we performed in silico analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas data to discover novel Notch-related lncRNAs and validated our transcriptome data via NOTCH1/3 silencing in serous ovarian cancer cells.

Frequency of Mismatch Repair Deficiency/High Microsatellite Instability and Its Role as a Predictive Biomarker of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gynecologic Cancers.

Purpose: This study was to investigate the frequency of mismatch repair deficiency/high microsatellite instability (MMRd/MSI-H) in gynecologic malignancies and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers according to MMR/MSI status.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a multi-center retrospective review on the patients who were diagnosed with gynecologic cancers between 2015 and 2020. Their clinicopathologic information, results of immunohistochemistry staining for MLH1/MSH2/MSH6/PMS2 and MSI analysis, tumor response to treatment with ICIs were investigated.

Machine Learning for Recurrence Prediction of Gynecologic Cancers Using Lynch Syndrome-Related Screening Markers.

To support the implementation of genome-based precision medicine, we developed machine learning models that predict the recurrence of patients with gynecologic cancer in using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) based on clinical and pathologic characteristics, including Lynch syndrome-related screening markers such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microsatellite instability (MSI) tests. To accomplish our goal, we reviewed the patient demographics, clinical data, and pathological results from their medical records. Then we identified seven potential characteristics (four MMR IHC [ and ], MSI, Age 60, and tumor size).

The Association Between the Number of Retrieved Pelvic Lymph Nodes and Ipsilateral Lower Limb Lymphedema in Patients With Gynecologic Cancer.

Purpose: While the risk of lower limb lymphedema (LLE) after radical surgery for gynecologic malignancies is multifactorial, the limited assessment of lymph nodes (LNs), such as sentinel LN biopsy, has been incorporated into a standard procedure. We assessed the relationship between the number of LNs retrieved from the hemipelvis and the incidence of ipsilateral LLE (iLLE).

Methods: This retrospective study included 103 women with gynecologic cancer who had LNs removed with minimally invasive surgery between January 2014 and December 2018.

and as Candidate Prognostic Markers for Advanced-Stage High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma.

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths among patients with gynecological malignancies worldwide. In order to identify prognostic markers for ovarian cancer, we performed RNA-sequencing and analyzed the transcriptome data from 51 patients who received conventional therapies for high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). Patients with early-stage (I or II) HGSC exhibited higher immune gene expression than patients with advanced stage (III or IV) HGSC.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as consolidation treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as consolidation treatment after completing first-line treatment in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients treated at the Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Center between January 2014 and 2019. Based on the inclusion criteria, 24 eligible patients who received HIPEC (paclitaxel 175 mg/m2, for 90 minutes, at 42°C) (HIPEC group) as consolidation treatment after terminating the adjuvant chemotherapy were identified.

Real-World Experience with Pembrolizumab Treatment in Patients with Heavily Treated Recurrent Gynecologic Malignancies.

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers in real-world practice.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-institution study of patients with recurrent gynecologic malignancies treated with pembrolizumab. The primary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and safety.

Detailed characterization of metastatic lymph nodes improves the prediction accuracy of currently used risk stratification systems in N1 stage papillary thyroid cancer.

Objective: The characteristics of metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) have been investigated as important predictors of recurrence and progression in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, clinically applicable risk stratification systems are limited to the assessment of size and number of MLNs. This study investigated the predictive value of detailed characteristics of MLNs in combination with currently used risk stratification systems.

Integrative analysis of transcription factors and microRNAs in ovarian cancer cell spheroids.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can self-renew, proliferate into differentiated cells, or enter a quiescent state and are regarded to cause chemoresistance and recurrence. An integrative analysis of transcription factors (TF) and miRNAs was performed in ovarian CSC-enriched spheroid-forming cells (SFCs) to identify factors relevant to ovarian CSCs.

Methods: Fresh tumor cells from three ovarian cancer patients were cultured in standard and in selective medium.

Clinical Impact of Somatic Variants in Homologous Recombination Repair-Related Genes in Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the frequencies of mutations in DNA damage repair genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, homologous recombination genes and TP53 gene in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma, alongside those of germline and somatic BRCA mutations, with the aim of improving the identification of patients suitable for treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

Materials And Methods: Tissue samples from 77 Korean patients with ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma were subjected to next-generation sequencing. Pathogenic alterations of 38 DNA damage repair genes and TP53 gene and their relationships with patient survival were examined.

Chemicals in Surgical Smoke and the Efficiency of Built-in-Filter Ports.

Background And Objectives: Surgical smoke contains various malodorous and hazardous combustion byproducts. We aimed to analyze hydrocarbons accumulated in the abdominal cavity during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery and determine the efficiency of a built-in-filter port.

Methods: We prospectively followed seven patients with benign uterine pathology.

Serum exosomal miRNA-145 and miRNA-200c as promising biomarkers for preoperative diagnosis of ovarian carcinomas.

: Exosomes are extracellular microvesicles that are released by most cells and widely distributed in various body fluids. Malignant cells secrete large amounts of exosomes containing various molecular constituents reflecting the originating tumor. We investigated the difference in microRNA (miRNA) expression in serum exosomes from the patients with benign, borderline and malignant ovarian masses to assess the diagnostic relevance of serum exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers for preoperative diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma.

Peripheral location and infiltrative margin predict invasive features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Objective: Tumor location in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) might determine tumor outgrowth from the thyroid gland. However, the clinical implications of tumor location and minimal extrathyroid extension (mETE) have not been well elucidated. We aimed to investigate the relationship between tumor location and mETE to predict the aggressiveness of PTMC.

Multicenter Adherence Study of Asthma Medication for Children in Korea.

Purpose: Adherence is a major component of successful medical treatment. However, non-adherence remains a barrier to effective delivery of healthcare worldwide.

Methods: Twenty healthcare facilities (secondary or tertiary hospitals) belonging to the Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Diseases (KAPARD) participated.

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (adenoma malignum) of the uterine cervix: clinicopathological analysis of 17 cases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) and to analyze its prognostic factors.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 17 patients who were diagnosed with MDA at a single institution between January 2005 and December 2015.

Results: The median age of the patients was 47.

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies a Novel Hedgehog-Interacting Protein G516R Mutation in Locally Advanced Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Locally advanced thyroid cancer exhibits aggressive clinical features requiring extensive neck dissection. Therefore, it is important to identify changes in the tumor biology before local progression. Here, whole exome sequencing (WES) using tissues from locally advanced papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) presented a large number of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the metastatic lymph node (MLN), but not in normal tissues and primary tumors.

Erratum: Prevalence of germline BRCA mutations among women with carcinoma of the peritoneum or fallopian tube.

This corrects the article on p. e43 in vol. 29, PMID: 29770616.

A clinicopathologic review and obstetric outcome of uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) in a single institution.

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the clinicopathologic features and treatment of uSTUMP in a single institution. In addition, we described the obstetric outcomes after uterine-preserving surgery for uSTUMP.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients diagnosed with uSTUMP between January 2000 and February 2018 at the Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Center, CHA Bundang Medical Center.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of double primary endometrial and colorectal cancers in a single institution.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathologic and genetic correlations between double primary endometrial and colorectal cancer related to Lynch syndrome and to analyze germline mutations in mismatch repair genes in endometrial cancer patients in Korea.

Methods: Thirteen patients diagnosed with pathologically endometrial and colorectal cancer between January 2005 and November 2016 in a single institution were enrolled in the study. The medical records were retrospectively analyzed.

Unclassified Variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in Korean Patients With Ovarian Cancer.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate unclassified variants (UVs) in BRCA1 and 2 of Korean patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 138 patients diagnosed with ovarian/fallopian tubal/peritoneal cancer between January 2013 and January 2016, whose BRCA genetic test results and clinical characteristics were available for review. Patient peripheral blood lymphocyte specimens were assessed for BRCA mutations and variations by direct sequencing.

Oncologic and obstetric outcomes of conservative surgery for borderline ovarian tumors in women of reproductive age.

Objective: To compare the oncologic and obstetric outcomes in reproductive-age females with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) treated with cyst enucleation (CE) or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO).

Methods: The medical records of patients with BOTs treated between 1998 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The recurrence rates in the USO and CE groups were compared, and the postoperative obstetric outcomes were assessed via telephone survey.

Case Report of Menopausal Woman Diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer after Colon Cancer with Germline Mutation in in Korea.

We present a case of an endometrial cancer patient with germline mutation in MutS homolog 6 (), associated with Lynch syndrome. A 60-year-old Korean woman had a personal history of colon cancer 23 years ago. She also had a family history of endometrial cancer and colon cancer of her sisters and brothers.