Effects of oral iron chelator deferasirox on human malignant lymphoma cells.

Background: Iron is essential for cell proliferation and viability. It has been reported that iron depletion by a chelator inhibits proliferation of some cancer cells. Deferasirox is a new oral iron chelator, and a few reports have described its effects on lymphoma cells.

Wernicke's encephalopathy following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency, and is characterized by acute mental confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. It is also a rare neurologic complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, because of its rare incidence, Wernicke's encephalopathy can easily be overlooked in HSCT patients, and a few misleading steps in the early stage of the disease may result in permanent neurologic disability or even mortality.

Human feeder cells can support the undifferentiated growth of human and mouse embryonic stem cells using their own basic fibroblast growth factors.

In the culture system using human feeder cells, the mechanism through which these cells support undifferentiated growth of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has not been well investigated. Here, we explored the mechanisms of 3 kinds of human feeder cells, including human placental cells from the chorionic plate, human bone marrow stromal cells, and human foreskin fibroblasts. First, we determined that undifferentiated growth of 2 kinds each of human (H1 and HSF6) and mouse (D3 and CE3) ESCs was possible in all human feeder cell types tested (human placental cells, human bone marrow stromal cells, and human foreskin fibroblasts), without the need for exogenous cytokine supplementation including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor.

Treatment results including more than third-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Recently, third-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was accepted as a reasonable therapeutic option in patients with a favorable performance status. In practice, however, palliative chemotherapy has been performed for patients with a favorable performance status, even after third-line chemotherapy. Although multiple cycles of palliative chemotherapy were performed for these patients, there are little data of observation for courses of treatment from first-line to the last chemotherapy.

The suggestion of a risk stratification system for febrile neutropenia in patients with hematologic disease.

We analyzed the prognostic factors from 259 cases of febrile neutropenia occurring in 137 patients with hematologic disease. Based on multivariate analysis, significant prognostic factors are recovery of neutropenia, respiratory infection, baseline serum albumin, baseline bicarbonate, baseline CRP, and CRP on the fifth day after antibiotic treatment. From these variables, we derived a predictive model for the prognosis of febrile neutropenia using baseline serum albumin, bicarbonate, and CRP, which could be easily checked before chemotherapy.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in PIM-1 gene with the risk of Korean lung cancer.

Purpose: The expression of the PIM-1 gene, which is a proto-oncogene that encodes a serine/threonine kinase, is associated with multiple cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. In particular, several studies have reported that the PIM-1 gene is associated with the development of lymphoma, leukemia and prostate cancer. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms in the PIM-1 gene and the risk of lung cancer occurrence in the Korean population.

Clinical factors related to suspected second primary lung cancer development in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: The rate of second primary lung cancer development for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) has been noted. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of suspected second primary lung cancer that developed in patients with primary HNC.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 469 patients who were newly diagnosed with HNC at the Korea University Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2006.

High-dose immunoglobulin infusion for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura refractory to plasma exchange and steroid therapy.

The outcomes of the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have been shown to be improved by the administration of plasma exchange. However, treatment options are currently limited for cases refractory to plasma exchange. The autoantibodies that block the activity of ADAMTS13 have been demonstrated to play a role in the pathogenesis of TTP; therefore, high-dose immunoglobulin, which can neutralize these autoantibodies, may be useful for refractory TTP.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in a surface antigen-negative and antibody-positive patient after rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy.

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that targets B-lymphocytes, and it is widely used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, its use has been implicated in HBV reactivation that's related with the immunosuppressive effects of rituximab. Although the majority of reactivations occur in hepatitis B carriers, a few cases of reactivation have been reported in HBsAg negative patients.

Glucose transporter-1 expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Purpose: Tumor cells are known to express hypoxia-related proteins such as glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1). These hypoxia-induced changes may allow tumor cells to survive under sustained hypoxic microenvironments, and the surviving tumor cell under hypoxia may develop a more aggressive phenotype and so result in a poor prognosis.

Materials And Methods: The Glut-1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and its association with the prognosis was assessed in 60 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.