Risk factors for incident anemia of chronic diseases: A cohort study.

Objective: Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) refers to hypoproliferative anemia in the context of acute or chronic activation of the immune system. There is a paucity of prospective data addressing the risk factors for ACD development. An association between common chronic diseases and ACD was examined cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Impact of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation on Clinical Outcomes of Nintedanib Plus Docetaxel in Patients with Previously Treated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer from the Korean Named Patient Program.

Objectives: Anti-angiogenic agents are reported to exert clinical activity on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant non-small-cell lung cancers. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of nintedanib and docetaxel in refractory NSCLC according to EGFR mutation status during the Korean nintedanib named patient program.

Methods: Docetaxel was administered either 75 or 37.

Efficacy and safety of Viscum album extract (Helixor-M) to treat malignant pleural effusion in patients with lung cancer.

Purpose: Manifestations of malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are alleviated by local therapies as well as by systemic treatment. After 2009, when commercial use of talc was discontinued in Korea, we have used Helixor-M, which is derived from the European mistletoe (Viscum album), as an alternative sclerosing agent for pleurodesis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Helixor-M for controlling MPE.

Multicenter, cross-sectional observational study of the impact of neuropathic pain on quality of life in cancer patients.

Purpose: Neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) is a common and potentially debilitating symptom in cancer patients. We investigated the prevalence of NCP, as well as its management and association with QOL.

Methods: Cancer patients with pain ≥1 on the visual analogue scale (VAS) were surveyed with the Douleur Neuropathique (DN4) questionnaire, the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and the EuroQOL five dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire.

Practice Patterns Regarding Multidisciplinary Cancer Management and Suggestions for Further Refinement: Results from a National Survey in Korea.

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the process and operation of a cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) after the reimbursement decision in Korea, and to identify ways to overcome the major barriers to effective and sustainable MDTs.

Materials And Methods: Approximately 1,000 cancer specialists, including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists in general hospitals in Koreawere invited to complete the survey. The questionnaire covered the following topics: organizational structure of MDTs, candidates for consulting, the clinical decision-making initiative, and responsibility for dealing with legal disputes.

Initial titration with 200 μg fentanyl buccal tablets: a retrospective safety analysis in Korean cancer patients.

Background/aims: Managing breakthrough pain (BTP) is important for many cancer patients because of the rapid onset and unpredictable nature of the pain episodes. Fentanyl buccal tablets (FBTs) are a rapid-onset opioid indicated for BTP management. However, FBT titration is needed to optimize BTP management.

Safety and efficacy of single-agent docetaxel (Taxotere) administered weekly in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients in Korea: An observational study.

Background: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of weekly docetaxel treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Korea.

Methods: This prospective observational study included Korean advanced NSCLC patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status <2 who received weekly monotherapy of docetaxel at a dose determined by the physician. Efficacy measurements included tumor response rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and one-year survival rate.

Efficacy and safety of ifosfamide in combination with carboplatin and etoposide in small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Ifosfamide, a potent alkylating agent, is rarely incorporated into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ifosfamide in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) in previously untreated patients with SCLC.

Methods: From January 2002 to January 2014, we consecutively enrolled 69 patients with SCLC who were treated with ICE as initial chemotherapy at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital.

Adenocarcinoma has an excellent outcome with pemetrexed treatment in Korean patients: a prospective, multicenter trial.

Objective: This prospective multicenter study conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group evaluated the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed in Korean patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had prior chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC in whom prior chemotherapy failed received pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation until disease progression or the development of intolerable toxicity. Eighty-one patients were enrolled.

The effect of oral glutamine on 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin-induced mucositis/stomatitis assessed by intestinal permeability test.

Background & Aims: Systemic chemotherapy may damage gastrointestinal epithelium. Mucositis is associated with increased intestinal permeability (IP). It is known that IP test with chromium 51-ethylene diaminetetra-acetate (51Cr-EDTA) is a useful tool to assess the mucositis.

Ovarian granulosa cell tumor presenting as Meigs' syndrome with elevated CA125.

Herein, a rare case of ovarian granulosa cell tumor, presenting as Meigs' syndrome, with elevated carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), is reported. A 69-year-old woman was admitted for the investigation of abdominal fullness and dyspnea. A preoperative examination revealed a huge pelvic tumor and an abdominopelvic magnetic resonance image (MRI) assumed ovarian cancer.

Transcription factors and mitogen-activated protein kinases as molecular targets for chemoprevention with anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.

Chemoprevention refers to the use of nontoxic chemical substances to inhibit, reverse, or retard tumorigenesis. Numerous compounds derived from edible plants have been reported to interfere with a specific stage of the carcinogenic process. Some anti-inflammatory phytochemicals with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity have been found to exert chemopreventive properties by targeting intracellular signaling molecules (recently reviewed by Y.

The relationship between the serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 level and the prognosis of the disease in lung cancer.

Background: Adhesion molecules are related to cell-to-cell interaction and inflammatory interaction. In addition, adhesive interactions between tumor cells and adjacent cells and/or extracellular matrix play important roles in the complex process of tumor growth and development. Among these adhesion molecules, expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been identified in colon cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The relationship between serum VEGF concentration and prognosis of lung cancer.

Background: VEGF is an important factor for angiogenesis. Although many previous studies have reported an increased serum VEGF concentration in various malignant tumors, there are few studies on the relationship between serum VEGF concentration and its prognosis. This study investigated whether serum VEGF concentration is a prognostic indicator for lung cancer.

Efficacy of Combination Chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination therapy of paclitaxel and cisplatin in advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Between December 1997 and September 2001, 37 patients with advanced, non-small cell, lung cancer were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with paclitaxel (135 mg/m2, 24 hr infusion) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2).