Treatment outcomes in elderly with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Lung cancer remains the top cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in the world. Although the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations could predict efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), testing for predictive biomarkers are not always possible due to tissue availability. The overall therapeutic decision remains a clinical one for a significant proportion of elderly patients with advanced stage lung cancer but no known EGFR mutation status.

EGFR array: uses in the detection of plasma EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Introduction: We aim to develop a simple and sensitive array-based method for the detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in the plasma of non-small-cell lung cancer patients and determine its use in the follow-up of those on tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

Method: DNA from 100 μl of plasma was amplified in the presence of peptide nucleic acid clamp to provide single-stranded template for the allele-specific arrayed primer extension reaction, incorporating cyanine-5-deoxycytidine triphosphate in the newly synthesized strands. The fluorescent product was visualized by laser at 670 nm.

Sputum cytology examination followed by autofluorescence bronchoscopy: a practical way of identifying early stage lung cancer in central airway.

Background: The prognosis of early stage lung cancer was superior to that of late stages. We hypothesize that by using sputum cytology as the first screening method followed by autofluorescence bronchoscopy could detect early stage lung cancer in the central airway.

Methods: During 18-month recruitment period, subjects at high risk for lung cancer (ever smoker accumulated more than 20 pack-year and above 40 years) followed up at Chest Clinics were invited to submit sputum for cytological examination.

The burden of lung disease in Hong Kong: a report from the Hong Kong Thoracic Society.

Background And Objective: The burden of lung disease in Hong Kong is not known. This study determined the mortality and hospitalization rates of respiratory diseases in Hong Kong in 2005, their trend in the past decade and their incidence/prevalence.

Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the Department of Health and hospitalization data from the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.

Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes in non-small-cell lung cancer reveals differences between smokers and nonsmokers.

Nicotine and its derivatives, by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on bronchial epithelial cells, can regulate cellular proliferation and apoptosis via activating the Akt pathway. Delineation of nAChR subtypes in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) may provide information for prevention or therapeutic targeting. Expression of nAChR subunit genes in 66 resected primary NSCLCs, 7 histologically non-involved lung tissues, 13 NSCLC cell lines, and 6 human bronchial epithelial cell lines (HBEC) was analyzed with quantitative PCR and microarray analysis.

Establishment and expression profiling of new lung cancer cell lines from Chinese smokers and lifetime never-smokers.

Background: Bronchogenic adenocarcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype of lung cancer, which ranks top in the cancer mortality in both men and women. Female nonsmokers and adenocarcinoma have emerged as a distinct combination in patients with lung cancer in recent decades. Lung cancer cell lines established from patients with known clinical characteristics such as gender and smoking habit would be useful for future research on lung cancer.

Prevalence of tuberculous infection and active tuberculosis in old age homes in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of tuberculous infection and active tuberculosis (TB) in old age homes in Hong Kong and to determine whether there is institutional transmission in these homes.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Old age homes.

Distinct epidermal growth factor receptor and KRAS mutation patterns in non-small cell lung cancer patients with different tobacco exposure and clinicopathologic features.

Purpose: This study evaluated the mutational profile of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRAS in non-small cell lung cancers in Hong Kong and determined their relation with smoking history and other clinicopathologic features.

Experimental Design: Mutational profile of exons 18 to 21 of EGFR and codons 12, 13, and 61 of KRAS were determined in 215 adenocarcinomas, 15 squamous cell (SCC), and 11 EBV-associated lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas (LELC).

Results: EGFR mutations were prevalent in adenocarcinomas (115 of 215), uncommon in LELC (1 of 11), and not found in SCC (P < 0.

Lung cancer in Asian women-the environment and genes.

The mortality rate of lung cancer in Asian women has increased significantly in the past few decades. Environmental factors include tobacco smoke (active and environmental), other indoor pollutions (cooking oil vapours, coal burning, fungus spores), diet, and infections. Active tobacco smoking is not the major factor.

Lung cancer susceptibility and polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase genes in Hong Kong.

Objective: To study the potential role of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferases GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 in susceptibility to lung cancer in Hong Kong Chinese.

Methods: 229 consecutive incident patients with a histological diagnosis of lung cancer from a regional hospital and 197 healthy population-based controls were recruited for this study between July 1999 and June 2001. Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined using PCR-based technique.

Computed tomographic evaluation of the role of craniofacial and upper airway morphology in obstructive sleep apnea in Chinese.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between cephalometric parameters, upper airway morphological factors and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Chinese subjects.

Design: Polysomnogram (PSG) were performed and scored using standard criteria. Supine lateral cephalometric parameters and pharyngeal cross-sectional areas at the level of velopharynx (VA) and hypopharynx (HA) were measured from computed tomographic scans.

A community study of sleep-disordered breathing in middle-aged Chinese women in Hong Kong: prevalence and gender differences.

Study Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in community-based, middle-aged Chinese women, and to compare the differences between gender with a similar study in men.

Design: A cross-sectional study conducted in Hong Kong from 1998 to 2000.

Setting: Sleep questionnaires were distributed to women (30 to 60 years old) in three offices and two community centers.

Endothelial function in obstructive sleep apnea and response to treatment.

Impaired endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation is a prognostic marker of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced dilation of the brachial artery with Doppler ultrasound in 28 men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 12 men without OSA. Subjects with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index; mean +/- SD, 46.

Chromosomal aberrations of primary lung adenocarcinomas in nonsmokers.

Background: Lung carcinoma is a common malignancy, and tobacco carcinogenesis is the major cause. Studies on individual genes or loci have suggested, that in tumors from nonsmokers, different genetic alterations are present compared with tumors from smokers. It is possible that distinct genetic pathways may be involved.

Primary adenocarcinomas of the lung in nonsmokers show a distinct pattern of allelic imbalance.

Lung cancer development in nonsmokers, particularly in females, has long been observed,but the genetic pathways of oncogenesis are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify important targets of chromosomal alteration involved in non-tobacco-related adenocarcinomas of lung. In this study, loci of recurrent allelic imbalance (AI) were identified by microsatellite analysis, focusing on tumors with low frequencies of AI (FAL) relative to the mean level.

Obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with insulin resistance.

Epidemiological studies have implicated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as an independent comorbid factor in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is postulated that recurrent episodes of occlusion of upper airways during sleep result in pathophysiological changes that may predispose to vascular diseases. Insulin resistance is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, and we postulate that OSA represents a stress that promotes insulin resistance, hence atherogenesis.