Generation of novel oncolytic vaccinia virus with improved intravenous efficacy through protection against complement-mediated lysis and evasion of neutralization by vaccinia virus-specific antibodies.

Background: Oncolytic virus immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy by efficiently inducing both oncolysis and systemic immune activation. Locoregional administration has been used for oncolytic virus therapy, but its applications to deep-seated cancers have been limited. Although systemic delivery of the oncolytic virus would maximize viral immunotherapy's potential, this remains a hurdle due to the rapid removal of the administered virus by the complement and innate immune system.

Glycolysis inhibition sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer with T790M mutation to irreversible EGFR inhibitors via translational suppression of Mcl-1 by AMPK activation.

The secondary EGF receptor (EGFR) T790M is the most common mechanism of resistance to reversible EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating EGFR mutations. Although afatinib (BIBW2992), a second-generation irreversible EGFR-TKI, was expected to overcome the acquired resistance, it showed limited efficacy in a recent phase III clinical study. In this study, we found that the inhibition of glycolysis using 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) improves the efficacy of afatinib in H1975 and PC9-GR NSCLC cells with EGFR T790M.

The impact of cigarette smoking on the frequency of and qualitative differences in KRAS mutations in Korean patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the relationship of cigarette smoking to the frequency and qualitative differences among KRAS mutations in lung adenocarcinomas from Korean patients.

Materials And Methods: Detailed smoking histories were obtained from 200 consecutively enrolled patients with lung adenocarcinoma according to a standard protocol. EGFR (exons 18 to 21) and KRAS (codons 12/13) mutations were determined via direct-sequencing.

A phase I trial of gefitinib and nimotuzumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Nimotuzumab (TheraCIM®) is a humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (mAb) with minimal skin toxicity. Combining a different class of anti-EGFR drug with gefitinib is a new strategy to overcome intrinsic and acquired resistance to gefitinib. The aim of this phase I trial was to determine recommended phase II dose (RPIID) and the safety of gefitinib and nimotuzumab combination treatment.

Activation of IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 signaling induces de novo resistance to irreversible EGFR inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer with T790M resistance mutation.

The secondary T790M mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the major mechanism of acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although irreversible EGFR TKIs, such as afatinib or dacomitinib, have been introduced to overcome the acquired resistance, they showed a limited efficacy in NSCLC with T790M. Herein, we identified the novel de novo resistance mechanism to irreversible EGFR TKIs in H1975 and PC9-GR cells, which are NSCLC cells with EGFR T790M.

The efficacy and toxicity of S-1 and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To assess the clinical activity and toxicity of a combination chemotherapy regimen of S-1 and cisplatin in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a retrospective study.

Methods: A total of 49 patients were treated in an outpatient setting with S-1 80 mg/m(2) on days 1-14 and with cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 3 weeks for a maximum of six cycles as a first-line palliative chemotherapy. Patients who achieved complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) after six cycles received S-1 monotherapy as a maintenance therapy.

Efficacy and toxicity of belotecan for relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer patients.

Introduction: Belotecan (Camtobell, CKD602) is a new camptothecin-derivative antitumor agent that belongs to the topoisomerase inhibitors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of belotecan monotherapy as a second-line therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods: Between June 2008 and August 2011, a total of 50 patients with relapsed or refractory SCLC were treated with belotecan 0.

Treatment outcome of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer: a single center experience.

Purpose: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is known to have a poor prognosis due to its aggressive and rapid metastasis with median survival of less than 6 months. Multimodal treatment involving surgery and chemoradiotherapy has been used to improve the survival of patients. Here, we retrospectively review of treatment outcome of 13 consecutive patients who were treated at a single center.

Distinct clinical features and outcomes in never-smokers with nonsmall cell lung cancer who harbor EGFR or KRAS mutations or ALK rearrangement.

Background: The objectives of this study were to determine the proportions of major oncogenic alterations and to examine survival in genotype-specific subsets of never-smokers with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The authors concurrently analyzed mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) genes and investigated anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements in samples from 229 never-smokers with NSCLC. ALK rearrangements were identified by fluorescent in situ hybridization and were confirmed by immunohistochemistry.