Doenjang is a major fermented soy-based food in Korea. Recent investigations have shown that fermented soybean foods have immunity-enhancing, anti-cancer, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. Several studies also have reported that genistein and daidzein, which are easily absorbed in the body are produced in larger quantities in aged doenjang. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variations in the anti-cancer effects of commercialized doenjang as it ages. Four groups were formed for this study according to aging periods of doenjang, namely short (under 5 years, S group), mid (under 10 years, M group), long (under 15 years, L group) and very long (over 15 years, E group). The anti-cancer effects of doenjang were determined by cell cytotoxicity assays in A549, YAC-1, and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Also, NK cell activity and splenocyte proliferation were assayed for cancer immunotherapy. The quantities of phenolic compounds in doenjang at different ages were also measured. The results showed that the anti-cancer effects increased in the S and M groups for all three cancer cell lines. Interestingly, similar to this result, splenocyte proliferation and NK activity were also the highest in the S and M groups. In contrast, the E group showed significantly reduced splenocyte proliferation. The quantity of phenolic compounds was similar to that of the anti-cancer results. Collectively, these results suggest that the fermentation period of doenjang plays a very important role in determining its anti-cancer effects.

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, but there are still a few validated biomarkers of colon cancer. Exosome-mediated microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as potential biomarkers in cancers, and miRNAs can regulate a variety of genes. Recently, Fusobacterium nucleatum was discovered in the tissues of human colon cancer patients. Its role in colon cancer was highlighted. F. nucleatum may contribute to the progression of colon cancer through the mechanism of exosome-mediated miRNAs transfer. However, the exosomal miRNAs regulation mechanism by F. nucleatum in colon cancer is not well known. Thus, we performed next-generation sequencing to investigate the overall pattern of exosomal miRNAs expression in the colon cancer cell culture supernatant. We have confirmed the alterations of various exosomal miRNAs. In addition, to investigate the function of exosomal miRNAs, a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis was performed on the target genes of changed miRNAs. Potential target genes were associated with a variety of signaling pathways, and one of these pathways was related to colorectal cancer. These findings suggested that F. nucleatum can alter exosomal miRNAs released from colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, exosomal miRNAs altered by F. nucleatum could be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and therapy of colon cancer.

Our objective of this study is to design and develop a polyethylene glycol ( PEG2000)-modified multiwall carbon nanotube (PEGylated MWCNT) formulation for oral controlled metronomic chemotherapeutic drug delivery. Multiwall carbon nanotubes undergo various chemical modifications including oxidation with strong acids, conjugation of polyethylene glycol, and coating with cellulose acetate phthalate which resulted in the formation of aqueous dispersion and prevention of drug degradation in acidic environment. Advanced analytical procedure such as Fourier transform infra-red, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering techniques were used to evaluate physicochemical characterization. We also performed in vitro cytotoxic study by MTT assay and results revealed that carboplatin-loaded PEGylated MWCNTs did not show significant detrimental effect on the viability of MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer) cells. The maximum encapsulation and drug-loading capacity were determined to be 71.58 ± 0.04 and 39.62 ± 0.07%, respectively. The release of carboplatin from PEGylated MWCNTs was investigated at simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), pH 6.8, after optimizing at simulated gastric fluid (SGF), pH 1.2, by enteric coating. Enteric-coated PEGylated MWCNTs exhibit pH-responsive drug activity in a sustained manner especially at pH 6.8. This surface modification strongly suggests that PEGylated MWCNTs could be a potential carrier for metronomic chemotherapeutic agent for high drug resistance, drug with maximum adverse effect and poorly oral bioavailable drugs.

Esophageal cancer is a representative cancer that occur physical deterioration but, physical problems after surgery were not well reported. The purpose of this study is to report on the long thoracic neuropathy after surgery, and to identify the symptoms and effects of physical therapy after esophageal cancer surgery. This is a case of a 61-year-old man who showed winging of the scapula with long thoracic nerve injury on the results of electromyography after an esophageal cancer surgery. Physical therapy programs were implemented 8 sessions during hospitalization. The quality of life, fatigue, shoulder range of motion (ROM), numeric rating scale (NRS), 6-minute walk test, and 30-second chair stand test were assessed. The quality of life, fatigue, shoulder ROM, NRS (pain), 6-minute walk test, and 30-second chair stand test were improved. However, the esophageal-specific symptom was not different after physical therapy program. As esophageal cancer suffers from physical difficulties after surgery, physical therapy programs are thought to be helpful.

Background: Although the original version of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires are found to be acceptable, the cross-culturally adapted versions may not be comparable to their original version. Objects: To examine dimensionality and construct validity of two Korean versions of the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) and EuroQOL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaires. Methods: A total of 77 cancer survivors undergoing palliative rehabilitation programs from two rehabilitation institutes was recruited from April 16, 2018 to June 26, 2019. The WHOQOL- BREF and the EQ-5D were filled out by the various cancer survivors following a particular session of rehabilitation programs. The scores were analyzed with Winsteps Rasch analysis computer program using the rating scale model. Rasch fit statistics were used to determine the dimensionality and the item difficulty calibrations of WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D. Results: All items except two, negative feeling, need treatment function and pain prevent activity (mean square [MnSq] = 2.42, 1.82 and 2.51, respectively), were found to be acceptable, while two items of the EQ-5D, anxiety/depression and self-care, were misfit (infit MnSq = 1.65 and 0.38, respectively). Item difficulty calibrations of WHOQOL-BREF match person ability measures (i.e., HRQOL) fairly well. However, the person ability distribution showed obvious ceiling effects for EQ-5D. All items of EQ-5D were appeared to be less challenged in comparison with those of WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusion: Item-level analysis using the Rasch model supports the quality of culturally adapted items used to measure the HRQOL one exception; that is, whether or not to include misfit items as part of the HRQOL measurements. Additionally, cancer survivors undergoing palliative rehabilitation programs appear to have more of a tendency to view the EQ-5D items as being more challenging than the WHOQOL-BREF.

췌장암은 예후가 불량하며, 수술적 절제를 통해서만 완치를 기대할 수 있으나 20% 내외의 환자만이 근치적 절제가 가능한 병기에서 진단이 된다. 또한 전신 항암화학치료에 대한 반응도 좋지 않아 항암화학 요법의 개선에도 불구하고 절제 불가능한 췌장암의 예후는 특히 불량하다. 국소진행성 췌장암의 경우 조기의 적극적인 치료로 종양의 용적을 감소시켜 병기를 낮출 수 있다면 수술적 치료가 가능해질 가능성이 있기 때문에 전신 항암화학요법과 병행하는 내시경적 국소 치료의 중요성이 더욱 높다고 할 수 있다. 국소 치료의 종류로는 항암제나 바이러스 벡터를 종양에 주입하는 EUS-FNI와 RFA, IRE 등의 국소 종양 제거술(local ablative therapy), 정위적 방사선 치료를 위한 표식자 삽입(fiducial marker insertion), 악성 담도 폐쇄 시 삽입한 스텐트 기능 유지를 위한 약물-배출 스텐트 삽입 등이 있다.

췌장암은 현재 가장 위협적인 악성종양 중 하나로, 5년 생존율이 10%밖에 되지 않는다. 이렇게 췌장암의 예후가 불량한 데에는, 항암화학요법에 반응이 저조한 것과 조기 발견을 위한 효과적인 방법의 부재가 주요한 이유로 생각된다. 여러 치료 방법 중에서 수술적 절제만이 췌장암의 완치를 기대할 수 있다. 그러나 수술 후 재발률은 여전히 50% 이상으로 높고, 절제 가능한 단계로 진단되는 환자의 비율은 췌 장 암 환 자 중 15% 미 만 으 로 현 저 히 낮 다 . 그 래 서 항암화학요법과 방사선 치료는 췌장암 치료에서 중요한 역할을 하게 된다. 췌장암 치료 중에서, 전이성 췌장암에 폴피리녹스 ( F O L F I R I N O X ) 와 젬 시 타 빈 / 냅 - 파 클 리 탁 셀 (Gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel)을 도입한 후에야 두 자릿수 생존율을 기대할 수 있게 되었다. 또한 경계 절제 가능 췌장암과 절제 가능 췌장암에서 동시 항암화학방사선요법을 포함한 선행 항암치료법이 수술을 먼저 시행하는 치료 방법보다 우수하다고 보고되었다. 최근에는 폴리아데노신 디프인산-리보오스 중합효소(PARP) 억제제, 면역항암제 등 여러 표적제들이 췌장암에 시도되고 있다. 이제 췌장암 치료에서 중요한 위치에 있는 항암화학요법과 방사선 치료의 현황에 대하여 설명하고자 한다.

췌장암은 진단 시 대부분 증상이 동반되며, 수술이 불가능한 경우가 80% 이상인 예후가 나쁜 암이다. 만일 췌장암의 조기 발견으로 진단 당시 병기가 낮아져 수술 절제 가능한 환자가 늘어날 수 있다면 췌장암 환자의 생존율이 증가할 수 있을 것이다. 췌장암을 조기 발견하고자 하는 노력이 지속적으로 이루어지고 있지만 췌장암의 낮은 유병률로 인하여 일반 대중을 상대로 선별 검사를 시행하는 것은 적절하지 않다. 과잉 진단의 위험을 줄이고 췌장암의 위험도가 높은 대상에서 췌장암의 조기 발견을 할 수 있도록 가족력, 점액성 낭성종양, 만성 췌장염, 새로 진단된 당뇨와 같은 고위험 환자군을 대상으로 선별 검사가 이루어져야 할 것이다. 이러한 환자군에서 언제, 얼마나 자주 선별 검사를 시행할 것인지와, 진단을 위해 어떠한 바이오마커 및 영상 검사를 시행할지 결정해야 한다. 하지만 아직까지 검증된 혈액 기반의 바이오마커가 없고, 적절한 영상 검사 방법, 검사의 시기와 빈도 등도 확립되어 있지 않아 향후 더 많은 연구가 필요하다.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and currently there are many approaches developing towards cancer treatment. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often painful and have adverse effects. The mechanism of apoptosis is a complex process and it involves different pathways in its mechanism of action. Apoptosis can be caused by signals within the cell such as stress, or by extrinsic signals such as ligands binding to cell surface death receptors. The programmed cell death plays a important role in the several physiological and pathological processes. It plays important role in homeostasis. Flavonoids have gained importance as anticancer agents promoting cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cancer cells. Flavonoids are present in many medicinal plants which are a kind of ubiquitous natural products and essential active ingredients. They have strong biological activities with high efficiency and low toxicity, possessing good preventive and cure effects on different tumor forms. Flavonoids such as Scutellarein, Pectolinarigenin and Naringin have reported to possess significant anti-cancer effects on different cancer cell lines till date. In this review, we provide a summary about the anti-cancer effect of the three flavonoids and its mechanisms of action that can be used in future for understanding their potent anti-tumor properties.

Although the age-standardized incidence of gastric cancer has decreased in Korea, it remains the second most common type of cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the phospholipid fatty acid compositions of gastric mucosa in gastric cancer. Cancerous mucosa and noncancerous mucosa adjacent to cancerous tissues were obtained from 29 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS) were separated from phospholipids by thin-layer chromatography, and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. In cancerous mucosa, saturated fatty acids of total phospholipids and stearic acid of PE and PC contents as well as total phospholipids were significantly more abundant than in noncancerous tissues. The ratios of ω6 fatty acid products to linoleic acid of PC, PE, PI, and PS contents as well as total phospholipids were significantly higher in cancerous mucosa than in noncancerous mucosa. Arachidonic acid levels of PE and PI were significantly higher, but the PC level was lower in cancerous mucosa. These results suggest that the characteristic differences in fatty acid compositions of phospholipids and their subfractions shown in gastric cancerous mucosa may be affected by changes in lipid metabolism in gastric carcinogenesis. Further studies on structural and functional changes in phospholipids related to gastric carcinogenesis will be needed.

Background: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) for Dyspnea was developed to assess multidimensional dyspnea using two subscales (experience of dyspnea and functional limitation) and a total score. Objects: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the FACIT-dyspnea 10-item short form questionnaire (FACIT-dyspnea-K). Methods: Subjects were 163 patients with cancer. Dyspnea-related scales (modified Medical Research Council scale [mMRC], European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 [EORTC QLQ-C30], Hospital Anxiety and Depression [HAD], and WHO Performance Scale) were used to validate the FACIT-dyspnea-K. Results: Internal consistency was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.90 and 0.95 in factors 1 and 2, respectively. Convergence validity was determined by comparing the two factors and total score of the FACIT-dyspnea-K with conceptually related assessment tools measuring the physical and emotional effects of dyspnea, with which correlations ranged from 0.364 to 0.567. Criterion validity was established by significant differences in the FACITdyspnea- K score between groups when the patients were classified by performance status as assessed by the WHO performance scale. Furthermore, the FACIT-dyspnea-K showed notable correlations with other dyspnea scales (mMRC, EORTC QLQ-C30, and HAD) for cancer patients (r = 0.28 to 0.54). The test-retest reliability of the two factors and total score of the FACITdyspnea- K appeared to be excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96 to 0.97). Conclusion: This study supports FACIT-dyspnea-K as a valid and reliable instrument to assess the dyspnea experience of cancer patients in clinical settings.

In this study, we investigated whether infusion of colorectal cancer cell line and PMSG could increase endometrial cancer. As a result, our study confirmed that the injection of colorectal cancer can cause inflammation and cancer in the uterus and increase the VEGF gene in the uterus. The study also found that endometrial cancer was associated with PMSG.

Hypoxia is one of the most common features of cancer. It is also associated with cancer progression and the acquisition of aggressiveness, which includes invasion and metastasis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 90% of all oral cancers, and its 5-year survival rate is about 50%. Despite various attempts and trials, its prognosis has not improved. Among numerous adverse prognostic factors, hypoxia is suspected as one of the most important factors, as it increases the aggressiveness of oral cancer cells. We attempted to observe the effect of hypoxia on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in oral cancer cells. We analyzed and compared both the mRNA and protein expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal markers using qRT-PCR and western blotting in both normoxic and hypoxic YD10B oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Eighty-six genes were analyzed through real-time PCR using commercial microarray plates, performed in triplicate. Among the 86 genes, the expression of 24 were increased (≥ 2 fold) by hypoxia, while that of three genes was decreased (≥ 2 fold). Hypoxia significantly affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes. Further studies on the regulation of these genes may help to develop more efficient therapeutic modalities for oral cancer and to improve prognosis of oral cancer patients.

목적 : 유방암 환자의 자기효능감과 사회적 지지 및 지역사회참여 정도를 알아보고 작업치료중재 프로그램 개발의 기초선을 제공하고자 한다. 연구방법 : 본 연구는 H군에 위치한 병원에 외래로 방문하는 유방암 환자 40명을 대상으로 자가보고형 설문지를 배부하였고, 유방암 환자의 자가관리에 대한 자기효능감(Self-Efficacy Scale for Self-Management of Breast Cancer; SESSM-B), 사회적 지지(Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; MSPSS) 그리고 한국판 지역사회 참여 지표(Korean-Community Participation Indicator; K-CPI)를 측정하였다. 결과 : 자기효능감은 3.70±.38점, 사회적 지지는 3.49±.66점이었다. 지역사회 참여 정도는 주관적 특성 을 반영한 참여권 문항은 3.27±.65점이었다. 객관적 특성을 반영한 20개 활동들에 대하여 참여 빈도와 중요성을 알아본 결과 가장 중요하게 생각하는 활동은 가족과 시간을 보내기, 요리나 집안일을 하기 그 리고 취미나 여가활동에 참여하는 것이었다. 하지만 낮은 참여 빈도를 보였다. 각 변수간의 상관성을 알아본 결과 사회적 지지는 자기효능감(p<.01)와 지역사회 참여에서 양의 상관관계를 나타냈다(p<.001). 결론 : 유방암 환자의 사회적 역할, 관계 등을 고려한 작업치료 중재 프로그램의 개발과 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

암은 오랫동안 한국인의 주된 사망원인이었으며, 주로 환경적 요인이 암 발생에 영향을 주고 있다. 암으로 인한 높은 사망률에도 불구하고, 어떠한 지리적 및 환경적 요인이 암 발생에 영향을 주는지에 대한 국내 사례 연구는 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구의 목적은 공간적 관점에서 갑상선암, 대장암, 위암, 폐암, 간암, 전립선암, 유방암을 포함한 주요 암의 발생률이 지리･환경적 요인에 따라 어떻게 다르게 나타나는지를 파악하는 것이다. 이를 위하여, 시군구 수준에서 계산된 암 발생률을 종속변수로 활용하였고, 암 발병에 영향을 미칠 것으로 기대되는 13가지 독립변수를 선정하였다. 종속변수의 공간적 의존성 및 군집을 확인하기 위하여 전역적, 국지적 Moran ’ s I 통계량을 이용하였고, 암 발병에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하기 위하여 OLS 및 공간회귀모형들을 활용하였다. 전역적 Moran 통계량과 LISA Cluster map을 통하여 암 발생의 공간적 패턴에서 공간적 자기상관을 확인할 수 있었다. 다음 OLS 회귀 분석을 통하여 암 발생에 영향을 미치는 변수들을 파악하였다. 이때 대부분의 암에서 연령 효과가 강하게 나타났기 때문에 이를 통제하였다. OLS 모형의 잔차에서 공간적 의존성이 명확하게 나타남을 확인한 후, 공간적 의존성을 모형화하기 위하여 공간회귀분석을 수행하였다. 분석 결과 모든 유형 별 암에 대한 발생률을 설명하는데 있어 공간회귀분석이 적합한 것으로 나타났다. 특히 공간적 의존성을 고려할 경우 암별로 영향을 주는 요인이 OLS 분석 결과와 상이할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과는 공간통계분석을 통하여 암 발생에 영향을 주는 지리 환경적 요인을 보다 정확하게 식별할 수 있음을 보여주었다. 이러한 결과는 암을 예방하기 위하여 지역의 환경을 요인을 어떻게 개선할 것인지에 대한 유용한 정보를 제공한다.

Proteasome inhibitors can improve the efficiency of cancer treatments by inhibiting nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) activation in cancer cells. Lentils are a type of beans of which consumption of such beans is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lentils extract (LE) on the proteasomal activities, NF-κB activation, and cell cycle in HepG2 human liver cancer cells. LE treatments inhibited proteasomal activities at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL respectively, and repressed NF-κB activation at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, in HepG2 cells. LE treatments at concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL respectively, increased sub-G1 cell population in HepG2 cells, which may be the result of apoptosis. The results suggest that LE inhibited NF-κB activation partially with its proteasome inhibitory activities, and the increase of sub-G1 cell population was induced partially, by inhibition of NF-κB activation in HepG2 cells.