Review projecting shikonin as a therapeutic candidate in female carcinomas: a preclinical perspective.

Bioactive substances, especially shikonin (naphthoquinone), which is extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, have drawn much attention as promising substitutes for preventing cancer malignancy. Shikonin (SK) has displayed a broad spectrum of anticancer activities, such as necroptosis, cell cycle invasion, Autophagy, apoptosis, Diabetes, DNA damage induction, and suppression of angiogenesis. It reverses drug resistance and inhibited cancer cell growth by altering their metabolism.

A pharmacoinformatic approach for studying DC's anticancer potential and control ROS-mediated apoptosis against prostate cancer cells.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignancy characterized by abnormal cell proliferation in the prostate gland, a critical component of the male reproductive system. Atractylodes lancea DC. (ALD), a medicinal herb commonly used in traditional Asian medicine, is highly regarded for its antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties.

Effectiveness and safety of combined treatment with herbal medicines and palliative chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review, and meta-analysis.

Background: Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with its treatment complicated by challenges such as high recurrence rates, severe side effects, and limited effectiveness of current therapies. Herbal medicine (HM) has emerged as an adjunct to palliative chemotherapy (PC), potentially improving tumor response and reducing side effects. This study conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of HM in palliative therapy for inoperable stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ AGC patients.

Synergistic Strategies for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Targeting AR-V7, Exploring Natural Compounds, and Optimizing FDA-Approved Therapies.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge due to its resistance to standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The emergence of androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) has been implicated in CRPC progression, contributing to treatment resistance. Current treatments, including first-generation chemotherapy, androgen receptor blockers, radiation therapy, immune therapy, and PARP inhibitors, often come with substantial side effects and limited efficacy.

Pediatric Finger Warts Treated Using Taeeumjowi-tang: a case report.

Warts caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) are generally treated with cryotherapy, CO laser ablation, interferon injections, and bleomycin injections. However, it is sometimes difficult to treat children because the treatment can be painful. In addition, recurrence may occur after treatment.

Radiological safety assessment for transportation of reactor pressure vessel during decommissioning of a nuclear power plant in Korea.

In Korea, decommissioning of nuclear power plants and transportation of the decommissioning waste are expected to expand in the near future. It is necessary to confirm that radiological risks to the public and workers are not significant through radiological safety assessment. The objective of this study is to assess the radiological safety for transportation of RPV waste, which is a major decommissioning waste with relatively high level of radioactivity.

Randomized Trial of Tepotinib Plus Gefitinib versus Chemotherapy in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC with EGFR Inhibitor Resistance Due to MET Amplification: INSIGHT Final Analysis.

Purpose: The final analyses of the INSIGHT phase II study evaluating tepotinib (a selective MET inhibitor) plus gefitinib versus chemotherapy in patients with MET-altered EGFR-mutant NSCLC (data cut-off: September 3, 2021).

Patients And Methods: Adults with advanced/metastatic EGFR-mutant NSCLC, acquired resistance to first-/second-generation EGFR inhibitors, and MET gene copy number (GCN) ≥5, MET:CEP7 ≥2, or MET IHC 2+/3+ were randomized to tepotinib 500 mg (450 mg active moiety) plus gefitinib 250 mg once daily, or chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS).

Development and Validation of Targeted Gene Sequencing Panel Based Companion Diagnostic for Korean Patients with Solid Tumors.

Recently, several panels using two representative targeting methods have been developed but they do not reflect racial specificity, especially for Asians. We have developed and analytically validated the Korean Pan-cancer Companion Diagnostic (CDX) Panel to apply targeted anticancer drugs to Korean patients based on the molecular characteristics of tumors using tumor samples without matched patient normal samples. The panel included 31 genes with reported single nucleotide variants, 9 genes with reported copy number variations, and 15 genes with predictive responses to targeted drugs under clinical testing, enabling the panel to be analyzed for the targets of 30 targeted anticancer drugs.

Significance of descriptive symptoms and signs and clinical parameters as predictors of neuropathic cancer pain.

Purpose: Evaluation of symptoms and signs for the management of neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) is challenging. This study aimed to identify clinical predictors of NCP and symptoms and signs most relevant of those in Korean patients.

Methods: This nationwide, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter, observational study included 2,003 cancer patients aged ≥20 years who reported a visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥1 for pain and provided informed consent for participation.

Comparison of the Data of a Next-Generation Sequencing Panel from K-MASTER Project with That of Orthogonal Methods for Detecting Targetable Genetic Alterations.

Purpose: K-MASTER project is a Korean national precision medicine platform that screened actionable mutations by analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) of solid tumor patients. We compared gene analyses between NGS panel from the K-MASTER project and orthogonal methods.

Materials And Methods: Colorectal, breast, non-small cell lung, and gastric cancer patients were included.

The Clinical Significance of RAS, PIK3CA, and PTEN Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Cell-Free DNA.

Mutations in the EGFR gene downstream signaling pathways may cause receptor-independent pathway activation, making tumors unresponsive to EGFR inhibitors. However, the clinical significance of RAS, PIK3CA or PTEN mutations in NSCLC is unclear. In this study, patients who were initially diagnosed with NSCLC or experienced recurrence after surgical resection were enrolled, and blood samples was collected.

Innovative countermeasures can maintain cancer care continuity during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in Korea.

Background: Even though Korea was known to have the highest number of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in the early phase of the pandemic, Korea was able to successfully flatten the curve in a short period of time without extreme measures. We compared the status of cancer management before and after COVID-19 and analysed how cancer care continuity was maintained in Korea.

Patients And Methods: We investigated the medical records on the number of cancer diagnosis, cancer surgery, radiation therapy and scheduled chemotherapy conducted in Korea University Anam Hospital from January 1 to April 30, 2019 and from the same period in 2020.

Completion rate of physician orders for life-sustaining treatment for patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer: a preliminary, cross-sectional study.

Background: "End of life" is a difficult topic of conversation in East Asian cultures, even among patients and doctors who share a good rapport. In 2016, the Hospice, Palliative Care, and Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act, which took the form of "Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment," was introduced in South Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the completion rate of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment in patients with advanced cancer on the active recommendation of physicians, as well as patients' general attitudes toward end-of-life care.

Clinical implications of circulating cell-free DNA quantification and metabolic tumor burden in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: This study unravels the significance of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) quantification as a promising measure of the biological behavior/aggressiveness of tumors. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) measured by positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan enable a precise assessment of metabolic tumor burden. However, their clinical implications in identifying patients who need more aggressive treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are not fully understood.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Irinotecan Plus Cisplatin versus Etoposide Plus Cisplatin in Chemotherapy-Naïve Korean Patients with Extensive-Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: This randomized phase III study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of irinote-can plus cisplatin (IP) over etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) in Korean patients with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Materials And Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive IP, composed of irinotecan 65 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 8+cisplatin 70 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 every 3 weeks, or EP, composed of etoposide 100 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 2, 3+cisplatin 70 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, every 3 weeks for a maximum of six cycles, until disease progression, or until unacceptable toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint was overall survival.

Quantification of circulating cell-free DNA to predict patient survival in non-small-cell lung cancer.

We used computed tomography (CT) to explore the prognostic value of cell-free (cf) DNA quantification and its predictive efficacy over time after chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In total, 177 NSCLC patients were enrolled in a prospective biomarker trial. Consecutive paired blood collection was performed to determine cfDNA concentrations at baseline CT and throughout serial follow-ups.

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.

Red meat and chicken consumption and its association with high blood pressure and obesity in South Korean children and adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis of KSHES, 2011-2015.

Background: The impact of meat consumption on high blood pressure (HBP) and obesity in children and adolescents is a subject of debate. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the association between meat consumption and both HBP and obesity in this group.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative samples of children and adolescents aged 9, 12, and 15 years old (n = 136,739) who were included in the Korea School Health Examination Survey (KSHES) for the 2011-2015 period.

Incidence and Predictors of Febrile Neutropenia among Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy in Korea.

Objective: This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the incidence of and risk factors for febrile neutropenia (FN) during adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer (ESBC).

Methods: A multicenter survey of three tertiary hospitals was conducted, with data extracted from the records of ESBC patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy containing AC (doxorubicin, 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m2 every 21 days). Assessments included clinical characteristics, chemotherapy dose modifications, and incidence of FN.

The prognostic role of serum C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 in patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer.

Background: C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is involved in tumor progression including angiogenesis, metastasis, and survival. However, whether serum CXCR4 levels in metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer have a prognostic role, have not been evaluated.

Methods: We analyzed serum samples from 55 patients with advanced colorectal cancer diagnosed between March 2008 and July 2011.

Ramosetron Versus Ondansetron in Combination With Aprepitant and Dexamethasone for the Prevention of Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Multicenter, Randomized Phase III Trial, KCSG PC10-21.

Background: A combination of serotonin receptor (5-hydroxytryptamine receptor type 3) antagonists, NK-1 receptor antagonist, and steroid improves the complete response (CR) of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in cancer patients. Ramosetron's efficacy in this triple combination regimen has not been investigated. This prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized, phase III study compares a combination of ramosetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone (RAD) with a combination of ondansetron, aprepitant, and dexamethasone (OAD) to prove the noninferiority of RAD in controlling highly emetogenic CINV.

Tolerability and Outcomes of First-Line Pemetrexed-Cisplatin Followed by Gefitinib Maintenance Therapy Versus Gefitinib Monotherapy in Korean Patients with Advanced Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Post Hoc Descriptive Subgroup Analysis of a Randomized, Phase 3 Trial.

Purpose: We recently reported on a randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial comparing pemetrexed-cisplatin chemotherapy followed by gefitinib maintenance therapy (PC/G) with gefitinib monotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report on a post hoc subgroup analysis of that study assessing the demographics and disposition of the Korean patient subgroup, and comparing the tolerability of PC/G and gefitinib monotherapy and the tumor response with respect to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status.

Materials And Methods: Patients, who were ≥ 18 years, chemonaïve, Korean, light ex-smokers/never-smokers with advanced NSCLC, were randomly assigned (1:1) to PC/G or gefitinib monotherapy.

A Randomized, Multicenter, Phase II Study of Cetuximab With Docetaxel and Cisplatin as Induction Chemotherapy in Unresectable, Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of cetuximab when added to induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Patients were randomized to receive three cycles of docetaxel and cisplatin (TP regimen) with or without cetuximab (TP plus cetuximab [CTP] vs. TP) as induction chemotherapy.