Prevalence of germline pathogenic variants in unselected Korean patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: a nationwide prospective study (KCSG BR19-10).

Background: Assessment of germline (g) status is recommended for all patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to identify candidates for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapy, which is not always possible in clinical practice due to limited testing resources. In this study, we investigate the cross-sectional prevalence of g pathogenic variant (PV) carriers in unselected Korean patients with HER2-negative MBC.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with HER2-negative metastatic BC receiving palliative systemic treatment were eligible for inclusion in the study.

Nationwide real-world practice pattern and clinical data of palbociclib in HR (+), HER2 (-) metastatic breast cancer patients in Korea (KCSG BR21-15).

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have remarkably improved the survival outcome in hormone-receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor-2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Although PALOMA-2 has met its primary outcome, overall survival (OS) was relatively shorter compared to ribociclib and abemaciclib. In Korea, use of palbociclib + aromatase inhibitor (AI) + gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in premenopausal women is limited, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is necessary before treatment.

MAP17 as a Mediator of HGF-induced Proliferation and Invasion in Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: The 17 kDa membrane-associated protein (MAP17) is a non-glycosylated protein localized to the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane. It is overexpressed in various cancer cells and has been implicated in promoting cancer progression. This study aimed to investigate the role of MAP17 in the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Cold-shock Domain Protein A (CSDA) Influences Hepatocyte Growth Factor-medicated Cell Proliferation and Metastasis in Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: A role for cold-shock domain (CSD) proteins in abnormal cell proliferation has been suggested in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced up-regulation of CSD protein A (CSDA) expression on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and its role in gastric cancer cell invasion and proliferation.

Materials And Methods: We assessed effects on two gastric cancer cell lines using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, and CSDA knockdown with short hairpin RNA.

The Important Role of GPX1 and NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Human Gastric Cancer: Implications for Cell Proliferation and Invasion.

Background/aim: Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) are crucial antioxidant enzymes, counteracting reactive oxygen species (ROS). GPX overexpression promotes proliferation and invasion in cancer cells. Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1), the most abundant isoform, contributes to invasion, migration, cisplatin resistance, and proliferation in various cancers.

Treatment pattern of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma in Korea: a multicenter retrospective study (KCSG LY20-06).

Background/aims: Little attention is paid to chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) in Korea due to the rarity of the disease. With its rising incidence, we aimed to evaluate recent changes in treatment patterns and survival outcomes of patients with CLL/SLL.

Methods: A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CLL/SLL between January 2010 and March 2020 who received systemic therapy were analyzed in this multicenter retrospective study.

A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare Efficacy and Safety between Combination Therapy and Monotherapy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer (KCSG ST13-10).

Purpose: This study evaluated whether combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer (MRGC) as first-line chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Elderly (≥ 70 years) chemo-naïve patients with MRGC were allocated to receive either combination therapy (group A: 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/oxaliplatin, capecitabine/oxaliplatin, capecitabine/cisplatin, or S-1/cisplatin) or monotherapy (group B: 5-FU, capecitabine, or S-1). In group A, starting doses were 80% of standard doses, and they could be escalated to 100% at the discretion of the investigator.

HGF induces oncoprotein HCCR-1 expression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in gastric cancer.

Objective: Human cervical cancer oncogene (HCCR)-1, previously identified in cervical cancer and its cell lines, has been reported to play an important role in tumor progression in several cancers as a suppressor of apoptosis. However, the role of in the tumorigenesis of stomach cancer has not been identified. This study examined the role of as a suppressor of apoptosis during tumorigenesis in gastric cancer, along with its possible regulatory pathway.

Is it Worthwhile to Undergo the Extended Stage Assessment in Orbital and Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma with Symptoms Limited to the Ocular Adnexa?

Compared to ocular adnexal lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type (OAML) patients with symptoms related invasion beyond the ocular adnexa, the different approaches to staging assessment may be required in OAML patients with symptoms limited to the ocular adnexa. Seventy-six patients to be diagnosed with OAML and performed bone marrow biopsy and imaging study at Yeungnam University Hospital in 1995-2014 were enrolled. Patients with symptoms limited to the ocular adnexa were included.

14-3-3 Sigma Protein Contributes to Hepatocyte Growth Factor-mediated Cell Proliferation and Invasion Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Regulation in Human Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: The 14-3-3 protein family has a variety of functions in cellular responses in different organisms, including cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, and malignant transformation. 14-3-3 Sigma protein (14-3-3σ) induces G2 arrest, which enables repair of damaged DNA. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of 14-3-3σ up-regulation by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in cancer cell proliferation and invasion in gastric cancer.

An update on immunotherapy with PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade.

Cancer is the leading cause of death and is on the rise worldwide. Until 2010, the development of targeted treatment was mainly focused on the growth mechanisms of cancer. Since then, drugs with mechanisms related to tumor immunity, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, have proven effective, and most pharmaceutical companies are striving to develop related drugs.

HGF-mediated Up-regulation of PHLDA2 Is Associated With Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer.

Background/aim: Expression of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A member 2 (PHLDA2) has been reported to be suppressed or activated in several cases of malignant tumors. However, its apoptotic regulatory mechanism and role in gastric cancer are not understood. This study examined the role of PHLDA2 in apoptosis in gastric cancer.

Treatment decision for cancer patients with fever during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Backgruound: Cancer patients have been disproportionally affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with high rates of severe outcomes and mortality. Fever is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may have difficulty in determining the cause of fever (COVID-19, another infection, or cancer fever) in cancer patients.

Function of hepatocyte growth factor in gastric cancer proliferation and invasion.

Cancer incidence has been increasing steadily and is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Gastric cancer is still most common malignancy in Korea. Cancer initiation and progression are multistep processes involving various growth factors and their ligands.

Rapid progression from trochlear nerve palsy to orbital apex syndrome as an initial presentation of advanced gastric cancer.

The most cases with orbital metastases have been reported in patients with a prior established diagnosis of cancer and widespread systemic involvement. However, ocular symptoms can be developed as an initial presentation of cancer in patients without cancer history. We report a case of rapid progression from trochlear nerve palsy to orbital apex syndrome as an initial presentation of advanced gastric cancer.

HGF-mediated S100A11 overexpression enhances proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer.

S100 proteins are a group of low molecular weight (10-12 kDa) acidic proteins belonging to the largest family of EFhand calciumbinding proteins. S100A11, also known as S100C or calgizzarin, is an important member of the S100 family. S100A11 overexpression has been reported in a number of cancers including papillary thyroid carcinoma, colon, pancreatic, and breast cancer.

BAG3 contributes to HGF-mediated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the Egr1 pathway in gastric cancer.

Introduction:: Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is elevated in several types of cancers. However, the role of BAG3 in progression of gastric cancer is unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to find out the role of BAG3 in hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mediated tumor progression and the molecular mechanisms by which HGF regulates BAG3 expression.

Addison's disease due to bilateral adrenal tuberculosis on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography.

We present a case of a 60-year-old woman diagnosed with disseminated tuberculosis with bilateral adrenalitis resulting in Addison's disease. The 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) was performed, which revealed increased FDG uptake in the neck, mediastinal, and abdominal lymph nodes, and both adrenal glands, similar to the lesions noted on CT. We suspected the patient to have a lymphoma; therefore, axillary biopsy was performed, which revealed chronic granulomatous lesion with focal caseous necrosis.

Comparison of three risk stratification models for non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients treated with temsirolimus as first-line therapy.

Background/aims: For metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), various prognostic scoring systems have been developed. However, owing to the low prevalence of nonclear cell RCC, the three most commonly used tools were mainly developed based on patients with clear cell histology. Accordingly, this study applied three prognostic models to Korean non-clear cell RCC patients treated with first-line temsirolimus.

Comparison of efficacy and tolerance between combination therapy and monotherapy as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The combination of a fluoropyrimidine [5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, or S-1] with a platinum analog (cisplatin or oxaliplatin) is the most widely accepted first-line chemotherapy regimen for metastatic or recurrent advanced gastric cancer (AGC), based on the results of clinical trials. However, there is little evidence to guide chemotherapy for elderly patients with AGC because of under-representation of this age group in clinical trials. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the optimal chemotherapy regimen for elderly patients with AGC by comparing the efficacies and safeties of combination therapy versus monotherapy as first-line chemotherapy.

Efficacy and safety of controlled-release oxycodone/naloxone versus controlled-release oxycodone in Korean patients with cancer-related pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Controlled-release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN-CR) maintains the effect of opioid-induced analgesia through oxycodone while reducing the occurrence rate of opioid-induced constipation through naloxone. The present study was designed to assess the non-inferiority of OXN-CR to controlled-release oxycodone (OX-CR) for the control of cancer-related pain in Korean patients.

Methods: In this randomized, open-labeled, parallel-group, phase IV study, we enrolled patients aged 20 years or older with moderate to severe cancer-related pain [numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score ≥4] from seven Korean oncology/hematology centers.

Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in Very Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Korean Cancer Study Group LY16-01.

Purpose: The treatment strategy for elderly patients older than 80 years with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been established because of poor treatment tolerability and lack of data.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study was conducted to investigate clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes of patients older than 80 years who were diagnosed with DLBCL at 19 institutions in Korea between 2005 and 2016.

Results: A total of 194 patients were identified (median age, 83.

Clinical significance of systemic chemotherapy after curative resection of metachronous pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The use of systemic chemotherapy after resection remains controversial in patients with resectable metachronous pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). This retrospective study compared systemic chemotherapy with observation alone after resection of pulmonary metastases from CRC.

Methods: Between 2001 and 2015, 91 patients with metachronous pulmonary metastases underwent curative surgical resection at five centers.

HGF mediated upregulation of lipocalin 2 regulates MMP9 through nuclear factor-κB activation.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a member of lipocalin family that binds and transports a small lipophilic ligand, sharing a highly conserved tertiary structure and can be found as a monomer, homodimer, heterodimer with matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). The high molecule LCN2/MMP9 complex was found in several cancer types. Yet, the mechanisms of regulation between LCN2 with MMP9 in tumorigenesis is unclear.