Effect of PTEN Polymorphism on the Development of Hepatitis B Virus-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a known tumor suppressor gene that is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTEN and HCC development in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. METHODS: Six SNPs of PTEN at positions rs1234221, rs1903860, rs1234220, rs1903858, rs2299941, and rs17431184 were analyzed in a development population (417 chronic HBV carriers without HCC and 281 chronic HBV carriers with HCC). PTEN rs1903858, rs1903860, and rs2299941 SNPs were further assessed for the development of HCC in a validation population of 200 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: In the development population, PTEN rs1903860 C allele, rs1903858 G allele, and rs2299941 G allele were associated with a low risk of HCC. The haplotype A-T-A-A-A was associated with an increased risk of HCC (recessive model; odds ratio=2.277, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.144-4.532, P=0.019). In the validation population, PTEN rs2299941 G allele was the only significant protective genetic polymorphism related to HCC development after adjustment for age and sex (hazard ratio=0.582, 95% CI =0.353–0.962, P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms in PTEN may affect HCC development in patients with chronic HBV infection.

A Case of Multiple Myeloma Presenting as Non-obstructive Jaundice Due to Plasma Cell Infiltration of the Liver

Extraosseous manifestations are found in less than 5% of the patients with multiple myeloma. We reported here on a rare case of multiple myeloma presenting as non-obstructive jaundice due to diffuse plasma cell infiltration of the liver. A 70-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of general weakness, weight loss, jaundice, anemia and proteinuria. The laboratory studies showed: hemoglobin 8.5g/dL, calcium 10.3mg/dL, creatinine 1.3mg/dL, AST 41IU/L, ALT 26IU/L, alkaline phosphatase 304IU/L, total bilirubin 4.0mg/dL, direct bilirubin 2.3mg/dL and 24 hour urinary protein 1,120mg. The serologic tests for hepatitis B and C virus were negative. The abdominal CT scans were normal. The urinary protein studies revealed a M component of the lamda type light chain. The bone marrow biopsy showed atypical plasma cells, and the liver biopsy showed a diffuse sinusoidal infiltration of plasma cells.

Conventional Treatments in Patients with Hodgkin's Disease / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to determine the efficacy of conventional treatments for patients with Hodgkin's disease and identify the patients who have poor prognosis and need high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between Jun. 1989 and Dec. 1997, 50 patients were enrolled and 39 patients were evaluable. Patients were treated with radiotherapy (5 patients) or combination chemotherapy (21 patients) or combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (13 patients) according to their disease stage. Chemotherapy regimens were C-MOPP (cyclo- phosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone), MOPP (mechlorethamine, vin- cristine, procarbazine, and prednisone), ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), alternating C-MOPP/ABVD, and MOPP/ABV hybrid. Radiation therapy was performed when there was residual tumor after chemotherapy or bulky disease. The response to treatments was analyzed by clinical stage I-II and stage III-IV patients group, respectively. RESULTS: The complete response rate was 76.9% for total patients, 83.3% for stage I-II patients, and 71.4% for stage III-IV patients. Of the 30 patients achieving complete response, four (13.3%) relapsed at 6, 12, 22, and 28 months after complete response, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 24 months. Nine patients died. Four patients died of Hodgkins disease. Three-year overall survival rate was 72.9% for total patients, 72.5% for stage I-II patients, and 70% for stage III-IV patients. Two-year disease- free survival rate was 77.6% for total patients, 79% for stage I-II stage patients, and 73.9% for stage III-IV patients. The prognostic factor analysis showed that performance status affected the disease-free survival rate. CONCLUSION: Conventional treatments in patients with Hodgkins disease showed results comparable to previous studies. But we were unable to identify the patients, who need high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, because of small number of study patients and short follow up duration.

Usefulness of CA72-4 in gastric carcinoma and other gastrointestinal malignancies / 대한암학회지

No abstract available.

A Clinical Study of the Recurrence in Primary Pterygia

We made the clinical evaluation of the 110 primary pterygia which were excised according to D'ombrain bare sclera method and modified Bangerter method at Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital from May of 1985 to April of 1987. The followup period ranged from 3 months to 12 months(average: 6 months). The results were as follows: 1. The total recurrence rate was 7.3%. 2. The bilaterality in recurrent group was 62.5%, whereas was 34.3% in nonrecurrent group(p<0.05). 3. The number of vessels(from the base of pterygium toward apex) in recurrent group was 27-35(average: 30.6 +/- 2.6), whereas was 8-32(average: 20.5 +/- 6.1) in non-recurrent group(p<0.05). 4. The incidence of the previous recurrent history of the other eye in recurrent group was 37.5%, whereas was 3.9% in non-recurrent group(p<0.05). 5. The recurrence rate in modified Bangerter method group was 1.6%, whereas was 15.2% in D'ombrain bare sclera method group(p<0.05) and the modified Bangerter method group gave very good esthetic results.