Pazopanib for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: The First Case Report in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Pazopanib is a potent multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been shown to have good efficacy in patients with renal cell carcinoma. A previous phase II trial demonstrated that short-term pazopanib administration was generally well tolerated and showed antitumor activity in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Herein, we report on the case of a 66-year-old man with simultaneous metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and renal cell carcinoma who was treated with pazopanib. The patient showed an unexpected partial response and experienced a 10-month progression-free survival without significant toxicity. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of pazopanib treatment in a non-small cell lung cancer patient in Korea. The results in this patient suggest that pazopanib may be a valid treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Double Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: A Korean Single Center Study

BACKGROUND: Although high dose chemotherapy coupled with an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is widely accepted as effective therapy for multiple myeloma (MM), few reports are available in Korea, especially in the area of double ASCT. We present the results of an institutional retrospective study of 12 patients with MM treated by double ASCT. METHODS: Eligible patients received induction therapy using vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone (VAD), and mobilization was performed using cyclophosphamide plus lenograstim. High-dose melphalan (total 200 mg/m2) was used to condition the ASCT. RESULTS: The median interval from diagnosis to ASCT was 6 months (range, 1.8-15.3 months). The median interval between the 1st and 2nd ASCT was 4.4 months (range 2.1-48.7 months). The median follow up was 18.3 months (range 8.1-50.5 months) for the nine surviving patients. No therapy-related mortality occurred. Following induction chemotherapy, two patients experienced CR. Following double ASCT, eight patients experienced CR. The 5 year OS was 59%. The median duration of event free survival was 2.13 years (95% CI, 0.84-3.42). CONCLUSION: Although the results of study did not demonstrate the advantage of double ASCT, this is the first report to outline the outcome of double ASCT for Korean MM patients.

Prognostic Factors in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients Treated by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Center Experience / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is increasingly used in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Various clinical parameters-were evaluated to obtain significant predictors of the outcome following ASCT in patients with NHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1994 and December 2003, ASCT was performed on 80 patients with NHL at the Asan Medical Center. RESULTS: Patients had various histological subtypes and disease status. The two year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival for all patients were 34 and 31%, respectively. A univariate analysis showed the performance status, stage, modified extranodal involvement category, International Prognostic Index (IPI) at mobilization, disease status at mobilization, and history of radiation prior to mobilization as significant predictors of the outcome following ASCT. Four risk groups, with different 2 year PFS, were identified by the age adjusted IPI at mobilization (mAAIPI): low risk 44%; low intermediate risk 40%; high intermediate risk 19%; and high risk 0% (p=.0003). A multivariate analysis revealed 3 significant factors for the PFS: disease status, prior RT and mAAIPI. CONCLUSIONS: The mAAIPI was found to be an independent predictor of the outcome of NHL patients undergoing ASCT. This powerful prognostic tool should be used to evaluate potential candidates for ASCT.