Phase II Study of Low-dose Paclitaxel and Cisplatin as a Second-line Therapy after 5-Fluorouracil/Platinum Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose paclitaxel/cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer that had failed 5-fluorouracil/platinum-based chemotherapy. Thirty-two patients with documented progression on or within 6 months after discontinuing 5-fluorouracil/platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. As a second-line treatment, paclitaxel (145 mg/m2) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered on day 1 every 3 weeks. Among 32 patients enrolled, 8 (25%) responded partially to paclitaxel/cisplatin, 8 (25%) had stable disease, and 14 (44%) had progressive disease. Two patients (6%) were not evaluable. The median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival for all patients were 2.9 months and 9.1 months, respectively. The most common hematologic toxicity was anemia (47%). Grade 3 neutropenia developed in three patients (9%), but no other grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity occurred. The most common non-hematologic toxicities were emesis (31%) and peripheral neuropathy (38%). Three cases (9%) of grade 3/4 emesis and 2 cases (6%) of grade 3 peripheral neuropathy developed. In conclusion, low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy showed moderate activity with favorable toxicity profiles. However, relatively short TTP of this regimen warrants the development of more effective paclitaxel-based regimens other than combination with cisplatin in these patients as second-line therapies.

Primary Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in a Single Korean Institution: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome

Despite advances in the characterization of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), little data is available on Asian patients. We report here upon single Korean institution's experience regarding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ALCL. We performed a retrospective study of 32 adults with ALCL. Most of the patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Ann Arbor stage III-IV, B symptoms, high-intermediate/ high International Prognostic Index (IPI), and extranodal disease at diagnosis were present in 56%, 44%, 41%, and 63%, respectively. Compared with Western studies, the male/female ratio (4.3) was markedly higher and skin (9%) and bone involvement (9%) were less frequent. The staining results for anaplastic lymphoma kinase were positive in 6 (33%) of 18 cases available. The complete response (CR) rate was 62% (95% CI, 44-80%). With a median follow-up of 51.0 months, 5 yr overall survival was 40+/-11%. The 3 yr relapse-free survival for the 18 patients who achieved CR was 74+/-12%. Age, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase, extranodal disease sites number, and IPI were correlated with treatment response and survival. Our data suggest that Korean ALCL patients appear to have a higher male/female ratio, less frequent skin/bone involvement, and lower CR rate compared with those of Western studies.

Acute myelogenous leukemia in the elderly (>or=60): retrospective study of 115 patients / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is frequently encountered in elderly patients whereas intensive chemotherapy yield lower rate of complete remission (CR) and survival than young patients. This study was aimed to review the clinical features and treatment outcomes of elderly patients (>or=60) with AML. METHODS: We respectively reviewed the clinical features, laboratory findings and outcomes of treatment from the medical records of 115 patients with the elderly AML (>or=60), admitted in Seoul National University Hospital, between Jan.1995 and Dec.2004. RESULTS: Their median age was 66 (60~86) years with male predominance (M:F=68:47). Complete response rate in patients with conventional chemotherapy was 66.7% (42 of 63 patients; 95% CI 50.2~78.4). Median overall survival (OS) was 5.2 months with clinical benefit in the conventional chemotherapy group, compared to supportive or palliative group (11.5 vs 0.9months; p<0.0001). In between two age groups, the sixties (n=69) showed higher CR rate (69.0 vs 61.9%; p=0.9) and longer median overall survival (7.0 vs 4.4months; p=0.8) than patients group of the seventies (n=38) but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional induction chemotherapy improved survival rate than palliative or supportive treatment.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND: An angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare subtype of lymphoma, accounting for only 1 to 2% of studies on non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Because of the rarity of this disease, most studies have been small, including cases of various T-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (T-NHL). Those patients diagnosed as AITL, during the last 8 years at a single institution (Seoul National University Hospital), were retrospectively analyzed to determine the clinical features and treatment outcomes of AITL. METHODS: All 24 of the patients diagnosed with AITL between February 1995 and February 2003 were included in this retrospective review. RESULTS: The predominant characteristics of the population were: median age 62 years (range, 32~81); M/F=18/6; nodal involvement 24/24 (100%); extranodal involvement, particularly bone marrow 16/20 (80%); skin involvement 6/24 (25%); B-symptoms 18/24 (75%) and advanced disease (stages III and IV) in 20/24 (83%). Twenty-three of the 24 patients received combination chemotherapy, with 8/23 (35%) of patients obtaining a CR. The median CR duration was 18.1 months. With a median follow-up of 40.9 months, the 5-year OS rate was 28%, with median survival of 8.7 months. According to a univariate analysis, an elevated LDH showed a tendency to negatively influence the survival. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of AITL is poor compared to other NHL, with a low CR rate and short CR duration and OS. From our data, the CR rate after first- or second-line chemotherapy were low (35%), compared with those previously described in Western reports.

Reduced Dose Intensity FOLFOX-4 as First Line Palliative Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of a reduced dose intensity (mini-) FOLFOX-4 regimen as a first-line palliative chemotherapy in elderly patients (> or =70 yr of age) with advanced colorectal cancer, data from prospective databases at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital were analyzed. A total of 20 patients were enrolled between January 2001 and August 2004, and were treated with oxaliplatin 65 mg/m2 on day 1, and with 2-hr infusions of leucovorin 150 mg/m2 followed by a 5-FU bolus (300 mg/m2) and 22-hr continuous infusions (450 mg/m2) for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks until progression, unacceptable toxicity or patient refusal. Sixteen patients were evaluable for response with an overall response rate of 43.8%. Median progression-free survival was 4.8 months (95% CI: 3.0-6.7) and overall survival was 13.5 months (95% CI: 11.1-16.0). The main side effects were anemia and neutropenia, which were observed in 20.8% and 17.7%, respectively, of the total cycles administered. There were no grade 4 toxicities and only one patient suffered from febrile neutropenia. No grade 3 toxicities occurred except for anemia (5.2%) and vomiting (1.0%). In conclusion, the mini-FOLFOX-4 regimen was found to be well tolerated with acceptable toxicity, and to provide a benefit for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

A Pilot Study of Bortezomib in Korean Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Myeloma

Recent clinical trials showed that bortezomib, a novel proteasome inhibitor, had therapeutic activity in multiple myeloma. However, there was no data about the feasibility of bortezomib in Korean patients. We performed a pilot study of bortezomib in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma (1.3 mg/m2 twice weekly for 2 week in a 3-week cycle). Seven patients were enrolled. The median age of patients was 59 yr. All patients previously received VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) and thalidomide chemotherapy. Three patients previously received alkylator-containing chemotherapy and 4 patients, autologous stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib monotherapy resulted in 3 partial remissions (43%), 3 no changes (43%) and 1 progressive disease (14%). One patient who had no response to bortezomib monotherapy experienced partial remission after addition of dexamethasone to bortezomib. The most common serious toxicity was thrombocytopenia (grade 3/4, 10 of 20 cycles (50%)) and grade 3 peripheral neuropathy was developed in 2 of 20 cycles (10%). Drug-related adverse event led to discontinuation of bortezomib in 1 patient. There was no treatment related mortality. Overall, bortezomib seems to be effective and feasible. Conduction of larger clinical studies on Korean patients is necessary to characterize clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib more precisely.

A case of blastic natural killer cell lymphoma presented as disseminated cutaneous lesions / 대한내과학회지

Reports of blastic natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma are rare. In previous reports, primary cutaneous blastic NK-cell lymphomas were even rarer. In Asian patients, most CD56+ lymphomas are classified as nasal type extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma and mostly associated with the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and have an aggressive clinical course. Few cases of blastic NK-cell lymphoma were reported previously in Korea but there was no report about blastic NK-cell lymphoma initially presented as disseminated skin lesions without any other organ involvement. We report such a young patient who was treated by systemic chemotherapy.

Intracranial Relapse of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma After Completion of CHOP Chemotherapy / 대한혈액학회지

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBL) is a rare neoplasm characterized by proliferation of lymphoma cells within the lumina of small vessels. Neurological and skin involvements usually predominate. We would describe a 78-year-old woman presented with fever, multiple erythematous skin lesions, and language disturbance. The skin biopsy of breast revealed IVLBL and malignant cells were also seen in the bone marrow. Shortly after completion of six cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) with clinical response, intracranial relapse with multiple brain masses occurred. The palliative whole brain radiation therapy was given and intensive chemotherapy should be investigated in the case presented here.

Open-label, Randomized Comparison of the Efficacy of Intravenous Dolasetron Mesylate and Ondansetron in the Prevention of Acute and Delayed Cisplatin-induced Emesis in Cancer Patients / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the antiemetic efficacy and tolerability of intravenous dolasetron mesylate and ondansetron in the prevention of acute and delayed emesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From April 2002 through October 2002, a total of 112 patients receiving cisplatin- based combination chemotherapy were randomized to receive a single i.v. dose of dolasetron 100 mg or ondansetron 8 mg, 30 minutes before the initiation of chemotherapy. In the ondansetron group, two additional doses of ondansetron 8 mg were given at intervals of 2 to 4 hours. To prevent delayed emesis, dolasetron 200 mg p.o. daily or ondansetron 8 mg p.o. bid was administered from the 2nd days to a maximum of 5 days. The primary end point was the proportion of patients that experienced no emetic episodes and required no rescue medication (complete response, CR) during the 24 hours (acute period) and during Day 2 to Day 5 2 days (delayed period), after chemotherapy. The secondary end points included the incidence and severity of emesis. RESULTS: 105 patients were evaluable for efficacy. CR rates during the acute period were 36.0% for a single dose of dolasetron 100 mg, and 43.6% for three doses of ondansetron 8 mg. CR rates during the delayed period were 8.0% and 10.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the efficacy between the two groups. Adverse effects were mostly mild to moderate and not related to study medication. CONCLUSIONS: A single i.v. dose of dolasetron 100 mg is as effective as three i.v. doses of ondansetron 8 mg in preventing acute and delayed emesis after cisplatin- based chemotherapy, with a comparable safety profile.

Clinical Features of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia in Korea

BACKGROUND: Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by monoclonal IgM. Its rarity makes it difficult to know the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with WM. METHODS: The clinical records of 13 patients diagnosed with WM between 1983 and 2003 were reviewed, and 12 patients were eligible. RESULTS: The median age was 57 years (range, 40 to 85), and the male to female ratio was 2. B symptoms and hyperviscosity requiring plasmapheresis existed in 5 and 4 patients, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were detected in 5 and 3 patients, respectively. Sites of extranodal involvement were bone (3) and lung (1) in 3 patients. The peripheral neuropathy was complicated in 3 patients. (Ed note: check this sentence.) Cryoglobulin was checked in 6 patients and it was detected in 3 of them. The median concentration of serum IgM was 4.2 g/dL (0.7~6.2). The median albumin, hemoglobin, WBC, and platelet levels were 2.8 g/dL, 8 g/dL, 5, 400/micro L, and 138, 000/micro L, respectively. One patient had transitional cell carcinoma concomitantly, and one patient developed small cell lung cancer. Of the 11 patients receiving chemotherapy (7-chlorambucil, 2-melphalan, 1-cyclophosphamide, 1-CHOP), 4 patients showed the objective responses including 2 complete remissions, but they all ultimately relapsed. The response rate of second-line therapy was 14% (1/7). After a median follow-up of 20 months, 3 patients were still alive with disease. The median overall and progression-free survival were 24 months (95% confidence interval (CI) : 5-43) and 24 months (95% CI: 8-40), respectively. CONCLUSION: The initial high levels of serum IgM and severe anemia reflect a lack of suspicion of WM at the early stage. Careful suspicion and proper diagnostic approaches will allow more patients to show an improved outcome.

A Multi-Center, Phase II Clinical Trial of Genexol(R) (Paclitaxel) and Cisplatin for Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: A combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin is an effective and safe regimen for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a multi-center, phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Genexol(R) (paclitaxel) and cisplatin in patients with NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-na ve patients having histologically confirmed NSCLC were enrolled. Genexol(R) was administered at 175 mg/m2 as a 3-hour intravenous infusion and cisplatin at 75 mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 27 patients that were entered from 5 hospitals between Jan 2001 and Aug 2001 received chemotherapy. On an intent-to-treat basis, 9 patients (36%) achieved a partial response, 7 patients (28%) a stable disease, and 5 patients (20%) The overall response rate was 36% (95% CI, 17 to 55%). progressed. The median duration of the response was 7.8 months (95% CI, 6.6 to 9.0 months). The median time to progression was 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.3 to 9.5 months), and median overall survival was 13.3 months (95% CI, 10.8 to 15.9 months) for the intent-to-treat population. The major oxicity was hematological, with grade 3 and 4 neutropenia in 10% (10/106) of the total cycles. The non-hematologic oxicity was mild, and grade 3 emesis was observed in 2 patients (8%). One patient experienced a moderate degree hypersensitivity reaction. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a combination of Genexol(R) and cisplatin is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for patients with NSCLC.

Combination chemotherapy of irinotecan combined with bolus 5-fluorouracil, continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil, and high dose leucovorin every two weeks in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Irinotecan is an active agent in colorectal cancer, producing 30~40% response rates when combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in metastatic colorectal cancer as first line therapy, however, the best combination schedules are not determined yet. We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan combined with bolus 5-fluorouracil, continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin every two weeks (LV5FU2 regimen) in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer in Korean patients. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with measurable diseases previously untreated with chemotherapy other than adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer were enrolled onto this study and received the study drugs between June 2000 and December 2001. Treatment consisted of irinotecan (180 mg/m2 over two hours on day 1) followed by leucovorin (200 mg/m2 over two hours), bolus 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2 over next 22 hours) on day 1 and 2. Chemotherapy was repeated every two weeks until progressive disease. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients evaluable for response, 8 partial responses were observed with a response rate of 40%. Six additional patients achieved stable disease as their best response, and six progressed. The median time to progression was 5.0 months and median overall survival was 17.3 months. The most frequently observed grade 3~4 toxicities were neutropenia (18%) and diarrhea (4.8%). Two mortalities occurred, though not clearly related to treatment, before the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Irinotecan combined with LV5FU2 regimen was effective in advanced colorectal cancer with manageable side effects. Caution should be paid to elderly and poor performance patients to prevent treatment related mortality and morbidity.

Renal, gastric, and multiple intestinal metastases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast / 대한내과학회지

We describe a 53-year-old woman with renal, gastric, and multiple intestinal metastases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast. She was diagnosed as left breast cancer of stage II, received left modified radical mastectomy 10 years ago and has been followed up without any evidence of residual disease. During investigation for indigestion and lower abdominal pain, we found multiple masses in left kidney, multiple levels of colon, ovary, peritoneum and bone. The histology of the tissue taken from renal mass was adenocarcinoma, which had identical features with those of masses resected from her left breast 10 years ago. During 28 month palliative chemotherapy, we found gastric metastasis of breast cancer and finally, the colonic metastatic masses caused intestinal obstruction. The diagnosis of gastrointestinal metastases of breast cancer is very important in the view of improvement of survival and quality of life because they can lead to intestinal obstruction, bleeding, and perforation.

The Treatment of Severe Aplastic Anemia: Outcomes of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immunosuppressive Therapy in a Single Institution of Korea

The present study represents an analysis of 96 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) treated in Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea between 1990 and 1999. Twenty-two patients were treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from HLA identical sibling donors and 74 by immunosuppressive therapy (IS) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). There was no statistical difference between the two treatment groups in age, sex, disease duration, and previous transfusion amount. In the BMT group, grade II-IV acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) develeped in 10% and chronic GVHD occurred in 33% of patient. Only one patient died from complication of transplantation (veno-occlusive disease). Of 74 patients who received IS treatment, 45% achieved a complete or partial response. Twenty patients died among IS treatment group. Major causes of death were hemorrhage (40%) and infection (55%). In the BMT group, the 5-yr overall survival (OS) was 95% after a median follow-up of 42 months. In the IS group, the 5-yr OS was 70% after a median follow-up of 49 months (p=0.04). In conclusion, the long-term survival rates of SAA in Koreans receiving BMT or IS were excellent compared with the Western data. Further evaluation on the prognosis of aplastic anemia in Asians should be done.

Subclassification of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas according to the REAL classification: Distinction of immunoblastic and non-immunoblastic subtypes / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) category in the REAL classification includes histologically heterogeneous subtypes in Working Formulation or Kiel classification. Some investigators insist that the prognosis of B-cell immunoblastic lymphoma (IBL) is worse than other types of DLBL. This study was performed to determine the clinical significance of histological subclassification of DLBL. METHODS: All non-Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed at 3 hospitals in Korea between 1989 and 1995 were reclassified according to the REAL classification. Medical records of 404 patients with DLBL were reviewed. Their pathologies were categorized into IBL or non-IBL according to Working Formulation. We compared clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of IBL with those of non-IBL. RESULTS: Of 404 DLBL patients, 341 cases (84%) were classified as non-IBL and 63 cases (16%) as IBL. Male patients were more common in IBL than in non-IBL (76% vs. 62%). IBL presented more often with advanced stage (III or IV) and B-symptoms than non-IBL (57% vs. 42%, 40% vs. 27%, respectively). In other clinical characteristics, no significant differences were found between the two groups. Complete response rates were 59% in IBL and 68% in non-IBL (p=0.137). With a median follow-up of 52 months (range 1-108 months), the median progression-free survival was 11 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 8-14) months for IBL and 41 (95% CI 18-64) months for non-IBL (p=0.004). The median overall survival was 21 (95% CI 13-29) months for IBL and 72 months for non-IBL (p=0.002). A multivariate analysis for progression-free survival and overall survival showed that histological subtype (non-IBL vs. IBL) was a significant prognostic factor independent of International Prognostic Index (p=0.013 for progression-free survival, p=0.003 for overall survival). CONCLSUION: DLBL includes heterogeneous subtypes with different prognosis. Subclassification of DLBL into IBL and non-IBL has prognostic significance. IBL needs to be separated from other types of DLBL.

A multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in colorectal cancer / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is the aim of this study to find out the prognostic factors in Korean colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: The analysis was performed on 406 patients diagnosed as colorectal cancer between Jan. 1990 and Dec. 1992. Survival rate was calculated by the life table method. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model was performed to determine the independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: Overall 5 year survival rates were 58.1% and 58.0% for colon and rectal cancer, respectively. By multivariate analysis, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage group was the prognostic factor with the highest hazard ratio. Histologic grade and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level also were significant prognostic factors. However, age at diagnosis, sex, location of the primary tumor, primary tumor size, and microscopic lymphatic invasion did not have independent prognostic value. CONCLUSION: Our study has confirmed that the AJCC TNM stage represents the most important prognostic variable, but further improvements are needed with the introduction of other variables, such as the histologic grade and serum CEA level.

Treatment Results in Anal Cancer: Non-operative Treatment Versus Operative Treatment / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to analyze the efficacy and sphincter preservation rate of platinum based neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy versus abdominoperineal resection and postoperative radiotherapy for anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of forty-two patients with anal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Among thirty-eight patients with epidermoid histology, four patients received radiotherapy, and nineteen patients received abdominoperineal resection and adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy (APR+RT+/-CT), and fifteen patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT). The CRT regimen was composed of three cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m2 bolus on D1-5) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 bolus on D1) followed by 50.4 Gy to the tumor bed and regional lymphatics over 5.5 weeks. Both inguinal lymphatics were treated with an identical dose schedule. Residual disease was treated with an additional three cycles of identical adjuvant chemotherapy. An identical dose schedule was used for post-operative radiotherapy. Median follow-up period was eighty-five months. RESULTS: Overall five-year survival rates were 80.3%, 88.9 and 79.4% for entire patients, APR+RT+/-CT group, and the CRT group, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups (p= 0.49). Anus preservation rate for the CRT group was 86.7%. Age (p=0.0164) and performance status (p= 0.0007) were found to be significant prognostic factors by univariate analysis. Age (p=0.0426), performance status (p=0.0068), and inguinal lymph node metastasis (p=0.0093) were statistically significant prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. No case of RTOG grade 3 complication or higher was reported. CONCLUSION: This and other recent studies have shown that combined chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for anal cancer results in a high rate of anal sphincter preservation as well as local control and survival. Furthermore, neoadjuvant use of chemotherapy with a cisplatin based regimen rather than a concurrent regimen may lead to a decrease in complications.

Chylothorax in Gorham's Disease

A 25-yr-old woman presented with a right pleural effusion. Destruction of 9th through 12th ribs, adjacent vertebral bodies, and transverse processes was noted on plain radiograph and a large low-attenuated, irregular shaped mass lesion with peripheral rim enhancement, destroying vertebral body and transverse process, was revealed on the computed tomographic scan. Magnetic resonance imaging showed high signal on T1- weighted image and iso- and low signal on T2-weighted image for the mass lesion replacing the vertebral bony cortex and marrow space. An open rib biopsy revealed the histopathological changes of Gorham's disease (essential osteolysis), even though only bloody fluid filling the empty space and rib and vertebral transverse process destruction were grossly observed on operation. Even though there was no definite response to radiotherapy and pleurodesis, the patient showed stable condition up to 20 months after diagnosis.

The Treatment of Adult Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with AD Induction Therapy Followed by Consolidation Therapy with Intermediate Dose Ara-C; Long Term Follow-up Results / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of consolidation therapy based on intermediate dose Ara-C in patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in Seoul National University Hospital. And also, this study was to assess the toxicities of the treatment. METHODS: We have reviewed retrospectively our experience of patients with newly diagnosed non-M3 AML between January 1993 and July 1997. They were treated with induction chemotherapy with Ara-C 200mg/m2/d over 24 h for 7 days and daunorubicin 45mg/m2/d daily for 3 days. The patients achieving complete remission (CR) are to receive the 3 courses of consolidation chemotherapy based on intermediate dose of Ara-C 1,000mg/m2 given over 2h every 12 h for a total of eight to ten doses. Patients having HLA-matched sibling donors with informed consent could receive allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen patients were reviewed. The median age was 41 years (range, 16-69) and median follow-up was 75 months. The CR rate was 72.2%. The median disease-free survival (DFS) of patients receiving consolidation therapy and allogeneic BMT was 21 months and 26.5 months, respectively. The overall survival (OS) was 13 months for patients not-receiving consolidation therapy, 21 months for consolidation therapy, and 31 months for allogeneic BMT, respectively. The rate of treatment-related mortality of consolidation therapy was 14% and cause of all deaths was infection. But in allogeneic BMT, that mortality rate was 42%; 2 infections, 2 veno-occlusive diseases and 1 cyclophosphamide-induced cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving consolidation therapy with intermediate dose Ara-C had longer DFS and OS. But their DFS and OS was not superior to that of patients receiving allogeneic BMT. In addition, that result was inferior to that of patients receiving high dose Ara-C based consolidation therapy, compared with other previous studies. However, this study was retrospective and so further prospective study will be required for comparing different doses of Ara-C consolidation therapy versus BMT.

Discrepancies of the Values on the Withholding Futile Interventions between Physician and Family Members of Terminal Cancer Patients / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: To analyze the controversies surrounding therapeutic decision-making and the withholding of life- sustaining treatments, values held concerning therapeutic interventions of terminal cancer patients are compared between physicians and family members. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 42 advanced or terminal stage cancer patients were enrolled for the study. The questionnaires were administered to the duty doctor and the family of the patients. Questions included whether to use new agents with a 15% partial efficacy and whether to use opioid analgesics, intravenous nutrition, a feeding tube, antibiotics, and hemodialysis. Additionally, we asked about the administration of CPR, ventilator application, and euthanasia. If the family permitted, the same questionnaires were given to the patients. RESULTS: Of the 42 cases, 5 families refused to answer the questionnaire. Of the available 37 families, only 5 families permitted access to the patients. Of the 5 patients, 2 patients refused the questionnaire. Only 67.6% and 8.1% of families and the patients clearly understood the stage of cancer. The use of a new agent was accepted by 45.2% of the physicians and 45.9% of the families. The rankings of the acceptance of treatment in the physicians and in the families were similar. The concordance rate between the physicians and the families was lowest on ventilator application and CPR. 31% of the physicians and 43.2% of the families agreed on the issue of euthanasia. CONCLUSION: Values held on issues like therapeutic decision-making and the withholding of life-sustaining treatments in terminal cancer patients are discordant between physicians and family members. In order to resolve controversies on the role of physicians in end-of-life decisions, the values of physicians as well as patients and their family members should be considered in the final decision-making process.