Optimal Definition of Oligometastasis Showing Survival Benefits of Local Therapies during Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Treatment / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#We aimed to investigate the feasibility of four criteria on oligometastasis (OM) concerning clear survival benefits of local therapy (LT) during tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). @*Materials and Methods@#This single-center, retrospective study included patients with advanced NSCLC who received LT because of OM during TKI treatment at Asan Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2020. At the application of LT OM was classified according to four criteria: TNM, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Group (EORTC-LCG), National Comprehensive Network (NCCN), and ORGAN. We compared survival outcomes between patients with and without OM. @*Results@#The median overall survival of the 117 patients included in the analysis was 70.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.6 to 85.1). The patients with OM meeting all four criteria (hazard ratio [HR] with 95% CI of TNM criteria 0.24 with 0.10-0.57; p=0.001, EORTC-LCG criteria 0.34 with 0.17-0.67; p=0.002, NCCN criteria 0.41 with 0.20-0.86; p=0.018 and ORGAN criteria 0.33 with 0.18-0.60; p < 0.001) had significantly longer survival compared with patients who did not after adjusting for confounding factors. Furthermore, increasing the number of extra-thoracic metastatic organs to two or more were independent predictive factors for worse survival outcomes (2 organs: HR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.01 to 12.14; p=0.048; 3 organs: HR, 4.31; 95% CI, 0.94 to 19.73; p=0.060; 4 organs: HR, 24.47; 95% CI, 5.08 to 117.80; p < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Patients with OM defined by all four criteria showed prognostic benefits from LT during TKI therapy.

Efficacy and Safety of Ceritinib 450 mg/day with Food and 750 mg/day in Fasted State in Treatment-Naïve Patients with ALK+ Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results from the ASCEND-8 Asian Subgroup Analysis / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Previous report from the ASCEND-8 trial showed consistent efficacy with less gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged (ALK+) advanced/metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with ceritinib 450-mg with food compared with 750-mg fasted. In this subgroup analysis, we report outcomes in Asian patients of the ASCEND-8 trial. @*Materials and Methods@#Key efficacy endpoints were blinded independent review committee (BIRC)–assessed overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) evaluated per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Other efficacy endpoints were investigator-assessed ORR and DOR; BIRC- and investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and disease control rate; overall survival (OS). Safety was evaluated by frequency and severity of adverse events. @*Results@#At final data cutoff (6 March 2020), 198 treatment-naïve patients were included in efficacy analysis, of which 74 (37%) comprised the Asian subset; 450-mg fed (n=29), 600-mg fed (n=19), and 750-mg fasted (n=26). Baseline characteristics were mostly comparable across study arms. At baseline, more patients in 450-mg fed arm (44.8%) had brain metastases than in 750-mg fasted arm (26.9%). Per BIRC, patients in the 450-mg fed arm had a numerically higher ORR, 24-month DOR rate and 24-month PFS rate than the 750-mg fasted arm. The 36-month OS rate was 93.1% in 450-mg fed arm and 70.9% in 750-mg fasted arm. Any-grade GI toxicity occurred in 82.8% and 96.2% of patients in the 450-mg fed and 750-mg fasted arms, respectively. @*Conclusion@#Asian patients with ALK+ advanced/metastatic NSCLC treated with ceritinib 450-mg fed showed numerically higher efficacy and lower GI toxicity than 750-mg fasted patients.

Real-World Experience of Nivolumab in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors represents a major advance in the treatment of lung cancer, allowing sustained recovery in a significant proportion of patients. Nivolumab is a monoclonal anti–programmed death cell protein 1 antibody licensed for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy. In this study, we describe the demographic and clinical outcomes of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab in the Korean expanded access program. @*Materials and Methods@#Previously treated patients with advanced non-squamous and squamous NSCLC patients received nivolumab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks up to 36 months. Efficacy data including investigator-assessed tumor response, progression data, survival, and safety data were collected. @*Results@#Two hundred ninety-nine patients were treated across 36 Korean centers. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 18% and 49%, respectively; the median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87 to 3.45), and the overall survival (OS) was 13.2 months (95% CI, 10.6 to 18.9). Patients with smoking history and patients who experienced immune-related adverse events showed a prolonged OS. Cox regression analysis identified smoking history, presence of immune-related adverse events as positive factors associated with OS, while liver metastasis was a negative factor associated with OS. The safety profile was generally comparable to previously reported data. @*Conclusion@#This real-world analysis supports the use of nivolumab for pretreated NSCLC patients, including those with an older age.

Osimertinib in Patients with T790M-Positive Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Korean Subgroup Analysis from Phase II Studies / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Osimertinib is a third-generation, irreversible, oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that potently and selectively inhibits both EGFR sensitizing mutation and EGFR T790M and has demonstrated efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) central nervous system (CNS) metastases. We present results of a subgroup analysis of Korean patients from the pooled data of two global phase II trials: AURA extension (NCT01802632) and AURA2 (NCT02094261). @*Materials and Methods@#Enrolled patients had EGFR T790M-positive NSCLC and disease progression during or after EGFR-TKI therapy. Patients received osimertinib 80 mg orally once daily until disease progression. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). @*Results@#In total, 66 Korean patients received osimertinib treatment with a median treatment duration of 19 months. In the evaluable-for-response population (n=62), ORR was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI], 61.5 to 84.5) and median duration of response was 9.8 months (95% CI, 7.1 to 16.8). In the full analysis set (n=66), median progression-free survival was 10.9 months (95% CI, 8.3 to 15.0; data cutoff November 1, 2016), and median overall survival was 29.2 months (95% CI, 24.8 to 35.7; data cutoff May 1, 2018). Eight patients with CNS metastases were evaluable for response, none of whom showed CNS progression. The most common adverse events were rash (53%), cough (33%), paronychia, diarrhea, and decreased appetite (each 32%). @*Conclusion@#Efficacy and safety profiles of osimertinib in this subgroup are consistent with the global phase II pooled population, which supports osimertinib as a recommended treatment for Korean patients with T790M positive NSCLC.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Irinotecan Plus Cisplatin versus Etoposide Plus Cisplatin in Chemotherapy-Naïve Korean Patients with Extensive-Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of irinotecan 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. RESULTS: A total of 362 patients were randomized to IP (n=173) and EP (n=189) arms. There were no significant differences between IP and EP arms for the median overall survival (10.9 months vs. 10.3 months, p=0.120) and the median progression-free survival (6.5 months vs. 5.8 months, p=0.115). However, there was a significant difference in response rate (62.4% vs. 48.2%, p=0.006). The pre-planned subgroup analyses showed that IP was associated with longer overall survival in male (11.3 months vs. 10.1 months, p=0.036), < 65 years old (12.7 months vs. 11.3 months, p=0.024), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1 (12.4 months vs. 10.9 months, p=0.040) patient groups. The severity of treatment-related adverse events such as grade 3/4 anemia, nausea and diarrhea was more frequent in patients treated with IP. CONCLUSION: The IP chemotherapy did not significantly improve the survival compared with EP chemotherapy in Korean patients with extensive-disease SCLC.

A Phase II Study of Poziotinib in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Who Have Acquired Resistance to EGFR–Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We examined the efficacy of poziotinib, a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in patients with lung adenocarcinoma with activating EGFR mutations, who developed acquired resistance (AR) to EGFR-TKIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-arm phase II study included EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma with AR to erlotinib or gefitinib based on the Jackman criteria. Patients received poziotinib 16 mg orally once daily in a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Prestudy tumor biopsies and blood samples were obtained to determine resistance mechanisms. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated. Tumor genotyping was determined in 37 patients; 19 EGFR T790M mutations and two PIK3CA mutations were detected in the prestudy tumors, and seven T790M mutations were detected in the plasma assay. Three (8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2 to 21) and 17 (44%; 95% CI, 28 to 60) patients had partial response and stable disease, respectively. The median PFS and overall survival were 2.7 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 3.7) and 15.0 months (95% CI, 9.5 to not estimable), respectively. A longer PFS was observed for patients without T790M or PIK3CA mutations in tumor or plasma compared to those with these mutations (5.5 months vs. 1.8 months, p=0.003). The most frequent grade 3 adverse events were rash (59%), mucosal inflammation (26%), and stomatitis (18%). Most patients required one (n=15) or two (n=15) dose reductions. CONCLUSION: Low activity of poziotinib was detected in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer who developed AR to gefitinib or erlotinib, potentially because of severe-toxicityimposed dose limitation.

Bone metastasis in pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma

No abstract available.

Definitive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for clinical stage T4N0-1 non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: To determine failure patterns and survival outcomes of T4N0-1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five patients with T4N0-1 NSCLC who received definitive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy from May 2003 to October 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The standard radiotherapy scheme was 66 Gy in 30 fractions. The main concurrent chemotherapy regimen was 50 mg/m2 weekly paclitaxel combined with 20 mg/m2 cisplatin or AUC 2 carboplatin. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were failure patterns and toxicities. RESULTS: The median age was 64 years (range, 34 to 90 years). Eighty-eight percent of patients (n = 84) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and 42% (n = 40) experienced pretreatment weight loss. Sixty percent of patients (n = 57) had no metastatic regional lymph nodes. The median radiation dose was EQD2 67.1 Gy (range, 56.9 to 83.3 Gy). Seventy-one patients (75%) were treated with concurrent chemotherapy; of these, 13 were also administered neoadjuvant chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 1 to 102 months), 3-year OS was 44%. The 3-year cumulative incidences of local recurrence and distant recurrence were 48.8% and 36.3%, respectively. Pretreatment weight loss and combined chemotherapy were significant factors for OS. Acute esophagitis over grade 3 occurred in three patients and grade 3 chronic esophagitis occurred in one patient. There was no grade 3-4 radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: Definitive radiotherapy for T4N0-1 NSCLC results in favorable survival with acceptable toxicity rates. Local recurrence is the major recurrence pattern. Intensity modulated radiotherapy and radio-sensitizing agents would be needed to improve local tumor control.

Postoperative radiation therapy following the incomplete resection of a non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: To review the results of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for residual non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following surgical resection and evaluate multiple clinicopathologic prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 58 patients, who completed scheduled PORT for positive resection margin, among 658 patients treated with PORT from January 2001 to November 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Radiation therapy was started at 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Chemotherapy was also administered to 35 patients, either sequentially or concurrently with PORT. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 63 years (range, 40 to 82 years). The postoperative pathological stage I NSCLC was diagnosed in 10 (17.2%), stage II in 18 (31.0%), and stage III in 30 patients (51.7%). Squamous cell carcinoma was identified in 43, adenocarcinoma in 10, large cell in 1, others in 4 patients. Microscopic residual disease (R1) was diagnosed in 55 patients (94.8%), and the remaining three patients were diagnosed with gross residual disease (R2). The median dose of PORT was 59.4 Gy (range, 50.0 to 64.8 Gy). Chemotherapy was administered to 35 patients (60%), and the median follow-up time was 22.0 months (range, 6.0 to 84.0 months). The 3-year locoregional relapse-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 82.1% and 52.9%, respectively. The median overall survival was 23.8 months (range, 6.0 to 84.1 months), and the 3-year overall survival rate was 58.2%. Chemotherapy did not influence the failure pattern or survival outcome. CONCLUSION: PORT is an effective modality for improving local tumor control in incompletely resected NSCLC patients. Major failure pattern was distant metastasis despite chemotherapy.

A Randomized Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Multicenter Trial of Azasetron versus Ondansetron to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety in the Prevention of Delayed Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Chemotherapy / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of azasetron compared to ondansetron in the prevention of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-dummy, double-blind and parallel-group trial involving 12 institutions in Korea between May 2005 and December 2005. A total of 265 patients with moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy were included and randomly assigned to either the azasetron or ondansetron group. All patients received azasetron (10 mg intravenously) and dexamethasone (20 mg intravenously) on day 1 and dexamethasone (4 mg orally every 12 hours) on days 2-4. The azasetron group received azasetron (10 mg orally) with placebo of ondansetron (orally every 12 hours), and the ondansetron group received ondansetron (8 mg orally every 12 hours) with placebo of azasetron (orally) on days 2-6. RESULTS: Over days 2-6, the effective ratio of complete response in the azasetron and ondansetron groups was 45% and 54.5%, respectively (95% confidence interval, -21.4 to 2.5%). Thus, the non-inferiority of azasetron compared with ondansetron in delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was not proven in the present study. All treatments were well tolerated and no unexpected drug-related adverse events were reported. The most common adverse events related to the treatment were constipation and hiccups, and there were no differences in the overall incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: In the present study, azasetron showed inferiority in the control of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting compared with ondansetron whereas safety profiles were similar between the two groups.

A Case of Residual Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Coexisting With Newly Developed Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells in Ascitic Fluid after Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

No abstract available.

Massive Hemoptysis Cases Intubated with the Univent(R) Bronchial Blocker for Lung Protection / 결핵및호흡기질환

Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening condition and sometimes leads to death due to airway obstruction rather than exsanguinations. In a critical hemoptysis, endotracheal intubation may be necessary to maintain adequate gas exchange and protect the unaffected side of the lung. Bronchial blockers (BBs), commonly used technique for one-lung ventilation in thoracic or cardiac surgeries, are valuable devices for protecting the airway in massive endobronchial bleeding. We report three cases intubated with BBs, Univent(R), in massive hemoptysis. We suggest that BBs are one of the indispensable equipments for respiratory specialized wards and intensive care units.

Angiosarcomas of the Bilateral Breast and Heart: Which One is the Primary Site?

A 29-year-old pregnant woman with recurrent pericardial effusion and a cardiac tumor, diagnosed as an angiosarcoma, was treated with surgical resection of the tumor followed by radiotherapy. Immediately after completion of radiotherapy, she developed bilateral breast masses, which were also confirmed as angiosarcomas. We thought this might be the first case of bilateral angiosarcoma of the breast metastasizing to heart mimicking a primary cardiac angiosarcoma, although we could not conclude with certainty that angiosarcoma of the heart was not the primary site.

Renal Parenchymal Malakoplakia Presenting with Abscesses and Hepatic Extension Misdiagnosed as a Malignant Tumor: A Case Report / 대한내과학회지

Malakoplakia is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects the urinary tract in immunocompromised patients and rarely extends to adjacent organs. Due to its mass-like presentation, malakoplakia is often clinically misdiagnosed as a neoplastic lesion. We describe the case of a 51-year-old female with renal malakoplakia and hepatic extension and large intraperitoneal abscesses that had been misdiagnosed as malignancy. She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis 12 years prior and had been treated with oral corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Radical nephrectomy concomitant with abscess drainage was performed. The final pathology was compatible with malakoplakia, and the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics. Although renal malakoplakia is a rare disease, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a renal mass who have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections or evidence of immunosuppression.

Renal Parenchymal Malakoplakia Presenting with Abscesses and Hepatic Extension Misdiagnosed as a Malignant Tumor: A Case Report / 대한내과학회지

Malakoplakia is a chronic inflammatory disorder that usually affects the urinary tract in immunocompromised patients and rarely extends to adjacent organs. Due to its mass-like presentation, malakoplakia is often clinically misdiagnosed as a neoplastic lesion. We describe the case of a 51-year-old female with renal malakoplakia and hepatic extension and large intraperitoneal abscesses that had been misdiagnosed as malignancy. She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis 12 years prior and had been treated with oral corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Radical nephrectomy concomitant with abscess drainage was performed. The final pathology was compatible with malakoplakia, and the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics. Although renal malakoplakia is a rare disease, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a renal mass who have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections or evidence of immunosuppression.

Phase II Study of S-1 Plus Either Irinotecan or Docetaxel for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with More Than Three Lines of Treatment / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a combination treatment of S-1 plus either irinotecan or docetaxel for advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have already failed 3 or more lines of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective single center phase II study. The eligible patients received S-1 40 mg/m2 twice a day orally on days 1 though 14 combined with irinotecan 150 mg/m2on D1 only or docetaxel 35 mg/m2 on D1 and D8. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient refusal. The choice between the two regimens was made at the discretion of the treating physician. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients participated in the study. There were 3 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 9 with adenocarcinoma, and 2 with NSCLC, NOS. Eight of the patients were male. There were 8 patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) of 1, and 6 patients with an ECOG of 2. All the patients had already been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Out of the 14 patients, 10 received irinotecan and S-1 and the other 4 received docetaxel and S-1. Twelve patients had also received pemetrexed. Disappointingly, there were no response from 2 patients with a stable disease, and therefore, as per the protocol, we stopped the study early. With a median follow-up time of 49 months, the median survival time was 5.6 months (95% confidence interval, 4.3 to 6.9 months). CONCLUSION: S-1 containing doublets did not show activity in this population as a salvage treatment and further investigation cannot be recommended.

False-Positive Hypermetabolic Lesions on Post-Treatment PET-CT after Influenza Vaccination

We report a case of a 59-year-old man with testicular germ cell tumor who showed new hypermetabolic lesions at the left axillary lymph nodes on a post-treatment positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. The hypermetabolic lesions were found to be caused by an influenza vaccination 10 days prior to the PET-CT scan and disappeared without additional treatment. To date, he is alive with complete remission.

Modified Number of Extranodal Involved Sites as a Prognosticator in R-CHOP-Treated Patients with Disseminated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy (R-CHOP) has improved survival in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and weakened the prognostic power of the international prognostic index (IPI). We evaluated the efficacy of the IPI and revised IPI (R-IPI) in patients with DLBCL who were treated with R-CHOP, focusing on extranodal site number (ENS) because extranodal involvement occurs frequently in Koreans. METHODS: A total of 126 R-CHOP-treated patients with stage III/IV DLBCL were analyzed. We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinicopathologic factors and verified the predictive power of the standard IPI and R-IPI. Various numbers of extranodal sites were analyzed for further stratification, and we set the extranodal site-modified IPI (E-IPI) as the IPI when the number of extranodal sites was stratified as or = 3. RESULTS: A univariate analysis showed that ENS was associated with complete response (CR, p = 0.04), event-free survival (EFS, p = 0.01), and overall survival (OS, p or = 3. A multivariate analysis revealed that an ENS > or = 3 remained associated with EFS (p or = 3, rather than the original or = 2, was the most significant prognostic factor for EFS and OS. All three indices were predictive, but only the E-IPI identified the high-risk group of R-CHOP-treated Korean patients with disseminated DLBCL.

A case of early-detected synchronous lung cancer by narrow-band imaging treated with photodynamic therapy / 대한내과학회지

Surgical resection is the treatement of choice for early stage lung cancer. However, it is hazardous for patients with poor pulmonary function, multifocal endobronchial lesions, a previous history of major lung resection, or an important comorbidity. Under such circumstances, bronchoscopic photodynamic therapy could be considered as a treatment option for patients whose tumors are centrally located and bronchoscopically visible and accessible. We present a patient with radiologically occult synchronous non-small cell lung cancer accompanied by esophageal cancer. The esophageal cancer and a tumor in the right lower lobe were surgically removed, and a carcinoma in situ in the left upper lobe was treated with bronchoscopic photodynamic therapy. Nine months later, another tumor was detected in the right middle lobe by narrow-band imaging. The tumor was treated by photodynamic therapy again. In this case, narrow-band imaging played a crucial role in the diagnosis, and photodynamic therapy ensured complete application of the treatment.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of T-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Single Institution Experience

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the incidence of T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is higher in Far East Asia than in Western countries, its incidence and clinical course in Korea are not well-defined. Therefore, we assessed the relative frequency and clinical features of T-cell NHL in Korea. METHODS: We performed a retrospetcive analysis of 586 patients with NHL. RESULTS: 101 (17.2%) had T-cell NHL. The most frequent subtypes of T-cell NHL were extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (NASAL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified type (PTCL-U), and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, T/null cell, primary systemic type (ALCL). The seven pathological subtypes could be classified into three prognostic subgroups. When patients with the three most frequent subtypes were grouped together, their survival was reflected in the International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores. Univariate analysis of IPI elements and other clinical features showed that clinical stage and extranodal sites were significant predictors of survival. Cox multivariate analysis showed that the number of extranodal sites was the only independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS: The relative frequency of T-cell NHL seems to be decreasing in Korea, although NASAL remains frequent. Korean patients with ALCL appear to have an unfavorable prognosis. Large-scale studies are warranted for Korean patients with T-cell NHL.