Expression of MAGE-1, -2, and -3 genes in gastric carcinomas and cancer cell lines derived from Korean patients.

We investigated the expression of MAGE-1, -2, and -3 genes in tissues of 51 gastric carcinomas from Korean patients and in 11 gastric cancer cell lines established in Korea using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction along with immunohistochemical analyses and DNA sequencing. Among the 51 gastric carcinomas, MAGE-1, -2, and -3 genes were expressed in 16 (31%), 22 (43%), and 17 (33%), respectively, and 31 (60%) expressed at least one of the three genes. In contrast, none of the three MAGE genes were expressed in normal sites of gastric tissue from each cancer patient. Out of 11 gastric cancer cell lines, MAGE-1, -2, and -3 genes were expressed in two (18%), five (46%), and four (36%), respectively. According to the clinicopathological analysis, the expression of any of the three MAGE genes was not significantly correlated with several clinicopathological factors except histologic types (p= 0.067). Immunohistochemical analyses identified positive staining with monoclonal antibodies 77B and 57B specifically against MAGE-1 and -3 proteins, respectively, in nuclei and cytoplasms of cells in mRNA-positive tumor tissue. These findings suggest the possibility as a target for tumor-specific immunotherapy for Korean patients.

N-nitroso compounds in two nitrosated food products in southwest Korea.

Gastric cancer is the commonest malignant neoplasm in Southwest Korea. The possibility of carcinogenic dietary factors led to the investigation of exposure to N-nitroso compound precursors among residents of the City of Chonju and of two outlying rural townships in North Cholla Province. Two traditional and widely consumed home-prepared food products, salted pickled cabbage (kimchi) and salted seafood sauce (chut-kal) were analysed (a) for nitrite, nitrate, total secondary amines and pH in these food products prior to nitrite incubation and (b) for volatile nitrosamines and total N-nitroso compounds before and after incubation with nitrite in simulated human stomach conditions. Nitrate levels were significantly higher in kimchi (median 1550 mg/kg) than in chut-kal (median 140 mg/kg) (P < 0.001). Secondary amine levels in non-nitrosated samples of kimchi (median 5.5 mg/kg) were significantly lower than secondary amine levels in non-nitrosated chut-kal (median 56 mg/kg) (P = < 0.001). Analyses of nitrite-incubated kimchi revealed high levels of total N-nitroso compounds (median 1173 micrograms/kg); the increase with nitrosation was significant (P = 0.001). The concentration of N-nitroso compounds in nitrite-incubated kimchi was significantly greater than that found in nitrite-incubated chut-kal (P = 0.015). The combination of high levels of nitrate in the kimchi, the demonstration of high levels of total N-nitroso compounds in this food after nitrosation, and the volume of kimchi consumed in the traditional diet suggest that salted pickled cabbage may play a role in gastric carcinogenesis in Southwest Korea.

Indications for internal stenting in intestinal obstruction.

Internal stenting (sutureless plication) for intestinal adhesions was performed operatively in 16 patients. Subsequent recurrent obstruction occurred in four patients. Other complications occurred in three patients and included retained tube, jejunostomy-site abscess, and intestinal fistulization. Four patients died for an in-hospital mortality of 25%. Internal stenting for adhesions should be used cautiously. Its use should probably be restricted to the setting of severe adhesive small bowel obstruction particularly when numerous enterotomies are incurred during the course of adhesiolysis.

Cooperative clinical studies of hyperthermia using a capacitive type heating device GHT-RF8(Greenytherm).

Yonsei Cancer Center developed an RF(Radiofrequency) capacitive type heating device, GHT-RF8(Greenytherm) in cooperation with Green Cross Medical Corp., Korea in 1986 for the first time in Korea. Cooperative clinical studies of hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer using GHT-RF8 were conducted by Yonsei Cancer Center in collaboration with the Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju, Korea. A total of forty patients with various histologically proven malignant tumors, including superficial (N = 13) and deep-seated tumors (N = 27), were treated with this newly developed heating device in conjunction with radiotherapy (N = 38) or chemotherapy (N = 2) at two different institutes between October 1986 and September 1987. These patients were locally far advanced or recurrent cases and considered to be refractory to conventional cancer treatment modalities. Radiotherapy was given in 200cGy per day, five times a week fractionations with a total tumor dose of 50-60Gy in 5-6 weeks. Within an hour after radiotherapy, the RF capacitive type of hyperthermia was given two times a week for a total of 4-10 treatment sessions and an attempt was made to maintain the tumor temperature at 41-45 degrees C for 30-60 minutes. Of forty patients treated, 14 patients with deep-seated tumors showed complete response and 20 patients showed partial response. The overall response rate was 85% (34 out of 40 patients) and only 6 patients showed no response. Complications from this treatment were mainly burns, superficial first degree burn in 2 cases, second degree in 4 cases and subcutaneous fat necrosis was observed in 2 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Myocutaneous flaps in general surgery.

In recent developments in the repair of large surgical defects where simple flap rotation may have been previously employed, myocutaneous flaps are being used because of functional advantages and to decrease the number of reconstructive procedures. The authors have employed myocutaneous flaps in 40 cases from January 1980 until April 1985 at Presbyterian Medical Center in Chonju. The primary disease was malignant in 31 cases and benign in 9 cases. Seven types of flaps were employed: The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (20 cases); the trapezius myocutaneous flap (12 cases); the latissimus dorsi flap (2 cases); an osteomyocutaneous flap employing the sternocleidomastoid and clavicle (1 case); the gracilis myocutaneous flap (3 cases); the gluteus maximums myocutaneous flap (1 case); and a tensor fascia lata flap in one case. In more than 75% the skin island survived and an eventually successful result was obtained in 35 cases (87.5%).

Head and neck cancer in a Korean hospital.

Struggling against head and neck cancer in southwest Korea is a challenging experience. In Korea cancers of this anatomic area comprise 13.6% of cancers in men and 9.5% of those in women, a relative incidence higher than that in the United States. Efforts to institute contemporary therapeutic criteria and techniques at a mission hospital are described.

Oriental infestational cholangitis.

One hundred forty-one patients with non-neoplastic cholangitis in Southwest Korea were analyzed for etiologic factors, pathologic changes, and clinical management in an effort to understand the clinicopathologic course of this disease. Our study supports the concept of infestational cholangitis. A staging system for this disease process has been proposed. The limited value of choledocholithotomy and choledochostomy in the more advanced stages of the disease process has been documented, suggesting the need for more effective internal biliary drainage when irreversible changes have occurred.

Observed cancer incidence in southwest korea.

A review of the 9997 cancers recorded in the Presbyterian Medical Center Cancer Registry at this teaching hospital in Southwest Korea during the 15-year period from 1963--1977 forms the basis for this study. Gastric cancer was the leading malignant neoplasm in males, comprising 40.5%. Among women, cancer of the uterine cervix (27%) was slightly more common than gastric cancer (25.5%). All cancers with the exception of that arising in the uterine cervix were more common in rural than in urban population groups. The 15-year period was divided into three-year segments to detect any change in observed incidence during this period of rapid economic growth. No definite trends could be observed except a mild decrease in the incidence of female gastric cancer.