PURPOSE: Colonic diverticulitis is uncommon in Korea, but the incidence is rapidly increasing nowadays. The clinical features and the factors associated with complications of diverticulitis are important for properly treating the disease. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 225 patients that were prospectively collected between October 2007 and September 2016 was conducted. RESULTS: Diverticulitis was detected mainly in men and women aged 30 to 50 years. Diverticulitis more frequently affected the right colon (n = 194, 86.2%), but age was higher in case of left colonic involvement (42 years vs. 57 years, P < 0.001). Percentages of comorbidities (65.6% vs. 23.8%, P < 0.001), complications (65.6% vs. 6.2%, P < 0.001), and surgical treatment (50.0% vs. 4.1%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with left colonic diverticulitis. In the multivariate analysis, a risk factor for complicated diverticulitis was left colonic involvement (P < 0.001; relative risk [RR], 47.108; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.651–175.413). In complicated diverticulitis, age over 50 was the only significant risk factor for surgical treatment (P = 0.024; RR, 19.350; 95% CI, 1.474–254.023). CONCLUSION: In patients over 50 years of age with left colonic diverticulitis, a preventive colectomy should be reconsidered as one of the options for treatment.
Colectomy ; Colon* ; Comorbidity ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulitis, Colonic* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Purpose: Microinvasive breast cancer (MIBC) is an invasive carcinoma with a tumor dimension not exceeding 1 mm. Owing to its low incidence, the rate of axillary node metastasis and its management are not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and identify variables associated with LNM, as well as to evaluate the need for axillary staging in MIBC patients by analyzing nationwide data. Methods: The Korean Breast Cancer Society registry was searched to identify MIBC patients diagnosed between January 1996 and April 2020. Patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy experiences, systemic metastasis, and missing or discordant data were eligible for the analysis. The incidence rate of LNM was determined, and variables associated with LNM were identified by multivariable regression analysis. Results: Of 2,427 MIBC patients identified, 98 (4.0%) had LNM and 12 (0.5%) had N2/3 disease. Type of breast operation (odds ratio [OR], 2.093; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.332–3.290; P = 0.001), age (OR, 2.091; 95% CI, 1.326–3.298; P = 0.002), hormone receptor status (OR, 2.220; 95% CI, 1.372–3.594; P = 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (OR, 11.143; 95% CI, 6.354–19.540; P < 0.001) were significantly related to LNM. Conclusion The incidence of LNM in MIBC patients was only 4.0% in our study, suggesting that de-escalation of axillary surgical interventions could be carefully considered. The indications for axillary staging should be individualized considering tumor volume, age, hormone receptor status, and lymphovascular invasion to improve the quality of life of MIBC survivors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) protect rats from cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) by preventing the subcellular redistribution of cathepsin B and the activation of trypsinogen. Autophagy plays a critical role in the secretion of digestive enzymes and triggering of cerulein-induced AP via the colocalization of trypsinogen and lysosomes. Therefore, using a rat cerulein-induced AP model, we investigated whether HSPs prevent AP by regulating autophagy. METHODS: Twelve hours after fed standard laboratory chow and water, the experimental groups (cerulein, water-immersion [WI]-cerulein and heat-shock [HS]-cerulein) and the control groups (control, WI, and HS) received one intraperitoneal injection of cerulein (50 microg/kg) or saline, respectively. All of the rats were sacrificed at 6 hours after injection. The severity of the AP was assessed based on the serum amylase level and the histological and electron microscopy findings. Western blotting was also performed for HSP60/70 and LC3B-II. RESULTS: WI and HS induced HSP60 and HSP70, respectively. The induced HSP60/70 effectively prevented the development of cerulein-induced AP. Autophagy developed in the rats with cerulein-induced AP and was documented by the expression of LC3-II and electron microscopy findings. The WI-stressed rats and HS-treated rats did not develop cerulein-induced autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: HSPs exert protective effects against cerulein-induced AP in rats by inhibiting autophagy.
Amylases ; Animals ; Autophagy ; Blotting, Western ; Caerulein ; Cathepsin B ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Hot Temperature ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lysosomes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pancreatitis ; Rats ; Trypsinogen ; Water

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological response rate patterns during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer. Methods: Patients who underwent NAC with two specific chemotherapy regimens (doxorubicin with cyclophosphamide or doxorubicin with docetaxel) and who underwent a response evaluation every two cycles were included in the study. The initial response ratio was defined as the ratio of the largest tumor diameter at diagnosis to that after two cycles of NAC. The latter response ratio was defined as the ratio between the tumor size after two cycles and that after four cycles of NAC. The radiological response rate pattern was divided into three groups: the fast-to-slow response group (F–S group, initial response ratio > latter response ratio + 20%), slow-to-fast response group (S–F group, latter response ratio > initial response ratio + 20%), and constant response group (less than 20% difference between the initial and latter response ratios). Results: In total, 177 patients were included in the analysis. Forty-two (23.9%) patients were categorized into the F–S group, 26 (14.8%) into the S–F group, and 108 (61.2%) into the constant group. Clinicopathologic factors did not differ according to radiologic response rate patterns. The median follow-up period was 50 months (range, 3–112) months. In the univariate analysis, the F–S group had a significantly worse recurrence-free survival than the S–F and constant groups (hazard ratio [HR], 3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–12.46; p = 0.041). The F–S group also presented with significantly worse survival than the S–F group in the multivariate analysis (HR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.00–11.89; p = 0.049). Conclusion The F–S group had a poorer survival rate than the S–F group. Radiological response rate patterns may be useful for accurate prognostic assessments, especially when considering post-neoadjuvant therapy.

Purpose: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal cancer syndrome caused by a germline mutation in the TP53 gene. Breast cancer in LFS patients is of various subtypes;however, limited data are available on the clinicopathological features of these subtypes and their appropriate treatments. This study aimed to review the clinical features and treatments for breast cancer in South Korean patients with germline TP53 mutations. Methods: Data on the clinicopathological features and treatment of all breast cancer patients with LFS were collected retrospectively from the available database of 4 tertiary hospitals in the Republic of Korea. Results: Twenty-one breast cancer cases in 12 unrelated women with confirmed germline TP53 mutations were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 33.5 years. The histopathological diagnosis included invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 16), ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 3), and malignant phyllodes tumor (n = 2). While 42% and 31% of the cases were positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, respectively, 52.6% were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, and 21% were triple-negative. The treatments included mastectomy (52%) and breast-conserving surgery (38%). Five patients underwent radiotherapy (RT). The median follow-up period was 87.5 (8–222) months. There were 3 ipsilateral and 4 contralateral breast recurrences during the follow-up, and 8 patients developed new primary cancers. In the post-RT subgroup, there were 2 ipsilateral and 2 contralateral breast recurrences in 1 patient, and 4 patients had a new primary cancer. Conclusion As reported in other countries, breast cancer in LFS patients in South Korea had an early onset and were predominantly but not exclusively positive for HER2.A multidisciplinary approach with adherence to the treatment guidelines, considering mastectomy, and avoiding RT is encouraged to prevent RT-associated sequelae in LFS patients.

Purpose: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal cancer syndrome caused by a germline mutation in the TP53 gene. Breast cancer in LFS patients is of various subtypes;however, limited data are available on the clinicopathological features of these subtypes and their appropriate treatments. This study aimed to review the clinical features and treatments for breast cancer in South Korean patients with germline TP53 mutations. Methods: Data on the clinicopathological features and treatment of all breast cancer patients with LFS were collected retrospectively from the available database of 4 tertiary hospitals in the Republic of Korea. Results: Twenty-one breast cancer cases in 12 unrelated women with confirmed germline TP53 mutations were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 33.5 years. The histopathological diagnosis included invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 16), ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 3), and malignant phyllodes tumor (n = 2). While 42% and 31% of the cases were positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, respectively, 52.6% were human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, and 21% were triple-negative. The treatments included mastectomy (52%) and breast-conserving surgery (38%). Five patients underwent radiotherapy (RT). The median follow-up period was 87.5 (8–222) months. There were 3 ipsilateral and 4 contralateral breast recurrences during the follow-up, and 8 patients developed new primary cancers. In the post-RT subgroup, there were 2 ipsilateral and 2 contralateral breast recurrences in 1 patient, and 4 patients had a new primary cancer. Conclusion As reported in other countries, breast cancer in LFS patients in South Korea had an early onset and were predominantly but not exclusively positive for HER2.A multidisciplinary approach with adherence to the treatment guidelines, considering mastectomy, and avoiding RT is encouraged to prevent RT-associated sequelae in LFS patients.

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the risk of mortality in patients diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Methods: We selected 2,592 patients with HER2-positive DCIS from Korean Breast Cancer Society (KBCS) database between January 1997 and December 2019. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between clinical factors and overall death after adjusting for tumor and clinical characteristics. Mortality data were modified using the Statistics Korea data. Results: Thirty deaths (1.2%) were identified out of 2,592 patients in the KBCS database. In the univariate logistic regression analysis, older age, higher body mass index (BMI), type of breast surgery (mastectomy), estrogen receptornegative, progesterone receptor-negative, and exposure to endocrine therapy were significant clinical factors associated with death. In the multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.062; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.015–1.111; P = 0.006), BMI (HR, 1.179; 95% CI, 1.032–1.347, P = 0.016), breast surgery type (mastectomy vs. lumpectomy; HR, 0.285; 95% CI, 0.096–0.844; P = 0.024), and endocrine therapy (HR, 0.314; 95% CI, 0.099–0.995; P = 0.049) were significant risk factors for mortality. Conclusion Advanced age, higher BMI, mastectomy, and the absence of endocrine therapy were factors associated with poor survival of patients with HER2-positive DCIS. This finding requires further validation combined with additional analysis of large databases.