OBJECTIVE: p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes are known to be tumor suppressor genes which reside in p21 region of chromosome 9 and are related to cell cycle control as an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent-kinase. We designed this study to search for deletion and decreased expression of p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes in advanced ovarian carcinomas. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis was performed to search for deletion of p16INK4 and p15INK4B using DNA extracted from frozen tissue in liquid nitrogen of thirty-one advanced ovarian carcinoma patients. The intensities of PCR bands were analyzed using an imaging densitometer to determine gene dosage in tumor samples and the relative gene dosage was calculated by comparing band intesity of p16INK4 or p15INK4B with that of beta-globin gene. Homozygous deletions were assigned to tumors in which the ratio was reduced to less than 25% in any one of exons of p16INK4 and p15INK4B. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the expression of p16INK4. p16-negative cells were characterized by the absence of nuclear staining, whereas cytoplasmic staining was variable. Clinico-pathologic features, complete remission rates and survivals were analyzed according to the status of p16INK4 and p15INK4B genes. RESULTS: Homozygous deletion of p16INK4 was detected in 12.9% of advanced ovarian carcinoma patients and that of p15INK4B in 35.5%. Clinico-pathologic features such as FIGO stage, histological grade, serum CA-125 levels were not different from groups with homozygously deleted p16INK4 and p15INK4B to those with normal genes. The survival of patients (13 [6-20] months) with homozygously deleted p16INK4 was significantly shorter than that (30 [8-52] months) of patients with normal p16INK4 (p=0.046; Log-rank test). CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that deletions of p16INK4 and p15INK4B gene might be involved in tumorigenesis of ovarian carcinoma and could be useful as a prognostic factor. A prospective, controlled study with more patients will be mandatory in the future.
beta-Globins ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Exons ; Gene Dosage ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nitrogen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR*

A 49-year-old male had erythematous to rusky red papules, indurated plaques and lichenified patches with hyperpigmentation on sun-exposed areas for 6 years. Phototest revealed the decreased rninimal erythemal dose to UVA(10J/cm. Photopatch test with 5% Trandate ointment, 5% hydrochlorthiazide ointment and vaselin. as a control were all negative. Two weeks after cessation of Trandate, an oral challenge of hydrochlorthiazide followed by phototest was perfrirmed resulting in exacerbation of skin lesions and photosensitivity with a decreased MED to UVA(10J/cm) again. After the cesation of Trandate containing hydrochlorthiazide, the skin lesions were improved with complete loss of photosensitivity. But, improvement of the infiltrated or licheified plaques were delayed. Presenile cataract previously noted in the patient seemed to be related to his longstanding intake of hydrochlorthiazide.
Cataract ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Labetalol ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin

No abstract available.
Cisplatin* ; Sodium*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Band Syndrome* ; Anencephaly* ; Infant, Newborn

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among Korean women, with more than 7,000 new cases occurring annually. However, the mortality from breast cancer is decreasing in many western countries, despite the rising incidence, as a result of widespread screening for early detection as well as advances in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage disease. At present, the care for patients with early breast cancer has focused on minimal invasive surgery allowing the conservation of the breast and unaffected lymph nodes with a limited radiation therapy and appropriate adjuvant systemic therapy tailored to individual risk based on the tumor stage, histological grade and receptor status. It is widely accepted that the appropriate use of adjuvant systemic treatment including chemotherapy and hormone therapy improves the survival of patients with early breast cancer. The most commonly used chemotherapeutic regimen nowadays is AC (doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide). Taxane was also shown to have an advantage in adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in recent studies. It is well established that tamoxifen improves the overall survival in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Moreover, large randomized trials suggest the potential superiority of aromatase inhibitors compared to tamoxifen. Other agents, such as the monoclonal antibody against the HER-2 receptor, trastuzumab, are under investigation for clinical use as adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer. In the future, several predictive factors will be needed for better tailoring of the treatment strategy in individuals at risk. This review summarizes the current knowledge and guidelines in the management of patients with early breast cancer.
Aromatase Inhibitors ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Tamoxifen ; Trastuzumab

No abstract available.
Animals ; Indomethacin* ; Mice*

Prior to 1988, endometrial cancer was clinically staged but there was the considerable discrepancy between clinical and aetual stage. FIGO surgical staging classification of endometrial cancer(I988) provides the advanatage of recognizing the true disease distribution and extension, and more rational treatraent can be accomplished. This retrospective study was based on a clinical review of 73 patients with endometrial carcinoma from l982 through 1991 who underwent primary surgical evaluation. A11 cases were restaged ueing the newly adopted FIGO surgical staging. The distribution of FIGO clinical staging was as follows:85 patients(89.1%) were with stage I, 5(6.9%) with stage II, 2(2.7%) with stage III and 1(l.3%) with stage IV. Surgical restaging according new FlG0 classification reveald 56(76.7%) patients with stage I, 1(1.4%) with stage II, 14(19.2%) with stage III and 2(2.7%) with stage IV. Surgery upstaged 12.3% of clinical stage I patients, In clinical stage II patients, 80.0% was doenstaged. There wes no stage changing in cliaical stage III and IV patients. The acturial survival rates for surgical stages I a, I b, I c, and III were 80.0%, 77.2%, 68.4A%, and 35.0% respectively. By using FIGO surgical staging, the initial extent of endometrial cancer can be more accurately evaluated and we may predict prognosis and survival relatively well.
Classification ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

The treatment modality of cervical cancer depends on the stage and tumor size. In nonadvanced, non-bulky cervical cancers, both surgery and chemoradiation are equally effective. Therefore, the treatment modality is chosen based on the complication rate and the quality of life after treatment. When risk factors such as the positive resection margin, lymph node metastasis, parametrial invasion, bulky disease over 4cm, deep stromal invasion, and lymphovascular space involvement are present after surgery, adjuvant chemoradiation should be performed. In non-advanced, bulky cervical cancers, the optimal treatment is controversial. As a primary therapy, chemoradiation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery, or radical surgery is used. In advanced cervical cancers, chemoradiation is the treatment of choice. However, the indication of paraaortic radiation is still controversial.
Drug Therapy ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
CpG Islands* ; Methylation*