PURPOSE: The role of DNA ploidy in colon cancer as a prognostic factor and the correlation of DNA ploidy with the established prognostic factors have been studied for the past 20 years. The purpose of this study was to look into the correlation of DNA ploidy with the prognostic factors and to assess the influence of pre-operative CEA level and DNA ploidy on survival in colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 319 patients with colorectal cancer received radical operations, and DNA flow cytometric analyses of DNA ploidy patterns were performed at the Department of Surgery, Inha University Hospital, from June 1996 to July 2002. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the DNA ploidy patterns. RESULTS: The DNA ploidies of the colorectal tumors were compared to various prognostic factors, the pre-operative CEA level and lymph-node metastasis. The latter two showed correlations to the DNA ploidy. The 5-year survival rate for patients with a normal pre-operative CEA level and DNA diploidy was 85.6% compared to 47.8% for patients with both high pre-operative CEA level and DNA aneuploidy, a statistically significant correlation (P= 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that DNA ploidy in patients with colon cancer has a significant correlation with pre-operative CEA level and lymph-node metastasis. Especially, the pre-operative CEA level and DNA ploidy in patients with colorectal cancer may play a role as useful prognostic factors.
Aneuploidy ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diploidy ; DNA* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ploidies* ; Survival Rate*

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the perioperative complications and oncological outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients who underwent multiple prostate biopsies.
Materials and Methods: A total of 1,112 patients who underwent RP between January 2009 and April 2016 at 4 different centers were included in this study. We divided these patients into 2 groups: patients who underwent only 1st biopsy, and those who underwent 2nd or more repeated biopsies. The association between the number of prior biopsies and perioperative complications and biochemical recurrence (BCR) was analyzed.
Results: Of 1,112 patients, 1,046 patients (94.1%) underwent only 1st biopsy, and 66 (5.9%) underwent 2nd or more repeated biopsies. There were no significant differences in preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels, operation times, blood loss volumes, or hospital stay durations (all p＞0.05). Patients who underwent multiple prostate biopsies presented with a localized tumor significantly more often (p＜0.05). The Gleason score and rate of positive surgical margins were significantly lower in patients with multiple biopsies (all p＜0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model analysis indicated that there was no association between the number of prior prostate biopsies and BCR (p＞0.05). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis indicated that BCR-free survival rates between the 2 groups were similar (p＞0.05).
Conclusions Multiple prostate biopsies are not associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications, adverse pathological outcomes, or higher rates of BCR in patients who have undergone RP. (Korean J Urol Oncol 2020;18:24-31)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fentanyl-TTS in the management of radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was open labelled prospective phase IV multi-center study. the study population included patients with more 4 numeric rating scale(NRS) score pain although managed with other analgesics or more than 6 NRS score pain without analgesics. Patients divided into two groups; patients with radiotherapy induced pain (Group A) and patients with cancer pain treated with radiotherapy (Group B). All patients received 25 ug/hr of fentanyl transdermal patch. Primary end point was pain relief; second end points were change in patient quality of life, a degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician, side effects. RESULTS: Between March 2005 and June 2005, 312 patients from 26 participating institutes were registered, but 249 patients completed this study. Total number of patients in each group was 185 in Group A, 64 in Group B. Mean age was 60 years and male to female ratio was 76:24. Severe pain NRS score at 2 weeks after the application of fentanyl was decreased from 7.03 to 4.01, p=0.003. There was a significant improvement in insomnia, social functioning, and quality of life. A degree of satisfaction for patients and clinician was very high. The most common reasons of patients' satisfactions was good pain control. Ninety six patients reported side effect. Nausea was the most common side effect. There was no serious side effect. CONCLUSION: Fentanyl-TTS was effective in both relieving pain with good tolerability and improving the quality of life for patients with radiotherapy induced acute pain and cancer pain treated with radiotherapy. The satisfaction of the patients and doctors was good. There was no major side effect.
Academies and Institutes ; Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Transdermal Patch*