1.The Survival and Financial Benefit of Investigator-Initiated Trials Conducted by Korean Cancer Study Group
Bum Jun KIM ; Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bhumsuk KEAM ; Young-Hyuck IM ; Jungsil RO ; Kyung Hae JUNG ; Seock-Ah IM ; Tae Won KIM ; Jae Lyun LEE ; Dae Seog HEO ; Sang-We KIM ; Keunchil PARK ; Myung-Ju AHN ; Byoung Chul CHO ; Hoon-Kyo KIM ; Yoon-Koo KANG ; Jae Yong CHO ; Hwan Jung YUN ; Byung-Ho NAM ; Dae Young ZANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):39-46
Purpose:
The Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) is a nationwide cancer clinical trial group dedicated to advancing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) by conducting and supporting clinical trials. This study aims to review IITs conducted by KCSG and quantitatively evaluate the survival and financial benefits of IITs for patients.
Materials and Methods:
We reviewed IITs conducted by KCSG from 1998 to 2023, analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) gains for participants. PFS and OS benefits were calculated as the difference in median survival times between the intervention and control groups, multiplied by the number of patients in the intervention group. Financial benefits were assessed based on the cost of investigational products provided.
Results:
From 1998 to 2023, KCSG conducted 310 IITs, with 133 completed and published. Of these, 21 were included in the survival analysis. The analysis revealed that 1,951 patients in the intervention groups gained a total of 2,558.4 months (213.2 years) of PFS and 2,501.6 months (208.5 years) of OS, with median gains of 1.31 months in PFS and 1.58 months in OS per patient. When analyzing only statistically significant results, PFS and OS gain per patients was 1.69 months and 3.02 months, respectively. Investigational drug cost analysis from six available IITs indicated that investigational products provided to 252 patients were valued at 10,400,077,294 won (approximately 8,046,481 US dollars), averaging about 41,270,148 won (approximately 31,930 US dollars) per patient.
Conclusion
Our findings, based on analysis of published research, suggest that IITs conducted by KCSG led to survival benefits for participants and, in some studies, may have provided financial benefits by providing investment drugs.
2.The Survival and Financial Benefit of Investigator-Initiated Trials Conducted by Korean Cancer Study Group
Bum Jun KIM ; Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bhumsuk KEAM ; Young-Hyuck IM ; Jungsil RO ; Kyung Hae JUNG ; Seock-Ah IM ; Tae Won KIM ; Jae Lyun LEE ; Dae Seog HEO ; Sang-We KIM ; Keunchil PARK ; Myung-Ju AHN ; Byoung Chul CHO ; Hoon-Kyo KIM ; Yoon-Koo KANG ; Jae Yong CHO ; Hwan Jung YUN ; Byung-Ho NAM ; Dae Young ZANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):39-46
Purpose:
The Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) is a nationwide cancer clinical trial group dedicated to advancing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) by conducting and supporting clinical trials. This study aims to review IITs conducted by KCSG and quantitatively evaluate the survival and financial benefits of IITs for patients.
Materials and Methods:
We reviewed IITs conducted by KCSG from 1998 to 2023, analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) gains for participants. PFS and OS benefits were calculated as the difference in median survival times between the intervention and control groups, multiplied by the number of patients in the intervention group. Financial benefits were assessed based on the cost of investigational products provided.
Results:
From 1998 to 2023, KCSG conducted 310 IITs, with 133 completed and published. Of these, 21 were included in the survival analysis. The analysis revealed that 1,951 patients in the intervention groups gained a total of 2,558.4 months (213.2 years) of PFS and 2,501.6 months (208.5 years) of OS, with median gains of 1.31 months in PFS and 1.58 months in OS per patient. When analyzing only statistically significant results, PFS and OS gain per patients was 1.69 months and 3.02 months, respectively. Investigational drug cost analysis from six available IITs indicated that investigational products provided to 252 patients were valued at 10,400,077,294 won (approximately 8,046,481 US dollars), averaging about 41,270,148 won (approximately 31,930 US dollars) per patient.
Conclusion
Our findings, based on analysis of published research, suggest that IITs conducted by KCSG led to survival benefits for participants and, in some studies, may have provided financial benefits by providing investment drugs.
3.The Survival and Financial Benefit of Investigator-Initiated Trials Conducted by Korean Cancer Study Group
Bum Jun KIM ; Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bhumsuk KEAM ; Young-Hyuck IM ; Jungsil RO ; Kyung Hae JUNG ; Seock-Ah IM ; Tae Won KIM ; Jae Lyun LEE ; Dae Seog HEO ; Sang-We KIM ; Keunchil PARK ; Myung-Ju AHN ; Byoung Chul CHO ; Hoon-Kyo KIM ; Yoon-Koo KANG ; Jae Yong CHO ; Hwan Jung YUN ; Byung-Ho NAM ; Dae Young ZANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):39-46
Purpose:
The Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) is a nationwide cancer clinical trial group dedicated to advancing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) by conducting and supporting clinical trials. This study aims to review IITs conducted by KCSG and quantitatively evaluate the survival and financial benefits of IITs for patients.
Materials and Methods:
We reviewed IITs conducted by KCSG from 1998 to 2023, analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) gains for participants. PFS and OS benefits were calculated as the difference in median survival times between the intervention and control groups, multiplied by the number of patients in the intervention group. Financial benefits were assessed based on the cost of investigational products provided.
Results:
From 1998 to 2023, KCSG conducted 310 IITs, with 133 completed and published. Of these, 21 were included in the survival analysis. The analysis revealed that 1,951 patients in the intervention groups gained a total of 2,558.4 months (213.2 years) of PFS and 2,501.6 months (208.5 years) of OS, with median gains of 1.31 months in PFS and 1.58 months in OS per patient. When analyzing only statistically significant results, PFS and OS gain per patients was 1.69 months and 3.02 months, respectively. Investigational drug cost analysis from six available IITs indicated that investigational products provided to 252 patients were valued at 10,400,077,294 won (approximately 8,046,481 US dollars), averaging about 41,270,148 won (approximately 31,930 US dollars) per patient.
Conclusion
Our findings, based on analysis of published research, suggest that IITs conducted by KCSG led to survival benefits for participants and, in some studies, may have provided financial benefits by providing investment drugs.
4.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
5.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
6.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
7.Relationship Between Suicide Attempts and Peripheral Blood Markers in Patients Who Visited the Emergency Department
Seok-Ho CHOI ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Seri MAENG ; Jae Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Yangsik KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024;31(2):40-50
Objectives:
We investigate relationship between suicide attempts and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for psychiatric consultations, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for predicting suicide risk.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 569 patients who were referred to psychiatric consultation at the ED from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Demographic and clinical characteristics and various blood test markers were analyzed. Analyses were performed to compare differences in blood markers between suicide attempters and non-attempters and among those with varying histories of suicide attempts.
Results:
Among 569 patients, 398 (69.9%) had attempted suicide. Significant differences in leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, red blood cells (RBCs), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ketone bodies were observed between suicide attempters and non-attempters. Further analysis revealed that patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil counts but lower LDH and ketone body levels. An increasing frequency of past suicide attempts correlated with higher lymphocyte and eosinophil count and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune inflammatory index, glucose, LDH, and ketone body levels.
Conclusions
We identify blood markers associated with suicide attempts, indicating that leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, RBC count, LDH, and ketone body levels could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing suicide risk. Findings underscore importance of biological assessments in conjunction with psychological evaluations in predicting and preventing suicide attempts. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers and understand mechanisms.
8.Comparison of Factors Associated With Agitation Among Youngest-Old, Middle-Old, and Oldest-Old Hospitalized Patients Referred to the Psychiatric Department
Min-Suk JANG ; Seo-Hyun CHOI ; Se-ri MAENG ; Yang-Sik KIM ; Jae-Nam BAE ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2023;31(2):89-99
Objectives:
:In this study, elderly hospitalized patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to a university hospital and referred to the department of psychiatry were classified into youngest-old, middle-old, and oldest-old. It was conducted to find out what factors contribute to the agitation pattern by age group, wheth-er there is a difference in the factors, and whether there is a difference in the severity of the agitation pattern.
Methods:
:From July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, the medical records of patients aged 65 years or older who were referred to the department of psychiatry were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, route of hospitalization, department of referral, reason for referral, treatment method, presence of internal and surgical diseases, and hematological test data were investigated.
Results:
:There was a significant correlation with the RASS score in cases of surgery referral and high CRP levels for youngest-old aged 65 to 74 years, in cases of surgery referral, dementia and hyponatremia for middleold aged 75 to 84 years, in case of dementia for oldest-old aged 85 years old or older. In addition, there were differences in the severity of agitation patterns between age groups.
Conclusions
:As the age group increases, the agitation of delirium patients becomes more severe, and vari-ous factors contributing to the agitation pattern also differ by age group. Therefore, when treating elderly pa-tients with delirium, attention should be paid to factors that may affect agitation depending on age.
9.Risk Factors for Zolpidem Induced Sleep-Related Behavior in Inpatients
Hyung-Inn KIM ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Hye-Young KIM ; Se-ri MAENG ; Jae-Nam BAE
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2022;30(2):112-118
Objectives:
:Zolpidem is a common drug used in insomnia. However, there are several reports of side effects of the central nervous system or sleep related behavior in patients who took zolpidem. This study was conducted to investigate risk factors affecting sleep related behavior after taking zolpidem in inpatients.
Methods:
:From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, medical records of patients who took zolpidem hospitalized at Inha University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:
:907 patients who took Zolpidem, 102 (11.2%) showed sleep related behavior, and if they were 65years of age or older, men, taking antipsychotics, and taking antipsychotics and benzodiazepines at the same time, they were significantly more likely to show sleep related behavior.
Conclusions
:Risk factors for sleep-related behavior after use of zolpidem are estimated gender, elderly, antipsychotics, and combination of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.
10.The Difference in the Quality of Life of Korean Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Between Before and After COVID-19
Jung-Hoon LEE ; Seri MAENG ; Jeong-Seop LEE ; Jae-Nam BAE ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Hyeyoung KIM
Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2022;33(4):113-121
Objectives:
This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) before and during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and to examine how their QoL is affected by emotional and environmental factors during COVID-19.
Methods:
Participants in the pre-COVID-19 (n=43) and COVID-19 (n=36) groups were recruited from the same university hospital. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Child Self-report, the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), the PedsQL 4.0 Parent Proxy Report, and the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) were employed. Independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted.
Results:
Caregivers assessed the children’s QoL more negatively than the children themselves in both groups. Children with ADHD evaluated their physical function more negatively and anxiety was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. In the COVID-19 group, the PedsQL child self-report was significantly predicted by the CPRS, the CDI, and environmental factors (i.e., relation to child and monthly household income).
Conclusion
Children with ADHD in the COVID-19 group had a numerically lower QoL and significantly higher anxiety. To improve QoL, it is important to deal with not only depression but also ADHD symptoms and environmental factors.

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