Background: As nationwide government-led whole-genome sequencing (WGS) projects progress, optimizing the clinical integration of large-scale WGS results is crucial. We explored how the initial analysis from Korea’s First WGS Pilot Study for Rare Diseases was applied in clinical practice, and then we reanalyzed the data comprehensively at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) Seoul, Korea. Methods: A prospective cohort study designed to collect WGS data under a Korean national initiative was conducted from August 2020 to December 2021. We focused on patients with rare diseases recruited from 16 university hospitals. The participants included 5,000 individuals (2,200 probands and 2,800 family members). The initial WGS data and diagnostic reference reports (from 682 probands and 484 family members), generated based on the First Korean WGS Pilot Study for Rare Diseases, were subsequently reanalyzed by SMC. Results: The initial analysis of the First Korean WGS Pilot Study data revealed a diagnostic rate of 17%. Upon receiving these results, the SMC conducted two rounds of reanalysis, increasing the diagnostic rate from 15% in the first analysis, to 18% in the second, and finally to 24% in the third (P = 1.6 × 10 −5 ). Key factors in improving the genetic diagnosis included increased detection of novel (likely) pathogenic variants (P = 1.0 × 10 −4 ), improved diagnostic rates with larger family recruitment (P = 0.004), and refined clinical information for more precise genotype–phenotype correlation analysis (40%). Conclusions Although national WGS projects lay a foundation for rare disease diagnosis, hospital-level reanalysis and multidisciplinary collaborations are crucial for optimizing diagnostic outcomes.

Background: The 2020 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0-hr/1-hr algorithm using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) aims at early diagnosis and shorter emergency department (ED) stays. While this algorithm has been well-established in controlled studies, real-world implementation remains challenging. We evaluated the algorithm’s clinical performance and risk stratification capability in patients with chest pain or discomfort. Methods: We measured hs-cTnI in 4,678 patients suspected of NSTE-ACS between August 2022 and July 2023, using an Atellica IM Analyzer (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). We categorized patients into rule-in, observe, or rule-out groups according to the algorithm and assessed its diagnostic performance for NSTE-ACS. The final diagnosis of NSTE-ACS was adjudicated by two independent physicians. Additionally, we evaluated 30-day all-cause mortality, hazard risk, and ED length of stay across the three groups. Results: The algorithm categorized 3,408 (72.9%), 573 (12.2%), and 697 (14.9%) patients into the rule-out, observe, and rule-in groups, respectively. Among 90 patients diagnosed as having NSTE-ACS, none were falsely categorized into the rule-out group. Survival analysis revealed significant differences (P < 0.001), with Cox hazard ratios of 2.38 (95% confidence interval: 1.20–4.71) and 6.39 (3.45–11.86) in the observe and rule-in groups, respectively. ED stays shortened in the order of rule-out, observe, and rule-in groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions The 2020 ESC 0-hr/1-hr algorithm demonstrates excellent diagnostic accuracy without false rule-outs and effective risk stratification, and contributes to efficient ED throughput, supporting its clinical utility in real-world emergency settings.

Purpose: Brain metastasis rarely occurs in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Here, we present five cases of STS with brain metastases with genetic profiles. Materials and Methods: We included five patients from Seoul National University Hospital who were diagnosed with STS with metastasis to the brain. Tissue from the brain metastasis along with that from the primary site or other metastases were used for DNA and RNA sequencing to identify genetic profiles. Gene expression profiles were compared with sarcoma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results: The overall survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis ranged from 2.2 to 34.3 months. Comparison of mutational profiles between brain metastases and matched primary or other metastatic samples showed similar profiles. In two patients, copy number variation profiles between brain metastasis and other tumors showed several differences including MYCL, JUN, MYC, and DDR2 amplification. Gene ontology analysis showed that the group of genes significantly highly expressed in the brain metastasis samples was enriched in the G-protein coupled receptor activity, structural constituent of chromatin, protein heterodimerization activity, and binding of DNA, RNA, and protein. Gene set enrichment analysis showed enrichment in the pathway of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and systemic lupus erythematosus. Conclusion The five patients had variable ranges of clinical courses and outcomes. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of STS with brain metastasis implicates possible involvement of complex expression modification and epigenetic changes rather than the addition of single driver gene alteration.

Fertility preservation is a major concern in young patients diagnosed with breast cancer and planning to receive multimodality treatment, including gonadotoxic chemotherapy with or without age-related decline through long-term endocrine therapy. Most breast cancer patients undergo multimodality treatments; many short-term and long-term side effects arise during these therapies. One of the most detrimental side effects is reduced fertility due to gonadotoxic treatments with resultant psychosocial stress. Cryopreservation of oocytes, embryos, and ovarian tissue are currently available fertility preservation methods for these patients. As an adjunct to these methods, in vitro maturation or gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonist could also be considered. It is also essential to communicate well with patients in the decision-making process on fertility preservation. It is essential to refer patients diagnosed with breast cancer on time to fertility specialists for individualized treatment, which may lead to desirable outcomes. To do so, a multimodal team-based approach and in-depth discussion on the treatment of breast cancer and fertility preservation is crucial. This review aims to summarize infertility risk related to currently available breast cancer treatment, options for fertility preservation and its details, barriers to oncofertility counseling, and psychosocial issues.

Purpose: Classical swine fever (CSF) reemerged on CSF-free Jeju Island where vaccination is not practiced by the unintentional injection of a live attenuated vaccine (modified live attenuated vaccines–low-virulence Miyagi [MLV-LOM]) in 2014. Since the Jeju provincial authority is considering adopting a voluntary immunization policy using a CSF-E2 subunit vaccine to combat LOM-derived CSF endemic, this study aimed to evaluate in Jeju herds. Materials and Methods: Two vaccination trials using the Bayovac CSF-E2 vaccine licensed for use in South Korea assessed the safety and humoral immunity of the CSF-E2 vaccine in breeding (trial 1) and nursery animals (trial 2) under farm application conditions. Results: Neither local nor systemic (including reproductive) adverse effects were objectively observed in pregnant sows and young piglets following a respective vaccination regime at pregnancy or weaning, respectively. Trial 1 showed that sows immunized with the CSF-E2 vaccine possessed high and consistent E2-specific and neutralizing antibody levels. The CSF-E2 vaccine-immunized pregnant sows subsequently conferred appropriate and steady passive immunity to their offspring. In trial 2, a double immunization scheme of the CSF-E2 vaccine in piglets at 40 and 60 days of age could elicit a consistent and long-lasting adequate antibody response. Additionally, the two trials detected no E rns -specific antibody responses, indicating that CSF-E2 vaccine can differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). Conclusion Our trial data collectively provide invaluable information on applying the CSFE2 subunit vaccine to circumvent the possible drawbacks associated with the MLV-LOM concerning the safety, efficacy, and DIVA, in the LOM-endemic field farms and contribute to advanced CSF eradication on Jeju Island.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of HER2-positive breast cancer according to HER2 low (2+) or high (3+) classification using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Methods: Data were collected from 205 HER2-positive breast cancer patients in the final assay, regardless of IHC or in situ hybridization (ISH). We thus classified patients into two groups: HER2 2+/low and HER2 3+/high based on the IHC assay. We subsequently compared the clinical and pathological characteristics between groups. Results: The median patient age was 49 years in the HER2 2+/low group and 53 years in the HER2 3+/high group. We observed a significantly lower Allred score for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) (0-6) (p<0.001), less lymphatic invasion (LI), (p=0.010), neural invasion (p=0.041), higher Ki-67 (p=0.001), and lower Bcl-2 (p<0.001) in the HER2 3+/high group than in the HER2 2+/low group. Lymph node recurrence was more frequently observed in the HER2 2+/low group than in HER2 3+/high group (p=0.005). Disease-free survival (DFS) was better in the HER2 3+/high group than in the HER2 2+/low group (p=0.028), but there were no significant differences in overall survival between the groups (p=0.233). Conclusion The HER2 3+/high group was associated with lower ER and PR expression, less LI, higher Ki-67, and lower Bcl-2 than that in HER2 2+/low group in HER2-positive breast cancer. Furthermore, compared to the HER2 2+/low group, the HER2 3+/high group had an improved DFS.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of HER2-positive breast cancer according to HER2 low (2+) or high (3+) classification using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Methods: Data were collected from 205 HER2-positive breast cancer patients in the final assay, regardless of IHC or in situ hybridization (ISH). We thus classified patients into two groups: HER2 2+/low and HER2 3+/high based on the IHC assay. We subsequently compared the clinical and pathological characteristics between groups. Results: The median patient age was 49 years in the HER2 2+/low group and 53 years in the HER2 3+/high group. We observed a significantly lower Allred score for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) (0-6) (p<0.001), less lymphatic invasion (LI), (p=0.010), neural invasion (p=0.041), higher Ki-67 (p=0.001), and lower Bcl-2 (p<0.001) in the HER2 3+/high group than in the HER2 2+/low group. Lymph node recurrence was more frequently observed in the HER2 2+/low group than in HER2 3+/high group (p=0.005). Disease-free survival (DFS) was better in the HER2 3+/high group than in the HER2 2+/low group (p=0.028), but there were no significant differences in overall survival between the groups (p=0.233). Conclusion The HER2 3+/high group was associated with lower ER and PR expression, less LI, higher Ki-67, and lower Bcl-2 than that in HER2 2+/low group in HER2-positive breast cancer. Furthermore, compared to the HER2 2+/low group, the HER2 3+/high group had an improved DFS.

Purpose: The treatment outcomes and genomic profiles of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in adult patients are rarely characterized. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the clinicogenomic profiles of adult patients with brain DMG. Materials and Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with brain DMG at Seoul National University Hospital were included. The clinicopathological parameters, treatment outcomes, survival, and genomic profiles using 82-gene targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) were analyzed. The 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) after radiotherapy and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: Thirty-three patients with H3-mutant brain DMG were identified. The median OS from diagnosis was 21.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.2 to not available [NA]) and involvement of the ponto-medullary area tended to have poor OS (median OS, 20.4 months [95% CI, 9.3 to NA] vs. 43.6 months [95% CI, 18.2 to NA]; p=0.07). Twenty-four patients (72.7%) received radiotherapy with or without temozolomide. The PFS6 rate was 83.3% (n=20). Patients without progression at 6 months showed significantly prolonged OS compared with those with progression at 6 months (median OS, 24.9 months [95% CI, 20.4 to NA] vs. 10.8 months [95% CI, 4.0 to NA]; p=0.02, respectively). Targeted NGS was performed in 13 patients with DMG, among whom nine (69.2%) harbored concurrent TP53 mutation. Two patients (DMG14 and DMG23) with PIK3CAR38S+E545K and KRASG12A mutations received matched therapies. Patient DMG14 received sirolimus with a PFS of 8.4 months. Conclusion PFS6 after radiotherapy was associated with prolonged survival in adult patients with DMG. Genome-based matched therapy may be an encouraging approach for progressive adult patients with DMG.

Purpose: Angiosarcoma is a highly aggressive mesenchymal tumor. Although systemic chemotherapy is often considered for the inoperable or metastatic angiosarcoma, the outcome of such treatment is unsatisfactory and poorly delineated. Materials and Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of 75 patients with angiosarcoma who were treated with systemic chemotherapy for inoperable or metastatic disease. Patients were classified as having liver involvement if they had either primary or metastatic hepatic lesions. Results: Among the patients evaluated, 51 patients were male (68%) and 24 patients (32%) had primary cutaneous angiosarcoma. Liver involvement was present in 28 patients (37.3%). A total of 59 patients received first-line weekly paclitaxel (wPac) and showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 23.7% (n=14), a median progression free survival (mPFS) of 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–6.1), and a median overall survival (mOS) of 10.2 months (95% CI 7.0–14.6). Among patients without liver involvement, patients receiving wPac (n=35) had significantly prolonged mPFS (5.8 vs. 3.2 months, respectively, p=0.014) with a tendency for prolonged mOS (13.8 vs. 11.6 months, respectively, p=0.13) than those receiving other regimens (n=12). A total of 24 patients received second- or later-line pazopanib monotherapy and showed an ORR of 16.7% (n=4), a mPFS of 2.4 months (95% CI 1.8–4.3) and a mOS of 5.4 months (95% CI 3.5–NA). Conclusion Treatment with first-line wPac and later-line pazopanib seems to provide survival benefit, especially for patients with advanced angiosarcoma without liver involvement.

Purpose: The treatment outcomes and genomic profiles of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in adult patients are rarely characterized. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the clinicogenomic profiles of adult patients with brain DMG. Materials and Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with brain DMG at Seoul National University Hospital were included. The clinicopathological parameters, treatment outcomes, survival, and genomic profiles using 82-gene targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) were analyzed. The 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) after radiotherapy and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: Thirty-three patients with H3-mutant brain DMG were identified. The median OS from diagnosis was 21.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.2 to not available [NA]) and involvement of the ponto-medullary area tended to have poor OS (median OS, 20.4 months [95% CI, 9.3 to NA] vs. 43.6 months [95% CI, 18.2 to NA]; p=0.07). Twenty-four patients (72.7%) received radiotherapy with or without temozolomide. The PFS6 rate was 83.3% (n=20). Patients without progression at 6 months showed significantly prolonged OS compared with those with progression at 6 months (median OS, 24.9 months [95% CI, 20.4 to NA] vs. 10.8 months [95% CI, 4.0 to NA]; p=0.02, respectively). Targeted NGS was performed in 13 patients with DMG, among whom nine (69.2%) harbored concurrent TP53 mutation. Two patients (DMG14 and DMG23) with PIK3CAR38S+E545K and KRASG12A mutations received matched therapies. Patient DMG14 received sirolimus with a PFS of 8.4 months. Conclusion PFS6 after radiotherapy was associated with prolonged survival in adult patients with DMG. Genome-based matched therapy may be an encouraging approach for progressive adult patients with DMG.