1.Surgical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with retroperitoneal tumors: a single-center retrospective cohort study (2015–2024)
Mee Rae KIM ; Yubin LEE ; Yeojin BOO ; Jeong Ho SONG ; Sang-Yong SON ; Hoon HUR ; Sang-Uk HAN
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research 2026;110(2):119-126
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes, identify complications, and analyze recurrence in patients undergoing surgery for primary retroperitoneal tumors (RPTs), which pose significant therapeutic challenges.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 59 patients who underwent surgery for primary RPTs at Ajou University Hospital between January 2015 and December 2024. Patients were divided into a multivisceral resection (MVR) group (n = 25) and a non-MVR group (n = 34) to compare demographics, clinical characteristics, pathological findings, and postoperative outcomes.
Results:
Compared to the non-MVR group, the MVR group had a significantly higher rate of open surgery (96.0% vs.73.5%, P = 0.034), longer operative times (237.6 minutes vs. 188.8 minutes, P = 0.032), more frequent R2 resections (32.0% vs. 8.8%, P = 0.018), and longer hospital stays (13.1 days vs. 7.0 days, P = 0.007). Malignant tumors comprised 67.7% of cases, with sarcoma being the most common. Recurrence rates were highest in well-differentiated liposarcoma (50.0%) and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (22.2%). While univariate analysis showed MVR was associated with severe morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III; odds ratio, 6.200; P = 0.029), this was not sustained as an independent predictor in multivariable analysis.
Conclusion
Although MVR was associated with severe complications in univariate analysis, it was not an independent predictor in multivariable analysis. This suggests the increased risk reflects overall surgical complexity. Therefore, MVR should be pursued when oncologically necessary, as it presents an acceptable morbidity profile.
2.Prediction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea, 2026
Kyu-Won JUNG ; Mee Joo KANG ; Eun Hye PARK ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Kui Sun CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(2):368-375
Purpose:
This study aimed to project cancer incidence and mortality for 2026 to estimate Korea’s current cancer burden.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence data from 1999 to 2023 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, while cancer mortality data from 1993 to 2024 were acquired from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. Cancer incidence and mortality were projected by fitting a linear regression model to observed age-specific cancer rates against their respective years and then by the projected age-specific rates by the anticipated age-specific population for 2026. A joinpoint regression model was applied to identify significant changes in trends, using only the most recent trend data for predictions.
Results:
A total of 308,876 new cancer cases and 86,317 cancer deaths are expected in Korea in 2026. The most commonly diagnosed cancer is projected to be thyroid cancer, followed by the colorectal, lung, breast, prostate and stomach cancers. These six cancers are expected to account for 63.5% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Lung cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, followed by liver, colorectal, pancreatic, gallbladder, and stomach cancers, together comprising 65.9% of all cancer deaths.
Conclusion
Korea’s cancer burden continues to shift toward malignancies prevalent in older populations. The sustained increase in prostate cancer among men and the rising mortality impact of pancreatic cancer reflect structural changes in the national cancer profile amid rapid population aging.
3.Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2023
Eun Hye PARK ; Kyu-Won JUNG ; Seo Hyun CHOI ; Nam Ju PARK ; Mee Joo KANG ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Kui Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(2):349-367
Purpose:
The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2023, with international comparisons.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2023), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2024. Mortality data were obtained from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data.
Results:
In 2023, 288,613 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 288.6 per 100,000) and 85,271 deaths from cancer (ASR, 64.3 per 100,000) were reported. Among the incident cases, 145,452 (50.4%) were aged 65 years or older. Prostate cancer became the most common cancer among men for the first time. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 51.8% in 2023. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence ratios for stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate (2019-2023) was 73.7% overall and 92.7% for localized-stage cancers. Over 2.73 million prevalent cases were identified in 2023, representing 5.3% of the Korean population.
Conclusion
These findings indicate that Korea’s cancer control efforts have contributed to early detection and improved survival outcomes. As Korea enters a super-aged society in 2025, cancer burden will continue to increase, requiring sustained and adaptive cancer control strategies.
4.Prediction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea, 2025
Kyu-Won JUNG ; Mee Joo KANG ; Eun Hye PARK ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):331-338
Purpose:
This study aimed to project cancer incidence and mortality for 2025 to estimate Korea’s current cancer burden.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence data from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, while cancer mortality data from 1993 to 2023 were acquired from Statistics Korea. Cancer incidence and mortality were projected by fitting a linear regression model to observed age-specific cancer rates against their respective years and then by multiplying the projected age-specific rates by the anticipated age-specific population for 2025. A joinpoint regression model was applied to identify significant changes in trends, using only the most recent trend data for predictions.
Results:
A total of 304,754 new cancer cases and 84,019 cancer deaths are expected in Korea in 2025. The most commonly diagnosed cancer is projected to be thyroid cancer, followed by the colorectal, lung, breast, prostate and stomach cancers. These six cancers are expected to account for 63.8% of the total cancer burden. Lung cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, followed by liver, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach, and gallbladder cancers, together comprising 66.6% of total cancer deaths.
Conclusion
The increasing incidence of female breast cancer and the rise in prostate and pancreatic cancers are expected to continue. As aging accelerates, cancer commonly found in older adults are projected to rise significantly.
5.Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2022
Eun Hye PARK ; Kyu-Won JUNG ; Nam Ju PARK ; Mee Joo KANG ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui-Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):312-330
Purpose:
The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2022, with international comparisons.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2022), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2023. Mortality data obtained from Statistics Korea, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data.
Results:
In 2022, 282,047 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 287.0 per 100,000) and 83,378 deaths from cancer (ASR, 65.7 per 100,000) were reported. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2022. Stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer showed increased localized-stage diagnoses by 18.1, 18.5, and 9.9 percentage points, respectively. Compared to 2001-2005, the 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) increased by 20.4 percentage points for stomach cancer, 7.6 for colorectal cancer, and 5.6 for breast cancer. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence (M/I) ratios for these cancers. The 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) was 72.9%, contributing to over 2.59 million prevalent cases in 2022.
Conclusion
Since the launch of the National Cancer Screening Program in 2002, early detection has improved, increasing the diagnosis of localized-stage cancers and survival rates. Korea recorded the lowest M/I ratio among major comparison countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of its National Cancer Control Program.
6.Prediction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea, 2025
Kyu-Won JUNG ; Mee Joo KANG ; Eun Hye PARK ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):331-338
Purpose:
This study aimed to project cancer incidence and mortality for 2025 to estimate Korea’s current cancer burden.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence data from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, while cancer mortality data from 1993 to 2023 were acquired from Statistics Korea. Cancer incidence and mortality were projected by fitting a linear regression model to observed age-specific cancer rates against their respective years and then by multiplying the projected age-specific rates by the anticipated age-specific population for 2025. A joinpoint regression model was applied to identify significant changes in trends, using only the most recent trend data for predictions.
Results:
A total of 304,754 new cancer cases and 84,019 cancer deaths are expected in Korea in 2025. The most commonly diagnosed cancer is projected to be thyroid cancer, followed by the colorectal, lung, breast, prostate and stomach cancers. These six cancers are expected to account for 63.8% of the total cancer burden. Lung cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, followed by liver, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach, and gallbladder cancers, together comprising 66.6% of total cancer deaths.
Conclusion
The increasing incidence of female breast cancer and the rise in prostate and pancreatic cancers are expected to continue. As aging accelerates, cancer commonly found in older adults are projected to rise significantly.
7.Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2022
Eun Hye PARK ; Kyu-Won JUNG ; Nam Ju PARK ; Mee Joo KANG ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui-Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):312-330
Purpose:
The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2022, with international comparisons.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2022), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2023. Mortality data obtained from Statistics Korea, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data.
Results:
In 2022, 282,047 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 287.0 per 100,000) and 83,378 deaths from cancer (ASR, 65.7 per 100,000) were reported. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2022. Stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer showed increased localized-stage diagnoses by 18.1, 18.5, and 9.9 percentage points, respectively. Compared to 2001-2005, the 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) increased by 20.4 percentage points for stomach cancer, 7.6 for colorectal cancer, and 5.6 for breast cancer. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence (M/I) ratios for these cancers. The 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) was 72.9%, contributing to over 2.59 million prevalent cases in 2022.
Conclusion
Since the launch of the National Cancer Screening Program in 2002, early detection has improved, increasing the diagnosis of localized-stage cancers and survival rates. Korea recorded the lowest M/I ratio among major comparison countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of its National Cancer Control Program.
8.Prediction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea, 2025
Kyu-Won JUNG ; Mee Joo KANG ; Eun Hye PARK ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):331-338
Purpose:
This study aimed to project cancer incidence and mortality for 2025 to estimate Korea’s current cancer burden.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence data from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, while cancer mortality data from 1993 to 2023 were acquired from Statistics Korea. Cancer incidence and mortality were projected by fitting a linear regression model to observed age-specific cancer rates against their respective years and then by multiplying the projected age-specific rates by the anticipated age-specific population for 2025. A joinpoint regression model was applied to identify significant changes in trends, using only the most recent trend data for predictions.
Results:
A total of 304,754 new cancer cases and 84,019 cancer deaths are expected in Korea in 2025. The most commonly diagnosed cancer is projected to be thyroid cancer, followed by the colorectal, lung, breast, prostate and stomach cancers. These six cancers are expected to account for 63.8% of the total cancer burden. Lung cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, followed by liver, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach, and gallbladder cancers, together comprising 66.6% of total cancer deaths.
Conclusion
The increasing incidence of female breast cancer and the rise in prostate and pancreatic cancers are expected to continue. As aging accelerates, cancer commonly found in older adults are projected to rise significantly.
9.Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2022
Eun Hye PARK ; Kyu-Won JUNG ; Nam Ju PARK ; Mee Joo KANG ; E Hwa YUN ; Hye-Jin KIM ; Jeong-Eun KIM ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Kui-Son CHOI ; Han-Kwang YANG ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):312-330
Purpose:
The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2022, with international comparisons.
Materials and Methods:
Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2022), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2023. Mortality data obtained from Statistics Korea, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data.
Results:
In 2022, 282,047 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 287.0 per 100,000) and 83,378 deaths from cancer (ASR, 65.7 per 100,000) were reported. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2022. Stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer showed increased localized-stage diagnoses by 18.1, 18.5, and 9.9 percentage points, respectively. Compared to 2001-2005, the 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) increased by 20.4 percentage points for stomach cancer, 7.6 for colorectal cancer, and 5.6 for breast cancer. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence (M/I) ratios for these cancers. The 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) was 72.9%, contributing to over 2.59 million prevalent cases in 2022.
Conclusion
Since the launch of the National Cancer Screening Program in 2002, early detection has improved, increasing the diagnosis of localized-stage cancers and survival rates. Korea recorded the lowest M/I ratio among major comparison countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of its National Cancer Control Program.
10.Acute dual therapeutic effects of the BKCa channel opener LDD175 on erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms in chronic pelvic ischemia: a preliminary study.
Jiwoong YU ; Mee Ree CHAE ; Deok Hyun HAN ; Su Jeong KANG ; Jimin SHIN ; Hyun Hwan SUNG
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(6):714-722
Recent studies have revealed a significant relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), both of which commonly affect middle-aged and older men. These conditions share underlying causes, particularly endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and chronic pelvic ischemia (CPI). This study investigated the therapeutic potential of LDD175, a large-conductance Ca 2+ -activated K + channel (BKCa channel) opener, in simultaneously treating both conditions using a CPI animal model of male Sprague Dawley rats. Our study investigated the induction of CPI through surgical endothelial damage combined with a high-cholesterol diet. We assessed erectile and voiding functions by measuring intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and intraurethral pressure (IUP), respectively, after nerve stimulation. We performed histological examinations of vascular changes and western blot analyses of cavernous and prostate tissues to understand the underlying mechanisms. This study evaluated the effectiveness of LDD175 compared to standard treatments, such as sildenafil for ED and tamsulosin for LUTS. Therefore, the CPI model successfully demonstrated ED and LUTS symptoms with decreased ICP and increased IUP. Analysis revealed elevated levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, transforming growth factor-β1 and β2 in cavernous tissue, and increased α1A-adrenoceptor expression in prostate tissue. LDD175 administration showed promising results, with dose-dependent improvements in ICP and IUP, and therapeutic effects comparable to those of established treatments. Our findings suggest a novel therapeutic approach that can simultaneously address ED and LUTS, opening new possibilities for clinical application in the treatment of these interconnected conditions.
Male
;
Animals
;
Erectile Dysfunction/etiology*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/etiology*
;
Ischemia/drug therapy*
;
Rats
;
Tamsulosin
;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/drug effects*
;
Sildenafil Citrate/therapeutic use*
;
Penis/blood supply*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Pelvis/blood supply*
;
Prostate/metabolism*
;
Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*
;
Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels/agonists*

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail