1.Association between Tumor Size at the Time of Disease Progression and Survival Outcomes
Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bum Jun KIM ; Myung-Ju AHN ; In Sil CHOI ; Dae Young ZANG ; Bo-Hyung KIM ; Minji KWON ; Dae Seog HEO ; Bhumsuk KEAM
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):362-368
Purpose:
This study evaluates the prognostic significance of tumor size at disease progression (PD) and depth of response (DOR) in cancer patients.
Materials and Methods:
We performed post hoc analysis using data from six prospective clinical trials conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group. Patients with tumor size at PD was categorized into ‘Mild PD’ and ‘Significant PD’ based on the cutoff values of relative change from baseline using maximally selected rank statistics. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between PD and DOR categories.
Results:
Among the 194 evaluable patients, 130 experienced PD. A 35.48% decrease from baseline in tumor size at PD was chosen for the cutoff between mild and significant PD for OS (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ −35.48%; significant PD > −35.48%). The mild PD had superior OS compared to the significant PD (25.8 vs. 12.8 months; Hazard ratio [HR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.266-0.843, p=0.009). When using an exploratory cutoff based on whether the tumor size was below vs. exceeded from the baseline (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ 0%; significant PD > 0%), OS remained significantly longer in the mild PD (17.1 vs. 11.8 months; HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.392-0.932, p=0.021). The greatest DOR was associated with the longest OS and PFS (p<0.001 for both).
Conclusion
Tumor size at PD and DOR were significant prognostic factors for progressive disease. Maintaining a sufficiently reduced tumor size even during PD was associated with better survival outcomes.
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.Association between Tumor Size at the Time of Disease Progression and Survival Outcomes
Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bum Jun KIM ; Myung-Ju AHN ; In Sil CHOI ; Dae Young ZANG ; Bo-Hyung KIM ; Minji KWON ; Dae Seog HEO ; Bhumsuk KEAM
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):362-368
Purpose:
This study evaluates the prognostic significance of tumor size at disease progression (PD) and depth of response (DOR) in cancer patients.
Materials and Methods:
We performed post hoc analysis using data from six prospective clinical trials conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group. Patients with tumor size at PD was categorized into ‘Mild PD’ and ‘Significant PD’ based on the cutoff values of relative change from baseline using maximally selected rank statistics. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between PD and DOR categories.
Results:
Among the 194 evaluable patients, 130 experienced PD. A 35.48% decrease from baseline in tumor size at PD was chosen for the cutoff between mild and significant PD for OS (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ −35.48%; significant PD > −35.48%). The mild PD had superior OS compared to the significant PD (25.8 vs. 12.8 months; Hazard ratio [HR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.266-0.843, p=0.009). When using an exploratory cutoff based on whether the tumor size was below vs. exceeded from the baseline (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ 0%; significant PD > 0%), OS remained significantly longer in the mild PD (17.1 vs. 11.8 months; HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.392-0.932, p=0.021). The greatest DOR was associated with the longest OS and PFS (p<0.001 for both).
Conclusion
Tumor size at PD and DOR were significant prognostic factors for progressive disease. Maintaining a sufficiently reduced tumor size even during PD was associated with better survival outcomes.
4.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.
5.Association between Tumor Size at the Time of Disease Progression and Survival Outcomes
Chi Hoon MAENG ; Bum Jun KIM ; Myung-Ju AHN ; In Sil CHOI ; Dae Young ZANG ; Bo-Hyung KIM ; Minji KWON ; Dae Seog HEO ; Bhumsuk KEAM
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):362-368
Purpose:
This study evaluates the prognostic significance of tumor size at disease progression (PD) and depth of response (DOR) in cancer patients.
Materials and Methods:
We performed post hoc analysis using data from six prospective clinical trials conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group. Patients with tumor size at PD was categorized into ‘Mild PD’ and ‘Significant PD’ based on the cutoff values of relative change from baseline using maximally selected rank statistics. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between PD and DOR categories.
Results:
Among the 194 evaluable patients, 130 experienced PD. A 35.48% decrease from baseline in tumor size at PD was chosen for the cutoff between mild and significant PD for OS (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ −35.48%; significant PD > −35.48%). The mild PD had superior OS compared to the significant PD (25.8 vs. 12.8 months; Hazard ratio [HR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.266-0.843, p=0.009). When using an exploratory cutoff based on whether the tumor size was below vs. exceeded from the baseline (mild PD: tumor size from the baseline ≤ 0%; significant PD > 0%), OS remained significantly longer in the mild PD (17.1 vs. 11.8 months; HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.392-0.932, p=0.021). The greatest DOR was associated with the longest OS and PFS (p<0.001 for both).
Conclusion
Tumor size at PD and DOR were significant prognostic factors for progressive disease. Maintaining a sufficiently reduced tumor size even during PD was associated with better survival outcomes.
6.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.
7.Cation Channel TMEM63A Autonomously Facilitates Oligodendrocyte Differentiation at an Early Stage.
Yue-Ying WANG ; Dan WU ; Yongkun ZHAN ; Fei LI ; Yan-Yu ZANG ; Xiao-Yu TENG ; Linlin ZHANG ; Gui-Fang DUAN ; He WANG ; Rong XU ; Guiquan CHEN ; Yun XU ; Jian-Jun YANG ; Yongguo YU ; Yun Stone SHI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(4):615-632
Accurate timing of myelination is crucial for the proper functioning of the central nervous system. Here, we identified a de novo heterozygous mutation in TMEM63A (c.1894G>A; p. Ala632Thr) in a 7-year-old boy exhibiting hypomyelination. A Ca2+ influx assay suggested that this is a loss-of-function mutation. To explore how TMEM63A deficiency causes hypomyelination, we generated Tmem63a knockout mice. Genetic deletion of TMEM63A resulted in hypomyelination at postnatal day 14 (P14) arising from impaired differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Notably, the myelin dysplasia was transient, returning to normal levels by P28. Primary cultures of Tmem63a-/- OPCs presented delayed differentiation. Lentivirus-based expression of TMEM63A but not TMEM63A_A632T rescued the differentiation of Tmem63a-/- OPCs in vitro and myelination in Tmem63a-/- mice. These data thus support the conclusion that the mutation in TMEM63A is the pathogenesis of the hypomyelination in the patient. Our study further demonstrated that TMEM63A-mediated Ca2+ influx plays critical roles in the early development of myelin and oligodendrocyte differentiation.
Animals
;
Cell Differentiation/physiology*
;
Oligodendroglia/metabolism*
;
Mice, Knockout
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Myelin Sheath/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Child
;
Cells, Cultured
;
Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells/metabolism*
8.Screening Effective Sites of Momordicae Semen-Epimedii Folium and Anti-lung Cancer Mechanism of Its Prescription
Yuanlong ZANG ; Jun LI ; Rui ZENG ; Xihe CUI ; Qing YANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Yajie WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):17-25
ObjectiveTo preliminarily confirm the effective anti-lung cancer sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium and study their mechanism of action. MethodOn the basis of preliminary research, the extraction method of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium was optimized and the effective parts were screened under the guidance of pharmacological effects. Different ethanol elution and water elution sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium were obtained through adsorption and elution with D101 macroporous resin. The methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay was used to detect the effects of total drug extracts and different elution sites on the proliferation of various tumor cell lines, and to screen for the optimal elution site and tumor sensitive strains. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of the elution sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in A549 cells. Western blot was used to compare the expressions of tumor protein 53 (p53), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 and 9 (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9) proteins in A549 cells. ResultThe inhibitory effect of Momordicae Semen on the proliferation of A549 cells was better than the kernel of Momordicae Semen, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) being (86.83±2.88) mg·L-1 and (95.10±18.13) mg·L-1, respectively. The effect of total extracts of Epimedii Folium on A549 anti proliferation IC50 value was (4.71±0.81) mg·L-1. The IC50 values of the 40%, 60%, and 80% ethanol and anhydrous ethanol eluted macroporous resins of the total extracts of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium inhibiting A549 proliferation were (45.32±4.38)、 (14.95±0.73)、 (17.07±1.76)、 (14.46±2.35)、 (51.7±2.26)、 (12.37±0.67)、 (20.29±0.93)、 and (3.43±0.91) mg·L-1, respectively. Compared with the normal group, the 1∶1 combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. Compared with the normal group, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased intracellular ROS expression (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 12.5, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of A549 cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of p53 in A549 cells (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 12.5, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of Bax (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly reduced the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 (P<0.01). ConclusionThe anti-tumor effect of Momordicae Semen is better than that of the kernel of Momordicae Semen. The anti-tumor substances of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium mainly concentrate in the 60% ethanol to anhydrous ethanol elution site. A549 cells are sensitive to the 1∶1 combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium, which can effectively inhibit the cell proliferation. The mechanism may be related to increasing the generation of ROS in A549 cells, promoting their apoptosis, increasing the expressions of apoptotic proteins such as p53 and Bax, and reducing the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9.
9.Drug resistance mutation analysis of HIV-1 among blood donors in Dalian:2011-2020
Xiaohan GUO ; Xuelian DENG ; Xiaochun LIU ; Yingying WANG ; Liang ZANG ; Jun ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(8):902-907
Objective To study the distribution and trend of HIV-1 drug resistance mutation in Dalian blood donors be-tween 2011 and 2020.Methods The protease-reverse transcriptase(PR-RT)region was sequenced in Dalian blood donors tested HIV-1 positive between 2011 and 2020.Drug resistance mutation(DRM)rate and level of resistance to selected drugs were analyzed by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database.Results DRM were detected in 17.2%(30/174)of samples,while transmitted drug resistance(TDR)was5.7%(10/174).Between2011 and2020,DRM and TDR rates in-creased significantly in 2019 and reached their highest levels in 2020(44.4%and 22.2%,respectively).DRM carriage was associated with people with college degree or above and with local residents(P<0.05).NNRTI DRMs were the most fre-quently detected(12.6%,22/174),followed by PIs(5.7%,10/174),with V179D/E/T and M46I being the main DRMs detected.Only one HIV-1strain(0.57%,1/174)carried a NRTI DRM(L74I).The overall rate of predicted high level re-sistance to antiretroviral drugs was 6.9%(12/174),with the highest proportion of NNRTI resistance(83.3%,10/12).Two samples were classified as highly resistant to EFV and NVP,accounting for 1.1%(2/174).CRF55_01B strains showed a significantly higher DRM rate than strains of other HIV-1 genotypes(P<0.05).Conclusion Between 2011 and 2020,the rate of HIV-1 DRMs in blood donors in Dalian showed a significant upward trend,particularly in 2019-2020,with NNRTI resistance being the most common.The combination of DRMs detection before and after implementation of ART un-der the latest national ART treatment plan would improve the effectiveness of HIV-1 prevention and control locally.
10.Research progress on the roles and inhibitors of deubiquitinase USP28 in tumors
Xing LI ; Bo-ya ZHANG ; Li-ting LU ; Yan WANG ; Shuai WEN ; Yong-jun ZANG ; Xiang-ming XU ; Yi MOU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(11):2941-2952
The deubiquitinases (DUBs), as the crucial peptidohydrolases in the ubiquitin system, can reverse and strictly regulate ubiquitination and play key roles in various biological processes, including the regulation of protein stability, cell signal transduction. Ubiquitin-specific protease 28 (USP28) involves multiple cancer-related signaling pathways by enhancing the stability of various cancer-related proteins, and is closely associated with the progression of colorectal, breast cancer, lung carcinomas, and pancreatic cancer. USP28 has been considered as a promising drug target in anticancer therapy, and the development of USP28 inhibitors has made some progress. In this article, we review the structure of USP28 and its interaction with substrates, discuss the research progress of USP28 in cancers and summarize the development of USP28 inhibitors.

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