E-cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than combustible cigarettes (CCs). In general, the levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) are lower in ECs and HTPs than in CCs, although the levels of some heavy metals and HPHCs are higher in ECs and HTPs than in CCs. ECs and HTPs showed possible adverse effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system function, which could result in chronic respiratory and cardiovascular system diseases in animals. An analysis of biomarkers showed that ECs had possible adverse health effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, in addition the effects of HTP on respiratory and cardiovascular systems were not significantly different than those of CC. Epidemiological studies identified positive associations between EC use and asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and myocardial infarction. Only one epidemiologic study reported a positive association between ever using HTPs and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among adolescents. Modelling studies of ECs did not show consistent findings regarding the health effects compared with those of CCs. A modeling study of HTPs, performed by tobacco industry, has been criticized for many unfounded assumptions. Lower levels of HPHCs in ECs and HTPs, compared with those in CCs, cannot be directly translated into health benefits because the relationship between exposure and effects is non-linear for cardiovascular diseases and because the duration of exposure is more important than the level of exposure in determining lung cancer mortality. In summary, there is no definite health benefit in using ECs or HTPs instead of CCs, for the individual or the population; hence, tobacco control measures should be the same for ECs, HTPs, and CCs. ECs and HTPs have become popular in Korea; hence, it is important to determine whether ECs and HTPs are less hazardous than CCs.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Metals, Heavy ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Smoking ; Tobacco Industry ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco

BACKGROUND: Although change in the birth cohort effect on cancer mortality rates is known to be highly associated with the decreasing rates of age-standardized cancer mortality rates in Japan, the differences in the trends of cohort effect for representative cancer types among the prefectures remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the differences in the decreasing rate of cohort effects among the prefectures for representative cancer types using age-period-cohort (APC) analysis. METHODS: Data on stomach, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer mortality for each prefecture and the population data from 1999 to 2018 were obtained from the Vital Statistics in Japan. Mortality data for individuals aged 50 to 79 years grouped in 5-year increments were used, and corresponding birth cohorts born 1920-1924 through 1964-1978 were used for analysis. We estimated the effects of age, period, and cohort on each type of mortality rate for each prefecture by sex. Then, we calculated the decreasing rates of cohort effects for each prefecture. We also calculated the mortality rate ratio of each prefecture compared with all of Japan for cohorts using the estimates. RESULTS: As a result of APC analysis, we found that the decreasing rates of period effects were small and that there was a little difference in the decreasing rates among prefectures for all types of cancer among both sexes. On the other hand, there was a large difference in the decreasing rates of cohort effects for stomach and liver cancer mortality rates among prefectures, particularly for men. For men, the decreasing rates of cohort effects in cohorts born between 1920-1924 and 1964-1978 varied among prefectures, ranging from 4.1 to 84.0% for stomach cancer and from 20.2 to 92.4% for liver cancers, respectively. On the other hand, the differences in the decreasing rates of cohort effects among prefectures for colorectal and lung cancer were relatively smaller. CONCLUSIONS The decreasing rates of cohort effects for stomach and liver cancer varied widely among prefectures. It is possible that this will influence cancer mortality rates in each prefecture in the future.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms/mortality* ; Female ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality* ; Lung Neoplasms/mortality* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/mortality*

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; mortality ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare the survival time of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with different organ metastasis. Among all cancers, the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer is the highest worldwide, which may caused by local recurrence and distant metastasis, and the location of metastasis may predict the prognosis of patients. METHODS: A total of 117,542 patients with NSCLC diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 were enrolled from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) databases, and the relationship between distant metastasis and survival time was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of all the 117,542 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, 42,071 (35.8%) patients had different degrees of distant metastasis during their medical history, including 26,932 single organ metastases and 15,139 multiple organ metastases, accounting for 64.0% and 36.0% of the metastatic patients respectively. Compared with patients with no metastasis, whose median survival time was 21 months, the median survival time of patients with metastases was 7 months (lung), 6 months (brain), 5 months (bone), 4 months (liver), and 3 months (multiple organ) respectively, and the difference was significant (P<0.001, except liver vs multiple organ P=0.650); Most patients with NSCLC (88.4%) eventually died of lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS Distant metastasis of NSCLC patients indicates poor prognosis. In NSCLC patients with single organ metastasis, the prognosis of lung metastasis is the best, and liver metastasis is the worst, and multiple organ metastasis is worse than single organ metastasis.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Neoplasms ; mortality ; secondary ; Brain Neoplasms ; mortality ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have demonstrated some dramatic efficacy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with activating EGFR mutation. However, progression-free survivals (PFS) among those patients who were treated with first line EGFR TKIs were inconsistent. The aim of this study is to explore the association of clinical prognostic factors with EGFR-TKI efficacy in advanced NSCLC patients. METHODS: The demographic and clinical characteristics of 203 patients with activating EGFR mutation treated with first generation TKI as a first-line therapy were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 203 patients enrolled in this study, 139 patients had progression of disease and 63 patients died. The subjects had a median follow up duration of 21.1months and a median PFS of 14.3 months. Partial response (PR) was achieved in 127 (66.1%) patients and stable disease (SD) rate was achieved in 55 (28.6%) patients. In univariate analysis, patients with 2 or higher ECOG score (5.1 vs 16 months, P=0.033), SD as best overall response (9.5 vs 17.9 months, P=0.030), extrathoracic metastasis (11.7 vs 27.5 months, P=0.004), liver metastasis (4.1 vs 16.0 months, P=0.000), bone metastasis (13.3 vs 21.5months, P=0.027) and pulmonary embolism (5.5 vs 16.6 months, P=0.005) had shorter PFS than those without the listed factors. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed best overall response (HR=1.825, 95%CI: 1.107-3.008, P=0.018) and liver metastasis (HR=1.694, 95%CI: 1.146-5.756, P=0.022) were independent predictive factors of shorter PFS. CONCLUSIONS Despite the high efficacy of EGFR-TKI, SD as best overall response and liver metastasis predicts poorer PFS in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR gene mutations receiving first-line therapy treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; mortality ; ErbB Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To describe the trend of lung cancer mortality in Xuanwei City,Yunnan Province,from 1990 to 2016 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of lung cancer in Xuanwei.Methods Mortality data from the 2nd(year 1990-1992)and 3rd(year 2004-2005)Retrospective Survey on Causes of Death,and the Routine Death Registration System(year 2011-2013 and 2014-2016)in Xuanwei were used in this study.We calibrated the missing report of the mortality data for the corresponding periods,calculated the crude mortality rates,standardized mortality rates and corresponding 95% of different types of lung cancers in the above four periods.Results The crude mortality rates of all lung cancers in Xuanwei for these four periods(1990-1992,2004-2005,2011-2013,and 2014-2016)were 34.0/100 000,89.8/100 000,102.3/100 000 and 87.2/100 000 respectively.The standardized morality rate of lung cancer remain high in Xuanwei although it has been decreasing since 2004.Morality rates of lung cancer for most age groups showed decreasing trends.The decrease has been statistically significant in the ≤ 40 year group since 2014.Except for Longchang,the standardized mortality rates have decreased in all other townships with high lung cancer prevalence.Conclusions Although the mortality rate of lung cancer remains high in Xuanwei,it has shown a decreasing trend since 2004.The decrease in lung cancer mortality in populations younger than 40 years is statistically significant.
China ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression patterns of transcription factor SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma and its significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of the malignancy. METHODS: Large cancer genome databases were used to analyze SOX12 expression level in lung adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and semiquantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of SOX12 in 36 specimens of lung adenocarcinoma tissues, 15 adjacent tissues and 21 normal lung tissues. The prognostic value of SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier Plotter database, and the relationship between SOX12 expression and the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PPS) of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Analysis of TCGA database and GEO (GSE40419) database showed that SOX12 expression levels were significantly higher in in lung adenocarcinoma than in normal lung tissues ( < 0.001). The results of IHC and semiquantitative PCR revealed that SOX12 was expressed at significantly higher levels in lung adenocarcinoma than in normal lung tissues ( < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with lung adenocarcinoma positive for SOX12 had a significantly shorter OS and PPS time than those negative for SOX12 ( < 0.05), but SOX12 positivity did not significantly affect OS and PPS of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS High expression levels of SOX12 in lung adenocarcinoma are significantly associated with a poor OS of the patients, suggesting the value of SOX12 to assist in early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of lung adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; Prognosis ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors

Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; mortality ; ErbB Receptors ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; mortality ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence continues to rise. Although many prognostic factors have been identified, the clinical characteristics and outcomes in Korean lung cancer patients are not well defined. METHODS: Of the 23,254 new lung cancer cases registered at the Korea Central Cancer Registry in 2013, total 489 patients from 19 hospitals were abstracted by the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The clinical data retrospectively analyzed, patients were followed up until December 2015. RESULTS: The median age was 69 years (interquartile range, 60–74 years); 65.4% were male and 62.1% were ever-smokers. Cough was the most common initial symptom (33.5%); 13.1% of patients were asymptomatic. While squamous cell carcinoma was the most common subtype in male patients (37.2%), adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type in all patients (48.7%) and females (76.3%). The majority of patients received treatment (76.5%), which included surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.037), lower body mass index (HR, 0.904), ever-smoker (HR, 2.003), small cell lung cancer (HR, 1.627), and distant metastasis (HR, 3.990) were independent predictors of mortality. Patients without symptoms (HR, 0.387) and without treatment (HR, 0.364) were associated with a favorable outcome in multivariate Cox analysis. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer in Korea occurs predominantly in elderly patients, with adenocarcinoma being the most frequent subtype. The prognosis was poorer in ever-smokers and older, malnourished, and untreated patients with advanced lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cough ; Drug Therapy ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pilot Projects ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether adding concurrent chemotherapy (CT) to definitive radiotherapy (RT) following induction CT is a tolerable and cost effective treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients aged 70 years or older with comorbidities. This study evaluated the actual clinical outcomes between concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and RT alone following induction CT or not in patients (≥70 years) in a single institution’s clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 82 patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC between 2004 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Their treatment tolerance and clinical outcomes such as overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence (LRR), treatment toxicities and distant metastasis (DM) were evaluated. Early mortality rates were also evaluated as 4-month mortality after RT. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients received CCRT and 28 patients received RT alone. Induction CT before RT was performed for 68.5% and 50.0% in CCRT and RT alone groups. Treatment tolerance was significantly worse in CCRT (p = 0.046). The median survival was 21.1 and 18.1 months for CCRT and RT alone, which was not statistically significant. LRR and DM were also not different. Most early deaths after CCRT were attributed to non-cancer-related mortality. Acute esophagitis of grade ≥2 occurred more following CCRT (p = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of ≥5 and a weight loss of ≥5% after RT were associated with poor OS. The factors adversely affecting 4-month survival were a CCI of ≥5 and CCRT. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in OS, LRR, and DM between CCRT and RT alone treatment in elderly patients. However, there was a poorer tolerance and higher incidence of acute esophagitis in the CCRT group. Specifically, when the patients had a CCI of ≥5, RT alone seems to be reasonable with a low probability of early death.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Comorbidity ; Drug Therapy ; Esophagitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Weight Loss