Purpose: The male predominance in the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is established; however, sex differences in the prognosis of GC remain controversial. As such, this study analyzed the prognosis of patients with GC based on age and sex. Materials and Methods: Data from 14,739 patients diagnosed with GC at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2003 and 2023 were analyzed. Baseline characteristics, histological types of GC, overall and GC-specific survival rates (age and stage stratification), and associated risk factors were analyzed. Results: Females were significantly younger (p < 0.001) and exhibited more gastric body cancers (p < 0.001) and tumors with diffuse-type or poorly differentiated histology (p < 0.001) than males. Females exhibited an advantage over males in terms of overall survival (p=0.004), but not in GC-specific survival. However, age stratification revealed significant sex differences, that females < 50 years of age exhibited survival disadvantages (p < 0.001); however, this trend was reversed with age, and females > 60 years exhibited survival advantages (p < 0.001) for both overall and GC-specific survival. This may be explained by the lower ratio of diffuse-type GC as females age. Furthermore, in the analysis according to stage, females with stage IV disease exhibited significant survival disadvantages, with significantly younger age and a higher proportion of diffuse-type GC which exhibits aggressive features, resulting in poorer survival than in males. Conclusion Age and stage stratification revealed significant differences in survival between the sexes, which can be helpful for public health strategies.

Background: s/Aims: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which exhibits high mortality and recurrence rates globally, the traits of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that significantly influence recurrence and metastasis are not well understood. CSCs are self-renewing cell types identified in most liquid and solid cancers, contributing to tumor initiation, growth, resistance, recurrence, and metastasis following chemo-radiotherapy or trans-arterial chemoembolization therapy. Methods: CSCs are classified based on the expression of cell surface markers such as CD133, which varies depending on the tumor type. Proteomic analysis of liver cancer cell lines with cancer stem cell potential and HCC cancer cell lines lacking stem cell propensity was conducted to compare and analyze specific expression patterns. Results: Proteomic profiling and enrichment analysis revealed higher expression of the calcium-binding protein S100 family in CD133+ Huh7 cells than in CD133- or wild-type cells. Furthermore, elevated expression of S100 family members was confirmed in an actual CD133+ liver cancer cell line via protein-protein network analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusion The S100 family members are not only new markers of cancer stem cells but will also assist in identifying new treatment strategies for CSC metastasis and tumor advancement.

Background: s/Aims: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which exhibits high mortality and recurrence rates globally, the traits of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that significantly influence recurrence and metastasis are not well understood. CSCs are self-renewing cell types identified in most liquid and solid cancers, contributing to tumor initiation, growth, resistance, recurrence, and metastasis following chemo-radiotherapy or trans-arterial chemoembolization therapy. Methods: CSCs are classified based on the expression of cell surface markers such as CD133, which varies depending on the tumor type. Proteomic analysis of liver cancer cell lines with cancer stem cell potential and HCC cancer cell lines lacking stem cell propensity was conducted to compare and analyze specific expression patterns. Results: Proteomic profiling and enrichment analysis revealed higher expression of the calcium-binding protein S100 family in CD133+ Huh7 cells than in CD133- or wild-type cells. Furthermore, elevated expression of S100 family members was confirmed in an actual CD133+ liver cancer cell line via protein-protein network analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusion The S100 family members are not only new markers of cancer stem cells but will also assist in identifying new treatment strategies for CSC metastasis and tumor advancement.

Background: s/Aims: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which exhibits high mortality and recurrence rates globally, the traits of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that significantly influence recurrence and metastasis are not well understood. CSCs are self-renewing cell types identified in most liquid and solid cancers, contributing to tumor initiation, growth, resistance, recurrence, and metastasis following chemo-radiotherapy or trans-arterial chemoembolization therapy. Methods: CSCs are classified based on the expression of cell surface markers such as CD133, which varies depending on the tumor type. Proteomic analysis of liver cancer cell lines with cancer stem cell potential and HCC cancer cell lines lacking stem cell propensity was conducted to compare and analyze specific expression patterns. Results: Proteomic profiling and enrichment analysis revealed higher expression of the calcium-binding protein S100 family in CD133+ Huh7 cells than in CD133- or wild-type cells. Furthermore, elevated expression of S100 family members was confirmed in an actual CD133+ liver cancer cell line via protein-protein network analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusion The S100 family members are not only new markers of cancer stem cells but will also assist in identifying new treatment strategies for CSC metastasis and tumor advancement.

Background and Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. Despite international guidelines for sudden death prevention and implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) use, clinical practices vary. This study assessed the practices and opinions of Korean cardiologists on HCM management, focusing on ICD use and reimbursement policies. Methods: A structured electronic survey was distributed to members of the Korean Society of Cardiology, covering HCM management, ICD preferences, and reimbursement policies. Results: A total of 119 cardiologists participated, with most being arrhythmia specialists (56.3%) and university professors (81.5%). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and genetic testing were underutilized (30.3% and 11.8%, respectively). Beta-blocker-refractory premature ventricular complexes were primarily managed with continued medical therapy (77.3%). ICD preferences varied by physician specialty and patient age, with subcutaneous ICDs preferred in younger patients and dual-chamber ICDs in older patients. Nearly half of respondents believed ICD reimbursement criteria required revision. Conclusions Significant variability in HCM management exists among Korean cardiologists, influenced by restrictive reimbursement criteria rather than clinical guidelines. Updated reimbursement policies and improved access to advanced diagnostics are needed to align with international standards and optimize patient care.

Purpose: Bone metastasis (BM) adversely affects the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). We investigated molecular features and immune microenvironment that characterize GC with BM compared to GC without BM. Materials and Methods: Targeted DNA and whole transcriptome sequencing were performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary tumor tissues (gastrectomy specimens) of 50 GC cases with distant metastases (14 with BM and 36 without BM). In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for mucin-12 and multiplex IHC for immune cell markers were performed. Results: Most GC cases with BM had a histologic type of poorly cohesive carcinoma and showed worse overall survival (OS) than GC without BM (p < 0.05). GC with BM tended to have higher mutation rates in TP53, KDR, APC, KDM5A, and RHOA than GC without BM. Chief cell-enriched genes (PGA3, PGC, and LIPF), MUC12, MFSD4A, TSPAN7, and TRIM50 were upregulated in GC with BM compared to GC without BM, which was correlated with poor OS (p < 0.05). However, the expression of SERPINA6, SLC30A2, PMAIP1, and ITIH2 were downregulated in GC with BM. GC with BM was associated with PIK3/AKT/mTOR pathway activation, whereas GC without BM showed the opposite effect. The densities of helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cells did not differ between the two groups, whereas the densities of macrophages were lower in GC with BM (p < 0.05). Conclusion GC with BM had different gene mutation and expression profiles than GC without BM, and had more genetic alterations associated with a poor prognosis.

Background/Aims: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATE+BEV) therapy has become the recommended first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of favorable treatment responses. However, there is a lack of data on sequential regimens after ATE+BEV treatment failure. We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HCC who received subsequent systemic therapy for disease progression after ATE+BEV. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included patients who started second-line systemic treatment with sorafenib or lenvatinib after HCC progressed on ATE+BEV between August 2019 and December 2022. Treatment response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1.). Clinical features of the two groups were balanced through propensity score (PS) matching. Results: This study enrolled 126 patients, 40 (31.7%) in the lenvatinib group, and 86 (68.3%) in the sorafenib group. The median age was 63 years, and males were predominant (88.1%). In PS-matched cohorts (36 patients in each group), the objective response rate was similar between the lenvatinib- and sorafenib-treated groups (5.6% vs. 8.3%; P=0.643), but the disease control rate was superior in the lenvatinib group (66.7% vs. 22.2%; P<0.001). Despite the superior progression- free survival (PFS) in the lenvatinib group (3.5 vs. 1.8 months, P=0.001), the overall survival (OS, 10.3 vs. 7.5 months, P=0.353) did not differ between the two PS-matched treatment groups. Conclusions In second-line therapy for unresectable HCC after ATE+BEV failure, lenvatinib showed better PFS and comparable OS to sorafenib in a real-world setting. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are needed to optimize second-line treatment.