1.Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Era: A Study of the Korean Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry
Hee Young JU ; Hyoung Soo CHOI ; Hyeon Jin PARK ; Keon Hee YOO ; Chuhl Joo LYU ; Ho Joon IM ; Min Kyoung KIM ; Yeung-Chul MUN ; Joon Ho MOON ; Sung-Soo YOON ; Eunyoung LEE ; Jae Hoon LEE ; Je-Hwan LEE ; So Young CHONG ; June-Won CHEONG ; Seunghyun WON ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(2):632-641
Purpose:
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in children, adolescents, and young adults is rare and differs from older adults. This study evaluated the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in young Korean CML patients during the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective analysis of 35 CML patients aged < 40 years who underwent allogeneic HSCT from 2009 to 2019 was conducted using Korean Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry data. Patients were grouped by age < 20 years at HSCT (group 1, n=15) and 20-40 years at HSCT (group 2, n=20). Survival outcomes including overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results:
The median time between diagnosis and HSCT was 8.9 months. All the patients achieved engraftment but platelet recovery was significantly slower in group 1 (p=0.034). Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in 54.3% and 34.3%, respectively. Five-year OS, RFS, and EFS rates of total patients were 66.8%, 50.8%, and 47.6%, with better OS was observed in group 1 by multivariable analysis (p=0.048). Disease status at HSCT was a significant predictor of OS (p=0.028), RFS (p=0.003), and EFS (p=0.004). Disease progression occurred in 13 out of 35 patients (37.1%); treatment-related mortality accounted for 63.6% of deaths (7 out of 11).
Conclusion
When performed at a younger age, allogeneic HSCT result in superior outcome in CML. Achieving remission before HSCT is critical for improved outcomes, highlighting the importance of pretransplant remission via optimal TKI strategies and minimal residual disease monitoring.
2.Atypical features of hepatic veno‑occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after inotuzumab ozogamicin in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Kyung‑Hun SUNG ; Daehun KWAG ; Gi June MIN ; Sung‑Soo PARK ; Silvia PARK ; Sung‑Eun LEE ; Byung‑Sik CHO ; Ki‑Seong EOM ; Yoo‑Jin KIM ; Hee‑Je KIM ; Chang‑Ki MIN ; Seok‑Goo CHO ; Seok LEE ; Jae‑Ho YOON
Blood Research 2025;60():28-
Purpose:
Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) has demonstrated a safe bridging role to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL). How‑ ever, hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) is frequently observed. This study aimed to identify significant features of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
Methods:
We reviewed seven cases of hepatic VOD/SOS that developed either during INO salvage or after alloge‑ neic HSCT following INO-induced complete remission (CR). Diagnosis and severity grading of VOD/SOS were based on the revised criteria from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Defibrotide was used to treat severe to very severe cases.
Results:
Four patients developed VOD/SOS during INO salvage therapy (at 21 and 36 days post-INO1, 77 days postINO3, and 21 days post-INO5), while three were diagnosed at 2, 5, and 10 days post-HSCT following INO-induced CR.Doppler ultrasonography revealed preserved portal vein flow (range 10.2–26.0 cm/sec) and normal hepatic artery resistive index (RI, range 0.56–0.74) in all but one patient (RI 0.83). Despite this, all patients presented with massive ascites and progressively elevated total bilirubin levels. All cases were classified as severe to very severe; six were treated with defibrotide and one underwent liver transplantation. Most patients ultimately died owing to VOD/SOS progression.
Conclusion
Post-INO VOD/SOS manifested as two different clinical settings and was characterized by preserved portal vein flow, which complicated diagnosis. Despite timely defibrotide administration, clinical outcomes were poor.These findings emphasize the need for vigilance and potential consideration of prophylactic strategies for prevention of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
3.Carnitine Metabolite as a Potential Circulating Biomarker for Sarcopenia in Men
Je Hyun SEO ; Jung-Min KOH ; Han Jin CHO ; Hanjun KIM ; Young‑Sun LEE ; Su Jung KIM ; Pil Whan YOON ; Won KIM ; Sung Jin BAE ; Hong-Kyu KIM ; Hyun Ju YOO ; Seung Hun LEE
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;40(1):93-102
Background:
Sarcopenia, a multifactorial disorder involving metabolic disturbance, suggests potential for metabolite biomarkers. Carnitine (CN), essential for skeletal muscle energy metabolism, may be a candidate biomarker. We investigated whether CN metabolites are biomarkers for sarcopenia.
Methods:
Associations between the CN metabolites identified from an animal model of sarcopenia and muscle cells and sarcopenia status were evaluated in men from an age-matched discovery (72 cases, 72 controls) and a validation (21 cases, 47 controls) cohort.
Results:
An association between CN metabolites and sarcopenia showed in mouse and cell studies. In the discovery cohort, plasma C5-CN levels were lower in sarcopenic men (P=0.005). C5-CN levels in men tended to be associated with handgrip strength (HGS) (P=0.098) and were significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass (P=0.003). Each standard deviation increase in C5-CN levels reduced the odds of low muscle mass (odd ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.89). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of CN score using a regression equation of C5-CN levels, for sarcopenia was 0.635 (95% CI, 0.544 to 0.726). In the discovery cohort, addition of CN score to HGS significantly improved AUROC from 0.646 (95% CI, 0.575 to 0.717; HGS only) to 0.727 (95% CI, 0.643 to 0.810; P=0.006; HGS+CN score). The improvement was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC=0.563; 95% CI, 0.470 to 0.656 for HGS; and AUROC=0.712; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.855 for HGS+CN score; P=0.027).
Conclusion
C5-CN, indicative of low muscle mass, is a potential circulating biomarker for sarcopenia in men. Further studies are required to confirm these results and explore sarcopenia-related metabolomic changes.
4.Carnitine Metabolite as a Potential Circulating Biomarker for Sarcopenia in Men
Je Hyun SEO ; Jung-Min KOH ; Han Jin CHO ; Hanjun KIM ; Young‑Sun LEE ; Su Jung KIM ; Pil Whan YOON ; Won KIM ; Sung Jin BAE ; Hong-Kyu KIM ; Hyun Ju YOO ; Seung Hun LEE
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;40(1):93-102
Background:
Sarcopenia, a multifactorial disorder involving metabolic disturbance, suggests potential for metabolite biomarkers. Carnitine (CN), essential for skeletal muscle energy metabolism, may be a candidate biomarker. We investigated whether CN metabolites are biomarkers for sarcopenia.
Methods:
Associations between the CN metabolites identified from an animal model of sarcopenia and muscle cells and sarcopenia status were evaluated in men from an age-matched discovery (72 cases, 72 controls) and a validation (21 cases, 47 controls) cohort.
Results:
An association between CN metabolites and sarcopenia showed in mouse and cell studies. In the discovery cohort, plasma C5-CN levels were lower in sarcopenic men (P=0.005). C5-CN levels in men tended to be associated with handgrip strength (HGS) (P=0.098) and were significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass (P=0.003). Each standard deviation increase in C5-CN levels reduced the odds of low muscle mass (odd ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.89). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of CN score using a regression equation of C5-CN levels, for sarcopenia was 0.635 (95% CI, 0.544 to 0.726). In the discovery cohort, addition of CN score to HGS significantly improved AUROC from 0.646 (95% CI, 0.575 to 0.717; HGS only) to 0.727 (95% CI, 0.643 to 0.810; P=0.006; HGS+CN score). The improvement was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC=0.563; 95% CI, 0.470 to 0.656 for HGS; and AUROC=0.712; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.855 for HGS+CN score; P=0.027).
Conclusion
C5-CN, indicative of low muscle mass, is a potential circulating biomarker for sarcopenia in men. Further studies are required to confirm these results and explore sarcopenia-related metabolomic changes.
5.Atypical features of hepatic veno‑occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after inotuzumab ozogamicin in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Kyung‑Hun SUNG ; Daehun KWAG ; Gi June MIN ; Sung‑Soo PARK ; Silvia PARK ; Sung‑Eun LEE ; Byung‑Sik CHO ; Ki‑Seong EOM ; Yoo‑Jin KIM ; Hee‑Je KIM ; Chang‑Ki MIN ; Seok‑Goo CHO ; Seok LEE ; Jae‑Ho YOON
Blood Research 2025;60():28-
Purpose:
Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) has demonstrated a safe bridging role to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL). How‑ ever, hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) is frequently observed. This study aimed to identify significant features of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
Methods:
We reviewed seven cases of hepatic VOD/SOS that developed either during INO salvage or after alloge‑ neic HSCT following INO-induced complete remission (CR). Diagnosis and severity grading of VOD/SOS were based on the revised criteria from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Defibrotide was used to treat severe to very severe cases.
Results:
Four patients developed VOD/SOS during INO salvage therapy (at 21 and 36 days post-INO1, 77 days postINO3, and 21 days post-INO5), while three were diagnosed at 2, 5, and 10 days post-HSCT following INO-induced CR.Doppler ultrasonography revealed preserved portal vein flow (range 10.2–26.0 cm/sec) and normal hepatic artery resistive index (RI, range 0.56–0.74) in all but one patient (RI 0.83). Despite this, all patients presented with massive ascites and progressively elevated total bilirubin levels. All cases were classified as severe to very severe; six were treated with defibrotide and one underwent liver transplantation. Most patients ultimately died owing to VOD/SOS progression.
Conclusion
Post-INO VOD/SOS manifested as two different clinical settings and was characterized by preserved portal vein flow, which complicated diagnosis. Despite timely defibrotide administration, clinical outcomes were poor.These findings emphasize the need for vigilance and potential consideration of prophylactic strategies for prevention of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
6.Carnitine Metabolite as a Potential Circulating Biomarker for Sarcopenia in Men
Je Hyun SEO ; Jung-Min KOH ; Han Jin CHO ; Hanjun KIM ; Young‑Sun LEE ; Su Jung KIM ; Pil Whan YOON ; Won KIM ; Sung Jin BAE ; Hong-Kyu KIM ; Hyun Ju YOO ; Seung Hun LEE
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;40(1):93-102
Background:
Sarcopenia, a multifactorial disorder involving metabolic disturbance, suggests potential for metabolite biomarkers. Carnitine (CN), essential for skeletal muscle energy metabolism, may be a candidate biomarker. We investigated whether CN metabolites are biomarkers for sarcopenia.
Methods:
Associations between the CN metabolites identified from an animal model of sarcopenia and muscle cells and sarcopenia status were evaluated in men from an age-matched discovery (72 cases, 72 controls) and a validation (21 cases, 47 controls) cohort.
Results:
An association between CN metabolites and sarcopenia showed in mouse and cell studies. In the discovery cohort, plasma C5-CN levels were lower in sarcopenic men (P=0.005). C5-CN levels in men tended to be associated with handgrip strength (HGS) (P=0.098) and were significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass (P=0.003). Each standard deviation increase in C5-CN levels reduced the odds of low muscle mass (odd ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.89). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of CN score using a regression equation of C5-CN levels, for sarcopenia was 0.635 (95% CI, 0.544 to 0.726). In the discovery cohort, addition of CN score to HGS significantly improved AUROC from 0.646 (95% CI, 0.575 to 0.717; HGS only) to 0.727 (95% CI, 0.643 to 0.810; P=0.006; HGS+CN score). The improvement was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC=0.563; 95% CI, 0.470 to 0.656 for HGS; and AUROC=0.712; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.855 for HGS+CN score; P=0.027).
Conclusion
C5-CN, indicative of low muscle mass, is a potential circulating biomarker for sarcopenia in men. Further studies are required to confirm these results and explore sarcopenia-related metabolomic changes.
7.Carnitine Metabolite as a Potential Circulating Biomarker for Sarcopenia in Men
Je Hyun SEO ; Jung-Min KOH ; Han Jin CHO ; Hanjun KIM ; Young‑Sun LEE ; Su Jung KIM ; Pil Whan YOON ; Won KIM ; Sung Jin BAE ; Hong-Kyu KIM ; Hyun Ju YOO ; Seung Hun LEE
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;40(1):93-102
Background:
Sarcopenia, a multifactorial disorder involving metabolic disturbance, suggests potential for metabolite biomarkers. Carnitine (CN), essential for skeletal muscle energy metabolism, may be a candidate biomarker. We investigated whether CN metabolites are biomarkers for sarcopenia.
Methods:
Associations between the CN metabolites identified from an animal model of sarcopenia and muscle cells and sarcopenia status were evaluated in men from an age-matched discovery (72 cases, 72 controls) and a validation (21 cases, 47 controls) cohort.
Results:
An association between CN metabolites and sarcopenia showed in mouse and cell studies. In the discovery cohort, plasma C5-CN levels were lower in sarcopenic men (P=0.005). C5-CN levels in men tended to be associated with handgrip strength (HGS) (P=0.098) and were significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass (P=0.003). Each standard deviation increase in C5-CN levels reduced the odds of low muscle mass (odd ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.89). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of CN score using a regression equation of C5-CN levels, for sarcopenia was 0.635 (95% CI, 0.544 to 0.726). In the discovery cohort, addition of CN score to HGS significantly improved AUROC from 0.646 (95% CI, 0.575 to 0.717; HGS only) to 0.727 (95% CI, 0.643 to 0.810; P=0.006; HGS+CN score). The improvement was confirmed in the validation cohort (AUROC=0.563; 95% CI, 0.470 to 0.656 for HGS; and AUROC=0.712; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.855 for HGS+CN score; P=0.027).
Conclusion
C5-CN, indicative of low muscle mass, is a potential circulating biomarker for sarcopenia in men. Further studies are required to confirm these results and explore sarcopenia-related metabolomic changes.
8.Atypical features of hepatic veno‑occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after inotuzumab ozogamicin in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Kyung‑Hun SUNG ; Daehun KWAG ; Gi June MIN ; Sung‑Soo PARK ; Silvia PARK ; Sung‑Eun LEE ; Byung‑Sik CHO ; Ki‑Seong EOM ; Yoo‑Jin KIM ; Hee‑Je KIM ; Chang‑Ki MIN ; Seok‑Goo CHO ; Seok LEE ; Jae‑Ho YOON
Blood Research 2025;60():28-
Purpose:
Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) has demonstrated a safe bridging role to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL). How‑ ever, hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) is frequently observed. This study aimed to identify significant features of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
Methods:
We reviewed seven cases of hepatic VOD/SOS that developed either during INO salvage or after alloge‑ neic HSCT following INO-induced complete remission (CR). Diagnosis and severity grading of VOD/SOS were based on the revised criteria from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Defibrotide was used to treat severe to very severe cases.
Results:
Four patients developed VOD/SOS during INO salvage therapy (at 21 and 36 days post-INO1, 77 days postINO3, and 21 days post-INO5), while three were diagnosed at 2, 5, and 10 days post-HSCT following INO-induced CR.Doppler ultrasonography revealed preserved portal vein flow (range 10.2–26.0 cm/sec) and normal hepatic artery resistive index (RI, range 0.56–0.74) in all but one patient (RI 0.83). Despite this, all patients presented with massive ascites and progressively elevated total bilirubin levels. All cases were classified as severe to very severe; six were treated with defibrotide and one underwent liver transplantation. Most patients ultimately died owing to VOD/SOS progression.
Conclusion
Post-INO VOD/SOS manifested as two different clinical settings and was characterized by preserved portal vein flow, which complicated diagnosis. Despite timely defibrotide administration, clinical outcomes were poor.These findings emphasize the need for vigilance and potential consideration of prophylactic strategies for prevention of INO-associated VOD/SOS.
9.Prognostic Significance Of Sequential 18f-fdg Pet/Ct During Frontline Treatment Of Peripheral T Cell Lymphomas
Ga-Young SONG ; Sung-Hoon JUNG ; Seo-Yeon AHN ; Mihee KIM ; Jae-Sook AHN ; Je-Jung LEE ; Hyeoung-Joon KIM ; Jang Bae MOON ; Su Woong YOO ; Seong Young KWON ; Jung-Joon MIN ; Hee-Seung BOM ; Sae-Ryung KANG ; Deok-Hwan YANG
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;39(2):327-337
Background/Aims:
The prognostic significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are controversial. We explored the prognostic impact of sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT during frontline chemotherapy of patients with PTCLs.
Methods:
In total, 143 patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were included. Sequential 18F-FDG PET/CTs were performed at the time of diagnosis, during chemotherapy, and at the end of chemotherapy. The baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) was calculated using the the standard uptake value with a threshold method of 2.5.
Results:
A baseline TMTV of 457.0 cm3 was used to categorize patients into high and low TMTV groups. Patients with a requirehigh TMTV had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with a low TMTV (PFS, 9.8 vs. 26.5 mo, p = 0.043; OS, 18.9 vs. 71.2 mo, p = 0.004). The interim 18F-FDG PET/CT response score was recorded as 1, 2–3, and 4–5 according to the Deauville criteria. The PFS and OS showed significant differences according to the interim 18F-FDG PET/CT response score (PFS, 120.7 vs. 34.1 vs. 5.1 mo, p < 0.001; OS, not reached vs. 61.1 mo vs. 12.1 mo, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The interim PET/CT response based on visual assessment predicts disease progression and survival outcome in PTCLs. A high baseline TMTV is associated with a poor response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in PTCLs. However, TMTV was not an independent predictor for PFS in the multivariate analysis.
10.Identification of signature gene set as highly accurate determination of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression
Sumin OH ; Yang-Hyun BAEK ; Sungju JUNG ; Sumin YOON ; Byeonggeun KANG ; Su-hyang HAN ; Gaeul PARK ; Je Yeong KO ; Sang-Young HAN ; Jin-Sook JEONG ; Jin-Han CHO ; Young-Hoon ROH ; Sung-Wook LEE ; Gi-Bok CHOI ; Yong Sun LEE ; Won KIM ; Rho Hyun SEONG ; Jong Hoon PARK ; Yeon-Su LEE ; Kyung Hyun YOO
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(2):247-262
Background/Aims:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver. MASLD encompasses both steatosis and MASH. Since MASH can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, steatosis and MASH must be distinguished during patient treatment. Here, we investigate the genomes, epigenomes, and transcriptomes of MASLD patients to identify signature gene set for more accurate tracking of MASLD progression.
Methods:
Biopsy-tissue and blood samples from patients with 134 MASLD, comprising 60 steatosis and 74 MASH patients were performed omics analysis. SVM learning algorithm were used to calculate most predictive features. Linear regression was applied to find signature gene set that distinguish the stage of MASLD and to validate their application into independent cohort of MASLD.
Results:
After performing WGS, WES, WGBS, and total RNA-seq on 134 biopsy samples from confirmed MASLD patients, we provided 1,955 MASLD-associated features, out of 3,176 somatic variant callings, 58 DMRs, and 1,393 DEGs that track MASLD progression. Then, we used a SVM learning algorithm to analyze the data and select the most predictive features. Using linear regression, we identified a signature gene set capable of differentiating the various stages of MASLD and verified it in different independent cohorts of MASLD and a liver cancer cohort.
Conclusions
We identified a signature gene set (i.e., CAPG, HYAL3, WIPI1, TREM2, SPP1, and RNASE6) with strong potential as a panel of diagnostic genes of MASLD-associated disease.

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