The aim of this study was to evaluate female urethral cancer (UCa) patients treated and followed-up during a time period spanning more than 20 yr at single institution in Korea. We reviewed medical records of 21 consecutive patients diagnosed with female UCa at our institution between 1991 and 2012. After exclusion of two patients due to undefined histology, we examined clinicopathological variables, as well as survival outcomes of 19 patients with female UCa. A Cox proportional hazards ratio model was used to identify significant predictors of prognosis according to variables. The median age at diagnosis was 59 yr, and the median follow-up duration was 87.0 months. The most common initial symptoms were voiding symptoms and blood spotting. The median tumor size was 3.4 cm, and 55% of patients had lesions involving the entire urethra. The most common histologic type was adenocarcinoma, and the second most common type was urothelial carcinoma. Fourteen patients underwent surgery, and 7 of these patients received adjuvant radiation or systemic chemotherapy. Eleven patients experienced tumor recurrence after primary therapy. Patients with high stage disease, advanced T stage (> or =T3), and positive lymph nodes had worse survival outcomes compared to their counterparts. Particularly, lymph node positivity and advanced T stage were significant predictive factors for all survival outcomes. Tumor location was the only significant predictor for recurrence-free survival. Although our study included a small number of patients, it conveys valuable information about this rare female urologic malignancy in a Korean population.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*mortality/*prevention & control ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethral Neoplasms/diagnosis/*mortality/*therapy ; Women's Health/*statistics & numerical data

Cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world, including the countries of North-East and South-East Asia. Assessment of burden through cancer registration, determination of risk and protective factors, early detection and screening, clinical practice, interventions for example in vaccination, tobacco cessation efforts and palliative care all should be included in comprehensive cancer control programs. The degree to which this is possible naturally depends on the resources available at local, national and international levels. The present review concerns elements of cancer control programs established in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan in North-East Asia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia as representative larger countries of South-East Asia for comparison, using the published literature as a guide. While major advances have been made, there are still areas which need more attention, especially in South-East Asia, and international cooperation is essential if standard guidelines are to be generated to allow effective cancer control efforts throughout the Far East.
Asia, Southeastern ; Databases, Factual ; Far East ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Periodicals as Topic ; Public Policy ; Registries ; Risk Factors ; Smoke-Free Policy

No abstract available.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Early Detection of Cancer/*statistics & numerical data ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Palpation/*statistics & numerical data ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*mortality/prevention & control ; Ultrasonography/*statistics & numerical data ; Unnecessary Procedures/*statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo compare the performances of fecal occult blood quantitive testing instrument and colloidal gold strip method in colorectal cancer screening.

METHODSA representative random population of 9000 subjects aging between 40 and 74 years old were selected from Xuxiang, Haining city, Zhejiang province, by random cluster sampling method in year 2011. The fecal samples from each subject were separately detected by the two methods, namely fecal occult blood quantitive testing instrument and colloidal gold strip method. The positive result was standardized by hemoglobin concentration (HGB) ≥ 100 ng/ml under the application of quantitive testing instrument, or color-developing by colloidal gold strip method. The positive subjects from either method would be provided a further colonoscopy examination for pathological diagnosis. The positive rate and consistency of the two methods were compared, as well as the positive predictive value and population detecting rate of the colorectal cancer and adenoma.

RESULTSA total of 6475 (71.9%) subjects submitted their two fecal samples according to our requirement in 9000 subjects. There were separately 319 positive cases (4.9%) and 146 positive cases (2.3%) by the performances of fecal occult blood quantitive testing instrument and colloidal gold strip method, including 45 positive in both tests (Kappa = 0.168, 95%CI:0.119-0.217).184 out of the 319 positive cases (57.7%) in the test by quantitive testing instrument and 89 out of 146 positive cases (61.0%) in the test by colloidal gold strip method received the colonoscopy examination. There were no significant statistical differences between the two methods in the positive predictive value of colorectal cancer (P > 0.05) , developing adenoma and non-developing adenoma.However, the population detecting rate of the colorectal cancer and developing adenoma were higher in the test by quantitive testing instrument (26 cases, 0.402%) than it in the test by colloidal gold strip method (10 cases, 0.154%). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 7.131, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe performances of fecal occult blood quantitive testing instrument might be better than colloidal gold strip method in colorectal cancer screening. However, the results need to be further verified.

Adenoma ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Feces ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood

INTRODUCTIONA retrospective observational study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of CervicalScreen Singapore (CSS), a National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme.

METHODSNational trends on incidence, mortality of cervical cancer and carcinoma in situ of the cervix before and after the launch of CSS were examined. Linear regression was used to calculate the average annual percentage change in age-standardised incidence and mortality rates. We also examined the operational measures of CSS, such as the women who joined the CSS programme and the diagnostic accuracy of Pap smears. The study was confined to women who consented to join CSS at government-funded polyclinics.

RESULTSNationally, there was a greater decline in the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates in the period 2004-2008 as compared to the period 1987-2003. Under CSS, a total of 99,759 Pap smears were performed on 81,087 women in the period 2004-2008. However, the number of first screens decreased from 18,434 in 2004 to 11,624 in 2008. Among women aged 25-69 years who had their first Pap smear screening and who were recommended for routine rescreen in three years, 10% had a subsequent rescreen within three years. Overall, the CSS programme was able to detect 0.37 invasive cancers per 1,000 screens in women aged 25-69 years.

CONCLUSIONThe CSS programme has contributed to a decline in the mortality and incidence of cervical cancer in Singapore. However, the challenges of increasing the screening uptake among eligible women need to be addressed.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Papanicolaou Test ; Registries ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Vaginal Smears

Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is the method of choice for miRNA expression studies. For relative quantification of miRNAs, normalization to proper reference genes is mandatory. Currently, no validated reference genes for miRNA qPCR in prostate cancer are available. In this study, the expression of four putative reference genes (hsa-miR-16, hsa-miR-130b, RNU6-2, SNORD7) was examined with regard to their use as normalizer. After SNORD7 was already shown an inappropriate reference gene in preliminary experiments using total RNA pools, we studied the expression of the putative reference genes in tissue and normal adjacent tissue sample pairs from 76 men with untreated prostate carcinoma collected after radical prostatectomy. hsa-miR-130b and RNU6-2 showed no significantly different expression between the matched malignant and non-malignant tissue samples, whereas hsa-miR-16 was significantly underexpressed in malignant tissue. Softwares geNorm and Normfinder predicted hsa-miR-130b and the geometric mean of hsa-miR-130b and RNU6-2 as the most stable reference genes. Normalization of the four miRNAs hsa-miR-96, hsa-miR-125b, hsa-miR-205, and hsa-miR-375, which were previously shown to be regulated, shows that normalization to hsa-mir-16 can lead to biased results. We recommend using hsa-miR-130b or the geometric mean of hsa-miR-130b and small RNA RNU6-2 for normalization in miRNA expression studies of prostate cancer.
Aged ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Carcinoma/diagnosis/*genetics/pathology ; Diagnostic Errors/prevention & control ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics/pathology ; *Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sequential fecal occult blood test (SFOBT) program for the screening of colorectal cancer and elucidate the prevalence of colorectal cancer in Wuhan area.

METHODSAt 19 screening sites, 63,961 residents were recruited as target population according to random cluster and stratified sampling for four years (between 2005 and 2008). Residents aged over 40 years old received SFOBT. Those with positive SFOBT underwent colonoscopy.

RESULTSThe target population was 63,961. There were 25,837 people whose age was over 40. Finally, 7784 participants received the SFOBT screening, with a medium age of 56 years old. The positive rate of SFOBT was 12.3% (956 persons). Of the 956 persons, 240 participants underwent colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer was found in 14 cases (6.5%), gastric cancer in 2 cases (0.9%), colorectal adenoma in 53 cases(24.8%), colorectal inflammation in 80 cases (37.3%) and hemorrhoids in 65 cases (30.4%).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of colorectal cancer is relatively high in Wuhan area. The SFOBT is available and feasible in screening early changes of colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Prevalence

AIMTo investigate possible correlation factors for prostate cancer by a population-based case-control study in China.

METHODSWe carried out a mass screening of prostate cancer in Changchun, China, using a prostate-specific antigen assisted by Japan International Cooperation Agency. From June 1998 to December 2000, 3 940 men over 50 years old were screened. Of these, 29 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. We selected 28 cases and matched them with controls of low prostate-specific antigen value (< 4.1 ng/mL) by 1:10 according to age and place of employment. A case-control study of diet and prostate cancer was then carried out.

RESULTSAfter adjustment for education, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, marriage and diet, intake of soybean product was discovered to be inversely related to prostate cancer. Men who consumed soybean product more than twice per week on different days had a multivariate odds ratio (OR) of 0.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-1.12). In addition, men who consumed soybean products more than once per day had a multivariate OR of 0.29 (95% CI, 0.11-0.79) compared with men who consumed soybean products less than once per week. The P for trend was 0.02, which showed significant difference. There was no significant difference in P trend for any dairy food. Even when we matched the cases and controls by other criteria, we found that soybean food was the only preventive factor associated with prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONOur study suggests that consumption of soybeans, one of the most popular foods in Asia, would decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Soybeans

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines, bivalent types for HPV-16/18 with 70% prophylactic expectation, have been developed based on the genotypes found prevalent in the western countries, but little is known for those in Korea. Using a DNA chip test, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of HPV genotype based on cervical abnormalities. METHODS: As the initial diagnostic tests, HPV DNA chip tests and Papanicolaou smear (PAP) were used for 1,211 subjects. Cervical colposcopy directed biopsies were performed for 626 among the 1,211 subjects within one month. RESULTS: The most frequently found genotypes in all HPV-positive specimens (n=445) were HPV-16 (22.0%), 58 (13.9%), 52 (11.0%), 51 (9.0%), 56 (8.5%), and 18 (7.2%). HPV prevalence was significantly higher in specimens where PAP and biopsy results were closer to malignancy. The HPV genotype distribution of the histologically confirmed cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) or carcinoma cases showed HPV-16, 58, 52, 18, and 33, in descending order. The HPV DNA chip sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the detection of cervical HSIL or carcinoma were 76.9%, 70.1%, 72.1%, and 75.8%, respectively, Of these, the sensitivity and NPV were higher than those of PAP. PPV and NPV of HPV-16 were 90.5% and 60.7%, respectively, being the highest among the genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that HPV-16 genotype was also very important for the diagnosis of HSIL and cervical carcinoma in Korea. However, contrary to the findings in the western countries, the prevalence of HPV-58 was higher than that of HPV-18. Moreover, as the other HPV genotype reports were rare in Korea, further studies are required with the HPV DNA chip test before the nationwide adoption of the vaccines.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Colposcopy ; DNA, Viral/analysis/isolation & purification ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Papillomaviridae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis/prevention & control/virology ; Vaginal Smears/methods ; Young Adult

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Vaginal Smears