Showing papers by "Hai-Rim Shin published in 2007"

Serologic Response to Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Types in Male and Female University Students in Busan, South Korea

Abstract: In the absence of genital samples, human papillomavirus (HPV) serology may be useful to assess HPV infection in young men and women. HPV seroprevalence and determinants of seropositivity were assessed in 817 female and 518 male university students in Busan, South Korea, of whom 74% and 44%, respectively, reported never having had penetrative sexual intercourse. Type-specific HPV DNA status, assessed by a short PCR fragment primer set, was available from genital samples. Seropositivity to L1 proteins of HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 were assessed using multiplex HPV serology. Among women, HPV seroprevalence was significantly higher among sexually active (26.1%) than nonsexually active students [11.1%, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.8-4.7], although the association was weaker than that for HPV DNA prevalence (OR, 14; 95% CI, 4.7-42). Furthermore, HPV seroprevalence was higher among HPV DNA-positive (24%) than HPV DNA-negative women (13%), and there was a positive correlation of type-specific seroprevalence with the presence of HPV DNA of the same type. In contrast, HPV seropositivity among men was not associated with sexual behavior or the presence of HPV DNA. Seroprevalence correlates with genital HPV exposure in young women, but its meaning in young men is unclear. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(9):1874–9)

Smoking, alcohol and gastric cancer risk in Korean men: the National Health Insurance Corporation Study

Abstract: We investigated the risk of gastric cancer by subsite in relation to cigarette smoking and alcohol in a large population-based cohort of 669 570 Korean men in an insurance plan followed for an average 6.5 years, yielding 3452 new cases of gastric cancer, of which 127 were cardia and upper-third gastric cancer, 2409 were distal gastric cancer and 1007 were unclassified. A moderate association was found between smoking, cardia and upper-third (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–3.5) and distal cancers (aRR=1.4; 95% CI=1.3–1.6). We also found a positive association between alcohol consumption and distal (aRR=1.3; 95% CI=1.2–1.5) and total (aRR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1–1.4) gastric cancer. Combined exposure to high levels of tobacco and alcohol increased the risk estimates further; cardia and upper-third gastric cancers were more strongly related to smoking status than distal gastric cancer.

Genetic polymorphisms in the Rb-binding zinc finger gene RIZ and the risk of lung cancer

Abstract: Histone methyltransferase (HMT) enzymes that methylate the lysine of histones are involved in chromatin-mediated gene expression. Previously, we reported that a novel polymorphism of SUV39H2, the HMT that is required for the methylation of H3-K9, was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in Koreans. The retinoblastoma protein-interacting zinc finger gene RIZ (PRDM2) is also a member of a histone/protein-methyltransferase superfamily, and the inactivation of RIZ in many cancers was detected as frameshift mutations, hypermethylation and missense mutations. In this study, we show the association of RIZ polymorphisms with the risk of lung cancer. In a hospital-based study of 335 lung cancer patients and 335 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, 120 polymorphisms of RIZ were screened. Of the 120 genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 42 SNPs were selected for the statistical analysis based on their frequency (>5%) and linkage disequilibrium [LD; only a representative SNP was analyzed if there were absolute LDs (r2 = 1)]; this resulted in three LD blocks. The +92337G>A and +95701C>A polymorphisms showed a statistically significant association with the reduced risk of lung adenocarcinomas after correcting the P values for multiple testing [for carrying one variant allele versus none, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.55 (95% CI = 0.38-0.78), corrected P = 0.04; aOR = 0.54 (95% CI = 0.38-0.77), corrected P = 0.02, respectively]. One haplotype (Ht5) in LD block 3 of RIZ was significantly associated with the reduced risk of lung adenocarcinomas (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.13-0.58) as well as overall lung cancer (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.30-0.82). This study suggested that RIZ polymorphisms may be important predictive markers for lung cancer susceptibility.

GSTT2 promoter polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk

Abstract: Glutathione S-transferases are a group of enzymes that participate in detoxification and defense mechanisms against toxic carcinogens and other compounds. These enzymes play an important role in human carcinogenesis. In the present study, we sought to determine whether GSTT2 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with colorectal cancer risk. A total of 436 colorectal cancer patients and 568 healthy controls were genotyped for three GSTT2 promoter SNPs (-537G>A, -277T>C and -158G>A), using real-time TaqMan assay and direct sequencing. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed to determine the effects of polymorphisms on protein binding to the GSTT2 promoter. The -537A allele (-537G/A or A/A) was significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR = 1.373, p = 0.025), while the -158A allele (-158G/A or A/A) was involved in protection against colorectal cancer (OR = 0.539, p = 0.032). Haplotype 2 (-537A, -277T, -158G) was significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR = 1.386, p = 0.021), while haplotype 4 (-537G, -277C, -158A) protected against colorectal cancer (OR = 0.539, p = 0.032). EMSA data revealed lower promoter binding activity in the -537A allele than its -537G counterpart. Our results collectively suggest that SNPs and haplotypes of the GSTT2 promoter region are associated with colorectal cancer risk in the Korean population.

[Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, tuberculosis and risk of lung cancer: the Korean multi-center cancer cohort study].

Abstract: Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, tuberculosis, and their interactions in the risk of lung cancer in a Korean cohort. Methods : The study subjects comprised 13,150 males and females aged above 20 years old. During the follow up period from 1993 to 2002, 79 lung cancer cases were identified by the central cancer registry and the national death certificate database. Information on cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and the history of physician-diagnosed tuberculosis was obtained by interview. Indirect chest X-ray findings were also evaluated to ascertain tuberculosis cases. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjusting for age and gender. Results : Cigarette smoking was statistically significantly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer [for current smokers, RR = 2.33 (95% CI = 1.23 - 4.42) compared to non-smokers]. After further adjustment for cigarette smoking, both alcohol consumption and tuberculosis showed no statistically significant association with the risk of lung cancer [for current drinkers, RR = 0.80 (95% CI = 0.48 - 1.33) compared to non-drinkers] [for tuberculosis cases, RR = 1.17 (95% CI = 0.58 - 2.36) compared to non-cases]. There was no statistically significant interaction between cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption (p-interaction = 0.38), or cigarette smoking and tuberculosis (p-interaction = 0.74). Conclusions : Although cigarette smoking was confirmed as a risk factor of lung cancer in this cohort study, this study suggests that alcohol consumption and tuberculosis may not be associated with the risk of lung cancer.

Increasing trend in the incidence of cervical cancer among the elderly in Korea: a population-based study from 1993 to 2002.

Abstract: Cancer is primarily a disease of older adults. However, little data is available on the clinical features of cervical cancer in elderly patients. We investigated the trends in incidence and clinical features associated with cervical cancer among the elderly in Korea during the period of 1993–2002. We obtained data from the National Cervical Cancer Incidence Database, which was constructed in collaboration with the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) and Korea Gynecologic Cancer Registry (KGCR). A total of 44 191 women with cervical cancer were diagnosed between 1993 and 2002. Patients were divided into three groups based on age: ≤49 years (Group 1), 50–69 years (Group 2), and≥70 years (Group 3). During this period, upward incidence trends were noted in Group 3 while constant and downward incidence trends were noted in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Pooled analysis across years revealed that squamous cell carcinoma and advanced stage (IIB, III, and IV) were more common in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2. Wi...

The republic of korea

Abstract: Cancer has been the leading cause of death in the Republic of Korea since 1983. Approximately 110,000 people develop cancer annually with 64,000 annual fatalities. The five-year relative survival rate was 44.3% for 1995-2001 (35.6% for men and 55.5% for women). Cancer control is expected to become a more important issue in the near future considering the country's rapidly aging society that tends to entail an increased burden of cancer.