Showing papers by "Sung-min Kim published in 2015"

Semiconductor devices having isolation insulating layers and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract: The inventive concepts provide semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same. Semiconductor devices of the inventive concepts may include a fin region comprising a first fin subregion and a second fin subregion separated and isolated from each other by an isolation insulating layer disposed therebetween, a first gate intersecting the first fin subregion, a second gate intersecting the second fin subregion, and a third gate intersecting the isolation insulating layer.

Capecitabine in combination with either cisplatin or weekly paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a randomized phase II study

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen of capecitabine plus cisplatin (CC) or capecitabine plus paclitaxel (CP) as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this open-label, phase II, randomized trial. Patients were assigned to either the CC arm (days [D]1–14 capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily + D1 cisplatin 75 mg/m2, every 3 weeks) or the CP arm (D1–14 capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily + D1, 8 paclitaxel 80 mg/m2, every 3 weeks). The primary endpoint of the study was response rate and secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity and quality of life. A total of 94 patients were entered into this study between October 2008 and October 2012, 46 patients in the CC arm and 48 in the CP arm. Patients in both arms received a median of six cycles of treatment (range, 1–14) and the response rates were 57 and 58 % in the cisplatin and paclitaxel arm, respectively. With a median follow-up of 23 months, the median PFS was 5.1 months (95 % CI 4.0–6.2 months) in the cisplatin arm and 6.7 months (95 % CI 4.9–8.5 months) in the paclitaxel arm, whereas the median OS was 10.5 months (95 % CI 9.2–11.9 months) in the cisplatin arm and 13.2 months (95 % CI 9.4–17.0 months) in the paclitaxel arm. Patients in the cisplatin arm were more likely to experience neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, whereas patients in the paclitaxel arm had a higher frequency of neuropathy and alopecia. Quality of life was similar between treatment arms. Both CC and CP regimens were effective and well tolerated as a first-line treatment in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Platelet response during the second cycle of decitabine treatment predicts response and survival for myelodysplastic syndrome patients.

Abstract: Despite the efficacy of decitabine to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), there is a wide range of responses, and no definite predictive marker has been identified. This study aimed to describe the efficacy of decitabine and to identify potential predictors of response and survival in patients with MDS. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of MDS patients at Samsung Medical Center between August 2008 and August 2011. The response assessment was conducted using the International Working Group (IWG) response criteria for MDS. We analyzed 101 MDS patients (total 613 cycles) who received decitabine for a median of four cycles. The overall response was 52.5% (n = 53/101). The median time to any response was two cycles with the median overall survival of 16.7 months. Patients who showed hematologic improvement had significantly longer survival than those who did not (9.8 vs. 22.9 months, p = 0.004). The difference in OS was evident in the Intermediate-2/High risk group (p = 0.002) but not in the Intermediate-1 risk group (p = 0.145). Multivariate analysis confirmed that platelet response (no platelet transfusions for at least 3 days) during the second cycle of treatment was an independent predictor for response, OS and Leukemia free survival. Based on the results of this study, for patients with hematological improvement, recovery of platelet count by the second cycle of therapy can be used as an early predictive marker of improved survival and an increased response rate.

Prognostic relevance of biological subtype overrides that of TNM staging in breast cancer: discordance between stage and biology

Abstract: Recently, we faced difficult treatment decisions regarding appropriate adjuvant systemic treatment, especially for patients who show discordance between stage and tumor biology. The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic relevance of the TNM staging system with that of intrinsic subtype in breast cancer. We retrospectively identified women patients who received curative surgery for stage I–III breast cancer with available data on immunohistochemistry profiles including hormone receptor (HR) status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and Ki 67 staining at the Samsung Medical Center from January 2004 to September 2008. Primary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 1145 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer and received curative surgery. Of these, 463 (40.4 %) patients were stage I, and 682 (59.6 %) were stage II or III. In addition, 701 (61.2 %) patients were HR positive, 239 (20.9 %) were HER2 positive, and 205 (20.9 %) had triple-negative breast cancer. The 5-year RFS for the patients who were HR positive and HER2 negative with a low Ki 67 staining score (0–25 %) was 99 %. The 5-year RFS for patients who were HER2-positive or had triple-negative breast cancer were 89 and 83 %, respectively (P value = <0.001). In multivariate analysis, advanced stage (II/III) and unfavorable biology (HER2 positive or triple negative) retained their statistical significance as predictors of decreased RFS and OS. Patients with advanced-stage disease (II or III) but favorable tumor biology (HR positive and HER2 negative and low Ki 67) had better clinical outcomes than those with stage I disease and unfavorable tumor biology in terms of RFS (99 versus 92 %, P value = 0.011) and OS (99 versus 96 %, P value = 0.03) at 5 years. The current results showed that intrinsic subtype has a greater prognostic impact in predicting clinical outcomes in subpopulations of patients with stage I–III breast cancer who show discordance between stage and biologic subtypes.

Chemotherapy beyond second-line in advanced gastric cancer.

Abstract: Patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) can be treated with multiple lines of chemotherapy. Although several randomized trials have demonstrated the benefit of second-line chemotherapy compared with best supportive care, there is no evidence that further lines of chemotherapy will result in substantial prolongation of survival. Despite this, the practice of offering chemotherapy beyond second-line agents to AGC patients is not uncommon if their performance status is well-preserved and they are willing to receive subsequent active treatments. The choice of chemotherapeutic agents depends on the patient's prior regimens. However, there are important controversial issues in the salvage setting of AGC, including a subset of patients who may benefit from chemotherapy, that still remain unanswered. This report reviews the available evidence regarding the impact of third- and subsequent lines of chemotherapy on survival and quality of life in patients with AGC.

Presence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocation in sarcomatoid carcinoma of head and neck and treatment effect of crizotinib: A case series

Abstract: Background Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, is a rare biphasic tumor consisting of epithelial and mesenchymal components. Methods and Results We report a case of 34-year-old woman with a relapsed refractory sarcomatoid carcinoma in the maxillary sinus. Because anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocation is common in sarcoma, ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed and the result was positive. After crizotinib was administered, clinical improvement and stable disease lasted for 4 months. To identify the incidence of ALK rearrangement in this disease entity, ALK FISH was performed on tumor samples of 10 patients. Among them, 2 patients were positive. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report demonstrating the clinical benefit of crizotinib in sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck with ALK translocation. Our results suggest that the ALK FISH test may be suitable and encouraged for patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the head and neck. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E66–E69, 2015

Weekly docetaxel and gemcitabine in previously treated metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract: AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of weekly docetaxel plus a fixed-dose rate (FDR) of gemcitabine in metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: A multi-center, open-label, prospective phase II study was designed. Thirty-three esophageal SCC patients with documented progression after fluoropyrimidine/platinum-based first-line chemotherapy were enrolled and treated with docetaxel 35 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 iv at a FDR (10 mg/m2 per minute) on days 1 and 8. Treatment was repeated every twenty-one days until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR), and secondary endpoints were safety, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Combination of weekly docetaxel and FDR gemcitabine was well tolerated: the most common treatment-related adverse events were anemia (97%), fatigue (64%) and neutropenia (55%). One patient with multiple lung and lymph node metastases died of respiratory failure after receiving four cycles of chemotherapy, and the possibility of drug-induced pneumonitis could not be completely excluded. Disease control (objective response plus stable disease) in the ITT population was achieved in 88% of patients, and the overall RR was 30% (95%CI: 15%-46%). The median PFS and OS were 4.0 (95%CI: 3.4-4.6) and 8.8 mo (95%CI: 7.8-9.8 mo), respectively. CONCLUSION: A combination of weekly docetaxel and FDR gemcitabine showed promising antitumor activity and tolerability in previously treated, metastatic esophageal SCC.

A phase II trial of gefitinib monotherapy in pretreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer not harboring activating EGFR mutations: implications of sensitive EGFR mutation test

Abstract: Efficacy of gefitinib therapy strongly depends on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, cumulative data from many clinical studies demonstrated that some patients with wild-type (WT) EGFR also responded to gefitinib with durable disease control rate (DCR). The aim of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib in NSCLC patients with WT EGFR who failed previous chemotherapy. Patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC whose tumors have WT EGFR were eligible. Gefitinib (250 mg/day) was administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. The primary end point was DCR at 8 weeks. A total of 85 patients (53 men and 32 women; median age, 60 years; range 30–86) were enrolled between October 2010 and May 2013. Seventy-four patients (87.1 %) had adenocarcinoma. Forty-two patients (49.4 %) were treated with gefitinib as second-line chemotherapy. Eleven patients showed partial response, and 21 had stable disease. Thus, objective response rate was 12.9 %, and DCR at 8 weeks was 37.6 %. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 1.9 and 10.9 months, respectively. Skin rash was the most common side effect. It is of note that patients with skin rash of any grade had improved PFS with gefitinib as compared with patients experiencing no skin rash (median PFS: 3.0 vs. 1.7 months, P = 0.004). One patient developed interstitial lung disease (grade 2). Of 11 gefitinib responders, 6 patients were identified as having tumor with activating EGFR mutation by peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping method. Regarding the outcomes of the 79 patients, excluding 6 positive mutations, the response rate was 6.3 %, and DCR at 8 weeks was 31.8 %. Small proportion of NSCLC patients with the WT EGFR benefits with gefitinib. Optimized diagnosis through more sensitive bioassay could have major consequences in terms of the selection of candidate for EGFR TKI in patients with WT EGFR by direct sequencing.

Semiconductor devices having lower and upper fins and method for fabricating the same

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a lower fin that protrudes from a substrate and extends in a first direction, an oxide film the lower fin, an upper fin that protrudes from the oxide film and that is spaced apart from the lower fin at a position corresponding to the lower fin, and a gate structure the upper fin that extends in a second direction to intersect the upper fin, wherein germanium (Ge) is included in a portion of the oxide film located between the lower fin and the upper fin.

Impact on Survival of Regular Postoperative Surveillance for Patients with Early Breast Cancer.

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of regular postoperative surveillance to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer after curative surgery.

Landscape factors affecting soundscape in urban environments

Abstract: The relationships between landscape and soundscape perceptions were investigated in urban environments. The case study was conducted in area in Seoul divided into 118 meshes. The study area consists of different land uses including commercial and office districts, parks, residential areas, city streams and squares. Perceptual and physical acoustic environments in various urban settings were assessed using both questionnaire surveys and acoustic measurements. The soundscape characteristics obtained from measurements were visualized using GIS techniques. In addition, spatial data analyses were applied to examine the relationships between soundscape factors and spatial contexts. The results showed that spatial effects on soundscape perception were statistically significant. This indicates that the spatial statistical model provides more information on soundscape perception in urban environments.