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Jong-Wook Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Jong-Wook Lee.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficacy of up-front treatment with a double stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: We report the outcome of 53 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), who received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) from April 1996 to September 2004 at our institution and who survived for more than 3 months after the transplant. METHODS: Following the first ASCT, 36 patients underwent an up-front second SCT, which consisted of either an ASCT (n = 24) or a reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplant (RIST) (n = 12). Seventeen patients were given maintenance treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent of the patients (n = 41) showed an objective response to the initial therapy prior to the first ASCT. Overall, 60.4% (32 out of 53) and 32.1% (17 out of 53) of the patients had a complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) after the first ASCT, respectively. At the time of analysis, 34 patients (64.2%) were still alive. With a median follow-up of 32 months (range 9-98), the estimated progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 17.0 and 34.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the second SCT, normal hemoglobin and <50% marrow plasma cells were associated with an improved PFS. A second SCT, CR to the first SCT, female gender and an absence of advanced bone lesions were associated with a better OS. CONCLUSIONS: A second SCT is the most significant factor for an improved PFS and OS after the first ASCT (P < 0.001, respectively). Up-front double SCT is needed to improve the OS and PFS in patients with MM.

Adult↗

The significance of minimal residual disease kinetics in adults with newly diagnosed PML-RARalpha-positive acute promyelocytic leukemia: results of a prospective trial.

Seventy adults with acute promyelocytic leukemia were studied to clarify the significance of the level and kinetics of minimal residual disease (MRD) over their entire treatment course by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. At a median follow-up of 44 months, nine relapses had occurred. The 5-year probabilities of relapse and disease-free survival were 17.3+/-5.4% and 81.5+/-5.4%, respectively. A MRD level of >10-3 after first consolidation was the most powerful predictor of relapse (85.7+/-13.2% versus 7.3+/-4.1%, p<0.001) and disease-free survival (14.3+/-13.2% versus 91.2%+/-4.3%, p<0.001). Prospective MRD monitoring may allow us to identify subgroups of patients at high risk of relapse earlier during treatment.

Adult↗

Esthetic and functional reconstruction for burn deformities of the lower lip and chin with free radial forearm flap.

Burn injury often has produced deformity both of contours and cover in face and neck. Hypertrophic burn scar contracture of the lower face and neck is one of the most difficult subjects to solve because it produces problems with function and appearance. In planning the correction, the restoration of normal form and function is the best way in reconstruction. From January 1998 to January 2002, we had 7 patients who had scar contractures of the lower face and neck. We reconstructed their deformities with free radial forearm flap and skin graft. We could get restoration of the facial form to normal shape, position, and quality of the facial skin cover homogeneity. No remarkable complications have been found in all 7 patients. For better outcomes, there are some considerations. The lowest margin of the flap should be limited to at least 1 finger breadth above the hyoid bone because low setting of the flap may deteriorate the cervicomental angle. The skin graft is undertaken in the cervical region. Adhesion between the flap dermis and wound bed may be necessary for reconstruction of the labiomental sulcus. Burn deformities of the lower face and neck area were resurfaced with free radial forearm flap and skin graft. Flaps did not look completely normal, but those were compatible with the adjacent skin. We could have an adequate functional resurfacing and optimal esthetic outcomes while minimizing recurrent contractures.

Adult↗

Cutaneous leucoclastic vasculitis (LV) following bortezomib therapy in a myeloma patient; association with pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, has anti-myeloma activity even in myeloma cells refractory to multiple prior treatments. Bortezomib blocks the production of nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB)-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokines. We report a patient with myeloma who developed a cutaneous leucoclastic vasculitis (LV) after bortezomib treatment. The patient with LV exhibited a marked increase in serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Bortezomib administration may enhance the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which might play a role in bortezomib-induced cutaneous LV.

Boronic Acids↗

Resistant pure red cell aplasia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with major ABO mismatch treated by purified CD34+ cell infusion.

We report a case of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) subsequent to an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with a major ABO mismatch, which was resistant to the standard treatment options such as plasma exchange, erythropoietin and changes in the immunosuppressive treatment. Accordingly, two cycles of Rituximab therapy were administered without success. The patient had a chronic graft-vs.-host disease of the liver, which meant that an additional donor leukocyte infusion could not be introduced. Instead, purified CD34(+) cells were administered after fludarabine and antithymocyte globulin therapy. As a result, the PRCA was resolved and the antidonor isohemagglutinin titer became undetectable.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

A retrospective analysis of 19,157 burns patients: 18-year experience from Hallym Burn Center in Seoul, Korea.

This is a retrospective, epidemiological study of 19,157 acute burn patients admitted to the Hallym Burn Centre, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea, during the period 1986-2003. The study was conducted to identify characteristics of burn patients that could lead to development of preventive programs to reduce both the frequency and mortality of burn injury. The majority of patients admitted had relatively minor burns, which were treated conservatively. Males predominated in all age groups with a summer peak seasonal variation. Typical burn in the children <5 years of age was a scald injury, occurring at home, affecting upper limbs and resulting in a relatively short hospital stay. Electrical burns due to steel chopsticks and steam burns due to electric rice cookers were also found in this age group. Adult burns, affecting upper and lower limbs, were caused by flames, hot liquids or electricity. Burns were sustained at the workplace and outdoors. Flame accidents in males were the leading cause of death with overall mortality of 8.2%. 13.9% of admissions needed intensive care and average length of hospital stay was 32.6 days. The annual number of patients undergoing burn related surgery has continuously increased reflecting a more aggressive surgical management. Our ongoing efforts are to promote prevention program and look for changes in the incidence of burn injury based on these epidemiologic features. Further study for implications of changes in management protocols and policies on treatment outcomes would improve the provision of appropriate care for the patients.

Accidents, Home↗

The effect of first-line imatinib interim therapy on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Previously, we suggested that imatinib incorporation into conventional chemotherapy as an alternative (imatinib interim therapy) might be a useful strategy for bridging the time to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+) ALL). Here, we provide an updated report on this strategy in 29 patients. At the time of enrollment, 23 patients (79.3%) achieved complete remission (CR). After the first imatinib cycle, the median breakpoint cluster region-Abelson oncogene locus (BCR-ABL)/ABL ratios decreased by 0.77 log in 25 (86.2%) responders, and their BCR-ABL/ABL ratios decreased further by 0.34 log after the second imatinib cycle, which included 7 molecular CR. One patient (4.3%) relapsed during the imatinib therapy. The remaining 3 patients were primarily refractory to both imatinib and chemotherapy. Twenty-five (86.2%) of the 29 patients received transplants in first CR. With a median follow-up duration of 25 months after SCT, the 3-year estimated probabilities of relapse, nonrelapse mortality, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 3.8%, 18.7%, 78.1%, and 78.1%, respectively. In comparison to our historical control data, first-line imatinib interim therapy appears to provide a good quality of CR and a survival advantage for patients with Ph(+) ALL. Further long-term follow-up is needed to validate the results of this study.

Adolescent↗

Use of the artificial dermis for free radial forearm flap donor site.

The radial forearm free flap has been popular in many area of reconstructive surgery. Despite the many attributes of this flap in surgical reconstruction, one of the clear disadvantages has been the morbidity of the donor site. To solve problems associated with closure of the radial forearm flap donor site, the artificial dermis was used for better outcome in the donor site. From July of 2001 to October 2003, 13 patients (12 male, 1 female) ranging in age from 27 to 67 years underwent free radial forearm transfers. Flap size measured 49 to 144 cm2. Donor-site defects secondary to the flap elevation was closed first with the artificial dermis (Terudermis), marketed by Terumo Inc, Japan, and secondary split-thickness skin graft to the artificial dermis was performed in 15 days (range, 13 to 17 days) on average. There was no flap failure in all cases. Partial loss of the artificial dermis graft was noticed in 2 cases, but it was negligible. Secondary skin graft take was noticed in about 7 days, and there was no remarkable skin graft loss. The artificial dermis was used successfully in 13 patients with the donor defects of free radial forearm flap. Despite the disadvantage to need the secondary split-thickness skin graft, use of the artificial dermis gave us not only soft-tissue augmentation and graft-skin quality similar to full-thickness skin graft but also fast graft healing and diminished morbidity of the skin-graft donor site.

Adult↗

Risk-adapted preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a single-center experience in Korea.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a major cause of infection in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) and results in significant mortality and morbidity. We present the results of CMV pp65 antigenemia-guided, risk-adapted preemptive therapy aimed at preventing CMV disease in allogeneic HSCT. Preemptive ganciclovir treatment was started when more than 5 CMV antigen-positive cells were detected in the low-risk group (with grade 0-I acute GVHD and matched related HSCT) and when any antigen-positive cells were seen in the high-risk group (with grade II-IV acute GVHD or matched unrelated HSCT). At least 1 episode of antigenemia was observed in 53 (59.6%) of 89 patients before day 100, and preemptive therapy was performed in 33 patients. CMV disease occurred in 6 patients (5 in the high-risk group and 1 in the low-risk group), and late CMV disease developed in 4 patients. Only 1 patient died of CMV pneumonitis before day 100. Neutropenia was observed in 51.5% of ganciclovir-treated patients, and coinfection/superinfection was observed in 42.4%. A strategy of ganciclovir treatment focusing on patients at higher risk could reduce the toxicity from the antiviral drug and be cost-effective. Extended surveillance for CMV disease using more sensitive diagnostic methods is necessary in high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of 2 preparative regimens for stem cell transplantation from HLA-matched sibling donors in patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome.

The objective of this study was to compare how cyclophosphamide (CY) and oral busulfan (BU) therapies, each in combination with total body irradiation (TBI), affect the outcome of stem cell transplantation in patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome. This study was conducted with 31 patients who received bone marrow from an HLA-matched sibling and underwent treatment with BU-TBI (n = 18) or CY-TBI (n = 13). The incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades II to IV was higher, but not significantly, in the BU-TBI group (58.8%) than in the CY-TBI group (30.8%). However, the incidences of chronic extensive GVHD were significantly different (41.7% [CY-TBI] versus 80.0% [BU-TBI], P = .04). Trends after BU-TBI conditioning indicated a lower 3-year probability of disease-free survival (DFS) (38.1% versus 53.9%, P = .4), lower relapse rates (28.5% versus 36.4%, P = .8), and higher nonrelapse mortality rates (46.7% versus 15.4%, P = .2). After adjusting for the International Prognostic Scoring System risk group and the cytogenetic risk group, DFS in the CY-TBI group (relative risk, 9.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-52.5; P = .015) was found to be significantly increased compared with the BU-TBI group. Approaches to minimize transplantation-related toxicity should be pursued, and efforts other than the potentiation of the conditioning regimen should be made to reduce the likelihood of posttransplantation relapse.

Administration, Oral↗

Fas, Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein, and apoptotic features of elderly acute myeloid leukemia based on response to induction chemotherapy.

A study was performed to examine the clinical outcome of triple-combination induction chemotherapy in 26 elderly Korean acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and to investigate apoptotic responses during and after treatment to determine whether the responses can be used as prognostic markers. Patients who had Western blot or polymerase chain reaction analysis findings of higher expression levels of Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) on day 7 after chemotherapy were more likely to have complete remission, but there was less or no correlation with Fas or a proapoptosis/apoptosis reaction. Expression of FLIP molecules may be, at least in part, an early prognostic indicator in the treatment of elderly AML patients.

Aged↗

Early prediction of molecular remission by monitoring BCR-ABL transcript levels in patients achieving a complete cytogenetic response after imatinib therapy for posttransplantation chronic myelogenous leukemia relapse.

Imatinib induces a high complete cytogenetic response (CCR) rate in relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia. By analyzing minimal residual disease (MRD) under the levels of CCR, we tried to assess the molecular response after imatinib therapy. By using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR), MRD was evaluated in 23 patients (3 in cytogenetic relapse, 6 in chronic phase, 9 in accelerated phase, and 5 in blast crisis) who were treated with standard-dose imatinib for relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. With a median therapy time of 399 days (range, 35-817 days), 19 (83%) patients achieved a CCR. Meanwhile, 11 (58%) of them achieved a molecular remission (MR), which was associated with improved survival. The Q-RT-PCR data were compared according to the best response (MR, n = 11; CCR, n = 8) in the patients achieving a CCR. The BCR-ABL/ABL ratios were similar in 2 groups at 3 months but were significantly different at 6 months (median, 0.0000012 for MR and 0.00022 for CCR; P =.003). The probability of a subsequent MR was significantly higher in patients with a lower BCR-ABL/ABL ratio at 6 months (100% for <0.0001 versus 33% for >/=0.0001; P =.006) or a greater reduction in the level between 3 and 6 months (log-reduction >/=1.0;, 100%; <1.0, 17%; P =.003). Q-RT-PCR is a reliable method for monitoring MRD: the early trends in the BCR-ABL/ABL ratio may be clinically useful in discriminating patients who will achieve an MR from those who will remain in CCR.

Adult↗

Megadose CD34+ hemopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with high risk acute myeloid leukemia who have no HLA matched donor--a pilot study of a full haplotype mismatch transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Haploidentical transplantation has become a popular modality of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients lacking donors with matching HLA. We attempted to assess the success rate and ramifications of full haplotype mismatch transplantation. METHODS: Four patients received stem cell transplantation from their full haplotype mismatched family donors. The conditioning regimen included total-body irradiation, intravenous busulfan, antithymocyte globulin, and fludarabine. Megadose CD34+ stem cell transplants were performed, in a dosage range between 10.9 x 10(6)/kg and 20.6 x10(6)/kg. Neither GvHD prophylaxis nor post-transplant G-CSF were administered. We monitored patients' bone marrow cellularity and peripheral blood chimerism using real-time PCR. RESULTS: All patients evidenced stable engraftment. The most frequent side effect was severe mucositis, but all patients recovered successfully, without early death. No patients exhibited acute GvHD. Two refractory patients relapsed soon after transplantation. The other 2 patients have remained in good clinical condition, with a follow-up duration of 1-4 months. CONCLUSION: Using a newly-developed conditioning regimen, we were able to circumvent GvHD and graft failure, which are the main limitations associated with full haplotype mismatch transplantation. According to our analysis of the relevant literature, it appears that this is the first report of such a conditioning regimen.

Adolescent↗

Resources required for global tuberculosis control.

We estimate that to achieve the World Health Organization's tuberculosis control targets, the 22 high-burden countries (HBCs) that collectively account for approximately 80% of the world's tuberculosis cases require about $1 billion per year during the period 2001 to 2005. A further $0.2 billion per year is needed for low and lower-middle income countries outside the 22 HBCs. There is a resource gap of up to around $300 million per year. Substantial progress in tuberculosis control could be achieved with increased investment that is large in the context of existing spending, but small in the wider context of global health expenditure.

Budgets↗