Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention最新文献

Objectives: Despite an increasing incidence of cervical cancer in Japan, screening coverage remains relatively low. This study aimed to elucidate regional variations in cervical cancer screening coverage in Tokyo, Japan, and to identify regional factors that influence screening coverage.

Methods: This retrospective ecological study was conducted using data from 53 municipalities in Tokyo, sourced from the Tokyo Bureau of Public Health's cancer screening statistics, population census, and official municipal government websites for the year 2018. We collected data on candidate regional factors in each municipality: including the proportion of working women, requirement for cancer screening appointments, and combination of cervical cytology and HPV testing, among others. The associations between screening coverage and these candidate factors were examined using a linear regression model with weighted least squares estimation.

Results: The mean cervical cancer screening coverage in Tokyo was 18.6% (inter-municipal range: 8.1-85.8%). The following factors were significantly associated with cancer screening coverage: the number of medical institutions conducting screenings per 10,000 eligible women (β: 41.51, 95% CI: 23.66 to 59.36.0, P<0.001), proportion of working women (β: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.63, P<0.001), requirement for cancer screening appointments (reference: no requirement) (β: -5.56, 95% CI: -9.57 to -1.62, P=0.01), and inclusion of human papillomavirus testing (reference: no testing) (β: 12.89, 95% CI: 5.42 to 20.36, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Cervical cancer screening coverage can be enhanced by improving accessibility to medical institutions that provide screenings, simplifying appointment procedures, and incorporating HPV testing. These findings provide valuable insights for designing effective public health policies and local screening strategies.

Purpose: Despite evidence indicating a comparatively lower incidence of cervical cancer and HPV infection, there is a significant gap in research on their understanding and preventive behaviours. This study aims to reduce the risk of cervical cancer among Muslim women and to bridge existing gaps in cancer prevention strategies.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect information from participants. The research aimed to explore socio-demographic characteristics, perceived health concerns, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer prevention and screening.

Results: The incidence of cervical cancer increases with age. Eight percent of participants reported being diagnosed with cervical cancer. There is a noticeable correlation between age, education level, and cervical cancer diagnosis. All risk factors for cervical cancer were statistically significant (p < 0.001), indicating highly significant differences in awareness levels across the groups. Differences in sources of information were also highly significant (p < 0.001). Additionally, age, marital status, and education were found to be significantly associated with women's understanding and attitudes towards cervical cancer.

Conclusion: The study found that educated Muslim women generally have a positive understanding and attitude towards cervical cancer. However, there remains a significant gap that limits women's overall understanding, attitudes, and practices related to the disease. Targeted educational interventions, involving community leaders and health workers, are essential to enhance awareness and improve health practices.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) continues to be one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, predominantly affecting women. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is vital for cellular growth and metabolism. Dysregulation of IGF-1 has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. We hypothesized that unhealthy lifestyle factors (e.g., poor diet, low physical activity) are associated with higher serum IGF-1 levels and an increased risk of BC. This research examines the relationship between lifestyle factors, IGF-1, and BC risk in Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 112 newly diagnosed BC women and 222 healthy controls. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. IGF-1 levels were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.

Results: BC patients had significantly lower physical activity than controls (58.9% vs. 44.6%, p = 0.014). Eight of the 14 food groups studied were linked to reduced BC risk, with reductions of 3.4% for fruit, 3.7% for meat, 5.6% for grains, 3.0% for low-fat dairy, 16.5% for nuts, 3.3% for snacks and sweets, and 5.5% for soups and sauces, while eggs increased risk by 12.5%. Drinks and beverages were positively correlated with IGF-1 levels (rp = 0.121, p = 0.027), suggesting that these factors may influence BC risk.

Conclusion: Lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity, influence IGF-1 levels and BC risk. Public health interventions promoting healthier lifestyles may help reduce BC risk.

Introduction: After radioactivity and X-rays were first discovered, researchers found that radiation could harm cells by damaging their internal structures, with cancer cells particularly vulnerable to these effects. Today, various advanced machines and methods are employed to enhance the precision of radiation delivery to tumors. Monte Carlo simulation is an excellent method for predict the dose distributions under certain conditions. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the field size effect on the central dose distributions (PDD Curves), and the lateral profiles of the dose.

Method: MC codes, i)- MCBEAM code, ii)- MCSIM code, and iii) MCSHOW code used to simulate 6MV photon beams with 5 different field sizes (10x10cm, 5x5cm, 8x8cm, 15x15cm, and 20x20cm). PDDs and profile curves were compared for each field size.

Result: Smaller field sizes (e.g., 5×5 cm) exhibited a lower surface dose compared to larger fields, and the depth of maximum dose dmax shifts slightly deeper as field size increases due to increased scatter contributions. Larger fields (15×15 cm, 20×20 cm) demonstrated a slower dose falloff at deeper depths compared to smaller fields.

Conclusion: Monte Carlo calculations confirms that field size significantly impacts PDD curves and affects surface dose. This agreement encouraged us to research with these codes to improve treatment techniques in radiotherapy.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is frequently treated with radiotherapy (RT), often combined with chemotherapy. Beyond local tumor control, RT induces systemic immunomodulatory effects. This systematic review evaluates alterations in peripheral immune cell subpopulations and circulating biomarkers in HNSCC patients undergoing RT with or without chemotherapy.

Methods: A systematic search across five databases identified 12 eligible studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed adult patients with HNSCC treated with external beam RT and analysis of immune parameters in peripheral blood. The review protocol was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, registration number CRD42021283028).

Results: RT induced lymphopenia, with consistent reductions in T, B, and dendritic cells, and increases in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Altered expression of immune activation markers (such as CD69 and HLA-DR) and exhaustion markers (such as PD-1 and CTLA-4) was noted. Gene expression of FDXR, GADD45, and others demonstrated sustained modulation post-RT. Changes in cytokines, adhesion molecules (CX3CR1, CD11a), and immune checkpoint proteins (PD-L1) were associated with treatment response and toxicity. Baseline immune profiles correlated with the risk of acute toxicity.

Conclusion: RT, either alone or in combined with chemotherapy, significantly alters systemic immunity in HNSCC. Immunophenotyping and peripheral biomarkers show prognostic potential, supporting their integration into personalized treatment strategies. However, standardized, large-scale longitudinal studies are warranted.

Objective: To assess the cellularity, epithelial cell coverage, cellular arrangement, preservation, and interfering factors of cervical cytological smears produced by the PathTezt® Infinity with Autoloader.

Methodology: A total of 1003 Pap smear samples were taken from Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II and processed using the PathTezt® Infinity. The slides were evaluated for smear adequacy, epithelial cells coverage, cellular arrangement, interfering factors, and cellular preservation.

Results: Approximately 946 samples (94.1%) were adequate for evaluation. The evaluation of cellular arrangement demonstrated good dispersion in 860 samples (85.7%), while 94.7% of the samples exhibited minimal to no obscuration by inflammatory cells. The presence of erythrocytes did not impede the evaluation of squamous cells in 1002 smears (99.9%). All smears showed good-quality fixation features for nuclear, cytoplasmic, and microorganism evaluation. The overall "good" performance rate was 97.7%. Chi-square analysis between the scoring categories and criteria for scoring showed statistical significance (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The PathTezt® Infinity with Autoloader produces high-quality smears, is easy to operate, fully walk-away, and cost-effective, making it suitable for cervical cancer screening.

Background: Prostate cancer is a significant global health burden and is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men. Chronic inflammation and environmental exposures, including occupational toxins, are increasingly recognized as key contributors to its development. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) subunits p65 and p50, along with the cytokines IL-18 and IL-10, are central mediators of inflammation, but remain understudied in the context of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and occupation-related risks. This study investigates the expression patterns of these markers in prostate cancer, BPH, and healthy individuals, and examines their association with disease stage and occupational exposure.

Methods: A total of 664 participants were enrolled, including 285 prostate cancer patients, 94 BPH cases, and 285 healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed for mRNA expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and for protein levels using ELISA. Statistical comparisons among groups and two-way ANOVA were performed to evaluate the effects of disease status and occupation. Correlation analysis was used to assess the associations between NF-κB and cytokine levels.

Results: NF-κB p65 and p50, as well as IL-18 and IL-10, were significantly upregulated in prostate cancer compared to BPH and controls (p < 0.0001). Expression levels increased with cancer stage and metastatic status. Among occupational groups, tannery workers exhibited the highest biomarker expression. Significant positive correlations were found between NF-κB subunits and both cytokines.

Conclusion: NF-κB and its downstream cytokines, IL-18 and IL-10, may serve as inflammation-driven, noninvasive biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and risk stratification, particularly in populations exposed to environmental factors.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly in northeastern Thailand, where its prevalence is the highest worldwide. Early detection and effective treatment remain challenging due to the absence of sensitive and specific biomarkers. This study aimed to identify novel plasma proteins and metabolites as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CCA.

Methods: Plasma samples from hamsters with Opisthorchis viverrini (OV)/dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced CCA and healthy controls (n=3 per group) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS-based proteomics and metabolomics.

Results: More than 5,000 proteins were identified, including 572 unique to CCA hamsters at week 12. At weeks 8 and 12, 412 and 545 proteins, respectively, were functionally linked to cell proliferation, signal transduction, and metabolic regulation. Metabolomic analysis revealed 273 metabolites, with 59-including cystathionine, putrescine, UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and FMN, upregulated in the CCA group.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary insights into candidate biomarkers for the early detection of CCA. These findings are intended to generate hypotheses for future research. Larger studies, including human validation cohorts, are warranted to confirm their clinical applicability.

Introduction: The tobacco industry goes to great lengths to identify its target audience and provide incentives for tobacco use. It often does so through disinformation, purposely deceiving its customers. There is evidence that the behaviors of social movements can replace shallow appeals with genuine social motivations. While stories of communication, recognition, and mutual support can arise as anecdotal examples, the enduring strengths of a social commitment are also worth examining.

Method: This review examines the people, events, and accomplishments of tobacco control efforts in Thailand that are vital to continuous vigilance and advocacy for social advancement, with a deep respect for how the goals of health reflect a culture of care. The focus is on exposing the long battle between the tobacco industry and tobacco control and prevention advocates, with specific examples from Thailand.

Results: Thai culture takes a moderate, life-enhancing position anchored in fundamental conceptions of moral/ethical action in politics, religion, and economics. This position has enabled a sustained culture of care, not a cultural affectation mimicking the latest transitory political or economic trends. Thailand has persisted in visibly renewing its commitment to tobacco control campaigns and efforts, which have led to a deepened public understanding that stands firm with the goals of tobacco control.

Conclusion: Thais have been enlisted in a great battle for health through the authenticity of their culture and have made strides in countering the predatory influences and exploitative interests of the tobacco industry. Viewing the dimensions of this battle encourages further social commitments for progress against tobacco harms.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening (CCS) during pregnancy among pregnant women.

Material and methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the antenatal clinic of Thammasat University Hospital, Pathum Thani, Thailand from February to September 2024. Participants were pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years old who attended their first antenatal visit at a gestational age of less than 20 weeks. After counseling, written informed consent was signed after well understood of the study. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of knowledge about cervical cancer, attitudes towards screening and interest in undergoing screening during pregnancy was used.

Results: A total of 384 participants were recruited. The average maternal age was 30 years. Two-thirds (254/384) of the participants had at least a bachelor's degree, and over half (197/384) had a high salary. Only 42.7 (164/384) percent had previously undergone CCS with 70 (115/164) percent screened in the past 3 years. Knowledge scores averaged 8.9 out of 15 with many participants unaware of key facts, including the use of the Pap smear for screening. Although most participants (85.2-97.4%) had a positive attitude towards CCS during pregnancy, only 57(219/384) percent were interested in undergoing CCS during pregnancy. Factors such as prior screening and knowledge level were significant determinants of interest in CCS.

Conclusion: Pregnant women had moderate knowledge and a good attitude towards cervical cancer and CCS. Less than half of pregnant women uninterested in CCS during pregnancy with the reason of prior CCS before pregnancy and inconvenience.