Yun La Choi
Sungkyunkwan University · Medicine
About the Lab
Professor Yun La Choi's research lab specializes in molecular and immunohistochemical pathology, with a focus on identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in various cancers. The lab investigates molecular alterations in thyroid carcinomas, renal cell carcinomas, and lung cancers, emphasizing the role of key oncogenes such as MET, ALK, EGFR, and BRAF in tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. A central theme is the application of molecular diagnostics, including liquid biopsy and mutation detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, to improve precision oncology. The lab also explores rare but diagnostically challenging conditions, such as gastric syphilis, highlighting the importance of histopathological awareness in differential diagnosis.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15To examine the immunohistochemical alterations associated with the histological dedifferentiation of thyroid carcinomas, we performed staining for HBME-1, high molecular weight cytokeratin (HCK), CK 19, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and E-cadherin (E-CD) on 125 various types of thyroid carcinomas. The HBME-1 staining was strong and diffuse in follicular carcinoma (FC), papillary carcinoma (PC), and poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), while it was rare in undifferentiated carci-noma (
Although germline mutations of met proto-oncogene on human chromosome 7q31-34 have been known as useful molecular markers of hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the expression of MET, a product of met proto-oncogene, has not been fully studied in sporadic RCC, along with its clinical significance. We inves-tigated the expression of MET by immunohistochemistry in 182 cases of renal neo-plasm encompassing 145 RCC, 25 urothelial carcinomas of renal pelvis, and 12 oncocytomas. MET was d
Liquid biopsy for detection of mutation from circulating tumor DNA is a new technology which is attractive in that it is non-invasive. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is an effective first line drug for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who harbor activating EGFR mutation. During the course of treatment, resistance against TKI arises which can be contributed to EGFR T790M mutation in about 50-60% of patients. Third generation TKI may overcome t
Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) are usually effective in lung adenocarcinoma patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement. However, even after a good response to ALK-TKI therapy, most patients acquire resistance to these agents. Histological transformation is one of several suggested mechanisms of acquired resistance to ALK-TKIs. The clinicopathologic features of four patients with ALK-expressing adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine featu
Syphilis is an unexpected diagnosis in the stomach, and the reduced incidence of syphilis has made its clinical presentation less widely appreciated. We report a 43- yr-old man suffering from epigastric tenderness with an initial diagnosis of gastric carcinoma; gastric syphilis was confirmed by demonstrating spirochetes in a gas-tric biopsy specimen by silver impregnation. Excessive lymphoplasmacytic infiltra-tion with diffuse thickening of gastric rugae should raise suspicion of gastric syphili
Background: Recently, BRAF inhibitors showed dramatic treatment outcomes in BRAF V600 mutant melanoma. Therefore, the accuracy of BRAF mutation test is critical. Methods: BRAF mutations were tested by dual-priming oligonucleotide-polymerase chain reaction (DPO-PCR), direct sequencing and subsequently retested with a real-time PCR assay, cobas 4800 V600 mutation test. In total, 64 tumors including 34 malignant melanomas and 16 papillary thyroid carcinomas were analyzed. DNA was extracted from for
We report an extraordinary case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma arising in a cystic necrotic mass in a 35-year-old man who presented with a soft tissue mass at the site of previous surgery. A benign mass was surgically removed 17 years ago, after which a cystic lesion gradually developed at the same site. The resected mass appeared as a thick-walled cyst filled with brown necrotic and hemorrhagic material. On microscopic examination, the cyst wall was primarily necrotic tissue with some aggrega
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the micrometastasis group with the macrometastasis group, and to analyze clinical and pathological variables to determine what factors might predict non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) involvement in the women with sentinel nodes that contained only micrometastasis. Methods: Between June 2003 and September 2005, 650 patients with primary breast cancer and who underwent a SLN procedure were retrospectively reviewed. Of those 650 patients, 138 patients wit
A case of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the small bowel mesentery with osseous component is reported. A 23-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of acute severe abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large solid and cystic, oval shaped mass, measuring 11.0×6.0 cm in the pelvic cavity. Histologically the resected lesion consisted of sheets of undifferentiated small round cells forming Homer-Wright rosettes and perivascular pseudorosettes, and showed a
Background: Understanding the biologic behavior of a tumor is a prerequisite for tumor registration code assignment. The aim of this report was to propose appropriate behavior codes of the International Classification of Disease Oncology 3 (ICD-O3) to rare, yet pathologically interesting hematopoietic and soft tissue tumors. Methods: The Study Group for Hematopathology, the Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology Study Group, and the Cancer Registration Committee prepared the questionnaire containing pro
Background:Postlaminectomy peridural fibrosis is inevitable. Some studies have compared and identified the effects of high molecular weight hyaluronic acids (HMWHA) and low molecular weight hyaluronic acids (LMWHA) on peridural fibrosis in postlaminectomy animal models. However, no studies have been found that compare pain behaviors between hyaluronic acids or among hyaluronic acids and other solid materials. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between pain-related behaviors
Background: Follicular thyroid tumors harbor several genetic alterations such as RAS mutations and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangement. The aims of our study were to investigate the prevalence of RAS mutations and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangement in follicular thyroid tumors and to correlate RAS mutations and/or PAX8/PPARγ rearrangement with clinicopathologic features in Korean patients with follicular thyroid carcinomas. Methods: RAS mutations were investigated by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing in s
Purpose: The recently developed method of rapid immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to the intraoperative examination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) because as their routine frozen-section examination is liable to yield a false-negative results. This study is devoted to establish a reliable protocol for rapid IHC of SLN. Methods: Between August 2004 and April 2005 a retrospective study was performed. SLNs from 50 breast cancer patients with clinically negative SLN were examined intraoperativel
We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who presented with respiratory failure due to extensive lung adenocarcinoma. Despite advanced disease, care in the intensive care unit with ventilator support was performed because she was a newly diagnosed patient and was considered to have the potential to recover after cancer treatment. Because prompt control of the cancer was needed to treat the respiratory failure, empirical treatment with an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase
Abstract Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key drivers of immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME). In multiple cancer types, increased numbers of Tregs are associated with poor prognosis in terms of both disease progression and patient survival. This includes lung, breast, pancreatic, hepatocellular, renal, gastric, and cervical cancers. Specifically, the subset of Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)+ effector Tregs, distinguished by increased expression of immune checkpoint mole
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