Predictive and prognostic values of BubR1 and synuclein-gamma expression in breast cancer.

The aim of this study is to determine the expression level of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) proteins-BubR1 and synuclein-gamma (SNCG) in human breast cancer tissues and to test whether there is a relationship between their expression levels and clinicopathologic parameters including respons to taxanes, tumor grade, estrogen receptor (ER) pozitivity, HER2 status, and overall survival (OS). We analyzed retrospectively paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 55 breast cancer patients whose clinical outcomes had been tracked after taxane treatment in neoadjuvan and metastatic setting. The expression status of BubR1 and SNCG was defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the anti-BubR1 and anti-SNCG antibody.

Granulomatous slack skin: report of a case with response to electron beam therapy.

Granulomatous slack skin (GSS) is a rare form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, closely related to mycosis fungoides. It is characterized by pendulous skin folds with a predilection for flexural areas. Histology shows an elastolytic granulomatous infiltrate with atypical lymphoid cells.

Pattern and outcome of admission to a medical oncology inpatient service.

Background: Inpatient medical oncology has not been properly described in many countries including Turkey.

Methods: We aimed in this article to describe the admissions to a medical oncology inpatient service within a 2-year period with respect to patient characteristics, their malignancies, and outcome of admission.

Results: A total of 5305 cancer patients were seen at our hospital, and 779 (14.

Temozolomide in combination with cisplatin in patients with metastatic melanoma: a phase II trial.

The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with temozolomide plus cisplatin in patients with metastatic melanoma. Thirty patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled. Treatment consisted of intravenous cisplatin (75 mg/m) on day 1 and oral temozolomide (200 mg/m) on days 1 to 5, every 4 weeks.

Serum levels of leptin and proinflammatory cytokines in advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic roles and the effects of chemotherapy of serum proinflammatory cytokines consisting of IL-6, TNF-alpha, CRP, and leptin levels in patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Twenty-eight patients newly diagnosed of non-surgical advanced non-small cell lung cancer and 15 healthy controls were included. All patients with good performance status were treated with combination therapy consisting of cisplatin plus vinorelbine chemotherapy.

The value of serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and erythropoietin in metastatic malignant melanoma: serum IL-6 level is a valuable prognostic factor at least as serum LDH in advanced melanoma.

In order to study the relation to the metastatic profile and survival, we evaluated the association between pretreatment serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and erythropoietin (EPO) and metastatic distribution and survival in 16 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. IL-6 and TNF-alpha immunoassay (R&D Systems, Inc. Minneapolis, USA) employs the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique.

Apoptosis of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with melanoma.

In cancer, spontaneous apoptosis of circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) is a general phenomenon. In this study we aimed to determine whether spontaneous apoptosis of circulating PBLs of patients with malignant melanoma occurs. Pathologically proven 45 patients with malignant melanoma and 19 healthy controls were included in this study.

Oxidative stress in breast cancer.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the place of oxidative stress on breast cancer. Lipid peroxidation as evidenced by malondialdehyde (MDA) and the status of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were estimated in tissues of 10 fibroadenoma and 40 breast cancer patients. Lipid peroxidation in breast cancer tissues was enhanced compared to nonmalignant tissues (p < 0.

Ewing's sarcoma of the axial system in patients older than 15 years: dismal prognosis despite intensive multiagent chemotherapy and aggressive local treatment.

Background: Older age and axial location of Ewing's sarcoma have been reported as unfavorable prognostic factors.

Methods: The records of patients older than 15 years with the Ewing's family of tumors were reviewed retrospectively. After the induction chemotherapy consisting of alternating vincristine, adriablastin, cyclophosphamide (VAC) and etoposide, ifosfamide with mesna protection (IE), a local treatment modality was chosen based on tumor and patient characteristics.

Serum bcl-2 and survivin levels in melanoma.

This study was conducted to investigate the serum levels of bcl-2 and survivin in patients with melanoma and the relationship with tumour progression and known prognostic parameters. Forty-four patients with cutaneous melanoma were investigated. Serum samples were obtained on first admission before adjuvant and metastatic treatment were given and at follow-up.

Timing of death from tumor recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

In Western literature, there are few studies investigating the predictors of early versus late recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The current study analyzed (1) patients who died of recurrent gastric cancer and (2) prognostic factors, which can be applied to timing of death from tumor recurrence. Of 492 patients who underwent curative resection (R0) for gastric cancer in the Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty of Istanbul between 1994 and 2000, 142 patients who died of recurrence were included into study.

Adult primary extragonadal germ cell tumors: Treatment results and long-term follow-up.

Background: Primary extragonadal germ cell tumors (PEGCT) are rare neoplasms. They have a poor prognosis, different behavior, and natural course compared to their gonadal counterparts. Both primary and salvage treatment of these tumors constitute a challenge.

Adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatinum, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil, and calcium folinate in patients with gastric cancer: a phase II study.

Gastric carcinoma remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Clinical studies have revealed that approximately two thirds of the patients seek treatment for early recurrence within the abdominal cavity. The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate the toxicity, feasibility, and efficacy of adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPCT) with cisplatin, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and folinic acid in patients with stage II-III gastric cancer.

Clinical characteristics of gestational trophoblastic disease at a single institute.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) represent a group of malignancies classified as invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental-site trophoblastic tumors. The overall cure rate in the treatment of this malignant disorder now exceeds 90%. The aim of this study is retrospectively to evaluate the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of single-agent chemotherapy (CT) and combination chemotherapy according to the World Health Organization (WHO) risk groups of gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Anemia in oncology practice: relation to diseases and their therapies.

Anemia is common in patients with cancer and is a frequent complication of myelosuppressive chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced anemia caused by the most common chemotherapy regimens, including the new generation of chemotherapeutic agents, used in the treatment of the major nonmyeloid malignancies in adults. Five hundred fifty-two patients with histologically proven carcinoma originating from breast (n = 165), lung (n = 128), colon (n = 75), ovary (n = 84), and malignant lymphoma (n = 100) were included in this study.

Safety of paclitaxel in a patient with ovarian cancer and hyperbilirubinemia due to Rotor's syndrome.

Background: Rotor's syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by functional hyperbilirubinemia. Treatment decision may be challenging in a cancer patient with Rotor's syndrome, since the majority of the antineoplastic agents are metabolized in the liver and excreted via the biliary system. We report the first case of paclitaxel administration in a patient with ovarian cancer and elevated bilirubin levels due to Rotor's syndrome.