Impaired coronary flow reserve in metastatic cancer patients treated with sunitinib.

Purpose: Hypertension is one of the major side effects of sunitinib, an angiogenesis inhibitor used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinomas (mRCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Endothelial dysfunction, an early and reversible event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, is suggested to be one of the possible underlying mechanisms of hypertension caused by angiogenesis inhibitors. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurement by trans-thoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) reflects coronary microvascular and endothelial functions, as a cheaper and an easy screening test.

Triplet chemotherapy combination with cisplatin, gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with chemotherapy-naive advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The synergistic effects of new generation chemotherapeutics when combined with cisplatin have encouraged the development of new triplet combination regimens in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of triplet chemotherapy using weekly cisplatin-gemcitabine-docetaxel (CGD) for patients with chemotherapy-naive NSCLC. Twenty-seven patients with stage IIIB/IV disease and performance status of 0 to 2 were included in this prospective trial.

Predictive role of midtreatment changes in survivin, GSTP1, and topoisomerase 2α expressions for pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Introduction: The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of change in the expression levels of survivin, glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), and topoisomerase 2α (TOP2A) on the response to antracyclin-based and taxane-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: This study included 32 locally advanced breast cancer patients. Tumoral expressions of survivin, TOP2A, and GSTP1 in serial biopsy specimens obtained before treatment, after sequential 4 cycles of doxorubicin+cyclophosphomide, and 4 cycles of docetaxel were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Prognostic significance of the metastatic lymph node ratio for survival in colon cancer.

Purpose: The metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) is defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes divided by the total number of lymph nodes removed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the metastatic LNR in patients with colon cancer.

Methods: One-hundred twenty-five patients with stage III colon cancer admitted to the Istanbul University Oncology Institute between 1995 and 2005 were retrospectively evaluated.

Glutathione S-transferase P1 polymorphisms are associated with time to tumor progression in small cell lung cancer patients.

Purpose: Many of commonly used chemotherapeutics in lung cancer treatment are metabolized by glutathione-S transferases (GSTs). The placental isoform of GST (GSTP1) is the most abundant isoform in the lung. Polymorphisms within the GSTP1 may result in alterations in enzyme activity and change sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Polymorphisms in the microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene: role in lung cancer susceptibility and prognosis.

Aims And Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between EPHXI exon 3 Tyr113His and exon 4 His139Arg polymorphisms, predicted microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) activity, and lung cancer development. mEH is a protective enzyme involved in oxidative defences against a number of environmental chemicals and pollutants, but it is also responsible for the xenobiotic activation of carcinogens.

Methods: We investigated the two polymorphisms of the mEH gene (EPHX1) in 58 lung cancer patients and 41 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Lack of diagnostic potential of Dickkopf-1 in colon and rectum cancers.

The Wnt/b-catenin signalling pathway plays crucial roles in development and its aberrant activation is an initial and crucial event in the majority of colon cancers. The Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) gene encodes an extracellular Wnt inhibitor that blocks the formation of signalling receptor complexes at the plasma membrane. Here, we report the serum levels of Dkk1 in colorectal cancer patients without any therapy.

Serum N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide indicates exercise induced augmentation of pulmonary artery pressure in patients with mitral stenosis.

Introduction: To determine whether elevated N-terminal pro-BNP (NT pro-BNP) predicts pulmonary artery systolic pressure increase on exercise stress echocardiography in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis.

Methods And Results: Forty-one asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients to assess the severity of the valve disease and to measure pulmonary artery pressure before and immediately after treadmill exercise.

Variations in systemic biomarkers of oxidative/nitrosative stress and DNA damage before and during the consequent two cycles of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Background: Previous studies have suggested the importance of redox regulation in carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of altered redox homeostasis and oxidative DNA damage in patients with breast carcinoma before and during two cycles of chemotherapy.

Methods: This study included 30 patients whose serum samples were obtained on admission before treatment, and after the first and second cycles of chemotherapy, and 20 controls.

Serum levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in Turkish patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

There exists strong evidence that tumor growth can be actively controlled by the host immune system and interleukins are known to play a significant role in immune response regulation. Inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of lymphomas. This study was conducted to investigate the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (A-NHL) and the relationships with prognostic parameters and therapy.

The effect of glyceryl trinitrate ointment on posthemorrhoidectomy pain and wound healing: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Purpose: Spasm of the internal sphincter may be a source of anal pain and delayed healing after hemorrhoidectomy. This study assessed whether glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment reduces pain and promotes wound healing after hemorrhoidectomy.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted comparing effects of an ointment containing GTN (0.

Statistical interpretation of CA125 and Bcl-2 in serum of patients with late stage ovarian cancer.

Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of serum CA125 and Bcl-2 levels and their combination in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Methods: Healthy controls (n = 117) with no gynecologic problems and patients with ovarian carcinoma (n = 117), pathologically verified, consecutively admitted to the Istanbul University, Oncology Institute during a one-year period were investigated. Serum Bcl-2 and CA125 were determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method.

Serum levels of angiogenic factors in early breast cancer remain close to normal.

The study which we performed was to determine serum concentrations of angiogenic factors including VEGF, angiogenin and TGF-beta 1 in early stage breast cancer patients. These parameters were measured by ELISA in sera of 90 patients with breast cancer and 75 healthy controls. The mean serum VEGF concentration in patients compared to controls was not significantly different (0.

L-myc gene polymorphism and risk of thyroid cancer.

Unlabelled: L-myc gene polymorphism is a representative genetic trait responsible for an individual's susceptibility to several cancers. However, there have been no reports concerning the association between thyroid cancer and L-myc gene polymorphism.

Aim: To analyze the distribution of L-myc gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with thyroid disorders and thyroid cancers.

Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and BCL-2 in malignant melanoma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical regulator of angiogenesis that stimulates proliferation, migration, and metastasis of melanoma. In literature, all studies concerning influences of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and antiapoptotic proteins on VEGF-induced angiogenesis in melanoma patients have been performed in tissue scale in melanoma. The objective of this study was to determine the value of circulating serum VEGF and its possible mechanisms of angiogenesis by circulating VEGF, MMP-3, and Bcl-2 in patients with melanoma.

The diagnostic value of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in gastric cancer.

The present study was conducted to investigate the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of serum MIF, CEA, CA 19-9 levels and their various combinations in patients with gastric cancer. Study group consists of pathologically verified, gastric cancer (n = 63) and apparently healthy controls (n = 50). Serum MIF concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Effect of zoledronic acid on serum angiogenic factors in patients with bone metastases.

In this study we have investigated changes in circulating angiogenic factors after a single zoledronic acid intravenous infusion. Thirty consecutive patients who had histologically confirmed breast (n=20) and lung cancer (n=10) associated with confirmation of bone metastases were included in the study. Serum was also available from 10 healthy volunteers.

Biweekly administration of gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with anthracycline and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

Gemcitabine and cisplatin are the active agents in metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracycline and/or taxane as a second line treatment. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of this regimen given biweekly schedule in these patients. Twenty-seven women, median age 57, with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline and taxane were eligible for enrollment.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cancer.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in patients with colorectal cancer (GIS) and malignant melanoma (MM). The study group consists of pathologically verified colorectal cancer (n = 63) and malignant melanoma (n = 65) patients and healthy controls (n = 25). Serum MIF concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and E-selectin in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Cell adhesion is a basic count in inter- and intra-cellular communication and plays an important role in tumor progression. This study was conducted to investigate the serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and E-selectin in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the relationships with known prognostic parameters and therapy. These serum factors were measured of 57 NSCLC patients pathologically verified before and after chemotherapy in comparison with 24 healthy controls by using ELISA method.

Adjuvant chemoradiation for patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: an expirence of single institute.

Only a small percentage of patients with pancreatic cancer have limited disease suitable for curative resection. Even with surgery, patients often have poor long-term survival due to relapse of the disease. There are controversies about the adjuvant treatment of these patients.

Temozolomide in combination with fotemustine in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Purpose: Temozolomide and fotemustine are both active drugs for treating metastatic melanoma. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with temozolomide + fotemustine in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Methods: Forty patients (median age 50.

Serum levels of apoptosis biomarkers, survivin and TNF-alpha in nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Context: This study was conducted to investigate the prognostic role and the effects of chemotherapy on serum apoptosis biomarkers consisting of survivin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with advanced stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC were enrolled into study. Performance status was 0 or 1 in 47 patients and 2 in 10 patients.

Serum IL-8 and IL-12 levels in breast cancer.

Interleukins (ILs) are known to play a fundamental role in cancer. We investigated the serum levels of IL-8 and IL-12, in breast cancer patients, and their relationship with the prognostic parameters and therapy. Forty eight patients with pathologically verified breast carcinoma and 21 healthy controls were enrolled into the study.

Addition of topotecan to standard cisplatin/etoposide combination in patients with extended stage small cell lung carcinoma.

Background: Topotecan is an active agent for the management of untreated and recurrent extensive-disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a triplet combination with topotecan added to the standard PE regimen in previously untreated patients with ED-SCLC.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients (median age 55 years, and 18 male) with chemotherapy-naive ED-SCLC were enrolled into the study.