A retrospective analysis on first-line bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitimumab-containing regimens in patients with RAS-wild metastatic colorectal cancer: A Collaborative Study by Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of the first-line treatment of patients with KRAS wild type metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkey who were treated based on regimens including bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study involved a total of 238 patients who received chemotherapy in combination with either bevacizumab or cetuximab or panitumumab as first-line therapy for KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients with full medical records having pathological diagnosis of CRC adenocarcinoma were included in the study.

Prognostic factors of patients who received chemotherapy after cranial irradiation for non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases: A retrospective analysis of multicenter study (Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology).

Purpose: Almost half of all patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have distant metastases at presentation. One-third of patients with NSCLC will have brain metastases. Without effective treatment, the median survival is only 1 month.

The maximum standardized uptake value of metastatic site in 18 F-FDG PET/CT predicts molecular subtypes and survival in metastatic breast cancer: An Izmir Oncology Group study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between the 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluorodeoxyglucose maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of metastatic sites and molecular subtypes and survival in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Methods: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) was performed in 176 MBC patients before any therapeutic intervention. The FDG uptakes of metastatic sites were evaluated using the SUVmax.

Role of increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and decreased MPV/platelet count ratio as poor prognostic factors in lung cancer.

Objectives: In this study, they investigated whether mean thrombocyte volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio have a prognostic significance in advanced NSCLC or not.

Methods: A total of 496 NSCLC patients at stage IIIB/IV and did not meet exclusion criteria were included in the study. The demographic features (age, gender, smoking habit), clinical characteristics (performance status, weight loss, disease stage, first-line treatment regimen), laboratory tests (levels of hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase and calcium as well as MPV, MPV/platelet count ratio and counts of white blood cell, platelet), and histological features (histologic type, tumor grade) were recorded.

The mean platelet volume may predict the development of isolated bone metastases in patients with breast cancer: a retrospective study of the Young Researchers Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Purpose: To determine the predictive value of the mean platelet volume (MPV) and the MPV/platelet count ratio on the development of isolated bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 121 previously untreated female patients with isolated bone metastases from breast cancer (group 1) were included in this retrospective cohort study. The patients enrolled in this study had similar age, biological subtypes, and duration of follow-up after diagnosis.

Uracil/tegafur as a possible salvage therapy in chemo-refractory colorectal cancer patients: a single institutional retrospective study.

Aim Of The Study: Our aim was to determine the activity and toxicity of uracil/tegafur and leucovorin combination in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who have progressed with all currently active agents.

Material And Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of 50 mCRC patients who had previously failed to respond to all available chemotherapeutics and who received subsequent treatment with uracil/tegafur 250 mg/m(2) d1-5 in combination with leucovorin 90 mg/day, d1-5 followed by two days' rest.

Results: The median age of the patients was 60 years.

The effect of the gastrectomy on survival in patients with metastatic gastric cancer: a study of ASMO.

Aim: To investigate the role of surgical resection of primary tumor on overall survival (OS) in advanced gastric cancer patients at the time of diagnosis.

Patients & Methods: The survival rates of metastatic gastric cancer patients whose gastric primary tumor was resected at time of diagnosis were compared with metastatic gastric cancer patients whose primary tumor was nonresected.

Results: The median progression-free survival and OS in operated and nonoperated group were 10 versus 6, 14 versus 9 months, respectively (p < 0.

Does St. John's Wort cause regression in gastrointestinal system adenocarcinomas?

St. John's Wort (SJW) is an old herb which has long been consumed widely for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-depressive properties. Here we present a detailed clinical evaluation of three cases (two colon and one duodenal adenocarcinoma) with remarkable and intensive lymphoplasmocytic host reaction, at the basal part of tumor, intensive fibrosis, giant cells, plasma cell increase in lymph nodes and few giant cells in germinal centers in resection specimens.

Pretreatment Serum Albumin Level is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients with Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Study of the Turkish Descriptive Oncological Researches Group.

Background: Several prognostic factors have been studied in NSCLC, although it is unknown which is most useful. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether pre-treatment serum albumin level has prognostic value in patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 204 patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC who met the inclusion criteria.

Comparison of first-line bevacizumab in combination with mFOLFOX6 or XELOX in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Currently, there are several oxaliplatin combination regimens for first-line therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this study, we compared the survival outcomes of mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab in combination with either modified 5-FU/FA/oxaliplatin (mFOL- FOX6) or capecitabine/oxaliplatin (XELOX).

Methods: We designed a two-arm retrospective study of mCRC patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum who were treated with bevacizumab and either mFOLFOX6 or XELOX and who had complete clinical and treatment data.

The Case of an Elderly Male Patient with Unknown Primary Mucinous Adenocarcinoma within Presacral Teratoma (Teratoma with Malignant Transformation).

Teratomas are rarely seen in adults, and presacral region is an area where they rarely settle in. Similarly, only about 1% of teratomas show malignant transformation. Malignant transformation is often associated with the area where teratoma settles in.

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Ovary and Its Skin Metastases: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the gynaecological organs affects the uterine cervix and ovary. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ovary is extremely rare, and prognosis is quite poor even when diagnosed at an early stage. These tumours respond poorly to standard chemotherapy regimens.

Hormone receptor, HER2/NEU and EGFR expression in ovarian carcinoma--is here a prognostic phenotype?

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effects of hormone receptor, HER2, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) prognosis and investigate whether or not phenotypic subtypes might exist.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 82 patients who were diagnosed with EOC between 2003 and 2012 and treated by platinum-based chemotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. Expression of EGFR, oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and cerbB2 (HER2) receptors were assessed immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded tissues of these patients.

Second-line capecitabine and oxaliplatin combination for gemcitabine-resistant advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: The role of second-line therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore the second-line efficiency of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have received gemcitabine-based first-line therapy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 47 patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer previously treated with gemcitabine-based first-line regimens.

Prognostic significance of the baseline serum uric acid level in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line chemotherapy: a study of the Turkish Descriptive Oncological Researches Group.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common cancers. Most of the patients are inoperable at the time of diagnosis, and the prognosis is poor. Many prognostic factors have been identified in prior studies.

Is there any effect of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis which proven by Doppler ultrasonography on cancer recurrence in patients with stage III colon cancer? A study of the Turkish Descriptive Oncological Researches Group.

This study aimed to determine the predictive value of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE-DVT) on first cancer recurrence in patients with stage III colon cancer. A total of 113 eligible patients with stage III colon cancer were divided into two groups according to whether they had LE-DVT. LE-DVT was detected in 29 (26%) patients.

The clinical and pathological features of 133 colorectal cancer patients with brain metastasis: a multicenter retrospective analysis of the Gastrointestinal Tumors Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Brain metastasis in colorectal cancer is highly rare. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequency of brain metastasis in colorectal cancer patients and to establish prognostic characteristics of colorectal cancer patients with brain metastasis. In this cross-sectional study, the medical files of colorectal cancer patients with brain metastases who were definitely diagnosed by histopathologically were retrospectively reviewed.

Survival outcomes of liver metastasectomy in colorectal cancer cases: a single-center analysis in Turkey.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze our series of liver resections for metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) to determine prognostic factors affecting survival and to evaluate the potential roles of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-nine patients who underwent metastasectomy for liver metastases due to colorectal cancer at the Department of Medical Oncology, 9 Eylul University Hospital between 1996 and 2010 were evaluated in this study. The patients were followed through July 2013.

Isolated liver metastasis of sacrococcygeal chordoma: case report and review of the literature.

Chordomas are rare neoplasms arising from notochordal remnants and may develop anywhere in the body while the most common anatomic site is the sacrococcygeal area. The most effective treatment of chordoma is surgery. Chordomas rarely metastasize to lung, bone, soft tissue, liver, lymph nodes, and skin.

Capecitabine-related increased mean corpuscular volume of red blood cell may be a predictive marker of treatment response and survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increase has been described in patients treated with capecitabine. In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential association of the erythrocyte MCV increase with tumor response and survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with capecitabine.

Methods: A retrospective review of 131 patients with mCRC who were treated with capecitabine for at least 3 months at the Izmir Training and Research Hospital was undertaken.

Clitoris metastasis from a retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma: A case report.

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare form of cancer commonly found in the retroperitoneum, uterus, stomach, small intestine and vascular tissue. Surgery with a wide margin of resection is the most effective treatment. Nevertheless, metastasis is common and generally occurs within the first 3 years.

The impact of cell proliferation markers and p53 mutation status on prognosis of non-metastatic colon cancer.

Background And Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of cell cycle proteins and p53 together with clinicopathologic features in non-metastatic resected colon cancer.

Methods: One hundred nine patients who were diagnosed with resected colon cancer between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical staining analyses were used to evaluate the expression of cyclins D1 and A, p53 and Ki-67 in tumor tissue.

Synchronous appearance of a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ampulla vater and sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma is a relatively rare tumor and its coexistence with other primary cancers is very exceptional. We present a case of a 63-year-old woman with biliary obstruction due to a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma located in ampulla of Vater who was found to have a synchronous sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma while undergoing staging laparotomy and pancreas head resection. Medical history was significant only for basal cell skin cancer.

The relationship of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome with known breast cancer prognostic factors in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at the time of diagnosis on the known prognostic factors of breast cancer in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Methods: The study included 71 patients with a recent diagnosis of postmenopausal breast cancer, admitted at the Medical Oncology outpatient clinic of the Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital between June 2010 and June 2011. We determined whether the patients had metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance at diagnosis, and recorded known prognostic factors, such as tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, presence of distant metastasis, tumor grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and CerbB-2 status.