Impact of Serum GDF-15 and IL-6 on Immunotherapy Response in Cancer: A Prospective Study.

Background: Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment; however, predicting treatment response remains challenging. Serum biomarkers can help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

Objective: This study evaluates the relationship between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and treatment outcomes in cancer patients undergoing second-line immunotherapy.

Comparative Analysis of Whole-Body Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and PET/CT in Metastasis Detection: A Prospective Study.

Introduction Tumor staging is essential for determining treatment strategies and predicting prognosis in cancer patients. Accurate imaging techniques are critical for staging, metastasis screening, treatment response assessment, and recurrence detection. Objective In this prospective study, we aimed to compare the sensitivity of whole-body diffusion-weighted imaging (WB-DWI) with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in detecting metastases.

The relationship between clinical prognostic factors, microvascular density, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with CD47 and SIRPα expression in diffuse large B cell lymphomas.

CD47 interacts with signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages to deliver an anti-phagocytic signal, enabling tumor cells to evade immune destruction. This study explores the relationship between CD47 and SIRPα expression and key clinical prognostic factors, microvascular density (MVD), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) cases. We analyzed tissue samples from 122 DLBCL cases using tissue microarray (TMA) blocks and immunohistochemical staining for CD47, SIRPα, CD31, and CD3.

The role of ruxolitinib in the management of acute GVHD.

Background And Objectives: Following an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), a primary cause of morbidity and mortality is still steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD). Recently, ruxolitinib, an oral inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2, was approved for use in individuals suffering from SR-aGVHD. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of ruxolitinib in the real world.

Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Study of the 2022 Outbreak in Turkey.

BACKGROUND Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes serious bacterial illnesses from consuming undercooked meat and foods contaminated with feces. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of an STEC outbreak associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that emerged in Turkey and affected 21 adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS The medical records of 21 adult patients who were admitted to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Internal Medicine Intensive Care Department with the diagnosis of HUS between July and September 2022 were retrospectively evaluated through the system.

Evaluation of Volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Determining the Indication for Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Rectal Cancer.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between volumetric measurements of residual tumor via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologic complete response (pCR) in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Methods: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who had pelvic MRI for clinical staging and completed nCRT followed by radical resection were included. Two experienced radiologists measured tumor volume on MRI obtained before and after nCRT.

Carcinoma erysipeloides, a case-report and review of the sixty-nine cases in the literature.

Background: Carcinoma erysipeloides (CE) is a rare form of cutaneous metastasis appearing similar to erysipelas or cellulitis. Due to its rarity, little is known about CE.

Methods: We here initially reported a case of CE secondary to rectal carcinoma and then reviewed the literature and analyzed the basic characteristics of the cases reported previously.

Prognostic Role of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio at Diagnosis in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: Aim to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at the time of diagnosis, which is an inexpensive and easily accessible parameter, compared to factors known as prognostic value (such as R-IPI and NCCN-IPI) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Aim: Prognostic value of NLR at diagnosis in DLBCL.

Methods: A hundred (100) newly diagnosed DLBCL patients were included.

The impact of the expression level of growth differentiation factor 15 in tumor tissue on the response to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is overexpressed in various cancers and facilitates immune evasion by inhibiting T-cell activation. GDFATHER-TRIAL's phase 2a results demonstrated promising outcomes when combining the GDF-15 neutralizing antibody visugromab (CTL002) with nivolumab, enhancing the response to immunotherapy. This study evaluated the prognostic significance of GDF-15 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor tissues in terms of immunotherapy response.

The impact of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (low) status on the efficacy of first line cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in advanced breast cancer.

The fact that the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low group, historically classified as HER2 negative in breast cancer histology, benefited from HER2-targeted treatments similarly to the HER2-positive group indicates that this group has a distinct histology from the HER2-0 group. The effectiveness of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, which are the standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, in this newly defined histological subgroup remains a topic of debate. In our study, we examined the impact of HER2 status on the efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors.

A propensity score-matched comparison of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin-5FU and carboplatin-paclitaxel in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A Turkish oncology group study.

Background: Neoadjuvant treatment is the standard treatment in locally advanced ESCC. However, the optimal chemotherapy regimen is not known.

Method: This is a retrospective observational cohort study conducted with propensity score matching.

Prognostic Role of OX40, LAG-3, TIM-3 and PD-L1 Expression in Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas.

The current study aims to evaluate the OX40, TIM-3, LAG-3, and PD-L1 targeted pathways in the regulation of T-cell activity in sarcoma patients to determine their relationship with overall survival (OS). This study included one hundred and eleven patients with bone and soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in two centers between 2010 and 2020. OX40, LAG-3, TIM-3 and PD-L1 expression levels were evaluated immunohistochemically from pathology preparations.

Comparison of the second-line treatment efficacy in advanced gastric cancer patients previously treated with taxane-based triplet chemotherapy: a Turkish Oncology Group Study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI and paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) who were previously treated with first-line modified docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (mDCF), or 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, docetaxel (FLOT).

Methods: Patients who received a triplet regimen in the first line setting and were treated with FOLFIRI or paclitaxel in the second-line treatment were included.

Results: The study included 198 patients, with 115 receiving FOLFIRI and 83 receiving paclitaxel.

Investigation of polypharmacy, antimicrobial-related potential drug-drug interactions in patients with hematological malignancies.

Purpose: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) occur when one drug interferes with the pharmacological activity of another and can lead to increased side effects. The purpose of this study was to examine potential interactions between antimicrobials and other drugs in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs).

Method: The medications used by 233 patients with HMs before and during hospitalization in Ankara City Hospital Hematology Clinic services between January 2021 and July 2021 were examined.

Single agent vemurafenib or rituximab-vemurafenib combination for the treatment of relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukemia, a multicenter experience.

Background: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare mature B-cell malignancy that is primarily treated with purine analogues. However, relapse remains a significant challenge, prompting the search for alternative therapies. The BRAF V600E mutation prevalent in HCL patients provides a target for treatment with vemurafenib.

Eltrombopag treatment in thrombocytopenia following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A multicenter real-world experience.

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is among the most common complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity with no standard treatment yet. In this multicenter and retrospective study, we aim to present our multi-center experience of Eltrombopag treatment in patients with isolated thrombocytopenia following HSCT.

Material-method: A total of 73 patients from 5 centers who underwent autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, had no primary disease relapse, all of whom had neutrophil engraftment, complete chimerism, and who were diagnosed with Prolonged Isolated Thrombocytopenia (PIT) or Secondary Failure Of Platelet Recovery (SFPR) were included in the study.

Retrospective Analyses of PD-L1, LAG-3, TIM-3, OX40L Expressions and MSI Status in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

We investigated expressions of PD-L1, LAG-3, TIM-3, and OX40L as immune checkpoint proteins, and MSI (repetitive short-DNA-sequences due to defective DNA-repair system) status were analyzed with immunohistochemistry from tissue blocks. Of 83 patients, PD-L1 expression was observed in 18.1% (n = 15) of the patients.

The relationship between clinical and pathological findings and FDG - PET uptake in metastatic colorectal cancers.

Background: In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the genetic structure and cell metabolism of the primary tumor lesion might be different from metastatic lesions. It is thought that cell-level glucose metabolism may differ due to the difference in RAS wild and mutant mCRC patients' prognosis. In this study, we aimed to compare 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) uptake levels for KRAS mutation status and primary-metastatic tumor localization.

Visceral obesity and sarcopenia as predictors of efficacy and hematological toxicity in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and skeletal muscle area (SMA) index are predictive for efficacy and hematological toxicity in ER + HER2-metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients who received CDK 4/6 inhibitors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 52 patients who were treated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors between January 2018 and February 2021. The values of VAT, SAT, SMA indices and hematological parameters were noted before the start, at the third and sixth months of this treatment.

Prognostic Impact of Bone Marrow Fibrosis and Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on Bone Marrow Fibrosis in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Background: Myelofibrosis is reported in around 40% of newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients and have an important role in the pathobiology and prognosis of CML. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of bone marrow (BM) fibrosis on disease prognosis and the effects of specific tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on BM fibrosis in CML patients.

Methods: The study included 96 patients (>18 years) diagnosed with chronic phase (CP) CML.

Effect of Selective 5-Hydroxytryptamine-3 Receptor and Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists on Hemodynamic Changes and Arrhythmogenic Potential in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Retrospective, Observational Study.

Prior speculation suggests that selective 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptors and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists may increase arrhythmia risk and induce electrocardiographic changes. This study examined the effect of anti-emetic medications on arrhythmogenic potential and hemodynamic alterations. We considered patients aged 18 or above receiving chemotherapy between June 2013 and December 2013.

Prognostic significance of nadir PSA value and time to nadir PSA in patients with metastatic castration-naive prostate cancer receiving first-line hormonotherapy.

Background: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of the time duration to reach the lowest prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from the onset of first-line hormonal treatment (time to nadir PSA, TTNpsa) on survival in castration-naive metastatic prostate cancer (CN-MPC) patients.

Methods: Eighty patients who had PSA response >80% with first-line hormonal therapy (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, LH-RH analog +/- bicalutamide) were included in this study.

Results: Under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a significant positive correlation was found between TTNpsa, nadir PSA (Npsa) duration, and progression-free survival (PFS) ( p < 0.