Immunohistochemical HER2 Status Evaluation in Breast Cancer Pathology Samples: A Multicenter, Parallel-Design Concordance Study.

Objective: As patients with increased human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) overexpression are more likely to benefit from trastuzumab treatment, the accuracy of HER2 receptor status in breast cancer patients is significant for appropriate disease management. However, this assessment is not harmonized and results may be highly variable between centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of interlaboratory variability in the results of HER2 expression reported by 5 participating centers and to assess the concordance between these centers and a reference laboratory.

Diagnostic serum vitamin D level is not a reliable prognostic factor for resectable breast cancer.

Aim: There are inconsistent results about the effects of vitamin D level on breast cancer prognosis. We aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D levels on the prognosis of resectable breast cancer in a patient group with highly different clothing styles.

Patients & Methods: A total of 186 breast cancer patients were enrolled in the study.

Breast cancer survivors suffer from persistent postmastectomy pain syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder (ORTHUS study): a study of the palliative care working committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Purpose: Persistent postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is one of the most important disturbing symptoms. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which is characterized by reactions to reminders of the trauma that has been experienced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictors of PMPS and PTSD in Turkish breast cancer survivors and the correlation between PMPS and PTSD.

The Outcome of Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer: The Turkish Oncology Group Experience.

Objective: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is generally considered as a poorer prognostic subgroup, with propensity for earlier relapse and visceral involvement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of non-metastatic TNBC patients from different centers in Turkey and identify clinical and pathologic variables that may effect survival.

Materials And Methods: Between 1993-2007, from five different centers in Turkey, 316 nonmetastatic triple negative breast cancer patients were identified with follow-up of at least 12 months.

Nine weeks versus 1 year adjuvant trastuzumab in patients with early breast cancer: an observational study by the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Background: Optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in early breast cancer is an unresolved issue. In this observational study, we compared the outcome of 9 weeks and 1 year adjuvant trastuzumab in early breast cancer patients in Turkey.

Methods: Records of 680 patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer who received adjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy were obtained and patients were followed up to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) outcome of 9 weeks versus 1 year trastuzumab.

Is obesity always a risk factor for all breast cancer patients? c-erbB2 expression is significantly lower in obese patients with early stage breast cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index and lipid profiles with breast cancer prognosis together with the relationship of these parametres with known breast cancer prognostic indices including c-erbB2 expression.

Patients And Methods: Four hundred and thirty-three patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology made up the study population. The primary endpoints were relapse and death.

ABO and Rh blood groups and risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Previous studies have observed an association between ABO blood group and risk for certain gastrointestinal malignancies, including pancreatic and gastric cancer. However, it is unclear whether there is such an association with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, possible relationships between ABO blood groups and Rh factor and KRAS status in patients with CRC were investigated.

Adjuvant oral etoposide plus cisplatin (EoP) following sequential doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) and docetaxel (T) in early breast cancer patients with 4 or more positive lymph nodes (10 years follow-up).

Background And Objectives: Previous reports suggest that including cisplatin plus etoposide in the adjuvant treatment may improve the outcomes in patients with early breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Forty-one patients with early breast cancer and 4 or more positive lymph nodes were treated with 3 cycles of EoP (oral etoposide plus cisplatin) in addition to 3 cycles of AC (doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide) and 3 cycles of T (docetaxel) (Group 1). Toxicity and survival results were compared to those with similar disease characteristics who were treated with 4 cycles of AC plus 4 cycles of T (Group 2) during the same period.

Long-term outcome of mesna, ifosfamide, mitoxantrone, etoposide (MINE) regimen as a consolidation in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma responding to CHOP.

In aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), CHOP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone) regimen has been standard for decades, and rituximab has increased response rates and survival in CD20 positive patients, recently. The aim of this prospective trial was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and toxicity of MINE as a consolidation treatment in aggressive NHL patients who had achieved CR or unproven CR after six cycles of CHOP in the first line setting. The primary end-point was disease-free-survival (DFS).

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) increases the efficacy of cisplatinum plus gemcitabine combination in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: In this non-randomized study we aimed to assess the efficacy of the addition of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatinum (CDDP) combination chemotherapy on survival by prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC).

Patients And Methods: Between November 1999 and February 2004, 69 consecutive patients with APC were treated with GEM (800 mg/m2, day 1, day 8) plus CDDP (35 mg/m2, day 1, day 8) every 21 days +/-LMWH (nadroparine calcium, 2,850 IU/day until disease progression). Ten out of 35 patients in LMWH group and 10 out of 34 patients in chemotherapy alone group had primary inoperable locally advanced disease and the rest of the patients had metastatic disease.

Divided dose of cisplatin combined with gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but notoriously chemoresistant tumor. An impressive activity of gemcitabine and cisplatin combination in malignant mesothelioma has been shown. However, the hematological toxicity and nephrotoxicity related to this regimen affect the patient's life negatively.

Expression of p53 protein and DNA flow cytometry in gastric adenocarcinoma: implications in patients treated with adjuvant etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin.

Aims And Background: We evaluated the prognostic value of p53 protein, DNA content and S-phase fraction in patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the gastroesophageal junction treated with adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin.

Methods And Study Design: Thirty-five consecutive patients with stage II or III gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma treated with at least two cycles of adjuvant etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin after curative gastric resection were included. The expression of p53 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and DNA content by flow cytometry.

Activity of irinotecan, cisplatin and dacarbazine (CPD) combination in previously treated patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: Irinotecan is an active drug after fluorouracil (FU) failure in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Also a modest activity of cisplatin and dacarbazine combination in FU resistant patients have been reported. We aimed to assess the efficacy of irinotecan, cisplatin and dacarbazine combination in previously treated patients with measurable advanced CRC.