Investigation of the potential of miRNA candidates as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and despite advances in treatment, molecular biomarkers are needed for both early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring. It is known that microRNAs (miRNA), one of the epigenetic mechanisms, are effective in the initiation and development of cancer by regulating the activity of tumor suppressors and/or oncogenes. In this study, the potential of the molecules let-7, miRNA125b, and miRNA30a, which are known to play a role in cellular processes, as biomarkers for colorectal cancer and their molecular mechanisms were investigated in this model.

Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Vitamin B12 and folate are the major micronutrients that play significant roles in DNA synthesis. Epidemiological studies and clinical evidences displayed alterations in serum concentrations folate and of vitamin B12 in various human malignancies, yet their roles in patients with melanoma have yet to be understood.

Objective: To assess circulating vitamin B12 and folate concentrations of patients with melanoma and compare them with other malignant tumors and healthy subjects.

Role of several cytokines and adhesion molecules in the diagnosis and prediction of survival of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Study Aims: There is still need for accurate markers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and assessment of prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate interleukin (IL)-32, IL-1 beta, IL-18, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in the diagnosis and assessment of prognosis of HCC.

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients with HCC and 15 healthy volunteers were enroled into this prospective study.

Circulating serum levels of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in nasopharynx and larynx carcinoma patients.

We aimed to determine the serum levels of angiogenic factors, namely angiopoietins, in nasopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma patients. We also aimed to seek the relation of these molecules with tumor grade and their utility as diagnostic biomarkers. We evaluated angiopoietin 1 and 2 levels innasopharynx and larynx cancer patients before treatment.

For which cancer types can neuron-specific enolase be clinically helpful in Turkish patients?

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in patients with prostate cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer and peripheral nerve tumors.

Materials And Methods: NSE levels were determined by ELISA in the sera of 100 prostate cancer, 47 Hodgkin lymphoma, 35 lung cancer and 35 peripheral nerve tumor patients and also in 132 healthy controls.

Results: The median levels of serum NSE were elevated in patients with lung cancer (p=0.

Effects of intraperitoneal bevacizumab administration on colonic anastomosis and early postoperative adhesion formation.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) bevacizumab on colonic anastomosis and evaluate the effects on early postoperative adhesion formation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 24 mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. Rats were randomly assigned to a control group that received saline (n = 8) or to experimental groups (n = 8 each) that received bevacizumab at a dose of 2.

Markers of bone metastases in breast and lung cancers.

Aim And Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate correlations between serum osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and NTX (Cross-linked N-telopeptides of Type I Collagen) and urinary NTX in breast and lung cancer patients with bone metastases. These four markers are considered to have important roles in bone formation, resorption and metastases.

Methods: Four markers were determined in the sera of 60 breast cancer and 21 lung cancer patients and healthy controls (n=30).

Utility of serum and urine uPAR levels for diagnosis of breast cancer.

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 decreased after chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Aims And Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the alteration in serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels after chemotherapy and the association between the changes in serum levels of MMP-9 and response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods And Study Design: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and 24 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Effect of maximum-tolerated doses and low-dose metronomic chemotherapy on serum vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1 levels in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: Angiogenesis is regulated by a balance of both angiogenic inducers and inhibitors. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of both maximum-tolerated doses (MTD) and low-dose metronomic chemotherapy (LDM) on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and VEGFR1 concentrations in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Forty consecutive patients with advanced stage nonsmall cell lung cancer were included in this prospective study.