Oncology Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel: the ONCOR Study.

Background: The increased susceptibility of cancer patients to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infections and complications calls for special precautions while treating cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemics. Thus, oncology departments have had to implement a wide array of prevention measures.

Objectives: To address issues associated with cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the implementation of measures aimed at containment of COVID-19 diffusion while allowing continuation of quality cancer care.

Mutational spectrum in a worldwide study of 29,700 families with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

The prevalence and spectrum of germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been reported in single populations, with the majority of reports focused on White in Europe and North America. The Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) has assembled data on 18,435 families with BRCA1 mutations and 11,351 families with BRCA2 mutations ascertained from 69 centers in 49 countries on six continents. This study comprehensively describes the characteristics of the 1,650 unique BRCA1 and 1,731 unique BRCA2 deleterious (disease-associated) mutations identified in the CIMBA database.

The yield of targeted genotyping for the recurring mutations in BRCA1/2 in Israel.

Background: Hereditary breast cancer is predominantly associated with germline mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. A few recurring mutations in these genes were reported in ethnically diverse Jewish populations. Since 2013, most oncogenetic laboratories in Israel adopted a two-step approach for BRCA1/2 genotyping, where the first step is genotyping for 14 seemingly recurring mutations-first-pass genotyping.

Clinical outcomes in patients with node-negative breast cancer treated based on the recurrence score results: evidence from a large prospectively designed registry.

The 21-gene Recurrence Score® (RS) assay is a validated prognostic/predictive tool in ER + early-stage breast cancer. However, clinical outcome data from prospective studies in RS ≥ 11 patients are lacking, as are relevant real-life clinical practice data. In this retrospective analysis of a prospectively designed registry, we evaluated treatments/clinical outcomes in patients undergoing RS-testing through Clalit Health Services.

Inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer in non-Jewish populations in Israel.

Purpose: The contribution of genetic factors to cancer in non-Jewish populations in Israel is understudied. Yet the early, mostly premenopausal age at breast cancer diagnosis is suggestive of an inherited predisposition.

Methods: High-risk cancer cases of non-Jewish origin who were counseled at the Oncogenetics unit, Sheba Medical Center and the oncology institute at the Ziv medical center from January 1, 2000 to December 31 2016 were eligible.

Complications of dysgerminoma: meeting the health needs of patients in conflict zones.

A symptom of prolonged conflict is the destruction of infrastructure and healthcare systems. While the need for acute trauma services is obvious in conflict zones, patients with chronic diseases also require care. This report describes the clinical course of a young teenage girl with a large mid pelvic tumour originating from the left ovary and reaching the umbilicus.

Inheritance of deleterious mutations at both BRCA1 and BRCA2 in an international sample of 32,295 women.

Background: Most BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers have inherited a single (heterozygous) mutation. Transheterozygotes (TH) who have inherited deleterious mutations in both BRCA1 and BRCA2 are rare, and the consequences of transheterozygosity are poorly understood.

Methods: From 32,295 female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, we identified 93 TH (0.

[EFFECT OF YOUNG AGE ON CLINICAL, PATHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER].

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the Western World and in Israel. Most patients with colon cancer are older than 50 years of age. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the behavior of this disease in young patients.

Anti-atherogenic properties of high-density lipoproteins in psychiatric patients before and after two months of atypical anti-psychotic therapy.

Some of the medications used for the management of schizophrenia are associated with clinically significant increases in weight and adverse alterations in serum lipid levels. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of short-term (two months) treatment with atypical anti-psychotics on coronary heart disease risk factors, including the functional properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), in psychiatric patients. Nineteen patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and bipolar disorder and ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study.

Bleomycin-induced pneumonitis in three patients treated with chemotherapy for primary advanced seminoma.

Purpose: Bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatinum (BEP) comprise the most common regimen in the treatment of advanced testicular tumors, including seminoma. Common side effects are of hematologic, renal, and cardiovascular origin. One of the most prominent side effects is pulmonary toxicity attributed to bleomycin.

An original phylogenetic approach identified mitochondrial haplogroup T1a1 as inversely associated with breast cancer risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers.

Introduction: Individuals carrying pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are involved in DNA double-strand break repair, DNA alterations that can be caused by exposure to reactive oxygen species, a main source of which are mitochondria. Mitochondrial genome variations affect electron transport chain efficiency and reactive oxygen species production.

Association of type and location of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations with risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Importance: Limited information about the relationship between specific mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) and cancer risk exists.

Objective: To identify mutation-specific cancer risks for carriers of BRCA1/2.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Observational study of women who were ascertained between 1937 and 2011 (median, 1999) and found to carry disease-associated BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Identification of six new susceptibility loci for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 12 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) susceptibility alleles. The pattern of association at these loci is consistent in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers who are at high risk of EOC. After imputation to 1000 Genomes Project data, we assessed associations of 11 million genetic variants with EOC risk from 15,437 cases unselected for family history and 30,845 controls and from 15,252 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers (3,096 with ovarian cancer), and we combined the results in a meta-analysis.

Genotyping of geographically diverse Druze trios reveals substructure and a recent bottleneck.

Druze individuals rarely marry outside their faith (often practicing consanguinity) and are thus believed to form a genetic isolate. To comprehensively characterize the genetic structure of the Druze population, we recruited and genotyped 40 parent-offspring trios from the Upper Galilee in Israel and the Golan Heights, attempting to capture different extended families (clans) across various geographical locations. Principal component (PC) and ADMIXTURE analyses demonstrated that Druze are close to, yet distinct from, other Middle-Eastern groups (Bedouins and Palestinians), supporting the Druze's Middle-Eastern origin and their recent genetic isolation.

Lack of HER-2 gene amplification and association with pathological and clinical characteristics of differentiated thyroid cancer.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is a well recognized prognostic and predictive factor in breast cancer. However, the role of HER-2 in thyroid cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate HER-2 expression in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and determine whether there is an association with other clinical and pathological characteristics.

Radiotherapy for Stage IIA seminoma: The Northern Israel Oncology Center Experience, 1971-2010.

Aim: To evaluate treatment details, outcome, relapse rate and side-effects in Stage IIA seminoma irradiated and followed for a period of 39 years.

Background: Seminoma is a very radiosensitive disease and radiation therapy alone is able to achieve long-term disease-free survival, even in advanced Stage disease. Due to the lack of long-term prospective studies, it is of value to follow patients and try to determine the appropriate volume to be irradiated and the dose which can achieve total cure with minimal acute and chronic side-effects.

Cisplatin based chemotherapy in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma refractory to I131 treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of cisplatin based chemotherapy in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer refractory to radioactive iodine (I131).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 20 patients with advanced thyroid cancer treated with cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) on day 1, doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2) day 1 and cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) day 1 of a 21 days cycle community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or the same regimens without cyclophosphamide adriamycin and Platinum (AP).

Results: Median age of patients was 65 years (range 54-80).

Anaplastic variant of classical seminoma of the testis: northern Israel oncology center experience and brief review of literature.

Objectives: There are only sporadic reports on the clinical behavior and appropriate treatment of anaplastic seminoma. This retrospective study summarizes our experience with the anaplastic variant of classical (typical) seminoma.

Methods: Between 1986 and 2006, seven anaplastic seminoma patients were staged and treated at the Northern Israel Oncology Center.

Arterial elasticity in obese subjects with coronary slow flow phenomenon.

Background: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is a functional and structural disease that is diagnosed by coronary angiogram.

Objectives: To evaluate the possible association between CSFP and small artery elasticity in an effort to understand the pathogenesis of CSFP.

Methods: The study population comprised 12 patients with normal coronary arteries and CSFP and 12 with normal coronary arteries without CSFP.

Is salivary pH a marker of depression among older spousal caregivers for cancer patients?

The pH in saliva, which decreases due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, may serve as a biomarker of psychological distress in caregivers but has rarely been studied in this context. The aims are to examine the levels of salivary pH as a possible biomarker of depression among caregivers and whether depression mediates the association between caregiving status (cancer caregivers vs. non-cancer caregivers) and pH levels.

Haplotype analysis of the 185delAG BRCA1 mutation in ethnically diverse populations.

The 185delAG* BRCA1 mutation is encountered primarily in Jewish Ashkenazi and Iraqi individuals, and sporadically in non-Jews. Previous studies estimated that this is a founder mutation in Jewish mutation carriers that arose before the dispersion of Jews in the Diaspora ~2500 years ago. The aim of this study was to assess the haplotype in ethnically diverse 185delAG* BRCA1 mutation carriers, and to estimate the age at which the mutation arose.

Recurrent germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in high risk families in Israel.

The spectrum of germline mutations among Jewish non Ashkenazi high risk breast/ovarian cancer families includes a few predominant mutations in BRCA1 (185delAG and Tyr978X) and BRCA2 (8765delAG). A few additional recurring mutations [A1708E, 981delAT, C61G (BRCA1) R2336P, and IVS2 + 1G > A (BRCA2)] have been reported in Jewish non Ashkenazi families. The 4153delA*BRCA1 C61G*BRCA1 and the 4075delGT*BRCA2 has been reported to recur in Russian/Polish non Jews and Ashkenazim, respectively.

First-line treatment with capecitabine combined with irinotecan in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma: a phase II study.

Goals: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of capecitabine with irinotecan as first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: The addition of irinotecan to infusional 5 fluorouracil and leucovorin significantly improves the response rate and survival compared with 5 fluorouracil/leucovorin alone in metastatic colorectal cancer. Capecitabine with irinoteacan was reported to yield comparable results in phase II studies.

Curcuma as a functional food in the control of cancer and inflammation.

Purpose Of Review: Several nutritional compounds are the focus of public attention because of their potential beneficial health effects. Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root Curcuma longa. Extensive research over the past half century and especially in recent years has revealed important functions of curcumin and a timely review of clinical state-of-the-art using curcumin.