Molecular Alterations in Paired Epithelial Ovarian Tumors in Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) and adjuvant chemotherapy is a therapeutic choice for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Whether NACT affects the tumor's molecular profile has not been determined.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer treated with NACT at oncology departments affiliated with the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG).

Genetic Testing of Breast Cancer Patients with Very Early-Onset Breast Cancer (≤30 Years) Yields a High Rate of Germline Pathogenic Variants, Mainly in the BRCA1, TP53, and BRCA2 Genes.

Early-onset breast cancer constitutes a major criterion for genetic testing referral. Nevertheless, studies focusing on breast cancer patients (≤30 years) are limited. We investigated the contribution and spectrum of known breast-cancer-associated genes in 267 Greek women with breast cancer ≤30 years while monitoring their clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes.

The Effect of Melatonin Supplementation on Cancer-Related Fatigue during Chemotherapy Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common distressing complaint of breast cancer (BC) patients treated with chemotherapy. Nutritional quality plays a pivotal role in CRF, while increased interest towards new pharmacological agents has been observed. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone that regulates the human sleep-wake cycle, could alleviate CRF.

Concordance between Three Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) Assays in Patients with High-Grade Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Our aim was to evaluate the concordance between the Myriad MyChoice and two alternative homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) assays (AmoyDx HRD Focus NGS Panel and OncoScan™) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Tissue samples from 50 patients with newly diagnosed EOC and known Myriad MyChoice HRD status were included. DNA aliquots from tumor samples, previously evaluated with Myriad MyChoice and centrally reassessed, were distributed to laboratories to assess their HRD status using the two platforms, after being blinded for the Myriad MyChoice CDx HRD status.

Only 32.3% of Breast Cancer Families with Pathogenic Variants in Cancer Genes Utilized Cascade Genetic Testing.

Background: Hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes are responsible for approximately 5-10% of all diagnosed cancer cases. In order to identify individuals at risk in a cost-efficient manner, family members of individuals carrying pathogenic alterations are tested only for the specific variant that was identified in their carrier relative. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical use and implementation of cascade family testing (CFT) in families of breast cancer patients with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (PVs/LPVs) in cancer-related predisposition genes.

Copy Number Variations (CNVs) Account for 10.8% of Pathogenic Variants in Patients Referred for Hereditary Cancer Testing.

Background/aim: Germline copy number variation (CNV) is a type of genetic variant that predisposes significantly to inherited cancers. Today, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have contributed to multi gene panel analysis in clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2,163 patients were screened for cancer susceptibility, using a solution-based capture method.

Guided Imagery and Music in the Treatment for Breast and Gynecologic Cancer: An RCT Pilot.

The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial pilot was to investigate the potential effectiveness of the music psychotherapy method, Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), to assist female patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast or gynecologic cancer. A secondary aim was to suggest performance improvements regarding the protocol and the resources required to undertake a future larger scale study. The researchers randomized participants (n = 20) into two groups: Intervention group (n = 10) and Control group (n = 10).

Clinical Utility of Functional RNA Analysis for the Reclassification of Splicing Gene Variants in Hereditary Cancer.

Background: Classification of splicing variants (SVs) in genes associated with hereditary cancer is often challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of SVs in hereditary cancer genes and the clinical utility of RNA analysis.

Material And Methods: 1518 individuals were tested for cancer predisposition, using a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel of 36 genes.

Real-world clinical outcome and toxicity data and economic aspects in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors combined with endocrine therapy: the experience of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: We evaluated real-world clinical outcomes and toxicity data and assessed treatment-related costs in patients with advanced breast cancer who received treatment with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKi).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a prospective-retrospective analysis of patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer who received a CDKi, in combination with endocrine therapy, at any line of treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Prognostic and predictive factors in patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Background: Recognizing resistance or susceptibility to the current standard cisplatin and paclitaxel treatment could improve therapeutic outcomes of metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods: Forty-five tissue samples from patients participating in a phase II trial of cisplatin and ifosfamide, with or without paclitaxel were collected for retrograde analysis. Immunohistochemistry and genotyping was performed to test ERCC1, III β-tubulin, COX-2, CD4, CD8 and ERCC1 (C8092A and N118 N) and MDR1 (C3435T and G2677 T) gene polymorphisms, as possible predictive and prognostic markers.

A pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking an inguinal hernia: a case report and review of the literature.

A 59-year-old male presented with a painful right inguinal swelling and deep vein thrombosis at the ipsilateral leg. An inguinal hernia was initially diagnosed, but during surgery a large mass was found anteriorly to the peritoneal sheaths. Histology revealed a high-grade pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma.

Human papillomavirus in head and neck cancers: biology, prognosis, hope of treatment, and vaccines.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), especially type 16, are implicated in the development of a subset of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs). This subset of oropharyngeal cancers possesses distinct clinical and laboratory features and outcome, and is particularly common in individuals who lack the traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol abuse. Moreover, the annual incidence of HPV-related HNSCCs has increased in the USA and Europe in the last few years.

Combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, vinorelbine and estramustine phosphate in metastatic androgen-resistant prostate cancer: a single institution experience.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of docetaxel, vinorelbine and oral estramustine in androgen-resistant prostate cancer (ARPC).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two eligible patients were treated with docetaxel at 30 mg/m2 (day 1 and 8), vinorelbine at 20 mg/m2 (day 1 and 8), and oral estramustine of 280 mg p.o.

Testicular function in poor-risk nonseminomatous germ cell tumors treated with methotrexate, paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin combination chemotherapy.

Our objective was to investigate the impact of methotrexate, paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (M-TIP) on long-term fertility in poor-risk nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT). Thirty patients with poor-risk NSGCT (median age, 29 years; range, 17-62 years) were treated with methotrexate 250 mg/m(2) with folinic acid rescue (day 1) and paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) (day 1), followed by ifosfamide 1.2 g/m(2) and cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) (days 2-6).

Solitary spleen metastasis and amyloidosis in a patient with endometrial cancer.

Background: In contrast to autopsy findings, solitary splenic metastases from solid tumors are extremely rare. It may occasionally be the first manifestation of recurrent solid cancers, and in particular of gynecologic malignancies. Secondary amyloidosis is also found in malignancy.