SPARC: As a prognostic biomarker in rectal cancer patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study is to search the prognostic value of SPARC expression in rectum cancer cases receiving postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods: Forty three rectal cancer patients are recruited to this retrospective study. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy which the median dose was 5040 cGy and concomitant chemotherapy.

Catalase, carbonic anhydrase and other biochemical parameters in esophageal cancers in Turkey.

Purpose: The main aim of our investigation is to show possible changes in antioxidant balance and selected biochemical parameters in esophageal cancers.

Materials And Methods: This study was performed for the determination of levels in 25 patients diagnosed as having cancer in the Yuzuncu Yil University (Medical Oncology) and 15 healthy volunteers at same department with negative cancer signs.

Results: The activity levels of catalase of sick and health groups were 33.

Prognostic factors and COX-2 expression in advanced stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in various types of human malignancies, including squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus, but its clinicopathologic role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze expression of COX-2 in ESCC and to correlate this expression with clinicopathologic parameters and survival. From 1999 to 2003, endoscopic tissue samples from 110 patients with ESCC were collected for analysis.

Analysis of survival factors in patients with advanced-stage gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Prognosis in patients with gastric cancer is determined by the tumor itself, as well as certain patient-related factors.

Material/methods: In this study, 138 patients with high-grade gastric adenocarcinoma who were admitted to our hospital between September 1999 and April 2002 were retrospectively evaluated in terms of the effects of clinicopathological parameters and treatment approaches on survival by single and multiple variable analyses. Patients histopathologically diagnosed as having gastric adenocarcinomas with stage IV M0 (without distant organ metastasis) or stage IV M1, (with distant organ metastasis) were included in the study.

Incidence of renal insufficiency in cancer patients.

The frequency of chronic renal insufficiency among cancer patients is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of impaired renal function within a population of cancer patients. One thousand two hundred seventeen patients (563 women, 654 men) with cancer underwent serum creatinine concentration and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) evaluations.

Deep intracranial extension of squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp.

We report a case of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the scalp with deep cerebral invasion in a 15-year-old girl. Plain films and CT showed extensive, full thickness, and skull destruction at the vertex. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI revealed neoplastic invasion of the meninges and both cerebral hemispheres down to the lateral ventricle.

An accelerated radiotherapy scheme using a concomitant boost technique for the treatment of unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: We designed a phase II trial for evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of an accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy scheme for the treatment of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Thirty patients with unresectable stage IIIA/IIIB NSCLC were prospectively enrolled in this protocol. All patients were scheduled to receive 15 fractions of conventional radiotherapy in doses of 1.