The efficacy of immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in patients with advanced rare tumors: A Turkish oncology group (TOG) study.

Introduction: The advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were relatively slow in rare tumors. Therefore, we conducted a multi-center study evaluating the efficacy of ICI monotherapy and the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy (CT) in patients with advanced rare tumors.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included 93 patients treated with ICIs for NCI-defined rare tumors from the 12 cancer centers in Turkey.

Efficacy of subsequent treatments in patients with hormone-positive advanced breast cancer who had disease progression under CDK 4/6 inhibitor therapy.

Background: There is no standard treatment recommended at category 1 level in international guidelines for subsequent therapy after cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6) based therapy. We aimed to evaluate which subsequent treatment oncologists prefer in patients with disease progression under CDKi. In addition, we aimed to show the effectiveness of systemic treatments after CDKi and whether there is a survival difference between hormonal treatments (monotherapy vs.

Real-life experience of patients with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study.

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (sRCC) is a rare variant of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is associated with a poor prognosis. We reviewed the outcomes of patients from oncology centers in Turkey. Our aim is to share our real-life experience and to contribute to the literature.

Efficacy and safety of folfiri plus aflibercept in second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: Real-life data from Turkish oncology group.

Aims: The addition of aflibercept to the fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimen significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) previously treated with oxaliplatin. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of second-line FOLFIRI and aflibercept combination in patients with metastatic CRC in real-life experience.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred and thirty-three patients who treated with FOLFIRI and aflibercept in the second-line were included in the study.

The effectiveness and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: Turkish Oncology Group study.

In our study, we aimed to evaluate the pathological response rates and side effect profile of adding pertuzumab to the treatment of HER2+ locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage breast cancer. This study was conducted by the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) with data collected from 32 centers. Our study was multicentric, and a total of 364 patients were included.

Prognostic Importance of Inflammatory Indexes in Patients Treated by Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic importance of the lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (DNLR), and systemic immune inflammation index (SSI) in STS cases treated with pazopanib.

Methods: Thirty STS patients treated with pazopanib were included in this study. SSI, DNLR, LMR, and NLR values were calculated at baseline and in the first month.

Worse patient-physician relationship is associated with more fear of cancer recurrence (Deimos Study): A study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an important psychological trauma associated with reduction in the quality of life, disruptions in the level of adjustment, emotional distress and anxiety. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of patient-physician relationship on FCR.

Methods: The study was designed as a multicentre survey study.

Addition of taxanes to combination chemotherapy in distal intestinal gastric cancer is more beneficial than proximal ones: A multicenter retrospective study of Turkish Oncology Group.

Purpose: Advanced gastric cancer has a dismal prognosis. Platin/5-fluorouracil (PF) combination chemotherapy is the main treatment modality for metastatic gastric cancer patients. Third drug addition to PF is a controversial issue.

A retrospective analysis on first-line bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitimumab-containing regimens in patients with RAS-wild metastatic colorectal cancer: A Collaborative Study by Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of the first-line treatment of patients with KRAS wild type metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkey who were treated based on regimens including bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study involved a total of 238 patients who received chemotherapy in combination with either bevacizumab or cetuximab or panitumumab as first-line therapy for KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients with full medical records having pathological diagnosis of CRC adenocarcinoma were included in the study.

Effectiveness of bendamustine in relapsed or refractory lymphoma cases: a Turkish Oncology Group study.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and side effects of bendamustine in relapsed/refractory lymphoma patients in Turkey.

Material And Methods: In this retrospective study, we included relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients who underwent multiple lines of chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was to determine the objective response and toxicity.

Perspective of Turkish Medicine Students on Cancer, Cancer Treatments, Palliative Care, and Oncologists (ARES Study): a Study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the World (Rahib et al. in Cancer Res 74(11):2913-2921, 2014; Silbermann et al. in Ann Oncol 23(Suppl 3):iii15-iii28, 2012).

Oncologists’ Perspectives on Consolidation Radiation Treatment after Chemotherapy for Lymphomas: A Survey Study by the Lymphoma Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

In this study, we aimed to determine the perspectives of medical and radiation oncologists regarding consolidation radiotherapy in patients with a complete response after chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The survey was designed to identify demographic and occupational features of medical and radiation oncologists and their views on application of consolidation radiotherapy in their clinical practices, as based on a five-point Likert scale (never, rarely, sometimes, often, and always). The study covered 263, out of 935, physicians working in the oncology field as either medical or radiation oncologists; the rate of return on the invitations to participate was 28%.

Efficacy of metronomic vinorelbine in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and poor performance status.

Background: Metronomic chemotherapy-administration of low-dose chemotherapy-allows for a prolonged treatment duration and minimizes toxicity for unfit patients diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc).

Methods: Oral metronomic vinorelbine at 30 mg thrice weekly was given to 35 chemotherapy-naïve patients who were elderly and vulnerable to toxicity and who had been diagnosed with advanced nsclc.

Results: Median age in this male-predominant cohort (29:6) was 76 years (range: 65-86 years).

Attitudes of cancer patients after diagnosis: How cancer affects social life? A Turkish Oncology Group study.

Purpose: Each year, 12.7 million people learn that they have cancer and 8.2 million people die of cancer worldwide.

Is Change in Hemoglobin Level a Predictive Biomarker of Tyrosine Kinase Efficacy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma? A Turkish Oncology Group Study.

Background: There are insufficient predictive markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: A total of 308 metastatic RCC patients were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: The increased hemoglobin (Hb) group had significantly higher progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) compared with the decreased Hb group at 11.

Ginseng and cancer.

Derived from the Greek word Panacea that means 'cure for all', Ginseng (Panax) has had an important place in Chinese Medicine for many of years. As the name suggests, it is believed to be a miraculous plant effective in the treatment of many health problems. It is claimed to have many effects such as sedative, hypnotic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, diuretic, and stimulating effects, and to be effective in the treatment of certain health problems such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, erectile dysfunction and infections.

Curcumin (Turmeric) and cancer.

Curcumin is a substance obtained from the root of the turmeric plant, which has the feature of being a yellow or orange pigment. It is also the main component of curry powder commonly used in Asian cuisine. Curcumin, a substance that has had an important place in traditional Indian and Chinese medicines for thousands of years, has been the center of interest for scientific studies especially in the field of cancer treatment for several years.

Orbital Metastasis of Multiple Myeloma: Case Report.

A 68-year-old woman with a history of multiple myeloma presented to the clinic with pain and vision loss in her right eye. Proptosis was observed in her right eye and eye movements were restricted in all directions. Best corrected visual acuity was 3/10 in her right eye.

Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) and cancer.

Having a long historical past in traditional Chinese medicine, Ganoderma Lucidum (G. Lucidum) is a type of mushroom believed to extend life and promote health. Due to the increasing consumption pattern, it has been cultivated and marketed intensively since the 1970s.

Tendency of cancer patients and their relatives to use internet for health-related searches: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the habits of using internet by cancer patients and their relatives to access health-related information and services in Turkey.

Methods: An 18-item questionnaire survey was applied in cancer patients and their relatives.

Results: A total of 1106 patients (male, 37.

Do medical oncologists and cancer patients care about treatment costs of systemic anticancer therapy?

Purpose: The incidence, and thus the economic burden of cancer are increasing rapidly with prolongation of lifespan thanks to newly-developed anticancer drugs. Globally the number of newly diagnosed cases is expected to rise to 21.4 million by the year 2030.

Cutaneous melanoma in Turkey: analysis of 1157 patients in the Melanoma Turkish Study.

Purpose: To develop a large Turkish National Melanoma registry in order to define demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with melanoma.

Methods: The data was collected from 1635 patients with melanoma through a web-based registry system in 22 centers. Herein we present the results of 1157 patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Impact of Surgery Type on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: Breast cancer can lead to alterations in quality of life of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in quality of life of the female patients who had undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 250 female patients (breast-preserving surgery (BPS), n=27, 11%; modified radical mastectomy (MRM), n=194, 77%, and simple mastectomy (SM), n=29; 11%) aged between 28-55 years (47.

Serum retinol binding protein 4 level is related with renal functions in Type 2 diabetes.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the metabolic parameters and diabetes complications which would probably affect the serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels in Type 2 diabetic individuals. In addition to serum RBP4 concentration, the levels of its ligands, serum retinol and transthyretin (TTR) were also considered in this evaluation.

Subjects And Methods: Serum RBP4, retinol, and TTR levels were measured in 53 Type 2 diabetic subjects and 30 body mass index (BMI)- matched controls.