Pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer - single hospital experience.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer is a heterogeneous molecular subtype of BC. Pathological complete response (pCR) is an important surrogate marker for recurrence-free and overall survival.

Aim Of Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and pathological factors that are associated with complete pathological response status in triple-negative breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Ilixadencel, a Cell-based Immune Primer, plus Sunitinib Versus Sunitinib Alone in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Randomized Phase 2 Study.

Background: The prognosis of patients with synchronous metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is poor. Whereas single-agent tyrosine kinase inhibition (TKI) is clearly insufficient, the effects can be enhanced by combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Innovative treatment options combining TKI and other immune-stimulating agents could prove beneficial.

Ultrasound guided needle biopsy of axilla to evaluate nodal metastasis after preoperative systemic therapy in cohort of 106 breast cancers enriched with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers.

Background: Aim of the study is to evaluate the role of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the restaging of node positive breast cancer after preoperative systemic therapy (PST).

Methods: From January 2016 - October 2020 106 node positive stage IIA-IIIC breast cancer cases undergoing PST were included in the study. 18 (17 %) were carriers of pathogenic variant in BRCA1/2.

Care of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer stage III - the Central European real-world experience.

Background Management of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is affected by regional specificities. The present study aimed at determining diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including outcome of patients with NSCLC stage III in the real-world setting in Central European countries to define areas for improvements. Patients and methods This multicentre, prospective and non-interventional study collected data of patients with NSCLC stage III in a web-based registry and analysed them centrally.

High expression of GLI1 is associated with better survival in advanced SCLC.

Aim: Aberrant Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway signaling has been described in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), as well discrepancies, when analyzing expression of pathway components in SCLC cell lines vs tumor biopsies. Shh key component GLI1 was evaluated in advanced SCLC and data correlated with patient survival.

Materials And Methods: GLI1 expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in pre-treatment fresh frozen tumor biopsies of 12 advanced SCLC patients and mRNA level of GLI1 was compared in short-term vs long-term survivor's samples (stratified by median survival, independent samples t-test).

Deletions in metastatic colorectal cancer with chromothripsis.

Aim: In our previously reported study, we found a correlation between DNA massive fragmentation and increased progression free survival (PFS) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but not overall survival. The aim of this study is to find overlapping deleted genome regions in selected mCRC patients with chromothripsis and detect possible cause of increased PFS, and find new genes or combinations, involved in colorectal cancer oncogenesis. Materials and Methods: 10 mCRC patients with chromothripsis receiving 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, leucovorin (FOLFOX) first-line palliative chemotherapy between August, 2011 and October, 2012 were selected for this study.

High frequency of pathogenic non-founder germline mutations in and in families with breast and ovarian cancer in a founder population.

Background: Pathogenic founder mutations (c.4035delA, c.5266dupC) contribute to 3.

Erlotinib as single agent first line treatment in locally advanced or metastatic activating EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma (CEETAC): an open-label, non-randomized, multicenter, phase IV clinical trial.

Background: Erlotinib is approved for the first line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Since the number of prospective studies in Caucasian patients treated in routine clinical setting is limited we conducted a multicenter, phase IV clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of erlotinib and to demonstrate the feasibility of the validated standardized companion diagnostic method of EGFR mutation detection.

Methods: 651 chemonaive, cytologically or histologically verified advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma patients from Hungary, Turkey and Latvia were screened for exon19 microdeletions and exon21 L858R EGFR mutations using the companion diagnostic EGFR test.

Duration of previous treatment as a prognostic factor in metastatic colorectal cancer treated with trifluridine/tipiracil.

We herein describe the findings from the trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) Compassionate Use program in Latvia, set up prior to marketing authorization for the management of pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in patients with refractory mCRC were evaluated in the phase III trial RECOURSE. A previous report confirmed neutropenia and duration of previous treatment for mCRC as prognostic factors in TAS-102 users.

Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in BRCA1-positive breast cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis and literature review.

Background: There is increasing evidence of high platinum sensitivity in -associated breast cancer. However, evidence from randomized trials is lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of platinum-based chemotherapy for BRCA1-positive breast cancer in a neoadjuvant setting.

Chromothripsis and progression-free survival in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Metastatic dissemination of the primary tumor is the major cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Multiple chromosomal breaks and chromothripsis, a phenomenon involving multiple chromosomal fragmentations occurring in a single catastrophic event, are associated with cancer genesis, progression and developing of metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chromothripsis and total breakpoint count (breakpoint instability index) on progression-free survival (PFS).

ESMO / ASCO Recommendations for a Global Curriculum in Medical Oncology Edition 2016.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) are publishing a new edition of the ESMO/ASCO Global Curriculum (GC) thanks to contribution of 64 ESMO-appointed and 32 ASCO-appointed authors. First published in 2004 and updated in 2010, the GC edition 2016 answers to the need for updated recommendations for the training of physicians in medical oncology by defining the standard to be fulfilled to qualify as medical oncologists. At times of internationalisation of healthcare and increased mobility of patients and physicians, the GC aims to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to all patients wherever they live.

Underestimated survival predictions of the prognostic tools Adjuvant! Online and PREDICT in BRCA1-associated breast cancer patients.

BRCA1-associated breast cancer is considered an unique clinical entity with its own specific histopathological characteristics. Several recently published large studies have shown that overall survival of BRCA1 mutation carriers having breast cancer is similar to sporadic breast cancer patients. It was also suggested that better response to chemotherapy is one of the most important factors that improves the clinical outcome of breast cancers with unfavorable histopathological subtypes in BRCA1 mutation carriers.

FOLFOX4 plus cetuximab administered weekly or every second week in the first-line treatment of patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase II CECOG study.

Background: This randomized phase II study investigated first-line chemotherapy plus cetuximab administered every second week in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients received FOLFOX4 plus either standard weekly cetuximab (arm 1) or cetuximab (500 mg/m(2)) every second week (arm 2), until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary end point was the objective response rate (ORR).

Cell-free microRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for over 1.37 million deaths annually. The clinical outcome and management of lung cancer patients could be substantially improved by the implementation of non-invasive biomarker assays for the early detection, prognosis as well as prediction and monitoring of treatment response.

Optimizing treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the Central and Eastern European region.

Introduction: Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine represent a collection of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in which the epidemiology and treatment of cancer varies greatly between and within countries. Current challenges include non-adherence to current treatment guidelines, restrictions in access and reimbursement for new therapies, and a lack of basic oncology programs. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a malignancy with historically poor prognosis.

Genotype-phenotype correlations among BRCA1 4153delA and 5382insC mutation carriers from Latvia.

Background: Mutations in the high penetrance breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 account for a significant percentage of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer cases. Genotype-phenotype correlations of BRCA1 mutations located in different parts of the BRCA1 gene have been described previously; however, phenotypic differences of specific BRCA1 mutations have not yet been fully investigated. In our study, based on the analysis of a population-based series of unselected breast and ovarian cancer cases in Latvia, we show some aspects of the genotype-phenotype correlation among the BRCA1 c.

Therapy of small cell lung cancer with emphasis on oral topotecan.

Systemic chemotherapy plays the major role in the management of patients with small cell lung cancer. Cisplatin plus etoposide is the most widely used regimen and is considered as standard in patients with limited disease. Cisplatin plus irinotecan improved survival compared to cisplatin plus etoposide in a Japanese trial but failed to do so in two trials in Caucasians.

Current standards in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with focus on Lapatinib: a review by a Central European Consensus Panel.

In breast cancer, early detection as well as new developments in therapeutic options has resulted in less patients presenting with metastatic disease. However, about one-third of women with early stage breast cancer will eventually develop metastatic disease. Furthermore, approximately 20-30% of patients with breast cancer have tumors that overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2), which is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis.