The Outcome of Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer: The Turkish Oncology Group Experience.

Objective: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is generally considered as a poorer prognostic subgroup, with propensity for earlier relapse and visceral involvement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of non-metastatic TNBC patients from different centers in Turkey and identify clinical and pathologic variables that may effect survival.

Materials And Methods: Between 1993-2007, from five different centers in Turkey, 316 nonmetastatic triple negative breast cancer patients were identified with follow-up of at least 12 months.

Breast conservation therapy: the influence of molecular subtype and margins.

Purpose: To evaluate treatment results and prognostic factors, especially margin status and molecular subtype, in early-stage breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation therapy (BCT).

Methods And Materials: The records of 1,058 Stage I or II breast cancer patients treated with BCT (surgical excision plus radiotherapy) at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, from 1985-2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Conventional receptor analyses were used as surrogate markers for molecular subtype classification (luminal A, luminal B, Her2 positive, and basal like).

Validation of the Turkish versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 modules in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To test the validity and reliability of The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core (QLQ-C30) and breast cancer module (QLQ-BR23) for Turkish breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 127 patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) enrolled to this prospective study. EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 modules applied to patients before initiation of RT and at follow-up period.

The interaction between antioxidant status and cervical cancer: a case control study.

Aims And Background: To compare the antioxidant status of cervical cancer patients with healthy controls and to assess the antioxidant levels before and after radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy.

Methods And Study Design: Antioxidant levels (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde) were measured in 35 patients with cervical cancer and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were collected twice (before and after treatment) from cervical cancer patients and once from healthy control subjects.

Does the prognosis of nasopharyngeal cancer differ among endemic and non-endemic regions?

Conclusion: The survival rates and prognostic factors for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) were found to be similar to the published series from endemic regions.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate treatment outcome and prognostic factors of NPC patients treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in a non-endemic region.

Methods: We analyzed clinical characteristics, treatment outcome, and prognostic factors of NPC patients in a non-endemic region, and compared our institution's results with the published literature including a similar patient population from endemic and non-endemic regions.

A comparison of clinical and dosimetric outcomes in patients receiving partial breast irradiation with photon-only versus mixed photon/electron treatment plans.

Several series evaluating external-beam partial breast irradiation (PBI) have linked negative cosmetic outcomes to large normal tissue treatment volumes. We compared patients treated with PBI whose treatment plans included only photons to those whose plans incorporated electrons. Twenty-seven patients were identified: median age 67 years, pT1 82%, pN0 56%, margin negative 100%.

Postoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer: long-term results of 290 patients.

Background/aims: To evaluate treatment results and to identify prognostic factors affecting local-relapse-free (LRFS), disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for rectal cancer.

Methodology: A retrospective review was performed in 290 patients treated between January 1990 and December 2005. Median RT dose was 54 Gy.

Postoperative gemcitabine alone and concurrent with radiation therapy in locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma.

Aims And Background: To evaluate the treatment results of gemcitabine alone and concurrent with radiotherapy after R0/R1 resection of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Study Design: From 1999 to 2005, 55 patients with stage II resected pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine-based radiochemotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. Initially, one cycle of induction gemcitabine was administered and followed by weekly gemcitabine concurrent with radiotherapy.

Evaluation of burnout syndrome in oncology employees.

Burnout is an important occupational problem for health care workers. We aimed to assess the burnout levels among oncology employees and to evaluate the sociodemographic and occupational factors contributing to burnout levels. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, which is designed to measure the three stages of burnout-emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), was used.

Palliative radiotherapy for the skin metastasis of ovarian cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Ovarian cancer which is the most common cause of death among all gynecological malignancies tends to metastasize through peritoneal cavity. Skin metastasis, however, is a very rare clinical entity and related with poor prognosis. We report a 43-year-old patient with recurrent ovarian cancer presented with extensive abdominal skin metastasis approximately 6 years after the initial diagnosis.

Radiation-induced cardiac toxicity after therapy for breast cancer: interaction between treatment era and follow-up duration.

Purpose: Cardiac toxicity after breast radiotherapy (RT) has been widely described in "older" RT trials (i.e., using larger fraction sizes, wide RT fields, and orthovoltage energy).

Multiple spinal metastases of cranial gliosarcoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Gliosarcoma is a rare brain tumor that consists of both glial and mesenchymal components. We report the case of a 68-year-old female with cranial gliosarcoma metastatic to the spinal cord. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with cranial gliosarcoma and treated with surgical resection followed by radiotherapy.