Clinicopathological and survival features of neuroendocrine tumors: A retrospective analysis of 153 cases, our current remarks on a heterogeneous tumor group, and still unmet future expectations.

Objective: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) originate from the diffuse neuroendocrine cell system and constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors exhibiting diverse clinical and biological characteristics. NENs include well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). In the present study, we performed a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with NET to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and outcomes.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-platelet score and prognostic nutritional index: do they have prognostic significance in metastatic pancreas cancer?

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-platelet score (NPS) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as proinflammatory markers in metastatic pancreas cancer (MPC).

Material And Methods: A total of 146 MPC patients followed up at our center were evaluated retrospectively for clinicopathological characteristics and hematological ratios (NLR, PLR, NPS and PNI). PNI was calculated as (10 × serum albumin [g/dL]) + (0.

Evaluation of the effects of red blood cell distribution width on survival in lung cancer patients.

Aim Of The Study: Data are available indicating that red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is higher in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals or benign events. In our study, we aimed to investigate the influence of different RDW levels on survival in lung cancer patients.

Material And Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from 146 patients with lung cancer and 40 healthy subjects were retrospectively studied.

Are neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelet/lymphocyte ratio associated with prognosis in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer receiving adjuvant trastuzumab?

Purpose: To investigate whether the pretreatment neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have any prognostic significance in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer receiving adjuvant trastuzumab.

Methods: 187 patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were separated into two groups according to the mean value of NLR and PLR (low NLR≤2.

Patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer receiving adjuvant trastuzumab: clinicopathological features, efficacy, and factors affecting survival.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics of our early stage breast cancer patients who are epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressed/ amplified (HER2+), the efficacy of trastuzumab treatment and survival results.

Materials And Methods: Patients with HER2- positive early stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant trastuzumab were investigated retrospectively. Clinicopathological features of 210 patients and treatment outcome were analysed.

Hypersensitivity and tumor lysis syndrome associated with cetuximab treatment: should we be afraid?

The majority of the chemotherapy agents in use today cause various infusion reactions, from mild flushing to life-threatening events. The frequency of the reported hypersensitivity reactions induced by cetuximab varies between 3% and 22%. It is recommended in the literature to stop the infusion and replace cetuximab with panitumumab in case of hypersensitivity reactions observed during the treatment of colon cancer.

Prognostic role of pretreatment platelet/lymphocyte ratio in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: It was reported that hematological markers of systemic inflammatory response might be prognostic in various cancer types. We aimed to evaluate the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a prognostic factor and its effect on overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Clinicopathological characteristics and basal (pretreatment) PLR of 145 patients with NSCLC were evaluated retrospectively.

Adjuvant chemotherapy outcomes in patients over 65 years with early stage colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and the outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy of patients with colorectal cancer aged ≥ 65 years.

Methods: Between March 2003 and December 2010, the medical files of 562 colorectal cancer patients ≥ 65 years of age who were under follow-up in Ankara Numune Educational Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, were retrospectively analyzed. Only 210 patients with non-metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and those who had undergone surgical resection were included in the study.

Prognostic factors and adjuvant treatments for surgically treated cancers of the biliary tract: a multicentre study of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology (ASMO).

Background: Biliary tract cancers are rare, and surgical resection is the standard treatment at early stages. However, reports on the benefits of adjuvant treatment following surgical resection are conflicting. This study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting survival and adjuvant treatments in patients with surgically treated biliary tract cancers.

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D status is not related to osteopenia/osteoporosis risk in colorectal cancer survivors.

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer increases with vitamin D deficiency as shown in recently published studies. In addition, prospective investigations have indicated that low vitamin D levels may be associated with increased mortality of colorectal cancer, especially in stage III and IV cases. However, the exact incidence of vitamin D deficiency and the relation between vitamin D deficiency and osteopenia/osteporosis is still not known.

Clinical and pathological features of patients with resected synovial sarcoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare disease and compared with other soft-tissue sarcomas has a relatively high mortality rate. The optimal management of this disease and prognostic factors associated with patient outcome remains controversial.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the outcomes of SS patients in the adjuvant setting.

Treatment and outcomes of Ewing sarcoma in Turkish adults: a single centre experience.

Background: Ewing sarcoma is a small round cell tumor arising from soft tissue and bone that predominantly affects children and adolescents. The most unfavorable prognostic factor is the presence of distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: The records of 26 Ewing sarcoma patients (14 male, 12 female) were re-evaluated retrospectively.

Evaluation of the effect of comorbidity on survival in pancreatic cancer by using "Charlson Comorbidity Index" and "Cumulative Illness Rating Scale".

Background: Effect of comorbidity on the treatments that patients receive is not clear, as healthy elderly patients and the elderly with less comorbid diseases are included in the studies. In the present study, the effect of comorbidity on the survival was evaluated using Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS).

Material And Method: The general features and comorbid diseases of the pancreatic cancer patients were retrospectively screened from the patient files using the automated system.

Evaluation of renal function using the level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is not predictive of nephrotoxicity associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Background: For early detection of renal damage during the usage of cisplatin based chemotherapy, changes in renal function should be monitored carefully. In recent years, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, a small polypeptide molecule, has shown promise as a marker of acute renal failure. The aim of this present study was to assess possible risk prediction of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity using serum NGAL.

Administration of contrast media just before cisplatin-based chemotherapy increases cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Purpose: There is a clinical need to predict the probability of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) in order to make decisions about patient management and relevant preventive measures. The purpose of this study was to develop a risk prediction methodology of CIN.

Methods: 197 consecutive cancer patients, whose serum creatinine was measured at least 48 h before every cycle of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, were included in the study.

Results of adjuvant FOLFOX regimens in stage III colorectal cancer patients: retrospective analysis of 667 patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimens in clinical practice according to their efficacy and toxicity.

Methods: Patients who received oxaliplatin-containing regimens after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma from 10 different oncology centers between May 2004 and December 2009 were included in the study. All patients were treated with FOLFOX regimens.

Long term survivors with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine alone or plus cisplatin: a retrospective analysis of an Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology multicenter study.

Background: The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy has limited impact on overall survival (OS) so that eligible patients should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival in Turkish advanced pancreatic cancer patients who survived more than one year from the diagnosis of recurrent and/or metastatic disease and receiving gemcitabine (Gem) alone or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis).

Is there an association between blood group and survival in pancreatic cancer?

Background: An association between the ABO groups and pancreatic cancer has been shown previously, group A being significantly commoner in affected patients. We conducted the present study to investigate the prognostic effect of ABO blood group on overall survival of pancreas cancer patients.

Methods: Patients who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 with pancreas cancer at Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.

Adjuvant therapy for gallbladder and bile duct cancers: retrospective comparative study.

Purpose: To study the efficacy of adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) in early stages (I-III) of gallbladder and bile duct cancers.

Methods: The clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment details and survival data of patients operated with early stages (I-III) of gallbladder and bile duct cancers and followed up in our clinic between August 2002 - November 2009 were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: 52 patients (median age 64 years) with early stages of gallbladder (n=36) and bile duct (n=16) cancers were analysed.

Comparison of cisplatin-5-fluorouracil-folinic acid versus modified docetaxel-cisplatin-5-fluorouracil regimens in the first-line treatment of metastatic gastric cancer.

Objective: Prognosis of metastatic gastric cancer is poor and median survival is between 3 and 5 months. Response rates of combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin in first-line treatment have been found to be 20-25% in the English literature. It has been demonstrated that adding docetaxel to combination chemotherapy improved time to progression and overall survival.