The Functional Erythropoetin rs1617640 Gene Polymorphism does not Affect Life Expectancy of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background: A common functional variant (c.-1306A C, rs1617640) in the gene encoding erythropoietin () has been linked to expression of erythropoietin and markers of erythropoiesis. Aim of the current study was the analysis of the role of this polymorphism for long term survival of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Comprehensive geriatric assessment predicts radiation-induced acute toxicity in prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: The purpose of the present prospective study was to evaluate the significance of geriatric conditions measured by a comprehensive geriatric assessment (GA) for the prediction of the risk of high-grade acute radiation-induced toxicity.

Methods: A total of 314 prostate cancer patients (age ≥ 65 years) undergoing definitive radiotherapy at a tertiary academic center were included. Prior to treatment, patients underwent a GA.

BCL2 genotypes and prostate cancer survival.

Purpose: The antiapoptotic B‑cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) gene is a key player in cancer development and progression. A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (c.-938C>A, rs2279115) in the inhibitory P2 BCL2 gene promoter has been associated with clinical outcomes in various types of cancer.

An elevated preoperative plasma fibrinogen level is associated with poor disease-specific and overall survival in breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Plasma fibrinogen plays an important role in the pathophysiology of tumor cell invasion and metastases. High plasma fibrinogen levels have been associated with poor prognosis in different types of cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the preoperative plasma fibrinogen level in a large cohort of breast cancer patients.

The elevated preoperative derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients.

Existing preclinical and clinical data suggest that the presence of a systemic inflammatory response plays a critical role in the progression of several solid tumors. The derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) represents an easily determinable marker of systemic inflammation and has been proposed as a potential prognostic marker. The present study was performed to validate and further clarify the prognostic relevance of an elevated pre-treatment dNLR in a large cohort of European breast cancer patients.