A new angiogenesis prognostic index with VEGFA, PlGF, and angiopoietin1 predicts survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background/aim: The role of angiogenic factors in gastric cancer is not clear. We aimed to assess the role of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF) in the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Thirty consecutive patients treated with a modified DCF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil) regimen were included in the study.

Nine weeks versus 1 year adjuvant trastuzumab in patients with early breast cancer: an observational study by the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Background: Optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in early breast cancer is an unresolved issue. In this observational study, we compared the outcome of 9 weeks and 1 year adjuvant trastuzumab in early breast cancer patients in Turkey.

Methods: Records of 680 patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer who received adjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy were obtained and patients were followed up to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) outcome of 9 weeks versus 1 year trastuzumab.

Evaluating coagulation disorders in the use of bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer by thrombelastography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate coagulation disorders in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab by using rotation thrombelastogram (ROTEM(®)) and correlate ROTEM(®) parameters with routine coagulation tests. A total of 18 colorectal cancer patients who received bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy were included. There was no statistically significant difference between results of platelet count, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, and D-Dimer obtained at baseline and on day 1 of chemotherapy cycles 4, 8, and 12.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 decreased after chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Aims And Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the alteration in serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels after chemotherapy and the association between the changes in serum levels of MMP-9 and response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods And Study Design: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and 24 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The patients were treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.

Laboratory investigation of hypercoagulability in cancer patients using rotation thrombelastography.

The goal of this study was laboratory testing for hypercoagulability in patients with solid tumors using rotation thrombelastogram (ROTEM) and correlate ROTEM parameters with routine coagulation tests. A total of 78 untreated patients with cancer were included: 28 gastrointestinal system tumors (group 1), 27 respiratory system tumors (group 2), and 23 miscellaneus group of ovarian, renal, nasopharyngeal, mesothelioma, and unknown origin (group 3). Platelet count was significantly increased in group 2 in respect to group 3 (P < 0.

Prognostic and predictive value of vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 levels in the sera of small cell lung cancer patients.

Objectives: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a rapid growth rate and is characterized by early metastases. Tumor growth is dependent on angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulator of angiogenesis.

Clinical outcome of rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescent and adult patients: single center experience from Turkey.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is rare disease in adults (age >or= 16 years). The data from randomized prospective trials are scarce; the clinical outcome of these patients seems poor with the currently available treatment strategies. In this study, we report a single institution's experience in the treatment of adult RMS.

Skull Base Plasmacytoma in a Patient with Light Chain Myeloma.

Skull base involvement of plasmacytoma is reported in a patient with light chain myeloma. A 39-year-old man was admitted after experiencing paresthesia on the left side of the face and left arm, intermittent diplopia, and hoarseness for 2 years. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large midline mass extending from the middle and posterior skull base into the upper two cervical vertebrae.

Frequency of SOX Group B (SOX1, 2, 3) and ZIC2 antibodies in Turkish patients with small cell lung carcinoma and their correlation with clinical parameters.

Background: Expression of neuroectodermal markers is a key feature of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Although immune responses against a number of these proteins have been associated with paraneoplastic neuronal disease (PND), most patients with SCLC have anti-neuroectodermal antibodies in the absence of PND. Whether these immune responses affect the clinical outcome in SCLC is critical in understanding the potential value of these proteins as cancer vaccine targets as well as in the pathogenesis of PND.

The prevalence and determinants of the use of complementary and alternative medicine in adult Turkish cancer patients.

A study was undertaken to analyze the extent of using complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and to compare sociodemographic and medical characteristics of users and non-users of CAM in Turkish oncology patients. A total of 615 patients with cancer who attended ambulatory patient care units answered the questionnaires. Medical information was reviewed from chart data.

Prognostic features and survival of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma in Turkish patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common in Turkey and its prognosis is poor. In the current study the authors analyzed the prognostic factors and survival in Turkish patients with inoperable HCC with cirrhosis.

Methods: Clinical and demographic data of 91 patients consecutively admitted to the authors' institute from 1988 to 2000 were reviewed.

Second-Line docetaxel and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy: a phase II trial.

Docetaxel has been the only single active agent against chemotherapy-pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel combined with gemcitabine, another effective drug, in patients with NSCLC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Thirty-three patients were enrolled.

Clinical value of protein S100 and melanoma-inhibitory activity (MIA) in malignant melanoma.

Serum protein S100 and melanoma-inhibitory protein (MIA) have been described as useful tumor markers for malignant melanoma. In this study, these two serum proteins were compared in 48 patients with melanoma at different stages of disease. Serum concentrations of S100 and MIA were measured by immunoradiometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively.

Timing of death from tumor recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

In Western literature, there are few studies investigating the predictors of early versus late recurrence after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The current study analyzed (1) patients who died of recurrent gastric cancer and (2) prognostic factors, which can be applied to timing of death from tumor recurrence. Of 492 patients who underwent curative resection (R0) for gastric cancer in the Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty of Istanbul between 1994 and 2000, 142 patients who died of recurrence were included into study.