Discoidin domain receptor 1 as a promising biomarker for high-grade gliomas.

Background: Two fundamental challenges in the current therapeutic approach for central nervous system tumors are the tumor heterogeneity and the absence of specific treatments and biomarkers that selectively target the tumor tissue. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential relationship between discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) expression and the prognosis and characteristics of glioma patients. Materials and Methods: Tissue and serum samples from 34 brain tumor patients were evaluated for DDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in comparison to 10 samples from the control group, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis has performed. Results: DDR1 expression was observed in both tissue and serum samples of the patient and control groups. DDR1 expression levels in tissue and serum samples from patients were higher in comparison to the control group, although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A significant correlation between tumor size and DDR1 serum measurements at the level of 0.370 was reported (r = 0.370; P = 0.034). The levels of DDR1 in serum showed a positive correlation with the increasing size of tumor. The results of the 5-year survival analysis depending on the DDR1 tissue levels showed a significantly higher survival rate (P = 0.041) for patients who have DDR1 tissue levels above cutoff value. Conclusions: DDR1 expression was significantly higher among brain tumor tissues and serum samples and its levels showed a positive correlation with the increased size of tumor. This study can be a starting point, since it investigated and indicated, for the first time, that DDR1 can be a novel therapeutic and prognostic target for aggressive high-grade gliomas.

Strongyloides stercoralis infestation mimicking recurrence of ovarian cancer in the liver.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer and can recur in most cases. Surgery is an option for recurrent ovarian cancer. Parasitic infestation disseminated in an immunocompromised host can be fatal. The case is here presented of a female patient diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy was initiated for treatment. At the follow-up examination, masses in the liver suggestive of recurrence were detected on positron emission tomography computed tomography. Surgery was performed. A Strongyloides stercoralis infestation mimicking relapsing ovarian cancer in the liver was diagnosed.

Efficacy of Palbociclib and Endocrine Treatment in Heavily Pretreated Hormone Receptor-positive/HER2-negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Retrospective Multicenter Trial

Background: The synthesis of CDK4/6 inhibitors with endocrine treatment in two series of treatment has been widely accepted as the standard for patients with estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. In spite of this, the activity of CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have progressed despite receiving multiple lines of treatment is not well understood. Aims: To report the activity and safety of a CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib) in patients in whom at least three lines of treatment for ER+ metastatic breast cancer had failed. Study Design: Multicenter retrospective observational cohort study. Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, we included 43 patients who received palbociclib after at least three lines of systemic treatment for ER+/HER2− metastatic breast cancer. Results: The median progression-free survival in our population was 7 months (25th-75th percentile, 4-10), and the median overall survival was 11 months (25th-75th percentile, 6-19). Although there were some adverse events, palbociclib was generally well tolerated, so dose reduction was needed for only six patients (14%). Conclusion: The efficacy of palbociclib among heavily treated hormone receptor-positive/HER2− patients with advanced breast cancer was acceptable in terms of clinical benefit, and it was generally well tolerated among this population.

Addition of taxanes to combination chemotherapy in distal intestinal gastric cancer is more beneficial than proximal ones: A multicenter retrospective study of Turkish Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: Advanced gastric cancer has a dismal prognosis. Platin/5-fluorouracil (PF) combination chemotherapy is the main treatment modality for metastatic gastric cancer patients. Third drug addition to PF is a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of tumor localization and histopathology on choosing three- or two-drug combination regimens. METHODS: This study was designed as a hospital-based retrospective observational case-series study. A total of 516 patients with advanced gastric cancer has been treated at eight different oncology centers in Turkey between 2006 and 2016. Laboratory results and demographic data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The median patient age was 59 years (range 25-85). Proximal intestinal and distal intestinal cancers were found in 357 (69.2 %) and 159 (30.8 %) patients, respectively. 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin (PF) and cisplatin+5FU+docetaxel (PFtax, also known as DCF) were administered to 240 (46.5%) and 276 (53.5%) patients, respectively. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.0 (95% CI 4.21-5.29) and 8 months (95% CI 7.22-8.77) for PF and PFtax groups, respectively (p=0.000). When tumor localization was used as stratum in PFS survival, PFtax produced significantly higher PFS rates only in distal intestinal type gastric cancer compared to PF (p=0.000). Median overall survival (OS) was 12 (95% CI 9.8-14.2) and 16 months (95% CI 13.6-18.4) for the PF and PFtax groups, respectively (p=0.01). When tumor localization was used as stratum in OS, PFtax showed significantly higher OS rates only in the distal intestinal type gastric cancer compared to PF (p=0.01) Conclusion: Pathology and tumor location in gastric cancer may affect the outcome. Addition of taxanes as a third drug may significantly increase PFS and OS rates only in distal intestinal type gastric cancer but not in patients with proximal type gastric cancer.

Hepatitis B and C rates are significantly increased in certain solid tumors: A large retrospective study.

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality among cancer patients who received cytotoxic chemotherapy. The aim of current study was to elucidate the prevalence of HBV and HCV among large population of solid cancers and lymphoma and to compare them with large number of control group. Patients and Methods: Between 2000 and 2014, 8322 cancer patients who were admitted to Oncology Departments were evaluated retrospectively and 3890 patients in whom hepatitis serology were available were included in this study. Their results were compared with control group that consisted of 96,000 subjects. Results: In control groups, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity rate was 3.3% and anti-HCV positivity rate was 0.84%. In cancer patients, HBsAg positivity rate was 3.65% and anti-HCV positivity rate was 1.2%. Neither HBsAg positivity rate nor anti-HCV positivity rate was statistically significant between groups (P = 0.12 and P = 0.09, respectively). HBsAg positivity rates of head and neck cancer (5.88%; P = 0.02), rectum (5.6%; P = 0.025), and gastric and esophagus cancer (5.88%; P = 0.025) were significantly higher than control groups. Anti-HCV positivity rate (2.5%; P = 0.0016) was significantly higher in lung cancer when compared with control group. Conclusion: The current study elucidated the prevalence of HBV and HCV among large population of solid cancers and lymphoma and we showed that hepatitis B and C positivity rates are significantly increased in certain solid tumors. Our findings should also be clarified with large prospective studies.

The clinical importance of serum galectin-3 levels in breast cancer patients with and without metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have investigated expression status of galectin-3 (Gal-3), but very little is known about the importance of circulating Gal-3 in patients with breast cancer (BC). The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical significance and potential diagnostic value of plasma Gal-3 levels in patients with BC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with BC and 35 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Levels of Gal-3 were investigated in BC patients and healthy controls. Gal-3 levels were determined using ELISA method. RESULTS: Serum Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in BC patients than in controls (P = 0.002). Gal-3 levels did not significantly differ according to patients' statuses of lymph node involvement, hormone receptor, lymphovascular invasion, e-cadherin, menopausal, stage, serum hemostatic markers (prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and international normalized ratio), platelet counts, mean platelet volume, lactate dehydrogenase, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 values (P > 0.05 for all). A cut-off value of Gal-3 to predict BC was determined at ≥3.17 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 75.0%, a specificity of 65.71%, a positive and negative predictive values of 76.5 and 63.9%, respectively (area under the curve: 0.705 [95% confidence interval, 0.598-0.798], P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: Serum Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in BC patients and did not significantly differ according to clinical and tumoral characteristics of patients. Furthermore, there was no difference in Gal-3 levels between BC patients with and without metastatic disease. Serum Gal-3 levels can be used as an adjunct to other diagnostic or screening tests for BC regardless of clinical and tumoral characteristics of patients.

Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase can be useful markers to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy requirement in patients with breast cancer.

AIM: The aims of this study are to evaluate the serum levels of paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) in breast cancer (BC) patients; to determine their relationship with chemotherapy requirements in BC; and to find a cut-off value to assess subjects with a higher risk of BC. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 BC patients and 33 age-matched healthy women were included in this study. Beside other biochemical parameters, participants' serum PON and ARE levels were determined and analyzed. RESULTS: Serum PON and ARE levels were found decreased in sera of the patients (96.44 ± 21 and 159.75 ± 15.75 U/L, respectively)compared to controls (158.39 ± 23.04 and 239.33 ± 32.98 U/L, respectively) (P = 0.001 for both). Subgroup analysis of the BC patients revealed that both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), compared to those who did not (P = 0.024 and 0.02, respectively). We determined a cut-off value of PON according to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis as 131.2 U/L (sensitivity 97.5% and specificity 93.9%). CONCLUSION: BC patients have lower serum PON and ARE levels than healthy controls. Also, serum ARE levels (but not PON) were negatively correlated with body mass index in BC patients. Both serum PON and ARE levels were lower in patients who needed NAC than in patients who did not need such therapy.

The value of serum survivin level in early diagnosis of cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Survivin is one of the apoptosis inhibitor proteins, and it plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression. This study was conducted to investigate the serum level of survivin to determine its diagnostic value in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from cancer patients (n = 67) prior to surgery or chemo/radiotherapy and age-matched healthy volunteers (n = 23). The serum levels of survivin were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The difference in serum levels between patients and control was evaluated by using statistical methods. Correlation between the serum levels of survivin and clinicopathological features of cancer patients were also evaluated. RESULTS: The diagnoses of patients were breast cancer (49.3%), colon cancer (25.4%), ovarian cancer (14.9%), and other cancers (10.4%). Serum survivin levels were significantly higher in cancer patients than healthy subjects (196.23 pg/ml vs. 117.73 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.019). No significant relations were found between serum survivin level and demographic characteristics of cancer. The optimal cut-off value of serum survivin was determined at >120.8 pg/ml, and its serum levels above this cut-off value were associated with 4.198 times increased risk of cancer. CONCLUSION: Our study results may suggest that high serum survivin levels can show 4 times increased risk of cancer in a subject with a high suspicion of cancer. Furthermore, survivin level was not influenced with demographic characteristics of breast, gastric, colorectal, prostate, ovarian cancer, and glioblastome multiforme.

The clinical importance of serum urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and carbonic anhydrase IX levels and the effect of anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy on these biomarkers in breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer mortality rates after metastasis is high. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) play very important roles during tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of uPAR and CAIX and the effect of anthracycline-based chemotherapy on these biomarkers in patients with operable breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients and 25 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Levels of uPAR and CAIX were investigated before and after adjuvant chemotherapy. Basal (prechemotherapy) uPAR and CAIX levels in patients were compared with those in healthy controls and in patients after 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Levels of uPAR and CAIX were determined using the ELISA method. RESULTS: uPAR and CAIX levels were significantly higher in patients (P: 0.02 and P: 0.03, respectively). Postchemotherapy uPAR and CAIX levels were higher than basal levels (P: 0.645 and P < 0.001, respectively). A cut-off value of 27.99 pg/mL for uPAR was associated with 45.31% sensitivity and 84.62% specificity, and with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 87.9% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 38.6%. A cut-off value of 777.84 pg/mL for CAIX was associated with 90.62% sensitivity and 30.77% specificity, and with a PPV of 76.3% and an NPV of 57.1%. CONCLUSION: We determined that uPAR and CAIX levels were higher in the fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) chemotherapy group than in the control group, but there was no difference between the FEC and epirubicin/adriamycin chemotherapy groups in terms of basal and postchemotherapy uPAR, CAIX levels. Furthermore, uPAR is more specific, and CAIX is more sensitive in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Adding taxane to platin-5-fluorouracil combination does not improve survival rate in patients ≥ 65 years of age with advanced gastric cancer: A retrospective-multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) has a dismal prognosis. Platin-5-fluorouracil (CF) combination chemotherapy is the most widely used protocol and addition of a taxane (TCF) seems to increase survival and toxicity rates. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of TCF as compared to CF in patients older than 65 years and compare them with the patients younger than 65 years. METHODS: A total of 341 patients with AGC have been treated at six different oncology centers in Turkey between 2010 and 2014 and evaluated retrospectively. The characteristics of the patients whose tumors were histologically confirmed and whose survival data were available were registered and analyzed. The study group consisted of 234 patients younger than 65 years (group 1) and 107 patients older than 65 years (group 2). All of the data obtained from the patients were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 58.2 years and the mean follow-up time 14.4 months. For the entire group, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9 and 13 months, respectively. Using TCF over CF regimen increased the OS by 4.2 months (i.e., group 1 and 2 together). For group 2, patients with liver metastases and without surgery of the primary tumor were treated with significantly more TCF as compared to CF, respectively. Although TCF yielded significantly higher PFS and OS in group 1 (p=0.0001 and p=0.017), there was no significant difference in group 2 as compared to CF. Also, grade 3-4 toxicity was statistically defined as one of the possible reasons of worsened OS in patients older than 65 years and receiving TCF. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of taxanes to CF backbone leads to a significant increase in both PFS and OS in patients younger than 65 years of age but the triplet regimen with taxanes does not provide superior survival in patients older than 65 years of age.

Platelet Distribution Width as a Predictor of Metastasis in Gastric Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION: There are few known predictors of gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between peripheral blood parameters and disease in patients with GC. Our aim was to identify a predictor of the development of metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretreatment peripheral blood parameters, including neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts; median platelet values (MPVs); and platelet distribution width (PDW), of patients diagnosed with GC were assessed. The independent T test was used in comparisons between two groups with a normal distribution, the Mann-Whitney U test in comparisons between two groups without a normal distribution, the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare more than two groups, and the Dunn's multiple comparison test to compare subgroups. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In GC patients, neutrophil and platelet counts, but not lymphocyte counts and MPVs, increased significantly with disease stage progression. Among patients who developed a metastasis during follow-up, the relationship between PDW and the risk of metastasis was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Both lymphocyte and platelet levels had a statistically significant relationship to survival (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that in patients with GC, PDW, one of the standard parameters measured in a complete blood count, is a predictor of metastasis. Therefore, the PDW may be an important consideration in the surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment planning of patients with GC. Treatment strategies should also take into account lymphocyte and platelet levels, both of which were shown to be significantly related to survival.

The mean platelet volume may predict the development of isolated bone metastases in patients with breast cancer: a retrospective study of the Young Researchers Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

PURPOSE: To determine the predictive value of the mean platelet volume (MPV) and the MPV/platelet count ratio on the development of isolated bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 121 previously untreated female patients with isolated bone metastases from breast cancer (group 1) were included in this retrospective cohort study. The patients enrolled in this study had similar age, biological subtypes, and duration of follow-up after diagnosis. Group 1 was compared with both 71 previously untreated women with breast cancer with no metastases at all (group 2) and 39 healthy women (group 3). Demographic data, laboratory tests and histological features of all of the patients in groups 1 and 2 were recorded and the study variables from each of the three groups were compared. RESULTS: In group 1, the cut-off value (9.2 fL) for the MPV was determined and patients were stratified into 4 subgroups. The MPV was higher in group 1 than in either group 2 or group 3. Group 1 patients had a MPV of 8.8±3.1 fL (mean 5.1, range: 6.1-15.6) and the cut-off value for MPV was 9.2 fl. For patients in group 1, the MPV distribution was stratified into 4 groups as follows: group A included MPV values <6.08 fL, in group B values ranged from 6.09 to 8.46 fL, group C included values from 8.47 to 10.05 fL, and group D included patients with MPV values >10.06 fL. MPV and the presence of lymphovascular invasion were found to be independent risk factors for the development of isolated bone metastases. CONCLUSION: We concluded that MPV can be used to predict the development of isolated bone metastases.

Serum paraoxonase 1 activity in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we aimed to detect paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) activity in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and to compare it with healthy controls by observing the change after iron therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 50 adult patients with IDA and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled. All patients were analyzed at the beginning and after treatment according to laboratory assessments. RESULTS: Mean paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in the iron deficiency anemia group were significantly lower than mean activities of the control group (102.4 ±19.2 U/l and 163.3 ±13.68 U/l, respectively and 157.3 ±26.4 U/l and 256.1 ±24.6 U/l, respectively; p = 0.0001 for both). Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities significantly increased after treatment for IDA (143.2 ±13.9 and 197.6 ±27.9 U/l, respectively, p = 0.0001). Mean activities after treatment with iron were significantly lower than mean activities in the control group (p = 0.002; p = 0.0001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with IDA significantly increased after treatment with iron therapy. In adults IDA may also be one of the factors associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis.

A new marker for breast cancer diagnosis, human epididymis protein 4: A preliminary study.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer type in women. Tumor markers have been widely used for assessing the treatment response and early diagnosis of recurrence. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is expressed in ductal carcinoma of the breast tissue; however, its serum levels and their diagnostic and prognostic potential in breast cancer have not been investigated, which was therefore the aim of the present study. The serum levels of HE4 were determined in 36 breast cancer patients, 11 ovarian cancer patients and 16 healthy volunteers. The association between clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer and serum HE4 levels was investigated. A significant difference in the median serum levels of HE4 was identified between breast cancer patients, ovarian cancer patients and healthy volunteers (P=0.013). The cutoff value for the prediction of breast cancer was determined at >13.24 pmol/l for HE4, with a sensitivity of 61.11%, specificity of 68.75%, positive predictive value of 81.48%, negative predictive value of 44.0% and accuracy of 63.46%. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the serum levels of HE4 and cancer antigen 15-3 was determined (r=0.399, P=0.026). To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to determine the diagnostic value of serum HE4 for breast cancer. A significant elevation of serum HE4 levels in patients with breast cancer compared with that in healthy controls was identified. HE4 may serve as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Comparison of Survival Rates, Tumor Stages, and Localization in between Obese and Nonobese Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Purpose. In this study we tried to determine the association between body-mass index (BMI), survival rate, and the stage of tumor at the time of diagnosis in patients with gastric cancer. Methods. A total of 270 gastric cancer patients' hospital records were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were grouped according to their BMI at the time of tumor diagnosis. Tumor stages at admission were compared according to their BMI values. Results. There were no differences in OS among BMI subgroups (p = 0.230). The percent of patients with stage III tumor was significantly higher in nonobese while the percent of stage IV tumor was surprisingly higher in obese patients (p was 0.011 and 0.004, resp.). Percent of patients who did not have any surgical intervention was significantly lower in overweight and obese patients than normal and/or underweight patients. Conclusions. At the time of diagnosis, obese patients had significantly higher percent of stage IV tumor than nonobese patients. Despite of that, there were no differences in survival rates among BMI subgroups. Our study results are consistent with "obesity paradox" in gastric cancer patients. We also did not find any relationship between BMI and localization of gastric tumor.

Leptin as an important link between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The levels of leptin, a major regulator of lipid metabolism, may increase in obesity, and contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and is a peptide hormone, which has strong association with obesity, elevated cardiovascular risk, and morbidity. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationships between leptin levels, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-four obese and twenty-three nonobese male patients, who had experienced their first myocardial infarction, were included in the study. Their leptin levels, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric measures were obtained. Mean leptin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared to the nonobese group (2.53ng/mL versus 1.23ng/mL; p<0.01). Leptin levels correlated positively with anthropometric measurements, triglyceride, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein, and uric acid levels, and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate high leptin levels to be positively correlated with obesity and diastolic blood pressure in male patients with myocardial infarction.

Risk factors for developing cardiotoxicity of trastuzumab in breast cancer patients: An observational single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer, with recognized associated cardiotoxicity. In this retrospective observational study, we investigated associated cardiotoxicity on clinical outcomes using trastuzumab in women referred to our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was made up of 111 women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing breast cancer who received trastuzumab in the Medical Oncology Department, between 2010 and 2013. RESULTS: A > 10% reduction of the baseline fraction of the left ventricular ejection fraction was observed in 18 (16.21%) women. Two individuals (1.8%) suffered from symptomatic heart failure, seven women showed cardiac symptoms and nine women showed asymptomatic decline of left ventricular ejection fraction. Risk factors for cardiotoxicity in the group included: postmenopausal status (p = 0.01), hypertension (p = 0.002), obesity (p = 0.0001), previously diagnosed coronary artery disease (p = 0.0001) and smoking (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The aforementioned factors pose a risk for cardiotoxicity. We found postmenopausal status, hypertension, obesity, previous coronary artery disease and smoking to be associated with an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction in women using trastuzumab. While administering trastuzumab to women who have these conditions, one must be aware of the risk of cardiotoxicity of trastuzumab.

Diagnostic importance of S100A9 and S100A12 in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent cause of cancer deaths throughout the world is breast cancer (BC). Therefore, preventing, diagnosing and treating BC has gained importance. S100 protein probably plays an important role in carcinogenesis, cancer development, and metastasis. In this study, we aimed at diagnostic and clinic-pathological importance of serum levels of S100A9 and S100A12 with known cytokine-like pro-inflammatory effects in BC. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Serum samples were collected with BC and the control group consisting of healthy individuals. All the samples were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum S100A9 and S100A12 levels before starting the systemic chemotherapy. Clinicopathological characteristics of BC and other blood parameters were compared in relation with serum S100A9 and S100A12 levels. RESULTS: While the serum S100A9 levels were found significantly higher as compared to healthy individuals (190.85±32.29 and 92.72±54, respectively) (p=0.001), it was observed that there were no differences in S100A12 (120.50±15.78 and 112.21±10.46, respectively) (p=0.056) levels. As regards the subgroup analysis in BC patients, no statistically significant results were found in body mass index (BMI), smoking, menopause status, histopathologic type, grade, and biological subtype of BC, tumor size, presence of lymph node metastases, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion (PNI) and stage. As regards the blood parameters and serum S100 A9, while only statistically significant results were found with anemia (209.05±33.12 and 181.75±28.21, respectively) (p=0.005), no statistically significant results were found with leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and tumor markers. CONCLUSION: In this study, while we found the level of S100A9, which has a potential cytokine-like function in inflammation, significantly higher, we could not find any increase in S100A12 level. Therefore, it is possible that S100A9 can play a key role in inflammation-related BC. Despite of there are no significance relationship between S100A9 and S100A12 clinicopathological features of BC, the determination of S100A9 levels contributes to diagnosis the of BC patients. In future, we suggest that serum S100A9 is investigated as a diagnostic tool even the target marker in BC to suppress inflammation in treatment.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, fibroblast growth factor 2, phosphatidyl inositol 3 phosphate kinase and their clinical and prognostic significance in early and advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

AIM: Non-small cell lung carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer related to death in the world. Squamous cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) is the second most frequent histological subtype of lung carcinomas. Recently, growth factors, growth factor receptors, and signal transduction system-related gene amplifications and mutations are extensively under investigation to estimate the prognosis and to develop individualized therapies in SqCLC. In this study, besides the signal transduction molecule phosphatidyl inositol-3-phosphate kinase (IP3K) p110α, we explored the expressions of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and receptor-1 (FGFR1) in tumor tissue and also their clinical and prognostic significance in patients with early/advanced SqCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2005 to 2013, 129 patients (23 early, 106 advanced disease) with a histopathological SqCLC diagnosis were selected from the hospital files of Cukurova University Medical Faculty for this study. Two independent pathologists evaluated FGFR1, FGF2, and PI3K (p110α) expressions in both tumor and stromal tissues from 99 of the patients with sufficient tissue samples, using immunohistochemistry. Considering survival analysis separately for patients with both early and advanced stage diseases, the relationship between the clinical features of the patients and expressions were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: FGFR1 expression was found to be low in 59 (60%) patients and high in 40 (40%) patients. For FGF2; 12 (12%) patients had high, 87 (88%) patients had low expression and for IP3K; 31 (32%) patients had high and 66 (68%) patients had low expressions. In univariate analysis, overall survival (OS) was significantly associated with stage of the disease and the performance status of the patient (P<0.0001 and P<0.001). There was no significant difference in OS of the patients with either low or high expressions of FGFR1, FGF2, and IP3K. When the patients with early or advanced stage disease were separately taken into consideration, the relationship did not differ, either. Any of FGFR1, FGF2 or IP3K expressions was not found predictive for the treatment of early or advanced staged patients. On the other hand, the expressions of both FGFR1 and FGF2 were significantly different with respect to smoking, scar of tuberculosis and scar of radiotherapy (P=0.002; P=0.06 and P=0.05, respectively). DISCUSSION: There has not been identified an effective individualized treatment for SqCLC yet. Therefore, in order to be able to develop such a treatment in the future, it is essential to identify the genetic abnormalities that are responsible for the biological behaviors and carcinogenesis of SqCLC. Although we could not show the prognostic and predictive significance of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K expressions in SqCLC, we determined the expression rates of FGFR1, FGF2 and IP3K as a reference for Turkish patients. In conclusion, we want to put some emphasis on the fact that, pulmonary fibrosis which is a late complication of radiotherapy at stage III disease, and the scar of tuberculosis could be associated with FGFR1 and FGF2 expressions.

Serum galactomannan levels in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study, the sensitivity-specificity of galactomannan-enzyme immunoassay (GM-EIA) with a cut-off value of 0.5 for a single, two, or three consecutive positivity in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancy was investigated. METHODS: IPA was classified as "proven," "probable," or "possible" as described in the guidelines prepared by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group." Serum samples were collected from the patients twice a week throughout their hospitalization. A total of 1,385 serum samples, with an average of 8.3 samples per episode, were examined. RESULTS: Based on the 165 febrile episodes in 106 patients, 80 (48.5%) were classified as IPA (4 proven, 11 probable, 65 possible) and 85 (51.5%) as non-IPA. The sensitivity/ specificity was 100%/27.1% for a single proven/probable IPA with the cut of value of GM-EIA ≥ 0.5, 86.7%/71.8% for two consecutive positive results, and 73.3%/85.9% for three consecutive positive results. CONCLUSIONS: With the galactomannan levels measured twice a week, consecutive sensitivity decreased and specificity increased. Therefore, an increase may be obtained in sensitivity-specificity by more frequent monitoring of GM-EIA starting from the first day of positivity is detected.