A Post-International Gastrointestinal Cancers' Conference (IGICC) Position Statements.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent liver tumor, is usually linked with chronic liver diseases, particularly cirrhosis. As per the 2020 statistics, this cancer ranks 6th in the list of most common cancers worldwide and is the third primary source of cancer-related deaths. Asia holds the record for the highest occurrence of HCC. HCC is found three times more frequently in men than in women. The primary risk factors for HCC include chronic viral infections, excessive alcohol intake, steatotic liver disease conditions, as well as genetic and family predispositions. Roughly 40-50% of patients are identified in the late stages of the disease. Recently, there have been significant advancements in the treatment methods for advanced HCC. The selection of treatment for HCC hinges on the stage of the disease and the patient's medical status. Factors such as pre-existing liver conditions, etiology, portal hypertension, and portal vein thrombosis need critical evaluation, monitoring, and appropriate treatment. Depending on the patient and the characteristics of the disease, liver resection, ablation, or transplantation may be deemed potentially curative. For inoperable lesions, arterially directed therapy might be an option, or systemic treatment might be deemed more suitable. In specific cases, the recommendation might extend to external beam radiation therapy. For all individuals, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach should be adopted when considering HCC treatment options. The main treatment strategies for advanced HCC patients are typically combination treatments such as immunotherapy and anti-VEGFR inhibitor, or a combination of immunotherapy and immunotherapy where appropriate, as a first-line treatment. Furthermore, some TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be used as single agents in cases where patients are not fit for the combination therapies. As second-line treatments, some treatment agents have been reported and can be considered.

Can the Pathological Response in Patients with Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Treatment Be Predicted by the CEA/Albumin and CRP/Albumin Ratios?

Background: The purposes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy are to tumor size to improve the tumor removal rate, extend survival, and prevent metastasis. In this study, the importance of CRP/albumin ratio and CEA/albumin ratio in the prediction of neoadjuvant treatment response in gastric cancer patients was evaluated. Methods: This study retrospectively included 135 gastric cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Çukurova University Balcali Hospital between January 2018 and December 2023. Preoperative CRP/albumin and CEA/albumin ratios were compared according to treatment response and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the potential importance of these ratios in predicting pathological response. Results: The mean age of the 135 patients was 58.79 ± 10.83 (min = 26-max = 78). The CRP/albumin and CEA/albumin ratios were found to be significantly lower in patients who did not respond to neoadjuvant therapy. Each 1-unit increase in the CRP/albumin ratio was associated with a 1.16-fold decrease in the odds of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy. Both CRP/albumin and CEA/albumin ratios were found to be significant in distinguishing neoadjuvant therapy response. The optimal cut-off value was 2.74 for the CRP/albumin ratio (sensitivity = 60%, specificity = 78.4%) and 1.40 for the CEA/albumin ratio (sensitivity = 74.2%, specificity = 67.6%). Values below these cut-off points favored neoadjuvant therapy response. Pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy was 4.75 times higher in patients with a CRP/albumin ratio below 2.74 and 5.14 times higher in patients with a CEA/albumin ratio below 1.40. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer receiving neoadjuvant treatment, CRP/Albumin and CEA/Albumin ratios are significant markers of pathological response.

Pretreatment Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score for Predicting Prognosis and Survival in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer Treated with Perioperative FLOT.

The adverse effects of chemotherapy are more apparent in elderly patients and lead to worse prognosis and mortality. Identifying immunonutritional risk factors is of great importance in terms of treatment effectiveness, prognosis, and mortality in geriatric oncology. The modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) is an immunonutritional index based on serum CRP and albumin levels. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of mGPS in predicting prognosis and survival in elderly patients with gastric cancer receiving perioperative FLOT treatment. We retrospectively enrolled 71 patients aged over 65 years and grouped them according to their pretreatment mGPS score. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis showed overall survival was significantly worse in the mGPS 1 and mGPS 2 groups than in the mGPS 0 group (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared to the mGPS 0 group, the mGPS 1 group had a 6.25 times greater risk of death (95% CI: 1.61-24.28, p = 0.008), and the mGPS 2 group had a 6.59 times greater risk of death (95% CI: 2.08-20.85, p = 0.001). High BMI was identified as a significant risk factor for being in the mGPS 2 group (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.018-1.425, p = 0.030). In conclusion, elevated pretreatment mGPS was associated with poor overall survival in elderly patients with gastric cancer treated with perioperative FLOT therapy. As such, pretreatment mGPS can be a simple and useful tool to predict mortality in this specific patient group.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Cancer Cases Among Syrian Refugees From Southern Turkey.

Importance: Cancer was a common noncommunicable disease in Syria before the present conflict and is now a major disease burden among 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Data to inform health care practice are needed. Objective: To explore sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of Syrian patients with cancer residing in the southern border provinces of Turkey hosting more than 50% of refugees. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of all adult and children Syrian refugees diagnosed and/or treated for cancer between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2020, in hematology-oncology departments of 8 university hospitals in the Southern province of Turkey. Data were analyzed from May 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Demographic characteristics (date of birth, sex, and residence), date of first cancer-related symptom, date and place of diagnosis, disease status at first presentation, treatment modalities, date and status at last hospital visit, and date of death. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision and International Classification of Childhood Cancers, Third Edition, were used for the classification of cancer. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results system was applied for staging. The diagnostic interval was defined as the number of days from first symptoms until the diagnosis. Treatment abandonment was documented if the patient did not attend the clinic within 4 weeks of a prescribed appointment throughout the treatment. Results: A total of 1114 Syrian adult and 421 Syrian children with cancer were included. The median age at diagnosis was 48.2 (IQR, 34.2-59.4) years for adults and 5.7 (IQR, 3.1-10.7) years for children. The median diagnostic interval was 66 (IQR, 26.5-114.3) days for adults and 28 (IQR, 14.0-69.0) days for children. Breast cancer (154 [13.8%]), leukemia and multiple myeloma (147 [13.2%]), and lymphoma (141 [12.7%]) were common among adults, and leukemias (180 [42.8%]), lymphomas (66 [15.7%]), and central nervous system neoplasms (40 [9.5%]) were common among children. The median follow-up time was 37.5 (IQR, 32.6-42.3) months for adults and 25.4 (IQR, 20.9-29.9) months for children. The 5-year survival rate was 17.5% in adults and 29.7% in children. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite universal health coverage and investment in the health care system, low survival rates were reported in this study for both adults and children with cancer. These findings suggest that cancer care in refugees requires novel planning within national cancer control programs with global cooperation.

Bilateral breast lesions mimicking metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma in a male patient.

Hepatocellular carcinoma metastases to the breast have been reported only rarely. A 63-year-old male patient with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma presented with a lump in his left breast. On physical examination, there was a hard, well-circumscribed, and partially mobile mass of 2 cm in diameter in the lower middle quadrant of the left breast. Breast ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic solid lesion of 1.8 cm × 1.9 cm in diameter in the lower middle quadrant of the left breast. F-18 FDG PET/CT imaging revealed bilateral subcutaneous nodular lesions of anterior chest wall that were adjacent but not invasive to the glandular tissues of the breasts, with high SUVmax values. Tru-cut biopsy result of the mass in the left breast region was reported as hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. Positive immunohistochemical staining for Hep Par 1 and glypican-3 were detected. While the patient was on sorafenib therapy, he died 6 months later. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy for which chronic hepatitis B infection has been defined as the most common etiologic factor. The most frequent metastatic sites are the lung, bone, lymphatics, and brain, respectively, and metastases to the breast have been reported extremely rarely. Breast metastasis from non-mammary malignant neoplasm is rare, accounting for approximately 2% of breast tumors. Metastasis to the breast from an extramam mary neoplasm usually indicates disseminated metastatic disease and a poor prognosis. It should be borne in mind that a mass lesion detected in the breast region by physical examination and imaging methods may be a hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis in male or female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. KEY WORDS: Breast, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Metastasis.

Nutritional Aspect of Cancer Care in Medical Oncology Patients.

PURPOSE: Awareness of advances in the nutritional aspects of cancer care and translation of this information into clinical practice are important for oncology practitioners to effectively couple oncologic and nutritional approaches throughout the cancer journey. The goal of this consensus statement by a panel of medical oncologists was to provide practical and implementable guidance addressing nutritional aspects of cancer care from the perspective of the medical oncologist. METHODS: A panel of medical oncologists agreed on a series of statements supported by scientific evidence and expert clinical opinion. FINDINGS: Participating experts emphasized that both poor nutritional intake and metabolic alterations underlie cancer-related malnutrition. The use of liquid and high energy-dense oral nutritional supplements may enable better patient compliance, whereas higher efficacy is more likely with the use of pharmaconutrient-enriched oral nutritional supplements in terms of improved weight, lean body mass, functional status, and quality of life, as well as better tolerance to antineoplastic treatment. A multimodal approach is currently believed to be the best option to counteract the catabolism leading to cancer-related malnutrition; this treatment is scheduled in parallel with anticancer therapies and includes nutritional interventions, multitarget drug therapies, and exercise and rehabilitation programs. Participating experts emphasized the role of the oncologist as a reference professional figure in the coordination of nutritional care for patients with cancer within the context of complex and different clinical scenarios, particularly for permissive-adjunctive nutritional support. IMPLICATIONS: This review article provides practical guidance addressing major nutritional aspects of cancer care from the medical oncologist's perspective. Thus, this document is expected to assist oncology practitioners in terms of awareness of advances in the nutritional aspects of cancer care and translation of this information into their clinical practice to effectively couple oncologic and nutritional approaches as part of the continuum of care for patients with cancer.

Enlighting the Shadow for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Immunotherapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Hepatocellular carcinoma has still been one of the cancer with increasing incidence and highest mortality rate in the world. Although many new promising developments have been defined in hepatocarcinogenesis, with a short survival the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma is an emerging issue. On the recent decade, only one anti-angiogenic agent sorafenib improved overall survival with costing a hardly manageable toxicity. Novel immunotherapeutic agents, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors are on the edge of more effective but less toxic treatments for these patients. In this article the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1 antibodies for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular cancer will be reviewed.

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.

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.

ERCC1 and RRM1 as a predictive parameter for non-small cell lung, ovarian or pancreas cancer treated with cisplatin and/or gemcitabine.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the impact of RRM1 and ERCC1 expression on response to cisplatin and/or gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with lung, ovarian or pancreatic cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with lung, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, who used cisplatin and/or gemcitabine therapy were included; hospital files were examined and RRM1 and ERCC1 expression were evaluated with an immunohistochemical method on tissue cross sections from paraffin blocks of the tumour. RESULTS: Out of 89 patients, 51%, 30% and 19% had lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, respectively. The response rates to the therapy in patients with lung and ovarian cancer having low ERCC1 expression were 62% and 90%, respectively (p = 0.028 and p = 0.044, respectively). No significant association was found between ERCC1 expression and response to therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.354). Therapeutic response rates in patients with lung and pancreatic cancer with low RRM1 expression were 60% and 82%, respectively. Survival rates were higher in patients with lung cancer in which ERCC1 and RRM1 expressions were low. Median survival duration in patients with ovarian cancer showing low ERCC1 and RRM1 expressions was longer than that seen in patients with high expressions. Although no significant correlation was found between ERCC1 and the survival in ovarian cancer (p = 0.183), there was a significant correlation between RRM1 expression and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a predictive value of ERCC1 in lung and ovarian cancers, and also RRM1 in lung and pancreatic cancers.

Effect of the cumulative dose of zoledronic acid on the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the jaws.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) is a severe bone disease for which the pathogenetic mechanisms and risk factors are not fully understood. The present study evaluated the data of 652 patients with bone metastasis that had undergone treatment with biphosphonates. Subsequently, 24 patients with BRONJ and 20 control patients without BRONJ that were treated with zoledronic acid were enrolled. It was found that BRONJ occurred in 3.6% of patients. The mean age and the administration of dental treatment were found to be significantly associated with BRONJ development (P=0.049 and P=0.013, respectively). The cumulative dose median in the BRONJ group was found to be significantly higher compared with the cumulative dose average in the control group (P=0.037). In addition, at the time of BRONJ development, improvement in the disease was determined to be better in the BRONJ group than in the control group (P=0.031). The present study determined that age, the existence of dental extraction and the cumulative dose of zoledronate were all important risk factors in BRONJ development.

Evaluation of endometrial thickness and bone mineral density based on CYP2D6 polymorphisms in Turkish breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen treatment.

BACKGROUND: Several previous studies have examined the effect of CYP2D6 gene polymorphism on the efficacy and metabolism of tamoxifen (Tamoxifen Teva, Nolvadex) in the treatment of breast cancer. In the present study, the metabolic profiles associated with various CYP2D6 genotypes were evaluated. METHOD: In the present study 92 Turkish breast cancer patients with early-stage hormone receptor-positive tumors treated with adjuvant tamoxifen (20 mg) were evaluated for CYP2D6 genotype and metabolic profiles. Known side effects of tamoxifen treatment, including endometrial thickening, changes in serum lipid levels and bone density, and hepatosteatosis, were evaluated according to the CYP2D6 polymorphism. RESULT: The distribution of metabolic characteristics in the Turkish population was as follows: 77.1% normal metabolism, 11.5% intermediate metabolism, 5.2% ultrarapid metabolism, and 2.1% poor metabolism. The CYP2D6 genotypes associated with rapid metabolism were CYP2D6 3X*1/*1 duplication (DUP) and CYP2D6 2X*1/*2, while poor metabolism was associated with the genotypes CYP2D6 *3/*4 and CYP2D6 *6/*6. There was no statistically significant relationship between metabolic characteristics and bone density or hepatosteatosis. A statistically significant difference in total cholesterol and triglycerides was detected in lipid profile analysis (p = 0.003, p = 0.02). Assessment of endometrial thickness revealed a significant association of hyperplasia and poor metabolism, and an association between atrophy and ultrarapid metabolism (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Significant development of endometrial hyperplasia was identified among individuals with poor tamoxifen metabolism. As a result, tamoxifen may be a significant predictor of endometrial thickening among individuals with poor metabolic characteristics.

Pancreatic carcinoma, thrombosis and mean platelet volume: single center experience from the southeast region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the general characteristics of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pancreatic cancer as well as evaluate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV), DVT and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with pancreatic cancer, who were admitted to Cukurova University Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Oncology, were enrolled in the study RESULTS: The mean age was 59±20. Forty-nine (63.6%) were men and 28 women (36.4%) . Sixty-eight (88.3%) patients had adenocarcinoma and 9 (11.7%) had a malignant epithelial tumor. Thirty-six (46.7%) had liver metastasis at diagnosis. Twenty-six (33.8%) patients were alive, 20 (26%) were dead and in 31 (40.2%) the status was unknown. Only 14 (18.1%) patients had DVT. In 42 (54.5%) patients MPV values were normal, in 28 (36.4%) patients they were above normal, and in 7 (9.1%) patients they were below normal. There was no statistically significant difference between gender, tumour localization, chemotherapy and survival rates (p:0.56, p:0.11, p:0.21). There was no significant difference between DVT, gender, localisation, histological subtype, the presence of metastasis, stage and if the patient had been treated with chemotherapy (p:0.5, p:0.6, p:0.2, p:0.32, p:0.1, p:0.84). There was also no significant difference between MPV and DVT (p:0.57) but there was a significant difference between liver metastasis and DVT (p:0.02). Age, stage, the presence of metastasis and DVT were prognostic in pancreatic cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis should be studied more carefully as thrombosis is more common in these patients.

Diagnostic and prognostic roles of DOG1 and Ki-67, in GIST patients with localized or advanced/metastatic disease.

AIM: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor is the most common mesenchymal neoplasia in the gastrointestinal tract and has a broad spectrum of pathological patterns and also clinical features changing from benign to malignant. Although the well-characterized parameters to predict the outcome have been the size and the mitotic index of the tumor in the patients with early-staged disease, bulky recurrent or metastatic tumor, resistance to medical treatment and mutation analysis are the prognostic factors for advanced stage-GIST. The aim of this study is to investigate new and more practical tissue markers, such as DOG1 and Ki-67 to specify the GIST diagnosis and also to predict the outcome in GIST patients with both localized and advanced staged disease. METHODS: For the last 14 years, from 1999 to 2013, 111 patients with a histopathological GIST diagnosis from the hospital files were enrolled to the study. In their parafin-embedded tissue samples, DOG1 and Ki-67 expressions were evaluated with immunohistochemisty by two independent pathologists from Cukurova University Medical Faculty. Patients were divided into two groups, the patients with localized disease treated by surgery and the patients with advanced/metastatic disease. DOG1 and Ki-67 expressions were corelated with other diagnostic and prognostic histopathological markers and also the clinical outcome in these two group of patients. RESULTS: The specificity and the sensitivity of DOG1 in GIST diagnosis was found 94 and 43%, respectively. DOG1 expression was especially important in the diagnosis of c-kit negative cases. Although Ki-67 was not found a statistically significant prognostic factor for overall survival, it was strongly corelated with mitotic index which is a well-known standart prognostic factor for localized disease. DISCUSSION: DOG1 seems to be an important diagnostic tool for clinically suspected GIST diagnosis in both advanced or early staged patients whose tumours are c-kit expression negative. On the other hand, Ki-67 can be a stronger candidate for prognostic factor instead of mitotic index to identify the proliferative cells out of mitotic phase but this statement needs be prospectively validated on studies with large number of patients.

Retrospective analysis of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in Turkish patients.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy is the accepted approach for women with locally advanced breast cancer. Anthracycline- and taxane-based regimens have been extensively studied in clinical trials and consequently are widely used. In this study aimed to research the complete response (pCR) rates in different regimens for neoadjuvant setting and determine associated clinical and biological factors. METHODS: This study included 63 patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma among 95 patients that had been treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2007 and 2010. TNM staging system was used for staging. The histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was characterized as a pCR when there was no evidence of residual invasive tumor in the breast or axillary lymph nodes. Biologic subclassification using estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2 were performed. Luminal A was defined as ER+, PR+, HER2-; Luminal B tumor was defined as ER+, PR-, HER2-; ER+, PR-, HER2+; ER-, PR+, HER2-; ER+, PR+, HER2+, HER2 like tumor ER-, PR+, HER2+; and triple negative tumor ER, PR, HER2 negative. RESULTS: Patients median age was 54.14 (min-max: 30-75). Thirty-two patients (50.8%) were premenopausal and 31 (49.2%) were postmenopausal. Staging was performed postoperatively based on the pathology report and appropriated imaging modalities The TNM (tumor, lymph node, metastasis) system was used for clinical and pathological staging. Fifty-seven (90.5%) were invasive ductal carcinomas, 6 (9.5%) were other subtypes. Thirty nine (61.9%) were grade II and 24 (38.1%) were grade III. Seven (11.1%) patients were stage II and 56 (88.9) patients were stage III. The patients were classified for ER, PR receptor and HER2 positivity. Seventeen patients had complete response to chemotherapy. Forty patients (63.5%) were treated with dose dense regimen (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 and doxorubicine 60 mg/m every two weeks than paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 every two weeks with filgrastim support) 40 patients (48%) were treated anthracycline and taxane containing regimens. Thirteen patients (76%) from 17 patients with pCR were treated with the dose dense regimen but without statistical significance (p=0.06). pCR was higher in HER2(-), ER(-), grade III, premenopausal patients. CONCLUSION: pCR rate was higher in the group that treated with dose dense regimen, which should thus be the selected regimen in neoadjuvant setting. Some other factors can predict pCR in Turkish patients, like grade, menopausal status, triple negativity, percentage of ER positivity, and HER2 expression.

Retrospective analysis of 498 primary soft tissue sarcomas in a single Turkish centre.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) must be managed with a team involving pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation therapists and medical oncologists. Treatment modalities and demographic characteristics of Turkish STS were analysed in the current study. MATERIAL-METHODS: Primary adult STS followed between 1999- 2010 in Cukurova University Medical Faculty Department of Medical Oncology were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the total of 498 patients, 238 were male and 260 female. The most seen adult sarcomas were leomyosarcoma (23%). Localization of disease was upper extremity (8.8%), lower extremity (24.7%), head-neck 8.2%, thoracic 8%, retroperitoneal 5.6%, uterine 12.4%, abdominal 10%, pelvic region 3.6 and other regions 10%. Some 13.1% were early stage, 10.2% locally advanced, 8.2% metastatic and 12.2% recurrent disease. Patients were treated with neoadjuvant/adjuvant (12%) or palliative chemotherapy (7.2%) and 11.4% patients did not receive chemotherapy. Surgery was performed as radical or conservative. The most preferred regimen was MAID combination chemotherapy in the rate of 17.6%. The most common metastatic site was lung (18.1%). The overall survival was 45 months (95%CI 30-59), 36 months in men and 55 months in women, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.5). The survival rates were not different between the group of adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy (respectively 28 versus 18 months) (p=0.06), but radical surgery at 37 months was better than 22 months for conservative surgery (p=0.0001). No differences were evident for localization (p=0.152). Locally advanced group had higher overall survival rates (72 months) than other stages (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: STS can be treated successfully with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The survival rates of Turkish people were higher in locally advanced group; these results show the importance of multimodality treatment approach and radical surgery.

Loss of CD20 antigen expression after rituximab therapy of CD20 positive B cell lymphoma (diffuse large B cell extranodal marginal zone lymphoma combination): a case report and review of the literature.

Rituximab (the chimeric anti-CD20 antibody) is widely used in the treatment of CD20 positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The response rate at relapse after repeated use in prior CD20 positive responders is lower than 50%. Several mechanisms can be responsible for rituximab resistance. CD20 negative relapses which transformed from CD20 positive aggressive and indolent forms of lymphoma can be the one of the reason of secondary resistance to rituximab. The authors report a case with combination of aggressive and indolent form of lymphoma who relapsed after 7 months from the last dose of rituximab therapy. CD20 transformed negative from positive in her relapsed disease. Patients with CD20 positive B cell NHL must rebiopsy after first line rituximab therapy if their disease relapsed or progressed.

Lymphoma of the breast in a male patient.

Primary lymphoma of the breast is very rare especially in a male patient. Treatment alternatives include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. It is still controversial which combination is the best. Here, we report a male patient who presented with a left breast mass. The excisional biopsy was applied, and pathological assessment revealed marginal zone lymphoma. Both conventional computed tomography and 18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography were used for staging. The clinical stage was IIE for Ann Arbor staging and so local radiation following chemo immunotherapy was planned. Left-sided primary breast lymphoma in a male patient is a very rare entity. Treatment modalities are still controversial. Some authors believe that primary breast lymphomas have poor prognosis, and they must be treated aggressively with combined treatment modalities. Another important point is that 18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET)/CT could be used for staging of disease and assessing treatment response in a patient with primary breast marginal zone lymphoma.

The value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in carcinoma of an unknown primary: diagnosis and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The management of the patients with carcinoma of an unknown primary represents a difficult challenge in oncology. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has provided new insights in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of oncological patients. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the value of FDG PET/CT in clarifying the primary site in our patients with histologically proven tumor metastasis (HPM) or with a high clinical suspicion of malignancy, and the clinical impact of this technique on the management of these patients. METHODS: In total 94 patients from two centers underwent FDG PET/CT imaging; 78 patients with HPM and 16 patients with a clinical suspicion of malignancy. The histology and/or follow-up data were used as the gold standard. Hypermetabolic findings at the site of the pathological CT changes or at physiological FDG uptake sites were the criteria for malignancy. PET/CT findings were analyzed for the identification of the primary tumor site, for the relationship with survival, and also for the effect in chemotherapy monitoring. RESULTS: Primary malignancy was discovered in 53 of 90 patients (59%) histologically and 37 (41%) patients' primary tumor sites were not found during the study period. Amongst 90 patients, five (6%) were normal on FDG PET/CT. Of 85 patients (94%) with pathological findings on FDG PET/CT, 27 patients (32%) had solitary and 58 (68%) patients had multiple organs affected. Regarding the whole study population, a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 78% were calculated for FDG PET/CT imaging. Regarding the patients with HPM, the sensitivity and specificity values were 84 and 81%, respectively. The mean survival time of the patients with disseminated disease was significantly shorter than those of the patients with single or no lesion (13.44+/-1.61, 20.98+/-2.0 and 26.67+/-2.73 months, respectively, P=0.014). In seven of eight patients, follow-up FDG PET/CT scans effectively monitored the patients' therapies. CONCLUSION: Whole-body FDG PET/CT has to be considered a useful method, especially in an early phase of the diagnostic workup of patients with carcinoma of an unknown primary syndrome, to optimize the management.