Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in patients with low-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Materials & methods: The data of patients who received at least two cycles of bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy were retrospectively recorded. Results: The median age of 51 patients was 56 (range: 33-75) years. The complete response rate was 10.4% and the partial response rate was 43.7%. The objective response rate was 54.1%. Median progression-free survival was 15.9 months (95% CI: 9.1-22.6) and median overall survival was 42.5 months (95% CI: 37.2-47.8). Conclusion: Bevacizumab with chemotherapy is an effective option for treating recurrent ovarian low-grade serous carcinoma.

Efficacy of cumulative cisplatin dose on survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy: multicenter study by Turkish Oncology Group.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of cumulative cisplatin dose on clinical outcomes in locally advanced cervical cancer patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 654 patients with stage IB3-IVA disease treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy was applied as external beam pelvic with or without para-aortic radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Concomitant chemotherapy was in the form of weekly or 3 weekly cisplatin. Data on demographics, treatment protocols, cumulative cisplatin dose, adverse effects, and survival outcomes were collected. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, were used to assess factors influencing progression free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: The median cumulative cisplatin dose was 210 mg (range 40-320), and ≥200 mg in 503 (76.9%) patients. Median follow-up was 35 months (range 1-150). The 5 year progression free survival and overall survival rates were 66.9% and 77.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified poor performance status, non-squamous cell histology, presence of lymph node metastases, and hemoglobin <10 g/dL before chemoradiotherapy as poor prognostic factors for both progression free survival and overall survival in the whole group. When stage III cases were evaluated separately, the cumulative cisplatin dose <200 mg was found to be a significant poor prognostic factor in overall survival (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.0, p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a cumulative cisplatin dose >200 mg, particularly in patients with lymph node metastases, significantly improved overall survival. Factors such as anemia, toxicity related challenges, and comorbidities were identified as critical considerations in treatment planning. These findings emphasize the balance between maximizing therapeutic efficacy and managing toxicity, guiding personalized treatment approaches for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Vortex keratopathy associated with ribociclib.

INTRODUCTION: Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors are the new generation drugs that have been started to be used in our clinical practice recently. These drugs have been shown to have better progression-free survival compared to standard therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-negative breast cancer. The most common side effects of CDK 4-6 inhibitors are neutropenia, nausea, leukopenia, fatigue, and diarrhea. This case demonstrated vortex keratopathy in both eyes, a rare condition in patients with breast cancer treated with ribociclib. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old female patient was diagnosed with locally advanced HR (+)/HER2 (-) breast cancer in March 2015. In June 2021, bone metastases were detected. The patient was started on ribociclib and fulvestrant. After three cycles of ribociclib and fulvestrant treatment, she was admitted with the complaint of blurred vision in her left eye. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy examination revealed subepithelial haze with central subepithelial whorls in both corneas, more in the left eye, and also a mild punctate epithelial staining was observed with the application of fluorescein dye. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Ribociclib treatment was immediately discontinued and no changes were observed in the cornea and vision levels during the one-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Routine and regular follow-up eye examinations in breast cancer patients treated with ribociclib may benefit patients in our daily clinical practice and may help us to detect side effects at an early stage and to manage them more effectively.

Experiences of the combined use of Favipiravir in patients using Lorlatinib and Brigatinib.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is challenging the management of cancer patients. In this article, we present two patients diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) + non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (NSCL CA), infected with COVID-19, who had a previous multi-line therapy with Brigatinib and Lorlatinib, and received Favipiravir for their current infection. CASE REPORTS: A 58-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were diagnosed as ALK ( + ) NSCL CA. Both patients received tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) for lung cancer when diagnosed with COVID-19. No adverse effects were observed with the concurrent use of Favipiravir, an antiviral drug currently used for COVID-19 and TKI. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Considering the pharmacokinetic effects of favipiravir and the ALK inhibitor TKI's used on our cases (Brigatinib-Lorlatinib), the concurrent use of these drugs was safe and prevented the delay in the primary treatment of the malignancy of our patients. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, these are the only reported cases diagnosed as ALK ( + ) NSCL CA who received favipiravir because of COVID-19 while using TKI, and both patients recovered completely without any side effects.

Worse patient-physician relationship is associated with more fear of cancer recurrence (Deimos Study): A study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

OBJECTIVE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an important psychological trauma associated with reduction in the quality of life, disruptions in the level of adjustment, emotional distress and anxiety. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of patient-physician relationship on FCR. METHODS: The study was designed as a multicentre survey study. The cancer survivors, who were under remission, were evaluated with structured questionnaires. Patient-physician relationship (PPR) scale in which higher scores indicate better relationship and FCR inventory was used. RESULTS: Between January and April 2019, 1,580 patients were evaluated. The median age was 57.0 (19-88), and 66% were female. There was high level of FCR scores in 51% of participants. There was a negative correlation between PPR and FCR scores (r = -.134, p < .001). In multivariate analysis, young age, female gender, history of metastasectomy and worse PPR were associated with high levels of FCR. CONCLUSION: It is the first data showing the adverse impact of worse PPR on FCR. The strategies to improve the PPR should be practised. In addition, the cancer survivors, who are under the risk of FCR, should be evaluated and managed.

The frequency and predictors of persistent amenorrhea in premenopausal women with colorectal cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea and associated factors thereof in premenopausal female patients diagnosed with colon cancer. Premenopausal female patients under the age of 50 years who were diagnosed with stages I, II, and III colon cancer were included. A questionnaire surveying personal history including menarche, comorbidities, drugs, other clinical features, and menstrual history during and after completion of chemotherapy was filled by the patients during outpatient visits. Patients who received pelvic radiotherapy were excluded from the study. A total of 60 patients were included in the study. Eleven patients had been treated with surgery alone, and 49 patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy with either fluorouracil (5-FU) alone (n=22) or 5-FU+oxaliplatin (n=27). The frequency of persistent amenorrhea 1 year after receiving chemotherapy was 20% in the whole group, 18% in patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU alone, and 22% in patients who had received chemotherapy with 5-FU+oxaliplatin. Frequency of persistent amenorrhea was 3.5% in patients under the age of 44 years and 42.8% in patients aged 44 years and older. Multivariate analysis showed that age of 44 years and older (hazard ratio: 29.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.8-309.2, P=0.005) and menarche age of 14 years and older (hazard ratio: 7.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-49, P=0.076) were significantly associated with increased risk of persistent amenorrhea. In this study, we found that the frequency of persistent amenorrhea was 20% in patients who received 5-FU monotherapy or oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy protocols in colon cancer treatment. Older age and later menarche were the factors that increased the risk of persistent amenorrhea 1 year after chemotherapy.

Association between androgen receptor status and prognosis in triple negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease group with a higher recurrence risk and poorer prognosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency and prognostic value of androgen receptor (AR) expression in tissues of TNBC patients. METHODS: A total of 84 TNBC patients treated between 2000 - 2015 in Hacettepe University Cancer Institute were included and their medical records were analyzed retrospectively. The available paraffin blocks were assessed immunohistochemically to determine AR expression. Tumors with ≥1% nuclear staining were considered AR-positive, while the ones with <1% staining were considered AR-negative. We analyzed the association between AR expression, and clinical-pathologic characteristics and prognosis in TNBC. RESULTS: Of the 84 TNBC patients, 25 (29.8%) were AR-positive. The frequency of grade 3 tumors was lower among AR-positive TNBC tumors compared to AR-negative tumors (40 vs 86.4%, p<0.001). In the AR-positive group, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was less prevalent compared to AR-negative group (56 vs 86.4%, p<0.002). However, there were not statistically significant differences between AR positive and negative groups in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) (p=0.449, p=0.733, respectively). We found that grade 3 tumors were less frequent in AR-positive TNBC in our study. Nonetheless, we did not detect statistically significant difference in terms of overall survival and disease free survival between AR positive and negative TNBC. CONCLUSION: Routine evaluation of AR could contribute to further studies that may enlighten the role of AR targeting therapies in TNBC.

Evaluation of risk factors for the recurrence of colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer

Background/aim: Colorectal adenomatous polyps are precursors of colorectal cancer (CRC), which can be prevented with surveillance colonoscopy. This study aimed to assess risk factors for the recurrence of colorectal polyps and CRC following polypectomy. Materials and methods: In this single-center trial, a total of 510 patients who applied to the endoscopy unit of Hacettepe University Hospital for various reasons and who were diagnosed with at least one colorectal adenomatous polyp between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with colorectal adenomatous polyps or CRC recurrences were examined in terms of clinical and histological risk factors. Results: A total of 190 (37.1%) patients had surveillance colonoscopy. Among them, 127 (66.3%) were found to have polyp recurrence. Of the parameters defined for polyp recurrence, no association was found between the number of polyps (1-2, ≥3) (1-3, ≥4) in the first colonoscopy and diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sex, family history of colon malignancy, smoking, alcohol usage, size of polyp (<10 mm, ≥10 mm), or advanced histologic type of polyp. The only significant difference was observed in patients who had left-sided colon polyps. In the basal colonoscopy, 130 patients had been diagnosed with CRC, and a significant correlation was found between the number of polyps (1, ≥2) and polyp size (≥10 mm), anemia, high sedimentation rate (>25), and CRC. In the first surveillance colonoscopy, CRC was detected in 12 patients. There was a significant correlation between the development of CRC and advanced histological type, anemia with high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, polyp size (<10 mm, ≥10 mm), and the number of polyps (<3, ≥3). Conclusion: Patients with left-sided colon polyps had a high risk of developing colorectal polyp recurrence. Moreover, the risk of developing CRC increased in patients who had advanced histology, a polyp larger than 10 mm, or more than three polyps.

The short-term safety of adjuvant paclitaxel plus trastuzumab - A single centre experience.

PURPOSE: HER2-amplified breast cancer (BC) has a poor prognosis. The combination of trastuzumab with chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting decreases recurrence and improves overall survival in HER2-positive BC. However, the role of adjuvant treatment in patients with HER2-amplified small BC without lymph node involvement is still under debate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety of adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab (APT) in this group of patients. METHODS: A total of 87 operated early BC patients without lymph node involvement (N0) were treated with APT for 12 weeks followed by trastuzumab alone for a total of 9 months. Clinicopathological features and adverse events were analyzed. RESULTS: The median patient age was 50 years (range 28- 82), and 51% of them were postmenopausal. The median tumor diameter was 2.4 cm (range 0.5-6), with 51% of the patients having tumor size between 2 and 3 cm. Eighty-one percent of patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and 64% had grade 3 tumors. Adjuvant hormone therapy and adjuvant radiotherapy were administered to 65 and 54% of patients, respectively. At a median follow up of 13 months (range 6-38), one patient (1.1%, 95% CI 0-3.4) experienced an asymptomatic decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 3 patients (3.4%, 95% CI 0-6.9) experienced grade 3 neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: APT appears to be a safe combination in early-stage, HER2-amplified and node-negative BC.

Comparison of prognosis and clinical features between synchronous bilateral and unilateral breast cancers.

PURPOSE: The clinical significance of synchronous bilateral breast cancer (SBBC) is unclear and its influence on prognosis is controversial. Our study objective was to determine the epidemiological features, tumor characteristics, and prognosis of SBBC in comparison with those of unilateral breast cancer (UBC). METHODS: A total of 3675 breast cancer patients diagnosed and treated between 2000 and 2014 were evaluated. Of these patients, 132 (3.6%) had bilateral breast cancer, including 55 patients (1.5%) with SBBC and 77 (2.1%) with metachronous bilateral breast cancer (MBBC). The patient demographic characteristics, including survival data and clinicopathological tumor characteristics, were obtained from medical charts and compared between the patients with SBBC and those with UBC. RESULTS: The median age in the SBBC group was 51 years (range 32-77). The mastectomy rate was higher in the SBBC group (72.7%) than in the UBC group (66.6%) (p=0.08). In both the SBBC and UBC groups, the baseline clinicopathological features and the history of treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy were similar. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common histology in both groups. Lobular histology was more frequent in the SBBC group (36.3%) than in the UBC group (17.1%; p<0.001). Stage IV disease at initial presentation was more frequent in the SBBC group than in the UBC group (34.5 vs 8.7%, p<0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 90% and 82% in the SBBC and UBC groups, respectively (p=0.99). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83% and 88%, respectively (p=0.357). The multivariate Cox regression analysis, including stage, hormone receptor status, grade, and SBBC, revealed that the presence of SBBC was not associated with OS (hazard ratio 0.929; 95% confidence interval, 0.455-0.1894, p=0.839). CONCLUSION: Despite the differences in histology, initial stage, and other characteristics, the prognoses of UBC and SBBC were similar.

Trastuzumab 1-year vs 9-week in early-stage HER2-positive, lymph node negative breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Optimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab therapy in early-stage HER2-positive, lymph node-negative breast cancer is unknown. To establish this, we compared 1-year and 9-week trastuzumab regimens in HER2-positive, lymph node-negative early-stage breast cancer patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 4374 breast cancer patients. There were 181 early-stage, lymph node-negative breast cancer patients who were treated with adjuvant trastuzumab for either 9-week or 1-year schedule. A total of 101 patients received trastuzumab for 9 weeks and the remaining 80 patients received this adjuvant therapy for 1 year. Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of both groups were calculated. RESULTS: There was no difference between groups according to OS. Five-year OS rates were 95.5% in the 9-week group and 93.3% in the 1-year group (p=0.78). DFS was affected by age, having tamoxifen therapy and disease stage. Nine-week trastuzumab group was superior to 1-year group and 5-year DFS rates were 91% in 9-week group and 81.2% in 1-year group (p=0.02). However, the 1-year group had more stage II patients than the 9-week group. We did not find any difference between groups regarding developing congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: It appeared that 9-week trastuzumab treatment was not inferior to 1-year trastuzumab treatment in early-stage, lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.

Efficacy and safety of eribulin monotherapy in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Eribulin is a non-taxane microtubule inhibitor, which can be used after anthracycline and taxane treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of eribulin monotherapy in heavily pretreated MBC patients. METHODS: In this single-center trial, a total of 66 MBC patients who received eribulin monotherapy in Hacettepe University Cancer Institute between 2013 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was carried out for progression free survival (PFS) and for overall survival (OS). Two-sided p values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients who received at least one cycle of eribulin were registered. Most patients were heavily pretreated with a median of 4 (range 2-7) previous chemotherapy lines prior to eribulin. Median patient age was 50 years (range 28-67). Most patients were treated with eribulin at 4th or 5th line (33.3 and 27.3%, respectively). Brain metastases were present in 19 (28.8%) patients at the time of initial eribulin administration. Median PFS was 5 (95% CI 4.1-5.8) and median OS was 8 (95% CI 6-9.9) months. Fifteen patients (22.7%) responded to treatment with partial remission (PR) and 36 (54%) had stable disease (SD). No hypersensitivity reactions and no toxic deaths were observed. Three (5%) patients experienced grade 4 neurotoxicity. Fourteen (21.5%) patients developed grade 3-4 neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Eribulin monotherapy is an effective and safe regimen for MBC patients. Its low toxicity profile compared to other intravenous cytotoxic agents and the ease in its intravenous administration make this agent a preferable option for both physicians and patients.

Left laterality is an independent prognostic factor for metastasis in N3 stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Development of metastasis in patients with breast cancer (BC) is the most important negative prognostic factor and this process mainly begins with lymphatic involvement. Therefore, axillary, subclavicular, internal mammary or supraclavicular nodal involvement is a crucial step before metastasis. Anatomical differences between the right and left lymphatic drainages of the breasts may significantly affect the rate, site and time to development of distant metastasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate if laterality is an independent prognostic factor for metastasis in N3 breast cancer patients. METHODS: From a total of 4215 BC patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2015 in our center, 305 non-metastatic women with pathological N3 (pN3) nodal status at presentation were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: left and right BC. Analysis of overall survival (OS) and time to first metastasis (TTM) was performed according to Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test. RESULTS: The median number of lymph node involvement and lymph node ratio (number of positive lymph nodes / total number of excised lymph nodes) between the two groups was equal (14 and 0,66 respectively). Recurrence was observed in 123 patients [53 (35%) right vs 70 (44%) left group]. Patients with left BC had significantly higher rate of axial bone metastases compared with the right BC group (55.7 vs 35.8%, p<0.02, respectively). TTM was significantly shorter in the left BC group [49.1 months (95% CI 36.5-61.8) vs 103.6 months (95% CI 47.0-160); p7equals;0.03, respectively]. Median OS did not differ between the groups, however, there was a trend towards lower OS in patients with left BC (p=0.68). CONCLUSION: Left laterality in patients with pN3 non-metastatic BC is an independent prognostic factor associated with shorter TTM, increased risk of distant metastases and axial bone involvement compared with right laterality.

Correlation of educational status and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer: a single center experience.

PURPOSE: Educational status may be an important parameter in assessing breast cancer risk and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the level of education and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer, including tumor grade, HER-2 and estrogen receptor (ER) status, tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement and metastasis. METHODS: The study included 1800 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during 2005-2013 at Hacettepe University Cancer Institute. Patients were divided into three groups according to their educational status at the time of diagnosis as follows: low (illiterate and elementary school, 5 years or less of education), medium (secondary school and upper secondary school, 6-12 years of education) and high (university level, more than 12 years of education). The associations between educational status and clinicopathologic features of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis were evaluated. RESULTS: In all patient, a significant relationship was found between educational status and T stages (p<0.0001). Patients with higher educational levels were reported to have smaller tumor size regardless to their age and were less likely to have axillary lymph node involvement (p=0.001) or metastasis (p=0.001). A significant correlation was found between educational status and ER positivity in patients over 50 years of age (p=0.03). When the patients of all ages were evaluated, no statistically significant correlation was shown (p=0.27) between educational status and ER positivity. A significant relationship was found between educational status and HER-2 status (p=0.003), regardless of the patients' age. HER-2 positivity increased in patients with low educational status, however this significance was lost in patients over the age of 50 (p=0.1). CONCLUSION: The relationship between educational status and biological factors in breast cancer are not conclusive as yet, but this particular study revealed that educational status played a major influence in each of the five breast cancer prognostic factors: ER status, HER-2 status, tumor size, lymph node status and metastasis.

Chemotherapy might not be beneficial in lymph node- negative, hormone-positive, and HER2-negative breast cancer patients: a long-term retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In lymph node-negative, hormone-positive, and Her2-negative breast cancer patients, the benefits of adding adjuvant chemotherapy to hormonal therapy continue to be debated, especially for low to intermediate grade and small tumors. METHODS: Excluding patients with T4 disease, we retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with long-term follow-up at our center between 2003 and 2014. Among node-negative, hormone-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer patients, we compared two groups of patients: those given both chemotherapy (doxorubicin+cyclophosphamide) and hormonotherapy, and those prescribed hormonotherapy alone. The primary endpoints were progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Overall, no difference was observed between these two treatment groups in either DFS or OS. However, for both outcomes, there was a trend towards improved DFS and OS favoring the hormone-only group. CONCLUSIONS: In selected subgroups of breast cancer patients, administering adjuvant hormonal therapy alone seems to be at least as good if not better than combining hormonotherapy and chemotherapy.

A retrospective analysis of adjuvant CAF, AC-T and TAC regimens in triple negative early stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) for which no protocol has been determined to be treatment of choice. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective trial, we analyzed the adjuvant regimens of 164 TNBC patients among 3253 breast cancer patient records. Adjuvant TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), CAF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5fluorouracil), and AC-T (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel) regimens were compared in terms of disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In terms of both DFS and OS TAC was significantly superior to AC-T in node positive TNBC. When node negative and positive patients were analyzed together, TAC was still significantly superior to AC-T in terms of DFS and OS. There was a trend favoring CAF over AC-T, however, it was only significant in terms of OS when all node negative and positive TNBC patients were incorporated together. CONCLUSION: In the adjuvant setting, especially in node positive patients, TAC should be the treatment of choice in TNBC patients. CAF is probably better than AC-T in TNBC.

Molecular subtypes in patients with inflammatory breast cancer; a single center experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and prognosis of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) according to molecular subtypes. METHODS: Demographic data were examined for 78 patients diagnosed with IBC among breast cancer patients monitored in our clinic. Patients were staged according to the 2010 AJCC guidelines. Physical examination and radiographic findings classified on the basis of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) guidelines were employed in the evaluation of clinical response to systemic therapy. Subtype analysis was performed in patients with IBC and subtypes were compared. Patients were divided on the basis of metastatic or non metastatic status and survival analysis was performed on the basis of molecular subtypes. RESULTS: Distribution analysis of molecular subtypes revealed a lower incidence of luminal A and a higher incidence of both HER 2 (+) and triple negative breast cancer in IBC. Molecular subtypes had no effect on survival in the non metastatic (p=0.61) and metastatic patient group (p=0.08). CONCLUSION: This study showed that IBC frequency is higher in HER2 overexpressing and triple negative subtypes. No survival differences were noticed in relation to molecular subtypes in IBC patients.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index: A Candidate Prognostic Marker in HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated With CDK4/6 Inhibitors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Although cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6i) are a vital part of the treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER-2-negative metastatic breast cancer (BC), individuals have different sensitivities to CDK4/6i, indicating the need for biomarkers. The fasting triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is an easily accessible surrogate marker of insulin resistance (IR). Herein, we investigated the prognostic significance of the fasting triglyceride glucose (TyG) index in HR+/HER2- metastatic BC patients treated with CDK4/6i plus endocrine therapy (ET). METHODS: About 333 patients with HR+/HER2-metastatic BC treated with CDK4/6i plus ET were analyzed retrospectively. The TyG index was calculated within 3 months before the initiation of CDK4/6i plus ET. The median value of 8.43 was taken as the cutoff for the TyG index. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) was 73.6 months (95% CI, 66.0-81.1) in the whole cohort. The progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in the low-TyG subgroup than in the high-TyG subgroup (30.1 vs. 21.3 months, multivariate adjusted [HR] = 0.666, 95% CI, 0.450-0.987, P = .043). While the median OS was not reached in the low TyG subgroup, it was 69.0 months in the high TyG subgroup (multivariate-adjusted HR = 0.513, 95% CI, 0.281-0.936, P = .030). Although the ORR and DCR were numerically greater in the low-TyG subgroup, no significant differences were observed between the low-TyG subgroup and high-TyG subgroup (28.1% vs. 24.7%, P = .476; 83.2% vs. 80.1%, P = .463, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data imply that the TyG index could be a predictive biomarker for the therapeutic efficacy of CDK4/6is. Extensive prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Prognostic factors in non-metastatic HER2 'low' and HER2 'negative' breast cancer: single institute experience.

AIM: Comparison of prognosis and survival in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low and HER2-negative patients with early stage or locally advanced, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective single center study, the patients with early stage or locally advanced stage, hormone receptor (HR)-positive [estrogen receptor (ER) ≥ 1% and/or progesterone receptor (PR) ≥ 1%] and HER2 negative or HER2 low invasive breast cancer diagnosis were included. A total of 444 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: HER2 negative and HER2 low. There were 235 (53%) patients in the HER2 negative group and 209 (47%) patients in the HER2 low group. RESULTS: The HER2 low group had significantly longer 5­year disease-free survival (DFS) than the HER2 negative group. The patients with lower Ki67 (< 20%) also had a longer 5­year DFS. CONCLUSION: Nonmetastatic HR+/HER2 low breast cancer patients had better DFS than HR+/HER2 negative ones. The Ki67 level and HER2 low status were independent prognostic factors. Randomized clinical trials are needed in early stage HER2 low breast cancer patients.

Effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha expression on survival in patients with metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with first-line chemotherapy and bevacizumab.

This study addresses the gap in understanding the prognostic relevance of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) expression in metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients undergoing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-based therapy. A retrospective multicenter study (n = 34) explored HIF-1 alpha expression via immunohistochemistry in patients treated with platinum chemotherapy and bevacizumab. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly lower in the HIF-1 alpha low score group compared to the high score group (4.9 vs 12.9 months, P = 0.014). Similarly, the median overall survival (OS) was significantly reduced in the HIF-1 alpha low score group (8.3 vs 20.4 months, P = 0.006). This study, the first of its kind, highlights the prognostic significance of HIF-1 alpha expression in metastatic cervical SCC patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy.