Evaluation of the factors affecting survival and local recurrence in thigh soft tissue sarcomas.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting local recurrence and survival in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas located in the thigh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 41 soft tissue sarcoma patients (21 males, 20 females; mean age: 57.9±13.7 years; range, 18 to 90 years) with thigh involvement between January 2010 and December 2020. All surgical intervention was performed by one surgeon with an experience of 15 years in orthopedic oncologic surgery. Epidemiological, radiological, histopathological, and metabolic features, as well as surgical and oncological treatments and prognoses, were assessed. The data was statistically analyzed to determine factors affecting local recurrence and survival in these cases, staged using Enneking and the American Joint Committee on Cancer classifications. RESULTS: Liposarcomas were the most common type of tumor (39%), followed by undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (32%). Tumors >10 cm were associated with decreased survival rates. High-grade tumors, tumor necrosis, Ki-67 index >20%, and positive surgical margins were also associated with lower survival rates. Metastatic patients had significantly lower survival rates. Local recurrence was significantly more frequent in patients with positive surgical margins. Survival rates were significantly lower in metastatic patients. CONCLUSION: There are many factors that affect local recurrence and survival of soft tissue sarcomas. The size of the mass, the presence of necrosis, a high Ki-67 index, positive surgical margins, and the presence of metastasis are the main factors that should be taken into consideration.

Clinicopathological and molecular analyses of uterine carcinosarcomas using next-generation sequencing: A single-center experience.

Background: Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCS) constitute 3-4% of all uterine malignancies and 16% of deaths caused due to uterine neoplasms. Aim: In this study, we aimed to perform DNA-based mutation analysis in 12 genes (KRAS, NRAS, EGFR, C-KIT, BRAF, PDGFRA, ALK, ERBB2, ERBB3, ESR1, RAF1, PIK3CA) to determine the molecular subtypes of UCS using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in patients with aggressive UCS and poor prognosis. We aimed to compare the results of our analysis with clinicopathological data to contribute to the development of targeted therapy approaches related to the molecular changes of UCS. Materials and Methods: In this study, we included 12 cases diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcomas and examined the changes in oncogenes that play a role in UCS pathogenesis. For the analysis of mutation, the clinicopathological data were compared with the variations in the DNA-based gene panel consisting of 12 genes and 1237 variants in the UCS using the NGS method. Results: EGFR mutation was found in 91.7% of the cases, mutation in 41.7%, PDGFRA mutation in 25%, KRAS and PIK3CA mutation in 16.7%, and C-KIT mutation in 8.3% of the cases. Although no statistical significance was found between the detected mutation and clinicopathological data, it was concluded that PDGFRA mutation might be associated with advanced-stage disease development. Conclusion: This study's findings regarding different molecular types of UCS and information on oncogenesis of UCS can provide inferences for targeted therapies in the future by identifying targetable mutations representing early oncogenic events and thereby contribute toward further studies on this subject.

Clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of acral metastases in patients with malignant disease: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical, pathological, and prognostic characteristics of acral metastases in patients with malignant disease and to determine the impact of different types of acral metastasis treatment on patient survival. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 64 acral metastatic lesions in 46 patients (17 women, 29 men; mean age, 61.5 years; age range, 35-82 years) who were evaluated by the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Council of our institute from 2015 to 2019 were included. The patients' primary tumor site, tumor type, localization of acral metastases, main symptom, duration from the diagnosis of the primary tumor to the diagnosis of acral metastasis, duration from the diagnosis of acral metastasis to death, and survival data were analyzed. The diagnosis of acral metastasis was confirmed by histopathological evaluation in 38 patients and clinical and radiological assessment of the lesions in 8 patients. The treatment type for each acral metastasis was individualized by the institutional Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Council and categorized into 3 groups: excisional surgery (amputations and resections), palliative surgery (prophylactic fixation, intralesional curettage, and bone cement augmentation), and non-surgical treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy). RESULTS: A total of 16 acral metastases (25%) were identified in the upper extremity and 48 (75%) in the lower extremity. The most common primary tumor site was the lungs (32.6%), and the most common tumor type was adenocarcinoma (43.2%). The most frequent symptom and the primary reason for admission was pain (58.7%). The mean duration between the diagnosis of primary tumor and the diagnosis of acral metastasis was 19.1 (range, 0-124) months. No significant correlation was determined between the primary tumor types and duration from the diagnosis of primary tumor to the diagnosis of acral metastasis (p=0.278). Acral metastases were treated by excisional surgery in 15 (32.6%) patients, palliative surgery combined with non-surgical treatment in 10 (21.7%) patients, and only non-surgical treatment modalities in 21 (45.7%) patients. No significant correlation existed between the treatment types and patient survival (p=0.058). At the final follow-up, 30 (65.2%) patients were dead owing to the disease. The mean overall survival of the entire study group was 24.9 (range, 3-55) months. The mean duration between the diagnosis of acral metastasis and death was 7.6 (range, 3-24) months in patients who were dead owing to the disease (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: When the diagnosis of acral metastasis is established, it should be borne in mind that the most common primary tumor site and type are most likely the lungs and adenocarcinoma, respectively. The treatment type for acral metastasis may have no significant impact on patient survival, but the extensiveness of the disease may be a critical factor for survival. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Prognostic study.

Indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats and the protective effect of donkey milk.

INTRODUCTION: Indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug with clearly known side effects on gastric mucosa. New treatment and side effect prevention methods are being studied. Donkey milk, as a nutritional support, has recently come into the spotlight with its anti-oxidant features, high antibody content and low allergenic properties. In this study, we investigated donkey milk's possible protective effect against acute gastric mucosal damage by indomethacin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four groups, each composed of 8 rats, were created. Rats in the first and third groups were fed with standard rat chow, while those in the second and fourth groups were additionally fed with 25 mg/kg of donkey milk per day via nasogastric gavage. On the 11th day gastric mucosal damage was induced by oral administration of 30 mg/kg of indomethacin to the rats in groups 3 and 4. Six h later all rats were sacrificed and their stomachs were removed for macroscopic and microscopic evaluation as well as biochemical examination of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in the gastric mucosa was evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: In the donkey milk-indomethacin group, total area of erosion and degree of linear ulceration were significantly lower than in the standard food-indomethacin group (p < 0.05). Also, GSH levels were increased and MDA levels were decreased significantly in this group. Tumor necrosis factor-α expression was more prevalent and stronger in the gastritis group, while lower expression was observed in the donkey milk group. CONCLUSIONS: Donkey milk was observed to have significant protective effects against gastric damage induced by indomethacin.

BRAF V600 Mutation Profile of Metastatic Melanoma in the Thrace Region of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: BRAF is the most common mutation in melanoma. The most common subtype is BRAF V600E, followed by V600K. Initially, the authors aimed to investigate whether clinicopathological features of melanoma are associated with BRAF mutations. We then aimed to present the relationships between the clinicopathological features and the mutated subtype (V600E vs V600K). MATERIAL AND METHOD: 61 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (affecting the lymph node or other distant sites) were selected. Patient data regarding age at the time of diagnosis, sex, metastatic site (lymph node, distant metastasis or both) and primary tumour site were obtained from the hospital's database. Tissue samples containing at least 30% tumour cells were isolated from the specimens of 61 patients (24 samples from primary tumours and 37 from metastatic foci) for BRAF analysis. Comparisons between the BRAF V600 mutation and clinicopathological and histopathological features were performed. RESULTS: BRAF V600 mutation was detected in 34 (55.7%) patients. The subtype was BRAF V600E in 22 (64.7%) patients, BRAF V600K in 11(32.4%) patients and BRAF V600R in 1(2.9%) patient. The crucial results of the present study may be summarized as follows: i) BRAF V600 mutation was more common in older patients and tumors with BRAF V600 mutation revealed necrosis and LVI more commonly than wild-type tumors, ii) BRAF V600K mutation was more common in older patients and BRAF V600K mutated tumors exhibited ulceration more commonly than tumors with BRAF V600E mutation (close to significant). CONCLUSION: The BRAF V600 mutation may have interactions with prognostic clinicoptahological features of melanoma including necrosis and lymphovascular invasion. V600K mutation may be more common than expected and may have different associations with properties of the tumor such as tumor ulceration and patient age. Investigation of the mutated subtype of the BRAF gene may therefore reveal more detailed data about the management of melanoma and may also prevent missing of candidates for BRAF inhibitor therapies.

Malignant Mesothelioma of Tunica Vaginalis Testis: Macroscopic and Microscopic Features of a Very Rare Malignancy.

Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis (MMTVT) is an extremely rare tumour, usually mimicking benign pathologies of the scrotum. Our case is an 84-year-old male patient who appealed with a painless, left-sided scrotal swelling longer than 2 months. Although the level of tumour markers was normal, ultrasonographic examination results forced us to perform an inguinal scrotal exploration. Multiple small papillary tumours, both on tunica vaginalis and tunica albuginea, were detected intraoperatively. Due to these findings, radical orchiectomy was performed. A pathological evaluation showed malignant mesothelioma (MM) of the tunica vaginalis testis. Exposure to asbestos is a well-known risk factor. Furthermore, a history of trauma, herniorrhaphy and chronic hydroceles is blamed as a possible risk factor. Scrotal ultrasonography is the mainstay of primary diagnosis and, therefore, it should not be overlooked when dealing with benign scrotal cysts or hydroceles, which are very common pathologies at these decades, too. Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the primary treatment choice for localised MMTVT disease, whereas in signs of lymph node metastasis, inguinal lymph node dissection is required. Radical resection should be completed with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for an advanced or recurrent disease. This case, which is very rarely reported in the literature and detected during inguinal exploration, along with the pathological works that supported the diagnosis, was presented with this report.

Assessment of Ten-Year-Long Results of Kidney Biopsies Performed on Children in the Thrace Region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Many children with kidney diseases can be diagnosed and treated without a biopsy. However, biopsy is a valuable method for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of children with kidney diseases. AIMS: To evaluate the clinical and pathological profiles of the kidney biopsies in our department to provide epidemiological data for clinical practice. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS: Kidney biopsies and patient's charts in pediatric patients performed between May 2005 and February 2015 at the Pediatric Nephrology Department, Trakya University School of Medicine were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were examined. Their mean age was 9.62±4.26 years (range: 1-17 years); 54% of the patients were girls and 46% were boys. The most frequent indication for kidney biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (33%). The most common kidney disease was primary glomerulonephritis, which was observed in 65% of cases. IgA nephropathy (24%) was the most frequently observed subtype in primary glomerulonephritis groups. Secondary glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in 35% of cases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (51%) was the most frequently observed subtype in the secondary glomerulonephritis groups. CONCLUSION: IgA nephropathy and systemic lupus erythematosus were the most frequent primary and secondary glomerulonephritis in our region among children, respectively.

Unknown primary adenocarcinomas: a single-center experience.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical and prognostic characteristics of a homogeneous group of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Between 1999 and 2014, CUP was diagnosed in 159 (1.3%) of 11,742 cancer patients at Trakya University Hospital (Edirne, Turkey). Ninety-seven (61%) of the 159 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Among these, 61 (62.8%) patients with adenocarcinoma were included in this study. The most frequently predicted primary tumor site was the lung (37.7%), and 59% of the patients were smokers. There was a significant relationship between smoking and the lung as a potential primary cancer site (p = 0.042). The most frequent site of metastasis was the liver (60.7%). The median number of metastases per patient was two, but patients with liver metastases had a median of five metastases. The overall median survival time was 7 months. Median survival was significantly longer in patients with a predicted primary site than in patients without the predicted site (7 vs. 6 months, respectively; p = 0.038). When the patients with predicted ovarian and peritoneal tumors were excluded from the comparison, the statistical p value was still close to significant (p = 0.07). Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking, liver metastasis, serum alkaline phosphatase ≥92 U/L, and progression in response to chemotherapy were independent predictors of a poor prognosis. The present study identified several independent prognostic factors in patients with unknown primary adenocarcinomas who received chemotherapy. Smoking, the presence of liver metastasis, and response to chemotherapy were independent risk factors for both progression-free and overall survival.

Importance of Ki-67 in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of Ki-67 in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (Her-2) positive breast cancer patients. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with Her-2-positive non-metastatic breast cancer between 2005 and 2011. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were stained with MIB-1 mouse monoclonal antibody to find Ki-67 levels. Patients were grouped as low Ki-67<20% and high Ki-67≥20%. Demographic and clinical features were compared. RESULTS: One hundred and six patients were included in the study. Median follow up time was 41 months (range 15-100). Median age was 49.5 years (range 29-79). Twenty-nine patients (27.4%) were in the Ki-67 low group. Demographic features were similar in both groups. Lymphovas cular invasion was more frequent in the Ki-67 high group, and hormone receptor (HR) positivity was more frequent in the Ki-67 low group (p=0.03, p=0.03, respectively). Recurrence rate was not significantly different in both groups (p=0.36). T stage (p=0.02), stage (p<0.01), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.02), ER status (p=0.02), and HR status (p<0.01) were related with recurrence. In multivariate analysis, stage and HR negativity were independent factors for recurrence (p<0.01, p=0.01, respectively). Recurrence sites were also similar in both groups. Survival rates at the third year for Ki-67 low group and Ki-67 high group were 94% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Her-2 positive patients with low Ki-67 and high Ki-67 had similar demographic and pathologic features except lymphovascular invasion and HR status. HR status was an important factor for disease course. Clinical course was determined by HR status rather than Ki-67.

Angiosarcoma of common iliac vein.

Angiosarcoma is a rare malignant tumour of endothelial cells. Primary angiosarcoma of venous origin is extremely rare, and has a very poor prognosis. A 63-year-old woman with retroperitoneal mass underwent en bloc resection on a part of iliac vein followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. No recurrence was detected during 3 years of follow-up.

Atypical osteoid osteomas.

Osteoid osteoma is a very painful benign bone tumor that affects young adults. It is exceptional before 5 and after 30 years of age. It can be seen in any part of the skeleton. Presentation of the tumor may be intracortical, juxta-cortical or cancellous. In long bones, the tumor is frequently intracortical, and in the spine, it is usually located at the posterior elements. Osteoid osteomas having radiologic and clinical features other than classical presentation of osteoid osteoma are called atypical osteoid osteomas. Atypical osteoid osteomas are important because the diagnosis and treatment are often complicated in these cases. Misdiagnosis with prolonged impairment and sometimes overtreatment appears as a major problem concerning atypical osteoid osteomas. This paper gives brief general information about the classical presentation of osteoid osteoma, discusses the pathogenesis of the lesion and focuses on the clinical presentation, radiologic features and characteristics of atypical osteoid osteomas as well as their treatment modalities.

Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation Type 2: A Case Report with Review of the Literature.

A congenital pulmonary airway malformation is a rare disorder of the pulmonary airway and a hamartomatous mass of disorganized lung tissues with various degrees of cystic change. A 20-year-old pregnant woman who did not have previous clinical follow-up during her pregnancy visited the gynecology department for her first check on the 19th week of gestation. The sonogram, showed severe hydrops fetalis. Laboratory findings were consistent with non-immune hydrops fetalis. Medical abortion was performed and the fetus was sent to our department for a complete fetal autopsy. Macroscopically, whole parts of the fetus had striking oedema. Massive pleural and peritoneal effusions were seen on dissection. The left lung filled the whole thoracic cavity. The heart was displaced to the right and the right lung was compressed. Microscopically, the left lung mass showed dilated bronchiole-like structures (1-20 mm) that were lined with ciliated columnar cells without any intervening mucinous cells. The subepithelial stroma contained thin, interrupted smooth muscle fibers and elastic connective tissue without cartilage plates. Our case is a very good example of non-immune hydrops fetalis associated with congenital pulmonary airway malformation type 2. Prenatal clinical and ultrasonographic follow-ups during pregnancy are very important for early diagnosis of congenital malformations.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: A rare diagnosis on cervicovaginal cytology.

Cervicovaginal smear screening is well known to reduce morbidity and mortality rates of invasive cervical carcinoma. Herein, we report a case of 56-year-old woman whose cervicovaginal smear was found to consist of malignant cells characterized by high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, scant rim of cytoplasm, coarsely granular nuclear chromatin and irregular nuclear membrane that were all reminiscent of a malignant lymphoma. Histopathological examination of the hysterectomy and unilateral adnexectomy specimen confirmed the presence of a diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the cervix, endometrium, myometrium, serosa and the right ovary.

Cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in a young non-cirrhotic patient, to the left ventricle.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver.(1,2) The most common extrahepatic metastatic sites are lung, abdominal lymph nodes and bone, while its cardiac metastasis is rare.(2,3) Metastasis of HCC into the cardiac cavity is mostly caused by direct tumor invasion of vena cava inferior with continuous extension into the right cardiac cavity.(4,5) Right heart metastasis without invasion of inferior vena cava, which may be caused by hematogenous spread of cancer cells, is rarely reported.(6,7) This paper announces an unusual case of isolated involvement of left ventricle (LV) together with myocardial invasion of HCC. Our patient is known to be the first case with isolated HCC metastasis to the left ventricle. Strikingly, the patient was young and non-cirrhotic with negative serum HBsAg, and anti-HCV results.

Trimodality treatment in patients with superior sulcus tumors: hopes and realities.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In late 2001 at our institution, we started offering induction radiochemotherapy as a treatment option for superior sulcus tumors. Our aim was to evaluate treatment choices and outcome in this patient group treated over the past 7 years at our institution. METHODS: The records of 34 patients were retrospectively reviewed and 33 were assessable for the analysis. RESULTS: Twenty of 28 patients with M0 disease had operable disease. The induction radiochemotherapy for superior sulcus tumors was possible in about two-thirds (14/20) of the cases with operable disease, with only one-third (5/14) of these having undergone surgery. The most common reason for not proceeding to surgery following induction radiochemotherapy was patient refusal (n = 5). The median follow-up of all 33 patients was 17 months. In curatively treated patients with (n = 11) or without surgery (n = 15), the median overall survival time was 26 months (range, 10-26) and 26 months (range, 7-71), respectively ( P = 0.534). Local-regional and/or distant failure developed in 20 of 26 patients treated curatively. In patients treated with the trimodality regimen (n = 5), no local-regional failure was observed, and distant failure occurred in one case. CONCLUSIONS: The trimodality treatment was possible in 25% of cases with operable disease due to the high rate of patient refusal to proceed to surgery following induction radiochemotherapy. No difference in survival was observed between patients treated with surgery and those treated with radiochemotherapy only because of a limited follow-up. So, the benefit of additional surgery is not clear, and a longer follow-up is needed before final conclusions can be drawn.

The relationship among PDX1, CDX2, and mucin profiles in gastric carcinomas; correlations with clinicopathologic parameters.

PURPOSE: Several studies performed on pancreatic-duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) have demonstrated a loss of expression and negative tumor modulator effect in gastric carcinoma. Relations between PDX1 and gastric metaplasia, differentiated type of gastric carcinoma, and the early stage of the disease have been exhibited in previous reports. The aim of this study was to examine expressions of PDX1, caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) and mucin (MUC) profiles to address the role of PDX1 in gastric carcinogenesis and its relationship with CDX2. METHODS: Seventy gastrectomy specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically for PDX1, CDX2, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 expressions. The sum of cytoplasmic and nuclear PDX1 immunostaining and PDX1 positivity were assessed. All of the antibodies were examined for a correlation with tumor type, clinicopathologic parameters, and metaplasias. The relation of Ki-67 proliferation index with the expression profiles was also investigated. RESULTS: Neither PDX1 (66/70) nor CDX2 (37/70) and the mucin profiles (MUC2:11/70, MUC5AC:48/70, MUC6:41/70) showed a significant difference between differentiated and undifferentiated types of gastric carcinoma and clinicopathologic parameters. The PDX1 expression frequency was 94.3%, with an average PDX1 score of 8.8 ± 4.2. PDX1 and CDX2 expression showed a significant difference (P = 0.026 and P = 0.002, respectively) among the phenotypic classification of gastric carcinomas. All of the gastric and intestinal mixed-phenotype gastric carcinomas (GI-type) showed both PDX1 and CDX2 immunopositivity. Except for the relation of PDX1 score with MUC6 expression, no significant difference was detected between PDX1 and CDX2, MUC2, and MUC5AC expressions. A relationship between CDX2 and MUC2 and also between MUC5AC and MUC6 was found statistically. The Ki-67 proliferation index revealed a significant positive correlation with PDX1, CDX2, and MUC2 positivity. CONCLUSIONS: PDX1 expression revealed a higher positivity in gastric carcinomas than the previous studies and showed no relation with tumor type, clinicopathologic parameters, CDX2 expression, or mucin profiles. However, a significant relation of PDX1 and CDX2 expressions among phenotypic classification of gastric carcinomas reveals an idea about similar functions for PDX1 and CDX2 in the evolution of gastric carcinoma.

The effect of a flavonoid fractions diosmin + hesperidin on radiation-induced acute proctitis in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: To explore the protective effect of a flavonoid fractions diosmin + hesperidin (Daflon), against radiation-induced acute proctitis in an experimental rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty four rats were divided into four groups. The rats in Group 1 received Daflon and underwent irradiation. The rats in Group 2 received no Daflon and underwent irradiation. The rats in Group 3 received Daflon and underwent sham irradiation. The rats in Group 4 received no Daflon and underwent sham irradiation. Daflon emulsion (100 mg/kg/day) was administered via an orogastric feeding tube to the rats in groups 1 and 3 starting from 1 day prior to irradiation until the euthanasia day (day 15 following irradiation). Radiation therapy was delivered on a cobalt-60 unit using a single fraction of 17.5 Gy defined at a depth of 1 cm through an anterior portal. Slides were examined by the same pathologist under a light microscope two times in a blinded manner. RESULTS: When compared to group 2, the rats of Group 1 showed less glandular distortion and less mucosal inflammation with less infiltration of the crypt epithelia by the inflammatory cells (P < 0.001). A statistically significant increase in all parameters but muscular wall thickness was observed for the rats in Group 2 as compared to the group 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of a dose of 100 mg/kg/day of the diosmin + hesperidin resulted in decreased morphologic inflammatory changes. This drug may have protective effects against radiation-induced acute proctitis.

[Effect of the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and C on the prognosis of patients with laryngeal carcinoma]. / Larenks kanserli hastalarda vasküler endotelyal büyüme faktörü A ve C düzeylerinin prognoza etkisi.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we determined the prognostic importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and C values and their relationship with tumor stages and neck lymp node involvement and also, the relationship between microvessel density and tumor stage in the pathologic specimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three male patients (mean age 57.8±7.2 years; range 49 to 69 years) who underwent surgical treatment for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and a control group of 13 healthy male subjects (mean age 54.2±6.1 years; range 41 to 62 years) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: the early-stage group consisting of patients with T1 and T2 stage tumors and the advanced stage group including patients with T3 and T4 stage tumors. Patients are evaluated in terms of plasma VEGF-A and C levels before and six months after the surgery. In the pathologic specimens, CD 31 was used for immunohistochemical staining. For each patient the number of microvessels per millimeter square (microvessel density) was determined. RESULTS: The preoperative plasma VEBF-A levels of the patients with early-stage tumors were significantly lower compared to those of the control group, while there was no significant difference between the preoperative levels of the patients with advanced stage tumors and the levels of the control group. There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative 6th month VEGF-A levels of the patients both in the early-stage and the advanced stage groups. The preoperative plasma VEGF-C values of the patients with lymph node involvement were significantly lower than those of the patients with early-stage tumors. There was no significant difference between the VEGF-C levels in pre- and postoperatively at six months after the operation of patients with lymph node involvement. There was no significant difference between the preoperative VEGF-C levels of the patients with lymph node involvement and those without lymph node involvement. No significant difference was found in microvessel density between the cases with early and advanced stage tumors. CONCLUSION: It was seen that the plasma VEGF-A value did not increase in patients with laryngeal cancer and rather it is low in patients with early-stage disease. No relationship was found between the plasma VEGF-C values and cervical lymph node involvement.