Comprehensive Immunohistochemical Analysis of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Biomarkers in the Invasive Micropapillary Cancer of the Breast.

Background: Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast is commonly associated with a poor prognosis due to its high incidence of lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis (LNM). Our study is aimed at investigating the prognostic significance of the expressions of E-cadherin (E-cad), N-cadherin (N-cad), CD44s, and ß-catenin (ß-cat). In addition, it is aimed at deciphering the consistency of these markers between the IMPC, the invasive breast carcinoma, no-special type (IBC-NST), and LNM components in the same IMPC cases. Methods: Sixty-two IMPC cases with LNM from 1996 to 2018 were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed separately on the three regions for each patient. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, and McNemar's statistical tests. Results: Loss of CD44 expression in IMPC, IBC-NST, and LNM areas was associated with poor prognosis in overall survival (OS) (p = 0.010, p < 0.0005, p = 0.025). Loss of CD44 expression in the IBC-NST, gain of N-cad expression in the IMPC, and loss of ß-cat expression in the LNM areas were indicators of poor prognosis in disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.005, p = 0.041, p = 0.009). Conclusion: Our evaluation of this rare subtype, focusing on the expression of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecules, revealed that it shares characteristics with the IBC-NST component within mixed tumors. Notably, contrary to expectations, a reduction in CD44 expression was found to adversely affect both OS and DFS. By conducting staining procedures simultaneously across three regions within the same patient, a novel approach has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of EMT.

The Oncologic Safety of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Single-Center Experience.

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with breast cancer with complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: Ninety-two consecutive (T1-4 and N1-2) patients with breast cancer who had pathologic and/or clinical and radiologic axillary lymph node involvement were included. All patients received NAC. Patients with a clinical and radiologic complete response in the axilla after NAC underwent SLNB. Pathologic complete response (ypCR) was defined as the absence of residual invasive and in situ cancer, and near-complete response (ypNCR) represented in situ and/or ≤ 1 mm residual tumor in the breast and/or presence of malignant cell clusters (≤0.2 mm) and/or micrometastases (≤2.0 mm) in the axillary lymph nodes (ALN) (ypTis/T1mi, ypN0i+/pN1mi). Results: The mean age of the 92 patients was 49.6 ± 10.3 years and the mean follow-up was 34.0 ± 17.8 months. With respect to breast tumors, 23 (25.0%) patients had complete and 14 (15.2%) had a near-complete response to NAC. Complete response in ALN was obtained in 39 (42.4%) patients and near-complete in six (6.5%) patients. The overall survival of the 33 patients who achieved ypCR and ypNCR was 100% and the remaining 59 patients with partial or no response to NAC was 83.1% at a mean follow-up of 34 months (p=0.063). Conclusions: In this study, no event developed in cases with ypCR and ypNCR in the breast and axilla. The persistence of the same results in long-termfollow-ups may enable the use of ypNCR as a positive prognostic marker in addition to ypCR.

Gastrointestinal Tract Metastases of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: An Immunohistochemical Survey Algorithm.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) accounts for almost 15% of all breast carcinomas. The potential of ILC to metastasize to the gastointestinal system is significantly greater than that of invasive ductal carcinoma. Gastric metastasis occurred in the ninth year of the follow-up in a patient who was operated on the right breast due to ILC. The patient was investigated for simultaneous masses in the stomach and colon, and a random mass was found in her right breast.

The Importance of the Pathological Perspective in the Management of the Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

Background: Invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) account for 10-15% of all breast cancers and are the second most common histological form of breast cancer. They usually show a discohesive pattern of single cell infiltration, tend to be multifocal, and the tumor may not be accompanied by a stromal reaction. Because of these histological features, which are not common in other breast tumors, radiological detection of the tumor may be difficult, and its pathological evaluation in terms of size and spread is often problematic. The SSO-ASTRO guideline defines the negative surgical margin in breast-conserving surgeries as the absence of tumor detection on the ink. However, surgical margin assessment in invasive lobular carcinomas has not been much discussed from the pathological perspective. Methods: The study included 79 cases diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma by a Tru-cut biopsy where operated in our center between 2014 and 2021. Clinicopathological characteristics of the cases, results of an intraoperative frozen evaluation in cases that underwent conservative surgery, the necessity of re-excision and complementary mastectomy, and consistency in radiological and pathological response evaluation in cases receiving neoadjuvant treatment were questioned. Results: The tumor was multifocal in 37 (46.8%) cases and single tumor focus in 42 (53.2%) cases. When the entire patient population was evaluated, regardless of focality, mastectomy was performed in 27 patients (34.2%) and breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was performed in 52 patients (65.8%). Of the 52 patients who underwent BCS, 26 (50%) required an additional surgical procedure (cavity revision or completion mastectomy). There is a statistical relationship between tumor size and additional surgical intervention (p < 0.05). BCS was performed in 7 of 12 patients who were operated on after neoadjuvant treatment, but all of them were reoperated with the same or a second session and turned to mastectomy. Neoadjuvant treatment and the need for reoperation were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Additional surgical procedures were performed in 20 (44.4%) of 45 patients in BCS cases who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. Conclusions: Diagnostic difficulties in the intraoperative frozen evaluation of invasive lobular carcinoma are due to the different histopathological patterns of the ILC. In our study, it was determined that large tumor size and neoadjuvant therapy increased the need for additional surgical procedures. It is thought that the pathological perspective is the determining factor in order to minimize the negative effects such as unsuccessful cosmesis, an additional surgical burden on the patient, and cost increase that may occur with additional surgical procedures; for this reason, new approaches should be discussed in the treatment planning of invasive lobular carcinoma cases.

The effectiveness and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: Turkish Oncology Group study.

In our study, we aimed to evaluate the pathological response rates and side effect profile of adding pertuzumab to the treatment of HER2+ locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage breast cancer. This study was conducted by the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) with data collected from 32 centers. Our study was multicentric, and a total of 364 patients were included. The median age of the patients was 49 years (18-85 years). Two hundred fifteen (60%) of the cases were hormone receptor/HER2+ positive(ER+ or PR+, or both), and 149 (40%) of them were HER2-rich (ER and PR negative). The number of complete responses was 124 (54%) in the docetaxel+trastuzumab+pertuzumab arm and 102 (45%) in the paclitaxel+trastuzumab+pertuzumab arm, and there was no difference between the groups in terms of complete response. In 226 (62%) patients with complete response, a significant correlation was found with DCIS, tumor focality, removed lymph node, and ER status P < 0.05. Anemia, nausea, vomiting, myalgia, alopecia, and mucosal inflammation were significantly higher in the docetaxel arm, P < 0.05. In our study, no statistical difference was found between the before-after echocardiography values. DCIS positivity in biopsy before neoadjuvant chemotherapy, tumor focality; the number of lymph nodes removed and ER status were found to be associated with pCR. In conclusion, we think that studies evaluating pCR-related clinicopathological variables and radiological imaging features will play a critical role in the development of nonsurgical treatment approaches.

Prognostic Value of Receptor Change After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) discordance with prognosis, before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Histopathological data of 142 breast cancer patients attending a single center between 2001 and 2018 and were operated after NAC were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The median (range) age of patients was 58 (32-69) years. In patients who underwent Tru-cut biopsy before NAC, 77 patients were ER+, 30 were ER (-), 73 were PR (+), 33 were PR-, 14 were HER-2 (+), and 94 patients were HER-2 (-). In terms of ER change, five patients were found to have changed status and 85 had no receptor change. The mean overall survival of patients with receptor changes was 31 months against 60 months in patients with no receptor changes, which was not significant (p = 0.351). In sub-group analysis of patients undergoing receptor change, the ER (+) → (-) group had significantly shorter survival (p = 0.003). For PR change, mean survival was 38 months in seven patients with a receptor change and 59 months in 87 patients without a receptor change, which was not significant (p = 0.603). Sub-group analysis of PR status change showed that survival was significantly shorter in the PR (+) → (-) group (p = 0.012). Conclusion: These results suggest there is a need for reassessment of HR and HER-2 status in surgical samples from patients following NAC, and that NAC-induced changes in the HR state may be used as a prognostic factor.

Genitourinary Cancers Following Kidney Transplant: Our 20 Years of Experience With Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated patients with genitourinary cancer after kidney transplant and the effects of immunosuppression reduction and switching to mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated kidney transplant recipients seen at our center between January 2000 and January 2020. Patients with <1 year of follow-up were excluded. RESULTS: Of 827 patients, genitourinary cancer was detected in 11 (1.3%): prostate cancer in 5 patients (45%), renal cell carcinoma in native kidney in 3 (27%), renal cell carcinoma in allograft kidney in 2 (18%), and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in 1 (9%). All patients had surgery. Two patients had bone metastasis due to prostate cancer at diagnosis. Two patients had allograft nephrectomy due to de novo renal cell carcinoma. Mean follow-up and age were 97 ± 45 months (range, 26-189) and 50 ± 10.2 years (19% female). After cancer diagnosis, excluding the 2 patients with allograft nephrectomy, immunosuppression was changed in 8 patients (88.8%) (1 patient received the same treatment before and after cancer diagnosis). Six patients received double-drug and 3 received triple-drug protocols. Of 9 patients, 2 were already using mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors before cancer diagnosis and 7 were switched: 4 to double-based and 3 to triple-based regimens. Six were switched from tacrolimus. With new treatments, patients showed no progressive kidney failure or rejection (38 ± 40 mo average follow-up). At last follow-up, mean glomerular filtration rate was 62.8 ± 34 mL/min/1.72 m2, which was similar to rate at cancer diagnosis (58.9 ± 24 mL/ min/1.72 m2; P = .78). During follow-up, no patients developed local recurrence of primary tumor or new metastasis, and none showed adverse effects after switch to mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors. Three patients died of malignancy-unrelated reasons (ileus, urinary sepsis, heart failure). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor-based drugs can be an important maintenance immunosuppressive treatment option for kidney transplant recipients with genitourinary cancers.

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to low-grade mucinous neoplasm of appendix.

INTRODUCTION: Lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT) bleeding originating from the appendix is rare and may be difficult to diagnose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this case report, we present an 88-year-old male patient who was admitted with hematochezia due to appendiceal bleeding. A colonoscopy revealed bleeding in the appendix orifice so an appendectomy was performed, and bleeding did not recur in the postoperative period. RESULTS: The results of the microscopic examination showed low-grade mucinous neoplasm (LGMN) of the appendix. CONCLUSION: It should be kept in mind that bleeding may originate from the appendix in patients presenting with GIT bleeding. Our patient is the first to present with an acute lower GIT bleed who was diagnosed as having LGMN in the appendectomy specimen.

Breast cancer patients with isolated bone metastases and oligometastatic bone disease show different survival outcomes.

In this study, we planned to investigate the clinical course of patients with breast cancer with oligometastatic bone disease (OMBD). The patients were grouped according to the characteristics and the sites of metastases. Group I included 928 patients without metastasis. Group II, the OMBD group, included 68 patients. Group III, the widespread metastasis group, comprised 185 patients with multiple bone metastases and/or solid organ metastases. The mean overall survival of the groups was 16.7 ± 0.3 years in group 1, and 7.8 ± 0.8 and 5.9 ± 0.4 years in groups 2 and 3, respectively (p < 0.001 for the comparison of all three groups together; p < 0.001 for group 1 vs. 2 and 3) and (p = 0.037 for group 2 vs. group 3). In the subgroup survival analysis of patients in group 2 (OMBD), the mean and median survival was 5.5 ± 0.8 and 4.0 ± 0.8 years vs. 9.2 ± 0.98 and 9.0 ± 1.05 years in patients with more than one bone metastasis and single bone metastasis, respectively (p = 0.019). OMBD seems to be a different disease than breast cancer with isolated bone metastases. The high risk of developing OMBD, especially following locoregional recurrence, increases the importance of locoregional therapy in large T and N stage tumors.

COVID-19 pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients: A promising treatment algorithm in the absence of a disease-specific drug.

There is no consensus on the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and modification of immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). In this study, we examined the clinical outcome of our KTRs with COVID-19 disease, who were treated with a broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory protocol. This protocol is essentially composed of intravenous immunoglobulin +/- tocilizumab in KTRs with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Among 809 KTRs, 64 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 disease between April 2020 and February 2021, were evaluated. Twenty-nine patients with pneumonia confirmed by chest computed tomography (CCT) were hospitalized. The treatment protocol included high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, favipiravir, enoxaparin, and empirical antibiotics. Patients with pneumonic involvement of more than 25% on CCT with or without respiratory failure were given a total of 2 g/kg intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy. Nonresponders received tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor antibody. Of the 29 patients with pneumonia, 6 were treated in other hospitals. These six patients did not receive IVIg and 5 of them deceased. In our center, IVIg treatment was applied to 15 of 23 patients. Seven of them required tocilizumab. Respiratory parameters improved significantly in all but one patient after IVIg ± tocilizumab treatment. The mortality rate was 6.6% in patients who received IVIg therapy and 35.7% in those who did not (p = 0.08). The mortality rate was higher in patients who received treatment in external centers (2.2% vs. 26.3%; p = 0.0073). The treatment of KTRs with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in organ transplant centers with significant experience yields better results. The administration of broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory treatment in this patient group was safe and provided excellent outcomes.

Clinicopathologic features of single bone metastasis in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: The most common site for metastasis in patients with breast cancer is the bone. In this case series, we investigated patients whose surgical and medical treatment for primary breast cancer was conducted at our center and first disease recurrence was limited to only 1 bone.We analyzed 910 breast cancer patients, 863 had no metastasis and 47 cases had a single bone metastasis ≥ 6 months after their first diagnosis. Demographic, epidemiological, histopathological and intrinsic tumor subtype differences between the non-metastatic group and the group with solitary bone metastases and their statistical significance were examined. Among established breast cancer risk factors, we studied twenty-nine variables.Three variables (Type of tumor surgery, TNM Stage III tumors and mixed type (invasive ductalcarsinoma + invasive lobular carcinoma) histology) were significant in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Accordingly, the risk of developing single bone metastasis was approximately 15 times higher in patients who underwent mastectomy and 4.8 and 2.8 times higher in those with TNM Stage III tumors and with mixed type (invasive ductal carcinoma + invasive lobular carcinoma) histology, respectively.In conclusion, the risk of developing single bone metastasis is likely in non-metastatic patients with Stage III tumors and possibly in mixed type tumors. Knowing this risk, especially in patients with mixed type tumors, may be instrumental in taking measures with different adjuvant therapies in future studies. Among these, treatment modalities such as prolonged hormone therapy and addition of bisphosphonates to the adjuvant treatments of stage III and mixed breast cancer patients may be considered.

Neuroendocrine Differentiated Breast Cancer Cases: A Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review.

Objectives: Neuroendocrine breast carcinoma (NEBC) is a rare subgroup of breast cancer, which makes up 2-5% of all invasive breast cancers. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to present and analyze our own data of primary NEBCs. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, pathological, and radiological characteristics of 36 patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine differentiated breast cancer between 2008 and 2019 compared to that of 925 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC/NOS) along with a literature review. Results: In this study, 36 patients with neuroendocrine differentiated breast carcinoma and 961 patients with (IDC/NOS), as the comparison group, were identified between 2008 and 2019. In NEBC patients, seven were premenopausal and 29 postmenopausal. Patients whose ultrasound (USG), magnetic resonance, and mammographic (MMG) images available in our hospital, high-density masses were detected in the MMG with irregular (77%), microlobulated (80%) and spiculated margins (63%), unaccompanied by asymmetry and structural distortion. Calcifications were less common than invasive breast cancer, present only in four patients (17%). When NEBC were compared to ductal carcinomas (n=925), NEBC were more often human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (p=0.039), estrogen receptor positive (p=0.05), progesterone receptor positive (0.03), and the NEBC patients were older (p=0.02). Age, grade, metastatic status, lymph node number, and molecular type were identified as prognostic factors that significantly affect survival in both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: NEBC is a subtype that is both histopathologically and radiologically distinct from other breast cancer subtypes, and neuroendocrine differentiation may be an important predictive marker in the future.

Development of metabolic syndrome after bilateral total thyroidectomy despite the L-t4 replacement therapy: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The literature about the frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with multinodular goitre and a new onset of metabolic syndrome after total thyroidectomy is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of total thyroidectomy and thyroid hormones on a new onset of metabolic syndrome in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and have received thyroid hormone replacement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for multinodular goitre were included in this prospective study. Patients' height, weight, and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index was calculated. Peripheral blood samples were obtained preoperatively and at the 12th and 24th month after total thyroidectomy to examine the lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and thyroid function tests. RESULTS: The lipid profile and blood pressure parameters deteriorated, and the mean body mass index and waist circumference with the metabolic syndrome rates significantly increased at the 12th and 24th months follow-up. Preoperative body mass index (Exp[B] 1.60; p=0.003) was independently associated with metabolic syndrome at the 2nd year after total thyroidectomyin a multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The frequency and severity of MetS is high in adult patients with non-toxic multinodular goitre after total thyroidectomy. The frequency of metabolic syndrome increased in patients with a high body mass index after total thyroidectomy.

Survival outcomes after D1 and D2 lymphadenectomy with R0 resection in stage II-III gastric cancer: Longitudinal follow-up in a single center.

OBJECTIVE: D2 lymphadenectomy (D2-LND) with curative resection (R0) is the cornerstone of gastric cancer treatment. In this study, we compared survival outcomes of D2-LDN with D1-LDN in patients who had undergone curative resection for Stages II and III primary gastric adenocarcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and March 2014, 153 consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach underwent total gastrectomy with D1-LND or D2-LND. Among those, 118 patients (38 D1 vs. 80 D2) with a complete history and having been followed for at least 1 year after surgery were enrolled. Both groups were compared in terms of demographic and clinico-pathologic characteristics. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 42.6±52.5 months (mo.). The demographic characteristics of the groups were similar. The Tumor, Node and Metastases (TNM) stage distribution was 25% for Stage II and 75% for Stage III for both groups. Eighteen patients (47.4%) in the D1 and 47 patients (58.8%) in the D2 group were free from locoregional recurrence. The median disease-free survival was 22.0±4.1 mo. for the D1 and 28.0±4.3 mo. for the D2 group (p=0.36). Eight patients (21%) in the D1 and 39 patients (49%) in the D2 group were alive at the last follow-up. The median overall survival (OS) was 22.0±3.7 mo. for the D1 and 31.0±5.4 mo. for the D2 group (p=0.13). The 5-year disease-free survival and OS by the Kaplan-Meier estimates were 41% vs. 51% and 30% vs. 42% in the D1 and D2 groups, respectively. The median 5-year OS for patients with Stages IIIB and IIIC tumors was 14.0±2.2 mo. for the D1 and 20.0±5.0 mo. for the D2 group, respectively (p: 0.048). CONCLUSION: When compared to D1-LND, D2-LND with R0 resection have yielded a trend toward a better outcome in patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma.

Phyllodes Tumor of Anogenital Mammary-like Glands with Diffuse Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia.

Anogenital mammary-like glands may give rise to various pathologic lesions identical to those known in mammary pathology. Tumor occurring in the anogenital region is extremely rare. The histogenetic origin of this tumor is controversial as it is being debated whether such lesions evolve from ectopic breast tissue and most recently, anogenital mammary-like gland. We report a 28-year-old girl who presented with a painless mass in the anogenital region, which was subsequently excised. Microscopic examination revealed morphologic pattern characteristic of benign phyllodes tumor with pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. We present this case to emphasize the importance of recognizing this uncommon lesion occurring at an extremely unusual site. We also discuss the histogenesis of phyllodes tumor and related lesions occurring in the anogenital region in light of the current literature along with a brief review of the previously reported cases of anogenital mammary-like glands.

Preparation of 99mTc-isosulfan blue for lymph node localization in rats 99mTc-isosulfan blue for lymph node localization.

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is defined as the first regional lymph node to receive lymphatic drainage from a malignant tumor. Therefore, this node is a "sentinel" for second metastatic lymph node stations and for labeling regional tumor spread. For SLN detection, many surgeons preferred a combination of a preoperative injection of radiolabeled colloid and the intraoperative injection of blue dye. Under this combination protocol, nodes are considered to be "sentinel nodes" if they are radioactive and blue. The aim of this study is to develop a new single agent that combines both detection methods. For this purpose Isosulfan Blue (ISB) was radiolabeled by 99mTc with high labeling yield and stability. In vivo gamma scintigraphy studies were performed with rats. According to the scintigraphic studies, 99mTc-ISB shows rapid and high accumulation in both axillary (ALN) and popliteal lymph node (PLN). After the imaging study, extremity was opened and nodes were scanned for the radioactivity. According to performed study the lymph nodes were clearly seen to become blue and carried compound was sufficient to allow identification with a gamma probe. In conclusion, 99mTc-ISB has the potential to facilitate lymphatic mapping and subsequent sentinel node biopsy for solid malignancies such as breast cancer and melanoma.

Capecitabine maintenance therapy following docetaxel/capecitabine combination treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

The present study aimed to analyze the efficacy of maintenance therapy with single agent capecitabine for human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients following disease control with 6 cycles of docetaxel plus capecitabine chemotherapy as the first-line treatment. As an initial treatment, 6 cycles of docetaxel plus capecitabine followed by maintenance therapy with capecitabine were administered. A total of 55 patients received combination therapy and 48 patients proceeded to maintenance therapy: Of these, 32 patients (66.7%) were postmenopausal and 37 (77.1%) had estrogen and progesterone receptor positive disease. The median progression-free survival rate with maintenance therapy was 5.5 months (95% CI, 0-11.4 months) and the median overall survival (OS) was 26.6 months (95% CI, 21.8-30.1 months). The use of maintenance therapy improved previous responses in 4 patients (8.3%; 2 partial and 2 complete responses) and 32 patients (66.7%) had stable disease. The median number of maintenance therapy cycles applied was 6.5 (range 1-28, total 441). The observation of side effects, including grade 3/4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and fatigue was more common during combination therapy. The results of the present study indicate that maintenance with single agent capecitabine therapy is an effective and tolerable treatment option for HER2 negative MBC patients in which disease control with 6 cycles of docetaxel plus capecitabine chemotherapy is achieved in the first-line setting.

Adjuvant versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in distal rectal cancer: Comparison of two decades in a single center.

OBJECTIVE: Standard surgery alone was not able to decrease local recurrence (LR) rate below 20% in rectal cancer treatment. Thus, many centers administered neoadjuvant radiotherapy (preopRTx) with or without concomitant chemotherapy for the prevention of LR. In this study, the results of 164 consecutive patients with mid- and distal rectal cancer who received surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (Group A) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (Group NA) followed by surgery are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The staging system used in this study is that of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), also known as the TNM system. Eligible patients were required to have radiologically assessed stage 1 (only T2N0M0) to stage 3C (T4bN1-2M0) tumor with pathologically confirmed R0 resection. The surgical method was total mesorectal excision (TME). Radiotherapy was applied with daily 180 cGy fractions for 28 consecutive days. Chemo-therapy comprised 5-fluorouracil (450 mg/m(2)/d) and leucovorin (20 mg/m(2)/d) bolus at days 1-5 and 29-33. RESULTS: Nine patients (13%) in Group NA achieved pathologic complete response (pCR). In Group NA and Group A, locoregional recurrence (LRR) rates were 6.7% and 30.8%, (p<0.001), the mean LR-free survival was 190.0±7.3 months and 148.0±11.7 months (p=0.002) and the mean overall survival (OS) was 119.2±15.3 months and 103.0±9.4 months (p=0.23), respectively. A significant difference with regard to LR has been obtained with a statistical power of 0.92. Secondary outcome measures (DFS and OS) have not been met. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with TME is an efficient treatment protocol, particularly for the treatment of magnetic resonance imaging-staged 2A to 3C patients with two or three distal rectal adenocarcinomas. Given that a considerable proportion of patients with cT2N0M0 would develop pCR, this method of treatment can be considered for further studies.

Immune profile of asplenic patients following single or double vaccine administration: A longitudinal cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Splenectomy poses a lifelong threat for the development of uncontrolled sepsis despite vaccination. As it is impractical to measure the levels of each antibody against 23 most frequent bacterial serotypes, different surrogate markers of immune response should be identified. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with benign disorders were vaccinated with Pneumo-23 and Act-HIB before or at the day of surgery. The immunological response and opsonization capacity of the patients after splenectomy was analyzed through the quantitative measurement of IgG, IgM, C3, and C4 titers; flow-cytometric analysis of (CD3+) T-lymphocytes and (CD19+) B-lymphocytes; and isolation of CD27+ B cells by immunomagnetic positive selection. Blood samples were drawn at the sixth month and 5 and 7 years after surgery. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 98.4 months. All the patients in this series had normal IgG, C3, C4 levels and a normal distribution of CD19+ B-cells and CD8+ T-cells in three follow-up periods. Moreover, C3 levels markedly improved to 133.5±37.3 mg/dL at 5 years and remained stable thereafter. CD19+ B-lymphocyte values have progressively improved to the normal range in 98% patients at 7 years. Further, low levels of CD27+ B-cell population (memory cells) was observed in only 12.5% patients at the last follow-up. Adequate seroconversion of IgG, IgM with normal C3, C4, and CD19+ B-cell levels were accomplished in almost all patients. Early postoperative death and late overwhelming infections did not occur. CONCLUSION: Our results are indicative of the resumption of the immune function following Pneumo-23 and Act-HIB administrations, instigated by the probable activation of B cells and adequate production of C3, C4, IgG, and IgM antibodies in remote lymphoid tissues.

Properties of Synchronous Versus Metachronous Bilateral Breast Carcinoma with Long Time Follow Up.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among women with increasing incidence rates, improved prognosis and survival. According to the localization of the tumor, breast cancer is designated as unilateral (UBC) or bilateral (BBC). BBC can be classified as synchronous (SBBC) or metachronous (MBBC) based on the time interval between the diagnosis of the first and the secondary tumors. According to the guideline of WHO 2012, BBC is generally defined as SBBC when contralateral breast carcinoma is diagnosed within 3 months. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and patterns of metastasis of BBC patients with UBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 768 patients with breast cancer treated at the Turkish Ministry of Health-Izmir Bozyaka Research and Training Hospital between 1976 and 2012 were studied. Survival analysis was performed comparing UBC and BBC patients. In addition, evaluations were performed in patients with SBBC and MBBC sub-groups. We used a 3-months interval to distinguish metachronous from synchronous. RESULTS: When clinical and histopathological parameters were statistically evaluated, ER status, event-free and overall survival were found to be significant between UBC and BBC patients. In comparison of SBBC and MBBC patients, age, histological type of tumor, event-free and overall survival were found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: BBC cases were found to show worse prognosis than UBC cases. Among BBC, SBBC had the worst prognosis based on overall survival rates.