A current comprehensive role of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in resectable non-small cell lung cancer: A narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to review the efficacy, safety, and evidence for current use and potential future uses of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the management of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DATA SOURCES: A literature review was carried out through PubMed to identify completed and ongoing clinical trials evaluating the use, efficacy, and safety of ICIs in the management of resectable NSCLC. DATA SUMMARY: To date, four phase 3 trials have emerged that have changed our treatment practice concerning the utilization of ICIs during the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. The IMpower010 and KEYNOTE-091 trials examined the application of adjuvant atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, respectively, following surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. In the CheckMate 816 trial, the combination of nivolumab and chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant therapy received approval for patients with resectable NSCLC. Also, for patients with resectable NSCLC, the use of a pembrolizumab and chemotherapy combination as a perioperative therapy received approval based on the results of the KEYNOTE-671 trial. Apart from these trials, there are numerous phase 2 and phase 3 trials, some of which have been published while others are still in progress. CONCLUSION: Despite the promising outcomes from these trials there remain several unanswered questions. In this review, we will assess clinical trials involving adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and perioperative ICIs, aiming to address the unresolved questions related to these therapeutic approaches.

Adrenocortical Cancer in the Real World: A Comprehensive Analysis of Clinical Features and Management from the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

INTRODUCTION: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare yet highly malignant tumor associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to delineate the clinical features, survival patterns, and treatment modalities of ACC, providing insights into the disease's prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 157 ACC patients was performed to assess treatment methodologies, demographic patterns, pathological and clinical attributes, and laboratory results. The data were extracted from the hospital's database. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, with univariate and multivariate analyses being performed through the log-rank test and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The median age was 45, and 89.4% had symptoms at the time of diagnosis. The median tumor size was 12 cm. A total of 117 (79.6%) patients underwent surgery. A positive surgical border was detected in 26 (24.1%) patients. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 44.4% of patients. The median overall survival for the entire cohort was 44.3 months. Median OS was found to be 87.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 74.4-100.2) in stage 2, 25.8 (95% CI 6.5-45.1) months in stage 3, and 13.3 (95% CI 7.0-19.6) months in stage 4 disease. Cox regression analysis identified age, Ki67 value, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and hormonal activity as significant factors associated with survival in patients with nonmetastatic disease. In metastatic disease, only patients who underwent surgery exhibited significantly improved overall survival in univariate analyses. CONCLUSION: ACC is an uncommon tumor with a generally poor prognosis. Understanding the defining prognostic factors in both localized and metastatic diseases is vital. This study underscores age, Ki67 value, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and hormonal activity as key prognostic determinants for localized disease, offering critical insights into the complexities of ACC management and potential avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

The diastolic function abnormalities in hemodialysis session: a two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic (2DSTE) study.

Hemodialysis (HD) decreases preload and its acute effect on the diastolic function is still controversial even with the introduction of new non-volume-dependent tissue Doppler echocardiographic indices. This study is designed to evaluate these acute changes following HD sessions. We enrolled 39 patients receiving standard thrice weekly HD for more than 6 months and performed two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) and tissue Doppler studies with a standard cardiac ultrasound device shortly before and after HD. We observed significant changes in most of the transmitral flow and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters after HD. The left atrial volume index, left ventricular mass index, mitral E, mitral E/A, and lateral annular E/é levels decreased after HD (p: < 0.001, p: 0.026, p: < 0.001, p: 0.011, p: < 0.001, respectively). Medial á, medial myocardial performance index (MPI), medial s, lateral s, and lateral MPI values increased significantly after HD (p: 0.049, p: 0.007, p: 0.001, p: < 0.001, p: 0.01, respectively). Diastolic parameters like diastolic strain ratio early diastole (DSRE), diastolic strain ratio late diastole (DSRA), E/DSRE, and E/DSRA did not change significantly after HD (p: 0.716, p: 0.117, p: 0.114, and p: 0.211, respectively). The global longitudinal strain value obtained with 2DSTE worsened after HD (- 18.4 ± 4.0 before vs - 15.9 ± 5.4 after HD, p: 0.011). Transmitral flow and tissue Doppler parameters changed significantly after HD while the change in 2DSTE findings was not significant. The diastolic measurements made with 2DSTE may be less volume and cardiac preload dependent compared to conventional echocardiography and this may explain the difference.

Acute stunning effect of hemodialysis on myocardial performance: A three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic study.

The effects of acute changes during hemodialysis (HD) on the myocardium are not yet known. The invention of three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) has offered clinicians a new method to assess the movements of ventricular segments simultaneously in three spatial directions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of first weekly standard HD process on the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) global and regional myocardial function in patients with normal left ventricle ejection fraction using 3DSTE-derived indices. Patients (n=38) receiving maintenance HD in our clinic who have no known cardiovascular disease are examined just before and after a HD session using 3DSTE. Demographic and comorbidity data, renal replacement treatment characteristics, and laboratory test results are recorded. 3DSTE analysis is performed to calculate the LV global longitudinal, circumferential area and radial peak systolic strain, as well as RV septum and free-wall longitudinal strain and fractional area change. Patients are aged 52.8 ± 13.6 years and 52.6% of them are male. Mean dialysis duration is 56 months. The LV strain values of the patients changed markedly before and after HD (GLS: -14.2 ± 5.2, -11.1 ± 4.6 [P < .001], GCS: -14.8 ± 4.2, -12.4 ± 5.28 [P < .009]; GRS: 41.5 ± 16, 33.3 ± 16.5 [P = .003]; AREA -24.7 ± 7.2, -20.1 ± 7.6 [P = .001], respectively). We could not demonstrate any improvement in RV strain values before or after HD. LV strain values are positively correlated with blood pressure variability during the dialysis sessions. LV function is preserved better after HD in patients on beta or calcium channel blocker therapy compared to those who do not use these agents (P < .001, P < .01, respectively). HD treatment results in deterioration in all LV strain directions but not in RV. Strain assessment may improve vascular risk stratification of patients on chronic HD.

A Study Examining Compliance with the Anti-Tobacco Law Nb. 4207 Inside Taxis.

OBJECTIVES: This observational study assessed compliance with the anti-tobacco Law Nb 4207 with regard to taxis in Çankaya district, Ankara. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted in Kizilay, Kugulu, and Tandogan intersections on January 18-23, 2016 between 9.00-11.00 and 14.00-16.00 hours in Ankara. Data regarding the status of the taxi (either cruising or not), smoking inside taxis, smoking status of the taxi drivers and/or clients, location of the clients in the taxi, presence of a child in the taxi, and status of the windows (open or not) were recorded using a data-gathering form. RESULTS: Three thousand six hundred fifty-six taxis were evaluated, of which 79 (2.2%) taxi drivers were observed smoking. Clients were observed smoking in 17 taxis (1.3%). Ninety-four taxi drivers and/or clients (2.6%) were observed smoking. Taxi drivers smoked more frequently in the absence of a client. In addition, a smoking client influenced the taxi driver's smoking status (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Violation of the anti-tobacco Law Nb 4207 was observed. In this regard, the number of inspections needs to be increased. Systematic training programs for the taxi drivers regarding the risks of tobacco should be a priority. Preventive studies concerning the hazards of passive smoking should be also conducted at a community level.