Secondline chemotherapy versus best supportive care in patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm arising from mesothelial surfaces with the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) as the most common form. Secondline chemotherapy in MPM is still controversial and in this study we evaluated whether it is superior to best supportive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients with MPM from Acibadem Kayseri Hospital, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital and Erciyes University were analyzed retrospectively. The patients treated with secondline chemotherapies (SLCT) were compared with those treated with best supportive care (BSC) for overall survival. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) for firstline chemotherapy?SLCT and firstline chemotherapy?BSC groups were 20.3 and 14.7 months respectively (p=0.079). After firstline chemotherapy the median OS for SLCT and BSC were 5.9 and 4.7 months (p=0.355). DISCUSSION: Although there was a trend for improvement in overall survival in patients treated with secondline chemotherapy, the difference was not statistically significant. Our results do not support the proposal that secondline chemotherapy could be effective in patients with MPM.

Is season a prognostic factor in breast cancer?

BACKGROUND: Some studies have indicated an inverse relationship between cancer risk and sunlight exposure. Others have reported that the prognosis of some cancers such as prostate, colon, ovarian and non melanoma skin cancer, were affected by the season in which the cancer was diagnosed. In our study, we evaluated whether season is prognostic in Turkish patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 517 patients from Kayseri Training and Research Hospital were analysed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to season of cancer diagnosis: winter, spring, summer and autumn. The prognostic factors for disease free survival and overall survival were investigated. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among groups regarding prognostic factors overall. Only estrogen receptor status and lymphovascular invasion were independent prognostic factors (p=0.001 and p=0.001 respectively). We found significantly differences for mean disease free survival among groups (p=0.019). Winter group had better mean DFS while summer group had worse DFS. Mean overall survival was similar in the four groups (p=0.637). CONCLUSIONS: The season is not an independent predictive factor. However, due to interaction with other factors, we think that the season of cancer diagnosis is important for cancer prognosis.

Does sunlight exposure improve survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer?

BACKGROUND: Some epidemiological studies reported that sunlight exposure and highvitamin D levels may decrease the morbidity and mortality related to cancer. We aimed to evaluate whether sunlight exposure has an impact on survival in patients with non small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 546 patients with NSCLC from two different regions (Kayseri and Adana) differing according to sunlight exposure were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) rates were 11. 6 (CI: 9.50-13.6) and 15.6 months (CI: 12.4-18.8) for Kayseri and Adana, respectively, in all patients (p=0.880). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between groups in terms of OS. While there is strong evidence regarding inverse relationship between cancer incidence and sunlight exposure, it is still controversial whether sunlight exposure is a good prognostic factor for survival in patients with lung cancer.

Cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with ascites.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cancer antigen 125 is a glycoprotein of 220 kDA molecular weight, that is released from coelomic epithelium during embryonic development. It has a low specificity, and high levels have been shown in many benign and malignant diseases. High correlation was detected between its level and ascites, especially in cirrhotic patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with ascites and determine the relationship between these levels and the amount of ascites. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (25 men, 33 women, mean age 54.34 years) with ascites, hospitalized in our clinic, were included in the study. The patients with ovarian cancer were not included. For all patients, physical examination and abdominal USG were done and blood samples for routine screening and cancer antigen 125 were obtained and studied on the same day. RESULTS: Mean cancer antigen 125 levels in all patients were higher than normal. The highest levels were detected in patients with massive ascites and cirrhosis. With regard to diagnosis, the levels of cancer antigen 125 between groups were insignificant. According to USG results, there was a weakly positive but important correlation between groups. Although no correlation was present between cancer antigen 125 and ALT levels, a weak but positive correlation was present with AST levels. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that a correlation is present between cancer antigen 125 levels and the presence and amount of ascites. We also suggest that if cancer antigen 125 levels are above normal, the presence of ascites not detected by physical examination should be kept in mind.