Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with solid tumors: Turkish National Registry Data.

We present demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and outcomes of the patients with solid malignancies and novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) collected from the National COVID-19 Registry of Turkey. A total of 1523 patients with a current or past diagnosis of solid tumors and diagnosed with COVID-19 (confirmed with PCR) between 11 March and 20 May 2020 were included. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Median age was 61 (range: 18-94), and 752 (49%) were male. The most common types of cancers were breast (19.8%), prostate (10.9%) and colorectal cancer (10.8%). 65% of the patients had at least one comorbidity. At least one COVID-19-directed therapy was given in 73% of the patients.. Hospitalization rate of the patients was 56.6% and intensive care unit admission rate was 11.4%. Seventy-seven (5.1%) patients died within 30 days of diagnosis. The first multivariate model which included only the demographic and clinical characteristics showed older age, male gender and presence of diabetes and receipt of cytotoxic therapy to be associated with increased 30-day mortality, while breast and prostate cancer diagnoses were associated with lower 30-day mortality. In the second set, we further included laboratory parameters. The presence of leukocytosis (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.3-13.7, P < .001), lymphocytopenia (OR 3,1, 95% CI 1,6-6,1, P = .001) and thrombocytopenia (OR 3,4 95% CI 1,5-8,1, P = .005) were found to be associated with increased 30-day mortality. Relatively lower mortality compared to Western countries and China mainly results from differences in baseline risk factors but may also implicate the importance of intensive supportive care.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of adult's Ewing sarcoma family of tumors: single center experience.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of the study was to investigate the demographics of Ewing sarcoma family of tumours (ESTF) patients, treatment alternatives, clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with ESFT who were admitted to our institute between September 2008 and September 2012. RESULTS: The patients included 32 (82.1%) males and seven (17.9%) females of median age 24 (range, 18-66) years. Among the 27 patients with a primary osseous localization, 17 (43.5%) had a central axis localization. Fifteen patients (38.5%) had metastases at the time of diagnosis. Patients were followed up for a median period of 18 (range, 2-134) months. The median event-free survival (EFS) was 23 (range, 1-64) months, and the 1- and 4-year EFS were 60% and 48%, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 91 (range, 1-188) months, and the 1- and 4-year OS were 78% and 54%, respectively. Gender, age, primary tumor site, and local treatment modalities, either alone or in combination, did not have a significant effect on OS (p = 0.210, p = 0.617, p = 0.644, and p = 0.417, respectively). In contrast, osseous site of peripheral localization, limited stage, and metastasis to the bone significantly affected OS (p = 0.015, p < 0.001, and p = 0.042, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ESFTs are aggressive tumors with a high rate of relapse and metastatic potential. Patients with peripheral bone involvement and limited stage had a good prognosis. Appropriate surgical resection, radiotherapy, and aggressive chemotherapy regimens are recommended.

KRAS discordance between primary and metastatic tumor in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Adding targeted therapies to chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) improves response rates and survival. KRAS is a predictive indicator for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatments. The most important reasons for KRAS discordance are intratumoral heterogeneity and incorrect mutation analysis. Evaluating the status of KRAS in primary and metastatic lesions becomes even more crucial to ensure efficient usage of anti-EGFR treatments. METHODS: Patients with metastatic CRC, whose primary disease and liver and/or lung metastases were operated, were retrospectively evaluated, and KRAS assessment was performed on 31 patients who were suitable for DNA analysis. Pyrosequencing with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for KRAS analysis. RESULTS: The median age of 31 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer (N=13) and colon cancer (N=18) was 63 years (range 33-73). Metastasectomy locations included the liver (N=27), lung (N=3), and both lung and liver (N=1). KRAS discordance was detected in 22% (7/31) of the patients. While 3 patients with detected discordance had mutated KRAS in the primary material, wild type KRAS was detected in their liver or lung lesions. On the other hand, while 4 patients had wild type KRAS in the primary material, mutated KRAS was determined in their liver or lung lesions. The McNemar test revealed no significant discordance between primary and metastatic disease (p=1.00). No progression free survival (PFS) difference was detected between patients with determined discordance and patients with undetermined discordance (10.6 vs 14.7 months, p=0.719). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate KRAS discordance between primary and metastasis in CRC patients, who underwent metastasectomy, together with survival data. In the literature and recent studies with large patient numbers in which modern KRAS tests were used, the KRAS discordance rate varies between 3-12%. In our study, a higher KRAS discordance (22%) was detected, and no survival difference was determined between patients with or without discordance. In recent years, the rising interest in borderline resectable disease may bring forward discussions related to which material the KRAS status should be analyzed.

Cutaneous melanoma in Turkey: analysis of 1157 patients in the Melanoma Turkish Study.

PURPOSE: To develop a large Turkish National Melanoma registry in order to define demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with melanoma. METHODS: The data was collected from 1635 patients with melanoma through a web-based registry system in 22 centers. Herein we present the results of 1157 patients with cutaneous melanoma. RESULTS: The patient median age was 56.4 years and 646 (55.8%) were males. The commonest subtype was superficial spreading type (357, 30.9%). The commonest primary site was the lower extremities (N=353, 30.5%). The most common Breslow thickness was 1-2 mm (361 patients, 43.5%). Only 104 (12.5%) patients had a thickness <1mm. Among 694 patients with available data, 136 (19.6%) presented with stage 4 disease while the most frequent stage was stage 3, encountered in 393 (56.6% patients). CONCLUSION: Our melanoma registry is the largest in our country providing a snapshot view of cutaneous melanoma and its care. Our patients presented with more advanced stages and they had worse prognosis compared to SEER database.

Treatment decision plans matter in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer: suboptimal or optimal?

PURPOSE: Aging is an important risk factor for cancer. Molecular changes and defective immunity associated with aging result in increased susceptibility to many carcinogens of the gastrointestinal system (GIS). Comorbidities and changes in drug metabolism in elderly patients make the treatment of GIS cancers difficult. METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2012, a total of 790 patients diagnosed with GIS cancers were retrospectively evaluated. Among them, 357 patients aged ≥ 65 years constituted the study population in which the patient characteristics, disease location, TNM stage, ECOG PS, co-morbidities, chemotherapy regimens and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: The patient median age was 71 years (range 65-94). Cancer localizations were colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer, and the pancreaticobiliary system (PBS) cancer in 178 (49.9%), 124 (34.7%), and 55 (15.4%) patients, respectively. A total of 260 (69%) patients underwent chemotherapy: 167 (64.3%) patients received optimal chemotherapy, and 93 (35.7%) suboptimal chemotherapy. The median OS was 47, 14, and 11 months in CRC, gastric, and PBS cancers, respectively. OS was better in the optimally-treated group than in the suboptimally-treated group among patients with all types of cancer. OS was 67 vs 19 months (p<0.001), 17 vs 8 months (p=0.004), and 12 vs 10 months (p=0.46) in CRC, gastric, and PBS cancers in the optimal and suboptimal chemotherapy groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the disease stage in all cancer types and optimal chemotherapy in the CRC group were important predictors of survival (p<0.001 and p=0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Cancer is usually in advanced stage at the time of diagnosis in these elderly patients and screening programs might improve outcomes in this age group. Patients with GIS cancers (especially CRC and gastric cancer) should be encouraged to receive optimal chemotherapy regimens.

Outcome of 561 non-metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients: multi-center experience from Turkey.

PURPOSE: Triple-negative breast cancers account for 15% of breast carcinomas and, when present as early-stage disease, they are associated with higher rates of recurrence and early distant metastasis risk when compared to hormone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) positive breast cancers. In this study we aimed to explore the basic clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors and recurrence patterns of non-metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients. METHODS: In this study 561 non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer female patients admitted to 8 different cancer centers in Turkey between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively evaluated through their medical records, to identify the basic clinico-pathological characteristics, prognostic factors and recurrence patterns. RESULTS: The ratio of triple-negative breast cancer was 12%. The median age of patients was 48 years, of whom 311 (55.4%) were premenopausal. The majority had early-stage breast cancer at the time of diagnosis (16.8% stage I, 48.1% stage II, 35.1 % stage III) and the most commonly identified variant was invasive ductal carcinoma (84.1%). Grade II and III tumors were 27.1 and 48.5%, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 90.5% of women and adjuvant radiotherapy to 41.2%. Median patient follow up was 28 months (range 3-290). During the follow up period 134 (23.8%) patients developed metastatic disease. In most of these cases, metastatic sites were bone, soft tissue, and lung. Factors affecting disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were age (both p<0.001), lymph node involvement (both p<0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively), tumor stage (both p<0.001), adjuvant administration of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (both <0.001) and type of surgery (not significant for DFS but p=0.05 for OS). Three-year DFS and OS were 72.0 and 93.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Age, lymph node involvement, LVI, stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy were determined as prognostic factors for DFS and OS. The most common recurrence sites were bone, soft tissue and the lung. Further prospective randomised trials are needed to confirm the prognostic and predictive factors identified in this study.

Effects of comorbidities and functional living activities on survival in geriatric breast cancer patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We evaluated the possible effects of comorbid diseases and functional capacity on the survival of elderly female patients with breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 159 breast cancer patients aged 65 years or older. Functional status of the patients was evaluated using Katz's index of activities of daily living (ADL) and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental ADL (IADL) scale. RESULTS: ADL-based evaluation revealed 121 patients (76.1%) were independent, 34 (21.4%) semi-dependent and 4 (2.5%) dependent whereas IADL-based evaluation showed 69 patients (43.4%) were independent, 67 patients (42.1%) semi-dependent and 23 patients (14.5%) dependent. Among the patients, 69 (43.4%) had one comorbid disease, 62 (39.0%) had two and 26 (16.4%) had three or more. Of the entire cohort, 60.4% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Based on ADL index, overall survival (OS) was significantly better in semi-dependent and independent patients than in dependent patients (p = 0.001). In the upfront non-metastatic patient subgroup, disease-free survival (DFS) was favourable in the independent patients according to ADL index (p = 0.001). Having more than one comorbid disease had an unfavourable effect on OS. In the multiple regression analysis of non-metastatic patients, stage, triple-negative histology and ADL index remained significant in terms of OS (p = 0.008, HR: 3.17, CI: 1.35-7.44; p = 0.027, HR: 2.78, CI: 1.172-6.91; and p = 0.006, HR: 0.29, CI: 0.12-0.70, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients with breast cancer, evaluation of daily living activities and comorbid diseases are as important as staging and subclassification of breast cancer in the determination of prognosis and survival.

Results of adjuvant FOLFOX regimens in stage III colorectal cancer patients: retrospective analysis of 667 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimens in clinical practice according to their efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: Patients who received oxaliplatin-containing regimens after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma from 10 different oncology centers between May 2004 and December 2009 were included in the study. All patients were treated with FOLFOX regimens. Patients with rectal carcinoma were also treated with chemoradiotherapy with 5-FU after 2 cycles of a FOLFOX regimen. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 56 years (range 17-78). Of the total 667 patients, 326 were given FOLFOX-4, 232 were given modified FOLFOX-4 and 109 were given FOLFOX-6. The distribution according to disease stage was 33 patients with stage IIIA colorectal cancer, 382 patients with stage IIIB and 252 patients with stage IIIC. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (54%), nausea (36.9%), neuropathy (38.2%) and anemia (33.1%) for all grades. The median follow-up time was 23 months (range 1-79). Three-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 65 and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The different oxaliplatin-containing 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in patients with stage III colorectal cancer seemed to be at least equal in terms of efficacy regardless of the method of 5-FU administration or oxaliplatin dose.

Assessment of general characteristics of patients with primary metastatic breast carcinoma: single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease. Several subgroups have been identified, according to the clinical presentation and radiographic, pathological, biological, and molecular characteristics of the tumor. Intrinsic genetic heterogeneity may be responsible for these differences. To date, little is known about the clinical features and outcome of patients with primary metastatic BC (PMBC) defined as those presenting with stage IV disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between September 2007 and May 2011, BC patients who were admitted to a clinic were assessed. Patients with PMBC were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients' demographic characteristics, treatment schedules, and survival data were recorded. RESULTS: Of 2478 BC patients, 102 (4.1%) with PMBC were included in the analysis. The median age of the patients was 50 (26-90) years. Only four patients (3.9%) had previously undergone mammography. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 30 and 66 months, respectively. The PFS and OS were unaffected by age, menopausal status, ECOG, histology, or tumor grade. Both PFS and OS were affected by HR status (log rank p = 0.006, log rank p = 0.04), HER2 status (p = 0.001, p = 0.005), site of metastasis (p = 0.01, p = 0.04), radiotherapy (p = 0.04, OS p = 0.03), and bisphosphonate treatment (p = 0.02, p = 0.006). PFS was greater in the hormone therapy group (43 months, p = 0.03) while OS was greater in the patients that received chemotherapy (76 months, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Mammography should be given greater emphasis, considering its importance in the prevention of PMBC. As a treatment option for bone and soft tissue metastatic PMBC patients, hormone therapy should be effective as a first-line treatment.

Evaluation of a Year During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Private Healthcare Facility: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of the workforce crisis on healthcare service delivery for a year during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare service delivery and hospital economy in a healthcare facility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An examination was conducted of employees who were issued with a report for incapacity to work due to the pandemic between March 2020 and March 2021. A record was made of the employees' ages, genders, fields of work and lost workdays. The employees were classified as physicians, nursing services, guest services, hotel services, and support services. Diagnoses were made of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), based on computed tomography (CT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. Employees diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection were put into isolation in the hospital during the first months of the pandemic, and treatment was initiated in accordance with the protocols. By contrast, during the last eight months, our personnel who were not indicated for hospitalization completed their treatment in a home isolation setting. According to the Turkish Ministry of Health COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Infection) Scientific Advisory Board Study Guide, the isolation period was initially 14 days, before being reduced to 7-10 days, in line with the revised guide. Employees with at least one negative PCR test result following isolation were allowed to return to work. RESULTS: The study included 575 individuals who were employed at our hospital between March 2020, when the first case was identified in Turkey, and March 2021. Among these employees, 257 were issued with a report for incapacity to work due to COVID-19. Of these, 239 had a positive PCR test result. There were 11 individuals who just had symptoms and/or positive CT findings but a negative PCR test result. There were only seven individuals who were put into isolation due to high-risk contact. The combined lost workdays of the employees totaled 3792. The highest lost workday rate (52%) was in nursing services (1973 days, n = 126). There was no mortality.  Conclusion: Lost workdays due to the pandemic in the midsize healthcare facility severely affected the morale and motivation of both the diagnosed and the remaining employees. Hospital administrations also had difficulties in maintaining the quality and continuity of the services provided.

Comparison of cisplatin-5-fluorouracil-folinic acid versus modified docetaxel-cisplatin-5-fluorouracil regimens in the first-line treatment of metastatic gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Prognosis of metastatic gastric cancer is poor and median survival is between 3 and 5 months. Response rates of combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin in first-line treatment have been found to be 20-25% in the English literature. It has been demonstrated that adding docetaxel to combination chemotherapy improved time to progression and overall survival. However, the toxicity rates of the docetaxel-cisplatin-5-FU protocol were high. In our study we compared efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin-5-FU-folinic acid (CFF) and modified docetaxel-cisplatin-5-FU (mDCF) regimens in the first-line treatment of metastatic gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2004 and October 2008, 70 patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric cancer treated with CFF (n = 30) and mDCF (n = 40) were retrospectively evaluated in the study. Survival and toxicity data were compared. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 53 years (range 23-69). Forty-eight percent of the patients were male and 75.7% had an ECOG performance status of 0-1. Prognostic factors including age, ECOG performance status, histopathological grade, and number and sites of metastases were similar between the groups. Objective response rates (complete and partial response) were higher in the mDCF group (30.0 vs. 13.3%, p = 0.19). While toxicity was acceptable in both groups, the most common grade 3-4 toxicities were anemia in 3.3 and 5.0%, neutropenia in 20 and 7.5%, febrile neutropenia in 6.7 and 5.0%, and diarrhea in 3.3 and 5.0% in the CFF and mDCF groups, respectively. Median follow-up was 10.3 (1.5-59.6) months. During that period 90 and 97.5% of the patients were dead in the CFF and mDCF groups, respectively. Median time to progression was 4.4 (95% CI 1.8-7.0) and 6.2 months (95% CI 5.6-6.8) (p = 0.85), median overall survival was 6.5 (95% CI 1.8-11.2) and 8.7 months (95% CI 6.7-10.7) (p = 0.88) in the CFF and mDCF groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: The mDCF regimen has been found to be more favorable than the CFF regimen with an acceptable toxicity profile in the first-line treatment of metastatic gastric cancer.

A Phase II Study of the Combination of Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine, and Trastuzumab and Chemoradiotherapy in the Adjuvant Setting in Operated Patients With HER2-positive Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer (TOXAG Study): A Turkish Oncology Group Study.

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab prolonged the overall survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression in combination with chemotherapy. In this phase II open-label prospective study, the tolerability and safety of trastuzumab with chemotherapy, and chemoradiotherapy for curatively resected patients with HER2-positive gastric carcinoma was investigated. METHODS: The patients with HER2-positive gastric, or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, after gastrectomy plus D2 dissection, were included. They received 3 cycles of oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2 intravenously day 1) plus capecitabine (850 mg/m2 orally days 1 to 14), trastuzumab (8 mg/kg intravenously day 1 in cycle 1, 6 mg/kg thereafter) every 21 days, followed by chemoradiotherapy. Trastuzumab was given for 1 year. RESULTS: Of the 212 patients screened, 35 were eligible, and 34 were treated. The median age was 56 years (minimum to maximum: 35 to 75 y), male patients constituted 73.5% (n=25), and 33 (97.1%) had gastric adenocarcinoma. R0 resection was performed in 30 (88.2%). The majority (26, 61.7%) were in stage III disease. Most of the adverse events were grade I/II, the most frequent grade III side effects were nausea (3, 8.8%), vomiting (3, 8.8%), diarrhea (2, 5.9%), and weight loss (n=2, 5.9%). Two patients died during the first 3 cycles of chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy; 1 secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism, and the other due to cerebral ischemia. After excluding 2 with early progression and 1 consent withdrawal, of the remaining 31 patients, 28 (90.3%) were able to complete the chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy part of the trial. After the 25 months follow-up period, 21 patients (61.8%) were alive. Overall survival at 12 and 24 months was 75.0% and 58.0%, while disease-free survival at 12 and 24 months was 65.7% and 55.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Trastuzumab in combination with capecitabine, oxaliplatin following chemoradiotherapy as the adjuvant therapy for gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma was considered as safe and tolerable. The frequency of HER2 overexpression in curatively resected patients is comparable to that in patients with metastatic disease (trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov the identifier: NCT01748773, December 13, 2012, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01748773).

It appears to be safe to start chemotherapy on the day of implantation through subcutaneous venous port catheters in inpatient setting.

GOALS: It is generally recommended to wait for at least 24 h before starting chemotherapy after implanting venous port catheters (VPC). Our aim was to evaluate whether it is safe to start chemotherapy on the day of implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty patients who had to be given chemotherapy on the day of VPC implantation at our institution from June 2005 to April 2007 were included. MAIN RESULTS: Of patients, 122 were male (67.8%) and median age was 55 years. Majority (133, 72.8%) had colon and gastric adenocancer. Median time to chemotherapy onset from VPC implantation was 102 min (minimum-maximum, 12-402). One hundred sixty-four (91.1%) received prolonged chemotherapy infusions beyond 48 h. No life-threatening acute complications like pneumothorax and hemothorax developed. In one patient extravasation (empty saline extravasation secondary to wrong insertion of the needle), in 17 (9.4%) pain, and in 41 (22.8%) minor bleeding as echymosis were seen. Thrombosis developed in 11 (6.1%). Reasons for VPC removal were thrombosis (2), sepsis (2), cellulitis (1), skin dehiscence (1), and patient will (1). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy administration immediately after VPC implantation appears safe without increased acute and chronic complications in inpatient setting.

Comparison of ICE (ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide) versus DHAP (cytosine arabinoside-cisplatin-dexamethasone) as salvage chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: High dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation is currently the treatment of choice for relapsed or refractory lymphoma patients. However, its applicability is mostly restricted to patients responding to salvage chemotherapy. Optimal salvage regimen for these patients is unclear. In this study, our aim was to compare the efficacy and toxicity profiles of DHAP (cytosine arabinoside, cisplatin and dexamethasone) and ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide) regimens in the salvage treatment of relapsed and refractory lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, 53 patients with primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD) (n = 13) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (n = 40) who received ICE or DHAP salvage regimen were included. RESULTS: Of 53 patients, 21 (39,6%) were female and the median age was 43 years. A total of 73 courses of ICE and 59 courses of DHAP were administered. Response could be evaluated in 49 patients (36 NHL and 13 HD). Of 49 patients, 11 (22.5%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 17 (35%) achieved partial remission (PR), leading to an overall response rate (ORR: CR + PR) of 57.5%. In the evaluable ICE group (n = 22) rates of CR, PR, and ORR were 27%, 41% and 68% and in the DHAP group (n = 27) rates of CR, PR, and ORR were 18%, 30% and 48% (p = 0.24, for ORR). Toxicity with both regimens was within acceptable limits. The major grade III-IV toxicities for both groups were hematological (neutopenia and thrombocytopenia). The main non-hematological toxicity was renal and observed in 8 patients. CONCLUSION: Although the toxicity profiles of both ICE and DHAP regimens were similar in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory HD or NHL, ICE seems to have higher rates of response than DHAP regimen does.

Capecitabine and cisplatin combination is an active and well-tolerated doublet in the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma patients pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.

Our aim was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of capecitabine and cisplatin (CapCisp) combination in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients. Thirty-three patients, 20-61 years of age (median 41), were included. They received Cap 2,000 mg/m(2) on days 1-14 and Cisp 60 mg/m(2) on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks. Twelve nonprogressive patients continued single-agent Cap therapy until progression or until intolerable toxicity after Cisp cessation. The disease control rate in 154 cycles was 81.8%: complete response 3.0% (n = 1), partial response 48.5% (n = 16) and stable disease 30.3% (n = 10). The median time to disease progression was 6.3 months (95% CI 3.8-8.8). The median overall survival was 11.5 months (95% CI 6.9-16.1). The only grade 3 toxicity was neutropenia, observed in 4 patients (12.1%). CapCisp has an encouraging anti-tumor activity with a low toxicity rate in anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients.

A case of radiation-induced sternal malignant fibrous histiocytoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: Primary sternal malignant fibrous histiyocytoma (MFH) is highly rare. Effective treatment modality is surgical resection with wide margins. However, to date, the effects of radiotherapy or chemotherapy has not been clearly defined. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we aimed to present a 50-year old female patient with MFH occurred in the radiotherapy field who had had surgical procedure for breast cancer 19 years ago and had followed by radiotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was applied for MFH due to cardiac and mediastinal vascular invasion. Wide resection was carried out for the mass after having been decreased in size following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was an effective method. In planning the surgical resection, the size of the tumor before chemotherapy should be considered as the initial size and surgical margins should be determined accordingly.

Prognostic factors and clinicopathological characteristics of carcinoma of ampulla Vateri.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of carcinoma of ampulla Vateri. The medical records of 32 patients (24 men, 8 women) were evaluated. Median age was 59 years (range, 36-80 years). The performance status at the time of admission of (European Cooperative Oncology Group) 18 patients (56.3%) were ECOG-1; 8 patients (25.0%) were ECOG-2. Fifteen patients had early stage, 15 patients had locally advanced stage. Twenty-eight of 32 patients underwent curative surgery. Eleven, nine, and four patients had high-, moderate-, and low-grade histology, respectively. Fourteen patients received adjuvant treatment. Ten out of 14 patients were treated with chemotherapy. ECOG performance status (P = 0.06), stage (P = 0.05), perineural invasion (P = 0.01), tumor grade (P = 0.01), and treatment with chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, or only radiotherapy (P = 0.001) had a statistically significant impact on overall survival, whereas only tumor histopathology (P < 0.001) was shown to have a statistically significant effect on disease-free survival. Carcinoma of ampulla Vateri is a rare gastrointestinal tumor. Prospective trials with larger number of patients are needed to determine the prognostic factors to help select patients for adjuvant treatment.

An extraordinary case in whom gastrointestinal stromal tumor and low-grade malignant lymphoma are seen together in the stomach.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal system (GIS) is the most common site of involvement of all primary extranodal lymphomas. Gastric lymphoma constitutes 3-6% of all primary stomach malignancies. Stomach is also the commonest site of involvement of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We would like to report these rare synchronous tumors in the same patient. CASE: A 68-year-old male was admitted to the internal medicine clinics with the complaints of abdominal distension. Physical examination was normal. On abdominal computed tomography a 12 x 14 x 22 cm sized giant tumoral mass was detected in left hypochondrium. A total gastrectomy was performed. Two distinct neoplasms were detected; one of which was located in the posterior wall of the stomach with the size of 24 x 16 x 13 cm, and the other one was localized in the fundus of the stomach and its size was 6 x 5 x 2 cm. Pathological evaluation revealed the diagnosis of GIST at the posterior wall and low-grade malignant lymphoma from the mass localized in the fundus of the stomach. DISCUSSION: Two primary tumors are not seen so often together in the stomach. Adenocarcinoma and associated tumors including gastric lymphoma (especially MALT lymphoma), carcinoid, leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma constitute most of the reported series. Rarely adenocarcinoma and associated GIST cases were reported. It is important to report concurrent gastric lymphoma and GIST case since it is extremely rare in the English literature.

Which one is more effective, filgrastim or lenograstim, during febrile neutropenia attack in hospitalized patients with solid tumors?

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) with solid tumors causes mortality and morbidity at a significant rate. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of filgastrim and lenograstim started with the first dose of antibiotics in hospitalized patients diagnosed with FN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2009 and May 2012, 151 patients diagnosed with FN were evaluated, retrospectively. In those considered appropriate for hospitalization, convenient antibiotic therapy with granulocyte colony stimulating factors was started within first 30 minutes by completing necessary examinations in accordance with FEN guide recommendations. RESULTS: In this study, 175 febrile neutropenia attacks in 151 patients were examined. Seventy three of the patients were male and 78 were female. The average age was 53.6 and 53.6, respectively. The most common solid tumor was breast carcinoma in 38 (25%) . One hundred and five FN patients (58%) were those who received granulocyte colony stimulating factors as primary prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: While studies comparing both drugs generally involve treatments started for prophylaxis, this study compared the treatment given during the febrile neutropenia attack. Compared to lenograstim, filgastrim shortens the duration of hospitalization during febrile neutropenia attack by facilitating faster recovery with solid tumors.

Awareness of cancer screening during treatment of patients with renal failure: a physician survey in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Today, survival rate of patients with chronic renal failure/hemodialysis has increased so that chronic illnesses are more likely to occur. Cancer is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in such patients. AIM: In this study, physician attitudes were examined about cancer screening in patients with renal failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was done by face to face questionnaire in the 27th National Nephrology Congress to determine if the physicians dealing with chronic renal failure, hemodialysis or renal transplanted patients, recommend cancer screening or not and the methods of screening for cervix, prostate, breast and colon cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty six physicians were included in the survey. A total of 105 (67%) participants were male and the age of responders was 48 ± 9 years. About 29% were specialists in nephrology, 28% internal medicine, and 5% were other areas of expertise. Some 48% of participants were hemodialysis certified general practitioners. Patients were grouped as compensated chronic renal failure, hemodialysis or renal transplanted. Of the 156 responders, 128 (82%) physicians recommended breast cancer screening and the most recommended subgroup was hemodialysis patients (15%). The most preferred methods of screening were combinations of mammography, self breast examination and physician breast examination. 112 (72%) physicians recommended cervix cancer screening, and the most preferred method of screening was pap-smear. Colon cancer screening was recommended by 102 (65%) physicians and prostate screening by 109 (70%) physicians. The most preferred methods of screening were fecal occult blood test and PSA plus rectal digital test, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is not obvious whether cancer screening in renal failure patients is different from the rest of society. There is a variety of screening methods. An answer can be found to these questions as a result of studies by a common follow-up protocol and cooperation of nephrologists and oncologists.