Real-world treatment outcomes from nationwide Onco-colon Turkey registry in RAS wild-type patients treated with biologics second-line mCRC.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality both globally and in our country. In Turkey, we conducted a multicenter investigation into the effectiveness of second-line treatments and real-life data for patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (NCT04757311). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, records from 28 centers were collected, and histopathological, molecular, and clinical characteristics were documented. Patients were categorized into groups based on their second-line biological treatments: anti-EGFR (Group A and Group B, panitumumab and cetuximab) and anti-VEGF (Group C, bevacizumab and aflibercept). They were then compared within these groups. RESULTS: A total of 588 patients with documented RAS wild-type status were evaluated. The median OS was 15.7, 14.3 and 14.7 months in Group A, Group B and Group C, respectively (p = 0.764). The median PFS of the patients in second-line setting that received panitumumab, cetuximab and bevacizumab/aflibercept were 7.8, 6.6 and 7.4 months, respectively (p = 0.848). CONCLUSION: According to the results of our real-life data study, there is no significant difference in efficiency between the combination of biological agent and chemotherapy used in the second-line treatments.

Clinical and pathological characteristics and their effect on survival in elderly patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are common tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Their most frequent location is the stomach. Although the clinical and pathological characteristics of the disease are well-known, the clinical and pathological characteristics and the response to treatment are not clear in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of GISTs in elderly patients with an aim at improving the therapeutic methodology and survival. METHODS: In this study, clinicopathological characteristics, evaluation of treatments administered and survival analyses were performed in patients aged 65 years or above, whose data were registered via a web-based patient records system following admission to three centers. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients aged 65 years or above were included in the study. According to the risk classification, 24 (28.2%) were in the low risk group, 20 (23.5%) in the moderate risk group, and 41 (48.3%) in high risk group, while no patient was in the very low risk group. At baseline, 70% of the patients had localized disease and 30% metastatic disease. The tumor was located in the stomach in the majority of the patients (45.6%). The tumor size most commonly seen was 5-10 cm (N=31; 36.4%). Of the 85 patients 23 (27%) were treated with imatinib 400 mg/d. Eight patients (9.4%) with metastatic disease switched from imatinib to sunitinib. At a median follow-up of 76 months (range 1-323), median overall survival (OS) was 72 months, without significant difference between elderly and younger patients. CONCLUSION: Clinicopathological characteristics and their prognostic impact on the disease course of elderly GIST patients should be elucidated in depth. Since age didn't show prognostic importance, other parameters should be used as prognostic/predictive factors in the tyrosine kinase inhibitors era in order to obtain improved therapeutic results.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in Turkey: experiences from 3 centers.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal system. The most common primary site of GIST is the stomach. The treatment is primarily surgery, and the standard medical therapy is imatinib. Long-term survival can be obtained with good follow-up and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, data entry was performed using a web-based patient registry system for patients who were referred to 3 centers and retrospectively were diagnosed with GIST. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 249 patients, including 160 men (64.3%) and 89 women (35.7%). The mean age was 59 years (range 21-90 years). Initially, 69.9% of the patients had local disease, while 30.1% had metastatic disease. The tumor was located in the stomach in 45.6% of patients. According to the Fletcher risk classification, the very low risk group included 8 subjects (3.2%), the low risk group included 40 subjects (16.1%), the moderate risk group included 56 subjects (22.5%), and the high risk group included 117 subjects (47%); the unspecified group included 28 subjects (11.5%). CONCLUSION: These data are important for revealing the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data of patients with GIST, who are treated and followed up in Turkey.

Investigation of Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Genes of Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Single-centre Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic causes of colorectal cancers (CRCs); and to determine the genotype-phenotype correlation. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Medical Genetics, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research, Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between January 2018 and January 2020. METHODOLOGY: 59 cancer susceptibility genes of 41 patients, included in the study and diagnosed with CRC, were examined using next generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Statistical analysis of the possible relationships among the mutation carrier status of the patients and the parameters of gender, age at diagnosis, and family cancer history, were performed. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis of all CRC patients was 48.7 years (range 28-74). Mutations in MLH1, MSH6, CHEK2, PMS2 and MUTYH genes were detected in 10 patients (24.4%). The mean age at diagnosis of CRC was 46.2 years in those who carried the mutation, while it was 49.5 years in those without. Carriers and non-mutation carriers, when compared in terms of age at diagnosis, gender, family cancer history, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Genes that may cause susceptibility to cancer may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of the CRC. NGS-based multigene panels allow these genes to be detected in the patient and to identify an inherited cancer syndrome. Key Words: Colorectal cancer, Lynch syndrome, Hereditary cancer, Gene, Next generation sequencing.

Outcomes of Radioembolization in Patients with Chemorefractory Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: a Single-Center Experience.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of radioembolization with Yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres in patients with unresectable and chemorefractory colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). METHODS: This single-center study included 43 patients (34 male, 9 female) who underwent radioembolization with Y-90 for unresectable, chemorefractory CRCLM between September 2008 and July 2014. Overall survival (OS), liver progression-free survival (LPFS), overall response rate (ORR), local disease control rate (LDCR), and relations of these parameters with patient disease characteristics were evaluated. OS and LPFS rates were compared according to microspheres. Survival rates were calculated with Kaplan-Meier method, and potential prognostic variables were evaluated on univariate analyses. RESULTS: Post-procedural median OS was 12.8 months. LPFS was 5.6 months. ORR was 33%, LDCR was 67% on 3rd month follow-up. Low tumor burden (< 25%) was associated with higher median OS after radioembolization (< 25 vs > 25-50% p < 0.0001 and < 25 vs > 50% p = 0.005). Patients with left colon tumors exhibited significantly longer median OS after metastasis than right colon tumors (p = 0.046). Extrahepatic disease and synchronicity showed poorer survival parameters; however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.1 and p = 0.3, respectively). In subgroup analyses, the distribution of patient number and characteristics showed heterogeneity as number of patients with low tumor burden was higher in resin Y-90 group. Resin Y-90 group exhibited significantly higher median OS and LPFS compared to glass Y-90 group (16.5 vs. 7 months, p = 0.001; 6.73 vs. 3.38 months, p = 0.023, respectively). CONCLUSION: Radioembolization is a safe local-regional treatment option in chemorefractory, inoperable CRCLM. Radioembolization at earlier stages may lead to more favorable results especially with lower tumor burden patients.

Concurrent gemcitabine and radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

This study is designed to assess the toxicity and therapeutic effectiveness of concurrent gemcitabine and radiotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Concurrent gemcitabine (400 mg/m2/wk) in six weekly cycles starting on d 1 of radiotherapy (50.4 Gy; 1.8 Gy/fraction/d; 5 d/wk) was prescribed on 22 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients were analyzed with regard to radiological response on computerized tomography, overall survival, and toxicity. Twelve (55%) patients completed the prescription of six gemcitabine cycles and 50.4 Gy radiotherapy; while 10 (45%) received one to five cycles of gemcitabine owing to neutropenia. All patients experienced abdominal discomfort during treatment and three patients required medical intervention. Other toxicities reported were nausea in 13 patients (60%), grade 3 vomiting in 3 (14%). Radiological response evaluations were as follows: complete, 2 (9%); partial, 9 (41%); stable, 7 (32 %); and progressive, 4 (18 %). Median survival was 8.7 mo. Combination of weekly gemcitabine (400 mg/m2) and radiotherapy provided response in 50% of the patients but was associated with severe toxicity resulting in incomplete delivery of the planned chemotherapy.

Do high-risk features support the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer? A Turkish Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: A high-risk group of patients with stage II colon cancer has been identified by the results of studies in Western populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors of adjuvant chemotherapy in Turkish patients with stage II colon cancer. METHODS: A total of 554 stage II colon cancer patients were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Three hundred fifty-three patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy (5-FU-LV, FOLFOX or FLOX) and 201 had received no adjuvant chemotherapy. T4 tumor stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, bowel obstruction and/or perforation, <12 harvested lymph nodes, and poor differentiation were defined as high-risk factors. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 62 years (range 26-88). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 58.1 months (95% CI, 47.6 months to 68.5 months) in the non-treatment group and has not been reached in the treatment group (P <0.01). In univariate analysis, patient age >60 years and T4 tumor stage were statistically significant factors that affected DFS as poor prognostic factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy reduced the risk of recurrence with statistical significance (P <0.01). In multivariate analysis, patient age >60 years and T4 tumor stage were independent risk factors affecting DFS. In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy was an independent favorable prognostic factor for DFS (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and pathological risk factors in patients with stage II colon cancer may be different in the Turkish population compared to other populations. Further prospective studies in colon cancer are needed to understand the differences in biology and risk factors between races.

Transarterial chemoembolization for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to determine the effect of transarterial chemoembolization treatment on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of two different transarterial chemoembolization procedures, conventional transarterial chemoembolization and drug-eluting beads, in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization between January 2007 and March 2011 were included. Thirty-seven patients had Child-Pugh class A and the remaining 3 had class B. Intra-arterial administration of doxorubicin with lipiodol-based conventional transarterial chemoembolization or drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization was performed. Eighty sessions were performed with a median of 2 sessions. Sixteen patients were treated with conventional transarterial chemoembolization and 11 with drug-eluting beads-based transarterial chemoembolization, and 13 were treated with both treatment procedures in separate sessions. Primary outcome was defined as patient survival after treatment. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 19 months. The median overall survival of patients was 23.2 months. The survival of patients with Child-Pugh class A was significantly better than that of patients with class B (24 vs 6 months, p=0.004). No statistically significant difference in survival was observed between conventional transarterial chemoembolization and drug-eluting beads-based transarterial chemoembolization treatments (p>0.05). Baseline low serum albumin level (p=0.003) and the presence of portal vein thrombosis (p=0.011) negatively affected patient survival. Side effects of conventional transarterial chemoembolization and drug-eluting beads-based transarterial chemoembolization were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study and in comparison with the findings in the literature, transarterial chemoembolization treatment was seen to improve overall survival and provide better outcome in selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. No differences in survival or side effects were observed between the two transarterial chemoembolization treatment modalities.