with Prognosis

There are outstanding studies on the importance of survivin and inhibition of apoptosis in many cancers, including lung. Evaluation of the relationship between survivin expression in lung cancer and prognosis is the aim of this study. A total of 50 patients with a diagnosis of squamous cell lung carcinoma were included in this study. Survivin levels that were obtained with IHC (immunohistochemical) and RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) methods from the tumor and metastatic lymph node tissues embedded in paraffin blocks were evaluated along with clinical parameters. The median age of the patients was 60 years (range 54-69). All patients were male and all of them were smokers. The mean duration of follow-up and disease-free survival was 42.08 +/- 22.46 months and 40.62 +/- 22.46 months, respectively. Significant associations were found among survivin levels in metastatic lymph nodes and duration of smoking (IHC and RT-PCR), angiolymphatic invasion (IHC), the number of mitosis (RT-PCR) (p= 0.05 and p= 0.05, p< 0.001, p= 0.02, respectively). Survivin showed statistically significant associations with angiolymphatic invasion and stage in multivariate analysis (p< 0.001, p= 0.04, respectively). An association was not found between survivin levels in tumor and lymph nodes and survival. Higher survivin levels in lymph nodes detected by IHC was associated with shorter survival but that didn't reach statistical significance (65.22 +/- 5.16 vs 42.33 +/- 11.97, p= 0.72). Further larger studies done with larger numbers of patients are required in order to evaluate its effects in our society

THE FREQUENCY OF EGFR AND KRAS MUTATIONS IN THE TURKISH POPULATION WITH

In this study, profiles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten ras sarcoma (KRAS) mutations and response to erlotinib therapy have been investigated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DNA from 300 patients with NSCLC was extracted from paraf-fin-embedded tissues. After the extracted DNA was sequenced by pyrosequencing method, a total of 97 (32.0%) patients out of 300 were detected to carry an EGFR mutation and 75 (25.0%) patients out of 300 carried a KRAS mutation; 20 (6.6%) patients were detected to carry both of EGFR and KRAS mutations. The EGFR mutations were found to be statistically significant in female patients (48.0 women vs. 28.0% men, non smokers (49.0 vs. 26.0%) and adenocarcinoma (37.8 vs. squamous 26.8%). The overall rate of survival in patients receiving erlotinib therapy than in patients who did not. In patients without the KRAS mutation, the median overall survival rate was 161 +/- 30 weeks with erlotinib therapy and 90 +/- 13 weeks in patients without erlotinib therapy. In patients having KRAS mutation, the median overall survival was 98 +/- 16 weeks with erlotinib therapy and 34 +/- 16 weeks with no erlotinib therapy. In our study, we once again demonstrated that the presence of these mutations affected response to erlotinib therapy. The KRAS mutations negatively affected survival rate with and without erlotinib therapy

The frequency of EGFR And KRAS mutations in the Turkish population with non-small cell lung cancer and their response to erlotinib therapy

In this study, profiles of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten ras sarcoma (KRAS) mutations and response to erlotinib therapy have been investigated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DNA from 300 patients with NSCLC was extracted from paraf-fin-embedded tissues. After the extracted DNA was sequenced by pyrosequencing method, a total of 97 (32.0%) patients out of 300 were detected to carry an EGFR mutation and 75 (25.0%) patients out of 300 carried a KRAS mutation; 20 (6.6%) patients were detected to carry both of EGFR and KRAS mutations. The EGFR mutations were found to be statistically significant in female patients (48.0 women vs. 28.0% men, non smokers (49.0 vs. 26.0%) and adenocarcinoma (37.8 vs. squamous 26.8%). The overall rate of survival in patients receiving erlotinib therapy than in patients who did not. In patients without the KRAS mutation, the median overall survival rate was 161 ± 30 weeks with erlotinib therapy and 90 ± 13 weeks in patients without erlotinib therapy. In patients having KRAS mutation, the median overall survival was 98 ± 16 weeks with erlotinib therapy and 34 ± 16 weeks with no erlotinib therapy. In our study, we once again demonstrated that the presence of these mutations affected response to erlotinib therapy. The KRAS mutations negatively affected survival rate with and without erlotinib therapy

Primary mesenchymal tumors of the colon: A report of three cases

Primary mesenchymal tumors of the colon are extremely rare tumors among soft tissue sarcomas. These tumors are more aggressive and have poorer prognosis than adenocarcinoma of the colon. Here, we presented 3 cases of primary mesenchymal tumors of the colon. Their histopathological diagnoses are leiomyosarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, and desmoplastic small round cell tumor, respectively. The rarity of primary mesenchymal tumors of the colon makes it difficult to approach the treatment and predict the prognosis of these rare tumors

Retrospective comparison of efficacy and safety of CAPOX and FOLFOX regimens as adjuvant treatment in patients with stage III colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) and 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimens as adjuvant treatment in patients with stage III colon cancer. METHODS: A total of 243 patients who received CAPOX and FOLFOX chemotherapy between 2014 and 2018 for stage III colon cancer in two centers were retrospectively studied. Among the patients, 106 (43.6%) and 137 (56.4%) were treated using CAPOX and FOLFOX regimens, respectively. Efficacy, treatment-related side effects, and overall survival rates with these two regimens were compared. RESULTS: The rate of disease progression was significantly higher in the presence of moderately/poorly differentiated histology, and KRAS and NRAS mutations. An increased number of metastatic lymph nodes and prolonged time from surgery to chemotherapy significantly increased disease progression. Patients who received CAPOX were significantly older than those who received FOLFOX. Disease progression, metastasis, and mortality rates were significantly higher in the FOLFOX arm than in the CAPOX arm. There was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between the two regimens. CONCLUSION: The CAPOX regimen is preferred in older patients. Disease progression, metastasis, and mortality rates are higher with FOLFOX than with CAPOX

multicenter study from Turkey

Purpose: After failure of the first-line sorafenib treatment in advanced or metastatic stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), regorafenib is one of the newly-approved targeted agents. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of regorafenib in patients with advanced HCC treated in the secondor third-line setting.Methods: In this retrospective and multicenter study, advanced HCC patients not eligible for local therapies, who received a secondor third-line regorafenib therapy after progression on the first-line sorafenib or sequential therapy with chemotherapy (CT) followed by sorafenib, were included.Results: In the first-line setting, 28 (28.9%) patients received CT and 69 (71.1%) patients received sorafenib. There were 24 (24.7%) patients who were intolerant to sorafenib. Disease control rate (DCR) was 53.6% for all patients treated with regorafenib, 62.3% in patients who received regorafenib in the second-line, and 32.1% for those receiving regorafenib in the third-line (p=0.007). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.6 (range; 4.3-6.9) and 8.8 (range, 6.3-11.3) months for all patients treated with regorafenib vs. 7.1 months and 10.3 months for patients who received regorafenib in the second-line vs. 5.1 and 8.7 months for patients who received regorafenib in the third-line, respectively; however, there was no statistically significant difference (p(PFS)=0.22 and p(OS)=0.85).Conclusion: Although receiving CT as a first-line therapy in advanced HCC patients did not affect the survival rates of subsequent regorafenib therapy, it might diminish the DCR of regorafenib.C1 [Hacioglu, Muhammet Bekir; Kostek, Osman; Erdogan, Bulent; Cicin, Irfan] Trakya Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Med Fac, Edirne, Turkey.[Karabulut, Senem; Tastekin, Didem] Istanbul Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Goksu, Sema Sezgin] Akdeniz Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Antalya, Turkey.[Alandag, Celal] Karadeniz Tech Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Trabzon, Turkey.[Akagunduz, Baran] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Izmir, Turkey.[Bilgetekin, Irem] Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncol Training &, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Caner, Burcu; Sahin, Ahmet Bilgehan] Uludag Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Bursa, Turkey.[Yildiz, Birol] Gulhane Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Kose, Fatih] Baskent Univ, Adana Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Adana, Turkey.[Kaplan, Muhammet Ali] Dicle Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Diyarbakir, Turkey.[Gulmez, Ahmet] Inonu Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Malatya, Turkey.[Dogan, Ender] Erciyes Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Kayseri, Turkey.[Kilickap, Saadettin] Hacettepe Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Guven, Deniz Can; Gurbuz, Mustafa] Ankara Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Ergun, Yakup] Ankara Numune Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Karaagac, Mustafa] Necmettin Erbakan Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Konya, Turkey.[Demiray, Atike Gokcen] Pamukkale Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Denizli, Turkey.[Turker, Sema] DiskapiYildir Beyazit Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Sakalar, Teoman] Sakarya Univ Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Aksaray, Turkey.[Ozkul, Ozlem] Sakarya Univ Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Sakarya, Turkey.[Telli, Tugba Akin] Marmara Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Sahin, Suleyman] Van Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Van, Turkey.[Bilici, Ahmet] Medipol Univ, Med Fac, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey

patients?: Turkish Oncology Group Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary tumor localization may be a risk factor for relapse and survival in seminomatous germ cell tumors (GCT) patients.Methods: In our study, 612 seminomatous GCT patients diagnosed in 22 centers between 01.01.1989 and 03.02.2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient interview information, patient files and electronic system data were used for the study.Results: The primary tumor was localized in the right testis in 305 (49.9%) patients and in 307 (50.1%) in the left testis. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (range 16-85 +/- 10.4).The median follow-up period was 47 months (1-298). Recurrence was observed in 78 (127%) patients and 29 (4.7%) died during the follow-up period. Four-year overall survival (OS) was 95.4% and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.5%. The relationship between localization and relapse was significant in 197 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 (p=0.003). In this patient group, 41 (20.8%) relapses were observed. Thirty (73.2%) of the relapses were in the right testis and 11 (26.8%) in the left testis.Four-year OS was 92.1% in patients with right tumor; and 98.7% in patients with left tumor (p=0.007). When 612 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4 years, there was a 6.6% survival advantage in patients with left testicular tumor and this difference was significant (p=0.007).Conclusion: Survival rates of patients with primary right testicular localization were worse compared with left testicular localization, and relapse rates were higher in stage 2 and 3 patients with right testicular localization.C1 [Yildiz, Birol; Erturk, Ismail; Acar, Ramazan; Karadurmus, Nuri] Hlth Sci Univ, Gulhane Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Kucukarda, Ahmet; Gokyer, Ali] Trakya Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Edirne, Turkey.[Demiray, Atike Gokcen] Pamukkale Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Denizli, Turkey.[Paydas, Semra] Cukurova Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Adana, Turkey.[Aral, Ipek Pinar] Nevsehir State Hosp, Dept Radiat Oncol, Nevsehir, Turkey.[Gumusay, Ozge] Gazi Osman Pasa Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Tokat, Turkey.[Bilici, Ahmet] Medipol Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Akdeniz, Nadiye] Dicle Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Diyarbakir, Turkey.[Bahceci, Aykut] Gaziantep Dr Ersin ARSLAN Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Demir, Hacer] Afyon Kocatepe Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Afyon, Turkey.[Esin, Ece] Bayindir Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Uyeturk, Ummugul] Abant Izzet Baysal Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Bolu, Turkey.[Okten, Ilker Nihat] Istanbul Medeniyet Univ, Gortepe Training & Res Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Turk, H. Mehmet] BezmiAlem Vakif Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Topaloglu, Ulas Serkan] Kayseri City Hosp, Dept Internal Med, Kayseri, Turkey.[Basoglu, Tugba] Marmara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Turhal, Nazim Serdar] Anadolu Med Ctr, Dept Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey.[Cinkir, Havva Yesil] Gaziantep Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Menekse, Serkan; Kut, Engin] Manisa City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Manisa, Turkey.[Cakmak, Yagmur] Kocaeli Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey.[Urun, Yuksel] Ankara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Dal, Pinar] Eskisehir City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Eskisehir, Turkey.[Sakalar, Teoman] Kahramanmaras City Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.[Aktepe, Oktay Halit] Hacettepe Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey

Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

Objective Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an important psychological trauma associated with reduction in the quality of life, disruptions in the level of adjustment, emotional distress and anxiety. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of patient-physician relationship on FCR. Methods The study was designed as a multicentre survey study. The cancer survivors, who were under remission, were evaluated with structured questionnaires. Patient-physician relationship (PPR) scale in which higher scores indicate better relationship and FCR inventory was used. Results Between January and April 2019, 1,580 patients were evaluated. The median age was 57.0 (19-88), and 66% were female. There was high level of FCR scores in 51% of participants. There was a negative correlation between PPR and FCR scores (r = -.134,p < .001). In multivariate analysis, young age, female gender, history of metastasectomy and worse PPR were associated with high levels of FCR. Conclusion It is the first data showing the adverse impact of worse PPR on FCR. The strategies to improve the PPR should be practised. In addition, the cancer survivors, who are under the risk of FCR, should be evaluated and managed.C1 [Alkan, Ali; Tanriverdi, Ozgur] Mugla Sitki Kocman Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Mugla, Turkey.[Yasar, Arzu; Gurbuz, Mustafa; Senler, Filiz Cay] Ankara Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Guc, Zeynep Gulsum; Yavuzsen, Tugba] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Izmir, Turkey.[Basoglu, Tugba; Yumuk, Perran Fulden] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Goksu, Sema Sezgin; Coskun, Hasan Senol] Akdeniz Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Antalya, Turkey.[Basal, Fatma Bugdayci; Ates, Ozturk] Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Turk, Haci Mehmet] Bezmialem Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ozdemir, Ozlem] Izmir Bozyak Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Izmir, Turkey.[Cinkir, Havva Yesil] Gaziantep Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Guven, Deniz Can] Hacettepe Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Kus, Tulay] Dr Ersin Arslan Training & Res Hosp, Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Turker, Sema] Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Koral, Lokman] Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Canakkale, Turkey.[Karakas, Yusuf] Bodrum Acibadem Hosp, Med Oncol, Mugla, Turkey.[Ak, Naziye] Istanbul Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Paydas, Semra] Cukurova Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Adana, Turkey.[Karci, Ebru] Bagcilar Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Demiray, Atike Gokcen] Pamukkale Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Denizli, Turkey.[Demir, Atakan] Acibadem Maslak Hosp, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Alan, Ozkan] Tekirdag Publ Hosp, Med Oncol, Tekirdag, Turkey.[Keskin, Ozge] Selcuk Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Konya, Turkey.[Nayir, Erdinc] VM Med Pk Mersin Hosp, Med Oncol, Mersin, Turkey.[Turhal, Serdar] Anadolu Med Ctr, Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey

Combination of trastuzumab and taxane-containing intensified chemotherapy in first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: Taxane-containing combinations are recommended for the first-line therapy of advanced gastric cancer. It is not known which chemotherapy regimen is the best with trastuzumab for HER2-positive patients. The aim of this study was to compare taxane-containing intensified chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy in combination with trastuzumab in the first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: This study is a retrospective multicenter study of the Turkish Oncology Group. A total of 130 HER2-positive patients with inoperable locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma being given chemotherapy plus trastuzumab as the first-line treatment were included from 16 different oncology centers. Trastuzumab combination with intensified chemotherapy including taxane or standard chemotherapy was compared in terms of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. RESULTS: There were 108 patients in the standard and 22 patients in the intensified chemotherapy group. PFS of the standard and intensified group were 5.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.8-6.4) and 5.3 months (95% CI 2.6-8), respectively (p = 0.70). OS of the standard and intensified group were 11.1 months (95% CI 8.3-13.9) and 15.2 months (95% CI 12.7-17.7), respectively (p = 0.03). Repeated analysis excluding patients given any previous therapy revealed similar results. The intensified group had more fever and febrile neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Trastuzumab combination with intensified chemotherapy provides better OS in first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. Further large-scale studies should be performed in HER2-positive patients