Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine Chemotherapy in Taxane/Anthracycline-Resistant Metastatic Breast Cancer

Background: The most commonly used chemotherapeutic regimens in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) include anthracyclines and taxanes. In our study, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of cisplatin plus gemcitabine combination chemotherapy regimen in patients with MBC, who exhibited disease progression after anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy. Methods: Thirty-three patients with taxane/anthracycline- resistant MBC have been treated with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously and cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week treatment cycle. Results: Thirty-one patients were assessable for response. One of the 31 patients (3.2%) showed complete response, while 7 patients (22.6%) showed partial response; the objective response rate was 25.8%. Stable and progressive disease was observed in 6 (19.4%) and 17 patients (54.8%), respectively. The median time to progression was 4 months (95% CI 2.15-5.85). The median survival time of all patients was 9.5 months ( 95% CI 7.86-11.14). Conclusion: Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination therapy is moderately active and safe in patients with MBC previously treated with anthracycline and taxanes. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptosis by thymoquinone in combination with zoledronic acid in hormone- and drug-resistant prostate cancer cell lines

WOS: 000347742000030PubMed ID: 25536616Purpose: Thymoquinone (TQ), an active ingredient of black seed oil (Nigella Sativa), has been shown to possess cytotoxic activity against a variety of cancer cell lines. Our purpose was to investigate if the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of zoledronic acid (ZA) can be enhanced by the addition of the TQ in hormone- and drug-refractory prostate cancer cells PC-3 and DU-145. Methods: XTT cell proliferation assay was used to assess cytotoxicity; DNA fragmentation and caspase 3/7 activity were also measured. Results: The combination of TQ and ZA resulted in a significant synergistic cytotoxic activity and DNA fragmentation when compared to any single agent alone, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, TQ and ZA combination increased the caspase 3/7 activity in PC-3 cell line, while this activity could not be demonstrated in DU-145 cell line. Conclusion: TQ and ZA had minimal hematological and non-hematological toxicity profile compared to cytotoxic agents. So, this combination may be an alternative approach for patients who are unable to be treated by conventional treatments because of poor performance status

Clinicopathologic and Demographic Evaluation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients among a Turkish Patient Population: a Single Center Experience

Background: To evaluate the clinicopathologic and demographic characteristics of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and to determine differences from non-triple-negative cases. Materials and Methods: A detailed review of the medical records of 882 breast cancer (BC) patients was conducted to obtain information regarding age, menopausal status, height and weight at the time of diagnosis, presence of diabetes or hypertension, and pathologic characteristics of the tumor (tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, ER status, PR status, HER2 status, p53 mutation). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and a value of >= 30 was considered as indicative of obesity. Results: 14.9% (n=132) of the patients had TNBC. There was no difference among the patients in terms of median age, comorbid conditions and menopausal status. The proportion of medullary, tubular and mucinous carcinomas was significantly higher (15.9%) in the triple-negative (TN) group, while invasive lobular histology was more frequent (8.2%) among non-triple negative (NTN) cases (p= 30 was 53% among postmenopausal patients, while it was 36% among premenopausal women, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in terms of BMI between postmenopausal and premenopausal patients in the TN group (p=0.08). Conclusions: TNBC rates and clinicopathologic characteristics of the Turkish patient population were consistent with the data from Europe and America. However, no relationship between obesity and TNBC was observed in our study. The association between TNBC and obesity needs to be evaluated in a larger patient population

Malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma progressing after chemotherapy and Interferon treatment: A case presentation and a brief review of the literature

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare, low-grade malignant vascular tumour. It is frequently seen in the liver, but can occur in the lungs, bones, and other soft tissues. Although survival time might be reasonable in cases that can undergo liver transplantation, there is no consensus on the treatment of metastatic patients. We report a 24-year-old female patient with rapidly progressing malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma that presented with acute abdominal distension. The patient was refractory to anthracycline and Interferon treatment and died 6.5 months after the diagnosis

Bisphosphonate (Zoledronic Acid) Associated Adverse Events: Single Center Experience

WOS: 000282400900001Zoledronic acid is an efficacy-proven bisphosphonate used in the patients who develop bone metastasis. In our study, we planned to evaluate side effects occurring in the patients who receive zoledronic acid. The records of a total of 5.482 patients diagnosed with solid tumor who were admitted to oncology out-patients' clinic between January 2001 and January 2007 were scanned. It was found that 256 patients received zoledronic acid. Zoledronic acid is administered in 4 mg doses for a period of 15 minutes as intravenous infusion once in 21/28 days. Side effects such as hypocalcemia, symptomatic hypocalcemia, impairment in renal functions and osteonecrosis of the jaw, were evaluated retrospectively. Zoledronic acid was administered due to bone metastasis in 248 patients, malign hypercalcemia in 6 patients and ostoporosis in 2 patients. Four patients (1.5%) were diagnosed with jaw osteonecrosis, 22 patients (8.5%) were diagnosed with hypocalcemia, 19 patients (7.4%) were diagnosed with impairment in renal functions, and 2 patients were (0.7%) diagnosed with symptomatic hypocalcemia. Zoledronic acid is a bisphosphonate which has been proven to reduce complications which may develop depending on the bone metastasis, such as pathological fracture, spinal chord impression andhypercalcemia. On the other hand, side effects may occur in the patients receiving zoledronic acid. It will be appropriate to inform the patients who are planned to start administering zoledronic acid of the benefits to be obtained and the side effects to take place

Cisplatin Plus Gemcitabine for Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases; a Preferential Option for Triple Negative Patients?

Background: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine combination in patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: Eighteen BC patients with BM who were treated with Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine regimen between 2003-2011 were evaluated. Results: A median of 6 cycles of this regimen were received, in fifteen patients (83.3%) as first-line chemotherapy, in 2 as second-line and in 1 as third-line after diagnosis of BM. Dose reduction was performed in 11 (61.1%) patients; major reasons were neutropenia and leukopenia. Grade III neutropenia and Grade II trombocytopenia rates were 33.3% and 16.7% respectively. Overall response rate (ORR; complete+partial response rate) was 33.4% (n=6) for the entire study population; triple negative patients achieved an 66.6% ORR while hormone receptor (HR) positive patients had 25% and HER2 positive patients 12.5%. Median progression-free survival was 5.6 months (2.4-8.8 months, 95% CI) and longer in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (median 7.4 months, 95% CI, 2.4-12.3 months) than the patients with other subtypes (median 5 months for HER2 positive and 3.6 months for HR positive patients). Median PFS of the patients with TNBC who received this regimen as first-line was 9.2 months (5.2-13.2 months, 95% CI). Conclusions: Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine may be a treatment option for patients with BM from breast cancer. Longer PFS and higher response rates are results that support the usage of this regimen especially for the triple negative subtype. However, further prospective and randomized trials are clearly required to provide more exact information

Cisplatin Plus Gemcitabine for Treatment of Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: a Preferential Option for Triple Negative Patients?

Background: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine combination in patients with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: Eighteen BC patients with BM who were treated with Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine regimen between 2003-2011 were evaluated. Results: A median of 6 cycles of this regimen were received, in fifteen patients (83.3%) as first-line chemotherapy, in 2 as second-line and in 1 as third-line after diagnosis of BM. Dose reduction was performed in 11 (61.1%) patients; major reasons were neutropenia and leukopenia. Grade III neutropenia and Grade II trombocytopenia rates were 33.3% and 16.7% respectively. Overall response rate (ORR; complete+partial response rate) was 33.4% (n=6) for the entire study population; triple negative patients achieved an 66.6% ORR while hormone receptor (HR) positive patients had 25% and HER2 positive patients 12.5%. Median progression-free survival was 5.6 months (2.4-8.8 months, 95% CI) and longer in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (median 7.4 months, 95% CI, 2.4-12.3 months) than the patients with other subtypes (median 5 months for HER2 positive and 3.6 months for HR positive patients). Median PFS of the patients with TNBC who received this regimen as first-line was 9.2 months (5.2-13.2 months, 95% CI). Conclusions: Cisplatin plus Gemcitabine may be a treatment option for patients with BM from breast cancer. Longer PFS and higher response rates are results that support the usage of this regimen especially for the triple negative subtype. However, further prospective and randomized trials are clearly required to provide more exact information

Pyranose oxidase and Pt-MnOx bionanocomposite electrode bridged by ionic liquid for biosensing applications

WOS: 000334753200017Present study reports the use of a glassy carbon electrode modified with manganese oxide decorated with platinum nanoparticles (Pt-MnOx/GCE) for electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen dissolved in buffer solution. The electrode exhibits better electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction than bulk platinum due to larger surface area of manganese oxide which also prevents agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles. Best results were obtained with the electrode modified by cycling the potential in a range of -0.25-1.05 V for five times in a cell containing 1.0 mM K2PtCl6 and 0.1 M MnSO4 in 0.01 M H2SO4 solution. Then, the electrode developed was utilized as a biosensing platform for the monitoring of oxygen consumption due to the bie-catalytic activity of pyranose oxidase. In the pursuit of a stable and rapid response the biocomponent was bridged with an ionic liquid namely 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexaflourophosphate. Chronoamperometric measurement of oxygen at 0.2 V gave 0.010-0.100 mM linear range with a detection limit of 2.0 mu M and sensitivity of 6.1 nA mu M-1 under optimized conditions. In addition, ionic liquid provides a conductive environment which shortens the response time to 3 s for low concentrations. Overall results indicated that fabricated biosensor is a good candidate for automated systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK); Ege University Research FoundationEge University [2013/FEN/060]This study was supported by TUBITAK 2209 program and Ege University Research Foundation (Project no: 2013/FEN/060)