Clinical Study The Role of Serum Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Osteodystrophy in Male Cirrhotic Patients

Objective. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible role of serum cytokines in the development of hepatic osteodystrophy. Matherial and Methods. 44 consecutive male cirrhotic patients (17 alcoholic, 20 hepatitis B, 7 hepatitis C), 15 age-and sex-matched chronic alcoholics without liver disease, and 17 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study during one year period. Bone mineral density was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar vertebrate and femoral neck. Serum interleukin levels were measured by ELISA method. Results. Although osteopenia frequency between our cirrhotic patients was 20%, there was no difference in T-scores among the controls and other groups. Serum interleukin-1, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were not different between all groups. Serum interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 levels were higher in the cirrhotics than controls (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant difference between osteopenic and nonosteopenic cirrhotics. Conclusion. According to the results of the study in this small population of 44 male cirrhotic patients, frequency of hepatic osteopenia is small and serum interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha may not play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic osteodystrophy. Further studies in which large number of patients involved are necessary in this field

Antihormonal treatment associated musculoskeletal pain in women with breast cancer in the adjuvant setting

PURPOSE: Antihormonal treatment is an effective therapy in the adjuvant setting. However, musculoskeletal pain is a common adverse effect encountered in patients receiving this treatment. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for the development of antihormonal treatment-associated musculoskeletal pain (AHAMP) and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 78 consecutive breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant antihormonal treatment for early-stage breast cancer in an academic medical oncology clinic was conducted. AHAMP was assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). HRQOL was assessed by self-administered short form 36 and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast subscale surveys. RESULTS: AHAMP was found to be present in 37 (47.7%) patients. In multivariate regression analysis, having a normal body mass index (<30 kg/m(2)), cigarette smoking, and low serum vitamin D level (20 ng/mL) were found to be independent risk factors. In HRQOL assessment, physical and mental scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with joint arthralgia. CONCLUSION: AHAMP has an adverse effect on the quality of life of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant antihormonal treatment, and assessment of predictive factors is important for identification of patient groups at risk of developing this condition

The Role of Serum Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Hepatic Osteodystrophy in Male Cirrhotic Patients

Objective. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible role of serum cytokines in the development of hepatic osteodystrophy. Matherial and Methods. 44 consecutive male cirrhotic patients (17 alcoholic, 20 hepatitis B, 7 hepatitis C), 15 age- and sex-matched chronic alcoholics without liver disease, and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study during one year period. Bone mineral density was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar vertebrate and femoral neck. Serum interleukin levels were measured by ELISA method. Results. Although osteopenia frequency between our cirrhotic patients was 20%, there was no difference in T-scores among the controls and other groups. Serum interleukin-1, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were not different between all groups. Serum interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 levels were higher in the cirrhotics than controls (P<0.001). However, there were no significant difference between osteopenic and nonosteopenic cirrhotics. Conclusion. According to the results of the study in this small population of 44 male cirrhotic patients, frequency of hepatic osteopenia is small and serum interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha may not play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic osteodystrophy. Further studies in which large number of patients involved are necessary in this field

Prognostic factors and clinical outcome of patients with Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors in adults: multicentric study of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors, survival rate and the efficacy of the treatment modalities used in patients with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT). Data of patients with ESFTs followed up at different cancer centers in Turkey between 2001 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of 114 patients was 26 years (range 14-66). The median follow-up was 20 months (range 1-118 months). Tumor size was between 1.5 and 14 cm (median 8 cm). Eighty-six percent of patients had localized disease at presentation, and 14 % had metastatic disease. Local therapy was surgery alone in 31 % of patients, surgery combined with radiotherapy in 41 % and radiotherapy alone in 18 %. Approximately 70 % of patients were treated with vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and actinomycin-D, alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide every 3 weeks. In patients with localized disease at presentation, the 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 60 and 65 %, respectively. At univariate analysis, patients with tumor size >= 8 cm, high serum lactate dehydrogenase, metastasis at presentation, poor histological response to chemotherapy and positive surgical margin had significantly worse event-free survival. The significant predictors of worse overall survival at univariate analysis were tumor size <= 8 cm, high lactate dehydrogenase, metastasis at presentation, poor histological response to chemotherapy, radiotherapy only as local treatment and positive surgical margin. ESFTs are aggressive tumors with a high incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Multimodality treatment consisting of adequate surgical resection, aggressive chemotherapy (VAC alternating with IE) and radiotherapy is recommended for patients with ESFTs

Prognostic values of various hematological variables as markers of systemic inflammation in metastatic lung cancer

Background: Chronic state of inflammation is an important factor in advanced cancer which is used by tumor cells for maintaining survival and growth. Hematological parameters such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), thrombocyte/lymphocyte ratio (TLR), and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) are reliable indicators of systemic inflammation. We aimed to elucidate the effect of hematological parameters and clinical features of patients on the prognosis of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We included 102 Stage IV NSCLC patients who presented to the oncology clinic between 2010 and 2016. Pretreatment clinical parameters and NLR, TLR, and LMR were retrieved from the medical records. The cutoff values, calculated with receiver operating curve analysis, for NLR, LMR, and TLR were 2.5, 3, and 183, respectively. All patients were divided into two groups according to cutoff values and analyzed accordingly. Results: Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 10 and 6 months, respectively. In univariate analysis, high NLR, high TLR, and low LMR were found to be significantly associated with survival. Among clinical parameters having eastern cooperative oncology group performance score 0-1, older age (>= 70 years) single metastatic disease was prognostic. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, only the number of metastatic lesions and LMR were found to be independent predictors for survival. Conclusion: Among hematological parameters, only LMR was found to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC

Mitomycin-C in combination with fluoropyrimidines in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer after oxaliplatin and irinotecan failure

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of mitomycin-C (MMC) in combination with fluoropyrimidines as salvage 3rd -or 4th-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients