Evaluation of the Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Patients with Lymphoma

Aim:Hepatitis enfection reactivation during chemotherapy is a major problem in lymphoma patients. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in lymphoma patients treated in our center.Materials and Methods:The files of non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients treated in our center between 2011-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc and Anti-HCV parameters of the patients were evaluated.Results:In 21 (8.7%) of the 240 NHL patients, HBsAg antigen was positive. Anti-HCV positivity was detected in 9 patients (3.7%). In 79 (33%) patients, HBsAg (-), Anti-HBs (+) and Anti-HBc (+) were detected and evaluated as previous hepatitis B infection. In 10 (9.1%) of the 110 HL patients, HBsAg was positive and Anti-HCV positivity was detected in 3 patients (2.7%). In 29 (26.4%) patients, HBsAg (-), Anti-HBs (+) and Anti-HBc (+) were detected and evaluated as previous hepatitis B infection. When HBsAg and Anti-HCV positivity rates were compared between NHL and HL patient groups, no statistically significant difference was detected (p values were 0.9 and 0.63, respectively).Conclusion:According to the data of our country higher positivity of HBV and HCV was determined in lymphoma patients. Hepatitis B and C positivity in our region poses an important problem. Necessary information about vaccination and prevention methods should be provided

Crizotinib efficacy and safety in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring MET alterations: A real-life data of Turkish Oncology Group

Crizotinib is a multikinase inhibitor, effective in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal-epidermal transition (MET) alterations. Although small prospective studies showed efficacy and safety of crizotinib in NSCLC with MET alterations, there is limited real-life data. Aim of this study is to investigate real-life efficacy and safety of crizotinib in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring MET alterations. This was a retrospective, multicenter (17 centers) study of Turkish Oncology Group. Patients' demographic, histological data, treatment, response rates, survival outcomes, and toxicity data were collected. Outcomes were presented for the study population and compared between MET alteration types. Total of 62 patients were included with a median age of 58.5 (range, 26-78). Major histological type was adenocarcinoma, and 3 patients (4.8%) had sarcomatoid component. The most common MET analyzing method was next generation sequencing (90.3%). MET amplification and mutation frequencies were 53.2% (n = 33) and 46.8% (n = 29), respectively. Overall response rate and disease control rate were 56.5% and 74.2% in whole study population, respectively. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 7.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-10.5), and median overall survival (OS) was 18.7 months (95% CI: 13.7-23.7), regardless of treatment line. Median PFS was 6.1 months (95% CI: 5.6-6.4) for patients with MET amplification, whereas 14.3 months (95% CI: 6.7-21.7) for patients with MET mutation (P = .217). Median PFS was significantly longer in patients who have never smoked (P = .040), have good performance score (P < .001), and responded to the treatment (P < .001). OS was significantly longer in patients with MET mutation (25.6 months, 95% CI: 15.9-35.3) compared to the patients with MET amplification (11.0 months; 95% CI: 5.2-16.8) (P = .049). In never-smokers, median OS was longer than smoker patients (25.6 months [95% CI: 11.8-39.3] vs 16.5 months [95% CI: 9.3-23.6]; P = .049). The most common adverse effects were fatigue (50%), peripheral edema (21%), nausea (29%) and diarrhea (19.4%). Grade 3 or 4 adverse effects were observed in 6.5% of the patients. This real-life data confirms efficacy and safety of crizotinib in the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring MET alteration

Multicentric Ipilimumab Experience in Turkish Patients With Metastatic Melanoma MIPI-TURK

European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress on Integrating Basic and Translational Science, Surgery, Radiotherapy, Medical oncology, Advocacy and Care -- SEP 23-27, 2011 -- Stockholm, SWEDENWOS: 000295752802321

Akut lösemilerde prame gen ekspresyonu:Klinik önemi

TEZ5018Tez (Uzmanlık) -- Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, 2003.Kaynakça (s. 22-25) var.v, 24 s. ; 30 cm.

Dexamethasone effect in relapsed and/or resistant multiple myeloma: preliminary study

Bu çalışmada relaps/rezistan multipl myelomada deksametazon etkinliğinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Daha önce çeşitli kemoterapi protokol(ler)i ile tedavi edilen 9 olgu çalışma grubunu oluşturdu. Deksametazon 20mg/m2X4gün-4 haftada bir I.V uygulandı. Tedavi sonrası 3 olguda progresif ve 6 olguda stabil hastalık saptandı. Yan etki olarak 1 olguda epigastrik ağrı, 1 olguda cilt enfeksiyonu belirlendi. Remisyon sağlanamamış olması bu tedavinin başarısızlığı olarak yorumlanabilirse de bu hasta grubunda tedavi alternatiflerinin kısıtlı ve genellikle miyelotoksik ve pahalı oldukları göz önüne alınırsa özellikle sitopenik olgularda bu tedavi önerilebilir.The aim of this study is to estimate the efficacy of dexamethasone in relapsed/resistant multiple myeloma. The study group consists of nine cases previously treated with other drug regimens. Dexamethasone( 20 mg/m2X4 day per 4 week) was administrated via IV route. At the end of the treatment 3 patients had progressive and 6 stabile diesase besides epigastric pain in 1 and skin infection in 1 patient as adverse effects . Failure to achieve remission might be accepted to be an unsatisfactory result, however, this treatment could be recommended especially in cytopenic cases since alternative drug regimens are limited in number, expensive and highly myelotoxic in this group of patients

Fludarabine effect in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Tedaviye refrakter kronik lenfositik lösemili hastalar hızlı progresif seyir gösterirler. Bu hastaların ilaçla tedavisinde fludarabine başta olmak üzere purin analoğu anti-metabolitler umut veren ilaçlar olarak bildirilmektedir. Çukurova Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dahiliye-Onkoloji Bilim Dalı'nda 1994-1995 yılları arasında takip edilen hepsi ileri evre ve tedaviye refrakter kronik lenfositik lösemi'li 7 hastaya Fludarabine (30mg/m2/günx5) verildi. Tedaviye yanıt 7 hastanın 4'ünde parsiyel yanıt, 2'sinde stabil hastalık ve birinde progresif hastalık şeklindeydi. Bütün hastalarda belirgin miyelosupresyon oldu. Komplikasyonlar, 1 hastada ağır akciğer enfeksiyonu, 1 hastada ağır oral enfeksiyon, 1 hastada intestinal amibiyazis, 1 hastada nötropenik sepsis ve 1 hastada retinal kanama şeklindeydi ve hastaların hepsine kan ürünü desteği yapılması gerekti. Fludarabine ile hastaların yarısında hematolojik parametrelerde ve yaklaşık üçte birinde klinik bulgularda düzelme olmasına karşın ilacın ciddi yan etkilerinin bulunması göz önüne alındığında, bu ilaç ile KLL tedavisine daha dikkatli yaklaşılması gerektiği ortaya çıkmaktadır.Patients with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia reveal rapid progression. In the treatment of these patients anti-metabolic purine analogues, mainly fludarabine were reported to be promising drugs. During the period between 1994 and 1995 the patients all of which were followed as advanced stage-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia were received I.V fludarabine(30 mg/m2X5 days for every 4 weeks) in the Oncology Department of Çukurova University Medical Faculty. Of the 7 patients, 4 showed partial response, 2 stabile disease and 1 progressive disease as response to therapy. All patients experienced myelosupression. Complications were 1 severe pulmonary and 1 severe oral infection, 1 intestinal amoebiasis, 1 neutropenic septicemia and 1 retinal haemorrhagia, and all needed to be supported with blood products. Although the improvements in hematological parameters of the half and clinical findings of the one third, it should be paid attention to treat CLL with fludarabine whenever major adverse effects were taken into consideration

Clinicopathological Factors Determining the Pathological Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in HER2 Positive Breast Cancer

Aim:In our study, we aimed to determine the clinicopathological factors affecting the pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2 positive breast cancer.Materials and Methods:A total of 54 HER2 expression positive cases were included in this study. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen containing trastuzumab was applied to all patients. Patients’ age, gender, disease stage, tumor size and lymph node status, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, Ki-67 proliferation index, tumor grade, menopausal status and pathological complete response status after neoadjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant treatment regimen and the relationship between the tumor and histological subtype were examined.Results:Grade III tumor, hormone receptor negativity, high Ki-67 score, and the presence of T3 or T4 tumor were found to be better associated with pathological complete response (p=0.036, p=0.033, p=0.021, p=0.048, respectively). High tumor grade, hormone receptor negativity and high Ki-67 score were found as independent risk factors determining pathological complete response (p=0.043, p=0.047, p=0.035, respectively).Conclusion:In this series of 54 cases with HER2 positive breast cancer, the parameters determining pathological complete response after neoadjuvant treatment are high Ki-67 proliferation index, grade III tumor and hormone receptor negativity

Social support and hopelessness in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with breast cancer can experience a feeling of hopelessness very deeply in the adjustment process, and the social support provided during this period can be effective in increasing the level of hope. The present study aimed to identify breast cancer patients' social support and hopelessness level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The target population of this analytical study was all breast cancer patients (total of 85) who had treatment in the oncology department of a university hospital located in Adana/Turkey and who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through "Personal Information Form", "Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) " and "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support" (MSPSS). Analysis was performed using Shapiro Wilk, One Way ANOVA Welch, Student t-test, Mann Whitney U, and Kruskall Wallis tests. Homogeneity of variance was tested with the Levene, Bonferroni and Games Howell tests. Mean scores and standard deviation values are given as descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Average age of the participants with breast cancer is 48.6 ∓ 10.6. Of all the participants, 84.7% are married, 49.4% graduated from primary school, 81.2% are housewives, and 82.4% had children. The participants' multidimensional perceived social support total scores were found to be high (57.41 ∓ 13.97) and hopelessness scale scores low (5.49 ∓ 3.80). There was a reverse, linear relationship between hopelessness scale scores and social support total scores (r=-0.259, p=0.017). A statistically significant relationship was found between hopelessness scores and education level and having children, occupation, income status, and education level of spouses (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that hopelessness of the patients with breast cancer decreased with the increase in their social support. Therefore, activating patient social support systems is of importance in increasing their level of hope

Thymoma-associated aplastic anemia

Timus çocukluk çağı ve adölesan dönemde sellüler immünite gelişiminde rol oynayan önemli bir organdır. Timik neoplaziler beraberlerinde immün sisteme ait hastalıkları barındırmaları bakımından oldukça ilginçtir. Burada pansitopeni ve ön mediastende kitle nedeniyle araştırılan ve benign timoma tahısı almış bir olgu sunulmuş ve literatür gözden geçirilmiştir.Thymus is an important tissue having an important role in the development of cellular immunity during childhood and adolescence. Thymic neoplasias are very interesting due to the accompanying immune system disorders. Here a case with anterior mediastinal mass histopathologically reported as benign thymoma and accompanying pancytopenia has been presented and literature has been reviewed