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Background/aim: Serum thymidine kinase 1 (STK1) is a proliferation biomarker that has been used as a diagnostic marker of several malignant diseases. However, there are limited data for prostate cancer (PCa)., Patients and Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analysed serum samples from 169 patients with biopsy confirmed PCa, who had been indicated for radical prostatectomy (RP) between 2013-2016. The results were compared with those in serum samples from 39 healthy men. We used commercially available enzymatic immunoassay to determine the levels of STK1. The patients were divided into groups according to the Gleason score (GS) and risk factors for adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT), which were defined as GS 8-10, pT3, and a positive surgical margin., Results: The median serum level of STK1 in PCa patients was 0.289 pmol/l. In the control group, the median value was 0.0116 pmol/l (p<0.001). By comparing the patients with GS≤6 vs. 7 vs. ≥8 (p=0.01), we found statistically significant differences. In the correlation of STK1 values with risk factors, we found statistically significant differences both in comparison of 0 vs. 1 vs. 2 vs. 3 risk factors (p=0.021), as well as ≤1 vs. 2≥ risk factors (p=0.009)., Conclusion: The levels of STK1 are significantly higher in patients with PCa than those in healthy controls. Furthermore, STK1 values correlate with GS and predefined risk factors for aRT. Therefore, STK1 can be considered as a potential tumour marker of PCa diagnosis and risk stratification., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a very rare liver tumor. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological factors and treatment modalities affecting overall survival (OS) in FLC. The objective of the study was to identify predictors of survival in FLC., Patients and Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified 496 patients diagnosed with FLC between 2004 and 2015. Clinicopathological, treatment, and survival data were collected., Results: Hepatic resection was performed on 254 (51.2%) patients, liver-directed therapy on 13 (2.6%) patients, and liver transplantation on 15 (3.0%) patients. Median OS by stage were 142.1, 87.2, 32.3, and 14.1 months for stages 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Metastatectomy was not associated with superior median OS (23.4 vs. 10.5 months, p=0.163). Age ≤40, low Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, early stage and hepatic resection were independently associated with longer OS., Conclusion: Our study reports current trends in FLC management, and identifies independent predictors of OS., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite adjuvant radiotherapy, survival outcomes remain poor in patients with salivary gland malignancies who have multiple poor prognostic factors. This study aimed to determine which patients may benefit from treatment intensification., Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent curative resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy between 2002 and 2014 were identified and a retrospective chart review was performed. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were the main outcomes measured., Results: A total of 95 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median follow-up was 46.8 months. The median age was 60 years. Radiotherapy was given to 78 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex and perineural invasion significantly reduced overall and disease-free survival. Distant metastases comprised of 67% of recurrences and 33% were locoregional., Conclusion: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should be considered for patients with tumors with perineural invasion, especially in males with high-risk histopathology or high-grade, late-stage disease. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the impact of pack-year smoking history on survival outcomes., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)