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We aimed to compare the protective effect of L-carnitine (CAR) and amifostine (AMF) against cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity through biochemical markers and histopathological evaluation. Fifty-seven Wistar albino male rats were randomly classified into six groups, which were AMF+CDDP (n = 11; 200 mg/kg AMF 30 min prior to 7 mg/kg CDDP), CAR+CDDP (n = 11; 300 mg/kg CAR 30 min prior to 7 mg/kg CDDP), CDDP (n = 11; 1 mL/kg isotonic saline 30 min prior to 7 mg/kg CDDP), AMF (n = 8; 200 mg/kg AMF alone), CAR (n = 8; 300 mg/kg CAR alone), and control (n = 8; 1 mL/kg isotonic saline alone). All drugs were given intraperitoneally. Five days after medication, animals were killed, and samples of blood and kidney tissues were collected for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. The serum urea level was highest in AMF+CDDP group among CDDP-applied groups without statistical significance (median, range: 88, 56-21 mg/dL; P > 0.05). There was no statistical significance among CDDP-applied groups in terms of creatinine level (P > 0.05). In the AMF+CDDP group, the median glomerular, tubular, and tubulointerstitial inflammatory damage scores were significantly higher than the other CDDP-applied groups (P < 0.001). The difference between CAR+CDDP and CDDP groups was not statistically significant in terms of renal damage scores. AMF+CDDP group had significantly higher median total nephrotoxicity score than all the other groups (P < 0.001). To conclude, AMF or CAR has no protective effect on CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, our findings suggest that application of AMF before CDDP may enhance CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity histopathologically.

The aim of this study is to reveal likely demographic, clinical, and pathological differences among hormone receptor negative breast cancer patients according to their HER-2 status. The medical records of hormone receptor negative breast cancer patients with known HER-2 status between January 1999 and December 2006 were reviewed, retrospectively. A total of 91 cases were included in the study (68 HER-2 negative cases and 23 HER-2 positive cases). The results obtained showed that median age, menarche age, childbearing age, number of children, menopause age, and body-mass indexes were similar in both groups. The HER-2 negative patients had more family history of breast cancer than HER-2 positive patients (13.2% and 0%, respectively, P = 0.091). Eighty-three patients received neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy. Recurrence occurred in 41 (46.6%) patients. Neither recurrence nor disease-free survival of those patients was associated with HER-2 status. Tumor size (P = 0.042) and number of involved lymph nodes (P = 0.001) were found to be independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. A tendency for more frequent cerebral metastasis was found in HER-2 positive advanced stage patients (P = 0.052). HER-2 positive patients were less responsive to taxanes (P = 0.071). The number of involved lymph nodes (P = 0.004) and HER-2 status (P = 0.043) were found to be prognostic factors for overall survival. HER-2 positive and negative patients should be followed and treated with different strategies. HER-2 positive patients are at least as resistant to systemic therapies as the HER-2 negative patients. Genetic counseling should be routinely provided to triple negative patients and their families. HER-2 positive patients may be candidates for prophylactic treatment strategies concerning cerebral metastasis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of single-agent bevacizumab therapy for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We identified patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma and World Health Organization Grade III glioma who were previously treated with temozolomide plus radiotherapy and received 10 mg/kg bevacizumab intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until disease progression for recurrent disease. A total 24 patients included to this study. Twenty-two patients had GBM, and two patients had WHO grade III glioma. No complete response was observed, five patients (20.8 %) had partial response, nine patients (37.5 %) had stable diseases, and ten patients (41.7 %) had progressive diseases. The overall response rate was 20.8 %. The 6-month PFS rate (PFS6) and median PFS were determined as 37.5 % and 4.1 months, respectively. Median OS was 6.4 months. Performance status of 17 (70.8 %) patients was improved following bevacizumab regimen. Univariate analysis showed that improvement in performance status (IPS) following bevacizumab therapy was a significant predictor of both PFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p < 0.020). Bevacizumab-related adverse effects were observed in 13 (54.1 %) patients. Grade 3-4 toxicity was observed in 4 (16.6 %) patients. Therapy interruptions were experienced in two patients due to adverse effects. Single-agent bevacizumab is an effective and safe treatment alternative in recurrent GBM. IPS following bevacizumab therapy was a significant predictor of both PFS and OS.

We have studied the efficacy of bevacizumab in colorectal cancer with unresectable metastasis patients who had undergone resection of primary tumor. The patients with unresectable metastasis during diagnosis who had undergone resection of primary tumor without chemotherapy and the patients without resection of primary tumor were included. Among patients who had met the inclusion criteria, 46 patients with resection of primary tumor and 47 without resection of primary tumor were included in the study. A total of 93 unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients were included in the study. Median PFS was 9 months (95 % CI 7.37-10.62) in patients with resected primary tumor and bevacizumab containing first-line chemotherapy combination. Median PFS was 10 months (95 % CI 8.06-11.93) in patients without bevacizumab (P = 0.66) Median OS was 25 months (95 % CI 17.92-32.07) in patients with resected primary tumor and bevacizumab containing first-line chemotherapy combination. Median OS was 16 months (95 % CI 9.71-22.28) in patients without bevacizumab (P = 0.36) Median OS was 16 months (95 % CI 13.06-8.939) in patients without resected primary tumor and bevacizumab containing first-line chemotherapy combination. Median OS was 9 months (95 % CI 1.48-16.51) in patients without bevacizumab (P = 0.012). Bevacizumab seems ineffective in mCRC patients with resected primary tumor. An increase in number of retrospective literature data and randomized, prospective studies is required about this subject.