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Background and Objectives: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), particularly the HER2-positive subtype, represents a significant clinical challenge, with approximately 20–25% of breast cancer cases demonstrating HER2 overexpression. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting HER2, has significantly improved outcomes in these patients. However, progression after second-line treatments such as trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) necessitates exploring subsequent therapeutic options. This study aims to compare the efficacy of trastuzumab plus gemcitabine (GT) with lapatinib plus capecitabine (LC) as third-line treatments in HER2-positive MBC post-T-DM1 failure. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 98 HER2-positive MBC patients treated between 2017 and 2023 who progressed after T-DM1. Patients were divided into two groups: 21 received GT, and 28 received LC. Key endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0, with Kaplan–Meier survival curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Median PFS was significantly longer in the GT group (9.5 months) compared to the LC group (4.3 months, p = 0.02). OS was also higher for GT (22.1 months vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.02). ORR favored the GT group (33.3% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.046), and progressive disease was more common in the LC group (57.1% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.022). The safety profile showed higher rates of diarrhea in the LC group, but both regimens were generally well tolerated. Conclusions: Trastuzumab re-challenge with gemcitabine demonstrated superior PFS, OS, and ORR compared to lapatinib plus capecitabine, suggesting it may be a more effective third-line therapy in HER2-positive MBC patients who have progressed after T-DM1. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and optimize treatment sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, predominantly affecting older individuals. Despite the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like nivolumab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the efficacy and safety in elderly patients, particularly those aged 65 and above, remain underexplored due to their underrepresentation in clinical trials. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 60 elderly patients (≥65 years) with metastatic NSCLC who received nivolumab as second-line or later therapy between January 2020 and May 2023. Results: The median age was 67 years, with a predominance of males (78%). Nivolumab was administered for a median of 8 cycles, with 33.3% of patients receiving 15 or more cycles. The median OS was 23 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 93.3, 54.1, and 18.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified adenocarcinoma histology, fewer than 15 cycles of nivolumab, and non-response to prior therapies as independent predictors of poor OS. Nivolumab treatment was generally well-tolerated, with 45% of patients experiencing at least grade 1 toxicity. Conclusions: Nivolumab is effective and well-tolerated in elderly patients with metastatic NSCLC, providing survival benefits comparable to those observed in younger populations. The number of treatment cycles and initial response to therapy are key determinants of survival, underscoring the importance of continued treatment in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgery with proven lymph node metastasis. Methods: Patients who were operated for lung cancer with pN1 or pN2 were examined in the study. The clinicopathological features and survival of the subjects were evaluated according to pN1‐pN2 status, presence of neoadjuvant treatment, Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) avidity on mediastinal lymph nodes and specific lymph node stations. Results: The study examines 100 patients operated from January 2016 to December 2021. Number of cases with pN1 and pN2 disease were 45 (45%) and 55 (55%) respectively. Thirty (30%) patients received neoadjuvant treatment. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) of the patients were computed as 42.5% and 42.4% correspondingly. The 5‐year cancer‐related survival was 55.3%. In pN2 cohort, 5‐year DFS was 67.9% in the neoadjuvant group and 15.9% in the non‐neoadjuvant group (P = 0.042). In non‐neoadjuvant group, 5‐year DFS was 19.9% in cases with mediastinal PET/CT avidity and 56.3% in patients without mediastinal PET/CT avidity (P = 0.018). In pN2 disease, the presence of subcarinal or paratracheal lymph node metastasis did not create a significant difference in 5‐year OS or DFS, but pulmonary ligament lymph node metastasis was found to be linked with worse survival in both 5‐year OS (P = 0.005) and DFS (P = 0.017). Conclusion: The main elements related with poor prognosis were absence of neoadjuvant treatment and pulmonary ligament lymph node metastasis in pN2 disease, detecting PET/CT avid mediastinal lymph nodes in non‐neoadjuvant group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a major global health challenge, with high incidence rates and ongoing treatment debates. Adjuvant chemotherapy benefits for high-risk subgroups, particularly stage II disease, remain controversial. This study seeks to clarify this issue by specifically examining the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with T4 colon cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients undergoing radical surgery for T4 colon cancer between 2002 and 2023. Results: Our study of 184 pT4 pN0 colon cancer patients revealed that 79.3% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significant DFS improvement: a 60% reduction in risk for those who received adjuvant therapy (0.40 95% CI: 0.25–0.62, p < 0.001). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and adjuvant treatment were also significantly associated with OS. Adjuvant treatment reduced mortality by 60% (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.23–0.68, p = 0.001). Patients with LVI had a 1.9-fold increase in mortality (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.17–3.20, p = 0.011). These findings underscore the potential value of adjuvant chemotherapy and highlight the importance of treatment completion in managing T4 colon cancer. Conclusions: Our study identifies LVI and adjuvant chemotherapy as key prognostic factors in T4 colon cancer patients. These results support the consideration of adjuvant chemotherapy in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Spread through air spaces (STAS) is an adverse prognostic factor that has become increasingly known in recent years. This study aims to investigate the impact of STAS presence on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with surgically resected stage IA-IIIA lung cancer and to identify clinicopathological features associated with STAS. Materials and Methods: This research involved 311 lung cancer surgery patients. The relationship between the presence of STAS in the patients' surgical pathology and OS and DFS values was examined. Clinicopathological features associated with the presence of STAS were determined. Results: There were 103 (33%) STAS-positive patients. Adenocarcinoma histological subtype, perineural invasion (PNI), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were significantly correlated with being STAS positive. STAS significantly predicted DFS and OS. One-year and five-year DFS rates were significantly lower in the STAS-positive group compared to the STAS-negative group (65% vs. 88%, 29% vs. 62%, respectively, p ≤ 0.001). Similarly, one-year and five-year OS rates were significantly lower in the STAS-positive group compared to the STAS-negative group (92% vs. 94%, 54% vs. 88%, respectively, p ≤ 0.001). In multivariate analysis, STAS was found to be an independent prognostic factor for both DFS and OS (HR: 3.2 (95%CI: 2.1–4.8) and 3.1 (95%CI: 1.7–5.5), p < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusions: In our study, STAS was found to be an independent prognostic biomarker in operated stage IA-IIIA lung cancer patients. It may be a beneficial pathological biomarker in predicting the survival of patients and managing their treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Based on this study, we define a new biomarker termed lymphocyte-to-albumin ratio (LAR) that may predict the prognosis for patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with immunotherapy. This study aims to determine the relationship of the LA index with patients' survival rate through studying the records of 227 patients who were treated with nivolumab after one or multiple cycles of chemotherapy. Therefore, the results showed that a higher LA index is significantly related to better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Overall, the LA index deserves its merit of being a simple, cost-effective, noninvasive method applicable in NSCLC immunotherapy as a clinically practical tool for predicting treatment outcomes. Objective: Immunotherapies are commonly employed for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, predictive biomarkers still need to be improved to predict responses to these agents. The lymphocyte–albumin (LA) laboratory index has not been evaluated before in this patient group. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between the LA index and the survival rate of metastatic NSCLC patients who had immunotherapy after at least one round of chemotherapy. Methods: The research included 227 patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC, who were administered nivolumab after at least one round of chemotherapy. The LA index was calculated by multiplying lymphocyte count and albumin concentration. The optimal threshold values for the index were established by the examination of the ROC curve for both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Oncological data were obtained retrospectively from patient files, and survival analyses were performed. Results: The median follow-up was 7.9 months. Progression was observed in 129 (56.9%) patients. A total of 97 (42.7%) patients died during the follow-up. The cutoff values of the LA index to predict OS and PFS were determined as 52.87 and 57.67, respectively. The low-LA group had significantly lowered OS and PFS compared to the high-LA group. LA was found to be an independent prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio 4.47; 95% confidence interval, 2.73–7.34; p < 0.001) and OS (hazard ratio 6.24; 95% confidence interval, 3.46–11.25; p < 0.001) in the multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: In this study, we observed that the LA index independently predicts OS and PFS in immunotherapy-treated metastatic NSCLC patients. Its ease of application, low cost, and noninvasive nature make it a potential guide for clinicians in predicting treatment responses and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly malignancy in women. The emergence of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CdK 4/6i) has significantly improved prognosis. Until now, no predictive factor of response to CdK4/6i has been identified. This study investigates the relationship between ABO and Rhesus (D) groups and the therapeutic response to CdK4/6i. Methods: This retrospective study registered records of mBC treated with CdK 4/6i at the Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital. Results: The study comprised 185 metastatic BC patients. During the study period, 32 patients (17.3%) died. The median overall survival (OS) was 18.3 months. The A group had the highest number of deaths (n=16), while the B group had the highest death rate proportionally (23.0%). Interestingly, no deaths were observed in the AB group. Disease progression was observed in 84 patients (45.4%). An analysis of the average progression-free survival (PFS) showed that patients with group O was PFS of 37.8 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 31.0-44.6), group A was 19.7 months (95% CI: 16.6-22.8), group B was 19.6 months (95% CI: 14.3-24.8), and group AB was 14.2 months (95% CI: 28.5-36.8). No statistically significant difference was observed when an OS (p=0.23) and PFS (p=0.138) analysis was performed according to ABO groups. In the univariate analysis, the Rh factor did not serve as a prognostic factor on either PFS or OS. Conclusion: We found no prognostic effect of blood group or Rh status on overall survival and progression-free survival in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment and escape for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has rapidly evolved, particularly with the integration of immune therapies into first-line regimens. However, optimal strategies following progression in first-line immunotherapy remain uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of axitinib and cabozantinib as third-line therapies after progression on nivolumab following first-line VEGF-TKI therapy. Methods: Patients with metastatic RCC who progressed on prior nivolumab treatment after receiving first-line VEGF-TKI therapy were included. Data on patient characteristics, treatment regimens, response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were collected. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes. Results: A total of 46 patients were included who were predominantly male (83%) with clear-cell histology (89%). The median PFS on first-line TKI therapy was 10.2 months. All the patients received nivolumab as a second-line therapy, with a median of 12 cycles. The median second-line PFS was seven months. Third-line therapies included axitinib (24 patients) and cabozantinib (20 patients). The median PFS for axitinib and cabozantinib was six months, with comparable survival outcomes. The IMDC risk group and treatment tolerability were significant predictors of survival in multivariate analysis. Adverse events were manageable, with hypertension, fatigue, and diarrhea being the most common. Conclusion: Axitinib and cabozantinib show promise as third-line therapies post-nivolumab progression in metastatic RCC, though prospective validation is warranted. This study underscores the need for further research to establish treatment standards in this evolving landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is extensively employed in breast cancer (BC), primarily for aggressive subtypes like triple-negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BC and in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/HER2− BC with high-risk features. In ER+/HER2− BC, pathological complete rates are much lower (<10%), while axillary dissection rates are higher. This study focuses on hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2− BC patients undergoing NAC, examining its impact on pathological complete response (pCR) rates, with specific attention to tumor Ki67 and ER status. Methods: Retrospective data analysis from Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital included HR+/HER2− BC patients who received NAC. Clinicopathological factors, NAC response, and surgical outcomes were assessed. Statistical analyses evaluated the association between Ki67, ER status, and pCR. Results: Of 203 patients, 11.8% achieved pCR. Ki67 (p < 0.001) and ER percentage (p < 0.001) significantly correlated with pCR. Higher Ki67 was associated with increased pCR likelihood (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05). A Ki67-pCR probability curve revealed a cutoff of 23.5%. ER%-pCR analysis showed decreasing pCR rates with higher ER percentages. Multivariate analysis confirmed Ki67 (p = 0.003, HR: 1.02) and ER percentage (p = 0.019, HR: 0.97) as independent predictors of pCR probability. Conclusion: Consideration of Ki67 and ER percentage aids in NAC decisions for HR+/HER2− BC, identifying patients with high NAC response rates, facilitating axillary preservation, and potentially avoiding axillary dissection. The pCR rates in patients with Ki67 ≤24 are particularly low, especially in patients with a high ER percentage. In these cases, upfront surgery and adjuvant treatment should be considered instead of NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive, hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) usually undergo trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) therapy in subsequent lines. Combining endocrine therapy (ET) with T-DM1 can improve treatment outcomes in this subtype. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the benefits of using T-DM1 with ET in HER2-positive and HR-positive MBC. This study was the first to investigate the benefits of combining ET with T-DM1. Material and Methods: This study analyzed the medical records of patients with HER2-positive and HR-positive MBC who were treated with T-DM1 from June 2010 to December 2021. The patients were divided into groups based on whether they received concomitant ET with T-DM1. The primary endpoint was to determine the progression-free survival (PFS), while the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate, and safety of the treatment. Results: Our analysis examined 88 patients, of whom 32 (36.4%) were treated with T-DM1 in combination with ET. The combination therapy showed a significant improvement in median PFS (15.4 vs. 6.4 months; p = 0.00004) and median OS (35.0 vs. 23.1 months; p = 0.026) compared to T-DM1 alone. The ORR was also higher in the combination group (65.6% vs. 29.3%; p = 0.026). Patients treated with pertuzumab priorly had reduced median PFS on T-DM1 compared to those who were not treated with pertuzumab (11.7 vs. 5.4 months, respectively; p < 0.01). T-DM1 demonstrated better median PFS in HER2 3+ patients compared to HER2 2+ patients, with an amplification ratio of >2.0 (10.8 vs 5.8 months, respectively; p = 0.049). The safety profiles were consistent with previous T-DM1 studies. Conclusions: The combination of T-DM1 with ET can significantly improve PFS and OS in patients with HER2-positive and HR-positive MBC. Our study suggests that prior pertuzumab treatment plus trastuzumab treatment might decrease T-DM1 efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Objectives: This investigation aimed to determine the impacts of concurrent proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer managed with palbociclib or ribociclib as either the initial or subsequent line of therapy option. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, patients were classified as "concurrent PPIs" if PPIs were given for at least two-thirds of the palbociclib or ribociclib therapy period, and "no concurrent PPIs" if no PPIs were given during the period of palbociclib or ribociclib therapy. Each patient was also classified as endocrine-sensitive or endocrine-resistant according to the duration of previous endocrine responses. "Concurrent PPIs" and "no concurrent PPIs" groups were compared with each other in terms of PFS. This comparison was performed for both ribociclib and palbociclib groups. Results: The research included 220 patients in total. The PFS of 57 patients on palbociclib using concomitant PPIs was 14.4 months. Among 63 patients using palbociclib without concomitant PPIs, the PFS was 15.8 months. No statistically significant difference was found with PPI use (p = 0.82). Among 29 patients using ribociclib concurrently with PPIs, the PFS was 22.4 months. Among 71 patients using ribociclib without PPIs, the PFS was 20.2 months. No statistically significant difference was found with PPI use (p = 0.40). Conclusion: The results of our investigation showed that concomitant use of the most commonly used PPIs in the study (lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole) with palbociclib or ribociclib did not have any detrimental effects on PFS. Where appropriate, PPIs can be used concurrently with palbociclib and ribociclib. However, the effect of PPIs on cycling-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors deserves further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the importance of FDG PET/CT in predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) in primary breast lesions and axillary lymph nodes of patients with local, advanced breast cancer who were given neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: One hundred twenty-one patients who had FDG PET/CT and underwent surgery due to local, advanced breast cancer before and after NAC were involved in the study. SUVmax and SULpeak values before and after NAC were evaluated using FDG PET/CT and post-surgical responses were re-evaluated. Results: Our study included 121 patients in total and 34 patients (28.1%) had a complete response in the breast, and 53 patients (43.8%) had a complete response in axillary lymph nodes. PostSUVmax and PostSULpeak values ≤1.15 and the activity presenting the pCR were controlled and the sensitivity and specificity were found as 61.8% and 61.8%, and 73.3% and 77.0%, respectively, for the breast (p<0.001 and p<0.001). The reduction rate (RR) of SUVmax >88% and the SULpeak (RR) >81% values and the activity presenting the pCR were controlled and the sensitivity and specificity were found as 80.0% and 81.8%, and 80.0% and 60.7%, respectively, for the breast (p<0.001 and p<0.001). Conclusion: The decrease of SUVmax and SULpeak values detected between PET/CT studies before and after NAC were well correlated with the pathologic response. FDG-PET/CT has high sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of treatment response rates in breast lesions of patients with breast cancer receiving NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to determine the COVID-19 infection rate and determine the factors that affect hospitalization and prognosis in patients receiving systemic chemotherapy (CT), immunotherapy (IT) and molecular-targeted therapies at our hospital within three months after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: The patients who received systemic treatment at chemotherapy unit with diagnosis of cancer between 11 March 2020 and 11 June 2020 were included. The clinical and demographic characteristics of patients, the systemic treatments that they received (CT, IT, targeted therapies), and the stage of disease were determined. For the parameters that affect the hospitalization of COVID-19 infected patients were also determined. Results: Among 1149 patients with cancer, 84 of them were infected with COVID-19, and the median age of infected patients was 61.0 (IQR: 21–84) and 60.7% of them were male. As a subtype of cancers lung cancer was more frequent in the patients who infected with COVID compared with non-infected ones and the difference was statistically significant when the underlying malignities were compared (32.1% vs 19.0%, p = 0.031). The hospitalization rate and receiving COVID-19 treatment were more frequent in metastatic patients who were receiving palliative therapy, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01, p = 0.03). In our study, infection rate was similar among patients treated with CT, IT and CT plus targeted therapy; however, fewer COVID-19 infections were seen at patients who received only targeted therapy. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is more frequent in cancer patients and tends to be more severe in metastatic cancer patients receiving anticancer treatment, and the continuation of palliative cancer treatments in these patients may cause increased cancer and infection-related morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines the cytotoxic activity of emtansine with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-targeted antitumor features of trastuzumab. Objective: We conducted a study of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab emtansine. By evaluating progression-free survival, overall survival, and response rates, we aimed to find prognostic factors of trastuzumab emtansine treatment. Methods: Our study is a single-center, retrospective, observational study. We have clinical data from 78 patients treated with trastuzumab emtansine for metastatic breast cancer, from May 2016 through May 2019, at Kartal Dr Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Medical Oncology Department. Our objective is to assess the survival and response rates in trastuzumab emtansine-treated individuals and the factors associated with survival. The factors we analyzed were cancer antigen 15-3 sensitivity, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status, presence or absence of visceral metastases, presence or absence of cranial metastases, and treatment-associated thrombocytopenia. Results: Among 78 patients, median progression-free survival was 7.8 months, and overall survival was 21.1 months. Twenty of the patients had an objective tumor response. The results showed that trastuzumab emtansine was tolerable with a manageable safety profile and consistent with the results of the previous literature. Mostly seen adverse events were anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status = 2 had worse progression-free survival and overall survival compared to ones with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status < 2; progression-free survival and overall survival are worse in cancer antigen 15-3-sensitive breast cancer patients. According to our findings, treatment-associated thrombocytopenia was a significant prognostic factor for survival. Patients with thrombocytopenia had 12 months progression-free survival, whereas patients without thrombocytopenia had only 4.1 months progression-free survival. In like manner, overall survival was much better in the thrombocytopenia-experienced patients as 29.5 versus 11.8 months. Conclusions: Trastuzumab emtansine prolongs progression-free survival and overall survival with a manageable safety profile. Thrombocytopenia, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status, and cancer antigen 15-3 are correlated with progression-free survival and/or overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction We investigated the impact of modern chemotherapy regimens and bevacizumab following pulmonary metastasectomy ( PM) from metastatic colorectal cancer ( CRC). Methods A total of 122 consecutive patients who were curatively resected for pulmonary metastases of CRC in twelve oncology centers were retrospectively analysed between January 2000 and April 2012. Results Of 122 patients, 14 did not receive any treatment following PM. The remaining 108 patients received fluoropyrimidine-based ( n = 12), irinotecan-based ( n = 56) and oxaliplatin-based ( n = 40) chemotherapy combinations. Among these, 52 patients received bevacizumab ( BEV) while 56 did not ( NoBEV). Median recurrence-free survival ( RFS) was 17 months and median overall survival ( OS) has not been reached at a median follow-up of 25 months after PM. Three and five-year OS rates were 66% and 53%, respectively. RFS and OS were similar, irrespective of the chemotherapy regimen or BEV use. Positive pulmonary margin, KRAS mutation status, and previous liver metastasectomy were negative independent prognostic factors for RFS, while pathologically confirmed thoracic lymph node involvement was the only negative independent prognostic for OS in multivariate analysis. Conclusions No significant RFS or OS difference was observed in respect to chemotherapy regimens with or without BEV in patients with pulmonary metastases of CRC following curative resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung is classified as a variant of large cell lung carcinoma by the World Health Organization, however, the clinical and biological behavior of LCNEC resembles small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) with a high mitotic index and a positivity of tumor cells with neuroendocrine markers. As there have only been a small number of patients with LCNEC recorded in literature, there is no consensus about the management of this subset. In the present study, we evaluated the incidence and prognosis of LCNEC in four oncology centers in Turkey. Method: We analyzed 24 patients with diagnoses of LCNEC from 3138 non-small cell lung cancer patients who were diagnosed and treated between 2008 and 2010 in four different medical oncology centers in Turkey. Results: The median age was 56 (range; 36-64) and most patients were male, with three women included in the study. Ten out of 24 patients (41.6%) had locally advanced or metastatic disease, therefore, surgery could not be performed. Five patients (20.8%) were staged with stage I, six (25%) with stage II, five (20.8%) with stage III, and eight (33.3%) with stage IV. All patients had a history of smoking. Nine patients received chemotherapy postoperatively. At the 14.4-month follow-up period (range; 3-59) the median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 32.7 and 9.5 months respectively. Tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage, performance status (PS) and the performance of surgery were significantly related to rates of both OS and PFS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: LCNEC was generally diagnosed postoperatively. Prognosis of LCNEC is poor and surgery has not proven an effective solution for long-term survival, therefore, adjuvant chemotherapy has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to investigate the impact of adjuvant systemic therapy with modern chemotherapy combinations on survival outcomes in patients with resected liver-confined metastases from colorectal carcinomas, and whether addition of bevacizumab (BEV) provides further benefit. Methods: A total of 229 consecutive patients who underwent resection for liver-confined colorectal liver metastases were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of 229 patients, 204 who received chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidine-based (n = 27), irinotecan-based (n = 84) and oxaliplatin-based (n = 93) combinations were analyzed. Among these, 87 patients received BEV while 117 did not (NoBEV). With a median follow-up of 27 months after metastasectomy, the median recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 17 and 53 months, respectively. OS rates at 3 and 5 years were 71% and 40%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the median RFS (p = 0.744) and OS (p = 0.440) among different chemotherapy regimens. The median RFS (p = 0.375) and OS (p = 0.251) were similar in BEV and NoBEV arms. In multivariate analysis, having 4 liver metastases was the only negative independent factor on both RFS and OS, while positive surgical margin was another negative independent factor for RFS. Conclusion: Chemotherapy type and addition of BEV have no impact on both RFS and OS in the adjuvant setting following complete resection of colorectal liver metastases. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous metastases from primary genitourinary malignancies are rare and, like all metastases, have a poor prognosis. Very few cases of skin metastases from urothelial carcinoma have been reported in the past and most of them were treated with chemotherapy. Here we present a case of cutaneous metastases from a primary bladder transitional cell carcinoma who was admitted to our clinic with pain and bleeding of the lesion on the dorsum of the hand which did not respond to chemotherapy and was treated with palliative radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dasatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor which is used for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Dasatinib can cause fluid retention in some patients, leading to peripheral edema and pleural effusion. Recognition of these symptoms as a potential complication of dasatinib will help prevent unnecessary investigations and facilitate adequate management. We report a patient with blastic phase CML. In patients with advanced phase CML an initial dose of dasatinib is recommended as 70 mg twice daily. We observed that 100 mg once daily dose of dasatinib could control the blastic phase of CML with less toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant health concern, particularly in advanced stages where the prognosis is poor. The combination of endocrine therapy (ET) with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) has improved outcomes for advanced BC (aBC) patients. However, resistance to CDK4/6i remains a challenge, with no validated biomarkers to predict response. The receptor activator of the nuclear factor-kB (RANK) pathway has emerged as a key player in aBC, particularly in luminal BC. RANK overexpression has been associated with aggressive phenotypes and resistance to therapy. In view of these findings, we proceeded to investigate the potential involvement of the RANK pathway in luminal BC resistance to CDK4/6i. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of denosumab in increasing overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)., Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 158 BC patients with bone metastases were included. Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative and hormone receptor-positive BC who received palbociclib or ribociclib in addition to antiresorptive medication were included. Patients received either denosumab or zoledronic acid (ZA) therapy. The primary endpoint was OS, with PFS as a secondary endpoint., Results: Although the PFS and OS of denosumab were better than ZA in this study, it did not show a significant difference between the two drugs. Meanwhile, mOS was not achievable in patients in the denosumab group, while it was 34.1 months in patients in the ZA group. The hazard ratio (HR) showed a significant improvement for the denosumab group in patients under 60 of age (HR: 0.33, p<0.01), patients with a score of 1 HER2 overexpression (HR: 0.09, p=0.01), and patients with resistant endocrine (HR: 0.42, p=0.02) compared to ZA., Conclusion: This study highlights the potential clinical relevance of the RANK pathway in BC treatment, and our findings suggest that denosumab may offer significant benefits in terms of PFS and OS for certain subgroups, particularly those with HER2 scores of 1, patients under 60, and those with endocrine-resistant BC. In conclusion, considering that RANK pathway status may be a predictive biomarker for CDK4/6i treatment and may cause treatment resistance, our results demonstrate the clinical relevance of the combination of CDK4/6i + ET with RANKL inhibition., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Review Board of Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar City Hospital issued approval 2023/514/250/2. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Akdag et al.)

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze prognostic factors for survival and the reliability and the effectiveness of eribulin therapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients., Methods: A total of 80 patients treated with eribulin in 12 medical oncology centers in Turkey between 2013-2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Sixteen potential prognostic variables were assessed for analysis., Results: The patients had received a median of 5 prior chemotherapy regimens and a median of 3 eribulin cycles for MBC. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% Cl: 4.1-7.8) and median overall survival (OS) was 11 months (95 % Cl: 6-15). Multivariate analysis showed that eribulin treatment line was shown to have independent prognostic significance for PFS. PFS difference was demostrated in patients who received 3 chemotherapy lines for advanced disease compared to those who had more than 3 chemotherapy lines [median PFS; 3 lines: 8.6 months (6.2-11) and ˃3 lines: 4.6 months (3.7-4.6) p=0.00]. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 52.5 and 35% in patients treated with three lines and with ˃3 previous chemotherapeutic regimens. Most common toxicities were neutropenia (62.5%), fatigue (52.5%), alopecia (50%) and nausea (37.5%)., Conclusions: Eribulin treatment line was identified as indepedent prognostic factor for PFS in MBC patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze prognostic factors for survival and the reliability and the effectiveness of eribulin therapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients., Methods: A total of 80 patients treated with eribulin in 12 medical oncology centers in Turkey between 2013-2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Sixteen potential prognostic variables were assessed for analysis., Results: The patients had received a median of 5 prior chemotherapy regimens and a median of 3 eribulin cycles for MBC. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% Cl: 4.1-7.8) and median overall survival (OS) was 11 months (95 % Cl: 6-15). Multivariate analysis showed that eribulin treatment line was shown to have independent prognostic significance for PFS. PFS difference was demostrated in patients who received 3 chemotherapy lines for advanced disease compared to those who had more than 3 chemotherapy lines [median PFS; 3 lines: 8.6 months (6.2-11) and ˃3 lines: 4.6 months (3.7-4.6) p=0.00]. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 52.5 and 35% in patients treated with three lines and with ˃3 previous chemotherapeutic regimens. Most common toxicities were neutropenia (62.5%), fatigue (52.5%), alopecia (50%) and nausea (37.5%)., Conclusions: Eribulin treatment line was identified as indepedent prognostic factor for PFS in MBC patients.