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Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal cetuximab administration on the healing of anastomosis and development of early adhesion formation in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four female rats were used. A colon segment was resected and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The rats were randomized into three groups after the performance of colonic anastomosis and received 10 mL of intraperitoneal solution including study drugs after closure of abdominal cavity: normal saline was administered to the normal saline group (n=8), cetuximab (400 mg/m2) was administered to the postoperative 1 group (n=8) 1 day after surgery, and cetuximab (400 mg/m2) was administered to the peroperative group (n=8) during surgery. Results: The mean adhesion grade was 2.63±0.92, and 0.50±0.76 and 0.63±0.74 for control and test groups, respectively. Cetuximab reduced adhesion formation in test groups (p<0.05). When all groups were compared, it was found that vascular endothelial growth factor levels decreased significantly only in the abdomen (p<0.05). Hydroxyproline levels and anastomosis bursting pressure were examined, and a statistical difference was found between groups (hydroxyproline p<0.05, bursting pressure p<0.05). However, when postoperative 1 day group was compared with the control group, it was found that there was no difference between groups according to these parameters (p>0.05), but when peroperative group was compared with the control group a significant decrease was observed in both parameters. Histopathological healing score was also evaluated. No statistical difference between groups was found. Conclusion: Twenty-four hours later from the operation, intraperitoneal cetuximab therapy may be a safe and feasible treatment for metastatic colorectal patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Angiogenesis has an important role in metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the angiogenic factors that has the ability to increase the permeability of capillary blood vessels. Its mitogenic and angiogenic activities are specific for endothelial cells. VEGF was secreted both from normal and tumor cells. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the main types of lung cancer that grows and spreads quickly. In this study, we investigated VEGF and its receptors VEGFR-1 (fms-related tyrosine kinase/FLT- 1) and VEGFR-2 (kinase insert domain receptor/KDR) in SCLC. METHODS Our study group consisted of 60 SCLC patients and 20 healthy subjects. The serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Serum levels of VEGF (p<0.001) and its receptors (p<0.001) were significantly higher in patients than controls before chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that coexpression of serum levels of VEGF and its receptors can be used for deciding the antiangiogenic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]