56 research outputs found
Prognostic value of modified Glasgow prognostic score in recurrent high-grade glial tumors treated with systemic treatment
Objectives: Malignant high-grade gliomas are the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), which is combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, in recurrent high-grade glioma patients treated with systemic treatment. Patients and Methods: Data of 85 patients with recurrent high-grade glioma who received systemic treatment and followed in our clinic between 2012 and 2018 was retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients were grouped according to mGPS criteria: mGPS-0: CRP 10 mg/L and albumin 3.5 g/dL or CRP 10 mg/L and albumin > 3.5 g/dL; and mGPS-2: CRP > 10 mg/L and albumin < 3.5 mg/L. We investigated the prognostic role of mGPS groups, mutations and survival outcomes. Results: There were 42 (49.4 %), 25 (29.6 %), and 18 (21 %) patients in mGPS-0, mGPS-1, and mGPS-2 groups, respectively. Median follow-up duration was 10 months (1-70 months). Median OS was 8.1 months. According to mGPS-0,-1 and-2; median OS was 13.8 months, 7.3 months and 3.6 months respectively (p = 0.003). mGPS, ATRX and IDH-1 mutation status, and ECOG PS were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusion: In our study, mGPS was found to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas. If validated, mGPS can be used as an objective, easily calculated, cheap, and readily available prognostic model in routine practice
VEGF-VEGFR pathway seems to be the best target in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: A case series with review of the literature
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumor originating from endothelial cells. Clinical aspect of the disease covers a wide spectrum from a low-grade tumor to a fatal cancer. Most common sites of EHE are reported as lung, liver and bone. Hepatic EHE (HEHE) is a clinical form with an incidence of less than 1 person in a million. Due to rarity of the disease, there is no standard therapy established. Surgery and liver transplantation still seem to be the best approach if possible. However, most of the patients present with unresectable or metastatic disease. Many conventional chemotherapeutic agents and antiangiogenic drugs have been reported previously in the literature with inconsistent outcomes. Here we report 4 cases of HEHE, who benefit distinctly from anti-VEGF treatments in different settings. While combination of paclitaxel and bevacizumab resulted in partial response in 3 patients, one of them also achieved long-term disease stabilization with bevacizumab maintenance with no adverse event. Two of the patients had clear benefit from pazopanib during the course of disease. One patient was treated with thalidomide for 18 months with stable disease, and is still being followed without any treatment. Although targeting VEGF-VEGFR pathway seems to be the best approach in HEHE, randomized studies are urgently needed to support these findings. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
A rare case of gastric cancer with bilateral breast metastasis during pregnancy
Background Gastric cancer is rare during pregnancy and often diagnosed at a later stage due to overlapping symptoms of pregnancy. Breast metastasis of gastric cancer is another uncommon entity. We present a rare case of breast metastasis of gastric cancer during pregnancy. Case report A 26-year-old female was diagnosed with gastric cancer at 14 weeks of gestation and underwent total gastrectomy. She rejected adjuvant chemotherapy and continued pregnancy without any follow-up. Cancer recurred in bilateral breasts at 34th week of gestation mimicking primary inflammatory breast cancer. Management and outcome It was difficult to diagnose breast metastasis during pregnancy because of overlapping pregnancy symptoms. Following an unresponsive period to antibiotherapy, a fine needle biopsy on breast was performed and signet cell adenocarcinoma metastasis was determined. We started chemotherapy after delivery. There was a near complete response after first line of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, cancer was relapsed within three months and we started second-line chemotherapy. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the fourth case reported in medical literature of gastric cancer presented with breast metastasis during pregnancy. We will try to draw attention to diagnosis, treatment and different presentation of gastric cancer during pregnancy with review of the literature
Prognostic factors in early stage lung cancer patients: Retrospective single center data.
QT interval prolongation related to afatinib treatment in a patient with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer
Afatinib improves survival in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer driven by activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. QT interval prolongation is a possible side effect of tar geted anticancer drugs, but this has not been reported before with afatinib. We report a case of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletion who was treated with first-line afatinib. The patient was started on afatinib with a total dose of 40 mg/day and experienced grade 3 (> 500 ms) QT interval prolongation in the seventh week. Dose was interrupted and then reduced to 30 mg/day after the event repeated. QT prolongation occurred only once with the reduced dose and radiologic oligoprogression was detected. Local therapy was performed and afatinib was continued as 30 mg/day. To the best of our knowledge, this case marks the first QT interval prolongation associated with afatinib. It is prudent to perform a baseline cardiologic evaluation and electrocardiogram monitoring in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with this drug. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Theoretical investigation of superconductivity in the non-centrosymmetric SrPtGe3 and CaPtSi3 compounds
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordFirst-principles calculations are made to investigate structural, elastic, electronic, vibrational and electron–phonon interaction properties of non-centrosymmetric superconductors SrPtGe3 and CaPtSi3. Electronic structure calculation results show that the density of states at the Fermi level for both compounds mainly comes from the p electrons of Ge (or Si), which considerably hybridise with Pt d states. The calculated Eliashberg spectral function with and without spin–orbit interaction reveals that while all phonon branches are involved in the process of scattering of electrons near the Fermi level, the average electron–phonon coupling parameter values of 0.47 for SrPtGe3 and 0.49 for CaPtSi3 indicate that these compounds are phonon-mediated BCS-type superconductors with a weak strength. By using a reasonable value of (Formula presented.) = 0.11 for the effective Coulomb repulsion parameter, the superconducting transition temperatures for SrPtGe3 and CaPtSi3 are found to be 1.3 K and 2.4 K, respectively, which compare very well with the corresponding experimental values of 1.0 K and 2.3 K.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırmalar Kurumu-TÜBİTA
Impact of the Charlson Comorbidity Index on dose-limiting toxicity and survival in locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with first-line sunitinib or pazopanib
Background Anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors, sunitinib and pazopanib, have proven efficacy in advanced renal cell carcinoma, with specific adverse events occurring during treatment process. Comorbidities can reflect functional status and have prognostic value in oncology patients. We aimed to assess the association of the Charlson Comorbidity Index with severe toxicities and mortality in renal cell carcinoma cases treated with front-line sunitinib or pazopanib. Methods Files of locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients who received first-line sunitinib or pazopanib were retrospectively examined. Charlson Comorbidity Index of each patient was calculated. Patients were also stratified into Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center risk groups. Predictors of dose-limiting toxicity were evaluated with binomial logistic regression analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were utilized to determine prognostic factors for survival. Results The study included 102 patients, 64 were treated with first-line sunitinib and 38 with pazopanib. In 42 patients (41.9%), Charlson Comorbidity Index was 9 or more. Dose-limiting toxicities were significantly more frequent in Charlson Comorbidity Index >= 9 group (69% vs. 40%, p = 0.004), and Charlson Comorbidity Index independently predicted dose-limiting toxicity (Hazard ratio (HR) = 4.30, p = 0.002). After adjusting for other variables, a Charlson Comorbidity Index of >= 9 is also a significant prognostic factor for progression-free (HR = 1.76, p = 0.02) and overall survival (HR = 1.75, p = 0.03). Conclusions Charlson Comorbidity Index may be a valuable method to estimate prognosis and optimize therapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma receiving first-line sunitinib or pazopanib
The Effect of Grain Growth Temperature on the Trapped Magnetic Field of Y358 Superconductors
In this study, three different Y358 samples were produced by the melt-powder-melt-growth (MPMG) method at different maximum grain growth temperatures of 1030 degrees C, 1040 degrees C, and 1050 degrees C. The differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), magnetic levitation force, trapped magnetic field values and magnetization measurements were performed. According to the results, the highest magnetic levitation force, the highest critical current density and the highest trapped magnetic field values were obtained from the sample produced at the temperature of 1050 degrees C.Turkish Scientific and Research Council (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [117F484]This study was supported by the Turkish Scientific and Research Council (TUBITAK) (research grant 117F484). The author would like to thank PhD student Seyda Duman for her help in the experimental work and Dr. Alev Aydiner for her contribution during the discussions at Karadeniz Technical University.WOS:0005704932000012-s2.0-8509099957
How long should we continue crizotinib in ALK translocation-positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors? Long-term complete response with crizotinib and review of the literature
Introduction: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare disease which is typically seen in children and young adults. Approximately half of the inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors contain translocations that result in over-expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene. Herein, we present two anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive cases with long-term remission with crizotinib. We do not know how long these therapies need to be continued. Case reports: We present two cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor treated with anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor therapies: an 8-year-old Turkish boy and a 21-year-old Caucasian man. Management and outcome: Two cases, both with good tumor control under crizotinib, but one who progressed on drug holiday, responded again to the same drug, and had a very short period of response after restarting crizotinib. Conclusion: A molecular-targeted drug (anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor) was found to be extremely effective as selective therapy for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocation. Here, we want to emphasize the continuation of this treatment after achieving a good response until progression or a major side effect
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