The effect of demographic and clinical data on anxiety and depression levels in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of sociodemographic and clinical data on depression and anxiety levels in patients who undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 111 patients with breast cancer treated in the Radiation Oncology Department of Kayseri City Education and Research Hospital were included in this study. The study was planned prospectively as a survey research based study. Ethics committee approval was obtained. After obtaining the necessary consent for voluntary participation, patients were interviewed face-to-face. The research survey included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as demographic and clinical information. Statistical analysis was performed with the collected data. RESULTS: According to the results of repeated measures analysis of variance, the mean difference between the 3-month and 6-month measurements of the depression scale values on the first day of radiotherapy was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Mean differences were statistically notable for age and marital status variables in anxiety and for age, education level, marital status, employment status, family history of cancer, menopause, surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy variables in depression. When the change in the presence (> 10 depression scale) or absence (< 10 depression scale) of depression at three different times of radiotherapy (first day, 3 and 6 months) was examined, a statistically notable difference was found between the depression scale values of patients receiving radiotherapy on the first day, 3 months after radiotherapy and 6 months after radiotherapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, the psychological health of women with breast cancer was affected during and after radiotherapy. As a response, psychiatric counseling should be considered as a part of the treatment for depression and anxiety that occur during and after treatment in breast cancer patients.

Use of botulinum toxin in the management of radiotherapy side effects.

BACKGROUND: Many experimental and clinical studies are conducted to investigate the effects of various applications of botulinum toxin (BTx) in the treatment of radiation related side effects. There are no studies that show clear results about the positive and negative effects of its active clinical use in the long run, and discussions are ongoing. In addition, there is a need for various researches about how BTx can be used and how long it can be used, and the side effects it may cause. BTx-A, which is one of the options in the treatment of side effects that will occur due to radiotherapy, is an effective and safe option. Applying BTx injection to the right place with specific injection methods increases the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. PURPOSE: It has been investigated whether BTx will be a potential tool to perfect the esthetic and functional results in reducing the chronic side effects associated with radiotherapy.

Curcumins antineoplastic, radiosensitizing and radioprotective properties.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin is an ingredient in the turmeric plant that gives yellow color to dishes and is used as a spice. It has been used locally/topically and systemically in the treatment of diseases in Far Eastern societies, especially in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. Curcumin is a natural substance that does not show toxic properties in overdose. In addition to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-neoplastic, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-angiogenic properties, platelet aggregation, apoptosis, and wound healing have been demonstrated in different studies. In recent years, it has been used as a radiosensitizing agent and a radioprotector in radiation therapy. Although curcumin has low bio-availability, it seems to be the ideal molecule due to its low molecular weight, high activity in inhibiting the growth of tumor cells and protecting normal tissues from the side effects of radiation. PURPOSE: Curcumin in combination with radiotherapy was discussed in the light of the literature.

The place and importance of hyaluronic acid in radiotherapy side effects.

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the largest and most important components of the extracellular matrix. It is found in high amounts in the vitreous humor, umbilical cord, dermis, synovial fluid and heart valves. Up to 80-90% of the circulating HA undergoes catabolism in the liver and 10% is eliminated by the kidney. It is widely used in many branches of medicine. Studies have demonstrated that it provides angiogenic and anti-adhesive effect, collagen storage, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, balancing osmotic pressure, removing waste, balancing the distribution of high molecular weight proteins and increasing angiogenesis; it has inflammatory effect, provides wound healing and immunostimulators. Along with its basic features, it can undertake different tasks according to the tissue it is in and the cell type it is secreted from. Neither contraindications nor interactions with drugs have been reported to date. When the literature is reviewed, HA appears to be an effective and safe option in the treatment of acute and chronic side effects that will occur or occur due to radiotherapy. However, there is a need for researches on how HA can be used and how long it can be used. PURPOSE: In this review, the data about whether HA is effective in reducing acute and chronic side effects caused by radiotherapy were discussed in the light of the literature.

Effects of hormonotherapy administered after concurrent radiotherapy and Trastuzumab on pulmonary fibrosis.

AIM: This study was to investigate whether the use of hormonotherapy after concurrent radiotherapy (RT) and trastuzumab (T) has a contribution to the development of radiation fibrosis in the lungs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy Wistar Albino rats were divided into seven groups as follows: Group C: control, Group RT: RT only; Group T: trastuzumab only; Group RT+T+Tam: tamoxifen following concurrent RT and trastuzumab; Group RT+T+Le: letrozole following concurrent RT and trastuzumab; Group RT+T+An: anastrazole following concurrent RT and trastuzumab; Group RT+T+Exe: exemestane following concurrent RT and trastuzumab. Trastuzumab was prepared at an equivalent dose of 6 mg/kg. RT was administered 2 hours after T to the thoracic region at a dose of 12 Gy. Hormonotherapy was initiated one week after RT and administered by oral gavage once daily for 6 months. At the end of 24 weeks, the rats were sacrificed after being sedated with anesthesia. Both lungs were removed en bloc and blocked in paraffin. The level of fibrosis in each cross-section was assessed with the help of a scale. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of pulmonary fibrosis scoring. Statistically significant differences were observed when the radiotherapy group was compared to the C, T, T+RT+An, T+RT+Le and T+RT+Exe groups (p<0.05). Significant differences were found between the T+RT+Tam group and the C, T, T+RT+An, T+RT+Le and T+RT+Exe groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the sequential administration of aromatase inhibitors following concurrent thoracic irradiation and T decreases radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, tamoxifen was found to have an opposite effect.

Post-operative sequential chemo-radiotherapy in high-grade cerebral gliomas with fotemustine.

High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Twenty-seven patients with histopathologically proven anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled in this study from November 1998 to August 2002. Radiotherapy was administered after surgery and fotemustine (100 mg/m2) was sequentially administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Overall, 111 cycles were administered to the 27 patients (median, 5 cycles; range, 1 to 6 cycles). Myelosuppression was mild to moderate. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 11+/-3.1 months (95%CI, 4.9-17.1) and 8+/-0.5 months (95%CI 7.1-8.9), respectively. One-year and two-year survivals were calculated at 48% and 7%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors (P<0.05) via univariate analysis were divided into two groups: completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus incompletion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. This trial demonstrates that postoperative radiotherapy and sequential fotemustine therapy is feasible, well tolerated, and may prolong survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.