El índice nutricional pronóstico como factor pronóstico independiente para la respuesta al tratamiento, la supervivencia y la elección del fármaco en el cáncer de próstata metastásico resistente a la castración tratado con acetato de abiraterona o enzalutamida / Prognostic nutritional index is an independent prognostic factor for treatment response, survival and drug choice in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide

Objetivo El objetivo del presente artículo fue identificar el valor pronóstico del índice nutricional pronóstico (INP) basal en pacientes con cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración metastásico (CPRCm) tratados con acetato de abiraterona o enzalutamida. Métodos Se incluyeron 101 pacientes de CPRCm. El INP se calculó mediante la fórmula 10×valor de albúmina sérica (g/dl)+0,005×recuento total de linfocitos (mm3). Se utilizó el análisis ROC para determinar el valor pronóstico del INP. Resultados El valor de corte estadísticamente significativo para el INP fue 46,62. La respuesta inicial del PSA y la cinética del PSA (respuesta precoz por PSA y respuesta por PSA del 30-50-90% en cualquier momento) fueron mucho mejores en el grupo INP>46,62 que en el grupo INP≤46,62 (p<0,01). En el análisis multivariante, el INP basal >46,62 fue un predictor independiente de la SLP por PSA (HR: 0,42; p<0,01), la SLP radiológica (HR: 0,53; p<0,01) y la SG (HR: 0,42; p<0,01). En el grupo de INP≤46,62, la mediana de la SG fue de 7,4 meses (IC 95%: 4,1-10,7) para el subgrupo de acetato de abiraterona frente a 17,6 meses (IC 95%: 10,1-25,1) para los subgrupos de enzalutamida (p<0,01). Conclusión El INP es un marcador pronóstico útil e independiente para los pacientes con CPRCm tratados con acetato de abiraterona o enzalutamida. El uso del INP previo al tratamiento puede ayudar a los médicos en la predicción de la supervivencia y en la elección de acetato de abiraterona o enzalutamida (AU)

Purpose We designed this study to identify the prognostic value of baseline prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide. Methods One hundred one mCRPC patients were included. PNI was calculated using formula 10 × serum albumin value (g/dl)+.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3). ROC analysis was used for determining prognostic PNI value. Results The statistically significant cut-off value for PNI was 46.62. Initial PSA response and PSA kinetics (early PSA response and 30-50%-90% PSA response at any time) were much better in PNI>46.62 group than the PNI ≤46.62 group (P<.01). In multivariate analysis, baseline PNI level >46.62 was an independent predictor of PSA-PFS (HR: .42; P<.01), radiologic PFS (HR: .53; P<.01), and OS (HR: .42; P<.01). In the PNI≤46.62 group, median OS was 7.4 months (95% CI: 4.1-10.7) for the abiraterone acetate subgroup vs. 17.6 months (95% CI: 10.1-25.1) for enzalutamide subgroups (P<.01). Conclusion PNI is a useful, independent prognostic marker for mCRPC patients treated with either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide. Using pre-treatment PNI may help clinicians in the prediction of survival and decision making based on abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide (AU)

Prognostic nutritional index is an independent prognostic factor for treatment response, survival and drug choice in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide.

PURPOSE: We designed this study to identify the prognostic value of baseline prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide. METHODS: 101 mCRPC patients were included. PNI was calculated using formula 10 x serum albumin value (gr/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3). ROC analysis was used for determining prognostic PNI value. RESULTS: The statistically significant cut-off value for PNI was 46.62. Initial PSA response and PSA kinetics (early PSA response and 30 %-50%-90% PSA response at any time) were much better in PNI > 46.62 group than the PNI ≤ 46.62 group (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, baseline PNI level >46.62 was an independent predictor of PSA-PFS (HR: 0.42, p < 0.01), radiologic PFS (HR: 0.53, p < 0.01), and OS (HR: 0.42, p < 0.01). In the PNI ≤ 46.62 group, median OS was 7.4 months (95% CI: 4.1-10.7) for the abiraterone acetate subgroup vs. 17.6 months (95% CI: 10.1-25.1) for enzalutamide subgroups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PNI is a useful, independent prognostic marker for mCRPC patients treated with either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide. Using pre-treatment PNI may help clinicians in the prediction of survival and decision making based on abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide.

Investigation of The Relationship of TNFRSF11A Gene Polymorphisms with Breast Cancer Development and Metastasis Risk in Patients with BRCA1 Or BRCA2 Pathogenic Variants Living in The Trakya Region of Turkey.

Modifying genes play an exclusive role in the genetic regulation of the risk of breast cancer development in women with a pathogenic variation of BRCA1 or BRCA2. Therefore, it has been suggested that TNFRSF11A, which is among those modifying genes present in breast cancer development, may have a significant role in patients with positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 variations. In our study, we investigated the probable effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNFRSF11A gene, such as rs4485469, rs9646629, rs34739845, rs17069904, rs 884205, rs4941129 on the risk of breast cancer in patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 variations. A total of 23 breast cancer patients with pathogenic variations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, 28 patients with no pathogenic variations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, and 55 healthy women as a control group, were included in this study. The SNPs were determined with allelic discrimination analysis through the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. There was no statistically significant difference between the SNPs of the TNFRSF11A gene rs4485469, rs9646629, rs34739845, rs17069904, rs884205, rs4941129 and metastasis, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and CerB2 receptor positivity between patient and control group (p >0.05). However, the rs4485469 SNP was found to be borderline significant between the patient groups with and without BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations (p = 0.059). In patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variations living in the Trakya region of Turkey, we could not determine the relationship between TNFRSF11 SNPs with breast cancer risk.

Relation between sarcopenia and dose-limiting toxicity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received regorafenib.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is related to poor prognosis and drug toxicities in solid tumors. The aim of our study is to investigate the predisposition of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who started regorafenib treatment to sarcopenia and prolonged survival. METHODS: Patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who receives regorafenib were search retrospectively. Dose-limiting toxicity was defined as dose reduction or toxicity requiring drug withdrawal. Sarcopenia evaluation was made with computed tomography performed within a month before treatment. Progression-free survival and overall survival were estimated. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were found as suitable for the study. 63.9% of patients were found as basally sarcopenic. Dose-limiting toxicity occured 13 of 23 patients (56.5%) with basal sarcopenia, whereas only 1 of 13 patients (7.6%) with no sarcopenia exhibited dose-limiting toxicity (p = 0.005). Three patients suffered from grade 3-4 toxicity. Hand-foot syndrome, hypertension, and mucosal rash were the most seen side effects. Mean regorafenib treatment duration was 3.36 months. There was no significant difference in the progression-free survival (PFS) and the overall survival (OS) between sarcopenic patients and patients with no sarcopenia. Durations were as OS 24.2 weeks in patients with sarcopenia (95% CI 16.7-31.7), 28.1 weeks in patients with no sarcopenia (95% CI 20.5-35.7) (p = 0.36), and as PFS 14.2 weeks in patients with sarcopenia (95% CI 12.1-16.4), 14.8 weeks in patients with no sarcopenia (95% CI 9.7-20.1) (p = 0.65). CONCLUSION: Dose-limiting toxicity was significantly higher in basally sarcopenic patients who were started regorafenib as treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. There was no significant relationship between overall survival and progression-free survival with sarcopenia.

Skeletal muscle loss during anti-EGFR combined chemotherapy regimens predicts poor prognosis in patients with RAS wild metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess whether anti-EGFR combined chemotherapy regimens are related with loss of skeletal muscle mass and to compare cetuximab and panitumumab therapies in the aspect of skeletal muscle area change as well as to assess whether skeletal muscle mass loss has prognostic significance in the RAS wild mCRC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 patients (30 patients in cetuximab arm and 26 patients in panitumumab) who had computed tomography images were retrospectively evaluated at the diagnosis and follow up during the treatment period before progression. RESULTS: During treatment period 24 patients (42.8%) had muscle loss. Of these, 7 (29.2%) patients were treated at first-line and 17 (70.8%) patients were treated at second-line setting. There was no significant difference in the aspect of skeletal muscle loss among cetuximab and panitumumab combined treatment regimens. Median PFS was 9.1 (8.6-9.6) months in muscle loss group and 13.9 (7.2-20.6) months in muscle stable group (p = 0.001). Median OS was 23.4 (95% CI 15.8-31.0) months in muscle stable group and 19.1 (95% CI 17.0-21.3) months in muscle loss group (p = 0.57) at first-line setting. For second-line, median OS was 21.2 (14.7-27.7) months in muscle stable group and 14.4 (6.0-22.4) months in muscle loss group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in skeletal muscle mass before progression on CT imaging is an independent indicator for shorter PFS value in RAS WT mCRC patients who received anti-EGFR combined chemotherapy regimens at both the first and second-line settings. Beside that shorter overall survival values also were significantly seen in patients who had muscle loss during anti-EGFR therapy in the second-line setting.

Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and taxane-based treatment for visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve breast cancer: real-life practice outcomes.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to describe the real-life practice outcomes of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane (PTT) combination in visceral organ metastatic, trastuzumab-naive breast cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: This study was conducted by Turkish Oncology Group and included 317 patients' data from 36 centers. RESULTS: Median age was 51 (22-82). Median PFS was 28.5 months, while median OS was 40.3 months. Patients with brain metastases (n: 13, 4.1%) had worse PFS (16.8 m vs. 28.5 m; p = 0.002) and OS (26.7 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.009). Patients older than 65 years of age (n: 42, 13.2%) had significantly lower OS results (19.8 m vs. 40.3 m; p = 0.01). Two hundred sixty-eight patients (86.7%) received docetaxel while 37 patients (11.7%) received paclitaxel. PFS and OS were similar between taxane groups. In eight patients (2.5%), 5-40% ejection fraction decrement from baseline was detected without any clinical sign of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Our RLP trial included only visceral metastatic, trastuzumab-naïve BC patients including cases with brain involvement who received PTT combination in the first-line treatment. Regardless of negative prognostic characteristics, our results are in parallel with pivotal trial. Further strategies for brain metastasis should be developed to improve outcomes despite encouraging results with PTT treatment. Taxane selection can be personalized and endocrine maintenance may further improve outcomes after taxanes were discontinued. To our knowledge, this is the largest scale real-life clinical practice study of pertuzumab-trastuzumab-taxane therapy to date.

The access rate to diagnosis and treatment modalities in breast cancer patients in Turkey; multicenter observational study.

PURPOSE: To determine the time elapsed between the first notification of the disease and the access to the diagnosis and treatment modalities and the associated factors in female patients with breast cancer in Turkey. METHODS: Data was acquired from a questionnaire involving 535 patients who applied to 14 various oncology clinics in Turkey between 1st and 28th of February 2010. Analyses were performed by the participating clinics and were divided into 3 groups: centers located in metropolitan areas formed group 1 (n=161), those located in Marmara and central Anatolia region formed group 2 (n=189), and centers located in Karadeniz and East-Southeast Anatolia region formed group 3 (n=185). The groups of these centers were formed according to the socioeconomic development of the provinces. RESULTS: The median patient age was 48 years, 56.1% of patients were less than 50 years of age. Eighty-five percent of the patients detected a mass in their breast by self examination and 27% of the patients older than 50 years never had breast imaging until the definite diagnosis was established. The median time elapsed between disease noticed by the patient and application to a health care center was 10 days, between application and biopsy 19 days, between biopsy and surgery 10 days, and between surgery and systemic therapy 31 days. The median time elapsed between patients applying for surgery in groups 1 and 2 centers was 11 and 21 days, respectively (p=0.01). The median time elapsed between biopsy and surgery in groups 1,2 and 3 centers was 14,1.5, and 12 days, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A high level of awareness regarding breast cancer in our country is related with the time that is defined as 10 days between disease recognition and medical application. The time elapsed between the application and biopsy, surgery and systemic therapy was longer compared with the corresponding figures in developed countries.

Staphylococcal pyomyositis in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Pyomyositis is a rare disease, encountered mainly in tropical climates. The diagnosis of this entity is difficult, if not misdiagnosed, because of its rarity and its subacute presentation. We report of a 42-year-old man, in whom pyomyositis developed while he was receiving the standard chemotherapy for T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Three months following splenectomy, multiple abscesses occurred in the muscles of both thighs while the patient was receiving the third course of the CHOP regimen. A purulent exudate was aspirated from the abscesses under computed tomographic guidance. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in the aspirate. Pyomyositis was completely resolved following the surgical drainage and the antistaphylococcal antibiotic treatment. This patient has shown that immunosuppression due to splenectomy, NHL, and chemotherapy, especially when using steroids, could be risk factors for pyomyositis in nontropical or semitropical countries.