Ali Pamir

Prospective randomized comparison of morning versus night daily single subcutaneous administration of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor in patients with soft tissue or bone sarcoma.

Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) have been used to reduce the neutropenic complications of cytotoxic chemotherapy so that higher doses may be given. The authors have previously shown that endogenous serum granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) and granulocyte‐macrophage–colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) levels at night (p.m.) were significantly higher than those in the morning (a.m.).

The clinical value of flow cytometric DNA content analysis in patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate: (1) the correlation between grade and ploidy or S-phase fraction (SPF), (2) the prognostic value of DNA flow cytometric study in soft tissue sarcomas. Patients /Methods. In all, 47 tissue samples from soft tissue sarcoma patients, surgically treated in the same center, were included. Flow cytometric analyses were performed according to a modified version of the original method of Hedley et al. Results. DNA ploidy status could be determined in 44 samples out of 47 (success rate 94%). Of these 44, S-phase fraction could be calculated in 34 samples (77%). In the study group as a whole, aneuploidy was significantly correlated with high grade. Survival analyses were carried out in 21 patients with soft tissue sarcoma, all surgically treated in the same center, without chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In univariate analyses, DNA ploidy was found to be a significant factor for overall survival (OAS) and metastasis-free survival MFS. Mean OAS for aneuploid tumors and diploid tumors were 35 and 65 months (p=0.034), and mean MFS 23 and 61 months, respectively (p=0.005) . Discussion.There is a relation between histological grade and ploidy in soft tissue sarcomas. It appears that low-grade tumors are generally diploid, whereas high-grade tumors tend to be aneuploid. In a subgroup of patients treated only with surgery, DNA ploidy was found to be an important factor for predicting OAS and MFS.

Secondary Neoplasms in Children with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Receiving C-MOPP and Radiotherapy: Presentation of Four Cases

Patients who survive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are at increased risk of secondary neoplasms (SNs). A wide variety of SNs have been reported, including leukemias, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and solid tumors, specifically breast and thyroid cancers. Herein we report subsequent neoplasms in four patients with HL receiving chemoradiotherapy. It is interesting that three SNs, fibrosarcoma, thyroid carcinoma, and retrobulbar meningioma, were observed in the radiation area in one of our patients. A hypopharyngeal epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor as an unusual secondary malignant neoplasm developed in another patient, while a benign thyroid nodule and invasive ductal breast carcinoma were observed at different times in the female patient. Follicular adenoma of the thyroid gland developed in one of our patients.

De novo osteogenic sarcoma of mastoid bone

The most common primary malignant tumor of the bone is osteosarcoma. Primary involvement of the craniofacial bones in osteosarcoma is relatively rare. The mandible and the maxillae are the most commonly affected bones of the head. Here, we report a rare case of de novo high-grade osteogenic sarcoma of the mastoid region of the temporal bone and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic properties.