Esin Oktay

Role of increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and decreased MPV/platelet count ratio as poor prognostic factors in lung cancer

In this study, they investigated whether mean thrombocyte volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio have a prognostic significance in advanced NSCLC or not.

Pretreatment Serum Albumin Level is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients with Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Study of the Turkish Descriptive Oncological Researches Group

BACKGROUND Several prognostic factors have been studied in NSCLC, although it is unknown which is most useful. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether pre-treatment serum albumin level has prognostic value in patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included a total of 204 patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC who met the inclusion criteria. Pre-treatment serum albumin levels and demographic, clinical, and histological characteristics, as well as laboratory variables were recorded. A cut-off value was defined for serum albumin level and the patients were stratified into four groups on thios basis. RESULTS The majority of the patients was males and smokers, with a history of weight loss, and squamous histological type of lung cancer. The mean serum albumin level was 3.2±1.7 g/dL (range, 2.11-4.36 g/dL). A cut-off value 3.11 g/dL was set and among the patients with a lower level, 68% had adenocarcinoma and 82% were smokers. The patients with low serum albumin levels had a lower response rate to e first-line chemotherapy with a shorter progression-free survival and overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that low serum albumin level was an independent poor prognostic factor for NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS This study results suggest that low serum albumin level is an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with Stage IIIB NSCLC, associated with reduction in the response rate to first-line therapy and survival rates.

First-line mono-chemotherapy in frail elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Unlike for fit elderly metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, general approaches to initial treatment for the frail older mCRC patients are not clear. Our aim was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of first-line single-agent treatment in one such group. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated mCRC patients aged 70 or older with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 2. They had no prior treatment and underwent first-line single-agent capecitabine or other monotherapies until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS Thirty-six patients were included. Most (n:28, 77.8%) were treated with capecitabine. One patient achieved a complete response and 5 patients had a partial response for an overall response rate of 16.6%. Twelve patients (33.3%) remained stable. Median progression free survival was 5 months (confidence interval (CI), %; 3.59-6.40) and median overall survival was 10 months (95 CI%; 8.1-11.8). Grade 3-4 toxicity was found in 6 patients (16.6%). Febrile neutropenia was not observed and there were no toxicity-associated deaths. CONCLUSIONS Capecitabine is a safe chemotherapeutic agent with moderate activity for first-line treatment of older metastatic colorectal cancer patients with limited performance status.

Nearly Complete Response of Brain Metastases from HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer with Lapatinib and Capecitabine after Whole Brain Irradiation

Trastuzumab treatment does not prevent intracranial seeding and is largely ineffective for established central nervous system metastasis in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer patients. Combination therapy of lapatinib and capecitabine may be an effective treatment option for brain metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancer. We report a patient with breast cancer overexpressing HER-2 where brain metastases were successfully treated with radiation and a combination of lapatinib and capecitabine.

Is Change in Hemoglobin Level a Predictive Biomarker of Tyrosine Kinase Efficacy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma? A Turkish Oncology Group Study

ABSTRACT Background: There are insufficient predictive markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: A total of 308 metastatic RCC patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The increased hemoglobin (Hb) group had significantly higher progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) compared with the decreased Hb group at 11.5 versus 6.35 months (p < .001) and 21.0 versus 11.36 months (p < .001) respectively. The 1- and 3-year OS rates were higher in the Hb increased group, i.e., 84% versus 64% and 52% versus 35% respectively. Conclusions: The present study showed that increased Hb levels after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy could be a predictive marker of RCC.