Irem Bilgetekin

Carbonic anhydrase IX is a prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma multiforme: Carbonic anhydrase IX and glioblastoma multiforme

The identification of prognostic factors in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents an area of increasing interest. Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA‐IX), a hypoxia marker, correlates with tumor progression in a variety of human cancers. However, the role of CA‐IX in GBM remains largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic role of CA‐IX in GBM patients. In total, 66 consecutive patients with GBM who received concomitant chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide were retrospectively reviewed, and all patients received temozolomide chemotherapy for at least 3 months. Kaplan–Meier curves and log‐rank tests were used for analysis of progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was employed to identify factors with an independent effect on survival. The median OS was longer in patients with low levels of CA‐IX expression (18 months) compared to patients overexpressing CA‐IX (9 months) (P = 0.004). There was not a statistically significant difference in median PFS (3.5 vs. 8 months, P = 0.054) between patients with high or low levels of CA‐IX expression. In multivariate analysis, the variables that were identified as significant prognostic factors for OS were preoperative Karnofsky performance scale score (KPS) (hazard ratio (HR), 3.703; P = 0.001), CA‐IX overexpression (HR, 1.967; P = 0.019), and incomplete adjuvant temozolomide treatment (HR, 2.241; P = 0.003) and gross‐total resection (HR, 1.956; P = 0.034). Our findings indicated that CA‐IX may be a potential prognostic biomarker in the treatment of GBM.

Intravascular Large B Cell Lymphoma of the Gallbladder

1Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Rize, Turkey 2Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey 3Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Rize, Turkey 4Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Radiation Oncology, Adana, Turkey 5Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey 6Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey Turk J Hematol 2018;35:137-151

Lobular breast cancer metastasis to uterus during adjuvant tamoxifen treatment: A case report and review of the literature

Tamoxifen plays a critical role in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Despite these great benefits against breast cancer, tamoxifen increases the risk of endometrial pathologies such as endometrial hyperplasia, polyp, and neoplasms because of agonistic effect on endometrial tissues. Therefore, gynecologic follow-up should be carried out during tamoxifen treatment. Uterine tumors are frequently detected as the result of presentation with abnormal uterine bleeding. In addition, genital tracts metastases from distant primary tumors can present with abnormal uterine bleeding. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the uterine mass is metastatic or primary because different treatment modalities are used for them. In this context, breast carcinomas are the most frequent metastatic tumors, particularly invasive lobular carcinoma. Here, we report an invasive lobular carcinoma case that presented with abnormal uterine bleeding while receiving tamoxifen therapy and has metastasize in the uterus.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer in elderly patients has same benefits as in younger patients

Objective: The age-adjusted mortality rate due to gastric cancer was reported to increase with age. This study aims to investigate the results of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients aged 65 years or older comparing with younger patients and focusing on its impact on survival. Materials and Methods: A total of 406 patients with nonmetastatic gastric cancer that consisted of 283 patients younger than 65 years (range: 23–64 years) and 123 patients 65 years of age or older (range: 65–75 years) were retrospectively evaluated. Categorical and continuous variables were summarized using the descriptive statistics and compared with Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-tests, respectively. Cancer-specific survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 58 years (range: 23–75 years). There was no significant difference in gender, tumor localization in the stomach (cardia/noncardia), tumor histology, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, histopathological characteristics of the tumor, and tumor stage between groups. No significant difference was detected in survival between groups. The median survivals were 20.8 months (range: 17–24.6) in patients younger than 65 years and 19.5 months (range: 14.8–24.1) in patients 65 years of age or older (P = 0.9). Conclusions: We showed that adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with gastric cancer has same effectiveness as nonelderly patients. However, further well-designated prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

A metastatic histiocytic sarcoma case with primary involvement of the tonsil

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an extremely rare and aggressive hematopoietic tumor. Although it can be seen at any anatomic location, the most common primary sites are skin as extranodal region, locations including the lymph nodes and gastrointestinal tract. To the best of our knowledge, in light of PubMed search, this is the first primary tonsillar HS case presented with disseminated metastases at the time of diagnosis. A 58-year-old male patient applied with swelling on the right side of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, and weight loss. Positron emission tomography computed tomography was performed and increased pathological 18F fluorodeoxy D glucose uptake was detected in the right palatine tonsil, bilateral cervical multiple lymph nodes, liver masses, intra abdominal lymph nodes, and nodular lesion in the left adrenal gland. Tonsillectomy was performed and the pathological result was reported as HS. The patient did not respond to any treatment and had died after 5 months from the date of diagnosis. In conclusion, HS is generally diagnosed at advanced stage, it has limited chemotherapy response and high mortality rates. To understand this rare diseases pathophysiological and clinical features, further investigations are needed.

Ewing′s sarcoma of kidney in a 60-year-old patient with local recurrence: A rare occurrence

Ewings family of tumors is aggressive tumors and frequently arises from bone and soft tissue. They might also arise from nonosseous structures such as gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands, or kidney. Primary renal Ewings sarcoma (ES)/primitive neuroectodermal tumor is an extremely rare entity which has aggressive clinical course. These high-grade malignant tumors predominantly affect adolescents and young adults. Patients mostly present with nonspecific symptoms such as pain, hematuria, mass, and sensitivity. It is confused with renal cell cancer in imaging techniques. The definitive diagnosis is based on the histopathological examination. Surgical or radiotherapy treatment is used for local control and multiagent chemotherapy used for systemic treatment. Despite all treatment options, prognosis is poor. We aimed to describe the diagnosis and follow-up and treatment of renal ES case that was considered as renal cell carcinoma in imaging but diagnosed as ES via histopathology.

Ventricular bigeminal rhythm associated with trastuzumab: A potential cardiac side effect

Cardiac side effects of targeted chemotherapy agents are getting more and more important topic nowadays. However, the studies on this topic are limited. Because multiple agent chemotherapy is not a common treatment option, it is hard to establish controlled study groups (as before chemotherapy and after chemotherapy); further, cancer, itself, may cause cardiac side effects and uncertainty of the symptoms may be associated with previous clinical situation before chemotherapy. For all that, we may get information to a certain degree about the side effects of these agents by analyzing case reports. These side effects have a broad spectrum from asymptomatic rhythm alterations to acute cardiac death. In this case report, we aim to discuss asymptomatic ventricular bigeminal rhythm, which is proved by electrocardiography, of our patient during treated by trastuzumab.

Managing Synchronous Liver Metastases in Colorectal Cancer

The most common site of blood-borne metastases from colorectal cancers (CRC) is the liver. Resection of (liver) metastases is a part of standard treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Hepatic resection is the first-line treatment of liver metastases, with 5-year survival rates between 25 and 58%. The enhanced efficacy of systemic chemotherapeutic regimens has increased tumor response rates and improved the progression-free and overall survival of patients with these malignancies. In approximately 20% of patients with initially unresectable liver metastases, the metastases may become resectable after administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Unresectable liver metastases can be managed with systemic therapy and/or a variety of liver-directed techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, hepatic artery infusion, or yttrium-90 radioembolization. Our examination of the literature led us to propose a new patient-oriented algorithm to guide clinicians’ decisions on the best choice of upfront therapy for CRC and synchronous liver metastases. The need for multidisciplinary consensus has become especially important for metastatic CRC.

Pazopanib-Induced Hepatotoxicity in an Experimental Rat Model

Pazopanib is an effective treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Besides classical adverse events of this drug class, hepatotoxicity has been described as a frequent side effect. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pazopanib on the liver in an experimental rat model. Sixteen Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: experimental toxicity was induced with pazopanib (10 mg/kg) administered for 28 days (group 2) or 56 days (group 3) orally by gavage. Group 1 (control group) received only distilled water. Rats in groups 2 and 3 were sacrificed after the collection of blood and tissue samples on the 28th and 56th days, respectively. We found significant differences in bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, triglyceride, very-low-density lipoprotein, and iron values (p < 0.050 for all) but none in any other parameter (p > 0.050). All rats in the control group had normal histological features; however, none of the rats in groups 2 and 3 showed normal histology. In group 2, we observed mild sinusoidal dilatation, congestion, enlarged Kupffer cells, accumulation of yellow-brown-black pigment in the Kupffer cells and the accumulation of hemosiderin with Prussian blue reaction in the hepatocytes. In group 3, the findings mentioned above were more prominent, and besides these findings focal acinar transformation and macrovesicular steatosis were also observed. In group 3, mild inflammation within the portal areas was observed consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. This study is the first that reports the biochemical and histopathological evaluation of pazopanib-related hepatic toxicity.

A case of membranous glomerulopathy associated with lung cancer and review of the literature

Membraneous nephropathy (MN) is the most commonly occurring nephrotic syndrome in adults as well as the most common paraneoplastic nephropathy associated with solid tumors, and it is mostly associated with gastrointestinal system and lung carcinomas. Accurate diagnosis is important as the treatment of paraneoplastic glomerulonephritis is very varied from that of idiopathic ones. In the current report, a case of a patient that was referred with proteinuria and edema and was diagnosed with lung cancer, and responded markedly to treatment of malignancy, with improvement of MN, is presented. Active cancer is present in all patients with paraneoplastic MN. In numerous patients, the paraneoplastic MN and cancer diagnoses are made within one year of each other. The treatment of paraneoplastic syndromes is usually associated with the treatment of primary malignancy. There are conflicting data on which treatment modality is more suitable. In conclusion, further studies are required in order to determine the actual incidence of cancer in patients with nephropathy, explain the physiopathological association between cancer and nephropathy and to determine the most suitable treatment approaches.