Prognostic Factors in First-Line Chemotherapy Treated Metastatic Gastric Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study

Inal, Ali,Kaplan, M. Ali,Kucukoner, Mehmet,Urakci, Zuhat,Guven, Mehmet,Nas, Necip,Yunce, Muharrem,Isikdogan, Abdurrahman Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Background: The majority of patients with gastric cancer in developing countries present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy therefore has limited impact on overall survival. Patients eligible for chemotherapy should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing first-line palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer patients who were treated with docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil (DCF) as first-line treatment between June 2007 and August 2011. Twenty-eight potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Among the 28 variables of univariate analysis, nine variables were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status, histology, location of primary tumor, lung metastasis, peritoneum metastasis, ascites, hemoglobin, albumin, weight loss and bone metastasis. Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, including nine prognostic significance factors evident in univariate analysis, revealed weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level to be independent variables. Conclusion: Performance status, weight loss, histology, peritoneum metastasis, ascites and serum hemoglobin level were identified as important prognostic factors in advanced gastric cancer patients. These findings may facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for treatment.

Is Diabetes Mellitus a Prognostic Factor for Survival in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer?

Inal, Ali,Kaplan, M. Ali,Kucukoner, Mehmet,Urakci, Zuhat,Karakus, Abdullah,Nas, Necip,Guven, Mehmet,Isikdogan, Abdurrahman Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Previous studies have pointed to many different prognostic factors for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) but diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been clearly or consistently identified as of prognostic value. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the characteristics of patients and clinical laboratory tests in SCLC. Specifically, we investigated that the impact of DM for survival in the patients receiving first-line etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 161 patients with SCLC with a focus on DM and other potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses with respect to survival. Result: Among the sixteen variables of univariate analysis, five were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status (PS) (p<0.001), stage (p=0.001), DM (p=0.005), serum albumin (p<0.001) and hemoglobin levels (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis showed PS, stage and serum albumin level to be independent prognostic factors for survival (p=0.02, p=0.02 and p=0.009 respectively), but DM was not an independnet factor. Conclusion: In conclusion, PS, stage and serum albumin level were identified as important prognostic factors, while DM at the time of diagnosis of SCLC did not have prognostic importance for survival.

Long Term Survivors with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Gemcitabine Alone or Plus Cisplatin: a Retrospective Analysis of an Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology Multicenter Study

Inal, Ali,Ciltas, Aydin,Yildiz, Ramazan,Berk, Veli,Kos, F. Tugba,Dane, Faysal,Unek, Ilkay Tugba,Colak, Dilsen,Ozdemir, Nuriye Yildirim,Buyukberber, Suleyman,Gumus, Mahmut,Ozkan, Metin,Isikdogan, Abdur Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Background: The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer present with advanced disease. Systemic chemotherapy has limited impact on overall survival (OS) so that eligible patients should be selected carefully. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival in Turkish advanced pancreatic cancer patients who survived more than one year from the diagnosis of recurrent and/or metastatic disease and receiving gemcitabine (Gem) alone or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis). Methods: This retrospective evaluation was performed for patients who survived more than one year from the diagnosis of recurrent and/or metastatic disease and who received gemcitabine between December 2005 and August 2011. Twenty-seven potential prognostic variables were chosen for univariate and multivariate analyses to identify prognostic factors associated with survival. Results: Among the 27 variables in univariate analysis, three were identified to have prognostic significance: sex (p = 0.04), peritoneal dissemination (p =0.02) and serum creatinine level (p=0.05). Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model showed only peritoneal dissemination to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: In conclusion, peritoneal metastasis was identified as an important prognostic factor in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who survived more than one year from the diagnosis of recurrent and/or metastatic disease and receiving Gem or GemCis. The findings should facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for treatment.

Prognostic Factors for Second-line Treatment of Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Retrospective Analysis at a Single Institution

Inal, Ali,Kaplan, M. Ali,Kucukoner, Mehmet,Urakci, Zuhat,Karakus, Abdullah,Isikdogan, Abdurrahman Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Platinum-hased chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still considered the first choice, presenting a modest survival advantage. However, the patients eventually experience disease progression and require second-line therapy. While there are reliable predictors to identify patients receiving first-line chemotherapy, very little knowledge is available about the prognostic factors in patients who receive second-line treatments. The present study was therefore performed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 107 patients receiving second-line treatments from August 2002 to March 2012 in the Dicle University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology. Fourteen potential prognostic variables were chosen for analysis in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors associated with survival. Result: The results of univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status (PS), stage, response to first-line chemotherapy response to second-line chemotherapy and number of metastasis. PS, diabetes mellitus (DM), response to first-line chemotherapy and response to second-line chemotherapy were identified to have prognostic significance for progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis showed that PS, response to first-line chemotherapy and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for OS. Furthermore, PS and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. Conclusion: In conclusion, PS, response to first and second-line chemotherapy were identified as important prognostic factors for OS in advanced NSCLC patients who were undergoing second-line palliative treatment. Furthermore, PS and response to second-line chemotherapy were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. It may be concluded that these findings may facilitate pretreatment prediction of survival and can be used for selecting patients for the correct choice of treatment.

Cisplatin-Based Therapy for the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: a Retrospective Analysis of a Single Institution

Inal, Ali,Kaplan, M. Ali,Kucukoner, Mehmet,Urakcl, Zuhat,Karakus, Abdullah,Islkdogan, Abdurrahman Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Background: In spite of the fact that platinum-based doublets are considered the standard therapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no elderly-specific platinum based prospective phase III regimen has been explored. The aim of this retrospective singlecenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of cisplatin-based therapy specifically for the elderly. Methods: Patients receiving platinum-based treatment were divided into three groups. In the first group (GC), Gemcitabine was administrated at 1000 $mg/m^2$ on days 1, 8 and cisplatin was added at 75 $mg/m^2$ on day 1. In the second group (DC), 75 $mg/m^2$ docetaxel and cisplatin were administered on day 1. The third group (PC) received 175 mg of paclitaxel and 75 mg of cisplatin on day 1. These treatments were repeated every three weeks. Result: GC arm had 36, the DC arm 42 and the PC arm 29 patients. Grade III-IV thrombocytopenia was higher in the GC arm (21.2% received GC, 2.8% received DC, and 3.8% received PC), while sensory neuropathy was lower in patients with GC arm (3.0%, 22.2%, and 23.1% received GC, DC and PC, respectively). There were no statistically significant difference in the response rates among the three groups (p>0.05). The median Progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.0 months and the median Overall survival (OS) in each group was 7.1, 7.4 and 7.1 months, respectively (p>0.05). Conclusion: The response rate, median PFS and OS were similar among the three treatment arms. Grade III-IV thrombocytopenia was higher in the GC arm, while the GC regimen was more favorable than the other cisplatin-based treatmetns with regard to sensory neuropathy.

The dye adsorption and antibacterial properties of composite polyacrylamide cryogels modified with ZnO

Murat Inal,Nuran Erduran,Murat Gökgöz 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.98 No.-

The present study aimed to modify the surface of polyacrylamide cryogels (PAC) with ZnO nanorods(ZNR) to provide them with antibacterial properties. The synthesized ZNR-modified composite PAC(ZMC) characterized by AAS, FTIR, SEM, XRD, XPS, BET surface analysis and TGA studies. A study of theadsorption of Orange G (OG) and antibacterial effect was performed on the synthesized ZMC. The highestadsorption capacity was determined to be at a dye concentration of 142.79 mg/g at 400 ppm, and a pH of2. From the data obtained, it was found that adsorptionfitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model andFreundlich isotherm. Modified cryogels could be desorbed in a very short time – such as 30 min – andreused approximately twenty times with 80% efficiency. While ZMC cryogels did not show antibacterialactivity in the dark, inhibition percentages were determined as 99.79 3.94% and 99.811.76%, at1.78 mg/mL cryogel application, MIC90 values were determined as 1.589 0.063 and 0.660 0.028 mg/mL for Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively under visible light. The results showed thatthe composite cryogels obtained had a very high potential to be applied both in the removal of dyes fromwastewater and in the purification of microorganism-contaminated water.

Preparation and characterization of pH-sensitive alginate-g-poly(Nvinyl-2-pyrrolidone)/gelatin blend beads

Murat Inal,Nuran Işıklan,Mustafa Yigitoglu 한국공업화학회 2017 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.52 No.-

In this study, pH-sensitive alginate-g-poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)/gelatin (SA-g-PVP/Gel) blend beadswere produced as controlled release system. Structural features of the SA-g-PVP/Gel beads werecharacterized by FTIR, X-RD, DSC, SEM and mercury intrusion-porosimetry. In vitro nifedipine (NFD)release was investigated at pH 1.2 for 2 h and followed by immersing at pH 7.4 for 6 h. Effects of diverseparameters such as grafting of PVP, copolymer/gelatin blend ratio, concentration of cross-linker and drugamount on the release of NFD were investigated. The NFD release from SA-g-PVP/Gel beadsdemonstrated pH-sensitivity of drug release. Cytotoxicity experiments of SA-g-PVP and SA-g-PVP/Gelbeads displayed their biocompatible character.

Lack of Influence of the ACE1 Gene I/D Polymorphism on the Formation and Growth of Benign Uterine Leiomyoma in Turkish Patients

Gultekin, Guldal Inal,Yilmaz, Seda Gulec,Kahraman, Ozlem Timirci,Atasoy, Hande,Dalan, A. Burak,Attar, Rukset,Buyukoren, Ahmet,Ucunoglu, Nazli,Isbir, Turgay Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Uterine leiomyomas (ULM), are benign tumors of the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium. They represent a common health problem and are estimated to be present in 30-70% of clinically reproductive women. Abnormal angiogenesis and vascular-related growth factors have been suggested to be associated with ULM growth. The angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is related with several tumors. The aim of this study was to identify possible correlation between ULM and the ACE I/D polymorphism, to evaluate whether the ACE I/D polymorphism could be a marker for early diagnosis and prognosis. ACE I/D was amplified with specific primer sets recognizing genomic DNA from ULM (n=72) and control (n=83) volunteers and amplicons were separated on agarose gels. The observed genotype frequencies were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium ($x^2=2.162$, p=0.339). There was no association between allele frequencies and study groups ($x^2=0.623$; p=0.430 for ACE I allele, $x^2=0.995$; p=0.339 for ACE D allele). In addition, there were no significant differences between ACE I/D polymorphism genotype frequencies and ULM range in size and number ($X^2=1.760;$ p=0.415 for fibroid size, $X^2=0.342;$ p=0.843 for fibroid number). We conclude that the ACE gene I/D polymorphism is not related with the size or number of ULM fibroids in Turkish women. Thus it cannot be regarded as an early diagnostic parameter nor as a risk estimate for ULM predisposition.

The supercapacitor performance of hierarchical porous activated carbon electrodes synthesised from demineralised (waste) cumin plant by microwave pretreatment

I. Isil Gurten Inal,Stuart M. Holmes,Emine Yagmur,Nurcan Ermumcu,Anthony Banford,Zeki Aktas 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.61 No.-

ctivated carbon (AC) was prepared from waste cumin utilising the chemical activation method. The cumin was separately washed with HCl and HF to remove minerals. The surface areas of AC of the acid washed samples (AC-HCl, AC-HF) were 1468 and 1472 m2/g, compared with 1361 m2/g for AC obtained directly from the precursor. Washing with the acids improved the supercapacitor performance through a significant decrease in the internal resistance of electrodes. The specific capacitances of electrodes using ACs prepared from acid washed samples (HCl and HF) were 127F/g and 155F/g at current density of 1.5 mA/cm2, compared with 117 F/g from the unwashed precursor.

CO2 laser machining for microfluidics mold fabrication from PMMA with applications on viscoelastic focusing, electrospun nanofiber production, and droplet generation

Mustafa Tahsin Guler,Murat Inal,Ismail Bilican 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.98 No.-

In this study, a new method for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels throughthe replication of plexiglass molds was developed. A plexiglass slab is machined with CO2 laser in theraster mode to produce the mold for the PDMS casting. Then, the PDMS replica of the mold is plasmabonded to a substrate by applying more pressure than standard to overcome the surface roughnessinherited from the laser machining process. Depending on the channel complexity, a ready to cast mold inthe size of a glass slide can be achieved in 5–20 min, including the design, machining, and cleaning steps. This fully automated and cost-effective mold making method proved to be the fastest among all methods,and it enables up to 2.5 aspect ratio microchannels, down to a width of 60 mm, and a height of 23 mm. Theraster mode of the laser provides features lower, in size, then the laser beam waist radius. The producedmicrochannels were validated using several applications, such as droplet generation, nanofiberproduction, and viscoelastic microparticle focusing.