Clinicopathological Characteristics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Turkey

Dogan, Erkan,Yalcin, Suayib,Koca, Dogan,Olmez, Aydemir Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main malignant tumor of the liver, is very common and highly lethal. The aim of this study was to determine its clinicopathologic characteristics and risk factors in Turkey. Materials and methods: In this study, patients who were diagnosed as suffering from HCC in the period between August 2004 and December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 98 patients were included, with a median age 61 (range: 16 to 82). Seventy nine (80.6%) were male 59 (60.2%) were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 15 (15.3%) with HCV, another 15 (15.3%) being alcohol abusers. Seventy two (73.5%) were at advanced stage and 54 (55.1%) had elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Surgery, chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy and application of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib were the major treatment options. Conclusions: According to our findings HCC is mostly diagnosed in advanced stage and age, being five times more common in males than females. Main risk factors of HCC are HBV infection, HCV infection and alcohol abuse. Elevation in AFP may facilitate early diagnosis of HCC in high risk groups.

Screening Colonoscopy Participation in Turkish Colorectal Cancer Patients and their First Degree Relatives

Kilickap, Saadettin,Arslan, Cagatay,Rama, Dorina,Yalcin, Suayib Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Background: This study aimed to research the awareness of screening colonoscopy (SC) among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and their relatives. Methodology: A questionnaire form including information and behavior about colonoscopic screening for CRCs of patients and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) was prepared. Results: A total of 406 CRC patients were enrolled into the study, with 1534 FDRs (siblings n: 1381 and parents n: 153). Positive family history for CRC was found in 12% of the study population. Previous SC was performed in 11% of patients with CRC. Mean age of the patients whose FDRs underwent SC was lower than the patients whose FDRs did not (52 vs 57 years; p<0,001). The frequency of SC in FDRs was 64% in patients diagnosed CRC under 35 years of age. Persons having a positive family history of CRC had SC more often (51 vs 22%, p<0,001). FDRs of patients having a higher educational level and income had SC more frequently. Conclusions: When screening for CRC is planned, elderly subjects, those with family history for CRC, and those with low educational and lower income should be given esspecial attention in order that they be convinced to undergo screening for CRC.

Lack of Any Relationship between ABO and Rh Blood Groups and Clinicopathological Features in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Turkish Oncology Group

Urun, Yuksel,Utkan, Gungor,Yalcin, Suayib,CosKun, Hasan Senol,Kocer, Murat,Ozdemir, Nuriye Yildirim,Kaplan, Mehmet Ali,Arslan, Ulku Yalcintas,Ozdemir, Feyyaz,Oztuna, Derya,Akbulut, Hakan,Icli, Fikri Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Background: An association between the ABO blood group and the risk of certain malignancies, including pancreatic and gastric cancer, has been reported previously. However, it is unclear whether this association is valid for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). In this study, ABO blood groups and the Rh factor were investigated in a series of GIST cases. Material and Methods: In 162 patients with GIST, blood group and Rh factor were examined and compared with a control group of 3,022,883 healthy volunteer blood donors of the Turkish Red Crescent between 2004 and 2011. The relationship of blood groups with tumor size, mitotic activity, and age were also evaluated. Results: Overall, the ABO blood group and Rh factor distributions of the 162 patients with GIST were similar to those of the general population. There were no significant differences between both ABO blood types and Rh factor in terms of tumor size, mitotic activity, and age. Conclusion: This is the first study reported on this issue. In our study, we didn't find any relationship between GIST and ABO blood group and Rh factor. However further studies with larger number of patients are needed to establish the role of blood groups in this population.

Evaluation of Dietary and Life-Style Habits of Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Turkey

Yassibas, Emine,Arslan, Perihan,Yalcin, Suayib Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: Gastric cancer is an important public health problem in the world and Turkey. In addition to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), smoking, alcohol consumption and family history, certain dietary factors have been associated with its occurrence. The impact of dietary habits and life-style factors on the risk of gastric cancer in Turkey were evaluated in this study. Design: A questionnaire was applied to 106 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 106 controls without cancer matched for age (range 28-85 years) and gender selected from a hospital based population. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with logistic regression analysis. Results: The incidence of H. pylori was 81.3% in patients. Frequent consumption of salty dishes, very salty foods like pickles, soup mixes, sausages, foods at hot temperature (ORs = 3.686, 7.784, 5.264, 3.148 and 3.273 respectively) and adding salt without tasting (OR = 4.198) were associated with increased gastric risk. Also heavy smoking and high amount of alcohol consumption (p = 0.000) were risk factors. Frequent consumption of green vegetables, onion, garlic and dried fruits (ORs = 0.569, 0.092, 0.795 and 0.041) was nonsignificantly associated with decreased risk. Conclusion: Improved dietary habits, reducing salt consumption and eradication of H. pylori infection may provide protection against gastric cancer in Turkey.

Bone Metastasis from Gastric Cancer: The Incidence, Clinicopathological Features, and Influence on Survival

Turkoz, Fatma Paksoy,Solak, Mustafa,Kilickap, Saadettin,Ulas, Arife,Esbah, Onur,Oksuzoglu, Berna,Yalcin, Suayib The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2014 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, clinicopathological characteristics, treatment outcomes, prognostic factors, and survival of gastric cancer patients with bone metastases. Materials and Methods: Of 4,617 gastric cancer patients who were treated between 2001 and 2013, 176 patients with bone metastases were analyzed. Results: The incidence of bone metastasis was 3.8%. The most common histopathological subtype was adenocarcinoma (79%) with poor differentiation (60.8%). The median interval from the diagnosis to bone metastasis was 11 months. The median survival time after bone metastasis was 5.4 months. Factors that were associated with longer median survival times included the following: isolated bone metastasis (P=0.004), well-differentiated tumors (P=0.002), palliative chemotherapy (P=0.003), zoledronic acid treatment (P<0.001), no smoking history (P=0.007), and no metastatic gastric cancer at the time of diagnosis (P=0.01). On the other hand, high levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.86; P=0.015), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (HR: 2.04; P=0.002), and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 (HR: 2.94; P<0.001) were associated with shorter survival times. In multivariate analysis, receiving zoledronic acid (P<0.001) and performance status (P=0.013) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Smoking history, poor performance status, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and high levels of LDH, CEA, and CA 19-9 were shown to be poor prognostic factors, while receiving chemotherapy and zoledronic acid were associated with prolonged survival in gastric cancer patients with bone metastases.

Bone Metastasis from Gastric Cancer: The Incidence, Clinicopathological Features, and Influence on Survival

Fatma Paksoy Turkoz,Mustafa Solak,Saadettin Kilickap,Arife Ulas,Onur Esbah,Berna Oksuzoglu,Suayib Yalcin 대한위암학회 2014 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, clinicopathological characteristics, treatment outcomes, prognostic factors, and survival of gastriccancer patients with bone metastases. Materials and Methods: Of 4,617 gastric cancer patients who were treated between 2001 and 2013, 176 patients with bone metastaseswere analyzed. Results: The incidence of bone metastasis was 3.8%. The most common histopathological subtype was adenocarcinoma (79%) withpoor differentiation (60.8%). The median interval from the diagnosis to bone metastasis was 11 months. The median survival time afterbone metastasis was 5.4 months. Factors that were associated with longer median survival times included the following: isolated bonemetastasis (P=0.004), well-differentiated tumors (P=0.002), palliative chemotherapy (P=0.003), zoledronic acid treatment (P<0.001),no smoking history (P=0.007), and no metastatic gastric cancer at the time of diagnosis (P=0.01). On the other hand, high levels oflactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.86; P=0.015), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (HR: 2.04; P=0.002), and carbohydrateantigen (CA) 19-9 (HR: 2.94; P<0.001) were associated with shorter survival times. In multivariate analysis, receiving zoledronicacid (P<0.001) and performance status (P=0.013) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Smoking history, poor performance status, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and high levels of LDH, CEA, and CA19-9 were shown to be poor prognostic factors, while receiving chemotherapy and zoledronic acid were associated with prolonged survivalin gastric cancer patients with bone metastases.

Impact of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer on the Long-Term Quality of Life and Late Side Effects: A Multicentric Clinical Evaluation by the Turkish Oncology Group

Kilic, Diclehan,Yalman, Deniz,Aksu, Gorkem,Atasoy, Beste M.,Igdem, Sefik,Dincbas, Fazilet O.,Yalcin, Suayib Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Aim: Although preoperative chemoradiatherapy (CRT) has proven its benefits in terms of decreased toxicity, there is still a considerable amount of cases that do not receive postoperative CRT. Oncologists at different geographic locations still need to know the long-term effects of this treatment in order to manage patients successfully. The current paper reports on long-term quality of life (QOL) and late side effects after adjuvant CRT in rectal cancer patients from 5 centers in Anatolia. Methods: Rectal cancer patients treated with postoperative CRT with minimum 1-year follow-up and were in complete remission, were evaluated according to RTOG and LENT-SOMA scales. They were also asked to complete Turkish version of EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the CR-38 module. Each center participated with the required clinical data. Results: Two hundred and thirty patients with median age of 55 years participated and completed the study. Median follow-up time was 5 years. All patients received RT concomitant with chemotherapy. Common parameters that both increased functional health scales and yielded better symptom scores were long term interval after treatment and sphincter-saving surgery. In addition, surgery type and follow-up time were determined to be predictors of QOL scores and late toxicity grade. Conclusion: Postoperative CRT was found to have a great impact on the long term QOL and side effects in rectal cancer survivors. The factors that adversely affect these are abdominoperineal resection and shorter interval. The findings may encourage life-long follow-up and cooperation with patients, which should be mentioned during the initial counseling.