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ABSTRACT: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multi-functional cytokine that has been suggested to be a major angiogenic factor in breast cancer. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent biological molecule that participates in the multi-step process of carcinogenesis. Interleukin (IL)-18 has been shown to have potent anti-tumour effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of tamoxifen therapy on serum VEGF, NO and IL-18 activity in breast cancer patients. Serum levels of VEGF, nitrate + nitrite and IL-18 were measured in 34 postmenopausal breast cancer patients before and 3 months after the tamoxifen therapy. Both serum VEGF and IL-18 levels decreased after tamoxifen therapy (P = 0.051, P < 0.05, respectively). Serum VEGF levels increased in patients with endometrial thickness, while patients without endometrial thickness had a significant reduction in serum VEGF levels after therapy (P < 0.05). Serum nitrate + nitrite levels increased after the therapy, but this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A decrease in serum VEGF levels with tamoxifen therapy may be a reflection of reduced angiogenic activity in patients without endometrial thickness. The negative effect of tamoxifen therapy on IL-18, which is known to have a potent antitumour activity, may be related to the decreased tumour growth by induction of NO and reduction of VEGF activity as a feedback mechanism.
Clinical & Experimental Immunology 09/2004; 137(3):546-51. · 3.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been suggested as the major angio-genic factor in breast carcinoma. Both insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and prolactin are involved in the progression of breast cancer at least partly by stimulating angiogenesis.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum IGF-I, VEGF and prolactin levels and clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma.
Serum IGF-I, VEGF and prolactin levels were measured in breast cancer patients and controls and these levels were compared with well-known clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma, including tumour size, axillary lymph node and oestrogen/progesterone receptor status, tumour grade and disease stage.
Serum prolactin, VEGF and IGF-I levels were found to be similar in breast cancer patients and control subjects (P > 0.05). When the patients were divided into groups according to their tumour size, axillary lymph node status, tumour grade, oestrogen/progesterone receptor status and disease stage, no significant differences in serum prolactin, VEGF and IGF-I levels were found among the groups (P > 0.05).
The present study failed to demonstrate an association between serum levels of VEGF, IGF-I and prolactin and well-known clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma.
Internal Medicine Journal 07/2004; 34(6):310-5. · 1.54 Impact Factor
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U Coskun,
N Gunel,
E Onuk,
E Yilmaz,
O Bayram,
D Yamac, A Cihan,
B Ucan,
Y Yildirim,
G Celenkoglu,
S Ozkan
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ABSTRACT: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the results of 91 locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients (30 patients in stage IIIA - 33.0%, 61 patients in stage IIIB - 67.0%) who had been treated with different neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens. Forty-three (47.3%) patients treated with FAC (5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) or CA (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin), 33 (36.3%) with FEC (5-Fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) or CE (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin) and 15 (16.5%) with CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-Fluorouracil) combination as neoadjuvant setting. Median follow-up duration was 33 (6-116) months in 91 patients. There was no significant difference in the pretreatment characteristics of patients receiving FAC/CA, FEC/CE and CMF including age, disease stage, menopausal and estrogen/progesteron receptor (ER/PR) status (p>0.05). In CMF group, no patient was treated with taxan as adjuvant setting. However, ten patients (30.3%) in FEC/CE group and 21 patients (48.8%) in FAC/CA group were treated with taxans. Overall response rate was lower in CMF group (60.0%), when compared to FEC/CE (81.9%) and FAC/CA (91.0%) groups (p<0.05). Median overall survival (OS) and diseases free survival (DFS) were similar in three groups; 28.0 months (range: 14.8-41.1) and 12.0 months (range: 5.3-18.6) in CMF, 45.0 months (range: 16.8-73.1) and 23.0 months (range: 0.0-48.6) in FEC/CE, 46.0 months (range: 41.1-50.8) and 22.0 months (range: 11.1-32.8) months in FAC/CA groups, respectively (p>0.05). In conclusion, overall response rates were found to be higher in anthracycline-based combinations than CMF, but these regimens had no additional survival advantage over CMF regimen. Long-term effects of these regimens should be investigated in further randomized trials.
Neoplasma 01/2003; 50(3):210-6. · 1.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An unusual case of Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy and drug-induced agranulocytosis, as the predisposing condition, is described. The patient had severe granulocytopenia that was attributed to the recent use of dipyrone. Together with hemodynamic resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotic and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were started. Wide surgical excision of all the gangrenous tissues, in addition to laparoscopic formation of a defunctioning sigmoid loop colostomy, was performed. The white blood cell count rose steadily and the patient experienced a rapid recovery. We emphasize that radical surgery must be accompanied by pharmacologic interventions for a successful outcome in such cases.
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 12/1999; 42(12):1644-8. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In a double blind prospective clinical study to evaluate the diagnostic potential of peroperative fine needle aspiration cytology as compared to peroperative frozen section in thyroid surgery.
The diagnostic value of one hundred consecutive preoperative (FNA) and peroperative fine needle aspiration (p-FNA), frozen section (FS) and permanent section (PS) examination for thyroid nodules were studied prospectively in order to assess and compare the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.
Out of 100 patients PS showed 11 % of malignancies, while p-FNA showed 5 % and FS showed 6% of malignant cases with no false positive, but with 6 and 5 false negative results, respectively. Thus, as compared with FS, one false negative finding was obtained by p-FNA in a case of malignant tumor which could be definitely ascertained by frozen section technique. However, concerning the benign nodules no differences were found between p-FNA and FS.
Peroperative fine needle aspiration seems to be a useful method which can be properly performed because the nodule can be easily seen during the surgical procedure. However, further clinical observations of large numbers of patients are needed.
Endocrine regulations 10/1999; 33(3):141-4.
