Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) presents a catastrophic disease with poor overall survival at advanced stages, with immediate requirement of new and effective treatment options. Besides genetic mutations, epigenetic dysregulation of signaling pathway-associated enriched genes are considered as novel therapeutic target. Mechanisms beneath the deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and its utility in developing of epi-drugs in PanCa are under trails. Combinations of epigenetic medicines with conventional cytotoxic treatments or targeted therapy are promising options to improving the dismal response and survival rate of PanCa patients. Recent studies have identified potentially valid pathways that support the prediction that future PanCa clinical trials will include vigorous testing of epigenomic therapies. Epigenetics thus promises to generate a significant amount of new knowledge of biological and medical importance. Our review could identify various components of epigenetic mechanisms known to be involved in the initiation and development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and related precancerous lesions, and novel pharmacological strategies that target these components could potentially lead to breakthroughs. We aim to highlight the possibilities that exist and the potential therapeutic interventions.

This study investigates the prognostic significance of Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, Platelet (HALP) score and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in metastatic head and neck cancers. Retrospective analysis was conducted on data obtained from January 2014 to June 2022 for 68 patients using rigorous statistical methods. HALP and PNI scores, derived from routine laboratory parameters, were categorized into low and high groups using respective median values. Prognostic significance was determined through Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression using IBM SPSS Statistics. Of the 68 patients (80.9% male, median age 57), 39 (57.4%) had laryngeal cancer. When stratified by low and high HALP scores, the median overall survival (OS) was 5.9 and 16.4 months, respectively (P < 0.001), while the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.7 months and 8.2 months, respectively (P: 0.016). In the low and high PNI score groups, the median OS was 7 and 13.2 months (P < 0.001), with median PFS of 5.6 months and 8.2 months (P: 0.002), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, while the HALP score did not reach statistical significance in terms of PFS, the PNI score and age groups were found to be statistically significant. In terms of OS, higher HALP score and PNI scores were significantly associated with longer OS. In this study, the HALP score and PNI score were found to be a prognostic factor in patients with metastatic head and neck cancer.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin–albumin–lymphocyte–platelet (HALP) score—a marker reflecting both inflammatory and nutritional status—in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing immunotherapy. We also sought to determine whether dynamic changes in the HALP score during treatment could predict therapeutic success and help distinguish between pseudoprogression and hyperprogression. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 160 patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC and treated with immunotherapy at the Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital. Chemotherapy regimens, metastatic sites, baseline and third-month hemograms and biochemistry parameters, and survival data were recorded. Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards regression model using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 15 months (95% CI: 11.88–18.12). HALP1 score (p = 0.048), HALP2 score (p = 0.026), and hyperprogression (p < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of OS. Regarding progression-free survival (PFS), the HALP2 score (p = 0.031), line of immunotherapy (p = 0.046), and hyperprogression (p < 0.001) were found to be significant. When comparing patients with increasing versus decreasing HALP scores, those with increasing HALP scores demonstrated significantly better outcomes for both OS (p = 0.034) and PFS (p = 0.007). Conclusions: In patients with metastatic NSCLC undergoing immunotherapy, the HALP score and its dynamic alterations during treatment appear to be non-invasive, easily calculable biomarkers that may predict both OS and PFS.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate risk factors for relapse in stage 1 germ cell tumors (GCTs) and compare relapse and survival outcomes between treated and untreated patients. Method: The study encompasses patients diagnosed with GCTs aged 18 and above, treated and monitored at our oncology clinic between 2012 and 2022. After excluding cases with secondary malignancies, 54 patients with confirmed histopathological stage 1 testicular tumors were analyzed. Patient data, treatment received, and follow-up information were recorded, and statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22.0. Results: In the seminoma subgroup, relapse was observed in 3 out of 24 (12.5%) patients. Although there was no statistically significant difference in terms of relapse between the groups with and without risk factors such as rete testis involvement and tumor diameter, it was observed that relapse occurred at a higher frequency in both risk groups. Among non-seminomatous tumors, 5 out of 30 (16.7%) patients experienced relapse. Although a notable numerical difference in lymphovascular invasion —a defined risk factor—was observed, statistical significance was lacking. A significant difference in relapse was observed between patients receiving adjuvant treatment and those who did not. Conclusion: For both seminoma and non-seminomatous tumors at stage 1, surveillance is recommended for patients lacking identified risk factors. Nevertheless, patients with established risk factors warrant personalized consideration, weighing factors such as age, comorbidities, and preferences to guide treatment decisions.

Aims: The primary purpose of this study is to make a retrospective evaluation of adrenal incidentaloma (AI) prevalence in patients performed thorax computed tomography (TCT), along with determining whether the diagnosed AIs were assessed functionally for adrenal gland hyperfunction and to detect the rate of hyperfunctional AI. Methods: The patients who applied to with the suspected COVID-19 and performed TCT between January 2020 and December 2021, were included in the present study. However, the patients who were followed-up due to a known adrenal mass and a malignant tumor were excluded. Results: TCT imaging, including adrenal glands, was performed on 2580 patients. The mean age for these patients was 54±16.8. However, when the patients were separated into groups in terms of adrenal pathology (AP), the mean age for the patients with and without AP was 61.4±11 and 53.8±16.9, respectively (p<0.001). The number of patients detected with AP, AI, and adrenal hyperplasia was 68 (2.6%), 60 (88.2%), and 7 (10.3%), respectively. The mean mass diameter was 17 (11-41). Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia was not observed in any patients; however, 13 of the patients (18.1%) detected with AI and adrenal hyperplasia were evaluated functionally. Hyperfunction was not observed in any of the assessed patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of AI found in our study was similar to other studies in the literature; however, functional evaluations of AIs detected via TCT performed due to suspected COVID-19 remained low. Although they are rare, it is important to define whether AIs are functional or malignant due to the comorbid conditions they create. For this reason, we believe patients with AI should be directed to an endocrinology clinic for a practical examination and follow-up plan.