Background and Objectives: Despite advances in immunotherapy, predicting survival outcomes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains challenging. Inflammatory and nutritional indices such as the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Inflammatory Burden Index (IBI) have emerged as promising prognostic markers associated with overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a total of 196 NSCLC patients treated with second-line nivolumab across multiple centers in Turkey. Of these, 101 patients aged ≥ 65 years were included in the elderly subgroup analysis. PNI, GNRI (in patients aged ≥ 65), and inflammation-based indices were calculated using pre-treatment laboratory values. ROC analysis determined optimal cut-off values. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis. Results: Median overall survival (OS) was 12.9 months in the full cohort and 12.1 months in patients aged ≥ 65. In univariate analysis, ECOG performance status (0–1), lower NLR (<3.3), lower PLR (<196.8), higher PNI (≥45.2), and higher GNRI (≥98.0) were significantly associated with longer OS. However, in the multivariate analysis adjusted for ECOG PS, NLR, PLR, and GNRI, only PNI remained an independent prognostic factor for OS in both the overall cohort [HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26–0.92; p = 0.02] and elderly patients [HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24–0.84; p = 0.01]. PNI is an independent prognostic biomarker for OS in NSCLC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusions: These findings support incorporating simple, cost-effective nutritional indices into clinical decision-making, particularly in elderly patients with NSCLC.

Background: Cancer patients are in the high-risk group of getting COVID-19 infection and experiencing a severe course. Anxiety of cancer patients about how they pass this pandemic process and how changes in the health system would influence their treatment has increased together with the COVID-19 pandemic. Influence of COVID-19 on psychology of cancer patients is also a subject needed to be investigated as well as its course and prognosis. Thus, it is aimed to measure fear levels of cancer patients by a validated scale. Patients accepting to fill in the validated Fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) scale were included in our study. Higher scores obtained from the scale means high level of COVID-19 fear was experienced. Results: A total of 66.8% of 486 patients expressed that they are very afraid of coronavirus, and 66.3% expressed that they fear from losing their lives due to coronavirus. The level of fear in the patient group having adjuvant therapy has been found statistically to be significantly higher compared with groups having neoadjuvant and metastatic/palliative therapy (p: 0.004). Conclusions: Because the increase of level of fear may lead to vital outcomes such as weakening of immune system, disturbance of treatment compliance, and worsening of prognosis, a psychological approach to cancer patients is compulsory in order to prevent fear of COVID-19 infection.

Clinical studies aimed at identifying effective and simple prognostic markers for gastric cancer are still being carried out. Inflammatory prognostic index (IPI) is being recognized as a promising prognostic marker in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. To evaluate the prognostic utility of IPI in stage 4 gastric cancer. A total of 152 patients with stage 4 gastric cancer, whose laboratory parameters, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data could be accessed, were evaluated. Kaplan Meier analysis was used for survival analyses. Hazard ratios were expressed with 95% CI values. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Study was approved by the Manisa Celal Bayar University’s Non-Invasive Clinical Research Ethics Committee (approval No. E-85252386-050.04.04-49119, date: 22.03.2021). We confirm that all methods were performed in accordance with relevant named guidelines and regulations. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years (range: 32–88). The number of patients who received first-line chemotherapy was 129 (84.9%). Median PFS with first-line treatment was 5.3 months, while it was 3.3 months with second-line treatment. Median OS was 9.4 months. Median IPI score was 22.2. We evaluated IPI score for its value in detecting survival status with ROC analysis and identified an IPI cut-off score of 14.6. Low IPI score was significantly associated with longer PFS and OS compared to high IPI (PFS in high vs. low IPI, 3.6 vs. 7 months; p < 0.001) (OS in high vs. low IPI, 6.6 vs. 14.2 months; p < 0.001). IPI score can be an independent prognostic index that is inexpensive, easy to access and evaluate for patients with metastatic gastric cancer, and may be useful in predicting survival in daily practice.

Aggressive fibromatosis (AF), also known as desmoid tumor, is an uncommon soft tissue neoplasm. AF does not metastasize, but it is locally invasive and its propensity for recurrence after conservative resection is well documented. No effective cytotoxic treatment has been reported, hence there is a need for novel treatment strategies. We present the case of an AF successfully treated with an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pazopanib, with mild side effects. As far as we know, this is the first case of AF with complete response to pazopanib. Pazopanib might be an effective treatment option for AF.