Purpose: To determine whether hemogram parameters have prognostic effects on survival in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). Methods: This retrospective analysis included 113ED-SCLC patients, who were followed in an oncology clinic. The data regarding the baseline patient demographic characteristics, complete blood count (white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean platelet volume, platelet, total neutrophil, total lymphocyte, total monocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio [MLR]), and survival were analyzed. According to the ROC curve drawn for overall survival (OS) analysis, the cutoff values were determined as follows: NLR ≥3, with 71.4% sensitivity and 63.6% specificity; PLR ≥0.150, with 68.1% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity; and MLR ≥0.367, with 64.4% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity. Results: Of the 113 patients with ED-SCLC, 92 (81.4%) were men and 21 (18.6%) were women. The median age was 65 years (range, 35–81 years). NLR was <3 in 40 (65.4%) patients. Patients with NLR <3 had significantly higher OS than those with NLR ≥3 (15 vs. 5 months, respectively, p < 0.001). Patients with PLR <150 had significantly higher median OS than those with PLR ≥150 (14 vs. 6 months, respectively, p = 0.014). The median OS was significantly greater in patients with MLR <0.367 compared to that in patients with MLR ≥0.367 (11 vs. 6 months, respectively, p = 0.016). In multivariate analysis, NLR was the only factor associated with OS (HR = 2.26, 95% Cl 1.24–4.10). Conclusion: NLR was determined as an independent negative prognostic factor for OS in ED-SCLC patients at diagnosis, thus may help determine disease prognosis as a useful prognostic marker.

Background. The guidelines recommend considering the BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in female patients with breast carcinomas. In this retrospective study, the BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence in high-risk breast carcinoma patients in a Turkish population was investigated. Materials and Methods. In high genetic risk breast carcinoma patients, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations were identified by applying next-generation sequencing. Results. The results showed BRCA1/2 mutations in 19% of the total patients. In those with first-degree relatives with breast carcinoma histories, the BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence was also 19%. In the patients younger than 40 years old, the BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence was 19.5%. In the triple-negative breast carcinoma patients younger than 60 years old, the BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence was 24.2%. In the patients younger than 40 years old with triple-negative breast carcinomas, BRCA1/2 mutation positivity was found in 37.5% of the patients. Overall, in the Turkish population, the BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence ranges from 19% to 37% in patients with high-risk breast carcinomas. Conclusion. It is recommended to check for BRCA1/2 mutations in all high-risk breast carcinoma patients in the Turkish population.

Mean platelet volume (MPV), the most commonly used measure of platelet size, and is altered in patients with malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MPV on overall survival (OS) of patients with locally advanced (Stage IIIA/B) inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective study included patients who received concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin + etoposide regimen due to locally advanced stage IIIA/B NSCLC. The study included a total of 115 cases, consisting of 110 (95.7%) male and 5 (4.2%) female patients. The mean age of the patients was 61.3 ± 10.4 (22–82) years. ROC curve generated by MPV for OS yielded an AUC of 0.746 (95% CI 0.659–0.833), (p < 0.001). MPV was detected as >9 fL with a sensitivity of 74.4% and a specificity of 72.0%. In patients with stage IIIA, median OS was 45.0 months (95% CI 17.3–74.1) and 21 months (95% CI 10.6–31.3) in groups with MPV > 9.0 fL and ≤9.0 fL, respectively (p = 0.013). In patients with stage IIIB, median OS was 44.0 months (95% CI 13.8–60.6) and 16 months (95% CI 9.5–22.4) in groups with MPV > 9.0 fL and ≤9.0 fL, respectively (p = 0.036). ECOG performance score, total platelet count, and MPV were found as the most significant independent factors affecting survival (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, and, p = 0.034, respectively). In this study, we showed that decreased pre-treatment MPV was an independent risk factor for survival in NSCLC patients who were administered CCRT. As part of routine complete blood count panel, MPV may represent one of the easiest measuring tools as an independent prognostic marker for survival in locally advanced NSCLC.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of treatment modalities on survival among unoperat ed and locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients aged 70 years and older, representing real-life data. Methods: From 2005 through 2017, medical records of 2259 patients with lung cancer from Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital-Istanbul/Turkey were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with locally advanced NSCLC ≥ 70 years of age who did not undergo surgery for lung cancer were reviewed. In total, 130 patients were eligible for the final analysis. Patients were stratified into four groups as: chemotherapy (CT), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT), sequential chemoradiotherapy (sCRT), and radiotherapy (RT) only. Results: Of the 130 patients included in the analysis; CT, cCRT, sCRT, and RT only were applied to 25(19.2%), 30(23.1%), 31(23.8%), and 44(33.8%) patients, retrospectively. Twelve (9.2%) patients were female. Median age was 72 years (range, 70–88). Sixty (46.2%) patients had stage IIIA disease and 70(53.8%) patients had stage IIIB disease. Median progression-free survival(mPFS) in patients treated with CT, cCRT, sCRT, and RT were 8.0, 15, 10, and 9.0 months, respectively(p = 0.07). Corresponding median overall survival (mOS) were 10, 33, 20, and 15 months (p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, stage IIIB disease [hazard ratio (HR), 2.8], ECOG-PS 2(HR, 2.10), and ECOG-PS 3–4(HR, 5.13) were found to be the negative factors affecting survival, while cCRT (HR, 0.45) and sCRT (HR, 0.50) were the independent factors associated with better survival. Conclusion: This study showed that the use of combined treatment modality was associated with better survival in elderly patients with locally advanced NSCLC, with the greatest survival observed in patients treated with cCRT. We therefore suggest that cCRT, when feasible, should be strongly considered in locally advanced NSCLC patients 70 years and over.