The outcome effect of double-hormonal therapy in premenopausal breast cancer patients with high nodal-status: Result of a prospective randomized trial

PURPOSE

The combination of taxanes and anthracyclines has proven efficacy in node-positive (N+) premenopausal primary breast cancer patients. Ovarian ablation is also associated with better survival outcomes in premenopausal hormone-receptor positive (HR+) patients. Therefore, this trial aims to determine the superiority of combined hormonal treatment of ovarian ablation with tamoxifen (TMX) versus TMX alone, in premenopausal N+, HR + patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with taxane and anthracycline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Premenopausal women who had surgically removed breast cancer with histologically confirmed N + and HR+ were included in the trial. The AC consisted of six cycles of taxotere, adriamycin, cytoxan or taxotere, epirubicin and cytoxan with the completion of radiation therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive TMX 20 mg/day for 5 years or up to menopause or TMX 20 mg/day for 5 years plus goserelin (GOS) 3.6 mg injection per month for 2 years. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Between 2003 and 2011, 101 consecutive patients were allocated to TMX (51 patients) and TMX/GOS (50 patients) groups. The mean follow-up period was 52.4 ± 2.8 months. DFS was 43.0 ± 3.6 months versus 49.9 ± 4.22 months (P = 0.13) and overall survival was 51.1 ± 3.8 months versus 53.1 ± 4.2 months (P = 0.50) in the TMX and TMX/GOS groups, respectively. The results showed 9% absolute risk reduction with respect to DFS in favor of the TMX/GOS group.

CONCLUSION

This study group was comprised of stage II and III disease patients with high nodal status. The TMX/GOS combination reduced absolute risk of developing first locoregional or distant relapse by almost 9%. Longer follow-up is required to justify this protocol for routine use.

Metastatic testicular germ cell tumor presenting with abdominal pain: CT and MRI findings

Testicular tumors are the most common solid tumors in young adult males. Patients with testicular tumor often present with painless scrotal mass. Rarely, symptoms are related to metastases. We describe the case of a patient presenting with abdominal pain due to retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. We describe the magnetic resonance imaging findings of lumbar spine osseous metastasis.

Retrorectal cyst-hamartoma: a case report

Retrorectal cyst-hamartoma is a relatively rare disease. Total excision of the cyst is indicated to prevent infection and malign proliferation. We present a case of retrorectal cyst-hamartoma in a 55-year-old woman that was successfully treated by complete surgical excision.

The relation of mutant p53 accumulation in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder with pathological stage, grade, recurrence and survival

In this study prognostic significance and clinical value of mutant p53 gene in bladder transitional cell tumors is investigated. In our clinic, between 1997-2000, transurethral resection was performed in 48 cases, 3 females (6%) and 45 males (94%) with the diagnosis of primary bladder tumor, age ranges between 30-81 years old (average 58.9 +/- 9.9). The patients whose pathology results were transitional cell carcinoma were gathered into two groups as p53 positive and p53 negative by immunohistochemical study. These cases who were followed 1-36 months were compared to each other for pathologic state, tumor grade, recurrence and survival. It's found out that mutant p53 accumulation is related to high grade and pathologic stage tumors. But it's concluded that p53 positivity doesn't effect recurrence and survival rates.

Relationship between histologic grading and serum prostate specific antigen in prostatic carcinoma

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the most important tumour marker which, used routinely, proved to have a positive correlation with tumour volume and pathological stage. To evaluate the relationship between serum PSA and histologic grading of prostatic carcinoma, preoperative PSA determinations were made in 25 patients with prostatic cancer. Biopsy materials were evaluated and the Gleason scores were adjusted for histologic grading. The higher values of PSA were proportional to the Gleason scores of the primary prostatic biopsy.