Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumour in adults. Identification of accessible and cost-effective prognostic factors may better guide adjuvant treatment-related decisions. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers of host inflammatory response, and their increase has recently been shown to be a poor prognostic factor in several malignancies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative NLR and PLR in GBM patients. Between 2012 and 2017, 104 patients who had undergone surgery for GBM were considered for adjuvant therapy in our institution. Of those, 80 patients with evaluable pre-corticosteroid full blood count results were identified and included in the final analysis. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, localization, radiochemotherapy and second-line systemic therapy were found to be independent prognostic indicators for progression-free and overall survival. The median overall survival was 13.2 months. Patients with NLR <4 had a better median overall survival of 10.7 vs. 7.8 months in patients with NLR >4; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Overall survival also did not differ significantly between patients with low and those with high PLR values (10.2 vs. 15.2 months, respectively; P=0.105). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that pre-treatment NLR and PLR do not have prognostic value in GBM patients; however, large-scale trials are required to confirm these findings.

Skin metastasis originating from colorectal cancer is a rare entity and usually signifies poor prognosis. We present a case of a 62-year-old male patient who presented with a cutaneous metastatic focus on his forehead after five years of the primary treatment of colon cancer. Complete response from the cutaneous metastasis nodule was achieved with radiotherapy. The patient is still alive and under a second-line palliative chemotherapy regimen because of the multiple liver metastases. It is important for physicians to be aware of skin metastasis in patients with an oncology history.

Objective: Today, minimal invasive surgery has gained wide acceptance by general surgeons, even in complex oncological procedures. Despite the increased experience on laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, limited number of surgeons prefer laparoscopic total gastrectomy for proximal or middle-third gastric cancer, due to the concern of technical difficulties which can alter the quality of oncological outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed gastric cancer patients who underwent curative intent laparoscopic gastrectomy by single surgeon from October 2013 to April 2014. Five total gastrectomy + D2 (-No 10 and 11d) and 1 distal gastrectomy + D2 lymphadenectomy were analyzed for patient demographics, pathological characteristics, morbidity and in-hospital mortality. Results: The mean operating time was 255,8±37.2 minutes. The mean blood loss was 121.6±20.4 ml. In all patients, R0 resection were performed. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes were 22.6±7.3. The median number of metastatic lymph nodes was 16 (0-23). In one patient, less than 15 lymph nodes were retrieved. Complication rate was 33.3% (n=2). In one patient, who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, afferent loop syndrome developed. In another patient, who underwent total gastrectomy plus splenectomy a massive pulmoner embolism developed. The median hospital stay was 10 (6-18) days. Conclusion: With increased experience in advanced laparoscopic procedures, laparoscopic total gastrectomy may be considered as the first line treatment approach for gastric cancer patient even in a low-volume center.

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