Summary Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute inflammatory respiratory disease. Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycoprotein expressed in various cell types, such as bone, immune, smooth muscle, epithelial and endothelial cells. It also acts as a regulator of immune response. The aim of the present study was to reveal the place of serum osteopontin levels in predicting severity among patients with COVID-19. Methods This study included 84 patients, 43 female and 45 male. Patients were divided into 2 groups, group 1 non-severe group ( n : 48), group 2 severe ( n : 40). Demographic data, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, white blood cell counts, albumin, procalcitonin, C‑reactive protein (CRP) and OPN levels were recorded. The OPN levels and these inflammatory parameters of the two groups were compared. Results There were no significant differences in terms of gender (female/male 25/23 vs. 18/22) and platelet count (178 K/μL vs. 191 K/μL) between the groups ( p > 0.05). Ages (57.7 ± 17.0 years vs. 71.4 ± 12.8 years), procalcitonin (0.07 vs. 0.24 ng/mL), CRP (17 vs 158 mg/l), neutrophil count (3.7 vs 5.64 K/μL), WBC counts (5.38 vs 7.85 K/μL) and number of deaths (0 vs 26) ( p < 0.001). The OPN levels (98.5 vs 13.75 ng/mL, p = 0.002) were found to be statistically higher, in group 2 than group 1. Conclusion The present study showed that OPN can be used to predict the severity in patients with COVID-19.

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Aim: To compare the seropositivity rate of cancer patients with non-cancer controls after inactive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (CoronaVac) and evaluate the factors affecting seropositivity. Method: Spike IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were measured in blood samples of 776 cancer patients and 715 non-cancer volunteers. An IgG level ≥50 AU/ml is accepted as seropositive. Results: The seropositivity rate was 85.2% in the patient group and 97.5% in the control group. The seropositivity rate and antibody levels were significantly lower in the patient group (p < 0.001). Age and chemotherapy were associated with lower seropositivity in cancer patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlighted the efficacy and safety of the inactivated vaccine in cancer patients. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT04771559  (ClinicalTrials.gov)

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The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and distribution by tumor localization of KRAS point mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer. A total of 189 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2014, who were either metastatic at the time of diagnosis or developed metastasis subsequently, were included in this study. KRAS mutation analysis was performed in the primary tumor tissues and KRAS mutations were identified in 47.6% of the patients. There was a high frequency of the p.G13D point mutation in left-colon tumors (P=0.011), while the p.G12D point mutation was more frequent in right-colon tumors (P=0.004). KRAS wild-type frequency (P=0.02) was higher among patients aged <40 years. A comparison of codon 12 and 13 mutations revealed that codon 12 mutations were more common in the >50-year-old group (P=0.03) and codon 13 mutations were more common in the <70-year-old group (P=0.04). KRAS wild-type tumors were localized in the right colon (P=0.005) and tumors with the p.G13D point mutation (P=0.018) were diagnosed at non-metastatic stages. In conclusion, KRAS point mutations in colorectal cancer exhibited a heterogeneous distribution in terms of tumor localization. In addition, the p.G13D point mutation was found to differ from other mutations in several aspects.