No abstract

The M30-monoclonal antibody recognizes a neo-epitope of cytokeratin 18 which is formed after caspase-cleavage during apoptosis. Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 is released from apoptotic cells into circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between M30-antigen level and chemotherapy response in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Forty-two patients with invasive breast carcinoma received 4 cycles of anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Serum samples were obtained for assessment of M30-antigen levels before the administration of first chemotherapy cycle (baseline), and then after 24 and 48 hours for determination of chemotherapy induced apoptosis. M30-antigen levels at 24 and 48 hours were found to be significantly higher than baseline (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). M30-antigen levels in responders showed statistically significant increases at 24 and 48 hours (p < 0.001; p = 0.004, respectively), while statistically significant increases were not observed in nonresponders. Percentage change of M30-antigen levels was significantly higher in responders than nonresponders at 24 hours (p = 0.020). In conclusion, our study revealed a significant relationship between increases of M30-antigen levels in serum and overall response to therapy.

No abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life of 123 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who had been followed up after the initial treatment by the outpatient clinic for breast surgery of a university hospital. The Turkish version of QLQ-C30 (Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30) and QLQ-BR23 (Quality of Life Questionnaire- Breast Cancer 23) were used to measure the quality of life. The mean score for global heath status/ QOL was 64.43. Patients with localized cancer had higher scores. Those in the advanced stages of breast cancer had lower physical, social and sexual functioning than those in the early stages. Patients who were currently receiving chemotherapy had lower global health/QOL, significantly different from those receiving only hormone therapy. Breast cancer patients experience problems in multiple quality of life domains. Health professionals must recognize and take into consideration the importance of QOL, in order to improve the health of breast cancer patients.

The results suggest that the investigation of CK20 mRNA with other biomarkers in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients may be useful to monitor the presence of disseminated tumor cells in the blood circulation and to predict the prognosis of breast cancer.