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Biomedical subjects

Omer Görgün

Publications and source records attributed to Omer Görgün.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Are serum levels of CD44 relevant in children with pediatric sarcomas?

BACKGROUND: Variation in serum levels of CD44, which acts as an adhesion receptor involved in lymphocyte migration and binding, have been reported in some malignancies. The aim of this study is to compare serum levels of CD44 in children with sarcomas with those in healthy children. PROCEDURE: CD44 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples taken at diagnosis from 55 children with sarcomas and from 27 healthy children of similar age, sex, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between CD44 serum levels of children with sarcomas and those of healthy children. No significant difference was observed between CD44 serum levels of each patient group and those of control group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference among CD44 serum levels of patient groups according to stage or outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, serum CD44 levels were not found to be of value in the diagnosis or prognosis in children with sarcomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and intrathoracic Hodgkin's disease in children.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a syndrome characterized by clubbing of the fingers and toes, periosteal new bone formation of the long bones and polyarthritis. CASE REPORT: In this report, two children with intrathoracic Hodgkin's disease and HOA are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathoracic neoplasms are one of the major causes of HOA in adults; however HOA is rarely associated with intrathoracic malignancies in children. HOA associated with intrathoracic Hodgkin's disease is even more rare, but should be kept in mind.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Brain metastasis in pediatric extracranial solid tumors: survey and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Brain is a rare site of metastasis in most extracranial pediatric solid tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence, treatment, prognosis of brain metastasis in extracranial pediatric malignant tumors in a single institution and to review the literature. METHODS: From September 1989 to December 2002, 1100 children <or=16 years of age with extracranial solid tumors including lymphomas were diagnosed and treated in the Division of Pediatric Oncology, Oncology Institute, Istanbul University. Patients with parenchymal metastases in the brain were assessed. RESULTS: Sixteen (10 female, 6 male) of 1100 patients (1.45%) with extracranial solid tumors developed brain metastases. The median age of the patients was 10.5 (1-16) years. The diagnosis was sarcomas in 12 patients: 5 osteosarcomas, 4 Ewing's sarcoma family tumors, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 clear cell sarcoma of the soft tissue, 1 alveolar soft part sarcoma. Two patients had Wilms' tumor and two had germ cell tumors. Four patients (25%) had brain metastasis at diagnosis. Twelve (75%) developed brain metastasis during therapy or relapse at a median duration of 16 (1-70) months from initial diagnosis. All patients had metastases to various sites, mostly lung, at the time the brain metastases were detected. Treatment included surgery, followed by postoperative radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) in 1, S and RT in 1, S in 1, RT and CT in 6, RT in 1, CT in 1 and no treatment in 5. Only one patient with alveolar soft part sarcoma is alive with disease 20 months from diagnosis of brain metastasis. All other patients died at a median time of 2 months (2 days-6 months) from the time of brain metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Children with metastatic cancer who develop headaches or any other neurologic symptom should be investigated for possible brain metastasis. Although, the outcome for these patients is dismal in this series and in the literature; reports of long term survival in a few cases with Wilms' tumor, osteosarcoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma who had isolated brain metastasis, suggest that a subset of patients may benefit from therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Oral etoposide for recurrent/progressive sarcomas of childhood.

BACKGROUND: Etoposide (VP-16) is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that is effective in a broad spectrum of pediatric and adult malignancies. Chronic, low-dose, oral VP-16 has also been shown to be active in some recurrent malignancies mostly in adults. The aim of this prospective, single institution study is to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral VP-16 in children with progressive or recurrent (P/R) sarcomas. PROCEDURE: Twenty-one children (10 girls and 11 boys) with R/P sarcomas and a median age of 11 years (range 3-16 years) were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis was Ewing sarcoma family tumor (ESFT) in seven, osteosarcoma in eight, rhabdomyosarcoma in four, clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue in one, fibrosarcoma in one patient. Oral VP-16 was administered at a dose of 50 mg/m(2)/daily for 20 days. The next course was initiated after a 10 day rest. Response to oral VP-16 was assessed after two courses. RESULTS: There was an objective response (one complete response [CR], two partial responses [PR]) in three patients (14%) by two courses of oral VP-16 alone. One of these patients with PR achieved CR by the use of radiotherapy (RT) and further oral VP-16. Two more patients (9.5%) achieved CR by RT and oral VP-16. Eight (38%) patients had disease stabilization for 2-15 months. Two patients (9.5%) are long-term survivors. They are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) 79 and 94 months from time of relapse/progressive disease (PD). A patient developed acute myeloid leukemia and died. There was no major acute toxicity related to oral VP-16 in a total of 126 courses. CONCLUSIONS: Oral VP-16 therapy is simple, relatively nontoxic, and does not necessitate hospitalization. The cure rate is small. Given the risk of second malignancy, especially in children with previous exposure to topoisomerase II inhibitors and alkylating agents, this regimen may be used as a palliative treatment or in patients with poor prognosis.

Administration, Oral↗