<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_007_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b1Aa"><h3>Background</h3><p>Patients, who receive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, develop chronic functional abnormalities and survive with reduced quality of life.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_008_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b2Aa"><h3>Purpose</h3><p>We aimed to study patients with oral cancer, who received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_009_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b3Aa"><h3>Patients</h3><p>Ten patients (mean age 63.8 years) were included.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_010_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b4Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>Oral mucositis, pain and xerostomia, maximum mouth opening (MMO) and functional abnormalities before and after RT were recorded. The 35 mm MMO or less was accepted as trismus. Patients completed the EORTC QLQ C-30 and Head/Neck35 questionnaires.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_011_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b5Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Mean RT dose was 64.3 Gray. Six patients received chemoradiotherapy. Severe mucositis, pain and xerostomia were recorded in 6 and 5 patients respectively. MMO was reduced in all patients. The mean MMO (34 mm) reached the level of trismus. The total number of symptoms increased from 3.1 to 6.3 in C-30 and from 3.1 to 8.8 per patient in the H/N35. Severe fatigue, pain, limitations at work, weakness, sad feelings, family problems, sleeping problems, anorexia, financial difficulties, tense/irritable, constipation, nausea, vomiting and depression were most often reported with C-30. Most patients reported low to moderate quality of life. Severe oral, jaw and neck pain, swallowing problems, taste alterations, sticky saliva, dry mouth, coarseness, dental problems, feeling sick and reduced interest in life/sex were the most common symptoms reported with N/H35.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0023_s_012_w2aab3b7ab1b6b1aab1c17b6Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The observed trismus, 2- to 3-fold increase of symptoms and poorer quality of life highlighted the need for support of oral cancer patients, who receive postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.</p></sec></abstract>

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Trismus and reduced quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, who received post-operative radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_fco-2015-0027_s_006_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Aim</h3><p>This trial aimed to determine wether postoperative radioactive iodine(RAI) associated with a survival benefit among intermediate-risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer patients or not.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0027_s_007_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>this study is a retrospective study of intermediate-risk papillary thyroid cancer patients that were treated with or without post operative RAI from 1st January 2002 till 1st January 2012. Overall survival (OS) and multivariate regression analyses were measured for all patients.</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0027_s_008_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>100 patients were included in this trial : 70 patients received postoperative RAI and 30 patients did not. The mean follow-up time was 7.1 (4.8 -15.1 years), and a median survival time could not be estimated. Overall survival at 10 years was 96% in the RAI vs 93% in the group without RAI (P &lt; .001). RAI reduced risk of death by a 27% [hazard risk (HR) 0.73, confidence interval (CI) 0.64 - 0.84, P &lt; .001]. Older patient age, male gende, larger tumor size, multifocal tumors, lymph node metastases, aggressive histology, vascular invasion, positive surgical margin, minimal extrathyroidal extension and absence of postoperative RAI were accompanied by compromised OS (all P ≤ .001).</p></sec><sec id="j_fco-2015-0027_s_009_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This representative study addresses the survival advantage of RAI for with intermediate risk PTC patients but conducting of large prospective randomized controlled trial is still warranted.</p></sec></abstract>

Is postoperative radioactive iodine associated with a survival advantage among…

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The treatment paradigm in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rapidly changing. The incidental finding of small renal tumours combined with the development of novel therapeutic agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways or inhibiting the interaction of the programmed death 1 (PD 1) receptor with its ligand have dramatically improved the prognosis of patients suffering from this malignancy. At the same time, the availability of multiple effective options with similar indications complicates the development and applicability of guidelines in this disease. We conducted a systematic review of the existing guidelines. Our study revealed areas of agreement as well as of discrepancies amongst the published scientific papers included. By critically evaluating these areas, we developed a therapeutic algorithm for RCC. We suggest that this methodology can define the practices of wide applicability and areas of future research.</p></abstract>

Developing an algorithm for the management of Renal Cell Carcinoma: focus on metastatic disease

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In normal B-cells, Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in B-cell receptor (BCR) signalling, is essential for cell survival and maturation. Not surprisingly, Btk is also implicated in the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphomas, like Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL), Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) and Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), which are driven by aberrant BCR signalling. Thus, targeting Btk represents a promising therapeutic strategy in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma patients. Ibrutinib, a selective Btk inhibitor, has already been approved as second-line treatment of CLL/SLL, MCL and WM patients, while more clinical studies of ibrutinib and novel Btk inhibitors are currently under way. In light of results of the RESONATE-2 trial, the approval of ibrutinib as a first-line treatment of CLL/SLL may well be approaching. Herein, we review Btk’s role in normal and malignant BCR signalling, as well as ibrutinib’s performance in B-cell lymphoma treatment and prognosis.</p></abstract>

Targeting Bruton Tyrosine Kinase: A novel strategy in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are composed of a heterogeneous group of malignancies from neuroendocrine cell compartments, with roles in both the endocrine and the nervous system. The majority of NETs are gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) in origin, arising in the foregut, midgut, or hindgut. The genomic landscape of GEP-NETs has been scarcely studied in terms of genomic profiling.The following algorithm was followed using the keywords neuroendocrine, genomics, targeted therapy, personalized medicine, gastroenteropancreatic and NET. The search was performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect database. Our current knowledge of sporadic GEP-NETs genetics must be further advanced to elucidate the molecular basis and pathogenesis of the disease, improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and guide tailor-made therapies.</p></abstract>

Oncology Unit, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine

National & Kapodistrian University, Athens School of Medicine

Multidisciplinary Unit of NET Management, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine

The Role of Genetics in Sporadic GEP-NETs: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 14 (2023): Issue 1 (December 2023)

Volume 13 (2022): Issue 3 (December 2022)

Volume 13 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)<br/>6TH HELLENIC CONGRESS OF ONCOLOGY

Volume 13 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 3 (December 2021)

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)<br/>Supplementary Issue: 27th Hellenic Conference of Clinical Oncology

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 1 (May 2021)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 3 (December 2020)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 2 (July 2020)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 1 (March 2020)

Volume 10 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 10 (2019): Issue 1 (April 2019)

Volume 9 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Volume 8 (2017): Issue 1 (June 2017)

Volume 7 (2016): Issue 2 (June 2016)

Volume 7 (2016): Issue 1 (March 2016)

Volume 6 (2015): Issue 4 (December 2015)

Volume 6 (2015): Issue 3 (September 2015)

Volume 6 (2015): Issue 2 (June 2015)

Volume 6 (2015): Issue 1 (March 2015)

Volume 5 (2014): Issue 2 (December 2014)

Volume 5 (2014): Issue 1 (July 2014)

Forum of Clinical Oncology

 Why subscribe and read  We would like to present to you the Forum of Clinical Oncology (FCO), the official scientific journal of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology.In the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology we want FCO to serve as a forum, for us all, to communicate clinical and research achievements in English; to share thoughts, opinions, facts, problems and solutions.We envision the journal to be the means, by which our efforts in the fight against cancer will become known to a wider audience, thus establishing our presence in the global setting. FCO publishes original and translational research articles relevant to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, state-of-the-art reviews, case reports, research articles, statements of opinion and comments, all related to clinical practice and basic research. A large number of eminent Greek and Foreign colleagues who participate in the National and International Editorial Boards, with their continuum direction and support, guarantee the high quality of the work published in FCO. In every issue published there will be something new, enjoyable and exciting to be read.  Why submit  We would like to welcome you to the Forum of Clinical Oncology (FCO), the official scientific journal of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology.In the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology we share the view that there are many issues we deal with in our everyday clinical and research practice that are common to our colleagues geographically closer to us, in the Balkans and the Mediterranean basin, but also to those in other parts of the world. That led us to dare "the great leap forward": to broaden the scope of our Greek scientific journal for oncology, published in Greek for the last 10 years, and develop Forum of Clinical Oncology a web based open access journal in English.  FCO will serve as a forum for us all to communicate clinical and research achievements. One of the innovations of the journal is its online management from submission of an article to its publication. Online is more efficient: submitting, reviewing, proofreading, filing and indexing. However, the most important benefit of all is easy universal access.  English has become the common language amongst scientists from around the globe. This is the reason why we chose English as the official language of the journal. Many Greek colleagues have already published work in English in distinguished journals or have studied or worked abroad. We believe that the language change will not be an impediment for our Greek colleagues to present their work in FCO, whereas on the other hand it will allow our colleagues from other countries to participate.  The Forum of Clinical Oncology publishes original and translational research articles relevant to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, state-of-the-art reviews, case reports, research articles, statements of opinion and comments, all related to clinical practice and basic research.  We share the view that there should be no barriers to knowledge and thus, we decided Forum of Clinical Oncology to be an open-access journal, i.e., any work submitted to the journal and accepted for publication shall be made immediately available to the scientific community and the general public, via the journal's website and printed version. Authors are requested to adjust accordingly the information regarding their work they wish to make public. It is the desire of the editorial team to make this journal an interactive educational tool to acquire knowledge and it is addressed to scientists working with oncology.  Please join us in our effort and submit your work to the FCO.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 