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Objective: Socioeconomic and cultural factors influence breast cancer prognosis. The effect of these factors on breast cancer was evaluated among women who live in Gaziantep and its surroundings. Materials and Methods:female patients who were admitted to Gaziantep University Oncology Hospital with a diagnosis of breast cancer between October 2006-July 2013 were included in the study. The effects of socio-demographic characteristics on clinical-pathological features were evaluated. Results:The mean age of 813 women was 48.8 years. The majority were premenopausal women. Advanced stage disease on diagnosis was detected more in our region. The rate of breast cancer with unfavorable prognostic features was higher among patients who were illiterate, with low economic income and residing in rural areas. Conclusion:Socioeconomic-cultural factors influence the biology and clinical course of breast cancer among women who live in Gaziantep province.

The aim of this study was to compare the dosimetric data from conventional two-dimensional (2D) helmet-field whole-brain irradiation (WBI) with those from three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), and to investigate the potential benefits of 3D-CRT as regards both dose coverage of the brain and retro-orbital (RO) area and ocular lens protection. Simulation CT scans of 30 patients were used. In 3D-CRT planning, the brain, optic nerves, ocular lenses and RO areas were contoured. Two opposed lateral fields were used and matched non-divergently behind the ocular lenses. The nominal prescribed photon beam dose was 1800 cGy in 10 fractions using 6 MV photons. Brain and RO areas were covered by at least 95% and 90% of the prescribed dose, respectively, and the maximum doses were limited to 110% of prescribed dose. In conventional 2D planning, the same field centre and angles were used as for the 3D-CRT plans. Fields were created using digital reconstructed radiographs and bony reference marks without information on the contour of structures. Brain, ocular lens and RO area doses were compared using cumulative dose-volume histograms. The mean value of minimum brain doses was significantly higher (p = 0.008) for 3D-CRT plans: all patients received a minimum of 95% of the prescribed dose. Mean doses of the left (p = 0.004) and right (p = 0.003) RO areas were also higher for 3D-CRT plans than for conventional 2D plans: all patients received a minimum of 90% of the prescribed dose. Furthermore, the mean values of minimum doses for both RO areas were statistically higher for 3D-CRT (p<0.001). 3D-CRT planning significantly improved the coverage of the RO areas and the dose homogeneity in WBI while protecting the ocular lenses.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Trendelenburg position in comparison to prone position on small bowel volume and treatment dose in gynecologic pelvic external beam radiotherapy using three-dimensional conformal treatment plans. Eight patients with gynecologic cancers, treated with definitive or postoperative pelvic radiotherapy were investigated. Pelvic computerized tomography (CT) scans for treatment planning were performed in prone and 25 degree Trendelenburg positions for each patient. The dose-volume histograms of small bowel within the treatment fields were obtained and compared for both positions. The clinical target volume (CTV) and the planning target volume (PTV) were also defined and evaluated in the subjects. Treatment dose was 5040 cGy to PTV with 180 cGy daily fraction doses in both techniques for all patients. The average irradiated small bowel volume was 726 cc for prone position and 458 cc for the Trendelenburg position. The average irradiated small bowel volume reduction in the Trendelenburg position was 38.0% (95% CI 19.5 +/- 38%) compared with the prone position. The average small bowel percent dose was 25.4% (1280 cGy) for Trendelenburg position and 39.9% (2010 cGy) for prone position. PTV doses were similar in both techniques. The results of this dosimetric study suggest that gynecologic pelvic radiotherapy in the Trendelenburg position decreases the volume of irradiated small bowel compared to prone position and may decrease treatment related small bowel morbidity. Clinical benefit of this position should be evaluated in further clinical studies.

Objective: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are associated with younger age, advanced stage at diagnosis, ethnicity, lower socioeconomic status (SES), and poor prognosis. The aim of the study was to investigate clinicopathologic features of TNBC patients living in Southeastern Anatolia, and the association between socioeconomic and cultural factors and TNBC. Material and Methods: A total of 875 women were included in the study. The effects of socioeconomic factors and cultural factors on clinicopathologic features of TNBC patients were evaluated. The SES of the patients was categorized as lower and higher according to educational and health insurance status, and household income. Patients’ age at diagnosis, living area (rural or urban), SES, and ethnicity (Arabic, Armenian, Kurdish, and Turkish) were recorded. Results: Median age was 47 (20-85) and 10% (n=87) of the patients were diagnosed TNBC. TNBC rates were higher in patients ≤40 years. Younger age, lower SES, and Arabic and Kurdish ethnicities were associated with higher rates of TNBC. Conclusion: Although the majority of the breast cancer patients in our region were premenopausal, the rate of TNBC among them was found to be lower than the general rate of western countries. Socioeconomic and cultural factors may affect tumor biology and prognosis of the disease in patients with TNBC. In our study, younger age, lower SES, and ethnicity were found to be associated with higher rates of TNBC and worse prognosis.