Lung cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease which is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. NF-κB is a transcription factor which is known to affect the expression of more than 150 genes related to inflammation, lymphocyte activation, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as contributing to cell apoptosis and survival. However, NF-κBIA (IκBα) is the inhibitor of the transcription factor. The -94ins/delATTG polymorphism of the NF-κB1 gene promoter region which causes a functional effect and NF-κBIA 3′UTR A → G polymorphism has been shown to be related to various inflammatory diseases and cancer. Ninety-five NSCLC patients and 99 healthy controls were included in study. The NF-κB1 -94ins/delATTG and NF-κBIA 3′UTR A → G polymorphism have been studied by using PCR-RFLP method. It was found that the NF-κB1 -94ins/delATTG DD genotype and D allele frequencies were higher in patients than healthy controls and the presence of the DD genotype has a 3.5-fold increased risk of the disease (P: 0.014). This study is the first to investigate the NF-κB1 -94ins/delATTG and NF-κBIA 3′UTR A → G polymorphism together in the Turkish population. According to the results, the NF-κB1 -94ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism may have a role in lung carcinogenesis and prognosis.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), encoded by the NOS3 gene, has been suggested to play an important role in uncontrolled cell growth in several cancer types. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the NOS3 Glu298Asp polymorphism in bladder cancer susceptibility in a Turkish population. We determined the genotypes of 66 bladder cancer cases and 88 healthy controls. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A significant association for NOS3 Glu298Asp heterozygotes genotypes and T allele were found between healthy controls and bladder cancer, respectively (p<0.001: p=0.002). There were no significant associations between any genotypes and the stage, grade, and histological type of bladder cancer. Our study suggested an increased risk role of NOS3 GT genotype in bladder cancer susceptibility in our Turkish population.

This study investigates whether the circulating miR-155, let-7c, miR-21, and PTEN levels to be used in the differential diagnosis of patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) and breast cancer (BC). Forty-five patients with BC, 50 patients with IGM, and 48 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Serum miR-21 expression was significantly higher in BC (fold change = 2.42) and IGM group (fold change = 1.33) compared to control (p < .001). Serum miR-155 and let-7c expression levels were significantly lower in both groups compared to the control group (p < .001). miR-21 expression in BC was significantly higher than IGM (fold change = 1.976; p < .001). PTEN levels in BC were significantly higher than IGM (p < .001) and significantly lower than the control group (p < .001); the IGM group was significantly lower than the control group (p < .001). In addition to radiological data, serum miR-21 and PTEN levels may be noninvasive biomarkers that can help differentiate IGM from BC. The results of the study will lead to future studies in the differential diagnosis of IGM and BC.

Stage has been defined as the major prognostic factor in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is some evidence that indicates season of operation could play a role in the survival of patients. Between January 1995 and June 2008, 698 (621 men and 77 women) patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for NSCLC were evaluated. Patients were analysed according to surgical-pathological stages and month of the year in which they were operated. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism was also analysed in 62 patients. The median survival time in all patients was 60 ± 6 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 44-81 months). The survival of patients who underwent resection in winter was statistically significantly shorter than those operated in summer (P = 0.03). When patients were analysed according to T, N and season, resection time of the year was calculated to be an independent determinant of survival (P = 0.04). A VDR genotype was also associated with better prognosis (P = 0.04). Season of the operation, VDR polymorphism and N status seemed to have independent effects on survival of operated NSCLC patients.

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