Neoadjuvant atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: the phase 2 PANDA trial.

Gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancers carry a poor prognosis, and despite recent advancements, most patients die of their disease. Although immune checkpoint blockade became part of the standard-of-care for patients with metastatic G/GEJ cancers, its efficacy and impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME) in early disease remain largely unknown. We hypothesized higher efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in patients with nonmetastatic G/GEJ cancer.

Artificial Intelligence Tool for Detection and Worklist Prioritization Reduces Time to Diagnosis of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism at CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI) software in detecting incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) at CT and shorten the time to diagnosis with use of radiologist reading worklist prioritization.

Materials And Methods: In this study with historical controls and prospective evaluation, regulatory-cleared AI software was evaluated to prioritize IPE on routine chest CT scans with intravenous contrast agent in adult oncology patients. Diagnostic accuracy metrics were calculated, and temporal end points, including detection and notification times (DNTs), were assessed during three time periods (April 2019 to September 2020): routine workflow without AI, human triage without AI, and worklist prioritization with AI.

Is the generalizability of a developed artificial intelligence algorithm for COVID-19 on chest CT sufficient for clinical use? Results from the International Consortium for COVID-19 Imaging AI (ICOVAI).

Objectives: Only few published artificial intelligence (AI) studies for COVID-19 imaging have been externally validated. Assessing the generalizability of developed models is essential, especially when considering clinical implementation. We report the development of the International Consortium for COVID-19 Imaging AI (ICOVAI) model and perform independent external validation.

The prognostic value of respiratory symptoms and performance status in ambulatory cancer patients and unsuspected pulmonary embolism; analysis of an international, prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Optimal risk stratification of unsuspected pulmonary embolism (UPE) in ambulatory cancer patients (ACPs) remains unclear. Existing clinical predictive rules (CPRs) are derived from retrospective databases and have limitations. The UPE registry is a prospective international registry with pre-specified characteristics of ACPs with a recent UPE.

Motion-compensated FDG PET/CT for oesophageal cancer.

Purpose: Respiratory-induced motion of oesophageal tumours and lymph nodes can influence positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The aim was to compare standard three-dimensional (3D) and motion-compensated PET/CT regarding standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and detection of lymph node metastases.

Methods: This prospective observational study (NCT02424864) included 37 newly diagnosed oesophageal cancer patients.

Clinical response assessment on DW-MRI compared with FDG-PET/CT after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with oesophageal cancer.

Purpose: In about 30% of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical resection for locally advanced oesophageal cancer no vital tumour is found in the resection specimen. Accurate clinical response assessment is critical if deferral from surgery is considered in complete responders. Our study aimed to compare the performance of MRI and of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of residual disease after nCRT.

Preoperative Prediction of Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Using F-FDG PET/CT and DW-MRI: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose: Accurate preoperative prediction of pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with esophageal cancer could enable omission of esophagectomy in patients with a pathologic complete response (pCR). This study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with integrated computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) during and after nCRT to predict pathologic response in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods And Materials: In this multicenter prospective study, patients scheduled to receive nCRT followed by esophagectomy for esophageal cancer underwent F-FDG PET/CT and DW-MRI scanning before the start of nCRT, during nCRT, and before esophagectomy.

Added value of MRI to endoscopic and endosonographic response assessment after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in oesophageal cancer.

Objectives: In order to select oesophageal cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for organ-preserving treatment instead of surgery, a high diagnostic accuracy is required. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether MRI had additional value to gastroscopy with biopsies and endosonographic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) for the detection of residual tumour after nCRT.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with oesophageal cancer eligible for nCRT followed by oesophagectomy were prospectively included.

Gross Tumor Delineation in Esophageal Cancer on MRI Compared With F-FDG-PET/CT.

Purpose: Current delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) in esophageal cancer relies on computed tomography (CT) and combination with F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). There is increasing interest in integrating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiation treatment, which can potentially obviate CT- or FDG-PET/CT-based delineation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of target delineation on T2-weighted (T2W) MRI and T2W including diffusion-weighted MRI (T2W + DW-MRI) compared with current-practice FDG-PET/CT.

Diffusion-weighted MRI with ADC mapping for response prediction and assessment of oesophageal cancer: A systematic review.

Purpose: The aim was to perform a systematic review on the value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in the prediction and assessment of response to chemo- and/or radiotherapy in oesophageal cancer.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search was performed on Pubmed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane databases. Studies that evaluated the ADC for response evaluation before, during or after chemo- and/or radiotherapy were included.

A Novel Liquid Fiducial Marker in Esophageal Cancer Image Guided Radiation Therapy: Technical Feasibility and Visibility on Imaging.

Purpose: To assess the technical feasibility of injection, visibility on imaging modalities, and positional stability of a novel liquid fiducial marker (ie, BioXmark) for radiation therapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: First, the visibility on imaging of different volumes of the liquid marker was analyzed ex vivo in porcine tissue (ie, on computed tomography [CT], cone beam CT (CBCT), and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). Next, for the in vivo part, the liquid fiducial markers were injected under endoscopic (ultrasound) guidance in 10 patients with curable esophageal cancer.

Treatment and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Incidental Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Cancer: An International Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Pulmonary embolism is incidentally diagnosed in up to 5% of patients with cancer on routine imaging scans. The clinical relevance and optimal therapy for incidental pulmonary embolism, particularly distal clots, is unclear. The aim of the current study was to assess current treatment strategies and the long-term clinical outcomes of incidentally detected pulmonary embolism in patients with cancer.