Influence of pleural invasion on survival in pathologic T3-4N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity score matching study based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Background: Pleural invasion (PI) is considered to be an adverse prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the prognostic roles of PI in pathologic (p)T3-4N0M0 NSCLC remain controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of PI in patients with pT3-4N0M0 NSCLC.

Adult intracranial ependymoma-relevance of DNA methylation profiling for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Background: A methylation-based classification of ependymoma has recently found broad application. However, the diagnostic advantage and implications for treatment decisions remain unclear. Here, we retrospectively evaluate the impact of surgery and radiotherapy on outcome after molecular reclassification of adult intracranial ependymomas.

A predictive model of lymph node metastasis for thymic epithelial tumours.

Objectives: Thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) are relatively rare indolent malignancies in the mediastinum. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important prognostic indicator for TETs; however, the pattern of LNM involved in TETs has yet to be elucidated.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed thymoma (A-B3), thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine tumours, between 1988 and 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Palliative treatment with high-dose-rate endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (Brachytherapy) for lung cancer patients.

Purpose: to report on the use of high-dose-rate (HDR) endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy, EBIRT) for palliation of symptoms in patients with lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: retrospective review of lung cancer patients treated with HDR-EBIRT at our institution (1995-2017). Treatment results and treatment related toxicity were recorded.

Significance of tumor mutation burden and immune infiltration in thymic epithelial tumors.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are relatively rare malignant thoracic tumors. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immune infiltration play important roles in tumorigenesis.

Methods: Research data was obtained using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to evaluate the landscape of tumor mutations, related factors, and relationship of prognosis.

Dynamic nomogram for long-term survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after pneumonectomy.

Background: The study aims to identify prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in patients who had pneumonectomy, in order to develop a practical dynamic nomogram model.

Methods: A total of 2,255 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent pneumonectomy were identified from 2010-2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The cohort was divided into a training (2011-2015) and a validation [2010] cohort.

Maintaining an Adult Hematology/Oncology Service at a Tertiary Care Center during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Eight-Week-Experience with a Newly Implemented Procedural Plan.

Treatment of cancer patients has become challenging when large parts of hospital services need to be shut down as a consequence of a local COVID-19 outbreak that requires rapid containment measures, in conjunction with the shifting of priorities to vital services. Reports providing conceptual frameworks and first experiences on how to maintain a clinical hematology/oncology service during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic are scarce. Here, we report our first 8 weeks of experience after implementing a procedural plan at a hematology/oncology unit with its associated cancer center at a large academic teaching hospital in Germany.

Intragastric Single-Port Surgery: An Innovative and Multipurpose Technique for the Therapy of Upper Digestive Tract Lesions.

: Endoscopic treatment can represent a technical challenge for several special situations, such as resecting gastric tumors with larger size or in unfavorable sites and performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This study aims to describe an innovative and multipurpose technique, intragastric single-port surgery (IGS), which can be applied for abovementioned special situations and for assessing its safety, feasibility, and efficacy. : IGS technique was performed through a 2-3 cm skin incision, where the stomach wall is exteriorized and fixed to the skin.

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) for High-Risk Patients, High Body Mass Index (> 50 kg/m) Patients, and Contraindication to Abdominal Surgery.

Background: For high-risk classified patients, patients with superobesity and in cases of contraindication to abdominal surgery, traditional bariatric surgery might lead to potential morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a novel and effective bariatric therapy for morbidly obese patients. Our research group initially evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of ESG for high-risk, high body mass index (BMI) patients, and patients contraindicated to abdominal surgeries.

Survival and Prognostic Nomogram for Primary Gastrointestinal Melanoma (PGIM): A Population-based Study.

Background/aim: Primary gastrointestinal mucosal melanoma (PGIM) is an aggressive and rare disease, commonly with poor prognosis. We aimed to determine the clinical risk and prognosis of this rare entity.

Patients And Methods: Patients (n=962) with PGIM documented in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1975-2016 were included.

Effect of Lymph Node Dissection on the Prognosis of Thymic Carcinomas and Thymic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

We aimed to analyze the effect of lymph node dissection (LND) and accurate lymph node (LN) status on the survival and prognosis of patients with thymic carcinomas (TCs) and thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNETs) undergoing surgical treatment. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for patients who underwent surgical resection for TCs and TNETs during 1998-2016. LN status were defined as no LND (LND-), pathologically negative with LND (N0), and LN metastasis positive (N+).

Quantitative volumetric assessment of baseline enhancing tumor volume as an imaging biomarker predicts overall survival in patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest malignant primary brain tumor and still has one of the worst prognoses among cancers in general. There is a need for non-invasive methods to predict individual prognosis in patients with GBM.

Purpose: To evaluate quantitative volumetric tissue assessment of enhancing tumor volume on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an imaging biomarker for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with GBM.

Intragastric single-port surgery (IGS) for gastric endophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): A novel surgical treatment.

Background: Intragastric surgery with a single incision has been performed for several diseases, such as gastric tumors[1] and pancreatic pseudocyst[2], safety, feasibility and potential benefits of which have been reported in previous relevant studies[3].

Methods: The video shows a 65-year-old man with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, preoperative abdominal CT scan and endoscopy suggested an endophytic tumor located in gastric corpus, suggesting gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Intragastric single-port surgery (IGS) was indicated.

Adjuvant radiotherapy improves progression-free survival in intracranial atypical meningioma.

Background: Meningiomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. In patients with WHO grade I meningiomas no adjuvant therapy is recommended after resection. In case of anaplastic meningiomas (WHO grade III), adjuvant fractionated radiotherapy is generally recommended, regardless of the extent of surgical resection.

kOBCS: a novel software calculator program of the Objective Breast Cosmesis Scale (OBCS).

Purpose: The Objective Breast Cosmesis Scale (OBCS) is an objective method that documents the aesthetic changes in breast cancer patients. This work evaluates the kOBCS software (http://www.kobcs.

Patient-Reported Outcomes-Secondary Analysis of the SCORE-2 Trial Comparing 4 Gy × 5 to 3 Gy × 10 for Metastatic Epidural Spinal Cord Compression.

Purpose: To compare 4 Gy × 5 (1 week) to 3 Gy × 10 (2 weeks) in relieving pain and distress in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC).

Methods And Materials: The randomized SCORE-2 trial compared 4 Gy × 5 (n = 101) to 3 Gy × 10 (n = 102) for MESCC. In this additional analysis, these regimens were compared for their effect in relieving pain and distress.

Salvage treatment with sole high-dose-rate endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) for isolated endobronchial tumor recurrence in non-small-cell lung cancer patients: a 20-year experience.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report on the use of high-dose-rate (HDR) endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) for isolated endobronchial tumor recurrence in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, in whom a surgery or external radiation treatment is not possible.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective review of the patients with endobronchial tumors treated with HDR-endobronchial interventional radiotherapy at our institution (1995-2015) was performed. Treatment results and treatment-related toxicity were recorded.

Locally dose-escalated radiotherapy may improve intracranial local control and overall survival among patients with glioblastoma.

Background: The dismal overall survival (OS) prognosis of glioblastoma, even after trimodal therapy, can be attributed mainly to the frequent incidence of intracranial relapse (ICR), which tends to present as an in-field recurrence after a radiation dose of 60 Gray (Gy). In this study, molecular marker-based prognostic indices were used to compare the outcomes of radiation with a standard dose versus a moderate dose escalation.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 156 patients treated between 2009 and 2016.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy major lung resections after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery in lung cancer therapy is well established. The role of uniportal video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) is still not described in literature. This study presents the preliminary short-term results of uniportal VATS after neoadjuvant therapy in our series.

Lymph node upstaging for non-small cell lung cancer after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Background: Radical lymph node dissection (LND) plays a major role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study presents the analysis of the results after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) lymphadenectomy during anatomical lung resections for NSCLC, focusing on pathological nodal upstaging. Any possible risk factor affecting nodal upstaging was also investigated.

Impact of bladder volume on acute genitourinary toxicity in intensity modulated radiotherapy for localized and locally advanced prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the effect of changes in bladder volume during high-dose intensity-modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT) of prostate cancer on acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity and prospectively evaluate a simple biofeedback technique for reproducible bladder filling with the aim of reducing acute GU toxicity.

Methods: One hundred ninety-three patients were trained via a biofeedback mechanism to maintain a partially filled bladder with a reproducible volume of 200-300 cc at planning CT and subsequently at each fraction of radiotherapy. We prospectively analyzed whether and to what extent the patients' ability to maintain a certain bladder filling influenced the degree of acute GU toxicity and whether cut-off values could be differentiated.

Comparison of paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin (TP), carboplatin (TC) or fluorouracil (TF) concurrent with radiotherapy for patients with local advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a three-arm phase III randomized trial (ESO-Shanghai 2).

Introduction: Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard therapy for patients with local advanced oesophageal carcinoma unsuitable for surgery. Paclitaxel is an active agent against oesophageal cancer and it has been proved as a potent radiation sensitiser. There have been multiple studies evaluating paclitaxel-based chemoradiation in oesophageal cancer, of which the results are inspiring.

Impact of pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (nRCT) followed by surgery has become the gold standard treatment in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The pathological response is an important predictor in such patients. This work represents a single-center analysis investigating the impact of pathological complete response (pCR) on treatment outcome.