Predicting the tumor microenvironment composition and immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer from digital histopathology images.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become integral to treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, reliable biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy efficacy are limited. Here, we introduce HistoTME, a novel weakly supervised deep learning approach to infer the tumor microenvironment (TME) composition directly from histopathology images of NSCLC patients.

COVID-19 testing and financial toxicity in cancer survivors.

Purpose: To investigate the financial strain placed upon cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We investigated the association of COVID-19 testing with financial toxicity among individuals with a history of cancer from using cross-sectional data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analysis assessed associations between clinical and sociodemographic covariates with being unable to pay medical bills currently and having problems paying medical bills over the last 12 months.

Metastasis development in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is the most common type of bladder cancer presentation and is characterized by a varying probability of recurrence and progression. Sporadically, patients with NMIBC might also develop tumour metastases without any pathological evidence of muscle-invasive disease within the bladder, a condition known as metastatic NMIBC. In the published literature, this phenomenon is limited to several case reports and small reviews, with few data regarding the possible aetiologies.

Treatment of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer: preclinical, clinical, and translational research.

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Approximately 10-40% of patients with solid tumors develop brain metastases, with non-small cell lung cancer accounting for approximately 50% of all cases of patients with brain metastases. Many management options are available which can include surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy.

Single-Hit and Multi-hit PIK3CA Short Variant Genomic Alterations in Clinically Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Genomic Landscape Study.

Background: Tumors harboring two or more PIK3CA short variant (SV) ("multi-hit") mutations have been linked to improved outcomes with anti-PIK3CA-targeted therapies in breast cancer. The landscape and clinical implications of multi-hit PIK3CA alterations in clinically advanced prostate cancer (CAPC) remains elusive.

Objective: To evaluate the genomic landscape of single-hit and multi-hit PIK3CA genomic alterations in CAPC.

Use of UV mutational signatures to distinguish between cutaneous and pulmonary primary squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of presumed lung origin (PLO) is now the second most frequent histologic subtype of non-small cell carcinoma after adenocarcinoma. The use of clinic-genomic correlation provided by comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) can revise clinicopathologic diagnoses of presumed primary lung SCC (PLO-SCC) to diagnoses of metastatic SCC of cutaneous origin (C-SCC).

Design: A total of 10 146 samples of clinically advanced PLO-SCC (84% known Stage IV) passed QC metrics and were designated as PLO-SCCs by review of test requisition forms, clinical notes, and pathology reports.

Role of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal cell Carcinoma in the Era of immunotherapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Background: The effectiveness of the clinical outcome of CN (Cytoreductive Nephrectomy) in cases of mccRCC (Metastatic Clear Cell Renal cell Carcinoma) is still uncertain despite two trials, SURTIME and CARMENA. These trials, conducted with Sunitinib as the standard treatment, did not provide evidence supporting the use of CN.

Methods: We queried the NCDB for stage IV mccRCC patients between the years of 2004 to 2020, who received (immunotherapy) IO with or without nephrectomy.

Neutrophil estimation and prognosis analysis based on existing lung squamous cell carcinoma datasets: the development and validation of a prognosis prediction model.

Background: Notwithstanding the rapid developments in precision medicine in recent years, lung cancer still has a low survival rate, especially lung squamous cell cancer (LUSC). The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the progression of lung cancer, in which high neutrophil levels are correlated with poor prognosis, potentially due to their interactions with tumor cells via pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, the precise mechanisms of how neutrophils influence lung cancer remain unclear.

Urachal and Nonurachal Adenocarcinomas of the Urinary Bladder: A Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Study.

Purpose: Although both urachal (U) and nonurachal (NU) bladder adenocarcinomas (adenoCas) share several histologic similarities, they differ in location and sometimes in therapeutic options. We analyzed the differences in genomic alterations (GAs) between these tumor entities, with the aim of identifying potential therapeutic targets for clinical trials.

Materials And Methods: Overall, 133 U and 328 NU adenoCas were analyzed.

Genomic landscape of clinically advanced wild-type pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: KRAS mutation is a common occurrence in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) and is a driver mutation for disease development and progression. KRAS wild-type PDA may constitute a distinct molecular and clinical subtype. We used the Foundation one data to analyze the difference in Genomic Alterations (GAs) that occur in KRAS mutated and wild-type PDA.

Does a prior cancer diagnosis impact PSA testing? Results from the National Health Interview Survey.

Introduction: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing remains a controversial issue. However, most urological guidelines recommend PSA testing in men aged 55-69 through a shared decision-making process with the patient. The impact of prior cancer diagnosis on PSA testing is not well-known.

Urothelial Bladder Cancer: Genomic Alterations in Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor.

Background And Objective: Genomic alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genes have been linked to a reduced response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Some of the immune microenvironment of urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) could be distorted because of the inhibition of interferon signaling pathways. We present a landscape of FGFR genomic alterations in distorted UBC to evaluate the immunogenomic mechanisms of resistance and response.

Novel synthetic lethality drug target in urothelial bladder cancer based on MTAP genomic loss.

Background: When urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) presents or progresses to chemo-refractory metastatic disease, the search for new therapeutic targets is paramount. Targeting protein arginine methyltransferase 5 accumulation in tumors with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) genomic loss has been proposed as a new anti-tumor strategy. We evaluated the incidence of patients with MTAP loss and correlate to treatment-guiding targets and biomarkers.

Financial Toxicity and Its Association With Prostate and Colon Cancer Screening.

Background: The term "financial toxicity" or "hardship" is a patient-reported outcome that results from the material costs of cancer care, the psychological impacts of these costs, and the coping strategies that patients use to deal with the strain that includes delaying or forgoing care. However, little is known about the impact of financial toxicity on cancer screening. We examined the effects of financial toxicity on the use of screening tests for prostate and colon cancer.

Older Patients with Lung Cancer: a Summary of Seminal Contributions to Optimal Patient Care.

Purpose Of Review: This review aspires to summarize the landmark advancements in the management of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), both historically and contemporarily with special focus in older adults.

Recent Findings: The past two decades have witnessed remarkable improvements in the diagnosis and management of lung cancer. Screening recommendations now facilitate earlier diagnosis in high-risk individuals, PET/CT scans have improved radiologic accuracy in identifying sites of disease, and surgical management with minimally invasive techniques has rendered surgery safer in those with limited physiologic reserve.

Acquired Hemophilia as a Paraneoplastic Syndrome in a Patient With Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

This case report describes a 72-year-old female patient diagnosed with small cell lung carcinoma who was found to have elevated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) after reporting diarrhea and melanotic stool. Further investigations revealed the presence of a factor VIII inhibitor, possibly resulting from a side effect of immunotherapy or of possible paraneoplastic origin. The patient's PTT remained elevated following a course of steroid treatment, raising the likelihood of paraneoplastic etiology.

Diagnosis and Management of Denosumab-Induced Hypocalcemia and Hypophosphatemia in the Setting of Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

Denosumab, a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANK-L) monoclonal antibody used in osteoporosis and various malignancies, has been shown to cause hypocalcemia shortly after initiation of treatment. There have been few case reports of electrolyte abnormalities in patients managed with long-term treatment with this medication. This report presents the case of a 43-year-old male with metastatic prostate cancer who presented with severe hypophosphatemia and hypocalcemia, initially resistant to repletion.

Association of Race With Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity.

Purpose: We investigated the association between race and FT among previous patients with cancer. Studies show that patients with cancer experience financial toxicity (FT) because of their cancer treatment.

Methods: Data on individuals with a cancer history were collected in this cross-sectional study during 2012, 2014, and 2017, from the US Health Information National Trends Survey.