Publications by authors named "Blais N"

Introduction: NSCLC is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved survival in patients with advanced NSCLC, treatment resistance remains a challenge. Cryoactivation, a technique inducing cell death by cycles of freezing and thawing, has the potential to augment tumor responses when combined with ICIs.

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Background: Any surgical procedure carries a risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), albeit variable. Improvements in medical and surgical practices and the shortening of care pathways due to the development of day surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery, have reduced the perioperative risk for VTE.

Objective: A collaborative working group of experts in perioperative haemostasis updated in 2024 the recommendations for the Prevention of perioperative venous thromboembolism published in 2011.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The IND.242 trial aims to assess the effectiveness of JDQ443 (opnurasib), a selective KRAS G12C inhibitor, in improving major pathological response rates in patients with resectable NSCLC.
  • * This trial involves 27 patients and includes objectives related to safety, response rates, event-free survival, and exploring biomarkers that could predict treatment outcomes.
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  • * In the study, 345 previously treated patients were given either sotorasib or docetaxel, with various validated questionnaires used to assess quality of life and symptom burden over time.
  • * Results indicated that patients on sotorasib experienced fewer and less severe side effects, maintained better quality of life, and reported that their symptoms caused less interference with daily activities compared to those on docetaxel.
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Objectives: KRAS mutations, particularly KRAS, are prevalent in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a frontline treatment, but recently developed KRAS-selective inhibitors, such as sotorasib, present new therapeutic options. We conducted a multi-center retrospective cohort study to gain insights into real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with KRAS-positive advanced NSCLC receiving systemic therapy post-ICI treatment.

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Background: Patients with solid organ transplant (SOT) and solid tumors are usually excluded from clinical trials testing immune checkpoint blockers (ICB). As transplant rates are increasing, we aimed to evaluate ICB outcomes in this population, with a special focus on lung cancer.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study collecting real data of ICB use in patients with SOT and solid tumors.

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Introduction: Proper access to primary eye care is essential in addressing vision impairment, and tele-eye care examinations are a promising solution that could facilitate this access in many rural or remote areas. Even though remote eye exams are becoming increasingly frequent, comprehensive tele-eye care exams are still limited by the lack of published data. The aim of this study is to compare a comprehensive tele-eye care exam with a gold standard in-person primary eye care exam with an emphasis on refractive measurements, ocular health assessment, confidence level of the eye care providers and patient satisfaction.

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The treatment paradigm for patients with stage II/III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly evolving. We performed a modified Delphi process culminating at the Early-stage Lung cancer International eXpert Retreat (ELIXR23) meeting held in Montreal, Canada, in June 2023. Participants included medical and radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons and pathologists from across Quebec.

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Background: PD-L1 expression is used to predict NSCLC response to ICIs, but its performance is suboptimal. The impact of KRAS mutations in these patients is unclear. Studies evaluating co-mutations in TP53, STK11 and KEAP1 as well as the NLR showed that they may predict the benefit of ICIs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lorlatinib is the only targeted therapy in Canada for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not responded to second-generation ALK TKIs, addressing a significant treatment gap.
  • A study involving 59 patients showed that lorlatinib had a median treatment duration of 15.3 months, with over half of the patients still on treatment after 12 months.
  • Patients also experienced improved quality of life, with a notable increase in health utility scores within the first three months, suggesting lorlatinib effectively manages both survival and quality of life for these patients.
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Activating mutations in , in particular, a point mutation leading to a glycine-to-cysteine substitution at codon 12 (G12C), are among the most frequent genomic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several agents targeting KRAS G12C have recently entered clinical development. Sotorasib, a first-in-class specific small molecule that irreversibly inhibits KRAS G12C, has since obtained Health Canada approval.

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Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive, neuroendocrine tumour with high relapse rates, and significant morbidity and mortality. Apart from advances in radiation therapy, progress in the systemic treatment of SCLC had been stagnant for over three decades despite multiple attempts to develop alternative therapeutic options that could improve responses and survival. Recent promising developments in first-line and subsequent therapeutic approaches prompted a Canadian Expert Panel to convene to review evidence, discuss practice patterns, and reach a consensus on the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC).

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The PACIFIC trial showed a survival benefit with durvalumab through five years in stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, optimal use of imaging to detect disease progression remains unclearly defined for this population. An expert working group convened to consider available evidence and clinical experience and develop recommendations for follow-up imaging after concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT).

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Background: Anti-PD-1 has activity in brain metastases (BM). This phase II open labeled non-randomized single arm trial examined the safety and efficacy of combining nivolumab with radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of patients with BM from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: This was a multicenter trial (NCT02978404) in which patients diagnosed with NSCLC or RCC, having ≤ 10 cc of un-irradiated BM and no prior immunotherapy were eligible.

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Article Synopsis
  • Clostridioides difficile is a significant pathogen responsible for 15,000 deaths annually in the U.S., necessitating the development of vaccines due to its harmful toxins, including binary toxin (CDT).
  • Researchers isolated neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against CDT and studied their mechanisms, revealing that these antibodies prevent toxin assembly by sterically clashing with the heptameric structure required for CDT's activity.
  • The findings suggest that targeting CDT oligomerization through these antibodies could be a promising strategy for creating effective vaccines and treatments against C. difficile infections.
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Objectives: Thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) are commonly used in the management of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC); however, Phase III trials of first-line immunotherapy often excluded these options. Guidance is needed regarding appropriate use of TRT, PCI, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance while new data are awaited.

Materials And Methods: In two web-based meetings, a pan-Canadian expert working group of five radiation oncologists and four medical oncologists addressed eight clinical questions regarding use of radiation therapy (RT) and MRI surveillance among patients with ES-SCLC receiving immunotherapy.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors have activity in mesothelioma. IND.227 was a phase 2 trial (120 patients planned) comparing progression-free survival of standard platinum and pemetrexed (CP) versus CP + pembrolizumab (pembro) versus pembro.

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Background: Sotorasib is a specific, irreversible inhibitor of the GTPase protein, KRAS. We compared the efficacy and safety of sotorasib with a standard-of-care treatment in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the KRAS mutation who had been previously treated with other anticancer drugs.

Methods: We conducted a randomised, open-label phase 3 trial at 148 centres in 22 countries.

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