The immunomodulatory role of paracrine signalling factor VSIG4 in peritoneal metastases.

Peritoneal metastasis (PM), the regional progression of intra-abdominal malignancies, is a common sequelae of colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunotherapy is slated to be effective in generating long-lasting anti-tumour response as it utilizes the specificity and memory of the immune system. In the tumour microenvironment, tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) are posited to create an anti-inflammatory pro-tumorigenic environment.

Transcriptomic convergence despite genomic divergence drive field cancerization in synchronous squamous tumors.

Introduction: Field cancerization is suggested to arise from imbalanced differentiation in individual basal progenitor cells leading to clonal expansion of mutant cells that eventually replace the epithelium, although without evidence.

Methods: We performed deep sequencing analyses to characterize the genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of field change in two patients with synchronous aerodigestive tract tumors.

Results: Our data support the emergence of numerous genetic alterations in cancer-associated genes but refutes the hypothesis that founder mutation(s) underpin this phenomenon.

Radical resection and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of high risk recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma-A pilot study in a tertiary Asian centre.

Background: Peritoneal sarcomatosis (PS) is a difficult entity to treat with limited options and guarded prognosis. We aimed to determine if the addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) could offer superior local recurrence-free survival in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma at high risk of developing PS as opposed to extended resection alone.

Methods: This is a single arm, phase II intervention study where all patients with recurrent localized retroperitoneal sarcoma considered at high risk of developing PS were considered for enrolment (ClinicalTrials.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mapping Biopsy for Primary Extramammary Paget's Disease in Reducing Recurrence Following Surgical Excision.

Objective: To examine the association between the performance of mapping biopsies and surgical outcomes postexcision of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD).

Background: Primary EMPD is a rare entity associated with poorly defined surgical margins and difficult-to-access sites of lesions. Surgical resection with clear margins remains the preferred management method.

Trajectories of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Palliative Gastrointestinal Surgery in Advanced Cancer: Is Good Quality of Life Sustainable?

Unlabelled: To evaluate the trajectories and sustainability of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes after palliative gastrointestinal (GI) surgery and perioperative factors associated with HRQoL improvement postsurgery.

Background: Palliative patients face a wide range of physical, emotional, social, and functional challenges. In evaluating the efficacy of palliative surgical interventions, a major pitfall of traditional surgical outcome measures is that they fall short of measuring outcomes that are meaningful to patients during end-of-life.

An Asian Tertiary Centre's Early Experience with Laparoscopic Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

The use of open cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown improved oncological survival in terms of treating peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM). However, this procedure often comes with associated morbidity. The move towards use of laparoscopic surgery in this field is postulated to lead to a reduction in morbidity and earlier return to function, but literature on its use for CRS and HIPEC has been scarce.

Incidence and outcomes of delayed presentation and surgery in peritoneal surface malignancies.

Background: Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) present insidiously and often pose diagnostic challenges. There is a paucity of literature quantifying the frequency and extent of therapeutic delays in PSM and its impact on oncological outcomes.

Methods: A review of a prospectively maintained registry of PSM patients undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) was conducted.

Impact of COVID-19 on Public Interest in Breast Cancer Screening and Related Symptoms: Google Trends Analysis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in cancer screening due to the redeployment of health care resources and public avoidance of health care facilities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in female individuals, with improved survival rates from early detection. An avoidance of screening, resulting in late detection, greatly affects survival and increases health care resource burden and costs.

Super-enhancer-driven TOX2 mediates oncogenesis in Natural Killer/T Cell Lymphoma.

Background: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with dismal outcome. A better understanding of disease biology and key oncogenic process is necessary for the development of targeted therapy. Super-enhancers (SEs) have been shown to drive pivotal oncogenes in various malignancies.

A hydrogel-based mechanical metamaterial for the interferometric profiling of extracellular vesicles in patient samples.

The utility of mechanical metamaterials for biomedical applications has seldom been explored. Here we show that a metamaterial that is mechanically responsive to antibody-mediated biorecognition can serve as an optical interferometric mask to molecularly profile extracellular vesicles in ascites fluid from patients with cancer. The metamaterial consists of a hydrogel responsive to temperature and redox activity functionalized with antibodies to surface biomarkers on extracellular vesicles, and is patterned into micrometric squares on a gold-coated glass substrate.

Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Perioperative Immunonutrition for Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Background: Immunonutrition has been shown to reduce hospital stay and postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing gastrointestinal, and head and neck surgery. However, its use has not been demonstrated in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). This study aims to determine the effectiveness of perioperative immunonutrition on patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC in reducing length of hospitalization and postoperative complications.

High intra-abdominal pressure during hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal surface malignancies.

Objective: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represent a mainstay of treatment for peritoneal malignancies. There is evidence that HIPEC using high intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) results in increased tissue penetration, although its safety profile remains relatively unknown. We thus aim to evaluate differences in intra- and post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC with different levels of IAP.

A systematic review of margin status in retroperitoneal liposarcomas: Does the R0 margin matter?

Retroperitoneal liposarcomas (RPLPSs) are a rare tumor group for which current guidelines recommend aggressive resection to attain microscopically negative (R0) margins. To ensure R0 margins, resection of adherent or adjacent organs is often required. However, it is still unclear if R0 margins confer any additional benefit to patients over a grossly negative but microscopically positive (R1) margin.

Generating patient-derived ascites-dependent xenograft mouse models of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Clinically relevant animal models are crucial for effective development of therapeutics for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). This protocol describes the generation of patient-derived ascites-dependent xenograft (PDADX) models from the cellular component of ascites. The use of routine intraperitoneal injection of the fluid component of ascites is analogous to the biological events occurring intra-abdominally in patients with PC.

Can baseline quality of life scores predict for morbidity and survival after CRS and HIPEC: a prospective study of 151 patients.

Objectives: Various studies have shown that good quality of life (QoL) can be achieved after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). There is prognostic value of baseline QoL in post-operative outcome in Western setting. Our prospective study aims to validate these observations and elucidate clinical factors that predict poorer QoL in Asian peritoneal carcinomatosis patients.

A systematic review on quality of life (QoL) of patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) who underwent pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC).

Background: Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) has recently emerged as a palliative alternative for patients with unresectable peritoneal metastasis (PM). Quality of life (QoL) has increasingly been used as an endpoint to evaluate treatment outcomes. This review aims to identify evidence on how PIPAC would impact the QoL of PM patients.

Implications of peritoneal cancer index distribution on patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Objectives: Peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score is a common prognostication tool in peritoneal metastases (PM). We hypothesize that the distribution of PCI score and involvement of specific regions affects survival and morbidity outcomes.

Methods: Data was collected from a prospective database of patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC for PM at the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

Prospective Comparison of the Performance of MRI Versus CT in the Detection and Evaluation of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies.

Background: The performance of MRI versus CT in the detection and evaluation of peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) remains unclear in the current literature. Our study is the first prospective study in an Asian center comparing the two imaging modalities, validated against intra-operative findings. Methods: A total of 36 patients with PSM eligible for CRS-HIPEC underwent both MRI and CT scans up to 6 weeks before the operation.