Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy: ANTHEM multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery may be a better option than mastectomy, but high-quality comparative evidence is lacking. The aim of the ANTHEM study (ISRCTN18238549) was to explore clinical and patient-reported outcomes in a multicentre cohort of women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction.

Methods: Women with invasive/pre-invasive breast cancer who were offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery with volume replacement or displacement techniques to avoid mastectomy were recruited prospectively.

PrEP discontinuation, cycling, and risk: Understanding the dynamic nature of PrEP use among female sex workers in South Africa.

PrEP cycling among women is thought to be safe when there are distinct "seasons of risk." However, cyclical PrEP use over short periods may be associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition. We aimed to characterize key social ecological factors contributing toward PrEP cycling among female sex workers (FSW) in the context of high HIV risk.

Understanding decision-making for and against oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to a mastectomy in early breast cancer: UK ANTHEM qualitative study.

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery may allow women with early breast cancer to avoid a mastectomy, but many women undergo more extensive surgery, even when breast-conserving options are offered. The aim of the ANTHEM qualitative study was to explore factors influencing women's surgical decision-making for and against oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of women who had received either oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery or a mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction to explore their rationale for procedure choice.

ART coverage and viral suppression among female sex workers living with HIV in eThekwini, South Africa: Baseline findings from the Siyaphambili study.

In South Africa >60% of female sex workers (FSW) are living with HIV, the majority of whom are not virally suppressed. Identifying multi-level determinants of viral suppression is central to developing implementation strategies to promote retention in HIV care and viral suppression among FSW with unmet treatment needs. Adult cisgender FSW living with HIV for ≥6 months, conducting sex work as their primary source of income, and residing in Durban (South Africa) were enrolled into the Siyaphambili Study, a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial.

Estimating the mortality risk correcting for high loss to follow-up among female sex workers with HIV in Durban, South Africa, 2018-2021.

Purpose: This study assesses risk factors of loss to follow-up (LTFU) and estimates mortality risk among female sex workers (FSW) with HIV in Durban, South Africa, in 2018-2021.

Methods: We used data from the Siyaphambili trial, which evaluated strategies for improved viral suppression. FSW with HIV aged ≥ 18 years with viral load ≥ 50 copies/mL were followed up for 18 months.

Detection of genomic mutations in blood and urine free circulating tumour DNA in patients with inoperable and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harbouring an mutation in tissue: a UK pilot study.

The development of methodologies to analyse circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood or urine of cancer patients provides an invaluable resource that can be used for diagnosis and prognosis and to evaluate response to treatments. Lung cancer has seen in the last years a revolution in treatment strategy with the use of several classes of EGFR inhibitors. However, almost invariably, resistance to such therapies appears.

Immunotherapy-related adverse events in real-world patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer on chemoimmunotherapy: a Spinnaker study sub-analysis.

Background: The Spinnaker study evaluated survival outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy in the real world. This sub-analysis assessed the immunotherapy-related adverse effects (irAEs) seen in this cohort, their impact on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and related clinical factors.

Methods: The Spinnaker study was a retrospective multicentre observational cohort study of patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy in six United Kingdom and one Swiss oncology centres.

Prevalence of depression, syndemic factors and their impact on viral suppression among female sex workers living with HIV in eThekwini, South Africa.

Introduction: Over half of female sex workers (FSW) in South Africa are living with HIV and clinical depression has been frequently documented among FSW. Data characterizing structural determinants of depression and the role of syndemic theory, synergistically interacting disease states, on viral suppression among FSW in South Africa are limited.

Methods: Between July 2018-March 2020, non-pregnant, cisgender women (≥ 18 years), reporting sex work as their primary income source, and diagnosed with HIV for ≥ 6 months were enrolled into the Siyaphambili trial in eThekwini, South Africa.

The Effects of GCSF Primary Prophylaxis on Survival Outcomes and Toxicity in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer on First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy: A Sub-Analysis of the Spinnaker Study.

GCSF prophylaxis is recommended in patients on chemotherapy with a >20% risk of febrile neutropenia and is to be considered if there is an intermediate risk of 10−20%. GCSF has been suggested as a possible adjunct to immunotherapy due to increased peripheral neutrophil recruitment and PD-L1 expression on neutrophils with GCSF use and greater tumour volume decrease with higher tumour GCSF expression. However, its potential to increase neutrophil counts and, thus, NLR values, could subsequently confer poorer prognoses on patients with advanced NSCLC.

HIV- and sex work-related stigmas and quality of life of female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Environmental quality of life (QoL) assesses individually perceived factors such as physical safety and security, accessibility, quality of healthcare, and physical environment. These factors are particularly relevant in the context of sex work and HIV, where stigma has been identified as an important barrier across several prevention and treatment domains. This study aims to examine the association between different types of HIV- and sex work-related stigmas and environmental QoL among female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV in Durban, South Africa.

Protocol for a prospective observational cohort study collecting data on demographics, symptoms and biomarkers in people with mesothelioma (ASSESS-meso).

Introduction: Mesothelioma is a heterogeneous disease that can be challenging to monitor and prognosticate. ASSESS-meso is a multicentre, prospective, longitudinal observational cohort study of patients with mesothelioma. The primary aim is to describe different clinical phenotypes and investigate predictive and prognostic factors, including biomarkers from blood and pleural fluid.

Concept: A randomised multicentre trial of first line chemotherapy comparing three weekly cabazitaxel versus weekly paclitaxel in HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Paclitaxel is commonly used as first-line chemotherapy for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. However, with response rates of 21.5-53.

Opportunities and considerations for the design of decentralized delivery of antiretroviral therapy for female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, 60% of female sex workers (FSW) are living with HIV, many of whom experience structural and individual barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and adherence. Community-based decentralized treatment provision (DTP) may mitigate these barriers. To characterize optimal implementation strategies, we explored preferences for DTP among FSW living with HIV in Durban, South Africa.

Antiretroviral Treatment Sharing among Female sex Workers Living with HIV in eThekwini (Durban), South Africa: Drivers and Implications for Treatment Success.

In South Africa, 62% of female sex workers (FSW) are estimated to be living with HIV. Qualitative research indicates that FSW share antiretroviral therapy (ART) with peers to surmount treatment barriers. We quantitatively described ART sharing, its correlates, and its relationship with viral suppression (VS) among FSW living with HIV in eThekwini, South Africa.

Efficacy outcomes and prognostic factors from real-world patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy: The Spinnaker retrospective study.

Background: Efficacy outcomes and prognostic factors of real-world patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy are still limited.

Patients And Methods: In the retrospective Spinnaker study, data was collected from patients in six United Kingdom and one Swiss oncology centres with first-line pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy. Efficacy outcomes and potential prognostic factors were estimated aiming at developing a prognostic model.

Persistence on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among female sex workers in eThekwini, South Africa, 2016-2020.

Background: Despite the established efficacy of PrEP to prevent HIV and the advantages of a user-controlled method, PrEP uptake and persistence by women in both trials and demonstration projects has been suboptimal. We utilized real-world data from an HIV service provider to describe persistence on oral PrEP among female sex workers (FSW) in eThekwini, South Africa.

Methods: We examined time from PrEP initiation to discontinuation among all FSW initiating PrEP at TB HIV Care in eThekwini between 2016-2020.

Health-related quality of life of female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important HIV outcome beyond viral suppression. However, there are limited data characterizing HRQoL of key populations, including female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV.

Methods: We used baseline data (22 June 2018-23 March 2020) of FSW who were diagnosed with HIV and enrolled into a randomized trial in Durban, South Africa.

Prognostic effect of body mass index in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy combinations.

Introduction: It has been recognized that increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with improved outcome from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with various malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is unclear whether baseline BMI may influence outcomes from first-line chemoimmunotherapy combinations.

Methods: In this international multicenter study, we evaluated the association between baseline BMI, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a cohort of patients with stage IV NSCLC consecutively treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combinations.

Protocol for a mixed-method study to inform the feasibility of undertaking a large-scale multicentre study comparing the clinical and patient-reported outcomes of oncoplastic breast conservation as an alternative to mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction in women unsuitable for standard breast-conserving surgery (the ANTHEM Feasibility Study).

Introduction: Approximately 40% of the 55 000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK undergo mastectomy because they are considered unsuitable for standard breast-conserving surgery (BCS) due to tumour size or multiple tumour foci. Mastectomy can significantly impact women's quality of life, and only one in four women currently undergo immediate breast reconstruction (IBR).Level 2 oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OPBCS) combines removing the cancer with a range of plastic surgical volume replacement (eg, local perforator flaps) and volume displacement techniques (eg, therapeutic mammaplasty) that can extend the role of BCS and may allow some women not suitable for standard BCS to avoid mastectomy.