PD-L1 expression and microsatellite instability (MSI) in cancer of unknown primary site.

Background: Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of tumors for which the origin remains unknown. Clinical outcomes might be influenced by regulatory processes in its microenvironment. Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a predictive biomarker for cancer immunotherapy and its status, as well as co-occurrence with PD-L1 expression, is poorly evaluated.

Effect of crossover from placebo to darolutamide on overall survival in men with non-metastatic prostate cancer: sensitivity analyses from the randomised phase 3 ARAMIS study.

Background: In the phase 3 ARAMIS study (NCT02200614), darolutamide significantly improved metastasis-free survival in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Following the primary analysis, the study was unblinded, and placebo recipients were permitted to cross over to open-label darolutamide. Despite crossover, darolutamide significantly improved overall survival (OS).

Somatic mutation detection and amplification in testicular germ cell tumors.

Background: Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCT) are the most common cancer among young adult men. The TGCT histopathology is diverse, and the frequency of genomic alterations, along with their prognostic role, remains largely unexplored. Herein, we evaluate the mutation profile of a 15-driver gene panel and copy number variation of in a large series of TGCT from a single reference cancer center.

Multicenter Database of Patients with Germ-Cell Tumors: A Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group Registry (LACOG 0515).

Introduction: Germ-cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common malignancy in young men. There is a paucity of data on GCTs in developing countries. LACOG 0515 study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with GCTs from Brazilian cancer centers.

A phase 2 randomized clinical trial of abiraterone plus ADT, apalutamide, or abiraterone and apalutamide in patients with advanced prostate cancer with non-castrate testosterone levels (LACOG 0415).

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with apalutamide, abiraterone acetate plus prednisone, enzalutamide, or docetaxel are the standard treatments for advanced castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC). We investigated ADT-free alternatives for advanced CSPC.

Patients And Methods: LACOG 0415 is a phase 2, open-label, non-comparative, randomized trial.

Expression of Glycolysis-Related Proteins in Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin.

Introduction: Cancer of unknown primary origin (CUP) is defined as metastatic cancer without identification of the primary site. Considering that only 15-20% of patients with CUP show a favorable outcome, identifying biomarkers may help improve the clinical management of patients who do not respond well to conventional therapies. In this context, the study of the metabolic profile of CUP may pave the way to establish new biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets; therefore, this study aimed to characterize the expression of metabolism-related proteins in CUP.

Molecular Biology of Pediatric and Adult Male Germ Cell Tumors.

Cancer is a leading cause of death by disease in children and the second most prevalent of all causes in adults. Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) make up 0.5% of pediatric malignancies, 14% of adolescent malignancies, and are the most common of malignancies in young adult men.

Somatic Copy Number Alterations and Associated Genes in Clear-Cell Renal-Cell Carcinoma in Brazilian Patients.

Somatic copy number aberrations (CNAs) have been associated with clear-cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) pathogenesis and are a potential source of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Recurrent CNAs include loss of chromosome arms 3p, 14q, 9p, and gains of 5q and 8q. Some of these regional CNAs are suspected of altering gene expression and could influence clinical outcomes.

Metformin plus lrinotecan in patients with refractory colorectal cancer: a phase 2 clinical trial.

Background: Patients with refractory colorectal (CRC) cancer have few treatment options. This trial tests the combination of metformin and irinotecan in this setting.

Methods: A phase 2 single-arm trial was conducted, patients received metformin 2500 mg orally a day plus irinotecan 125 mg/m intravenously weekly D1 and D8 every 21 days.

The Warburg Effect Is Associated With Tumor Aggressiveness in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCTs) are a rare group of neoplasms and the most common solid malignancy arising in young male adults. Despite the good response of these tumors to platinum-based chemotherapy, some patients are refractory to treatment and present poor clinical outcomes. During carcinogenesis and tumor development, cancer cells reprogram energy metabolism toward a hyper-glycolytic phenotype, an emerging hallmark of cancer.

The clinicopathological significance of monocarboxylate transporters in testicular germ cell tumors.

Background: Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of cancer. The hyperglycolytic phenotype is often associated with the overexpression of metabolism-associated proteins, such as monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). MCTs are little explored in germ cell tumors (GCTs), thus, the opportunity to understand the relevance of these metabolic markers and their chaperone CD147 in this type of tumor arises.

An integrated tool for determining the primary origin site of metastatic tumours.

Aims: Cancers of unknown primary sites account for 3%-5% of all malignant neoplasms. Current diagnostic workflows based on immunohistochemistry and imaging tests have low accuracy and are highly subjective. We aim to develop and validate a gene-expression classifier to identify potential primary sites for metastatic cancers more accurately.

Expression of tyrosine kinase receptor AXL is associated with worse outcome of metastatic renal cell carcinomas treated with sunitinib.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents 2%-3% of all cancers of the Western countries. Currently, sunitinib, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, particularly of PDGF and VEGF receptors, is the first-line therapy for metastatic RCC (mRCC), with significant improvement in clinical outcome. However, there is a lack of predictive biomarkers of sunitinib response.

What are the personal and professional characteristics that distinguish the researchers who publish in high- and low-impact journals? A multi-national web-based survey.

Purpose: This study identifies the personal and professional profiles of researchers with a greater potential to publish high-impact academic articles.

Method: The study involved conducting an international survey of journal authors using a web-based questionnaire. The survey examined personal characteristics, funding, and the perceived barriers of research quality, work-life balance, and satisfaction and motivation in relation to career.

Brachyury as a potential modulator of androgen receptor activity and a key player in therapy resistance in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Acquisition of resistance to conventional therapy is a major problem for PCa patient management. Several mechanisms have been described to promote therapy resistance in PCa, such as androgen receptor (AR) activation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), acquisition of stem cell properties and neuroendocrine transdifferentiation (NEtD).

Hotspot TERT promoter mutations are rare events in testicular germ cell tumors.

The abnormal activation of telomerase, codified by the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, is related to one of cancer hallmarks. Hotspot somatic mutations in the promoter region of TERT, specifically the c.-124:C>T and c.

Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the kidney: a case report and review of literature.

Primary synovial sarcoma (SS) of the kidney is a rare neoplasm and its presenting features are similar to other common renal tumors, making early diagnosis difficult. To date, few cases have been reported in the literature. Primary renal SSs can exist in either a monophasic or a biphasic pattern, the former being more common and tending to have a better prognosis than the biphasic variant.