Mutational Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes for Lung Adenocarcinoma With EGFR Germline Mutations.

Introduction: Germline mutations driving lung cancer have been infrequently reported in the literature, with EGFR T790M being a known germline mutation identified in 1% of NSCLCs. Typically, a somatic EGFR mutation is acquired to develop lung adenocarcinoma. Osimertinib has become a standard-of-care treatment for EGFR T790M-positive lung cancer.

Emerging therapeutics and evolving assessment criteria for intracranial metastases in patients with oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer.

The improved survival outcomes of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), largely owing to the improved control of systemic disease provided by immune-checkpoint inhibitors and novel targeted therapies, have highlighted the challenges posed by central nervous system (CNS) metastases as a devastating yet common complication, with up to 50% of patients developing such lesions during the course of the disease. Early-generation tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) often provide robust systemic disease control in patients with oncogene-driven NSCLCs, although these agents are usually unable to accumulate to therapeutically relevant concentrations in the CNS owing to an inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the past few years have seen a paradigm shift with the emergence of several novel or later-generation TKIs with improved CNS penetrance.

Efficacy of immunotherapy in oncogene-driven non-small-cell lung cancer.

For advanced metastatic non-small-lung cancer, the landscape of actionable driver alterations is rapidly growing, with nine targetable oncogenes and seven approvals within the last 5 years. This accelerated drug development has expanded the reach of targeted therapies, and it may soon be that a majority of patients with lung adenocarcinoma will be eligible for a targeted therapy during their treatment course. With these emerging therapeutic options, it is important to understand the existing data on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), along with their efficacy and safety for each oncogene-driven lung cancer, to best guide the selection and sequencing of various therapeutic options.

Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Adults Without Cirrhosis: A Single-Institution Retrospective Review.

Background: Although up to one in five cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in patients without cirrhosis, there is scarce literature characterizing non-cirrhotic HCC (NCHCC). Existing NCHCC research is primarily limited to surgical case series and there is a lack of data on unresectable NCHCC.

Aim: The purpose of this retrospective review was to compare the characteristics of unresectable NCHCC and cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (CHCC).

A review of perioperative anemia: A modifiable and not so benign risk factor.

Anemia is a commonly encountered finding either during the preoperative assessment or during the postoperative management of the patient. Anemia often gets overlooked while more emphasis is paid to cardiovascular and pulmonary evaluation. Evidence, however, suggests that the presence of anemia in the perioperative period can predispose patients to other complications.

Impact of β-blockers on survival outcomes in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: β-blockers (BBs) have shown promise in improving overall survival (OS) in patients with breast, ovarian, pancreatic and lung cancer. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of BBs on unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The authors compared clinical data and outcomes between unresectable HCC patients based on whether they were prescribed BBs.

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis presenting after immature teratoma resection.

This is a case of a young woman who developed neurological and psychiatric symptoms 3 days after resection of an immature teratoma. She was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis via positive serum antibody titres, which was later confirmed with cerebrospinal fluid antibody titres. Given her cancer diagnosis, she underwent treatment with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy in addition to 5 days of high-dose steroids (1 g of intravenous methylprednisolone) for the encephalitis.

A Multi-Center Retrospective Analysis Examining the Effect of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors on Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Prostate Cancer.

Background Cluster of differentiation 26/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is a cell surface glycoprotein with multifaceted roles, including immune regulation, glucose metabolism, and tumorigenesis. Recent literature has identified DPP4 inhibitors to improve survival in diabetic patients with prostate cancer. DPP4 inhibitors have been proposed to play a role in prostate cancer, as DPP4 is found at higher levels in malignant prostate tissue compared to benign and correlates with PSA levels and cancer stage.

CD26/Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV and Its Multiple Biological Functions.

CD26/Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a cell surface glycoprotein with numerous roles including glucose metabolism, immunomodulation, and tumorigenesis. CD26/DPPIV is well recognized in diabetes, with DPPIV inhibitors being a class of oral hypoglycemic drugs called gliptins that are commonly used to treat type two diabetes mellitus. Recent work also indicated a potential role for CD26 in infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and immune-mediated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and graft-versus-host disease.

A rare case of synovial sarcoma presenting as abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain can arise from numerous sources, including those extra-abdominal. It is important to obtain additional imaging in the setting of clinical suspicion for malignancy.

Reduction of immunosuppression for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD): a single-center experience of allograft survival outcomes.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a well-known complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant and solid organ transplant. While reduction in immunosuppression (RIS) is the first-line treatment for PTLD, outcomes of allograft function as a result of RIS remain understudied. In this retrospective study, we examine rates of allograft rejection and graft failure after RIS in 141 patients diagnosed with PTLD at the University of Florida.

A Single-center Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Radium-223 (Xofigo) on Pancytopenia in Patients with Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

Introduction Radium-223 (Xofigo, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Inc., Whippany, NJ) has been shown to increase overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), via the phase 3 ALpharadin in SYMPtomatic Prostate CAncer (ASLYMPCA) study. Hematologic side effects of radium-223 included all-grade anemia in 31% of the patients, thrombocytopenia in 12%, and neutropenia in 5%, and persistent pancytopenia noted in 2%.

The Impact of Epidemiological Factors and Treatment Interventions on Survival in Patients With Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas.

Objectives: Primary pancreatic signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare histologic variant of pancreatic carcinoma. A population-based analysis of pancreatic SRCC was performed to determine the predictive effects of epidemiological factors and treatment interventions on overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Materials And Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was searched for pancreatic SRCC cases diagnosed between January 1, 1973 and December 31, 2013.

Increased energy intake and a shift towards high-fat, non-staple high-carbohydrate foods amongst China's older adults, 1991-2009.

Objective: We examined trends from 1991-2009 in total energy intake and food group intake, and examine whether shifts varied by age or generation.

Design: Longitudinal time series (1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009).

Setting: Nine provinces in China.