Clinically Significant and Germline Variants in Breast Cancer-A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Conditions associated with pathogenic (PVs) or likely pathogenic variants (LPVs) are often severe. The early detection of carrier status is ideal, as it provides options for effective case management.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 58 patients with a personal and familial history of breast cancer (BC) who underwent genetic testing at the Regional Centre for Medical Genetics Dolj over a three-year period.

Real-World Efficacy and Adherence to Palbociclib in HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: Insights from a Romanian Cohort.

Background/objectives: The first reimbursed prescription for palbociclib (Palbo) in breast cancer patients in Romania was issued in July 2018. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and adherence to Palbo in combination with aromatase inhibitor (AI) or fulvestrant in a real-world cohort of HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients from Romania.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of reimbursed Palbo prescriptions was conducted using data extracted from the electronic database of the Romanian Health Insurance House, Dolj County, for disease code 124 (breast cancer), covering the period from 2018 to 2023.

Survival and Treatment Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) from gastric cancer (GC) are rare but associated with poor prognosis, significantly impacting patient survival and quality of life. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to consolidate existing research on BM from GC, evaluate the incidence and clinical outcomes, and explore the effectiveness of treatment options.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, following PRISMA guidelines.

Tackling Shift Work: Cardiovascular Health in the Auto Industry.

Shift work, particularly in the auto industry, presents significant health challenges, notably in how it impacts cardiovascular health due to irregular work schedules and associated sleep disruptions. This prospective study evaluated 4683 workers from a single Romanian automotive enterprise to investigate the relationship between fixed shift work schedules and cardiovascular health outcomes. Our analysis focused on fixed-shift workers, excluding those on rotating shifts to reduce variability and enhance the clarity of the findings.

Occupational Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a scoping review of causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, and intervention strategies.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) has traditionally been viewed as a specialized medical condition. However, its escalating prevalence among professionals across a multitude of industries has sparked substantial interest in recent years. This review aims to delve into CTS as an occupational disease, focusing on its epidemiological patterns, risk factors, symptoms, and management options, particularly emphasizing its relevance in professional environments.

Clinical Outcome of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Concomitant Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Arterial hypertension is regarded as a possible biomarker of treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer. Also, extended anti-angiogenic use in the metastatic treatment of the colorectal neoplasm may result in elevated blood pressure. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients with concomitant hypertension (HTN).

A Holographic-Type Model in the Description of Polymer-Drug Delivery Processes.

A unitary model of drug release dynamics is proposed, assuming that the polymer-drug system can be assimilated into a multifractal mathematical object. Then, we made a description of drug release dynamics that implies, via Scale Relativity Theory, the functionality of continuous and undifferentiable curves (fractal or multifractal curves), possibly leading to holographic-like behaviors. At such a conjuncture, the Schrödinger and Madelung multifractal scenarios become compatible: in the Schrödinger multifractal scenario, various modes of drug release can be "mimicked" (via period doubling, damped oscillations, modulated and "chaotic" regimes), while the Madelung multifractal scenario involves multifractal diffusion laws (Fickian and non-Fickian diffusions).

Digging in real-word electronic database for assessing CDK 4/6 inhibitors adherence in breast cancer patients from Romania.

It is imperative for patients to respect the prescribed treatments to achieve the anticipated clinical outcomes, including the outpatients receiving oral anti-cancer drugs such as selective cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6i). With the introduction of three CDK 4/6i drugs in the Romanian pharmaceutical market in 2018, our study aimed to evaluate medication adherence and the influencing factors among patients undergoing treatment with palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib for advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Medication adherence was assessed using the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) method, and Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between adherence, age, gender, and follow-up duration.

Oncolytic Virotherapy: A New Paradigm in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging as potential treatment options for cancer. Natural and genetically engineered viruses exhibit various antitumor mechanisms. OVs act by direct cytolysis, the potentiation of the immune system through antigen release, and the activation of inflammatory responses or indirectly by interference with different types of elements in the tumor microenvironment, modification of energy metabolism in tumor cells, and antiangiogenic action.

Giant exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) causing gastric outlet obstruction: case report and review of literature.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors, mostly located within the stomach. About 30% of GISTs are incidentally diagnosed and as they become symptomatic may be associated with bleeding, bowel obstruction or spontaneous rupture.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a middle-aged patient diagnosed with a giant gastric GIST, which presented for intermittent gastric outlet obstruction symptoms, and emphasize the major imagistic, histopathological, and therapeutic challenges that may be encountered.

Clinical, Pathological and Molecular Insights on KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and TP53 Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients from Northeastern Romania.

Mutations in RAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and TP53 are well-established genetic abnormalities in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, limited information is available for patients from Eastern Europe, including Romania. In this retrospective analysis, we investigated 104 mCRC patients from the Northeastern region of Romania to determine the frequency, distribution, coexistence, and clinicopathological and molecular correlations of these mutations.

Risk Factors for Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw-A Binomial Analysis of Data of Cancer Patients from Craiova and Constanta Treated with Zoledronic Acid.

MRONJ (Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) is a condition observed in a subset of cancer patients who have undergone treatment with zoledronic acid in order to either prevent or treat bone metastases. The primary aim of this research was to establish the importance of risk factors in the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in cancer patients receiving zoledronic acid therapy for bone metastases. The present study is an observational retrospective investigation conducted at two university centers, namely, Craiova and Constanța, and included cancer patients treated with zoledronic acid.

A systematic review of clinical trials of treatment regimens in HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Targeting HER2 has led to a revolution in therapy for cancers such as breast and gastric cancer, HER2 amplification is rarer (just 2-6%) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and efforts to target this receptor have lagged. Despite recent FDA approval for the first directed therapy combination for HER2 amplified metastatic CRC, the EMA has not yet authorized any such treatment and this represents a persistent unmet need in Europe and beyond. Here, we review data from trials targeting HER2 amplification, the latest target for CRC therapy.

Bevacizumab Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Real-World Clinical Practice.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. Bevacizumab was approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on favorable benefit-risk assessments from randomized controlled trials, but evidence on its use in the real-world setting is limited. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the outcomes and safety profile of bevacizumab in mCRC in a real-world setting in Romania.

Real Check RIO: A Real-World Analysis of Nivolumab in First Line Metastatic Melanoma Assessing Efficacy, Safety and Predictive Factors.

We performed a retrospective study on 51 metastatic melanoma patients treated with Nivolumab in first line, at the Regional Institute of Oncology (RIO) Iasi, Romania between April 2017 and December 2019. We studied the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy on a treatment-naive population. After a median follow-up of 36 months, the median progression free survival (PFS) was 26 months (95% CI, 15-36) and the median overall survival (OS) was 31 months (95% CI, 20.

The Bidirectional Relationship between Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis are two significant public health problems that continue to take millions of lives each year. They may have similar symptoms and, in some cases, are diagnosed simultaneously or may have a causal relationship. In tuberculosis disease, the chronic inflammation, different produced molecules, genomic changes, and fibrosis are believed to be important factors that may promote carcinogenesis.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Machine-Learning Models on Predicting Chemo-Brain in Breast Cancer Survivors Previously Treated with Chemotherapy: A Meta-Analysis.

We performed a meta-analysis of chemo-brain diagnostic, pooling sensitivities, and specificities in order to assess the accuracy of a machine-learning (ML) algorithm in breast cancer survivors previously treated with chemotherapy. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for eligible articles before 30 September 2022. We identified three eligible studies from which we extracted seven ML algorithms.

Trifluridine/tipiracil as a therapeutic option in real life setting of metastatic colorectal cancer: An efficacy and safety analysis.

In the phase III RECOURSE trial, the orally administered combination trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) demonstrated a survival benefit and an acceptable safety profile, earning approval as a third-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of FTD/TPI in daily clinical practice in Romanian population. A single-center, retrospective, and observational study analyzed patients with mCRC that received chemotherapy with trifluridine/tipiracil between May 2019 and May 2022 at the Oncology Institute Prof.

Endoglin (CD105) as a putative prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer: a systematic review.

The outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) can be improved by the identification of prognostic biomarkers. This systematic review of observational cohort and case-control studies was conducted to investigate the role of Endoglin (CD105) in the prognosis of CRC. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched to identify the qualified studies using the relevant keywords.

How Much Burnout and Coping Influence Quality of Life among Young Oncology Providers in Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to investigate the correlations between burnout, coping strategies, and quality of life among young oncology healthcare workers in Romania during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected the data using an online questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the COPE questionnaire, and the 15D instrument. A total of 122 healthcare providers responded to our survey.

New Targeted Therapies and Combinations of Treatments for Cervical, Endometrial, and Ovarian Cancers: A Year in Review.

This review of the meaningful data from 2021 on cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers aims to provide an update of the most clinically relevant studies presented at important oncologic congresses during the year (the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Annual Meeting). Despite the underlying existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last year has been notable in terms of research, with significant and promising advances in gynecological malignancies. Several major studies reporting the effects of innovative therapies for patients with cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers might change the medical practice in the future.

Biochemical and Metabolical Pathways Associated with Microbiota-Derived Butyrate in Colorectal Cancer and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Implications: A Narrative Review.

Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research progress on the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the biochemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate.

The Landscape of Nanovectors for Modulation in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy represents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer, which functions via the reprogramming and activation of antitumor immunity. However, adverse events resulting from immunotherapy that are related to the low specificity of tumor cell-targeting represent a limitation of immunotherapy's efficacy. The potential of nanotechnologies is represented by the possibilities of immunotherapeutical agents being carried by nanoparticles with various material types, shapes, sizes, coated ligands, associated loading methods, hydrophilicities, elasticities, and biocompatibilities.

Landscape of Immunotherapy Options for Colorectal Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives beyond Immune Checkpoint Blockade.

Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy in Western countries and a major cause of death despite recent improvements in screening programs and early detection methods. In the last decade, a growing effort has been put into better understanding how the immune system interacts with cancer cells. Even if treatments with immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA4) were proven effective for several cancer types, the benefit for colorectal cancer patients is still limited.

Diagnostic Value of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Endoscopic Ultrasound for Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We performed a meta-analysis of published data to investigate the diagnostic value of artificial intelligence for pancreatic cancer. Systematic research was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies up to October 2021. We extracted or calculated the number of true positives, false positives true negatives, and false negatives from the selected publications.