Prognostic impact of depth of response and early tumour shrinkage in patients with -mutated metastatic colorectal cancer treated with targeted therapy.

Background: Encorafenib plus cetuximab (EC) is the standard of care for pre-treated mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Depth of response (DpR) and early tumour shrinkage (ETS) previously showed a strong correlation with survival outcomes of first-line chemotherapy ± biological agents.

Objectives: We aimed to assess potential predictors of primary resistance to EC ± binimetinib (B) and relationships of DpR/ETS with survival outcomes and clinical characteristics.

Colorectal cancer patients-derived immunity-organoid platform unveils cancer-specific tissue markers associated with immunotherapy resistance.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a devastating disease, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as promising treatments; however, their efficacy is largely restricted to a subgroup of microsatellite instable (MSI) CRCs. In contrast, microsatellite stable (MSS) CRCs, which account for the majority of cases, exhibit variable and generally weaker response to ICIs, with only a subset demonstrating exceptional responsiveness.

Changes in clinical presentation, management, and survival outcomes in patients affected by colorectal cancer following COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: As an extended analysis of the COVID-DELAY study, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis, staging, and survival outcomes among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis performed from 2019 to 2022.

Methods: All consecutive newly diagnosed CRC patients referred to 11 Italian Oncology Departments between March and December 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 were enrolled. Access rate, demographics, diagnostic-therapeutic temporal intervals, and first-line progression-free survival (PFS) and OS among metastatic patients were assessed.

Comparison of first-line chemotherapy regimens in unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Background: In advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), first-line chemotherapy is the standard of care. Due to the absence of head-to-head comparisons in clinical trials, we performed this systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare treatment options for PDAC in terms of their efficacy and toxicity.

Methods: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and oncological meetings websites were searched until Nov 15, 2023.

Footprint of sustained poleward warm water flow within East Antarctic submarine canyons.

The intrusion of relatively warm water onto the continental shelf is widely recognized as a threat to Antarctic ice shelves and glaciers grounded below sea level, as enhanced ocean heat increases their basal melt. While the circulation of warm water has been documented on the East Antarctic continental shelf, the modes of warm water transport from the deep ocean onto the shelf are still uncertain. This makes predicting the future responses of major East Antarctic marine-grounded glaciers, such as Totten and Ninnis glaciers, particularly challenging.