Immunotherapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor as a Bridge to Surgery for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastases to the Thyroid: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, presents significant challenges owing to its resistance to conventional therapies. Standard treatment primarily revolves around surgical methods, particularly nephrectomy, which is critical for managing localized diseases. Despite recent advancements, the metastatic potential of ccRCC necessitates ongoing vigilance in postoperative monitoring to manage and detect disease recurrence.

Fluid therapy is associated with lower care quality and higher symptom burden during last days of life of patients with cancer - a population-based register study.

Background: Parenteral fluid (PF) therapy of patients in end-of-life (EOL) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between PF, quality of the EOL care process and symptom burden in dying cancer patients, using a population-based approach.

Methods: This was a nationwide retrospective register study of all adult cancer deaths with documented information on PF in the last 24 h of life as reported to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care during a three-year period (n = 41,709).

Delphi consensus on stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for oligometastatic and oligoprogressive renal cell carcinoma-a European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology study endorsed by the European Association of Urology.

The purpose of this European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) project, endorsed by the European Association of Urology, is to explore expert opinion on the management of patients with oligometastatic and oligoprogressive renal cell carcinoma by means of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) on extracranial metastases, with the aim of developing consensus recommendations for patient selection, treatment doses, and concurrent systemic therapy. A questionnaire on SABR in oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma was prepared by a core group and reviewed by a panel of ten prominent experts in the field. The Delphi consensus methodology was applied, sending three rounds of questionnaires to clinicians identified as key opinion leaders in the field.

Immuno-oncological effects of standard anticancer agents and commonly used concomitant drugs: an in vitro assessment.

Background: It has become evident in the field of oncology that the outcome of medical treatment is influenced by the combined effect exerted on both cancer- and immune cells. Therefore, we evaluated potential immunological effects of 46 standard anticancer agents and 22 commonly administered concomitant non-cancer drugs.

Methods: We utilized a miniaturized in vitro model system comprised of fluorescently labeled human colon and lung cancer cell lines grown as monocultures and co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Effect of Disulfiram and Copper Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone on Survival in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Disulfiram has demonstrated broad antitumoral effect in several preclinical studies. One of the proposed indications is for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of disulfiram and copper as add-on to alkylating chemotherapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Matched Analyses of Brain Metastases versus Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveal a Unique microRNA Signature.

Distant spreading of tumor cells to the central nervous system in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occurs frequently and poses major clinical issues due to limited treatment options. RNAs displaying differential expression in brain metastasis versus primary NSCLC may explain distant tumor growth and may potentially be used as therapeutic targets. In this study, we conducted systematic microRNA expression profiling from tissue biopsies of primary NSCLC and brain metastases from 25 patients.

Surgical waiting times and all-cause mortality in patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: To examine the association between surgical waiting times (SWTs) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in non-metastatic patients with RCC, in relation to tumour stage.

Patients And Methods: This nation-wide population-based cohort study included 9,918 M0 RCC patients registered in the National Swedish Kidney Cancer Register, between 2009 and 2021, followed-up for ACM until 9 December 2021, and having measured SWTs. The associations between primarily SWTs from date of radiological diagnosis to date of surgery (WRS) and secondarily SWTs from date of radiological diagnosis to date of treatment decision (WRT) and date of treatment decision to date of surgery (WTS), in relation to ACM, were analysed using Cox regression analysis, adjusted for clinical and demographic characteristics, stratified and unstratified according to T-stage.

Acute healthcare utilization in end-of-life among Swedish brain tumor patients - a population based register study.

Background: Patients with progressive primary brain tumors commonly develop a spectrum of physical as well as cognitive symptoms. This places a large burden on family members and the condition's complexity often requires frequent health care contacts. We investigated potential associations between sociodemographic or socioeconomic factors, comorbidity or receipt of specialized palliative care (SPC) and acute healthcare utilization in the end-of-life (EOL) phase.

Ilixadencel, a Cell-based Immune Primer, plus Sunitinib Versus Sunitinib Alone in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Randomized Phase 2 Study.

Background: The prognosis of patients with synchronous metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is poor. Whereas single-agent tyrosine kinase inhibition (TKI) is clearly insufficient, the effects can be enhanced by combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Innovative treatment options combining TKI and other immune-stimulating agents could prove beneficial.

Clinical T1a Renal Cell Carcinoma, Not Always a Harmless Disease-A National Register Study.

Background: T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is typically considered a curable disease, irrespective of the choice of local treatment modality.

Objective: To identify factors associated with the risk of local and distant recurrence, and overall survival (OS) in patients with primary nonmetastatic clinical T1a RCC.

Design Setting And Participants: A population-based nationwide register study of all 1935 patients with cT1a RCC, diagnosed during 2005-2012, identified through The National Swedish Kidney Cancer Register, was conducted.

An immune gene expression signature distinguishes central nervous system metastases from primary tumours in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Dissemination of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the central nervous system is a frequent and challenging clinical problem. Systemic or local therapies rarely prolong survival and have modest activity regarding local control. Alterations in gene expression in brain metastasis versus primary tumour may increase aggressiveness and impair therapeutic efforts.

Real-world cost-effectiveness of targeted therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma in Sweden: a population-based retrospective analysis.

Objective: To explore cost-effectiveness of targeted therapies (TTs) in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a real-world context using a nationwide population-based approach.

Methods: Data on patients diagnosed with mRCC between 2002 and 2012 were extracted from Swedish national health data registers. To facilitate comparisons of patients diagnosed before and after TT introduction to the market, three cohorts were derived: pre-TT introduction (preTT), patients diagnosed 2002-2005; early TT introduction (TTi), patients diagnosed 2006-2008; and late TT introduction (TTii), which was limited to patients diagnosed 2009-2010 to ensure availability of total health care resource utilization (HCRU) data.

Disulfiram repurposing combined with nutritional copper supplement as add-on to chemotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma (DIRECT): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Disulfiram (DSF) is a well-tolerated, inexpensive, generic drug that has been in use to treat alcoholism since the 1950s. There is now independent preclinical data that supports DSF as an anticancer agent, and experimental data suggest that copper may increase its anti-neoplastic properties. There is also some clinical evidence that DSF is a promising anticancer agent in extracranial cancers.

Cancer patients hospitalised in the last week of life risk insufficient care quality - a population-based study from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care.

Background: One-quarter of all cancer deaths in Sweden occur in hospitals. If the place of death affects the quality of end-of-life (EOL) is largely unknown.

Methods: This population-based, retrospective study included all adults cancer deaths reported to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care in 2011-2013 (N = 41,729).

Metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma in the era of targeted therapy - a retrospective study from three European academic centres.

Background: Metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma (mPRCC) is understudied. The disease is often aggressive and specific treatment options are lacking.

Patients And Methods: mPRCC patients (n = 86) referred to three academic centres in Sweden and Germany in the years 2005-2015 were retrospectively identified from medical records.

Overall survival in Swedish patients with renal cell carcinoma treated in the period 2002 to 2012: Update of the RENCOMP study with subgroup analysis of the synchronous metastatic and elderly populations.

Background: This retrospective study investigated overall survival (OS) and factors influencing OS in Swedish patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) during the pre- (2002-2005), early (2006-2008), and late (2009-2012) targeted therapy (TT) era.

Methods: Three national Swedish registries identified patients with mRCC. Median OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Heed or disregard a cancer patient's critical blogging? An experimental study of two different framing strategies.

Background: We have examined healthcare staff attitudes of toward a blogging cancer patient who publishes critical posts about her treatment and their possible effect on patient-staff relationships and treatment decisions.

Methods: We used two versions of a questionnaire containing a vignette based on a modified real case involving a 39-year-old cancer patient who complained on her blog about how she was encountered and the treatment she received. Initially she was not offered a new, and expensive treatment, which might have influenced her perception of further encounters.

Old age as risk indicator for poor end-of-life care quality - a population-based study of cancer deaths from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care.

Background: If patient age affects the quality of end-of-life care in cancer is unknown. Using data from a population-based register of palliative care in Sweden, we addressed this question.

Methods: This nation-wide study focused on the last week of life of adults dying from cancer in 2011-2012, based on data reported to a national quality register for end-of-life care (N=26,976).

Glycaemic control in end-of-life care.

Purpose Of Review: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common comorbidities in palliative care. Yet, the optimal handling of diabetes mellitus in dying patients is debated. This review aims to discuss comprehensively the scientific basis as of today for diabetes mellitus management decisions in end-of-life (EOL) care.

Prognostic significance of serum albumin in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Systemic inflammation has been suggested to impact on the prognosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We undertook a retrospective analysis of patients with mRCC treated at Akademiska University Hospital in Sweden during the years 2005-2012 to assess the possible prognostic significance of inflammation-related factors including serum albumin, platelet count, weight loss and C-reactive protein (CRP). The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria for prognosis of mRCC and ECOG performance status were assessed for all patients.

Predictive role of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor for the effect of celecoxib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy.

Aim Of The Study: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate if pretreatment plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are predictive of the effect of celecoxib on survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with palliative chemotherapy. A secondary objective is to describe the course of plasma VEGF levels during and after treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy combined with celecoxib or placebo.

Methods: In a previously published double-blind multicenter phase III trial, 316 patients with NSCLC stage IIIB or IV and World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status 0-2 were randomised to receive celecoxib 400mg b.

Fish oil delays lymphoma progression in the TLL mouse.

The objective was to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory effects, on time to lymphoma progression and survival in the TLL mouse, a strain genetically prone to developing aggressive T-cell lymphoma. Compared to mice fed a standard diet, TLL mice fed omega-3 (menhaden fish oil) experienced a significant delay in disease progression and were more likely to remain alive and symptom free during the first 8 months of the study. In contrast, omega-6 supplementation (corn oil) did not significantly affect lymphoma progression.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation delays the progression of neuroblastoma in vivo.

Epidemiological and preclinical studies have revealed that omega-3 fatty acids have anticancer properties. We have previously shown that the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) induces apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells in vitro by mechanisms involving intracellular peroxidation of DHA by means of 15-lipoxygenase or autoxidation. In our study, the effects of DHA supplementation on neuroblastoma tumor growth in vivo were investigated using two complementary approaches.

Cytotoxic effects of cardiac glycosides in colon cancer cells, alone and in combination with standard chemotherapeutic drugs.

Cardiac glycosides have been reported to exhibit cytotoxic activity against several different cancer types, but studies against colorectal cancer are lacking. In a screening procedure aimed at identifying natural products with activity against colon cancer, several cardiac glycosides were shown to be of interest, and five of these were further evaluated in different colorectal cancer cell lines and primary cells from patients. Convallatoxin (1), oleandrin (4), and proscillaridin A (5) were identified as the most potent compounds (submicromolar IC50 values), and digitoxin (2) and digoxin (3), which are used in cardiac disease, exhibited somewhat lower activity (IC50 values 0.