Optimal Choice of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for HER2-Negative Breast Cancer: Clinical Insights.

The neoadjuvant setting provides immense opportunities for translational research and drug development. The acceptance of pathological complete response (pCR) as a surrogate endpoint for clinical benefit has led to the widespread use of neoadjuvant treatment. Optimal neoadjuvant therapies are determined based on their ability to achieve the highest rates of pCR.

SKAP2-BRAF fusion and response to an MEK inhibitor in a patient with metastatic melanoma resistant to immunotherapy.

A woman in her 40s presented to the emergency department with headache and unintentional weight loss in September 2018. Investigations revealed a widely metastatic pan-negative melanoma of unknown primary. She had multiple lines of treatment including combination immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Virtual oncology clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in radical changes in the delivery of healthcare worldwide. Our oncology service (at an Irish national cancer centre) rapidly transitioned to the use of telemedicine or virtual clinics (VC) to minimise potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 amongst an immunosuppressed, high-risk population. Our study aimed to evaluate the use of VC in this setting.

Are we reaping what we sow? Gender diversity in surgery: a survey of medical students.

Background: A survey of medical students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) at Dublin, Perdana and Penang in Malaysia was undertaken in an attempt to explore attitudes towards a career in surgery and document potential differences between male and female students' perceptions of a surgical career.

Method: A hyperlink to an online, anonymised questionnaire was distributed to medical students in 3rd, 4th and final year at three RCSI campuses. Basic descriptive statistics were used to describe the responses to individual questions and appropriate statistical tests used to compare male and female responses to questions.

Extended Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Hormone Receptor-Positive Early Breast Cancer.

Despite meaningful, incremental improvements in detection, local treatment and adjuvant systemic treatments for breast cancer, there remains a significant risk of late relapse in hormone receptor (HR)-positive disease. 5 years of tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor for all patients with HR-positive early breast cancer is considered standard; however, there are now data to support an extended approach using up to 10 years of treatment. This review will provide some historical background on endocrine therapy and summarize the key clinical trials that demonstrate the small absolute benefit of extended adjuvant therapy.