Long term survival in patients with human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer and equivocal response on 12-week PET-CT is not compromised by the omission of neck dissection.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety of the omission of immediate neck dissections (IND) in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) achieving a less than complete nodal response on 12-week FDG PET-CT.

Material And Methods: Patients with HPV-positive, node-positive HNSCC that were treated with radical (chemo) radiotherapy (RT) between January 2013 and September 2019 were identified. PET-CT responses were classified as complete (CR), incomplete (ICR) or equivocal (EQR) nodal responses.

Pembrolizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Impact of autoimmune comorbidity and outcomes following treatment completion.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab, an immune-checkpoint inhibitor, is approved for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC in patients with tumours expressing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) with tumour proportion score (TPS) of ≥50%. We aimed to clarify some uncertainties regarding use of immunotherapy in patients with previous autoimmune (AI) disorders and assess real-world outcomes following treatment completion.

Methods: We performed a retrospective case record review of 82 patients with tumours expressing PD-L1 at TPS ≥ 50% and receiving first-line Pembrolizumab.

An International Expert Survey on the Indications and Practice of Radical Thoracic Reirradiation for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Thoracic reirradiation for non-small cell lung cancer with curative intent is potentially associated with severe toxicity. There are limited prospective data on the best method to deliver this treatment. We sought to develop expert consensus guidance on the safe practice of treating non-small cell lung cancer with radiation therapy in the setting of prior thoracic irradiation.

12 week PET-CT has low positive predictive value for nodal residual disease in human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancers.

Objectives: Surveillance PET-CT scans at 12 weeks post-radiotherapy for head and neck cancer can be used to omit neck dissections with no detriment in overall survival. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) driven tumours behave differently on conventional imaging after radiotherapy but it is unknown if this effect is seen on PET-CT and if HPV status affects the accuracy of PET-CT. We aimed to determine the negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) of 12 week surveillance PET-CT in HPV positive and negative tumours, and investigate predictors of relapse in equivocal responders.

Real-world uptake, safety profile and outcomes of docetaxel in newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the uptake, safety and efficacy of docetaxel chemotherapy in hormone-naïve metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) in the first year of use outside of a clinical trial.

Patients And Methods: Patients in the West of Scotland Cancer Network with newly diagnosed mPC were identified from the regional multidisciplinary team meetings and their treatment details were collected from electronic patient records. The rate of febrile neutropenia, hospitalisations, time to progression, and overall survival were compared between those patients who received docetaxel and androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), or ADT alone using survival analysis.

Current Advances in Checkpoint Inhibitors: Lessons from Non-Central Nervous System Cancers and Potential for Glioblastoma.

The adaptive immune system depends on the sequence of antigen presentation, activation, and then inhibition to mount a proportionate response to a threat. Tumors evade the immune response partly by suppressing T-cell activity using immune checkpoints. The use of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies counteract this suppression, thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of the immune system.