Effect of Metformin Exposure in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Infant Mesenchymal Stem Cell Metabolism.

Offspring exposed to metformin treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) experience altered growth patterns that increase the risk for developing cardiometabolic diseases later in life. The adaptive cellular mechanisms underlying these patterns remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if chronic metformin exposure associated with GDM treatment elicits infant cellular metabolic adaptations.

Determinants of 5-year survival in patients with advanced NSCLC with PD-L1≥50% treated with first-line pembrolizumab outside of clinical trials: results from the Pembro-real 5Y global registry.

Background: Pembrolizumab monotherapy is an established front-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS)≥50%. However, real-world data on its long-term efficacy remains sparse.

Methods: This study assessed 5-year outcomes of first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy in a large, multicenter, real-world cohort of patients with advanced NSCLC and PD-L1 TPS≥50%, referred to as Pembro-real 5Y.

Image-Based Measures of Obesity are Associated with Alterations in Metabolic Pathways in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Studies suggest that the obesity paradox in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) results from the use of body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity. However, the mechanistic basis linking body fat and lung cancer behavior remains unclear. We examined the association of image-based measures of obesity with tumor gene expression to identify transcriptional signatures concordant with adiposity and their underlying biology.

Obesity-Specific improvement of lung cancer outcomes and immunotherapy efficacy with metformin.

Background: Pre-clinical cancer studies ascribe promising anticancer properties to metformin. Yet, clinical findings vary, casting uncertainty on its therapeutic value for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We hypothesized that metformin could benefit obese and overweight patients with NSCLC.

Sex-Based Differences in Lung Cancer Incidence: A Retrospective Analysis of Two Large US-Based Cancer Databases.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has seen a relative rise in incidence among females versus males in recent years, although males still have a higher overall incidence. However, it is unclear whether this trend is consistent across all populations. Therefore, we retrospectively examined this relationship in two large high-risk clinical cohorts.

Adoption of the Robotic Platform across Thoracic Surgeries.

With the paradigm shift in minimally invasive surgery from the video-assisted thoracoscopic platform to the robotic platform, thoracic surgeons are applying the new technology through various commonly practiced thoracic surgeries, striving to improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality. This review will discuss the updates in lung resections, lung transplantation, mediastinal surgeries with a focus on thymic resection, rib resection, tracheal resection, tracheobronchoplasty, diaphragm plication, esophagectomy, and paraesophageal hernia repair. The transition from open surgery to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to now robotic video-assisted thoracic surgery (RVATS) allows complex surgeries to be completed through smaller and smaller incisions with better visualization through high-definition images and finer mobilization, accomplishing what might be unresectable before, permitting shorter hospital stay, minimizing healing time, and encompassing broader surgical candidacy.

The impact of diabetes mellitus on blood-tissue barrier regulation and vascular complications: Is the lung different from other organs?

Diabetes Mellitus presents a formidable challenge as one of the most prevalent and complex chronic diseases, exerting significant strain on both patients and the world economy. It is recognized as a common comorbidity among severely ill individuals, often leading to a myriad of micro- and macro-vascular complications. Despite extensive research dissecting the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms underlying vascular complications of diabetes, relatively little attention has been paid to potential lung-related complications.

Sex-based differences in the lung immune microenvironment are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in women.

Objective: Lung cancer remains a major cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating further understanding of carcinogenesis and its driving factors, including those influenced by sex-dependent variables. We hypothesized that sex-specific lung immune composition may contribute to a greater risk of lung cancer in women.

Methods: Data from 1056 lung cancer screenings were examined for an association between sex and lung cancer risk using time-to-event analyses.

Association of socio-demographic factors with clinical outcome among hospitalized patients in first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic: Study from the developing world.

Background: Recent disease resurgence in China indicates that corona virus infectious disease is still a pertinent public health problem. We stand at a juncture where we are still unsure about the initial dilemmas regarding its birth, therapies, and the emerging novel strains. Medical literature has focused on the clinical, laboratory, radiological, and therapeutic aspects of disease management.

Biomarker-Driven Personalized Immunoprevention: Toward More Efficient Clinical Trials?

In this secondary analysis of specimens from the CANTOS trial, the investigators find that patients with clonal hematopoiesis mutations, particularly in the TET2 gene, predict a benefit of decreased cancer risk with the administration of the anti-IL1β agent canakinumab. Despite small numbers and the need for prospective validation, the findings are exciting as they demonstrate the potential for personalized chemoprevention approaches. Such personalized approaches can potentially enhance the feasibility of cancer prevention trials.

Epidemiology and Survival of Malignant Central Airway Obstruction in Lung Cancer Identified on Cross-Sectional Imaging.

Background: The prevalence of malignant central airway obstruction at diagnosis and its 5-year incidence are largely unknown, as are basic epidemiological data pertaining to this serious condition. To address these data limitations, we retrospectively collected data from the cohort of patients diagnosed with lung cancer at our institution in 2015 and followed cohort patients 5 years forward, until 2020.

Methods: We reviewed index PET/CT or CT scans at the time of lung cancer diagnosis to identify the presence, subtype, and severity of malignant central airway obstruction as well as progression/development over the next 5 years.

Racial/ethnic differences in 21-gene recurrence score and survival among patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Despite numerous studies on racial/ethnic disparities among patients with breast cancer, there is a paucity of literature evaluating racial/ethnic differences in 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and survival differences stratified by RS risk categories. We thus performed an observational cohort study to examine racial/ethnic disparities in the context of RS.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for female patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2018 with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, pT1-3N0-1aM0 breast cancer who received surgery followed by adjuvant endocrine therapy and had RS data available.

Correlation of Bronchoscopy and CT in Characterizing Malignant Central Airway Obstruction.

Background: Malignant Central Airway Obstruction (MCAO) presents a significant challenge in lung cancer management, with notable morbidity and mortality implications. While bronchoscopy is the established diagnostic standard for confirming MCAO and assessing obstruction subtype (intrinsic, extrinsic, mixed) and severity, Computed Tomography (CT) serves as an initial screening tool. However, the extent of agreement between CT and bronchoscopy findings for MCAO remains unclear.

Lung cancer in females-sex-based differences from males in epidemiology, biology, and outcomes: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: The role of biological sex is seldom considered in characterizing lung cancer, the deadliest cancer in both the United States and the world. Lung cancer has traditionally been regarded as a male disease; as such, research in female-specific phenomena is frequently conflicting or absent. Currently, disparities in lung cancer incidence are primarily driven by females, especially non-smokers and those of younger age.

Rothia in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer is Associated With Worse Survival.

Introduction: The microbiome is known to play a significant role in cancer biology; however, few studies have elucidated its relationship with Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patient outcomes. We hypothesized that there are specific microorganisms that are closely related with NSCLC patient survival.

Methods: Total of 647 NSCLC (Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma combined) patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed using the R software.

Neoadjuvant therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: basis, promise, and challenges.

Introduction: Survival rates for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain poor despite the decade-long established standard of surgical resection and systemic adjuvant therapy. Realizing this, researchers are exploring novel therapeutic targets and deploying neoadjuvant therapies to predict and improve clinical and pathological outcomes in lung cancer patients. Neoadjuvant therapy is also increasingly being used to downstage disease to allow for resection with a curative intent.

Sex-Specific Effects of Body Composition on Tumor Microenvironment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Obesity, Gender, and TME in NSCLC.

Background: There exists a gap in understanding the interaction between sex and obesity on tumor microenvironment in NSCLC. We demonstrate the combined effects of sex and body composition on clinically relevant biomarkers of NSCLC immune response.

Methods: A cohort of 409 patients with NSCLC was subdivided into 4 groups jointly defined by body mass index (BMI; cutoff of 25 kg/m2) and sex (male-high BMI, male-low BMI, female-high BMI, female-low BMI).

Skeletal muscle index is associated with long term outcomes after lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Skeletal muscle indices have been associated with improved peri-operative outcomes after surgical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is unclear if these indices can predict long term cancer specific outcomes.

Methods: NSCLC patients undergoing lobectomy at our institute between 2009-2015 were included in this analysis (N = 492).

Immunoprofiling bronchoalveolar lavage cells reveals multifaceted smoking-associated immune dysfunction.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an underutilised tool in the search for pulmonary disease biomarkers. While leukocytes with effector and suppressor function play important roles in airway immunity and tumours, it remains unclear if frequencies and phenotypes of BAL leukocytes can be useful parameters in lung cancer studies and clinical trials. We therefore explored the utility of BAL leukocytes as a source of biomarkers interrogating the impact of smoking, a major lung cancer risk determinant, on pulmonary immunity.

Analyzing the impact of minimally invasive surgical approaches on post-operative outcomes of pneumonectomy and sleeve lobectomy patients.

Background: Some patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have superior short- and long-term outcomes with sleeve lobectomy rather than pneumonectomy. Originally sleeve lobectomy was reserved for patients with limited pulmonary function, however, the reported superior results allowed sleeve lobectomy to be performed in expanded patient populations. In a further attempt to improve post-operative outcomes surgeons have adopted minimally invasive techniques Minimally invasive approaches have potential benefits to patients such as decreased morbidity and mortality while maintaining the same caliber of oncologic outcomes.