Concomitant Usage of H1-Antihistamines and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Cancer Patient Survival.

Purpose: Recent research (Li et al. 2021) suggests an upregulated expression and activation of H1 receptors on macrophages in the tumor microenvironment, and concomitant H1-antihistamine use is associated with improved overall survival in patients with lung and skin cancers receiving immunotherapy. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the impacts of H1-antihistamine use in cancer patients during immunotherapy.

Baveno VII criteria identify varices needing treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma of different Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages.

Background: Baveno VII criteria for predicting varices needing treatment (VNT) have not been tested in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) population. We evaluated Baveno VII consensus for VNT in HCC patients of different stages according to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages undergoing curative hepatectomy.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of patients with HCC.

Baveno VII Criteria Is an Accurate Risk Stratification Tool to Predict High-Risk Varices Requiring Intervention and Hepatic Events in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The Baveno VII criteria are used in patients with liver cirrhosis to predict high-risk varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. Yet its use in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been validated. HCC alone is accompanied with a higher variceal bleeding risk due to its association with liver cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis.

Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group (ATORG) Expert Consensus Statement on MET Alterations in NSCLC: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease, with many oncogenic driver mutations, including de novo mutations in the Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition (MET) gene (specifically in Exon 14 [ex14]), that lead to tumourigenesis. Acquired alterations in the MET gene, specifically MET amplification is also associated with the development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Although MET has become an actionable biomarker with the availability of MET-specific inhibitors in selected countries, there is differential accessibility to diagnostic platforms and targeted therapies across countries in Asia-Pacific (APAC).

Hepatitis Flare During Immunotherapy in Patients With Current or Past Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Introduction: Immunotherapy has dramatically improved the survival of patients with advanced or metastatic malignancies. Recent studies suggest that immunotherapy may increase the risk of hepatitis, whereas it may also induce functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We evaluated the incidence of hepatitis flare, HBV reactivation, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance or seroreversion in patients with current or past HBV infection who had received immunotherapy.

Pattern and impact of hepatic adverse events encountered during immune checkpoint inhibitors - A territory-wide cohort study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used in the treatment of cancers. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and prognostic impact of hepatic adverse events (AEs) in a territory-wide cohort of patients who received ICIs.

Methods: Patients were identified from a territory-wide database who received ICIs in 2014-2018.

Distinct Molecular Landscape of Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Pulmonary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma Revealed by Genomic Sequencing.

Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) characterized by marked lymphocytic infiltration and association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The molecular basis underlying the disease remains unclear. We sought to study the molecular landscape by multiple approaches including whole genomic sequencing, capture-based targeted sequencing, fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Therapeutic Strategies in EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth receptor (EGFR) mutation has distinct genomic characteristics. Introduction of systemic treatments that specifically targeted actionable EGFR mutations has changed the therapeutic paradigm in this group of patients. Moreover, newer generations of EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) with superior pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties such as dacomitinib and osimertinib, when used in the front-line setting, have shown more favorable treatment outcomes than first-generation EGFR-TKIs.

Upregulation of Bcl2 in NSCLC with acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI.

Lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rate worldwide among all malignancy-associated mortalities, of which non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80% of all cases. Resistance against epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) develops following 8-12 months of disease progression, and is a critical issue. HCC827 cell lines with resistance to EGFR-TKIs were successfully screened.

Symposium: "Oncology Leadership in Asia".

The symposium on "Oncology Leadership in Asia" was held as part of the official program of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Korean Cancer Association with International Cancer Conference. Given the increasing incidence of cancer in all countries and regions of Asia, regardless of developmental stage, and also in light of the recognized need for Asian countries to enhance collaboration in cancer prevention, research, treatment and follow-up, the symposium was held with the aim of bringing together oncology specialists from eight countries and regions in Asia to present the status in their own national context and discuss the key challenges and requirements in order to establish a greater Asian presence in the area of cancer control and research. The task of bringing together diverse countries and regions is made all the more urgent in that while Asia now accounts for more than half of all new cancer cases globally, clinical guidelines are based predominantly on practices adopted in Western countries, which may not be optimized for unique ethnic, pharmacogenomic and cultural characteristics in Asia.

A Randomized Phase 2 Study Comparing the Combination of Ficlatuzumab and Gefitinib with Gefitinib Alone in Asian Patients with Advanced Stage Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: A randomized phase 2 study was designed to compare the combination of ficlatuzumab (AV-299), a humanized hepatocyte growth factor-neutralizing monoclonal antibody, plus gefitinib versus gefitinib monotherapy in a pulmonary adenocarcinoma population clinically enriched for EFGR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-sensitizing mutations.

Methods: A total of 188 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either gefitinib or ficlatuzumab plus gefitinib treatment. Patients who demonstrated disease control in the single-agent gefitinib arm were allowed to cross over to ficlatuzumab plus gefitinib treatment upon disease progression.

Clinical activity of afatinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring uncommon EGFR mutations: a combined post-hoc analysis of LUX-Lung 2, LUX-Lung 3, and LUX-Lung 6.

Background: Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer tumours that have EGFR mutations have deletion mutations in exon 19 or the Leu858Arg point mutation in exon 21, or both (ie, common mutations). However, a subset of patients (10%) with mutations in EGFR have tumours that harbour uncommon mutations. There is a paucity of data regarding the sensitivity of these tumours to EGFR inhibitors.

Lung cancer working group report.

Asia needs a guideline for non-small-cell lung cancer because of differences in medical care, medical care insurance, ethnic variation and drug approval lag within Asian countries and compared with Western countries. Due to ethnic differences, drug dosages are often higher in the USA than in Japan. EGFR mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer was detected in 32% of Asians but only 6% of non-Asians, while differences in irinotecan metabolism cause higher frequencies of toxicity (leukopenia, diarrhea) in Asians.

Anti-invasion, anti-proliferation and anoikis-sensitization activities of lapatinib in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a highly prevalent and invasive head and neck cancer in Asia. Disease recurrence and distant metastasis account for major NPC deaths. Therefore, more effective therapy is needed.

Clinical scoring system to predict hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B carriers.

Purpose: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important etiology for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to develop a simple clinical score in predicting the risk of HCC among HBV carriers.

Patients And Methods: We first evaluated 1,005 patients and found that the following five factors independently predicted HCC development: age, albumin, bilirubin, HBV DNA, and cirrhosis.

CMTM3, located at the critical tumor suppressor locus 16q22.1, is silenced by CpG methylation in carcinomas and inhibits tumor cell growth through inducing apoptosis.

Closely located at the tumor suppressor locus 16q22.1, CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing member 3 and 4 (CMTM3 and CMTM4) encode two CMTM family proteins, which link chemokines and the transmembrane-4 superfamily. In contrast to the broad expression of both CMTM3 and CMTM4 in normal human adult tissues, only CMTM3 is silenced or down-regulated in common carcinoma (gastric, breast, nasopharyngeal, esophageal, and colon) cell lines and primary tumors.

High viral load and hepatitis B virus subgenotype ce are associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBV genotypes/subgenotypes on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients And Methods: A prospective cohort of patients infected with chronic HBV in a surveillance program for HCC since 1997 was studied. Ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein evaluation were regularly performed to detect HCC.

A comparison of three transarterial lipiodol-based formulations for hepatocellular carcinoma: in vivo biodistribution study in humans.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the biodistribution properties of three transarterial Lipiodol-based therapeutic regimens in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this prospective study with 13 patients randomly allocated to one of three study groups, each of the patients received transcatheter intra-arterial administration into a solitary HCC with one of three different Lipiodol-based formulations: Lipiodol-ethanol mixture (LEM; Group A), Lipiodol alone (Group B), and Lipiodol and gelatin pledgets (Group C). With the use of radioactive iodine-131-labeled Lipiodol, each group was assessed for (1) pattern of Lipiodol accumulation in the lungs within the first 2 weeks as evaluated by single-photon emission computed tomography and (2) decomposition of Lipiodol formulation within the first 2 weeks as evaluated by radioactivity detected in peripheral blood and urine.

Microphthalmos associated with Dartmouth combination chemotherapy in pregnancy: a case report.

Background: Use of Dartmouth combination chemotherapy in pregnancy is scarcely reported, with only 1 report of its use in the late second and third trimesters and no report of its use in the first trimester.

Case: This is the first reported case in which the Dartmouth combination chemotherapy regimen was inadvertently used in a pregnant woman during the first and second trimesters for treatment of metastatic melanoma. The infant was found to have isolated microphthalmos and severe hypermetropia at 1 year of age.

A memetic algorithm for multiple-drug cancer chemotherapy schedule optimization.

This correspondence introduces a multidrug cancer chemotherapy model to simulate the possible response of the tumor cells under drug administration. We formulate the model as an optimal control problem. The algorithm in this correspondence optimizes the multidrug cancer chemotherapy schedule.

A novel evolutionary drug scheduling model in cancer chemotherapy.

In this paper, we introduce a modified optimal control model of drug scheduling in cancer chemotherapy and a new adaptive elitist-population-based genetic algorithm (AEGA) to solve it. Working closely with an oncologist, we first modify the existing model, because its equation for the cumulative drug toxicity is inconsistent with medical knowledge and clinical experience. To explore multiple efficient drug scheduling policies, we propose a novel variable representation--a cycle-wise representation, and modify the elitist genetic search operators in the AEGA.