Publications by authors named "Yee-Ming Melody Cheung"

While the incidence of hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is on the decline, it still occurs in up to 30% of patients with cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related hypercalcemia is becoming increasingly recognized. We describe a case of cemiplimab-induced hypercalcemia in a patient with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the earlobe and discuss a management algorithm for HCM.

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Managing bone health after denosumab cessation is a commonly encountered challenge. Although the “rebound phenomenon” is generally recognized by endocrinologists in the context of osteoporosis, it is not as widely understood in the context of bone metastases and cancer. This commentary reviews the evidence on the efficacy and safety of various bone health agents in mitigating the “rebound phenomenon” in cancer populations.

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Background: There is growing evidence suggesting that the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) may be a predictor of immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. Whether this association extends to all irAEs or just those within particular organs/systems is yet to be resolved. As immune-related thyroid dysfunction (thyroid irAE) is one of the most commonly reported irAEs, this study aims to summarize the available data and determine if thyroid irAE is a surrogate marker for improved cancer outcomes during ICI therapy.

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Purpose: Teriparatide is a highly effective anabolic therapy for use in patients with osteoporosis at elevated fracture risk but carries a warning about an increased risk of osteosarcoma based on findings from pre-approval animal studies. Since approval, follow-up of individuals treated with teriparatide has not shown an increased risk of osteosarcoma, but it is still recommended to avoid teriparatide in patients with risk factors for osteosarcoma. One such risk factor is radiotherapy; deciding whether to use teriparatide therapy in patients at high risk of fracture but with a history of radiotherapy is therefore a frequent clinical problem.

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Phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway inhibitors are a novel class of antineoplastic agent available for the treatment of various cancers. With improved cancer outcomes and survival, individuals are exposed to these antineoplastic therapies for longer periods of time and therefore, the consideration of adverse effects is of increasing importance. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway plays a critical role in regulating cellular processes such as growth and proliferation, but also regulates the metabolic effects of insulin such as glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis.

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