Pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer treated with pembrolizumab.

Pembrolizumab-containing regimens are the standard first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M HNSCC). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) have been reported to be important prognostic factors in a variety of carcinomas, but none have been investigated in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy or in first-line treatment. Seventy-four patients with R/M HNSCC received pembrolizumab-containing regimens at Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan, from April 2020 to March 2023.

Common progenitor origin for Rosai-Dorfman disease and clear cell sarcoma.

Histiocytic neoplasms (HNs) in adults have been reported to be associated with a high prevalence of coexisting haematological and solid malignancies. While a proportion of coexisting HNs and haematological malignancies share identical genetic alterations, the genetic association between HNs and solid malignancies has scarcely been reported. We report a case of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) complicated by coexisting clear cell sarcoma (CCS).

Correlation between Efficacy and Cardiovascular Adverse Events in Patients with Advanced Solid Cancer Who Received VEGF Pathway Inhibitors: Hypertension within the First Eight Weeks is Associated with Favorable Outcomes of Patients Treated with VEGF Pathway Inhibitors.

Objective Many vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors are used in the treatment of patients with various advanced cancers; however, treatments induce cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs), such as hypertension, heart failure, arrhythmia, arterial or venous embolism, and hemorrhage. Some studies have suggested a correlation between efficacy and CVAEs; however, further evidence is required. This study evaluated real-world data concerning the frequency and degree of CVAEs and possible associations between CVAEs and efficacy in such patients.

Genome-wide DNA methylation status is a predictor of the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: Translational research of the EPIC trial.

Purpose: The genome-wide DNA methylation status (GWMS) predicts of therapeutic response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in treating metastatic colorectal cancer. We verified the significance of GWMS as a predictive factor for the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Clinical data were obtained from a prospective trial database, and a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed.

Chylous Ascites Associated with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer That Improved with Appropriate Treatment: A Case Report.

Chylous ascites is a rare form of ascites with high triglyceride content arising from the thoracoabdominal lymph nodes in the peritoneal cavity due to various benign or malignant etiologies, including pancreatic cancer. During cancer chemotherapy, the accumulation of ascites can lead to the deterioration of the patient's general condition, making chemotherapy administration difficult, and resulting in a poor prognosis. We encountered a rare case of chylous ascites complicated by advanced pancreatic cancer.

Nivolumab-induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Patients with Gastric Tube Cancer.

Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been used to treat several cancer types. ICIs have been reported to cause a wide variety of immune-related adverse events, including endocrine, neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous disorders. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an autoimmune hematologic disorder characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin-1, member 13.

FOLFIRI Chemotherapy for Patients With Metastatic Urachal Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Urachal carcinoma is a rare cancer, with limited evidence regarding systemic chemotherapy for metastatic urachal carcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in patients with metastatic urachal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients with metastatic urachal carcinoma treated with FOLFIRI between March 2008 and April 2023 at the Department of Medical Oncology, Tohoku University Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed using medical records.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety between Carboplatin-Etoposide and Cisplatin-Etoposide Combination Therapy in Patients with Advanced Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is characterized by a poor prognosis and is generally treated with platinum and etoposide combination therapy as first-line chemotherapy. However, it remains uncertain whether carboplatin and etoposide combination therapy (CE) and cisplatin and etoposide combination therapy (PE) have comparable treatment efficacy. In this retrospective analysis, we compared the efficacy and safety of CE and PE in patients with NEC.

Antibiotics May Interfere with Nivolumab Efficacy in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Patients with the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are often treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Recently, antibiotic intake was reported to lower the efficacy of ICIs in patients with several types of cancers. However, it is unclear if antibiotics affect the efficacy of ICIs in patients with head and neck SCC.

Depth of response may predict clinical outcome in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer treated with pembrolizumab-containing regimens.

Background: Pembrolizumab-containing regimens are standards of care for recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). The depth of response (DpR) predicts the survival of patients with several types of solid cancers; however, its association with the survival outcomes of patients with R/M HNSCC treated with pembrolizumab-containing regimens remains unclear.

Methods: This study included 66 patients with R/M HNSCC who received a pemblolizumab-containing regimen as a first-line therapy at Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.

Distinct role of CD8 cells and CD4 cells in antitumor immunity triggered by cell apoptosis using a Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir system.

Immune cells can recognize tumor-associated antigens released from dead tumor cells, which elicit immune responses, potentially resulting in tumor regression. Tumor cell death induced by chemotherapy has also been reported to activate immunity. However, various studies have reported drug-induced immunosuppression or suppression of inflammation by apoptotic cells.

Fatal case of sepsis from a dog bite in a patient with splenic hypoplasia.

Background: is an oral commensal bacteria in dogs and may cause severe infection following a dog bite. This is a case of fatal sepsis with acute infectious purpura fulminans (AIPF) in a healthy patient with splenic hypoplasia.

Case Presentation: A healthy 49-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for septic shock and AIPF 4 days after a dog bite to his mouth.

Periostin splice variants affect craniofacial growth by influencing chondrocyte hypertrophy.

Introduction: Periostin, an extracellular matrix protein, plays an important role in osteogenesis and is also known to activate several signals that contribute to chondrogenesis. The absence of periostin in periostin knockout mice leads to several disorders such as craniosynostosis and periostitis. There are several splice variants with different roles in heart disease and myocardial infarction.

Fluid restriction management in the treatment of COVID-19: a single-center observational study.

The relationship between fluid management and the severity of illness, duration of treatment, and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate whether weight change during hospitalization was associated with COVID-19 severity, length of hospital stay, and route of admission. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of fluid restriction management in patients with severe COVID-19.

BRAF and MEK Inhibitor Treatment for Metastatic Undifferentiated Sarcoma of the Spermatic Cord with BRAF V600E Mutation.

An 18-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with an undifferentiated sarcoma of the spermatic cord, with multiple distant metastases to the lungs and bones. The patient received doxorubicin-based standard chemotherapy. Although the chemotherapy was effective, it induced severe adverse events, which led to treatment discontinuation.

Successful treatment of metastatic fibrosarcomatous dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with imatinib mesylate.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a fibrohistiocytic tumor characterized by a high risk of local recurrence but a low risk of metastasis. A small subpopulation of DFSP undergoes fibrosarcomatous (FS) change, and approximately 15%-57% of cases of DFSP with FS change metastasizes, leading to a poor prognosis. In this report, a case of metastatic FS-DFSP that was successfully treated with imatinib mesylate in which the IHC staining pattern of recurrent DFSP was quantitatively analyzed in primary and metastatic DFSP areas, is described.

Antibiotic Treatment Improves the Efficacy of Oxaliplatin-Based Therapy as First-Line Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: One of the first-line treatment for gastric cancer patients is oxaliplatin, and the efficacy of this chemotherapeutic can be attenuated by the microbiome. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated whether treatment with antibiotics improved the efficacy of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-four patients were assigned to the antibiotic-treated group and 35 to the antibiotic-untreated group.

Differences in the corono-apical location of sinus tracts and buccal cortical bone defects between vertically root-fractured and non-root-fractured teeth based on periradicular microsurgery.

This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether the corono-apical location of sinus tracts differs according to the presence/location of vertical root fracture (VRF) in microsurgically treated root-filled teeth. The cases included were (1) anterior and premolar teeth without a preoperative diagnosis of VRF, (2) those with a periodontal probing depth of ≤3 mm, and (3) those for which preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and intraoperative video records were available. VRF was diagnosed intraoperatively.

Contribution of Fcγ receptor IIB to creating a suppressive tumor microenvironment in a mouse model.

Various immune cells are recruited in the tumor microenvironment. It is well established that cellular immune responses, such as cytotoxic or suppressive activities, play an important role in regulating tumor growth and metastasis. However, the contribution of humoral immune responses against tumors is poorly understood.

Retrospective analysis on the clinical outcomes of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin for disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome associated with solid tumors.

Background: Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTM) has been established and introduced in the clinic as a standard treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). However, the efficacy and safety of rTM for DIC associated with solid tumors (DIC-STs) have not been fully established. Here, we performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of rTM for DIC-STs and considered a treatment strategy with rTM for DIC-STs.

IL-4 blockade alters the tumor microenvironment and augments the response to cancer immunotherapy in a mouse model.

Recent findings show that immune cells constitute a large fraction of the tumor microenvironment and that they modulate tumor progression. Clinical data indicate that chronic inflammation is present at tumor sites and that IL-4, in particular, is upregulated. Thus, we tested whether IL-4 neutralization would affect tumor immunity.

The G8 screening tool enhances prognostic value to ECOG performance status in elderly cancer patients: A retrospective, single institutional study.

Background: Some elderly cancer patients, even with good Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS), have poor survival outcomes and cannot tolerate standard therapy. Few studies have detailed the associations between the G8 screening tool, ECOG-PS, and overall survival (OS) in such patients.

Methods: Cancer patients, aged 70 years or older, were assessed for G8 and classified into three groups according to their G8 score: <11 as the low score group, 11-14 as the intermediate score group, and >14 as the high score group.