Sharing Mono-Institutional Experience of Treating Pancreatic Cancer with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT).

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an evolving treatment for the local management of pancreatic cancer (PC). The main purpose of this study is to report our initial experience in terms of local control (LC) and toxicity for PC patients treated with SBRT.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated with SBRT using abdominal compression (AC) or an end-expiratory breath-holding (EEBH) technique.

A population-based analysis of the impact of 1 vs. 2 doses of mitomycin on patterns of failure of anal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: We report the impact of 1 vs. 2 doses of mitomycin-C (MMC) based chemoradiation (CRT) on patterns of treatment failure and long-term patient outcomes in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) and the predictors for locoregional failure (LRF) and distant metastasis (DM).

Methods: In this population-based study, we identified all patients with anal cancer in our province treated radically with radiation and concurrent 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and 1 vs.

A Phase Ib Study Assessing the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of the First-in-Class Wee1 Inhibitor Adavosertib (AZD1775) as Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

Background: Adavosertib (AZD1775) is a first-in-class, selective, small-molecule inhibitor of Wee1.

Objective: The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of adavosertib monotherapy were evaluated in patients with various solid-tumor types and molecular profiles.

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had the following: confirmed diagnosis of ovarian cancer (OC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC); previous treatment for metastatic/recurrent disease; and measurable disease.

Long-Term Patient-Reported Quality of Life of Anal Cancer Survivors Treated With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Chemotherapy: Results From a Prospective Phase II Trial.

Purpose: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has confirmed its superiority in improving acute treatment-related toxicities in anal cancer, without compromising tumor control. However, the effect of IMRT on long-term quality of life (QOL) is poorly documented. The study prospectively evaluated the long-term patient-reported QOL after IMRT-based chemoradiation in anal cancer.

A Fluorescence-Based Assay to Probe Inhibitory Effect of Fructose Mimics on GLUT5 Transport in Breast Cancer Cells.

Rapid cell division and reprogramming of energy metabolism are two crucial hallmarks of cancer cells. In humans, hexose trafficking into cancer cells is mainly mediated through a family of glucose transporters (GLUTs), which are facilitative transmembrane hexose transporter proteins. In several breast cancers, fructose can functionally substitute glucose as an alternative energy supply supporting rapid proliferation.

Outcomes of patients with advanced non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated impressive activity in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and have become standard treatment options for patients with advanced disease. Data supporting the effectiveness of ICI-based therapy in advanced non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC) is more limited.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) to evaluate the outcomes of patients with advanced nccRCC.

Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes following exposure to antineoplastic agents around pregnancy within the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

To review pregnancy and perinatal outcomes associated with exposure to antineoplastic drugs around pregnancy as reported within the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The FAERS database was accessed and reports of exposure to antineoplastic drugs before/during pregnancy 2000-2020 were reviewed. An analysis of the frequency of different adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal outcomes was conducted for all agents as well as for specific categories of antineoplastic agents.

Towards Selective Binding to the GLUT5 Transporter: Synthesis, Molecular Dynamics and In Vitro Evaluation of Novel C-3-Modified 2,5-Anhydro-D-mannitol Analogs.

Deregulation and changes in energy metabolism are emergent and important biomarkers of cancer cells. The uptake of hexoses in cancer cells is mediated by a family of facilitative hexose membrane-transporter proteins known as Glucose Transporters (GLUTs). In the clinic, numerous breast cancers do not show elevated glucose metabolism (which is mediated mainly through the GLUT1 transporter) and may use fructose as an alternative energy source.

Dual Probes for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Fluorescence Imaging (FI) of Cancer.

Dual probes that possess positron emission tomography (PET) and fluorescence imaging (FI) capabilities are precision medicine tools that can be used to improve patient care and outcomes. Detecting tumor lesions using PET, an extremely sensitive technique, coupled with fluorescence-guided surgical resection of said tumor lesions can maximize the removal of cancerous tissue. The development of novel molecular probes is important for targeting different biomarkers as every individual case of cancer has different characteristics.

ABT199/venetoclax potentiates the cytotoxicity of alkylating agents and fludarabine in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

The antineoplastic activity of pre-transplant regimens in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a critical factor for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. There is an urgent need to identify novel approaches without jeopardizing patient safety. We hypothesized that combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action would provide better cytotoxicity.

PD-1 Blockade With Concurrent Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Inoperable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: For patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (LA-cSCC), radiotherapy alone (RT) is often the only treatment option with modest tumor response. We report the outcomes of using combination of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor and RT in the treatment of inoperable LA-cSCC. The study presents the efficacy and safety data for the patients with LA-cSCC treated with this combination.

Patterns and predictors of relapse in Merkel cell carcinoma: Results from a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Prospective data evaluating the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for Merkel Cell Carcinoma(MCC) is lacking. To better understand the efficacy of adjuvant RT, a population-based patterns of failure study was conducted.

Methods: We identified MCC patients treated from 1988 to 2018.

Adjuvant breast radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, or both after breast conserving surgery in older women with low-risk breast cancer: Results from a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: The relative benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) alone in older women with low-risk early breast cancer (EBC) remains unclear. It is hypothesized that adjuvant RT-alone can improve outcomes of older patients with low-risk EBC, similar to endocrine therapy (ET) alone or combination of RT + ET.

Methods: In this population based study, we identified all women aged ≥70 with T1-2, N0, ER+ve, Her-2/neu-ve EBC treated with breast conserving surgery (BCS), followed by adjuvant treatments (RT-alone, ET-alone, or RT + ET combination) from 2005 to 2015.

Association of Low Muscle Mass and Low Muscle Radiodensity With Morbidity and Mortality for Colon Cancer Surgery.

Importance: Given the risks of postoperative morbidity and its consequent economic burden and impairment to patients undergoing colon resection, evaluating risk factors associated with complications will allow risk stratification and the targeting of supportive interventions. Evaluation of muscle characteristics is an emerging area for improving preoperative risk stratification.

Objective: To examine the associations of muscle characteristics with postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), readmission, and mortality in patients with colon cancer.

Skin Toxicity in Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Field-In-Field Breast Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy versus Helical Inverse Breast Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy: Results of a Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial.

Aims: Skin toxicity is a common adverse effect of breast radiotherapy. We investigated whether inverse-planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) would reduce the incidence of skin toxicity compared with forward field-in-field breast IMRT (FiF-IMRT) in early stage breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This phase III randomised controlled trial compared whole-breast irradiation with either FiF-IMRT or helical tomotherapy IMRT (HT-IMRT), with skin toxicity as the primary end point.

A Survey of Information Needs and Preferences of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Objectives: To determine the information needs and preferences of patients who had human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer (HNC) and who were aged 18-65 years in the post-treatment phase of recovery.

Sample & Setting: 205 patients who completed treatment for HNC at two large cancer centers in Western Canada.

Methods & Variables: A self-administered survey was completed in paper or online format.

Daratumumab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: updated analysis of POLLUX.

In the POLLUX study, daratumumab plus lenalidomide/dexamethasone significantly reduced risk of progression/death lenalidomide/dexamethasone alone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. We provide one additional year of follow up and include the effect on minimal residual disease and in clinically relevant subgroups. After 25.

Combination of submandibular salivary gland transfer and intensity-modulated radiotherapy to reduce dryness of mouth (xerostomia) in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: Xerostomia is a debilitating side effect of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Combining surgical submandibular-gland transfer (SMGT) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may provide greater protection of salivary function.

Methods: This was a single-institution, prospective phase II feasibility trial.

Peri-anal surface dose in anal canal VMAT radiotherapy.

Introduction: Skin bolus may routinely be used in the perineum to build up the surface dose in the treatment of anal cancer (ACC); this may contribute to significant acute skin toxicity. Skin bolus may not be needed with the introduction of modern radiotherapy techniques if these planning techniques would achieve adequate surface dose. Our study is to ascertain if appropriate skin dose can be achieved without the use of bolus when VMAT is used in the treatment of ACC.

Napabucasin versus placebo in refractory advanced colorectal cancer: a randomised phase 3 trial.

Background: Napabucasin is a first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor that targets STAT3, which is a poor prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. This study aimed to test napabucasin in advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods: This study was a double-blind randomised phase 3 trial done at 68 centres in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Cardiac-sparing radiation therapy using positioning breast shell for patients with left-sided breast cancer who are ineligible for breath-hold techniques.

Purpose: Patients with left-sided breast cancer (LSBC) are at increased risk of cardiac morbidity from adjuvant breast radiation therapy (ABRT). Breath-hold (BH) techniques substantially reduce the radiation received by heart during radiation therapy for LSBC. However, a subset of patients with LSBC are ineligible for BH techniques due to an inability to breath-hold or because of other comorbidities.

Comparative Efficacy of Daratumumab Monotherapy and Pomalidomide Plus Low-Dose Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma: A Matching Adjusted Indirect Comparison.

Background: Daratumumab (a human CD38-directed monoclonal antibody) and pomalidomide (an immunomodulatory drug) plus dexamethasone are both relatively new treatment options for patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. A matching adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) was used to compare absolute treatment effects of daratumumab versus pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone (LoDex; 40 mg) on overall survival (OS), while adjusting for differences between the trial populations.

Materials And Methods: The MAIC method reduces the risk of bias associated with naïve indirect comparisons.

A case report of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient receiving gemcitabine and cisplatin.

Rationale: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a subacute syndrome causing characteristic neurologic and radiologic findings. PRES is predominantly caused by malignant hypertension though it has been associated with immunosuppressive treatments such as chemotherapy.

Patient Concerns: We describe a case of a 58 year old female who developed fluctuant level of consciousness, agitation.

Efficacy of night-time compression for breast cancer related lymphedema (LYNC): protocol for a multi-centre, randomized controlled efficacy trial.

Background: Lymphedema is a prevalent long-term effect of breast cancer treatment that is associated with reduced quality of life. More recent observational data suggest that the addition of night-time compression to day-time use of a compression garment results in better long-term control of arm lymphedema. The primary objectives of the randomized controlled phase of the trial are to determine the efficacy of night-time compression on arm lymphedema volume maintenance and quality of life in breast cancer survivors who have completed intensive reduction treatment for their lymphedema.