Multimodal integration of blood RNA and ctDNA reflects response to immunotherapy in metastatic urothelial cancer.

Background: Previously, we demonstrated that changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are promising biomarkers for early response prediction (ERP) to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). In this study, we investigated the value of whole blood immunotranscriptomics for ERP-ICI and integrated both biomarkers into a multimodal model to boost accuracy.

Methods: Blood samples of 93 patients were collected at baseline and after 2-6 weeks of ICI for ctDNA (N=88) and immunotranscriptome (N=79) analyses.

HoxBlinc lncRNA reprograms CTCF-independent TADs to drive leukemic transcription and HSC dysregulation in NUP98-rearranged leukemia.

Although nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) fusion oncogenes often drive aggressive pediatric leukemia by altering chromatin structure and expression of HOX genes, underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that a Hoxb-associated lncRNA HoxBlinc was aberrantly activated in NUP98-PHF23 fusion-driven leukemias. HoxBlinc chromatin occupancies led to elevated MLL1 recruitment and aberrant homeotic topologically associated domains (TADs) that enhanced chromatin accessibilities and activated homeotic/hematopoietic oncogenes.

Risk assessment of persistent incidental pulmonary subsolid nodules to guide appropriate surveillance interval and endpoints.

Guidelines for the follow-up of pulmonary subsolid nodule (SSN) vary in terms of frequency and criteria for discontinuation. We aimed to evaluate the growth risk of SSNs and define appropriate follow-up intervals and endpoints. The immediate risk (IR) and cumulative risk (CR) of SSN growth were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method according to nodule consistency and size.

Automatic Quality Control System and Adenoma Detection Rates During Routine Colonoscopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: High-quality colonoscopy reduces the risks of colorectal cancer by increasing the adenoma detection rate. Routine use of an automatic quality control system (AQCS) to assist in colorectal adenoma detection should be considered.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an AQCS on the adenoma detection rate among colonoscopists who were moderate- and low-level detectors during routine colonoscopy.

Adjuvant Atezolizumab for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: The ALEXANDRA/IMpassion030 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype with a high incidence in young patients, a high incidence in non-Hispanic Black women, and a high risk of progression to metastatic cancer, a devastating sequela with a 12- to 18-month life expectancy. Until recently, one strategy for treating early-stage triple-negative breast cancer was chemotherapy after surgery. However, it was not known whether the addition of immune therapy to postsurgery chemotherapy would be beneficial.

Explanatory review on DDR inhibitors: their biological activity, synthetic route, and structure-activity relationship.

Discoidin domain receptors (DDR) are categorized under tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) and play a crucial role in various etiological conditions such as cancer, fibrosis, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory diseases. The structural domain rearrangement of DDR1 and DDR2 involved six domains of interest namely N-terminal DS, DS-like, intracellular juxtamembrane, transmembrane juxtamembrane, extracellular juxtamembrane intracellular kinase domain, and the tail portion contains small C-tail linkage. DDR has not been explored to a wide extent to be declared as a prime target for any particular pathological condition.

BCT-Net: semantic-guided breast cancer segmentation on BUS.

Accurately and swiftly segmenting breast tumors is significant for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound imaging stands as one of the widely employed methods in clinical practice. However, due to challenges such as low contrast, blurred boundaries, and prevalent shadows in ultrasound images, tumor segmentation remains a daunting task.

Computational Elucidation of Hub Genes and Pathways Correlated with the Development of 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in HCT 116 Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly cancer diagnosed in both men and women. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment frequently causes the CRC cells to become chemoresistance, which has a negative impact on prognosis. Using bioinformatic techniques, this work describes important genes and biological pathways linked to 5-FU resistance in CRC cells.

Cancers of the brain and central nervous system: global patterns and trends in incidence.

Background: Global comparisons of the burden and impact of cancers of the brain and central nervous system (CNS) are critical for developing effective control strategies and generating etiological hypotheses to drive future research.

Methods: National incidence estimates were obtained from GLOBOCAN 2022, and recorded incidence data from the Cancer in Five Continents series, both developed and compiled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We examined the estimated age-standardized incidence rates in 185 countries, as well as time trends in recorded incidence in 35 countries, quantifying the direction and change in the magnitude of the rates using the estimated average percentage change (EAPC).

Targeting oncogene-induced cellular plasticity for tumor therapy.

Cellular plasticity, the remarkable adaptability of cancer cells to survive under various stress conditions, is a fundamental hallmark that significantly contributes to treatment resistance, tumor metastasis, and disease recurrence. Oncogenes, the driver genes that promote uncontrolled cell proliferation, have long been recognized as key drivers of cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. Paradoxically, accumulating evidence demonstrates that targeting certain oncogenes to inhibit tumor cell proliferation can unexpectedly induce processes like epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), conferring enhanced invasive and metastatic capabilities.

Optimization of central carbon metabolism by Warburg effect of human cancer cell improves triterpenes biosynthesis in yeast.

Optimizing central carbon metabolism (CCM) represents an attractive and challenging strategy to improve the biosynthesis of valuable chemicals due to the complex regulation of the CCM in yeast. In this study, we triggered the similar Warburg effect of cancer cells in yeast strains by introducing the human hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) complex, which regulated the expression of numerous enzymes involved in CCM and redirected the metabolic flux from glycolysis to tricarboxylic acid cycle. This redirection promoted the production of squalene to a 2.

Multi-omics sequencing of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma reveals prognosis-relevant key factors and a novel immunogenomic classification.

Background: Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJAC) exhibits distinct molecular characteristics due to its unique anatomical location. We sought to investigate effective and reliable molecular classification of GEJAC to guide personalized treatment.

Methods: We analyzed the whole genomic, transcriptomic, T-cell receptor repertoires, and immunohistochemical data in 92 GEJAC patients and delineated the landscape of genetic and immune alterations.

Lipid Levels and Lung Cancer Risk: Findings from the Taiwan National Data Systems from 2012 to 2018.

Background: Lipids are known to be involved in carcinogenesis, but the associations between lipid profiles and different lung cancer histological classifications remain unknown.

Methods: Individuals who participated in national adult health surveillance from 2012 to 2018 were included. For patients who developed lung cancer during follow-up, a 1:2 control group of nonlung cancer participants was selected after matching.

Exploring the influence of health and digital health literacy on quality of life and follow-up compliance in patients with primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a prospective, single-center study.

Objective: Given the increasing significance of digital health literacy (DHL) and health literacy (HL) in promoting informed decision-making and healthy behaviors, this study aimed to assess the influence of self-reported HL and DHL on treatment adherence and quality of life among patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TUR-BT) for primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Materials & Methods: This single-center observational study involved patients who underwent TUR-BT for NIMBC at a tertiary hospital from May 2022 to February 2024. Before the procedure, the patients' DHL and HL were evaluated using the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire short version and the eHealth Literacy Scale.

Anti-PD-L1 envafolimab combined with anti-VEGF suvemcitug in pretreated solid tumors and hepatocellular carcinoma: an open-label phase II study with safety run-in stage.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been the standard first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficacy of this combination in post-line treatment is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of anti-PD-L1 envafolimab and novel humanized anti-VEGF suvemcitug as second-line treatment for patients with HCC.

DSCI: a database of synthetic biology components for innate immunity and cell engineering decision-making processes.

Although significant progress of clinical strategy has been made in gene editing and cell engineering in immunotherapy, it is now apparent that design and modification in terms of complex signaling pathways and motifs on medical synthetic biology are still full of challenges. Innate immunity, the first line of host defense against pathogens, is critical for anti-pathogens immune response as well as regulating durable and protective T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. Here, we introduce DSCI (Database of Synthetic Biology Components for Innate Immunity, https://dsci.

A comprehensive insights of cancer immunotherapy resistance.

Cancer is a major global health issue that is usually treated with multiple therapies, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapies like immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a new and alternative approach to treating various types of cancer that are difficult to treat with other methods. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise for long-term efficacy, they have limited effectiveness in common cancer types such as breast, prostate, and lung.

Natural compounds as modulators of miRNAs: a new frontier in bladder cancer treatment.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a major global health issue with a high recurrence rate and limited effective treatments. Over the past few years, it has become evident that miRNAs play a role in the carcinogenesis process, particularly in regulating genes that promote cancer cell proliferation and invasion. This review focuses on the extent to which natural products can act as potential miRNA modulators for the management of bladder cancer.

Responsive cancer care in Asia: stigma and pain must be acknowledged and addressed.

Purpose: This study investigates whether cancer-related stigma and pain among patients with advanced cancer influences their perceptions of receiving responsive care.

Methods: We surveyed 2138 advanced cancer patients from 11 hospitals in eight Asian countries. Participants rated their most recent healthcare visit and a hypothetical patient's experience described in vignettes concerning dignity, clarity of information, and involvement in decision-making.

Unraveling the role of autophagy regulation in Crohn's disease: from genetic mechanisms to potential therapeutics.

Autophagy serves as the primary intracellular degradation mechanism in which damaged organelles and self-cytoplasmic proteins are transported to the lysosome for degradation. Crohn's disease, an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, manifests in diverse regions of the digestive system. Recent research suggests that autophagy modulation may be a new avenue for treating Crohn's disease, and several promising small-molecule modulators of autophagy have been reported as therapeutic options.

Utility of MRI in NMIBC and feasibility of avoiding Re-TURB in carefully selected patients: a systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review was conducted to synthesize current research on the role of repeated transurethral resection of the bladder (re-TURB) and the emerging use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in discerning patient suitability for safely foregoing this procedure.

Evidence Acquisition: Employing a methodical literature search, we consulted several bibliographic databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Embase. The review process adhered strictly to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines.

Bridging the digital divide for outpatients treated with anticancer chemotherapy: a retrospective quantitative and qualitative analysis of an adapted electronic Patient Reported Outcome program.

Purpose: Using electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) in clinical trial has shown benefits for patients. However, the digital divide can lead to unequal access to telehealth. We investigated whether a dedicated support program could bridge that divide.

Functional characterization of novel anti-DEFA5 monoclonal antibody clones 1A8 and 4F5 in inflammatory bowel disease colitis tissues.

Background: The aberrant expression of α defensin 5 (DEFA5) protein in colonic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) underlies the distinct pathogenesis of Crohn's colitis (CC). It can serve as a biomarker for differentiating CC from Ulcerative colitis (UC), particularly in Indeterminate colitis (IC) cases into UC and CC. We evaluated the specificity of commercially available anti-DEFA5 antibodies, emphasizing the need to further validate their appropriateness for a given application and highlighting the necessity for novel antibodies.

FAP-targeted PET/CT imaging in patients with breast cancer from a prospective bi-center study: insights into diagnosis and clinic management.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted PET/CT imaging in primary and metastatic breast cancer and compare the results with those of standard-of-care imaging (SCI) and [F]FDG PET/CT.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed patients with diagnosed or suspected breast cancer who underwent concomitant FAP-targeted PET/CT (radiotracers including either [Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 or [F]FAPI-42) and [F]FDG PET/CT scans from June 2020 to January 2024 at two medical centers. Breast ultrasound (US) imaging was performed in all treatment-naïve patients as SCI.