First-line pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in metastatic RCC: subgroup analysis of patients enrolled in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-426 in Eastern Asia.

Background: The phase 3 open-label KEYNOTE-426 study demonstrated that first-line pembrolizumab plus axitinib improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a global population. This subgroup analysis investigated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab-axitinib versus sunitinib in patients enrolled in KEYNOTE-426 in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan).

Methods: Adults with clear cell mRCC were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks with oral axitinib 5 mg twice daily or oral sunitinib 50 mg once daily (4 weeks on/2 weeks off).

Early extrahepatic recurrence as a pivotal factor for survival after hepatocellular carcinoma resection: A 15-year observational study.

Background: Surgical resection is one of the most widely used modalities for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early extrahepatic recurrence (EHR) of HCC after surgical resection is considered to be closely associated with poor prognosis. However, data regarding risk factors and survival outcomes of early EHR after surgical resection remain scarce.

Gut microbiome composition can predict the response to nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: Immunotherapy has revolutionized the clinical outcomes of intractable cancer patients. Little is known about the intestinal nonpathogenic bacterial composition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated by immunotherapy.

Aim: To determine whether there is a correlation between gut bacterial composition and prognosis in HCC patients.

Endoscopic repair of delayed stomach perforation caused by penetrating trauma: A case report.

Background: Primary endoscopic closure of a perforated gastric wall during endoscopic procedures is mostly effective and well-tolerated; however, there are very few studies on the efficacy of endoscopic management of delayed traumatic gastric perforation. Herein, we report a novel case of a patient who was successfully treated for delayed traumatic stomach perforation using an alternative endoscopic modality.

Case Summary: A 39-year-old woman presented with multiple penetrating traumas in the back and left abdominal cavity.

Pneumocystis pneumonia after use of corticosteroids in a man with severe alcoholic hepatitis: A case report.

Rationale: Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) has a very high mortality rate. Current guidelines recommend oral corticosteroids as first-line agents in individuals with severe AH to reduce short-term mortality. However, systemic corticosteroids have serious adverse effects.