Comparison between flattening filter and flattening filter-free photon beams in head and neck cancer patients using volumetric modulated arc therapy technique.

This study aimed to evaluate the dosimetric and clinical outcomes of flattening filter (FF) versus flattening filter-free (FFF) beams in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Twenty-four patients with 70/59.4/54 Gy dose prescribed in 33 fractions with simultaneous integrated boost treatment were retrospectively analyzed to compare treatment delivery efficiency, target coverage, sparing of organs at risk (OARs), and remaining volume at risk (RVR) in two HNC groups (nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal).

Expression of some circulating microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for prognosis and treatment response in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent, treatment-resistant, and fatal form of brain malignancy. It is characterized by genetic heterogeneity, and an infiltrative nature, and GBM treatment is highly challenging. Despite multimodal therapies, clinicians lack efficient prognostic and predictive markers.

First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy in SCLC: Outcomes of a Binational Real-World Study.

Introduction: SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness and limited treatment options, especially in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Immunotherapy added to the platinum-etoposide combination has recently become standard in this setting. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on subpopulations excluded from clinical trials.

RadiOnCOVID: Multicentric Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 on Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy in Italy.

Methods And Materials: Patients with ongoing or planned anticancer treatment at 19 Italian Radiation Oncology centers were included in the study retrospectively from 3 February 2020 to 31 December 2020 and prospectively from 1 January 2021 to 31 May 2021. Anonymized data were processed through a specific website and database. Antineoplastic treatment characteristics and timing and outcomes of COVID-19 and its impact on radiotherapy or systemic therapy were described.

Rising Concern About the Carcinogenetic Role of Micro-Nanoplastics.

In recent years, awareness regarding micro-nanoplastics' (MNPs) potential effects on human health has progressively increased. Despite a large body of evidence regarding the origin and distribution of MNPs in the environment, their impact on human health remains to be determined. In this context, there is a major need to address their potential carcinogenic risks, since MNPs could hypothetically mediate direct and indirect carcinogenic effects, the latter mediated by particle-linked chemical carcinogens.

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival in ypT0-2 N0 rectal cancer.

Purpose: The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer patients downstaged to ypT0-2 N0 after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and surgery is still debated. This study investigates the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival outcomes in this patient population.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed hospital records of rectal cancer cases from Shefa Al Orman Cancer Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020, focusing on patients downstaged to ypT0-2 N0 after neoadjuvant CRT and surgery.

Mechanistic Learning for Predicting Survival Outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

We employed a mechanistic learning approach, integrating on-treatment tumor kinetics (TK) modeling with various machine learning (ML) models to address the challenge of predicting post-progression survival (PPS)-the duration from the time of documented disease progression to death-and overall survival (OS) in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). We compared the predictive power of model-derived TK parameters versus RECIST and assessed the efficacy of nine TK-OS ML models against conventional survival models. Data from 526 advanced HNSCC patients treated with chemotherapy and cetuximab in the TPExtreme trial were analyzed using a double-exponential model.

The Rationale for Combining Hypofractionated Radiation and Hyperthermia.

The conventional radiation treatment of cancer patients has typically involved a large number of daily treatments with relatively low doses of radiation. However, improved technology has now resulted in the increased use of fewer radiation fractions at a high dose per fraction. This latter approach is often referred to as hypofractionated irradiation.

Long-Term Survival after Stereotactic Radiotherapy Combined with Immunotherapy in a Patient with Recurrent Oral Cancer.

Introduction: Recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) poses significant challenges in treatment, requiring a multifaceted approach for effective management.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 68-year-old patient with a history of keratonizing SCC of the mandibular gingiva, treated with surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions and 6 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy. After 6 years of follow-up, the patient experienced a local late recurrence in clinical stage rT4N0M0 requiring palliative chemotherapy (6 cycles of PF regimen).

Identification of Molecular Subgroups of Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Bladder Cancer and Their Impact on Treatment Outcome.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) improves muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) survival. However, its efficacy is limited to a group of patients. This study explored CK5/6 and GATA3 for molecular subtyping and their prediction to response in patients with MIBC.

Perindopril Ameliorates Sodium Valproate-Induced Rat Model of Autism: Involvement of Sirtuin-1, JAK2/STAT3 Axis, PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Pathway, and PPAR-Gamma Signaling.

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by impairment of motor functions and social communication together with the development of repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. Neither the exact etiology or the curative treatment of autism are yet completely explored. The goals of this study were to evaluate the possible effects of perindopril on a rat model of autism and to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms that may contribute to these effects.

Sodium and Hematocrit Levels' Correlation and Clinical Impacts in Jordanian Hemodialysis Patients.

Aim: Given cofounders, this retrospective study investigates the correlation between hyponatremia status and hematocrit (Hct) changes, as well as the clinical utility of these two prognosticators in relation to overall health status.

Methods: The study was retrospectively conducted on adult hemodialysis (HD) patients at the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, Jordan, from 2015 to 2022. It looked at how sodium (Na) levels, the hematocrit-to-hemoglobin ratio (HHR), and outcomes of interest were related.

Nivolumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Results of Polish multicenter observational study.

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who have progressed following primary treatment (PT) have a poor prognosis. In this group, nivolumab has been demonstrated to significantly improve outcomes. This study presents the efficacy of nivolumab in Polish patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC using real-world data.

Adiposity and Muscle Strength in Men With Prostate Cancer and Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Background: There are limited data on the physical effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PC), and on the relationships of such measures of adiposity and strength to cardiovascular outcomes.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships of measures of adiposity and strength to cardiovascular outcomes (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, arterial revascularization, peripheral arterial disease, and venous thromboembolism) in patients with PC. A secondary objective was to characterize the relationships between ADT use and 12-month changes in these physical measures.

Segmentectomy vs. Lobectomy in stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of perioperative and survival outcomes.

While recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) have suggested superior overall survival (OS) outcomes with segmentectomy over lobectomy, questions remain regarding the comparability of these surgical procedures for treating early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthetize existing evidence and to compare the survival outcomes observed for stage IA NSCLC following segmentectomy or lobectomy. 40 studies (38 observational, 2 RCTs) encompassing 103,926 patients were analyzed.

Targeting the Sirtuin-1/PPAR-Gamma Axis, RAGE/HMGB1/NF-κB Signaling, and the Mitochondrial Functions by Canagliflozin Augments the Protective Effects of Levodopa/Carbidopa in Rotenone-Induced Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a pathological state characterized by a combined set of abnormal movements including slow motion, resting tremors, profound stiffness of skeletal muscles, or obvious abnormalities in posture and gait, together with significant behavioral changes. Until now, no single therapeutic modality was able to provide a complete cure for PD. This work was a trial to assess the immunomodulatory effects of canagliflozin with or without levodopa/carbidopa on rotenone-induced parkinsonism in Balb/c mice.

In silico analysis and comprehensive review of circular-RNA regulatory roles in breast diseases; a step-toward non-coding RNA precision.

In the current comprehensive review, we first highlighted circRNAs, which are key ncRNAs. Next, we discussed the relationships among circRNAs and breast cancer subtypes via in silico databases analysis and extensive literature search. CircRNAs, that sponge miRNA axes or act as silencers of oncogenic mRNAs, have been extensively addressed in the context of this review.

Early Onset Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (EOPAC): presentation, clinical course and treatment outcomes in comparison to Average Onset Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (AOPAC): a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a disease of decimal prognosis, with around 50% of patients presenting with metastatic disease. Previous trials reported a high incidence of early onset pancreatic cancer (EOPAC) in Egypt, presenting about 25% of patients with PAC. The clinic-pathological features and prognosis of EOPAC needs more study.

Global radiotherapy demands and corresponding radiotherapy-professional workforce requirements in 2022 and predicted to 2050: a population-based study.

Background: Addressing the challenge of cancer control requires a comprehensive, integrated, and global health-system response. We aimed to estimate global radiotherapy demands and requirements for radiotherapy professionals from 2022 to 2050.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study using data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 and predicted global radiotherapy demands and workforce requirements in 2050.

Radiation-induced Esophagitis in Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Supraclavicular Field Irradiation.

Background/aim: The objective of this research was to assess the frequency and intensity of radiation-induced esophagitis in breast cancer patients treated with supraclavicular radiotherapy field irradiation.

Patients And Methods: This study involved 100 patients with positive lymph nodes receiving radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall along with supraclavicular field irradiation, with toxicity levels assessed weekly. Treatment utilized the 3D conformal technique, and variables, such as mean and maximum dose to the cervical esophagus, mean dose to the entire esophagus, and length of the esophagus within the treated area were recorded.

Predictive and Prognostic Role of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Trifluridine/Tipiracil.

In advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC), a strategy based on a sequence of systemic therapies brings survival benefits in most patients. Trifluridine and tipiracil hydrochloride (TT) is a chemotherapy drug effective in patients in the third- or later line setting. No highly specific biomarkers have been established for TT therapy so far.