Improving equity and wellness in cancer care with people of Latin American and African Descent: a study protocol.

Background: Cancer inequities such as late access to cancer screening and diagnosis affect people of African and Latin American descent in Canada. These inequities in addition to experiences of racism and discrimination and unequal living and working conditions are detrimental to their wellness. We aim to delineate together with people of African and Latin American descent a patient-oriented pathway to improve their equity and wellness in cancer care.

Sacroplasty with or without screw fixation for sacral metastatic tumors.

Introduction: Cementation (sacroplasty) with or without ablation has been shown to improve pain and function for patients with sacral metastatic disease. Percutaneous screw fixation with sacroplasty (PSFS) may provide superior outcomes in select patients.

Methods: Thirty patients with sacral metastases who underwent sacroplasty with or without ablation and screw fixation at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed.

Feasibility study of 4D-online monitoring of density gradients induced by lung cancer treatment using carbon ions.

Tumor motion is a major challenge for scanned ion-beam therapy. In the case of lung tumors, strong under- and overdosage can be induced due to the high density gradients between the tumor- and bone tissues compared to lung tissues. This work proposes a non-invasive concept for 4D monitoring of high density gradients in carbon ion beam therapy, by detecting charged fragments.

AI models for the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI) models in identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers in lung cancer. With the increasing complexity of lung cancer subtypes and the need for personalized treatment strategies, AI-driven approaches offer a promising avenue for biomarker discovery and clinical decision-making.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in multiple electronic databases to identify relevant studies published up to date.

Clinical factors influencing residual subcutaneous tissue after skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction.

Background: Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) have emerged as increasingly preferred alternatives to traditional mastectomy, largely due to their enhanced cosmetic outcomes and elevated levels of patient satisfaction. Nonetheless, the oncological safety and implications associated with residual breast tissue in these surgical procedures continue to raise significant concerns. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of various clinical and surgical factors on residual subcutaneous tissue in patients undergoing SSM and NSM.

Care for the Dying: A Scoping Review of Measures for Clinical Practice With Qualitative Synthesis.

The literature describes a plethora of different measures to support healthcare professionals in the care for the dying. The aim is the identification and assessment of measures for the care in the dying phase to give healthcare professionals of all disciplines an overview on such measures in form of a self-developed toolkit. Two databases were searched systematically and all measures found ( = 7368 publications, = 308 measures) were categorized into six categories and integrated into a toolkit.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Steroid-associated Osteonecrosis in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Objective: Steroid-associated osteonecrosis in pediatric patients with inflammatory and oncologic disease is an uncommon yet debilitating condition causing significant functional disability. Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons encounter this population during stages in which surgical intervention may be necessary for joint preservation. Various risk factors for steroid-associated osteonecrosis have been suggested, but a comprehensive systematic review of the literature has not been performed.

PADI4 facilitates stem-like properties and cisplatin resistance through upregulating PRMT2/IDs family in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly lethal cancer characterized by its aggressive nature and chemotherapy resistance. Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PADI4) regulates protein citrullination and is associated with various cancer developments. The role of PADI4 in OSCC progression and chemoresistance remains unexplored.

Low-Level Viremia Impairs Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: The impact of low-level viremia(LLV) on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC) patients remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of LLV on the outcomes of ICIs-based therapy in patients with uHCC.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we included patients with uHCC who received ICIs-based therapy at four centres between January 2019 and December 2022.

Evaluating the Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) in Reducing Folate Levels in Reproductive Aged Women by MTHFR and DHFR Genotype in Combination With Letrozole or Clomiphene.

Previous epidemiological studies have suggested that green tea catechins, including Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, may be associated with reduced serum folate levels. This is of particular interest as women of childbearing age may be consuming EGCG from tea, dietary supplements, or involved in active clinical trials studying EGCG or green tea extract. EGCG was reported to shrink uterine fibroids in preclinical and clinical studies.

Preoperative predictors of concurrent endometrial carcinoma in patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia: the role of HALP score and other inflammatory markers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors that predict concurrent endometrial carcinoma in patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN), focusing on inflammatory markers, such as hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), the modified systemic inflammatory score (mSIS), clinical characteristics, and imaging findings.

Material And Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients diagnosed with EIN who underwent hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy between 2019 and 2024. Data collected included demographic details, cancer antigen-125 levels, hematological parameters, HALP score, PNI, mSIS, and preoperative endometrial thickness.

Cutting-Edge Therapy and Immune Escape Mechanisms in EBV-Associated Tumors.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the first identified human tumor virus, significantly influences the immune microenvironment of associated cancers. EBV-induced expression of viral antigens by tumor cells triggers immune recognition and elicits a pro-inflammatory response. While mild inflammation may help eliminate malignant cells, intense inflammation can accelerate tumor progression.

Prevalence of breast cancer in ovarian cancer patients and its impact on patient survival: An analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results data.

Background: Patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) often have a personal and/or family history of breast cancers. However, the clinical association and underlying molecular interaction between breast cancer and HGSOC is not well understood. In this study, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HGSOC patients with or without breast cancer were compared.

Downregulated expression of dual-specificity phosphatase-1 in multiple myeloma as a predictor of poor survival outcomes.

Objectives: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy, Dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1) plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of various tumors. Here, we aim to elucidate the role of DUSP1 in MM.

Methods: DUSP1 mRNA expression was analyzed based on public datasets, and protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Influencing Prostate Cancer Adjustment Among Older Adults: A Social Ecological Model.

This study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing adjustment to prostate cancer among older men in Esfahan, Iran, using the social ecological model (SEM) as a guiding framework. We employed a qualitative approach, conducting semistructured interviews with 19 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, aged 63 to 92 years (mean age = 71), and six key informants, including spouses and health care professionals. We thematically analyzed the data to identify challenges and facilitators in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental domains of the SEM.

Highly multiplexed digital PCR assay for simultaneous quantification of variant allele frequencies and copy number alterations of KRAS and GNAS in pancreatic cancer precursors.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) precursor lesions. Detecting these precursors and monitoring their progression are crucial for early PDAC diagnosis. Digital PCR (dPCR) is a highly sensitive nucleic acid quantification technique and offers a cost-effective option for patient follow-up.

Preoperative cVEMP Results Predict Developing Prolonged Dizziness After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

Objective: To assess pretreatment factors including preoperative vestibular function tests evaluated using cVEMP and caloric tests, which correlate with the development of prolonged dizziness after vestibular schwannoma resection.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral centers.

The Natural History of Pediatric Cerebellopontine Angle Lipomas.

Objective: To present a series of pediatric patients with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lipomas in order to understand their natural history and facilitate management recommendations.

Patients: Pediatric patients with a diagnosis of CPA lipoma.

Interventions: Clinical data collected from a single tertiary care center between January 2000 and August 2022.

Near-infrared (NIR) Fluorophores in Cancer Bioimaging and Therapy.

The development of multiple fluorescent agents has contributed to cancer diagnosis and therapy. Near-infrared (NIR) dyes have already been well studied and displayed significant potential in cancer bioimaging and therapy due to their unique characteristics. In the present literature, we illustrated the updated NIR classification and characteristics as well as their applications in (pre-) clinical cancer imaging and treatment.

Surgical Management of Postcholecystectomy Strasberg Type E4 Bile Duct Injuries.

Introduction: High-biliary injuries are associated with worse outcomes. Most series do not mention failure rates specific to the injury grade. In our experience, Strasberg E4 injuries are associated with a higher failure rate.

Eye-sparing treatment for sinonasal tumors invading the orbit in the era of personalized therapy.

Few studies investigated the eye-sparing treatment in patients with sinonasal carcinomas (SNCs) from the perspective of modern precision radiation, and the eye-sparing treatment in patients with grade III orbital invasion was rarely discussed. This retrospective study included patients with primary SNCs who accepted eye-sparing treatment from October 2000 to June 2022 at a single institution. Patients' clinical information and follow-up data (including visual data) were obtained.

Nutritional Status and Its Impact on Treatment Tolerance in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Osimertinib.

: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Between 35% and 65% of NSCLC patients experience nutritional problems or malnutrition, which significantly affects their prognosis and quality of life. This study aims to describe the nutritional status and body composition of NSCLC patients treated with osimertinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, while also assessing the prevalence of sarcopenia, presarcopenia, and dynapenia.