DNA vaccines as promising immuno-therapeutics against cancer: a new insight.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality around the world and most of our conventional treatments are not efficient enough to combat this deadly disease. Harnessing the power of the immune system to target cancer cells is one of the most appealing methods for cancer therapy. Nucleotide-based cancer vaccines, especially deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) cancer vaccines are viable novel cancer treatments that have recently garnered significant attention.

Famitinib plus camrelizumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Data from a multicenter, basket study.

Concurrent inhibition of angiogenesis and immune checkpoints represents a potent therapeutic approach. We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, basket study to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of famitinib (anti-angiogenic agent) plus camrelizumab (PD-1 antagonist) in patients with metastatic solid tumors across 11 cohorts (this study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov [NCT04346381]).

Overall Survival of Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Following the Introduction of Targeted and Immunotherapies: A Norwegian Retrospective, Real-World Registry Data Study (RECON3).

Purpose: In Norway, 5-year survival rates of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are increasing. The objective of this study was to describe the survival of real-world patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) across Norway and to identify associated factors. The results may provide additional information on the benefits of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in clinical practice.

Adipose-derived Stem Cells and Wound Healing Are Progressively Impaired Long-term After Radiotherapy in Mice.

Background: The pathogenesis of deterministic radiation damage is not clearly understood, but it has been reported that fibroinflammatory pathways are up-regulated. We hypothesized that the number of adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) decline after radiotherapies, preventing normalization of fibrosis and angiogenesis, resulting in chronic radiation damages that progress over time.

Methods: Dorsal skin of 8-week-old male BALB/cfC3H mice was irradiated with 10 Gy weekly for 4 weeks.

Effects of acteoside from on the plasma metabolome of cancer-related fatigue mice inoculated with colon cancer cells.

Objective: To elucidate the metabolic mechanisms by which acteoside (ACT) isolated from alleviates cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in a murine model of colon cancer with cachexia.

Methods: BALB/c mice inoculated with C26 colon cancer cells were treated with paclitaxel (PTX, 10 mg/kg) and ACT (100 mg/kg) alone or in combination for 21 days. Fatigue-associated behaviors, tumor inhibition rate, and skeletal muscle morphology assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and electron microscopy were evaluated.

Impact of Timing the Combination of Radiotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitors on Outcomes in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: The optimal timing for combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain and affects treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of synchronously administered radiotherapy and programmed cell death protein (PD)-1 inhibitors and sequential administration in patients with HCC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 67 patients with HCC who were undergoing liver radiotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor therapy at two medical centers between July 2017 and April 2023.

Brucea javanica oil inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral squamous carcinoma by regulated the MTFR2 pathway.

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in oral and maxillofacial region. The development of new chemotherapy agents and new drug combinations may improve patient survival and quality of life, but both surgery and radiotherapy have significant functional side effects and drug resistance, ultimately resulting in a 5-year survival rate of no more than 60% for OSCC patients. Studies have shown that Brucea javanica oil (BJO) extracts have anti-cancer effects against a variety of cancers, but little research has been reported on OSCC.

Case report: Endolymphatic sac tumor with blurred vision.

Introduction: Endolymphatic sac tumor (ELST) is a rare neoplasm that exhibits aggressive growth primarily in the endolymphatic capsule and can potentially affect nearby neurovascular structures. The diagnosis of ELST poses challenges due to its low prevalence, gradual progression, and nonspecific symptomatology. It is currently believed that prompt surgical intervention is recommended for endolymphatic sac tumors upon diagnosis.

Predictive value of gemstone spectral imaging for chemotherapy response in colorectal cancer liver metastases: A retrospective study.

Background: Accurate and timely assessment of tumor response after chemotherapy is crucial in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) for early assessment of chemotherapy responses in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM).

Materials And Methods: From October 2012 to October 2018, 46 patients (28 males and 18 females) with CRCLM received GSI followed by chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed.

Survival of Patients with Solid Tumours and Sepsis Admitted to Intensive Care in a Tertiary Oncology Centre: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Patients with cancer are at risk of developing sepsis and requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We aimed to assess survival of patients with a solid tumour admitted to ICU as an emergency with sepsis, and to identify predictors of 90-day survival at admission.

Metal-Phenolic Nanomedicines Targeting Fatty Acid Metabolic Reprogramming to Overcome Immunosuppression in Radiometabolic Cancer Therapy.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a prevalent cancer treatment; however, its therapeutic outcomes are frequently impeded by tumor radioresistance, largely attributed to metabolic reprogramming characterized by increased fatty acid uptake and oxidation. To overcome this limitation, we developed polyphenol-metal coordination polymer (PPWQ), a novel nanoradiotherapy sensitizer specifically designed to regulate fatty acid metabolism and improve RT efficacy. These nanoparticles (NPs) utilize a metal-phenolic network (MPN) to integrate tungsten ions (W), quercetin (QR), and a PD-L1-blocking peptide within a PEG-polyphenol scaffold.

Organ preservation, for rectal cancer: general overview of the latest data from phase III randomized trials.

Introduction: Organ preservation (OP) strategies are gaining interest in improving the quality of life in the management of rectal cancer, particularly for tumors located in the distal or middle rectum. The optimal OP protocol is still not standardized and relies on randomized trials. This review summarizes past and ongoing studies on OP protocols for adenocarcinoma of the distal and middle rectum.

Management of asynchronous multifocal adult glioblastoma with loss of BRAF -mutant clonality: a case report.

Glioblastoma (GBM) classification involves a combination of histological and molecular signatures including IDH1/2 mutation, TERT promoter mutation, and EGFR amplification. Non-canonical mutations such as BRAF, found in 1-2% of GBMs, activate the MEK-ERK signaling pathway. This mutation can be targeted by small molecule inhibitors, offering therapeutic potential for GBM.

The clinical application of artificial intelligence in cancer precision treatment.

Background: Artificial intelligence has made significant contributions to oncology through the availability of high-dimensional datasets and advances in computing and deep learning. Cancer precision medicine aims to optimize therapeutic outcomes and reduce side effects for individual cancer patients. However, a comprehensive review describing the impact of artificial intelligence on cancer precision medicine is lacking.

CircTTC13 promotes sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma through the inhibition of ferroptosis by targeting the miR-513a-5p/SLC7A11 axis.

The high mortality rate from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is due primarily to challenges in early diagnosis and the development of drug resistance in advanced stages. Many first-line chemotherapeutic drugs induce ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death dependent on ferrous iron-mediated oxidative stress, suggesting that drug resistance and ensuing tumor progression may in part stem from reduced ferroptosis. Since circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to influence tumor development, we examined whether specific circRNAs may regulate drug-induced ferroptosis in HCC.

ROS-regulated SUR1-TRPM4 drives persistent activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia after whole-brain radiation.

Delayed radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) characterized by progressive cognitive decline significantly impacts patient outcomes after radiotherapy. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome within microglia after brain radiation is involved in the progression of RIBI by mediating inflammatory responses. We have previously shown that sulfonylurea receptor 1-transient receptor potential M4 (SUR1-TRPM4) mediates microglial NLRP3-related inflammation following global brain ischemia.

aPD-L1-facilitated theranostic and tumor microenvironment remodeling of pancreatic cancer via docetaxel-loaded phase-transformation nanoparticles triggered by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound.

Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging because of its depth, which often leads to misdiagnosis during ultrasound examinations. The unique PDAC tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by significant fibrous tissue growth, and high interstitial pressure hinders drug penetration into tumors. Additionally, hypoxia and immune suppression within the tumor contribute to poor responses to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, ultimately leading to an unfavorable prognosis.

External beam radiation therapy versus radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer: protocol of the RECOVER study.

Background: This paper describes the rationale and design of the RECOVER study. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for high-risk, non-metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). The study primarily aims to evaluate and compare the impact of treatment with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RP) versus external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for men with high-risk, non-metastatic PCa regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional outcomes.

Development of a CT radiomics prognostic model for post renal tumor resection overall survival based on transformer enhanced K-means clustering.

Background: Kidney tumors, common in the urinary system, have widely varying survival rates post-surgery. Current prognostic methods rely on invasive biopsies, highlighting the need for non-invasive, accurate prediction models to assist in clinical decision-making.

Purpose: This study aimed to construct a K-means clustering algorithm enhanced by Transformer-based feature transformation to predict the overall survival rate of patients after kidney tumor resection and provide an interpretability analysis of the model to assist in clinical decision-making.

Validity of one-time phantomless patient-specific quality assurance in proton therapy with regard to the reproducibility of beam delivery.

Background: Patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) is a crucial yet resource-intensive task in proton therapy, requiring special equipment, expertise and additional beam time. Machine delivery log files contain information about energy, position and monitor units (MU) of all delivered spots, allowing a reconstruction of the applied dose. This raises the prospect of phantomless, log file-based QA (LFQA) as an automated replacement of current phantom-based solutions, provided that such an approach guarantees a comparable level of safety.

Improving Medical Education in Oncology: Enhancing Students' Understanding of Cancer Treatments Through Multidisciplinary Clinical Rotations.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, requiring physicians to understand multidisciplinary treatments. This study assessed the impact of a clinical rotation in a cancer center on medical students' knowledge of cancer treatments from a multidisciplinary perspective. A traditional single-department rotation was compared to a multidisciplinary rotation to determine whether broader exposure enhances knowledge and prepares students for multidisciplinary care.

Prognosis of Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy Flap Necrosis: Predictors of Failure and Salvage.

Background: In the realm of implant-based breast reconstruction, mastectomy flap necrosis (MFN) is a prevalent yet grave complication that poses a threat to the stability of the inserted prosthesis. Although numerous investigations have scrutinized the risk factors for MFN development, few have delved into the aftermath, specifically implant failure or salvage. This study seeks to appraise the prognosis of the implanted prosthesis following MFN occurrence, as well as identify predictors of such outcomes.

Graphene oxide-enhanced photothermal therapy: laser parameter optimization and temperature modeling for hela cancer cell mortality.

Photothermal therapy, in which a laser is an effective tool, is a promising method for cancer treatment. Laser parameters, including power, irradiation time, type of laser radiation (continuous or chopped), and the concentration of the photothermal agent, can affect the efficiency of this method. Therefore, this study investigated and compared the effects of different laser parameters on the efficiency of photothermal treatment for cervical cancer, which is the fourth most prevalent cancer in women.

Developing anti-TDE vaccine for sensitizing cancer cells to treatment and metastasis control.

Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) mediate oncogenic communication, which modifies target cells to reinforce a tumor-promoting microenvironment. TDEs support cancer progression by suppressing anti-tumor immune responses, promoting metastasis, and conferring drug resistance. Thus, targeting TDEs could improve the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments and control metastasis.

Conduction system metastasis in a patient with carcinoma oesophagus.

A young man in his 30s presented to us with multiple episodes of syncope and exertional dyspnoea for the last 2 weeks. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower one-third of the oesophagus in 2021 for which he was treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by McKeown oesophagectomy. At 2-year follow-up, he had developed a soft tissue swelling in the scalp, which was diagnosed as a tumour recurrence and radiotherapy was initiated.