Indications and Coverage of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Worldwide IFSO Survey Comparing Different National Guidelines.

Introduction: Knowing how metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is indicated in different countries is essential information for the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).

Aim: To analyze the indications for MBS recommended by each of the national societies that comprise the IFSO and how MBS is financed in their countries.

Methods: All IFSO societies were asked to fill out a survey asking whether they have, and which are their national guidelines, and if MBS is covered by their public health service.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Cancer and Infection by Hepatitis B or C Virus: A Perspective Through the Results of a European Survey.

Introduction: Patients with cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are underrepresented in several clinical trials testing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Consequently, safety and efficacy of ICI therapy in this population have not been completely defined. We aimed to evaluate the attitudes of oncologists on this topic.

RET-MAP: An International Multicenter Study on Clinicobiologic Features and Treatment Response in Patients With Lung Cancer Harboring a RET Fusion.

Introduction: Nearly 1% to 2% of NSCLCs harbor RET fusions. Characterization of this rare population is still incomplete.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients with any-stage RET positive (RET+) NSCLC from 31 cancer centers.

A high number of co-occurring genomic alterations detected by NGS is associated with worse clinical outcomes in advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma: Data from LATAM population.

Background: Co-occurring genomic alterations identified downstream main oncogenic drivers have become more evident since the introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses at diagnosis and progression. Emerging evidence has stated that co-occurring genomic alterations at diagnosis might represent de novo and primary resistance mechanisms to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced EGFR-mutant (EGFRm) non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we assessed the prognostic role of co-occurring genomic alterations in advanced EGFRm NSCLC.

Exercise in lung Cancer, the healthcare providers opinion (E.C.H.O.): Results of the EORTC lung cancer Group (LCG) survey.

Objectives: Exercise has been reported to alleviate disease as well as treatment impact in patients with lung cancer. Nevertheless, there is limited information available regarding the perception of lung cancer dedicated healthcare professionals' and their advice on exercise.

Materials And Methods: An online survey exploring healthcare professionals' practice patterns, perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of exercise in patients with lung cancer was conducted within members of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group (LCG).

Emerging Systemic Treatment Perspectives on Brain Metastases: Moving Toward a Better Outlook for Patients.

The diagnosis of brain metastases has historically been a dreaded, end-stage complication of systemic disease. Additionally, with the increasing effectiveness of systemic therapies that prolong life expectancy and improved imaging tools, the incidence of intracranial progression is becoming more common. Within this context, there has been increasing attention directed at understanding the molecular underpinnings of intracranial progression.

Non-invasive oxygenation support in acutely hypoxemic COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a multicenter observational retrospective study.

Background: Non-invasive oxygenation strategies have a prominent role in the treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While the efficacy of these therapies has been studied in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the clinical outcomes associated with oxygen masks, high-flow oxygen therapy by nasal cannula and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients remain unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we used the best of nine covariate balancing algorithms on all baseline covariates in critically ill COVID-19 patients supported with > 10 L of supplemental oxygen at one of the 26 participating ICUs in Catalonia, Spain, between March 14 and April 15, 2020.

Targeted therapies for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Until recently, the standard treatment in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer was concurrent chemoradiotherapy, but often with dismal outcome. The introduction of consolidation treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shifted the treatment landscape and prognosis of these patients. However, patients whose tumors harbors an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation derived less benefit, with an increased risk of immune-related adverse events.

First-Line Immunotherapy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

For patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), the last decade has been characterized by critical progress that has contributed to substantially improved survival. In particular, the development of specific antibodies against the programmed death (PD-1) receptor, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 receptor in the therapeutic strategy of mNSCLC either in first- or in second-line settings have led to unprecedented prolonged survival for a proportion of these patients. Although clinical development of immune checkpoint inhibitors with anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 therapies largely began as monotherapy in the second-line setting, the more recent progress has shifted toward combination approaches in first-line settings as well as the integration of immunotherapy into the clinical paradigm in earlier stages.

Direct gallbladder indocyanine green injection technique to achieve critical view of safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Introduction: Bile duct injury is one of the most severe complications after cholecystectomy. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how with a simple technique, an optimal critical view may be achieved by injecting indocyanine green directly into the gallbladder.

Methods: Twenty-three patients were prospectively studied in which direct gallbladder injection of indocyanine green during laparoscopy was administered with a fine needle using an easily reproducible technique.

The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in thoracic malignancies.

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has rapidly transformed the treatment paradigm for multiple cancer types, including thoracic malignancies. In advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ICIs have shifted treatment paradigm and improved overall survival reaching almost one-third of patients alive at 5 years. ICIs therapies have also modified the therapeutic strategy in first-line setting in metastatic small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients as well as in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) improving the overall survival compared with standard treatment.

Dynamics of eligibility criteria for central nervous system metastases in non-small cell lung cancer randomized clinical trials over time: A systematic review.

Although central nervous system (CNS) metastases frequently occur in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), historically these patients have been excluded from clinical trials. However, due to improving NSCLC prognosis, time to develop CNS metastases increases and information on CNS efficacy of systemic treatment is important. We performed a systematic PubMed review (2000-2020) to describe CNS related eligibility and screening criteria over time.

How to optimize the incorporation of immunotherapy in trials for oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a narrative review.

Patients with oligometastatic disease (OMD) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are considered as a subgroup of metastatic NSCLC that can obtain long-term survival or even cure. Oligometastatic refers to a state of a limited number of metastases in a limited number of organs. In clinical guidelines it is stated that patients with oligometastatic NSCLC can benefit from the addition of local radical therapy (LRT) to systemic therapy.

PECATI: A Multicentric, Open-Label, Single-Arm Phase II Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib in Pretreated B3-Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Patients.

Thymic epithelial tumors are rare neoplastic proliferations of thymic epithelial cells. The aggressiveness of these malignancies increases as higher is the histologic subtype, being thymic carcinoma the most aggressive subtype, with a greater tendency to metastatic spread. In metastatic setting, there is no standard treatment after progression on platinum-based chemotherapy.

Targeted therapy moves to earlier stages of non-small-cell lung cancer: emerging evidence, controversies and future challenges.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality and a serious health problem despite the numerous advances made in the last decade and the rapid advance of research in this field. In recent years, there has been a decrease in mortality from lung cancer coinciding with the approval times of targeted therapy. To date, targeted therapy has been used in the context of advanced disease in clinical practice, with great benefits in survival and quality of life.

Immunotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a review of literature data.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, aggressive cancer of the pleural surface, associated with asbestos exposure, whose incidence is still growing in some areas of the world. MPM is still considered a rare and an orphan disease with an unchanged median overall survival (OS) ranging from 8 to 14 months and no treatment advances in the last 15 years both in local and advanced disease. In the recent years, chronic inflammation of the mesothelium together with local tumor suppression plays a major role in the malignant transformation.

Immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer: one step at a time: a narrative review.

Chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy has been the standard of care for many years for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite exceptionally high responses (up to 80%) with chemotherapy, the majority of patients relapse rapidly within weeks to months after treatment completion. Therefore, new and better treatment options are necessary.

Is there any opportunity for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases?

Although brain metastases occur in almost one-third of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) either as monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy are the new standard of care in the first line setting, most trials excluded patients with asymptomatic and/or untreated brain metastases. Brain metastases have a major clinical impact due to the worsening of the patient's prognosis and quality of life. Furthermore, the incidence of brain metastases is increasing in NSCLC patients, due to a longer survival and better imaging techniques.