Germline and Somatic Genomic Testing for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: ASCO Guideline.

Purpose: To evaluate evidence on germline and somatic genomic testing for patients with metastatic prostate cancer and provide recommendations.

Methods: A systematic review by a multidisciplinary panel with patient representation was conducted. The PubMed database was searched from January 2018 to May 2024.

Long-term prognostic effect of serum albumin concentration in diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Diabetes and insulin resistance alter the physiological state of serum albumin (SA), which is a prognostic marker for stable coronary artery disease (CAD). However, whether the SA concentration is associated with long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in diabetic patients with stable CAD remains unclear.

Methods: In total, 1148 patients were retrospectively identified from a nationwide multicenter cohort study on patients with stable CAD.

Novel prognostic impact and cell specific role of endocan in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Both the clinical and mechanistic impacts of endocan were not well elucidated especially in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic and potential pathological role of endocan for cardiovascular (CV) events in stable CAD patients.

Methods: A total of 1,071 stable CAD patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled prospectively in a nationwide Biosignature study.

Impact of previous S-1 treatment on efficacy of liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Background/objectives: Liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV) provides survival benefits for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) refractory to gemcitabine-based treatment, mainly gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GA), in current practice. Gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) is another commonly administered first-line regimen before nab-paclitaxel reimbursement; however, the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV for mPDAC after failed GS treatment has not been reported and was therefore explored in this study.

Methods: In total, 177 patients with mPDAC received first-line GS or GA treatment, followed by second-line nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV treatment (identified from a multicenter retrospective cohort in Taiwan from 2018 to 2020); 85 and 92 patients were allocated to the GS and GA groups, respectively.

Fatty acid-binding protein-3 and renal function decline in patients with chronic coronary syndrome.

Background: Renal dysfunction is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Due to the shared vascular pathogenesis between the two conditions, novel biomarkers such as the fatty acid-binding protein-3 (FABP-3) have been proposed for diagnosis and prognosis prediction. This multicentre prospective cohort study investigates the association between FABP-3 and renal dysfunction.

Inflammation and renal function decline in chronic coronary syndrome: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: Renal function decline is a frequently encountered complication in patients with chronic coronary syndrome. Aside from traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the inflammatory burden emerged as the novel phenotype that compromised renal prognosis in such population.

Methods: A cohort with chronic coronary syndrome was enrolled to investigate the association between inflammatory status and renal dysfunction.

The clinical significance of osteopontin on the cardiovascular outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a noncollagenous matricellular protein which is mainly present in bone matrix. A high OPN level has been associated with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome, however data on patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) are lacking. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between OPN and the prognosis of Taiwanese patients with CCS.

Surgical treatment confers prognostic significance in pediatric malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors.

Background: Primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare pediatric tumors that have a poorer prognosis compared to GCTs occurring elsewhere in the body. The current study aimed to assess the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of children with primary malignant mediastinal GCT in Taiwan.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed children 0-18 years old who were newly diagnosed with primary malignant mediastinal GCT between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2019 and were registered in the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group patient registry.

The prognostic significance of the presence of tenascin-C in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Background: We investigated the prognostic value of tenascin-C in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Methods: A total of 666 patients were enrolled and followed for 72 months. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiac events.

Impaired Chromatin Remodeling Predicts Better Survival to Modified Gemcitabine and S-1 plus Nivolumab in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: A Phase II T1219 Study.

Purpose: Modified gemcitabine and S-1 (GS) is an active regimen for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (ABTC) in our previous study. Herein, we report the results of a single-arm phase II of nivolumab plus modified GS (NGS) as first-line treatment in ABTC.

Patients And Methods: Patients received nivolumab 240 mg and 800 mg/m2 gemcitabine on day 1 plus daily 80/100/120 mg of S-1 (based on body surface area) on days 1 to 10, in a 2-week cycle.

The immune microenvironment features and response to immunotherapy in EBV-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: Limited data are available for tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (EBV-LELCC), a rare subtype of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). We aimed to investigate TIME features in EBV-LELCC and the correlation between the components of TIME and the clinical outcomes.

Methods: Tumor tissues from five EBV-LELCC cases confirmed through EBER in situ hybridization and five stage-matched conventional IHCC (non-EBV IHCC) cases were collected.

Effect of previous conventional irinotecan treatment in patients with pancreatic cancer being treated with liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.

Background: Recent studies have suggested the suboptimal efficacy of liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal-IRI+5-FU/LV) in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan. This study investigated the effect of conventional irinotecan treatment in mPDAC patients receiving nal-IRI+5-FU/LV by analyzing a population-based dataset.

Methods: We reviewed 667 consecutive mPDAC patients treated with nal-IRI+5-FU/LV between August 2018 and November 2020 at Taiwanese medical centers.

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with AML unfit for first-line intensive chemotherapy.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) predominantly affects the elderly, and prognosis declines with age. Induction chemotherapy plus consolidation therapy is standard of care for fit patients; options for unfit patients include hypomethylating agents (HMA), low-dose cytarabine (LDAC), targeted therapies, and best supportive care (BSC). This retrospective chart review evaluated clinical outcomes in unfit patients with AML who initiated first-line treatment or BSC 01/01/2015-12/31/2018.

Prognostic indicators for the onset of ischaemic versus haemorrhagic stroke in stable coronary artery disease.

The incidence of stroke may be increased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to investigate the specific risk factors for the development of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in stable CAD patients.Patients with stable CAD were prospectively enrolled for future cardiovascular events in Taiwan.

Adherence to healthy lifestyle improved clinical outcomes in coronary artery disease patients after coronary intervention.

Background: Lifestyle modification is suggested for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but the impact of adherence to a healthy lifestyle remains undetermined. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of adherence to a healthy lifestyle with future outcomes and biochemical markers in CAD patients.

Methods: The Biosignature CAD study examined 716 CAD patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Real-World Experience with Coformulated Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for HIV-Positive Patients with HCV Genotype 2 Infection: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Introduction: While coformulated ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) (LDV/SOF) is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 (GT2) infection in Taiwan, Japan, and New Zealand, data regarding its use for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-positive patients infected with HCV GT2 are sparse. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of LDV/SOF for HIV-positive patients with HCV GT2 coinfection.

Methods: From January 2019 to July 2020, consecutive HIV-positive Taiwanese patients infected with HCV GT2 who received LDV/SOF were retrospectively included for analysis.

Development of Possible Next Line of Systemic Therapies for Gemcitabine-Resistant Biliary Tract Cancers: A Perspective from Clinical Trials.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) compromises a heterogenous group of tumors with poor prognoses. Curative surgery remains the first choice for localized disease; however, most BTC patients have had unresectable or metastatic disease. The gold standard therapy for these patients is chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin.

Author Correction: The Impact of Liposomal Irinotecan on the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Real-World Experience in a Taiwanese Cohort.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Circulating fatty-acid binding-protein 4 levels predict CV events in patients after coronary interventions.

Background: Fatty-acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) has been associated with the metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, incident heart failure, and the prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, recent studies have not reported a significant correlation between FABP4 and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in high-risk patients or those with documented CHD. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between FABP4 and the prognosis in a cohort of patients with CHD who received coronary interventions.

Effect of and mutations on the prognosis of patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer presenting with liver-only and lung-only metastases.

It has been reported that 20-25% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have metastases at the time of diagnosis. Liver and lung are the most common metastatic sites. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of and mutations with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with initial liver-metastasis only (LiM-only) or lung-metastasis only (LuM-only) metastatic CRC (mCRC).