Establishing a protocol for the compatibilities of closed-system transfer devices with multiple chemotherapy drugs under simulated clinical conditions.

Closed-system drug transfer devices (CSTDs) are used to prevent occupational exposure to hazardous drugs in health care providers. They are considered Class II medical devices by the US FDA and are cleared but not approved before marketing. While compatibility tests are conducted by CSTD manufacturers, the procuring institution needs to consider performing its own studies before buying these devices.

Perturbations of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Cardiovascular Responses and Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapies are commonly used for treating early-stage breast cancer. However, whether chemotherapeutic regimens affect exercise tolerance and cardiovascular responses remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of receiving CAF and AC-T on exercise tolerance and cardiovascular responses in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Robotic versus transanal total mesorectal excision in sexual, anorectal, and urinary function: a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Purpose: Improved long-term survival after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer highlights the importance of functional outcome. Urogenital and anorectal dysfunction is frequently reported after conventional LAR. Advanced minimally invasive techniques such as robotic (RoTME) and transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) might improve functional results by precisely dissecting and preserving autonomic nerves.

Clonal dynamics of tumor-infiltrating T-cell receptor beta-chain repertoires in the peripheral blood in response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The nasopharyngeal epithelium is highly susceptible to pathogenic infection. More than 95% of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated epithelial cancers densely infiltrated with EBV-free lymphocytes. It remains unknown whether the immune modulating effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on the tumor-infiltrating T-cell priming against EBV, tumor-associated antigens, and/or neoantigens can elicit systemic anti-tumor immunity and decrease recurrence or distant metastasis.

Validation of a Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder Risk Prediction Score and Derivation of a New Prediction Score Using a National Bone Marrow Transplant Registry Database.

Background: We externally validated Fujimoto's post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) scoring system for risk prediction by using the Taiwan Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry Database (TBMTRD) and aimed to create a superior scoring system using machine learning methods.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients registered in the TBMTRD from 2009 to 2018 were included in this study. The Fujimoto PTLD score was calculated for each patient.

Robotic rectal resection preserves anorectal function: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Improving survival rates in rectal cancer patients has generated a growing interest in functional outcomes after total mesorectal excision (TME). The well-established low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score assesses postoperative anorectal impairment after TME. Our meta-analysis is the first to compare bowel function after open, laparoscopic, transanal, and robotic TME.

Eradicating mesothelin-positive human gastric and pancreatic tumors in xenograft models with optimized anti-mesothelin antibody-drug conjugates from synthetic antibody libraries.

Mesothelin (MSLN) is an attractive candidate of targeted therapy for several cancers, and hence there are increasing needs to develop MSLN-targeting strategies for cancer therapeutics. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting MSLN have been demonstrated to be a viable strategy in treating MSLN-positive cancers. However, developing antibodies as targeting modules in ADCs for toxic payload delivery to the tumor site but not to normal tissues is not a straightforward task with many potential hurdles.

Preference criteria for regorafenib in treating refractory metastatic colorectal cancer are the small tumor burden, slow growth and poor/scanty spread.

Given the unclear preference criteria for regorafenib in treating refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), this study aimed to construct an algorithm in selecting right patients for regorafenib. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients with pathology confirmed mCRC and administered with regorafenib for > 3 weeks were enrolled.

The Chinese version of Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory-Expanded version (PTGDI-X) for cancer survivors.

Many patients with cancer report positive changes often referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Some of these self-reported PTG may represent maladaptive illusions created by individuals to cope with the illness. A recently established Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory - Expanded version (PTGDI-X) includes both PTG and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) items.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor for locally recurrent unresectable nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The treatment of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is challenging, and the role of reirradiation is controversial regarding the high risk for severe toxicity. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a high-precision radiation technique that can spare surrounding normal tissues. Studies have demonstrated the high activity and low toxicity of both SBRT and anti-programmed-cell-death-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors for head and neck cancers.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Busulfan in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Pilot Single-Center Study in Taiwan.

(1) Background: Busulfan has been used as a conditioning regimen in allogeneic hematopoietic cell stem transplantation (HSCT). Owing to a large inter-individual variation in pharmacokinetics, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-guided busulfan dosing is necessary to reduce graft failure and relapse rate. As there exists no TDM of busulfan administration for HCT in Taiwan, we conducted a pilot study to assess the TDM-dosing of busulfan in the Taiwanese population; (2) Methods: Seven patients with HCT from The Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan, received conditioning regimens consisting of intravenous busulfan and other chemotherapies.

Multicenter Propensity Score-Based Study of Laparoscopic Repeat Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Subgroup Analysis of Cases with Tumors Far from Major Vessels.

Less morbidity is considered among the advantages of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for HCC patients. However, our previous international, multi-institutional, propensity score-based study of emerging laparoscopic repeat liver resection (LRLR) failed to prove this advantage. We hypothesize that these results may be since the study included complex LRLR cases performed during the procedure's developing stage.

The relationship between organizational communication and missed nursing care in oncology wards in Taiwan.

Aim: Unfavourable communication increases missed nursing care. Oncology wards have more communication complexity than general wards; therefore, creating a positive communication environment is important for ensuring quality care. This study aimed to understand the relationship between organizational communication satisfaction and missed nursing care in Taiwan.

Characteristics and outcomes of second cancers in patients with childhood cancer: A report from the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group.

Background: Patients with childhood cancer are at increased risk for the development of second cancers.

Methods: A national multicenter survey of second cancers conducted by the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group retrieved retrospective data from the database at the Children Cancer Foundation in Taiwan beginning in 1995. The characteristics of second cancers and associations of patient demographic and clinical characteristics with time to death due to a second cancer were analyzed.

Effects of Water Extract of (Bge.) Kitag. on Different Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

(Bge.) Kitag. (CP) is an important medicinal herb used in Chinese herbal medicine, with a variety of biological activities including anticancer property.

Adequate surgical margins for oral cancer: A Taiwan cancer registry national database analysis.

Background: Margin status and lymph node metastasis are the most important prognostic factors for oral cancers. However, while adequate surgical resection is crucial for local control and prognosis, the definition of clear margins has long been a subject of debate. In this study, we analyzed data from a nationwide population-based cancer registry database and evaluated the impact of surgical margins on cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) as well as the optimal cutoff of adequate surgical margins.

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI and Intravoxel Incoherent Motion to Identify Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer with Different Vascular Normalization Gene Expression.

Objective: To assess the expression of vascular normalization genes in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer and to determine whether molecular subtypes with a higher vascular normalization gene expression can be identified using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study evaluated 306 female (mean age ± standard deviation, 50 ± 10 years), recruited between January 2014 and August 2017, who had breast cancer larger than 1 cm in diameter (308 tumors). DCE MRI followed by IVIM DWI studies using 11 different b-values (0 to 1200 s/mm²) were performed on a 1.

Accuracy of long-form data in the Taiwan cancer registry.

The Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) is a nationwide population-based registry that collects the data of patients with newly diagnosed cancer from hospitals with ≥50 beds. TCR data are high quality in terms of completeness and timeliness. However, accuracy is also a crucial quality indicator.

Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) versus trastuzumab in Chinese patients with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer in the phase 3 KATHERINE study.

Purpose: In the KATHERINE study (NCT01772472), patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) and residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus HER2-targeted therapy who were treated with adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) had a 50% reduction in the risk of an invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) event compared to patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. In metastatic disease, T-DM1 has resulted in higher rates of thrombocytopenia in Asian versus non-Asian patients. Here, we report safety and efficacy in Chinese patients from KATHERINE.

JNK and p38 Inhibitors Prevent Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Induced Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation in Human Graves' Orbital Fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation from orbital fibroblasts is known to dominate tissue remodeling and fibrosis in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). However, the signaling pathways through which TGF-β1 activates Graves' orbital fibroblasts remain unclear. This study investigated the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation in human Graves' orbital fibroblasts.

Treatment outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a retrospective analysis from 1996 to 2019 in Taiwan.

Improvement in outcomes of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is attributed to several refinements in clinical management. We evaluated treatment outcomes of Taiwanese pediatric AML patients in the past 20 years. Overall, 860 de novo AML patients aged 0-18 years and registered in the Childhood Cancer Foundation of R.

Survival and complications with a surgical approach in advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

Background And Objectives: The treatment paradigm for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer has shifted from surgical approaches to organ preservation. However, recent studies indicated that surgical approaches may be associated with better survival rates. This study aimed to conduct a head-to-head comparison of survival outcomes and complications with surgical versus nonsurgical approaches using a nationwide database.