Trastuzumab-Pertuzumab Plus Eribulin or Taxane as First-Line Chemotherapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2-Positive Locally Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Randomized Noninferiority Phase III EMERALD Trial.

Purpose: Trastuzumab-pertuzumab (HP) plus taxane is a current standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). We investigated noninferiority of eribulin to a taxane when combined with dual HER2 blockade as first-line systemic treatment for locally advanced/metastatic HER2+ BC.

Methods: In the phase III EMERALD trial (target sample size, 480; ClinicalTrials.

Impact of Suture Materials on Surgical Site Infection in Oral Oncological Surgery With Free-Flap Reconstruction: Analysis Using Propensity Scores.

Objective: The impact of suture materials on surgical site infections (SSIs) has been well documented in various surgical fields; however, it has not been thoroughly examined in oral oncological surgery with free-flap reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of oral SSIs associated with the use of monofilament and braided sutures for flap fixation.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent oral oncological resection with free-flap reconstruction was conducted between May 2020 and April 2024.

Assessment of heterogeneity according to hospital or medical experience factors in outcomes of chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer: a post-hoc analysis of JCOG1113.

Background: JCOG1113 is a randomized phase III trial that showed non-inferiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 to gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. Assessment of inter-institutional heterogeneity in chemotherapy contributes to confirm generalizability and reliability of the study itself. However, there have been no studies conducted to assess the heterogeneity among participating centers in randomized phase III trials for biliary tract cancer.

Associations Between Anticipatory Grief and Post-Bereavement Depression and Post-Loss Grief of Family Members of Dying Patients With Cancer in Palliative Care Units: A Cohort Study.

Anticipatory grief is associated with post-bereavement grief; however, reports on the influence of pre-loss depression are limited. Therefore, we investigated the association between the anticipatory grief of family members and post-loss and post-depression grief adjusted for pre-loss depression. This cohort study included the family members of dying patients with cancer.

A noninvasive urinary microRNA-based assay for the detection of pancreatic cancer from early to late stages: a case control study.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and has a low survival rate primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and the lack of effective early detection methods. We introduce here a novel, noninvasive urinary extracellular vesicle miRNA-based assay for the detection of pancreatic cancer from early to late stages.

Methods: From September 2019 to July 2023, Urine samples were collected from patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 153) from five distinct sites (Hokuto Hospital, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, National Cancer Center Hospital, Kagoshima University Hospital, and Kumagaya General Hospital) and non-cancer participants (n = 309) from two separate sites (Hokuto Hospital and Omiya City Clinic).

Datopotamab Deruxtecan in Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Actionable Genomic Alterations: Results From the Phase II TROPION-Lung05 Study.

Purpose: Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) is a trophoblast cell-surface antigen-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate with a highly potent topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. The TROPION-Lung05 phase II trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04484142) evaluated the safety and clinical activity of Dato-DXd in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with actionable genomic alterations progressing on or after targeted therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Availability of, Barriers to Performing, and Educational Practices of Interventional Procedures for Refractory Pain in Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Survey of Designated Cancer Hospitals in Japan.

Background: Because of the limitations of pharmacological therapy, nonpharmacological therapies including intervention procedures are also important for quality of cancer pain management.

Objective: To clarify the availability of, number performed, barriers to performing, and educational practices of four interventional procedures (celiac plexus neurolysis/splanchnic nerve neurolysis, phenol saddle block, epidural analgesia, and intrathecal analgesia) in designated cancer hospitals.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Novel model of the region of interest modified Mayo Adhesive Probability score.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the newly developed region of interest (ROI)-modified Mayo Adhesive Probability (MAP) score, in which stranding was re-evaluated by computed tomography (CT) number, for predicting operation time in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN).

Methods: The study participants were 119 patients who underwent transperitoneal RAPN. With regard to stranding, ROIs were evaluated, and the mean CT numbers were assigned a score ranging from 0 to 3.

Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib in Patients With EGFR-mutant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) After Progression on Osimertinib and Platinum-based Chemotherapy: Results From CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A.

Introduction: Treatment options for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy are limited.

Methods: CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A evaluated amivantamab+lazertinib in patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion- or L858R-mutated NSCLC with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Positive Advanced Gastric or Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: Reflecting on the Past to Gain a New Insights.

Purpose Of Review: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a critical target in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This review highlights the current treatment landscape, lessons learned from past clinical trials, and prospects for future treatment strategies for HER2-positive AGC.

Recent Findings: Trastuzumab had been the standard treatment for HER2-positive AGC for a decade, and subsequently, trastuzumab deruxtecan, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), emerged with an impressive response.

Comprehensive epidemiology of melanoma at all sites: insights from Japan's National Cancer Registry, 2016-2017.

Background: Melanoma is a highly malignant cancer responsible for 55 000 deaths worldwide annually. Despite its severity, its epidemiology in Japan remains understudied owing to its rarity among Asians. This study aimed to determine the incidence of melanoma in Japan using data from the National Cancer Registry.

AI-based visualization of loose connective tissue as a dissectable layer in gastrointestinal surgery.

We aimed to develop an AI model that recognizes and displays loose connective tissue as a dissectable layer in real-time during gastrointestinal surgery and to evaluate its performance, including feasibility for clinical application. Training data were created under the supervision of gastrointestinal surgeons. Test images and videos were randomly sampled and model performance was evaluated visually by 10 external gastrointestinal surgeons.

Cost-effectiveness of systematic chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer: a retrospective study using Japanese clinical data.

We compared the cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) and modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX)-standard first-line treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer in Japan. This retrospective cohort study included patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Japan between December 2013 and February 2017. A partitioned survival model, featuring five mutually exclusive health states, was developed.

A Phase II, Open Label, Single-Arm Study on the Efficacy of Cabozantinib in Patients With Advanced/Metastatic Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Harboring MET Exon 14 Alterations who Developed Acquired Resistance to Tepotinib or Capmatinib (CAPTURE Trial).

Background: MET gene exon 14 skipping was identified as a potential driver mutation that occurs in approximately 3%-4% of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), typically in the absence of other driver mutations. Capmatinib and tepotinib were the first MET- tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MET-TKIs) approved by the FDA and PMDA, specifically for patients with metastatic NSCLC. Several studies have reported acquired resistance after MET-TKI treatment for MET mutation-positive NSCLC.

Prediction and Monitoring of Adaptive Radiation Therapy Timing Using Two-dimensional X-ray Image-based Water Equivalent Thickness.

Background/aim: This study aimed to predict the optimal timing for adaptive radiation therapy (ART) using two-dimensional X-ray image-based water equivalent thickness (2DWET).

Patients And Methods: Forty patients with oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer underwent Computed Tomography (CT) rescanning during treatment. An adaptive score (AS) was proposed to guide ART decisions based on changes in four dose indices: target coverage, spinal cord dose, parotid gland dose, and over-dose volume.

Impact of radiotherapy-related late toxicities of skin and soft tissue in the neck on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a multi-institutional observational study in Japan.

Purpose: This multi-institutional observational study aimed to assess the incidence, severity, and impact of radiotherapy-related late toxicities of the cervical skin and soft tissue in head and neck cancer patients. We also explored patient interest in fat grafting as a potential treatment for skin and soft tissue sequelae.

Methods: This study was conducted across 19 institutions in Japan.

Phase 3 Study of Talazoparib Plus Enzalutamide Versus Placebo Plus Enzalutamide as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: TALAPRO-2 Japanese Subgroup Analysis.

Background: In TALAPRO-2, the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor talazoparib plus the androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor enzalutamide improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) versus placebo plus enzalutamide (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.

Association of Preoperative Physical Fitness With Post-Esophagectomy Pneumonia in Older With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer: An Exploratory Prospective Study.

Backgrounds: Currently, there is a lack of evidence of prehabilitation during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) to prevent pneumonia of older patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of preoperative physical fitness after NAC with post-esophagectomy pneumonia in older patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC).

Methods: This single-center exploratory prospective cohort study included 80 patients aged ≥ 65 years with LAEC scheduled for curative esophagectomy after NAC between 2021 and 2023.

A simplified scoring system for predicting treatment response in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (EAST score).

Aims: This study aimed at developing a scoring system (EAST score) to predict recurrence after chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).

Patients & Methods: Treatment-naïve LS-SCLC patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) ( = 234) or sequential chemoradiotherapy ( = 53) were retrospectively reviewed. Using data from CCRT population, clinical and radiological variables associated with disease progression were identified.

High Fracture Risk of Femoral Bone Metastasis Treated with Palliative Radiotherapy in Recent Years.

Bone-modifying agents (BMAs) have been widely used to reduce skeletal-related events, including pathological fractures. Herein, we aimed to clarify the incidence of pathological fractures caused by high-risk femoral bone metastases after palliative radiotherapy (RT) in the BMA era and evaluate the necessity of prophylactic surgical stabilization. We assessed 90 patients with high-risk femoral bone metastases, indicated by Mirels' scores ≥ 8, without pathological fractures and surgical fixations, who received palliative RT at our institution between January 2009 and December 2018.

Quantification of beam size impact on intensity-modulated proton therapy with robust optimization in head and neck cancer-comparison with intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

We assessed the effect of beam size on plan robustness for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) of head and neck cancer (HNC) and compared the plan quality including robustness with that of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). IMPT plans were generated for six HNC patients using six beam sizes (air-sigma 3-17 mm at isocenter for a 70-230 MeV) and two optimization methods for planning target volume-based non-robust optimization (NRO) and clinical target volume (CTV)-based robust optimization (RO). Worst-case dosimetric parameters and plan robustness for CTV and organs-at-risk (OARs) were assessed under different scenarios, assuming a ± 1-5 mm setup error and a ± 3% range error.

Managing Wound Complications After Osteosarcoma Resection: Stopping Adjuvant Therapy and Performing Secondary Closure.

Purpose Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) following limb-sparing surgery with endoprosthesis is the gold standard treatment for osteosarcoma (OS). However, AC can impair wound healing, leading to endoprosthesis exposure, making the decision to continue or pause AC important. We propose standard guidelines for managing this situation.