Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with low muscle mass and composition in people treated with (chemo)radiotherapy for lung cancer.

Background: This study examined (1) associations between sociodemographic and clinical variables with low muscle mass and radiodensity and their loss relative to treatment commencement in patients with lung cancer; and (2) the magnitude of change in muscle mass and association with treatment outcomes and survival.

Methods: Prospective study in patients planned for curative (chemo)radiotherapy for lung cancer. Low skeletal muscle mass and radiodensity and muscle loss were determined from pre- and post-treatment computed tomography images.

PET/CT-derived coronary calcium score may predict cardiac complications in anthracycline-treated lymphoma patients.

Anthracycline-mediated cardiotoxicity is a common concern following lymphoma therapy, particularly in patients with high cardiovascular risk (CVR). In non-cancer populations, coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) effectively identifies individuals who may benefit from aggressive CVR modification to lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Emerging evidence suggests that CACS can also predict cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity, potentially identifying candidates for cardioprotective strategies.

Incidence and Factors Associated With the Development of Calvarial Osteoradionecrosis in Patients Treated for Cutaneous Malignancies.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Calvarial osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a rare but devastating complication of radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to describe the cumulative incidence of Calvarial ORN in patients in patients treated for cutaneous malignancy of the scalp.

A nurse-led intervention for carers of people with high-grade glioma: A case series of carers reporting high distress.

Background: Carers play an important role in supporting patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma (HGG). However, this experience is frequently distressing and many carers require support.

Objectives: To describe unmet needs of highly distressed carers of people with HGG and recommendations and referrals made by a nurse to support them within the Care-IS trial.

Safety and efficacy of odronextamab in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.

Background: Odronextamab, a CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody that engages cytotoxic T cells to destroy malignant B cells, has demonstrated encouraging activity across multiple subtypes of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Patients And Methods: This phase II study (ELM-2; NCT03888105) evaluated odronextamab in patients with R/R follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Patients received intravenous odronextamab in 21-day cycles, with step-up dosing in cycle 1 to help mitigate the risk of cytokine release syndrome, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Neurological complications of modern radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Radiotherapy is one of the mainstay treatment modalities for the management of non-metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC). Notable improvements in treatment outcomes have been observed in the recent decades. Modern radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and charged particle therapy, have significantly improved tumor target conformity and enabled better preservation of normal structures.

Implementation of a nurse-led, multidisciplinary model of care for older adults with cancer: a process evaluation protocol.

Introduction: Cancer is predominantly a disease of older adults, with an increasing number of cancer diagnoses in individuals aged 65 or older. Multiple geriatric factors have been shown to impact patient outcomes in cancer treatment. However, oncology specialists are not well adapted to incorporate geriatric assessment into practice due to a lack of resources and knowledge of the specialty.

A phase 2, multicenter, open-label study of anti-LAG-3 ieramilimab in combination with anti-PD-1 spartalizumab in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Ieramilimab, a humanized anti-LAG-3 monoclonal antibody, was well tolerated in combination with the anti-PD-1 antibody spartalizumab in a phase 1 study. This phase 2 study aimed to further investigate the efficacy and safety of combination treatment in patients with selected advanced (locally advanced or metastatic) solid malignancies. Eligible patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), mesothelioma, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) were grouped depending on prior anti-PD-1/L1 therapy (anti-PD-1/L1 naive or anti-PD-1/L1 pretreated).

SCORE: a randomised controlled trial evaluating shared care (general practitioner and oncologist) follow-up compared to usual oncologist follow-up for survivors of colorectal cancer.

Background: SCORE is the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine shared oncologist and general practitioner (GP) follow-up for survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC). SCORE aimed to show that shared care (SC) was non-inferior to usual care (UC) on the EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/Quality of Life (GHQ-QoL) scale to 12 months.

Methods: The study recruited patients from five public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia between February 2017 and May 2021.

The features and management of acquired resistance to PD1-based therapy in metastatic melanoma.

Background: Anti-PD-1 therapy (PD1) either alone or with anti-CTLA-4 (CTLA4), has high initial response rates, however 20% of patients (pts) with complete response (CR) and 30% with partial response (PR) within 12 months of treatment experience subsequent disease progression by 6 years. The nature and optimal management of this acquired resistance (AR) remains unknown.

Methods: Pts from 16 centres who responded to PD1-based therapy and who later progressed were examined.

The Feasibility of Quality Assurance in the TOPGEAR International Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Gastric Cancer (an Intergroup Trial of the AGITG/TROG/NHMRC CTC/EORTC/CCTG).

Purpose: The TOPGEAR phase 3 trial hypothesized that adding preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) to perioperative chemotherapy will improve survival in patients with gastric cancer. Owing to the complexity of gastric irradiation, a comprehensive radiation therapy quality assurance (RTQA) program was implemented. Our objective is to describe the RTQA methods and outcomes.

Nurse-led emergency department avoidance model of care for patients receiving cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting: a health service improvement initiative.

Aims: The Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic was a service improvement initiative, which consisted of the implementation and evaluation of a nurse-led emergency department (ED) avoidance model of care. The clinic was developed for patients experiencing symptoms associated with systemic anti-cancer therapy in ambulatory cancer settings.

Methods: The clinic was implemented in four health services in Melbourne, Australia across a six-month period in 2018.

Patterns of care for people with small cell lung cancer in Victoria, 2011-19: a retrospective, population-based registry data study.

Objectives: To report stage-specific patterns of treatment and the influence of management and treatment type on survival rates for people newly diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Design: Cross-sectional patterns of care study; analysis of data prospectively collected for the Victorian Lung Cancer Registry (VLCR).

Setting, Participants: All people diagnosed with SCLC in Victoria during 1 April 2011 - 18 December 2019.

Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To discuss the role of proton beam therapy (PBT) in the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Materials And Methods: A review of the pertinent literature.

Results: Proton beam therapy likely results in reduced acute and late toxicity as compared with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Long-term outcomes of modern multidisciplinary management of sinonasal cancers: The M. D. Anderson experience.

Purpose: To report long-term outcomes of modern radiotherapy for sinonasal cancers.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis of patients with sinonasal tumors treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy or proton therapy. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictive variables of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

A clinical study comparing polymer and gold fiducials for prostate cancer radiotherapy.

Introduction: Image guidance with gold fiducials improves outcomes of prostate radiotherapy. However, gold produces artefact on CT imaging, interfering with contouring and verification. The purpose of this study was to compare polymer to standard gold fiducials using radiotherapy imaging modalities to assess the visibility and artefact.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers.

Despite the significant evolution of radiation therapy (RT) techniques in recent years, many patients with head and neck cancer still experience significant toxicities during and after treatments. The increased soft tissue contrast and functional sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are particularly attractive in head and neck cancer and have led to the increasing development of magnetic resonance-guided RT (MRgRT). This approach refers to the inclusion of the additional information acquired from a diagnostic or planning MRI in radiation treatment planning, and now extends to online high-quality daily imaging generated by the recently developed MR-Linac.

Impact of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Management of Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in the neovasculature of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, there remains limited evidence regarding the use of PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in RCC.

Objective: To assess the impact of PSMA PET/CT in the management of metastatic RCC.

Antibody-drug conjugates: beyond current approvals and potential future strategies.

The recent approvals for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in multiple malignancies in recent years have fuelled the ongoing development of this class of drugs. These novel agents combine the benefits of high specific targeting of oncogenic cell surface antigens with the additional cell kill from high potency cytotoxic payloads, thus achieving wider therapeutic windows. This review will summarise the clinical activity of ADCs in tumour types not covered elsewhere in this issue, such as gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) cancers and glioblastoma (GBM).