Buparlisib and Paclitaxel in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Immunogenomic Biomarkers of Efficacy from the BERIL-1 Study.

Background: BERIL-1 was a randomized phase 2 study that studied paclitaxel with either buparlisib, a pan-class I PIK3 inhibitor, or placebo in patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Considering the therapeutic paradigm shift with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) now approved in the first-line setting, we present an updated immunogenomic analysis of patients enrolled in BERIL-1, including patients with immune-infiltrated tumors.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers predictive of treatment efficacy in the context of the post-ICI therapeutic landscape.

CircZMYM2 Alleviates TGF-β1-Induced Proliferation, Migration and Activation of Fibroblasts via Targeting miR-199b-5p/KLF13 Axis.

Dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been revealed to be involved in pulmonary fibrosis progression. Herein, this study focused on exploring the function and mechanism of circRNA Zinc Finger MYM-Type Containing 2 (circZMYM2) on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-stimulated fibroblasts. Human fibroblast cell lines IMR-90 and HFL1 were stimulated with TGF-β1 to mimic fibrosis condition in vitro.

Tetraspanins CD63 and CD81 as potential prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.

Exosome markers, CD63 and CD81, belong to the tetraspanin family and are expressed in solid tumors. It has been reported that these tetraspanin family members are prognostic factors in some cancers. However, the expression of CD63 and CD81 in pathological breast cancer specimens has not been reported.

The effects of bone marrow humoral components of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients on natural killer cell suppression.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children. While the majority of patients survive with conventional treatment, chemotherapeutic agents have adverse effects and the potential for relapse persists even after full recovery. Given their pivotal function in anti-cancer immunity, there has been a surge in research exploring the potential of natural killer (NK) cells in immunotherapy, which has emerged as a promising avenue for treating leukemia.

Non small cell lung cancer with SMARCA4 deficiency harboring rare EGFR mutations exhibited significant tumor response when treated with afatinib: a case report.

SMARCA4-deficient non small cell lung cancer (SMARCA4-dNSCLC) has recently garnered increasing attention due to its high malignancy and poor prognosis. The literature suggests that in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the loss of SMARCA4 frequently co-occurs with mutations in KRAS, KEAP1, and STK11 rather than in EGFR, ALK, and ROS1. Herein, we present the first documented case of SMARCA4-dNSCLC accompanied with rare mutations of EGFR exon 20 S768I and exon 18 G719X.

PYGO2 promotes resistance to chemotherapy via reducing apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in esophageal carcinoma cells.

5-FU is a widely used chemotherapy drug for esophageal carcinomas, but therapy failure has been observed in 5-FU-resistant patients. Overcoming this resistance is a significant challenge in cancer treatment, requiring identifying and targeting important resistance mechanisms. PYGO2 expression is crucial in developing resistance to various chemotherapy drugs.

Standard: Human gastric organoids.

Organoid technology provides a transformative approach to understand human physiology and pathology, offering valuable insights for scientific research and therapeutic development. Human gastric organoids, in particular, have gained significant interest for applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, and studies of tissue regeneration and homeostasis. However, the lack of standardized quality control has limited their extensive clinical applications.

The multifaceted roles of aldolase A in cancer: glycolysis, cytoskeleton, translation and beyond.

Cancer, a complicated disease characterized by aberrant cellular metabolism, has emerged as a formidable global health challenge. Since the discovery of abnormal aldolase A (ALDOA) expression in liver cancer for the first time, its overexpression has been identified in numerous cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer (BC), cervical adenocarcinoma (CAC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gastric cancer (GC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pancreatic cancer adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Moreover, ALDOA overexpression promotes cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance, and is closely related to poor prognosis of patients with cancer.

Targeting CHEK1: Ginsenosides-Rh2 and Cu2O@G-Rh2 nanoparticles in thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer (THCA) is an increasingly common malignant tumor of the endocrine system, with its incidence rising steadily in recent years. For patients who experience recurrence or metastasis, treatment options are relatively limited, and the prognosis is poor. Therefore, exploring new therapeutic strategies has become particularly urgent.

Adverse health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term adolescent and young adult (AYA) brain tumour survivors: results from the population-based SURVAYA study.

Purpose: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) malignant brain tumour (BT) survivors are at risk of adverse health outcomes, which may impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate the (1) prevalence of physical and psychological adverse health outcomes, (2) the HRQoL, and (3) the association of adverse health outcomes and HRQoL among long-term AYA-BT survivors. Adverse health outcomes and HRQoL were compared to other AYA cancer (AYAC) survivors.

Machine learning prediction model for oral mucositis risk in head and neck radiotherapy: a preliminary study.

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) reflects a complex interplay of several risk factors. Machine learning (ML) is a promising frontier in science, capable of processing dense information. This study aims to assess the performance of ML in predicting OM risk in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy.

Clinical outcome of BCG treatment for patients with urothelial carcinoma of the prostatic urethra: Implications for early cystectomy.

Purposes: This study aimed to clarify the clinical outcomes of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the prostatic urethra.

Methods: Between August 2003 and January 2023, 428 patients with non-muscle-invasive UC received BCG treatment (Tokyo strain, 80 mg, ≥ 5 times) in our hospital; 39 had UC of the prostatic urethra. We evaluated the cumulative incidence of intravesical recurrence, progression (muscle-invasive bladder cancer [MIBC] or metastasis), and subsequent radical cystectomy after BCG treatment in patients with UC of the prostatic urethra.

Survival and early outcomes following lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease associated with non-scleroderma connective tissue disease: a national cohort study.

Objectives: The progressive decline in interstitial lung disease associated with non-scleroderma connective tissue disease (ILD-NSCTD) is linked to poor prognosis and frequently results in respiratory failure. Lung transplantation (LTx) offers a viable treatment option, yet its outcomes in ILD-NSCTD remain contentious, particularly across different subtypes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (n=11,610) and ILD-NSCTD (n=610) listed in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database who underwent lung transplantation between May 5, 2005, and December 31, 2022.

Utilising bioinformatics and systems biology methods to uncover the impact of dermatomyositis on interstitial lung disease.

Objectives: Dermatomyositis (DM) is frequently associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study aimed to employ bioinformatics approaches to identify potential molecular mechanisms linking DM and ILD.

Methods: GSE46239 and GSE47162 were analysed to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

A method for mimicking tumour tissue in brain ex-vivo ultrasound for research application and clinical training.

Background: Intraoperative ultrasound is becoming a common tool in neurosurgery. However, effective simulation methods are limited. Current, commercial, and homemade phantoms lack replication of anatomical correctness and texture complexity of brain and tumour tissue in ultrasound images.

[Ophthalmic oncology in a warmer world: climate-related increase in the prevalence of eyelid cancer].

Background: Damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays a decisive role in the carcinogenesis of malignant tumors of the eyelids.

Methods: A selective literature search was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar.

Results: Large epidemiological studies show an increase in the prevalence of eyelid tumors in recent decades.

[New systemic treatment approach for primary lymphoma of the orbit and the ocular adnexa].

Background: Orbital lymphomas are the most frequently occurring malignant tumor entities in this region. They are less frequently also localized in the ocular adnexa and show a high entity-specific heterogeneity regarding the treatment and prognosis.

Objective: This article gives an overview of the heterogeneity of symptoms of orbital lymphoma and lymphoma of the ocular adnexa and focuses on new systemic options for treatment of this disease.

Bone Marrow Adipocytes as Novel Regulators of Metabolic Homeostasis: Clinical Consequences of Bone Marrow Adiposity.

Purpose Of Review: Bone marrow adipose tissue is a distinctive fat depot located within the skeleton, with the potential to influence both local and systemic metabolic processes. Although significant strides have been made in understanding bone marrow adipose tissue over the past decade, many questions remain regarding their precise lineage and functional roles.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have highlighted bone marrow adipose tissue's involvement in continuous cross-talk with other organs and systems, exerting both endocrine and paracrine functions that play a crucial role in metabolic homeostasis, skeletal remodeling, hematopoiesis, and the progression of bone metastases.

Timing of Surgery and Postoperative Outcomes in Esophagectomy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective Study in North India.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy is the usual approach to manage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The optimal interval to operate after completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) still remains controversial.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted to observe and compare postoperative complications and pathological outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who underwent NACRT followed by surgery within 8 weeks or after 8 weeks of NACRT completion.

The Current Role of Circulating Tumor DNA in the Management of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Early identification is rare, with a 5-year overall survival (OS) of less than 10%. Advances in the understanding of PDAC tumor biology are needed to improve these outcomes.

Identification of Key Biomarkers Associated with Glioma Hemorrhage: Evidence from Bioinformatic Analysis and Clinical Validation.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a known complication of glioma, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate key biomarkers of glioma-related hemorrhage to provide insights into glioma molecular therapies. Data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in glioma by contrasting glioblastoma (GBM) with low-grade gliomas (LGGs).

Study of the Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection, includes over 200 types, some linked to genital warts and various cancers, including cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In Saudi Arabia, an estimated 10.7 million women aged 15 years and older are at risk of HPV-related cervical cancer.

Effect of Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Implant-Based Reconstruction on Post-Mastectomy Radiation Dosimetry.

Background: The placement of breast implants in a prepectoral plane has become increasingly popular in breast reconstruction, although data on how this affects radiation delivery in women with breast cancer are limited. This study aimed to assess the dosimetric differences in radiation plans for immediate breast reconstruction between prepectoral and subpectoral implants.

Methods: In this study, a retrospective review and dosimetric analysis of patients with breast cancer who underwent immediate implant-based reconstruction and postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) were performed.

Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy After Chemotherapy and the Optimal Interval from Radiotherapy to Surgery for Borderline Resectable and Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Benefits of neoadjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer with major vessel invasion has been demonstrated through randomized controlled trials; however, the optimal neoadjuvant treatment strategy remains controversial, especially for radiotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and the optimal time interval to undergo surgery after radiotherapy in (borderline) resectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2022, patients with (borderline) resectable pancreatic cancer with vessel contact who received 5-fluorouracil with leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan or gemcitabine and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel as initial treatment following surgery were included.