Survival improvements in patients with melanoma brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease in the modern era: Insights from a nationwide study (2015-2022).

Introduction: Advances in modern therapies have improved outcomes for patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM), though prognosis remains poor. The optimal treatment strategy for patients who do not meet clinical trial inclusion criteria is unclear.

Methods: This study included all patients with MBM diagnosed in Denmark between 2015 and 2022, identified through the Danish Metastatic Melanoma Database (DAMMED) and local surgical and radiotherapy records.

Antibiotics use decreases survival in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become the first-line therapy in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Antibiotics (ATB) have been reported to reduce ICI response in cancers, but this has not been evaluated in cSCC.

Aim: To evaluate ATB exposure at the onset of ICI in cSCC patients and to analyze its impact on outcome.

Cancer-specific utility instrument for health economic evaluations: A synopsis of the EORTC QLU-C10D user manual and current validity evidence.

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Utility - Core 10 Dimensions (QLU-C10D) adds a preference-based scoring algorithm to the EORTC measurement portfolio. It is built on the most widely used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure in oncology, the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (QLQ-C30), allowing for the calculation of both HRQoL profiles and health utilities. This is an important advancement for integrating cancer-specific values into health economic evaluations and decision making, offering greater content validity and statistical power than some generic measures.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: interim analysis results from the phase IIIb AMETHISTA trial.

Background: The treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with atezolizumab and bevacizumab led to significant improvements in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and response rate compared with sorafenib in the phase III IMbrave150 trial. The etiology of background liver disease can differ between Eastern and Western populations, leading to a potentially different impact of systemic therapies; therefore the unequal representation must be considered in the IMbrave150 trial. To provide further data on the safety and effectiveness of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, the phase IIIb AMETHISTA (Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in METastatic HCC Italian Safety TriAl) ran in a Western (Italian) population of patients with advanced HCC.

Is pathological response an adequate surrogate marker for survival in neoadjuvant therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors?

Pathological response (PR) is an oncological outcome measure that indicates the therapeutic response to neoadjuvant therapy. In clinical trials involving neoadjuvant or perioperative interventions, overall survival and disease/event-free survival are typically the primary outcome measures. Although some evidence suggests that pathological complete response (pCR) can serve as a surrogate marker for the primary endpoint in prospective trials, it remains uncertain whether pCR is a true surrogate marker for patients with cancer undergoing curative resection across all solid tumours.

An open-label, phase IB/II study of abemaciclib with paclitaxel for tumors with CDK4/6 pathway genomic alterations.

Background: Disruption of cyclin D-dependent kinases (CDKs), particularly CDK4/6, drives cancer cell proliferation via abnormal protein phosphorylation. This open-label, single-arm, phase Ib/II trial evaluated the efficacy of the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, combined with paclitaxel against CDK4/6-activated tumors.

Patients And Methods: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with CDK4/6 pathway aberrations were included.

Health networking on cancer in the European Union: a 'green paper' by the EU Joint Action on Networks of Expertise (JANE).

Health networking is in principle a formidable instrument to address many challenges posed by cancer, one of the two most common and most lethal non-communicable chronic diseases. The European Union (EU)'s Beating Cancer Plan foresaw the addition of new health networks to the four already existing European Reference Networks on rare cancers: the Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres and several networks of expertise (NoEs), which will be shortly deployed on items as complex and poor-prognosis cancers, palliative care, survivorship, personalised primary and secondary prevention, omic technologies, hi-tech medical resources, and cancers in adolescents and young adults. The community of experts of the EU Joint Action, due to build such NoEs, has drafted this 'green paper', incorporating 13 open questions, in an effort to foster discussion on some open questions about health networking on cancer in the EU.

FIGG at 5: An update on U.S. public perspectives on forensic investigative genetic genealogy five years after its introduction to criminal investigations.

In 2018, after law enforcement announced it had used a technique called forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to identify the Golden State Killer, we conducted a U.S. general population survey and found most respondents supported using FIGG to solve violent crimes.

Natural history progression of MRI brain volumetrics in type II late-infantile and juvenile GM1 gangliosidosis patients.

Objective: GM1 gangliosidosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of GM1 gangliosides in neuronal cells, resulting in severe neurodegeneration. Currently, limited data exists on the brain volumetric changes associated with this disease. This study focuses on the late-infantile and juvenile subtypes of type II GM1 gangliosidosis, aiming to quantify brain volumetric characteristics to track disease progression.

A case report of Castleman disease with paraneoplastic pemphigus and bronchiolitis obliterans: Challenges and key takeaways.

Introduction: Castleman disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, subdivided into three types: unicentric Castleman disease, idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) associated multicentric Castleman disease. The retroperitoneum comprises only 13 % of the cases.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 36-year-old female who presented with skin lesions in a dermatology clinic.

Sex-Based Bias in Artificial Intelligence-Based Segmentation Models in Clinical Oncology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) advancements have accelerated applications of imaging in clinical oncology, especially in revolutionizing the safe and accurate delivery of state-of-the-art imaging-guided radiotherapy techniques. However, concerns are growing over the potential for sex-related bias and the omission of female-specific data in multi-organ segmentation algorithm development pipelines. Opportunities exist for addressing sex-specific data as a source of bias, and improving sex inclusion to adequately inform the development of AI-based technologies to ensure their fairness, generalizability and equitable distribution.

LncRNA TCL6 regulates miR-876-5p/MYL2 axis to suppress breast cancer progression.

We explored the influence of the TCL6/miR-876-5p axis on breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we evaluated the expression of TCL6 in breast cancer patients and studied its effects on cell proliferation, migration, and the cell cycle in vitro. The regulatory effect of miR-876-5p on myosin light chain-2 (MYL2) 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) was analyzed through luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments confirmed TCL6-driven upregulation of MYL2 via a competitive RNA binding mechanism.

Brown adipose tissue is associated with reduced weight loss and risk of cancer cachexia: A retrospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been mainly investigated as a potential target against cardiometabolic disease, but it has also been linked to cancer-related outcomes. Although preclinical data support that BAT and the thermogenic adipocytes in white adipose tissue may play an adverse role in the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia, results from studies in patients have reported inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationship between presence of detectable BAT, changes in body weight, and cachexia in patients with cancer.

Behind the scenes of palliative care: Qualitative study with oncology family caregivers.

Purpose: Long-term caregiving tasks can be exhausting for family caregivers, resulting in high psychological morbidity. The study aims to explore the experiences, challenges, and strengths of family caregivers providing care for cancer patients in palliative care, in-patient or at home.

Method: Nine caregivers were included, predominantly women aged 34 to 70, from various regions of Portugal.

Changing an exercise behaviour for physically inactive patients with breast cancer during chemotherapy- the critical role of nurse support: An implementation study.

Purpose: This implementation study investigates the feasibility of a nurse-led pedometer intervention and motivational counselling for physically inactive people with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy in a real-world oncology outpatient setting. It also evaluates the effectiveness of supportive conversations with specialized nurses in terms of behavior change.

Methods: Nurses were trained through an 8-h educational program to deliver the intervention.

Exploring factors influencing body acceptance in women with breast cancer: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Body acceptance in women with breast cancer is a crucial factor related to their physical, psychological health, and quality of life. However, research on the factors influencing body acceptance in this population is lacking. This study aims to identify these factors to provide insights for developing tailored interventions.

Emerging treatments for sarcoma: from 2024 onward.

Introduction: Sarcomas are a rare and diverse group of mesenchymal-origin solid tumors, constituting only 1% of adult malignancies and classified into soft tissue and bone sarcomas. For localized disease, surgery and radiotherapy remain the cornerstone treatments. However, systemic options for advanced stages are limited, with an overall survival of approximately 20 months.

Cystine-Modified Lignin-Copper Coordination Nanocarriers Improve the Therapeutic Efficacy of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition via Cuproptosis.

The clinical application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is rapidly growing and has emerged as a cornerstone in the treatment of both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. However, resistance to TKI targets and disease progression remain inevitable. Nanocarrier-mediated delivery has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of the TKI application.

User and Developer Views on Using AI Technologies to Facilitate the Early Detection of Skin Cancers in Primary Care Settings: Qualitative Semistructured Interview Study.

Background: Skin cancers, including melanoma and keratinocyte cancers, are among the most common cancers worldwide, and their incidence is rising in most populations. Earlier detection of skin cancer leads to better outcomes for patients. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been applied to skin cancer diagnosis, but many technologies lack clinical evidence and/or the appropriate regulatory approvals.

Engagement With an Internet-Administered, Guided, Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Parents of Children Treated for Cancer: Analysis of Log-Data From the ENGAGE Feasibility Trial.

Background: Parents of children treated for cancer may experience psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Digital interventions, such as internet-administered cognitive behavioral therapy, offer an accessible and flexible means to support parents. However, engagement with and adherence to digital interventions remain a significant challenge, potentially limiting efficacy.

Navigating Disagreements on Health Information: How Patients With Cancer Perceive Health Care Providers' Approaches to Discussing Patient-Identified Information.

Purpose: Although publicly available cancer-related information online and offline could help patients make informed decisions, it also poses challenges due to prevalent misinformation. Patients need proper provider guidance to ensure they use valid and relevant information in decisions. We identify effective communication approaches for providers when (1) discussing patient-identified information and (2) disagreeing with it.

Deciphering the complex clonal heterogeneity of polycythemia vera and the response to interferon alpha.

Interferon alpha (IFNa) is approved for the therapy of patients (pts) with polycythemia vera (PV), a subtype of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Some pts achieve molecular responses (MR), but clonal factors sensitizing for MR remain elusive. We integrated colony formation and differentiation assays with single-cell RNA seq and genotyping in PV-derived cells vs.

You Don't Bring Me Flowers.

Dr Cappell discusses the difficulty in protecting oncology patients without taking away things that bring them joy.

Coding Variants of the Genitourinary Development Gene Carry High Risk for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Considerable genetic heterogeneity is currently thought to underlie hereditary prostate cancer (HPC). Most families meeting criteria for HPC cannot be attributed to currently known pathogenic variants.

Methods: To discover pathogenic variants predisposing to prostate cancer, we conducted a familial case-control association study using both genome-wide single-allele and identity-by-descent analytic approaches.

Radiation Dose to Occupational Dosimeters Brought on Commercial Air Travel.

Occupational radiation dosimeters that return high readings cannot always be explained by circumstances in the workplace. For this experiment, a series of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters were brought to airports to estimate the radiation dose OSLs would receive should a worker accidentally bring their dosimeter with them during travel. The OSLs returned readings between 0.