Outcomes of patients receiving urgent palliative radiotherapy for advanced lung cancer: an observational study.

Background: There is considerable variability in the management of patients with advanced lung cancer referred for palliative radiotherapy owing to uncertainties in prognosis and the benefit of treatment. This study presents the outcomes of patients seen in the Fast Track Lung Clinic, an urgent access palliative radiotherapy clinic, and aims to identify factors associated with treatment response and survival.

Methods: Consecutive patients with advanced lung cancer seen in the Fast Track Lung Clinic between January 2014 and July 2020 were included.

Clinical Outcomes and Prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Obstruction.

Background: The prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with obstruction is unclear. This study aimed to analyze clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with ESCC and obstruction.

Methods: Patients with advanced ESCC were included and divided into obstructive and non-obstructive groups.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy vs Sorafenib Alone in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The NRG Oncology/RTOG 1112 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Most patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recur within the liver following systemic therapy.

Objective: To determine whether stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) improves outcomes in patients with locally advanced HCC compared with sorafenib alone.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter phase 3 randomized clinical trial randomized patients with HCC 1:1 to sorafenib or SBRT followed by sorafenib, stratified by performance status, liver function, degree of metastases, and macrovascular invasion.

Real-world Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Background: Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) encompasses pure NEPC and tumors with mixed adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine histology. While NEPC is thought to confer a poor prognosis, outcome data are sparse, making risk stratification and treatment decisions difficult for clinicians.

Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with morphological and/or immunohistochemical NEPC features on pathological review of high-grade prostate cancer cases.

De-escalated Induction Therapy and Thiotepa/Busulfan-based Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

Background: Thiotepa-based autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improves survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), but > 30% of patients are unable to undergo ASCT following commonly used intensive induction regimens.

Methods: This retrospective population-based study included consecutive patients ≥ 18 years old with PCNSL who were intended for ASCT in Alberta, Canada between 2011 and 2022. A reduced-intensity induction protocol was further abbreviated in 2018 to decrease toxicity and expediate ASCT by incorporating rituximab, procarbazine, and only 2 doses of high-dose methotrexate and 1 cycle of high-dose cytarabine before consolidation with thiotepa-busulfan conditioning.

Development of a Machine Learning Tool to Predict Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Requirement for Locoregional Right-Sided Breast Radiation Therapy Patients.

This study presents machine learning (ML) models that predict if deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is needed based on lung dose in right-sided breast cancer patients during the initial computed tomography (CT) appointment. Materials and methods. Anatomic distances were extracted from a single-institution dataset of free breathing (FB) CT scans from locoregional right-sided breast cancer patients.

Understanding the exodus: a 15-year retrospective cohort study on the pattern and determinants of migration among Nigerian doctors and dentists.

Background: Nigeria faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals yet experiences a significant annual exodus of doctors and dentists. This alarming trend threatens the country's ability to provide equitable healthcare.

Objective: This study investigated the patterns and determinants of migration among doctors and dentists who graduated from the University of Benin, Nigeria, 15 years ago.

Guidance for Canadian Breast Cancer Practice: National Consensus Recommendations for the Systemic Treatment of Patients with HER2+ Breast Cancer in Both the Early and Metastatic Setting.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer associated with a poor prognosis when sub-optimally treated. Recent advances include new and effective targeted therapies that have significantly improved outcomes for patients. Despite these advances, there are significant gaps across Canada, underscoring the need for evidence-based consensus guidance to inform treatment decisions.

Evaluation of infectious complications in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a prospective cohort study from the Canadian MDS registry.

Infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Precise estimates of infection frequency and severity with modern therapies are uncertain. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort enrolled in a Canadian MDS registry and characterized the frequency and severity of infectious complications.

Randomized Phase II Study of Durvalumab with or without Tremelimumab in Patients with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed by dendritic cells in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) progressing on androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. We tested whether checkpoint blockade could enhance antitumor activity in mCRPC.

Methods: In a multicenter open-label non-comparative randomized phase II study, patients with mCRPC treated with £ 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy, with measurable disease and progression on abiraterone and/or enzalutamide were randomized to durvalumab (D) 1500mg IV Q4 weeks ± 4 doses of tremelimumab (T) 75mg IV.

An Exercise and Wellness Behavior Change Program for Solid Organ Transplant: A Clinical Research Protocol for the Transplant Wellness Program.

Background: Exercise prehabilitation is an evidence-based, safe, and effective method to increase quality of life, physical fitness and function, and post-surgical outcomes in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. However, few prehabilitation programs for SOT patients exist in practice. Furthermore, there is a lack of multimodal prehabilitation programs that include behavior change support.

Intensity of survivin expression linked to features of aggressive relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

SPiReL is a phase II clinical trial evaluating combination immunotherapy, pembrolizumab and cyclophosphamide, with maveropepimut-S, in survivin-expressing relapsed/refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). We describe baseline tumor survivin expression and associations with clinico-pathological variables in 25 participants. The median number of survivin-expressing cells was 99%, and the intensity of survivin expression within tumors was heterogeneous by semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry assessment.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: 10-Year Outcomes From Three Prospective Trials.

Purpose: SABR is growingly accepted for the treatment of localized prostate cancer with recent randomized trials showing noninferiority compared with conventional or moderately hypofractionated radiation therapy. The natural history of prostate cancer necessitates extended surveillance for recurrence; however, there are a few prospective studies reporting long-term outcomes.

Methods And Materials: This study included patients with low- and intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer from 3 Canadian clinical trials enrolled from 2006 to 2013.

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.