Neoadjuvant Therapy Regimens for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Before Liver Transplant.

Objectives: Patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) may be eligible for curative treatment through liver transplantation (LT). Neoadjuvant protocols often include radiotherapy (RT), however, there is no standard RT approach. The purpose of this study is to characterize practice patterns of RT use before transplantation for hCCA.

Melanoma metastatic to the adrenal gland: An update on the role of adrenalectomy in multidisciplinary management.

Background And Objectives: Modern systemic therapy (immune checkpoint blockade [ICB], targeted therapy) has improved survival for patients with metastatic melanoma. The role of adrenal metastasectomy is not well characterized in this setting.

Methods: Consecutive patients treated with adrenalectomy 1/1/2007-1/1/2019 were retrospectively compared to patients treated with systemic therapy alone in the same time period.

Neoadjuvant-Adjuvant or Adjuvant-Only Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma.

Background: Whether pembrolizumab given both before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) and after surgery (adjuvant therapy), as compared with pembrolizumab given as adjuvant therapy alone, would increase event-free survival among patients with resectable stage III or IV melanoma is unknown.

Methods: In a phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned patients with clinically detectable, measurable stage IIIB to IVC melanoma that was amenable to surgical resection to three doses of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, surgery, and 15 doses of adjuvant pembrolizumab (neoadjuvant-adjuvant group) or to surgery followed by pembrolizumab (200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks for a total of 18 doses) for approximately 1 year or until disease recurred or unacceptable toxic effects developed (adjuvant-only group). The primary end point was event-free survival in the intention-to-treat population.

Idecabtagene Vicleucel for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Real-World Experience From the Myeloma CAR T Consortium.

Purpose: Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) is an autologous B-cell maturation antigen-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) on the basis of the phase II pivotal KarMMa trial, which demonstrated best overall and ≥ complete response rates of 73% and 33%, respectively. We report clinical outcomes with standard-of-care (SOC) ide-cel under the commercial Food and Drug Administration label.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from patients with RRMM who underwent leukapheresis as of February 28, 2022, at 11 US institutions with intent to receive SOC ide-cel.

Evaluating the Impacts of CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A5*3 Variations on Pharmacokinetic Behavior and Clinical Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma Patients With Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.

Background/aim: There exists considerably large interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic exposure of high dose melphalan in multiple myeloma patients with hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential impacts of CYP3A4*1B (rs2940574) and CYP3A5*3 (rs776746) variations on pharmacokinetic properties of melphalan and clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Patients And Methods: Genotypes of CYP3A4*1B (rs2940574) and CYP3A5*3 (rs776746) were determined by validated gene-specific real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assays using DNA samples from 108 MM patients; plasma concentrations of melphalan at different time points were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Rare FGFR Oncogenic Alterations in Sequenced Pediatric Solid and Brain Tumors Suggest FGFR Is a Relevant Molecular Target in Childhood Cancer.

Purpose: Multiple FGFR inhibitors are currently in clinical trials enrolling adults with different solid tumors, while very few enroll pediatric patients. We determined the types and frequency of alterations () in pediatric cancers to inform future clinical trial design.

Methods: Tumors with alterations were identified from two large cohorts of pediatric solid tumors subjected to targeted DNA sequencing: The Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Profile Study (n = 888) and the multi-institution GAIN/iCAT2 (Genomic Assessment Improves Novel Therapy) Study (n = 571).

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging After Breast Surgery.

Given that 20% to 40% of women who have percutaneous breast biopsy subsequently undergo breast surgery, knowledge of imaging women with a history of benign (including high-risk) disease or breast cancer is important. For women who had surgery for nonmalignant pathology, the surveillance recommendations are determined by their overall risk. Higher-than-average risk women with a history of benign surgery may require screening mammography starting at an earlier age before 40 and may benefit from screening MRI.

Real-world Practice Patterns and Safety of Concurrent Radiotherapy and Cabozantinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results from the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium.

Background: There is a paucity of data on the safety of cabozantinib use in combination with radiotherapy.

Objective: To report the practice patterns, safety, and efficacy of cabozantinib with radiotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Design, Setting, And Participants: An international multicenter retrospective study was conducted.

Surface-Guided Patient Setup Versus Traditional Tattoo Markers for Radiation Therapy: Is Tattoo-Less Setup Feasible for Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis Treatment?

Purpose: In this study, patient setup accuracy was compared between surface guidance and tattoo markers for radiation therapy treatment sites of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis.

Methods And Materials: A total of 608 setups performed on 59 patients using both surface-guided and tattoo-based patient setups were analyzed. During treatment setup, patients were aligned to room lasers using their tattoos, and then the six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) surface-guided offsets were calculated and recorded using AlignRT system.

Cell-intrinsic melanin fails to protect melanocytes from ultraviolet-mutagenesis in the absence of epidermal melanin.

Melanin is a free-radical scavenger, antioxidant, and broadband absorber of ultraviolet (UV) radiation which protects the skin from environmental carcinogenesis. However, melanin synthesis and UV-induced reactive melanin species are also implicated in melanocyte genotoxicity. Here, we attempted to reconcile these disparate functions of melanin using a UVB-sensitive, NRAS-mutant mouse model, TpN.

Comparison of baseline lymphoma and HIV characteristics in Malawi before and after implementation of universal antiretroviral therapy.

Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) led to epidemiological changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated lymphoma in high-income countries such as reductions in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and stable or increased Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL). In 2016, Malawi implemented a universal ART (UART) policy, expanding ART eligibility to all persons living with HIV (PLWH). We compare the distribution of lymphoma subtypes and baseline HIV and prognostic characteristics for lymphoma patients in Malawi before and after implementation of UART.

Improving the odds together: a framework for breast cancer research scientists to include patient advocates in their research.

Including patient advocates in basic cancer research ensures that breast cancer research is intentional, supports effective communication with broader audiences, and directly connects researchers with those who they are striving to help. Despite this utility, many cancer research scientists do not work with patient advocates. To understand barriers to engagement and build a framework for enhanced interactions in the future, we hosted a workshop with patient advocates and researchers who do engage, then discussed findings at an international metastatic breast cancer conference to solicit additional feedback and suggestions.

Molecular profiling identifies targeted therapy opportunities in pediatric solid cancer.

To evaluate the clinical impact of molecular tumor profiling (MTP) with targeted sequencing panel tests, pediatric patients with extracranial solid tumors were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study at 12 institutions. In the 345-patient analytical population, median age at diagnosis was 12 years (range 0-27.5); 298 patients (86%) had 1 or more alterations with potential for impact on care.

Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Divergent Clonal Evolution in Components of Composite Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma-Ganglioglioma.

Composite pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma-ganglioglioma (PXA-GG) is an extremely rare central nervous system neoplasm with 2 distinct but intermingled components. Whether this tumor represents a "collision tumor" of separate neoplasms or a monoclonal neoplasm with divergent evolution is poorly understood. Clinicopathologic studies and capture-based next generation sequencing were performed on extracted DNA from all available PXA-GG at 2 medical centers.

Orteronel for Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Phase III Trial (SWOG-1216).

Purpose: Orteronel (TAK-700) is a nonsteroidal 17,20-lyase inhibitor suppressing androgen synthesis. We evaluated the clinical benefit of orteronel when added to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Methods: In this open-label randomized phase III study, patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer were randomly assigned 1:1 to ADT with orteronel (300 mg oral twice daily; experimental arm) or ADT with bicalutamide (50 mg oral once daily; control arm).

Entrectinib in children and young adults with solid or primary CNS tumors harboring NTRK, ROS1, or ALK aberrations (STARTRK-NG).

Background: Entrectinib is a TRKA/B/C, ROS1, ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults and children aged ≥12 years with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors and adults with ROS1 fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. We report an analysis of the STARTRK-NG trial, investigating the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and activity of entrectinib in pediatric patients with solid tumors including primary central nervous system tumors.

Methods: STARTRK-NG (NCT02650401) is a phase 1/2 trial.

Systemic and Radiation Therapy Approaches for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

The treatment for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer has changed dramatically over the past several years, with consolidative immunotherapy after concurrent chemoradiation becoming the new standard of care. Five-year survival outcomes have substantially improved with this approach. Despite these advances, further improvements are needed as the majority of patients ultimately develop progression of disease.

A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in the Transporter Gene Is Associated With the Severity of Oral Mucositis in Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Followed by Melphalan Therapy.

Background: It has been reported that expression of OCT3 enhanced the sensitivity to melphalan in cells, indicative of potential roles of OCT3 in melphalan transport. Herein we investigated the association of select single nucleotide polymorphisms in SLC22A3 (gene encoding OCT3) with clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with hematopoietic autologous stem cell transplants followed by high-dose melphalan therapy.

Materials And Methods: Melphlan concentrations in blood samples from 108 MM patients were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ΜS); genotypes of rs2048327, rs1810126, and rs3088442 in these patients were determined using quatitive RT-PCR assays.

Image-Guided Targeted Prostate Biopsies.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. Screening for prostate cancer has increased through the usage of prostate specific antigen and biopsies. Traditionally, prostate biopsies are done using transrectal ultrasound with 10-12 cores obtained in a sextant pattern.

Solitary manifestations of primary B-lymphoblastic lymphoma of the spine: Systematic literature review with case illustration.

Background: Given the locally destructive osteolytic nature of primary B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL) of the spine, careful attention is needed to identify clinical signs and symptoms as well as radiological findings of spinal instability because these lesions may warrant resection, decompression, and instrumentation with posterolateral fusion. Our objective was to summarize the presenting symptoms, clinical features, potential treatment modalities, and clinical outcome of cases described in the literature.

Methods: We undertook a systematic literature review to identify all relevant cases and case series describing primary manifestations B-LBL of the spine using Pubmed/Medline.