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• Most of target agents can be used with the same patterns and the same dosage in mild and moderate renal impairment. • It is difficult to draw scientific supported conclusions in cancer patients with severe, end-stage renal disease or HD. • Although renal toxicity of biological agents can be overcome by HD treatment, caution in these settings is still warranted. • A strong cooperation among oncologists, nephrologists and pharmacists is unavoidable to provide an optimal management for these patients. The increasing availability of novel biological anticancer agents has greatly improved the outcome of several cancer patients; unfortunately, data regarding efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of many of these agents in patients with chronic renal disease or on hemodialysis are scanty. Furthermore these results are controversial and a treatment strategy has not yet been established. Therefore, the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica and the Società italiana di Nefrologia undertook the present work aiming at providing health professionals with a tool for easier clinical management of target therapies in this setting of patients. A web-based search of MEDLINE/PubMed library data published from 2000 to June 2018 has been performed. More than one hundred papers, including recommendations and expert opinions, were selected and discussed by the authors. A panel of experts provided additional biological and clinical information, helping in clarifying some issues in the absence of clear-cut information from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer, and the stage or its development, and thus the need for point-of-care technology that can allow rapid and precise detection of biomarkers is increasing. Here, we present a simple on chip electrical detection of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). We rely on using a novel peptide modified plastic-paper microfluidic chips to perform efficient and specific impedimetric detection of AFP in human serum. The chips are prepared from a lower sheet of plastic and upper layer of cellulose chromatography paper modified with silver-20 wt% graphene printed electrodes. Diphenylalanine (FF) was proposed to involve in detection zone of the fabricated microchips in order to improve the sensing performance and the stability of immobilized antibodies according to amine-aldehyde reaction. The target protein is captured on the surface of microchips using specific monoclonal antibodies and the electrical response of the chip is monitored in the presence and absence of different concentrations of AFP. The influence of several parameters including the material types for screen printing of electrodes, FF concentrations, solvent and pH of FF solution on electrical response and cellulose fibers morphology was explored. The impedance measurements of AFP on the fabricated microchip in the optimized parameters exhibited a detection limit of 1 and 10 ng ml −1 in PBS and plasma, respectively. This platform developed here can be adopted to develop systems for rapid detection of biomarkers using portable electric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disclaimer: This article is based on recommendations from the 12th WALT Congress, Nice, October 3-6, 2018, and a follow-up review of the existing data and the clinical observations of an international multidisciplinary panel of clinicians and researchers with expertise in the area of supportive care in cancer and/or PBM clinical application and dosimetry. This article is informational in nature. As with all clinical materials, this paper should be used with a clear understanding that continued research and practice could result in new insights and recommendations. The review reflects the collective opinion and, as such, does not necessarily represent the opinion of any individual author. In no event shall the authors be liable for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the proposed protocols. Objective: This position paper reviews the potential prophylactic and therapeutic effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on side effects of cancer therapy, including chemotherapy (CT), radiation therapy (RT), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Background: There is a considerable body of evidence supporting the efficacy of PBM for preventing oral mucositis (OM) in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer (HNC), CT, or HSCT. This could enhance patients’ quality of life, adherence to the prescribed cancer therapy, and treatment outcomes while reducing the cost of cancer care. Methods: A literature review on PBM effectiveness and dosimetry considerations for managing certain complications of cancer therapy were conducted. A systematic review was conducted when numerous randomized controlled trials were available. Results were presented and discussed at an international consensus meeting at the World Association of photobiomoduLation Therapy (WALT) meeting in 2018 that included world expert oncologists, radiation oncologists, oral oncologists, and oral medicine professionals, physicists, engineers, and oncology researchers. The potential mechanism of action of PBM and evidence of PBM efficacy through reported outcomes for individual indications were assessed. Results: There is a large body of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of PBM for preventing OM in certain cancer patient populations, as recently outlined by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO). Building on these, the WALT group outlines evidence and prescribed PBM treatment parameters for prophylactic and therapeutic use in supportive care for radiodermatitis, dysphagia, xerostomia, dysgeusia, trismus, mucosal and bone necrosis, lymphedema, hand-foot syndrome, alopecia, oral and dermatologic chronic graft-versushost disease, voice/speech alterations, peripheral neuropathy, and late fibrosis amongst cancer survivors. Conclusions: There is robust evidence for using PBM to prevent and treat a broad range of complications in cancer care. Specific clinical practice guidelines or evidence-based expert consensus recommendations are provided. These recommendations are aimed at improving the clinical utilization of PBM therapy in supportive cancer care and promoting research in this field. It is anticipated these guidelines will be revised periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, a disposable paper-based analytical device comprised of a closed bipolar electrode (BPE) was fabricated for the ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of intracellular H 2 O 2 and the number of cancer cells. In this approach, wax printing was used to fabricated reaction zone, and carbon ink-based BPE and driving electrodes were screen-printed into the paper. AuPd nanoparticles (NPs), which served as a carrier of the capture aptamer and as the catalyst for the ECL reaction of luminol and H 2 O 2 , were used to modify the BPE. Luminol/Au NPs were attached to the surface of the captured cells via hybridation chain reaction with two hairpin structure DNA labelled luminol/Au NPs. In the stimulation of phorbol myristate acetate, The coreactant H 2 O 2 was released from the target cells. The ECL response of the luminol-H 2 O 2 system was related to the number of cancer cells in the testing buffer, which served as a quantitative signal for the determination of cancer cells and the concentration of H 2 O 2 . In order to decrease the external voltage, K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] was introduced in the cathode resevoir of BPE because it gained electrons at the cathode more easily than oxygen. The ECL intensity was quantitatively related to the concentration of MCF-7 in the range of 1.0 × 10 2 –1.0 × 10 7 cells/mL. The detection limit was 40 cells/mL and it showed good specificity for cells with high overexpression of mucin-1 receptor, it was concluded that the developed protocol could be effectively utilized for the detection of MCF-7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncology has come a long way in addressing patients' quality of life, together with developing surgical, radio-oncological and medical anticancer therapies. However, the multiple and varying needs of patients are still not beingmet adequately as part of routine cancer care. Supportive and palliative care interventions should be integrated, dynamic, personalised and based on best evidence. They should start at the time of diagnosis and continue through to end-of-life or survivorship. ESMO is committed to excellence in all aspects of oncological care during the continuum of the cancer experience. Following the 2003 ESMO stand on supportive and palliative care (Cherny N, Catane R, Kosmidis P. ESMO takes a stand on supportive and palliative care. Ann Oncol 2003; 14(9): 1335-1337), this position paper highlights the evolving and growing gap between the needs of cancer patients and the actual provision of care. The concept of patient-centred cancer care is presented along with key requisites and areas for further work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cachexia is a life-threatening disorder affecting an estimated 50–80% of cancer patients. The loss of skeletal muscle mass in patients with cachexia is associated with an increased risk of anticancer treatment toxicity, surgical complications and reduced response. Despite international guidelines, the identification and management of cancer cachexia remains a significant unmet need owing in part to the lack of routine screening for malnutrition and suboptimal integration of nutrition and metabolic care into clinical oncology practice. In June 2020, Sharing Progress in Cancer Care (SPCC) convened a multidisciplinary task force of medical experts and patient advocates to examine the barriers preventing the timely recognition of cancer cachexia, and provide practical recommendations to improve clinical care. This position paper summarises the key points and highlights available resources to support the integration of structured nutrition care pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular (CV) toxicity associated with anti-cancer treatment is commonly encountered and raises critical problems that often result in serious morbidity or mortality. Most cardiac toxicides are related to the cumulative dose of chemotherapy; however, the type of chemotherapy, concomitant agents, and/or conventional CV risk factors have been frequently implicated in CV toxicity. Approximately half of the patients exhibiting CV toxicity receive an anthracycline-based regimen. Therefore, serologic biomarkers or cardiac imagings are important during anti-cancer treatment for early detection and the decision of appropriate management of cardiotoxicity. However, given the difficulty in determining a causal relationship, a multidisciplinary collaborative approach between cardiologists and oncologists is required. In this review, we summarize the CV toxicity and focus on the role of cardiac imaging in management strategies for cardiotoxicity associated with anti-cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of cancer cells is important and fundamental for cancer diagnosis and therapy, which has attracted considerable interest recently. Although traditional cyto-sensors have been widely explored due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, it is still a challenge to develop a low-cost, portable, disposable, fast, and easy-to-use cancer cell detection method for applying in the field of cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, to address these challenges, we developed a microfluidic paper-based electrochemiluminescence origami cyto-device (μ-PECLOC), in which aptamers modified 3D macroporous Au-paper electrodes were employed as the working electrodes and efficient platforms for the specific cancer cells capture. Owing to the effective disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide and specific recognition of mannose on cell surface, concanavalin-A conjugated porous AuPd alloy nanoparticles were introduced into this μ-PECLOC as the catalytically promoted nanolabels for peroxydisulfate ECL system. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed μ-PECLOC exhibited excellent analytical performance with good stability, reproducibility, and accuracy, towards the cyto-sensing of four types of cancer cells indicating the potential applications to facilitate effective and multiple early cancer diagnosis and clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Over the last few decades, there has been tremendous progress in the treatment of cancer. Unfortunately, anti-cancer therapies, although necessary and increasingly effective, still carry many side effects. One of these effects is the chemobrain -- cognitive disorders resulting from strong chemotherapy. The aim of this paper is to review available knowledge of chemobrain. Material and methods. The paper reviews articles available in the PubMed medical database, searched with the phrases "chemobrain", "chemobrain cancer" from the years 2015-2023 which are reviews, systematic reviews or meta-analyses. 41 results were obtained, of which 13 articles were used for the final analysis after the selection of papers strictly related to the issue of chemobrain. Analysis of literature. The occurrence of chemobrain is associated with impaired cognitive abilities, problems with concentration, and memory loss. It may occur only during treatment or persist even after its completion. According to the data, chemobrain occurs much more often as a complication of traditional chemotherapy than in the case of immunotherapy. The mechanism of chemobrain formation is not known. A combination of oxygen radical production and cytokine dysregulation is suspected as an inducer of this complication. Chemobrain treatment strategies remain under development. At the moment, non-pharmacological methods are used in the treatment, such as regular physical exercise, mental exercise, or a diet including omega-3 fatty acids. Pharmacological treatment is still under development and research. Conclusion. Chemobrain is a medical complication that can have a serious psychological impact on patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy, so further research is needed to better understand the mechanism of this phenomenon, which will allow the development of new treatments and possible ways to prevent the occurrence of chemobrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To give an overview of the multicenter Prostate Cancer Outcomes (PCO) study, involving paper-based and web-based collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in patients undergoing local treatment for prostate cancer in certified centers in Germany. The PCO study is part of the larger Movember-funded TrueNTH Global Registry. The article reports on the study's design and provides a brief progress report after the first 2 years of data collection. Methods: Prostate cancer centers (PCCs) certified according to German Cancer Society requirements were invited to participate in collecting patient-reported information on symptoms and function before and at least once (at 12 months) after treatment. The data were matched with disease and treatment information. This report describes progress in patient inclusion, response rate, and variations between centers relative to online/paper use, and also data quality, including recruitment variations relative to treatment in the first participating PCCs. Results: PCC participation increased over time; 44 centers had transferred data for 3094 patients at the time of this report. Patient recruitment varied widely across centers. Recruitment was highest among patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. The completeness of the data was good, except for comorbidity information. Conclusions: The PCO study benefits from a quality improvement system first established over 10 years ago, requiring collection and harmonization of a predefined clinical dataset across centers. Nevertheless, establishing a PROM routine requires substantial effort on the part of providers and constant monitoring in order to achieve high-quality data. The findings reported here may be useful for guiding implementation in similar initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown that urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is causally involved in promoting cancer invasion and metastasis. Thus, monitoring uPA levels could be very useful in cancer diagnosis, identification of initial metastasis, and guiding cancer treatment. Here, the authors developed a novel and scalable uPA sensor based on a graphene-gold nanoparticle platform that uses fluorescence of quantum dots to rapidly (<1 h) detect uPA up to 100 pM. Indeed, the authors' sensor is highly selective and showed an ability to sense up to 100 pM uPA even in the presence of complex biological milieu such as the fetal bovine serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibodies targeted against the immune checkpoint molecules CTLA-4 and PD-1 have recently obtained approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and advanced/refractory non small-cell lung cancers. Therefore, their use will not be limited anymore to selected hospitals involved in clinical trials. Indeed, they will be routinely prescribed in many cancer centers across the world. Besides their efficacy profile, these immune targeted agents also generate immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This new family of dysimmune toxicities remains largely unknown to the broad oncology community. Although severe irAEs remain rare (~10% of cases under monotherapy), they can become life-threatening if not anticipated and managed appropriately. Over the last 5 years, Gustave Roussy has accumulated a significant experience in the prescription of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) antibodies and the management of their toxicities. Together with the collaboration of Gustave Roussy's network of organ specialists with expertise in irAEs, we propose here some practical guidelines for the oncologist to help in the clinical care of patients under ICB immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Large datasets concerning childhood cancers are rare. Therefore, it is important to fully exploit all available data, which are distributed over several resources, including biomaterials, images, clinical trials, and registries. With privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL), datasets can be merged, without disclosing the patients' identities. Although PPRL is already implemented or described in various settings, use case descriptions are fragmented and incomplete. The present paper gives an overview of current and future use cases of PPRL in childhood cancer. We screened the literature, projects, and trial protocols, analysed a hypothetical patient journey, and discussed use cases with experts. All the identified use cases were structured along six key dimensions. We conclude that PPRL is a key concept in childhood cancer. Therefore, PPRL strategies should already be considered when starting research projects, to avoid distributed data silos, to maximise the knowledge derived from collected data, and, ultimately, to improve outcomes for children with cancer. Large datasets in paediatric oncology are inherently rare. Therefore, it is paramount to fully exploit all available data, which are distributed over several resources, including biomaterials, images, clinical trials, and registries. With privacy-preserving record linkage (PPRL), personalised or pseudonymised datasets can be merged, without disclosing the patients' identities. Although PPRL is implemented in various settings, use case descriptions are currently fragmented and incomplete. The present paper provides a comprehensive overview of current and future use cases for PPRL in paediatric oncology. We analysed the literature, projects, and trial protocols, identified use cases along a hypothetical patient journey, and discussed use cases with paediatric oncology experts. To structure PPRL use cases, we defined six key dimensions: distributed personalised records, pseudonymisation, distributed pseudonymised records, record linkage, linked data, and data analysis. Selected use cases were described (a) per dimension and (b) on a multi-dimensional level. While focusing on paediatric oncology, most aspects are also applicable to other (particularly rare) diseases. We conclude that PPRL is a key concept in paediatric oncology. Therefore, PPRL strategies should already be considered when starting research projects, to avoid distributed data silos, to maximise the knowledge derived from collected data, and, ultimately, to improve outcomes for children with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Interview with Yaohua Wang, the winner of this journal's Best Paper Award for 2012 for her research work on the bioactivity of organelles found in eukaryotic cells called peroxisomes, is presented. When asked about the motivation to perform research in her area of interest, she says that she wanted to explore the field of cancer treatment. She expresses her admiration for her advisor Edgar Arriaga, a chemistry researcher, and discusses her interest in traveling to different places.

Background: PRO-CTCAE is a library of items that measure cancer treatment-related symptomatic adverse events (NCI Contracts: HHSN261201000043C and HHSN 261201000063C). The objective of this study is to examine the equivalence and acceptability of the three data collection modes (Web-enabled touchscreen tablet computer, Interactive voice response system [IVRS], and paper) available within the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) measurement system.Methods: Participants (n = 112; median age 56.5; 24 % high school or less) receiving treatment for cancer at seven US sites completed 28 PRO-CTCAE items (scoring range 0-4) by three modes (order randomized) at a single study visit. Subjects completed one page (approx. 15 items) of the EORTC QLQ-C30 between each mode as a distractor. Item scores by mode were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC); differences in scores within the 3-mode crossover design were evaluated with mixed-effects models. Difficulties with each mode experienced by participants were also assessed.Results: 103 (92 %) completed questionnaires by all three modes. The median ICC comparing tablet vs IVRS was 0.78 (range 0.55-0.90); tablet vs paper: 0.81 (0.62-0.96); IVRS vs paper: 0.78 (0.60-0.91); 89 % of ICCs were ≥0.70. Item-level mean differences by mode were small (medians [ranges] for tablet vs. IVRS = -0.04 [-0.16-0.22]; tablet vs paper = -0.02 [-0.11-0.14]; IVRS vs paper = 0.02 [-0.07-0.19]), and 57/81 (70 %) items had bootstrapped 95 % CI around the effect sizes within +/-0.20. The median time to complete the questionnaire by tablet was 3.4 min; IVRS: 5.8; paper: 4.0. The proportion of participants by mode who reported "no problems" responding to the questionnaire was 86 % tablet, 72 % IVRS, and 98 % paper.Conclusions: Mode equivalence of items was moderate to high, and comparable to test-retest reliability (median ICC = 0.80). Each mode was acceptable to a majority of respondents. Although the study was powered to detect moderate or larger discrepancies between modes, the observed ICCs and very small mean differences between modes provide evidence to support study designs that are responsive to patient or investigator preference for mode of administration, and justify comparison of results and pooled analyses across studies that employ different PRO-CTCAE modes of administration.Trial Registration: NCT Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02158637. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following curative treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC), 30% to 50% of patients will develop recurrent disease. For CRC there are several lines of evidence supporting the hypothesis that early detection of metachronous disease offers a second opportunity for cure. This paper revisits the potential role of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in follow-up. A comprehensive review of the literature (1978-2008) demonstrates that the initial promise of serum CEA as an effective surveillance tool has been tarnished through perpetuation of poorly designed studies. Specific limitations included: testing CEA as only an 'add-on' diagnostic tool; lack of standardization of threshold values; use of static thresholds; too low measurement frequency. Major changes in localizing imaging techniques and treatment of metastatic CRC further cause a decrease of clinical applicability of past trial outcomes. In 1982, Staab hypothesized that the optimal benefit of serum CEA as a surveillance tool is through high-frequency triage using a dynamic threshold (HiDT). Evidence supporting this hypothesis was found in the biochemical characteristics of serum CEA and retrospective studies showing the superior predictive value of a dynamic threshold. A multi-centred randomized phase III study optimizing the usage of HiDT against resectability of recurrent disease is commencing recruitment in the Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Treatments currently recommended for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) have not been evaluated specifically in elderly patients. Here we consider what may be learned by analysing according to age the efficacy and toxicity data from key phase III trials of the targeted agents sorafenib (Nexavar), sunitinib (Sutent), temsirolimus (Torisel), and bevacizumab (Avastin), and from a study of expanded access to sunitinib and sorafenib. This paper represents the first systematic review of the role of targeted agents specifically in the elderly population. Retrospective subgroup analyses of clinical trial data cannot be considered definitive. However, they suggest in general that the progression-free and overall survival benefits seen in mRCC patients aged 65 years and over are similar to those in the younger age group. The frequency of major toxicities in elderly patients treated with targeted agents is no greater than in younger patients, although such toxicities may have greater impact on the quality of life. That said, no meaningful data are available for patients over 85 years. To confirm and extend these conclusions, prospective studies should be undertaken in the elderly to determine whether recommendations made for the wider mRCC population apply equally to this group of patients in whom comorbidities, comedication and the greater impact of low-grade toxicity may influence the efficacy and tolerability of treatment. Such studies are increasingly needed, given the growing number of elderly people and their rising life expectancy. Meanwhile, when considering the most appropriate drug to use in a particular patient, the toxicity profiles of the individual targeted agents – and any implications for specific comorbid conditions – should be taken into account. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The PLOS Medicine editors issue a call for papers for translational and clinical cancer research papers with strong potential to advance patient care, public policy, or clinical research agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on several research papers related to cancer and its treatment. It informs that loss of the apoptotic response has been implicated in carcinogenesis as a consequence of increased survival of DNA-damage bearing cells. Many cancer cells have an inherent resistance to chemotherapy due to the abnormal expression of anti-apoptosis genes. The increased risk of cancer in immunosuppressed patients after organ transplantation, and in patients with inherited defects in immune function, such as severe combined immune deficiency, was thought to support the immune surveillance hypothesis.

Gene amplification plays important roles in the progression of cancer and contributes to acquired drug resistance during treatment. Amplification can initiate via dicentric palindromic chromosome production and subsequent breakage?"fusion?"bridge cycles. Here we show that, in fission yeast, acentric and dicentric palindromic chromosomes form by homologous recombination protein-dependent fusion of nearby inverted repeats, and that these fusions occur frequently when replication forks arrest within the inverted repeats. Genetic and molecular analyses suggest that these acentric and dicentric palindromic chromosomes arise not by previously described mechanisms, but by a replication template exchange mechanism that does not involve a DNA double-strand break. We thus propose an alternative mechanism for the generation of palindromic chromosomes dependent on replication fork arrest at closely spaced inverted repeats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several studies related to cancer research. Certain alkylating agents because of their toxic properties, are also used for cancer chemotherapy. These affect very different target cell populations. Results on its study demonstrate that global cellular responses to alkylation damage are far more complex than first thought. It also discusses about replicating adenoviruses that target colon cancer. Adenoviruses that were developed, selectively replicate in cells with activated Wnt signaling by inserting binding sites for the Tcf family of transcription factors in the early promoters of human adenovirus 5.

Introduction and aim. Melatonin, a neurohormone involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, is produced in the human body, mainly in the pineal gland. An increasing number of evidence, suggests that this amine may be an essential new target (adjuvant) in cancer treatment. The oncostatic and anticancer properties of melatonin have been demonstrated in various types of cancer. The tumor suppressive function of melatonin is exerted through different interactions with cell surface receptors such as MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors. Material and methods. A literature review was performed by analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews from PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase published in the last five years. For the literature search, we used the following keywords: *melatonin in cancer, *novel cancer therapy, and *hormonal therapy. Analysis of literature. Studies have shown that melatonin may induce anti-tumor effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, modulation of the immune response, and augmentation of the therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies. In addition, melatonin decreased some of the side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, such as asthenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and nausea. Conclusion. Melatonin may improve sleep and quality of life in cancer patients, relieve anxiety in most patients, and reduce the risk of developing depressive symptoms. Melatonin has also shown great potential as a safe and effective complementary therapy for cancer treatment with minimal side effects and low toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on several research papers related to cancer and its treatment. It states that intensive, high dose therapy with meiphalan yields high remission rates but evidence on survival benefits has been inconclusive. It also focuses on the roles of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer remain uncertain. The article also reveals that removing the internal mammary nodes remains a difficult routine procedure. Due to the relatively small percentage of patients that have positive internal mammary nodes with negative axillary status. The roles of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer remain uncertain.

Gastric cancer, which is considered a major health concern, is the sixth most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality across the globe. The present survey aimed to systematically review the anti-gastric cancer effect of all organic and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) in in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials. The investigation followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the findings were recorded in the CAMARADES-NC3Rs Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Facility database. A detailed search was conducted on various English databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, and Google Scholar, with no specified publication time frame to obtain papers regarding the anti-gastric cancer properties of nanoparticles. The search process was performed using the following terms: "Nanoparticles," "Gastric cancer," "Antigastric cancer," "Metal nanoparticles," "Organic nanoparticles," "Inorganic nanoparticles, "in vitro," "Clinical," and "in vivo,". Out of 11,189 papers, 31 articles, including 19 (45.5%) in vitro, 3 (13.6%) in vivo, 3 (13.6%) clinical trials, and 6 (27.3%) in vitro/in vivo, up to 2023, met the inclusion criteria for discussion in this systematic review. The most widely used NPs were found to be organic nanoparticles, such as polylactic acid and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (16, 80.0%), followed by inorganic nanoparticles, such as silver NPs (13, 41.9.0%). This review study highlighted the high anti-gastric cancer potential of a wide range of organic and non-organic NPs through their activity via some mechanisms, such as the induction of apoptosis, gene therapy, and drug delivery. Nonetheless, further studies, especially in clinical settings, are needed to confirm their anti-gastric effects and accurate mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summarizes the proceedings of the UKCCCR Trials Committee related to management of elderly cancer patients and their entry into clinical trials. Terms of reference set by the working group of UKCCCR; Problems related to clinical trials of elderly cancer patients; Representation of elderly patients in trials; Reasons for poor entry of elderly in clinical trials; Problems related to toxicity of treatment.

Although adaptive cancer therapy shows promise in integrating evolutionary dynamics into treatment scheduling, the stochastic nature of cancer evolution has seldom been taken into account. Various sources of random perturbations can impact the evolution of heterogeneous tumors, making performance metrics of any treatment policy random as well. In this paper, we propose an efficient method for selecting optimal adaptive treatment policies under randomly evolving tumor dynamics. The goal is to improve the cumulative "cost" of treatment, a combination of the total amount of drugs used and the total treatment time. As this cost also becomes random in any stochastic setting, we maximize the probability of reaching the treatment goals (tumor stabilization or eradication) without exceeding a pre-specified cost threshold (or a "budget"). We use a novel Stochastic Optimal Control formulation and Dynamic Programming to find such "threshold-aware" optimal treatment policies. Our approach enables an efficient algorithm to compute these policies for a range of threshold values simultaneously. Compared to treatment plans shown to be optimal in a deterministic setting, the new "threshold-aware" policies significantly improve the chances of the therapy succeeding under the budget, which is correlated with a lower general drug usage. We illustrate this method using two specific examples, but our approach is far more general and provides a new tool for optimizing adaptive therapies based on a broad range of stochastic cancer models. Author summary: Tumor heterogeneities provide an opportunity to improve therapies by leveraging complex (often competitive) interactions of different types of cancer cells. These interactions are usually stochastic due to both individual cell differences and random events affecting the patient as a whole. The new generation of cancer models strive to account for this inherent stochasticity, and adaptive treatment plans need to reflect it as well. In optimizing such treatment, the most common approach is to maximize the probability of eventually stabilizing or eradicating the tumor. In this paper, we consider a more nuanced version of success, maximizing the probability of reaching these therapy goals before the cumulative burden from the disease and treatment exceed a chosen threshold. Importantly, our method allows computing such optimal treatment plans efficiently and for a range of thresholds at once. If used on a high-fidelity personalized model, our general approach could potentially be used by clinicians to choose the most suitable threshold after a detailed discussion of a specific patient's goals (e.g., to include the trade-offs between toxicity and quality of life). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapy represents a promising advancement in the field of oncology offering a novel approach to target and eliminate tumor cells with high specificity and reduced risk of immune-related adverse effects. This paper reviews the mechanism, potential targets, and recent advances in CAR-NK cell therapy for lung cancer, including the design and engineering of CAR-NK cells, preclinical studies, and the outcomes of early-phase clinical trials. We highlight the unique advantages of using NK cells, such as their innate ability to recognize and kill cancer cells and their reduced potential for inducing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) compared to CAR T-cell therapies. Results from recent studies demonstrate significant antitumor activity in lung cancer models with improved targeting and persistence of CAR-NK cells observed in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we discuss the challenges in optimizing CAR-NK cell therapies, including the potential resistance mechanisms. The paper concludes with an outlook on the future directions of CAR-NK cell research and its implications for lung cancer treatment emphasizing the importance of continued innovation and collaboration in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for cancer, but the efficacy of standard chemotherapy regimens is often limited by toxicities and the individual heterogeneity of cancers. Precise dosing is an important tool to improve efficacy and reduce significant differences in toxicity. However, most of the existing studies on chemotherapy optimization fail to fully consider the toxic side effects, drug resistance, and drug combinations, and thus the chemotherapy regimens obtained may face difficulty in achieving the expected efficacy and also affect the subsequent treatment. Therefore, this paper establishes a tumor growth model for the combination chemotherapy of cell cycle-specific and non-cycle-specific drugs and includes the factors of acquired drug resistance and toxic side effects, proposing an improved multi-objective Squirrel Search Algorithm, the TA-MOSSA, to solve the problem of accurate chemotherapy drug optimization. In this paper, experiments were conducted to analyze the efficacy of chemotherapy dosing regimens obtained by the TA-MOSSA based on the tumor growth model, and the results show that the TA-MOSSA can provide effective chemotherapy regimens for patients who take different treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research goes into in deep learning technologies within the realm of medical imaging, with a specific focus on the detection of anomalies in medical pathology, emphasizing breast cancer. It underscores the critical importance of segmentation techniques in identifying diseases and addresses the challenges of scarce labelled data in Whole Slide Images. Additionally, the paper provides a review, cataloguing 61 deep learning architectures identified during the study. Objectives: The aim of this study is to present and assess a novel quantitative approach utilizing specific deep learning architectures, namely the Feature Pyramid Net-work and the Linknet model, both of which integrate a ResNet34 layer encoder to enhance performance. The paper also seeks to examine the efficiency of a semi-supervised training regimen using a dual model architecture, consisting of 'Teacher' and 'Student' models, in addressing the issue of limited labelled datasets. Methods: Employing a semi-supervised training methodology, this research enables the 'Student' model to learn from the 'Teacher' model's outputs. The study methodically evaluates the models' stability, accuracy, and segmentation capabilities, employing metrics such as the Dice Coefficient and the Jaccard Index for comprehensive assessment. Results: The investigation reveals that the Linknet model exhibits good performance, achieving an accuracy rate of 94% in the detection of breast cancer tissues utilizing a 21-seed parameter for the initialization of model weights. It further excels in generating annotations for the 'Student' model, which then achieves a 91% accuracy with minimal computational demands. Conversely, the Feature Pyramid Network model demonstrates a slightly lower accuracy of 93% in the Teacher model but exhibits improved and more consistent results in the 'Student' model, reaching 95% accuracy with a 42-seed parameter. Conclusions: This study underscores the efficacy and potential of the Feature Pyra-mid Network and Linknet models in the domain of medical image analysis, particularly in the detection of breast cancer, and suggests their broader applicability in various medical segmentation tasks related to other pathology disorders. Furthermore, the research enhances the understanding of the pivotal role that deep learning technologies play in advancing diagnostic methods within the field of medical imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A multidisciplinary group researched and defined criteria to describe a sarcoma specialist treatment center or network. The project is led by Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN), involves patient groups from around the world and is supported by clinical specialists and leading researchers. The paper identifies Core Principles and Key Features which define a specialist center/network. They are supported by evidence and experience. A primary aim is that new patients and their families can identify a specialist center which can provide curative treatment. A secondary aim is that countries where specialist treatment is not yet available can identify what they have to achieve to meet that ambition. The Core Principles allow a center or network to attain accreditation as a Sarcoma Intelligent Specialist Network. The Key Features are more aspirational and are expressed in a way that allows local needs, legal considerations and budgetary pressures to be taken into account. This is the first time an expert multidisciplinary group has defined specialism in cancer treatment in a worldwide context. The management of sarcomas in specialist centers delivers significant benefits. In much of the world, specialists are not available, and the development of expertise is identified as a major need. However, the terms 'specialist' or 'expert' center are rarely defined. Our objective is to offer a definition for patient advocates and a tool for healthcare providers to underpin improving the care of people with sarcoma. SPAGN developed a discussion paper for a workshop at the SPAGN 2023 Conference, attended by 75 delegates. A presentation to the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) and further discussion led to this paper. Core Principles were identified that underlie specialist sarcoma care. The primary Principle is the multi-disciplinary team discussing every patient, at first diagnosis and during treatment. Principles for optimal sarcoma management include accurate diagnosis followed by safe, high-quality treatment, with curative intent. These Principles are supplemented by Features describing areas of healthcare, professional involvement, and service provision and identifying further research and development needs. These allow for variations because of national or local policies and budgets. We propose the term 'Sarcoma Intelligent Specialist Network' to recognize expertise wherever it is found in the world. This provides a base for further discussion and local refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the utilisation of twin studies as a novel and powerful methodological approach to investigate critical research questions pertaining to cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship within primary care contexts. The inherent genetic similarity between monozygotic (MZ) (identical) twins provides a unique opportunity to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on cancer-related outcomes. MZ twins share virtually identical genetic makeup, offering a unique opportunity to discern the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to cancer-related outcomes. In contrast, dizygotic (DZ) twins, also known as fraternal twins, develop from two separate eggs fertilised by two different sperm and share on average 50% of their genetic material, the same level of genetic similarity found in non-twin siblings. Comparisons between MZ and DZ twins enable researchers to disentangle hereditary factors from shared environmental influences. This methodology has the potential to advance our understanding of the multifaceted interplay between genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors and healthcare interventions in the context of cancer care. This paper outlines the rationale, design considerations and potential applications of twin studies in primary care-based cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inuit face worse cancer survival rates and outcomes than the general Canadian population. Persistent health disparities cannot be understood without examining the structural factors that create inequities and continue to impact the health and well-being of Inuit. This scoping review aims to synthesise the available published and grey literature on the structural factors that influence cancer care experienced by Inuit in Canada. Guided by Inuit input from Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada as well as the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology, a comprehensive electronic search along with hand-searching of grey literature and relevant journals was conducted. A total of 30 papers were included for analysis and assessment of relevance. Findings were organised into five categories as defined in the a priori framework related to colonisation, as well as health systems, social, economic, and political structures. The study results highlight interconnections between racism and colonialism, the lack of health service information on urban Inuit, as well as the need for system-wide efforts to address the structural barriers in cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this White Paper, we discuss the current state of microbial cancer therapy. This paper resulted from a meeting ('Microbial Based Cancer Therapy') at the US National Cancer Institute in the summer of 2017. Here, we define 'Microbial Therapy' to include both oncolytic viral therapy and bacterial anticancer therapy. Both of these fields exploit tumor-specific infectious microbes to treat cancer, have similar mechanisms of action, and are facing similar challenges to commercialization. We designed this paper to nucleate this growing field of microbial therapeutics and increase interactions between researchers in it and related fields. The authors of this paper include many primary researchers in this field. In this paper, we discuss the potential, status and opportunities for microbial therapy as well as strategies attempted to date and important questions that need to be addressed. The main areas that we think will have the greatest impact are immune stimulation, control of efficacy, control of delivery, and safety. There is much excitement about the potential of this field to treat currently intractable cancer. Much of the potential exists because these therapies utilize unique mechanisms of action, difficult to achieve with other biological or small molecule drugs. By better understanding and controlling these mechanisms, we will create new therapies that will become integral components of cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-effectiveness analyses of new cancer treatments in real-world settings (e.g., post-clinical trials) inform healthcare decision makers about their healthcare investments for patient populations. The results of these analyses are often, though not always, presented with statistical uncertainty. This paper identifies five ways to characterize statistical uncertainty: (1) a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER); (2) a 95% CI for the incremental net benefit (INB); (3) an INB by willingness-to-pay (WTP) plot; (4) a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC); and (5) a cost-effectiveness scatterplot. It also explores their usage in 22 articles previously identified by a rapid review of real-world cost effectiveness of novel cancer treatments. Seventy-seven percent of these articles presented uncertainty results. The majority those papers (59%) used administrative data to inform their analyses while the remaining were conducted using models. Cost-effectiveness scatterplots were the most commonly used method (34.3%), with 40% indicating high levels of statistical uncertainty, suggesting the possibility of a qualitatively different result from the estimate given. Understanding the necessity for and the meaning of uncertainty in real-world cost-effectiveness analysis will strengthen knowledge translation efforts to improve patient outcomes in an efficient manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to take a snapshot of breast units in the European Union 9 years after the publication of the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA) position paper. Methods: In order to obtain information on breast units throughout the European Union, we designed a questionnaire comprising 5 questions on certification, audit frequency and number of breast units in each country. Our primary contacts were national cancer societies, breast cancer study groups, breast cancer organizations, national associations and societies of breast treatment, as well as experts in the field of breast cancer. Results: Information on characteristics of the certification process and number of breast units was obtained for 9 countries of the European Union. 7 of the 9 countries (78%) have a certification process of the breast units. Certification is carried out by public authorities in 4 (57%) countries and by private companies in 3 (43%) countries. Information on frequency of auditing was reported in 4 countries and varied between annual audits (Austria, Ireland and Germany) and audits once every 3 years (United Kingdom). Conclusions: The current study suggests that the European breast unit landscape is a heterogeneous field. 9 years after the EUSOMA position paper, we do not have any standard European guidelines, neither for the development nor for the mandatory prerequisites of a breast unit. The development and operation of breast units are still country specific. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide. The treatment of PTC has attracted extensive attention and discussion from the public and scholars. However, no article has systematically assessed the related literature. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric and knowledge map analysis to reveal the dynamic scientific developments in the PTC therapy field. Methods: We retrieved publications related to PTC therapy from the Web of Scientific Core Collection (WoSCC) on May 1, 2023. The bibliometric package in R software, VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to analyze countries/ regions, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Then, we systematized and summarized the research landscape, global trends and hot topics of research. Results: This bibliometric analysis spanned from 2012 to 2022 and involved 18,501 authors affiliated with 3,426 institutions across 87 countries/regions, resulting in the publication of 3,954 papers in 860 academic journals. Notably, the number of publications and citations related to PTC therapy research has exhibited a steady increase over the past decade. China and the United States have emerged as leading contributors in terms of publication count, with the United States also being the most cited country. Furthermore, among the top 10 institutions with the highest number of published papers, half were located in China. Among the journals, Thyroid is ranked first in terms of total publications and citations. The most productive individual author was Miyauchi Akira. While previous research primarily focused on surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, the increasing emphasis on health awareness and advancements in medical technology have led to the emergence of active surveillance, thermal ablation, and genomic analysis as prominent areas of research. Conclusion: In conclusion, this comprehensive and quantitative bibliometric analysis elucidates the research trends and hotspots within PTC therapy, drawing rom a substantial body of publications. This study provides valuable insights into the historical and current landscape of PTC therapy research while also offering guidance for future research directions. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking new avenues of exploration in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a rapidly evolving field. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) allow patients to report the impact of treatment on their quality of life during and after treatment. The systematic review aims to characterise the breadth of PROs utilised in ACT cancer care and provide guidance for the use of PROs in this patient population in the future. Methods: A systematic search was conducted (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase and CINAHL) in August 2021 by two reviewers. Search terms covered the following: "adoptive cell therapy", "patient-reported outcomes" and "cancer". Studies were included if they used a PRO measure to report the impact of ACT. The methodological quality of PROs was assessed. Forward and backward reference searching was conducted of any relevant papers. A quality grading scale was applied based on Cochrane and Revenson criteria for classification of high-quality studies. Key data from the studies and the included PROs was extracted by two researchers and tabulated. Results: One-hundred nine papers were identified; 11 papers were included. The majority of studies were single-arm trials or observational studies. Twenty-two different PROs were identified; none was ACT specific. The PROMIS-29 and EQ-5D were most commonly used. Few studies collected PRO data in the first 1–2 weeks. Four studies followed patients up for over a year, and a further four studies followed patients for approximately 3 months. Discussion: None of the PROs identified have been designed specifically for ACT. Appropriateness of existing instruments should be considered. It should be considered whether it is appropriate to collect data more frequently in the acute stage and then less frequently during follow-up. It should be considered if one tool is suitable at all time points or if the tool should be adapted depending on time since treatment. More research is needed to identify the exact timings of PRO assessments, and qualitative work with patients is needed to determine the most important issues for them throughout the treatment and follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Metformin is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, since its first use in the second part of the 1950s in France (Aron, 1957) and in the United Kingdom (Rona, 1958), and is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Traditionally, metformin is used in diabetes mellitus, mainly in overweight and obese subjects, but also in other conditions of impaired glucose metabolism, such as insulin resistance. In recent years, in vitro and in vivo data on this molecule as an antiproliferative modulator have suggested a series of clinical trials in several tumors that—at the moment—have not confirmed the expected positive results. The aim of this paper is to offer a double vision of this molecule, with a very light side about the metabolic aspects and a darker side concerning its antineoplastic activity, focusing on molecular and subcellular pathways involved in both fields and discussing the contrast between preliminary cellular data and real clinical outcomes in different neoplasms. The ancient Roman god Ianus was a mysterious divinity with two opposite faces, one looking at the past and the other looking to the future. Likewise, metformin is an "old" drug, with one side looking at the metabolic role and the other looking at the anti-proliferative mechanism; therefore, it represents a typical and ideal bridge between diabetes and cancer. Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanidine hydrochloride) is a drug that has long been in use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but recently evidence is growing about its potential use in other metabolic conditions and in proliferative-associated diseases. The aim of this paper is to retrace, from a historical perspective, the knowledge of this molecule, shedding light on the subcellular mechanisms of action involved in metabolism as well as cellular and tissue growth. The intra-tumoral pharmacodynamic effects of metformin and its possible role in the management of different neoplasms are evaluated and debated. The etymology of the name Ianus is probably from the Latin term ianua, which means door. How many new doors will this old drug be able to open? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA methylation is widespread in nature. Abnormal expression of proteins associated with RNA methylation is strongly associated with a number of human diseases including cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that targeting RNA methylation holds promise for cancer treatment. This review specifically describes several common RNA modifications, such as the relatively well‐studied N6‐methyladenosine, as well as 5‐methylcytosine and pseudouridine (Ψ). The regulatory factors involved in these modifications and their roles in RNA are also comprehensively discussed. We summarise the diverse regulatory functions of these modifications across different types of RNAs. Furthermore, we elucidate the structural characteristics of these modifications along with the development of specific inhibitors targeting them. Additionally, recent advancements in small molecule inhibitors targeting RNA modifications are presented to underscore their immense potential and clinical significance in enhancing therapeutic efficacy against cancer. Key Points: In this paper, several important types of RNA modifications and their related regulatory factors are systematically summarised.Several regulatory factors related to RNA modification types were associated with cancer progression, and their relationships with cancer cell migration, invasion, drug resistance and immune environment were summarised.In this paper, the inhibitors targeting different regulators that have been proposed in recent studies are summarised in detail, which is of great significance for the development of RNA modification regulators and cancer treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]