Management Of Cancer Patients Research Articles

Dataset for reporting of the invasive carcinoma of the breast: recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR).

Current national or regional guidelines for the pathology reporting on invasive breast cancer differ in certain aspects, resulting in divergent reporting practice and a lack of comparability of data. Here we report on a new international dataset for the pathology reporting of resection specimens with invasive cancer of the breast. The dataset was produced under the auspices of the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR), a global alliance of major (inter-)national pathology and cancer organizations. The established ICCR process for dataset development was followed. An international expert panel consisting of breast pathologists, a surgeon, and an oncologist prepared a draft set of core and noncore data items based on a critical review and discussion of current evidence. Commentary was provided for each data item to explain the rationale for selecting it as a core or noncore element, its clinical relevance, and to highlight potential areas of disagreement or lack of evidence, in which case a consensus position was formulated. Following international public consultation, the document was finalized and ratified, and the dataset, which includes a synoptic reporting guide, was published on the ICCR website. This first international dataset for invasive cancer of the breast is intended to promote high-quality, standardized pathology reporting. Its widespread adoption will improve consistency of reporting, facilitate multidisciplinary communication, and enhance comparability of data, all of which will help to improve the management of invasive breast cancer patients.

Development and external validation of a multimodal integrated feature neural network (MIFNN) for the diagnosis of malignancy in small pulmonary nodules (≤10 mm)

Objectives. Current lung cancer screening protocols primarily evaluate pulmonary nodules, yet often neglect the malignancy risk associated with small nodules (≤10 mm). This study endeavors to optimize the management of pulmonary nodules in this population by devising and externally validating a Multimodal Integrated Feature Neural Network (MIFNN). We hypothesize that the fusion of deep learning algorithms with morphological nodule features will significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy. Materials and Methods. Data were retrospectively collected from the Lung Nodule Analysis 2016 (LUNA16) dataset and four local centers in Beijing, China. The study includes patients with small pulmonary nodules (≤10 mm). We developed a neural network, termed MIFNN, that synergistically combines computed tomography (CT) images and morphological characteristics of pulmonary nodules. The network is designed to acquire clinically relevant deep learning features, thereby elevating the diagnostic accuracy of existing models. Importantly, the network’s simple architecture and use of standard screening variables enable seamless integration into standard lung cancer screening protocols. Results. In summary, the study analyzed a total of 382 small pulmonary nodules (85 malignant) from the LUNA16 dataset and 101 small pulmonary nodules (33 malignant) obtained from four specialized centers in Beijing, China, for model training and external validation. Both internal and external validation metrics indicate that the MIFNN significantly surpasses extant state-of-the-art models, achieving an internal area under the curve (AUC) of 0.890 (95% CI: 0.848–0.932) and an external AUC of 0.843 (95% CI: 0.784–0.891). Conclusion. The MIFNN model significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of small pulmonary nodules, outperforming existing benchmarks by Zhang et al with a 6.34% improvement for nodules less than 10 mm. Leveraging advanced integration techniques for imaging and clinical data, MIFNN increases the efficiency of lung cancer screenings and optimizes nodule management, potentially reducing false positives and unnecessary biopsies. Clinical relevance statement. The MIFNN enhances lung cancer screening efficiency and patient management for small pulmonary nodules, while seamlessly integrating into existing workflows due to its reliance on standard screening variables.

Editorial: Epigenetic biomarkers for cancer risk stratification and patient management

Editorial: Epigenetic biomarkers for cancer risk stratification and patient management

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in a Young 23-Year-Old Woman with BRCA Mutation A about A Case and Literature Review

Triple-negative breast cancer (estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative and HER2 negative) is a particularly high-risk breast cancer which does not receive specific therapy targeting these proteins. We report the case of a 23-year-old patient diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer of the left breast with a family history of breast cancer and carrying a BRCA1 mutation. The classification of breast cancer based on genomic data is required to allow us to optimize therapies and improve the management of breast cancer patients.

Germline findings in cancer predisposing genes from a small cohort of chordoma patients

IntroductionChordoma is a rare slow-growing tumor that occurs along the length of the spinal axis and arises from primitive notochordal remnants (Stepanek et al., Am J Med Genet 75:335–336, 1998). Most chordomas are sporadic, but a small percentage of cases are due to hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) such as tuberous sclerosis 1 and 2 (TSC1/2), or constitutional variants in the gene encoding brachyury T (TBXT) (Pillay et al., Nat Genet 44:1185–1187, 2012; Yang et al., Nat Genet 41:1176–1178, 2009).PurposeThe genetic susceptibility of these tumors is not well understood; there are only a small number of studies that have performed germline genetic testing in this population.MethodsWe performed germline genetic in chordoma patients using genomic DNA extracted by blood or saliva.ConclusionWe report here a chordoma cohort of 24 families with newly found germline genetic mutations in cancer predisposing genes. We discuss implications for genetic counseling, clinical management, and universal germline genetic testing for cancer patients with solid tumors.

Renal Failure Without Hemodialysis Is a Risk Factor for Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with renal failure (RF) remain to be clarified. The objective of this research was to investigate how RF impacts the surgical outcomes in patients with CRC. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data from 633 patients who underwent colorectal resection for CRC between January 2017 and December 2021. Outcomes of the patients with and without RF were compared. RF was defined as estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate less than 30. Forty-five (7%) patients with RF were identified. RF was a significant risk factor for postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery (odds ratio=2.19, 95% confidence interval=1.08-4.42, p=0.0284). The patients with RF had significantly more comorbidity (p=0.016), and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (p<0.01). Hemoglobin level (p<0.01) and PNI (p<0.01) were significantly lower in those with RF. Postoperative complications were significantly higher (p=0.016), and the postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer (p<0.01) among patients with RF compared to those without RF. Patients with RF, excluding those undergoing hemodialysis, had significantly more complications compared to those without RF (p=0.004). Careful attention should be paid to perioperative management in RF colorectal cancer patients.

Abstract PO1-13-12: Mechanistic Analysis and Potential Therapeutic Implications in Breast Cancer with Fibrotic Focus

Abstract A fibrotic focus (FF) is a scar-like region that forms in the center of carcinoma due to excessive tumor stroma formation. In our earlier studies, we found FF as an independent poor prognostic factor for breast cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms of how the presence of FF contributed to a poor prognosis are still unknown. To improve our understanding of FF in breast cancer, we have investigated genes associated with FF and their impacts on breast cancer prognosis. Analysis of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) indicated that Bone Morphogenetic Protein 8A (BMP8A) was significantly upregulated in breast cancers with FF. To further validate this finding, immunohistochemistry (IHC) on BMP8A was performed on a local cohort of breast cancers (N= 900). Of these samples, 147 (16.3%) were found to be BMP8A positive, and there was a significant association between the presence of FF and high expression of BMP8A (p-value=0.026). We also found that high expression of BMP8A was positively correlated with apocrine phenotype, necrosis, increased Ki67 expression, and triple-negative breast cancer subtype; and most of these are poor prognostic factors for breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival estimate analysis revealed that high expression of BMP8A was significantly associated with poor overall survival (p-value=0.035). Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that "Extracellular matrix organization" was the prominent biological process associated with BMP8A. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that BMP8A was significantly related to "Protein digestion and absorption", "ECM-receptor interaction", and "Focal adhesion" pathways, further validating its correlation with stromal FF. In cellular studies using MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, overexpression of BMP8A was found to enhance breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Similar tumor-promoting phenotypes were exhibited when stimulating the cell lines with recombinant human BMP8A. In conclusion, our findings suggested that BMP8A was associated with FF in breast cancer, contributing at least partly to the aggressive features of these cancers. Our findings also provided new insights into the precision treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer. Further exploration of BMP8A as a therapeutic target and prognostic factor may contribute to improved management of breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Canbin Fang, Julia Y. S. Tsang, Gary M.K. Tse. Mechanistic Analysis and Potential Therapeutic Implications in Breast Cancer with Fibrotic Focus [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-13-12.

Abstract PO1-28-03: Impact of the Oncotype DX® test over time and association with clinicopathological characteristics of Peruvian patients with early breast cancer: Experience in the last 15 years

Abstract Introduction: Gene expression assays provide prognostic and therapy-predictive information that complements management of early breast cancer patients. Oncotype DX® had showed prognostic and prediction of adjuvant chemotherapy benefit. The present study evaluates the impact of Oncotype DX® on therapeutic decision-making for 15 years and explores the association of clinicopathological characteristics with the Recurrence Score (RS) in Peruvian patients with early breast cancer. Material and methods: A retrospective multicenter analysis of 759 breast cancer patients treated in three oncological centers in Lima-Peru (Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Oncosalud and Ricardo Palma) between 2007 and 2022 was conducted. Risk groups were classified according to Oncotype DX® result and menopausal status. For premenopausal women ≤ 50 years: low (RS=0-20), intermediate (RS=21-25) and high-risk (RS=26-100). A descriptive analysis was evaluated to observe the trend and profile of the patients who used the Oncotype test in 5 time periods (2007-2009, 2010-2013, 2014-2016, 2017-2019, 2020-2022). Subsequently, chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance and Poisson linear regression tests were applied to compare clinicopathological features with RS. Finally, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox logistic regression to identify the probability of association with the high-risk group. Results: 642 patients were included, 78.5% were postmenopausal, and 64.2% had clinical stage (CS) I. Overall, 63.4% had no recommendation for chemotherapy and only 5.6% had recurrence. 74.8% were classified as low-risk according to the Oncotype DX® result. Postmenopausal patients had negative lymph nodes (95.4%), the majority had undergone conservative surgery (71.8%) and had a low rate of breast reconstruction (11.9%). An increase in the use of Oncotype DX® was observed over time, especially in premenopausal patients (from 4.5% in 2007 to 36.9% in 2022). A significant association was found between luminal B subtype (p &amp;lt; 0.0001), histological grade 3 (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) and T3 vs. T1/2 (p=0.025). In univariate analysis, luminal B subtype (vs. luminal A, OR=5.56, 95% CI, 2.80-12.3, p&amp;lt; 0.001), T3 (vs. T1/2, OR=2.84, 95% CI, 0.13-30.0, p=0.006), histological grade 3 (vs. 1/2, OR=13.1, 95% CI, 5.35-39.6, p&amp;lt; 0.001) and histology (other vs. ductal/lobulillar/mucinous, OR=2.94, 95% CI, 0.57-13.5, p=0.003) provided a higher probability of obtaining a high-risk RS result. Similar results were found in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The use of the Oncotype DX® had a significant impact on therapeutic decision-making in Peruvian patients with early breast cancer, with an increase of use in the last 15 years. A high-risk RS was associated with luminal B subtype, histological grade 3 and T3 tumor size, which could facilitate risk stratification and provide valuable information for the need of adjuvant chemotherapy. Keywords: Early breast cancer, Oncotype DX®, clinicopathological characteristics, Recurrence Score (RS), Peru Oncotype PERU Table Citation Format: Steffi Katheryne Gonzalez Bocanegra, Guillermo valencia Mesías, Yomali Aroa Ferreyra Chombo, Karoll Tatiana Meza Garcia, Mariano Lopez-Pereyra, Jorge Torres Maldonado, Edgar Fermín Yan Quiroz, Zaida Morante Cruz, Jose Cotrina-Concha, Henry Gómez, Gabriela Calderon Valencia, Mauricio León Rivera. Impact of the Oncotype DX® test over time and association with clinicopathological characteristics of Peruvian patients with early breast cancer: Experience in the last 15 years [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-28-03.

Abstract PO2-02-02: BREAst Cancer Personalized NuTrition (BREACPNT): dietary intervention in HR+ breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy

Abstract BACKGROUND Breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy commonly experience weight gain, which has been associated with low adherence to therapy and worse breast cancer prognosis. Dietary interventions are the first-line treatment for weight management in breast cancer patients and have beneficial results. Yet, the ability to maintain these outcomes requires further research. Here, we aimed to assess whether a personalized postprandial glucose targeting (PPT) diet is beneficial for weight management and metabolic health as compared with the recommended Mediterranean (MED) diet in this population. DESIGN AND METHODS BREACPNT is a phase-2 randomized trial in HR+ patients with breast cancer, treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy. We randomly assigned participants to follow a MED diet or a PPT diet for a 6-month dietary intervention and additional 6-month follow-up. The PPT diet is based on a machine-learning algorithm that integrates clinical and microbiome features to predict personal postprandial glucose responses (PPGRs). During the intervention, participants were monthly followed by a registered dietitian, they were additionally connected to a 2-week continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) on 3-timepoints, provided stool and blood samples and self-reported dietary intake using a smartphone application. RESULTS Among 127 randomized patients (mean ± SD age 53 ± 10 years, BMI 28.6 ± 5 kg/m2), 103 (81%) completed the 6-month intervention period. A total of 94 participants provided 12-month follow-up data. Both interventions led to a significant weight loss. The PPT-diet showed numerically greater weight loss with median change of -1.45kg (IQR -3.75 – 0) compared to the MED-diet with median change of -1kg (IQR -3.2 - 0.1) , however this was not significant (p=0.9). Notably, at the 12-month time point , participants in the PPT arm were more likely to maintain the weight loss (median -1.2kg, IQR -4 - 0.1) compared to participants in the MED-arm (median -0.15kg , IQR -4.25 - 1.5), p=0.14) and had significantly improved waist circumference (median, IQR; -5 cm, -8-(-2) in the PPT arm, compared to -1cm, -6.5-3 in the MED arm, p=0.01). In terms of glucose metabolism the PPT-diet led to improved glycemic control as measured by CGM, with significant lower average postprandial glucose responses (PPGRs) and glucose coefficient of variation (CV) compared to the MED-diet arm (mean 6-month change in PPGR was 2.1 ± 7.5 mg/dL × h for MED and −3.4 ± 5.6 mg/dL × h for PPT, p&amp;lt; 0.001, and the 6-month mean change for CV was 0.15 ± 2.76 for MED and −1.37 ± 3.2 for PPT, p&amp;lt; 0.01). Within the entire cohort, participants who experienced the greatest weight loss (upper quartile) were more likely to be postmenopausal compared to participants in the lower quartile. Additionally, participants who did not achieve weight loss (lower quartile) were significantly more likely to be treated with tamoxifen than AI (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS In this dietary intervention in HR+ breast cancer patients, both PPT diet and MED diet led to weight loss and improved food quality, with a slight advantage to PPT diet. PPT diet additionally improved glycemic features as compared to MED diet, which are linked to lower risk of obesity and disease recurrence, suggesting an advantage in a glucose targeting approach. Premenopausal and Tamoxifen treated patients were less likely to lose weight through the intervention. These findings may have implications for dietary advice in clinical practice. Citation Format: Michal Rein, Maya Dadiani, Anastasia Godneva, Michal Bakalenik-Gavry, Dana Morzaev-Sulzbach, Maya Lotan-Pompan, Adina Weinberger, Eran Segal, Einav Gal-Yam. BREAst Cancer Personalized NuTrition (BREACPNT): dietary intervention in HR+ breast cancer patients treated with endocrine therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-02-02.

Radiosensitizing effects of heparinized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in colon cancer

The combination of radiation treatment and chemotherapy is currently the standard for management of cancer patients. However, safe doses do not often provide effective therapy, then pre-treated patients are forced to repeat treatment with often already increased tumor resistance to drugs and irradiation. One of the solutions we suggest is to improve primary course of radiation treatment via enhancing radiosensitivity of tumors by magnetic-guided iron oxide nanoparticles (magnetite). We obtained spherical heparinized iron oxide nanoparticles (hIONPs, ∼20 nm), characterized it by TEM, Infrared spectroscopy and DLS. Then hIONPs cytotoxicity was assessed for colon cancer cells (XTT assay) and cellular uptake of nanoparticles was analyzed with X-ray fluorescence.Combination of ionizing radiation (IR) and hIONPs in vitro caused an increase of G2/M arrest of cell cycle, mitotic errors and decrease in survival (compared with samples exposed to IR and hIONPs separately). The promising results were shown for magnetic-guided hIONPs in CT26-grafted BALB/C mice: the combination of intravenously administrated hIONPs and IR showed 20,8% T/C ratio (related to non-treated mice), while single radiation had no shown significant decrease in tumor growth (72,4%). Non-guided by magnets hIONPs with IR showed 57,9% of T/C. This indicates that ultra-small size and biocompatible molecule are not the key to successful nano-drug design, in each case, delivery technologies need to be improved when transferred to in vivo model.

Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM): Application of a new pharmaceutical practice in Onco-Hematology

The integration of a large number of drugs, such as antineoplastic agents and cancer-related supportive care drugs, into the management of cancer patients exposes them to an increased number of drug-related problems (DRP). Clinical pharmacists contribute to drug management by actively intervening in detected DRP.The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the applying a clinical pharmacist-driven Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) service to Onco-hematology patients.This prospective interventional study was carried out over six-month duration, specifically from November 06, 2022 to April 5, 2023 in the oncology and hematology departments of the EHU Oran. The adherence to treatment was evaluated using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). Whereas Data related to the patient's general condition and medication history was assessed using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) Classification for Drug-Related Problems V9.1.Among the 130 patients included in the study, a total of 879 DRP were identified, with a mean of 6.78 (±1.72) DRP/patient, half of which were related to efficacy (51%). Almost half of our sample (44.6%) did not adhere to their treatment. The most frequent cause of DRP, accounting for (19.9%) of the cases, was the inappropriate administration by a health professional. A total of 875 pharmaceuticals interventions (PI) were proposed, 67.2% of which were focused at the drug level. The PI acceptance rate was 94.1%.The integration of CMM services in Onco-Hematology played an important role in optimizing dosing regimen and treatment administration methods, as well as preventing iatropathology in the management of cancer patients.

Commissioning of the first hospital-based PET radiopharmaceutical cyclotron in Greece: Personnel dose assessment.

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is well established in the diagnosis and management of cancer patients. As the demand for PET imaging continues to rise, many hospitals are installing on-site self-shielded mini cyclotrons to produce their own radiopharmaceuticals, including FDG. In May 2021, the Dose-on-Demand Biomarker Generator (BG-75) was installed at the Metaxa Cancer Hospital in Greece, making it the first hospital-based PET radiopharmaceutical cyclotron in the country. During commissioning, the expected external exposure for personnel was established, and internal exposure was found to be negligible. Personnel dose was estimated with two methods: survey meter measurements in various locations combined with the time spent in each location, and direct measurement using electronic personal dosemeters. Gamma and neutron radiation readings outside the cyclotron vault were at background levels. Inside the cyclotron vault, the highest recorded readings by the target were 18 μSv/h for both gammas and neutrons; at one meter, the values were 5 μSv/h and 4 μSv/h, respectively. Based on these measurements, the annual expected whole-body dose per operator is 0.6 mSv, and the respective extremity dose is 16 mSv. The annual expected whole body and extremity dose for the radiochemist is 0.3 mSv and 25 mSv, respectively. The expected dose estimates for the medical physicists are also below 1 mSv. These doses are well below the regulatory limits and local As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) levels. With experience and a robust ALARA program, personnel exposure could be further reduced.&#xD.

The impact of decision tools during oncological consultation with lung cancer patients: A systematic review within the I3LUNG project.

To date, lung cancer is one of the most lethal diagnoses worldwide. A variety of lung cancer treatments and modalities are available, which are generally presented during the patient and doctor consultation. The implementation of decision tools to facilitate patient's decision-making and the management of their healthcare process during medical consultation is fundamental. Studies have demonstrated that decision tools are helpful to promote health management and decision-making of lung cancer patients during consultations. The main aim of the present work within the I3LUNG project is to systematically review the implementation of decision tools to facilitate medical consultation about oncological treatments for lung cancer patients. In the present study, we conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. We used an electronic computer-based search involving three databases, as follows: Embase, PubMed, and Scopus. 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included. They explicitly refer to decision tools in the oncological context, with lung cancer patients. The discussion highlights the most encouraging results about the positive role of decision aids during medical consultations about oncological treatments, especially regarding anxiety, decision-making, and patient knowledge. However, no one main decision aid tool emerged as essential. Opting for a more recent timeframe to select eligible articles might shed light on the current array of decision aid tools available. Future review efforts could utilize alternative search strategies to explore other lung cancer-specific outcomes during medical consultations for treatment decisions and the implementation of decision aid tools. Engaging with experts in the fields of oncology, patient decision-making, or health communication could provide valuable insights and recommendations for relevant literature or research directions that may not be readily accessible through traditional search methods. The development of guidelines for future research were provided with the aim to promote decision aids focused on patients' needs.

An Update on MR Spectroscopy in Cancer Management: Advances in Instrumentation, Acquisition, and Analysis.

MR spectroscopy (MRS) is a noninvasive imaging method enabling chemical and molecular profiling of tissues in a localized, multiplexed, and nonionizing manner. As metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, MRS provides valuable metabolic and molecular information for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring, and patient management. This review provides an update on the use of MRS for clinical cancer management. The first section includes an overview of the principles of MRS, current methods, and conventional metabolites of interest. The remainder of the review is focused on three key areas: advances in instrumentation, specifically ultrahigh-field-strength MRI scanners and hybrid systems; emerging methods for acquisition, including deuterium imaging, hyperpolarized carbon 13 MRI and MRS, chemical exchange saturation transfer, diffusion-weighted MRS, MR fingerprinting, and fast acquisition; and analysis aided by artificial intelligence. The review concludes with future recommendations to facilitate routine use of MRS in cancer management. Keywords: MR Spectroscopy, Spectroscopic Imaging, Molecular Imaging in Oncology, Metabolic Reprogramming, Clinical Cancer Management © RSNA, 2024.

The modern face of esophageal candidiasis in an oncology center: Correlating clinical manifestations, endoscopic grade, and pathological data in 323 contemporary cancer patients

ObjectivesClinical presentation and outcomes of esophageal candidiasis (EC) in cancer patients are scarcely studied in the azole era, as is the correlation between clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological EC manifestations. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes of pathology-documented EC cases at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We further assessed associations between presence of symptoms, standardized 4-stage endoscopic grade (Kodsi classification), histopathological data, and fluconazole treatment failure. ResultsAmong 323 cancer patients with EC, 89% had solid tumors, most commonly esophageal cancer (29%). Thirty-three percent of EC patients were asymptomatic. The proportion of symptomatic EC patients significantly increased with endoscopic grade (P=0.005). Among 202 patients receiving oral fluconazole, 27 (13%) had treatment failure. Underlying esophageal disease was the only independent predictor of fluconazole treatment failure (odds ratio: 3.88, P=0.005). Endoscopic grade correlated significantly with Candida organism burden (Correlation coefficient [ρ]=0.21, P<0.01) and neutrophilic inflammation (ρ=0.18, P<0.01). Candida invasion of the squamous mucosal layer was associated with treatment failure (P=0.049). ConclusionsEC was predominantly encountered in patients with solid tumors. One third of EC patients were asymptomatic, challenging traditional symptom-based diagnosis. Development of integrated clinicopathological scoring systems could further guide therapeutic management of cancer patients with EC.

Acute coronary syndromes in patients with cancer: Recent advances.

Coronary artery disease is presently one of the leading causes of death among cancer survivors. Due to the number of cancer survivors projected to reach 26 million by 2040 managing coronary disease in this population presents a unique challenge. Cancer patients face an elevated risk of atherosclerotic disease due to shared cardiovascular risk factors and the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies, predisposing them to acute coronary syndromes. Challenges in treating cancer patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes include atypical presentations, obscured symptoms, and the impact of cancer-related processes on traditional biomarkers. This review explores the complexities of acute coronary syndrome management in cancer patients, addressing challenges involved, recent advances in percutaneous strategies, pharmacology, and considerations for these high-risk individuals. This review discusses a balance between invasive vs. medical strategy, technical advances in multimodal imaging, intravascular physiology, intracoronary imaging, and evolving stent options, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in this complex patient population.

Assessing Trends in Hospitalizations for Breast Cancer among Women in Korea: A Utilization of the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (2006-2020).

Breast cancer poses a significant health threat globally and particularly in Korea, where mortality rates have risen notably. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of breast cancer patients discharged in Korea over the past 15 years and explored the association between comorbidities and treatment outcomes to propose effective strategies for managing cancer patients. Understanding these dynamics is vital for informing tailored management strategies and optimizing healthcare system sustainability. This study utilized cross-sectional data from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey from 2006 to 2020. Each year, among patients discharged from hospital with 100 beds or more, those identified with breast cancer patients were based on their primary diagnosis code (C50) according to the ICD-10, as recorded in their medical records. Between 2006 and 2020, an estimated 499,281 breast cancer patients were discharged, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 5.2% (95% CI 4.2-6.2, p <.05). A notable increase in AAPC was particularly evident among those aged 60 years and old. Across all age groups, there was a consistent increasing trend in the risk of mortality as the CCI score increased (p <.05). The risk of comorbidity was more pronounced in younger age groups compared to older age groups. The increasing life expectancy is expected to lead to a continued rise in the number of elderly breast cancer patients. Countermeasures are needed to address this trend through appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning. Particularly, considering comorbidities in breast cancer treatment plans is necessary to promote positive treatment outcomes, especially in younger breast cancer patients.

The Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Indices Are Independent Prognostic Factors for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment.

Recently, the prognostic immune and nutritional index (PINI) was developed and reported to be a promising nutritional and inflammatory prognostic marker. The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical impact of the PINI for esophageal cancer patients who received curative treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and collected data on consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent curative resection at Yokohama City University between 2005 and 2020. The PINI was calculated by dividing the serum ALB concentration (g/dl) by the serum monocyte concentration, both of which were measured before surgery. A total of 180 patients were included in this study. The cutoff value of the PINI was 3.0 in the present study. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 45.2% and 33.5%, respectively, in the PINI-low subgroup, and 69.1% and 61.8%, respectively, in the PINI-high subgroup. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the PINI was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio=2.091, 95% confidence interval=1.287-3.399, p=0.003). Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. When comparing the sites of recurrence between the two groups, the incidence of hematological recurrence was significantly greater in the PINI-low subgroup compared to the PINI-high subgroup (46.8% vs. 21.1%, p<0.001). The PINI is a promising nutritional and inflammatory marker for esophageal cancer patients. The PINI might be a useful marker for the treatment and management of esophageal cancer patients.

Role of Non-coding RNAs on the Radiotherapy Sensitivity and Resistance in Cancer Cells.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral part of treatment management in cancer patients. However, one of the limitations of this treatment method is the resistance of cancer cells to radiotherapy. These restrictions necessitate the introduction of modalities for the radiosensitization of cancer cells. It has been shown that Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), along with modifiers, can act as radiosensitivity and radioresistant regulators in a variety of cancers by affecting double strand break (DSB), wnt signaling, glycolysis, irradiation induced apoptosis, ferroptosis and cell autophagy. This review will provide an overview of the latest research on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of ncRNA after RT in in vitro and preclinical research.

Multimodal Treatment of Metastatic Rectal Cancer in a Young Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Metastatic colorectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary and individualized approach. Herein, we reported the case of a young woman diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer who received an individualized multimodal treatment strategy that resulted in a remarkable survival. There were several particular aspects of this case, such as the early onset of the disease, the successful use of conversion therapy, the application of liquid biopsy to guide treatment, and the specific nature of the bone metastasis. To offer more insights for navigating such challenges in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, we have conducted a literature review to find more data related to the particularities of this case. The incidence of early onset colorectal cancer is on the rise. Data suggests that it differs from older-onset colorectal cancer in terms of its pathological, epidemiological, anatomical, metabolic, and biological characteristics. Conversion therapy and surgical intervention provide an opportunity for cure and improve outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer. It is important to approach each case individually, as every patient with limited liver disease should be considered as a candidate for secondary resection. Moreover, liquid biopsy has an important role in the individualized management of metastatic colorectal cancer patients, as it offers additional information for treatment decisions.