Tumor profiling of advanced urothelial carcinoma: Comparative analysis based on social determinants of health.

Background: Studies on the genomic characteristics of urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients from diverse backgrounds are scarce. Herein, we sought to characterize genomic landscapes of advanced UC in a regional representative cohort to examine the possibility that patients from different backgrounds may have socioeconomic-influenced molecular changes.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated clinical and genomic findings of UC patients presenting to the University of Arizona Cancer Center (Tucson, AZ) from 2016 to 2023.

Corticosteroid-Refractory Bullous Pemphigoid Due to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Telemedicine Challenge.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the new standard of care for many malignancies due to their higher efficacy and safer toxicity profile. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) can occur unpredictably and in a wide range of organs. Most irAEs present with mild to moderate toxicities.

Azenosertib Is a Potent and Selective WEE1 Kinase Inhibitor with Broad Antitumor Activity Across a Range of Solid Tumors.

Genomic instability and accumulation of DNA damage are hallmarks of tumor development and progression. To ensure the maintenance of genomic integrity, cells rely on a coordinated DNA damage response network that regulates cell-cycle progression, including activation of WEE1-dependent cell cycle checkpoints. If DNA damage occurs during replication, the WEE1 checkpoint is activated, thereby preventing the progression of the cell cycle.

A retrospective analysis of tissue, liquid, and germline testing in Hispanic and non-Hispanic men with advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer mortality among American men, with significant racial and ethnic disparities. Hispanic Americans (HAs) are underrepresented in PCa genomic studies despite comprising a large portion of cancer diagnoses. By comparing the frequency of common PCa mutations between HA and non-Hispanics (NHs), we aim to continue understanding the drivers of disparities in this underrepresented population.

Inhibition of PIM Kinase in Tumor-Associated Macrophages Suppresses Inflammasome Activation and Sensitizes Prostate Cancer to Immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have changed the treatment paradigm for many cancers but have not shown benefit in prostate cancer. Chronic inflammation contributes to the immunosuppressive prostate tumor microenvironment and is associated with poor response to ICIs. The primary source of inflammatory cytokine production is the inflammasome.

Inhibition of PIM kinase in tumor associated macrophages suppresses inflammasome activation and sensitizes prostate cancer to immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has changed the treatment paradigm for many types of cancer, but immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have not shown benefit in prostate cancer (PCa). Chronic inflammation contributes to the immunosuppressive prostate tumor microenvironment (TME) and is associated with poor response to ICIs. The primary source of inflammatory cytokine production is the inflammasome.

Sacituzumab Govitecan in Combination With Pembrolizumab for Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Cancer That Progressed After Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: TROPHY-U-01 Cohort 3.

Purpose: Pembrolizumab is standard therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) who progress after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy; however, only approximately 21% of patients respond. Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is a trophoblast cell surface antigen-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate with US Food and Drug Administration-accelerated approval to treat patients with locally advanced or mUC who previously received platinum-based chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI). Here, we report the primary analysis of TROPHY-U-01 cohort 3.

Network meta-analysis of second line and beyond treatment options in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Deciding on the optimal second-line (2L) treatment for metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains challenging due to the limited information comparing each of the available options and the influence of the newly expanding first-line (1L) agents.

Patients And Methods: We identified phase II/III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating 2L treatments in metastatic ccRCC. This Network Meta-analysis (NMA) evaluates the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and severe adverse events (SAE).

Current Landscape of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Is There a Role for Additional T-Cell Blockade?

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common form of bladder cancer (BC) and is the variant with the most immunogenic response. This makes urothelial carcinoma an ideal candidate for immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Key immune checkpoint proteins PD-1 and CTLA-4 are frequently expressed on T-cells in urothelial carcinoma.

Prostate Cancer Disparities in Metastatic and Treatment Status for Hispanic Americans Based on Country of Origin Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites Using the National Cancer Database.

Introduction: Among Hispanic-American (HA) men, prostatic cancer (PCa) accounts for nearly one-quarter of the total cancer burden. We sought to identify differences in PCa presentation and treatment status for HA subgroups based on country/region of origin.

Material And Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma with reported race/ethnicity, clinical staging, Gleason score ≥ 6, and PSA level at diagnosis from 2010 to 2016.

Impact of Aspirin Use on Outcomes in Patients With Hepatocellular Cancer: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: Despite the use of new immunotherapies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor survival rate. Through multiple molecular mechanisms, aspirin (ASA) has demonstrated a reduced incidence of HCC, however, the impact of long-term ASA use on in-hospital outcomes has not been studied.

Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020 to identify patients with HCC.

Gender, Racial and Ethnic Differences in Pathologic Response Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Bladder Cancer Patients.

Objective: To evaluate trends and racial variations of pathologic complete response (CR) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The primary endpoints, CR and mortality, were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage test, multivariable regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Health Disparities in Presentation, Treatment, Genomic Testing, and Outcomes of Pancreatic Cancer in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Patients.

Background: There are few conflicting results regarding the treatment and outcomes of Hispanic patients with pancreatic cancer. This study comprehensively evaluated the differences in baseline characteristics, treatments, genomic testing, and outcomes among Hispanic (H) and Non-Hispanic (NH) patients with early-stage (ES) and late-stage (LS) pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis from 2013 to 2020 of 294 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; data collected included patient demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, response, germline and somatic genetic testing, and survival outcomes.

Pharmacotherapeutic options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy projected to be the 2 leading cause of cancer related death in the USA by 2030. This manuscript discusses current and evolving treatment approaches in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Areas Covered: PDAC is classified as: a) resectable, b) borderline resectable, c) unresectable (locally advanced and metastatic).

National trends and survival outcomes of penile squamous cell carcinoma based on human papillomavirus status.

Background: There are no series evaluating penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) based on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Herein, we present national registry data on clinical and survival outcomes for pSCC based on HPV status.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 1224 pSCC patients with known HPV staining from the National Cancer Database.

Analyzing outcomes of neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment for borderline-resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the perioperative period at an academic institution.

Background: Only 15-20% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients are upfront surgical candidates at presentation, and for this cohort of patients, the 5-year survival is a mere 20% despite adjuvant therapy. Previous data indicate that in clinical practice most of these cases are "borderline-resectable," and there is currently no mature data on perioperative treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective electronic chart review of patients with "borderline-resectable"PDAC treated at an academic comprehensive cancer center, dividing them into groups based on surgery alone, surgery plus neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or neoadjuvant plus adjuvant perioperative treatment groups.

Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants and low molecular weight heparin in gastrointestinal cancer-associated venous thromboembolism.

Background: Gastrointestinal cancer (GICA) is associated with a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to other solid tumors, moreover, recurrent VTE and major bleeding (MB) complications during anticoagulation treatment have an associated increase rate. GICA-VTE remains a challenging clinical scenario with MB concerns for utilization of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), especially with active cancer therapies.

Aim: To evaluate patient risk factors, effectiveness (VTE) and safety (MB) of DOACs and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with active GICA-VTE.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios inversely correlate to clinical and pathologic stage in patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Post-surgical pathology (SP) staging correlates with long-term survival. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been shown to predict prognosis and extent of tumor in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aimed to correlate NLR and PLR to radiological clinical staging (CS), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 tumor marker and SP staging in patients with resectable-PDAC (R-PDAC); and to investigate NLR and PLR as potential markers to guide neoadjuvant therapy.

A Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Barriers to Enrolling Cancer Patients into Early Phase Clinical Trials: Challenges and Patient-centric Recommendations.

: Early phase clinical trials are the first clinical research step to bringing new cancer therapeutics to patients. At this stage, a new drug's safety, dosing, and scheduling profiles are established as the main endpoints. However, excellent responses due to biomarker-guided and immune checkpoint trials in early phase have resulted in direct approvals of new anti-cancer drugs.