Total tumor volume predicts overall survival and response to induction chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases: An ancillary study of the phase 3 CAIRO5 trial.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess whether total tumor volume (TTV) outperforms RECIST1.1 for treatment response assessment in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), and to investigate TTV as a predictive biomarker for the optimal systemic treatment regimen for individual patients with initially unresectable CRLM.

Methods: Patients with initially unresectable liver-only CRLM from the phase 3 CAIRO5 trial (NCT02162563) were included.

Circulating tumour cells & circulating tumour DNA in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases (MIRACLE): a prospective, observational biomarker study.

Background: Recurrence risk after curative surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remains high, underlining the need to identify prognostic markers enabling more individualised treatment approaches.

Methods: In the MIRACLE, a prospective, observational biomarker study, a total of 188 patients with isolated, resectable CRLM without (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy were included between October 2015 and December 2021. Blood samples were collected before surgery (baseline) and three weeks after surgery.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Accuracy of Preoperative CT-Based Radiomics in Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Background: Obtaining an accurate preoperative diagnosis in retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is challenging, and radiomics-based models may offer a valid option to achieve this outcome. This study evaluated the accuracy of radiomics-based preoperative CT models at predicting tumour histology and grade in patients with primary RPS.

Methods: Data on consecutive patients who underwent surgery for primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) and leiomyosarcoma (RLMS) were analysed.

The Role of Radiotherapy in MPNST and the Impact of NF1 Status on Outcomes: Insights From A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNSTs) are rare, aggressive sarcomas, with 40% associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Surgical excision is the main treatment for localized disease, however, local recurrence (LR) remains high. Radiotherapy (RTx) is increasingly used to enhance local control in STS, but its use remains controversial due to the potential for increased major wound complications and an increased risk of secondary malignancies in NF1 patients.

Patient-led follow-up after curative colorectal cancer surgery: The primary outcome analysis of the prospective, multicentre FUTURE-primary implementation study.

Background: A structured follow-up regimen is standard for most cancer survivors. As this population grows, there is increasing interest in more sustainable and patient-centred follow-up strategies. Previous studies suggest that home-based follow-up after curative treatment is non-inferior to hospital-based care regarding survival and quality of life.

Cosmetic outcome and patient satisfaction following percutaneous thermal ablation of early-stage breast cancer; results of an open label randomized phase 2 trial.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to assess patient reported cosmetic outcome and satisfaction following percutaneous thermal ablation and subsequent breast-conserving surgery.

Methods: Cosmetic outcome and patient satisfaction were assessed in postmenopausal women diagnosed with unilateral invasive cT1N0M0 breast cancer who participated in a randomized phase 2 treat-and-resect trial comparing the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) and cryoablation (CA). Cosmetic outcome was measured subjectively with the BCTOS-13 and the Beast-Q questionnaires (0-100 score), and objectively with BCCT.

The colorectal liver metastasis growth pattern phenotype is not dependent on genotype.

Background: The histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of colorectal cancer liver metastases broadly classify patients into two groups post-liver metastasectomy, with encapsulated HGP indicating a more favourable prognosis. The potential association between HGPs and specific mutations is poorly understood.

Methods: Using next-generation sequencing data of 461 resected patients (104 patients with encapsulated versus 357 patients with non-encapsulated HGP), 19 putative colorectal cancer driver genes, tumour mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) or POLE mediated hypermutation were compared.

Dual-wavelength photoacoustic imaging of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with melanoma and breast cancer.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is an essential procedure for accurate disease staging and treatment planning in patients with melanoma and breast cancer. Conventional preoperative imaging primarily utilizes lymphoscintigraphy with technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which presents several limitations, including radiation exposure, logistical challenges, and potential delays in surgical workflow. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has emerged as a promising alternative, leveraging optical contrast provided by indocyanine green (ICG).

Perineal hernia repair: Multicentre comparative analysis of mesh-only versus mesh combined with tissue flap.

Aim: Surgical techniques for perineal hernia repair after abdominoperineal resection have evolved over time. Synthetic mesh repair is currently the preferred technique, but recurrence rates are high. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of mesh-only repair with combined mesh and tissue flap repair.

Long-term Local Control Following CEA-targeted Fluorescence-guided Surgery in Patients With Locally Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: In our previous phase 2 trial, patients with locally advanced (LARC) or locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) received SGM-101, a CEA-targeted fluorescent agent, to enable real-time near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) guided surgery. This study demonstrated that SGM-101 enabled additional tumor removal in some patients and supported less invasive surgery in others. Despite this positive intraoperative effect, the impact on long-term tumor control is unknown.

Nationwide analysis on the role of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and watch and wait in rectal cancer.

Introduction: Patients receiving neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for primary non-metastasized rectal cancer may achieve a clinical complete response and can be surveilled following the watch and wait strategy. The aim of this study is to investigate the utilization of this strategy using nationwide data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

Methods: Data from 6968 patients diagnosed with non-metastatic rectal cancer between 2018 and 2020 were analyzed.

Prognostic Ability of the Indication for Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Based on Preoperative Biopsy and the Surgical Excision Specimen in Cases of Small Breast Tumors (CONSCIENCE): A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between clinical and pathological assessments of tumor size and grade in patients with small, luminal type breast cancer.

Methods: This retrospective monocenter cohort study included women treated for clinical stage 1, estrogen receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer between January 2020 and July 2023. Preoperative and postoperative assessments of tumor size, malignancy grade and lymph node status were compared.

Impact of minimal invasive surgery techniques on long-term health-related quality of life in rectal cancer: a Dutch cohort study.

Objective: Limited data exists on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after robot-assisted surgery (RAL) for rectal cancer beyond one-year post-surgery. This study compares long-term HRQoL following RAL total mesorectal excision (TME) to conventional laparoscopic (CL) TME.

Methods: All rectal carcinoma patients from the 63-center Prospective National CRC cohort (PLCRC) who completed pre- and post-operative HRQoL questionnaires (EQ-5D, QLQ-C30, and QLQ-CR29) were retrospectively included.

Leveraging GPT-4 enables patient comprehension of radiology reports.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using GPT-4 to simplify radiology reports into B1-level Dutch for enhanced patient comprehension.

Methods: This study utilised GPT-4, optimised through prompt engineering in Microsoft Azure. The researchers iteratively refined prompts to ensure accurate and comprehensive translations of radiology reports.

Molecular-Targeted Fluorescence Lymph Node Imaging Could Play a Clinical Role in the Surgical Setting: A Systematic Review.

The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in the spread of solid tumors and is often the first site of metastasis, as cancer cells typically invade nearby lymph nodes (LN) before potentially spreading to other LNs through the lymphatic system and distant organs through the bloodstream [...

External validation of a model to predict recurrence-free and melanoma-specific survival for patients with melanoma after sentinel node biopsy.

Background: Recently, a model to predict 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was published. The aim of this study was to validate that model in a large independent international cohort.

Methods: The database of the Sentinel Lymph Node Working Group (SLNWG) was analysed for patients with malignant melanoma who underwent SLNB.

Evaluation of residual tumour in wide local excision for melanoma: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Melanoma incidence is increasing, emphasizing the need for optimized management. Wide local excision (WLE) remains the standard for locoregional disease control. The main advantage of WLE is likely in removing microsatellite lesions near the primary tumour if fully excised.

Critical evaluation of sentinel lymph node biopsy in pT1b and pT2a melanoma patients: A nationwide population-based study.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) aims to stage patients. According to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC) staging manual, patients with pT1b or pT2a melanoma can be eligible for adjuvant immunotherapy, however, only if they have a sentinel node (SN) tumour burden > 1 mm. This study aims to determine the percentage of patients with pT1b or pT2a that will become eligible for adjuvant immunotherapy following SLNB.

AI in radiological imaging of soft-tissue and bone tumours: a systematic review evaluating against CLAIM and FUTURE-AI guidelines.

Background: Soft-tissue and bone tumours (STBT) are rare, diagnostically challenging lesions with variable clinical behaviours and treatment approaches. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods using radiological imaging for diagnosis and prognosis of these tumours, highlighting challenges in clinical translation, and evaluating study alignment with the Checklist for AI in Medical Imaging (CLAIM) and the FUTURE-AI international consensus guidelines for trustworthy and deployable AI to promote the clinical translation of AI methods.

Methods: The systematic review identified literature from several bibliographic databases, covering papers published before 17/07/2024.

Preoperative Inflammatory Status and Postoperative Morbidity in Patients With Primary Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Background: The role of preoperative inflammatory markers in predicting postoperative outcomes has been investigated in different types of cancer. However, little is known about retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative inflammatory status and major postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing RPS surgery.

Additional breast lesions on MRI in patients with small early stage luminal type breast cancer: Important consequences for future thermal ablation treatment.

In this study, data from 50 postmenopausal women with unilateral cT1N0 breast cancer, who underwent MRI as part of the THERMAC trial for a thermal ablation protocol, were analyzed. Additional MRI findings were classified as benign or malignant based on histopathology. Results showed that 30 % of patients had additional MRI findings, with 40 % of those being malignant, which led to exclusion from the trial and altered surgical management.

Resectability assessment of colorectal liver metastases by an expert panel: Potential impact on hospitals referring patients for local treatment.

Background: Patients with colorectal liver-only metastases (CRLM) eligible for local treatment (resection/ablation) do not always receive this potentially curative treatment due to the lack of clear resectability criteria and expertise in centres not performing liver surgery. We evaluated the potential value of a liver expert panel in daily practice.

Methods: All patients with CRLM starting with systemic treatment in centres not performing liver surgery between 2016 and 2020 were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry.