Characteristics, Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes of Women with Maghreb Origin and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Disparities in breast cancer (BC) prevention, screening, treatment access, and survival based on ethnicity have been described. Data in Arab population are limited. We aimed to dissect differences in BC characteristics and outcomes among patients of Maghreb versus non-Maghreb origin.

ESMO-ESTRO framework for assessing the interactions and safety of combining radiotherapy with targeted cancer therapies or immunotherapy.

With the emergence of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, various cellular pathways are utilized to improve tumor control and patient survival. In patients receiving these new agents, radiotherapy is commonly applied with both radical and palliative intent. Combining radiotherapy with targeted therapies or immunotherapy may improve treatment outcomes, but may also lead to increased toxicity.

Aggressiveness of Care at the End of Life of Children Dying with Cancer in Public Hospitals-A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Little is known about the aggressiveness of cancer care at the end of life (ACCEoL) for children with cancer in countries where palliative care (PC) is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and time trends of ACCEoL in the pediatric population in a Western European country. We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing children between 0 and 17 years who died of cancer in public hospitals in Portugal, from January 2010 to December 2015.

The Impact of Initial Tumor Response on Survival Outcomes of Patients With HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer Treated With Docetaxel, Trastuzumab, and Pertuzumab: An Exploratory Analysis of the CLEOPATRA Trial.

Introduction: The CLEOPATRA trial (NCT00567190) established a dual anti-HER2 blockade in combination with docetaxel as the first-line standard of care for patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. While this treatment is overall associated with significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), not all patients respond equally. We hypothesized that a radiological complete response (CR) at week 9 (i.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Introduction: Currently three antibody-drug-conjugates (ADC) are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for treatment of breast cancer (BC) patient: trastuzumab-emtansine, trastuzumab-deruxtecan and sacituzumab-govitecan. ADC are composed of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a specific antigen, a cytotoxic payload and a linker. Pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) distinguish ADC from conventional chemotherapy and must be understood by clinicians.

Progression-free survival assessment by local investigators versus blinded independent central review in randomized clinical trials in metastatic breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), blinded independent central review (BICR) is used to minimize heterogeneity and bias associated with radiological response evaluation by local investigators. However, BICR adds costs and complexity to the trial management. We assessed the discrepancy index between progression-free survival (PFS) assessment by local investigators and by BICR in RCTs conducted in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

The impact of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents administration concomitantly with adjuvant anti-HER2 treatments on the outcomes of patients with early breast cancer: a sub-analysis of the ALTTO study.

Purpose: To assess whether erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) administration impacts the outcomes of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC).

Methods: ALTTO (NCT00490139) patients were categorized by ESA use during adjuvant anti-HER2 treatment. Disease-free-survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and time-to-distant recurrence (TTDR) were analyzed by ESA administration, with subgroup analyses according to prognostic factors.

Surgery of the primary tumor in patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study in Belgium.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the impact of surgery of primary tumor in overall survival (OS) of women with de novo metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in Belgium, between Jan/2010-Dec/2014. Data was obtained from the Belgian Cancer Registry and administrative databases.

Ki-67 index after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy as a prognostic biomarker in patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Neoadjuvant treatment discriminates responders, but pathologic complete response is uncommon in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of Ki-67 index after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET).

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and conference proceedings up to 22nd August 2023 to identify studies reporting the association of Ki-67 index after NET with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and/or overall survival (OS) in women with ER-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer.

Antibody-drug conjugates: the evolving field of targeted chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a class of antineoplastic agents whose structure is composed of three main components: a monoclonal antibody (mAB) targeting a specific target antigen, a cytotoxic payload, and a linker binding the antibody to the payload. By combining the specificity of mABs with the high potency of the payloads, ADCs constitute a smart drug delivery system with improved therapeutic index. After recognition and binding of the mAB to its target surface antigen, ADCs are internalized by endocytosis by the tumor cell, releasing the payloads into the cytoplasm, where they exert their cytotoxic activity, eventually leading to cell death.

Effectiveness of palbociclib with aromatase inhibitors for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in an exposure retrospective cohort study: implications for clinical practice.

Background: New drugs for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer have led to clinical benefits, aside with increasing costs to healthcare systems. The current financing model for health technology assessment (HTA) privileges real-world data. As part of the ongoing HTA, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of palbociclib with aromatase inhibitors (AI) and compare it with the efficacy reported in PALOMA-2.

Immune response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 prime-vaccination in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the immune response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 prime-vaccination in patients with cancer.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library until 28/09/2021, and conference proceedings from ASCO and ESMO 2021 annual meetings. We screened for observational or interventional studies including subjects ≥ 16 years old with cancer diagnosis who were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Cancer Management in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study of Medical Oncologists.

Introduction: Cancer care providers have faced many challenges in delivering safe care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional survey-based study investigated the impact of the pandemic on clinical practices of Portuguese medical oncologists caring for patients with breast cancer.

Methods: An anonymous online survey comprising 42 questions gathered information regarding COVID-19 testing, treatment in (neo)adjuvant and metastatic settings, and other aspects of breast cancer management.

Real-world effectiveness of palbociclib plus fulvestrant in advanced breast cancer: Results from a population-based cohort study.

Background: Real-world (RW) data may provide valuable information on the effectiveness and safety of medicines, which is particularly relevant for clinicians, patients and third-party payers. Evidence on the effectiveness of palbociclib plus fulvestrant is scarce, which highlights the need of additional studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of palbociclib plus fulvestrant in advanced breast cancer (ABC).

Emerging issues related to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of deaths globally. The pandemic has had a severe impact on oncology care and research. Patients with underlying cancer are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and also have a more severe clinical course following the infection.

Hospitalizations at the End of Life Among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Study.

Context: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer report several symptoms at the end of life and may share palliative care needs. However, these disease groups have distinct health care use.

Objectives: To compare the frequency and length of hospitalizations during the last month of life between patients with COPD and lung cancer, assessing the main characteristics associated with these outcomes.

Factors associated with the aggressiveness of care at the end of life for patients with cancer dying in hospital: a nationwide retrospective cohort study in mainland Portugal.

Introduction: There is growing concern about the aggressiveness of cancer care at the end of life (ACCEoL), defined as overly aggressive treatments that compromise the quality of life at its end. Recognising the most affected patients is a cornerstone to improve oncology care. Our aim is to identify factors associated with ACCEoL for patients with cancer dying in hospitals.

Challenges of New Approaches in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cutaneous tumor, and the use of checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy is a recent indication in its metastatic setting, both first and second line. However, the widespread use of immunotherapy is associated with an increase of acute and late immune-mediated adverse events. We present a case of an elderly fit patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab who developed diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe immune-mediated adverse event.

Ubiquitin proteasome system in Parkinson's disease: a keeper or a witness?

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) on mitochondrial-driven alpha-synuclein (aSN) clearance in in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo Parkinson's disease (PD) cellular models.

Method: We used SH-SY5Y ndufa2 knock-down (KD) cells, PD cybrids and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for PD. We quantified aSN aggregation, proteasome activity and protein ubiquitination levels.

Therapeutic intervention at cellular quality control systems in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Cellular homeostasis relies on quality control systems so that damaged biologic structures are either repaired or degraded and entirely replaced by newly formed proteins or even organelles. The clearance of dysfunctional cellular structures in long-lived postmitotic cells, like neurons, is essential to eliminate, per example, defective mitochondria, lipofuscin-loaded lysosomes and oxidized proteins. Short-lived proteins are degraded mainly by proteases and proteasomes whether most long-lived proteins and all organelles are digested by autophagy in the lysosomes.