Patient-Reported Symptoms and Direct Health Care Costs in Head and Neck Cancer.

Importance: Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its associated treatments are associated with substantial functional, psychological, and financial consequences. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) play a crucial role in capturing the full impact of disease. Understanding how PROMs are associated with health care costs is critical for cancer care planning; however, the association of health care expenditure and PROMs is yet to be clarified.

Labels, Language, and Other Strategies to Improve Communication About Lower Grade Ductal Carcinoma in Situ: Theoretical Review.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is when abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts of the breast, but they have not spread outside the ducts. It is not an invasive cancer, but it can sometimes turn into cancer over time if not treated. Women with low or intermediate grade DCIS are counseled to undergo standards of care, which may include surgery, radiation, and/or endocrine therapy even though DCIS may not develop into breast cancer, prompting confusion and long-lasting anxiety.

Validation of a Quantitative Ultrasound Texture Analysis Model for Early Prediction of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: A Prospective Serial Imaging Study.

Background/objectives: Patients with breast cancer who do not achieve a complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may benefit from intensified adjuvant systemic therapy. However, such treatment escalation is typically delayed until after tumour resection, which occurs several months into the treatment course. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) can detect early microstructural changes in tumours and may enable timely identification of non-responders during NAC, allowing for earlier treatment intensification.

Mediation Analysis of the Molecular Phenotypes in a Severe MASH-like Liver Injury Mouse Model.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe form of fatty liver disease, is a leading cause of cirrhosis and lacks effective therapies. Understanding the molecular mediators of disease progression remains a critical gap. This study aimed to investigate the roles of molecular phenotypes as mediators of MASH disease features in a diet-induced mouse model.

Association of Traditional and new Surgical Wait Time Targets and Survival for Curative-intent Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Background: Wait time (WT) to surgery is a common quality indicator for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the definition of WT targets and its association with clinically relevant outcomes remains poorly defined. We assessed the association between WT to CRC surgery and overall survival (OS) for curative-intent surgery.