Short-course radiation followed by mFOLFOX-6 plus avelumab for locally-advanced microsatellite stable rectal adenocarcinoma: The Averectal study.

Background: Total neoadjuvant therapy(TNT) has improved complete pathologic response (pCR) rate and disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), though an increased local recurrence rate (LRR) with short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) is concerning. Synergism between immunotherapy and radiotherapy may improve outcomes in LARC, even where microsatellite stable (MSS) tumours exist. The Averectal trial evaluated SCRT, followed by chemotherapy and immunotherapy with avelumab and total mesorectal excision (TME) in these patients.

Assessment of Immunoscore, MRI Tumor Regression Grade, and Neoadjuvant Rectal Score in Predicting Pathologic Response in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer in the Averectal Study.

: Predictive tools are needed to assess the response to treatment and guide treatment decisions for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This study explores the value of combining the immunoscore (IS) and magnetic resonance imaging tumor regression grade (mrTRG) with pathologic and radiologic neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) scores in predicting pathologic complete response (pCRs). : The scores were assessed for patients with LARC enrolled in the Averectal study (NCT03503630), who received five fractions of short-course radiotherapy, followed by six cycles of mFOLFOX-6 plus avelumab, and total mesorectal excision.

Examining the Outcomes of Palliative Oophorectomy of Ovarian Metastases in de-Novo Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and Its Association with RAS Mutation Status: Insights from a Single-Institution Perspective.

Background And Aim: Ovarian metastasis occurs in 3-5% of patients with CRC. Ovaries are considered sanctuary sites and typically do not respond effectively to chemotherapy. Patients with KRAS mutation generally have a worse prognosis compared to those with KRAS wild type.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Evolving Role of Systemic Therapies as a Bridging Treatment to Liver Transplantation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Classically, liver transplantation (LT) can be curative for HCC tumors within the Milan criteria. Bridging strategies to reduce the dropouts from LT waiting lists and/or to downstage patients who are beyond the Milan criteria are widely utilized.

Comparing real-world outcomes of total neoadjuvant treatment and CRT at a tertiary medical center.

Introduction: For years, standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has included neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Although CRT has helped reduce local recurrence rates, it hasn't consistently improved overall survival. Recent trials have unveiled a different approach called total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT), involving pre-surgery radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy (CAPOX/FOLFOX).

Metastatic esophageal carcinoma to the eye masquerading as inflammatory vitreo-retinitis: A case report and literature review.

We report an unusual case of metastatic esophageal carcinoma to the vitreous associated with focal retinitis in a 44-year-old male. A 44-year-old male patient, known case of locally advanced esophageal carcinoma, presented with a 3-day history of left eye floaters. The initial diagnosis was inflammatory vitreo-retinitis that responded to systemic steroids.

The first Middle East and North Africa expert consensus recommendations for the management of advanced colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the third most prevalent and the second deadliest cancer worldwide. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the number of CRC cases increased over the past decades and will nearly double by 2030. The lack of clear MENA guidelines for the management of patients with CRC represents a step backwards in the fight against this burden.

Efficacy and safety-in analysis of short-course radiation followed by mFOLFOX-6 plus avelumab for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and short-course radiotherapy followed by resection has been gaining recognition in the treatment of rectal cancer. Avelumab is a fully human immunoglobulin that binds Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and prevents the suppression of the cytotoxic T cell immune response. This phase II trial evaluates the safety and pathologic response rate of short-course radiation followed by 6 cycles of mFOLFOX6 with avelumab in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Short-course radiation followed by mFOLFOX-6 plus avelumab for locally-advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Current standard practice for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) entails a multidisciplinary approach that includes preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by total mesorectal excision, and then adjuvant chemotherapy. The latter has been accompanied by low compliance rates and no survival benefit in phase III randomized trials, so the strategy of administering neoadjuvant, rather than adjuvant, chemotherapy has been adapted by many trials, with improvement in pathologic complete response. Induction chemotherapy with oxaliplatin has been shown to have increased efficacy in rectal cancer, while short-course radiation therapy with consolidation chemotherapy increased short-term overall survival rate and decreased toxicity levels, making it cheaper and more convenient than long-course radiation therapy.

Validation of the Survival Benefits of Metformin in Middle Eastern Patients With Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Colorectal Cancer.

Purpose Epidemiologic data from several populations suggest that metformin may decrease cancer risk and mortality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and type II diabetes mellitus (DM). Although type II DM and CRC are major health problems in the Middle East, no investigations have been performed to test the effect metformin has on the outcome of patients with type II DM and CRC who are also treated with metformin. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,902 patients diagnosed with CRC at King Hussein Cancer Center between January 2004 and December 2012, and identified 349 patients (18%) with type II DM; we censored the data of 28 patients because their antidiabetic medications were unknown.

The application of clinical variables and models to predict pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a comprehensive single cancer center experience.

Introduction: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) can help reduce its associated morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography chest angiography (CTA) scanning is the most widely used diagnostic modality. In noncancer patients, only 10% of such studies are positive for PE.