A trial-ready cohort for finding unmet needs and improving quality of life among patients with esophageal cancer: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Although esophageal cancer survivors experience lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), it is hard to provide proper supportive care due to difficulties to find potential target population. This study aims to develop a trial-ready cohort (TRC) to assess the unmet needs and HRQoL of survivors of esophageal cancer. This prospective, multicenter TRC study will include 600 patients diagnosed with primary esophageal cancer who have undergone curative treatment.

Establishment of Human Lung Cancer Organoids Using Small Biopsy and Surgical Tissues.

Lung cancer is a highly diverse disease, and reliable preclinical models that accurately reflect tumor characteristics are essential for studying lung cancer biology and testing new therapies. This study aimed to establish patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) using small biopsy samples and surgical specimens to create a model system that preserves the genetic and histological features of the original tumors. PDTOs were generated from 163 lung cancer specimens, including 109 samples obtained using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) or bronchoscopy, 52 surgical specimens, and 2 pleural fluid samples.

Deep-Learning Model for Real-Time Prediction of Recurrence in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multimodal Approach (RADAR CARE Study).

Purpose: The surveillance protocol for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not contingent upon individualized risk factors for recurrence. This study aimed to use comprehensive data from clinical practice to develop a deep-learning model for practical longitudinal monitoring.

Methods: A multimodal deep-learning model with transformers was developed for real-time recurrence prediction using baseline clinical, pathological, and molecular data with longitudinal laboratory and radiologic data collected during surveillance.

Trends and Outcomes of Lung Cancer Surgery in South Korea.

Purpose: This study analyzed nationwide trends in lung cancer surgery in South Korea over 14 years, focusing on surgical volume, patient demographics, surgical approaches, and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using nationwide health insurance claims data (124,334 cases) and robotic surgery data (1,740 cases) provided by the manufacturer. Patients who underwent lung cancer surgery between 2010 and 2023 were included.

Impact of tumor size by clinical N subclassification and histology in trimodality-treated N2 non-small cell lung cancer.

The evolving TNM classification has emphasized the tumor size's role in NSCLC prognosis, reclassifying stage IIIA patients from the previous edition as stage IIIB (T3-4N2M0, 8th edition). However, the prognostic implications of tumor size and survival in stage III NSCLC patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy remain unexplored. Therefore, we investigated the association between tumor size and mortality in N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (trimodality therapy), considering the number of metastatic N2 stations and histology.

Cohort profile: the Korean National Health Examination Baseline (KNHEB) cohort for longitudinal health monitoring in South Korea.

Background: The Korean National Health Examination Baseline (KNHEB) cohort was established in 2019 by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Health Insurance Service to address research gaps and improve standardized monitoring of the health effects of smoking and other modifiable risk factors. It provides scientific evidence to inform national policies on tobacco control and other health determinants, aiming to reduce preventable mortality and disease burden in South Korea.

Methods: The cohort includes 8,916,544 individuals aged ≥ 20 who underwent general health screenings in 2002-2003.

Therapeutic Effect of Lymph Node Dissection After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy Followed by Esophagectomy on Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using the Efficacy Index.

Background: The effect of lymph node (LN) dissection on the overall survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) followed by esophagectomy has been controversial. This study investigated the patterns of metastatic LNs after nCRT and the benefits of LN dissection using the efficacy index (EI).

Methods: The EI was calculated by multiplying the frequency (%) of metastases to a zone and the 5-year overall survival rate (%) of patients with metastases to that zone and then dividing by 100.

Clinical N Staging Subclassification for Stage III-N2 NSCLC Patients Undergoing Trimodality Therapy: A Good Beginning Is Half the Battle.

Background: Lung cancer patients with stage III-N2 disease may benefit from the subclassification of nodal involvement before decision-making. We aimed to evaluate whether the clinical N descriptor subclassification predicts prognosis in patients undergoing trimodality therapy for stage III-N2 non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Using our institutional registry between 2003 and 2019, we analyzed 899 consecutive patients with stage III-N2 non-small cell lung cancer undergoing neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery.

Efficacy of contrast versus non-contrast CT surveillance among patients surviving two years without recurrence after surgery for stage I lung cancer.

Contrast-enhanced chest CT (CECT) is more sensitive than non-contrast-enhanced chest CT (NCECT), but NCECT may have comparable efficacy in detecting new primary lung cancer among stage I NSCLC survivors after two years of surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NCECT versus CECT for surveillance among stage I NSCLC patients surviving two years after curative resection without disease recurrence. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with stage I NSCLC who underwent curative-intent lung resection between January 2009 and December 2017 using the Registry for Thoracic Cancer Surgery at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Application of network analysis and association rule mining for visualizing the lymph node metastasis patterns in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Understanding the patterns of lymph node (LN) metastases in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is important for accurate staging and defining the extent of lymphadenectomy. This study clarified the patterns of LN metastases in ESCC using data mining techniques. 1181 patients with LN metastases who underwent upfront esophagectomy for ESCC were analyzed.

Comparison and validation of the Japanese classification 12th edition and American joint committee on cancer 8th edition on intrathoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition and Japanese classification 12th edition can be applied for esophageal cancer staging. This retrospective study aimed to compare these two staging systems in patients with surgically treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 2,853 patients who underwent esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy from 1994 to 2020.

Risk of all-cause mortality by various cigarette smoking indices: A longitudinal study using the Korea National Health Examination Baseline Cohort in South Korea.

Introduction: Smoking behaviors can be quantified using various indices. Previous studies have shown that these indices measure and predict health risks differently. Additionally, the choice of measure differs depending on the health outcome of interest.

Association of Obesity and Skeletal Muscle with Postoperative Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background A comprehensive assessment of skeletal muscle health is crucial to understanding the association between improved clinical outcomes and obesity as defined by body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in lung cancer, but limited studies have been conducted on this topic. Purpose To investigate the association between BMI-defined obesity and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent curative resection, with a specific focus on the status of skeletal muscle assessed at CT. Materials and Methods This retrospective study investigated Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent curative resection between January 2008 and December 2019.

Association of pre-surgical circulating tumor DNA detection, use of sublobar resection with risk of recurrence in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Sublobar resection is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for early-stage NSCLC. However, no studies to date have investigated the potential role of preoperative ctDNA detection in guiding surgical decisions, such as opting for sublobar resection, in stage I NSCLC.

Methods: Patients with solid-dominant (CTR>0.

Cross-sectional study of lung cancer patients as a potential high-risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is more common in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Considering that ruptured AAA is potentially fatal, timely management of AAA would result in long-term survival benefits. We assess the prevalence and characteristics of AAA in resectable NSCLC patients who would benefit from AAA surveillance.

A conserved pilin from uncultured gut bacterial clade TANB77 enhances cancer immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a standard anti-cancer treatment, offering durable clinical benefits. However, the limited response rate of ICB necessitates biomarkers to predict and modulate the efficacy of the therapy. The gut microbiome's influence on ICB efficacy is of particular interest due to its modifiability through various interventions.

Current Trends in the Epidemiology and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer in South Korea.

According to 2021 statistics, esophageal cancer ranked as the 18th most common cancer and the 10th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Korea, predominantly manifesting as squamous cell carcinoma. The incidence of esophageal cancer in Korea has been on a gradual decline, while the proportion of early-stage diagnoses has increased, leading to an improvement in the 5-year relative survival rate. The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, reports that around 800 esophagectomy procedures are performed each year.

A streamlined algorithm for two-dimensional bandgaps and defect-state energy variations in InGaN-based micro-LEDs.

Bandgaps and defect-state energies are key electrical characteristics of semiconductor materials and devices, thereby necessitating nanoscale analysis with a heightened detection threshold. An example of such a device is an InGaN-based light-emitting diode (LED), which is used to create fine pixels in augmented-reality micro-LED glasses. This process requires an in-depth understanding of the spatial variations of the bandgap and its defect states in the implanted area, especially for small-sized pixelation requiring electroluminescence.

SrTiO and (Ba,Sr)TiO Films Epitaxially Grown on SrRuO Using Atomic Layer Deposition.

High dielectric constant () materials have been investigated to improve the performance of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitors. However, the conventional binary oxides have reached their fundamental limit of < 100. In this study, we investigated alternative ternary oxides, SrTiO (STO) and (Ba,Sr)TiO (BSTO), which were epitaxially grown on SrRuO (SRO) using atomic layer deposition (ALD).

ASO Author Reflections: The Timeless Debate Between Ivor-Lewis or McKeown Esophagectomy.

Ivor-Lewis (IL) operation, esophagectomy and intrathoracic esophagogastrostomy and McKeown (MK) operation, esophagectomy, and cervical esophagogastrostomy are the most common procedures for esophageal cancer. The authors reported that the oncological outcomes and completeness of upper mediastinal dissection among esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing the IL or MK operations were not different in previous paper. Whether the IL procedure can show equivalent oncologic outcomes as compared to the MK procedure in cases of upper esophageal cancer needs to be further studied in the future.