A phase 1 dual-dose escalation study of radiation and nab-paclitaxel in patients with unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: This phase 1 dual dose-escalation study aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and toxicity profile of combining dose-escalated radiation therapy with high-dose nab-paclitaxel in patients with unresectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-one evaluable patients were enrolled and allocated three radiation dose levels, 55 Gy, 57.5 Gy, and 60 Gy, administered over 5 weeks in 25 fractions.

Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Adding Liver-Directed Radiation Therapy to Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Objectives: Radiation therapy (RT) may potentiate an antitumor immune response when combined with immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but carries the potential risk of bowel toxicity and impaired liver function. We describe our single-center experience of adding liver-directed RT to atezolizumab and bevacizumab (A/B) in patients with advanced HCC.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with HCC naive to systemic therapy who received A/B with or without liver-directed RT from January 1, 2020 until May 1, 2023.

The effect of long-standing lymphopenia after radiation therapy on survival in rectal cancer.

Background: Lymphopenia and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are known negative prognostic factors in rectal cancer. Until recently, however, lymphopenia was regarded as a minor sequela following radiation therapy (RT). The immune system's influence on rectal cancer treatment outcomes led us to evaluate the impact of lymphopenia at various time points, before, during, and following radiotherapy.

Proton radiation boosts the efficacy of mesothelin-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a challenge in oncology, with limited treatment options for advanced-stage patients. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy targeting mesothelin (MSLN) shows promise, but challenges such as the hostile immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) hinder its efficacy. This study explores the synergistic potential of combining proton radiation therapy (RT) with MSLN-targeting CAR T therapy in a syngeneic PDAC model.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer: shared risk factors and mechanisms.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, and these conditions are increasingly recognized to be fundamentally interconnected. In this Review, we present the current epidemiological data for each of the modifiable risk factors shared by the two diseases, including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, diet, physical activity and the social determinants of health. We then review the epidemiological data demonstrating the increased risk of CVD in patients with cancer, as well as the increased risk of cancer in patients with CVD.

CX3CR1-Expressing Immune Cells Infiltrate the Tumor Microenvironment and Promote Radiation Resistance in a Mouse Model of Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Chemokine (C-X3-C Motif) Receptor 1 (CX3CR1) is present in a subset of the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and plays an essential and diverse role in cancer progression. However, its potential function in the irradiated TME remains unknown.

Materials And Methods: A mouse lung cancer model was performed by subcutaneously inoculating Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells expressing luciferase (Luc-2) and mCherry cells in CX3CR1, CX3CR1, and wild-type (WT) mice.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion versus Novel Oral Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation-One-Year Survival.

Unlabelled: Aim To compare the 1-year survival rate of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) implantation vs. treatment with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Methods: We have conducted an indirect, retrospective comparison between LAAO and NOAC registries.

Radiation dose is associated with improved local control for large, but not small, hepatocellular carcinomas.

Background: With advances in understanding liver tolerance, conformal techniques, image guidance, and motion management, dose-escalated radiotherapy has become a potential treatment for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate the possible impact of biologically effective dose (BED) on local control and toxicity among patients with HCC.

Methods And Materials: Patients treated at our institution from 2009 to 2018 were included in this retrospective analysis if they received definitive-intent radiotherapy with a nominal BED of at least 60 Gy.

Radiation Therapy and the Microbiome; More Than a Gut Feeling.

It is increasingly recognized that heterogeneities in tumor response and severity of adverse effects in irradiated patients can be attributed to the tumor microenvironment and host-related factors. Among the latter, a growing body of literature in recent years has demonstrated the role of the patient's microbiome in modulating both tumor and normal tissue response to radiotherapy (RT). Upon contact with the environment after birth, the infant's gastrointestinal tract is rapidly colonized by microbiota, which is low in diversity and predominantly characterized by 2 dominant species, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria.

Initial estimates of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on heart volume, position and motion in patients receiving chest radiation.

To evaluate effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on cardiac position, volume, and motion in a cohort of patients receiving thoracic radiation therapy (RT). Patients underwent 3-dimensional (3D) and 4D-computerized tomography (CT) imaging with free-breathing (FB) and CPAP for RT planning. All scans were co-registered on the treatment planning system for contouring, identification of the center of heart volume and comparative measurements of cardiac displacement, volume and motion.

The usefulness of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in detecting and managing cancers with unknown primary site depends on histological subtype.

We assessed the role of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in identifying and managing cancer of unknown primary site (CUP syndrome). We reviewed [18F]FDG-PET/CT scans of individuals with CUP syndrome recorded in clinical referral letters from 2012 to 2019. We evaluated the identification of primary tumor (PT) by [18F]FDG-PET/CT, according to histological subtype, and the impact on clinical management.

PSMA PET/CT to evaluate response to SBRT for prostate cancer bone metastases.

Background: In the current study we evaluated Ga PSMA PET/ CT to measure local control of bone metastasis in oligometastatic prostate cancer patients treated with SBRT.

Materials And Methods: After the institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of medical records of consecutive prostate cancer patients treated between 2014 and 2018 was conducted. Only medical records of patients that were treated with SBRT for bone metastasis and had pre-and post-SBRT Ga PSMA PET/CT scans were included in our study.

Salvage re-irradiation using stereotactic body radiation therapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer: the impact of castration sensitivity on treatment outcomes.

Background: Advances in imaging, biomaterials and precision radiotherapy provide new opportunities to salvage locally recurrent prostate cancer (PC). This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of re-irradiation using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We hypothesized that patients with castrate-resistant PC (CRPC) would benefit less from local salvage.

A Phase I clinical trial of dose-escalated metabolic therapy combined with concomitant radiation therapy in high-grade glioma.

Background: Animal brain-tumor models have demonstrated a synergistic interaction between radiation therapy and a ketogenic diet (KD). Metformin has in-vitro anti-cancer activity, through AMPK activation and mTOR inhibition. We hypothesized that the metabolic stress induced by a KD combined with metformin would enhance radiation's efficacy.

Long-Term Survival of Patients with Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer over Five Decades.

Objective: Novel therapeutics and supportive care improved outcomes for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) patients. Major advances over the past five decades include the introduction of combination chemotherapy, small molecules targeting mutant proteins, especially EGFR, and more recently immunotherapy. We aim to document real-world long-term survival over the past five decades.

Mortality Among Neutropenic Cancer Patients Within the United States: The Association With Hospital Volume.

Purpose: Neutropenia is a serious complication of chemotherapy in patients with solid tumors. The influence of hospital volume on outcomes in patients with neutropenia has been little investigated. We hypothesized that large-volume hospitals would have reduced mortality rates for neutropenic patients compared with small-volume institutions.

Balance Performance of Post-Call Medical Residents.

Background: Fatigue is thought of as a leading cause of iatrogenic accidents. A significant deterioration in qualitative balance function has been shown in sleep deprived individuals.

Aim/objectives: To quantify the degree to which balance is impaired by sleep deprivation (SD) in post-call medical residents.

Restricted Mouth Opening in Head and Neck Cancer: Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment.

Restricted mouth opening or trismus is often encountered in patients with head and neck cancer. The restriction may be the presenting sign of malignancy, a sequela of tumor site or growth, an adverse effect of oncologic treatment, or a first sign of tumoral recurrence. In general, any insult to the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles, or their neural innervation may cause limitation in mouth opening.

Gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen PET-CT and the clinical management of prostate cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of Gallium-68 prostatic-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET-computerized tomography (CT) in patients with prostate cancer undergoing imaging for initial staging, biochemical failure or the evaluation of metastatic disease.

Methods: This is a single institution retrospective study of 95 patients with prostate cancer who were referred for PSMA PET-CT scans. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were used to generate treatment recommendations.

Radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy in intermediate risk prostate cancer?

Objective: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is beneficial for unfavorable intermediate-risk (IR) prostate cancer patients receiving curative radiotherapy (RT). However, for favorable IR patients the latest NCCN guidelines recommends RT alone. We retrospectively studied treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with IR prostate cancer in our institution over the past two decades.

Age-dependent variations of scalp thickness in the area designated for a cochlear implant receiver stimulator.

Objective: The integrity of the scalp overlying a cochlear implant receiver stimulator (RS) is critical for the long-term survival of the implant. Exposure or extrusion of the device will likely result in the need for its removal. There is a global trend of acceleration of population aging, thus raising the prevalence of cochlear implantation (CI) in the elderly.

E-selectin-targeted copolymer reduces atherosclerotic lesions, adverse cardiac remodeling, and dysfunction.

Endothelial activation with up-regulation of E-selectin adhesion molecules mediates leukocyte rolling along the vascular wall and controls inflammation in many diseases including atherosclerosis and heart failure. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of E-selectin-mediated interactions by a new E-selectin-targeted copolymer could inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. To target E-selectin on activated endothelium, we developed a new N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA)-based E-selectin binding copolymer with or without dexamethasone (Dex) (designated P-(Esbp)-Dex and P-Esbp, respectively).