Clinical and social determinants of survivorship clinic attendance in head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Despite its importance, little is known about the patterns and predictors of Survivorship Clinic attendance in head and neck cancer (HNC). We sought to determine the cumulative incidence of Survivorship Clinic attendance stratified by demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors, and to identify factors independently associated with attendance.

Methods: Our analysis population consisted of 2,252 patients diagnosed with primary HNC and seen at our institution's HNC Survivorship Clinic after completing treatment from 2016-2021.

Preexisting Psychiatric Risk Factors and Any and Long-Term Opioid Use in Head and Neck Cancer.

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC), one of the most emotionally distressing cancers, carries a significant burden of psychiatric comorbidities. While opioids are commonly prescribed in cancer care, the association between preexisting psychiatric risk factors and prescription opioid use in HNC remains unclear.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that preexisting psychiatric risk factors are associated with any opioid prescription and long-term opioid therapy in patients with HNC.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Pazopanib Versus Placebo in Patients With Advanced Extrapancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Alliance A021202).

Purpose: Patients with advanced, well-differentiated extrapancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (epNETs) have limited systemic treatment options. Pazopanib, an oral multikinase inhibitor with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2 and -3, PDGFR-alpha and-beta, and c-Kit, was tested for efficacy in epNET.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, phase II study of pazopanib (800 mg once daily) versus placebo in low- to intermediate-grade epNET with radiologic progressive disease (PD) within 12 months of study entry.

Suppression of Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathy and Ovarian Tumor Growth by Mn Porphyrin, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP (BMX-001).

Numerous cellular and animal studies demonstrated the ability of redox-active Mn(III) -alkyl- and -alkoxyalkylpyridyporphyrins (MnPs) to protect normal tissue while suppressing tumor growth. The mechanism primarily involves the modulation of NF-кB and Nrf2 signaling pathways via catalysis of MnP/HO-driven protein thiol oxidation. Such differential protection/suppression effects have paved the way of Mn porphyrins (commonly known as mimics of superoxide dismutase) into clinical trials, therefore introducing new line of therapeutics that are affecting cellular redox status/oxidative stress, rather than specific proteins.

A Mouse Model of Partial Pancreas Agenesis Induced by Polo-like kinase 1 Mutation.

The pancreas regulates metabolic homeostasis through exocrine and endocrine pathways. Dysfunction or loss of pancreatic β-cells causes diabetes. Here we explore the role of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in the pancreas using a pancreatic-lineage specific knockout (Plk1) mouse model.

Established Cancer Predisposition Genes in Single and Multiple Cancer Diagnoses.

Importance: Much of the understanding of cancer risk associated with rare pathogenic variants (RPVs) is derived from family-based studies or clinically ascertained samples, which may be limited by ascertainment and selection bias.

Objective: To quantify associations between RPVs in previously implicated cancer predisposition genes and single and multiple cancer diagnoses in a large population-based study.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this genetic association study, whole-exome sequencing data were used from the UK Biobank, a UK population-based cohort that enrolled participants aged 40 to 69 years between 2006 and 2010.

CAR T-cell therapy in autoimmune diseases: a promising frontier on the horizon.

Although current treatments for autoimmune diseases can effectively control symptoms, they rarely lead to cures and often require lifelong use, accompanied by considerable adverse effects. This emphasizes the urgent need for more targeted therapies that offer long-term efficacy and curative potential. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy presents a promising option by specifically targeting and eliminating autoreactive B cells, with the potential to reset the patient's immune system and promote long-term immune balance.

Efficacy and safety of one-time autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a high recurrence rate after first-line immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy. The presence of a high density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in HNSCC tumors was shown to be associated with improved clinical outcomes. One-time autologous TIL cell therapy was evaluated in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC.

Analysis of the 2024 Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Match: Survey of Applicants' and Program Directors' Preferences Regarding In-Person Versus Virtual Interviews.

Background: In 2020, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Breast Surgical Oncology (BSO) fellowship programs transitioned to virtual interviews; however, for the 2024 cycle, programs selected either virtual or in-person interviews with applicants participating in potentially both formats. Following the match, a survey was performed to evaluate experiences among applicants and program directors (PDs).

Methods: Surveys were developed within the BSO Fellowship Program Directors Committee and distributed via email to matched applicants and PDs from 18 July 2024 to 9 August 2024.

Engage: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial of a telehealth-delivered psychosocial intervention to decrease symptom interference in patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Pain, fatigue, and distress are highly prevalent co-occurring symptoms in patients with stage IV cancer. Emerging evidence suggests these patients may benefit from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach that emphasizes acceptance, mindfulness, and engagement in value-guided activity. Our team developed and successfully pilot tested Engage, a psychosocial intervention integrating CBT skills (e.

Incorporating data from multiple ongoing trials for Bayesian two-stage phase II single-arm studies.

Background/aim: Basket designs have been utilized in recent oncology clinical trials due to an increased interest in precision medicine. One current successful basket trial is the American Society for Clinical Oncology Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) study, a pragmatic phase II trial where patients are matched based on their tumor genomic profile to treatments that target specific genomic alterations. Despite its success, recruiting patients with rare genomic alterations remains challenging.

Sex-Based Differences in Medullary Thyroid Cancer Survival: A Matched Analysis of 4602 Patients.

Background: Whereas medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is more common in female patients, studies have indicated that MTC is more aggressive in males. It is unknown whether sex-based differences in MTC outcomes are due to inherent tumor behavior or factors such as care characteristics.

Methods: Patients with MTC stages I to IV were identified using the National Cancer Database (2004-2020).

Utility of the Singapore recurrence nomogram in a US cohort with a higher proportion of borderline and malignant phyllodes tumours.

Aims: For phyllodes tumours (PT), local and distant recurrence rates increase with higher grades and are difficult to predict. The Singapore nomogram has been used to predict recurrence events for PT. We aimed to test this nomogram for accuracy in a US cohort and to compare with a histological score.

Differential Use of Depression and Anxiety Medications in Adults With a History of Cancer.

Importance: Depression and anxiety disproportionately impact cancer survivors. Sociodemographic factors frequently impact access to cancer care; however, it is unclear if these factors are associated with access to pharmacological care for mental and behavioral health conditions.

Objective: To evaluate antidepressant and anxiolytic use among cancer survivors compared with the general US population and identify associations between sociodemographic factors and medication use.

Palliative care use and end-of-life care quality in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is incurable, despite therapeutic advances, especially in hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor-2 negative (HER2-) disease. Specialist palliative care (SPC) is recommended to alleviate distress and reduce overly aggressive end-of-life (EoL) care. This study determined rates of SPC, hospice utilization, and aggressive EoL care in patients with HR+/HER2- MBC.

Epigenetic determinants of an immune-evasive phenotype in HER2-low triple-negative breast cancer.

Identifying molecular drivers in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is crucial. While HER2-low expression predicts response to novel antibody-drug conjugates, its biological influence on TNBC biology is unknown. We performed a comprehensive multi-omics analysis, integrating genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiling to characterize HER2-low TNBC.

Evaluation of the combination lenvatinib and pembrolizumab in endometrial cancer; a real world multi-institutional review of practice patterns, efficacy and tolerability.

Objective: KEYNOTE-775 defined lenvatinib/pembrolizumab as the new standard-of-care for patients with proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) recurrent EC. However, the regimen required dose reductions in 66.5 % of participants and the generalizability of these results was uncertain.

Examining Potential Implicit Bias in Oncologist-Patient Communication (CONNECT): Protocol for an Observational 2-Site Study.

Background: Compared with White patients, minoritized patients (Black and Hispanic patients) have a higher incidence of advanced solid cancers and have a higher mortality. These patients also report poor patient-centered communication and worse pain assessment and management. Although many factors contribute to these disparities, physician implicit bias may be a contributing factor.