The landscape of microbial associations in human cancer.

Oncomicrobes are estimated to cause 15% of cancers worldwide. When cancer whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data are collected, the microbes present are also sequenced, allowing the investigation of potential etiological and clinical associations. Interrogating the microbial community for 8908 patients encompassing 22 cancer types from the Genomics England WGS dataset revealed that only colorectal tumors exhibited unmistakably distinct microbial communities that can reliably be used to distinguish anatomical site [positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.

Response of GEM models of neuroblastoma to cabozantinib assessed by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: In neuroblastoma MYCN amplification is associated with enhanced angiogenesis and poor survival. Mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene can occur with MYCN amplification, conferring a very poor prognosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET signalling are implicated in neuroblastoma progression.

Mitochondrial DNA released by senescent tumor cells enhances PMN-MDSC-driven immunosuppression through the cGAS-STING pathway.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of cellular senescence. Here, we investigated whether senescent cells release mitochondrial (mt)DNA into the extracellular space and its impact on innate immunity. We found that both primary senescent cells and tumor cells undergoing therapy-induced senescence actively released mtDNA into the extracellular environment.

Gradient system characterization of a 1.5 T MR-Linac with application to 4D UTE imaging for adaptive MR-guided radiotherapy of lung cancer.

Purpose: To measure the gradient system transfer function (GSTF) of an MR-Linac (Elekta Unity, Stockholm, Sweden) using an accessible phantom-based method and to apply trajectory corrections for UTE image reconstruction in the context of MR-guided radiotherapy of lung cancer.

Methods: The first-order GSTF of a 1.5 T, split gradient Elekta Unity MR-Linac was measured using a thin-slice technique to characterize gradient system imperfections for each physical gradient axis (X, Y, Z).

Redefining Good-prognosis Seminoma: Implications for Clinical Practice of the Updated International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group Classification and Results from the SEMITrends Survey.

The 2021 updated International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification for seminomatous germ cell tumours confirmed and refined the original classification, introducing the notion that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) elevation above 2.5 times the upper limit of normal separates the good-risk prognostic group into two distinct subgroups, with clearly inferior survival outcomes for the high-LDH subgroup. Validation of this prognostic factor has understandably opened the question of the optimal management for patients with high-LDH good-risk seminoma.

To Reconstruct or Discard: A Comparison of Additive and Subtractive Charge Sharing Correction Algorithms at High and Low X-ray Fluxes.

Effective X-ray photon-counting spectral imaging (x-CSI) detector design involves the optimisation of a wide range of parameters both regarding the sensor (e.g., material, thickness and pixel pitch) and electronics (e.

Simulation of ultrasound backscatter coefficient measurement using the finite element method.

Ultrasound backscatter coefficient (BSC) measurement is a method for assessing tissue morphology that can inform on pathologies such as cancer. The BSC measurement is, however, limited by the accuracy with which the investigator can normalise their results to account for frequency dependent effects of diffraction and attenuation whilst performing such measurements. We propose a simulation-based approach to investigate the potential sources of error in assessing the BSC.

Tumor evolution metrics predict recurrence beyond 10 years in locally advanced prostate cancer.

Cancer evolution lays the groundwork for predictive oncology. Testing evolutionary metrics requires quantitative measurements in controlled clinical trials. We mapped genomic intratumor heterogeneity in locally advanced prostate cancer using 642 samples from 114 individuals enrolled in clinical trials with a 12-year median follow-up.

Personalizing Locoregional Therapy in Patients With Breast Cancer in 2024: Tailoring Axillary Surgery, Escalating Lymphatic Surgery, and Implementing Evidence-Based Hypofractionated Radiotherapy.

The management of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer is continually evolving. Recent data now support omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in most patients with metastases in up to two sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) during upfront surgery and those with residual isolated tumor cells after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). In the upfront surgery setting, ALND is still indicated, however, in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer or more than two positive SLNs and, after NACT, in case of residual micrometastases and macrometastases.

Erdafitinib versus pembrolizumab in pretreated patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer with select FGFR alterations: cohort 2 of the randomized phase III THOR trial.

Background: Erdafitinib is an oral pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved to treat locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) in patients with susceptible FGFR3/2 alterations (FGFRalt) who progressed after platinum-containing chemotherapy. FGFR-altered tumours are enriched in luminal 1 subtype and may have limited clinical benefit from anti-programmed death-(ligand) 1 [PD-(L)1] treatment. This cohort in the randomized, open-label phase III THOR study assessed erdafitinib versus pembrolizumab in anti-PD-(L)1-naive patients with mUC.

Erdafitinib or Chemotherapy in Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: Erdafitinib is a pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults with susceptible alterations who have progression after platinum-containing chemotherapy. The effects of erdafitinib in patients with -altered metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have progression during or after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (anti-programmed cell death protein 1 [PD-1] or anti-programmed death ligand 1 [PD-L1] agents) are unclear.

Methods: We conducted a global phase 3 trial of erdafitinib as compared with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma with susceptible alterations who had progression after one or two previous treatments that included an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1.

Interim Toxicity Analysis From the Randomized HERMES Trial of 2- and 5-Fraction Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Adaptive Prostate Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Ultrahypofractionated radiation therapy (UHRT) is an effective treatment for localized prostate cancer with an acceptable toxicity profile; boosting the visible intraprostatic tumor has been shown to improve biochemical disease-free survival with no significant effect on genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity.

Methods And Materials: HERMES is a single-center noncomparative randomized phase 2 trial in men with intermediate or lower high risk prostate cancer. Patients were allocated (1:1) to 36.

Ultrasonic Sound Speed Estimation for Liver Fat Quantification: A Review by the AIUM-RSNA QIBA Pulse-Echo Quantitative Ultrasound Initiative.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant cause of diffuse liver disease, morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis of NALFD is critical to identify patients at risk of disease progression. Liver biopsy is the current gold standard for diagnosis and prognosis.

MRI Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) as a Biomarker of Tumour Response: Imaging-Pathology Correlation in Patients with Hepatic Metastases from Colorectal Cancer (EORTC 1423).

Tumour apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a putative pharmacodynamic/response biomarker but the relationship between drug-induced effects on the ADC and on the underlying pathology has not been adequately defined. Changes in ADC during early chemotherapy reflect underlying histological markers of tumour response as measured by tumour regression grade (TRG). Twenty-six patients were enrolled in the study.

The Akt/mTOR and MNK/eIF4E pathways rewire the prostate cancer translatome to secrete HGF, SPP1 and BGN and recruit suppressive myeloid cells.

Cancer is highly infiltrated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Currently available immunotherapies do not completely eradicate MDSCs. Through a genome-wide analysis of the translatome of prostate cancers driven by different genetic alterations, we demonstrate that prostate cancer rewires its secretome at the translational level to recruit MDSCs.

Demonstrating a Novel, Hidden Source of Spectral Distortion in X-ray Photon Counting Detectors and Assessing Novel Trigger Schemes Proposed to Avoid It.

X-ray photon counting spectral imaging (x-CSI) determines a detected photon's energy by comparing the charge it induces with several thresholds, counting how many times each is crossed (the standard method, STD). This paper is the first to demonstrate that this approach can unexpectedly delete counts from the recorded energy spectrum under some clinically relevant conditions: a process we call negative counting. Four alternative counting schemes are proposed and simulated for a wide range of sensor geometries (pixel pitch 100-600 µm, sensor thickness 1-3 mm), number of thresholds (3, 5, 8, 24 and 130) and medically relevant X-ray fluxes (10-10 photons mm s).

Ultrasound Measurement of Local Deformation in the Human Free Achilles Tendon Produced by Dynamic Muscle-Induced Loading: A Systematic Review.

Achilles tendinopathy is the most prevalent lower limb tendinopathy, yet it remains poorly understood, with mismatches between observed structure and reported function. Recent studies have hypothesised that Achilles tendon (AT) healthy function is associated with variable deformation across the tendon width during use, focusing on quantifying sub-tendon deformation. Here, the aim of this work was to synthesise recent advances exploring human free AT tissue-level deformation during use.

Probabilistic evaluation of plan quality for time-dependent anatomical deformations in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: In addition to patient set-up uncertainties, anatomical deformations, e.g., weight loss, lead to time-dependent differences between the planned and delivered dose in a radiotherapy course that currently cannot easily be predicted.

Management of patients with advanced prostate cancer-metastatic and/or castration-resistant prostate cancer: Report of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) 2022.

Background: Innovations in imaging and molecular characterisation together with novel treatment options have improved outcomes in advanced prostate cancer. However, we still lack high-level evidence in many areas relevant to making management decisions in daily clinical practise. The 2022 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC 2022) addressed some questions in these areas to supplement guidelines that mostly are based on level 1 evidence.

Management of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer. Part I: Intermediate-/High-risk and Locally Advanced Disease, Biochemical Relapse, and Side Effects of Hormonal Treatment: Report of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2022.

Background: Innovations in imaging and molecular characterisation and the evolution of new therapies have improved outcomes in advanced prostate cancer. Nonetheless, we continue to lack high-level evidence on a variety of clinical topics that greatly impact daily practice. To supplement evidence-based guidelines, the 2022 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC 2022) surveyed experts about key dilemmas in clinical management.