Assessing the need for multimodal care in anorexia and cachexia patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care: a secondary analysis of a multicenter survey in Japan.

Purpose: There are no methods for assessing the need for multimodal care in cancer cachexia. We examined nine components in evaluating needs among advanced cancer patients.

Methods: This was a self-administered survey.

Combination chemotherapy for older patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer: a prospective observational study using propensity-score matched analysis (JON2104-B).

Background: Systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 (GEM + S-1), GEM + CDDP plus S-1 (GEM + CDDP + S-1), or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GEM + CDDP) is standard treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer (aBTC). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy in older patients with aBTC.

Methods: This multicenter prospective observational study (JON2104-B, UMIN000045156) included patients aged ≥ 70 years with aBTC.

Translational analysis of NSD3 gene amplification in lung squamous cell carcinoma: Clinical and prognostic insights from histopathological analysis of patient samples.

Introduction: Nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 3 (NSD3) has been implicated as a driver of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) in preclinical studies. However, its clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance remain unclear. To address this, we performed histopathological analysis of patient tissues.

Risk Stratification Using DIPSS and Splenomegaly in Myelofibrosis Treated with Pre-Transplant JAK inhibitors.

The Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System for primary myelofibrosis (DIPSS) has been reported to predict transplant outcomes in myelofibrosis (MF) patients. Recently, the pre-transplant use of JAK inhibitors has become common in clinical practice, but it is unclear whether DIPSS is also useful for predicting transplant outcomes for these patients. In this study, we compared the prognostic impact of DIPSS between MF patients with and without pre-transplant Ruxolitinib therapy.

Asian Subgroup Analysis of Patients in the Phase 2 DeLLphi-301 Study of Tarlatamab for Previously Treated Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immunotherapy that binds delta-like ligand 3 on the surface of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells and CD3 on T cells, facilitating T cell-mediated cancer cell lysis. In the primary analysis of the phase 2 DeLLphi-301 study (NCT05060016), tarlatamab showed a favourable benefit-to-risk profile with durable objective responses and promising survival outcomes in patients with previously treated SCLC. Here, phase 2 data for the Asia region subgroup are presented.

Outcomes of FOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with early recurrent pancreatic cancer after adjuvant S-1 treatment: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Oral fluoropyrimidine, S-1 is the standard adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with resected pancreatic cancer (PC) in Japan. Patients experiencing early recurrence are typically treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP), which are commonly used in patients with advanced PC. However, no clinical studies have compared these regimens in this particular population.

Impact of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab or Anti-EGFRs: Exploratory Analysis of Eight Randomized Trials.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification/overexpression (HER2-pos) is detected in 5% of wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs). Its prognostic/predictive role in terms of benefit from anti-EGFR/bevacizumab (bev) is debated. Similarly, the role of activating mutations (mut) is unclear.

Projected cancer burden attributable to population aging: Insight from a rapidly aging society.

Population aging is an increasing challenge for cancer control in rapidly aging societies, yet remains inadequately quantified. We aim to project and illustrate the cancer burden attributable to aging in Korea by utilizing age-period-cohort (APC) models and population attributable fraction (PAF) concepts. From population-based cancer data, incidence and mortality of cancers primarily affected by aging (stomach, colorectal, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, lung, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, esophagus, prostate, ovarian, male bladder cancers, and female leukemia) and breast cancer were extracted.

Histologic Transformation in Cancer: The Path for Clinical Translation.

Unlabelled: Lineage plasticity, a critical hallmark of cancer progression, enables tumor cells to evade inhibition of primary oncogenic pathways through histologic transformation. This adaptive process, driven by stemness-associated features and epigenetic reprogramming, poses significant challenges in treatment. Using non-small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer as models, we examine the utility of tissue and liquid biopsies in detecting histologic transformations and tailoring treatments to specific subtypes, which has profound clinical implications, potentially improving outcomes in patients with advanced, therapy-resistant disease.

Xevinapant or Placebo Plus Platinum-Based Chemoradiotherapy in Unresected Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (TrilynX): A Randomized, Phase III Study.

Purpose: TrilynX was a randomized, double-blind, phase III study evaluating the addition of xevinapant (an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins inhibitor) or placebo to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN).

Methods: Patients with unresected LA SCCHN (oropharynx [p16-negative only], hypopharynx, or larynx) were randomly assigned 1:1 to six cycles of oral xevinapant 200 mg/day or matched placebo (once daily on Days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle) plus CRT for the first three cycles (cisplatin [100 mg/m once on Day 2 of every cycle] plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy [70 Gy; 35 fractions of 2 Gy/day, 5 days/week]). The primary end point was event-free survival (EFS) assessed by the blinded independent review committee.

Asymptomatic Troponin Elevation and Early Mortality Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Patients Without Cardiac Adverse Events.

Background/aim: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated high therapeutic efficacy against malignant tumors, immune-related cardiovascular adverse events remain a significant concern. While myocarditis is a well-recognized complication, mild troponin elevations without clinical symptoms have been increasingly observed. The prognostic significance of such subclinical elevations remains unclear.

Physical activity in older cancer patients: evidence and clinical implications.

This mini-review examines the role of physical activity in older cancer patients based on current evidence. As cancer incidence increases with age, older patients face unique challenges including comorbidities and functional decline. This review synthesizes findings regarding physical activity's impact on cancer prevention, post-operative recovery, and long-term outcomes in older adults.

Reliability and validity of the multidimensional impact of cancer risk assessment (MICRA) questionnaire: Japanese version.

This study aimed to develop and validate a Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment questionnaire-Japanese version (MICRA-J) as an assessment of the psychosocial impact of genetic testing. The MICRA was translated into Japanese using standardized translation procedures. The reliability and validity of the MICRA-J were evaluated in individuals who underwent BRCA1/2 testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Outcomes of patients aged 70 years or younger with aggressive ATL at core hospitals for ATL treatment in Tokyo.

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is one of the most intractable peripheral T-cell neoplasms caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) infection. Recently, the incidence of HTLV-1 infection and ATL has increased in non-endemic metropolitan areas in Japan. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical features and outcomes of patients with aggressive ATL aged 70 years or younger treated at a core hospital in Tokyo between 2004 and 2016.

Long-term outcomes of venetoclax and ibrutinib in Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Background: Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) face a poor prognosis in the absence of effective treatment options. Ibrutinib plus venetoclax demonstrated high response rates and a tolerable safety profile in the primary analysis of the Phase 2, M20-075 study (NCT04477486) in Japanese patients with R/R MCL. We report updated efficacy and safety from this study with longer follow-up.

Simultaneous STING and lymphotoxin-β receptor activation induces B cell responses in tertiary lymphoid structures to potentiate antitumor immunity.

B cell-rich tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are associated with favorable prognosis and positive response to immunotherapy in cancer. Here we show that simultaneous activation of innate immune effectors, STING and lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR), results in CD8 T cell-dependent tumor suppression while inducing high endothelial venule development and germinal center-like B cell responses in tumors to generate functional TLS in a T cell-dependent manner. In a neoadjuvant setting, activation of STING and LTβR by their agonists effectively immunized mice against tumor recurrence, leading to long-term survival.

Deep learning-based gastrocolic trunk recognition in laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Background: Intraoperative bleeding from the gastrocolic trunk is a serious complication of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right-sided colon cancer. Recognizing the gastrocolic trunk is crucial for surgical safety.

Methods: We developed and retrospectively evaluated a deep learning model that automatically recognizes the gastrocolic trunk during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

Mini-Cog test predicts need for rehabilitation intervention during weaning after radical cystectomy.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether preoperative cognitive screening using the Mini-Cognitive Assessment Instrument (Mini-Cog) was useful for predicting the need for postoperative rehabilitation intervention in patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: We collected the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy and preoperative cognitive screening based on the Mini-Cog test in our department between 2020 and 2021 (n = 114). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the clinical risk factors for requiring rehabilitation intervention because of failure to wean postoperatively.

Case-Control Study for 23 Cancer Types With Functional Analysis of : Risk Estimation and Clinical Recommendations in East Asia.

Purpose: is the frequently detected cancer-predisposing gene in female breast cancer. In addition, the association with the risks of other cancer types has been suggested, and clinical management has also been discussed. Although clinical relevance of germline variants differs across population, there is little evidence of the clinical relevance of germline variants in East Asia.

Clinical outcomes and complications associated with surgical resection of chest wall sarcoma.

Introduction: Chest wall sarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal tumors arising from soft tissue, cartilage and bones. Wide resection is usually the treatment option but often results in postoperative complications after resection of the chest wall. In this study, we reviewed cases of chest wall sarcoma treated with resection of the sternum or ribs and examined the factors that could cause complications.

Final results of JCOG0601 randomized trial of R-CHOP versus CHOP combined with dose-dense rituximab for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Despite several attempts to improve the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) regimen remains the standard of care in previously untreated DLBCL. A randomized phase II/III study (JCOG0601) was performed to investigate the efficacy of dose-dense weekly rituximab combined with standard CHOP (RW-CHOP). Herein, we report the final results of JCOG0601 as a post hoc assessment after an 8-year follow-up.

Epidemiology and Outcomes of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma: An Analysis of the Population-Based Cancer Registry in Japan 2016-2019.

Background: Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare cancer, so few reports have previously characterized its national profiles. The capture rate of RPS in the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Registry was only 20%. The present study aimed to clarify the characteristics and clinical outcomes of RPS using the National Cancer Registry (NCR), which contains nationwide population-based data from Japan.

A 3D verification system using dual-energy cone-beam CT with background subtraction and correction for x-ray CT-based polymer gel dosimetry.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging of polymer gel dosimeters remains the de facto standard to obtain high-quality dose information. However, magnetic resonance imaging scanner access is limited and scan times are long. x-Ray computed tomography-based polymer gel dosimeters (XCT-PGDs) offer convenience owing to easier access to CT scanners, especially cone-beam CT (CBCT) scanners integrated with linear accelerators, although they suffer from low dose resolution and high noise sensitivity.