Association of cancer with racial disparities in financial health: a national cohort study.

Purpose: The impact of a cancer diagnosis on racial differences in financial well-being and treatment related financial toxicity has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to compare relative disparities in financial distress by race among respondents with and without a history of cancer.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study based on the National Health Interview Survey (2010 to 2018).

HPV-positive HNSCC and Fc-silent PD-1 blockade: a clinical discrepancy that raises next immunological questions.

The recent phase 3 trial of the Fc-silent anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibody finotonlimab demonstrated promising clinical activity in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, an unexpected finding emerged: human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive patients-typically responsive to PD-1 blockade-did not appear to benefit, with a subgroup HR favoring the control arm. This clinical discrepancy raises important mechanistic questions.

The role of FGF21 in the metabolic adjustments required for exercise capacity.

Fatigue is one of the most common and persistent symptoms experienced by patients with various medical conditions. It is characterized by its enduring nature, lack of improvement after a good night's sleep, and interference with daily functioning. The mechanisms behind fatigue remain controversial.

Next-generation nanoparticles for cancer and autoimmune therapy.

Immune modulation is a critical therapeutic approach for cancer and autoimmune diseases, aiming to balance immune activation and suppression within specific disease environments. Next-generation nanoparticles (NPs) offer a promising method for precisely delivering cytokines and other immune modulators, addressing challenges such as systemic toxicity and limited specificity. This review explores the dual function of NPs in modulating pro- and anti-inflammatory responses, enhancing immune detection and tumor elimination in cancer, while promoting immune tolerance in autoimmune diseases.

Isolating the Unique Role of Transdiagnostic Risk Factors and Perceived Barriers for Smoking Cessation.

Individuals who smoke cigarettes and experience affective vulnerabilities report more severe smoking patterns. Prior work has identified several transdiagnostic risk factors associated with perceived barriers for smoking cessation, including distress tolerance, anxiety sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation. However, no work has explored the unique effect of these constructs on dimensions of perceived barriers for smoking cessation while controlling for the shared variance across these affective vulnerabilities.

Quantifying changes in ventilation for photon- and proton-treated patients according to dose and pneumonitis development.

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with proton therapy allows for delivery of high radiation dose while sparing critical normal tissue structures compared to conventional photon therapy. However, there are currently no established clinical endpoints to study the biological effect between these radiation modalities. Computed tomography (CT) imaging allows for extraction of ventilation through deformable image registration of 4DCTs and may provide information on imaging-based functional changes in the lung.

Efficacy of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in preclinical adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumor models.

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) improve outcomes in metastatic, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs) are similarly hormonally active tumors. We aimed to determine whether CDK4/6i were effective in pre-clinical models of AGCTs.

Deciphering transcriptomic changes in chemobrain: a comprehensive review.

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments (CICI), colloquially known as "chemobrain," represents a profound and debilitating side effect experienced by a significant number of cancer survivors, impacting their memory, multitasking, and quality of life. This review critically evaluates the molecular mechanisms underlying CICI, with a particular focus on the insights gained from transcriptomic analyses. As cancer incidence rises globally, understanding the complex interplay between chemotherapy agents and their cognitive repercussions becomes increasingly vital.

Leadership in Action: Tales From the Trenches.

Surgeons are natural leaders, but leadership within academic surgery at various levels presents unique challenges. During the 2025 Academic Surgical Congress Hot Topics session on Leadership in Action, we discussed the real challenges faced by leaders in academic surgery across different levels. We review common themes and strategies employed when confronting these difficult situations, focusing on perseverance and creative problem solving.

Community-acquired respiratory virus infections in patients with haematological malignancies or undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation: updated recommendations from the 10th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia.

To update recommendations of the 4th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-4) on community-acquired respiratory virus (CARV) infections published in 2013, we reviewed publications from between Jan 1, 2014, and June 30, 2024 on adenovirus, bocavirus, coronavirus, influenzavirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenzavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus in patients with haematological malignancies or undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), or both. In the current ECIL recommendations (ECIL-10), we outline a common approach to infection control, laboratory testing, and diagnosis for all CARVs (including SARS-CoV-2) and specific management and deferral strategies for CARVs other than SARS-CoV-2. For influenzavirus, seasonal inactivated-vaccines and early antivirals are recommended, whereas routine antiviral prophylaxis is discouraged for immunocompromised patients.

Patient, Physician, and Assessor Blinding in Phase III Randomized Trials in Oncology: A Meta-Epidemiological Analysis.

Background: Blinding mitigates bias in randomized trials and may be especially crucial for surrogate endpoints, such as progression-free survival (PFS). Here, we characterize utilization of and factors associated with blinding in Phase III oncology trials with PFS primary endpoints.

Methods: Two-arm, superiority-design trials investigating systemic therapy were identified in May 2024 from ClinicalTrials.

Breast Imaging Staffing Shortages: Defining the Problem and Addressing Root Causes.

Objective: To assess the current perceptions of breast imaging staffing shortages and contributing factors among breast imaging radiologists.

Methods: A survey assessing current perception of breast radiologists regarding breast imaging-specific staffing shortages and contributing factors was developed by the Patient Care and Delivery Committee of the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and emailed to SBI active physician members. Bivariable analysis (chi-squared, t test) was performed between the survey demographics and survey response questions of interest.

Solitary Dilated Ducts 2.0 - Multimodality Imaging Detection, Assessment, and Management.

The BI-RADS 5th Edition recommends that a solitary dilated duct should be assessed as a BI-RADS category 4 lesion and recommended for biopsy. More recently, 3 studies published after the fifth edition of BI-RADS have reported lower rates of malignancy associated with solitary dilated ducts ranging from 0% to 3.4%.

Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia During Pregnancy: Review of Evidence and Treatment Algorithm.

Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) during pregnancy is rare, with an annual incidence of 1 per 100,000 pregnancies. Managing CML in pregnancy is challenging due to concerns about the teratogenicity of the BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). While some pregnant patients with chronic-phase CML may be managed with close monitoring and no therapy, others, particularly those diagnosed in the first trimester, may require treatment to prevent disease progression and maternal complications.

Phase 1/2 trial of encorafenib, cetuximab, and nivolumab in microsatellite stable BRAF metastatic colorectal cancer.

The BRAF inhibitor encorafenib and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody cetuximab modestly improve survival for patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) BRAF metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), characterized by higher immune activation than MSS BRAF colorectal cancer (CRC). In this phase 1/2 study (NCT04017650) of 26 participants with MSS BRAF mCRC who received encorafenib, cetuximab, and anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab, we report an overall response rate of 50% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29-71) and median progression-free survival of 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.

Glioblastoma hijacks cholinergic networks.

Glioblastoma alters normal brain function by hijacking neural circuits. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Yang et al. elucidate the mechanisms by which glioblastoma exploits cholinergic signaling pathways to disrupt the hierarchical organization of brain networks.

Optimizing Motion Management and Baseline Shifts in Magnetic Resonance-Guided Spine Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has proven effective in controlling spinal lesions with minimal toxicity, primarily due to its ability to limit spinal cord dose. Recent advances in MR-linac (MRL) technology offer superior spinal cord visualization and real-time gating, which can facilitate dose escalation in spinal tumor treatment while maintaining safety.

Purpose: This study aimed to optimize motion management for spine SBRT on an MRL by analyzing patient-specific motion dynamics and evaluating the most effective registration structures.

Lower Respiratory Tract Microbiome Signatures of Health and Lung Cancer Across Different Smoking Statuses.

The respiratory microbiota is pivotal in maintaining pulmonary health and modulating disease; however, the intricate interplay between smoking, lung cancer, and microbiome composition remains incompletely understood. Here, we characterized the lower respiratory tract microbiome in a Russian cohort of 297 individuals, comprising healthy subjects and lung cancer patients of different smoking statuses (current smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers). Using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from unstimulated sputum samples, we identify distinct microbiota signatures linked to smoking and lung cancer.

Genome-wide CRISPR screens identify critical targets to enhance CAR-NK cell antitumor potency.

Adoptive cell therapy using engineered natural killer (NK) cells is a promising approach for cancer treatment, with targeted gene editing offering the potential to further enhance their therapeutic efficacy. However, the spectrum of actionable genetic targets to overcome tumor and microenvironment-mediated immunosuppression remains largely unexplored. We performed multiple genome-wide CRISPR screens in primary human NK cells and identified critical checkpoints regulating resistance to immunosuppressive pressures.

Adjuvant capecitabine in patients with triple-negative breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: For patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), residual disease (RD) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with increased rates of recurrence and poor prognosis. Adjuvant therapy with capecitabine is considered standard management for TNBC-RD based on the CREATE-X study, although real-world data are limited. Real-world utilization of adjuvant capecitabine for patients with TNBC-RD and the association of capecitabine with survival outcomes remains largely unknown.

TNG260 is a Small-Molecule CoREST Inhibitor that Sensitizes STK11-Mutant Tumors to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with loss of the tumor suppressor gene STK11 are resistant to immune checkpoint therapies like anti-PD-1. Here, we conducted an in vivo CRISPR screen that identified HDAC1 as a target to reverse anti-PD-1 resistance driven by loss of STK11 and developed TNG260, a potent small-molecule inhibitor of the CoREST complex with selectivity exceeding previously generated inhibitors in this class in preclinical studies. Treatment with TNG260 led to increased expression of immunomodulatory genes in STK11-deficient cancer cells.