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The rapid emergence of anisotropic collagen fibers in the tissue microenvironment is a critical transition point in late-stage breast cancer. Specifically, the fiber orientation facilitates the likelihood of high-speed tumor cell invasion and metastasis, which pose lethal threats to patients. Thus, based on this transition point, one key issue is how to determine and evaluate efficient combination chemotherapy treatments in late-stage cancer. In this study, we designed a collagen microarray chip containing 241 high-throughput microchambers with embedded metastatic breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231-RFP. By utilizing collagen's unique structure and hydromechanical properties, the chip constructed three-dimensional isotropic and anisotropic collagen fiber structures to emulate the tumor cell microenvironment at early and late stages. We injected different chemotherapeutic drugs into its four channels and obtained composite biochemical concentration profiles. Our results demonstrate that anisotropic collagen fibers promote cell proliferation and migration more than isotropic collagen fibers, suggesting that the geometric arrangement of fibers plays an important role in regulating cell behavior. Moreover, the presence of anisotropic collagen fibers may be a potential factor leading to the poor efficacy of combined chemotherapy in late-stage breast cancer. We investigated the efficacy of various chemotherapy drugs using cell proliferation inhibitors paclitaxel and gemcitabine and tumor cell migration inhibitors 7rh and PP2. To ensure the validity of our findings, we followed a systematic approach that involved testing the inhibitory effects of these drugs. According to our results, the drug combinations' effectiveness could be ordered as follows: paclitaxel + gemcitabine > gemcitabine + 7rh > PP2 + paclitaxel > 7rh + PP2. This study shows that the biomimetic chip system not only facilitates the creation of a realistic in vitro model for examining the cell migration mechanism in late-stage breast cancer but also has the potential to function as an effective tool for future chemotherapy assessment and personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, cervical cancer poses a substantial public health challenge, with low and middle-income countries bearing the highest burden [Rajkhowa, P., D.S. Patil, S.M. Dsouza, P. Narayanan and H. Brand. Evidence on factors influencing HPV vaccine implementation in South Asia: a scoping review. Glob. Public Health 18: 2288269, 2023]. The incidence rate ranks second highest among female malignant tumors in China, following only breast cancer. The prognosis of advanced cervical cancer is extremely poor, with a 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of only 15%, and the treatment of advanced recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer remains a huge challenge. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can significantly enhance sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, strengthen antitumor effects, and notably improve adverse reactions associated with cancer such as fatigue and bone marrow suppression. In recent years, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines, such as the Guizhi-Fuling-decoction, the compound Yangshe granule, Huangqi, and Ginseng, herbal monomers (e.g., Ginsenoside Rh2, Tanshinone IIA, and Tetrandrine), and the related extracts and compound formulations, have received extensive attention for the treatment of cervical cancer. This paper reviews the research progress of TCM in cervical cancer. In addition, we reported a case of an advanced cervical cancer patient with multiple abdominal and pelvic metastasis who initially received chemotherapy, was then treated with TCM alone, and subsequently survived for 22 years. The model of whole-process management with TCM can enable more cancer patients to obtain longer survival periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common issues caused by antineoplastic agents is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). In patients, CIPN is a sensory neuropathy accompanied by various motor and autonomic changes. With a high prevalence of cancer patients, CIPN is becoming a major problem for both cancer patients and for their health care providers. Nonetheless, there are lacking effective interventions preventing CIPN and treating the CIPN symptoms. A number of studies have demonstrated the cellular and molecular signaling pathways leading to CIPN using experimental models and the beneficial effects of some interventions on the CIPN symptoms related to those potential mechanisms. This review will summarize results obtained from recent human and animal studies, which include the abnormalities in mechanical and temperature sensory responses following chemotherapy such as representative bortezomib, oxaliplatin and paclitaxel. The underlying mechanisms of CIPN at cellular and molecular levels will be also discussed for additional in-depth studies needed to be better explored. Overall, this paper reviews the basic picture of CIPN and the signaling mechanisms of the most common antineoplastic agents in the peripheral and central nerve systems. A better understanding of the risk factors and fundamental mechanisms of CIPN is needed to develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyridyl Ru(II) complexes have attracted much attention due to their potential as light-activatable anticancer agents in photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT). The action of ruthenium-based PACT compounds relies on the breaking of a coordination bond between the metal center and an organic ligand via a photosubstitution reaction. Here, a detailed computational investigation of the photophysical properties of a novel trisheteroleptic ruthenium complex, [Ru(dpp)(bpy)(mtmp)]2+ (dpp = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and mtmp = 2-methylthiomethylpyridine), has been carried out by means of DFT and its time-dependent extension. All the aspects of the mechanism by which, upon light irradiation, the mtmp protecting group is released and the corresponding aquated complex, able to bind to DNA inducing cell death, is formed have been explored in detail. All the involved singlet and triplet states have been fully described, providing the calculation of the corresponding energy barriers. The involvement of solvent molecules in photosubstitution and the role played by pyridyl–thioether chelates as caging groups have been elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is considered as the biggest medicinal challenge worldwide. During a typical treatment, the tumorous tissue is removed in a surgical procedure and the patient further treated by chemotherapy. One of the most frequently applied drugs are platinum complexes. Despite their clinical success, these compounds are associated with severe side effects and low therapeutic efficiency. To overcome these limitations, herein, the synthesis and biological evaluation of Cu(II) terpyridine complexes as chemotherapeutic drug candidates is suggested. The compounds were found to be highly cytotoxic in the nanomolar range against various cancer cell lines. Mechanistic insights revealed that the compounds primarily accumulated in the cytoplasm and generated reactive oxygen species in this organelle, triggering cell death by apoptosis. Based on their high therapeutic effect, these metal complexes could serve as a starting point for further drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are unique coordination polymers that have emerged as important candidates for drug delivery in recent years. Herein, we designed a drug delivery system for multi-modal combination therapy (IR-820/DOX@MIL-101-PDA-PEG-F3, simplified as ID@MIL-PPF3). In this study, pH-sensitive nanocarriers MIL-101(Fe) were prepared and loaded with the effective chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (DOX) and the phototherapeutic reagent new indocyanine green (IR-820) using a physical adsorption method. Dopamine was spontaneously polymerized in alkaline solutions to form a hybrid coating on MIL-101(Fe) (denoted as ID@MIL-101-PDA). The surface of ID@MIL-101-PDA was functionalized by the synthesized polymer NH2-PEG-OCH3/F3 to obtain ID@MIL-PPF3. Characterization results show that ID@MIL-PPF3 has a good drug loading rate (27.7%) and photothermal conversion efficiency (28.89%). In addition, Fe3+ released from MIL-101(Fe) can engage in a Fenton-like reaction to generate hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) to realize chemodynamic therapy (CDT). ID@MIL-PPF3 not only demonstrates the ability to intelligently release drugs, but also realizes chemotherapy combined with PDT/PTT/CDT therapy for tumor cells, which was proved by in vitro evaluation. In conclusion, ID@MIL-PPF3 provides a new idea and method for building a multi-modal combination therapy targeted drug delivery platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown superior efficacy compared with conventional chemotherapy in certain cancer types, establishing immunotherapy as the fourth standard treatment alongside surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In cancer immunotherapy employing ICIs, CD8‐positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes are recognized as the primary effector cells. For effective clinical outcomes, it is essential that the targeted cancer cells express HLA class I molecules to present antigenic peptides derived from the tumor. However, cancer cells utilize various mechanisms to downregulate or lose HLA class I molecules from their surface, resulting in evasion from immune surveillance. Correlations between prognosis and the integrity of HLA class I molecules expressed by cancer cells have been consistently found across different types of cancer. This paper provides an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of HLA class I molecules and their role in cancer immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the significance of utilizing pathological tissues to evaluate HLA class I molecules expressed in cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, but it can also induce immune suppression, which can have significant implications for patient outcomes. This review paper aims to give a general overview of how chemotherapy affects the immune system and how it affects cancer treatment. Chemotherapy can directly affect immune cells, leading to cytotoxic effects, cell differentiation and function alterations, and cell communication and signaling pathways disruptions. Such immune suppression can weaken the anti-tumor immune response and increase the risk of immune-related toxicities. Understanding the mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced immune suppression is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies. Strategies to mitigate immune suppression include immunomodulatory agents as adjuvants to chemotherapy, combination therapies to enhance immune function, and supportive care measures of the immune system. Additionally, identifying potential biomarkers to predict immune suppression and guide treatment decisions holds promise for personalized cancer medicine. Future directions in this field involve further elucidating underlying mechanisms, exploring novel combination therapies, and developing targeted interventions to minimize immune suppression. By understanding and addressing chemotherapy-induced immune suppression, we can optimize cancer treatment strategies, enhance the anti-tumor immune response, and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxazaphosphorine cyclophosphamide (CP) is a DNA-alkylating agent commonly used in cancer chemotherapy. This anticancer agent is administered as a prodrug activated by a liver cytochrome P450-catalyzed 4-hydroxylation reaction that yields the active, cytotoxic metabolite. The primary metabolite, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, equilibrates with the ring-open aldophosphamide that undergoes ß-elimination to yield the therapeutically active DNA cross-linking phosphoramide mustard and the byproduct acrolein. The present paper presents a DFT investigation of the different metabolic phases and an insight into the mechanism by which CP exerts its cytotoxic action. A detailed computational analysis of the energy profiles describing all the involved transformations and the mechanism of DNA alkylation is given with the aim to contribute to an increase of knowledge that, after more than 60 years of unsuccessful attempts, can lead to the design and development of a new generation of oxazaphosphorines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors. The authors have independently identified an error in the formula that was utilized to calculate the Quality Adjusted Life Years which invalidates the data and the conclusion of the paper. The authors have contacted the journal requesting to retract the article. Apologies are offered to the readers of the journal for any confusion or inconvenience that may have resulted from the publication of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer mortality worldwide and a major impediment to extending life expectancy. In comparison to other cancers, it has a relatively poor survival rate. In this paper, we have developed a mathematical model for lung cancer based on biological phenomena using nonlinear ordinary differential equations and analyzed it both analytically and numerically. According to the findings, CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells have a role in tumor cell variety. Surgery and chemotherapy have been used as treatment options, and we have observed that three doses of chemotherapy after surgery had the greatest results after examining several treatment options. During the treatment period, the cycle of each chemotherapy has been taken every 4 weeks, and the first dose has been taken after 28 days of surgery. Finally, we have evaluated the various starting dates for the best treatment choice and discovered that the patient who begins treatment sooner has a better probability of surviving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Hemoptysis in pregnancy is a very rare finding causing diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. The case report of hemoptysis by a 29 years old patient in the 31st week of pregnancy is presented and discussed along with the diagnostic process and treatment provided. Upon pharyngeal cancer occurrence in a pregnant patient a multidisciplinary medical team performed appropriate treatment along with delivery of a healthy newborn at term. Patients and fetal conditions and outcomes were analyzed and compared to available literature in this newly created literature review. Material and methods: After MEDLINE database analysis using formula "hemoptysis" AND "pregnancy" more than 125 results were found published during the period 2002-2022. Almost 30 papers about hemoptysis were found and included for full analysis. Results: The review of literature revealed 32 cases of patients with hemoptysis during pregnancy. The two most common causes were vascular abnormalities and neoplastic tumors. The treatment comprised of chemotherapy and surgical procedures during the pregnancy or after delivery. Almost 35% of pregnancies ended prematurely. The conducted research did not provide a description of any other case of pharyngeal cancer during pregnancy. Conclusions: The literature review offers a detailed description of previously reported incidents of hemoptysis in pregnancy to gain understanding of the etiology, differential diagnosis, available treatment and predicted future outcomes for both patient and fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemotherapy has relevant implications for cancer patients' physical, social, and psychological health. Foot health has gained relevance in recent years due to its importance to independence and wellbeing, especially in chronic conditions. This study aims to explore the scope of the literature regarding foot health problems in people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR, Arksey and O'Malley, and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Different databases were used (Cochrane Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, and Pubmed). A total of 4911 articles were identified. Finally, 11 papers were included. Results: Foot problems are relevant and deteriorate wellbeing. The prevalence of some podiatric pathologies is controversial. The main literature deals with hand–foot syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. Focused instruments on foot health were not thoroughly used. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence on foot health problems and their influence on the quality of life of people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Even though a significant percentage of this population has a foot problem, its care and importance are neglected. More studies are needed to contribute to the care of people with cancer through foot health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer, marked by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells leading to the destruction of healthy tissue, remains a formidable global health challenge. While advances in cancer screening, therapy, and prevention have contributed to improved survival rates, the progress has been unequal across the world, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This discrepancy is exacerbated by a complex web of factors, including inadequate funding, weak policy execution, and a lack of political will and dedication, resulting in persistently high cancer rates in Nigeria. Using a qualitative approach, this paper relies on secondary data from academic journals and online articles. The findings of this study reveal a disheartening reality: a significant portion of cancer patients in Nigeria continue to face the dire challenge of delayed and ineffective diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, cancer, as a complex and varied disease, necessitates a range of therapies, including surgery, radiation, and systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapies. The choice of therapy is intricately tied to the type of cancer and the individual patient, shaping treatment plans, procedural considerations, and expected therapeutic responses. Equally significant is the recognition that cancer's impact transcends the individual patient, affecting their relationships, communities, and social networks. The relatives and loved ones of cancer patients bear the physical, social, and emotional burden of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, reinforcing the importance of holistic care and support systems. In light of these findings, healthcare professionals and decision-makers should actively encourage public participation in the support for cancer patients. The public perception of cancer and its impact on individuals and families must be transformed, dispelling stigma and fostering empathy. Media campaigns, public awareness pamphlets, and educational initiatives can play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is hallmarked by dramatic prognosis. Treatment remains challenging, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as the only curative option. The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) has proven to be a promising therapy for AML and is currently the standard of care in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) for newly diagnosed AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy. Given its satisfactory safety profile, VEN-based combinations are increasingly being investigated as a part of the therapeutic strategy for R/R AML. The current paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the main evidence regarding VEN in the setting of R/R AML, with a specific focus on combinational strategies, including HMAs and cytotoxic chemotherapy, as well as different clinical settings, especially in view of the crucial role of HSCT. A discussion of what is known about drug resistance mechanisms and future combinational strategies is also provided. Overall, VEN-based regimes (mainly VEN + HMA) have provided unprecedented salvage treatment opportunities in patients with R/R AML, with low extra-hematological toxicity. On the other hand, the issue of overcoming resistance is one of the most important fields to be addressed in upcoming clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Best cancer treatment should reduce the density of tumor in a minimum time with few side e ects, considering the input limitations. In this paper, a tracking controller was designed to achieve the mentioned objectives, simultaneously. An Ordinary Di erential Equations (ODEs) based mathematical model of a human body under chemovirotherapy was selected, which included the uninfected and infected tumor cells, free viruses, immune cells, and a chemotherapeutic drug. Stability analysis was employed to determine the sensible equilibrium points. For tracking purposes, a servo controller based on the Entire Eigenstructure Assignment (EESA) approach was applied to the model, continuously and discretely. By regulating the command input properties, an optimal treatment duration with limited drug dosage and virus dosage was determined. The results indicated that the discrete controller performed smoother than the continuous controller. Thus, an optimal discrete treatment schedule with optimum duration of drug and virus delivery was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the hardest-to-treat brain tumors, often resistant to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Despite advances in cancer research and treatment, the survival rate for glioblastoma patients remains low, with most patients only surviving for a few months to a year after diagnosis. This is due in part to the nature of glioblastoma tumors, which contain cells that are highly resistant to traditional cancer treatments. These cancer cells can evade the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, making it difficult to achieve lasting remissions or cures. This work aims to summarize recent findings about this tumor and the progress in developing new treatment options. The highest focus of this paper is on the mechanisms of glioblastoma multiforme resistance and the possibility to reverse it using nanocarriers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer that is difficult to treat due to its resistance to both radiation and chemotherapy. This resistance is largely due to the unique biology of GBM cells, which can evade the effects of conventional treatments through mechanisms such as increased resistance to cell death and rapid regeneration of cancerous cells. Additionally, the blood–brain barrier makes it difficult for chemotherapy drugs to reach GBM cells, leading to reduced effectiveness. Despite these challenges, there are several treatment options available for GBM. The standard of care for newly diagnosed GBM patients involves surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Emerging treatments include immunotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted therapies, such as bevacizumab, that attempt to attack specific vulnerabilities in GBM cells. Another promising approach is the use of tumor-treating fields, a type of electric field therapy that has been shown to slow the growth of GBM cells. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these and other innovative treatments for GBM, intending to improve with outcomes for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the synthesis of multi‐layer SiO2@Au@SiO2@QDs nanoparticles with a dual‐functionality of simultaneous heating and temperature sensing and their applications to in vitro chemo‐thermal therapy. The heating is activated by a NIR‐light through resonance excitation of surface plasma while in‐situ thermal sensing is accomplished by the QDs photoluminescent (PL) effect. These dual function nanoparticles are used as a drug carrier for in vitro chemotherapy‐photothermal co‐treatment for malignant cells. A comparative study of drug release profiles was performed with and without 808 nm laser irradiation. The drug release rate was accelerated by a rise of temperature, which is induced by plasmonic heat generation associated with Au nanoshells; while the temperature change is monitored by the QD nanoparticles at the same time. The results showed that SiO2@Au@SiO2@QDs‐DOX platform enabled the combination of local specific chemotherapy with external near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy and significantly improved the efficacy of cancer treatment. This combined treatment demonstrated synergistic chemotherapeutic‐thermal effects compared to chemotherapy or photothermal therapy alone, resulting in higher efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a well-known side effect of chemotherapy that is the most traumatic aspect of treatment for more than half of the patients. Psychosocial stress, decreasing self-esteem, and adverse effects on sexual life are reported due to CIA. It is estimated that 60-85% of individuals who received chemotherapy treatment for cancer experienced some degree of CIA. To prevent CIA, different methods such as scalp cooling, scalp compression, and medical therapies have been introduced. Herein, we provide a review of scalp cooling methods, advantages and disadvantages, requirements, and related papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a protein found at a high concentration in the blood of patients with specific types of cancer, mainly ovarian cancer. In 2004, the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) proposed criteria defining response to treatment, as well as disease progression, based on the CA-125 concentration. Ever since, for the follow-up of ovarian cancer patients, the CA-125 concentration and/or CT-scans are used. This paper aims to compare different summaries of CA-125 evolution in the 3 to 6 months following treatment initiation in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and explore their prognostic capacity to predict overall survival. Based on individual patient data from the GCIG meta-analysis, we propose the most appropriate timeframe between follow-up and the prediction horizon in order to obtain robust, dynamic, individual predictions. (1) Background: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a protein produced by ovarian cancer cells that is used for patients' monitoring. However, the best ways to analyze its decline and prognostic role are poorly quantified. (2) Methods: We leveraged individual patient data from the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) meta-analysis (N = 5573) to compare different approaches summarizing the early trajectory of CA-125 before the prediction time (called the landmark time) at 3 or 6 months after treatment initiation in order to predict overall survival. These summaries included observed and estimated measures obtained by a linear mixed model (LMM). Their performances were evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation with the Brier score and the area under the ROC (AUC). (3) Results: The estimated value and the last observed value at 3 months were the best measures used to predict overall survival, with an AUC of 0.75 CI 95% [0.70; 0.80] at 24 and 36 months and 0.74 [0.69; 0.80] and 0.75 [0.69; 0.80] at 48 months, respectively, considering that CA-125 over 6 months did not improve the AUC, with 0.74 [0.68; 0.78] at 24 months and 0.71 [0.65; 0.76] at 36 and 48 months. (4) Conclusions: A 3-month surveillance provided reliable individual information on overall survival until 48 months for patients receiving first-line chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periodical application of androgen deprivation therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy is an effective method for cancer treatment, but few studies combine them. To explore such comprehensive treatment mechanisms, this paper establishes a pulsed stochastic hybrid dynamics model considering tumor antigenicity and density-dependent mortality. In addition to analyzing the basic properties of solutions such as the tumor-free periodic solution and global attraction of the model, the threshold conditions for the persistence and extinction of prostate cancer cells and effector cells are obtained by using stochastic differential equation theory. Besides, sufficient conditions for the existence of stationary distribution of the system are established. The results reveal that comprehensive therapy or white noise can determine tumor dynamics and suggest that the treatment of prostate cancer should be individualized according to the state of tumor development. Finally, biological significance is discussed and conclusions are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Luria and Delbrück's seminal work has found its way to some college biology textbooks, it is now largely absent from those in mathematics. This is a significant omission, and we consider it a missed opportunity to present a celebrated conceptual model that provides an authentic and, in many ways, intuitive example of the quantifiable nature of stochasticity. We argue that it is an important topic that could enrich the educational literature in mathematics, from the introductory to advanced levels, opening many doors to undergraduate research. The paper has two main parts. First, we present in detail the mathematical theory behind the Luria–Delbrück model and make suggestions for further readings from the literature. We also give ideas for inclusion in various mathematics courses and for projects that can be used in regular courses, independent projects, or as starting points for student research. Second, we briefly review available hands-on activities as pedagogical ways to facilitate problem posing, problem-based learning, and investigative case-based learning and to expose students to experiments leading to Poisson distributions. These help students with even limited mathematics backgrounds understand the significance of Luria–Delbrück's work for determining mutation rates and its impact on many fields, including cancer chemotherapy, antibiotic resistance, radiation, and environmental screening for mutagens and teratogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy (RT) is an important treatment modality for cancer treatment patients. Approximately 50% of all cancer patients receive RT during the course of their illness. A great potential to improve treatment results involves combination RT with other methods. The combination of RT and cytotoxic chemotherapy is a clinically well-established and documented method to improve survival. Integration of targeted therapy with RT may provide therapeutic benefit by exploiting biologic and genetic differences between cancer and normal tissues while minimizing additional toxicity. The aim of this paper is to present a literature review of the effectiveness of combination radiotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Currently, the main reason for the ineffectiveness of systemic chemotherapy is the formation of cancer cells with the phenotype of multiple drug resistance (MDR), which are able to survive at high doses of chemotherapy drugs. One of the MDR mechanisms involves the overproduction of proteins of the ABC transporter family, including P-glycoprotein, which are responsible for the transport of a wide range of drugs from the cell. This paper focuses on a new derivative of the natural triterpenoid betulin, oleanane aldehyde-β-enone (OA), having low toxicity toward normal cells and cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and their doxorubicin-resistant variants. The calculations and experimental methods revealed that this compound is not released from cells like most known drugs. The analysis of molecular cellular targets showed that the mechanism of OA toxic action is associated with the activation of the external and/or internal pathways of the apoptotic death of cancer cells and their drug-resistant variants. Thus, OA, as a highly cytotoxic compound toward doxorubicin-resistant cancer cells, can be a promising candidate for drug development. Oleanane aldehyde-β-enone (OA), being the semi-synthetic derivative of the triterpenoid betulin, effectively inhibits the proliferation of HBL-100 and K562 cancer cells (IC50 0.47–0.53 µM), as well as the proliferation of their resistant subclones with high P-gp expression HBL-100/Dox, K562/i-S9 and K562/i-S9_Dox (IC50 0.45−1.24 µM). A molecular docking study, rhodamine efflux test, synergistic test with Dox, and ABC transporter gene expression were used to investigate the ability of OA to act as a P-gp substrate or inhibitor against Dox-resistant cells. We noted a trend toward a decrease in ABCB1, ABCC1 and ABCG2 expression in HBL-100 cells treated with OA. The in silico and in vitro methods suggested that OA is neither a direct inhibitor nor a competitive substrate of P-gp in overexpressing P-gp cancer cells. Thus, OA is able to overcome cellular resistance and can accumulate in Dox-resistant cells to realize toxic effects. The set of experiments suggested that OA toxic action can be attributed to activating intrinsic/extrinsic or only intrinsic apoptosis pathways in Dox-sensitive and Dox-resistant cancer cells, respectively. The cytotoxicity of OA in resistant cells is likely mediated by a mitochondrial cell death pathway, as demonstrated by positive staining with Annexin V–FITC, an increasing number of cells in the subG0/G1 phase, reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytochrome c migration and caspases-9,-6 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of inhibitors of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) for the treatment of women with epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) has radically changed the treatment in maintenance setting after responding to first- and second-line chemotherapy. The aim of this paper was to assess the pharmacological costs of PARP inhibitors (olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib and veliparib) in maintenance treatment after responding to first-line chemotherapy in EOC. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated as the ratio between the difference of the costs in the intervention and in the control groups (pharmacy costs) and the difference between the effect in the intervention and in the control groups (progression-free survival (PFS)). We have considered the pivotal phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Three different populations were considered: the overall population, patients with germline BRCA mutation (gBRCA) and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) patients non-gBRCA mutation. Three thousand four hundred and twenty patients and 1209 patients were considered in maintenance treatment after responding to first- and second-line chemotherapy in EOC, respectively. At the actual price, the treatment with PARP inhibitors is not cost-effective in maintenance treatment after responding to first-line and second-line chemotherapy in EOC. A reduction in pharmacological costs is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Many factors contribute to oral anti-cancer therapy adherence, including counselling and educational support. Objective. We systematically review the literature evaluating the effectiveness of interpersonal communication-, counselling- and education-based interventions on patient adherence to oral anticancer therapy. Methods. Using search terms pertaining to medication adherence, oral anticancer therapy, and communication, education, and counselling, we conducted a systematic search for full-text, original research articles prior to 3/13/20. Two reviewers independently reviewed each paper for inclusion and charted study information. Results. Twenty-four articles were included. All considered the use of oral anticancer therapy between two defined time points. Four studies also considered the length of time a patient persisted on therapy. Half (n = 12) of the studies reported a statistically significant relationship between the intervention and medication adherence, with no consistent pattern among intervention structure/content and effectiveness. Programmes offering in-person counselling and those targeting patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), tended to report positive findings. Most studies faced substantial risk of bias, and only two reported using a behavioural theory to guide interventional content. Conclusions. Findings highlight the infancy of evidence base and need for rigorous and large-scale studies grounded in established behavioural theories to advance patient-targeted educational and counselling practices supporting adherence to oral anti-cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anal cancer is a rare cancer that accounts for about 2% of all gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Among anal cancer, squamous cell cancer is the most common malignancy. The incidence of all stages of anal squamous cell cancer has been increasing. Human papillomavirus infection and immunosuppression are major risk factors for anal cancer. The management of anal cancer has evolved over the past several decades and continues to do so. Chemoradiation therapy remains the mainstay for treatment for most patients with early-stage disease, whereas systemic therapy is the primary treatment for patients with metastatic disease. Patients with persistent disease or recurrence following chemoradiation therapy are treated with salvage surgery. Access to novel cytotoxic combinations and immunotherapy has improved the outcomes of patients with advanced disease. This review provides an overview of advances in the management of anal cancer over the past two decades. This paper reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, pathology, diagnosis, and management of localized and advanced anal squamous cell cancer, highlights current knowledge gaps in the management of anal cancer, and discusses future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The importance of identifying and targeting in treating familial breast cancers is becoming increasingly recognized, in particular with increased availability of PARPi-based therapies. This review paper focuses on recognized and emerging prognostic and predictive tumour biomarkers, both recognized and emerging, specifically within familial breast cancer. In particular, these familial breast cancers appear to be different to sporadic lesions, with different interactions and clinical relevance of well-described cancer networks. More so, pre-clinical studies and in vitro models also demonstrate potentially relevant clinical biomarkers, as yet not studied in these groups. Currently, the wider literature has largely focused on prognostic and predictive factors in all breast cancers in general, or biomarkers for genetic susceptibility. This review is novel as there are none currently reviewing biomarkers only within familial breast cancers. Large numbers of breast cancers arise within a familial context, either with known inherited germline mutations largely within DNA repair genes, or with a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, with unknown genetic underlying mechanisms. These cancers appear to be different to sporadic cases, with earlier age of onset, increased multifocality and with association with specific breast cancer histological and phenotypic subtypes. Furthermore, tumours showing homologous recombination deficiency, due to loss of BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 and CHEK2 function, have been shown to be especially sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapeutics and PARP inhibition. While there is extensive research and data accrued on risk stratification and genetic predisposition, there are few data pertaining to relevant prognostic and predictive biomarkers within this breast cancer subgroup. The following is a review of such biomarkers in male and female familial breast cancer, although the data for the former are particularly sparse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this review paper, we focused on the discussion of various important aspects of hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, including HR structure and signaling, genetics (epigenetics and gene mutations), gene expression-based assays, traditional and new drugs for treatment, and new technological uses in diagnosis and treatment. Particularly, we summarized the commonly mutated genes and abnormally methylated genes in HR-positive breast cancer and compared the common gene expression-based assays that are used in breast cancer as prognostic and/or predictive tools in detail. All of these topic discussions have not been fully described and summarized within other research or review articles. The current molecular classification divides breast cancer into four major subtypes, including luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive, and basal-like, based on receptor gene expression profiling. Luminal A and luminal B are hormone receptor (HR, estrogen, and/or progesterone receptor)-positive and are the most common subtypes, accounting for around 50–60% and 15–20% of the total breast cancer cases, respectively. The drug treatment for HR-positive breast cancer includes endocrine therapy, HER2-targeted therapy (depending on the HER2 status), and chemotherapy (depending on the risk of recurrence). In this review, in addition to classification, we focused on discussing the important aspects of HR-positive breast cancer, including HR structure and signaling, genetics, including epigenetics and gene mutations, gene expression-based assays, the traditional and new drugs for treatment, and novel or new uses of technology in diagnosis and treatment. Particularly, we have summarized the commonly mutated genes and abnormally methylated genes in HR-positive breast cancer and compared four common gene expression-based assays that are used in breast cancer as prognostic and/or predictive tools in detail, including their clinical use, the factors being evaluated, patient demographics, and the scoring systems. All these topic discussions have not been fully described and summarized within other research or review articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is one of the three most common cancers worldwide and is the most common malignancy in women. Treatment approaches for breast cancer are diverse and varied. Clinicians must balance risks and benefits when deciding treatments, and models have been developed to support this decision-making. Genomic risk scores (GRSs) may offer greater clinical value than standard clinicopathological models, but there is limited evidence as to whether these models perform better than the current clinical standard of care. Methods: PREDICT and GRSs were adapted using data from the original papers. Univariable Cox proportional hazards models were produced with breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) as the outcome. Independent predictors of BCSS were used to build multivariable models with PREDICT. Signatures which provided independent prognostic information in multivariable models were incorporated into the PREDICT algorithm and assessed for calibration, discrimination and reclassification. Results: EndoPredict, MammaPrint and Prosigna demonstrated prognostic power independent of PREDICT in multivariable models for ER-positive patients; no score predicted BCSS in ER-negative patients. Incorporating these models into PREDICT had only a modest impact upon calibration (with absolute improvements of 0.2–0.8%), discrimination (with no statistically significant c-index improvements) and reclassification (with 4–10% of patients being reclassified). Conclusion: Addition of GRSs to PREDICT had limited impact on model fit or treatment received. This analysis does not support widespread adoption of current GRSs based on our implementations of commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly malignant tumor of endothelial cells that comprises approximately 50% of all splenic neoplasms in dogs. It commonly afflicts older, large breed dogs, particularly Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and German shepherds. Affected dogs often present for evaluation of acute collapse due to tumor rupture and abdominal hemorrhage. Standard treatment of canine splenic HSA includes splenectomy and subsequent chemotherapy. There are several reported chemotherapy protocols, most of which involve the use of intravenous doxorubicin. Survival rates for dogs with splenic HSA are generally poor. Treatment with surgery (splenectomy) only provides a mean survival of 1-3 months with affected dogs generally succumbing to recurrent and/or metastatic disease. Surgery and chemotherapy improve survival times slightly to a median survival time of 4-6 months. Experiential experience by the authors have noted a better clinical outcome can be achieved using traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) treatment. Dogs treated with splenectomy and TCVM have survival times of 3-4 years with a good quality of life. The TCVM treatment survival time for the HSA dogs without splenectomy averages 11-13 months. The primary TCVM Patterns of splenic HSA are Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, and Blood Stasis. This paper will review TCVM Pattern diagnosis and treatment of HSA in dogs along with a case series of 4 dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we report that the combination of existing therapeutic agents and hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E), a virus-inactivating agent, may be a more effective treatment agent for pleural mesothelioma, a refractory cancer for which no effective treatment has been established. We have already reported that HVJ-E, which activates antitumor immunity and induces apoptosis in cancer, can provide a different mechanism for effective treatment. In this report, the antitumor effect of HVJ-E in combination with chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) activated antitumor immunity in a mouse model of malignant pleural mesothelioma-bearing tumor and significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy compared to single-agent therapy. We report that the use of HVJ-E in combination with chemotherapy or ICIs, which are already used in clinical practice, may be more effective than single-agent therapy. However, further clinical studies are needed before the combination therapy can be used in clinical practice. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a refractory tumor because most of the lesions are already disseminated at diagnosis. Previously, the main treatment for MPM was combination chemotherapy. However, recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are also used. For better efficacy of MPM treatment, we focused on hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E), which activates antitumor immunity and induces tumor-specific cell death. In this paper, we aimed to determine whether HVJ-E as a single agent therapy or in combination with chemotherapy or ICIs is effective in MPM bearing mouse. We confirmed its antitumor efficacy in MPM-bearing mouse. HVJ-E significantly prolonged the survival of human MPM-bearing mouse compared to that of control mouse and when combined with CDDP. This efficacy was lost in NOD-SCID mouse, suggesting that activation of innate immunity by HVJ-E was related to the survival rate. HVJ-E also showed antitumor efficacy in murine MPM-bearing mouse. The combination of chemotherapy and HVJ-E caused a significant increase in cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) compared to chemotherapy alone, suggesting that not only innate immunity activated by HVJ-E but also the increase in CTLs contributed to improved survival. The combination of anti-PD-1 antibody and HVJ-E significantly prolonged the survival rate of murine MPM-bearing mouse. Further, HVJ-E might have exhibited antitumor effects by maintaining immunogenicity against tumors. We believe that HVJ-E may be a beneficial therapy to improve MPM treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Its incidence rate accounts for 7–10% of all kinds of malignant tumors in the whole body, second only to uterine cancer in women, and has become the main cancer threatening women's health. Fortunately, it has been proved that combination therapy of immunotherapy with radiotherapy, targeted technology, and even nanotechnology is active and effective in treating breast cancer, which provides a broader way of studying the treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, the purpose of our review is to study the value of immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment. Moreover, because the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is difficult, we will discuss this in more detail in this article. Breast cancer (BC) is a representative malignant tumor that affects women across the world, and it is the main cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Although a large number of treatment methods have been developed for BC in recent years, the results are sometimes unsatisfying. In recent years, treatments of BC have been expanded with immunotherapy. In our article, we list some tumor markers related to immunotherapy for BC. Moreover, we introduce the existing relatively mature immunotherapy and the markers' pathogenesis are involved. The combination of immunotherapy and other therapies for BC are introduced in detail, including the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, the combined use of immunosuppressants and chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. We summarize the clinical effects of these methods. In addition, this paper also makes a preliminary exploration of the combination of immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and nanotechnology for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a fatal disease with a complex pathophysiology. Lack of specificity and cytotoxicity, as well as the multidrug resistance of traditional cancer chemotherapy, are the most common limitations that often cause treatment failure. Thus, in recent years, significant efforts have concentrated on the development of a modernistic field called nano-oncology, which provides the possibility of using nanoparticles (NPs) with the aim to detect, target, and treat cancer diseases. In comparison with conventional anticancer strategies, NPs provide a targeted approach, preventing undesirable side effects. What is more, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have shown good pharmacokinetics and precise targeting, as well as reduced multidrug resistance. It has been documented that, in cancer cells, NPs promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, activate ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress, modulate various signaling pathways, etc. Furthermore, their ability to inhibit tumor growth in vivo has also been documented. In this paper, we have reviewed the role of silver NPs (AgNPs) in cancer nanomedicine, discussing numerous mechanisms by which they render anticancer properties under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as well as their potential in the diagnosis of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is dangerous and one of the major diseases affecting normal human life. In this paper, a fractional-order cancer model with stem cells and chemotherapy is analyzed to check the effects of infection in individuals. The model is investigated by the Sumudu transform and a very effective numerical method. The positivity of solutions with the ABC operator of the proposed technique is verified. Fixed point theory is used to derive the existence and uniqueness of the solutions for the fractional order cancer system. Our derived solutions analyze the actual behavior and effect of cancer disease in the human body using different fractional values. Modern mathematical control with the fractional operator has many applications including the complex and crucial study of systems with symmetry. Symmetry analysis is a powerful tool that enables the user to construct numerical solutions of a given fractional differential equation in a fairly systematic way. Such an analysis will provide a better understanding to control the of cancer disease in the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge for drug dosing schedules is the ability to learn an optimal control policy even when there is a paucity of accurate information about the systems. Artificial intelligence has great potential for shaping a smart control policy for the dosage of drugs for any treatment. Motivated by this issue, in the present research paper a Caputo–Fabrizio fractional-order model of cancer chemotherapy treatment was elaborated and analyzed. A fix-point theorem and an iterative method were implemented to prove the existence and uniqueness of the solutions of the proposed model. Afterward, in order to control cancer through chemotherapy treatment, a fuzzy-reinforcement learning-based control method that uses the State-Action-Reward-State-Action (SARSA) algorithm was proposed. Finally, so as to assess the performance of the proposed control method, the simulations were conducted for young and elderly patients and for ten simulated patients with different parameters. Then, the results of the proposed control method were compared with Watkins's Q-learning control method for cancer chemotherapy drug dosing. The results of the simulations demonstrate the superiority of the proposed control method in terms of mean squared error, mean variance of the error, and the mean squared of the control action—in other words, in terms of the eradication of tumor cells, keeping normal cells, and the amount of usage of the drug during chemotherapy treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this paper is to explore the value of a delta-radiomic model of the axillary lymph node (ALN) using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI for early prediction of the axillary pathological complete response (pCR) of breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: A total of 120 patients with ALN-positive breast cancer who underwent breast MRI before and after the first cycle of NAC between October 2018 and May 2021 were prospectively included in this study. Patients were divided into a training (n = 84) and validation (n = 36) cohort based on the temporal order of their treatments. Radiomic features were extracted from the largest slice of targeted ALN on DCE-MRI at pretreatment and after one cycle of NAC, and their changes (delta-) were calculated and recorded. Logistic regression was then applied to build radiomic models using the pretreatment (pre-), first-cycle(1st-), and changes (delta-) radiomic features separately. A clinical model was also built and combined with the radiomic models. The models were evaluated by discrimination, calibration, and clinical application and compared using DeLong test. Results: Among the three radiomic models, the ALN delta-radiomic model performed the best with AUCs of 0.851 (95% CI: 0.770–0.932) and 0.822 (95% CI: 0.685–0.958) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The clinical model yielded moderate AUCs of 0.742 (95% CI: 0.637–0.846) and 0.723 (95% CI: 0.550–0.896), respectively. After combining clinical features to the delta-radiomics model, the efficacy of the combined model (AUC = 0.932) in the training cohort was significantly higher than that of both the delta-radiomic model (Delong p = 0.017) and the clinical model (Delong p < 0.001) individually. Additionally, in the validation cohort, the combined model had the highest AUC (0.859) of any of the models we tested although this was not statistically different from any other individual model's validation AUC. Calibration and decision curves showed a good agreement and a high clinical benefit for the combined model. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that ALN-based delta-radiomic model combined with clinical features is a promising strategy for the early prediction of downstaging ALN status after NAC. Future axillary MRI applications need to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In the past two decades, the surge of research on bacterial persisters has been inspired as increasingly concerning about the frequent failure of antibiotics treatment. This study was aimed at presenting a bibliometric and visualized analysis of relative publications on bacterial persisters, which offered insights into the development and research trends of this field. Methods. The Web of Science Core Collection and Ovid MEDLINE databases were utilized to retrieve relevant publications on bacterial persisters from 2001 to 2021. After manual selection, data including titles, authors, journals, author keywords, addresses, the number of citations, and publication years were subsequently extracted. The data analysis and visual mapping were conducted with Excel, SPSS, R studio, and VOSviewer. Results. In this study, 1,903 relevant publications on bacterial persisters were included. During 2001-2021, there was an exponential growth in the quantity of publications. It was found that these studies were conducted by 7,182 authors from 74 different countries. The USA led the scientific production with the highest total number of publications (859) and citation frequency (52,022). The Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy was the most influential journal with 113 relevant publications. The cooccurrence analysis revealed that studies on bacterial persisters focused on four aspects: "the role of persisters in biofilms," "clinical persistent infection," "anti-persister treatment," and "mechanism of persister formation." Conclusion. In the past two decades, the global field of bacterial persisters has significantly increased. The USA was the leading country in this field. Mechanistic studies continued to be the future hotspots, which may be helpful to adopt new strategies against persisters and solve the problem of chronic infection in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of primary topical monotherapy with chemotherapeutic drugs and immunomodulatory agents represents an increasing recognition of the medical management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), which may replace surgery as the standard of care in the future. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best way to manage OSSN with no existing guidelines to date. This paper seeks to evaluate evidence surrounding available treatment modalities and proposes an approach to management. The approach will guide ophthalmologists in selecting the most appropriate treatment regime based on patient and disease factors to minimize treatment related morbidity and improve OSSN control. Further work can be done to validate this algorithm and to develop formal guidelines to direct the management of OSSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Liver metastases occur in almost half of patients with colorectal cancer, either at the time of presentation (synchronous) or eventually as a metachronous recurrence of the disease. Approximately one quarter of patients with metastasis to the liver receive surgical resection with curative intent but recurrence is frequent and related to tumor biology. Understanding cancer biology is crucial to improve outcomes. In an attempt at unveiling novel targets for treatment, this paper investigates and summarizes current knowledge of the distinct growth patterns of tumor cells at the interface with normal liver tissue, defined as the histopathological growth pattern, and their interaction with immune cells in the microenvironment. Almost half of all patients with colorectal cancer present with or eventually develop metastasis, most frequently in the liver. Understanding the histopathological growth patterns and tumor immune microenvironment of colorectal liver metastases may help determine treatment strategies and assess prognosis. A literature search was conducted to gather information on cancer biology, histopathological growth patterns, and the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal liver metastases, including their mechanisms and their impact on clinical outcomes. A first consensus on histopathological growth patterns emerged in 2017, identifying five growth patterns. Later studies found benefits from a two-tier system, desmoplastic and non-desmoplastic, incorporated into the updated 2022 consensus. Furthermore, the tumor immune microenvironment shows additional characteristic features with relevance to cancer biology. This includes density of T-cells (CD8+), expression of claudin-2, presence of vessel co-option versus angiogenesis, as well as several other factors. The relation between histopathological growth patterns and the tumor immune microenvironment delineates distinct subtypes of cancer biology. The distinct subtypes are found to correlate with risk of metastasis or relapse, and hence to clinical outcome and long-term survival in each patient. In order to optimize personalized and precision therapy for patients with colorectal liver metastases, further investigation into the mechanisms of cancer biology and their translational aspects to novel treatment targets is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim; One of the cancer treatments is chemotherapy; Anxiety is one of the important; symptoms of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Considering the effect of lemon aromatherapy on improving anxiety in patients without cancer, maybe it can also improve the anxiety of patients with cancer This study aimed to determine the possible effect of lemon scent on the nausea and vomiting of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Instruments & Methods This is a one-sided blind clinical trial study, which was carried out on 50 patients undergoing chemotherapy at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran in --2021-2022. Patients were randomly divided into two test and control groups. During chemotherapy, three drops of lemon essential oil were used and in the control group, 3cc of water were poured on a paper napkin. The subjects were then asked to breathe normally. This method was used once a week for 4 weeks during chemotherapy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Findings The mean age of intervention and control groups were 52.20t9.63 and 51.48 ± 12.29 years, respectively (p=0.81) The mean duration of the disease of intervention and control groups were 40.04±27.53 and 35.32±19.57 months, respectively (p=0.48). No significant differences were seen between two groups in the demographic characteristics; sex, marital status, education level, underlying disease, and cancer type. The ANOVA test with repeated measures showed no significant decrease in overt and covert anxiety of patients over time (p>0.05). Conclusion Aromatherapy with lemon essence has no effect on the overt and covert anxiety of the cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present paper, the main diagnostic tool for re-evaluation of axillary lymph node involvement and planning of surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is ultrasound whose accuracy we aimed to determine herein. The high precision of ultrasound in diagnosis of metastatic axillary lymph nodes in untreated patients is well known; however, its worth in patients who received NAC is highly controversial. Method: We enrolled 165 breast cancer patients receiving NAC in this retrospective cohort study. They all had undergone post-NAC ultrasound done before surgery. The ultrasound reports were reassessed and validated by a breast radiologist. Finally, the histopathology reports were compared to those of the ultrasound. Results: Among 165 surveyed post-NAC ultrasounds, 53 women had positive results and 112 had negative results. Pathology and ultrasound reports were accordant in 93 women and adverse in 112 others. The false negative rate of post-NAC axillary ultrasound was calculated as 60.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of post-NAC AxUS were 39.4% and 79%, respectively. After NAC, there were certain changes in ultrasound reports from positive to negative in 50% and pathologic complete clearance was observed in just 28% of the women who were initially clinically lymph node positive. Conclusion: Ultrasound was not found to be an accurate and appropriate tool for evaluation of axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer patients who receive NAC. By changing the primarily established surgical plan from ALND to SLNB, based on the ultrasound findings, patients may remain undertreated. Furthermore, the axillary nodes pathologic clearance after NAC was observed in less than one third of the women who were initially clinically node positive; accordingly, surgeons should be cautious about the optimum response of axillary metastatic lymph nodes to NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer chemotherapy involves drugs that interfere with cellular functioning and lead to cell destruction. These cytotoxic drugs have narrow therapeutic index and in most of cases, their potential side effects concern directly and significantly non tumor cells. These adverse effects may be apparent in different forms of symptoms such as headache, nausea, breathing difficulty, tiredness, etc. In real cases, medical staff is facing difficulties to identify patients' state due to a lack of medical data. In order to limit chemotherapy related side effects and to support the medical staff in the clinical decision process, effective toxicity prediction and assessment structure are crucial. In this paper, we propose to assist treating physicians by predicting the toxicity level of each patient after each chemotherapy session. Thus, they early decide which drug adjustment is required and then prevent any further complication. Our support approach is based on machine learning techniques and relies on predefined toxicity levels for predicting chemotherapy complications. Multi-classification methods are considered and trained on real medical data that were collected during the treatment phase of cancer patients in Tunisia. An assessment of the proposed approach is performed through an experimental study to show the effectiveness and the performance of learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the large amount of human and experimental studies no effective (prophylactic) treatment exists for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a disabling side effect of many cancer treatments. One of the underlying reasons for this could be that often the preclinical animal models used are not the best representation of the clinical situation. We therefore present a systematic summary and comparison of all animal models currently described in literature for CIPN focusing on stimulus evoked pain-like behaviour and neurophysiological alterations in nerve function (650 included papers, and a comparison of 183 models), that resulted in a clear overview of the most effective and robust CIPN models using an administration route used in clinical practice. Using our three-step approach (step 1: efficacy; step; 2 robustness and step 3: mimicking the clinical situation) we show that all mice CIPN models treated with either paclitaxel or cisplatin using an administration route used in clinical practice seem suitable models. Three specific models using paclitaxel or cisplatin that stand out are 1) C57BL/6 female mice receiving paclitaxel and 2) CD1 male mice receiving paclitaxel and 3) C57BL/6 male mice receiving cisplatin. This overview may help scientists selecting suitable CIPN models for their research. We hypothesize that by using effective and robust animal models that mimic the clinical situation as much as possible, the translational value of preclinical study results with respect to the potential of identifying promising treatments for CIPN in the future, will prove. The methodology described in this paper, aimed at comparing animal models, is novel and can be used by scientist in other research fields as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex persistent air leak (PAL) is a clinical condition which is difficult to treat. Herein, we report the clinical case of an 18‐year‐old woman with lung and bone metastases due an ultrarare sarcoma: "round cell sarcoma non‐Ewing". She developed persistent air leaks due to an alveolopleural fistula which developed following two cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin. Chest drainage with suction failed to resolve the air leaks, while surgical treatment was unfeasible due to the poor clinical condition of the patient. Thus, she was reviewed for endoscopic treatment with one‐way endobronchial valves. A small valve was sequentially inserted within each segment of the right upper bronchus to occlude the entire upper lobe. Two days after the procedure, resolution of the air leaks were obtained. Chest drainage was removed 5 days later and the patient was discharged. Chemotherapy was resumed. The patient died 7 months later because of disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The DigniCap System is an effective scalp cooling device for the prevention of chemotherapy‐induced alopecia in early breast cancer patients. Aim: This prospective study was designed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of the device, to explore potential factors associated with its efficacy and to collect data on patient perceptions and satisfaction. Methods: Between January 2016 and June 2018, 163 early breast cancer patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled. Hair loss was assessed using the Dean scale, where a score of 0–2 (hair loss ≤50%) was defined as successful. Results: Hair preservation was successful in 57% of patients in the overall series. The proportion was even higher (81%) in the patient subgroup treated with a paclitaxel and trastuzumab regimen. Side effects (feeling cold, headache, head heaviness, scalp and cervical pain) were mild to moderate and did not correlate with the rate of hair loss. Lifestyle, anthropometric factors and hair characteristics failed to be associated with device efficacy. Conclusions: The DigniCap System was well tolerated and found to be effective in preventing alopecia in early breast cancer patients. Our study failed to identify factors other than type of chemotherapy regimen associated with hair preservation. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? While the DigniCap System is known to be effective in preventing chemotherapy‐induced alopecia, nearly 50% of patients do not benefit from its use, and its side effects can be relevant.Identifying factors associated with the efficacy of scalp hypothermia is particularly important to avert the side effects of scalp cooling in patients unlikely to gain any advantage and to avoid unnecessarily prolonging chemotherapy chair occupation in patients at high risk of hair loss. What this paper adds? This single‐centre prospective study involving a relatively large series of breast cancer patients confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of the DigniCap.Our study failed to identify factors other than type of chemotherapy regimen significantly associated with hair preservation. The implications of this paper: Since a high success rate was observed in patients treated with paclitaxel and trastuzumab, use of the DigniCap may be recommended in breast cancer patients receiving this regimen.In other patients, the use of the device should be considered on an individual patient basis, balancing the efficacy rates and the longer duration of chemotherapy administration against the physical and psychological distress linked to hair loss.Oncology nurses can identify patients who are likely to develop early side effects and/or are unlikely to benefit from scalp hypothermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]