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Introduction: The aim of this study was to find the most appropriate variables to input into machine learning algorithms to identify those patients with primary lung malignancy with high risk for metastasis to the bone. Patient Inclusion: Patients with either histological or radiological diagnoses of lung cancer were included in this study. Results: The patient cohort comprised 1864 patients diagnosed from 2016 to 2021. A total of 25 variables were considered as potential risk factors. These variables have been identified in previous studies as independent risk factors for bone metastasis. Treatment methods for lung cancer were taken into account during model development. The outcome variable was binary, (presence or absence of bone metastasis) with follow‐up until death or 12‐month survival, whichever is the sooner. Results showed that American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, the use of EGFR inhibitor, age, T‐staging, and lymphovascular invasion were the five input features contributing the most to the model algorithm. High AJCC staging (OR 1.98; p < 0.05), the use of EGFR inhibitor (OR 6.14; p < 0.05), high T‐staging (OR 1.47; p < 0.05), and the presence of lymphovascular invasion (OR 4.92; p < 0.05) increase predicted risk of bone metastasis. Conversely, older age reduces predicted bone metastasis risk (OR 0.98; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The machine learning model developed in this study can be easily incorporated into the hospital's Clinical Management System so that input variables can be immediately utilized to give an accurate prediction of bone metastatic risk, therefore informing clinicians on the best treatment strategy for that individual patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis frequently targets bones, where cancer cells from the primary tumour migrate to the bone marrow, initiating new tumour growth. Not only is bone the most common site for metastasis, but it also often marks the first site of metastatic recurrence. Despite causing over 90% of cancer-related deaths, effective treatments for bone metastasis are lacking, with current approaches mainly focusing on palliative care. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are pivotal in metastasis, originating from primary tumours and circulating in the bloodstream. They facilitate metastasis through molecular interactions with the bone marrow environment, involving direct cell-to-cell contacts and signalling molecules. CTCs infiltrate the bone marrow, transforming into disseminated tumour cells (DTCs). While some DTCs remain dormant, others become activated, leading to metastatic growth. The presence of DTCs in the bone marrow strongly correlates with future bone and visceral metastases. Research on CTCs in peripheral blood has shed light on their release mechanisms, yet investigations into bone marrow DTCs have been limited. Challenges include the invasiveness of bone marrow aspiration and the rarity of DTCs, complicating their isolation. However, advancements in single-cell analysis have facilitated insights into these elusive cells. This review will summarize recent advancements in understanding bone marrow DTCs using single-cell analysis techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Total hip arthroplasty is a well-established orthopaedic procedure, the use of which is on the increase worldwide. Since implants used in arthroplasty are usually made of metals including cobalt, chromium and titanium. These metals have since been classified as potentially carcinogenic and may cause cancers in humans. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether patients with hip implants have a higher risk of developing any type of cancer. The findings will better inform patients and doctors about the risks and benefits of the type of implants and if patients with implants are at a higher risk of malignancy, then patients with implants may benefit from closer medical monitoring. Background: Metal implants have been preferentially used in THA due to its biocompatibility, mechanical stability and durability. Yet concerns have emerged regarding their potential to release metallic ions, leading to long-term adverse effects, including carcinogenicity. This study aimed to investigate the risk of cancer development in patients with orthopaedic metal implants in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Patients with THA conducted at a local tertiary implant centre from 2001–2008 were linked to the local cancer registry and followed up to the end of 2023. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer incidence and its confidence interval by Poisson distribution were calculated. Survival analysis was depicted using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to assess the differences across groups. Results: The study cohort included 388 patients and 53 cancers diagnosed during follow-up, at least 5 years post THA. All-site cancer risks were increased in patients with THA (SIR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.48–2.46), validated with chi-square analysis (chi-square = 15.2551, N = 100,388, p < 0.01). A statistically significant increase in multiple site-specific cancers including haematological cancers were identified. Conclusions: Patients with THA were found to have an increased risk for cancer compared to the general population during a mean follow-up of 16 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cavity cancer is a lethal and deforming disease of rising global significance. We have previously highlighted limitations in contemporary awareness regarding sociodemographic influence on the prognosis and management of patients in Australia. Patients' marital status has been proposed as an independent prognostic factor for various cancers but few data exist in relation to oral cancer outcomes. This study, a retrospective analysis of 21,858 Queensland oral cancer patients diagnosed over a 31-year period, confirmed a protective effect for marriage on survival, after adjustment for age and tumour characterisation. The benefits of marriage, however, were significantly greater for men than women, implying an important differential effect. Clinicians should be cognisant of the psychosocial influences on patient outcome following cancer treatment, and should consider the use of all available social support mechanisms to optimise patient survival and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to determine the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of hypermethylated DNA biomarkers in saliva and oral swabs for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) detection from the prevalidation studies available. Materials and Methods: Electronic database searching of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS was conducted to identify relevant articles that were published between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2020. Results: Meta‐analysis was conducted based on 11 of 20 studies selected for review. Included studies had high bias concerns on the QUADAS‐2 study assessment tool. We found that salivary and oral swab hypermethylation markers had better specificity than sensitivity for oral cancer detection. Summary sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) of hypermethylation panels were 86.2% (60–96.2) and 90.6% (85.9–93.9) while for individual markers, summary sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were 70% (56.9–80.5) and 91.9% (80.3–96.9), respectively. Respective positive and negative likelihood ratios for combined markers were 9.2 (5.89–14.36) and 0.15 (0.05–0.5), and 8.61 (3.39–21.87) and 0.33 (0.22–0.49) for single‐application biomarkers. Conclusion: DNA hypermethylation biomarkers especially in combination have acceptable DTA that warrants further optimization with rigorous biomarker evaluation methods for conclusive determination of their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]