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The article focuses on the role of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in oncology research, highlighting the challenges they face and the lessons learned from their experiences. It emphasizes that APNs are crucial in driving evidence-based practices and innovations in cancer care. It underscores the necessity for adequate training, support, and integration of research into their clinical roles to enhance patient care and advance the nursing profession in oncology.

Background/Aim: Developing animal models of bone metastasis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is challenging as immunodeficient mice are required. The aim of this study was to develop a simple immune model of RCC bone metastasis. Materials and Methods: RENCA tumor cells were injected into the right femurs of BALB/c mice. Sixty mice were grouped into each twenty-mouse group according to the tumor cell concentration, and the presence or absence and extent of bone metastasis in the total length of the femur were compared using hematoxylin and eosin staining of the excised tissues. Results: Bone metastasis was significantly higher in the high concentration group than in the other groups (p<0.05), with 10 mice developing bone metastasis at two weeks and nine mice developing bone metastasis at three weeks. The extent of bone metastasis was significantly greater in the high concentration group than in the other groups (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors influencing bone metastasis, and only the high concentration was a significant factor (p<0.05). Conclusion: We developed a normal immunity mouse model of local bone metastasis from RCC. This model could prove valuable for research into the treatment of bone metastases in RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioprinting is a groundbreaking technology that enables precise distribution of cell-containing bioinks to construct organoid models that accurately reflect the characteristics of tumors in vivo. By incorporating different types of tumor cells into the bioink, the heterogeneity of tumors can be replicated, enabling studies to simulate real-life situations closely. Precise reproduction of the arrangement and interactions of tumor cells using bioprinting methods provides a more realistic representation of the tumor microenvironment. By mimicking the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, the growth patterns and diffusion of tumors can be demonstrated. This approach can also be used to evaluate the response of tumors to drugs, including drug permeability and cytotoxicity, and other characteristics. Therefore, organoid models can provide a more accurate oncology research and treatment simulation platform. This review summarizes the latest advancements in bioprinting to construct tumor organoid models. First, we describe the bioink used for tumor organoid model construction, followed by an introduction to various bioprinting methods for tumor model formation. Subsequently, we provide an overview of existing bioprinted tumor organoid models.

The gender perspective is important for a better diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially in the field of oncology. This study aimed to analyse the gender approach in scientific articles in the field of oncology by studying the gender composition of the authorship of papers and the gender inclusion in the research carried out. A bibliographic search of articles and reviews signed by at least one Spanish institution published between 2010 and 2019 was carried out using the Science Citation Index Expanded database in the Oncology category. A total of 7523 studies were classified according to the gender composition determined by the author's name and a randomised sample was used to evaluate the inclusion of gender perspectives using a checklist. This study revealed a lack of gender parity in the authorship of oncology publications involving Spanish participation. Papers without author gender parity were eight times higher than papers with parity and showed a greater presence of male than female authorship (58 % versus 31 %). Regarding the introduction of the gender perspective, a negative response of 68 % referring to compliance with the entire checklist was obtained, and only a fifth of the articles presented gender balance in the study sample. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between gender parity in authorship and gender perspective integration in published research. In conclusion, there is a great need to advance the inclusion of gender perspectives in cancer research to overcome gender bias and promote better prevention, detection, and intervention for cancer.

Background: The Taiwan Oncology Society (TOS) and the Taiwan Society of Pathology (TSP) have collaborated to present a joint position paper on the molecular tumor boards (MTBs) within the medical institutions of Taiwan. Materials and Methods: To raise awareness of MTBs among health-care professionals, policymakers, and the public, a total of 20 experts from TOS and TSP formulated a joint consensus statement through a voting process. Results: The joint statement proposes key recommendations: (1) MTB discussions encompass diverse molecular analyses including next-generation sequencing (NGS), RNA sequencing, whole-exon sequencing, and whole-genomic sequencing addressing relevant genomic changes, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and specific biomarkers for certain cancers. (2) MTB meetings should involve multidisciplinary participants who receive regular updates on NGS-related clinical trials. (3) Prioritize discussing cases with unique clinical needs, gene alterations lacking treatments, untreatable neoplasms, or oncogenes unresponsive to targeted therapies. (4) Base MTB discussions on comprehensive patient data, including genetics, pathology, timing of specimen collection, and NGS outcomes. (5) MTBs offer treatment recommendations: standard therapies, off-label use, clinical trials, genetic counseling, and multidisciplinary reviews. (6) MTB effectiveness can be gauged by member composition, case reviews, treatment suggestions, and patient outcomes. Encourage government incentives for MTB engagement. Conclusion: The primary aim of this initiative is to promote the advancement of precision oncology in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recruitment of racial/ethnic underserved populations in oncology research is essential to address health disparities. This article presents strategies and lessons learned from community outreach and other approaches for recruiting non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White survivors of cancer into a pilot study that investigated biopsychosocial determinants of health behaviors., Methods: We critically examined the participant recruitment approaches to explore challenges and successful strategies and develop recommendations for future studies. Direct recruitment strategies included engaging with research staff members' personal community contacts/liaisons and participating in community outreach events (eg, farmers' markets, block parties, library events, cancer awareness events). Indirect recruitment strategies included posting and distribution of study flyers in community centers (eg, LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, churches, libraries), online platforms (eg, FORCE, Survivor Journey website), and invitation letters sent to individuals identified as eligible through a single state cancer registry., Results: Between April 2022 and May 2023, among the 64 individuals recruited, 36 were non-Hispanic Black, 25 were Hispanic, and three were American Indian/Alaska Native people. The use of a state cancer registry (64.1%), snowballing/word of mouth (7.8%), and advertisement through an established cancer support organization (ie, FORCE) website (7.8%) were the most effective strategies in this study., Conclusion: Recruitment of non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other non-White people into biobehavioral studies through community-engaged research is challenging and requires long-term commitment and engagement with partners from target communities and affiliated organizations., Implication for Nursing Practice: Registries and community outreach events can build trust for successful enrollment. Using multiple strategies can provide the best opportunities to reach diverse populations and enroll them in cancer-related research studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Memnun Seven reports financial support was provided by Oncology Nursing Society Foundation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bioprinting is a groundbreaking technology that enables precise distribution of cell-containing bioinks to construct organoid models that accurately reflect the characteristics of tumors in vivo . By incorporating different types of tumor cells into the bioink, the heterogeneity of tumors can be replicated, enabling studies to simulate real-life situations closely. Precise reproduction of the arrangement and interactions of tumor cells using bioprinting methods provides a more realistic representation of the tumor microenvironment. By mimicking the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, the growth patterns and diffusion of tumors can be demonstrated. This approach can also be used to evaluate the response of tumors to drugs, including drug permeability and cytotoxicity, and other characteristics. Therefore, organoid models can provide a more accurate oncology research and treatment simulation platform. This review summarizes the latest advancements in bioprinting to construct tumor organoid models. First, we describe the bioink used for tumor organoid model construction, followed by an introduction to various bioprinting methods for tumor model formation. Subsequently, we provide an overview of existing bioprinted tumor organoid models., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Organizational characteristics, including organizational structures and processes, are important to understanding care delivery and health outcomes. However, organizational-level constructs present measurement challenges in care delivery research. This analysis aims to understand if, when, and how organizational characteristics are examined in a National Cancer Institute (NCI) research network conducting cancer care delivery research (CCDR). The NCI Community Oncology Research Program encourages consideration of organizational variables in CCDR studies. We conducted a cross-sectional thematic analysis to identify organizational characteristics examined in this portfolio of research. Organizational characteristics targeted, related measures, and analytic approach were abstracted by 2 study investigators using a coding framework adapted from 2 existing frameworks. A total of 78.9% of eligible study protocols included organizational characteristics. Structural characteristics were the most common, collected in all 15 included protocols, 14 examined at least 1 organizational process, and 12 examined organizational-level outcomes. Most studies proposed descriptive practice-level analyses or multilevel analyses using random effects to account for clustering of patients and staff within practices. Few (n = 5) specified that organizational variables would be modeled as effects of interest (vs covaried out) or proposed analytic approaches that could more robustly examine effects of targeted organizational characteristics on primary outcomes. Inclusion of organizational variables is common in CCDR conducted through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program, NCI's national network charged with bringing cancer clinical trials to people in their communities. Nonetheless, opportunities remain to improve the use of theory to guide organizational construct selection, operationalization, measurement, and incorporation into study hypotheses and analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Developing animal models of bone metastasis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is challenging as immunodeficient mice are required. The aim of this study was to develop a simple immune model of RCC bone metastasis., Materials and Methods: RENCA tumor cells were injected into the right femurs of BALB/c mice. Sixty mice were grouped into each twenty-mouse group according to the tumor cell concentration, and the presence or absence and extent of bone metastasis in the total length of the femur were compared using hematoxylin and eosin staining of the excised tissues., Results: Bone metastasis was significantly higher in the high concentration group than in the other groups (p<0.05), with 10 mice developing bone metastasis at two weeks and nine mice developing bone metastasis at three weeks. The extent of bone metastasis was significantly greater in the high concentration group than in the other groups (p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors influencing bone metastasis, and only the high concentration was a significant factor (p<0.05)., Conclusion: We developed a normal immunity mouse model of local bone metastasis from RCC. This model could prove valuable for research into the treatment of bone metastases in RCC., (Copyright © 2024, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Due to increasing demand, the oncology clinics have been experiencing higher workloads and increasing delays in laboratory, pharmacy and chemotherapy administration areas. In this study, we worked with an oncology clinic where patients receive chemotherapy treatment. A discrete event simulation model is developed to evaluate the operational performance in the clinic and to identify initiatives for improvement in process flow, scheduling and staffing. A mathematical programming model is developed to generate balanced appointment schedules for oncologist visit and chemotherapy treatment. Our results show that patient waiting times and clinic total working times can be reduced, and a more balanced resource utilisation can be achieved using better scheduling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Large quantities of data are now available to medical researchers; however, observational studies are plagued by bias and confounding. Additionally, much of this research only speculates on variable associations, leaving prospective randomized clinical trials as the sole purveyors of claims about causal relations between variables. There has been a growing movement of causal inference that uses new techniques to investigate causality using observational data. These techniques include the implementation of directed acyclic graphs, which allow researchers to explicitly and reproducibly define the causal relationships between study variables, thus making statistical analysis more robust. Directed acyclic graphs further allow researchers to identify confounding and other sources of bias and to discover causal effects among complex networks of variables. This review aims to introduce these techniques to the general urology and urologic oncology research communities in order to provide a basic understanding of causal inference and analysis and call for integration of these practices more generally in research methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gender perspective is important for a better diagnosis and treatment of diseases, especially in the field of oncology. This study aimed to analyse the gender approach in scientific articles in the field of oncology by studying the gender composition of the authorship of papers and the gender inclusion in the research carried out. A bibliographic search of articles and reviews signed by at least one Spanish institution published between 2010 and 2019 was carried out using the Science Citation Index Expanded database in the Oncology category. A total of 7523 studies were classified according to the gender composition determined by the author's name and a randomised sample was used to evaluate the inclusion of gender perspectives using a checklist. This study revealed a lack of gender parity in the authorship of oncology publications involving Spanish participation. Papers without author gender parity were eight times higher than papers with parity and showed a greater presence of male than female authorship (58 % versus 31 %). Regarding the introduction of the gender perspective, a negative response of 68 % referring to compliance with the entire checklist was obtained, and only a fifth of the articles presented gender balance in the study sample. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between gender parity in authorship and gender perspective integration in published research. In conclusion, there is a great need to advance the inclusion of gender perspectives in cancer research to overcome gender bias and promote better prevention, detection, and intervention for cancer., Competing Interests: The authors of this study have no interest to declare., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The Nobel Prize, which is awarded annually, is open to everyone, regardless of nationality, race, belief or ideology, and winners are announced in October. We evaluated the history of the Nobel prizes for awards that have been awarded in fields related to cancer. The contents of the research and their contribution to oncology were determined and reviewed. There were nine awards directly related to cancer. Only studies thought to be groundbreaking in carcinogenesis and molecular treatment of cancer are included in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasonography and mammography are two radiologic approaches for screening breast cancer; however, the pathology report is required for the ultimate diagnosis of malignancy. This study aimed to assess the concordance of ultrasonography (US) and mammography with the pathology in breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the breast US and the mammography findings based on the BI-RADS model in comparison with the definitive pathology reports in a single medical center. The sensitivity, the specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) and also the concordance between the US and the mammography data were analyzed. Results: In this study, 126 patients were included. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the US were 69.8, 71.9, 75.6 and 81.3 and for mammography were 91.9, 76.6, 80.8 and, 94.6 percent, respectively. The ROC-curve for either the US or the mammography showed that the BI-RADS 4 was accompanied with the highest sensitivity and specificity for the screening of the malignant breast lesions regarding the final diagnosis. Although an overall higher correlation between mammography report and presence of a malignant lesion was observed, the total relative concordance between the results of US and mammography as screening tools proved to be statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: Both the US and the mammography were sensitive and specific screening tools, particularly for the malignant breast lesions. Furthermore, when evidence of the BI-RADS=4 in either the mammography or the US was present, utilization of the other test could be ignored before biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become a fundamental goal of breast cancer management. This study aimed to examine the differences between the QOL outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy. We also established structural equation models for BCS and mastectomy to elucidate their unique effects on QOL. Methods: Between July 2019 and November 2019, 254 patients, who were scheduled to visit one of four clinics, were recruited for this study. We evaluated HRQOL using various questionnaires, such as the BREAST-Q, EQ-5D-5L, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The relationships among the examined clinical indicators were evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The QOL scores of the BCS group were better than those of the mastectomy group (0.85±0.129 vs. 0.81±0.12, P=0.020). Also, anxiety (2.94±2.95 vs. 3.81±3.08, P=0.025) and depression (2.55±2.77 vs. 3.74±3.19, P=0.002) were less severe in the BCS group than in the mastectomy group. Furthermore, the relationships among QOL status and mental health status were more complex in the BCS group than in the mastectomy group (Chi-square minimization p-value: 0.231 vs. 0.469, respectively). Also, depression directly affected QOL in the mastectomy group (R=-0.47), but not in the BCS group. Conclusions: There were differences in QOL and mental health between the BCS and mastectomy groups. SEM is useful for identifying such differences, which can be used to develop strategies for improving QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial neoplasm of the breast, representing 0.3 to 0.5% of all female breast neoplasms. The term ''phyllodes tumor" by the World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes it into benign, borderline, and malignant tumors based on histopathological characteristics. Malignant phyllodes tumor is an uncommon but aggressive breast malignancy and accounts for approximately 25% of all phyllodes tumors. Case Presentation: A 23-year-old female patient Gravida 0 Para 0, previously healthy, with no family history of breast or ovarian cancer was referred to our institution for managing a right breast mass increasing in size over a period of 1 month associated with reddish-brown discoloration of the skin. Breast ultrasound showed an isodense oval mass measuring approximately 16x14x12cm in the right lower outer quadrant of her breast. Core biopsy and FNA done revealed a low grade phyllodes tumor. MRI of breasts showed a huge mass of the right breast occupying all quadrants, measuring 15x14.5 cm in its greatest axis with involvement of the pectoralis major muscle, with no evidence of suspicious axillary lymphadenopathy. Distant metastatic work-up with CT scan of chest abdomen and pelvis and a PET scan did not show distant metastasis. Hence, the patient underwent right total mastectomy with a final pathology compatible with malignant phyllodes tumor. She is on regular follow up and 18 months postsurgery is still disease free. Conclusion: Management of malignant phyllodes tumor remains debatable, especially when it comes to the effect of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. From a surgical perspective, whether phyllodes tumors should be considered as epithelial breast cancers or as soft tissue sarcoma is another debate. On the other hand, although challenging, accurate identification of phyllodes tumor initially may aid in decreased recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudoaneurysm of the breast is a very uncommon disease mostly occurring following traumatic injuries including biopsy. Increasing the use of core needle biopsy in breast pathologies could lead to more cases of the iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm. Case presentation: Here we described a breast pseudoaneurysm case that occurred after core needle biopsy. The diagnosis was made by color doppler ultrasonography and MRI with contrast. Ultrasound-guided compression was used to treat the lesion. The lesion was followed up with ultrasonography and finally it was resolved. Conclusion: Although hematoma is a more common complication of breast biopsy, other complications including pseudoaneurysm should be kept in mind. Ultrasound is a useful technique for both the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of the disease. Ultrasound-guided compression and follow up exams could be helpful to prevent invasive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Unfortunately, data concerning clinicopathologic features of this malignancy in non-developed countries is scarce. This study aims to characterize a cohort of Guatemalan female patients with non-metastatic BC and to determine risk factors for overall survival (OS). Methods: We retrieved data on consecutive patients from the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social that were treated from 2008 to 2014. Clinical features and long-term outcomes were retrieved from medical records. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with OS. Results: 954 BC patients were identified during the time frame. A total of 436 women (46%) were younger than 50 years old. BC molecular subtypes categorized 537 patients (56.3%) with luminal A disease, 186 (19.5%) patients with triple negative tumors, 153 cases (16.1%) with HER-2 enriched tumors, and 78 patients (8.2%) with luminal B tumors. Clinical stage at presentation was stage I: 4.7% (n=45); stage II: 48.1% (n=459), and stage III: 47.2% (n=450). The overall 5-year survival rate was 75.2% (95% Confidence Interval: 72.0-78.3). In the multivariate analysis clinical stage, triple negative tumors and HER2 enriched tumors were independently associated with poor survival. Conclusion: The majority of patients with non-metastatic BC are diagnosed with advanced disease and many of them are younger than 50 years old. OS in this cohort of Guatemalan patients is lower than that reported in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papillary lesions of the breast are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, the diagnosis and treatment of which is challenging. Typically surgical excision is recommended for papillary lesions after core needle biopsy (CNB) to rule out concurrent malignancy when a diagnosis of papilloma with atypia is yielded on CNB. For papilloma without atypia, however, making a decision about excision versus observation is challenging. Case Presentation: A 14-year-old female with nipple discharge, and a 2 cm mass in the right breast, with the pathology of intra-ductal papilloma without atypia on CNB presented. The question to be answered by multi-disciplinary team was the best management of this papillary lesion and whether the follow up was adequate or excision was mandatory. Question: What is the best plan for management of the young patient according to the primary pathology report of Juvenile Papillomatosis? Conclusion: Histoathology review of CNB specimen in rare and high risk lesions may have some advantages. On the other hand, in high risk circumstances, the excision of the lesion is recommended. Thus, in this case, the multidisciplinary team recommended excision of the lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in developed countries, making it a global public health problem. In this scenario, early detection is the key to successful treatment. Tissue biopsy, the current gold standard for cancer diagnosis, offers reliable results, but it is feasible only when the mass becomes detectable. On the other hand liquid biopsy, a promising experimental system, not yet implemented within clinical practice, allows early detection as its functioning relies on the analysis of body fluids. Yet, its results are less reliable if compared to those of tissue biopsy as, for instance, false positives and false negatives might occur. Despite technical features, the tradeoff between a reliable diagnosis available at a later time and a potentially less reliable diagnosis available at an early stage poses significant ethical challenges in the clinical scenario which involve, among other aspects, informed consent, communication, and patient-physician encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, phase II oncology trials assessed a treatment's efficacy by examining its tumor response rate in a single-arm trial. Then, approximately 25 years ago, certain statistical and pharmacological considerations ignited a debate around whether randomized designs should be used instead. Here, based on an extensive literature review, we review the arguments on either side of this debate. In particular, we describe the numerous factors that relate to the reliance of single-arm trials on historical control data and detail the trial scenarios in which there was general agreement on preferential utilization of single-arm or randomized design frameworks, such as the use of single-arm designs when investigating treatments for rare cancers. We then summarize the latest figures on phase II oncology trial design, contrasting current design choices against historical recommendations on best practice. Ultimately, we find several ways in which the design of recently completed phase II trials does not appear to align with said recommendations. For example, despite advice to the contrary, only 66.2% of the assessed trials that employed progression-free survival as a primary or coprimary outcome used a randomized comparative design. In addition, we identify that just 28.2% of the considered randomized comparative trials came to a positive conclusion as opposed to 72.7% of the single-arm trials. We conclude by describing a selection of important issues influencing contemporary design, framing this discourse in light of current trends in phase II, such as the increased use of biomarkers and recent interest in novel adaptive designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The annual number of retracted publications in the scientific literature is rapidly increasing. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and reason for retraction of cancer publications and to determine how journals in the cancer field handle retracted articles. Methods We searched three online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library) from database inception until 2015 for retracted journal publications related to cancer research. For each article, the reason for retraction was categorized as plagiarism, duplicate publication, fraud, error, authorship issues, or ethical issues. Accessibility of the retracted article was defined as intact, removed, or available but with a watermark over each page. Descriptive data was collected on each retracted article including number of citations, journal name and impact factor, study design, and time between publication and retraction. The publications were screened in duplicated and two reviewers extracted and categorized data. Results Following database search and article screening, we identified 571 retracted cancer publications. The majority (76.4%) of cancer retractions were issued in the most recent decade, with 16.6 and 6.7% of the retractions in the prior two decades respectively. Retractions were issued by journals with impact factors ranging from 0 (discontinued) to 55.8. The average impact factor was 5.4 (median 3.54, IQR 1.8–5.5). On average, a retracted article was cited 45 times (median 18, IQR 6–51), with a range of 0–742. Reasons for retraction include plagiarism (14.4%), fraud (28.4%), duplicate publication (18.2%), error (24.2%), authorship issues (3.9%), and ethical issues (2.1%). The reason for retraction was not stated in 9.8% of cases. Twenty-nine percent of retracted articles remain available online in their original form. Conclusions Retractions in cancer research are increasing in frequency at a similar rate to all biomedical research retractions. Cancer retractions are largely due to academic misconduct. Consequences to cancer patients, the public at large, and the research community can be substantial and should be addressed with future research. Despite the implications of this important issue, some cancer journals currently fall short of the current guidelines for clearly stating the reason for retraction and identifying the publication as retracted.

Exploring the intricate interplay within and between nucleic acids, as well as their interactions with proteins, holds pivotal significance in unraveling the molecular complexities steering cancer initiation and progression. To investigate these interactions, a diverse array of highly specific and sensitive molecular techniques has been developed. The selection of a particular technique depends on the specific nature of the interactions. Typically, researchers employ an amalgamation of these different techniques to obtain a comprehensive and holistic understanding of inter- and intramolecular interactions involving DNA-DNA, RNA-RNA, DNA-RNA, or protein-DNA/RNA. Examining nucleic acid conformation reveals alternative secondary structures beyond conventional ones that have implications for cancer pathways. Mutational hotspots in cancer often lie within sequences prone to adopting these alternative structures, highlighting the importance of investigating intra-genomic and intra-transcriptomic interactions, especially in the context of mutations, to deepen our understanding of oncology. Beyond these intramolecular interactions, the interplay between DNA and RNA leads to formations like DNA:RNA hybrids (known as R-loops) or even DNA:DNA:RNA triplex structures, both influencing biological processes that ultimately impact cancer. Protein-nucleic acid interactions are intrinsic cellular phenomena crucial in both normal and pathological conditions. In particular, genetic mutations or single amino acid variations can alter a protein's structure, function, and binding affinity, thus influencing cancer progression. It is thus, imperative to understand the differences between wild-type (WT) and mutated (MT) genes, transcripts, and proteins. The review aims to summarize the frequently employed methods and techniques for investigating interactions involving nucleic acids and proteins, highlighting recent advancements and diverse adaptations of each technique., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

African oncology professionals face significant obstacles to getting their research published due to geographical bias, funding issues and lack of publication skills. There is a major inequity in the availability of high-quality, local data from African countries and this makes it difficult for the continent's governments to develop robust cancer-control policies based on the latest evidence. Both African and international journal publishers have a duty to work towards increasing the volume of African published research and making it freely available to all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual and gender minority individuals face numerous cancer-related inequities, many of which appear to be underreported. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no one has assessed rates of acquisition of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data within community oncology settings.Methods: Community oncology practices that were part of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) network were asked whether they routinely collected SOGI information and coded this information in their electronic medical records. The proportion of practice groups reporting routine collection of sexual and/or gender minority information was calculated. Potential associations between the collection of SOGI information and practice group-level and state-level characteristics (from Gallup poll data) were also provided.Results: Twenty-four percent of the responding NCORP practice groups reported routine collection of sexual orientation information, and 10% reported collection of gender identity information. Practices located in western regions of the United States, practices in states with higher proportions of sexual and gender minority-identifying individuals, and practices with lower proportions of non-Hispanic patients were more likely to ask patients about sexual orientation and/or gender identity.Conclusions: US oncology practices that participate in research do not frequently collect SOGI information from patients with cancer. Educational initiatives should inform oncology staff and providers about the importance of collecting gender identity and sexual orientation information to improve existent disparities faced by sexual and gender minority patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to examine the influence of Surgical Society Oncology (SSO) membership and National Cancer Institute (NCI) status on the academic output of surgical faculty. Methods NCI cancer program status for each department of surgery was identified with publically available data, whereas SSO membership was determined for every faculty member. Academic output measures such as NIH funding, publications, and citations were analyzed in subsets by the type of cancer center (NCI comprehensive cancer center [CCC]; NCI cancer center [NCICC]; and non-NCI center) and SSO membership status. Results Of the surgical faculty, 2537 surgeons (61.9%) were from CCC, whereas 854 (20.8%) were from NCICC. At the CCC, 22.7% of surgeons had a history of or current NIH funding, compared with 15.8% at the NCICC and 11.8% at the non-NCI centers. The academic output of SSO members was higher at NCICC (52 ± 113 publications/1266 ± 3830 citations) and CCC (53 ± 92/1295 ± 4001) compared with nonmembers (NCICC: 26 ± 78/437 ± 2109; CCC: 37 ± 91/670 ± 3260), respectively, P < 0.05. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that SSO membership imparts an additional 22 publications and 270 citations, whereas NCI-designated CCC added 10 additional publications, but not citations. Conclusions CCCs have significantly higher academic output and NIH funding. Recruitment of SSO members, a focus on higher performing divisions, and NIH funding are factors that non-NCI cancer centers may be able to focus on to improve academic productivity to aid in obtaining NCI designation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Clinic-based collection of patient-reported outcome (PRO) quantifying symptom burden provide crucial information for effective care. We have pioneered point-of-care electronic assessment using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) with direct linkage to the electronic medical record (EMR) which has been readily adopted by our oncology patients. As some patients may complete more than one ESAS per day in different clinics, the goal of the current analyses was to compare the within-patient congruence of ESAS assessments completed on the same day.Methods: A total of 9621 ESAS records from 4021 patients of the Supportive Care Medicine and Radiation Oncology clinics between February and November 2017 were retrieved from the EMR. Patients completed the ESAS-r-CSS, which added sleep disturbance, constipation, and spiritual well-being domains to the standard ESAS-r.Results: A total of 65 patients provided more than one ESAS report within the same day. The data were curated, removing those sporadic missing data and those with obvious technical error. This process left 130 samples for analysis. There was no statistical difference among different ESAS collection intervals for domains of tiredness, nausea, appetite, overall well-being, spiritual well-being, constipation, and difficulty sleeping, but there was a significant difference for pain, drowsiness, shortness of breath, depression, and anxiety. Repeat tests that occurred within 1 h of one another demonstrated higher congruence than those completed over longer periods.Conclusion: Patients reported significant worsening of several symptoms over the course of the day, with greatest concordance observed within smaller time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Increasing use of genomic tumor profiling may blur the line between research and clinical care. We aimed to describe perspectives of research participants about the purpose of genomic tumor profiling research in pediatric oncology. Methods: We surveyed 45 participants (response rate, 85%) in a pilot study of genomic profiling in pediatric solid tumors at four academic cancer centers after the return of sequencing results. We defined understanding according to a one-item (basic) definition (recognition that the primary purpose was not to improve the patient's treatment) and a four-item (comprehensive) definition (primary purpose was not to improve patient's treatment; primary purpose was to improve treatment of future patients; there may not be direct medical benefit; most likely result of participation was not increased likelihood of cure). Results: Sixty-eight percent of respondents (30 of 44 respondents) demonstrated basic understanding of the study purpose; 55% (24 of 44 respondents) demonstrated comprehensive understanding. Understanding was more frequently seen in those with higher education and greater genetic knowledge according to basic (81% v 50% [ P =.05]; and 82% v 46% [ P =.03], respectively) and comprehensive (73% v 28% [ P =.01]; 71% v 23% [ P =.01]) definitions. Ninety-three percent of respondents who believed the primary purpose was to improve the patient's care simultaneously stated that the research also aimed to benefit future patients. Conclusion: Most participants in pediatric tumor profiling research understand that the primary goal of this research is to improve care for future patients, but many express dual goals when they participate in sequencing research. Some populations demonstrate increased rates of misunderstanding. Nuanced participant views suggest that additional work is needed to assess and improve participant understanding, particularly as tumor sequencing moves beyond research and into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The finalization of the Human Genome Project in 2003 paved the way for a deeper understanding of cancer, favouring a faster progression towards "personalized" medicine. Research in oncology has progressively focused on the sequencing of cancer genomes, to better understand the genetic basis of tumorigenesis and identify actionable alterations to guide cancer therapy. Thanks to the development of next-generation-sequencing (NGS) techniques, sequencing of tumoral DNA is today technically easier, faster and cheaper. Commercially available NGS panels enable the detection of single or global genomic alterations, namely gene mutation and mutagenic burden, both on germline and somatic DNA, potentially predicting the response or resistance to cancer treatments. Profiling of tumor DNA is nowadays a standard in cancer research and treatment. In this review we discuss the history, techniques and applications of NGS in cancer care, under a "personalized tailored therapy" perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementation of precision oncology interventions poses several challenges to informed consent and patient education. This study assessed cancer patients' understanding, expectations, and outcomes regarding participation in research examining the impact of matched tumor and germline sequencing on their clinical care. Methods: A total of 297 patients (mean age: 59 years; 50% female; 96% white) with refractory, metastatic cancer were surveyed, including 217 who completed surveys both before and after undergoing integrated whole exome and transcriptome sequencing as part of a larger clinical research study. Results: At baseline, the vast majority of patients expected to receive several potential direct benefits from study participation, including written reports of sequencing findings (88%), greater understanding of the causes of their cancer (74%), and participation in clinical trials for which sequencing results would make them eligible (84%). In most cases, these benefits were not realized by study completion. Despite explanations from study personnel to the contrary, most participants (67%‐76%) presumed that incidental germline sequencing findings relevant to noncancerous health conditions (eg, diabetes) would automatically be disclosed to them. Patients reported low levels of concern about study risks at baseline and low levels of regret about study participation at follow‐up. Conclusions: Findings suggest that cancer patients participating in precision oncology intervention research have largely unfulfilled expectations of direct benefits related to their study participation. Increased focus on patient education to supplement the informed consent process may help manage patients' expectations regarding the extent and likelihood of benefits received as a result of undergoing genomic sequencing. This study assessed cancer patients' understanding and expectations regarding participation in research examining the impact of matched tumor and germline sequencing on their clinical care. Findings suggest that cancer patients participating in precision oncology intervention research have largely unfulfilled expectations of direct benefits related to their study participation. Increased focus on patient education to supplement the informed consent process may help manage patients' expectations regarding the extent and likelihood of benefits received as a result of undergoing genomic sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the clinical performance of upper abdominal PET/DCE-MRI with and without concurrent respiratory motion correction (MoCo).Methods: MoCo PET/DCE-MRI of the upper abdomen was acquired in 44 consecutive oncologic patients and compared with non-MoCo PET/MRI. SUVmax and MTV of FDG-avid upper abdominal malignant lesions were assessed on MoCo and non-MoCo PET images. Image quality was compared between MoCo DCE-MRI and non-MoCo CE-MRI, and between fused MoCo PET/MRI and fused non-MoCo PET/MRI images.Results: MoCo PET resulted in higher SUVmax (10.8 ± 5.45) than non-MoCo PET (9.62 ± 5.42) and lower MTV (35.55 ± 141.95 cm3) than non-MoCo PET (38.11 ± 198.14 cm3; p < 0.005 for both). The quality of MoCo DCE-MRI images (4.73 ± 0.5) was higher than that of non-MoCo CE-MRI images (4.53±0.71; p = 0.037). The quality of fused MoCo-PET/MRI images (4.96 ± 0.16) was higher than that of fused non-MoCo PET/MRI images (4.39 ± 0.66; p < 0.005).Conclusion: MoCo PET/MRI provided qualitatively better images than non-MoCo PET/MRI, and upper abdominal malignant lesions demonstrated higher SUVmax and lower MTV on MoCo PET/MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-two percent of adults in the United States have only basic health literacy skills. We used a multiple linear regression model to identify associations between readability of informed consent documents with study sponsor, study phase, and approval year using a sample of 143 oncology studies at Ochsner Medical Center. The M ± SD Flesh-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (RGL) was 10.33 ± 0.85 and Flesh Reading Ease (FRE) was 52.89 ± 5.49. National Cancer Institute studies had a significantly lower mean RGL and FRE as compared with other sponsors (RGL 9.85 ± 0.66 vs. 10.72 ± 0.79; p value < .0001). Mean RGL did not differ by study phase. Future research should include assessment and improvement of the readability of informed consent documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We describe a prototype implementation of a platform that could underlie a Precision Oncology Rapid Learning system. Results: We describe the prototype platform, and examine some important issues and details. In the Appendix we provide a complete walk-through of the prototype platform. Conclusions: The design choices made in this implementation rest upon ten constitutive hypotheses, which, taken together, define a particular view of how a rapid learning medical platform might be defined, organized, and implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A machine learning approach to detect somatic mutations in cancer patients outperforms existing methods and may improve clinical outcome. Calling it like the algorithm sees it: Somatic mutation calling is essential for the proper diagnosis and treatment of most cancer patients. Wood et al. developed a machine learning approach called Cerebro that increased the accuracy of calling validated somatic mutations in tumor samples from cancer patients. Cerebro outperformed six other mutation detection methods by better distinguishing technical sequencing artifacts. An analysis of non–small cell lung cancer and melanoma patient samples revealed that Cerebro more accurately classified patients according to their immunotherapy response, suggesting that the authors' mutation calling approach could favorably affect patient care. Variability in the accuracy of somatic mutation detection may affect the discovery of alterations and the therapeutic management of cancer patients. To address this issue, we developed a somatic mutation discovery approach based on machine learning that outperformed existing methods in identifying experimentally validated tumor alterations (sensitivity of 97% versus 90 to 99%; positive predictive value of 98% versus 34 to 92%). Analysis of paired tumor-normal exome data from 1368 TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) samples using this method revealed concordance for 74% of mutation calls but also identified likely false-positive and false-negative changes in TCGA data, including in clinically actionable genes. Determination of high-quality somatic mutation calls improved tumor mutation load–based predictions of clinical outcome for melanoma and lung cancer patients previously treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Integration of high-quality machine learning mutation detection in clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses increased the accuracy of test results compared to other clinical sequencing analyses. These analyses provide an approach for improved identification of tumor-specific mutations and have important implications for research and clinical management of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are important in oncology research; however, missing data can pose a threat to the validity of results. Psycho-oncology researchers should be aware of the statistical options for handling missing data robustly. One rarely used set of methods, which includes extensions for handling missing data, is generalized estimating equations (GEEs). Our objective was to demonstrate use of GEEs to analyze PROs with missing data in randomized trials with assessments at fixed time points.Methods: We introduce GEEs and show, with a worked example, how to use GEEs that account for missing data: inverse probability weighted GEEs and multiple imputation with GEE. We use data from an RCT evaluating a web-based brain training for cancer survivors reporting cognitive symptoms after chemotherapy treatment. The primary outcome for this demonstration is the binary outcome of cognitive impairment. Several methods are used, and results are compared.Results: We demonstrate that estimates can vary depending on the choice of analytical approach, with odds ratios for no cognitive impairment ranging from 2.04 to 5.74. While most of these estimates were statistically significant (P < 0.05), a few were not.Conclusions: Researchers using PROs should use statistical methods that handle missing data in a way as to result in unbiased estimates. GEE extensions are analytic options for handling dropouts in longitudinal RCTs, particularly if the outcome is not continuous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study attempts to analyse the conversion pattern of Indian and Chinese oncology dissertations into journal articles. Data were gathered from Web-OPACs of leading national institutes and repositories belonging to both countries and also from the ProQuest database. It is found that compared to India, China has a higher conversion ratio of dissertations into journal articles. It is also observed that Indian authors prefer to contribute articles in Indian journals and Chinese authors publish more in PMC (PubMed Central) based open access journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historians and social scientists view the distinction between research and care as diachronically and synchronically contingent, rather than transcendental, as is often the case in bioethics. Comparing how the notion of total care was used in the 1950s with present-day use of that same term by genomically informed oncology programs, the paper argues that the distinction between research and care needs: to be historicized, by examining its repeated emergence and re-definition, and the shifting relations between these two “ideal-typical” components; and to be problematized, by paying attention to the entities, practices, and institutions that are constitutive of the successive regimens that have punctuated oncology’s development. Shifting to contemporary activities, the paper examines how the recent massive injection of molecular biology and high-throughput genomic technologies in the field of oncology has been accompanied by a reshuffling of the research/care distinction, a process that is leading to new forms of “experimental care”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Quality assurance is much more difficult to achieve in surgical oncology than in medical oncology and radiotherapy where doses are standardized and toxicities are well-classified. To better define what is required in surgery, we analyzed recent articles addressing the point in head and neck surgery.Results: The surgical report should match with the pathological description of the resected specimen with accurate delineation of the margins, number and level(s) of lymph nodes (capsular rupture if any). Complications (minor and major) should be standardized and meticulously recorded; as well as comorbidities and patient status. The acuity of the procedure should be defined by metrics collected in check-lists. Age > 60 years, male gender, tumor site and T4 stage, neck dissection(s), flap reconstruction, alcohol and tobacco consumption, are acknowledged risk factors for more complications and longer hospital stay (or readmission).Needs: Randomized controlled trials should be designed adopting the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT). Training young head and neck surgeons should encompass formation in designing, conducting and interpreting clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]