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Background: Induction chemotherapy of docetaxel plus cisplatin (TP) is myelosuppressive, leading to severe neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN). Herein, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of mecapegfilgrastim in the prevention of neutropenia in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received the TP regimen. Methods: A total of 30 treatment‐naive patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this study. Mecapegfilgrastim 6 mg was injected 24–48 h after the completion of induction chemotherapy with the TP regimen. Results: The incidence of grade ≥3 neutropenia during the three induction chemotherapy cycles was 6.7% (95% CI, 0.8%–22.1%). In the first cycle of chemotherapy, the incidence of grade ≥3 neutropenia was 3.3% (95% CI, 0.1%–17.2%). No FN or antibiotic usage was reported. All 30 patients completed the induction chemotherapy cycles. Conclusion: Mecapegfilgrastim effectively reduced the incidence of chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia and FN in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic benefits and underlying biomechanism(s) of antibody drug conjugates (ADC) in combination with other targeted therapeutics are largely unknown. Here, the synergy between ADC and epigenetic drug decitabine (DAC), a clinically approved DNA methylation inhibitor, in multiple preclinical models of melanoma specifically investigated. Mechanistically, the underlying biomechanisms of how DAC cooperatively worked with ICAM1 antibody conjugated DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor DXd (I1‐DXd) is elucidated. DAC treatment significantly enhanced anti‐tumor efficacy of I1‐DXd by upregulating antigen expression, enhancing antibody internalization and potentiating tumor sensitivity by epigenetically reprogramming of melanoma. Meanwhile, I1‐DXd/DAC combination also exerted regulatory effects on tumor microenvironment (TME) by enhancing tumor infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells and improving penetration of ADCs with a boosted antitumor immunity. This study provides a rational ADC combination strategy for solid tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compared with the conventional work‐up (CWU) including computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen, MRI of the head and neck, and skeletal scintigraphy, positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI might improve diagnostic accuracy, shorten the work‐up time, and reduce false‐positive (FP) findings in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, evidence of cost‐effectiveness is needed for the adoption of PET/MRI for the initial staging in NPC. Purpose: To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness and clinical value of PET/MRI as an initial staging procedure for NPC. Study Type: Retrospective cohort cost effectiveness study. Subjects: Three hundred forty‐three patients with a median age of 51 (13–81) years underwent PET/MRI before treatment (the PET/MRI group) and the remaining 677 patients with a median age of 55 (15–95) years only underwent CWU (the CWU group). There were 80 (23.3%) females and 193 (28.5%) females in the PET/MRI and CWU groups, respectively. Field Strength/Sequence: 3‐T integrated PET/MRI system, diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar imaging (b = 0 and 1000 s/mm2) and [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Assessment: The primary end point was the FP rate. Costs were determined as issued in 2021 by the Medical Insurance Administration Bureau of Zhejiang, China. Statistical Tests: Incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) measured cost of using PET/MRI per percent of patients who avoided a FP. A P‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: For the whole group, the de novo metastatic disease rate was 5.2% (53/1020). A total of 187 patients with FP results were observed. Significantly more patients with FP results were observed in the CWU group compared to the PET/MRI group (25.6% vs. 4.1%). The ICER was $54 for each percent of patients avoiding a FP finding. Data Conclusion: Compared with CWU, PET/MRI may reduce the FP risk. Furthermore, PET/MRI may be cost‐effective as an initial staging procedure for NPC. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 6 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on disease extent in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using 18 fuorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included biopsy‐proven, newly diagnosed NPC patients using whole‐body FDG PET/MR staging in two selected intervals: 1 May 2017 to 31 January 2020 (Group A, the pre‐COVID‐19 period), and 1 February 2020 to 30 June 2021 (Group B, the COVID‐19 period). Results: Three‐hundred and ninety patients were included. No significant difference was observed in terms of T classification, N classification, overall stage, N stations, and M stations between the two groups (p > 0.05). For the involved neck node levels, more patients had developed level Vc metastasis in the group B (p = 0.044). Conclusion: Although the overall stage was not affected, more patients with NPC had developed level Vc metastasis in the era of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]