Integrative oncology

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic led to rapid expansion of telemedicine. The implications of telemedicine have not been rigorously studied in radiation oncology, a procedural specialty. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of in-person patients (IPPs) and virtual patients (VPs) who presented to a large cancer center before and during the pandemic and to understand variables affecting likelihood of receiving radiotherapy (yield) at our institution. METHODS: A total of 17,915 patients presenting for new consultation between 2019 and 2021 were included, stratified by prepandemic and pandemic periods starting March 24, 2020...

Introduction: Undergoing complex diagnostic investigation of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans is associated with high levels of distress, fear, and anxiety in oncological patients. This study evaluated the effects of a single 20-min session of an innovative mindfulness-based swinging technique (MBST) intervention on emotional distress in cancer patients scheduled for PET-CT scans. Material and Methods: Adult cancer patients undergoing PET-CT scans ( n = 57) were assigned to the intervention group ( n = 27) or the control group ( n = 30)...

BACKGROUND: Prognostic prediction for surgical treatment of gastric cancer remains valuable in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop survival models for postoperative gastric cancer patients. METHODS: Eleven thousand seventy-five patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included, and 122 patients from the Chinese database were used for external validation. The training cohort was created to create three separate models, including Cox regression, RSF, and DeepSurv, using data from the SEER database split into training and test cohorts with a 7:3 ratio...

BACKGROUND: The main contribution of this article is establishing a set of behaviors and successful actions experimenting the Ipacs' (Institutional & Public Coaching Services) methodology on implementation of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), approved in Italy in 2021 to overcome the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. This research is aimed at pointing out emotional intelligence (EI) behaviors related to the activities of the NRP with respect to the National Health System (NHS)...

Different molecular classifications for gastric cancer (GC) have been proposed based on multi-omics platforms with the long-term goal of improved precision treatment. However, the GC (phospho)proteome remains incompletely characterized, particularly at the level of tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, previous multiomics-based stratification of patient cohorts has lacked identification of corresponding cell line models and comprehensive validation of broad or subgroup-selective therapeutic targets. To address these knowledge gaps, we applied a reverse approach, undertaking the most comprehensive (phospho)proteomic analysis of GC cell lines to date and cross-validating this using publicly available data...

This comprehensive review delves into the pivotal role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer metastasis and therapeutic response, offering fresh insights into the intricate interplay between cancer cells and their surrounding milieu. The TME, a dynamic ecosystem comprising diverse cellular and acellular elements, not only fosters tumor progression but also profoundly affects the efficacy of conventional and emerging cancer therapies. Through nuanced exploration, this review illuminates the multifaceted nature of the TME, elucidating its capacity to engender drug resistance via mechanisms such as hypoxia, immune evasion, and the establishment of physical barriers to drug delivery...

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common worldwide age-related neurodegenerative disorder without effective treatments. Cuproptosis is a newly proposed conception of cell death extensively studied in oncological diseases. Currently, whether cuproptosis contributes to PD remains largely unclear. METHODS: The dataset GSE22491 was studied as the training dataset, and GSE100054 was the validation dataset. According to the expression levels of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PD patients and normal samples, we obtained the differentially expressed CRGs...

Non-invasive diagnostics like line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) are being implemented in dermato-oncology. However, unification of terminology in LC-OCT is lacking. By reviewing the LC-OCT literature in the field of dermato-oncology, this study aimed to develop a unified terminological glossary integrated with traditional histopathology. A PRISMA-guided literature-search was conducted for English-language publications on LC-OCT of actinic keratosis (AK), keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), and malignant melanoma (MM)...

Bacopa monnieri (L) Wettst, commonly known as Brahmi, stands as a medicinal plant integral to India's traditional medical system, Ayurveda, where it is recognized as a "medhya rasayana"-a botanical entity believed to enhance intellect and mental clarity. Its significant role in numerous Ayurvedic formulations designed to address conditions such as anxiety, memory loss, impaired cognition, and diminished concentration underscores its prominence. Beyond its application in cognitive health, Brahmi has historically been employed in Ayurvedic practices for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including arthritis...

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to describe the profile of the population attended to by the palliative geriatrics clinic and to evaluate the symptomatic control derived from the care provided. METHODS: During 2017 a model based on a holistic approach was implemented, in this model the team geriatric palliative care plays a fundamental role by being part of the palliative care team and functioning as a liaison with the oncology team and other required services...

The SWOG S1801 trial investigated the role of pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, in the perioperative setting of stage III or IV melanoma. This phase 2 trial compared two groups: one receiving pembrolizumab both before and after surgery (neoadjuvant-adjuvant), and another receiving it only post-surgery (adjuvant-only), with event-free survival (EFS) as the primary endpoint. Neoadjuvant strategies, involving pre-surgical drug administration, potentially offer rapid tumor control and a unique opportunity to assess tumor response...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: Early dissemination of primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the main cause of dismal prognosis as it highly limits possible treatment options. A number of PDAC patients experience distant metastasis even after treatment due to the metastatic clones. We aimed to demonstrate the molecular architecture of borderline resectable PDAC manifests cancer dissemination of PDAC. METHODS: Here, 36 organoids isolated from primary tumor masses of PDAC patients with diverse metastatic statues are presented...

BACKGROUND: Molecular pathological examinations of tumor samples encompass a wide range of diagnostic analyses. Especially in recent years, numerous new biomarkers have come to the forefront-the analysis of which is crucial for therapy decisions. OBJECTIVES: Within the field of molecular pathology, the demands of next generation sequencing (NGS)-based requirements have experienced massive growth in recent years. To meet this demand, methods are constantly being adapted and further developed...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of lung cancer in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region has steadily increased in recent years and is generally associated with a poor prognosis due to the late detection of most of the cases. We explored the factors leading to delayed diagnoses, as well as the challenges and gaps in the early screening, detection, and referral framework for lung cancer in the MEA. METHODS: A steering committee meeting was convened in October 2022, attended by a panel of ten key external experts in the field of oncology from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, who critically and extensively analyzed the current unmet needs and challenges in the screening and early diagnosis of lung cancer in the region...

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological type of lung cancer with lower survival rates. Recent advancements in targeted therapies and immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoints have achieved remarkable success, there is still a large percentage of LUAD that lacks available therapeutic options. Due to tumor heterogeneity, the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD are challenging. Exploring the biology of LUAD and identifying new biomarker and therapeutic targets options are essential...

Exosomes, small yet vital extracellular vesicles, play an integral role in intercellular communication. They transport critical components, such as proteins, lipid bilayers, DNA, RNA, and glycans, to target cells. These vesicles are crucial in modulating the extracellular matrix and orchestrating signal transduction processes. In oncology, exosomes are pivotal in tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal proteins, noted for their stability and specificity, have garnered widespread attention...

BACKGROUND: Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (RM-NPC) remains difficult to treat and contributes to considerable mortality. The first-line treatment for RM-NPC is Gemcitabine and Cisplatin and second-line treatment options differ. The endemic variant of NPC is associated with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Therefore, Cell-based Immunotherapy (CBI) targeting EBV-specific RM-NPC may be effective. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for randomised or observational studies investigating the efficacy and safety of CBI in the treatment of RM-NPC...

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network described 4 molecular subgroups of endometrial carcinomas with different outcome: 1) POLE ultramutated endometrioid carcinomas which have an indolent behavior; 2) microsatellite instability hypermutated endometrioid carcinomas associated with intermediate prognosis; 3) copy-number low endometrioid carcinomas also with intermediate prognosis; and 4) copy-number high predominantly serous (non-endometrioid) but also serous-like endometrioid carcinomas, almost always carrying TP53 mutations, with poor clinical outcome...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.