{"title":"Risk-stratification for treatment de-intensification in WNT-pathway medulloblastoma: finding the optimal balance between survival and quality of survivorship.","authors":"Tejpal Gupta, Shakthivel Mani, Abhishek Chatterjee, Archya Dasgupta, Sridhar Epari, Girish Chinnaswamy","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357807","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Advances in molecular biology have led to consensus classification of medulloblastoma into four broad molecular subgroups - wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4, respectively. Traditionally, children >3 years of age, with no/minimal residual tumor (<1.5 cm<sup>2</sup>) and lack of metastasis were classified as average-risk disease with >80% long-term survival. Younger age (<3 years), large residual disease (≥1.5 cm<sup>2</sup>), and leptomeningeal metastases either alone or in combination were considered high-risk features yielding much worse 5-year survival (30-60%). This clinico-radiological risk-stratification has been refined by incorporating molecular/genetic information. Contemporary multi-modality management for non-infantile medulloblastoma entails maximal safe resection followed by risk-stratified adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy. Aggressive multi-modality management achieves good survival but is associated with substantial dose-dependent treatment-related toxicity prompting conduct of subgroup-specific prospective clinical trials.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We conducted literature search on PubMed from 1969 till 2023 to identify putative prognostic factors and risk-stratification for medulloblastoma, including molecular subgrouping. Based on previously published data, including our own institutional experience, we discuss molecular risk-stratification focusing on WNT-pathway medulloblastoma to identify candidates suitable for treatment de-intensification to strike the optimal balance between survival and quality of survivorship.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Prospective clinical trials and emerging biological information should further refine risk-stratification in WNT-pathway medulloblastoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"589-598"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140956488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pasquale Vitale, Vincenzo De Falco, Raffaele Addeo
{"title":"Is the use of cetuximab in the first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer still important?","authors":"Pasquale Vitale, Vincenzo De Falco, Raffaele Addeo","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2354772","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2354772","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"481-484"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140907859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gianluca Ingrosso, Andrea Lancia, Eleonora Festa, Antonio Rosario Pisani, Rita Bellavita, Cynthia Aristei, Beatrice Detti
{"title":"The investigational role of cytoreductive stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) to the primary tumor in metastatic kidney cancer.","authors":"Gianluca Ingrosso, Andrea Lancia, Eleonora Festa, Antonio Rosario Pisani, Rita Bellavita, Cynthia Aristei, Beatrice Detti","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2349783","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2349783","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"477-479"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140861762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca Romanò, Francesca De Felice, Andrea Ferri, Marco Della Monaca, Roberto Maroldi, Lisa Licitra, Laura Deborah Locati, Salvatore Alfieri
{"title":"Adenoid Cystic carcinoma of minor salivary glands (AdCCmSG): a multidisciplinary update.","authors":"Rebecca Romanò, Francesca De Felice, Andrea Ferri, Marco Della Monaca, Roberto Maroldi, Lisa Licitra, Laura Deborah Locati, Salvatore Alfieri","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357806","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Adenoid cystic carcinoma of minor salivary glands (AdCCmSG) represents a 'rarity in the rarity,' posing a clinical challenge in lack of standardized, evidence-based recommendations. At present, AdCCmSG management is mostly translated from major salivary gland cancers (MSGCs). Ideally, AdCCmSG diagnostic-therapeutic workup should be discussed and carried out within a multidisciplinary, high-expertise setting, including pathologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>The present review provides an overview of epidemiology and pathologic classification. Moreover, the most recent, clinically relevant updates in the treatment of AdCCmSG (Pubmed searches, specific guidelines) are critically discussed, aiming to a better understanding of this rare pathologic entity, potentially optimizing the care process, and offering a starting point for reflection on future therapeutic developments.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The management of rare cancers is often hindered by limited data and clinical trials, lack of evidence-based guidelines, and hardly represented disease heterogeneity, which cannot be successfully tackled with a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Our goal is to address these potential pitfalls, providing an easy-to-use, updated, multidisciplinary collection of expert opinions concerning AdCCmSG management as of today's clinical practice. We will also cover the most promising future perspectives, based on the potential therapeutic targets highlighted within AdCCmSG's molecular background.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"567-580"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141237043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The PI3K signaling pathway; from normal lymphopoiesis to lymphoid malignancies.","authors":"Bahareh Kashani, Zahra Zandi, Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi, Amir-Mohammad Yousefi, Seyed H Ghaffari, Davood Bashash","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2350629","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2350629","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>As a vital mechanism of survival, lymphopoiesis requires the collaboration of different signaling molecules to orchestrate each step of cell development and maturation. The PI3K pathway is considerably involved in the maturation of lymphatic cells and therefore, its dysregulation can immensely affect human well-being and cause some of the most prevalent malignancies. As a result, studies that investigate this pathway could pave the way for a better understanding of the lymphopoiesis mechanisms, the undesired changes that lead to cancer progression, and how to design drugs to solve this issue.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>The present review addresses the aforementioned aspects of the PI3K pathway and helps pave the way for future therapeutic approaches. In order to access the articles, databases such as Medicine Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were utilized. The search formula was established by identifying main keywords including PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, Lymphopoiesis, Lymphoid malignancies, and inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The PI3K pathway is crucial for lymphocyte development and differentiation, making it a potential target for therapeutic intervention in lymphoid cancers. Studies are focused on developing PI3K inhibitors to impede the progression of hematologic malignancies, highlighting the pathway's significance in lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"493-512"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140862706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The incidence and relative risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and hypertension in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors plus tyrosine-kinase inhibitors for solid tumors: a systemic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Chiara Ciccarese, Annunziato Anghelone, Alessio Stefani, Antonio Cigliola, Alessandro Strusi, Filippo D'Agostino, Emilio Bria, Roberto Iacovelli, Giampaolo Tortora","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357814","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357814","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can be responsible for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). We performed a meta-analysis to assess the relative risk (RR) of MACEs and hypertension in cancer patients treated with ICI+TKI combinations.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>We selected prospective trials through MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ASCOMeeting abstracts. We calculated combined ORs, RRs, and 95% CIs using RevMansoftware for meta-analysis (v.5.2.3).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven studies were selected for the analysis of MACEs (3849 patients). The incidence MACEs were 0.8% with ICI+TKI combinations, compared to 0.2% in the control arms for both any- and high-grade. ICI+TKI combinations significantly increased the risk of any- (OR = 3.21; <i>p</i> = 0.01) and high-grade MACEs (OR = 2.72; <i>p</i> = 0.05). Ten studies were selected for the analysis of hypertension (5744 patients). The incidence of treatment-related hypertension of any-grade and high-grade was41.3% (vs. 20.8%) and 26.1% (vs. 12.3%) with ICI+TKI combinations, respectively. ICI+TKI combinations significantly increased the risk of treatment-related hypertension of any-grade (RR = 2.10; <i>p</i> = 0.001), but not of high-grade (<i>p</i> = 0.11).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ICI+TKI combinations increase the risk of MACEs compared to controls, although the absolute incidence is eventually low. Routine cardiovascular monitoring in asymptomatic patients is therefore not recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"623-633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141327364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Deiana, Margherita Agostini, Giovanni Brandi, Elisa Giovannetti
{"title":"The trend toward more target therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.","authors":"Chiara Deiana, Margherita Agostini, Giovanni Brandi, Elisa Giovannetti","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357802","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2357802","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite the considerable progress made in cancer treatment through the development of target therapies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to exhibit resistance to this category of drugs. As a result, chemotherapy combination regimens remain the primary treatment approach for this aggressive cancer.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of past and ongoing trials on both well-known and novel targets that are being explored in PDAC, including PARP, EGFR, HER2, KRAS, and its downstream and upstream pathways (such as RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR), JAK/STAT pathway, angiogenesis, metabolisms, epigenetic targets, claudin, and novel targets (such as P53 and plectin). We also provide a comprehensive overview of the significant trials for each target, allowing a thorough glimpse into the past and future of target therapy.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The path toward implementing a target therapy capable of improving the overall survival of PDAC is still long, and it is unlikely that a monotherapy target drug will fulfill a meaningful role in addressing the complexity of this cancer. Thus, we discuss the future direction of target therapies in PDAC, trying to identify the more promising target and combination treatments, with a special focus on the more eagerly awaited ongoing trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"525-565"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141070529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is there a link between talcum powder, oxidative stress, and ovarian cancer risk?","authors":"Ghassan M Saed","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2352506","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2352506","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The link between talcum powder use and cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, has been a topic of scientific research and legal debate for several years. Studies have suggested a potential association between long-term talcum powder use in the genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>The following report includes up-to-date evidence to support the potential link between talcum powder use and the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classified talc-based body powder as possibly carcinogenic to humans when used in the female genital area. However, other studies have not consistently supported this association, and thus more research is needed to establish a clear and definitive link between talcum powder use and cancer. Despite this, recent molecular-level data have linked talc to alterations in redox balance, gene mutations, and inflammatory responses. Specifically, we have identified a role for talc to induce the pro-oxidant state, inhibit apoptosis, and more importantly induced cellular transformation in normal ovarian cells.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>We presented unequivocal evidence to support our opinion that talc is not biologically inert and induces molecular changes that mimic the hallmarks of cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"485-491"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140854783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesca De Felice, Michelangelo Miccini, Andrea Botticelli, Michela Roberto, Niccolò Petrucciani
{"title":"The multidisciplinary management of locally advanced rectal cancer.","authors":"Francesca De Felice, Michelangelo Miccini, Andrea Botticelli, Michela Roberto, Niccolò Petrucciani","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2349137","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2349137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The classic paradigm for the management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) consists of (chemo)radiotherapy (C)RT), total mesorectal excision, and adjuvant chemotherapy (CHT). At present, due to the high rate of distant metastasis (up to 30%), the total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) with the administration of systemic CHT in the neoadjuvant setting has gained acceptance as standard of care.Our aim is to critically review the current literature on LARC management and summarize the different approaches recently proposed to improve clinical outcomes. It represents a starting step to develop an effective strategy that ultimately could harmonize the standard of care in daily clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Studies reporting the impact of TNT approaches were deemed eligible. De-escalation strategies, including non-operative management (NOM) after TNT, as well as RT omission or systemic therapy alone, were also investigated.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The year 2020 has seen promising new data from randomized phase III trials in the field of LARC management. Nowadays, TNT strategy has been accepted as the primary treatment for LARC. The role of de-escalation strategies is still unknown. The goal is to achieve better survival outcomes with improving quality of life. Only selected patients are likely to benefit from NOM or immunotherapy alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"581-587"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140853844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruiliang Chen, Yushuai Yu, Jie Zhang, Chuangui Song, Chuan Wang
{"title":"Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant therapy for HR-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.","authors":"Ruiliang Chen, Yushuai Yu, Jie Zhang, Chuangui Song, Chuan Wang","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2350105","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2024.2350105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neoadjuvant treatment for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer is controversial and requires a comprehensive analysis for optimal therapy assessment. Therefore, a two-step Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of different neoadjuvant regimens.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>Phase II/III randomized clinical trials comparing various neoadjuvant therapies for HR+/HER2- breast cancer were included. NMA and pairwise meta-analyses were conducted using Stata (version 14), R (version 4.2.3), and Review Manager 5.4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-eight studies (5,625 patients) were eligible. NMA of objective response rate (ORR) indicated the highest SUCRA for chemotherapy (CT) and chemotherapy with anthracycline (CT(A)). Pathologic complete response (PCR) NMA demonstrated significant PCR improvement with chemotherapy regimens containing programmed cell death protein-1 and programmed cell death ligand-1 inhibitors (PD-1i/PD-L1i) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Combined analysis considering both the ORR and safety highlighted CT(A)'s efficacy and toxicity balance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CT(A) and CT showed improved ORR compared with alternative regimens. CT(A) combined with PD-1/PD-L1 or PARP inhibitors significantly increased PCR rates. Comprehensive assessment of both ORR and safety indicated that CT(A) represents an optimal neoadjuvant therapy for HR+/HER2- breast cancer, whereas AI + CDK4/6 inhibitors rank solely behind chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Registration: </strong>PROSPERO Registration: CRD42024538948. International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) registration number INPLASY202440092.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"599-611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140852496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}