Daniel-Vasile Dulf, Antonio De Leo, Camelia Alexandra Coadă
{"title":"Lymphovascular invasion in bladder cancer: from prognostic marker toward a clinical priority.","authors":"Daniel-Vasile Dulf, Antonio De Leo, Camelia Alexandra Coadă","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2679025","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2679025","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1253-1256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147987143","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":"Dynamic precision oncology: from static mutation matching to adaptive tumor-host ecosystems.","authors":"Takehiro Okabayashi, Ryo Inada, Motoyasu Tabuchi, Nobuo Takata, Naoki Mimura","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2685796","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2685796","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Precision oncology has transformed cancer care by enabling biomarker-guided therapeutic strategies; however, durable clinical benefit remains limited across many tumor types. Emerging evidence suggests that treatment failure cannot be fully explained by static genomic alterations alone, but rather reflects dynamic interactions among tumor evolution, host biology, and therapeutic and healthcare system pressures.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This narrative review examines the biological, technological, clinical, and systemic barriers limiting the effectiveness of precision oncology. We summarize literature identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science (2015-2026), focusing on therapeutic resistance, tumor microenvironment dynamics, longitudinal molecular monitoring, predictive biomarkers, multi-omics integration, adaptive trial design, implementation science, and healthcare disparities. We also discuss emerging concepts in evolutionary oncology, non-genetic resistance mechanisms, phenotypic plasticity, and host genomic variability that influence treatment response and disease progression.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Precision oncology is undergoing a paradigm shift from static mutation-based treatment selection toward adaptive, longitudinal, and systems-oriented cancer management. The key limitation is no longer identification of actionable alterations alone, but the inability to integrate tumor evolution, host factors, and real-time biomarker dynamics into clinical decision-making. Future progress will depend on longitudinal molecular monitoring, adaptive therapeutic sequencing, integrated tumor-host frameworks, and equitable learning healthcare systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1337-1356"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148210589","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}
Aurora Gonzalez-Fierro, Alma Chavez-Blanco, Guadalupe Dominguez-Gomez, Adriana Romo-Pérez, Pamela Pastrana-Peralta, Francisco Gutierrez-Delgado, Richard E Kast, Jose Correa-Basurto, Alfredo Cortes-Algara, Alfonso Duenas-Gonzalez
{"title":"Polypharmacy, polypharmacology, and polypharmacotherapy: clarifying definitions and complementary roles in cancer treatment - a narrative review.","authors":"Aurora Gonzalez-Fierro, Alma Chavez-Blanco, Guadalupe Dominguez-Gomez, Adriana Romo-Pérez, Pamela Pastrana-Peralta, Francisco Gutierrez-Delgado, Richard E Kast, Jose Correa-Basurto, Alfredo Cortes-Algara, Alfonso Duenas-Gonzalez","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2682866","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2682866","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cancer treatment is predominantly guided by the Somatic Mutation Theory (SMT), which focuses on highly selective drugs targeting driver mutations. This approach has transformed outcomes in specific cancers, including chronic myeloid leukemia, advanced melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and HER2-positive breast cancer. However, its overall impact remains limited: cancer drug development has an approximately 5.2% success rate, with a median overall survival benefit of only 2.8 months across 124 FDA-approved drugs (374 indications) from 2003 to 2021. These limitations underscore the need for complementary strategies.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This narrative review examines three interrelated concepts in cancer care: Polypharmacy: concurrent use of multiple drugs for different conditions in one patient. Polypharmacology: design of single drugs that engage multiple molecular targets within one disease, often via multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) to disrupt redundant pathways and delay resistance. Polypharmacotherapy: simultaneous use of multiple (often repurposed non-oncology) drugs to target diverse pathways in a cancer patient.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Polypharmacy requires optimization to minimize risks. Polypharmacology should advance through computational design of balanced MTDLs. Polypharmacotherapy provides a pragmatic and equitable complement to SMT-based precision oncology. Urgent clinical trials are needed to validate this approach, overcome commercial and structural barriers, and improve treatment efficacy, accessibility, and equity worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1293-1304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148053419","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":"Optic glioma in children: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.","authors":"Hilal Susam Sen, Ali Varan","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2672128","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2672128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Optic gliomas are slow-growing astrocytic tumors that frequently occur in children. The general treatment approach for optic gliomas should be based on tumor location, patient age, and NF1 status. Optic gliomas respond well to chemotherapy; it is generally preferred over radiotherapy, especially for children under five years and those with NF1. Chemotherapy primarily results in stabilization of tumor volume, and this effect is often temporary. In some cases, a second line treatment may be required. Radiotherapy may be an option for treating patients with sporadic optic gliomas. Targeted therapy is a promising strategy.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review provides an overview of clinical findings, diagnosis, current standard practices, emerging targeted treatments, and ongoing clinical trials for optic gliomas in children. The literature reviewed herein was identified through a non-systematic search of published articles, clinical trial registries, and authoritative guidelines. Selection was based on relevance, clinical significance, and contribution to understanding current and emerging management strategies.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Because BRAF alterations are observed in most pilocytic astrocytomas, treatments targeting the MAPK pathway play an important role in the management of optic gliomas. Inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway represents a potential advance in the treatment of optic gliomas.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1257-1267"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147856138","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":"Polypharmacy is the hidden co-treatment in oncology.","authors":"Waseem Jerjes","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2677941","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2677941","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1249-1251"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147971484","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}
Catherine Fahey, Shivani Sud, Anvitha Remella, Matthew Milowsky
{"title":"Bladder-preserving trimodality therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: current state-of-the-art.","authors":"Catherine Fahey, Shivani Sud, Anvitha Remella, Matthew Milowsky","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2673109","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2673109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite major advances in the management of bladder cancer over the past decade, including practice-changing studies with immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody drug conjugates (ADC), patients continue to desire treatment strategies that not only improve survival but also allow them to retain their bladder. Trimodal therapy (TMT), consisting of maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), radiation, and chemotherapy, remains an important option for appropriately selected patients.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We discuss the current standard of care for the management of localized bladder cancer with a focus on TMT including chemotherapy regimens used in TMT, the role of maximal TURBT, potential biomarkers, and the effect of histologic subtype on outcomes. We also provide updates on important upcoming trials that will hopefully translate into new treatment options.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>In appropriately selected patients, TMT is an alternative to radical cystectomy in the management of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). All patients with MIBC should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team consisting of urology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to determine the best treatment plan for an individual patient. Ongoing trials are studying new regimens to provide additional options for bladder preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1269-1284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147948150","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":"Frailty is not ECOG: why performance status alone is no longer enough in anticancer therapy.","authors":"Waseem Jerjes","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2673105","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2673105","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1245-1247"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147856191","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":"Barriers to the use of brachytherapy for treatment of cervical cancer and prostate cancer in low- and middle-income countries.","authors":"Megan Kassick, Debanjan Pain, Kelly Becht, Bethel Adefres, Milan George, Arun Goel, Duvern Ramiah, Sheynaz Bassa, Raviteja Miriyala, Umesh Mahantshetty, Surbhi Grover","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2684631","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2684631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Rising cancer incidence disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Brachytherapy (BT), a form of radiotherapy (RT), is an important modality in the treatment of cervical cancer and prostate cancer. Given its unique resource requirements, barriers to the use of BT are present, especially in LMIC settings.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This nonsystematic review aims to describe the role of BT in the treatment of cervical and prostate cancer, discuss barriers in the implementation and use of BT in LMIC settings, share suggested solutions, and highlight cases from global settings. Barriers are discussed in categories including infrastructure, financial, geographic, and human resources and training. Cases presented highlight barriers and facilitators to implementing BT.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>With BT a required component of treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer, and an important treatment modality in prostate cancer, understanding the barriers present to BT and the impact on real-world outcomes, is crucial. A critical part of ongoing research will be the continued study of resource-stratified guidelines for brachytherapy and particularly image guidance. The cases presented here may serve as models for other settings, with the goal of increasing access to this essential treatment modality for patients around the globe.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1305-1316"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148344322","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}
Antonio De Palma, Marco Marenco, Sofia Mancini, Innocenza Palaia, Giacomo Barchiesi, Violante Di Donato, Giorgia Perniola, Maria Cristina Petrella, Ludovico Muzii, Federica Tomao
{"title":"Antibody-drug conjugates: a practical review on clinical management of toxicities.","authors":"Antonio De Palma, Marco Marenco, Sofia Mancini, Innocenza Palaia, Giacomo Barchiesi, Violante Di Donato, Giorgia Perniola, Maria Cristina Petrella, Ludovico Muzii, Federica Tomao","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2685304","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2685304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are rapidly expanding across solid tumors, but their toxicity profiles remain heterogeneous and clinically challenging. This review addresses the need for practical, standardized approaches to identifying and managing ADC-related adverse events.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>We summarize the mechanisms underlying ADC toxicity, focusing on EMA-approved agents and their most frequent or severe adverse events, including ILD/pneumonitis, ocular toxicity, neutropenia, diarrhea, skin reactions, and hyperglycemia. We combine evidence from pivotal trials, regulatory documents, and emerging literature with practical clinical experience. The review includes operational algorithms and flowcharts designed to support real-world decision-making. Literature was identified through PubMed and EMBASE searches, regulatory Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPCs), and key phase I-III clinical trials up to January 2025.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Improving ADC tolerability will require earlier identification of high-risk patients, structured toxicity-monitoring pathways, and molecular innovations such as Fc engineering, linker optimization, and probody or bispecific ADC formats. Integrating predictive tools, including AI-based radiomics, may further reduce toxicity and expand the therapeutic index.</p>","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1317-1335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148149111","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}
Maria Giovanna Formelli, Adriana Di Odoardo, Elisa Andrini, Giuseppe Lamberti
{"title":"How does adding PD-(L)1 inhibitors to platinum-etoposide treatment of small cell lung cancer improve survival outcomes?","authors":"Maria Giovanna Formelli, Adriana Di Odoardo, Elisa Andrini, Giuseppe Lamberti","doi":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2738624","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14737140.2026.2738624","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12099,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149016168","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}