Oncology and Therapy最新文献

{"title":"Real-World First-Line Treatment Characteristics and Physician Drivers in Advanced/Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, PD-L1 ≥ 50%, and without Actionable Genomic Alterations.","authors":"Dwight H Owen, Martin Sebastian, Hirotsugu Kenmotsu, Shilpa Viswanathan, Shivani K Mhatre, Inderjit K Dhillon, Cosmina Hogea, Siwen Ding, Cameron Forshaw, Hollie Bailey, Delvys Rodríguez-Abreu","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00465-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-026-00465-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>For patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) without actionable genomic alterations (AGAs) and with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) ≥ 50%, first-line (1L) treatment options include immunotherapy (IO) monotherapy or IO with chemotherapy. However, real-world data describing treatment patterns, physician decision-making, and patient-reported disease burden remain limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This observational, cross-sectional study used data from the Adelphi Real World Lung Cancer Disease Specific Programme™, conducted between December 2023 and May 2024 in Asia, Europe, and the USA. Physicians completed surveys on adults with aNSCLC, PD-L1 ≥ 50%, and no AGAs, who received or were receiving 1L therapy. Treatment patterns, physician-reported reasons for treatment selection, symptoms, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were descriptively analyzed by 1L regimen (IO monotherapy, IO + chemotherapy).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 257 physicians reported data for 511 patients; 148 patients completed PRO questionnaires. Most patients received 1L IO monotherapy (n = 340, 67%), while 23% received IO + chemotherapy. Pembrolizumab monotherapy was the most frequently prescribed regimen across regions. Physicians most commonly cited overall survival and response-related benefits as reasons for 1L treatment selection; quality of life was less frequently prioritized. Both physician- and patient-reported symptoms were common at data collection, including fatigue, cough, and dyspnea. Nearly half of patients required caregiver support. Health-related quality of life, assessed using EQ-5D-5L and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) instruments, indicated that among patients treated for more than 90 days, substantial disease burden was present across 1L treatment groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In real-world clinical practice, two-thirds of patients with aNSCLC, PD-L1 ≥ 50%, and no AGAs received 1L IO monotherapy, driven primarily by perceived survival benefits on part of physicians. Considerable symptom burden, functional impairment, and caregiver dependence were observed across the 1L treatment groups evaluated. These findings highlight ongoing unmet needs and underscore the importance of incorporating patient-reported outcomes and quality-of-life considerations into 1L treatment decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149116312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neoplasms Metastatic to the Larynx: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Claudia Montenegro, Fatima-Ezzahra Nassih, Cesare Piazza, Alfio Ferlito","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00466-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-026-00466-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Metastatic involvement of the larynx from nonhead and neck primary tumors is an exceptionally rare event, frequently misdiagnosed as a primary laryngeal lesion and at risk of inappropriately aggressive surgical management. This systematic review aimed to define the most common primary sources, clinical features, diagnostic workup, treatment, and survival outcomes of tumors metastatic to the larynx from distant sites.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified original English-language reports published between 1984 and 2026, screened independently by two reviewers according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 83 articles were included, comprising 113 patients with histologically confirmed laryngeal metastases; the evidence consisted exclusively of single case reports and small retrospective series. Patients were predominantly older men with a mean age of 63.6 years. The most frequent primary site was the prostate (26.5%), followed by kidney (18.6%), colorectum (14.2%), skin melanoma (13.3%), lung (8.8%), and breast (6.2%). The supraglottis was the most commonly involved subsite, and the cartilaginous framework was affected in nearly one-quarter of cases. The median interval between primary diagnosis and laryngeal metastasis was 36 months, although the laryngeal lesion preceded or coincided with the primary in roughly one-fifth of patients. Hoarseness, dyspnea or stridor, and dysphagia were the dominant symptoms, clinically indistinguishable from primary laryngeal tumors. Treatment was heterogeneous and largely conservative or palliative, and overall survival was generally measured in months.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Laryngeal metastasis should be suspected whenever a laryngeal mass arises in a patient with a known or suspected extralaryngeal malignancy, prompting whole-body staging before biopsy and a multidisciplinary, individualized management strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149002467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Clinical and Molecular Features with Emerging Insights from Comprehensive Genomic Profiling.","authors":"Amanda Nogueira, Jennifer Brondon, Konstantin Haradinov, Srinivasan Gopalakrishnan, Krane Huang, Debasri Mukherjee, Smita Agarwal, Kyle C Strickland, Laura Vidal, Chinmayee Joshi, Rebecca Brookes, Rajeev Prasad, Soma Das, Arun K Mankan, Archana Munje, Begona de Las Heras, Brajendra Prasad Singh, Daniel Gandia, Shakti Ramkissoon, Fahmi Sabr Raza, Isagani Chico, Sharadchandra K Prasad, Judith Perez, Anumeha Prasad, Debashis Sarker, Julien Taieb, Kamal S Saini","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00467-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-026-00467-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Early‑onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), defined as colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed before 50 years of age, is increasing globally. Colorectal cancer is currently the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with GLOBOCAN 2024 estimating approximately 2.04 million new cases and 917,895 deaths in 2024. Recent studies indicate a sustained rise in EOCRC incidence across multiple regions and birth cohorts, with the greatest increases observed among younger adults. Although hereditary cancer syndromes account for 20-25% of EOCRC cases, most occur in the absence of known genetic predispositions or established risk factors. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome as a potential contributor to EOCRC, with distinct microbial signatures differentiating it from late‑onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) diagnosed after 50 years of age. This review synthesizes current evidence on clinical, molecular, and diagnostic features distinguishing EOCRC from LOCRC, including differences in anatomical distribution, histopathology, genomic and epigenetic alterations, microbiome composition, and immune landscape, and discusses their implications for personalised screening and therapeutic strategies. We performed a retrospective secondary analysis of comprehensive genomic and immune profiling data from 1737 patients with colorectal cancer tested between June 2021 and June 2023. The analysis showed that tumours arising in patients with EOCRC had lower tumour mutational burden than tumours diagnosed as LOCRC, whereas other immune-related biomarkers, including tumour immunogenicity score, did not remain significantly different after correction for multiple testing. Despite these emerging biological differences, current screening strategies remain largely dependent on an age threshold of 50 years, and EOCRC is not addressed by age‑specific treatment approaches. We therefore review the translational potential of emerging biomarkers, including microbial signatures and liquid biopsy approaches, and propose a framework for integrating molecular profiling into clinical practice. Finally, we highlight the unmet need for coordinated efforts to improve screening in younger populations, address fertility preservation considerations, and ensure adequate psychosocial support for patients with EOCRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148983793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Real-World Testing Landscape and Costs of Companion Diagnostics and Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Across Nine Solid Tumors in Japan: A 10-Year Analysis.","authors":"Kuniko Sunami, Sona-Sanae Aoyagi, Masashi Mikami, Kanae Togo","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00459-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-026-00459-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study aimed to examine utilization, testing sequences, and associated genomic testing costs of companion diagnostics (CDx) and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) among Japanese patients with nine representative solid tumors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study used anonymized data, from Medical Data Vision Co., Ltd. (MDV; January 2015-March 2025) and JMDC Inc. (JMDC; January 2015-January 2025), for patients with solid tumors of nine cancer types who underwent CDx and/or CGP testing or received any cancer treatment. Patient demographics, distribution and testing sequences of CDx and CGP, and associated genomic testing costs per patient were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Proportions of CDx and CGP testing varied across nine cancer types. Most patients underwent CDx testing once or twice, although some cohorts, particularly with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), were tested thrice or more. Biliary tract cancer demonstrated the highest proportions for CGP testing alone, and both CDx and CGP testing. For both CDx and CGP testing, the greatest median costs were observed for ovarian and breast cancers, with bimodal peaks near US dollars (USD) 4000 and USD 5000. Median CDx costs were equal to or higher for patients who underwent both CDx and CGP testing compared with those who had CDx testing alone, particularly in breast, pancreatic, prostate, and ovarian cancers. For CDx testing alone, NSCLC, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer had the highest costs, with a small peak near USD 1333. These results were mostly consistent across databases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Multiple CDx testing followed by CGP testing increased genomic testing costs per patient. Early implementation of CGP testing could reduce redundant testing and associated delays in treatment, thereby contributing to lower overall healthcare costs and more efficient treatment selection amid rapid advances in targeted therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148897897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine Learning-Guided Survival Prediction and Treatment Sequencing in Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma Beyond Second-Line Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Michael Hoberger, Dorit Di Gioia, Romy L Zuber, Michael Völkl, Sinan E Güler, Vindi Jurinovic, Markus Albertsmeier, Alexander Klein, Hans Roland Dürr, Nina-Sophie Schmidt-Hegemann, Thomas Knösel, Wolfgang G Kunz, Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon, Lars H Lindner, Anton Burkhard-Meier, Luc M Berclaz","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00446-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00446-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Evidence guiding the optimal sequencing of later-line systemic therapy in advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) beyond second-line treatment and to explore therapy sequencing in routine clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 90 patients with advanced STS receiving third-line or later systemic therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was used to identify clinical predictors of 1-year OS. The most influential variables were subsequently evaluated in multivariable Cox models for OS from the start of third- and fourth-line therapy. Sequencing analyses compared OS according to the line of administration of commonly used later-line agents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the third-line cohort (n = 88), inferior OS was independently associated with progression on second-line therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 2.31, p = 0.005). In contrast, lipo-/leiomyosarcoma histology was associated with improved survival (HR 0.37, p = 0.002), as was a time to progression ≥ 12 months on first-line therapy (HR 0.43, p = 0.007). Findings were largely consistent in the fourth-line cohort (n = 57). Sequencing analyses suggested sustained activity of trabectedin in later lines (p = 0.023), greater benefit of earlier pazopanib use (p = 0.022), and no significant impact of treatment line for gemcitabine + docetaxel combination therapy (p = 0.12).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Machine learning-guided variable selection identified clinically relevant predictors of survival in later-line STS. Prior treatment response and histology strongly influence outcomes, and exploratory sequencing analyses suggest differential timing effects across systemic therapy agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"967-981"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148165036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exceptional Cure of a Patient with Progressive Advanced Squamous-Cell Lung Cancer after Selenite Treatment followed by Chemotherapy: A Case Report.","authors":"Ola Brodin, Carlos Fernandez Moro, Mattias Hedman, Ozan Aricak, Tímea Szekerczés, Per Grybäck, Mikael Björnstedt","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00460-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00460-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intravenous (i.v.) sodium selenite has been evaluated in patients with advanced cancer, but its potential clinical and biomarker-related effects remain incompletely understood. We report a patient with advanced squamous-cell lung cancer who was treated with high-dose intravenous sodium selenite within the SECAR phase I trial. The patient had recurrent, progressive disease after previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted treatment, and no further standard treatment options were available. Sodium selenite was administered according to the study protocol and was followed by gemcitabine plus carboplatin. Imaging shortly after treatment showed stable disease; however, the patient subsequently improved clinically followed by gradual tumor regression. 2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) performed in 2011 demonstrated no residual tumor, repeated bronchial and stent-related biopsies between 2014 and 2017 showed no malignancy, and available autopsy material 10 years after SECAR treatment showed no malignancy. Retrospective biomarker analyses showed strong membranous programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in the pretreatment tumor biopsy and a sustained decrease in plasma soluble programmed death-ligand 1 (sPD-L1) from 93 pg/mL before sodium selenite treatment to 70 pg/mL after treatment and 38 pg/mL at 12 weeks after completion of subsequent chemotherapy. This case describes an exceptional durable complete remission in a patient with advanced squamous-cell lung cancer after sodium selenite treatment followed by chemotherapy within a phase I trial. Although causality cannot be established from a single case, the approximately 10-year malignancy-free clinical course, repeated tumor-free bronchial biopsies, absence of malignancy in available autopsy material, and exploratory PD-L1/sPD-L1 findings support reporting this observation as hypothesis-generating. The case merits further investigation of sodium selenite in the treatment of PD-L1 expressing tumors.Trial Registration European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) number 2006-004076-13.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1109-1123"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13574738/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Drug-Drug Interactions Using Drug-PIN® in Patients Receiving Avelumab Maintenance for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma: Evidence from the MALVA Study (Meet-URO 25).","authors":"Giandomenico Roviello, Mattia Alberto Di Civita, Daniele Santini, Elisabetta Gambale, Lidia Strigari, Simone Scagnoli, Laura Pappalardo, Andrea Torchia, Andrea Botticelli, Serena Pillozzi, Lorenzo Antonuzzo","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00448-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00448-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Polypharmacy is common in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) receiving avelumab maintenance therapy, raising concerns about potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed patients enrolled in the multicenter MALVA study treated with avelumab maintenance. Concomitant medications were assessed using the Drug Interaction and Pharmacogenomics Information Network (Drug-PIN®). Drug-PIN® scores were calculated with and without avelumab and correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 115 patients, Drug-PIN® scores showed wide inter-patient variability but were not significantly influenced by inclusion of avelumab. No significant differences in OS or PFS were observed across Drug-PIN® risk categories.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this real-world cohort, polypharmacy and Drug-PIN® score did not impact survival outcomes, suggesting that, within the limitations of this exploratory analysis, Drug-PIN®-assessed DDI burden was not associated with survival outcomes in patients receiving avelumab maintenance therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"983-993"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148253903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (GEP-NEC): An Aggressive Disease Course and Limitations for Personalized Oncology.","authors":"Celine Oanæs, Herish Garresori, Dordi Lea, Marcus T T Roalsø, Torjan M Haslerud, Cato Brede, Kjetil Søreide","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00454-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00454-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. We report a male patient diagnosed with a gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)-NEC with synchronous liver metastasis at the time of surgery who underwent a radical resection attempt. Despite radical-intent surgery followed by adjuvant carboplatin/etoposide, early recurrence developed with progression through multiple subsequent chemotherapy lines. During the treatment process, genetic profiling was performed twice to identify actionable genomic targets, with inclusion in the national IMPRESS study as a last resort. Comprehensive genomic profiling revealed TP53 mutation and RB1 loss but no actionable alterations. A patient-derived organoid (PDO) was successfully established from resected tumor tissue and retained key neuroendocrine and proliferative features, with partial genomic concordance to the primary tumor. Differences between the primary and subsequent PDO in variant allele frequencies suggest clonal selection during culture. Exploratory metabolomic profiling of tryptophan pathway metabolites in patient serum and PDO-culture media indicated tumor-associated metabolic alterations. We present clinical and translational efforts in difficult-to-treat NEC, illustrating both the translational challenges and the potential role of PDOs in advancing personalized treatment strategies for a cancer with very limited treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1095-1107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575062/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148333255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Qualitative Study of Patient and Caregiver Perspectives on Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer in the United States.","authors":"Esther Yu, Veronica Ashton, OluYemisi Falope, Toby Hanna, Teresa Kessell, Matt Scott, Denise D'Andrea, Maureen Tucker O'Malley, Rebecca Genin","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00464-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00464-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC) has major physical and psychosocial burdens. Although treatment challenges are well recognized, few studies have explored the full LA-HNSCC experience from first symptoms through to post-treatment recovery and survivorship. This exploratory, qualitative study sought to understand patient and caregiver perspectives across the LA-HNSCC journey.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>US adults with lived experience of LA-HNSCC (seven patients; two caregivers) participated in Johnson & Johnson's Head & Neck Cancer Patient Engagement Research Council via virtual focus groups and online bulletin board activities. Transcripts and written responses were thematically analyzed using an a priori framework of three key stages: diagnosis and treatment planning, treatment, and post-treatment recovery and survivorship.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Diagnostic journeys varied, with delays to diagnosis commonly perceived by participants as being attributed to multiple factors, including misinterpreted symptoms, difficulty accessing specialists, and limited provider awareness. Participants reported fear, uncertainty, and information overload during early decision-making. Treatment was described as burdensome, with side effects from radiation and chemotherapy leading to profound functional impairments affecting eating, swallowing, speech, and energy levels. Post-treatment long-term effects such as dry mouth, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, and anxiety about recurrence persisted and were often unexpected. Throughout these challenges, participants found strength, encouragement, and hope in peer support networks and valued knowledgeable and empathic communication with providers, as well as access to clear and digestible information; in particular, participants recommended early mental health support, tailored communication, and access to peer mentorship services.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These exploratory, qualitative insights highlight unmet informational, psychosocial, and support needs in LA-HNSCC. Patients and their caregivers reported experiencing substantial, long-lasting physical and mental health effects that providers should be aware of to better support and empower patients throughout the care experience. A graphical abstract and patient journey infographic are available for this article.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1059-1075"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575074/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148892632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Podcast on the Emerging Role of PD-(L)1/VEGF Bispecific Antibodies in the Evolving Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Treatment Landscape.","authors":"Brian I Rini, Benjamin Garmezy","doi":"10.1007/s40487-026-00450-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40487-026-00450-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Combinations of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) + anti-programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1) or anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or an ICI + tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI; anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) are the current standard first-line treatments for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, novel therapies are needed as treatments for RCC have relied on the same mechanisms for decades, with only modest advancements made in the field compared with other genitourinary diseases. Therefore, a considerable unmet need remains for additional treatment options with enhanced activity and minimal toxicity for patients with advanced RCC. Simultaneous bispecific targeting of PD-1 and VEGF may improve efficacy and safety compared with combination therapy of PD-1- and VEGF-targeting single agents. In this podcast, authors discuss the evolving treatment landscape for patients with RCC and describe how bispecific antibodies, as monotherapy or combination therapy, have the potential to transform the treatment of these patients. Preclinical evidence shows that bispecific co-targeting of PD-(L)1 and VEGF may result in cooperative binding, which can enhance both PD-1 binding affinity and anti-angiogenic activity. Bispecific targeting can also potentially confer safety advantages owing to a reduction in immune-related adverse events. PD-(L)1/VEGF bispecifics under development include PF-08634404, ivonescimab, and BNT327, all of which have distinct structural configurations and mechanistic differences. These bispecific antibodies, among others, are being evaluated for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC. The authors discuss existing clinical evidence with bispecific antibodies in other cancers and explore the rationale for evaluating the antitumor activity of PD-(L)1/VEGF bispecifics, either as monotherapy or in conjunction with other treatments in patients with RCC.Podcast and Infographic available for this article. Podcast (MP4 107526 KB) Infographic.</p>","PeriodicalId":44205,"journal":{"name":"Oncology and Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"855-867"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148340606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}