BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00126-5
Christopher Mysko, Stephanie Landi, Huw Purssell, A Joy Allen, Martin Prince, Gary Lindsay, Steven Rodrigues, Jenny Irvine, Oliver Street, Deepankar Gahloth, Sara MacLennan, Karen Piper Hanley, Neil Hanley, Varinder Singh Athwal
{"title":"Health inequalities in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and survival in the United Kingdom: a scoping review.","authors":"Christopher Mysko, Stephanie Landi, Huw Purssell, A Joy Allen, Martin Prince, Gary Lindsay, Steven Rodrigues, Jenny Irvine, Oliver Street, Deepankar Gahloth, Sara MacLennan, Karen Piper Hanley, Neil Hanley, Varinder Singh Athwal","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00126-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00126-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a deadly cancer in the UK despite advancements in curative therapies. Societal conditions and health inequalities influence the development of chronic liver disease and outcomes from complications including HCC. Scoping this emergent evidence-base is required to inform research and solutions for the NHS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A PRISMA scoping review was performed up to September 2023. Articles exploring health inequalities in HCC involving the UK population were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This review has characterised axes of health inequality and their impact across the HCC care continuum in the UK. Studies predominantly employed a cohort design or population-based analyses, with meta-analyses of surveillance utilisation including only a single UK study. These methodologies provided an appropriate lens to understand longitudinal trends and identify disadvantaged groups. However, important evidence gaps remain, including exploration of patient perspectives, intersectional analyses, and statistical measures of socioeconomic inequity in HCC.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HCC is a rapidly growing cause of cancer mortality and disproportionally affects underserved groups, presenting a major public health concern. Further research is required to innovate and evaluate surveillance and management pathways to reduce systemic inequities. Direction is needed at the national level to improve prevention, early diagnosis and access to curative treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11876667/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143545320","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00123-8
Alice C Westwood, Benjamin I Wilson, Jon Laye, Heike I Grabsch, Wolfram Mueller, Derek R Magee, Phillip Quirke, Nicholas P West
{"title":"Deep-learning enabled combined measurement of tumour cell density and tumour infiltrating lymphocyte density as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer.","authors":"Alice C Westwood, Benjamin I Wilson, Jon Laye, Heike I Grabsch, Wolfram Mueller, Derek R Magee, Phillip Quirke, Nicholas P West","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00123-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00123-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Within the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumour microenvironment, tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumour cell density (TCD) are recognised prognostic markers. Measurement of TILs and TCD using deep-learning (DL) on haematoxylin and eosin (HE) whole slide images (WSIs) could aid management.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>HE WSIs from the primary tumours of 127 CRC patients were included. DL was used to quantify TILs across different regions of the tumour and TCD at the luminal surface. The relationship between TILs, TCD, and cancer-specific survival was analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Median TIL density was higher at the invasive margin than the luminal surface (963 vs 795 TILs/mm<sup>2</sup>, P = 0.010). TILs and TCD were independently prognostic in multivariate analyses (HR 4.28, 95% CI 1.87-11.71, P = 0.004; HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.19-6.17, P = 0.017, respectively). Patients with both low TCD and low TILs had the poorest survival (HR 10.0, 95% CI 2.51-39.78, P = 0.001), when compared to those with a high TCD and TILs score.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>DL derived TIL and TCD score were independently prognostic in CRC. Patients with low TILs and TCD are at the highest risk of cancer-specific death. DL quantification of TILs and TCD could be used in combination alongside other validated prognostic biomarkers in routine clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11876445/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143545317","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-02-27DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00129-2
James Ingham, Jia-Ling Ruan, Matthew A Coelho
{"title":"Breaking barriers: we need a multidisciplinary approach to tackle cancer drug resistance.","authors":"James Ingham, Jia-Ling Ruan, Matthew A Coelho","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00129-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00129-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most cancer-related deaths result from drug-resistant disease(1,2). However, cancer drug resistance is not a primary focus in drug development. Effectively mitigating and treating drug-resistant cancer will require advancements in multiple fields, including early detection, drug discovery, and our fundamental understanding of cancer biology. Therefore, successfully tackling drug resistance requires an increasingly multidisciplinary approach. A recent workshop on cancer drug resistance, jointly organised by Cancer Research UK, the Rosetrees Trust, and the UKRI-funded Physics of Life Network, brought together experts in cell biology, physical sciences, computational biology, drug discovery, and clinicians to focus on these key challenges and devise interdisciplinary approaches to address them. In this perspective, we review the outcomes of the workshop and highlight unanswered research questions. We outline the emerging hallmarks of drug resistance and discuss lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and antimicrobial resistance that could help accelerate information sharing and timely adoption of research discoveries into the clinic. We envisage that initiatives that drive greater interdisciplinarity will yield rich dividends in developing new ways to better detect, monitor, and treat drug resistance, thereby improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868516/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143525982","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-02-27DOI: 10.1038/s44276-024-00118-x
J Randolph Hecht, Jean-Marie Michot, David Bajor, Amita Patnaik, Ki Y Chung, Judy Wang, Gerald Falchook, James M Cleary, Richard Kim, Anuradha Krishnamurthy, Omkar Marathe, Hagop Youssoufian, Catherine Ellis, Angela Waszak, Srimoyee Ghosh, Hailei Zhang, Kaitlin Yablonski, Shruti D Shah, Ivan Diaz-Padilla, Susanna Ulahannan
{"title":"CITRINO: phase 1 dose escalation study of anti-LAG-3 antibody encelimab alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 dostarlimab in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumours.","authors":"J Randolph Hecht, Jean-Marie Michot, David Bajor, Amita Patnaik, Ki Y Chung, Judy Wang, Gerald Falchook, James M Cleary, Richard Kim, Anuradha Krishnamurthy, Omkar Marathe, Hagop Youssoufian, Catherine Ellis, Angela Waszak, Srimoyee Ghosh, Hailei Zhang, Kaitlin Yablonski, Shruti D Shah, Ivan Diaz-Padilla, Susanna Ulahannan","doi":"10.1038/s44276-024-00118-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-024-00118-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dual programmed cell death protein (ligand)-1 (PD-[L]1) and lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3) blockade has demonstrated improved anti-tumour response in some advanced solid tumours. CITRINO, a two-part, Phase 1 dose-escalation study, evaluated encelimab (TSR-033; novel anti-LAG-3) monotherapy and in combination in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumours.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Part 1 (P1) involved dose escalation (20-720 mg Q2W) of encelimab as monotherapy (P1A/B) and with dostarlimab (500 mg Q3W) in patients with previously treated advanced/metastatic solid tumours (P1C). P2 involved cohort expansion in patients with anti-PD-(L)1-naïve microsatellite stable advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer with recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of encelimab with dostarlimab as third/fourth-line therapy (P2A), or with dostarlimab, bevacizumab and mFOLFOX6/FOLFIRI as second-line therapy (P2B). Objectives included RP2D, safety/tolerability, efficacy, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and exploratory biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Maximum tolerated encelimab dose was not reached; 720 mg Q2W was used for P2 plus dostarlimab 1000 mg Q6W. One dose-limiting toxicity occurred (Grade 2 myasthenia gravis; P1A). No clinical responses were observed in P1; 1 (3%) and 4 (17%) patients achieved partial response in P2A and 2B, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Encelimab has a manageable safety profile as a monotherapy and in tested combinations; however, anti-tumour activity was limited.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>NCT03250832.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868598/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143525983","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-02-27DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00127-4
Vilja Jokinen, Aurora Taira, Åsa Kolterud, Isa Ahlgren, Kimmo Palin, Riku Katainen, Maritta Räisänen, Eevi Kaasinen, Sini Ilves, Anniina Raitila, Helena Kopp Kallner, Emma Siili, Ralf Bützow, Oskari Heikinheimo, Annukka Pasanen, Auli Karhu, Niko Välimäki, Lauri A Aaltonen
{"title":"Activation of FGFR genes by genetic and epigenetic alterations in uterine leiomyomas.","authors":"Vilja Jokinen, Aurora Taira, Åsa Kolterud, Isa Ahlgren, Kimmo Palin, Riku Katainen, Maritta Räisänen, Eevi Kaasinen, Sini Ilves, Anniina Raitila, Helena Kopp Kallner, Emma Siili, Ralf Bützow, Oskari Heikinheimo, Annukka Pasanen, Auli Karhu, Niko Välimäki, Lauri A Aaltonen","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00127-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00127-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fibroblast growth factor 1-4 (FGFR1-4) are well-known oncogenic drivers in many cancer types. Here, we studied the role of FGFRs in uterine leiomyoma (UL) that is a benign neoplasm arising from the myometrium and the most common tumour in women. Although ULs can be classified to molecular subtypes based on genetic drivers, potential secondary drivers are not well characterised.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed mutation analysis of RNA-sequencing data of ULs, followed by screening of FGFR alterations in our Finnish (n = 2677) and Swedish (n = 372) UL collections, utilising Sanger-, next-generation and Nanopore sequencing and SNP array data. The role of FGFR genes in UL predisposition was examined by GWAS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified FGFR activation in a subset of ULs on both genetic and epigenetic levels. In addition to single-nucleotide mutations in FGFR1/2, we detected an FGFR2-ERC1 fusion gene, FGFR1 gains and hypomethylation of regulatory regions of FGFR2/3. FGFR alterations were enriched in molecularly similar HMGA2, HMGA1 and PLAG1 UL subtypes. We also unveil a UL predisposing variant upstream of FGFR4 associated with increased expression in both normal myometrium and ULs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results establish the role of FGFR signalling in the genesis of UL.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143525981","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00125-6
Karoliina Aro, Mikko Loukovaara, Ralf Bützow, Annukka Pasanen
{"title":"HER2 amplification and HER2 low expression in endometrial carcinoma: prevalence across molecular, histological and clinicopathological risk groups.","authors":"Karoliina Aro, Mikko Loukovaara, Ralf Bützow, Annukka Pasanen","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00125-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00125-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Emerging HER2-targeted therapies provide new treatment options for patients with HER2-expressing tumors. This study investigates the prevalence of HER2 amplification and HER2 low expression across a well-characterized cohort of endometrial carcinoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>HER2 chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) was used to detect HER2 amplification in endometrial carcinoma samples. Chromogenic HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. HER2 low was defined as IHC 1 + /2+ and negative CISH.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CISH confirmed HER2 amplification in 2% (n = 26) of the 1239 endometrial carcinoma samples including all the IHC 3+ cases (n = 13) and 20% of the 2+ cases (n = 55). Amplified cases presented various histotypes but consisted almost exclusively of p53 abnormal tumors. HER2 low 2+ category (n = 44) was heterogeneous with regard to molecular subgroup and histotype with 64.3% of the patients having high-risk disease. HER2 status did not independently predict disease-specific survival.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>p53 abnormal molecular subgroup predicts HER2 amplification better than histotype. HER2 low cases present a wide range of histotypes and molecular subgroups including many patients with high-risk uterine cancer. Future trials of anti-HER2 therapies will clarify the clinical relevance of HER2 low status, treatment indications and guidelines for HER2 testing in endometrial carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11821901/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143412217","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1038/s44276-024-00119-w
Ross D Dolan, Kathryn Pennel, Joshua Thompson, Molly McKenzie, Peter Alexander, Colin Richards, Douglas Black, Tanvir Abbass, Noori Maka, Josh McGovern, Antonia Roseweir, Stephen T McSorley, Paul G Horgan, Campbell Roxburgh, Donald C McMillan, Joanne Edwards
{"title":"The relationship between tumour necrosis, systemic inflammation, body composition and survival in patients with colon cancer.","authors":"Ross D Dolan, Kathryn Pennel, Joshua Thompson, Molly McKenzie, Peter Alexander, Colin Richards, Douglas Black, Tanvir Abbass, Noori Maka, Josh McGovern, Antonia Roseweir, Stephen T McSorley, Paul G Horgan, Campbell Roxburgh, Donald C McMillan, Joanne Edwards","doi":"10.1038/s44276-024-00119-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-024-00119-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In cancer cachexia the relationship between the tumour, its environment and the systemic inflammatory response is not clear. This study aims to examine this relationship in greater detail.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Host characteristics included the presence of a Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIR) as measured by Systemic Inflammatory Grade (SIG), sarcopenia (SMI) and myosteatosis (SMD) were measured. Categorical variables were analysed using χ<sup>2</sup> test for linear-by-linear association, or χ<sup>2</sup> test for 2 by 2 tables. Survival analysis was carried out using univariate and multivariate Cox regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 473 patients were included. Of these, 70.4% were over 65 years of age, 54.8% were male and 49.8% had an ASA grade of 1 or 2. Pathological examination showed that the majority of patients had a T3 (53.7%) or a T4 (34.0%) cancer and 73.0% had evidence of necrosis. A SIG score of 0 or 1 was present in 57.7% of patients. Tumour necrosis was associated with age (p < 0.01), tumour location (p < 0.01), T-stage (p < 0.001), margin involvement (p < 0.05), SIG (p < 0.001), SMI (p < 0.01), SMD (p < 0.05) and 5-year survival (p < 0.001). On multivariate survival analysis in patients with T3 cancers age (HR: 1.45 95% CI 1.13-1.86 p < 0.01), ASA grade (HR: 1.50 95% CI 1.15-1.95 p < 0.01) and SIG (HR: 1.28 95% CI 1.11-1.48 p < 0.001) remained independently associated with survival.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results suggest that tumour necrosis and the subsequent SIR could result in profound changes in body composition and survival. Further pre-clinical and clinical work is required to prove causation.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11799379/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143257540","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 detoxified TLR4 agonist inhibits tumour growth and lung metastasis of osteosarcoma by promoting CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration.","authors":"Ryunosuke Oyama, Akira Nabeshima, Makoto Endo, Alexey Novikov, Toshifumi Fujiwara, Capucine Phelip, Nobuhiko Yokoyama, Yoshinao Oda, Martine Caroff, Yoshihiro Matsumoto, Jerome Kerzerho, Yasuharu Nakashima","doi":"10.1038/s44276-024-00120-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-024-00120-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumour with limited treatment options and poor outcomes in advanced metastatic cases. Current immunotherapies show limited efficacy, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Systemic immune activation by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) immunostimulants has shown great promise; however, current TLR4 agonists' toxicity hinders this systemic approach in patients with osteosarcoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compared the antitumour effect of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with that of an innovative chemically detoxified TLR4 agonist (Lipo-MP-LPS) in a syngeneic metastatic osteosarcoma mouse model. Lipo-MP-LPS exhibited an optimal safety and solubility profile for systemic administration at an effective dose. We evaluated tumour growth, lung metastases, and immune cell infiltration in wild-type and TLR4-mutant mice and performed selective immunodepletion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lipo-MP-LPS exhibited antitumour effects against localised osteosarcoma tumours and lung metastases, like those of natural LPS. Lipo-MP-LPS promoted CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and M1 macrophages infiltration in primary tumours and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells in metastases, with an M1-phenotype macrophage shift. The Lipo-MP-LPS antitumour effects were found to depend on TLR4 and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells, but not on macrophages.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lipo-MP-LPS inhibited tumour growth and lung metastasis of osteosarcoma by promoting CD8 + T cell infiltration, indicating its therapeutic potential for advanced osteosarcoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11772650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054336","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-01-27DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00121-w
Reed A Omary
{"title":"Sustaining the planet by sustaining ourselves.","authors":"Reed A Omary","doi":"10.1038/s44276-025-00121-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-025-00121-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The author transitions his career in oncology to one in planetary health. The career pivot begins after he recognizes similarities between the pandemic and the climate crisis. The author determines that stepping away from his role as chair of radiology for a one-year sabbatical is the most efficient way to learn about sustainability. The author explains the process of his sabbatical and offers guidance for those in oncology who are also considering sabbaticals. He concludes by listing five lessons about sustainability and describing his future plans.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11772691/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054398","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}
BJC reportsPub Date : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0
Cian Campion, Linda Robertson, Ian Stansfield, Valerie Speirs
{"title":"Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research.","authors":"Cian Campion, Linda Robertson, Ian Stansfield, Valerie Speirs","doi":"10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Single-use plastics (SUPs) are used widely in cancer research laboratories. They are cheap, durable, and lightweight, and until now have been considered disposable items. This, however, contributes significantly to unsustainable waste production. SUP waste is typically diverted to landfill or incineration, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, taking many years to degrade. Lack of robust SUP waste disposal streams, particularly in cancer research labs has long term effects on the environment. Having identified that a single laboratory researcher in our group generates at least 15 kg SUP tissue culture waste alone each year, we explore some of the issues associated with SUPs in pre-clinical oncology research, discussing potential reuse routes, alternative materials for labware and developing circular approaches to plastic consumption to address the green agenda. We also propose recommendations for improving sustainability in cancer research labs.</p>","PeriodicalId":519964,"journal":{"name":"BJC reports","volume":"3 1","pages":"4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11754472/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143026184","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}