Cancer treatment and research communications最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of pancreatic elastase-1 measurement during health checkups for detection of pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic individuals","authors":"Haruka Itoh ,&nbsp;Satomi Asai ,&nbsp;Shinji Takashimizu ,&nbsp;Toshio Nakagohri ,&nbsp;Yasuhiro Nishizaki ,&nbsp;Hayato Miyachi","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100951","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100951","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Early detection of pancreatic cancer before symptom onset improves curability. This study evaluated the utility of blood elastase-1 as a screening tool for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic individuals.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 200,583 individuals underwent health checkups at the Tokai University Hospital Health Screening Center between July 2005 and December 2018. The incidence of pancreatic cancer was compared among individuals with blood elastase-1 levels ≥401 ng/dL or &lt;401 ng/dL at health checkups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 376 individuals with elastase-1 levels ≥401 ng/dL (high group), 12 were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at our hospital. Among 200,207 records with elastase-1 levels &lt;401 ng/dL (low group), an estimated 41 individuals developed pancreatic cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of elastase-1 testing for pancreatic cancer detection was 22.6 % and 99 %, respectively. The sensitivity of abdominal ultrasonography was 50 % and increased to 68.8 % when combined with elastase-1 testing. In patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the elastase-1-high group was more likely to undergo surgery, as compared with the elastase-1-low group (75 % [9/12] vs. 50 % [10/20], statistically not signifcant, p= 0.267), and had significantly longer overall survival (median: 1113 days and 641 days).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Incorporating elastase-1 testing alongside abdominal ultrasonography in routine health checkups may improve the detection of pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic individuals. Patients whose pancreatic cancer was identified due to elevated elastase-1 levels had a better prognosis compared to those diagnosed through other methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100951"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144291544","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 clinical practice and outcomes in Peruvian patients with advanced EGFR T790M mutation positive NSCLC: A multicenter analysis","authors":"Marco Galvez-Nino ,&nbsp;Katia Roque ,&nbsp;Rossana Ruiz ,&nbsp;Fernando Namuche ,&nbsp;Victor Paitan ,&nbsp;Tulio Arrese ,&nbsp;Jorge Zegarra ,&nbsp;George Oblitas ,&nbsp;Lisde Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Lorenzo Maco ,&nbsp;Maria del Pilar Cabrera ,&nbsp;Roberto Coello ,&nbsp;Jose Luis Portugal del Pino ,&nbsp;Juan Carlos Ezquerra ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Perez Roca ,&nbsp;Ofelia Coanqui ,&nbsp;Natalia Valdiviezo ,&nbsp;Mivael Olivera ,&nbsp;Tatiana Vidaurre ,&nbsp;Alfredo Aguilar Cartagena ,&nbsp;Luis Mas","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100906","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100906","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Despite osimertinib being the standard therapy for advanced EGFR T790M mutation positive NSCLC, in many Latin American countries, access to molecular testing and targeted therapies is limited, directly impacting patient outcomes. This study describes the real-world management and outcomes of Peruvian patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC who develop the T790M mutation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including patients from nine Peruvian institutions, both public and private, who progressed to first-line EGFR TKI and developed T790M mutation, detected between January 2018 and December 2023. We evaluated demographic, clinico-pathological features and treatment data, including diagnostic pathway, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seventy-eight patients were included; T790M was detected by liquid biopsy in 52.6 % of cases. Median time from progression to T790M detection was 59.5 days (7–244). Osimertinib was administered to 62.8 % of patients after detection, with a median initiation time of 42 days (1–104). Median overall survival (OS) from first-line treatment was 46.6 months for patients who received osimertinib, 23.9 months for those receiving other therapies, and 16.1 months for those without treatment (<em>p</em> = 0.001). Among osimertinib-treated patients, the objective response rate (ORR) was 59.2 %, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 15.8 months. Median OS from osimertinib initiation was 16.3 months, significantly longer than for patients receiving other treatments after T790M detection (9.7 months; <em>p</em> = 0.002).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study confirms the real-world effectiveness of osimertinib in Peruvian patients with advanced EGFR T790M positive NSCLC and highlights the importance of timely detection and access to targeted therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100906"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705712","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":"Efficacy and safety of lorlatinib in patients with ALK- and ROS1-rearranged metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated within the compassionate use program in Spain","authors":"Antonio Calles ,&nbsp;Mirian Alonso ,&nbsp;Paloma Martín-Martorell ,&nbsp;Ana Gómez ,&nbsp;Javier de Castro ,&nbsp;Maite Martínez-Aguillo ,&nbsp;Anna Estival ,&nbsp;Joaquin Mosquera ,&nbsp;Natividad Martínez-Banaclocha ,&nbsp;Margarita Majem ,&nbsp;Roxana Reyes ,&nbsp;Eider Azkona ,&nbsp;Ana Laura Ortega ,&nbsp;Santiago Aguin ,&nbsp;Ana Santos ,&nbsp;Andrés Aguilar ,&nbsp;Marc Cucurull ,&nbsp;Ana Blasco ,&nbsp;Virginia Calvo ,&nbsp;Dolores Isla ,&nbsp;Javier Baena","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100905","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100905","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Lorlatinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), targets both ALK and ROS1 rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is approved for ALK-positive patients after progression on prior TKIs but lacks FDA or EMA approval for ROS1-positive NSCLC. This study evaluates lorlatinib's efficacy and safety in both ALK- and ROS1-positive patients through a compassionate use program in Spain.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed ALK-positive patients treated from November 2016 to February 2019 and ROS1-positive patients treated from November 2016 to March 2021. Eligible patients had Stage IV NSCLC with confirmed ALK or ROS1 rearrangements and prior TKI therapy. For ALK-positive patients, at least two prior TKIs were required if crizotinib was used first. For ROS1-positive patients, prior crizotinib was required.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In 61 ALK-positive patients, 59 % had brain metastasis, and 85.2 % received at least two prior ALK TKIs. The overall response rate (ORR) was 32.8 %, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.2 months. Intracranial ORR was 47.6 %, with higher efficacy in patients with evaluable brain metastasis. In patients with 1, 2, or ≥3 lines of previous TKIs, we observed a median PFS of 15.1, 11.1 and 7.6 months, respectively. Among 42 ROS1-positive patients, 59 % had brain metastasis, and 61.9 % received ≥2 prior therapies. The confirmed ORR was 47.6 %, with 16.7 % complete responses. Median PFS was 10 months. Patients receiving crizotinib alone had a median PFS of 10 months, while those with two prior TKIs had a median PFS of 8.5 months. Intracranial response was 44.4 %, rising to 57.1 % in patients evaluable with brain metastasis. No new safety signals were observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Lorlatinib demonstrated consistent efficacy and manageable safety in both ALK- and ROS1-positive NSCLC patients treated under the compassionate use program in Spain. These real-world findings support its use as an effective treatment option in heavily pretreated patients.</div></div><div><h3>MicroAbstract</h3><div>We evaluated the efficacy and safety of lorlatinib in <em>ALK</em>- and <em>ROS1</em>-positive NSCLC patients within a compassionate use program in Spain. Among 61 <em>ALK</em>-positive patients, including 59 % with brain metastasis and 85.2 % treated with at least 2 prior ALK TKIs, lorlatinib achieved a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 32.8 % and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.2 months. In 42 <em>ROS1</em>-positive patients previously treated with crizotinib, lorlatinib showed an ORR of 47.6 % and a median PFS of 10 months, confirming its clinical activity despite the lack of FDA or EMA approval for this indication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100905"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705795","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":"Immunohistological localization of MDM2, MCM2, Fascin, PCNA, EGFR in paraffin section; in the normal and cancerous human ovary","authors":"Mojgan Karimi Zarchi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Ali Khalili ,&nbsp;Fariba Binesh ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Pourhosseini ,&nbsp;Ali Reza Talebi ,&nbsp;Azam Hassanpour ,&nbsp;Mahboubeh Vatanparast","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100932","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100932","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Many protein markers have been investigated in human tissues such as; Fascin, MDM2, MCM2, EGFR, and PCNA. These markers have important physiologic roles in cell proliferation, motility, adhesion, invasion, and survival.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>up to date, some researchers focused on these markers in ovarian cancer. However, the mentioned markers have not been investigated in the normal human ovary. Using the immunohistochemical technique we tried to localize these markers in the normal, and cancerous ovarian tissues.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Paraffin-embedded from 10 normal ovarian tissue and 1 case with histologically confirmed ovarian cancer, underwent an immunohistological process, and five mentioned markers were localized in the human ovary. At first, each marker presentation was assessed and then it tried to quantify the amount of presentation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Fascin, PCNA, and MCM2 are presented high in the normal ovarian tissue, while EGFR is restricted to the epithelium and very rarely in the granulosa cells. Also, MDM2 was negative for all normal ovaries. All markers had overexpression in ovarian cancer in different patterns.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Ovarian cancer tissue showed over-expression of the cell proliferation and motility markers compared with the normal ovary. These markers may have prognostic value in ovarian cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100932"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891721","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":"Evaluation of the impact of energy, radiation type, and concentration on dose enhancement by Gold Nanoparticles","authors":"Wrya Parwaie ,&nbsp;Mikaeil Molazadeh ,&nbsp;Tohid Mortezazadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100933","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100933","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to investigate the radiosensitization effects of Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) on microscopic and macroscopic Dose Enhancement Ratios (DER) across various radiation energies and types, as well as different GNP concentrations. We utilized the OncoSeed ¹²⁵I model with 6711 spectra, simulating linac megavoltage beams to irradiate GNP-loaded cells. Ten-nanometer GNPs filled small water cells (30 cm per side) in a cubic phantom, while additional 10 nm GNPs were placed in cubic voxels (0.1 × 0.1 × 0.1 µm³) centered in a 1 cm diameter cell, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 30 mg/g of Au were used to study the Dose Enhancement Factor (DEF). Both elastic and inelastic scattering mechanisms were included to accurately model low- and high-energy radiations. A monoenergetic beam of 50 keV targeted the GNP-loaded tumors, with interaction physics managed using data from the ENDF/BIII.1 file. Our findings revealed significant radiosensitization effects, particularly with low-energy and short-range electrons (&lt;1 µm). DEF values ranged from 1 to 30 mg/g of gold under a 50 keV photon beam, resulting in dose increases of up to 2.29 for photons and 1.22 for electrons. We observed a 100 % reduction in DEF for electrons at the same energy and concentration, while higher ratios were noted for the linac photon beam. The modeled ¹²⁵I seed produced a dose rate of 0.965 ± 0.002 cGy h^-1 U^-1, consistent with findings from the TG-43 report and existing literature. Increasing radiation energy significantly decreased DER, while higher GNP concentrations resulted in a dramatic increase. Further research on this topic is strongly encouraged.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100933"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898478","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":"Relationship between p53 protein and ER, PR status in breast cancer tissue","authors":"Fang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of the present study was to investigate the protein expression levels of p53 in breast cancer tissues and analyze the relationship between the increased protein expression levels of p53 and the status of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR). A total of 137 patients with breast cancer admitted to the General Surgery Department of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital from June to October 2023 were selected for inclusion in the present study and the expression levels of p53, ER and PR in cancer tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. According to postoperative pathological results, patients were divided into ER positive negative groups and PR positive negative groups. Chi-squared tests used to analyze the difference in the protein expression levels of p53 between the ER positive and negative groups and the PR positive and negative groups. Additionally, the relationship between the protein expression levels of p53 in breast cancer tissue with patient age, the longest tumor diameter, tumor TNM stage, axillary lymph node status and histological subtype were analyzed. The protein expression levels of p53 in the ER positive and negative groups was 38.27 and 66.07 %, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant.The protein expression levels of p53 in the PR positive and negative groups was 42.27 and 67.50 %, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The protein expression levels of p53 in breast cancer tissue was not significantly associated with patient age, the longest tumor diameter, tumor TNM stage and histological subtype. But it was related to the status of axillary lymph nodes, the difference was statistically significant. In conclusion, the protein expression levels of p53 in breast cancer tissues were negatively correlated with the expression of ER and PR, which could be used to potentially provide clinical guidance for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer and improve the diagnosis and treatment of these patients in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100895"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143641667","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":"Epidermal growth factor receptor specific immunotherapy for SHH medulloblastoma tested in an in vitro blood-brain barrier-model","authors":"Christina Krüger ,&nbsp;Petros Paplomatas ,&nbsp;Naomé Kreuter ,&nbsp;Malte Hellwig ,&nbsp;Alicia Eckhardt ,&nbsp;Christian Conze ,&nbsp;Leticia Oliveira-Ferrer ,&nbsp;Jacqueline Tischendorf ,&nbsp;Vanessa Thaden ,&nbsp;Ulrich Schüller ,&nbsp;Judith Niesen","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite advances in treating pediatric malignant tumors like SHH-medulloblastoma (SHH-MB), the current standard of care remains surgery followed by chemo- and radiotherapy. This aggressive therapy goes along with a significant morbidity with many long-term side effects, especially in children and adolescents. Therefore, more targeted therapies are urgently needed. Immunotoxins (ITs) conjugated to tumor-antigen specific antibodies have shown potential for selectively targeting tumor cells. In this study, we generated a single chain variable fragment (scFv)-based IT that incorporates a truncated, less immunogenic variant of <em>Pseudomonas</em> Exotoxin A (ETA'). The IT specifically targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a tumor-associated antigen commonly overexpressed in SHH-MB. Wecould demonstrate that this immunotherapeutic approach reduces tumor cell viability and induces apoptosis in MB-cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.1 to 17.5 nM. Given that SHH-MB exhibit dysregulated PI3-kinase (PI3K) pathway signaling, we combined the IT with a PI3K inhibitor. Combination treatment led to dose-dependent reductions in IC₅₀ values (from 2.51 – 13.9 nM at 0.5 µM start concentration to 1.01 – 3.4 nM at 2 µM start concentration). Additionally, we could demonstrate that the generated IT can successfully cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) <em>in vitro</em> in an <em>in vitro</em> BBB-model based on human brain microvascular endothelial (HBMEC) cells . These results suggest that this immunotherapeutic approach is a promising candidate for further development and clinical application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100950"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185669","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":"Serum Klotho: Unraveling its association with diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer","authors":"KM Renu ,&nbsp;Abhinay Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Masroor Anwar ,&nbsp;Nilanchali Singh ,&nbsp;Atul Batra ,&nbsp;Partha Haldar ,&nbsp;Sharmistha Dey","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100962","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100962","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Klotho, an antioxidant protein, suppresses oxidative stress and its potential role in cancer due to shared molecular hallmarks with aging. The expression of Klotho in breast cancer (BC) tissue and circulation remains debatable. ADAM10 and ADAM17 metalloproteinases release soluble Klotho into circulation, potentially overexpressed in BC blood. Klotho is also found in extracellular microvesicles (MV), pivotal in tumor cell communication and growth. This study assessed serum Klotho, ADAM10, and MV levels in BC patients versus normal, tracking disease progression and treatment response.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Real-time label-free surface-plasmon-resonance measured Klotho and ADAM10 in serum pre- and post-therapy, validated by western blot, correlating protein levels with demographics and cancer stages. MV levels were determined between the groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Significantly elevated serum Klotho and ADAM10 were found in BC compared to normal, particularly with larger tumors and advanced stages. Protein concentrations decreased after treatment; matched with clinically responded patients. ROC analysis distinguished protein levels between BC and normal groups with high sensitivity and specificity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study contributes a novel finding of serum Klotho protein in BC pathogenesis and explores its utility as a blood-based biomarker.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100962"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655071","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":"A characterization of the reversibly electroporated penumbra during irreversible electroporation","authors":"Rasmus Virenfeldt Flak ,&nbsp;Jonatan Riber Granborg ,&nbsp;Christian Janfelt ,&nbsp;Martin Skovmos Nielsen ,&nbsp;Benedict Kjærgaard ,&nbsp;Ole Thorlacius-Ussing","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100985","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100985","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel anticancer ablative treatment, which has been proposed to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in the periphery of the ablated area by capturing chemotherapy intracellularly. The aim of the current trial was to characterize the ablated lesion to get spatial information about the distribution of captured chemotherapy and in extension to assess the a priori probability of efficacy for the combined intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>IRE ablations were performed in five pigs with or without concurrent intravenous bleomycin and gadolinium contrast injection. Magnetic resonance (MR) scans were performed to examine the distribution of contrast in the ablated areas and images were segmented to quantify the volumes of the ablations. Pig plasma and tissues were analyzed for bleomycin using quantitative liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>MR images showed a hypointense inner surrounded by a hyperintense outer penumbra effectively doubling the volume of the ablated lesion, when gadolinium contrast and bleomycin were given just prior to IRE. In contrast, the ablations without prior contrast and bleomycin only produced a small or no hyperintense area. Bleomycin was not detectable in any of the examined tissue samples.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>A contrast enhancing penumbra can be visualized using clinically available MRI aligning with theoretical models. Regions of transient permeability may expand the apparent margins after IRE. However, this study does not provide direct evidence of intracellular bleomycin entrapment and thus results should be interpreted with caution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100985"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989302","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":"Clinical and molecular characteristics of 42 Danish patients with metastatic ALK fusion-positive lung cancer treated with first-line alectinib: A nationwide study","authors":"Maiken Parm Ulhøi ,&nbsp;Emma Roger Andersen ,&nbsp;Christoffer Trier Maansson ,&nbsp;Lars Munch Larsen ,&nbsp;Miroslaw Stelmach ,&nbsp;Jon Lykkegaard Andersen ,&nbsp;Karin Holmskov Hansen ,&nbsp;Tine McCulloch ,&nbsp;Bo Sorensen ,&nbsp;Peter Meldgaard","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>We investigated whether <em>EML4-ALK</em> fusions and mutations in pre-treatment plasma ctDNA predicted time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) in <em>ALK-</em>positive non-small cell lung cancer (<em>ALK+ NSCLC</em>) patients initiating first-line alectinib and evaluated clinical characteristics influencing TTD.</div></div><div><h3>Materials &amp; Methods</h3><div>42 patients from five Danish public oncology departments with previously untreated, metastatic <em>ALK+ NSCLC</em> were included in the study. All patients received alectinib, a second-generation ALK inhibitor, as their first-line treatment. Clinical characteristics were obtained from the patients’ health records. Plasma samples were collected before treatment start and analyzed with next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis with the AVENIO ctDNA Surveillance kit.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We demonstrate that alectinib is effective regardless of baseline brain metastases, <em>EML4-ALK</em> variant type and co-mutations. The entire cohort had a median TTD for alectinib of 35.1 months (95% CI: 10.2–52). TTD for patients with baseline brain metastasis (BM) had a median of 34.4 months (95% CI:4.1- “not estimated” (NE)), whereas patients with no BM at baseline had a median of 16.9 months (95% CI: 4.6-NE). Additionally, 57% of the cohort were smokers, and the median TTD was shorter in smokers (11.2 months) than in never-smokers (52.0 months).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In incurable ALK+ NSCLC, alectinib appears effective as first-line therapy regardless of brain metastases. EML4-ALK fusions occur in smokers, and smoking may reduce TTD. These findings, limited by the small cohort, require confirmation in larger studies but may still help guide treatment predictions and strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100993"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145004683","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}