Cancer treatment and research communications最新文献

{"title":"Research progress on the regulation of microRNAs by traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma","authors":"Yanran Wu ,&nbsp;Yu Deng ,&nbsp;Yuhan Wang ,&nbsp;Jinxiao Li ,&nbsp;Guangtao Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review systematically summarizes the research progress on the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies for HCC remains limited due to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment approaches. TCM, with its multi-target regulatory advantages, has demonstrated unique potential in influencing HCC progression by modulating miRNA expression, thereby affecting tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the biological pathways involved in TCM-mediated miRNA regulation, including transmembrane transport, targeted modulation, and bio-carrier-mediated delivery mechanisms. The dual role of miRNAs in HCC as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes is extensively analyzed. Moreover, we highlight the key mechanisms by which TCM modulates miRNA expression, such as epigenetic regulation, signal transduction pathway intervention, and anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects, ultimately influencing HCC progression. Additionally, the clinical significance of serum miRNAs in HCC diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and correlation with pathological characteristics is discussed. Finally, we explore the challenges and future directions in HBV-associated HCC treatment via miRNA modulation, providing new insights into HCC prevention and therapeutic strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 101072"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780056","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":"Systematic literature review of secondary primary malignancies related to a CAR-T treatment in patients with multiple myeloma, lymphoma or leukemia","authors":"Mounzer E Agha ,&nbsp;Sarah McGregor ,&nbsp;Kevin C De Braganca ,&nbsp;Tamar Lengil ,&nbsp;Victoria Alegria ,&nbsp;Denise De Wiest ,&nbsp;Matthew Perciavalle ,&nbsp;Ravi Potluri ,&nbsp;Sandip Ranjan ,&nbsp;Callum Bannister ,&nbsp;Ahmed Mohamed ,&nbsp;Helen Pai ,&nbsp;Todd Bixby ,&nbsp;Zaina P. Qureshi ,&nbsp;Peter M Voorhees","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have transformed the treatment landscape of hematologic malignancies. However, concerns have emerged regarding the potential development of secondary primary malignancies (SPMs) in treated patients. This systematic literature review (SLR) evaluated the incidence, and risk factors of SPMs following CAR-T therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The SLR was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and relevant clinical trial registries from inception through October 2024. Eligible studies included patients with lymphoma, multiple myeloma (MM), or leukemia who received CAR-T therapy and reported on SPM outcomes, including occurrence and incidence, time to onset, SPM-related mortality, and associated risk factors or causality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 6737 screened records, 131 studies were included for data synthesis. Median SPM occurrence was 4.5% (IQR: 2.5–8.5%) among 20,014 CAR-T–treated patients, with median incidence of 3.1 per 100 patient-years. Hematologic SPMs accounted for 46% of cases; T-cell malignancies were rare. Median time to onset ranged from 2.0 to 38.4 months. SPM-related mortality was reported in a median of 1.7% (IQR: 0.9–3.6%) of patients. Of 434 cases where cause was discussed, five cases were attributed to CAR-T therapy, while the rest were mainly linked to prior cytotoxic therapies, advanced age, or genetic predisposition.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The incidence of SPMs following CAR-T therapy is generally modest and varied across studies. Pre-existing risk factors continue to confound attribution of these SPMs to CAR-T therapy. These findings support continued CAR-T use with risk-adapted surveillance strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 101161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147484741","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":"Survival outcomes in EGFR-mutant versus wild-type locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy alone in the pre-PACIFIC/LAURA trial era: A systematic review and meta-analysis using reconstructed individual patient data","authors":"Satoru Ochiai,&nbsp;Takamitsu Mase,&nbsp;Yutaka Toyomasu,&nbsp;Akinori Takada,&nbsp;Miwako Nomura,&nbsp;Noriko Ii,&nbsp;Takashi Daimon,&nbsp;Nobukazu Fuwa,&nbsp;Yoshihito Nomoto","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><div>This study evaluated the prognostic impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) alone in cohorts in which consolidation durvalumab or osimertinib was not administered as part of the initial post-CRT strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically reviewed studies comparing CRT outcomes by EGFR status. Individual patient data were reconstructed from published Kaplan–Meier curves using the IPDfromKM method. The proportional hazards assumption was tested, and time-varying effects were modeled when this assumption was violated. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Nine retrospective cohort studies involving 1,239 patients were included. Overall, PFS did not differ by EGFR status (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98–1.33). In non-squamous NSCLC, PFS was significantly shorter in EGFR-mutant disease (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.13–1.68). For OS, the proportional hazards assumption was violated. Median OS was 50.8 versus 34.9 months for EGFR-mutant and wild-type disease, respectively. The time-varying model showed a lower early hazard of death in EGFR-mutant disease, with attenuation of this advantage over time. The regression coefficients for EGFR mutation and the EGFR-by-log(time) interaction were -2.37 (standard error [SE], 0.55; p &lt; 0.001) and 0.65 (SE, 0.17; p &lt; 0.001), respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In CRT-only cohorts from the pre-PACIFIC/LAURA trial era, EGFR-mutant disease showed comparable overall PFS but shorter PFS in non-squamous NSCLC. Although median OS was longer in EGFR-mutant disease, the OS advantage narrowed over time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148410501","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 population-based analysis of the elective surgical management for non-metastatic splenic flexure cancers, the ongoing question","authors":"Ahmed Zeid,&nbsp;Mariana Morales-Cruz,&nbsp;Ahmed Almonib,&nbsp;Stephen Thomas Ward","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim and background</h3><div>Malignancies found at the splenic flexure correspond to only 2–4% of all colorectal cancers and no standardised surgical technique exists for its treatment. Our study analyses the surgical and oncological outcomes between Extended Right Hemicolectomy (ERH) and Left Hemicolectomy (LH), the operations commonly performed to resect tumours in this location.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>A retrospective cohort study of patients with non metastatic splenic flexure cancer treated between 1997 and 2017 within the NHS in England. The surgical approach was defined through OPCS-4 codes. Patients were divided into two different categories depending on the type of surgery performed (ERH vs LH). A number of post-operative and oncological outcomes were compared.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Around 1 690 of the cases were treated with LH, while 1 992 had an ERH. ERH was performed more commonly in younger patients (p = 0.002) and it was significantly associated with longer hospital stay, more frequent return to theatre (p= &lt;0.0001) and higher 90-day mortality rate (p = 0.0361). The lymph node yield was significantly greater for ERH when compared to LH (p &lt; 0.001) but there were no significant differences in survival (p = 0.877).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Lymph node yield is greater in ERH compared to LH yet this is not reflected in improved survival. LH appears to have some advantages in terms of improved post-operative outcomes. Important patient outcomes, such as bowel function, could not be measured.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101318"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148547921","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":"Comprehensive molecular profiling of advanced NSCLC in Greek patients:A prospective HeCOG study","authors":"Paris A. Kosmidis,&nbsp;Thanos Kosmidis,&nbsp;Kyriaki Papadopoulou,&nbsp;Nikolaos Korfiatis,&nbsp;Athanasios Vozikis,&nbsp;Sofia Lampaki,&nbsp;Panagiota Economopoulou,&nbsp;Elena Fountzila,&nbsp;Athina Christopoulou,&nbsp;Epaminondas Samantas,&nbsp;Anastasios Vagionas,&nbsp;Giannis Socrates Mountzios,&nbsp;Georgios Gkoumas,&nbsp;Nikolaos Tsoukalas,&nbsp;Ilias Athanasiadis,&nbsp;Dimitris Bafaloukos,&nbsp;Chris Panopoulos,&nbsp;Margarita Ioanna Koufaki,&nbsp;George Petrakis,&nbsp;Georgios Fountzilas,&nbsp;Helena Linardou","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>We report for the first time the molecular landscape and outcome associations from the prospective CLIMEDIN trial in Greece.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two hundred patients with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC (March 2022–October 2023) were enrolled and randomized to standard-of-care education versus additional automated, adverse-event–targeted digital interventions. Within this study baseline testing (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1) was performed in all; 165 tumors underwent comprehensive NGS (Oncomine Comprehensive Assay v3). Primary endpoint was improvement in AEs/QoL; secondary endpoints included ORR, PFS and OS. Associations between genomic alterations and outcomes were explored.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Median age was 68 years; 75% male; 52% current smokers; adenocarcinoma 68.5%. Most received chemo-immunotherapy (66%). At data cut-off (December 2025; reverse-Kaplan–Meier median follow-up 36.3 months), median PFS was 9.6 months and median OS was 15.2 months. Across 200 tumors, 495 pathogenic variants (PVs) were identified in 83 genes. Exploratory outcome analyses showed longer OS in EGFR-mutant disease (preserved under parsimonious multivariable adjustment) and a formal KRAS × smoking interaction for OS (interaction P = 0.011).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In this cohort, the molecular profile mirrors other Caucasian series, with clinically relevant enrichment patterns for EGFR and KRAS. ECOG performance status and first line treatment were the dominant prognostic factors in this cohort. A novel KRAS and smoking interaction for overall survival warrants prospective validation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148583510","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":"BRAF V600E Co-mutations predict aggressive clinicopathological features in Chinese patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: A multicenter cohort study","authors":"Jing Du,&nbsp;Bo Guo,&nbsp;Yunpeng Zhang,&nbsp;Songyan Guo,&nbsp;Fan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101356","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The &lt;em&gt;BRAF &lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; mutation is a common driver variant in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC); however, the clinical significance of its co-mutation patterns in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the predictive value of &lt;em&gt;BRAF &lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; co-mutations for aggressive clinicopathological features in DTC by detecting a 10-gene panel, providing molecular evidence for refined risk stratification.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A multicenter cohort of 240 DTC patients from two medical centers was retrospectively enrolled. A 10-gene panel (BRAF V600E, TERT, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, PIK3CA, RET, PPARG, NTRK1, NTRK3) was assessed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for mutations and fusion events. Based on mutation status, patients were categorized into three groups: BRAF V600E-mutation alone, BRAF V600E co-mutation, and non-&lt;em&gt;BRAF &lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; mutation groups. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to evaluate P53 and Ki-67 expression. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, or Kruskal-Wallis tests as appropriate. Log-rank test assessed differences in recurrence-free survival (RFS), while binary/ordinal logistic regression analyzed the predictive role of &lt;em&gt;BRAF &lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; co-mutations for aggressiveness (capsular invasion, ATA risk stratification, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The &lt;em&gt;BRAF &lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; co-mutation group (n = 21) exhibited significantly higher rates of capsular invasion (52.4 %vs. 13.2 % and 23.1 %, *p*&lt;0.01) and ATA high-risk classification (57.1 %vs. 25.7 % and 28.8 %, *p*&lt;0.05) compared to the &lt;em&gt;BRAF&lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; -mutation alone group (n = 167) and non-&lt;em&gt;BRAF&lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; mutation group (n = 52). Tumor stage distribution (AJCC 8th edition) also differed significantly among the three groups, with the co-mutation group showing the highest proportion of advanced T stage (T3-T4) (*p*&lt;0.05). &lt;em&gt;TERT&lt;/em&gt; was the most frequently co-mutated gene. Logistic regression revealed that the &lt;em&gt;BRAF&lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; co-mutation group had significantly increased risks of capsular invasion (OR = 3.667, 95 % CI: 1.325–10.713) and ATA high-risk status (OR=2.881, 95 % CI: 1.217–6.839). Although P53/Ki-67 expression did not differ significantly among groups (*p* &gt; 0.05), the co-mutation group showed a trend toward higher proportions of cases with Ki-67 ≥ 10 % (9.5 %vs. 7.2 % and 5.7 %, *p*=0.09).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;These results suggest that &lt;em&gt;BRAF&lt;sup&gt;V600E&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; co-mutations are associated with more aggressive DTC features in a Chinese patient cohort. The 10-gene panel used in this analysis may offer potential as a tool for identifying subsets of patients with adverse pathology, such that it warrants further investigation as a tool for refined risk stratification. However, ","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101356"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148677479","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":"Artificial intelligence-powered evaluation of the pathologic response to preoperative therapy in non-small cell lung cancer","authors":"Akira Ono,&nbsp;Takuya Kawata,&nbsp;Mitsuhiro Isaka,&nbsp;Keita Mori,&nbsp;Yohei Shirai,&nbsp;Yujiro Otsuka,&nbsp;Koji Muramatsu,&nbsp;Kiyoshi Tone,&nbsp;Hideyuki Harada,&nbsp;Yasuhisa Ohde,&nbsp;Takashi Sugino,&nbsp;Toshiaki Takahashi","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Quantitative assessment of the pathologic response (pR) in the eyeball approach remains challenging. Few studies have clearly defined viable tumor cell regions (VTRs). We defined VTRs using AE1/AE3 (AE1/3) staining and examined the usefulness of computational pathology (CP) assessment of the pR after preoperative therapy (PT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Among 50 NSCLC patients administered PT at our hospital between October 2002 and April 2021, we selected 31 cases that received PT and evaluated the correlations between AI-based and manual assessments of pR on a slide-by-slide in AE1/3 and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained slides. A total of 406 virtual slides (vs) were generated and divided into a training set (300 vs) and a test set (58 vs) without case duplication. pR was defined as the percent area of VTRs relative to the total tumor bed (TB) area. An experienced pathologist manually assessed the pR on HE slides and annotated TB regions, which were used to train a TB model. A VTR model was first developed on AE1/3 vs using an algorithm (AE1/3-trained VTR model), and the resulting labels were transferred to the HEvs to train a HE based VTR model (HE-trained VTR model).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the test set, AI assessed pR was strongly correlated with the manually assessed pR in the AE1/3 (Spearman’s ρ, 0.87, 95%CI, 0.74–0.94) and HE vs. (ρ 0.71, 95%CI, 0.49–0.86).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The AI-based CP platform appears to be feasible for quantitative evaluation of the pR following PT in cases of NSCLC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101355"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148688520","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":"Role of non-animal 3D models in H. pylori associated gastric carcinogenesis: Insights and future perspectives","authors":"Randhir Singh,&nbsp;Dyumn Dwivedi,&nbsp;Anshu Yadav,&nbsp;Maya Chaturvedi,&nbsp;Sourabh Tyagi,&nbsp;Hemant Ritturaj Kushwaha,&nbsp;Rupesh Chaturvedi,&nbsp;Shruti Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Three-dimensional (3D) gastric organoids have become valuable experimental models for gastric cancer research, as they closely mirror tumour architecture, molecular features, and treatment responses. Unlike two-dimensional cultures and animal models, gastric organoids capture key physiological and pathological characteristics of the human stomach, allowing more meaningful investigation of tumour development, host–microbe interactions, and epithelial–stromal crosstalk. These systems retain the genetic and phenotypic traits of their tissue of origin, making them suitable for both mechanistic studies and long-term experimentation.</div><div>This review outlines the development of gastric organoid technology, from early advances in adult stem cell–derived cultures to recent methodological refinements that have expanded their experimental and clinical relevance. We discuss how organoid models have helped address the challenge posed by the marked molecular and histological heterogeneity of gastric cancer, which continues to complicate diagnosis and therapeutics. In this regard, patient-derived gastric organoids and associated biobanks have shown strong potential as predictive tools for drug response, as they reliably preserve tumour structure and gene expression patterns observed in primary tissues. In addition, we highlight recent improvements in culture matrices and experimental approaches that have enhanced organoid robustness and reproducibility. The growing use of gastric organoids as preclinical platforms for drug screening and the study of cancer-related signaling pathways reflects the rapid maturation of the field. We consider current limitations, technical challenges, and future directions for gastric organoid research, emphasizing their role as complementary models that bridge the gap between conventional in vitro systems and in vivo studies in gastric cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101363"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148757261","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":"Influence of metastatic patterns and initial disease burden on progression- free and survival outcomes in metastatic breast cancer","authors":"Francesca Albrecht,&nbsp;Martin Heidinger,&nbsp;Tibor A. Zwimpfer,&nbsp;Bich Doan Nguyen-Sträuli,&nbsp;Andreas Schoetzau,&nbsp;Marcus Vetter,&nbsp;Christian Kurzeder,&nbsp;Walter P. Weber,&nbsp;Viola Heinzelmann-Schwarz,&nbsp;Fabienne D. Schwab","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The relationship between the number of initial metastases and metastatic spread in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to identify key factors influencing disease progression and survival from the first metastatic manifestation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective, single center cohort study included 126 patients with breast cancer and distant metastasis treated at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, between 2014 and 2023. We assessed risk factors including metastatic pattern (single metastasis [SM] vs. multiple metastases [MM]), receptor status, histological subtype, and age. Disease progression from the first to second metastatic event was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients with SM exhibited significantly better PFS compared to those with MM (HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.38–3.24). Non-triple-negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) patients had superior PFS compared to those with TNBC (HR 2.61, 95% CI: 1.53–4.44). In terms of OS, SM patients had a significantly better outcome compared to MM patients (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.43–3.99). Additionally, non-TNBC patients showed a significantly better OS than TNBC patients (HR 3.93, 95% CI: 2.2–7).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The extent of initial metastasis and TNBC status play a crucial role in determining prognosis in mBC. These factors are essential for predicting disease progression, guiding individualized treatment strategies, and informing ongoing discussions on optimal treatment approaches for patients with oligometastatic breast cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101361"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148757347","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":"Real-world efficacy and sequential therapy patterns after avelumab maintenance in metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a Brazilian multicenter retrospective cohort study","authors":"Isabelle E. Cohen,&nbsp;Helena F. Bruzzi,&nbsp;Giulia C. e S. Gontijo,&nbsp;Maria Fernanda S.S. de Carvalho,&nbsp;Gabriela C.K. Lopes,&nbsp;Yasmim P. Dias,&nbsp;Haonne S. Abboud,&nbsp;Vinicius Freire,&nbsp;Daniel Herchenhorn","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Avelumab is approved as maintenance therapy after platinum-based chemotherapy in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Real-world evidence is needed to validate outcomes and define its role in the era of newly approved agents.</div></div><div><h3>Patients and methods</h3><div>This retrospective study included patients with mUC from a Brazilian multicenter oncology network (2021–2026) who received ≥1 cycle of avelumab following chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), defined as the time from avelumab initiation to death from any cause. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), treatment-related toxicity, and subsequent therapies after progression. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forty-six patients were included (63% male), with a median age of 71 years (range, 55–91). At a median follow-up of 24.4 months, 56.5% were alive, and 43.5% had died. Median treatment duration was 8.48 months, with a median of 19 cycles (range, 1–112). Median OS was not reached. Estimated OS rates at 12 and 36 months were 76.1% (95% CI, 65–89%) and 53% (95% CI, 40–71%), respectively. A PFS event occurred in 67.4% of patients, while 32.6% remained progression-free. After progression, 45.6% received second-line therapy, and 13% received third-line therapy. Median time to next treatment was 5.6 months. Grade 3–4 adverse events occurred in 26%, with no treatment-related deaths.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Avelumab maintenance demonstrated durable disease control, prolonged survival, and acceptable tolerability in an unselected real-world mUC population. Nearly half of the patients received subsequent therapy after progression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148757742","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}