Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Mitigating bladder signal in 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for prostate cancer: a clinical comparative study of dynamic whole-body parametric imaging.
Zuo R, et al
Researchers investigated whether dynamic whole-body Patlak parametric imaging could reduce the intense bladder signal that interferes with 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans used to detect prostate cancer, comparing two scanner types with different axial fields of view. In a prospective study of 18 prostate cancer patients, the Patlak V imaging method virtually eliminated bladder signal, achieving a 99.5% bladder volume reduction on the long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) scanner and 91.0% on the short axial field-of-view (SAFOV) scanner. Obscuration of the prostatic base, which occurred in one-third of patients on standard SUV images, was completely eliminated using the new parametric approach. Nearly all primary prostate lesions and the vast majority of metastases remained detectable on parametric images, and the LAFOV scanner consistently provided higher tumor-to-background ratios than the SAFOV scanner. These findings demonstrate that Patlak parametric imaging is a clinically feasible technique that can improve detection of lesions near the bladder without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy, potentially benefiting patients by ensuring more complete staging of their disease.
EJNMMI physics
Source →Training Feedback Tailored to Technical Skills Expedites Proficiency in Performing Watertight Vesicourethral Anastomoses: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Dadashian E, et al
A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Surgical Education examined whether feedback tailored to a trainee's specific weaknesses could accelerate the mastery of vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA), a critical suturing step in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Nineteen surgical residents practiced the procedure on silicone models over ten weekly sessions, with performance assessed using the validated End-to-End Assessment of Suturing Expertise (EASE) tool, and participants were divided into control, conventional feedback, and tailored feedback groups. The results were striking: all seven residents in the tailored feedback group achieved and maintained a watertight anastomosis, compared to just one of six in the conventional group and none in the control group. Five key suturing skills — including needle hold angle, depth of needle hold, and needle driving smoothness — predicted a successful watertight result with 78% sensitivity and 72% specificity. These findings demonstrate that targeted, individualized feedback dramatically shortens the learning curve for a technically demanding surgical skill, potentially reducing the risk of postoperative urine leaks in patients undergoing prostate cancer surgery.
Journal of surgical education
Source →Polycythemia in males living with HIV post dolutegravir and long term antiretroviral therapy.
Bendre A, et al
Researchers from India report a case series of four male patients living with HIV who developed persistently elevated red blood cell counts (polycythemia) after switching to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART), a widely used first-line HIV treatment. All four patients had been on long-term ART since childhood and showed rising hemoglobin levels exceeding 16.5 g/dL within one to three years of starting dolutegravir, despite remaining otherwise asymptomatic with stable immune markers. Standard secondary causes of elevated red blood cells — including smoking, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and blood cancers — were systematically ruled out, pointing toward a possible drug-related effect or a hematological recovery linked to sustained viral suppression. Proposed biological mechanisms include dolutegravir-associated increases in testosterone, enhanced production of erythropoietin, reduced red blood cell destruction, and improved bone marrow function. Clinicians are urged to be aware of this uncommon but potentially significant side effect, as persistent polycythemia may increase the long-term risk of dangerous blood clots, and routine blood count monitoring is recommended for patients on dolutegravir-based regimens.
International journal of STD & AIDS
Source →Genomic Landscape and Clinical Outcomes of Advanced Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
Liu C, et al
A new study published in the European Journal of Haematology examined the genetic characteristics and clinical outcomes of advanced pediatric myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a rare and poorly understood bone marrow disorder in children. Researchers used next-generation sequencing to analyze tumor DNA from 63 pediatric patients, identifying mutations in 53 genes across nearly 78% of cases, with alterations in the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway being the most frequently observed, affecting 44% of patients. A key finding was that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) dramatically improved survival, raising two-year overall survival rates from 42.6% to 84.5% compared to patients who did not receive the transplant. The study also identified mutations in the PTPN11 gene as an independent predictor of worse outcomes, offering clinicians a potential biomarker to flag high-risk patients earlier. These findings help clarify the distinct genetic landscape of pediatric MDS and underscore the critical importance of timely transplantation, while highlighting specific genetic markers that could guide more personalized treatment strategies for affected children.
European journal of haematology
Source →Recent advances in CAR T and CAR NK cell therapy for AML.
Suga M, et al
Researchers reviewed the current state of CAR T cell and CAR NK cell therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer with limited treatment options and poor outcomes after relapse. A central challenge highlighted is the difficulty of finding AML-specific targets, as many candidate antigens such as CD33, CD123, and FLT3 are also present on healthy blood-forming cells, raising the risk of unintended damage to normal bone marrow. CAR NK cell therapy is presented as a promising lower-toxicity alternative to CAR T cells, offering potential off-the-shelf availability and reduced risks of graft-versus-host disease and severe inflammatory side effects. The review also introduces an innovative approach targeting mismatched HLA-DRB1 molecules in AML patients who have relapsed after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, potentially offering a personalized therapeutic strategy for this difficult-to-treat group. These advances represent significant progress toward bringing the success of CAR-based therapies seen in other blood cancers to AML patients who currently have very few options.
International journal of hematology
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