Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Comparing the Prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Who Did Not Undergo Surgery After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Combined With Immunotherapy: A Retrospective Study.
Ma Z, et al
A retrospective study from the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, investigated the outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who did not proceed to surgery after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, comparing those who subsequently received radiotherapy versus those who did not. The study enrolled 73 patients treated between November 2020 and September 2024, with a median follow-up of 18 months, and found no significant overall differences in progression-free survival or overall survival between the radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy groups. However, when patients were assessed using PET/CT imaging prior to treatment, those with a low metabolic activity score (SUVmax of 4 or below) showed outcomes similar whether or not they received radiotherapy, suggesting radiotherapy could be safely omitted in this subgroup. Conversely, patients with high metabolic activity on PET/CT (SUVmax of 8 or above) showed significantly worse progression-free survival without radiotherapy, indicating that this group benefits meaningfully from radiation treatment. These findings highlight the critical role of PET/CT imaging as a decision-making tool for personalizing treatment in NSCLC patients who are not surgical candidates after neoadjuvant therapy.
Thoracic cancer
Source →Using deformable registration to assess dosimetric impact of variability in deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) levels for left breast treatment.
Ranganathan VT, et al
Researchers investigated how small variations in a patient's breathing level during deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) radiation therapy for left breast cancer affect the doses received by the tumor and nearby organs such as the heart and lungs. Twenty patients treated with 4000 cGy in 15 fractions were studied retrospectively, using deformable image registration to simulate CT scans at breath hold levels 5 mm above and below the intended target. The study found that 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) plans were more robust against these breathing variations than intensity-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), while specialized pseudo skin flash VMAT plans showed coverage comparable to 3DCRT when patients over-inhaled. Importantly, deformable registration revealed complex, individualized organ motion that simpler rigid registration methods had previously missed, particularly highlighting significant variability in heart hot-spot doses during under-shooting of the breath hold target with 3DCRT. These findings suggest that a personalized approach to selecting radiation technique and breath hold tolerances based on each patient's specific breathing pattern could improve treatment safety and effectiveness.
Journal of applied clinical medical physics
Source →Targeted Photodynamic Activity of a Hyaluronic Acid-Protoporphyrin IX Complex via Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis.
Egashira Y, et al
Researchers investigated whether hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring sugar polymer, could serve as a carrier to deliver a light-activated cancer drug called protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) selectively to tumor cells. The team dissolved PpIX in water by mechanically mixing it with unmodified HA using high-speed vibration milling, avoiding toxic organic solvents and creating a stable complex that remained intact for at least one week. In laboratory tests, human lung cancer cells (A549) took up approximately five times more of the drug from the HA-PpIX complex than normal mouse fibroblast cells, and the compound showed a selectivity index of about 10.3, meaning it was over ten times more toxic to cancer cells than to healthy cells. The selective uptake was confirmed to occur through the CD44 receptor, which is overexpressed on many solid tumors, as adding free HA blocked internalization of the complex. When activated by light, the HA-PpIX complex outperformed both a standard photosensitizer carrier (poly-L-lysine) and the clinically approved drug Photofrin against CD44-overexpressing cancer cells. These findings suggest that simple, unmodified hyaluronic acid could be a safe and effective vehicle for targeted photodynamic therapy, potentially improving treatment precision and reducing side effects for cancer patients.
Chemistry, an Asian journal
Source →Risk Prediction Model for Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Early-Stage Cancer.
Trivedi MS, et al
A new study published in JAMA Network Open developed and validated a clinical risk prediction model to identify cancer patients most likely to develop taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN), a common and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet. The prospective cohort study, SWOG S1714, enrolled 1,278 evaluable patients with early-stage breast, lung, or ovarian cancer who were starting taxane-based chemotherapy at community oncology sites across the United States between 2019 and 2021. Researchers found that 62.9% of participants developed TIPN within 24 weeks, and identified five key risk factors: receipt of paclitaxel (versus docetaxel), stage II or III disease, planned taxane duration exceeding 12 weeks, presence of diabetes or other pre-existing nerve-affecting conditions, and self-identified race and ethnicity including Black, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, or multiple/unknown race. In validation testing, high-risk patients developed TIPN at a rate of 68.1% compared to lower rates in the low-risk group, confirming the model's predictive value. This tool could help oncologists proactively identify vulnerable patients before treatment begins, enabling closer monitoring and potentially guiding future preventive interventions to protect quality of life and ensure treatment completion.
JAMA network open
Source →World Endoscopy Organization Position Statements for Artificial Intelligence in Endoscopic Diagnosis of Gastric Epithelial Neoplasia.
Fujishiro M, et al
The World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) has issued a set of official position statements on the use of artificial intelligence in the endoscopic diagnosis of gastric epithelial neoplasia, developed by its Stomach and Duodenal Diseases Committee. Gastric cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, and endoscopy is critical for early detection and treatment, making improvements in diagnostic accuracy particularly important. The WEO formulated ten position statements covering computer-aided detection, computer-aided diagnosis, and research promotion, reflecting both the current state of the technology and its future potential. While AI has demonstrated promise in increasing diagnostic yields during endoscopic procedures, the organization notes that clinical evidence remains limited primarily to advanced institutions in select countries, and cost-effectiveness is still debated. The statements call for expansion of AI beyond gastric neoplasia to cover all significant lesions identified during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and highlight the need for AI-driven risk stratification tools to optimize surveillance timing. These guidelines aim to help clinicians and researchers worldwide align their use and development of AI endoscopy tools with the best available evidence.
Digestive endoscopy : official journal of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
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