Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
The Rationale for Postoperative MRI Surveillance in Lobular Breast Cancer.
Grbanović L, et al
A new study published in Cancers examined whether the type of breast cancer a patient has should influence the choice of imaging used to monitor them after surgery, specifically comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the standard mammography. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 77 patients treated for invasive breast cancer in 2015–2016, tracking them for at least seven years and reviewing both pre- and postoperative imaging data. The key finding was that patients with invasive lobular carcinoma — a subtype known for its subtle, diffuse growth pattern — were significantly more likely to develop new breast malignancies after treatment, and MRI successfully detected all such recurrences or new tumors in this group, while mammography missed two out of three cases. Inter-reader agreement between the two radiologists who reviewed the images was perfect, lending confidence to the reliability of the findings. These results suggest that tumor histology, particularly a diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, should be considered when planning postoperative surveillance, and that routine MRI follow-up may offer a meaningful clinical advantage for this patient group.
Cancers
Source →Uretero-enteric strictures after cystectomy: revealing the modifiable risk factors.
Akkad A, et al
Researchers at Tours University Hospital conducted a retrospective study of 340 patients who underwent cystectomy (bladder removal) between 2016 and 2024 to identify risk factors for uretero-enteric strictures, a serious complication where scar tissue narrows the connection between the ureter and the intestinal conduit used for urine drainage. The study found that strictures occurred in 17.6% of patients, with multivariable analysis identifying reduced kidney function before surgery, elevated creatinine levels, a history of heart attack, and postoperative urinary tract infection as independent predictors of this complication. Left-sided strictures were more common, and robot-assisted surgery with internal (intracorporeal) urinary diversion showed a notable learning curve effect, with stricture rates dropping from 23.8% to 12.1% after a surgeon had completed 20 robotic cases. These findings are clinically significant because several of the identified risk factors are potentially modifiable, meaning that aggressive infection prevention and careful patient selection based on kidney and cardiovascular health could meaningfully reduce the incidence of this complication. The results underscore the importance of surgical experience in robotic cystectomy programs and highlight the need for tailored perioperative care strategies for high-risk patients.
The Canadian journal of urology
Source →Unusual metastatic patterns of urologic malignancies: a case series and literature review.
Donmez K, et al
A new case series published in The Canadian Journal of Urology documents six patients with urologic cancers who developed metastases in highly unusual locations, including the heart, hand, penis, cranial bones, and tonsil region. The study retrospectively reviewed each case with attention to clinical presentation, imaging, tissue biopsy results, and treatment outcomes, shedding light on metastatic patterns that are rarely described in medical literature. Findings showed that despite prompt diagnosis through advanced imaging and histopathological confirmation, most patients faced poor prognoses due to the aggressive nature of these atypical metastases. The cases illustrate that cancers such as bladder cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and renal pelvis rhabdomyosarcoma can spread far beyond their expected target organs, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The authors emphasize that clinicians managing urologic malignancies must remain vigilant for unexpected sites of spread, as early detection and personalized, multimodal treatment strategies are critical to improving patient outcomes.
The Canadian journal of urology
Source →Factors Affecting Oncological Outcomes in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease.
Li H, et al
Researchers from Taiwan analyzed data from 690 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) — a cancer affecting the renal pelvis and ureters — who also had chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), drawing on a large multicenter database spanning over three decades. The study found that overall survival was significantly influenced by CKD stage, age over 70, and advanced pathological stage (III or IV), while cancer-specific survival was linked to tumor location in the middle ureter, positive surgical margins, and advanced disease stage. Disease-free survival was similarly affected by tumor location in the middle and lower ureter as well as advanced pathological stage, and bladder recurrence-free survival was associated with female sex, lower ureter tumor location, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. Notably, cardiac comorbidities emerged as a potential factor in bladder recurrence, a finding that may prompt closer cardiovascular monitoring in UTUC patients. These results highlight the importance of tumor location and disease stage as key prognostic markers across multiple survival outcomes in this high-risk patient population. Clinicians managing UTUC in patients with kidney disease may benefit from incorporating these factors into personalized treatment planning and follow-up strategies.
Biomedicines
Source →Real-world efficacy and tolerability of ixazomib-based combination therapies in advanced multiple myeloma and other plasma cell neoplasms.
Zhou X, et al
A retrospective study conducted at a single center evaluated the real-world effectiveness and safety of ixazomib-based combination therapies in 126 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders. The overall response rate was 52.5%, though patients who were triple-class refractory — meaning their cancer had stopped responding to three major drug classes — achieved a much lower response rate of only 10.5% compared to 60.2% in non-refractory patients. After a median follow-up of 27 months, progression-free survival was 7.9 months and overall survival reached 84.1 months, with kidney impairment and triple-class refractoriness identified as key factors predicting worse outcomes. Side effects were generally manageable, with serious blood-related adverse events occurring in about 15% of patients and peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage causing tingling or weakness — reported in 26% but mostly at mild to moderate severity. These findings confirm that ixazomib-based regimens are a viable oral treatment option for multiple myeloma patients but highlight that they work best when used earlier in the treatment course, before patients become heavily pretreated or develop kidney problems.
Therapeutic advances in hematology
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