Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Knowledge-Based Planning and Multi-criteria Optimization Combination with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Patients with Laryngeal Cancer.
Miura H, et al
Researchers evaluated whether combining knowledge-based planning (KBP) with multi-criteria optimization (MCO) could improve radiation treatment planning for patients with laryngeal cancer receiving volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Using twenty previously treated patients to train a planning model and ten additional patients for testing, the team compared three approaches: manual planning, KBP alone, and KBP combined with MCO. The combined KBP plus MCO method achieved the highest tumor dose coverage, with an average PTV D95% of 94.1% compared to 92.8% for KBP alone and 90.2% for manual planning, while also showing the best conformity index. Crucially, the KBP plus MCO approach provided better sparing of the carotid artery at lower dose levels (V10 to V30 Gy) compared to both manual planning and KBP alone, without compromising spinal cord safety. These findings suggest that adding MCO to knowledge-based planning can reduce radiation exposure to critical blood vessels near the larynx while maintaining adequate tumor coverage, potentially lowering the risk of vascular side effects in laryngeal cancer patients.
Journal of medical physics
Source →Patient Reported Satisfaction Outcomes After Breast Radiation Using Intraoperative Radiation Therapy vs. External Beam Radiation Therapy.
Harshe AI, et al
A new study published in the European Journal of Breast Health examined patient-reported satisfaction and side effects among women treated for early-stage breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using either intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) or conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). IORT delivers a targeted dose of radiation directly to the tumor site during surgery, while EBRT is administered over multiple sessions after surgery. Researchers used the validated BREAST-Q survey to compare cosmetic outcomes and radiation-related side effects in 88 patients treated between 2017 and 2023. Patients who received IORT reported significantly higher satisfaction with breast appearance (mean score 83.7 vs. 74.2) and fewer radiation-related adverse effects compared to those treated with EBRT. These findings suggest that IORT may offer a meaningful advantage in quality of life for eligible patients with early-stage breast cancer, potentially influencing clinical decision-making when selecting a radiation approach.
European journal of breast health
Source →Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer: An EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 Based Assessment.
Saini J, et al
A study published in the Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of 205 head and neck cancer patients in India using the validated Hindi-language version of the EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire, a comprehensive instrument specifically designed for this cancer group. The mean global QoL score was 60.08 out of 100, indicating moderate impairment overall, with significantly worse scores recorded in patients with advanced-stage disease. Patients diagnosed with oral cancer—particularly those with tumors located in the mandible region—suffered the greatest QoL deterioration, scoring markedly lower than patients with maxillary or laryngeal cancers. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pain, dry mouth, sticky saliva, and restricted mouth opening were identified as major contributors to reduced well-being, while 74.1% of patients reported using painkillers and 63.4% relied on nutritional supplements. Notably, gender and addiction history did not significantly influence QoL scores, suggesting that disease stage and tumor site are more critical determinants. These findings highlight the urgent need to integrate routine QoL assessment into treatment protocols for head and neck cancer patients, as proactively managing these symptoms may improve both patient comfort and long-term survival outcomes.
Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery
Source →Chronic stress contributes to long-term isoflurane anesthesia-induced cognitive dysfunction via histone acetylation modulated by RbAp48-HDAC2 in male mice.
Shao Y, et al
Researchers investigated whether chronic stress worsens cognitive problems that can occur after prolonged exposure to isoflurane, a commonly used general anesthetic, and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms in male mice. Using a social defeat stress model combined with six hours of isoflurane anesthesia, the team found that stressed mice showed significantly greater impairment in contextual fear memory and persistently elevated stress hormone levels compared to non-stressed controls. At the molecular level, chronic stress reduced levels of a protein called RbAp48 in the hippocampus, increased activity of the enzyme HDAC2, and suppressed histone acetylation marks associated with healthy memory function. When scientists artificially boosted RbAp48 expression in the brain, histone acetylation was restored, BDNF levels increased, and the memory deficits were substantially reversed both in living animals and in cultured neurons. These findings suggest that perioperative chronic stress is a meaningful risk factor for post-anesthesia cognitive dysfunction, and that the RbAp48/HDAC2 pathway may represent a promising therapeutic target to protect vulnerable patients undergoing lengthy surgical procedures.
Journal of anesthesia and translational medicine
Source →Pitfalls in diagnosing Gallbladder Carcinoma - A Single Center Histopathology Study.
Dhakal B, et al
Researchers at a single pathology department conducted a retrospective review of 22 gallbladder carcinoma cases diagnosed between 2018 and 2023, aiming to identify the key histopathological pitfalls that make this rare cancer difficult to diagnose accurately. Gallbladder carcinoma is the fifth most common gastrointestinal malignancy worldwide, yet the majority of cases present without a detectable mass on radiological or gross examination, creating significant diagnostic uncertainty. The study found that 9 of the 22 cases presented meaningful diagnostic challenges, with the most critical pitfall being the misidentification of deeply penetrating Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses as invasive carcinoma, leading to potential overdiagnosis. Equally dangerous was the reverse error: misdiagnosing early or minimal gallbladder carcinoma and adenomyosis as benign conditions, along with undersampling of specimens and misinterpretation of extracellular mucin pools. The authors concluded that careful attention to mural thickening and thorough microscopic examination of deeply situated glandular structures are essential steps for pathologists to distinguish true malignancy from benign mimics. These findings serve as an important reminder that awareness of diagnostic pitfalls in gallbladder pathology is critical to ensuring patients receive correct diagnoses and timely, appropriate treatment.
Kathmandu University medical journal (KUMJ)
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