Kwai Han Yoo, Sang Eun Yoon, Ka-Won Kang, Jun Ho Yi, Min Kyoung Kim, Hyo Jung Kim, Sung-Hyun Kim, Joon Seong Park, Sung-Hoon Jung, Je-Jung Lee, Chang-Ki Min, Jae Hoon Lee, Duck Cho, Kihyun Kim
Received April 18, 2025 Accepted June 27, 2025 Published online June 30, 2025
Purpose
Daratumumab combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone (DVd) has been established as the standard treatment for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) based on pivotal phase 3 trials. A subgroup analysis demonstrated enhanced efficacy in the second-line setting, although the fixed duration of bortezomib administration remained a limitation. Therefore, we conducted a phase II trial evaluating continuous bortezomib as maintenance in a DVd regimen for second-line treatment.
Materials and Methods
This phase II study (KCT0004352) enrolled patients with MM receiving second-line DVd therapy: daratumumab (16 mg/kg IV, weekly for cycles 1-3, every 3 weeks for cycles 4-8, every 4 weeks thereafter), bortezomib (1.3 mg/m² SQ, twice weekly for cycles 1-8, biweekly thereafter), and dexamethasone (20 mg IV or PO on treatment days), as in the pivotal trial. After nine cycles, daratumumab and bortezomib were continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was a ≥ very good partial response (VGPR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety, and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity assessed by EuroFlow-based next-generation flow in bone marrow.
Results
Between June 2020 and 2021, 26 patients (median age 72) from 10 Korean centers were enrolled. All had one prior treatment line; 73% had prior bortezomib, and 69% had prior immunomodulators. At a median follow-up of 25.4 months, 65% discontinued due to progression, death, or withdrawal. VGPR or better was achieved in 65%, with 23% MRD-negative. Median PFS was 21.8 months; OS was not reached. The 24-month OS rate was 69.2%. Grade 3 adverse events included thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia; 31% had serious AEs, and 65% required dose modifications.
Conclusion
Continuous DVd therapy showed promising efficacy and manageable toxicity as a second-line option.
Yonghoon Choi, Nayoung Kim, Ji Hyun Kim, Hyeong Ho Jo, Hyeon Jeong Oh, Hye Seung Lee, Yu Kyung Jun, Hyuk Yoon, Cheol Min Shin, Young Soo Park, Dong Ho Lee, So Hyun Kang, Young Suk Park, Sang-Hoon Ahn, Yun-Suhk Suh, Do Joong Park, Hyung Ho Kim, Ji-Won Kim, Jin Won Kim, Keun-Wook Lee, Won Chang, Yoon Jin Lee, Kyoung Ho Lee, Young Hoon Kim
Received February 9, 2025 Accepted April 15, 2025 Published online April 16, 2025
Purpose
The male predominance in the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is established; however, sex differences in the prognosis of GC remain controversial. As such, this study analyzed the prognosis of patients with GC based on age and sex.
Materials and Methods
Data from 14,739 patients diagnosed with GC at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2003 and 2023 were analyzed. Baseline characteristics, histological types of GC, overall and GC-specific survival rates (age and stage stratification), and associated risk factors were analyzed.
Results
Females were significantly younger (p < 0.001) and exhibited more gastric body cancers (p < 0.001) and tumors with diffuse-type or poorly differentiated histology (p < 0.001) than males. Females exhibited an advantage over males in terms of overall survival (p=0.004), but not in GC-specific survival. However, age stratification revealed significant sex differences, that females < 50 years of age exhibited survival disadvantages (p < 0.001); however, this trend was reversed with age, and females > 60 years exhibited survival advantages (p < 0.001) for both overall and GC-specific survival. This may be explained by the lower ratio of diffuse-type GC as females age. Furthermore, in the analysis according to stage, females with stage IV disease exhibited significant survival disadvantages, with significantly younger age and a higher proportion of diffuse-type GC which exhibits aggressive features, resulting in poorer survival than in males.
Conclusion
Age and stage stratification revealed significant differences in survival between the sexes, which can be helpful for public health strategies.
Purpose
High-cost novel therapies for multiple myeloma (MM) require evaluation of efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
Materials and Methods
This study developed a methodology to assess cost-effectiveness using nationwide data from 11,450 newly diagnosed MM patients. A novel algorithm was applied to identify lines of therapy (LoT).
Results
The number of newly diagnosed MM patients increased significantly, from 873 in 2010 to 1,464 in 2019 (p<0.001). Advancing LoT was associated with shorter time to next treatment (TTNT) and overall survival (OS) (p<0.001), while all-cause medical costs increased with each LoT (p<0.001). bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone was the most common frontline regimen for transplant-ineligible patients (29.2%), while bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone was most used for transplant-eligible patients (11.3%). Daratumumab monotherapy demonstrated superior second TTNT (7.8 vs. 5.2 months) and OS (8.5 vs. 5.3 months) compared to standard care in heavily treated MM patients, with statistical significance maintained after cost adjustment. For subsequent therapies following daratumumab, a methodology was developed to estimate required medical costs using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER): Expected cost, $ = ICER × (Expected life expectancy – 0.567) + 35,601.
Conclusion
This study provides a novel cost-effectiveness framework linking treatment efficacy and real-world costs, supporting predictions of societal costs for future MM therapies.
Jin Won Kim, Jung-Yeon Choi, Woochan Park, Minsu Kang, Jeongmin Seo, Eun Hee Jung, Koung Jin Suh, Ji-Won Kim, Se Hyun Kim, Yu Jung Kim, Keun-Wook Lee, Sang-A Kim, Ji Yun Lee, Jeong-Ok Lee, Soo-Mee Bang, Kwang-il Kim, Jee Hyun Kim
Received January 20, 2025 Accepted March 11, 2025 Published online March 12, 2025
Purpose
Older cancer patients face unique challenges due to age-related physiological changes, increasing their vulnerability to treatment-related toxicities. Geriatric assessment (GA) is a validated tool for optimizing care, yet there is no consensus on integrating geriatric interventions into oncology. This study evaluates the feasibility of a tailored onco-geriatric intervention model incorporating the KG-7 screening tool.
Materials and Methods
This prospective study included 30 patients aged ≥70 years with solid tumors undergoing adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy. Patients scoring ≤5 of KG-7 were eligible. Tailored interventions incorporating KG-7 included polypharmacy, functional status, mobility, nutrition, cognition, emotional well-being, insomnia, social support, and medical problem. KG-7, GA, and quality of life (QoL) were followed at 12 weeks.
Results
Participants (median age: 79.5 years) had colon (43.3%), pancreatic (23.3%), or gastric cancer (23.3%). At baseline, most patients showed independent ADL (100%)/IALD (90%). However, 93.3% had abnormal GA. Particularly, 86.7% were either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The most frequently identified intervention needs included polypharmacy (70.0%), nutritional support (60.0%), and emotional well-being (50.0%) with high adherence (100.0%, 88.9%, and 46.7%, respectively). At 12 weeks, KG-7 scores improved in 43.8% of patients, and 69.2% of GA domains were improved. QoL analysis revealed modest improvement in Global Health Status (mean difference 6.3, p=0.176). One-year survival rates were 92.3% and 79.4% for adjuvant and palliative groups, respectively.
Conclusion
The onco-geriatric intervention model incorporating KG-7 demonstrated high feasibility and potential to enhance clinical outcomes. Future studies should validate this approach in randomized trials to optimize care for older cancer patients.
Purpose
There have been efforts to find alternative samples other than standard samples of tissue or plasma for mutational analyses for lung cancer patients. However, no other sample or technique has replaced the mutational analyses using standard samples. In this prospective study, we assessed a novel bronchoscopy method, named as targeted washing technique, for detecting the EGFR mutation.
Materials and Methods
A 3.0-mm ultrathin bronchoscope was precisely navigated to the target lung lesion with the assistance of virtual bronchoscopic navigation and fluoroscopy. Once the bronchoscope is placed in front of target lung lesion, 0.9% normal saline was instilled for targeted washing. EGFR testing using targeted washing fluid (TWF) was compared to standard methods using plasma or tumor tissue.
Results
In 41 TWF samples, the T790M mutation was detected in tissue, plasma, and TWF samples at rates of 22%, 10%, and 29%, respectively. The overall EGFR T790M detection rate using tissue, plasma, or TWF samples was 37%, with TWF samples increasing the T790M mutation detection rate by up to 10%. The accuracy of T790M mutation detection using TWF sample was 83% compared with standard samples. Four patients were found to have the EGFR T790M mutation solely through EGFR testing using TWF, which repeated rebiopsies using either plasma or tissue finally confirmed to have the T790M mutation.
Conclusion
We demonstrated the clinical potential of targeted washing technique for molecular testing, which can be a good option to overcome spatial heterogeneity, low sensitivity of plasma sample or technical limitations in collecting tumor tissues.
Ji Yun Lee, Sang-A Kim, Youngil Koh, Ho-Young Yhim, Gyeong-Won Lee, Chang-Ki Min, Young Rok Do, Hyo Jung Kim, Sung Hwa Bae, Hyeon-Seok Eom, Sung-Hoon Jung, Hyunkyung Park, Seung-Hyun Nam, Ji Hyun Lee, Sung-Hyun Kim, Hyun Jung Lee, Young Seob Park, Soo-Mee Bang
Received January 15, 2025 Accepted February 20, 2025 Published online February 21, 2025
Purpose
This study evaluates the Korean Cancer Study Group Geriatric Score-7 (KG-7) frailty screening tool's effectiveness in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients to prevent under and over-treatment.
Materials and Methods
This prospective pilot cohort study included 100 elderly patients aged 70 and older with newly diagnosed MM who had not undergone transplantation from August 2020 to January 2022.
Results
The median age was 77 years, and 73% of patients were classified at International Staging System (ISS) stages 2 or 3. Using a 5-point cutoff on the KG-7 index (non-frail, score ≥ 5; frail, score < 5), 31% were categorized as frail. After a median follow-up of 26.8 months, the 3-year overall survival rate was 73.0%. There was no statistically significant association between any frailty index and the risk of death. However, frail patients defined by the simplified frailty index (HR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.09–5.95; p=0.030) and by KG-7 (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.03–5.86; p=0.043) had a significantly higher risk of grade 3–4 non-hematologic toxicity, whereas the IMWG definition did not. Over a 24-month tracking period, vulnerability as measured by KG-7 either improved or deteriorated.
Conclusion
The pilot study, which had a limited number of participants, did not demonstrate KG-7’s effectiveness in predicting survival; however, it successfully predicted severe non-hematologic toxicities. We plan to conduct larger studies in elderly MM patients to determine whether KG-7 can help tailor their treatment regimens.
Purpose
New nomenclature has incorporated metabolic traits and/or alcohol intake history to replace nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Concerning the performance of different terminologies in Asian population, this study aimed to investigate the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in persons meeting the criteria for subclasses of fatty liver disease.
Materials and Methods
Between 2002 and 2021, 28,749 participants from the cancer registry linkage, who had no prior history of HCC, were prospectively included. Fatty liver disease was defined using abdominal sonography and fatty liver index. Participants were classified as having NAFLD, metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), steatotic liver disease with increased alcohol intake (MetALD), or alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and their association with HCC risk was investigated using Cox regression models.
Results
During a median follow-up of 14.5 years, 166 HCC cases were newly diagnosed. The prevalences of NAFLD and MASLD were 19.7% and 18.7%, respectively, whereas MAFLD was observed in 35.2% of the study population. Given the low proportion of excessive alcohol consumption, we identified 3.3% MetALD and 3.5% ALD cases. Overall, MAFLD was suggestively associated with HCC risk (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.98). In contrast, the results for other nomenclature were not significant.
Conclusion
Our results suggest the importance of both fatty liver and the presence of metabolic dysfunction in relation to HCC risk and the need to reconsider alcohol intake thresholds in the diagnostic criteria for NAFLD and MASLD within the Korean population.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Dual etiology vs. MetALD: how MAFLD and MASLD address liver diseases coexistence Shadi Zerehpooshnesfchi, Amedeo Lonardo, Jian-Gao Fan, Reda Elwakil, Tawesak Tanwandee, Munira Y. Altarrah, Necati Örmeci, Mohammed Eslam Metabolism and Target Organ Damage.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Comment on " posttreatment FIB-4 score change predicts hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients: Findings from the Taiwan hepatitis C registry program" Junwei Guo, Dongsheng Huang Journal of the Formosan Medical Association.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
MAFLD vs. MASLD: a year in review Mingqian Jiang, Amna Subhan Butt, Ian Homer Cua, Ziyan Pan, Said A Al-Busafi, Nahum Méndez-Sánchez, Mohammed Eslam Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism.2025; : 1. CrossRef
Kyoo Hyun Kim, Shinwon Hwang, Min Kyoung Kim, Keon-Uk Park, Tak Yun, Keun-Wook Lee, Joo Hang Kim, Bhumsuk Keam, Byoung Chul Cho, So Yeon Oh, Sang Hee Cho, Sangwoo Kim, Sung-Bae Kim, Min Hee Hong, Hye Ryun Kim
Received December 11, 2024 Accepted January 27, 2025 Published online January 31, 2025
Purpose
The TRIUMPH trial was a biomarker-driven umbrella trial for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). This analysis focuses on the PIK3CAɑ inhibitor alpelisib (arm 1) in patients with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway alterations.
Materials and Methods
Patients with PI3K pathway altered tumors were enrolled in the alpelisib arm of the TRIUMPH study. We conducted a detailed analysis of the correlation between PI3K pathway mutations and treatment outcomes including disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results
From Oct 2017 and Aug 2020, 203 were enrolled, with 42 treated with alpelisib. Response evaluation was possible for 33 patients. Genomic profiles revealed PIK3CA amplifications in 26.2%, and point mutations in E542K (26.2%), E545K (23.8%), and H1047R (9.5%). Neither PIK3CA amplification nor co-occurring TP53 mutations had a notable influence on alpelisib response or survival outcomes. Although the overall response rates were similar between helical domain mutations (E542, E545) and kinase domain mutations (H1047), patients with H1047 mutations exhibited significantly poorer PFS compared to those with non-H1047 PIK3CA alterations (1.6 vs. 7.3 months, p=0.017). OS in patients with H1047 kinase domain mutations showed a trend toward being shorter compared to others, though this difference did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
Alpelisib showed differential efficacy based on PI3K pathway alterations in patients with R/M HNSCC and was well-tolerated. These findings suggest the usefulness of NGS testing-based decision-making when using the targeted agents in R/M HNSCC. We need to confirm results in larger cohorts.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
PIK3CA Mutations: Are They a Relevant Target in Adult Diffuse Gliomas? Ana Tomás, Marta Pojo International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2025; 26(11): 5276. CrossRef
Purpose Daratumumab is a novel, first-in-class monoclonal antibody approved for use as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of daratumumab in real-world clinical practice.
Materials and Methods This observational multicenter study collected data from patients with MM treated in Korea between June 1, 2018, and February 28, 2022.
Results 125 patients with a diagnosis of MM were included and followed until discontinuation or completion of 52 weeks’ follow-up. The median age was 67 years, and 97.6% of patients received more than three prior lines of therapy. The overall response rate was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.2 to 61.8), and a very good partial response was observed in 19.5% of patients (95% CI, 12.8 to 27.8). Of the patients who achieved a partial or higher response (52.5%), the median time to first response was 2.4 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 3.4), and the median time from start of daratumumab treatment until progressive disease was 4.1 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.1). Fever (24.0%) was the most frequently recorded adverse event (AE), while anemia (8.8%) and neutropenia (8.0%) were the most frequently observed grade 3-4 AEs. Overall, no unexpected safety signals were observed.
Conclusion In a rapidly evolving treatment landscape, this analysis provides insight into the real-world outcomes for patients with MM receiving daratumumab in Korea and reveals that real-world outcomes were improved over results demonstrated in a clinical trial setting.
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare entity, primarily affecting young individuals, often involving the abdomen, pelvis, or lung. Approximately 50% of IMTs harbor anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements, making ALK inhibitors a viable treatment. We report a case of a 40-year-old female with metastatic IMT harboring a CARS1-ALK fusion. Initial chemotherapy failed, but targeted therapy with alectinib through the KOrean Precision Medicine Networking Group Study of MOlecular profiling guided therapy based on genomic alterations in advanced Solid tumors (KOSMOS)-II study led to significant tumor regression and ongoing, durable clinical improvement of 19 months. This case highlights the importance of precision medicine and raises the reappraisal of targeted agents outside of approved indications for rare cancers with actionable genomic alterations.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of the colon in pediatrics: clinical presentation, management, and outcomes—A case report and systematic review of literature Ismael Elhalaby, Omar Koura, Rofyda Elhalaby, Wael Zeina, Mohamed Shareef, Essam Elhalaby International Journal of Colorectal Disease.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Sung Uk Lee, Tae Hyun Kim, Sang Myung Woo, Jung Won Chun, Hyunjae Shin, Yu Ri Cho, Bo Hyun Kim, Young-Hwan Koh, Sang Soo Kim, Yang-Gun Suh, Sung Ho Moon, Woo Jin Lee
Received August 19, 2024 Accepted December 16, 2024 Published online December 17, 2024
Purpose This study aims to assess the clinical outcomes of hypofractionated proton beam therapy (PBT) for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) and to investigate the optimal sequencing for combining PBT with chemotherapy.
Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 59 consecutive patients with inoperable EHCC treated with PBT. The median prescribed dose of PBT was 50 GyE (range, 45 to 66 GyE) in 10 fractions. The combination sequences of PBT and chemotherapy were categorized as ‘Pre-PBT chemo’ (chemotherapy before PBT), ‘Post-PBT chemo’ (chemotherapy after PBT), and ‘No pre-/post-PBT chemo’ (no chemotherapy before or after PBT). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local PFS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results All patients completed the planned treatments without any interruptions, and ≥ grade 3 acute adverse events were noted in 1.6% of the cases. The 1-year and 2-year freedom from local progression (FFLP) rates were 86.1% and 66.4%, respectively, with a median time of FFLP of 30.9 months. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 74.5% and 25.3%, respectively, with a median survival time of 16.7 months. For prognostic factor analysis, pre- or post-PBT chemo was associated with a significantly reduced hazard ratio of 0.473 (95% confidence interval, 0.233 to 0.959; p=0.038) in the multivariate analysis. The median OS times for the groups receiving no pre-/post-PBT chemo, pre-PBT chemo, and post-PBT chemo were 14.6, 18.2, and 21.8 months, respectively (p < 0.05 for each).
Conclusion Hypofractionated PBT for inoperable EHCC has demonstrated promising FFLP and OS rates with a safe toxicity profile. The combination of PBT with chemotherapy shows potential to improve clinical outcomes.
Purpose Previous research showed the benefits of mindfulness meditation on the mental health and quality of life of breast cancer patients. Traditionally, these programs relied on in-person interactions, but the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic necessitated alternative delivery methods. This study evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of a mindfulness-based self-help (MBSH) program via Netflix for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Materials and Methods This prospective nonrandomized controlled study assigned patients to a control or MBSH group based on age and preference. The MBSH group watched episodes of “Headspace Guide to Meditation” on Netflix and practiced guided meditation at least twice per week for four weeks. Participants completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, mindfulness, mental adjustment to cancer, and quality of life at weeks 0 and 8. Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Results Ninety-six patients participated, with 84 eligible for final analysis (44 control, 40 MBSH). Intention-to-treat analysis revealed a significant improvement in depression (f=4.306, p=0.041). Half of the experimental group (n=20) adhered to the study protocol. At week 8, the experimental group showed significant improvement compared to the control group in cognitive avoidance (f=8.530, p=0.005) and positive attitude (f=5.585, p=0.021), both indicative of adaptive coping strategies.
Conclusion This study firstly investigated the effect and feasibility of a Netflix-based MBSH program for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Findings suggest MBSH on Netflix can improve mental health and adaptive mental adjustment, highlighting the potential of self-help mindfulness interventions to enhance the well-being of cancer patients and need for further research.
Chan Woo Wee, Joo Ho Lee, Hye In Lee, Jina Kim, Jong Hee Chang, Seok-Gu Kang, Eui Hyun Kim, Ju Hyung Moon, Jaeho Cho, Chul-Kee Park, Chae-Yong Kim, Kihwan Hwang, Hong In Yoon, In Ah Kim
Received September 27, 2024 Accepted November 8, 2024 Published online November 11, 2024
Purpose This study aimed to identify a specific subgroup of patients among elderly glioblastoma patients aged 70 years or older with unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoters (eGBM-unmethylated) who would significantly benefit from the addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to radiotherapy (RT).
Materials and Methods Newly diagnosed patients with Isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type eGBM-unmethylated treated with RT were included in this multicenter analysis (n=182). RT dose was 45 Gy in 15 fractions (62.3%), 60 Gy in 30 fractions, or 61.2 Gy in 34 fractions. For patients treated with RT plus TMZ (60.4%), TMZ was administered concurrently with RT, followed by six adjuvant cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival.
Results During a median follow-up of 11.3 months for survivors, the median survival was 12.2 months. The median survival duration significantly improved with the addition of TMZ to RT compared with that with RT alone (13.6 months vs. 10.5 months, p=0.028). In the multivariable analysis adjusted for clinical, radiological, and genetic biomarkers, the addition of TMZ significantly improved overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.459; p=0.006). In subgroup analysis, median survival was especially improved by 4-5 months in patients with residual disease (p < 0.001), Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60 (p=0.033), and age ≤ 75 years (p=0.090). A significant benefit of TMZ was noted only in patients with two or three of the above factors (median survival, 14.1 months vs. 10.5 months; p=0.014).
Conclusion The addition of TMZ significantly improved the survival of patients with eGBM-unmethylated treated with RT. The suggested criteria for the specific subgroup in these patients warrant external validation for clinical application.
Purpose Nausea and vomiting are major non-hematological adverse events associated with niraparib maintenance therapy. This study aimed to investigate the time-trend patterns of niraparib-induced nausea and vomiting (NINV) and the associated risk factors in patients with ovarian cancer.
Materials and Methods In this prospective study, we enrolled patients with stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer who received niraparib as frontline maintenance therapy. The clinicopathological characteristics and time-trend patterns of patients with NINV were collected through in-person surveys and electronic medical records from the National Cancer Center.
Results Of 53 patients, 50 (94.3%) were diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. BRCA mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) were identifi ed in 23 (43.4%) and 32 (60.4%) patients, respectively. Thirty-one patients (58.5%) had NINV. Time-trend analyses revealed that the fi rst peak intensity of NINV was reached at 3 h post-dose, and the second peak intensity was reached at 11 hour post-dose. NINV signifi cantly decreased from week 1 to weeks 8 and 12. In multivariate analyses of risk factors for NINV, HRD-positive tumors (p < 0.001) and prior experience of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (p=0.004) were associated with the occurrence of NINV.
Conclusion Pre-emptive treatment with antiemetics is required to manage early-phase NINV during niraparib maintenance therapy in patients with risk factors. Additional larger studies are needed to confi rm these fi ndings and to develop optimal preventive strategies for NINV.
Ji Yun Lee, Ju-Hyun Lee, Woochan Park, Jeongmin Seo, Minsu Kang, Eun Hee Jung, Sang-A Kim, Koung Jin Suh, Ji-Won Kim, Se Hyun Kim, Jeong-Ok Lee, Jin Won Kim, Yu Jung Kim, Keun-Wook Lee, Jee Hyun Kim, Soo-Mee Bang
Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(2):612-620. Published online September 20, 2024
Purpose Thrombosis and bleeding significantly affect morbidity and mortality in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in MPN patients remain uncertain.
Materials and Methods We conducted a large, retrospective, nationwide cohort study using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database from 2010 to 2021.
Results Out of the 368 MPN patients included in the final analysis, 62.8% were treated with DOACs for atrial fibrillation (AF), and 37.2% for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The AF group was statistically older with higher CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke, transient ischemic attack, or thromboembolism, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, sex category [female]) scores compared to the VTE group. Antiplatelet agents were used in 51.1% of cases, and cytoreductive drugs in 79.3%, with hydroxyurea being the most common (64.9%). The median follow-up was 22.3 months, with 1-year cumulative incidence rates of thrombosis and bleeding at 11.1% and 3.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥ 3 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.48), concomitant antiplatelet use (HR, 2.57), and cytoreduction (HR, 2.20) as significant thrombosis risk factors but found no significant predictors for major bleeding.
Conclusion Despite the limitations of retrospective data, DOAC treatment in MPN patients seems effective and has an acceptable bleeding risk.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Survey of Clinical Practice in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Croatia: A Study by the MPN Working Group Party of the Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases (KROHEM) Ivan Krecak, Marko Lucijanic, Rajko Kusec Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(5): 1524. CrossRef
Jiwon Koh, Jinyong Kim, Go-Un Woo, Hanbaek Yi, So Yean Kwon, Jeongmin Seo, Jeong Mo Bae, Jung Ho Kim, Jae Kyung Won, Han Suk Ryu, Yoon Kyung Jeon, Dae-Won Lee, Miso Kim, Tae-Yong Kim, Kyung-Hun Lee, Tae-You Kim, Jee-Soo Lee, Moon-Woo Seong, Sheehyun Kim, Sungyoung Lee, Hongseok Yun, Myung Geun Song, Jaeyong Choi, Jong-Il Kim, Seock-Ah Im
Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(2):443-456. Published online August 21, 2024
Purpose Considering the high disease burden and unique features of Asian patients with breast cancer (BC), it is essential to have a comprehensive view of genetic characteristics in this population. An institutional targeted sequencing platform was developed through the Korea Research-Driven Hospitals project and was incorporated into clinical practice. This study explores the use of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and its outcomes in patients with advanced/metastatic BC in the real world.
Materials and Methods We reviewed the results of NGS tests administered to BC patients using a customized sequencing platform—FiRST Cancer Panel (FCP)—over 7 years. We systematically described clinical translation of FCP for precise diagnostics, personalized therapeutic strategies, and unraveling disease pathogenesis.
Results NGS tests were conducted on 548 samples from 522 patients with BC. Ninety-seven point six percentage of tested samples harbored at least one pathogenic alteration. The common alterations included mutations in TP53 (56.2%), PIK3CA (31.2%), GATA3 (13.8%), BRCA2 (10.2%), and amplifications of CCND1 (10.8%), FGF19 (10.0%), and ERBB2 (9.5%). NGS analysis of ERBB2 amplification correlated well with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RNA panel analyses found potentially actionable and prognostic fusion genes. FCP effectively screened for potentially germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutation. Ten point three percent of BC patients received matched therapy guided by NGS, resulting in a significant overall survival advantage (p=0.022), especially for metastatic BCs.
Conclusion Clinical NGS provided multifaceted benefits, deepening our understanding of the disease, improving diagnostic precision, and paving the way for targeted therapies. The concrete advantages of FCP highlight the importance of multi-gene testing for BC, especially for metastatic conditions.
Purpose Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) predominantly manifests in East Asia and Latin America. Despite shared intrinsic factors, such as ethnic and genetic backgrounds, the progression of ENKTL can be influenced by extrinsic factors related to changing lifestyle patterns.
Materials and Methods This study collected stool samples from newly diagnosed (ND)–ENKTL patients (n=40) and conducted whole genome shotgun sequencing.
Results ND-ENKTL revealed reduced alpha diversity in ND-ENKTL compared to healthy controls (HCs) (p=0.008), with Enterobacteriaceae abundance significantly contributing to the beta diversity difference between ENKTL and HCs (p < 0.001). Functional analysis indicated upregulated aerobic metabolism and degradation of aromatic compounds in ND-ENKTL. Enterobacteriaceae were associated not only with clinical data explaining disease status (serum C-reactive protein, stage, prognosis index of natural killer cell lymphoma [PINK], and PINK-E) but also with clinical outcomes (early relapse and short progression-free survival). The relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae at the family level was similar between ENKTL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (p=0.140). However, the ENKTL exhibited a higher abundance of Escherichia, in contrast to the prevalence of Enterobacter and Citrobacter in DLBCL. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between Escherichia abundance and programmed cell death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) levels in tissue samples (p=0.025), whereas no correlation with PD-L1 was observed for Enterobacteriaceae at the family level (p=0.571).
Conclusion ND-ENKTL exhibited an abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and a dominant presence of Escherichia. These microbial characteristics correlated with disease status, treatment outcomes, and PD-L1 expression, suggesting the potential of the ENKTL microbiome as a biomarker and cause of lymphomagenesis, which warrants further exploration.
Songji Choi, Se Hyun Kim, Sejoon Lee, Jeongmin Seo, Minsu Kang, Eun Hee Jung, Sang-A Kim, Koung Jin Suh, Ji Yun Lee, Ji-Won Kim, Jin Won Kim, Jeong-Ok Lee, Yu Jung Kim, Keun-Wook Lee, Jee Hyun Kim, Soo-Mee Bang, Jong Seok Lee
Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(1):70-82. Published online August 7, 2024
Purpose Some studies suggest that TP53 mutations are associated with the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and also contribute to sex disparities in several cancers. Thus, we hypothesized that TP53 mutations might serve as sex-dependent genomic biomarkers of ICI treatment response in patients with NSCLC.
Materials and Methods Clinical data of 100 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with ICI monotherapy at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) were retrospectively reviewed. Genomic and clinical datasets of The Cancer Genome Atlas and an ICI-treated lung cancer cohort (cBioPortal) were also analyzed.
Results In SNUBH cohort, no statistically significant difference was observed in the median progression-free survival (PFS) according to TP53 mutation status (p=0.930); however, female patients with TP53 mutations (MT) had a significantly prolonged median PFS compared to wild-type (WT) (6.1 months in TP53 MT vs. 2.6 months in TP53 WT; p=0.021). Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) high (≥ 50%) expression was significantly enriched in female patients with TP53 MT (p=0.005). The analysis from publicly available dataset also revealed that females with NSCLC with TP53 MT showed significantly longer PFS than those with TP53 WT (p < 0.001). In The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis, expression of immune-related genes, and tumor mutation burden score in TP53 MT females were higher than in males without TP53 MT.
Conclusion Female patients with NSCLC with TP53 mutations had high PD-L1 expression and showed favorable clinical outcomes following ICI therapy, suggesting a need for further research to explore the role of TP53 mutations for sex disparities in response to ICI therapy.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Association Between TP53 Mutations and Platinum Resistance in a Cohort of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Patients: Novel Implications for Personalized Therapeutics Clelia Madeddu, Eleonora Lai, Manuela Neri, Elisabetta Sanna, Giulia Gramignano, Sonia Nemolato, Mario Scartozzi, Sabrina Giglio, Antonio Macciò International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2025; 26(5): 2232. CrossRef
Sang Min Lee, Bum-Sup Jang, Won Park, Yong Bae Kim, Jin Ho Song, Jin Hee Kim, Tae Hyun Kim, In Ah Kim, Jong Hoon Lee, Sung-Ja Ahn, Kyubo Kim, Ah Ram Chang, Jeanny Kwon, Hae Jin Park, Kyung Hwan Shin
Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(1):150-158. Published online July 12, 2024
Purpose This study aims to evaluate the treatment approaches and locoregional patterns for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) in the breast, which is an uncommon malignant tumor with limited clinical data.
Materials and Methods A total of 93 patients diagnosed with primary ACC in the breast between 1992 and 2022 were collected from multi-institutions. All patients underwent surgical resection, including breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or total mastectomy (TM). Recurrence patterns and locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were assessed.
Results Seventy-five patients (80.7%) underwent BCS, and 71 of them (94.7%) received post-operative radiation therapy (PORT). Eighteen patients (19.3%) underwent TM, with five of them (27.8%) also receiving PORT. With a median follow-up of 50 months, the LRFS rate was 84.2% at 5 years. Local recurrence (LR) was observed in five patients (5.4%) and four cases (80%) of the LR occurred in the tumor bed. Three of LR (3/75, 4.0%) had a history of BCS and PORT, meanwhile, two of LR (2/18, 11.1%) had a history of mastectomy. Regional recurrence occurred in two patients (2.2%), and both cases had a history of PORT with (n=1) and without (n=1) irradiation of the regional lymph nodes. Partial breast irradiation (p=0.35), BCS (p=0.96) and PORT in BCS group (p=0.33) had no significant association with LRFS.
Conclusion BCS followed by PORT was the predominant treatment approach for ACC of the breast and LR mostly occurred in the tumor bed. The findings of this study suggest that partial breast irradiation might be considered for PORT in primary breast ACC.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast: A Narrative Review and Update on Management Taylor Neilson, Zaibo Li, Christina Minami, Sara P. Myers Cancers.2025; 17(7): 1079. CrossRef
Novel clinical trial designs are conducted in the precision medicine era. This study aimed to evaluate biomarker-driven, adaptive phase II trials in precision oncology, focusing on infrastructure, efficacy, and safety. We systematically reviewed and analyzed the target studies. EMBASE and PubMed searches from 2015 to 2023 generated 29 eligible trials. Data extraction included infrastructure, biomarker screening methodologies, efficacy, and safety profiles. Government agencies, cancer hospitals, and academic societies with accumulated experiences led investigator-initiated precision oncology clinical trials (IIPOCTs), which later guided sponsor-initiated precision oncology clinical trials (SIPOCTs). Most SIPOCTs were international studies with basket design. IIPOCTs primarily used the central laboratory for biomarker screening, but SIPOCTs used both central and local laboratories. Most of the studies adapted next-generation sequencing and/or immunohistochemistry for biomarker screening. Fifteen studies included an independent central review committee for outcome investigation. Efficacy assessments predominantly featured objective response rate as the primary endpoint, with varying results. Nine eligible studies contributed to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s marketing authorization. Safety monitoring was rigorous, but reporting formats lacked uniformity. Health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes were described in some protocols but rarely reported. Our results reveal that precision oncology trials with adaptive design rapidly and efficiently evaluate anticancer drugs’ efficacy and safety, particularly in specified biomarker-driven cohorts. The evolution from IIPOCT to SIPOCT has facilitated fast regulatory approval, providing valuable insights into the precision oncology landscape.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Co-Encapsulation of Multiple Antineoplastic Agents in Liposomes by Exploring Microfluidics Sajid Asghar, Radu Iliescu, Rares-Ionut Stiufiuc, Brindusa Dragoi International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2025; 26(8): 3820. CrossRef
Seung-been Lee, Ji-Won Kim, Hong-Geun Kim, Sung-Hyun Hwang, Kui-Jin Kim, Ju Hyun Lee, Jeongmin Seo, Minsu Kang, Eun Hee Jung, Koung Jin Suh, Se Hyun Kim, Jin Won Kim, Yu Jung Kim, Jee Hyun Kim, Nak-Jung Kwon, Keun-Wook Lee
Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(4):1171-1182. Published online April 29, 2024
Purpose This study aimed to compare tumor tissue DNA (ttDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to explore the clinical applicability of ctDNA and to better understand clonal evolution in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing palliative first-line systemic therapy.
Materials and Methods We performed targeted sequencing analysis of 88 cancer-associated genes using germline DNA, ctDNA at baseline (baseline-ctDNA), and ctDNA at progressive disease (PD-ctDNA). The results were compared with ttDNA data.
Results Among 208 consecutively enrolled patients, we selected 84 (41 males; median age, 59 years; range, 35 to 90 years) with all four sample types available. A total of 202 driver mutations were found in 34 genes. ttDNA exhibited the highest mutation frequency (n=232), followed by baseline-ctDNA (n=155) and PD-ctDNA (n=117). Sequencing ctDNA alongside ttDNA revealed additional mutations in 40 patients (47.6%). PD-ctDNA detected 13 novel mutations in 10 patients (11.9%) compared to ttDNA and baseline-ctDNA. Notably, seven mutations in five patients (6.0%) were missense or nonsense mutations in APC, TP53, SMAD4, and CDH1 genes. In baseline-ctDNA, higher maximal variant allele frequency (VAF) values (p=0.010) and higher VAF values of APC (p=0.012), TP53 (p=0.012), and KRAS (p=0.005) mutations were significantly associated with worse overall survival.
Conclusion While ttDNA remains more sensitive than ctDNA, our ctDNA platform demonstrated validity and potential value when ttDNA was unavailable. Post-treatment analysis of PD-ctDNA unveiled new pathogenic mutations, signifying cancer’s clonal evolution. Additionally, baseline-ctDNA’s VAF values were prognostic after treatment.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Precision-Guided Durable Response From Venetoclax With Decitabine in a Patient With a Metastatic Refractory
IDH2
-Mutant Cholangiocarcinoma
Eylül Özgü, Ünal Metin Tokat, Ashkan Adibi, Şevval Nur Bilgiç, Esranur Aydın, Onur Tutar, Mutlu Demiray JCO Precision Oncology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Evolution of Neo-RAS-WT in Circulating Tumor DNA from First-Line to Subsequent Therapies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Marco Siringo, Michela De Meo, Irene Bottillo, Paola Grammatico, Enrico Cortesi, Chiara Nicolazzo, Paola Gazzaniga Cancers.2025; 17(7): 1070. CrossRef
Ho-Jin Shin, Do-Young Kim, Kihyun Kim, Chang-Ki Min, Je-Jung Lee, Yeung-Chul Mun, Won-Sik Lee, Sung-Nam Lim, Jin Seok Kim, Joon Ho Moon, Da Jung Kim, Soo-Mee Bang, Jong-Ho Won, Jae-Cheol Jo, Young Il Koh
Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(3):956-966. Published online March 4, 2024
Purpose The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment remains controversial. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study in Korea to evaluate the outcomes of alloSCT in Asian patients with MM.
Materials and Methods Overall, 109 patients with MM who underwent alloSCT between 2003 and 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected from the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party Registry.
Results The overall response rate and stringent complete response plus complete response (CR) rates were 67.0 and 46.8%, respectively, after alloSCT. At a median follow-up of 32.5 months, the 3-year probability of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69.3% and 71.8%, respectively. The 3-year probabilities of OS rates in the upfront alloSCT, tandem auto-alloSCT, and later alloSCT groups were 75.0%, 88.9%, and 61.1%, respectively. Patients who achieved CR before or after alloSCT had significantly longer OS (89.8 vs. 18 months and 89.8 vs. 15.2 months, respectively). Even though patients who did not achieve CR prior to alloSCT, those who achieve CR after alloSCT had improved PFS and OS compared to those who had no achievement of CR both prior and after alloSCT. Patients who underwent alloSCT with 1-2 prior treatment lines had improved PFS (22.4 vs. 4.5 months) and OS (45.6 vs. 15.3 months) compared to those with three or more prior treatment lines.
Conclusion AlloSCT may be a promising therapeutic option especially for younger, chemosensitive patients with earlier implementation from relapse.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in lymphoid malignancy Hyungsoon Kim, Haerim Chung, Hye Won Kook, Soo-Jeong Kim, Yu Ri Kim, Hyunsoo Cho, June-Won Cheong Blood Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Purpose The locally advanced unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has detrimental oncological outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced unresectable ICC.
Materials and Methods Between 2001 and 2021, 116 patients were identified through medical record who underwent radiotherapy for locally advanced unresectable ICC. The resectability of ICC is determined by the multidisciplinary team at each institution. Overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model.
Results The median equivalent radiotherapy dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) was 52 Gy (range, 30 to 110 Gy). Forty-seven patients (40.5%) received sequential gemcitabine-cisplatin based chemotherapy (GEM-CIS CTx). Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors, EQD2 of ≥ 60 Gy and application of sequential GEM-CIS CTx for OS. Patients were grouped by these two risk factors: group 1, EQD2 ≥ 60 Gy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx (n=25); group 2, EQD2 < 60 Gy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx or fluoropyrimidine-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n=70); and group 3, radiotherapy alone (n=21). Curative resection was more frequently undergone in group 1 than in groups 2 or 3 (28% vs. 8.6% vs. 0%, respectively). Consequently, OS was significantly better in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion Combined high-dose radiotherapy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx improved oncologic outcomes in patients with locally advanced unresectable ICC. Further prospective studies are required to validate these findings.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Conversion treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities and challenges Jun-Jie Liu, Mi Zhou, Tong Yuan, Zhi-Yong Huang, Zun-Yi Zhang World Journal of Gastroenterology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Purpose The present study aimed to evaluate the role of early and delayed surgery in congenital brain tumors and analyze the clinical outcomes of infantile brain tumors.
Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study on 69 infantile brain tumors at a single institution from January 2008 to June 2023. Outcomes were assessed as early mortality (within 30 days following surgery) to evaluate the risk of early surgery in congenital brain tumors. Outcomes of recurrence and overall survival were analyzed in infantile brain tumors.
Results Surgery-related early mortality appeared to occur in young and low-body-weight patients. Cut-off values of age and body weight were found to be 1.3 months and 5.2 kg to avoid early mortality. Three patients (3/10, 30%) showed early mortality in the early surgery group, and early mortality occurred in one patient (1/14, 7.14%) in the delayed surgery group, whose tumor was excessively enlarged. Younger age at diagnosis (< 3 months of age; hazard ratios [HR], 7.1; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.4 to 35.6; p=0.018) and leptomeningeal seeding (LMS; HR, 30.6; 95% CI, 3.7 to 253.1; p=0.002) were significant independent risk factors for high mortality in infantile brain tumors.
Conclusion We suggest delaying surgery until the patient reaches 1.3 months of age and weighs over 5.2 kg with short-term imaging follow-up unless tumors grow rapidly in congenital brain tumors. Younger ages and the presence of LMS are independent risk factors for high mortality in infantile brain tumors.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Exploring neonatal brain tumors: a narrative review about epidemiology, classification, and management Mira Al Shoufy, Gabi Kafa, Bana Ibrahim, Hazem Ibrahem, Aya Dakour, Ali Haidar, Zuheir Alshehabi Annals of Medicine & Surgery.2025; 87(5): 2838. CrossRef
Purpose The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) SP142 assay identifies patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who are most likely to respond to the anti–PD-L1 agent atezolizumab. We aimed to compare PD-L1 (SP142) expression between primary and recurrent/metastatic TNBCs and elucidate the clinicopathological features associated with its expression.
Materials and Methods Primary and recurrent/metastatic TNBCs tested with PD-L1 (SP142) were collected, and clinicopathological information of these cases was obtained through a review of slides and medical records.
Results PD-L1 (SP142) positivity was observed in 50.9% (144/283) of primary tumors and 37.8% (31/82) of recurrent/metastatic TNBCs with a significant difference. Recurrent or metastatic sites were associated with PD-L1 positivity, with high PD-L1 positivity in the lung, breast, and soft tissues, and low positivity in the bone, skin, liver, and brain. When comparing PD-L1 expression between primary and matched recurrent/metastatic TNBCs using 55 paired samples, 20 cases (36.4%) showed discordance; 10 cases revealed positive conversion, and another 10 cases revealed negative conversion during metastatic progression. In primary TNBCs, PD-L1 expression was associated with a higher histologic grade, lower T category, pushing border, and higher tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte infiltration. In survival analyses, PD-L1 positivity, especially high positivity, was found to be associated with favorable prognosis of patients.
Conclusion PD-L1 (SP142) expression was lower in recurrent/metastatic TNBCs, and substantial cases showed discordance in its expression between primary and recurrent/metastatic sites, suggesting that multiple sites may need to be tested for PD-L1 (SP142) when considering atezolizumab therapy. PD-L1 (SP142)–positive TNBCs seems to be associated with favorable clinical outcomes.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Discrepancy of PD1/ PD-L1 status between primary and metastatic triple negative breast cancer in diagnostic biopsies Manar Moustafa, Basma Hamed Ibrahim Revista de Senología y Patología Mamaria.2025; 38(3): 100680. CrossRef
Solamargine inhibits gastric cancer progression via inactivation of STAT3/PD‑L1 signaling Xiongxiang Liu, Lin Song, Wen Liu, Bin Liu, Lang Liu, Yao Su Molecular Medicine Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Prevalence of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Positivity Using SP142 in Patients With Advanced Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study Pathmanathan Rajadurai, Ning Yi Yap, Seow Fan Chiew, Reena Rahayu Md Zin, Suria Hayati Md Pauzi, Aniqah Shamimi Binti Jaafar, Azyani Yahaya, Lai Meng Looi Journal of Breast Cancer.2024; 27(6): 362. CrossRef
Purpose Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) accurately locates peripheral lung lesions (PLLs) during transbronchial biopsy (TBB). We performed an updated meta-analysis of the diagnostic yield of TBB for PLLs using RP-EBUS to generate recommendations for the development of the Korean Association of Lung Cancer guidelines.
Materials and Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (from January 2013 to December 2022), and performed a meta-analysis using R software. The diagnostic yield was evaluated by dividing the number of successful diagnoses by the total lesion number. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify related factors.
Results Forty-one studies with a total of 13,133 PLLs were included. The pooled diagnostic yield of RP-EBUS was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70 to 0.75). Significant heterogeneity was observed among studies (χ2=292.38, p < 0.01, I2=86.4%). In a subgroup analysis, there was a significant difference in diagnostic yield based on RP-EBUS findings (within, adjacent to, invisible), with a risk ratio of 1.45 (95% CI, 1.23 to 1.72) between within and adjacent to, 4.20 (95% CI, 1.89 to 9.32) between within and invisible, and 2.59 (95% CI, 1.32 to 5.01) between adjacent to and invisible. There was a significant difference in diagnostic yield based on lesion size, histologic diagnosis, computed tomography (CT) bronchus sign, lesion character, and location from the hilum. The overall complication rate of TBB with RP-EBUS was 6.8% (bleeding, 4.5%; pneumothorax, 1.4%).
Conclusion Our study showed that TBB with RP-EBUS is an accurate diagnostic tool for PLLs with good safety profiles, especially for PLLs with within orientation on RP-EBUS or positive CT bronchus sign.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Can intraoperative improvement of radial endobronchial ultrasound imaging enhance the diagnostic yield in peripheral pulmonary lesions? Kazuki Nishida, Takayasu Ito, Shingo Iwano, Shotaro Okachi, Shota Nakamura, Basile Chrétien, Toyofumi Fengshi Chen-Yoshikawa, Makoto Ishii BMC Pulmonary Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Miso Kim, Hyo Sup Shim, Sheehyun Kim, In Hee Lee, Jihun Kim, Shinkyo Yoon, Hyung-Don Kim, Inkeun Park, Jae Ho Jeong, Changhoon Yoo, Jaekyung Cheon, In-Ho Kim, Jieun Lee, Sook Hee Hong, Sehhoon Park, Hyun Ae Jung, Jin Won Kim, Han Jo Kim, Yongjun Cha, Sun Min Lim, Han Sang Kim, Choong-kun Lee, Jee Hung Kim, Sang Hoon Chun, Jina Yun, So Yeon Park, Hye Seung Lee, Yong Mee Cho, Soo Jeong Nam, Kiyong Na, Sun Och Yoon, Ahwon Lee, Kee-Taek Jang, Hongseok Yun, Sungyoung Lee, Jee Hyun Kim, Wan-Seop Kim
Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(3):721-742. Published online November 29, 2023
In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Real-World Data: Implementation and Outcomes of Next-Generation Sequencing in the MENA Region Rami Mahfouz, Reine Abou Zeidane, Tasnim Diab, Ali Tarhini, Eman Sbaity, Houry Kazarian, Yomna El Zibaoui, Nour Sabiha Naji, Mounir Barake, Hazem I. Assi Diagnostics.2025; 15(10): 1183. CrossRef
Exploring PIXE Applications in Oncology: A Comprehensive Review G. J. Naga Raju International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology.2025; : 261. CrossRef
Songji Choi, Seyoung Seo, Ju Hyun Lee, Koung Jin Suh, Ji-Won Kim, Jin Won Kim, Se Hyun Kim, Yu Jung Kim, Keun-Wook Lee, Jwa Hoon Kim, Tae Won Kim, Yong Sang Hong, Sun Young Kim, Jeong Eun Kim, Sang-We Kim, Dae Ho Lee, Jae Cheol Lee, Chang-Min Choi, Shinkyo Yoon, Su-Jin Koh, Young Joo Min, Yongchel Ahn, Hwa Jung Kim, Jin Ho Baek, Sook Ryun Park, Jee Hyun Kim
Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(2):404-413. Published online November 7, 2023
Purpose The female sex is reported to have a higher risk of adverse events (AEs) from cytotoxic chemotherapy. Few studies examined the sex differences in AEs and their impact on the use of medical services during adjuvant chemotherapy. This sub-study aimed to compare the incidence of any grade and grade ≥ 3 AEs, healthcare utilization, chemotherapy completion rate, and dose intensity according to sex.
Materials and Methods This is a sub-study of a multicenter cohort conducted in Korea that evaluated the impact of healthcare reimbursement on AE evaluation in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy between September 2013 and December 2016 at four hospitals in Korea.
Results A total of 1,170 patients with colorectal, gastric, or non–small cell lung cancer were included in the study. Female patients were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and experienced less postoperative weight loss of > 10%. Females had significantly higher rates of any grade AEs including nausea, abdominal pain, stomatitis, vomiting, and neutropenia, and experienced more grade ≥ 3 neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting. The dose intensity of chemotherapy was significantly lower in females, and they also experienced more frequent dose reduction after the first cycle. Moreover, female patients receiving platinum-containing regimens had significantly higher rates of unscheduled outpatient visits.
Conclusion Our study found that females experienced a higher incidence of multiple any-grade AEs and severe neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting, across various cancer types, leading to more frequent dose reductions. Physicians should be aware of sex differences in AEs for chemotherapy decisions.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Toxicidad del esquema FOLFOX-6, asociado o no a bolo de 5-fluorouracilo, en cáncer colorrectal metastásico María Teresa Garrido Martínez, María Rodríguez Jorge, Ignacio García Giménez, María Isabel Guzmán Ramos, Salvador Grutzmancher Sáiz, Victoria Aviñó Tarazona Farmacia Hospitalaria.2025; 49(3): 154. CrossRef
Cancer care for transgender and gender‐diverse people: Practical, literature‐driven recommendations from the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Elizabeth J. Cathcart‐Rake, Alexandre Chan, Alvaro Menendez, Denise Markstrom, Carla Schnitzlein, Yee Won Chong, Don S. Dizon CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.2025; 75(1): 68. CrossRef
Characterisation of the effects of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel on neuropathic pain-related behaviour, anxiodepressive behaviour, cognition, and the endocannabinoid system in male and female rats Chiara Di Marino, Álvaro Llorente-Berzal, Alba M. Diego, Ariadni Bella, Laura Boullon, Esther Berrocoso, Michelle Roche, David P. Finn Frontiers in Pharmacology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
[Translated article] Toxicity of the FOLFOX-6 regimen, with or without 5-fluorouracil bolus, in metastatic colorectal cancer María Teresa Garrido Martínez, María Rodríguez Jorge, Ignacio García Giménez, María Isabel Guzmán Ramos, Salvador Grutzmancher Sáiz, Victoria Aviñó Tarazona Farmacia Hospitalaria.2025; 49(3): T154. CrossRef
The Influence of Tumor Burden Score and Lymph Node Metastasis on the Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Jun Kawashima, Yutaka Endo, Selamawit Woldesenbet, Mujtaba Khalil, Miho Akabane, François Cauchy, Feng Shen, Shishir Maithel, Irinel Popescu, Minoru Kitago, Matthew J. Weiss, Guillaume Martel, Carlo Pulitano, Luca Aldrighetti, George Poultsides, Andrea Ru Annals of Surgical Oncology.2025; 32(6): 4341. CrossRef
Neurobehavioral manifestations in female rats after intermittent exposure to an anticancer agent, paclitaxel Deepika Pathak, K.P. Singh Behavioural Pharmacology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Purpose Brain metastasis rarely occurs in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Here, we present five cases of STS with brain metastases with genetic profiles.
Materials and Methods We included five patients from Seoul National University Hospital who were diagnosed with STS with metastasis to the brain. Tissue from the brain metastasis along with that from the primary site or other metastases were used for DNA and RNA sequencing to identify genetic profiles. Gene expression profiles were compared with sarcoma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas.
Results The overall survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis ranged from 2.2 to 34.3 months. Comparison of mutational profiles between brain metastases and matched primary or other metastatic samples showed similar profiles. In two patients, copy number variation profiles between brain metastasis and other tumors showed several differences including MYCL, JUN, MYC, and DDR2 amplification. Gene ontology analysis showed that the group of genes significantly highly expressed in the brain metastasis samples was enriched in the G-protein coupled receptor activity, structural constituent of chromatin, protein heterodimerization activity, and binding of DNA, RNA, and protein. Gene set enrichment analysis showed enrichment in the pathway of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Conclusion The five patients had variable ranges of clinical courses and outcomes. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of STS with brain metastasis implicates possible involvement of complex expression modification and epigenetic changes rather than the addition of single driver gene alteration.
Yeol Kim, Jaeho Lee, Eunju Lee, Juntae Lim, Yonghyun Kim, Choon-Taek Lee, Seung Hun Jang, Yu-Jin Paek, Won-Chul Lee, Chan Wha Lee, Hyae Young Kim, Jin Mo Goo, Kui Son Choi, Boyoung Park, Duk Hyoung Lee, Hong Gwan Seo
Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(1):92-103. Published online August 7, 2023
Purpose Smoking cessation intervention is one of the key components of successful lung cancer screening program. We investigated the effectiveness and related factors of smoking cessation services provided to the participants in a population-based lung cancer screening trial.
Materials and Methods The Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS) is a nationwide, multi-center lung cancer screening trial that evaluates the feasibility of implementing population-based lung cancer screening. All 5,144 current smokers who participated in the K-LUCAS received a mandatory smoking cessation counseling. Changes in smoking status were followed up using a telephone survey in 6 months after lung cancer screening participation. The lung cancer screening’s impact on smoking cessation is analyzed by variations in the smoking cessation interventions provided in screening units.
Results Among 4,136 survey responders, participant’s motivation to quit smoking increased by 9.4% on average after lung cancer screening. After 6 months from the initial screening, 24.3% of participants stopped smoking, and 10.6% of participants had not smoked continuously for at least 6 months after screening. Over 80% of quitters stated that participation in lung cancer screening motivated them to quit smoking. Low-cost public smoking cessation program combined with lung cancer screening increased the abstinence rates. The smokers were three times more likely to quit smoking when the smoking cessation counseling was provided simultaneously with low-dose computed tomography screening results than when provided separately.
Conclusion A mandatory smoking cessation intervention integrated with screening result counselling by a physician after participation in lung cancer screening could be effective for increasing smoking cessation attempts.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Factors Associated with Smoking Cessation of Participants in the National Lung Cancer Screening Program in Korea Na-Young Yoon, Minji Seo, Nayoung Lee, Yeol Kim Cancer Research and Treatment.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
p53 Genetics and Biology in Lung Carcinomas: Insights, Implications and Clinical Applications Dixan A. Benitez, Guadalupe Cumplido-Laso, Marcos Olivera-Gómez, Nuria Del Valle-Del Pino, Alba Díaz-Pizarro, Sonia Mulero-Navarro, Angel Román-García, Jose Maria Carvajal-Gonzalez Biomedicines.2024; 12(7): 1453. CrossRef
Problems and Alternatives for Korea National Lung Cancer Screening Program for Smoking Cessation: Analysis of a Survey Involving Experts Cheol Min Lee, Sil Vi Han Park, Jinri Kim, Bumjo Oh, Kiheon Lee, Yeol Kim, Yu-Jin Paek Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2024; 15(2): 49. CrossRef
The pros and cons of lung cancer screening Roberta Eufrasia Ledda, Georg-Christian Funk, Nicola Sverzellati European Radiology.2024; 35(1): 267. CrossRef
Effective Smoking Cessation Counseling for Participants in a Lung Cancer Screening Choon-Young Kim, Yeol Kim, Cheol Min Lee Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2024; 15(3): 88. CrossRef