Future oncology最新文献

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, cervical cancer (CC), and HPV vaccination among Emirati women with the goal of informing the development of targeted public health interventions.

Study design: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among Emirati women from January to May 2024 among Emirati women. A systematic sampling approach was used to recruit participants from Zayed University, Ajman University, and Al Tawam Hospital, in which context every third eligible adult female visitor was invited to participate in this research. The main outcome measures were KAPs practices regarding HPV infection, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination.

Results: The study included 216 Emirati women (median age: 21 years, range: 18-60 years). While 64.4% of the participants reported good knowledge about HPV infection and CC, only 58.3% reported good knowledge regarding HPV vaccination. Negative attitudes toward HPV infection and CC were reported by 76.9% of the participants. Preventive practices were reportedly high (72.2%), but only 28.2% of the participants had actually received the HPV vaccination.

Conclusion: Despite relatively high levels of CC awareness, misconceptions about HPV transmission and vaccination persist among Emirati women. Enhancing health education, involving healthcare providers, and addressing cultural concerns are essential for efforts to improve HPV prevention strategies and increase vaccine uptake in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Aim: Risk stratification is used to tailor adjuvant treatment in stage III colon cancer. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and desmoplastic reaction (DR) contribute to tumor microenvironment and are associated with tumor progression. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of CAF markers and DR pattern in stage III colon cancer risk groups.

Materials and methods: Patients with curative surgery for stage III colon cancer were categorized as low-risk (pT1-3 and pN1) and high-risk (pT4 or pN2). Expressions of fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα), fibroblast specific protein-1 (S100A4) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were evaluated semiquantitatively with H-scores. DR pattern was classified as immature, intermediate and mature. Cox regression models were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) of prognostic factors.

Results: Within the study cohort (n = 172), 98 patients had high-risk and 74 had low-risk disease. In the low-risk group, high FAPα expression independently predicted DFS (HR = 3.06, p = 0.02). In the high-risk group, immature DR was an independent prognostic factor for both DFS (HR = 1.99, p = 0.02) and OS (HR = 2.04, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: FAPα as a surrogate marker of CAFs and DR pattern may have distinct prognostic impacts in stage III colon cancer risk groups and be utilized to refine prognosis further in these patients.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of everolimus combined with endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Data from adult patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer at Beijing Cancer Hospital between January 2012 and February 2025 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: A total of 137 patients were included and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.13 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.86-5.40). The objective response rate and disease control rate (DCR) were 10.9% and 51.1%, respectively. No significant difference was found in PFS between different lines of therapy (p = 0.433) or different combination drugs with everolimus (p = 0.528). The median PFS in patients without prior use of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors was 4.20 months, compared to 3.07 months in patients previously treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (p = 0.466). The patients with prior CDK4/6 inhibitors for more than six months exhibited an extended PFS when subsequently treated with everolimus plus endocrine therapy (7.63 vs. 2.03 months, p<0.001). Meanwhile, everolimus-based treatment was generally well-tolerated.

Conclusion: For patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, everolimus combined with endocrine therapy may serve as an alternative option after disease progression on CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Background: Overexpression and/or amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a recognized oncogenic driver in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and metastatic gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal adenocarcinomas (mGEAC). Although HER2-directed monoclonal antibodies, antibody - drug conjugates (ADCs), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of HER2-positive tumors, additional combination regimens and/or novel agents are needed to expand sequential therapy options and improve patient outcomes - particularly following treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd). Zongertinib is a novel, irreversible, HER2-selective TKI that spares EGFR.

Study design: Here, we detail the rationale and design of Beamion BCGC-1 (NCT06324357), an international Phase Ib/II open-label trial in which patients with previously treated HER2-positive mBC or mGEAC will receive zongertinib alone or in combination. Phase Ib (dose escalation) will determine the maximum tolerated dose of zongertinib plus trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), T-DXd, or trastuzumab ± capecitabine, in patients with HER2-positive mBC, and plus T-DXd in patients with HER2-positive mGEAC. Phase II (dose optimization) will assess two doses of zongertinib in combination regimens, or as monotherapy, in patients with mBC or mGEAC. The trial is actively recruiting in six countries globally.

Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT06324357.

Pirtobrutinib, a novel noncovalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor (BTKi) has demonstrated significant potential in overcoming treatment resistance characterized by BTK mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL). Unlike currently approved covalent BTKi (cBTKi) such as ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib that irreversibly bind to the cysteine 481 (C481) residue of BTK, pirtobrutinib's non-covalent binding enables it to maintain efficacy even in the presence of cysteine 481 serine (C481S) mutations which are the most common form of acquired resistance. This current review seeks to demonstrate the mechanism of action as well as the clinical efficacy of pirtobrutinib in treating patients with relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL and to describe ongoing studies of pirtobrutinib in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy.

Clinical trial registration: NCT05710328.

Aims: The incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are increasing globally every year. Paclitaxel is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents for solid tumors. Conducting studies in the real world is of great clinical importance and research value. This study evaluates the application and efficacy of different types of paclitaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. For effectiveness, we focused on objective response rate (ORR), Disease Control Rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). For safety, we focused on the incidence of adverse events (ARE). The Kaplan-Meier survival function, and COX proportional risk regression model were used for data processing and analysis.

Results: Nab-paclitaxel DCR was significantly higher than paclitaxel liposome (p = 0.023). Paclitaxel liposomes PFS was significantly longer than nab-paclitaxel (p = 0.0276). Paclitaxel liposomes had a significantly higher incidence of all grades of ARE and tertiary or higher neutropenia than nab-paclitaxel. Neurotoxicity was significantly higher with nab-paclitaxel.

Conclusion: Nab-paclitaxel or paclitaxel liposomes remain significantly effective in patients with advanced breast cancer who have failed first or multiline therapy. Nab-paclitaxel is superior to paclitaxel liposome in efficacy evaluation, paclitaxel liposome is superior to nab-paclitaxel in survival outcome.

The integration of genomic tests such as the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test, into routine clinical practice represents a significant advance in personalized breast cancer care. By supporting more tailored therapeutic decisions, these diagnostics can improve patient outcomes, while reducing risks of undertreatment, overtreatment, and associated side effects. Cost-effectiveness has already been demonstrated in numerous publications. However, for widespread adoption across Europe, four principal challenges must be overcome: regulation, technology assessment, reimbursement, and gaps in real-world evidence. Since May 2022, the European Union In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) has updated requirements for demonstrating clinical utility and analytical and scientific validity, creating new barriers for manufacturers regarding primary evidence generation. Variability in health technology assessment (HTA) frameworks and reimbursement mechanisms across countries further complicates adoption. Demonstrating real-world benefits of these technologies requires robust, representative data collections, yet current clinical trial evidence often underrepresents certain patient populations, raising equity concerns. Whilst the IVDR will help standardize regulatory requirements, challenges remain in harmonizing evidence standards for HTA and reimbursement. This review explores these barriers using the Oncotype DX® test as an exemplar. Evidence was drawn from targeted literature searches and reviews of regulatory, reimbursement, and gray literature relevant to European healthcare systems.