Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have shown efficacy in improving progression-free survival (PFS), particularly in patients with breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1/2) mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD).

BACKGROUND: Molecular profiling has significantly advanced neuro-oncology, enabling the integration of biomarkers into the diagnosis and management of brain tumors. Precision medicine is emerging as a promising strategy; however, the marked heterogeneity of central nervous system tumors results in a low prevalence of actionable targets, limiting clinical applicability. Despite these challenges, ongoing progress in genetics and molecular biology offers new opportunities for targeted therapies. The incidence and clinical relevance of biomarkers vary across tumor types and age groups, reflecting the biological complexity of brain neoplasms throughout life. METHODS: A multidisciplinary expert panel conducted a systematic review of the literature and developed a consensus statement addressing key predictive biomarkers across pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA), adult, and elderly populations. Evidence was evaluated for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance. RESULTS: Clinical benefit from targeted therapies has been demonstrated for a limited number of alterations, including BRAF p.V600E, NTRK fusions, EGFR, H3 K27M, and IDH1/2 mutations, while several additional biomarkers remain under investigation. The consensus provides an age-stratified overview of these molecular alterations and discusses challenges such as variability in testing approaches, interpretation of variants of uncertain significance, and limited access to comprehensive molecular diagnostics. CONCLUSION: Based on current evidence and expert opinion, the statement highlights the need for age-adapted testing strategies, multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards, and increased clinical trial availability for patients with rare or emerging biomarkers. These recommendations aim to support the implementation of precision medicine and improve outcomes across all age groups.

To systematically review the latest evidence on risk factors and surgical treatment for gallbladder cancer (GBC), with a focus on current controversies and consensus in international guidelines, analyze the application prospects of minimally invasive surgery in advanced GBC, and provide direction for clinical practice and future research.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence indicates a higher risk of endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian cancer (OC) in females suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), highlighting that these disease groups might be sharing common molecular pathogenesis mechanisms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the unique and common liquid biopsy-based markers for their diagnostic potential as well as their role in the pathogenesis of PCOS, EC, and OC. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed and Embase databases to identify studies investigating circulating markers, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, and other non-coding RNAs for their diagnostic potential in PCOS, EC, and OC. A total of 46 studies for PCOS, 27 studies for EC, and 91 studies for OC met the eligibility criteria. Data on diagnostic performance, including area under the curve (AUC with 95% CI), sample size, sensitivity, and specificity, were synthesized from eligible studies, and meta-analysis was performed where feasible. RESULTS: A wide array of markers was listed along with their diagnostic potential across these disorders. miR-222-3p, miR-4488, and miR-151-5p performed well in PCOS, miR-27a, miR-145, miR-150-5p in EC, and miR-21, miR-1246, miR-193a-5p, miR-200a, circBNC2 and circFOXP1 in OC. Pooled meta-analysis showed promising AUC values for miR-21 (0.81), miR-200a (0.86), miR-200b (0.84), and miR-200c (0.79) in OC, underscoring their strong diagnostic potential. For PCOS and EC, only two studies each were available for miR-223-3p and miR-27a, respectively. In subgroup analysis, miR-21 (0.81), miR-200c (0.78), miR-145 (0.89), and miR-27a (0.75) showed the highest diagnostic performance, but with high heterogeneity and a non-significant subgroup effect. CONCLUSION: Circulating RNAs offer significant diagnostic, prognostic, and risk-stratification potential for PCOS and gynecologic cancers; however, standardized methodologies and large, independent, diverse cohort studies are needed to validate these findings and optimize clinical translation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42024573106)

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising biomarker for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and recurrence risk stratification in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its prognostic significance in stage III CRC remains incompletely defined. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between postoperative ctDNA positivity and recurrence risk in patients with stage III CRC.

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, which drives the ongoing search for effective and less toxic treatment options. Due to its demonstrated anticancer properties, Artesunate (ART), a well-established antimalarial agent, has gained increasing attention as a promising candidate for oncological applications. This systematic review provides a comprehensive evaluation of ART's therapeutic potential by examining its anticancer efficacy, underlying molecular mechanisms, synergistic capacity, and pharmacological toxicity. An extensive search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases identified relevant peer-reviewed experimental and clinical studies that investigated ART's anticancer activity. The data were systematically extracted with an emphasis on research methodologies, treatment regimens, and mechanistic pathways. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies confirms ART's broad efficacy against a range of malignancies, including hematological cancers such as lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and multiple myeloma, and various solid tumors such as lung, pancreatic, colorectal, hepatocellular, breast, ovarian, bladder, gastric, cervical, glioblastoma, melanoma, retinoblastoma, and esophageal cancers. ART exerts its anticancer effects through multiple pathways, including ROS-mediated programmed cell death, ferroptosis induction, mitochondrial dysfunction, the inhibition of proliferation, and the disruption of key signaling networks such as NF-κB, STAT3, and Wnt/β-catenin cascades. Additionally, ART has been shown to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin and gemcitabine while also reducing associated toxicities and overcoming drug resistance. These attributes highlight ART's considerable potential as a versatile anticancer agent that exhibits multiple - mechanisms of action and favorable compatibility with existing therapies. However, further rigorous clinical studies are essential to fully establish its therapeutic utility and facilitate its integration into modern oncology practice.

We synthesized the evidence on the accuracy of Deep learning in detecting colorectal cancer microsatellite instability to contribute to the development and updating of intelligent detection tools.

We performed a systematic review of the literature to better define the scope of MYB alterations in angiocentric glioma and their associated clinical characteristics, as well as to include a novel MYB mutation in an angiocentric glioma case. We also review MYB alterations in the context of oncologic disease. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed and Web of Science for relevant literature from 2010 to October 2024. Included articles reported original data on human subjects with angiocentric glioma and a detected MYB mutation. We include one additional angiocentric glioma case showcasing a novel MYB mutation. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 114 patients with individual data for pooled analysis. The mean age was 10.3 years (SD ±9.7 years); 60% of patients were male. MYB::QKI was the most common fusion in 68% of patients. Other MYB mutations included MYB rearrangements, MYB::ESR1, MYB::PCDHGA1, MYB::LOC105378099, and MYB::MMP16. The most common anatomical location was in the cerebral cortex in 68% of patients. MYB fusions in other relevant neuro-oncologic diseases highlight the importance of MYB fusions in adenoid cystic carcinomas, which frequently occur at the skull base, head and neck, and breast. In conclusion, we characterize the breadth of angiocentric glioma patterns in terms of demographics, anatomic location, and MYB fusion patterns. The updated molecular diagnosis of angiocentric glioma as of 2021 warrants continued exploration of the scope of MYB oncogene fusions as drivers of prognosis and targets for future therapies.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, affecting both men and women. It has been described that 20-25% of colorectal tumors have mutations in the PIK3CA gene, mainly in three hotspots: E542 and E545 and H1047. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of PIK3CA gene mutations in colorectal tumors based on a systematic review of a selection of studies. Nighty seven studies enrolling 48,446 patients were eligible for inclusion. Most studies were conducted in Asian (41.2%) and European countries (34.0%). The global prevalence ranged from 0 to 80%, with a mean prevalence of 13.7%. Fourteen studies reported a prevalence of less than 5%, 22 between 5 and 10%, 32 between 10 and 15% and 29 showed a prevalence of more than 15%. Mutations were more common in exon 9 than in exon 20 (9.5% vs. 4.7%). After discussing a number of possible reasons that could explain the differences in prevalence, it is very hard to deduce which is the main factor influencing the observed frequency.

Sebaceous neoplasms are rare skin tumours linked with Lynch syndrome (LS), particularly the Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS) variant. They present an opportunity for early LS detection due to their association with mismatch repair (MMR) gene pathogenic variants. This study aims to provide an accurate estimate of LS prevalence among patients with sebaceous adenomas and carcinomas. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2005 and 2024. Eligible studies utilised germline testing for MMR mutations. The studies were stratified by diagnostic approach and analysed using proportional meta-analysis to determine LS prevalence. Subgroup analyses were conducted by population characteristics and diagnostic criteria. Lynch Syndrome prevalence among patients with sebaceous neoplasms varied across the 9 studies that met eligibility criteria, ranging from 0.8% to 29.0%. LS among patients with sebaceous carcinomas was 6.6% (95% CI: 3.6%-9.5%). Population-based studies had a higher LS identification rate (10.6%), while multi-centre and single-centre studies reported lower rates. Studies using a history suggestive of MTS or MMR-deficient tumours as criteria showed the highest LS prevalence. Male patients had higher sebaceous neoplasms prevalence, with LS-positive cases presenting at a younger age than typical sporadic cases. Our findings highlight the potential for LS detection in patients with sebaceous neoplasms, particularly those with MMR deficiency or a suggestive MTS history. Increased testing in this group could facilitate early LS detection, improving outcomes through screening and preventive strategies. Universal MMR testing for sebaceous tumours warrants consideration as a strategy to capture at-risk LS patients.

Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas are rare diffuse gliomas. Although radiotherapy (RT) combined with procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) has been the historical standard, temozolomide (TMZ) has been increasingly used.

Urinary cell-free DNA (ucfDNA) offers a noninvasive approach for cancer detection, but its diagnostic utility in non-urothelial cancers remains unclear. We systematically evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of ucfDNA for these cancers and compared its performance with other liquid biopsies through network meta-analysis.

Although studies have reported an inverse relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), findings remain inconsistent. Observational studies are limited by survival bias and reverse causation. To better understand the relationship, we conducted a systematic review of Mendelian randomization (MR) studies examining both directions-assessing cancer as a risk factor for AD or PD, as well as AD or PD as exposures influencing cancer risk.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene, resulting from Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome rearrangements that generate abnormal t (9; 22)(q34;q11) translocations. The most common fusion variants are e13a2 and e14a2. We diagnosed a case of CML with the rare e8a2 fusion variant using real-time quantitative PCR and sequencing. Although the e8a2 variant is increasingly reported in CML, comprehensive retrospective analyses remain scarce. Through a systematic review of published e8a2 BCR::ABL1 cases, we summarized the classification, treatment outcomes, and prognostic characteristics associated with this rare genotype. This analysis aims to provide additional evidence to facilitate improved diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for e8a2-positive CML patients.

This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to indicate the most effective first-line therapeutic options for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC, particularly considering their specific clinicopathological characteristics.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by increased red blood cell production, with high risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. Mutations in the JAK2 gene, particularly JAK2 V617F, play a central role in its pathogenesis. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a novel long-acting interferon showing promise in managing PV through hematologic and molecular control.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with PV based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of available clinical trials.A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus on May 8, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in PV were included. The PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251051466). Quality assessment was performed using RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. A random-effects model was applied using R software.Eight studies involving 761 patients were included and only six studies included in single arm meta-analysis with 328 patients. The pooled proportion of complete hematological response at 12 months was 0.63 (95% CI [0.51-0.73]), with high heterogeneity. Reductions in JAK2 V617F allele burden were significant (MD: 26.57, 95% CI [13.49-39.65]). Molecular response was achieved in 25% (95% CI [0.04-0.70]) of patients. The most common adverse events were elevated liver enzymes (AST: 0.28; ALT: 0.32), influenza-like illness (0.11), and anemia (0.09), with unresolved heterogeneity in all outcomes.Ropeginterferon alfa-2b shows promising efficacy in achieving hematological and molecular responses in patients with PV. However, notable heterogeneity and safety concerns, particularly liver-related adverse effects, warrant further investigation in large-scale trials.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas commonly associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), whose occurrence in schwannomatosis remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize MPNSTs in NF type 2 (NF2)- and SMARCB1-related schwannomatosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival outcomes.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with cases expected to rise 60% by 2030, especially in Asia. Metastatic CRC (mCRC) has a poor 5-year survival rate of 14%, posing a major treatment challenge. Tumors with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) and a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) respond well to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), shifting treatment strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate Pembrolizumab (PEM), Nivolumab (NIV), and Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab (NIV + IPI) for their promising antitumor efficacy in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC.

B7-H4 is an immune-regulatory molecule increasingly recognized for its role in tumor progression and immune evasion in epithelial ovarian cancer. To clarify its clinical relevance, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the prevalence of B7-H4 expression and its association with survival outcomes. Nineteen eligible studies were included, of which sixteen provided data on expression proportions and eight reported progression-free or overall survival outcomes. The pooled prevalence of high or positive B7-H4 expression was 73%, though with considerable inter-study variability. High B7-H4 expression was associated with a significantly increased risk of disease progression (pooled unadjusted hazard ratio: 1.43), while its relationship with overall survival remained inconclusive due to limited data. Despite methodological differences among studies, the findings suggest B7-H4 is overexpressed and potentially prognostic in ovarian cancer. Additional studies are required to validate its clinical utility in patient risk assessment and as a therapeutic target.

Approximately 10 % patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer exhibit HER2 discordance between primary tumors and metastatic or recurrent sites. Results regarding the prognostic impact of HER2 discordance are inconsistent. Moreover, the effectiveness of altering treatment regimens based on re-evaluated breast cancer subtypes at metastatic or recurrent sites remains unclear. Clarifying the prognostic significance of HER2 discordance may help optimize treatment strategies. In this study, we evaluated the impact of HER2 discordance on prognosis in metastatic or recurrent breast cancer through a systematic review and meta-analysis.