Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), such as trastuzumab emtansine and trastuzumab deruxtecan, are effective in treating erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2)-positive breast cancer (BC) that has progressed on prior ERBB2-targeted therapy, warranting evaluation of their cardiotoxic profiles.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) remains a critical limitation of cancer therapy, with implications for morbidity and survivorship. Echocardiography is an established surveillance tool, while electrocardiography (ECG) may offer earlier, low-cost detection of subclinical cardiotoxicity. The relative diagnostic yield of these modalities is uncertain.

Malnutrition is a frequent and harmful side effect of anticancer therapy, and even though it is known that cancer patients require sufficient nutritional support, nutrition is still not one of the first factors considered in routine clinical practice. The MOUSEION-012 meta-analysis explored the incidence of decreased appetite events among cancer patients receiving immunotherapy as monotherapies or in combination with other anticancer agents.

The gut microbiota has emerged as a critical determinant of antitumor immunity and a potential modulator of responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that specific bacterial taxa may influence both efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). However, the magnitude and consistency of these associations remain unclear. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted through March 2025. Eligible studies evaluated baseline gut microbiota composition, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotic/prebiotic interventions, or antibiotic exposure in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and odds ratios (ORs) for response rates and irAEs, were estimated using random-effects models. Across 38 studies involving 5,642 patients were included. Pooled analysis demonstrated that enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium longum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly associated with improved OS (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51-0.76) and PFS (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.83). Conversely, antibiotic exposure before or during ICI treatment was associated with worse OS (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.45-2.34). Patients undergoing FMT from responders exhibited higher objective response rates (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.48-5.73). Microbiota diversity indices were consistently higher in responders than in non-responders. Collectively, gut microbiota composition and its modulation significantly impact the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity profile of ICIs. These findings highlight the translational potential of microbiome-based biomarkers and interventions in optimizing immunotherapy.

Thyroid cancer incidence has risen in recent years, with high mortality rates in aggressive subtypes. Clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), indicate efficacy against a range of solid tumours. However, their role in the thyroid remains to be established. This systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD420250634944) assesses the effectiveness and safety of ICIs in thyroid cancer, reported following PRISMA guidelines.

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the therapeutic landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet treatment response and adverse events vary widely among patients. In response, the identification of reliable pretreatment biomarkers has become a major goal for many clinicians to enhance prognostication and personalized care. As such, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether pretreatment eosinophilia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients receiving ICI therapy. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across online databases through February 2025. Eligible studies included observational designs reporting associations between baseline eosinophil levels and overall survival, progression-free survival, or immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models for both unadjusted and adjusted data. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Pretreatment eosinophilia was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in overall survival based on both unadjusted analyses (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.42-1.51 and OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.53-1.03, respectively). Similarly, a nonsignificant reduction in progression-free survival was found in unadjusted models (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.54-1.13), whereas adjusted data revealed a significant negative association (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58-0.80). In contrast, eosinophilia was significantly associated with increased odds of irAEs in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (OR: 3.19, 95% CI: 2.11-4.83 and OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 2.25-5.02, respectively). These findings indicate that pretreatment eosinophilia may serve as a useful prognostic biomarker indicating increased susceptibility to irAEs and potentially poorer survival outcomes in ICI-treated NSCLC patients.

Lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in tumor growth and survival, with altered lipid pathways being associated with cancer progression. Statins, well-known for their cholesterol-lowering properties, have emerged as potential anticancer agents by targeting lipid metabolism in tumors. However, their clinical use is limited due to low bioavailability and stability. Encapsulating statins in polymeric nanocapsules has been suggested to overcome these limitations and enhance therapeutic efficacy.

Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) are effective in cancer therapy due to their ability to suppress tumor vasculature. However, these agents are associated with significant cardiovascular toxicities, including hypertension, thrombosis, and heart failure, which may increase when combined with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the cardiovascular adverse events linked to AIs, focusing on their types, incidence, and severity of these adverse events to provide a clearer understanding of the cardiovascular risks associated with AIs.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now standard for various cancers, and preclinical studies suggest beta-blockers (BBs) may boost the efficacy of ICIs. However, prior clinical studies had small sample sizes, requiring large-scale validation.

Renin Angiotensin System inhibitors (RASi) are widely used in cancer patients to treat high prevalence comorbidities such as hypertension, proteinuric nephropathies and cardiopathies. Emerging research has raised concerns about their potential role in oncogenesis, while uncovering promising anti-tumor properties.

Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino (AJ), first documented in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing during the Eastern Han Dynasty, have been recorded for its detoxifying, heat-clearing and analgesic properties. The efficacy, application and related properties of AJ have been further supplemented and elaborated in classic works such as Ben Cao Gang Mu.

This systematic review addresses uncertainty around cabazitaxel's effectiveness, safety, and optimal dosing compared to other taxanes, aiming to guide personalized treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and targeted therapy (TT) combinations have emerged as promising first-line treatments for unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (u/aHCC), leveraging synergistic anti-tumor effects. However, the comparative efficacy and safety of ICI-TT regimens versus sorafenib or lenvatinib (S/L) monotherapy require further elucidation across larger patient populations. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from phase 3 trials to evaluate the clinical benefits and risks of first-line ICI-TT combination therapy in u/aHCC.

Peripheral neuropathy is a well-known complication in patients undergoing taxane chemotherapy. Several measures to prevent this condition have been tried, but none have yielded conclusive results.

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor monotherapy is the standard second-line treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the clinical response and survival outcomes still remain unsatisfactory. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of combined immunotherapy strategies in previously treated ESCC patients.

BET inhibitors (BETi), especially those targeting BRD4, show promising preclinical activity against pediatric sarcomas by disrupting oncogenic transcription. This systematic review of 26 studies highlights the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of BETi across five pediatric sarcoma types. In vivo data show a decrease in tumor growth, with better results when combined with other therapies. This systematic review revealed that, whereas early investigations mostly rely on pan-BETi, recent studies focus on newer and more specific agents. Accordingly, we reported that ABBV-744 and RVX-208, which selectively target the BD2 domain, and GNE-987, a specific BRD4 degrader, are the most promising inhibitors. However, ABBV-075, a pan-BETi, also exhibits high efficacy, being effective at low doses. Nevertheless, translating these experimental findings into clinical practice remains difficult because of resistance, toxicity, and inconsistent responses. Future approaches include using biomarkers for patient selection, developing isoform-specific BETi, and designing rational combination therapies to enhance treatment for these aggressive pediatric cancers.

To systematically evaluate the management effectiveness of pharmacist involvement in clinical oncology drug therapy and elucidate the unique value of pharmacists in cancer treatment.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death marked by lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer, particularly in aggressive subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This systematic review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis sensitivity and resistance, focusing on the interplay between iron metabolism, antioxidant defenses, and tumor microenvironmental factors. Literature retrieved from PubMed and Scopus up to May was analyzed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, including mechanistic studies, preclinical experiments, and ongoing clinical trials. Findings reveal that breast cancer cells evade ferroptosis through enhanced glutathione synthesis, upregulation of GPX4 and system Xc- and adaptive metabolic reprogramming; yet these same mechanisms create exploitable vulnerabilities, including dependence on cystine, polyunsaturated lipids, and dysregulated iron handling. Therapeutic strategies that target key ferroptosis regulators, such as GPX4, ACSL4, and SLC7A11, or that harness agents like statins, sulfasalazine, and nanoparticle-based iron complexes demonstrate strong potential to overcome chemoresistance and selectively eliminate therapy-resistant cancer cell populations. Taken together, the evidence highlights ferroptosis as a critical Achilles' heel of breast cancer biology and supports further clinical translation of ferroptosis-inducing therapies to improve outcomes in otherwise refractory breast cancer subtypes.

This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of adjuvant ICIs in resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC following chemotherapy.

ObjectiveAnaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements are one of the key therapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Ensartinib, a second-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ensartinib in adult patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.Data sourcesIn this systematic review, we identified five studies including a total of 621 participants, by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Embase from January 2010 to May 2025. We included clinical trials on adult NSCLC patients receiving ensartinib monotherapy or combination therapy, assessing treatment response and safety, and excluded observational studies, brief reports, protocols, and conference abstracts. Study quality was assessed using the MINORS and RoB 2 tools. Results were synthesized qualitatively, providing a comprehensive overview of efficacy and safety outcomes.Data summaryOur comprehensive synthesis of the included studies revealed favorable outcomes. The phase I clinical trials suggested a recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of 225 mg. Ensartinib demonstrated favourable efficacy across dose-escalation, phase II and phase III trials. In treating naïve patients, ORRs ranged from 80-81%, with median PFS reaching up to 26.2 months. In pre-treated cases, efficacy was also notable, including intracranial response up to 70%. Phase III trial confirmed superior PFS with ensartinib compared to crizotinib. Common AEs include rash, transaminase elevations, and gastrointestinal symptoms, which were mostly manageable and grade 1-2 in severity.ConclusionEnsartinib is a highly effective and tolerable option for ALK-positive NSCLC. However, limitations include the open-label nature of most included studies and the descriptive synthesis, precluding formal meta-analysis and assessment of certainty of evidence. Further studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes and to optimize its use in a molecularly diverse patient population. This review received no specific funding. The protocol was not registered.