The role of 18F-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) PET/CT has been investigated in breast cancer recurrence identification and noninvasive hormone receptor profiling. The detection of distant metastasis, however, lacks high quality evidence comparing FES to standard imaging protocols. Additionally, if 18F-FES PET/CT is to become one of the first-line exams in ER positive breast cancer patients, obtaining its maximum utility will be beneficial and this includes prognosis prediction. Here, we address these issues by analyzing literature on diagnostic accuracy comparisons and reconstructing progression-free survival data to investigate the ideal PET parameter for predicting survival.

Precise benign and malignant breast tumors classification is essential for effective treatment planning and outcome prognostication. Medical imaging's capability to classify breast tumors has been greatly improved by the accelerated advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). This research presents a comprehensive evaluation of the efficiency of AI-assisted ultrasound elastography (UE) specifically applied to classify benign and malignant breast tumors for the first time.

The utilization of neoadjuvant therapy, encompassing chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, has demonstrated a significant enhancement in the radical resection rate and an improved prognosis for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in combination with targeted therapy or (and) immunotherapy for LAGC 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.

Paragangliomas and phaeochromocytomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours with 10% to 20% of patients developing metastatic disease. The tumors exhibit a high degree of heritability, and pathogenic genetic variants have been associated with metastases.

The benefit of adding anti-EGFR therapy to chemotherapy in RAS wild-type colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is well established in unresectable patients but remains controversial in resectable ones.

The implications of AKT and phospho-AKT (p-AKT) expression patterns in various malignancies remain a subject of considerable scientific interest. Current evidence regarding their association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression by immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses demonstrates significant inconsistencies.

The number of risk prediction models for lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer is increasing, but the quality and applicability of these models in clinical practice and future research remain unknown.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in patients with early-stage estrogen receptor (ER)-low/HER2-negative breast cancer (BC), a population often overlooked in clinical trials. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) standards and registered with PROSPERO. Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and major oncology conferences for studies with data on neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in ER-low BC. The primary endpoint was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, with a secondary descriptive analysis of safety data. Seven studies encompassing 260 patients with ER-low BC were included (3 cohorts and 4 clinical trials). All studies utilized humanized anti-PD-1 antibodies, with 4 administering pembrolizumab, 1 using nivolumab, and 1 employing camrelizumab. The overall pooled pCR rate for ER-low BC was 64.88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.72%-73.04%; I² = 37.5%). No significant differences in pCR rates were identified between clinical trials and cohort studies (P = .724). Adverse event data were reported in 2 studies, revealing that 34.4% of patients experienced hospitalizations, with notable rates of grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) and immune-related AEs (irAEs). Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy shows high rates of pCR for ER-low BC, resembling triple-negative BC, with safety data indicating fewer severe complications than observed in pivotal trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesises evidence from both randomised trials and observational studies to determine whether lobectomy or sublobar resection offers improved outcomes for patients with stage Ia non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ImportancePerioperative efficiency is an increasingly important consideration in head and neck surgery, yet comparative evaluations of surgical techniques for benign parotid tumors remain limited.ObjectiveTo evaluate the perioperative efficiency of extracapsular dissection (ECD) compared to superficial parotidectomy (SP) for benign parotid tumors.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.SettingStudies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.ParticipantsPatients with benign parotid tumors who underwent either ECD or SP. Fifteen studies encompassing 2399 patients were included.InterventionsECD and SP as primary surgical techniques for the removal of benign parotid tumors.Main Outcome MeasuresParameters related to perioperative efficiency were defined in this study as operative time, anesthesia time, duration of drain placement, length of hospital stay (LOS), and medical costs. Tumor size was also included as a comparative parameter.ResultsECD was associated with significantly shorter operative time [mean difference (MD), -48.95 minutes; 95% confidence interval (CI), -66.40 to -31.50], anesthesia time (MD, -73.17 minutes; 95% CI, -81.61 to -64.73), drain placement duration (MD, -2.10 days; 95% CI, -3.82 to -0.38), and LOS (MD, -0.91 days; 95% CI, -1.34 to -0.48) compared to SP. Tumor size did not significantly differ between groups (MD, -0.14 cm; 95% CI, -0.33 to 0.05).ConclusionsECD demonstrates superior perioperative efficiency compared to SP.RelevanceThese findings support the use of ECD as a more efficient surgical option for benign parotid tumors in appropriately selected patients.

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.

Mismatch repair deficiency or microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI-H) is an established biomarker in early-stage colon cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, its prognostic significance in early-stage rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy remains uncertain. We aimed to fill this gap by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence. PubMed, Embase and Scopus were systematically searched from inception to 11/03/2025 for studies comparing the outcome of dMMR/MSI-H and MMR proficient/microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy. Studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors were excluded. Data on pathologic complete response (pCR), pathologic tumor regression grade (pTRG), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were calculated using a random effects model. After screening 705 records, 26 retrospective studies were included, the majority of patients being treated with long-course chemoradiotherapy. There was a significant association between dMMR/MSI-H status and pCR (OR 1.50 [95 % CI: 1.04-2.14]; p = 0.03), while no association was found for pTRG (OR 0.77 [95 % CI: 0.44-1.34]; p = 0.326), DFS (HR 1.00 [95 % CI: 0.50-2.01]; p = 0.998) and OS (HR 1.42 [95 % CI: 1.00-2.01]; p = 0.051). Despite the limited data, subgroup analyses did not appear to reveal any significant difference by type of neoadjuvant treatment. In conclusion, patients with dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer treated with standard neoadjuvant therapy are more likely to achieve a pCR than those with pMMR/MSS tumors.

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the standard surgical treatment for rectal cancer. Transanal local excision (TLE) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is an organ-preserving option, avoiding morbidity of TME. This study compared TLE versus TME following nCRT.

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.

Endocrine tumor syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1, 2A, and 2B (MEN1, MEN2A, MEN2B), Carney complex (CNC), and PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), are hereditary conditions characterized by multisystem tumor development. Alongside endocrine neoplasms, these syndromes present with diverse cutaneous manifestations, offering valuable diagnostic clues for early recognition and management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and synthesize the dermatologic features associated with these syndromes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was conducted. Eligible publications included original articles, case reports, and case series with detailed dermatological descriptions of patients with the aforementioned syndromes. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by multiple reviewers. Statistical analyses and data visualization were conducted using program package R. A total of 217 studies comprising 833 patients were included: 276 MEN1, 48 MEN2A, 9 MEN2B, 121 CNC, and 452 PHTS cases. Distinct dermatologic patterns emerged within each syndrome: angiofibromas, collagenomas, and lipomas in MEN1; cutaneous lichen amyloidosis in MEN2A; mucosal neuromas in MEN2B; lentiginosis and cutaneous myxomas in CNC; and trichilemmomas, papillomatous papules, and acral keratoses in PHTS. Melanoma prevalence was 2.2% in PHTS and 2.5% in MEN1 patients, underscoring the need for dermatologic vigilance. This review highlights the role of dermatologic assessment in identifying endocrine tumor syndromes, with cutaneous findings often serving as early, accessible markers of systemic disease. Enhanced awareness of these manifestations can facilitate timely genetic evaluation, cancer surveillance, and multidisciplinary intervention. Trial Registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024558093.

De novo metastatic breast cancer (dnMBC) is diagnosed when breast cancer has spread at presentation and accounts for 5-10% of cases. The benefit of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) after primary tumor surgery in this setting remains uncertain.

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.

To evaluate the prognostic and predictive significance of supradiaphragmatic lymph node (SDLN) positivity detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies, with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging provides valuable non-invasive information on tumor biology, and rim enhancement (RE) on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a potential biomarker of aggressive disease. To clarify its clinical significance, a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published up to May 31st, 2025, in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Twelve studies (10 retrospective, 2 prospective) including 2207 patients were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of RE was 36.3%, with a good inter-observer agreement (κ = 0.808). RE was consistently associated with reduced resectability (odds ratio [OR] 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.19-5.12, p < 0.001), poorer histological differentiation (OR 4.23, 95% CI 1.05-17.07, p = 0.043), and increased frequency of SMAD4 (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.22-2.60, p = 0.003) and KRAS mutations (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.37-4.75, p = 0.003). Patients with RE also experienced shorter progression-free, disease-free, and overall survival after both surgical and non-surgical treatments (all p < 0.001). These findings indicate that RE is a reproducible imaging marker of aggressive tumor biology in PDAC, reflecting unfavorable pathological and molecular features and serving as a predictor of resectability and survival.