The first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has evolved significantly. This study aimed to identify the most beneficial regimen.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk of respiratory adverse effects in patients with solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors) in combination with radiation therapy.

Malignant tumors represent an important cause of mortality within the global population. Tumor angiogenesis, recognized as one of the key hallmarks of malignant tumors, is crucial for supplying essential nutrients and oxygen for tumor growth. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) are key drivers of tumor angiogenesis. Targeted therapeutic interventions not only effectively inhibit tumor growth by specifically blocking tumor angiogenesis but have also made breakthroughs in the treatment of malignant tumors. Fruquintinib, an anti-angiogenic small molecule drug developed independently in China, functions as a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor with high selectivity. It effectively curtails tumor growth by binding to and inhibiting VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. Additionally, fruquintinib offers several advantages including minimal off-target toxicity, robust resistance profiles, and commendable efficacy. This agent can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. It has shown high effectiveness and survival benefits across various malignant tumors such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and other malignant tumors. Therefore, this article conducts a systematic review encompassing the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of fruquintinib. Through this review, we aimed to offer a reference for the clinical application and subsequent development of fruquintinib.

Radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy is a standard method for treating locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely applied in the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer, metastatic cervical cancer or LACC. The efficacy and safety of radiotherapy plus immunotherapy for LACC require further investigation. The objective of this review and meta-analysis was to analyze the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) combined with ICIs for treating LACC on the basis of the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The main adjuvant therapies for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer include ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and chemotherapy. We aimed to compare differences in the incidence of thromboembolism (TE) among different treatment options.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a prevalent and painful complication in patients undergoing anticancer treatment, which significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL) and adherence to therapy. The use of oral probiotics as a preventive strategy for OM has shown promise, but the clinical evidence remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in preventing OM caused by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Spatiotemporally controlled cargo release is a key advantage of nanocarriers in anti-tumor therapy. Various external or internal stimuli-responsive nanomedicines have been reported for their ability to increase drug levels at the diseased site and enhance therapeutic efficacy through a triggered release mechanism. Redox-manipulating nanocarriers, by exploiting the redox imbalances in tumor tissues, can achieve precise drug release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing damage to healthy cells. As a typical redox-sensitive bond, the disulfide bond is considered a promising tool for designing tumor-specific, stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems (DDS). The intracellular redox imbalance caused by tumor microenvironment (TME) regulation has emerged as an appealing therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Sustained glutathione (GSH) depletion in the TME by redox-manipulating nanocarriers can exacerbate oxidative stress through the exchange of disulfide-thiol bonds, thereby enhancing the efficacy of ROS-based cancer therapy. Intriguingly, GSH depletion is simultaneously associated with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibition and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT) oligomerization, triggering mechanisms such as ferroptosis and cuproptosis, which increase the sensitivity of tumor cells. Hence, in this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the advances in disulfide based redox-manipulating nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery and provide an overview of some representative achievements for combinational therapy and theragnostic. The high concentration of GSH in the TME enables the engineering of redox-responsive nanocarriers for GSH-triggered on-demand drug delivery, which relies on the thiol-disulfide exchange reaction between GSH and disulfide-containing vehicles. Conversely, redox-manipulating nanocarriers can deplete GSH, thereby enhancing the efficacy of ROS-based treatment nanoplatforms. In brief, we summarize the up-to-date developments of the redox-manipulating nanocarriers for cancer therapy based on DDS and provide viewpoints for the establishment of more stringent anti-tumor nanoplatform.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are common side effects, classified according to timing and severity. Conventional agents such as dexamethasone are effective but have various side effects. For moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, dexamethasone-sparing antiemetic therapies have been developed to minimize these side effects. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone-sparing antiemetic therapy for highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).

Although antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone fosters hope for the treatment of cancer, the effect of single drug treatment is limited and the safety profile of ADC and ICI therapy remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of the combination of ADC and ICI therapy. This study type is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Literature retrieval was carried out through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane from inception to Jun. 5, 2024. Then, after data extraction, overall response rate (ORR) and adverse effects (AEs) were used to study its efficiency and safety. Publication bias was also calculated through Funnel plot, Begg's Test and Egger's test. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup and sensitivity analysis. The research protocol was registered with the PROSPERO (CRD42023375601). A total of 12 eligible clinical studies with 584 patients were included. The pooled ORR was 58% (95%CI 46%, 70%). Subgroup analysis showed an ORR of 77% (95%CI 63%, 91%) in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and an ORR of 73% (95%CI 56%, 90%) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The most common AEs was peripheral neuropathy (38.0%). Meanwhile, AEs on skin (13.1-20.0%) and digestive system (9.0-36.0%) was hard be overlooked. ADC + ICI therapy may be recommended in cancer treatment, especially in cHL and NHL. However, strategies to manage toxicities warranted further exploration.

The therapeutic potential of bee venom-derived peptides, particularly apamin and melittin, in cancer treatment has garnered significant attention as a promising avenue for advancing oncology. This systematic review examines preclinical studies highlighting the emerging role of these peptides in enhancing cancer therapies. Melittin and apamin, when conjugated with other therapeutic agents or formulated into novel delivery systems, have demonstrated improved efficacy in targeting tumor cells. Key findings indicate that melittin-based conjugates, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated versions, show potential in enhancing therapeutic outcomes and minimizing toxicity across various cancer models. Similarly, apamin-conjugated formulations have improved the efficacy of established anti-cancer drugs, contributing to enhanced targeting and reduced systemic toxicity. These developments underscore a growing interest in leveraging bee venom-derived peptides as adjuncts in cancer therapy. The integration of these peptides into treatment regimens offers a promising strategy to address current limitations in cancer treatment, such as drug resistance and off-target effects. However, comprehensive validation through clinical trials is essential to confirm their safety and effectiveness in human patients. This review highlights the global emergence of bee venom-derived peptides in cancer treatment, advocating for continued research and development to fully realize their therapeutic potential.

Long-term cancer treatment complications in men include testicular dysfunction and infertility. Although various chemotherapies have been studied, there is limited evidence on their effects, especially for bleomycin. Despite its known lung toxicity, bleomycin's impact on male reproductive health is not well-researched. This systematic review aimed to evaluate bleomycin's effects on testicular function and fertility. A search of PubMed and Web of Science identified seven relevant animal studies on bleomycin's gonadotoxicity. The research, limited to animal models, shows that bleomycin significantly disrupts male reproductive health, including DNA damage in sperm, analogous to its effects on cancer cells, and notable histopathological changes in rodent testes. It reduces sperm quality and testosterone levels, correlating with Leydig cell degeneration and inflammatory responses, which further aligns with the drug's known capacity to induce lung inflammation. Due to the inherent limitations in extrapolating results from rodents to humans, further research, particularly in humans, is needed to confirm these findings, assess hormonal impacts, temporal patterns of effects (whether transient or permanent), and their impacts implications for offspring, as well explore potential mitigation strategies. These findings are a first step in raising awareness among clinicians about bleomycin's fertility risks and developing strategies for fertility preservation.

To identify risk factors and effect modifiers associated with intraocular inflammation (IOI) following brolucizumab injection.

The risk of treatment-related toxicities with programmed cell death 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors in patients with lung cancer is unclear and inconclusive. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched without language restrictions from inception to May 31, 2024 to identify Phase 3 randomized controlled trials of lung cancer comparing PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors versus placebo/best supportive care (alone or in combination with nontargeted chemotherapy) that had available data regarding treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) or incidence and sample size. Random-effect models were employed to study the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Finally, 36 trials, involving 19,693 participants, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors significantly augmented the likelihood of developing all-grade (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04, p < .01) and grade ≥3 TRAEs (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.23, p < .01). PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors substantially augmented the odds of developing treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.27-1.71, p < .01) and fatal adverse events (FAEs) (RR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.11-1.82, p < .01). Subgroup analyses indicated that the RR of SAEs and FAEs were generally consistent, regardless of treatment type, tumor type, treatment setting, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors type and study design. The most common causes of FAEs were respiratory failure/insufficiency (33.3%), cardiac events (16.1%), and hematological disorders (10.1%). We demonstrated that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors were significantly correlated with higher possibility of developing treatment-related toxicities, especially SAEs and FAEs, compared with placebo/best supportive care controls.

In the last two decades, the use of oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has increased in cancer patients. Despite this, patients and their caregivers face some challenging issues (side effects, drug-to-drug interactions, etc.) related to OAA administration. The three dimensions of self-care by Riegel et al., self-care maintenance (i.e., stability of patient condition), self-care monitoring (i.e., detection of side effects), and self-care management (i.e., management of side effects), may be implemented to avoid negative outcomes. However, knowledge of self-care determinants is necessary to recognise people at risk of poor self-care behaviours.

The main active constituents of plants of the Paeonia genus are known to have antitumor activity. Hundreds of compounds with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including monoterpene glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, triterpenoids, steroids, and phenolic compounds have been isolated. Among them, monoterpenes and their glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other constituents have been shown to have good therapeutic effects on various cancers, with the main mechanisms including the induction of apoptosis; the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; and the modulation of immunity. In this study, many citations related to the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, antitumor effects, and clinical applications of the Paeonia genus were retrieved from popular and widely used databases such as Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed using different search strings. A systematic review of the antitumor constituents of the Paeonia genus and their therapeutic effects on various cancers was conducted and the mechanisms of action and pathways of these phytochemicals were summarised to provide a further basis for antitumor research.

Ramucirumab is considered a potential treatment for gastric or gastroesophageal cancer; however, its safety has not been evaluated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ramucirumab for treating gastric or gastroesophageal cancer.

In recent years, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become a cornerstone in cancer treatment. However, this has also resulted in the emergence of immune-related adverse events, notably ICI hepatitis, posing a significant clinical challenge. While steroids are the primary treatment, there are increasing cases of steroid-refractory ICI hepatitis. Our objective is to investigate the management of ICI hepatitis and its response to steroid treatment.

Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy that poses considerable therapeutic challenges in treating anaplastic carcinoma and advanced aggressive disease. Immunotherapy has become a prominent strategy for cancer treatment, and has shown remarkable advancements in recent years. In this study, we utilized visualization and bibliometric tools to analyze publications on thyroid cancer immunotherapy from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). A total of 409 articles were included, with an annual increase in both publications and citations since 2016. China leads research efforts in this area, while the University of Texas System and UTMD Anderson Cancer Center rank first in publication output. The journal Thyroid has garnered the highest citations. Notable authors contributing to this field include Antonelli Alessandro, Fallahi Poupak, and Wang Yu. Current research hotspots include immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination therapies involving immunotherapy with targeted therapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment, all of which underscore the evolving landscape and potential for innovative treatments in thyroid cancer.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a laser-based therapy used to promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation and pain, and has been extensively studied in chemo- and radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM). This review examines the level of evidence of systematic reviews (SRs) that have investigated PBM in such cases of OM.

There has been considerable success in the development of drugs for targeted therapy of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) and to know the safety and efficacy of these drugs will help their appropriate application.