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Pathology, Research and Practice Jan 2024Metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract is a rare instance in the natural history of breast cancer, usually in association with lobular histology and widespread...
Metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract is a rare instance in the natural history of breast cancer, usually in association with lobular histology and widespread dissemination of disease. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with a history of invasive lobular carcinoma presenting with a pancreatic metastasis mimicking a primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma; we also present a systematic review of the relevant literature. The presentation of pancreatic metastasis in the setting of breast cancer is unspecific, and histology is of paramount importance for a correct diagnosis; surgical metastasectomy could be of some benefit in the correct clinical setting.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aged; Carcinoma, Lobular; Adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell; Pancreas
PubMed: 38176311
DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155049 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024A single immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) regimen has limited value in treating advanced bile tract cancer (BTC); therefore, ICI combination therapy is often applied.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with other targeted or immunological therapy regimens for the treatment of advanced bile tract cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
A single immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) regimen has limited value in treating advanced bile tract cancer (BTC); therefore, ICI combination therapy is often applied. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ICI combination therapy for advanced BTC.
METHODS
The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023452422). Data on the median progression-free survival (PFS), median overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) reported in relevant studies were pooled and analyzed to determine the efficacy and safety of ICI combination therapy.
RESULTS
In total, 15 studies with 665 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The overall ORR and DCR were 34.6% and 77.6%, respectively. The overall median PFS and OS were 6.06 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.91-7.21] and 12.11 months (95% CI: 10.66-13.55), respectively. Patients receiving ICI combination therapy in addition to other therapies had a considerably prolonged median PFS and OS (z=9.69, <0.001 and z=16.17, <0.001). Patients treated as first-line treatment had a substantially longer median PFS and OS compared to patients treated as non-first-line treatment (z=11.19, <0.001 and z=49.17, <0.001). The overall pooled grade ≥3 AEs rate was 38.2% (95% CI: 0.268-0.497) and was not influenced by whether ICI therapy was combined with other treatments or not or the treatment line.
CONCLUSION
Advanced BTC patients may benefit from ICI combination treatment without additional AEs. However, concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy is still needed to achieve better outcomes.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023452422.
Topics: Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Treatment Outcome; Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Immunotherapy
PubMed: 38840927
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1378760 -
BMC Cancer Dec 2023Existing literature suggests that tertiary lymphatic structure (TLS) is associated with the progression of cancer. However, the prognostic role of TLS in digestive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Existing literature suggests that tertiary lymphatic structure (TLS) is associated with the progression of cancer. However, the prognostic role of TLS in digestive system cancers remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize currently available evidence in the association between TLS and the survival of digestive system cancers.
METHODS
We systematically searched three digital databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) for articles published from database inception to December 23, 2022. Study selection criteria are based on PECO framework: P (population: patients with digestive system cancers), E (exposure: presence of TLS), C (comparator: absence of TLS), O (outcome: overall survival, OS; recurrence-free survival, RFS; disease-free survival, DFS). The Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool was used to assess risk of bias for included studies. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023416307).
RESULTS
A total of 25 studies with 6910 patients were included into the final meta-analysis. Random-effects models revealed that the absence of TLS was associated with compromised OS, RFS, and DFS of digestive system cancers, with pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.50-2.03), 1.96 (95% CI: 1.58-2.44), and 1.81 (95% CI: 1.49-2.19), respectively. Subgroup analyses disclosed a stronger TLS-survival association for pancreatic cancer, compared with other digestive system cancers.
CONCLUSION
TLS may be of prognostic significance for digestive system cancers. More original studies are needed to further corroborate this finding.
Topics: Humans; Prognosis; Tertiary Lymphoid Structures; Biomarkers, Tumor; Digestive System Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38110876
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11738-w -
Pancreatology : Official Journal of the... Jun 2024Solid pancreatic masses are sampled through tissue acquisition by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Inadequate samples may significantly delay diagnosis, increasing costs and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound likely does not improve diagnostic adequacy during endoscopic ultrasound guided tissue acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Solid pancreatic masses are sampled through tissue acquisition by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Inadequate samples may significantly delay diagnosis, increasing costs and carrying risks to the patients.
AIM
assess the diagnostic adequacy of tissue acquisition using contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CEH-EUS) compared to conventional EUS.
METHODS
Five databases (PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched in November 2023. Studies comparing diagnostic adequacy, accuracy and safety using CEH-EUS versus conventional EUS for tissue acquisition of solid pancreatic masses were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RoB2) and the Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for non-randomized studies, level of evidence using the GRADE approach, Odds Ratios (RR) with 95 % Confidence Intervals (CI) calculated and pooled using a random-effects model. I quantified heterogeneity.
RESULTS
The search identified 3858 records; nine studies (1160 patients) were included. OR for achieving an adequate sample was 1.467 (CI: 0.850-2.533), for randomized trials 0.902 (CI: 0.541-1.505), for non-randomized 2.396 (CI: 0.916-6.264), with significant subgroup difference. OR for diagnostic accuracy was 1.326 (CI: 0.890-1977), for randomized trials 0.997 (CI: 0.593-1.977) and for non-randomized studies 1.928 (CI: 1.096-3.393), significant subgroup difference (p = 0.0467). No differences were observed for technical failures or adverse events. Heterogeneity was low, risk of bias "low" to "some concerns" for most outcomes, mostly moderate for non-randomized studies.
CONCLUSION
Non-randomized studies indicated differences in favor of contrast-enhanced EUS, randomized studies showed no difference in diagnostic adequacy, accuracy or sensitivity when using CEH-EUS.
Topics: Humans; Contrast Media; Endosonography; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Pancreas
PubMed: 38714387
DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2024.04.007 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The effectiveness of psychological interventions (PI) for malignant diseases is controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect of PI on survival and quality of life... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The effectiveness of psychological interventions (PI) for malignant diseases is controversial. We aimed to investigate the effect of PI on survival and quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer. We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Embase databases to identify randomized controlled trials comparing PI to standard care (PROSPERO registration number CRD42021282327). Outcomes were overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and different domains of QoL. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the provider-, type-, environment-, duration of intervention; cancer stage, and type. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. The OS and RFS did not differ significantly between the two groups (OS:HR = 0.97; CI 0.87-1.08; RFS:HR = 0.99; CI 0.84-1.16). However, there was significant improvement in the intervention group in all the analyzed domains of QoL; in the global (SMD = 0.65; CI 0.35-0.94), emotional (SMD = 0.64; CI 0.33-0.95), social (SMD = 0.32; CI 0.13-0.51) and physical (SMD = 0.33; CI 0.05-0.60) domains. The effect of PI on QoL was generally positive immediately, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention, but the effect decreased over time and was no longer found significant at 48 weeks. The results were better in the breast cancer group and early stages of cancer. PIs do not prolong survival, but they significantly improve the QoL of cancer patients. PI should be added as standard of care 3-4 times a year, at least for patients with early-stage cancer.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Neoplasms; Psychosocial Intervention; Neoplasm Staging; Female
PubMed: 38853187
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63431-y -
Asian Journal of Surgery Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Vena Cava, Inferior; Leiomyosarcoma; Vascular Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Abdomen
PubMed: 37723036
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.09.018 -
International Journal of Surgery... Jan 2024
Meta-Analysis
Topics: Humans; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Laparoscopy; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37738018
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000770 -
BMC Cancer May 2024Immunotherapy or apatinib alone has been used as third-line adjuvant therapy for advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) tumors, but the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Immunotherapy or apatinib alone has been used as third-line adjuvant therapy for advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) tumors, but the efficacy of combining them with each other for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic G/GEJ is unknown; therefore, we further evaluated the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with apatinib in patients with advanced or metastatic G/GEJ.
METHODS
The main search was conducted on published databases: Embase, Cochrane library, PubMed.The search was conducted from the establishment of the database to December 2023.Clinical trials with patients with advanced or metastatic G/GEJ and immunotherapy combined with apatinib as the study variable were collected. Review Manager 5.4 software as well as stata 15.0 software were used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 651 patients from 19 articles were included in this meta-analysis. In the included studies, immunotherapy combined with apatinib had a complete response (CR) of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00 -0.06), partial response (PR) of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.19-0.49), stable disease (SD) of 0.43 (95% CI: 0.32-0.55), objective response rate (ORR) was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.23-0.48), disease control rate (DCR) was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86), and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.29 (95% CI: 4.05-4.52), median Overall survival (OS) was 8.79 (95% CI: 7.92-9.66), and the incidence of grade ≥ 3 TRAEs was 0.34 (95% CI: 0:19-0.49). PR, ORR, DCR, median PFS and median OS were significantly higher in the immunotherapy and apatinib combination chemotherapy group (IAC) than in the immunotherapy combination apatinib group (IA). And the difference was not significant in the incidence of SD and grade ≥ 3 TRAEs.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis shows that immunotherapy combined with apatinib is safe and effective in the treatment of advanced or metastatic G/GEJ, where IAC can be a recommended adjuvant treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic G/GEJ. However, more large multicenter randomized studies are urgently needed to reveal the long-term outcomes of immunotherapy combined with apatinib treatment.
Topics: Humans; Pyridines; Stomach Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Esophagogastric Junction; Esophageal Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38760737
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12340-4 -
Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver... Mar 2024Systemic therapy is mainly recommended for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering the variety of treatments available for HCC, there is a need to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Systemic therapy is mainly recommended for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering the variety of treatments available for HCC, there is a need to understand their relative benefits and risks, especially for the newly approved combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors represented by atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab. A reticulated meta-analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination therapy compared with other first-line systemic therapies for the treatment of patients advanced HCC.
METHODS
PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched from the time of library construction to 01 December 2022, and the data were extracted and analyzed using Stata16.0 for Meta-analysis. The data were extracted separately, and a meta-analysis was performed using the software Stata16.0.
RESULTS
16 clinical studies with 8,779 subjects were identified from 13,417 records and were used to build the evidence network for all trials. TThe combination therapy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has the advantage of prolonging the OS of patients when treating advanced HCC [HR=5.71, 95%CI (4.30, 7.12), p<0.05] Also, the combination therapy has the advantage of prolonging the patient's progression free survival [HR=1.60, 95%CI (0.89, 2.49), p<0.05].
CONCLUSIONS
Atezolizumab-bevacizumab combination therapy can improve clinical outcomes such as OS and PFS in patients with advanced HCC.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Network Meta-Analysis; Bevacizumab; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Liver Neoplasms
PubMed: 38554414
DOI: 10.15403/jgld-5289