Cancers, with increasing incidence and mortality rates, constitute a leading public health problem in Nigeria. As the burden of cancer in Nigeria increases, research and quality service delivery remain critical strategies for improved cancer control across the continuum of care. This study contextualizes the challenges and gaps in oncology research and practice in Nigeria, and presents recommendations to address the gaps.

The application of PARP inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment and has achieved significant advancements, particularly with regard to tumors with defects in genes involved in homologous recombination repair (HRR) processes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Despite the promising outcomes of PARP inhibitors, certain limitations and challenges still exist, including acquired drug resistance, severe side effects, and limited therapeutic benefits for patients without homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). Various combinations involving PARP inhibitors have been developed to overcome these limitations. Among these, combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, and various small-molecule inhibitors are well-studied strategies that show great potential for optimizing the efficacy of PARP inhibitors, overcoming resistance mechanisms, and expanding target populations. However, the efficiency and overlapping toxicity of these combination strategies for cancers vary among studies, thereby limiting their use. In this review, we describe the mechanisms and limitations of PARP inhibitors to better understand the mechanisms of combination treatments. Furthermore, we have summarized recent studies on the combination of PARP inhibitors with a range of medications and discussed their clinical efficacy. The objective of this review is to enhance the comprehensiveness of information pertaining to this topic.

This prospective study aimed to investigate estrogen-induced carcinogenesis by assessing the background levels of abasic sites (apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, AP sites) in Taiwanese breast cancer patients following 5 years of postoperative treatment without recurrence (5-year survivors) (n = 70). The study also sought to compare the extent of these DNA lesions with those found in healthy controls and in breast cancer patients prior to treatment.

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) represents a distinct entity within the spectrum of breast papillary tumors, typically manifesting as a retroareolar mass. This rare subtype can be effectively visualized using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, which reveal characteristic cystic-solid nodules. Histopathologically, EPC is defined by a papillary tumor structure with a well-defined fibrous capsule, devoid of myoepithelial cells both within and around the capsule. Immunohistochemical staining for myoepithelial markers is essential to confirm the absence of these cells, thereby validating the diagnosis of EPC. At the molecular level, EPC exhibits feature similar to estrogen receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), with a biological behavior that lies between ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and IDC. Generally, EPC has a favorable prognosis, associated with minimal recurrence and metastatic potential. Therapeutic strategies for EPC may parallel those for DCIS, including surgical excision. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended following surgery for patients with concurrent DCIS or those who have undergone breast-conserving therapy. In cases with associated IDC, management prioritizes the treatment of the invasive component. High-grade EPC often requires systemic therapies due to its poorer prognosis and increased risk of lymph node involvement.

Liver cancer (LivCa) is a growing concern in the MENA region, driven by diverse factors, including viral hepatitis, lifestyle-related risks, and other causes.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer among men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Metastatic castration-resistant PCa is still a fatal disease. On the other hand, between 2016 and 2020, about 70% of PCa cases were diagnosed at a localized stage. Evolving data demonstrates that men with low-grade cancers treated with definitive therapies may now be exposed to morbidities of overtreatment and poor quality of life, with little or no benefit in terms of cancer specific mortality. Active surveillance (AS) is thus the recommended management strategy for men with low-grade disease. Although this subgroup of men have reported anxiety during the AS period, they account to be highly motivated to make positive lifestyle changes to further reduce their risk of PCa progression, underscoring the urgent need to identify novel strategies for preventing progression of localized PCa to metastatic disease through pharmacologic means, an approach termed chemoprevention. Although several promising agents and approaches have been examined over the past 2 decades, currently, there are several limitations in the approach used to systematically examine agents for chemoprevention targeting men on AS. The goal of this review is to summarize the current agents and approaches evaluated, targeting men on AS, recognize the gaps, and identify a contemporary and comprehensive path forward. Results of these studies may inform the development of phase III clinical trials and ultimately provide a strategy for clinical chemoprevention in men on AS, for whom, currently, there are no options for reducing the risk of progression to metastatic disease.

Remote symptom monitoring (RSM) allows patients to electronically self-report symptoms to their healthcare team for individual management. Clinical trials have demonstrated overarching benefits; however, little is known regarding patient-perceived benefits and limitations of RSM programs used during patient care.

Abnormalities in mitochondrial structure or function are closely related to the development of malignant tumors. Mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming provides precursor substances and energy for the vital activities of tumor cells, so that cancer cells can rapidly adapt to the unfavorable environment of hypoxia and nutrient deficiency. Mitochondria can enable tumor cells to gain the ability to proliferate, escape immune responses, and develop drug resistance by altering constitutive junctions, oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial subcellular relocalization. This greatly reduces the rate of effective clinical control of tumors.

Effective cancer screening is essential for early detection and improved survival outcomes. Cancer is a leading cause of death for Hispanics/Latinx, who represent the largest minority group in the U.S. Despite lower tobacco use, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Hispanic/Latinx men and the second leading cause in women. Late-stage diagnoses, due to limited screening opportunities, contribute to poor survival rates. Cancer survivors, especially those previously diagnosed with head and neck cancer, face a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer. Approximately one-fourth of head and neck cancer survivors die from a second malignancy, with lung cancer accounting for over half of these cases. These individuals are nearly three times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to the general population of smokers. In this manuscript, we detail the importance of implementing lung cancer screening in these high-risk populations.

Immunotherapy has shown promise in treating various subtypes of metastatic cancers, but many patients are frail and may have compromised immune systems, which can influence treatment outcomes. Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and systemic inflammation, is a potential factor that may negatively impact the response to immunotherapy. However, more data must be collected on the extent of its influence. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of sarcopenia, systemic inflammation, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) on the response to immunotherapy.

Colorectal cancer is a chronic condition that affects a substantial proportion of the global population. Ensuring a satisfactory quality of life (QoL) for these patients is, therefore, of critical importance.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, after 2 years, on mammographic screening in Brazil evaluating BIRADS® results, breast cancer diagnosis rates, and breast cancer stage.

The study aimed to conduct an in-depth analysis of the influence of PD-L1 status and expression levels and other variables on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating breast cancer.

Ten percent of patients with melanoma develop in-transit metastases (ITM). Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a well-established therapy for unresectable ITM on the extremities, but the ideal sequencing/line of therapy of ILI has not been defined. This study evaluates ILI as first-line, second-line, or third or later-line therapy.

Dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) imaging is a valuable sequence of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). A DCE sequence enhances the vasculature and complements T2-weighted (T2W) and Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), allowing early detection of prostate cancer. However, DCE assessment has remained primarily qualitative. The study proposes quantifying DCE characteristics (T1W sequences) using six time-dependent metrics computed on feature transformations (306 radiomic features) of abnormal image regions observed over time. We applied our methodology to prostate cancer patients with the DCE MRI images (n = 25) who underwent prostatectomy with confirmed pathological assessment of the disease using Gleason Score. Regions of abnormality were assessed on the T2W MRI, guided using the whole mount pathology. Preliminary analysis finds over six temporal DCE imaging features obtained on different transformations on the imaging regions showed significant differences compared to the indolent counterpart ( ≤ 0.05, q ≤ 0.01). We find classifier models using logistic regression formed on DCE features after feature-based transformation (Centre of Mass) had an AUC of 0.89-0.94. While using mean feature-based transformation, the AUC was in the range of 0.71-0.76, estimated using the 0.632 bootstrap cross-validation method and after applying sample balancing using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE). Our study finds, radiomic transformation of DCE images (T1 sequences) provides better signal standardization. Their temporal characteristics allow improved discrimination of aggressive disease.

The clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of salivary gland (EMC-SG) have not been defined well due to its rarity. The purpose of this study is to assess the proportion of EMC-SG among salivary gland cancers, describe the clinicopathological features and prognosis of this disease, further analyze the factors associated with EMC-SG survival, and establish individual survival-predicting models.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates have been decreasing in the United States (US), but there is limited information about differences in these improvements among individuals from different racial and ethnic subgroups across different regions of the US.

The introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has led to future decline in prevalence of HPV-causing cancers; however, disparities in early HPV vaccine uptake and coverage may contribute to persistent inequalities in HPV-related cancers in the United States. We assess the current trend of sociodemographic factors significantly associated with the initiation and Up To Date (UTD) HPV vaccine series among adolescents in the U.S.

Breast cancer is a major public health concern worldwide and the most prevalent form of cancer in Morocco. This study aimed to describe the histological and immunohistochemical profiles of breast cancer in women admitted to Cheikh Khalifa Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco.

The advent of artificial intelligence in healthcare is transforming medical research and clinical practice, with significant advancements in the areas of oncology. This commentary explores the pivotal role artificial intelligence plays in lung cancer research, offering insights into its current applications and future potential.

Health inequalities refer to systematic, unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population and between different groups in society. We reviewed health inequalities related to breast cancer to inform National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations. This was a pragmatic, targeted review to identify examples of health inequalities related to breast cancer in England. The search focused on national cancer registries, screening programme datasets, patient experience surveys and reports from key organisations. The results were synthesised using 5 domains of interest, covering health status, risk factors, wider determinants, access to and quality and experience of care. These domains were subdivided across 4 dimensions of health inequalities, including deprivation, geography, protected characteristics, and inclusion health groups. It was found that although breast cancer is less common in more deprived groups, these groups have worse health outcomes and higher mortality rates compared to less deprived groups. Many disadvantaged groups are less likely to participate in breast cancer screening, leading to delayed diagnosis and more advanced cancers. Behavioural risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption vary across groups and impact breast cancer risks and outcomes. While people from ethnic minority groups have lower breast cancer incidence, evidence suggests that the incidence of breast cancer in some groups is increasing. Ethnic minority groups are also often diagnosed at advanced stages due to presenting through non-screening routes. Low health literacy is an issue for many disadvantaged groups. This review demonstrates that late diagnosis and low screening uptake significantly contribute to health inequalities among different groups, including deprived and ethnic minority groups. There are many gaps in the evidence, and this review further highlights potential research areas for the broader health and care system from the perspective of health inequalities.