Current guidelines recommend single gene/variant testing in relatives of patients with known pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PGVs) in cancer predisposition genes. This approach may preclude the use of risk-reducing strategies in family members who have PGVs in other cancer predisposition genes. Cascade testing using multigene panels was performed in 3,696 relatives of 7,433 probands. Unexpected

Background Frailty and multimorbidity among older cancer patients affect treatment tolerance and efficacy. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and management is recommended to optimize cancer treatment but its effect on various outcomes remains uncertain. Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cost-effectiveness studies comparing CGA

Background Prostate cancer (PC) is the most diagnosed cancer in African American men (AAM), yet PC screening regimens in this group are poorly guided by existing evidence, given underrepresentation of AAM in prostate cancer screening trials. It is critical to optimize PC screening and early detection in this high-risk group since underdiagnosis may lead to later stage cancers at diagnosis and higher

Purpose The rate of esophagogastric cancer (EGC) is rising among individuals under the age of 50. It remains unknown whether early onset (EO)-EGC represents a unique entity. This study investigates the clinical and molecular characteristics of EO- and average onset (AO)-EGC. Methods We reviewed the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center gastric, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer

Background High-risk neuroblastoma is a complex genetic disease that is lethal in over 50% of patients despite intense multimodal therapy. Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and next-generation sequencing (NGS), we have identified common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and rare, pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) germline loss-of-function (LOF) variants in BARD1 enriched in

Background Neuroblastoma is an embryonal cancer of the developing sympathetic nervous system. The genetic contribution of rare pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P-LP) germline variants in patients without a family history remains unclear. Methods Germline DNA sequencing was performed on 786 neuroblastoma patients. The frequency of rare cancer predisposition gene (CPG) P-LP variants in cases was compared

Background Treatment of childhood glioma has evolved to reduce radiotherapy exposure with the goal of limiting late toxicity. However, the associations between treatment changes and neurocognition, and the contribution of neurocognition and chronic health conditions (CHCs) to attainment of adult independence, remain unknown. Methods Adult survivors of childhood glioma diagnosed 1970-1999 in the Childhood

Few studies have examined cancer-related mortality overall and for select cancer types during the pandemic. Data on cancer-related mortality (any mention in death certificates, multiple causes of death–MCOD approach) was extracted from the CDC WONDER database. Changes in trends of age-standardized mortality rates through 1999-2021 were assessed by Joinpoint analysis. 1,379,643 cancer-related deaths

Purpose Even with contemporary treatment strategies, >10% of HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients may experience distant metastasis as first event during follow-up. Tools for predicting unique patterns of metastatic spread are needed to plan personalized surveillance. We evaluated how molecular heterogeneity affects the pattern of distant relapse in HER2-positive BC. Patients and methods

Purpose The phase 3 CALGB 90203 (Alliance) trial evaluated neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (CHT) for high-risk localized PCa before radical prostatectomy (RP). We dissect the molecular features of post-treated PCa along with long-term clinical outcomes to explore mechanisms of response and resistance to CHT. Patients and Methods We evaluated 471 RP tumors, including 294 samples from 166 patients

Background Patients with cancer frequently require multidisciplinary teams for optimal cancer outcomes. Network analysis can capture relationships among cancer specialists, and we developed a novel physician linchpin score to characterize “linchpin” physicians whose peers have fewer ties to other physicians of the same oncologic specialty. Our study examined whether being treated by a linchpin physician

Background To support mammography screening decision-making, we developed a competing-risk model to estimate 5-year breast cancer (BC) risk and 10-year non-BC death for women ≥55 using Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) data and examined model performance in the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS). Here, we examine model performance in predicting 10-year outcomes in the BWHS, Women’s Health Initiative-Extension

Background Co-Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (co-SSPedi) is a dyadic (child-guardian) approach to symptom assessment. Objectives were to evaluate the reliability and validity of co-SSPedi for pediatric patients receiving cancer treatments. Methods This multi-center study included dyads of patients 4-18 years of age with cancer or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), and their guardians

Background and Aims Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) have been successful in identifying candidate susceptibility genes for colorectal cancer (CRC). To strengthen susceptibility gene discovery, we conducted a large TWAS and an alternative splicing-TWAS (sp-TWAS) in CRC using improved genetic prediction models and performed in-depth functional investigations. Methods We analyzed RNA-sequencing

Background Anal intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (AIN3) is a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA), for which rates are nearly 20-fold higher in people with HIV (PWH) than in the general population in the US. We describe trends in AIN3 diagnosis and risk of SCCA following AIN3 by HIV status and sex. Methods We utilized data from a population-based linkage between cancer and HIV

Background People with HIV (PWH) have higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than the general population, partly due to higher prevalence of coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or C virus (HCV). Methods We calculated standardized incidence ratios for HCC in PWH by comparing rates from PWH in the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study, a population-based HIV and cancer registry linkage, to those in

Background The emergence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and evolving tobacco use patterns have changed the landscape of head and neck cancer epidemiology internationally. We investigated updated trends in OPC incidence worldwide. Methods We analyzed cancer incidence data during 1993-2012 from 42 countries using the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents database Volumes V-XI. Trends in OPC

Patients undergoing antineoplastic therapies often exhibit reduced immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, necessitating assessment of alternate booster vaccination frequencies. However, data on reinfection risks to guide clinical decision-making is limited. Here we quantified reinfection risks for patients undergoing distinct antineoplastic therapies, given alternative frequencies of boosting with

Background T stage is a prognostic biomarker for overall survival (OS) in colon cancer and pathologic T4 (pT4) disease is a high-risk characteristic. Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is recommended to improve OS in pT4N0M0, but compliance with guidelines is unknown. We aimed to evaluate AC use and impact on OS in pT4N0M0 colon cancer. Methods The NCDB was reviewed for pT4N0M0 colon adenocarcinomas undergoing

The Immuno-Oncology Translational Network (IOTN) was established in 2018 as part of the Cancer MoonshotSM, and in 2022 President Biden set new goals to reduce the cancer death rate by half within 25 years and improve lives of people with cancer and cancer survivors. The IOTN is focused on accelerating translation of cancer immunology research from bench to bedside and improving immunotherapy outcomes

Background Treatment options for penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeCa) are limited. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes and safety profiles of patients with PeCa receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced or metastatic PeCa receiving ICIs during 2015-2022 across 24 centers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Overall

Background Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy worldwide, and it is strongly linked to lifestyle and environmental risk factors. While several drinking water disinfection by-products are confirmed rodent carcinogens, there is still inconclusive evidence for human carcinogenicity, including colorectal cancer. Methods We assessed the association of long-term exposure to Trihalomethanes

Background Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) remain imperfect in predicting clinical outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as outcomes do not always correlate with the expression of these biomarkers. Genomic and transcriptomic alterations that might contribute to the expression of these biomarkers remain incompletely uncovered. Methods We evaluated

Background Overall survival (OS) is the optimal marker of efficacy of treatments in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) but can take a considerable amount of time to mature. Progression free survival (PFS) has served as an early surrogate of OS however is imperfect. Time to deterioration (TTD) in quality of life (QoL) measures could be an alternative surrogate of OS. Methods Phase 3 RCTs in solid malignancies

Background Population-based surveillance of pediatric cancer incidence trends is critical to determine high-risk populations, drive hypothesis generation, and uncover etiologic heterogeneity. We provide a comprehensive update to the current understanding of pediatric cancer incidence trends by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

Background While mental disorders have been reported in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), studies examining their association with mortality are lacking. Methods We conducted a population-based study using linked administrative healthcare databases from Ontario, Canada. All patients with DLBCL aged ≥18 years treated with rituximab-based therapy between January 1st, 2005 and December

Background Physical activity, sufficient sleep, and limiting sedentary time may improve cancer survivorship. Methods Utilizing US nationally representative samples from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 1997-2018 and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018, this study investigated the trends of meeting physical activity guidelines (PAG), insufficient sleep

Background We aimed to develop and validate a risk-scoring system for distant metastases (DM) in oral cavity carcinoma (OCC). Methods OCC patients treated at 4 tertiary cancer institutions with curative surgery +/- postoperative radiation/chemo-radiation (PORT/PO-CRT) were randomly divided into discovery and validation cohorts (3:2 ratio). Cases were staged based on TNM 8th edition. Predictors of DM

Individuals diagnosed with cancer are a vulnerable population during disasters. Emergency preparedness efforts are crucial for meeting the health and safety needs of patients, providers, healthcare facilities, and communities before, during, and after a disaster. Recognizing the importance of advancing emergency preparedness expertise to cancer control efforts nationwide, especially in the era of climate

Background Osimertinib stands as the first-line therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancers harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Although osimertinib has been shown to elicit profound patient responses, cancer cells frequently develop additional mutations that sustain their proliferation capacity. This acquired resistance represents a significant hurdle in precision

Background The widespread introduction of Pap testing in the 1960second was followed by significant reductions in the incidence of cervical squamous cell cancer (SCC). However, the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma (ADC) did not decrease, likely because of low Pap test sensitivity for ADC and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). This study assessed a novel HPV/host DNA Methylation-Score for AIS/ADC screening

Background Breast cancer survivors have increased incidence of age-related diseases, suggesting that some survivors may experience faster biological aging. Methods Among 417 women enrolled in the prospective Sister Study cohort, DNA methylation data were generated on paired blood samples collected an average of 7.7 years apart and used to calculate 3 epigenetic metrics of biological aging (PhenoAgeAccel

Background Cancer patients’ attitudes toward progression-free survival (PFS) gains offered by treatment are not well understood, particularly in the absence of overall survival (OS) gains. The objectives were to describe patients’ willingness to accept treatment that offers PFS gains without OS gains, to compare these findings to treatments offering OS gains, and to qualitatively summarize patients’

Generally, risk stratification models for cancer use effect estimates from risk/protective factor analyses that have not assessed potential interactions between these exposures. We have developed a four-criterion framework for assessing interactions which includes statistical, qualitative, biological, and practical approaches. Using ovarian cancer, we present the application of the framework as this

Background Recently several new treatment regimens have been approved for treating metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), building on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone. These include docetaxel-ADT (DA), Abiraterone Acetate-Prednisone-ADT (AAP), Apalutamide-ADT (AAT), Enzalutamide-ADT (ET), Darolutamide-Docetaxel-ADT (DAD) and Abiraterone- Prednisone-ADT-Docetaxel (AAD). There

Background Many patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for breast cancer experience side effects and reduced quality of life (QoL) and discontinue ET. We sought to describe these issues and develop a prediction model of early discontinuation of ET. Methods Among patients with hormone receptor–positive and HER2-negative stage I-III breast cancer of the Cancer Toxicities cohort (NCT01993498)

Background Cancer is a leading cause of death by disease among children and adolescents in the United States. This study updates cancer incidence rates and trends using the most recent and comprehensive US cancer registry data available. Methods We used data from US Cancer Statistics to evaluate counts, age-adjusted incidence rates, and trends among children and adolescents aged <20 years diagnosed

Significant disparities exist in detecting and treating breast cancer in women with disabilities, leading to cancer detection at advanced stages. This paper provides an overview of disparities for women with disabilities related to breast cancer screening and care, primarily focusing on significant mobility disabilities. Current care gaps include screening barriers related to accessibility and inequitable

Delivering high-quality, patient-centered cancer care remains a challenge. Both the National Academy of Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend shared decision-making to improve patient-centered care. However, widespread adoption of shared decision-making into clinical care has been limited. Shared decision-making is a process in which a patient and the patient’s health care

Immunotherapy has increased survival for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially for those diagnosed with late-stage disease. However, it is not known if its use is equally distributed across races. We assessed immunotherapy use in 21,098 pathologically confirmed stage IV NSCLC according to race in the Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked dataset. Multivariable models

Background Most case-control studies compare cancer survivors to general population controls without considering sexual orientation or gender identity. This case-control analysis compared health risk behaviors and health outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM) cancer survivors to those of matched SGM non-cancer controls. Methods Using data from the 2014-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance

Health and politics are deeply intertwined. In the context of national and global cancer care delivery, political forces –the political determinants of health—influence every level of the cancer care continuum. We explore the “three-i” framework—which structures the upstream political forces that impact policy choices in the context of actors’ interests, ideas, and institutions—to examine how political

Background The results of the GEMCAD-1402 phase II randomized trial suggested that adding aflibercept to modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) induction, followed by chemoradiation and surgery, could increase the pathological complete response (pCR) rate in patients with high-risk, locally advanced rectal cancer. Here we update results up to 3 years of follow-up and evaluate the predictive value of consensus

Treatment of screen-detected anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions has been shown to effectively reduce the incidence of invasive anal cancer in people with HIV (PWH). We provide population-based estimates of cumulative incidence of anal cancer by risk group and age at HIV and/or AIDS diagnosis. The 0–10-year cumulative incidence of anal cancer for men who have sex with men (MSM) aged <30

Introduction Currently, there are no data regarding the impact of treatment interruptions during radiotherapy for breast cancer. In this study, we examine the correlation between treatment interruptions during radiotherapy and outcomes in triple negative breast cancer patients. Methods 35,845 patients with triple-negative breast cancer treated between 2010 and 2014 were identified and analyzed from

The programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) and ligand (PD-L1) are validated cancer targets; however, emerging mechanisms and impact of PD-L1 intracellular signaling on cancer behavior are poorly understood. PD-L1 intracellular signaling increased clonogenicity, motility, and invasiveness in multiple head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models, and PD-1 binding enhanced these effects. Protein:

Background Relapse-free survival (RFS) has been considered a primary endpoint to assess the effects of immunotherapy in the adjuvant setting among patients with early-stage disease. However, it is not clear whether RFS is a valid surrogate endpoint for OS in this clinical context. Methods Phase 2 or phase 3 clinical trials of adjuvant immunotherapy that reported hazard ratios on OS and RFS were identified

Background Though obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for several cancer sites, there is conflicting evidence on whether obesity increases prostate cancer risk or mortality, and if it does, whether it increases risk directly or indirectly by affecting prostate cancer screening efficacy. Methods We examined associations between BMI and prostate cancer screening

BACKGROUND The main risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva (SCCC) are immunodeficiency and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Little is known about the SCCC epidemiology among people with HIV (PWH) in South Africa. METHODS We used data from the South African HIV Cancer Match study, a nation-wide cohort of PWH in South Africa, created through a privacy-preserving probabilistic record

BACKGROUND Radiation-induced secondary breast cancer may be a concern after radiotherapy for primary breast cancer (PBC), especially in young germline (g)BRCA-associated breast cancer patients with already high contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk and potentially increased genetic susceptibility to radiation. AIM To investigate whether adjuvant radiotherapy for PBC increases the risk of CBC in gBRCA1/2-associated

Background While lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is rolling out in many areas of the world, differentiating indeterminate pulmonary nodules remains a major challenge. We conducted one of the first systematic investigations of circulating protein markers to differentiate malignant versus benign screen-detected pulmonary nodules. Methods Based on four international LDCT

Many multicenter randomized clinical trials in oncology are conducted through the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), an organization consisting of five cooperative groups. These groups are comprised of multidisciplinary investigators who work collaboratively to conduct trials that test novel therapies and establish best practice for cancer care. Unfortunately, significant disparities in clinical

The recent expansion of human genomics repositories has facilitated the discovery of novel TP53 variants in populations of different ethnic origins. Interpreting TP53 variants is a major clinical challenge as they are functionally diverse, confer highly variable predisposition to cancer (including elusive low-penetrance alleles), and interact with genetic modifiers that alter tumor susceptibility.

Immunotherapy combinations are being investigated to expand the benefit of immune- checkpoint blockade across many cancer types. Radiation combinations, in particular using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), are of keen interest due to underlying mechanistic rationale, safety, and availability as a standard of care in certain cancers. In addition to direct tumor cytotoxicity, radiation therapy

Background Multidisciplinary cancer care (neoadjuvant chemotherapy+radical cystectomy (NAC+RC) or trimodality treatment (TMT)) is crucial for outcome of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), a potentially curable illness. Medicaid expansion through Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased insurance coverage especially among patients of racial minorities. This study aims to investigate the association between

BACKGROUND Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer often have poor quality of life (QOL) and mental health. We examined the effectiveness of interventions offering support for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer on caregiver QOL and mental health outcomes. METHODS We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases from inception through 6/2021. Eligible studies

Background The patterns and determinants of long-term income among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, and the differences compared to peers, have not yet been fully explored. This study investigated the long-term effects of cancer on the income of AYA cancer survivors. Methods The Netherlands Cancer Registry identified all AYA cancer patients (18-39 years) diagnosed in 2013 and alive

Background Early stage-breast cancer is among the most common cancer diagnoses. Adjuvant radiotherapy is an essential component of breast conserving therapy, and several options exist for tailoring its extent and duration. This study assesses the comparative effectiveness of partial breast irradiation (PBI) compared with whole breast irradiation (WBI). Methods A systematic review was completed to identify