Skeletal muscle index (SMI), a measure of muscle mass derived from pretreatment imaging, has emerged as a potential prognostic factor in cancer. Its role in non-metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), where curative treatment is possible, remains underexplored.

Evaluating the risk of metastasis at diagnosis and the likelihood of future recurrence is crucial for the effective management of endometrial cancer (EC). While conventional prognostic indicators hold importance, they often fall short in predicting recurrence, especially in low-risk patients. This study evaluates the prognostic value of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in EC patients.

Metachronous gastric lesions (MGLs) are a significant concern after endoscopic resection (ER) for precancerous lesions and early gastric cancers (EGCs). The follow-up strategy for the development of MGLs after ER remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the trend in the cumulative MGL incidence after ER and to identify risk factors of MGLs.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), anti-angiogenic drugs (AADs), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are common therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite proven benefits of combined regimens, optimal sequencing remains unclear. This network meta-analysis evaluates safety and efficacy of therapeutic sequences in intermediate-advanced HCC.

Recent research suggests a link between KRAS mutations and the effectiveness of ICIs, as KRAS-driven tumors may possess unique immunogenic features that influence the tumor microenvironment. These mutations can increase tumor mutation burden (TMB) and neoantigen load, potentially leading to improved responses to ICIs. This meta-analysis aims to consolidate existing evidence on the impact of KRAS mutations as a predictive factor for survival and treatment outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with ICIs. A comprehensive search strategy was designed by a biostatistician and pulmonologist, targeting PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to May 2022. The outcomes assessed included overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), reported as log hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding standard errors (SEs). A pooled estimate of the HR effect size was calculated using Review Manager (RevMan, Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK). Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and the I2 statistic. Ultimately, 10 articles were deemed suitable for inclusion in the systematic review from a total of 8722 screened titles and abstracts. The presence of KRAS+ mutations had a significant prognostic factor for better OS in NSCLC patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors (HR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99) and for better PFS in NSCLC patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87). In conclusion, our study indicates that KRAS mutations may serve as a potential positive predictive biomarker in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy.

Although cytokines mediate inflammation and inflammation facilitates cancer progression, few studies have evaluated the association between specific cytokines and the prognostic value of breast cancer. Therefore, this study aims to address the following question: What is the prognostic relevance of serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels on overall survival and treatment response in women with breast cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies was conducted. The databases consulted included PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and EMBASE. A total of 1748 articles were identified, of which 10 were included in the review. A significant association was found between elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha with poor overall survival and poor treatment response. The meta-analysis showed an HR of 3.74 (95% CI: 1.84-7.6) for elevated IL-6 with high heterogeneity (I2: 61%; p = 0.07) and an HR of 3.13 (95% CI: 1.57-6.23) for TNF-alpha with low heterogeneity (I2: 0%; p = 0.9). The overall response rate was 75% (95% CI: 31-100%; I2: 92%). In conclusion, IL-6 and TNF-alpha emerge as prognostic inflammatory biomarkers in women with breast cancer and are associated with poor survival and poor treatment response. This study highlights the need to establish an international consensus on cutoff points and standardized determination methods to implement these biomarkers in clinical practice.

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound (US)-based artificial intelligence (AI) in assessing cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

The precise balance between nerve preservation and tumor control during robot-assisted prostatectomy remains a clinical challenge. The NeuroSAFE technique can guide secondary resection through intraoperative real-time frozen pathology, but its overall value for perioperative safety and oncological and functional prognosis is still a matter of debate. The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic evaluation of the impact of NeuroSAFE technology on perioperative safety and functional and oncological outcomes. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted, with a cutoff date of April 2025. NeuroSAFE technology was comprehensively evaluated from the perspectives of oncology, functionality, and perioperative safety. This meta-analysis included 14 studies (2 randomized controlled trials, 12 non-randomized studies; sample size = 26,442), in which a total of 14,458 patients underwent NeuroSAFE robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and 11,984 patients underwent standard RARP. NeuroSAFE significantly reduced the rate of positive surgical margins (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87, p < 0.001) and the PSA persistence rate (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.05-5.64, p < 0.05) while also reducing the 2-year biochemical recurrence rate (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.45-1.45). The functional outcomes revealed that NeuroSAFE demonstrated superiority in preserving the neurovascular bundle (OR: 3.86, 95% CI: 1.56-9.58, p < 0.001) and improving postoperative erectile function (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.65-3.50, p < 0.05) but no significant advantage in urinary control (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.09, p > 0.05). During the perioperative period, NeuroSAFE prolonged the surgical time (mean difference: + 22.84 min, p < 0.001) but did not increase the incidence of serious adverse events (3% vs. 3% SAEs). Rare complications included, among other events, one death due to cecal rupture. Our meta-analysis confirmed that the NeuroSAFE technique offers advantages over standard RARP in terms of tumor control, functional preservation, and nerve preservation rates without increasing the incidence of severe postoperative adverse events. Although this technique prolongs the surgical time, its overall advantages are evident. Its long-term efficacy and safety require validation through multicenter, large-sample randomized controlled trials.

To compare the efficacy and safety of first-line treatments for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC).

This study investigates the efficacy and safety of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy (ET) in treating hormone receptor-positive (HR +), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer.

Lung cancer is a major global health issue with high variability in incidence and mortality. However, reliable predictive biomarkers for lung cancer prognosis remain lacking. The pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) has emerged as a promising prognostic tool by reflecting systemic immune and inflammatory responses.

Fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) has been widely examined for its prognostic value in esophageal cancer (EC), although findings across studies have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the predictive role of FAR in EC.

The presence of spread through air spaces (STAS) predicts poor long-term survival of lung cancer patients. However, the association between STAS and prognosis of operated lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains unclear at this time. The aim of this meta-analysis was to further identify the prognostic value of STAS in surgical LSCC patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Current global treatment recommendations suggest lenvatinib and sorafenib have been approved to treat unresectable HCC. Studies comparing lenvatinib versus sorafenib for unresectable HCC have shown conflicting results and no structured review has yet evaluated its efficacy and safety. This article aims to estimate the efficacy of lenvatinib and sorafenib in patients with unresectable HCC.

This review aims to examine the effect of PARP inhibitors on PFS, OS, and adverse events in women with advanced ovarian cancer (OC).

Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the association between the Geriatric 8 (G-8) geriatric screening tool and prognosis in patients with cancer. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the G-8 score in patients with cancer.

Preoperative embolization is a widely recognized adjunctive treatment for highly vascular head and neck tumors; however, there is still no consensus regarding its efficacy and safety. Our study aims to address this issue through a meta-analysis.

Colorectal cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate, and the effectiveness of routine colonoscopy largely depends on the endoscopist's expertise. In recent years, computer-aided detection (CADe) systems have been increasingly integrated into colonoscopy to improve detection accuracy. However, while most studies have focused on adenoma detection rate (ADR) as the primary outcome, the more sensitive adenoma miss rate (AMR) has been less frequently analyzed.

PurposeTo comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors with chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating PARP inhibitor-chemotherapy combinations. Studies reporting progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and safety outcomes were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers, and a meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models.ResultsOf 970 studies retrieved, four RCTs involving 1064 patients met the inclusion criteria. PARP inhibitors combined with chemotherapy significantly improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.84, P < .0001) and showed a trend towards improved OS (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.79-1.09, P = .36), though this was not statistically significant. There was no significant improvement in ORR (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.98-1.20, P = .13). Regarding safety, no significant difference was observed in all grades or grade 3-4 adverse events (AEs) overall, but the combination therapy was associated with an increased risk of anemia, nausea, and diarrhea (RRs ranging from 1.14 to 1.29, all P < .01).ConclusionPARP inhibitor combined with chemotherapy is an effective option for the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer, but its potential increased risks of specific AEs need to be weighed. Clinicians should make individualized treatment plans according to the specific conditions of patients, comprehensive consideration of efficacy and safety.

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the accuracy of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) detection in cervical cancer remains debated.