Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common neoplasms in the population. A good prognosis and mainly non-aggressive development have made it underdiagnosed and excluded from the statistics. Due to the availability of efficient surgical therapy, BCC is sometimes overlooked in the search for novel therapies. Most clinicians are unaware of its complicated pathogenesis or the availability of effective targeted therapy based on Hedgehog inhibitors (HHI) used in advanced or metastatic cases. Nevertheless, the concomitance and esthetic burden of this neoplasm are severe. As with other cancers, its pathogenesis is multifactorial and complicated with a network of dependencies. Although the tumour microenvironment (TME), genetic aberrations, and risk factors seem crucial in all skin cancers, in BCC they all have become accessible as therapeutic or prevention targets. The results of this review indicate that a central role in the development of BCC is played by the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway. Two signalling molecules have been identified as the main culprits, namely Patched homologue 1 (PTCH1) and, less often, Smoothened homologue (SMO). Considering effective immunotherapy for other neoplastic growths being introduced, implementing immunotherapy in advanced BCC is pivotal and beneficial. Up to now, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two inhibitors of SMO for the treatment of advanced BCC. Sonidegib and vismodegib are registered based on their efficacy in clinical trials. However, despite this success, limitations might occur during the therapy, as some patients show resistance to these molecules. This review aims to summarize novel options of targeted therapies in BCC and debate the mechanisms and clinical implications of tumor resistance.

Since increasing evidence underlines the prominent role of systemic inflammation in carcinogenesis, the inflammation burden index (IBI) has emerged as a promising biomarker to estimate survival outcomes among cancer patients. The IBI has only been validated in Eastern gastric cancer (GC) patients; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the IBI as a prognostic biomarker in Central European GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment. Ninety-three patients with histologically confirmed GC who underwent multimodal treatment between 2013 and 2021 were included. Patient recruitment started with the standardization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Blood samples were obtained one day prior to surgical treatment. The textbook outcome (TO) served as the measure of surgical quality, and tumor responses to NAC were evaluated according to Becker’s system tumor regression grade (TRG). A high IBI was associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.13–7.72). In multivariate analysis, a high IBI (HR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.28–5.13) and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, HR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.32–4.94) were associated with an increased risk of death, while NAC administration (HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.90) and TO achievement (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22–0.81) were associated with a lower risk of death. The IBI was associated with postoperative complications and mortality among GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment.

The prognostic value of the systemic inflammatory response markers, namely neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has not yet been clarified in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer (GC) in the Eastern European population. This study aimed to verify the prognostic value of NLR, PLR, and LMR in GC patients undergoing multimodal treatment. One hundred six GC patients undergoing NAC and gastrectomy between 2012 and 2020 were included. Analysed blood samples were obtained prior to NAC (pre-NAC group) and before surgical treatment (post-NAC group). To evaluate the prognostic value of the NLR, LMR, and PLR, univariable and multivariable overall survival (OS) analyses were performed. In the pre-NAC group, elevated NLR and PLR were associated with significantly higher risk of death (mOS: 36 vs. 87 months; HR = 2.21; p = 0.0255 and mOS: 30 vs. 87 months; HR = 2.89; p = 0.0034, respectively). Additionally, a significantly higher risk of death was observed in patients with elevated NLR in the post-NAC group (mOS: 35 vs. 87 months; HR = 1.94; p = 0.0368). Selected systemic inflammatory response markers (NLR, PLR) are significant prognostic factors in patients with advanced GC treated with NAC and gastrectomy, as shown in the Eastern European population.

Breast implantation (BI) is the most common plastic surgery worldwide performed among women. Generally, BI is performed both in aesthetic and oncoplastic procedures. Recently, the prevalence of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) or breast implant illness (BII) has aroused concerns. As a result, several countries, like Australia, Korea or the United Kingdom, introduced national registries dedicated to the safety and quality of BI surgeries. This narrative review aimed to focus on the clinical challenges, management and the current state of knowledge of BI. Both short and long-term outcomes of BI are determined by various alternatives and differences, which surgeons must consider during the planning and performing breast augmentation along with further complications or risk of reoperation. Proper preoperative decisions and aspects of surgical technique emerged to be equally important. The number of performed breast reconstructions is increasing, providing the finest aesthetic results and improving patient’s quality of life. Choice of prosthesis varies according to individual preferences and anatomical variables. A newly diagnosed cases of BIA-ALCL with lacking data on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are placing it as a compelling medical challenge. Similarly, BII remains one of the most controversial subjects in reconstructive breast surgery due to unspecified diagnostic procedures, and recommendations.