Introduction and objectives: PD-L1 and B7-H3 have been found to be overexpressed in urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the urinary bladder. Recent studies have also demonstrated that B7-H3 and PD-L1 can promote resistance to platinum-based drugs but the predictive value of B7-H3 expression in patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is unknown. This study aims to investigate the association of PD-L1 and B7-H3 tumor expression with oncological outcomes in patients who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) and received subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded sections from bladder and lymph node specimens of 81 patients who had RC for bladder cancer. PD-L1 and B7-H3 expression on tumor cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry in both primary tumors and lymph node specimens. Association with clinicopathologic outcomes was determined using Fisher's exact test and postoperative survival using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression model. Results: B7-H3 expression in cystectomy specimens was more common than PD-L1 expression (72.8% vs. 35.8%). For both markers, no association was found with pathologic tumor stage, lymph node (LN) status, and histological subtype. Similar findings were observed for double-positive tumors (PD-L1⁺B7-H3⁺). Concordance between the primary tumor and patient-matched lymph nodes was found in 76.2% and 54.1% of patients for PD-L1 and B7-H3, respectively. PD-L1 tumor expression was not associated with oncologic outcomes. However, B7-H3 expression was associated with recurrence-free survival (HR: 2.38, 95% CI 1.06–5.31, p = 0.035) and cancer-specific survival (HR: 2.67, 95% CI 1.18–6.04, p = 0.019). Conclusions: In our single institutional study, B7-H3 is highly expressed in patients with UC treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and it was associated with decreased recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival. Pending further validation in larger cohorts, B7-H3 expression may function as a predictor of response to adjuvant chemotherapy and thus be useful in patient and regimen selection.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is among the top 10 most common cancers in both men and women with an estimated 75 000 cases each year in the US. Over the last decade, the therapeutic landscape for patients with metastatic RCC has significantly evolved, with immunotherapy emerging as the new front-line therapy. Despite significant improvement in toxicity profile and survival outcomes, key concerns such as patient selection, treatment sequencing, and intrinsic and acquired resistance remain unresolved. Emerging options such as antibody-based therapeutics (eg, anti-CD70, anti-CA9, and anti-ENPP3) are being explored in clinical trials for patients with cancer resistant or refractory to current immunotherapies. Despite positive results for hematological cancers, breast cancer, and more recently bladder cancer, most antibody-based therapies failed to improve the outcomes in patients with advanced RCC. This underscores the need to understand the underlying causes of failed responses to this treatment class, which will ultimately support the rational design of more effective and tolerable treatments. In this review, we summarize the evolving landscape of RCC therapeutics and describe recent clinical trials with emerging antibody-based therapeutics. We also describe the challenges that need to be overcome for the successful creation of therapeutic antibodies for treating RCC.

Prostate cancer lung metastasis represents a clinical conundrum due to its implications for advanced disease progression and the complexities it introduces in treatment planning. As the disease progresses to distant sites such as the lung, the clinical management becomes increasingly intricate, requiring tailored therapeutic strategies to address the unique characteristics of metastatic lesions. This review seeks to synthesize the current state of knowledge surrounding prostate cancer metastasis to the lung, shedding light on the diverse array of clinical presentations encountered, ranging from subtle radiological findings to overt symptomatic manifestations. By examining the diagnostic modalities utilized in identifying this metastasis, including advanced imaging techniques and histopathological analyses, this review aims to provide insights into the diagnostic landscape and the challenges associated with accurately characterizing lung metastatic lesions in prostate cancer patients. Moreover, this review delves into the nuances of therapeutic interventions employed in managing prostate cancer lung metastasis, encompassing systemic treatments such as hormonal therapies and chemotherapy, as well as metastasis-directed therapies including surgery and radiotherapy.

Prostate cancer (PCa), which is among the most prevalent types of cancer in men, is a prominent topic in imaging research. The primary aim of PCa imaging is to acquire more accurate characterizations of the disease. More precise imaging of the local stage progression, early discovery of metastatic cancers, reliable diagnosis of oligometastatic cancer, and optimum treatment response evaluation are areas in which contemporary imaging is quickly improving and developing. Imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the whole body and molecular imaging with combined positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and MRI, enable imaging to support and enhance treatment lines in patients with local and advanced PCa. With the availability of multiple imaging modalities for the management of PCa, we aim in this review to offer a multidisciplinary viewpoint on the appropriate function of contemporary imaging in the identification of PCa.

Background: Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a ubiquitous parasite that has spread worldwide and is commonly present in human stool specimens. It was hypothesized that infection with B. hominis plays a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in humans. The aim of this study is to test this hypothesis by investigating patients with autoimmune diseases. Patients with various types of autoimmune diseases with gastrointestinal symptoms were enrolled in this study as cases (n = 72) along with nongastrointestinal symptom patients as controls (n = 58). All participants in this study were subjected to history taking and were investigated for B. hominis infection via wet-mount microscopic stool examinations, staining with trichrome stain, and molecular-based tests applied to their fecal samples. Blood samples were also tested for complete blood counts. B. hominis were identified with specific PCR more in cases (12/72; 16.6%) than in controls (3/58; 5.2%), with a significant difference (p < 0.05). Significant decreases in white blood cell counts were demonstrated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients infected with B. hominis when compared to patients with nongastrointestinal symptoms (p-value < 0.05).