Dynamic changes in the blood-based biomarkers could be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), although the data are limited. We evaluated the association between the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and early NLR changes with survival in ICI-treated patients. We retrospectively evaluated the data of 231 patients with advanced-stage cancer. We recorded baseline clinical characteristics, baseline NLR and fourth-week NLR changes, and survival data. A compound prognostic score, the NLR2-CEL score, was developed with the following parameters: baseline NLR (<5 vs. ≥5), ECOG status (0 vs. ≥1), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI, <9 vs. ≥9), LDH (N vs. ≥ULN), and fourth-week NLR change (10% or over NLR increase). In the multivariable analyses, higher NLR (HR: 1.743, p = 0.002), 10% or over NLR increase in the fourth week of treatment (HR: 1.807, p = 0.001), higher ECOG performance score (HR: 1.552, p = 0.006), higher LDH levels (HR: 1.454, p = 0.017), and higher CCI (HR: 1.400, p = 0.041) were associated with decreased OS. Compared to patients with the lowest scores, patients in the highest score group had significantly lower OS (HR: 7.967, 95% CI: 3.531–17.979, p < 0.001) and PFS. The composite score had moderate success for survival prediction, with an AUC of 0.702 (95% CI: 0.626–0.779, p < 0.001). We observed significantly lower survival in patients with higher baseline NLR values and increased NLR values under treatment.

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have poor survival rates and a low likelihood of a cure, especially in advanced-stage disease. Early diagnosis is crucial and can significantly improve survival rates through curative treatment approaches. Current guidelines recommend abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) monitoring for HCC screening in high-risk groups, and abdominal USG, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) monitoring for biliary tract cancer. However, despite this screening strategy, many high-risk individuals still develop advanced-stage HCC and BTC. Blood-based biomarkers are being developed for use in HCC or BTC high-risk groups. Studies on AFP, AFP-L3, des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, glypican-3 (GPC3), osteopontin (OPN), midkine (MK), neopterin, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), Mac-2-binding protein (M2BP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and interleukin-6 biomarkers for HCC screening have shown promising results when evaluated individually or in combination. In the case of BTCs, the potential applications of circulating tumor DNA, circulating microRNA, and circulating tumor cells in diagnosis are also promising. These biomarkers have shown potential in detecting BTCs in early stages, which can significantly improve patient outcomes. Additionally, these biomarkers hold promise for monitoring disease progression and evaluating response to therapy in BTC patients. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the clinical utility of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of HCC and BTCs.

Since breast cancer is less common in men than in women, data on the use of new therapeutic agents, including cyclin-dependent kinase 4-6 (CDK 4-6) inhibitors, are limited in patients with metastatic hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) male breast cancer. Therefore; we aimed to investigate the treatment responses of metastatic HR+, HER2-male breast cancer patients treated with CDK 4-6 inhibitors in a multicenter real-life cohort. Male patients with a diagnosis of HR+ and HER2-metastatic breast cancer, treated with any CDK 4-6 inhibitor, were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. We aimed to determine progression-free survival (PFS) time, response rates and drug related side effects. A total 25 patients from 14 institutions were recruited. The mean age at diagnosis was 57 years. Median follow-up was 19.53 (95% CI: 14.04-25.02) months. The overall response rate was 60%. While the median PFS was 20.6 months in the whole cohort, it wasn't reached in those using CDK 4-6 inhibitors in first line and 10 months in the subsequent lines (p:0.009). No new adverse events were encountered. In our study, we found that CDK 4-6 inhibitors are effective and safe options in men with HR+ and HER2-metastatic breast cancer as in women. Our results support the use of CDK 4-6 inhibitor-based combinations in the first-line treatment of HR+ and HER2-metastatic male breast cancer.

Purpose: With the widespread use of immunotherapy agents, we encounter treatment responses such as hyperprogression disease (HPD) that we have not seen with previous standard chemotherapy and targeted therapies. It is known that survival in patients with HPD is shorter than in patients without HPD. Therefore, it is important to know the factors that will predict HPD. We aimed to identify HPD-related factors in patients treated with immunotherapy. Methods: A total of 121 adult metastatic cancer patients treated with immunotherapy for any cancer were included. Baseline demographics, the ECOG performance status, type of tumors and baseline blood count parameters were recorded. Possible predisposing factors were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The median age was 62.28 (interquartile range (IQR) 54.02–67.63) years, and the median follow-up was 12.26 (IQR 5.6–24.36) months. Renal cell carcinoma (33%) and melanoma (33.8%) were the most common diagnoses. Twenty patients (16.5%) had HPD. A high LDH level (p: 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (p: 0.016) and an NLR > 5 (p: 0.007) were found to be associated with hyperprogression. Sex (female vs. male, p: 0.114), age (>65 vs. 5 (p: 0.007).

Aim: To assess the prognostic role of the CA-125 elimination rate constant K (KELIM) score in platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer patients receiving second-line treatment. Methods: A retro... Plain language summary This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of a scoring system called CA-125 elimination rate constant K (KELIM) in predicting the outcomes of ovarian cancer patients who...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, posing significant treatment challenges, particularly in its metastatic form (mCRC). This review comprehensively examines the pivotal role of RAS mutations, specifically KRAS and NRAS, which are detected in approximately 40–45% of mCRC cases, and their impact on treatment decisions and patient outcomes. We assess the effectiveness of standard treatments within the RAS mutant population, highlighting the challenges and limitations these therapies face. Recent advancements in targeted therapies, particularly the focus on novel agents such as KRAS G12C inhibitors, including sotorasib and adagrasib, have shown promising efficacy in overcoming resistance to conventional treatments. Furthermore, this review discusses future directions, emphasizing the need for research into non-RAS targets to address the complexities of resistance mechanisms and improve therapeutic outcomes. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of the current treatments and innovative approaches, supporting the development of personalized management strategies for patients with mCRC.