Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone renowned for its role in post-meal blood sugar regulation and glucose-dependent insulin secretion, has gained attention as a novel treatment for diabetes through GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RA). Despite their efficacy, concerns have been raised regarding the potential associations between GLP-1-RA and certain malignancies, including medullary thyroid cancer. However, evidence of its association with prostate cancer (PCa) remains inconclusive. This review delves into the intricate relationship between GLP-1-RA and PCa, exploring the mechanisms through which GLP-1-Rs may impact PCa cells. We discuss the potential pathways involving cAMP, ERK, AMPK, mTOR, and P27. Furthermore, we underscore the imperative for additional research to elucidate the impact of GLP-1-RA treatment on PCa progression, patient outcomes, and potential interactions with existing therapies. Translational studies and clinical trials are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the role of GLP-1-RA in PCa management.

Background: Metastatic breast cancers (MBC) with no expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) are recently classified into two groups; HER2-zero [HER2-immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 0 (IHC-0)] and HER2-low, defined as those with IHC score of 1+ or 2+ with negative in situ hybridization (ISH) assay. We investigate differences in treatment outcomes between both groups treated with endocrine therapy (ET) and the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for patients with HR-positive+/HER2−negative MBC who received ribociclib with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) or fulvestrant and were divided into two groups: HER2-zero and HER2-low. Results: A total of 257 patients, median age 48 (22– 87) years, all with MBC who were treated with ET and ribociclib were enrolled. One hundred and thirty-seven (53.3%) patients had de novo MBC, and majority (n = 162, 63.0%) received ribociclib as a first-line therapy. In total, 114 (44.4%) patients had HER2-zero (IHC-0), while 143 (55.6%) others had HER2-low disease. The overall response rate (ORR) was 52.0% for the HER2-zero group compared to 39.4% for the HER2-low group, p = 0.005. The median PFS was 22.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.4-NR) months for HER2-zero versus 17.3 (95% CI, 14.1– 20.6) months for HER2-low, P = 0.0039. In multivariable analysis, HER2-low expression remained significant determinant of inferior PFS after adjusting for other factors, including the site of metastasis, prior chemotherapy, and the line of treatment. Conclusion: In patients with MBC treated with ET and ribociclib, level of HER2 negativity may affect treatment outcomes; patients with HER2-zero had better response rate and PFS compared to those with HER2-low disease. These findings, if confirmed in larger studies, may help oncologists select patients with HER2-low for better treatment options.

Hip fractures have several adverse effects on patients' morbidity and mortality. Postoperative Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the complications that have a significant impact on the patient's overall prognosis. We aimed to identify AKI risk after hip fracture surgery and the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care hospital on adult patients who underwent surgery for hip fractures between January 2015 and August 2021. All clinical data were reviewed. A total of 611 patients were included (age = 76.44 ± 9.69 years). 126 (20.6%) of them developed AKI postoperatively. In multilinear logistic regression analysis, factors associated with postoperative AKI included eGFR [odds ratio (OR): 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-0.99 with a p value .01], spinal anesthesia [OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.1-2.9 with a p value .01], and partial hip replacement (PHR) type of surgery [OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.96 with a p value .036]. The development of postoperative AKI was the strongest factor that increase mortality of the patients as the (HR = 2.42, CI 95% [1.57-3.74]; p value <.001). In this study, we highlight that lower eGFR, and spinal anesthesia were associated with a higher risk of AKI, and PHR surgery has lower odds to develop AKI. Postoperative AKI is associated with a higher mortality rate after hip fracture surgery.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, complex, zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus Granulose tapeworms. The disease may present with a variety of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Surgical intervention is the primary treatment modality for CE. Despite advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapy, disease recurrence remains a major concern. Therefore, we aimed to determine the true rate of CE recurrence after primary resection and identify possible factors that increase the risk of recurrence. A systematic search of Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochran Library was conducted to identify studies reporting the incidence of CE recurrence after primary radical surgery. Data were pooled using random effect models. The disease prevalence was determined by calculating the ratio of CE recurrence and the total number of patients. A meta-regression was conducted to identify any potential factors linked to recurrence. A total of 38 eligible studies, with a total of 6,222 CE patients who underwent primary surgical removal, revealed a pooled recurrence rate of 8% (95% CI: 6%-10%). However, significant heterogeneity was observed (I2 p-value <0.001). Subgroup analysis by region showed the highest incidence of recurrence in European and Turkish studies, with rates of 11% (95% CI: 7%-17%) and 9% (95% CI: 5%-14%), respectively. The lowest recurrence rate was observed in Asian studies, with a rate of 4% (95% CI: 2%-7%). Moreover, the non-radical intervention has a recurrence of 5% (95%CI: 4%-7%), radical 7% (95%CI: 6%-9%), and studies that contained both interventions have 10% (95%CI: 6%-16%), P-value= 0.04. This is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the overall incidence of CE recurrence after primary surgical removal. The study also revealed a substantial degree of heterogeneity across the included studies and indicated possible risk factors for higher recurrence rates, such as the study's geographic area, type of surgery and the year it was published. These findings will help to guide future research in developing effective strategies to prevent or reduce CE recurrence and improve patient outcomes.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials are valuable evidence for managing urologic malignancies. Early termination of clinical trials is associated with a waste of resources and may substantially affect patient care. We sought to study the termination rate of urologic cancer clinical trials and identify factors associated with trial termination. METHODS: A cross-sectional search of ClinicalTrials.gov identified completed and terminated kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer clinical trials started. Trials were assessed for reasons for termination. Multivariable analyses were conducted to determine the significant factors associated with the termination. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2020, 9,145 oncology clinical trials were conducted, of which 11.30% (n = 1,033) were urologic cancer clinical trials. Of the urologic cancer clinical trials, 25.38% (n = 265) were terminated, with low patient accrual being the most common reason for termination, 52.9% (n = 127). Multivariable analysis showed that only the university funding source odds ratio (OR) of 2.20 (95% CI, 1.45 to 3.32), single-center studies OR of 2.11 (95% CI, 1.59 to 2.81), and sample size of <50 were significant predictors of clinical trial termination OR of 5.26 (95% CI, 3.85 to 7.69); all P values are <.001. CONCLUSION: The termination rate of urologic cancer clinical trials was 25%, with low accrual being the most frequently reported reason. Trials funded by a university, single-center trials, and small trials (sample size <50) were associated with early termination. A better understanding of these factors might help researchers, funding agencies, and other stakeholders prioritize resource allocations for multicenter trials that aim to recruit a sufficient number of patients.

Luspatercept has emerged as a novel therapy for anemia in transfusion-dependent (TD) lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of luspatercept in TD LR-MDS. Six databases were searched through March 2025 to find relevant material. Studies were screened and extracted by 2 independent authors. A total of 20 studies encompassing 3455 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled 8-week transfusion independence (TI) rate was 51.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.9-60.4; I2 = 94.9%), with higher rates observed among ring sideroblast–positive (RS+) patients (57.8%; 95% CI, 47.4-67.7; I2 = 86%) and those with low transfusion burden (LTB; 72.9%; 95% CI, 60.4-82.6; I2 = 0%). The 12-week and 24-week TI rates were 57.0% (95% CI, 48.1-65.5; I2 = 90%) and 35.8% (95% CI, 28.7-43.6; I2 = 82.1%), respectively. Hematologic improvement–erythroid was achieved in 51.3% of patients (95% CI, 41.3%–61.2%; I2 = 93%). The most frequent adverse events were peripheral edema (17.8%; 95% CI, 11.4-26.8), diarrhea (15.6%; 95% CI, 8.2-27.7), and fatigue (11.4%; 95% CI, 5.4-22.6). Serious adverse events occurred in 28.0% of patients (95% CI, 12.8-50.7; I2 = 97.2%). Luspatercept is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for anemia in TD LR-MDS, especially in patients with RS+ and LTB. Its favorable safety profile and high TI rates, particularly in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent–naïve populations, support its use in the frontline setting.