Predicting whether a patient with cancer will benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) without resorting to advanced genomic or immunologic assays is an important clinical need. To address this, we developed and evaluated SCORPIO, a machine learning system that utilizes routine blood tests (complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic profile) alongside clinical characteristics from 9,745 ICI-treated patients across 21 cancer types. SCORPIO was trained on data from 1,628 patients across 17 cancer types from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In two internal test sets comprising 2,511 patients across 19 cancer types, SCORPIO achieved median time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC(t)) values of 0.763 and 0.759 for predicting overall survival at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months, outperforming tumor mutational burden (TMB), which showed median AUC(t) values of 0.503 and 0.543. Additionally, SCORPIO demonstrated superior predictive performance for predicting clinical benefit (tumor response or prolonged stability), with AUC values of 0.714 and 0.641, compared to TMB (AUC = 0.546 and 0.573). External validation was performed using 10 global phase 3 trials (4,447 patients across 6 cancer types) and a real-world cohort from the Mount Sinai Health System (1,159 patients across 18 cancer types). In these external cohorts, SCORPIO maintained robust performance in predicting ICI outcomes, surpassing programmed death-ligand 1 immunostaining. These findings underscore SCORPIO’s reliability and adaptability, highlighting its potential to predict patient outcomes with ICI therapy across diverse cancer types and healthcare settings.

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) represent a novel facet of modern day synthetic biology that exemplifies personalized medicine at work through their ability to harness and redirect a patient’s immune system to fight cancer. By combining the target-specificity of antibodies to the effector capabilities of T cells, CARs have yielded high remission rates for many late staged and relapsed/refractory (r/r) hematological malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Despite toxicities of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, recent studies have uncovered their underlying mechanisms and devised effective therapies to manage and possibly prevent them. In 2017, CAR T cell therapy became a reality for the general public despite the high costs, when Novartis’s Kymriah, became the first product to receive FDA approval for pediatric r/r B cell ALL with Gilead’s Yescarta following several months later. Although effective in hematological malignancies, CAR response has been limited in solid tumors largely attributed to the heterogeneous and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment along tumor defense mechanisms, such as antigenic escape. Despite the current challenges of CAR T therapy, this technology is still in its infancy and its promise will continue to grow as scientists continue to develop novel approaches to enhance its efficacy. As its prevalence continues to increase, institutions and pharmaceuticals worldwide are investing in this technology in hopes of driving therapeutic innovation, while providing greater access to their respective populations through clinical trials.

Pancreatic cancer, with its alarming rising incidence, is predicted to become the second deadliest type of solid tumor by 2040, highlighting the urgent need for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies. Despite medical advancements, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains about 14%, dropping further when metastasized. This review explores the promise of biomarkers for early detection, personalized treatment, and disease monitoring. Molecular classification of pancreatic cancer into subtypes based on genetic mutations, gene expression, and protein markers guides treatment decisions, potentially improving outcomes. A plethora of clinical trials investigating different strategies are currently ongoing. Targeted therapies, among which those against CLAUDIN 18.2 and inhibitors of Claudin 18.1, have shown promise. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a powerful tool for the comprehensive genomic analysis of pancreatic tumors, revealing unique genetic alterations that drive cancer progression. This allows oncologists to tailor therapies to target specific molecular abnormalities. However, challenges remain, including limited awareness and uptake of biomarker-guided therapies. Continued research into the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer is essential for developing more effective treatments and improving patient survival rates.

The constantly escalating population of cancer survivors worldwide has prompted a focused exploration of their unique needs and experiences within the context of healthcare medicine. This review initiates its analysis inspired by Dr. Lidia Schapira’s insightful keynote conference on the Survivorship 1.0 and Survivorship 2.0 Programs, shedding light on their implementation challenges and setting the stage for a comprehensive analysis of cancer survivorship initiatives. Within the transformed landscape of cancer care, patient-centric strategies embedded in cancer survivorship programs comprising vital elements such as connection, support, and education are presented. While placing cancer recurrence surveillance at the forefront, the review underlines concern regarding the potential oversight of the enduring impact on mental and physical health. Dr. Schapira’s insights further extend into the exploration of mental health challenges faced by survivors, promoting an examination of diverse strategies to address these concerns. Furthermore, the discussion continues toward promising areas of research, notably Precision Medicine’s role in de-escalating cancer therapies, and advocates for measures such as early cancer awareness and timely referrals to supportive services. Highlighting the significance of education, the role of online resources in enhancing the knowledge of healthcare practitioners and future generations in cancer care is then explored. The paper concludes by presenting some of the most prominent global current survivorship programs, identifying critical knowledge gaps in cancer care and projecting future developments aimed at delivering accurate and holistic care, improving the quality of life for survivors, and enhancing both mental and physical well-being. Drawing upon the insights from Dr. Schapira, this review lays the groundwork for a nuanced exploration of cancer survivorship and its multifaceted implications.

The use of social media continues to increase in health care and academia. Health care practice, particularly the oncologic field, is constantly changing because of new knowledge, evidence-based research, clinical trials, and government policies. Therefore, oncology trainees and professionals continue to strive to stay up-to-date with practice guidelines, research, and skills. Although social media as an educational and professional development tool is no longer completely new to medicine and has been embraced, it is still under-researched in terms of various outcomes. Social media plays several key roles in professional development and academic advancement. We reviewed the literature to evaluate how social media can be used for professional development and academic promotion of oncology professionals.