Pancreatic cancer is a significant challenge in oncology due to its aggressive nature and complex management, leading to high mortality rates and a dismally low 5-year survival rate. Approximately 85% of cases manifest as adenocarcinoma, while endocrine tumors constitute less than 5%. Borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancers are particularly difficult to treat due to vascular involvement, which complicates complete resections and increases morbidity. Various therapeutic modalities aim to overcome these challenges and improve patient outcomes. Traditionally, upfront surgery was the standard for resectable tumors, with multimodal chemotherapy being central to treatment. Understanding surgical anatomy is pivotal in enhancing surgical outcomes and patient survival. Resectability challenges are several when seeking to achieve R0 resections, particularly for borderline resectable tumors. Various classification systems—the MD Anderson criteria, the NCCN criteria, the AHPA/SSAT/SSO consensus statement, and the Alliance definition—assess tumor involvement with major blood vessels, with the first of these systems being broadly accepted. Vascular staging integration is also important, with the Ishikawa staging system using preoperative imaging to assess venous involvement. Furthermore, neoadjuvant therapy enhances treatment effectiveness by addressing micro-metastatic disease early, increasing R0 resection chances, and downstaging tumors for optimal surgery. Insights from the Fox Chase Cancer Center’s neoadjuvant treatment approach highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary strategy when advancing therapy and improving patient prognosis. This commentary, inspired by Dr. Sanjay S. Reddy’s Keynote Conference during MedNews week, highlights current advancements and ongoing challenges in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to improve outcomes.

T-cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, presents significant treatment challenges due to its diverse subtypes and aggressive progression. Jasmine Zain, MD, drawing on her expertise in chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cell therapies, is focused on expanding therapeutic options for T-cell lymphomas, particularly peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). A critical aspect of treatment development involves recognizing that the subtypes of nodal PTCL are defined by specific genetic pathways, which determine their response to different therapies. This insight has led to the development of more personalized, subtype-specific treatment strategies. Current treatment approaches for PTCL typically involve combinations of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. The standard first-line therapy, CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), has relatively low response rates, highlighting the need for more effective alternatives. While stem cell transplantation is beneficial for certain PTCL subtypes, overall outcomes remain inconsistent. Some targeted therapies have shown efficacy in specific subtypes, but many forms of PTCL are still resistant to available treatments, underscoring the need for further research. In cases of relapsed/refractory disease, stem cell transplantation remains the primary treatment option, though it is associated with significant risks and often impacts patients’ quality of life. There is a pressing need for new, less toxic therapies. Several targeted drugs are currently in clinical trials, with the goal of improving treatment options for patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL. Ongoing research into the genetic and molecular characteristics of PTCL aims to develop more individualized therapies that are better suited to each patient’s specific disease profile, offering hope for improved outcomes in this challenging lymphoma subtype.