Melittin, a cytolytic peptide derived from honeybee venom, has demonstrated potent anticancer activity through mechanisms such as membrane disruption, apoptosis induction, and modulation of key signaling pathways. Melittin exerts its anticancer activity by interacting with key molecular targets, including downregulation of the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways, and by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis through reactive oxygen species generation and cytochrome c release. However, its clinical application is hindered by its systemic and hemolytic toxicity, rapid degradation in plasma, poor pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity, necessitating the development of targeted delivery strategies to enable safe and effective treatment. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy for overcoming these challenges, offering improved tumor targeting, reduced off-target effects, and enhanced stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms through which melittin exerts its anticancer effects and evaluates the development of various melittin-loaded nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, micelles, and inorganic systems. It also summarizes the preclinical evidence for melittin nanotherapy across a wide range of cancer types, highlighting both its cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects. The potential of melittin nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance and synergize with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, and radiotherapy is discussed. Despite promising in vitro and in vivo findings, its clinical translation remains limited. Key barriers include toxicity, manufacturing scalability, regulatory approval, and the need for more extensive in vivo validation. A key future direction is the application of computational tools, such as physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling and artificial-intelligence-based modeling, to streamline development and guide its clinical translation. Addressing these challenges through focused research and interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential to realizing the full therapeutic potential of melittin-based nanomedicines in oncology. Overall, this review synthesizes the findings from over 100 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025, providing an up-to-date assessment of melittin-based nanomedicine strategies across diverse cancer types.

This review focuses on the pivotal role of radiotracers in breast cancer imaging, emphasizing their importance in accurate detection, staging, and treatment monitoring. Radiotracers, labeled with radioactive isotopes, are integral to various nuclear imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission mammography (PEM). The most widely used radiotracer in breast cancer imaging is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which highlights areas of increased glucose metabolism, a hallmark of many cancer cells. This allows for the identification of primary tumors and metastatic sites and the assessment of tumor response to therapy. In addition to 18F-FDG, this review will explore newer radiotracers targeting specific receptors, such as estrogen receptors or HER2, which offer more personalized imaging options. These tracers provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics of tumors, aiding in tailored treatment strategies. By integrating radiotracers into breast cancer management, clinicians can enhance early disease detection, monitor therapeutic efficacy, and guide interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Ongoing research aimed at developing more specific and sensitive tracers will also be highlighted, underscoring their potential to advance precision medicine in breast cancer care.

Background The emigration of highly skilled physicians, or “brain drain,” from lower- to higher-income countries poses major health care system challenges, yet data on Middle East radiology residents are limited. Objective To examine the emigration and retention patterns of radiology residents graduating from a large academic institution in Lebanon. Methods We retrospectively examined graduates of the internationally accredited radiology residency program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon, from 2004 to 2024. Data were collected from departmental records and alumni databases by 2 investigators, supplemented by public sources to corroborate information. For each graduate, we collected sex, nationality, year of graduation, current country of practice, current professional position, and subspecialty training. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages, and to examine trends in emigration over time. Results Fifty of the 60 total included radiology graduates (83.3%) left Lebanon post-residency, with most (42 of 60, 70.0%) relocating to the United States. This pattern intensified in recent years, increasing from 55.6% (5 of 9) emigration among the 2004-2008 cohort to 93.3% (14 of 15) and 100% (16 of 16) among the 2017-2020 and 2021-2024 cohorts, respectively. As of 2025, only 10 graduates (16.7%) remained in Lebanon. Conclusions From 2004 to 2024, 83.3% of radiology residency graduates from a major academic program in Lebanon emigrated, with the emigration rate reaching 100% in the most recent cohorts. Most graduates relocated to the United States, and all non-Lebanese graduates also emigrated after completing their training.

This review focuses on the pivotal role of radiotracers in breast cancer imaging, emphasizing their importance in accurate detection, staging, and treatment monitoring. Radiotracers, labeled with radioactive isotopes, are integral to various nuclear imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission mammography (PEM). The most widely used radiotracer in breast cancer imaging is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), which highlights areas of increased glucose metabolism, a hallmark of many cancer cells. This allows for the identification of primary tumors, metastatic sites, and assessment of tumor response to therapy. In addition to 18F-FDG, this review will explore newer radiotracers targeting specific receptors, such as estrogen receptors or HER2, which offer more personalized imaging options. These tracers provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics of tumors, aiding in tailored treatment strategies. By integrating radiotracers into breast cancer management, clinicians can enhance early disease detection, monitor therapeutic efficacy, and guide interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Ongoing research aimed at developing more specific and sensitive tracers will also be highlighted, underscoring their potential to advance precision medicine in breast cancer care.

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgical excision, but it may cause post-biopsy scarring that could mimic or obscure malignancies on follow-up imaging. This study aimed to evaluate the imaging characteristics, evolution, and clinical implications of post-VABB scar formation. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent mammographic or magnetic resonance imaging-guided VABB at our institution between January 2010 and December 2020 and whose follow-up report describes a post-biopsy scar. Patients with malignant or high-risk lesions requiring subsequent surgery or prior breast surgery were excluded. Post-biopsy follow-up mammograms and ultrasounds were reviewed by a fellowship-trained breast radiologist for scar formation, visibility across imaging modalities, and evolution over time. Statistical analysis was performed to assess associations between scar detection and patient or lesion characteristics. Results: Thirty-seven patients (39 lesions) with documented post-biopsy scarring on follow-up imaging reports met the study inclusion criteria. The mean age at biopsy was 51.97 ± 12.40 years. Lesions were almost equally distributed between the right and left breasts, with 19 cases involving the right breast (48.7%) and 20 cases involving the left breast (51.3%). Most cases did not need any workup, except for six cases, where two required further biopsy and four required short-term follow-up. No malignancy was detected during the available follow-up or additional evaluation. Twenty-two scars regressed over time. The estimated mean time to scar regression was 69.47 months. Conclusions: Post-biopsy scarring was documented in a small subset of our institution’s VABB cases over the study period and may resemble malignant findings, particularly on tomosynthesis. Awareness of typical scar characteristics, careful documentation of biopsy sites, and correlation with clip markers are essential to avoid unnecessary interventions.