The global aging population has led to a growing incidence of malignancies, including metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Immunosenescence may affect the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The prognostic role of age in ICI-treated mNSCLC remains uncertain. Objectives: This study aims to assess whether age independently influences survival, response, and toxicity in mNSCLC patients treated with ICIs, and to examine potential interactions with clinical factors. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 105 patients with mNSCLC treated with ICIs were enrolled. Patients were stratified into four groups based on age quartiles. Clinical, pathological, and treatment data were collected. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, ROC curve and multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for confounders. Interaction and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to explore age-related effects. The p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The median age was 60.8 years. Clinical benefit—defined as objective response rate (51.4%) and disease control rate (86.6%)—did not significantly differ across age quartiles (p = 0.551 and p = 0.257, respectively). Median overall survival also did not differ significantly (p = 0.2853). Cox regression and spline modeling demonstrated no independent association between chronological age and all-cause mortality (Model 3: HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.95–1.04, p = 0.889). However, interaction analyses revealed that poor ECOG performance status (p = 0.001), longer duration of ICI treatment (p < 0.0001), and low PD-L1 expression (p = 0.017) were stronger predictors of mortality in older patients. Age was associated with increased immune-related adverse events and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, suggesting the need for age-specific management strategies. Conclusions: Age alone does not predict survival in mNSCLC patients receiving ICIs. However, functional status, treatment duration and PD-L1 expression may modify age-related outcomes.

Introduction. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has improved clinical outcomes, yet predictive biomarkers of treatment efficacy are limited. Recent attention has turned to body composition, particularly adipose tissue characteristics, as potential prognostic indicators. While subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) has shown promise, the role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) radiodensity remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of VAT radiodensity as a potential biomarker of ICI efficacy in patients with metastatic NSCLC. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 92 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with ICIs. VAT radiodensity was measured using contrast-enhanced CT scans at the L3 vertebral level. Radiodensity was defined as the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) value within a 1 cm2 area of VAT. VAT radiodensity was analyzed as both a categorical and a continuous variable. Quartile ranges were as follows: Q1 (-150HU to -100HU), Q2 (-99HU to -91HU), Q3 (-90HU to -73HU), Q4 (-72HU to -50HU). Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for relevant clinicopathological covariates. A significance threshold of p < 0.05 was applied. Results. The median overall survival was 15.9, 21.9, 20.1, and 14.2 months for quartiles Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively (log-rank p = 0.6331). Multivariable Cox models showed no significant association between VAT radiodensity and NSCLC-specific mortality in categorical or continuous analyses (p > 0.05 across all models). However, PD-L1 expression ≥ 50% emerged as a strong independent predictor of reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.34; p < 0.001). A significant interaction between VAT radiodensity and PD-L1 status was observed (p < 0.001), suggesting possible modulation of immunotherapy response by metabolic factors. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed the non-linear association between mortality risk and VAT radiodensity in patients with metastatic NSCLC. Conclusions. VAT radiodensity was not an independent predictor of survival in metastatic NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. Nevertheless, its interaction with PD-L1 expression highlights a potential modifying role that warrants further exploration. These findings support the integration of VAT radiodensity into multivariable prognostic models rather than as a standalone biomarker.

The incidence of cancer increases with age. Immunosenescence, characterized by a decline in adaptive immunity and chronic low-grade inflammation, may influence the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in elderly patients. Background/Objectives: While some studies suggest comparable efficacy of ICIs across age groups, others report reduced response due to immune system dysregulation. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of age in ICI therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort study included 105 mNSCLC patients treated with pembrolizumab or atezolizumab at the Sumy Regional Clinical Oncology Center (Ukraine). Data on demographics, tumor histology, immunotherapy regimen, treatment response, survival outcomes, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were collected in medical records. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression. Results: The cohort comprised 89 males (84.8%) and 16 females (15.2%), with a mean age of 60.8 years. No significant differences were observed in treatment duration (p=0.9718), objective response rate (χ2=0.7112; p=0,701), or disease control rate (χ2=0.1103; p=0,946) among age groups. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.3, 7.0, and 12.3 months for patients <60, 60–69, and ≥70 years, respectively (p=0.5254). Overall survival (OS) also showed no significant age-related differences (p=0.5441). However, older patients exhibited a higher incidence of irAEs (p=0.035). Multivariate analysis identified ICI treatment duration (p=0.0001) and objective response rate (p=0.009) as independent predictors of PFS. Conclusions: Age does not significantly impact ICI therapy efficacy in mNSCLC patients. However, elderly patients require careful monitoring due to an increased risk of irAEs.

The role of prolactin (PRL) and its receptors in the initiation and development of benign breast tumors (BBT) has not been sufficiently studied. An imbalance in the system of hormone homeostasis is crucial in the development of BBT. In particular, an association between elevated prolactin levels and the development of BBT has been reported. Our study showed no significant differences between PRL receptor (PRL-R) expression in BBT tissue under normal and elevated serum PRL levels. There was also no significant correlation between age, PRL-R expression in BBT tissue, intact tissue, and PRL level in the serum. There was a strong significant correlation (p < 0.01; r = 0.92) between PRL-R expression in BBT samples and intact breast tissue, which did not depend on the serum PRL level. There was also no significant difference in the expression of the proliferative marker Ki-67 in BBT tissues from women with normal and elevated levels of serum PRL (p > 0.05). No signs of PRL and its receptors were detected in the BBT cystic fluid women with elevated serum PRL levels. In summary, our prospective study showed that the expression of PRL-R in the tissue of BBT and physiological breast tissue does not depend on the level of serum PRL.

Вступ. Проліферативна доброякісна дисплазія (ДД) грудної залози (ГЗ) належить до передпухлинних станів. Хірургічне втручання з приводу ДДГЗ є основним методом лікування. Мініінвазійні хірургічні технології є затребуваними. Матеріали і методи. Проаналізований 3-річний досвід мініінвазивного хірургічного лікування хворих з приводу протокового папіломатозу ГЗ. Проведений порівняльний аналіз ступеня проліферації дисплазії та експресії альфа–рецепторів естрoгену (EsRα). Результати. Встановлено ефективність запропонованого способу лікування протокового папіломатозу ГЗ. Доведено залежність між ступенем проліферації проток ГЗ і експресією EsRα. Обговорення. Сьогодні універсального способу хірургічного лікування протокового папіломатозу ГЗ немає. Використання сучасних методів імуногістохімії та індивідуалізація способів втручання сприятимуть покращенню результатів лікування. Висновок. Мініінвазивні методи хірургічного лікування забезпечують радикальне лікування протокового папіломатозу ГЗ, естетичне задоволення пацієнток і лікаря. Ключові слова: доброякісна дисплазія грудних залоз; протоковий папіломатоз; EsRα; хірургічне лікування; пластична хірургія; рак грудної залози.

GLUT1 is an essential glucose transporter, the expression of which increases in tumor cells, especially under conditions of hypoxia, and correlates with their active proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between GLUT1 expression and biological parameters and to evaluate the potential impact on survival in patients with radically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Forty-two patients who received radical treatment for NSCLC were involved in the study. Gender, age, smoking history, disease stage, and tumor histological type were considered when analyzing the data. GLUT1 antibodies were used to assess the degree of hypoxia. A semi-quantitative immunohistochemical score ranging from 0 to 12 was used for calculation. The chi2 and Student's t-test were used to compare categorical and parametric variables. The Cox proportional hazards model, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Log-rank test were used to evaluate the effect of GLUT1 expression on survival. The results were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. A moderate correlation was found between GLUT1 expression and histological type of NSCLC (r=0.432, p<0.0001), sex (r=0.336, p<0.0009), and smoking (r=0.325, p<0.0009). GLUT1 overexpression was observed more in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (p=0.0001). In patients with adenocarcinomas, the level of GLUT1 expression depended on age and T category. In patients with squamous cell carcinomas, GLUT1 expression was not associated with the studied clinicopathological characteristics. Patients with T1b-2a categories, without regional lymph node metastases, younger than 60, and non-smokers have better survival. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated no statistically significant differences in recurrence-free survival and overall survival between the patients with high and low GLUT1 (Log-rank p=0.3284 and Log-rank p=0.7161, respectively). In conclusion, GLUT1 overexpression is associated with squamous cell lung carcinomas. GLUT1 expression has no prognostic value and does not correlate with recurrence-free and overall survival in radically treated patients with NSCLC.