Spatiotemporal transcriptomics (STT) integrates spatially resolved gene expression with temporal information derived from staged samples, paired treatment specimens, or computational inference, providing a framework for reconstructing tissue-level dynamics. In the tumour microenvironment (TME), STT extends static molecular and cellular maps by revealing how cellular neighbourhoods and functional niches are reorganised during tumour evolution.

This review examines how STT characterises TME remodelling during malignant transformation, invasion, metastasis, ageing, and treatment response. We discuss strategies for resolving temporal dynamics, including stage-stratified sampling, paired or serial specimens, pseudotime and trajectory inference, and complementary intravital imaging. We further consider how spatiotemporal analyses can connect changes in cellular states, spatial organisation, and intercellular interactions with clinically relevant tumour phenotypes.

By linking the spatial organisation of the TME with stage- and treatment-associated molecular changes, STT may improve the prioritisation of candidate targets, treatment stratification, and the development of precision oncology strategies.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) predicts outcomes in multiple malignancies. This study developed a MetS-integrated nomogram to estimate metastasis within one year after radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC), extending existing models and facilitating personalized management.

In this retrospective single-center study, 1333 LA-NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy-based multimodal therapy were randomly divided into training (n = 888) and validation (n = 445) cohorts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified independent metastasis risk factors for the nomogram. Evaluation included C-index, calibration plots, probability density functions (PDFs), and clinical utility curves (CUCs). Discrimination was assessed using DeLong test for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Metastasis within one year occurred in 56 (6.3%) training and 28 (6.3%) validation patients. Pretreatment T stage, N stage, MetS, plasma EBV DNA, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and smoking were associated with metastasis; multivariate analysis confirmed MetS and EBV DNA as independent predictors. The nomogram incorporating T stage, N stage, MetS, and EBV DNA achieved C-indexes of 0.763 (95% CI: 0.694-0.832, training) and 0.715 (95% CI: 0.629-0.801, validation), surpassing single predictors (all P < 0.05). PDF and CUC analyses suggested an 8.7% threshold to optimize the identification of true positives and negatives, classifying 82.0% non-metastatic and 39.3% metastatic patients correctly.

This MetS-based nomogram enables individualized risk stratification for metastasis within one year after radiotherapy in LA-NPC. The 8.7% threshold is exploratory but promising for identifying high-risk patients for further therapy or surveillance after external validation.

Robotic colorectal surgery is increasingly used for technically demanding pelvic procedures, but contemporary cancer-specific experience from Latin American public oncology centers remains limited. To describe perioperative and pathological outcomes of a robotic colorectal cancer program at a national oncology referral center in Mexico. We retrospectively analyzed 75 consecutive patients who underwent robotic surgery for colorectal malignancy at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología between June 2024 and March 2026. Colon and rectal cancer were analyzed as separate descriptive cohorts. Major morbidity was defined as Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher within 30 days. Fifty-seven patients (76.0%) had rectal cancer and 18 (24.0%) had colon cancer. No conversion to open surgery occurred (0/75; exact 95% CI 0-4.8%). Median operative time was 290 min (IQR 220-345), estimated blood loss 50 mL (IQR 30-100), and hospital stay 4 days (IQR 3-6). Major morbidity occurred in 13/75 patients (17.3%), reintervention in 12/75 (16.0%), and 30-day readmission in 12/75 (16.0%). Among rectal patients, 54/57 (94.7%) received total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) and 11/54 (20.4%) achieved pathological complete response. The circumferential resection margin was < 1 mm in 8/57 (14.0%). Mesorectal quality was complete in 41/57 (71.9%), nearly complete in 7/57 (12.3%), and incomplete in 9/57 (15.8%). Median lymph-node yield was 9 (IQR 6-12) for rectal cancer and 25.5 (IQR 16.25-32.25) for colon cancer. This series describes robotic colorectal cancer surgery within an established national oncology service, with a case mix dominated by low rectal procedures. The findings provide contemporary perioperative and pathological quality data for continued institutional audit; comparative studies and longer follow-up are required before conclusions regarding relative effectiveness can be made.

Although reduced-port gastrectomy with the da Vinci SP system offers a dedicated single-port platform, little is known about how an experienced robotic surgeon performs while changing platforms. We examined this transition by applying cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis to textbook outcome (TO). We retrospectively analyzed 175 consecutive reduced-port robotic gastrectomies performed at a tertiary referral center from July 2021 through August 2025. The primary measure was TO, a composite of six perioperative requirements. Case-sequence performance was examined with CUSUM curves for TO and operative time. Among 175 patients, 164 achieved TO (93.7%; 95% CI, 89.1-96.5%) and 168 achieved adjusted TO (aTO; 96.0%); major complications occurred in 1.7%. The TO-CUSUM curve showed an apparent stabilization after approximately 60 cases, whereas operative-time CUSUM reached its observed nadir at case 107. The later period included more D2 dissections and complex procedures; the TO rate was 96.7% in the early period and 92.2% in the late period. During transition to the da Vinci SP platform, TO-based CUSUM provided a longitudinal description of perioperative quality as case selection and procedural complexity evolved. The distinct TO-CUSUM and operative-time CUSUM trajectories suggest that quality-related performance and procedural efficiency may evolve at different rates during platform transition.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urologic malignancy, and for localized T1 tumors, nephron-sparing surgery is now the standard of care. Laparoscopic and image-guided techniques have advanced as robotic platform procedures offer greater operator dexterity and procedural control. The da Vinci platform has dominated robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, but high costs and closed architecture limit broader use. The Hugo™ RAS system, featuring a modular design, has emerged as a promising alternative, with early studies showing feasibility and safety. However, current evidence remains preliminary, mostly single-center and small-sample. This meta-analysis aggregates data and conducts subgroup analyses to compare Hugo™ RAS with other techniques, aiming to provide more precise effect estimates and guide surgical platform selection. The four main databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were thoroughly searched to identify eligible clinical studies. The selected research involved comparative evaluations of surgical metrics of partial nephrectomy performed with Hugo™ RAS vs. the da Vinci system and traditional laparoscopy. This systematic synthesis included four observational cohort studies with a total of 383 subjects. Combined metric evaluations indicated that Hugo™ RAS demonstrated no statistically significant variation relative to alternative minimally invasive approaches regarding surgery duration (MD = 2.81 min, 95% CI [- 37.42, 43.03], p = 0.89), duration of hospitalization (MD = - 0.23 days, 95% CI [- 1.59, 1.13], p = 0.74), intraoperative blood loss (MD = 18.5 ml, 95% CI [- 53.61, 90.6], p = 0.62), serum creatinine following surgery (MD = - 0.05 mg/dl, 95% CI [- 0.18, 0.08], p = 0.44), positive surgical margin incidence (OR = 0.59, 95% CI [0.19, 1.80], p = 0.35), minor-to-moderate postoperative adverse event frequency (OR = 0.98, 95% CI [0.45, 2.17], p = 0.97), major postoperative adverse event frequency (OR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.09, 6.17], p = 0.78), overall postoperative adverse event rate (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [0.39, 2.87], p = 0.92), or successful trifecta attainment (OR = 1.11, 95% CI [0.60, 2.07], p = 0.74). This meta-analysis provided some preliminary evidence: Hugo™ RAS did not demonstrate significant differences compared to other minimally invasive surgical procedures in terms of procedure time, hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative renal function, rate of positive margins, postoperative morbidity, and composite success results. Overall, Hugo™ RAS seems to be a reasonable surgical alternative. However, large multi-site randomized clinical trials are still needed to substantiate this finding.

Although robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RAL-RN) has realized the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, it continues to face several key technical limitations, including the lack of integrated patient-specific three-dimensional anatomical navigation and insufficient real-time intraoperative navigation. While mixed reality (MR) technology has shown considerable potential in renal tumor surgery, its clinical application value specifically within the context of radical nephrectomy for renal cancer warrants further systematic evaluation. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and practical value of MR guidance in RAL-RN. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 74 patients who underwent RAL-RN between September 2021 and March 2024. Participants were categorized into two groups based on preoperative assessment methodology: an MR navigation group (n = 33) and a conventional imaging group (n = 41). All patients received non-contrast and triple-phase contrast-enhanced renal CT scans. The MR group utilized Hololens-based intraoperative anatomical reference with three-dimensional models reconstructed from preoperative CT data during Da Vinci robotic procedures. Perioperative outcomes, including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, operative time, estimated blood loss, and postoperative complications, were compared between the two groups to assess the potential technical advantages of MR-guided navigation. The two groups showed comparable baseline characteristics (p > 0.05). The MR group exhibited significantly shorter operative time (161.15 ± 10.87 min versus 182.29 ± 12.40 min, p < 0.001), reduced blood loss (150.00 mL [interquartile range 140.00 to 165.00] versus 165.00 mL [150.00 to 165.00], p = 0.008), faster gastrointestinal function recovery (26.82 ± 4.17 h versus 28.93 ± 3.68 h, p = 0.024), earlier tube removal (5.00 days [4.00 to 5.00] versus 6.00 days [6.00 to 7.00], p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative hospitalization (6.00 days [6.00 to 7.00] versus 8.00 days [7.00 to 8.00], p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in tumor staging, renal function parameters (postoperative and 12-month Scr and GFR), histopathological type, or complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grades 1 and 2) between groups (all p > 0.05). MR guidance was associated with shorter operative time and faster postoperative recovery in RAL-RN. However, given the non-randomized design, these findings should be regarded as preliminary and cannot establish causality. Prospective studies with standardized allocation and adequate follow-up are warranted to confirm the clinical value of MR guidance.

The histological growth pattern (HGP) at the interface of colorectal adenocarcinoma liver metastases (CRCLM) and liver parenchyma provides important prognostic information. This study aimed to identify transcriptomic signatures underlying the predominant HGPs in CRCLM. We retrospectively evaluated the HGP of 495 CRCLM of 232 patients with metastasectomy at the University Hospital Regensburg between 2003 and 2016. A representative subset of 106 metastases from 53 patients was analyzed for RNA expression at the metastasis-liver interface using the NanoString nCounter® PanCancer Progression Panel. The most common HGPs in the NanoString subcohort were the infiltrative replacement (rHGP, 47.2%) and the non-infiltrative desmoplastic type (dHGP, 46.3%). Unsupervised clustering of CRCLM gene expression profiles identified four gene clusters, two significantly enriched for pure dHGP or pure rHGP. Differential expression analysis between pure dHGP and all other HGPs (i.e., non-pure dHGP) identified 55 significantly differentially expressed genes. Gene set enrichment analysis corroborated previously reported signals (extracellular matrix organization, stromal/endothelial gene sets, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition enrichment in pure dHGP; glucose metabolism in non-pure dHGP) and additionally revealed α6β4 integrin signaling as feature of non-pure dHGP. Patient identity, rather than HGP, was the dominant driver of gene expression variance, though AGR2 was consistently and significantly overexpressed in non-pure dHGP across different analytical strategies. These findings corroborate known transcriptomic differences between HGPs, identify α6β4 integrin signaling as an additional candidate pathway enriched in non-pure dHGP CRCLM, and underscore the substantial contribution of patient-specific factors to gene expression variability in CRCLM outweighing HGP.

The da Vinci 5 (DV5) is the first robotic platform to integrate force feedback (FFB), which may limit excessive traction and tissue injury. Its clinical impact in robotic transthoracic esophagectomy remains unclear. We compared perioperative outcomes between the da Vinci Xi and DV5 systems. This retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent robotic transthoracic esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by a single high-volume surgeon between December 2024 and July 2026. Patients treated with the Xi system without FFB (n = 126) and the DV5 system with FFB (n = 37) were compared. Vocal cord dysfunction (palsy or hypomobility) was assessed by routine postoperative laryngoscopy. Outcomes were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, with stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) as a sensitivity analysis. Vocal cord dysfunction was less frequent in the DV5 group (Xi, 33.3% vs. DV5, 13.5%), and the association persisted after multivariable and IPTW adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.33; IPTW OR, 0.27). Vocal cord palsy was also less frequent (27.8% vs. 10.8%), although the difference was not significant after adjustment. In an exploratory analysis, overall 30-day complications were less frequent in the DV5 group (74.6% vs. 54.1%; adjusted OR, 0.43), but the difference was attenuated after IPTW adjustment. Total and recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node yields did not differ. DV5 with integrated FFB was associated with less frequent vocal cord dysfunction and comparable operative outcomes. These findings may provide the first clinical data suggesting FFB could reduce traction-related nerve injury in robotic esophagectomy.

Comparative evidence for single-port colectomy with robotic system remains limited, particularly for long-term cancer control. We compared perioperative recovery and oncologic outcomes following single-port robotic surgery (SPRS) and conventional multiport laparoscopic surgery (CMLS) in colon cancer. This retrospective study screened 710 patients treated surgically between March 2019 and February 2025. The analytic cohort was balanced with propensity score overlap weighting (PSOW), after which operative, postoperative, pathologic, and survival data were compared. The analysis included 472 patients (142 SPRS and 330 CMLS). PSOW balanced the four covariates specified in the propensity model. SPRS had a longer mean operative time (255.0 vs. 197.5 min, p < 0.001), but no patient required open conversion (0.0% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.011). Compared with CMLS, SPRS was followed by earlier passage of flatus (2.4 vs. 3.4 days), earlier tolerance of a soft diet (3.3 vs. 4.8 days), and a shorter postoperative stay (7.5 vs. 8.5 days) (all p ≤ 0.001). Pain scores through postoperative day 5 were lower after SPRS (all p < 0.001), whereas complication rates and pathologic measures were similar. Three-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 95.2% after SPRS and 95.1% after CMLS (p = 0.835); the corresponding overall survival (OS) were 97.2% and 94.8% (p = 0.104). Surgical modality was not an independent predictor of RFS or OS. Within the available follow-up, SPRS provided oncologic results comparable to CMLS while being associated with less postoperative pain and enhanced recovery. These data support SPRS as a feasible approach for selected patients with colon cancer.

Oral mucositis is a common debilitating side effect of cancer therapy. Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined interventions for this complication. Accurate reporting of RCT results in abstracts is crucial to treatment decisions. Spin undermines the integrity of the information presented and compromises evidence-based practice. This study evaluated the reporting quality of, and spin in, abstracts of RCTs of four interventions for oral mucositis: benzydamine, photobiomodulation therapy, oral cryotherapy, and keratinocyte growth factor, and assessed factors that can affect reporting quality and spin.

PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus were systematically searched for RCTs related to oral mucositis treatments published until September 2024. The CONSORT for Abstracts (CONSORT-A) and spin checklists were then applied to assess reporting quality of and spin in their abstracts.

Among 112 RCTs that were analyzed, the overall CONSORT-A score for reporting quality was low, and key elements such as study design and outcome reporting were frequently not reported. Only 16 of these RCTs were analyzed for spin and only two RCTs had no spin. Higher reporting quality was significantly correlated with greater abstract word counts (r = 0.35; p < 0.001) and pharmaceutical funding when compared with articles that did not report funding (p = 0.015). Spin was negatively correlated with the Altmetric attention score (r =  - 0.652; p = 0.006).

Abstracts of RCTs on oral mucositis interventions frequently did not meet the reporting standards defined by the CONSORT-A checklist. Enhanced adherence to reporting guidelines is necessary to support evidence-based clinical practices.