Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) presents unique challenges requiring a multidisciplinary approach to balance maternal treatment efficacy with fetal safety. This case describes a first-trimester breast cancer diagnosis, managed with a total mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, followed by a specialised adjuvant chemotherapy plan. Chemotherapy was initiated after the first trimester, with additional chemotherapy administered post partum. Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines suggest considering early termination for first-trimester PABC, the patient opted to continue the pregnancy. A multidisciplinary team carefully planned the treatment sequence to minimise fetal risks while ensuring oncologic efficacy, considering the patient's concerns. A 9-year follow-up demonstrated no cancer recurrence and normal child development. This case underscores the importance of individualised treatment strategies in PABC, considering maternal prognosis, gestational age, treatment timing and patient preferences. With a multidisciplinary and patient-centred approach, pregnancy can safely continue alongside cancer treatment, achieving positive outcomes.

Data on how positive psychological traits and perceived spousal support are related to head and neck cancer (HNC)-specific health-related quality of life (QOL) using validated instruments in the Malay language in oncology settings are scarce. Hence, this study: (1) evaluated the association between demographic and clinical characteristics, optimism, posttraumatic growth (PTG), hope, perceived spousal support and HNC specific health-related QOL; and (2) assessed the mediation associations of PTG, perceived spousal support and hope on the relationship between optimism and HNC specific health-related QOL among a cohort of patients with HNC.

Cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted in two tertiary referral centres for oncology treatment in Malaysia.

Data were collected from a total of 240 patients with HNC.

The primary outcome was HNC specific health-related QOL assessed with the 35-item European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life-Head and Neck Module, while the secondary outcomes were optimism measured with the Life Orientation Test-Revised, PTG measured with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form, perceived spousal support evaluated with the Sources of Social Support Scale and hope assessed with the Dispositional Hope Scale.

Higher perceived spousal support (B=-0.454, 95% CI -0.781 to -0.126, p=0.007) and optimism (B=-2.001, 95% CI -2.660 to -1.342, p<0.001) were significantly associated with greater HNC specific health-related QOL but not PTG (p=0.772) and hope (p=0.081). In addition, those with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and those on chemotherapy alone had significantly greater HNC specific health-related QOL than those with other HNC tumours (B=-8.586, 95% CI 2.927 to 14.245, p=0.003) and those who combined surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively (B=-10.864, 95% CI -18.897 to -2.831, p=0.008). Meanwhile, greater perceived spousal support partially mediated the association of optimism and improved HNC-specific health-related QOL but not PTG and hope.

Optimism and perceived spousal support may have a positive association with HNC-specific health-related QOL.

Immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy has been recommended as the first-line treatment of driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the efficacy is reduced in NSCLC patients with bone metastases due to the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Both nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) inhibitors and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have been shown to modulate the tumour immune microenvironment. Therefore, narlumosbart, a monoclonal antibody targeting RANKL, in combination with SBRT, may exert synergistic effects and improve efficacy of first-line chemoimmunotherapy in this population.

This single-arm, single-centre phase II clinical trial will enrol driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC patients with bone metastases who have not received any systemic therapy. Eligible patients will receive narlumosbart (120 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks) and SBRT to bone target lesions (24 Gy/3 fractions for spinal metastases and 30-35 Gy/5 fractions for non-spinal lesions), followed by standard first-line chemoimmunotherapy. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate of non-radiotherapy lesions. Secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability, progression-free survival, overall survival, bone-related events, pain score and quality of life. Sample size was calculated using the Simon's Two-Stage method (α=0.05, power=0.8, H₀=25%, H₁=50%). Nine patients will be enrolled in stage 1. If ≥2 patients achieve complete response (CR)/partial response (PR), an additional 15 patients will be enrolled in stage 2. If fewer than two patients achieve CR/PR, the trial will be terminated. 27 subjects will be enrolled in this project, considering the dropout rate of 10%.

This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (approval number 2411308-15) on 6 December 2024. The trial registration number is NCT06738160 at clinicaltrials.gov, sponsored by Fudan University, and registered in December 2024 before the enrolment of the first participant in February 2025. The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to enrolment. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

To describe the design, recruitment, and baseline characteristics of the first phase of COLO-COHORT and to establish this population as a resource for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention research.

COLO-COHORT is a prospective, multicentre observational study recruiting adults undergoing colonoscopy through screening and routine National Health Service referral pathways within a 32-site UK network. We present descriptive data from the first 4754 participants, recruited through 27 Phase 1 sites, including demographics, lifestyle factors, clinical characteristics, biospecimen availability and colonoscopy outcomes.

Participants had a median age of 64 years (IQR 57-70), and 54.3% were male. Overweight (38.0%) and obesity (30.5%) were common, and cardiometabolic comorbidities were prevalent (11.8% with type II diabetes; 39.4% with hypertension). Colorectal neoplasia was identified at colonoscopy in over half of participants (56.1%), with histologically characterised data available on polyp type, size, morphology and anatomical location. Core demographic and clinical variables were available for >95% of participants, with colonoscopy findings recorded for all. Linked blood and stool microbiome biospecimens were available for approximately 80% and 40% of participants, respectively.

This paper establishes and characterises COLO-COHORT's Phase 1 study cohort as a well-phenotyped resource, representing a population of individuals undergoing colonoscopy via UK screening and routine clinical pathways. This cohort will support and underpin future collaborative clinical, epidemiological and translational research in CRC prevention.

This review examines the contemporary debate between open radical cystectomy and robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Drawing on randomized trials, including RAZOR, iROC, and MSKCC studies, we compare perioperative, oncologic, diversion-related, cost, and patient-reported outcomes. Current high-level evidence demonstrates oncologic noninferiority of RARC, with reduced blood loss but longer operative times and higher costs. Outcomes are strongly influenced by surgeon experience and institutional volume rather than approach alone. We highlight considerations in intracorporeal diversion, learning curves, access disparities, and patient-centered decision-making, emphasizing individualized, value-based surgical selection.

Prehabilitation is often defined as the process of enhancing or optimizing a patients' functional capacity preoperatively to improve tolerance of perioperative physiologic stressors. This is accomplished beginning with a standardized risk assessment using laboratory values, imaging, and validated questionnaires. Following this risk assessment, patients are referred to a team of multidisciplinary providers with a goal of optimizing nutritional status, exercise capacity, cessation of smoking, and enabling psychiatric preparedness for the stressors of radical cystectomy. Herein, we provide a critical evaluation of the key components of the prehabilitation process and offer insights into directions for future research endeavors.

Neoadjuvant therapy is now a cornerstone of muscle-invasive bladder cancer management, evolving from traditional cisplatin-based chemotherapy to novel immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugate combinations. While dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin remains the cytotoxic standard, the phase III NIAGARA and KEYNOTE 905 trials have established new benchmarks for cisplatin-eligible and ineligible populations, respectively. Furthermore, the integration of molecular subtyping, DNA damage repair biomarkers, and liquid biopsies (circulating tumor DNA) is facilitating a shift toward precision medicine. These advancements aim to optimize pathologic response, improve overall survival, and identify candidates for bladder-sparing approaches.

Cancer rehabilitation offers clear benefit across the cancer trajectory, yet delivery remains inconsistent, reactive, and poorly aligned with patient needs. Although strong evidence supports rehabilitation across diverse populations and settings, many patients still do not receive the right services at the right time to prevent avoidable functional decline. This gap reflects not limited capability but shortcomings in care-delivery design: substantial cancer-related disability is now known to be preventable, and missed rehabilitation opportunities contribute to avoidable institutionalization, excess utilization, and reduced quality of life.

Outcome measures are widely used in oncology care. As our medical model continues to shift toward value-based care, and with a growing emphasis on function, it is essential that cancer rehabilitation providers assess a patient's status and response to interventions. Patient-reported outcome measures offer an inexpensive, versatile, and efficient way to measure a patient's status, including function. When selecting a measure, it is essential to determine what one is seeking to evaluate, as well as the psychometric properties of a given instrument. Caution must be given to the risk of inaccuracy and bias in these measures, as with any other measurement approach.

Older adults with cancer face numerous challenges due to a combination of age-related changes, comorbid conditions, cancer, and its treatment. These can all contribute to the development of physical impairments that can adversely affect their ability to tolerate cancer treatments, cancer treatment outcomes, and quality of life. This article explores these challenges and provides an overview for clinicians on the assessment and rehabilitation of the older adult with cancer.