Radiology and Oncology

Cardiotoxicity in low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk patients undergoing anti-HER2 therapy: a prospective cardiac magnetic resonance study
Cheng S, Deng M, Qi L, Li F, Chen J, Cui S, Wang Y, Liu J, Fan Y, Xie L and Wang J
The study aimed to investigate cardiotoxicity among individuals undergoing anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy with a low-to-moderate risk of cardiovascular complications. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was employed in the investigation.
Induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy for larynx preservation in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer
Strojan P, Plavc G, Sifrer R, Jereb S, Lanisnik B, Kokalj M, Groselj A and Kuhar CG
To test the hypothesis that clinical tumor response after a single cycle of induction chemotherapy (ICT) can reliably differentiate between chemo-/radiosensitive and resistant tumors in the larynx preservation setting.
Heterogenous mitochondrial ultrastructure and metabolism of human glioblastoma cells: differences between stem-like and differentiated cancer cells in response to chemotherapy
Bogataj U, Novak M, Galun SK, Tacer KF, Vittori M, Noorden CJFV and Breznik B
Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) contribute to the resistance of glioblastoma (GBM) tumors to standard therapies. The background of the resistance of GSCs to the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide is not yet fully understood in the context of cellular metabolism and the role of mitochondria. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed ultrastructural characterization of the mitochondria of GSCs prior and post temozolomide exposure and to compare it to differentiated GBM cells.
A comparison of transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis platforms: Myval, Sapien, and Evolut in severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and low-moderate risk patients
Bunc M, Steblovnik K, Terseglav S, Ambrozic J, Bervar M, Dimitrovska L, Cercek M, Kovac A, Pleskovic P, Kogoj P, Fras Z, Sustersic M and Vrtovec B
This article compares the real-world performance and safety of the three transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) platforms: Myval, Sapien, and Evolut in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and low to moderate surgical risk.
Erratum: Laser speckle contrast imaging of perfusion in oncological clinical applications: a literature review
Hren R, Brezar SK, Marhl U and Sersa G
Identification of hub genes predicting sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer
Zhao Q, Zhang C, Zhang X, Liu Y and Cui B
Preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACR) benefits disease control in most locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. However, effective biomarkers predicting response to NACR are still not accessible. This study aimed to find potential biomarkers to assess therapy response and susceptibility to LARC.
The role of focal adhesion kinase in bladder cancer: translation from to human urothelial carcinomas
Markovic G, Resnik N, Janev A, Zupancic D, Grubelnik G, Debeljak M, Cemazar M, Jesenko T, Omerzel M, Smrkolj T and Kreft ME
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, plays a crucial role in focal adhesion turnover by interfacing between the extracellular space, transmembrane integrins, and actin filaments. Its significance for the progression of several malignancies, including bladder cancer, has been well-documented. However, its precise role and the implications of its inhibition in bladder cancer tissues and urothelial models has not been fully explored. This study examined FAK expression and function in human bladder cancer biopsies and bladder cancer models.
Genetic variability of and response to treatment with cisplatin in combination with pemetrexed or gemcitabine in patients with malignant mesothelioma
Setina M, Setina E, Doljak Z, Goricar K, Dolzan V and Kovac V
Treatment of malignant mesothelioma (MM) still relies on chemotherapy with cisplatin in combination with pemetrexed or other drugs. Studies indicate that hypoxic conditions within tumour tissue may reduce responsiveness to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) play an important role in regulation of cellular adaptation to hypoxia. The aim of our study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene coding for the regulatory alpha subunit (HIF-1A) and their role in the response to chemotherapy in patients with MM.
The implementation of a robotic surgical platform for the treatment of patients with malignant or pre-malignant pancreatic tumors at the University Medical Center Ljubljana
Petric M, Polanco PM, Grosek J, Tomazic A, Trotovsek B and Plesnik B
Robotic platforms are increasingly employed in the field of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. It is essential to develop an innovative method that ensures both safety and efficacy, producing outcomes comparable to those of established treatment modalities. Implementation process should incorporate surgical science, education, local implementation, and non-technical skills. In our study, we describe the safe implementation of a robotic platform in pancreatic surgery within our medical institution.
Assessing the impact of waste co-incineration at the Anhovo cement plant (Slovenia) on the regional cancer burden
Zadnik V, Birk M, Oblak T, Jurtela M, Tomsic S, Lokar K, Mihor A, Bric N, Mlakar M, Konjevic AD and Zagar T
This epidemiological study aims to assess the cancer risk potentially associated with environmental exposure resulting from cement production and waste co-incineration at the Anhovo cement plant in Western Slovenia and to develop a strong and reliable methodological framework for the long-term surveillance of environmentally related cancer risks in small geographical areas.
Radiation-induced impairment of skeletal muscle regeneration
Cemazar M and Jurdana M
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment for various cancers, but often causes collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue, including skeletal muscle. Ionizing radiation leads to oxidative stress and inflammation, which impairs the regenerative capacity of muscle tissue. Irradiation reduces the number and functionality of satellite cells and disrupts the tightly regulated processes of myogenesis and tissue remodelling. In addition, irradiation alters the muscle microenvironment by promoting fibrosis and vascular damage, which further impedes effective regeneration. Cytokine signalling pathways are also dysregulated following irradiation, contributing to impaired activation and differentiation of satellite cells.
Does volume change of the spleen correlate with the therapy response in uveal melanoma patients with liver metastases undergoing hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy?
Steinberg-Vorhoff HL, Drews M, Opitz M, Landeghem NV, Salhöfer L, Holtkamp M, Li Y, Haubold J, Siveke J, Richly H, Forsting M, Schaarschmidt BM and Zensen S
Uveal melanoma (UM) patients with liver metastases often undergo hepatic artery infusion therapy (HAIC). Due to diffuse metastatic spread in the liver, patients often develop hepatomegaly and secondary, portal hypertension which may lead to splenomegaly. This study aimed to compare spleen volumetry and the change of spleen volume (SV) for the evaluation of HAIC treatment response.
Cuproptosis-related gene as a biomarker of pancreatic adenocarcinoma via multi-omics techniques and experimental validation
Zhang R, Xu Z, Zhuang Y, Shi Y, Guo Z and Chen C
Background. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a malignancy with a very poor prognosis. The clinical significance of cuproptosis in PAAD combining single cell data with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data is unclear.
Comparison of MR cytometry methods in predicting immunohistochemical factor status and molecular subtypes of breast cancer
Wu L, Liu F, Li S, Luo X, Wang Y, Zhong W, Feiweier T, Xu J, Bao H, Shi D and Guo H
First evaluation of the performance of MR cytometry incorporating transcytolemmal water exchange in predicting immunohistochemical factor status and molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
Value of ultrasound assessment of sarcopenia in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a prospective study
Liu T, Wan J, Liu Y, Zhuo J and Fu W
This study investigated the clinical utility of ultrasound in diagnosing sarcopenia in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), focusing on muscle mass, strength, and physical fitness.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping and prognostic value of HPV E4 protein and transcription factors NANOG and SOX11 in atypical p16 patchy squamous epithelium of cervix
Radulovic MK, Ostrbenk A, Poljak M and Strojan-Flezar M
Immunohistochemical staining for p16 is used to differentiate precancerous cervical lesions in tissue samples, but the interpretation of patchy p16 expression remains challenging. We performed human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping and evaluated immunohistochemical expression of HPV E4 protein - a marker for transient infections, stem cell transcription factor NANOG, and transcription factor SOX11 to detect possible high-grade squamous lesions in atypical p16 patchy squamous epithelium.
The influence of catheter type, the number of sutures and patients' age on percutaneous nephrostomy displacement
Kuhelj D, Sustersic A and Zdesar U
Percutaneous nephrostomy displacement results in procedure failure, reducing quality of life in patients with hydronephrosis. Scarce data about factors influencing displacement led to evaluation of our data in order to give better insight into this topic.
Deviation of the upper, middle and lower thirds of the rectum during irradiation of rectum cancer
Salmic K, Marcius VZ and Oblak I
In patients with rectal cancer, daily fluctuations in rectal volume often lead to large deformations of the target volume that cannot be corrected by adjusting the radiation couch. The main aim of the study was to determine the deviation of all three thirds of the rectum from the reference position and to determine whether these deviations are influenced by the alignments to the bony structures (the sacrum) and the posterior rectal wall.
Mammographically detected spicules associated with malignant breast tumors frequently harbor additional tumor foci
Tuomainen H, Sudah M, Joukainen S, Kärjä V, Masarwah A, Jokelainen O and Okuma H
On imaging, malignant breast masses are commonly associated with spicules. To the best of our knowledge, the clinical significance of such spiculae has not been previously studied, and no surgical guidelines are available for the management of mammographically detected spiculations.
In the pursuit of perfect planning: comparison between Lightning Inverse Planning and GammaPlan Wizard for gamma knife radiosurgery
Goulenko V, Plunkett RJ, Podgorsak MB and Prasad D
The Lightning software, was added to the Gamma Knife's Leksell GammaPlan as a fully automated inverse planner, differently from the prior software, Wizard. In this paper we compare their treatment planning capacity and quality.
Electrochemotherapy for basal cell carcinoma in the head and neck region: 5-year follow-up from the Insp-ECT registry
Groselj A, Bertino G, Minuti M, Clover AJP, Lonkvist CK, Kis E, Kunte C, Muir T, Russano F, Terlizzi F, Odili J and Sersa G
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a cutaneous malignancy that typically appears in sun-exposed areas. We analyzed data from the Insp-ECT registry of all patients affected by BCC in the head and neck region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of electrochemotherapy (ECT) on a 5-year basis.