17 min | Latest | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Mella C, Tsarouhas P, Brockwell M, Ball HC. The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Pediatric Cancer. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):154. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010154 Type: Review | Publication date: Jan 6, 2025
• Summary: This research review examines the significant role of chronic inflammation in the development and progression of childhood cancers. It highlights key differences between adult and paediatric cancers, emphasising that adult cancer research findings are not directly transferable. The review focuses on how chronic inflammation contributes to genetic and epigenetic instability, shapes the tumour microenvironment, and impacts the immature immune response in children. Finally, it explores current and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting inflammatory processes to improve treatment outcomes in young cancer patients.
• Keywords: cancer; inflammation; epigenetics; therapeutics; immunology

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

13 min | Latest | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Hara T, Meng S, Arao Y, Saito Y, Inoue K, Alshammari AH, Hatakeyama H, di Luccio E, Vecchione A, Hirotsu T, et al. Non-Invasive Detection of Tumors by Volatile Organic Compounds in Urine. Biomedicines. 2025; 13(1):109. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13010109 Type: Review | Publication date: Jan 6, 2025
• Summary: This review article examines the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urine as non-invasive cancer biomarkers. It explores several detection methods, including mass spectrometry analysis of VOC profiles in various cancers, the use of trained organisms (dogs and nematodes) to detect cancer-specific odours, and the development of artificial sensors for VOC detection. The article highlights the advantages and limitations of each approach, focusing on improving diagnostic accuracy and identifying specific VOCs linked to different cancers for earlier diagnosis. Future research directions involve refining diagnostic models, understanding the mechanisms of odour detection in organisms, and enhancing the capabilities of artificial sensors.
• Keywords: cancer; biomarkers; diagnostics; volatile organic compounds; olfactory receptors

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

10 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Alerasool P, Zhou S, Miller E, Anker J, Tsao B, Kyprianou N, Tsao C-K. A Personalized Approach for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):147. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010147 Type: Review | Publication date: Jan 5, 2025
• Summary: This research review examines oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC), an intermediate stage between localised and widespread disease offering potential for cure. The article explores diagnostic challenges, focusing on PSMA PET scans, and reviews current treatment strategies, including metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) and combinations of systemic therapies with prostate cytoreduction. Ongoing clinical trials investigating MDT and various systemic therapies are highlighted, alongside the potential of artificial intelligence for personalised treatment. The authors emphasise the need for clearer OMPC definitions and the development of predictive biomarkers to optimise treatment selection and improve patient outcomes. Future directions focus on improving diagnostic accuracy, developing novel therapies, and leveraging artificial intelligence to refine treatment strategies.
• Keywords: prostate cancer; oligometastatic disease; oligometastasis; stereotactic body radiotherapy; focal therapy; androgen deprivation therapy; metastasis-directed therapy; castration-resistant prostate cancer; PSMA PET scan; radical prostatectomy

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

14 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Sipos D, Raposa BL, Freihat O, Simon M, Mekis N, Cornacchione P, Kovács Á. Glioblastoma: Clinical Presentation, Multidisciplinary Management, and Long-Term Outcomes. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):146. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010146 Type: Article | Publication date: Jan 5, 2025
• Summary: This document comprehensively examines glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. It details the disease's diagnosis, utilising advanced imaging and molecular markers like IDH mutation and MGMT methylation status for prognosis. Standard treatment, involving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (temozolomide), is discussed alongside emerging therapies such as TTFields and immunotherapies. The text also addresses the importance of managing symptoms and providing psychological support for patients and their families to improve quality of life, while acknowledging the ongoing need for research and clinical trials to improve outcomes. Finally, typical survival rates and factors influencing prognosis are presented.
• Keywords: glioblastoma; prognosis; treatment; survival; outcome

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

10 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Chiu T-M, Li Y-C, Chi I-C, Tseng M-H. AI-Driven Enhancement of Skin Cancer Diagnosis: A Two-Stage Voting Ensemble Approach Using Dermoscopic Data. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):137. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010137 Type: Article | Publication date: Jan 3, 2025
• Summary: This research paper details the development and validation of an AI model for skin cancer diagnosis using dermoscopic images. A two-stage classification approach, employing an ensemble of pre-trained convolutional neural networks and vision transformers, significantly improved diagnostic accuracy and drastically reduced false negatives in both a Western (ISIC) and Eastern (CSMUH) dataset. The model distinguishes between melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers, and benign cases, aiding clinicians in prioritising treatment. The study highlights the potential for AI to enhance skin cancer diagnosis, particularly in resource-constrained settings, though limitations regarding computational demands and dataset size are acknowledged.
• Keywords: malignant melanoma; dermoscopic images; voting ensemble learning; two-stage classification strategy

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

19 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Geirnaert F, Kerkhove L, Montay-Gruel P, Gevaert T, Dufait I, De Ridder M. Exploring the Metabolic Impact of FLASH Radiotherapy. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):133. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010133 Type: Review | Publication date: Jan 3, 2025
• Summary: This review article examines the metabolic effects of flash radiotherapy (flash RT), a novel cancer treatment delivering radiation at ultra-high dose rates. The authors explore how flash RT impacts cellular metabolism differently in healthy versus cancerous tissues, focusing on reactive oxygen species (ROS), iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial function. Key findings suggest flash RT reduces ROS-induced damage in healthy tissue by preserving mitochondrial integrity and attenuating lipid peroxidation, while still effectively targeting tumours. The review highlights the need for further research using more complex biological systems to fully understand and optimise flash RT's clinical potential.
• Keywords: FLASH radiotherapy; FLASH effect; ultrahigh dose rate radiotherapy; metabolism; reactive oxygen species; mitochondria; lipid peroxidation

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

8 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Schleifenbaum, J.K., Morgenthaler, J., Sharma, S.J. et al. Optimising (re-)irradiation for locally recurrent head and neck cancer: impact of dose-escalation, salvage surgery, PEG tube and biomarkers on oncological outcomes—a single centre analysis. Radiat Oncol 20, 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-024-02570-y Type: Article | Publication date: Jan 2, 2025
• Summary: This single-centre retrospective study analysed outcomes for 101 patients with locally recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with radiotherapy (RT), with or without chemotherapy or immunotherapy, between 2010 and 2018. The study identified several prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS), including whether patients received initial RT versus re-irradiation (re-RT), the presence of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, the Glasgow Prognostic Score, and the administered radiation dose. Salvage surgery before RT was a positive prognostic factor, while re-RT was associated with significantly poorer OS. The study highlights the need for larger prospective trials to confirm these findings and refine treatment strategies.
• Keywords: Recurrent head and neck cancer, Reirradiation, Salvage therapy, PEG tube, Inflammation, Biomarkers

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The information shared here is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice or recommendations. It also uses AI-assisted summaries of the original work and may or may not contain innacuracies so we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.

14 min | Latest | RadOnc | Publication Source

• Podcast based on: Falick Michaeli T, Hatoom F, Skripai A, Wajnryt E, Allweis TM, Paluch-Shimon S, Shachar Y, Popovtzer A, Wygoda M, Blumenfeld P. Complication Rates After Mastectomy and Reconstruction in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Compared to Conventional Fractionation: A Single Institutional Analysis. Cancers. 2025; 17(1):106. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010106 Publication date: Jan 1, 2025
• Summary: This single-institution retrospective study compared complication rates after post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) using hypofractionated (HF) versus conventional fractionation (CF) in 59 breast cancer patients who underwent reconstruction.
• Keywords: breast cancer; PMRT; hypofractionation; breast reconstruction; implant complications

Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is a summary and discussion of the original publication and does not represent the views of the authors or journal. The content discussed here also uses AI-assisted summaries and may contain errors. While we strive for accuracy, we encourage listeners to consult the original publication for complete details.