Introducing new group leaders: Leanne Li.

Leanne Li tells us about the research in her recently established group at the Francis Crick Institute in London, her search for a multidisciplinary institute, and how her own varied background came together to study the emerging field of cancer neuroscience. She shares advice for applying, her experience of remote hiring, and how diversity, both academically and culturally, stimulates creativity.

Introducing new group leaders: Christina Towers.

Christina Towers discusses her search for a collaborative institute and why she chose the Salk, San Diego, to establish her lab studying autophagy in cancer. She shares her advice for applying, the importance of identifying what you want, tackling the perceived requirement for geographic mobility, and her hope to hire people who share her curiosity and love of asking questions.

Black in Cancer: An interview with founders Sigourney Bell and Henry J. Henderson.

We talk to Sigourney Bell and Henry J. Henderson about what motivated them to found Black in Cancer, the importance of community and representation, as well as the resources the organization provides, future directions, and how we and our readers can provide support.

The impact of Black founding fathers on the specialty of gynecologic oncology.

INTRODUCTION: The formative period of the specialty of gynecologic oncology was from 1968 to 1972 and became a board-certified specialty in 1973. During this formation there were no Black physicians participating in this process. We chronicle and document the incorporation of the first three board-certified Black physicians in the specialty of gynecologic oncology here for historical purposes. METHODS: We highlight the hostile climate experienced by Black physicians before and during the formation of gynecologic oncology, review the acceptance and training of the first three Black physicians in the specialty and recognize their significant contributions to the field. RESULTS: The biographies and the narrative of these men describe their impact and contribution to medicine. We chronicle the historic presence of the first board-certified Black gynecologic oncologists and pelvic surgeons in the United States. CONCLUSION: These three men represent the Black Founding Fathers of gynecologic oncology. Their perseverance in the face of adversity and commitment to excellence have left an indelible impact on the institutions that they developed, the individuals that they trained, and the patients that they served.

A Century of Fractionated Radiotherapy: How Mathematical Oncology Can Break the Rules.

Radiotherapy is involved in 50% of all cancer treatments and 40% of cancer cures. Most of these treatments are delivered in fractions of equal doses of radiation (Fractional Equivalent Dosing (FED)) in days to weeks. This treatment paradigm has remained unchanged in the past century and does not account for the development of radioresistance during treatment. Even if under-optimized, deviating from a century of successful therapy delivered in FED can be difficult. One way of exploring the infinite space of fraction size and scheduling to identify optimal fractionation schedules is through mathematical oncology simulations that allow for in silico evaluation. This review article explores the evidence that current fractionation promotes the development of radioresistance, summarizes mathematical solutions to account for radioresistance, both in the curative and non-curative setting, and reviews current clinical data investigating non-FED fractionated radiotherapy.

Pathfinders in oncology from the time the causal relation between tobacco use and lung cancer was established to publication of the first Cancer Staging Manual by the American Joint Committee on Cancer.

During the period from 1962 to 1977, several antigens, notably carcinoembryonic antigen and prostate-specific antigen, were discovered and entered clinical use. Ultrasonography, positron emission tomography scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging were introduced, and adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy after limited surgery became routine procedures. Radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry techniques were standardized. The announcement in England and the United States that tobacco is a potent lung carcinogen was long delayed, important news. The US Cancer Act of 1971 made it possible to experiment with newly discovered drugs, transfer promising therapeutic agents from the laboratory to the clinic, and finance randomized clinical trials. Oncologists achieved a series of successes with combination chemotherapy in childhood cancers, adult lymphomas, and testis tumors. Clinical trials demonstrated that breast-conserving therapy is as effective as mastectomy. The discovery of retroviruses, reverse transcriptase, and vascular endothelial growth factor was coupled with learning about oncogenes. The 2-hit theory and the reciprocal translocation of chromosomes helped to solve some of the riddles of oncogenesis. The staging classification of cancers by the American Joint Committee on Cancer unified clinical and pathologic handling and prognostication of malignant tumors. The progress made in oncology between 1962 and 1977 came about through the dedicated work of many individuals. However, there were 9 pathfinders (3 medical oncologists, 2 surgeons, 1 medical nuclear physicist, 1 pediatrician geneticist, 1 hematologist geneticist, and 1 virologist) who, despite their diverse backgrounds, personalities, and interest, made extraordinary contributions to oncology.

Global evolution of research on pulmonary nodules: a bibliometric analysis.

Aim: To provide a historical and global picture of research concerning lung nodules, compare the contributions of major countries and explore research trends over the past 10 years. Methods: A bibliometric analysis of publications from Scopus (1970-2020) and Web of Science (2011-2020). Results: Publications about pulmonary nodules showed an enormous growth trend from 1970 to 2020. There is a high level of collaboration among the 20 most productive countries and regions, with the USA located at the center of the collaboration network. The keywords 'deep learning', 'artificial intelligence' and 'machine learning' are current hotspots. Conclusions: Abundant research has focused on pulmonary nodules. Deep learning is emerging as a promising tool for lung cancer diagnosis and management.

Women in contemporary cancer research.

Despite recent advances, gender inequality persists in many scientific fields including medicine. Thus far, no study has extensively analyzed the gender composition of contemporary researchers in the oncology field. We examined 40 oncological journals (Web of Science, Oncology category) with different impact factors (Q1-Q4) and extracted all the articles and reviews published during 2015-2017 in order to identify the gender of their authors. Our data showed that women represent about 38% of all the authorships, both in articles and reviews. In relative terms, women are overrepresented as first authors of articles (43.8%), and clearly underrepresented as last or senior authors (<30%). This double pattern, also observed in other medical fields, suggests that age, or more specifically, seniority, may play some role in the gender composition of cancer researchers. Examining the pattern of collaboration, an interesting finding was observed: the articles signed by a woman in the first or in the last position roughly showed gender parity in the byline. We also found some differences in the content of the articles depending on which gender occupies the first and last positions of the authorships.

Pathfinders in oncology from the beginning of modern surgery of intracranial tumors to the introduction of the Pap smear.

During the period from 1922 to 1942, several carcinogens were identified in coal tar, industrial oils, and petroleum, and radium was added to x-ray as a potential carcinogen. It was proven that some viruses are capable of causing cancer, and the dependency of prostatic and mammary hyperplasia and carcinoma on naturally occurring hormones was established. Colon cancer was linked to hereditary and nonhereditary polyposis. A permanent place for diagnostic radiology was defined and radiation therapy advanced to preoperative and postoperative modalities using x-ray and radium. The trend toward the use of radical surgery for primary and metastatic cancers continued. Although several new radical surgical procedures were developed and advanced as far as the technical skills of surgeons and the anatomic setting permitted, several innovative, less radical procedures were introduced. In chemotherapy, the basic principle of the treatment of advanced cancers with hormones was inaugurated. Pathologists synthesized what was known in tumor pathology, named new microscopic entities, recognized carcinoma in situ, developed histologic grading and pathologic staging of cancers, and introduced aspiration cytology and exfoliative cytology as new fields in oncology. It is interesting that despite profound global economic, social, and political upheaval and wars and preparation for wars, writers and producers of musicals and movies presented more memorable works than ever before. In the fields of science and technology, particularly nuclear physics and chemistry, profound discoveries were made that became a permanent part of human life. The progress made in oncology between 1922 and 1942 came about through the dedicated work of many individuals. However, there were 7 pathfinders (3 surgeons, 2 pathologists, 1 physician-chemist, and 1 physician-cytologist) who, despite their widely diverse backgrounds, personalities, and interest, made outstanding contributions to oncology to the magnitude that they deserve a permanent place in the history of medicine and oncology.

Is ovarian cancer surgery stuck in the dark ages?: a commentary piece reviewing surgical technologies.

Ovarian cancer surgery endeavours to remove all visible tumour deposits, and surgical technologies could potentially facilitate this aim. However, there appear to be barriers around the adoption of new technologies, and we hope this article provokes discussion within the specialty to encourage a forward-thinking approach to new-age surgical gynaecological oncology.

History of Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) Lung Cancer Study Group.

The Japan Clinical Oncology Group Lung Cancer Study Group has been carrying out clinical studies, exploring new strategies of treatment, supportive therapies (antiemetics, etc.), etc., for a variety of cancers, including not only small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer but also rare chest tumours (represented by thymoma) and cancer-associated conditions (cancerous pericarditis, cancerous pleuritis, etc.). In this review, an overview of all studies conducted from 1985 to 2019 is provided.

Celebrating the career and contributions of Dr Henry T. Lynch (1928-2019).

This article celebrates the career of Dr Henry Lynch and his contributions to cancer genetics through his extensive research, clinical practice and his passion for personalising care by using a patient's genetic profile to determine management and treatment. Dr Lynch's contributions were momentous and continue to have relevance to medical practice, in particular in the fields of clinical genetics, medical oncology and gastroenterology.

An Interesting and Productive Research and Clinical Career.

To begin, I wish to thank the Academy of Toxicological Sciences for bestowing this honor on me. I have had a rewarding career in basic research and clinical medicine, beginning with research in high school and always planning on becoming a physician. I have had the good fortune of having outstanding mentors, wonderful parents, and a supportive and intuitive wife and family. This article provides a brief overview of some of the events of my career and individuals who have played a major role, beginning with the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Wisconsin, pathology residency and faculty at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts, a year as visiting professor at Nagoya City University, and my career at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since 1981. This could not have happened without the strong input and support from these individuals, the numerous students, residents and fellows with whom I have learned so much, and the more than 500 terrific collaborators.

Pathfinders in oncology from the end of the 19th century to the first description of Ewing sarcoma.

During the period 1884 to 1922, the only option in cases of operable cancers was radical surgery, and only a minority of patients were cured. Sporadic attempts were made to treat inoperable cancer patients with bacterial toxins; however, with the discovery of x-ray and radium, the era of radiation treatment as an alternative to surgery began. The discovery of transmissible cancers and experimental growth of cancer cells offered new information and not only led to a better understanding of the cellular composition of cancers but also yielded important information that ultimately paved the way to chemotherapy. These efforts also advanced the understanding of the pathogenesis of tumors and induced new clinical and pathologic classifications and subspecializations. It is important to emphasize that many of the initiatives and discoveries made in Europe in the second half of the 19th century were first put into clinical practice in the United States during the first 2 decades of the 20th century, including the use of x-ray and radium for irradiation and as diagnostic tools. All things considered, the progress made between 1884 and 1922 came about through the hard work of many eminent individuals; however, there were 7 foresighted pathfinders (3 surgeons, 2 pathologists, 1 internist, and 1 physicist) who-despite their widely diverse backgrounds, personalities, and expertise-made remarkable contributions to oncology to an extent that is still felt today.

The Gonzalez Best Case Series Presentation to the NCI: 25 Cases, 25 Years Later.

No Abstract Available.

French ccAFU guidelines ­ Update 2018­2020: Bladder cancer / Recommandations françaises du Comité de Cancérologie de l'AFU ­ Actualisation 2018­2020 : tumeurs de la vessie

Objective: To propose updated French guidelines for non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive (MIBC) bladder cancers. Methods: A Medline search was achieved between 2015 and 2018, as regards diagnosis, options of treatment and follow-up of bladder cancer, to evaluate different references with levels of evidence. Results: Diagnosis of NMIBC (Ta, T1, CIS) is based on a complete deep resection of the tumor. The use of fluorescence and a second-look indication are essential to improve initial diagnosis. Risks of both recurrence and progression can be estimated using the EORTC score. A stratification of patients into low, intermediate and high risk groups is pivotal for recommending adjuvant treatment: instillation of chemotherapy (immediate post-operative, standard schedule) or intravesical BCG (standard schedule and maintenance). Cystectomy is recommended in BCG-refractory patients. Extension evaluation of MIBC is based on contrast-enhanced pelvic-abdominal and thoracic CT-scan. Multiparametric MRI can be an alternative. Cystectomy associated with extended lymph nodes dissection is considered the gold standard for non-metastatic MIBC. It should be preceded by cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in eligible patients. An orthotopic bladder substitution should be proposed to both male and female patients with no contraindication and in cases of negative frozen urethral samples; otherwise transileal ureterostomy is recommended as urinary diversion. All patients should be included in an Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. For metastatic MIBC, first-line chemotherapy using platin is recommended (GC or MVAC), when performans status (PS < 1) and renal function (creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min) allow it (only in 50 % of cases). In second line treatment, immunotherapy with pembrolizumab demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival. Conclusion: These updated French guidelines will contribute to increase the level of urological care for the diagnosis and treatment for NMIBC and MIBC.

On the shoulders of Hubrecht: From embryos to stem cells.

One hundred years of the Hubrecht Institute were celebrated in May 2016 with the organization of a one-day symposium "From embryos to stem cells" on the Uithof Campus, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Nine distinguished speakers were invited. They all represent a research branch originating from the passion of Institute founder, Ambrosius Hubrecht, for embryology:, regulation of gene expression, genome structure and function, embryonic and adult stem cells, nuclear reprogramming, and understanding cancer and other diseases using model organisms. The centennial symposium not only retraced the history of the Institute and of modern developmental biology, but was also a tribute to basic research. From there, avenues to therapeutics are being developed and implemented. The symposium was organized, introduced and chaired by Jeroen den Hertog and Alexander van Oudenaarden, the present Directors of the Institute, who also stand on Hubrecht's shoulders.

Pathfinders in oncology from the beginning of the 19th century to the inauguration of the first cancer hospital in the United States.

The fields of medicine and oncology made substantial progress between 1800 and 1885. The first half of this period was dominated by the spectacular progress in physiology, cytology, histology, histopathology, and diagnostic microscopy. In the second half of the period, advancements in surgical techniques, anesthesia, asepsis, and laboratory medicine, including bacteriology, chemistry, and biochemistry, led to the development of medical specialties, including surgical pathology and surgical oncology. Although wars, revolutions, and socioeconomic upheavals interrupted the daily life of the populace, distinguished artists, scientists, and physicians continued, against all odds, to advance their field of interest. Among the many eminent individuals, there were 7 renowned physicians (4 pathologists and 3 surgeons) who revolutionized medical and oncology thinking in ways that are still felt today. They were polyglots with formidable erudition, beloved teachers, and mentors, and are remembered eponymically for their contributions to oncology to this day. As a passing note, the 3 surgeons also were skillful microscopists. Cancer 2018;124:230-41. © 2017 American Cancer Society.