The Performance and Clinical Applicability of HER2 Digital Image Analysis in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aims to address the research gap in the performance of computational algorithms for the digital image analysis of HER2 images in clinical settings. While numerous studies have explored various aspects of these algorithms, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluation regarding their effectiveness in real-world clinical applications. We conducted a search of the Web of Science and PubMed databases for studies published from 31 December 2013 to 30 June 2024, focusing on performance effectiveness and components such as dataset size, diversity and source, ground truth, annotation, and validation methods. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024525404). Key questions guiding this review include the following: How effective are current computational algorithms at detecting HER2 status in digital images? What are the common validation methods and dataset characteristics used in these studies? Is there standardization of algorithm evaluations of clinical applications that can improve the clinical utility and reliability of computational tools for HER2 detection in digital image analysis? We identified 6833 publications, with 25 meeting the inclusion criteria. The accuracy rate with clinical datasets varied from 84.19% to 97.9%. The highest accuracy was achieved on the publicly available Warwick dataset at 98.8% in synthesized datasets. Only 12% of studies used separate datasets for external validation; 64% of studies used a combination of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 as a set of performance measures. Despite the high accuracy rates reported in these studies, there is a notable absence of direct evidence supporting their clinical application. To facilitate the integration of these technologies into clinical practice, there is an urgent need to address real-world challenges and overreliance on internal validation. Standardizing study designs on real clinical datasets can enhance the reliability and clinical applicability of computational algorithms in improving the detection of HER2 cancer.

Burden of major cancer types in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death, with a growing burden also observed in Kazakhstan. This study evaluates the burden of common cancers in Almaty, Kazakhstan's major city, from 2017 to 2021, utilizing data from the Information System of the Ministry of Health. In Kazakhstan, most common cancers among men include lung, stomach, and prostate cancer, while breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers are predominant among women. Employing measures like disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), we found that selected cancer types accounted for a total DALY burden of 25,016.60 in 2021, with mortality contributing more than disability (95.2% vs. 4.7%) with the ratio of non-fatal to fatal outcomes being 1.4 times higher in women than in men. The share of non-fatal burden (YLD) proportion within DALYs increased for almost all selected cancer types, except stomach and cervical cancer over the observed period in Almaty. Despite the overall increase in cancer burden observed during the time period, a downward trend in specific cancers suggests the efficacy of implemented cancer control strategies. Comparison with global trends highlights the significance of targeted interventions. This analysis underscores the need for continuous comprehensive cancer control strategies in Almaty and Kazakhstan, including vaccination against human papillomavirus, stomach cancer screening programs, and increased cancer awareness initiatives.

Gynecologic oncology training systems in Europe: a report from the European network of young gynaecological oncologists.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study were to highlight some of the differences in training systems and opportunities for training in gynecologic oncology across Europe and to draw attention to steps that can be taken to improve training prospects and experiences of European trainees in gynecologic oncology. METHODS: The European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives from 34 countries were asked to review and summarize the training system in their countries of origin and fulfill a mini-questionnaire evaluating different aspects of training. We report analysis of outcomes of the mini-questionnaire and subsequent discussion at the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention meeting in Istanbul (April 2010). RESULTS: Training fellowships in gynecologic oncology are offered by 18 countries (53%). The median duration of training is 2.5 years (interquartile range, 2.0-3.0 years). Chemotherapy administration is part of training in 70.5% (24/34) countries. Most of the countries (26/34) do not have a dedicated national gynecologic-oncology journal. All trainees reported some or good access to training in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques, whereas 41% indicated no access, and 59% some access to training opportunities in robotic surgery. European countries were grouped into 3 different categories on the basis of available training opportunities in gynecologic oncology: well-structured, moderately structured, and loosely structured training systems. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for further harmonization and standardization of training programs and structures in gynecologic oncology across Europe. This is of particular relevance for loosely structured countries that lag behind the moderately structured and well-structured ones.