British Journal of Cancer

BackgroundCystoscopy is a core component of haematuria investigations but is invasive and resource-intensive. GALEAS Bladder is a DNA-based diagnostic urine test that measures alterations in 23 bladder cancer-associated genes. ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of GALEAS Bladder as a molecular triage tool in real-world haematuria investigation pathways. MethodsPatients referred for urgent investigation of haematuria were prospectively enrolled across seven UK NH...

PurposePrognosis in metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (mNSGCT) is currently guided by the IGCCCG classification, which incorporates tumor markers, organs involved with metastatic disease, and primary site but not histologic subtype. We aimed to evaluate whether specific histological components provide additional prognostic information in a large international mNSGCT cohort. Patient and MethodsWe analyzed clinical, pathologic, and outcome data from 662 patients with mNSGCT across mult...

BackgroundTamoxifen is a cornerstone of endocrine treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, reducing recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality. However, its use is associated with a small, yet clinically relevant, increase in uterine cancer. As diagnosis of this cancer remains symptom-triggered, it is essential for patients to be aware of this risk and report symptoms promptly for optimal outcomes. We therefore assessed risk awareness among breast cancer survivors while explor...

BackgroundGastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and is associated with poor prognosis, placing a considerable burden on public health. Overall treatment outcomes remain unsatisfactory, and accurate lymph node staging is essential for optimizing therapeutic strategies and improving survival. This study aimed to compare the prognostic value of different lymph node staging systems in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and to provide a more refined prognostic assessment t...

Purpose: Tumor genomic testing (TGT) is standard-of-care for most patients with advanced/metastatic cancer. Despite established guidelines, patient education prior to TGT is frequently omitted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact and durability of a concise 3-4 minute video for patient education prior to TGT in community versus academic sites and across cancer types. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing standard-of-care TGT were enrolled at a tertiary academic institution ...

Background and ObjectivePatients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) undergoing radical surgery are at high risk of developing intravesical recurrences (IVR). The biology of IVR after surgery for UTUC is poorly understood, and urine markers to replace cystoscopic surveillance of the bladder are lacking. Here, we characterized the genomic landscape of UTUC and paired IVR to discover therapeutic targets and identify diagnostic markers for IVR. MethodsWe performed targeted next-ge...

BackgroundThe genetic architecture of Breast Cancer (BC) in Arab populations remains largely understudied, limiting the precision of current prevention and screening programs. The Emirati Genome Program (EGP), one of the worlds first nation-wide sequencing initiatives, offers an unprecedented opportunity to delineate inherited BC risk across an entire population. MethodsWe analyzed 436,780 EGP individuals, including 229,309 women, integrating whole-genome sequencing (WGS) with electronic health...

BackgroundThe NHS-Galleri trial reported a substantial reduction in Stage IV cancer diagnoses and a four-fold increase in cancer detection rates, but did not meet its primary endpoint of reducing combined Stage III+IV diagnoses in a prespecified group of 12 cancers. We hypothesize that stage slip-- progression of cancers from Stage I/II to Stage III during diagnostic workup--is the primary mechanism behind this statistical masking. MethodsWe developed a Monte Carlo simulation of 142,000 partici...

BackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. The poor prognosis is largely attributed to late-stage diagnosis, pronounced tumor heterogeneity, and limited therapeutic efficacy. These challenges underscore the urgent need for the identification of robust molecular biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. MethodsGene expression data from a total of 146 pancreatic tissue samples, comprising 72 normal and 74 tumor s...

ObjectiveTo explore the application value of dual-staining for specific AT sequence binding protein 2 (SATB2) immunohistochemistry and elastic lamina in detecting elastic lamina invasion (ELI) in pT3 colon cancer, and to assess its association with clinicopathological characteristics, staging, and prognosis. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study enrolled 176 pT3 colon cancer patients who underwent radical resection at Affiliated Jinhua Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The deepe...

BackgroundThe management of residual axillary disease after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) remains controversial, as current recommendations often treat ypN1 breast cancer as a homogeneous entity despite potential prognostic heterogeneity. Evidence supporting uniform axillary surgical strategies across different levels of residual nodal burden is limited. We investigated whether survival associations related to axillary surgical evaluation differ according to residual nodal burden in ypN1 disease, us...

BackgroundThe province of Quebec has progressively implemented paired tumour-germline sequencing in paediatric oncology through two coordinated precision research programs, preceding a province-wide mainstream clinical genomics initiative. We report the prevalence, spectrum, and clinical relevance of germline findings (GFs) in children with primary extracranial cancers, integrating molecular, phenotypic, and pathological data. MethodsPatients enrolled between 2014 and 2022 underwent germline wh...

BackgroundAlthough DCIS has a relatively low recurrence rate, many patients still receive adjuvant radiotherapy or endocrine therapy, raising concerns about overtreatment. Reliable biomarkers are therefore needed to predict an individual patients risk and guide treatment decisions. Recent studies suggest that the composition of the tumour-associated stroma (TAS) affects progression and outcome, highlighting TAS-derived biomarkers as promising candidates for further investigation. MethodsWe trai...

Recurrence scores based on a 21-gene assay are clinically useful for predicting prognosis and chemotherapy benefit in postmenopausal node-positive breast cancer patients, but its performance in premenopausal patients is inconsistent. Here, we evaluated Ataraxis Breast RISK (ATX), an AI test that predicts recurrence risk, and compared it with the genomic assay. ATX identified high risk patients misclassified as low risk by the genomic assay and therefore may refine selection of patients for adjuv...

IntroductionBRCA1/2 alterations are increasingly recognized as biologically and clinically relevant features in prostate cancer, yet the prognostic and therapeutic significance of zygosity status remains uncertain. Understanding differences between monoallelic and biallelic inactivation may refine risk stratification and guide therapeutic decision-making. Materials and MethodsA retrospective, desk-based observational analysis was performed using publicly accessible datasets from TCGA-PRAD (prim...

BackgroundColorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains a significant cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Right- and left-sided tumours differ in clinical, morphological, and molecular features. Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumours, often right-sided, are associated with distinct histopathological characteristics and prognostic implications. In Sri Lanka, molecular MSI testing is currently unavailable, highlighting the need for alternative predictive approaches. ObjectivesGeneral...

BackgroundLeptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a serious complication of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with poor survival. This single-institution retrospective study compares overall survival (OS) among MBC patients with LMD based on CSF parameters (glucose, protein, and WBC count) MethodologyMBC patients who were diagnosed with LMD between 2010-2023 at Wilmot Cancer Institute were screened for eligibility. Only those with available data on CSF glucose, protein, and WBC count were included. OS was...

PurposeCastration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is characterized by marked clinical heterogeneity and poor long-term survival, underscoring the need for tools that can rapidly and reliably individualize patient risk. While several prognostic models exist, their complexity has limited routine clinical use. Here, we developed and validated PROGRESS (PROstate cancer Global Risk Evaluation and Stratification Score), a simplified prognostic score, derived through machine learning-guided feature se...

ObjectivesCervical cancer is a preventable disease, and a properly implemented screening programme can reduce its incidence and mortality and potentially save resources. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of options for potential transformation of the nationwide screening programme in the Czech Republic, especially considering recent changes in HPV DNA testing recommendations. MethodsA microsimulation model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness and health benefits of a...

BackgroundQuality-of-life (QoL) assessment is essential in breast cancer care, yet limited evidence describes how interrelated QoL domains change during pharmacotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate correlations among functional and symptom scales using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23, highlighting their ability to reveal multidimensional QoL patterns. MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in two second-referral hospitals in Indonesia, enrolling 106 female breast cancer patients...