This study examined changes in practice patterns and outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) over the past 20 years. Data were analyzed from a Japanese nationwide registry of consecutive adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent allogeneic HCT between 2001 and 2020. The study population included 17,553 patients, of whom 6653 underwent allogeneic HCT in 2001–2010 and 10,900 in 2011–2020. Patients in the later period were older, were more likely to be in first complete remission, and more frequently received umbilical cord blood transplantation. After adjusting for major covariates, the 2011–2020 cohort had lower risks of overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95
To quantitatively evaluate changes in portal venous hemodynamics after partial splenic embolization (PSE) and portosystemic shunt occlusion (PSO) using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This retrospective cohort study included 30 procedures (16 PSE and 14 PSO) performed between 2019 and 2025. Flow rates were measured in the main portal vein (MPV), splenic vein (SpV), superior mesenteric vein (SMV), and portosystemic shunts (PSS) using pre- and post-procedural 4D flow MRI. For PSE, correlations were assessed between changes in MPV and SpV flow, and between vessel-specific flow change ratios and the embolic volume ratio. For PSO, changes in MPV flow were compared based on whether all PSS were treated, and correlation was assessed between flow changes in MPV and PSS flow. After PSE, MPV flow decreased (median, 751.0 to 441.5 mL/min; p = 0.025) as did SpV flow (482.5 to 323.0 mL/min; p = 0.001), whereas SMV flow remained unchanged. Changes in MPV and SpV flow were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.726, p = 0.002). The embolic volume ratio showed a moderate correlation with the SpV flow change ratio (ρ = 0.563, p = 0.036), but not with the MPV flow change ratio. After PSO, MPV flow increased (544.5 to 692.5 mL/min; p < 0.001), along with SpV flow (63.0 to 231.5 mL/min; p = 0.001), while SMV flow did not change significantly. The increase in MPV flow was greater when all PSS were treated than when they were not (140.0 vs. 17.0 mL/min; p = 0.019), and was not correlated with PSS flow. 4D flow MRI demonstrates that PSE decreases portal and splenic venous flow, whereas PSO increases both. These findings provide quantitative insight into complex treatment-related hemodynamic changes in the portal venous system.
Second-line FOLFIRI plus ramucirumab (RAM) is one of standard treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) following progression on anti-EGFR therapy in RAS wild-type tumors. However, biomarkers for RAM efficacy remain unclear. We conducted a translational analysis to evaluate the association of plasma biomarkers, including angiogenesis-related factors (AFs) and RAS mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), with clinical outcomes. This biomarker study was embedded within the JACCRO CC-16 trial, which enrolled patients with mCRC with RAS wild-type tumors receiving FOLFIRI plus RAM after anti-EGFR therapy. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, day 15, and post-treatment. RAS status in ctDNA was analyzed using BEAMing digital PCR; AFs were assessed using Luminex multiplex assay. Associations with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were analyzed. Among 41 evaluable patients with RAS wild-type tumors, RAS mutations were detected in ctDNA at pretreatment in 44
Ramucirumab has shown efficacy in combination with paclitaxel in the second-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). The efficacy and safety regarding the combination therapy of ramucirumab and docetaxel have not been reported. This treatment could reduce the incidence of neuropathy and patients’ hospital visits. This was a multicenter, single-arm phase II trial. Patients with AGC who were refractory or intolerant to primary treatment were eligible. Patients received ramucirumab at a dose of 8 mg/kg on day1 and 15, and docetaxel at a dose of 60 mg/m2 on day1 of a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), relative dose intensity, and safety. A final analysis of efficacy and safety was performed in 35 patients. ORR was 25.7
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially life-threatening condition, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is highly sensitive for detecting myocardial inflammation. However, corticosteroid therapy may alter myocardial metabolism, complicating the interpretation of FDG PET. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of corticosteroid therapy on physiological myocardial FDG uptake and assess the utility of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and free fatty acids (FFA) in distinguishing physiological from pathological uptake. We retrospectively analyzed FDG PET/CT scans of 40 CS patients who underwent paired scans before and after corticosteroid therapy, following prolonged fasting (> 18 h). The frequency of physiological myocardial FDG uptake was compared, and FPG and FFA levels were assessed as predictors using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Exploratory analyses were also performed to assess metabolic changes across different levels of corticosteroid exposure. Physiological myocardial FDG uptake significantly increased after corticosteroid therapy (from 2.5
