To estimate the effect of adjuvant programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade after definitive local therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and assess certainty and applicability. We prospectively registered this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD420261491127). Randomized trials comparing adjuvant PD-1 or PD-L1 blockade with no systemic adjuvant therapy after definitive local treatment for MCC were identified through six databases, registries, congress sources, reference lists, and citation searches through September 9, 2026. Two reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and certainty. Hazard ratios (HRs) for recurrence or death were pooled using random-effects modified Hartung–Knapp inference. Four randomized trials were eligible; 3 trials with results included 572 participants. All point estimates favored blockade, but each confidence interval (CI) included the null. The pooled HR for recurrence or death was 0.70 (95
Pretreatment antibiotic exposure has been associated with inferior outcomes during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, but whether this reflects an ICI specific effect or underlying clinical vulnerability remains uncertain. Adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with ICIs from 2015 through 2024 were identified in the TriNetX Research Network. Recent antibiotic exposure was defined as systemic antibiotic use during days 30 to 1 before ICI initiation. Propensity score matching balanced clinical and treatment-related covariates. Primary outcomes were all cause mortality at 90 and 365 days. Sensitivity analyses included landmarking, remote exposure, infection stratification, and a non-ICI comparator. Among 68,723 patients, 19,080 had recent antibiotic exposure; 17,955 per group remained after matching. Mortality was higher with antibiotic exposure at 90 days (17.7
To evaluate perioperative complications, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients undergoing resection for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) at a specialized oncology center in Medellín, Colombia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted including 73 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for RPS between 2016 and 2025. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Factors associated with OS were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. The cohort was predominantly female (63.0
To assess the prognostic impact of lung dose on non-metastatic lung cancer patients in the era of immunotherapy. In this retrospective, single-institution study, 69 patients with non-metastatic lung cancer who received chest radiotherapy (RT) between October 2018 and July 2025 were enrolled, including 45 who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) prior to RT. Clinical characteristics, treatments, prognosis, and RT parameters were analyzed. Of the 69 patients, 46.4
To determine whether residential distance to a tertiary radiotherapy centre is associated with overall survival among patients receiving non-palliative radiotherapy, while accounting for diagnostic heterogeneity and repeated treatment episodes. We conducted a retrospective single-centre cohort study of patients receiving non-palliative radiotherapy for six prevalent cancer groups. The first eligible treatment episode per patient defined the primary cohort. Orthodromic distance was evaluated in five categories, continuously and with restricted cubic splines. Cox regression was stratified by diagnosis and adjusted for age, sex and mobility. Secondary analyses examined clinical-variable availability, models with available stage and/or ECOG, diagnosis-by-distance heterogeneity, treatment intent, fractionation, treatment year and all eligible episodes with patient-clustered robust standard errors. The primary analysis included 5,690 patients and 1,012 deaths. Median distance was 14.4 km; 94.3
