BACKGROUND/AIM To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and cisplatin (TGP) as second-line treatment for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). PATIENTS AND METHODS This study comprised advanced UC progressed after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Advanced UC was defined as a non-resectable (T4b, any N or any T, or N2-3) or metastatic disease. Twenty-one patients were included in this study. TGP was administered every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR); the secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. RESULTS The ORR with TGP was 23.8%; the median PFS and OS were 4 and 8.4 months, respectively. The primary side effect was myelosuppression. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 71.4% and 42.9%, respectively. There were no toxic deaths. CONCLUSION TGP is moderately effective and tolerable as second-line chemotherapy for patients with UC. BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study was to clarify the risk benefits of folinic acid, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus ramucirumab (F-RAM) as third-line and later-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS We compared the overall survival (OS), adverse events (AEs), and cost of F-RAM to those of trifluridine/tipiracil combination tablet (TAS-102). RESULTS There was no significant difference in the median OS [6.1 (range=1.2-16.3) months vs. 6.1 (range=1.2-22.3) months; log-rank test, p=0.272] and treatment duration [4.0 (range=1.2-9.6) months vs. 3.5 (range=0.2-12.3) months, p=0.888] between the F-RAM (n=13) and the TAS-102 (n=36) groups. However, AEs were more frequent in the F-RAM group, and 1-year administration of F-RAM cost higher ($81,724.8 vs. $18,931.4, p less then 0.001). CONCLUSION F-RAM as third-line and later-line treatment for mCRC has a poor risk benefit. TAS-102 should be given priority over F-RAM. BACKGROUND/AIM The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for stage II/III esophageal cancer (EC). PATIENTS AND METHODS We compared surgical outcomes between MIE and open esohagectomy in EC patients with pStage II/III using the propensity scoring system. RESULTS Fifty-seven patients were classified into the MIE group and 57 patients into the open esophagectomy (OE) group. The incidence of major complications was similar between the two groups. The 5-year OS was significantly better in the MIE group (69.0% vs. 35.5%; p=0.004) and no significant difference was observed in the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS, 52.2% vs. 29.2%; p=0.064). Multivariate analysis showed MIE was a prognostic factor of OS (p less then 0.001) and RFS (p=0.032). CONCLUSION MIE was as safe and feasible as OE, and an independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS in patients with stage II/III EC. BACKGROUND/AIM The utility of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) monotherapy in patients with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has not been fully evaluated. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of nab-PTX monotherapy in relapsed SCLC patients, including heavily treated patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed data from 17 patients with relapsed SCLC who were treated with weekly nab-PTX monotherapy at our hospital. We also reviewed past studies on nab-PTX monotherapy for relapsed SCLC. RESULTS The response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 29.4%, 48 days (95%CI=33-89), and 134 days (95%CI=64-223), respectively. The most common adverse event of grade ≥3 was leukopenia (17.6%), followed by neutropenia, neuropathy, fatigue, and infections. Our results were consistent with previous studies. CONCLUSION The efficacy of nab-PTX monotherapy for heavily treated relapsed SCLC patients might be moderate. Further studies to improve outcomes are warranted. BACKGROUND/AIM The efficacy of the combination of amrubicin and bevacizumab against advanced non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as a second or third-line treatment, was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Amrubicin was administered for 3 days to patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC, whereas bevacizumab was administered on day 1 of each cycle; this regimen was repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS Among the 16 patients, an overall response rate of 12.5% (for two patients) was achieved, and the overall disease control rate was 93.7%. Progression free survival and overall survival were 8.5 and 16.6 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 haematological toxicities were leukopenia, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia. Grade 3 proteinuria and infection were the non haematological adverse events.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/takinib.html  CONCLUSION The combination of amrubicin and bevacizumab is a promising regimen in the second or third-line treatment for advanced non-squamous NSCLC; however, physicians must recognise the risk of proteinuria related with this regimen. BACKGROUND/AIM This study aimed to determine whether a pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PPAL) improves survival compared with a pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL) in patients with endometrial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from all women operated for endometrial cancer between 1998 and 2013 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Women treated with PL were matched with those treated with PPAL according to age and risk of recurrence. The primary endpoint was disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS A total of 1015 patients who underwent PL were matched with 1015 patients who underwent PPAL. The 3-year DSS probabilities for patients at intermediate- and high-risk (IHR) of recurrence were similar in the PPAL group and the PL group. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors indicated that in patients with an IHR of recurrence, PPAL did not reduce the risk of death compared with PL. CONCLUSION For patients with an IHR of recurrence, the extent of lymphadenectomy does not impact DSS. BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) activation triggers multiple signaling pathways involved in proliferation and anti-apoptosis in breast cancer (BC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemistry for IGF1R was performed on 50 BC cases; expression was assessed for staining intensity and localization pattern (mixed, membranous, and cytoplasmic) which was correlated to hormone receptor status. RESULTS Of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cases, 97.2% were IGF1R+ (48.6% mixed, 43.2% membranous, and 5.4% cytoplasmic pattern) compared to ER- cases (38.5%, 7.7% and 30.8%, respectively) (p=0.003). In progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) cases, 97.2% were IGF1R+, (47.2%, 41.7% and 8.3%, respectively) compared to PR- ones (42.9%, 14.3% and 21.4%, respectively) (p=0.036). For human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) cases, 88.8% were IGF1R+ (44.4%, 8.3% and 36.1%, respectively). All HER2+ cases were IGF1R+ (71.4%, 7.1% and 21.4%, respectively) (p=0.015). In conclusion, hormone receptor-positive HER2- cases showed membranous and mixed IGF1R localization.