Citations

ABSTRACT Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) is a member of the TNF superfamily whose normal bodily distribution is largely limited to low level expression on lymphoid cells. It has emerged as an important inducible receptor that activates a signaling pathway for cancer growth. We evaluated sTNFR2 as a prognostic biomarker for overall survival (OS) in newly diagnosed lymphoma using a prospective cohort study with banked pretreatment serum samples. sTNFR2 was higher in 1513 lymphoma patients compared to 499 age and sex matched controls ( p < 0.0001). Using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios [HR] (high vs. low tertile), higher levels of sTNFR2 at diagnosis were associated with inferior OS across all seven major lymphoma subtypes: Hodgkin lymphoma ( p < 0.0001; HR = 12.6), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma ( p < 0.0001; HR = 2.6), follicular lymphoma ( p = 0.00017; HR = 2.5), mantle cell lymphoma ( p < 0.0001; HR = 4.2), small lymphocytic lymphoma ( p = 0.012; HR = 2.4), marginal zone lymphoma ( p = 0.0012; HR = 3.1), and T‐cell lymphoma ( p < 0.0001; HR = 3.1). Using CITE‐seq profiling of tumor microenvironment tissue, we sought to identify cellular source(s) of circulating sTNFR2. In tumor tissue from follicular lymphoma, high TNFR2‐expressing cells were found to be T‐regulatory (Treg) cells, suggestive of a Treg‐driven cancer. In tissue from a case of marginal zone lymphoma, high TNFR2 expression was found on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, and monocytes but also directly on tumor cells. We conclude sTNRF2 is a strong prognostic biomarker of OS across major lymphoma subtypes and may be useful to guide therapeutic choices, including targeted therapies against immunosuppressive TNFR2‐expressing Tregs.

ABSTRACT Introduction and Methods Cancer therapy–related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a well established and potentially life‐threatening complication of contemporary oncologic treatment. Although comprehensive cardio‐oncology guidelines have been developed, their integration into routine hematology and oncology practice remains inconsistent. This consensus statement, developed by a multidisciplinary panel of cardio‐oncology experts, aims to provide practical, case‐based guidance to help oncology providers recognize, assess, and manage CTRCD across a spectrum of malignancies and cardiovascular presentations. Clinical Scenarios and Discussion We present representative clinical scenarios that illustrate real‐world challenges in cardio‐oncology and apply evidence‐based recommendations from current guidelines, including those from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the International Cardio‐Oncology Society (ICOS)—to support informed decision‐making. Key areas of focus include baseline cardiovascular risk stratification prior to initiating potentially cardiotoxic therapies, with an emphasis on biomarker and imaging surveillance strategies tailored to individual risk profiles. Also, this document outlines the application of guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) for cancer patients with heart failure. Conclusion By offering a structured, user‐friendly framework, this document seeks to bridge the implementation gap between oncology and cardiology disciplines. Our goal is to equip oncology providers with accessible tools that facilitate early recognition, consistent surveillance, and timely referral, thereby preserving cancer treatment intensity while minimizing cardiovascular morbidity.

There have been no large comparisons of the clinical and laboratory features of familial neonatal hemophagocytosis (f-nHLH) and infectious neonatal hemophagocytosis (i-nHLH). The objectives of this study were the following: (1) Describe the demographic, diagnostic, and clinical features of patients with familial nHLH (F-nHLH) and infectious HLH (i-nHLH). (2) Compare key variables between f-nHLH and i-nHLH. (3) Compare the clinical outcomes of f-nHLH and i-nHLH. (4) Summarize literature on cytokine levels in patients with nHLH. Data from a previously published nHLH meta-analysis report were used to describe and compare features of infants with f-nHLH versus i-nHLH. Variables were tested with the χ 2 test or Fisher exact test, Cochran-Armitage test, independent 2-sample t test, or Wilcoxon rank-sum test as appropriate. Odds ratios were calculated for any comparison with a P -value of <0.05. Data extracted from 99 cases of f-nHLH and 54 cases of i-nHLH were included in this analysis. Infants with f-HLH met HLH criteria at the following rates: fever (84%); organomegaly (100%); pancytopenia (75%); hypofibrinogenemia (84%); hypertriglyceridemia (48%); hypofibrinogenemia or hypertriglyceridemia (82%); hemophagocytosis (81%); hyperferritinemia (99%); low or absent NK cell activity (91%); and elevated soluble CCD25 (91%). Infants with i-nHLH had higher median ferritin levels (22,537 ng/mL) than infants with f-nHLH (7587 ng/mL) ( P =0.072). Infants with f-nHLH had higher rates of symptoms in utero, preterm birth, family history of HLH, and family history of infant death. The overall survival among infants with familial nHLH was lower than infectious nHLH ( P =0.037). Management of nHLH requires rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment, as current literature suggests nHLH has high mortality rates. Distinguishing between familial and infectious causes of nHLH can aid in determining the correct treatment of choice.

Few pharmacologic options exist for patients with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia (CRS) or schizoaffective disorder. Xanomeline/trospium represents a new class of antipsychotic medication that has efficacy as monotherapy for schizophrenia. Despite distinct mechanistic differences from standard antipsychotics, phase III evidence suggest limited benefit of xanomeline/trospium in the augmentation of non-clozapine antipsychotics. Research on the use of xanomeline/trospium in patients with clozapine-resistant illness or with partial response to clozapine is even more limited. Two cases of this combination are described with a discussion on key considerations for the management of CRS. The first case is a 42-year-old patient whose clozapine dose was limited by supratherapeutic clozapine levels in response to minor infections. She was ultimately stabilized on a combination of clozapine and xanomeline/trospium, with yet further improvements from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The second case is a 31-year-old patient who elected to discontinue clozapine and ECT due to cognitive side effects, despite improvement in psychosis. The addition of xanomeline/trospium to clozapine caused sialorrhea and did not produce observable clinical benefits and was thus discontinued. These case reports describe clozapine-resistant patients who were trialed on xanomeline/trospium combined with clozapine and still required consideration of ECT for symptom control. Overall, future investigation into xanomeline/trospium effectiveness as an augmentation agent or as monotherapy for CRS is necessary to guide clinical decision-making.

ABSTRACT Purpose Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK) is a rare, aggressive tumor seen in young children. The optimal timing of resection for locally advanced tumors is not well‐defined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate modern oncologic outcomes and the impact of surgical timing. Methods A multicenter retrospective review was performed by institutions participating in the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative. Children younger than 21 years old with MRTK diagnosed between 2000 and 2022 were included. Results Sixty‐nine patients were identified with MRTK and met the inclusion criteria. Median age of diagnosis was 10.1 months. Overall survival (OS) at 1, 5, and 10 years was 49%, 32%, and 19%, respectively. Patients with local Stage III disease who underwent upfront resection ( n = 18) compared to those who had delayed resection after NAT ( n = 15) had a similar OS, median OS greater than 60 months versus 14.6 months, respectively; p = 0.396. The surgical timing groups were balanced in terms of the presence of metastasis, length of follow‐up, and tumor characteristics. There was one occurrence of primary intraoperative tumor spill and two occurrences of organ injury in the upfront resection group compared to none in the delayed resection group. Conclusion MRTK carries a poor prognosis despite multimodal treatment. Histologic diagnosis may not be confirmed at presentation, and MRTK cannot be reliably distinguished from Wilms tumor on imaging alone. As overall survival is similar, the decision regarding surgical timing in locally advanced tumors should be individualized based on perceived resectability, balancing the risk of intraoperative complications against the possibility of tumor progression during neoadjuvant therapy.

ABSTRACT Background The optimal long‐term antithrombotic strategy after apparently successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains uncertain, particularly in patients who meet conventional guideline thresholds for oral anticoagulation (OAC). Objectives To compare continuation versus cessation strategies of long‐term OAC after successful AF ablation and to quantify net clinical benefit (NCB) integrating thromboembolic and bleeding outcomes. Methods We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase from inception through February 2026 for randomized and comparative observational studies evaluating long‐term OAC continuation versus cessation (no OAC and/or switch to aspirin) after successful AF ablation. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB2 for randomized trials and a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies. Random‐effects meta‐analyses used a restricted maximum likelihood estimator with Hartung–Knapp adjustment. NCB was calculated as: thromboembolic event rate − (1.5 × major bleeding rate). Results Six studies met the inclusion criteria (four randomized trials and two observational cohorts). Stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) events were reported in six studies and were not significantly different between OAC continuation and cessation strategies (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.24–1.99; p = 0.49). Systemic embolism (three studies) did not differ between groups ( p = 0.12). Major bleeding (five studies) was numerically higher with continued OAC but not statistically significant (OR 2.07; 95% CI 0.88–4.86; p = 0.09). In NCB analysis, continued OAC yielded more negative or near‐neutral NCB values, whereas, the cessation strategies were less negative or marginally positive; the fixed‐effect risk difference in NCB (continued OAC vs cessation) was +0.00067 (95% CI −0.00279 to +0.00413). Conclusion This meta‐analysis suggests that after successful AF ablation, continuing OAC does not significantly reduce stroke risk compared to cessation or switching to aspirin, but it may increase major bleeding. While NCB trends favor cessation, the low absolute event rates and the risk of silent AF recurrence necessitate caution.