Research Appraisals
Evidence-based critical appraisals of the latest medical research, systematically evaluated using Oxford CEBM methodology.
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Molecular biology reports
Metabolic signatures of triple-negative breast cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), being one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast malignancies, is characterized by poor prognosis and limited treatment options. As a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, TNBC poses unique clinical challenges due to the absence of effective targeted therapies. Conventional treatment strategies, including chemotherapy, often suffer from significant drawbacks such as drug resistance and intolerable side effects, underscoring an urgent need for innovative approaches to improve therapeutic outcomes. A defining hallmark of TNBC is its markedly altered cellular metabolism, which not only supports tumor growth and survival but also contributes to therapy resistance. Elucidating these metabolic alterations could provide critical insights into potential vulnerabilities that may be exploited for therapeutic intervention. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the major metabolic pathways that are dysregulated in TNBC and their relevance to disease progression and therapeutic intervention. Finally, we explore recent advances in metabolomics-driven precision medicine, highlighting the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches, covering aspects such as data processing, feature selection, and model construction that can accelerate the advancement of personalized treatment strategies for TNBC.
18 July 2026
Read appraisal →Radiation protection dosimetry
Impact of neutron sieve therapy for deep site in boron neutron capture therapy using Monte Carlo calculation
Recent Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has shifted to accelerator-based systems. One of them is a compact neutron generator developed using silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors by Fukushima SiC Applied Technology Co. However, neutron penetration remains a critical challenge for treating deep-seated tumors. This study investigated the potential of neutron sieve therapy, originally developed to enhance the depth dose distribution in X-ray therapy, to improve BNCT dose distribution via Monte Carlo simulations based on the Fukushima SiC BNCT system. Dose distribution changes were investigated using polyethylene and 6LiF-plastic in block and sieve shapes. The results show that the maximum thermal neutron fluence depth was shallower (deeper) with polyethylene (6LiF-plastic) filters. The sieve filter moderately altered the dose distribution compared to the block filter due to density differences. The maximum dose point shifted 8 mm deeper using a sieve filter composed of 6LiF-plastic and polyethylene, with a 5.5% increase at 20 mm depth in neutron fluence at the same skin dose.
8 July 2026
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