It is with great pleasure that we present the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Oncology & Haematology. This issue highlights the remarkable progress and innovation shaping the fields of oncology and haematology, featuring
articles that delve into both emerging therapies and the evolving understanding of complex malignancies.
We open with an editorial by Mohammad Ammad Ud Din and colleagues, exploring the role of online public interest as a marker of health awareness. Their study on breast cancer search trends in Pakistan offers a unique perspective on how digital tools can amplify the reach and effectiveness of public health campaigns.
This is followed by a review from Diana Zhang and collaborators, examining the dynamic landscape of endocrine and biologic treatments for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The article provides valuable insights into overcoming treatment resistance and optimizing therapy combinations, promising better outcomes for patients.
Further into the issue, Gabriel Valagni et al. shed light on the combined use of trifluridine/tipiracil and bevacizumab in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Their analysis underscores the potential of this regimen in enhancing survival and lays the groundwork for its expanded application in treatment paradigms.
A review by Celine Hoyek and her team focuses on targeting KRAS G12C mutations in gastrointestinal malignancies. This piece captures the transformative potential of KRAS inhibitors while addressing the challenges of resistance, paving the way for future combination strategies.
Additional reviews include advancements in immunotherapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the paradigm-shifting role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in mesothelioma treatment, and promising data on cabozantinib plus atezolizumab in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Each of these contributions underscores the relentless pursuit of more effective, personalized and innovative therapies.
The editors of touchREVIEWS in Oncology & Haematology would like to thank the authors for their exceptional contributions and to our reviewers and editorial board for their commitment to maintaining the high standards of this journal. We also acknowledge the invaluable support of our society partners for their on-going support. We hope this issue serves as a rich resource for ongoing education and inspiration in your clinical and research endeavours.
Axel S Merseburger
Axel Merseburger is Professor of Urology and Chairman of the Department of Urology at University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany. After graduating from Hannover Medical School in 2002, he carried out a residency in surgery and urology at the Eberhard Karls University, in Tübingen, followed by a research fellowship at the Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA (2006). He became Associate Professor in 2009 and full Professor in 2012 at Hannover Medical School. In 2015 was promoted to become chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Lübeck. He is trained in all aspects if open and endoscopic urology and has a particular interest in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery, particularly for the management of prostate, renal and bladder cancer.
Professor Merseburger is a member of various uro-oncology organisations is the chairman of the European Scholarship Program (ESUP) of the European Association of Urology (EAU) and was the Chairman of the EAU Guideline Group for Lasers and Technologies. He acts as reviewer and editorial board member for several urology and oncology indexed journals and is associate editor of the World Journal of Urology and editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Haematology and Oncology and Aktuelle Urologie.
Professor Merseburger’s research activity encompasses both molecular and clinical aspects of uro-oncology, with specific interest in biomarkers and prognostic factors for prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. He has authored and co-authored >400 peer-reviewed articles and he is the principal investigator in multiple phase II and III clinical trials within the field of urologic oncology.
