OBJECTIVE: Management of low-grade (LG) urothelium-confined (Ta stage) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) poses a distinct therapeutic challenge. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), the standard treatment, frequently has to be repeated because of high tumor recurrence rates. This places a considerable strain on both patients and health care infrastructure, underscoring the need for alternative management approaches. Herein, the IBCG (International Bladder Cancer Group), conducted a review to explore the efficacy and safety of deintensified treatment strategies for recurrent LG Ta NMIBC.
METHODS: We conducted a collaborative review of relevant literature in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. Our focus was on high-quality evidence, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. We also reviewed guidelines published by prominent urological associations.
UNASSIGNED: Active surveillance, chemoablation, and office fulguration are valid treatment options for recurrent LG Ta NMIBC. These deintensified approaches offer several advantages over TURBT: lower complication rates, less morbidity, lower health care costs, and better quality of life for patients. Importantly, these benefits are achieved without compromising oncological safety.
CONCLUSIONS: Our review demonstrates that less intensive treatment strategies for recurrent LG Ta NMIBC are both feasible and valuable. The IBCG recommends use of these approaches for carefully selected patients to help lower health care costs and enhance patients\' quality of life.
RESULTS: We reviewed studies on less invasive management options for low-grade noninvasive bladder cancer, including active surveillance, chemical ablation, and heat treatment. Recent results confirm that these less intense treatment options can reduce the treatment burden and costs for patients and preserve their quality of life without negatively affecting cancer control outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade (HGOC) and low-grade ovarian carcinoma (LGOC) are distinct malignancies with different biological features, treatment paradigms, and life expectancies. However, differences in quality of life (QOL), sleep, and depressive symptoms have not been examined by grade, and neither have inflammatory profiles associated with these symptoms. We aim to characterize QOL and biomarkers by OC grade.
METHODS: Participants included patients with HGOC (N = 578) or LGOC (N = 85). Participants completed baseline assessments of psychosocial factors prior to primary surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and contributed saliva for cortisol and blood for interleukin-6 (IL-6) quantification. Samples were collected intraoperatively to quantify tumor cortisol. General linear models were used to examine differences in biological and psychological variables by grade.
RESULTS: At baseline, patients with LGOC reported less depression (p = 0.018) and sleep disturbances (p = 0.014), but no significant difference in depressive mood (p = 0.11) or QOL (p = 0.51) compared to patients with HGOC, adjusting for age and disease stage. There were trends towards lower tumor cortisol levels (p = 0.078) in LGOC compared to HGOC. One-year post-diagnosis, we found a significant improvement in QOL and fatigue, and a decrease in vegetative depression and IL-6 levels irrespective of grade.
CONCLUSIONS: We present the first characterization of psychosocial experiences of patients with LGOC. Despite having a better disease prognosis, patients with LGOC were just as likely to have mood disturbances as those with HGOC. There was a trend towards differences in tumor cortisol by grade. Our findings highlight the need to address well-being in patients with both low- and high-grade ovarian malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: In 2016, the ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO consensus included LVSI (Lymph-vascular space invasion, LVSI) status as a risk stratification factor for stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) patients and as one of the indications for adjuvant therapy. Furthermore, LVSI is included in the new FIGO staging of endometrial cancer (EC) in 2023. However, the data contribution of the Chinese population in this regard is limited. The present study aimed to further comfirm the influence of LVSI on the prognosis of early-stage low-grade EEC in a fifteen-year retrospective Chinese cohort study.
METHODS: This retrospective analysis cohort included 702 EEC patients who underwent TAH/BSO surgery, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy in Peking University People\'s Hospital from 2006 to 2020. Patients were stratified based on LVSI expression status as: LVSI negative group and LVSI positive group. Clinical outcome measures related to LVSI, assessed with a univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model.
RESULTS: 702 EEC patients with stage I and grade 1-2 were analyzed. 58 patients (8.3%) were LVSI-positive and 14 patients (2.0%) was relapse. Recurrence rates in LVSI-negative and LVSI-positive were 1.6% and 6.9%, respectively. 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate in LVSI-negative and LVSI-positive were 98.4% and 93.1%, respectively. These rates for 5-year overall (OS) survival in LVSI-negative were 98.9% while it was 94.8% in LVSI-positive. Multivariate analysis showed that LVSI is an independent risk factor for 5-year DFS (HR = 4.60, p = 0.010). LVSI has a similar result for 5-year OS(HR = 4.39, p = 0.028).
CONCLUSIONS: LVSI is an independent predictor of relapse and poor prognosis in early-stage low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer in the Chinese cohort.

Retroperitoneal spindle cell neoplasms are diagnostically challenging. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) can sometimes present as sporadic primary retroperitoneal tumours. MPNSTs are usually high-grade and highly aggressive tumours and are associated with a poor prognosis. Low-grade MPNSTs are very rarely described. This current case report describes a case of sporadic primary low-grade MPNST presenting as retroperitoneal spindle cell neoplasm. The diagnosis, imaging and immunohistopathological findings, as well as its successful surgical management, are presented.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are among the most common malignancies in various age ranges. Low-grade glioma (LGG) can account for nearly 30% of pediatric CNS malignancies. Progression or recurrence after the first-line treatments is common among these patients. Therefore, more treatments are required. Bevacizumab as an anti-VEGF antibody has come into the spotlight recently and is especially used in relapse or recurrence settings. This review aims to study the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab for patients with recurrent LGG.
METHODS: This study was conducted according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were comprehensively searched using the relevant key terms until 24th August 2023 to retrieve the studies that investigated clinical outcomes of bevacizumab in patients with recurrent LGG. All statistical analysis was performed by STATA v.17.
RESULTS: A total of 1306 papers were gathered, out of which 13 were incorporated in the meta-analysis. The pooled incidence rate of treatment according to the RANO scale was 70% (95% CI = 43-98%) for objective response rate, 26% (95% CI = 58-96%) for partial response, 21% (95% CI = 15-28%) for minor response, 14% (95% CI = 3-24%) for complete response, 48% (95% CI = 37-59%) for stable disease, and 8% (95% CI = 4-11%) for progressive disease. Furthermore, according to progressive survival after treatment, it was 4% (95% CI = -1 to 9%) for 6-month PFS, 41% (95% CI = 32-50%) for 2-year PFS, and 29% (95% CI = 22-35%) for 3-year PFS.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the RANO scale and PFS, clinicians should be aware that Bevacizumab could be a favorable alternative therapy for recurrent LGG. Furthermore, bevacizumab exhibits minimal toxicity and high tolerability in recurrent LGG.

BACKGROUND: MEIS1::NCOA2 is a rare fusion gene that has been recently described in a subset of spindle cell rhabdomyosarcomas and multiple low-grade undifferentiated spindle cell sarcomas predominantly arising in the genitourinary and gynecologic tracts with no specific line of differentiation. We present the first documented case of this neoplasm arising as a lung primary tumor.
METHODS: A 74-year-old woman with a 40-year smoking history presented with a 2.1 × 1.7 cm lung nodule discovered on computed tomography (CT) scan. A biopsy and subsequent lobe resection were performed, as well as an extensive metastatic work up, which revealed no additional masses. No specific line of differentiation was found by immunohistochemical staining, and an RNA-based fusion panel revealed a MEIS1::NCOA2 fusion, at which point a diagnosis of Low-Grade Undifferentiated Sarcoma with MEIS1::NCOA2-Rearrangement was rendered.
CONCLUSIONS: This report represents the first diagnosis of this tumor primary to the lung, and provides additional insight into the origin and localization of these rare tumors.

Low-grade gliomas are the most common brain tumor of childhood, and complete resection offers a high likelihood of cure. However, in many instances, tumors may not be surgically accessible without substantial morbidity, particularly in regard to gliomas arising from the optic or hypothalamic regions, as well as the brainstem. When gross total resection is not feasible, alternative treatment strategies must be considered. While conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy have long been the backbone of adjuvant therapy for low-grade glioma, emerging techniques and technologies are rapidly changing the landscape of care for patients with this disease. This article seeks to review the current and emerging modalities of treatment for pediatric low-grade glioma.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm with distinctive histopathological features. Although it typically arises in the deep soft tissues of the trunk and extremities, its occurrence in the head and neck region is exceedingly rare. We present the first documented case of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma in the laryngopharynx, expanding the spectrum of this rare tumor\'s anatomical localization. The clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of this unique case are discussed, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic considerations associated with this uncommon presentation.

This case report describes a 45-year-old woman presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding and a cervical mass. Imaging and biopsy revealed low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS), emphasizing the importance of comprehensive evaluation for uterine masses. The report underscores the role of MRI and pathology in diagnosis, with immunohistochemical analysis helping confirmation. A multidisciplinary approach and vigilant follow-up are crucial for optimal management. The rarity of LGESS and its challenging diagnosis highlight the need for continued research to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Surgical intervention remains primary, but the optimal management approach is debated. This report indicates the necessity of a comprehensive approach to uterine mass evaluation and ongoing research for enhanced patient care.

Gastric leiomyosarcoma is extremely rare. In this paper, we present a case of primary gastric leiomyosarcoma located in the fundus/cardia region. The tumoral spindle cells show diffusely moderate nuclear atypia, with focally marked atypia and rare mitotic figures. Additionally, the tumoral cells exhibit positive immunoreactivity to smooth muscle actin and desmin while testing negative for CD117 (c-kit). The tumor was successfully resected through a laparoscopic partial gastrectomy, and the patient experienced a full recovery. There has been no recurrence or metastatic tumor detection during the seven-year follow-up period. Furthermore, we conducted a literature review on primary gastric leiomyosarcoma.