Oncological features and prognosis of colorectal cancer in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Due to the prolonged life expectancy and increased risk of colorectal cancer(CRC)among patients with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection,the prognosis and pathological features of CRC in HIV-positive patients require examination.AIM To compare the differences in oncological features,surgical safety,and prognosis between patients with and without HIV infection who have CRC at the same tumor stage and site.METHODS In this retrospective study,we collected data from HIV-positive and-negative patients who underwent radical resection for CRC.Using random stratified sampling,24 HIV-positive and 363 HIV-negative patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma after radical resection were selected.Using propensity score matching,we selected 72 patients,matched 1:2(HIV-positive:negative=24:48).Differences in basic characteristics,HIV acquisition,perioperative serological indicators,surgical safety,oncological features,and long-term prognosis were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Fewer patients with HIV infection underwent chemotherapy compared to patients without.HIV-positive patients had fewer preoperative and postoperative leukocytes,fewer preoperative lymphocytes,lower carcinoembryonic antigen levels,more intraoperative blood loss,more metastatic lymph nodes,higher node stage,higher tumor node metastasis stage,shorter overall survival,and shorter progression-free survival compared to patients who were HIV-negative.CONCLUSION Compared with CRC patients who are HIV-negative,patients with HIV infection have more metastatic lymph nodes and worse long-term survival after surgery.Standard treatment options for HIV-positive patients with CRC should be explored.

Next Generation Sequencing in Oncological Diagnostics: Hype or Hope?

The understanding of how genetic and epigenetic factors influence tumorigenesis, progression and invasion, is vastly growing since new technologies allow the analysis of the functional genome namely the exome, the transcriptome and the epigenome, besides enabling genome-wide assessment of genetic variations. With the advent of new drugs that are indicated tissue agnostic, depending on certain mutations, there is a growing demand for fast and cost-effective genetic diagnosis. The method in focus that already became an indispensable tool in viral diagnosis is next-generation sequencing (NGS). This approach allows sequencing of literally every DNA molecule in the sample and can either be used to assess numerous genetic markers of one patient at a time, or to assess fewer markers of many patients in parallel, which reduces costs. We submitted 23 samples of different tumor entities to four diagnostic companies with different analysis profiles. The results as disclosed and discussed in this report indicate that so far, the main application of NGS is rather in cancer research than in diagnosis, as none of the reports had a real impact on the therapeutic scheme. We are perfectly aware that such a small cohort cannot be generalized, but considering the costs vs. benefits, NGS should be engaged upon a very stringent evaluation only. However, in cases where obtaining a tissue biopsy is impossible or unfavorable, analysis of liquid biopsy by NGS provides a vital alternative.

Systematic review of oncological outcomes following laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision

AIM: To systematically analyze the randomized trials comparing the oncological and clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LTME) vs open total mesorectal excision(OTME) in the management of rectal cancer.METHODS: Published randomized, controlled trials comparing the oncological and clinical effectiveness of LTME vs OTME in the management of rectal cancer were retrieved from the standard electronic medical databases. The data of included randomized, controlled trials was extracted and then analyzed according to the principles of meta-analysis using RevMan? statistical software. The combined outcome of the binary variables was expressed as odds ratio(OR) and the combined outcome of the continuous variables waspresented in the form of standardized mean difference(SMD). RESULTS: Data from eleven randomized, controlled trials on 2143 patients were retrieved from the electronic databases. There was a trend towards the higher risk of surgical site infection(OR = 0.66; 95%CI: 0.44-1.00; z = 1.94; P < 0.05), higher risk of incomplete total mesorectal resection(OR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.43-0.91; z = 2.49; P < 0.01) and prolonged length of hospital stay(SMD,-1.59; 95%CI:-0.86--0.25; z = 4.22; P < 0.00001) following OTME. However, the oncological outcomes like number of harvested lymph nodes, tumour recurrence and risk of positive resection margins were statistically similar in both groups. In addition, the clinical outcomes such as operative complications, anastomotic leak and all-cause mortality were comparable between both approaches of mesorectal excision.CONCLUSION: LTME appears to have clinically and oncologically measurable advantages over OTME in patients with primary rectal cancer in both short term and long term follow ups.

A matched-pair analysis of laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy: oncological outcomes using Leeds Pathology Protocol

BACKGROUND： Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy（LPD）is a safe procedure. Oncological safety of LPD is still a matter for debate. This study aimed to compare the oncological outcomes,in terms of adequacy of resection and recurrence rate following LPD and open pancreaticoduodenectomy（OPD）.METHODS： Between November 2005 and April 2009, 12LPDs（9 ampullary and 3 distal common bile duct tumors）were performed. A cohort of 12 OPDs were matched for age,gender, body mass index（BMI） and American Society of Anesthesiologists（ASA） score and tumor site.RESULTS： Mean tumor size LPD vs OPD（19.8 vs 19.2 mm,P=0.870）. R0 resection was achieved in 9 LPD vs 8 OPD（P=1.000）. The mean number of metastatic lymph nodes and total number resected for LPD vs OPD were 1.1 vs 2.1（P=0.140）and 20.7 vs 18.5（P=0.534） respectively. Clavien complications grade I/II（5 vs 8）, III/IV（2 vs 6） and pancreatic leak（2 vs 1）were statistically not significant（LPD vs OPD）. The mean high dependency unit（HDU） stay was longer in OPD（3.7 vs 1.4 days,P〈0.001）. There were 2 recurrences each in LPD and OPD（logrank,P=0.983）. Overall mortality for LPD vs OPD was 3 vs 6（log-rank, P=0.283） and recurrence-related mortality was 2 vs 1.There was one death within 30 days in the OPD group secondary to severe sepsis and none in the LPD group.CONCLUSIONS： Compared to open procedure, LPD achieved a similar rate of R0 resection, lymph node harvest and longterm recurrence for tumors less than 2 cm. Though technically challenging, LPD is safe and does not compromise oncological outcome.

Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with oncological diseases:State-of-the-art

Although the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic was declared to be no longer“a public health emergency of international concern”with its wide range of clinical manifestations and late complications,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection proved to be a serious threat,especially to the elderly and patients with comorbidities.Patients with oncologic diseases are vulnerable to severe infection and death.Indeed,patients with oncohematological diseases have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and impaired post-vaccination immunity.Unfortunately,cancer patients are usually excluded from vaccine trials and investigations of post-vaccinal immune responses and the effectiveness of the vaccines.We aimed to elucidate to what extent patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 and what is their overall case fatality rate.We also present the current concept and evidence on the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines,including boosters,in oncology patients.In conclusion,despite the considerably higher mortality in the cancer patient group than the general population,countries with high vaccination rates have demonstrated trends toward improved survival of cancer patients early and late in the pandemic.

Oncological safety of use of ultrasonic activated shears in gastric cancer surgery: Long-term results of randomized controlled trial

Objective： Ultrasonically activated shears （UAS） have been applied in open gastric surgeries with no or little evidence. It was previously reported about the surgical outcome and effectiveness of UAS based on a randomized controlled trial of 256 patients with gastric cancer. We aimed to clarify the long-term oncological safety of the use of UAS in the aspect of overall survival and recurrence.Methods： Gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the conventional surgery group （n=125） or the UAS group （n=128）. Survival, recurrence and long-term postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 56 months.Results： Gastric cancer-related death was higher in patients of the UAS group compared with the conventional group （P=0.019）. Overall survival rates stratified by stage were not significantly different between the two groups （P=0.170）. Disease-free survival rates stratified by stage and recurrence-free survival rates of gastric cancer were similar between the conventional group and the UAS group （P=0.313 and 0.199, respectively）. The postoperative complication rate was not significantly different between the groups （P=1.000）. Conclusions： It is suggested that the use of UAS in gastrectomy for gastric cancer showed oncologically acceptable safety compared with conventional electric instruments even in long-term period.

Rehabilitation of Oncological Amputee Patients

Peripheral vascular disease is the main reason for lower limb amputation, mostly present in old persons. The number of lower limb amputations due to cancer is small, but affects all age groups. Surgery is the primary （main） treatment for most bone tumors, the main goal is to remove all of the tumor. Sometimes limb amputation is the only possible solution, resulting in severe impairment of body function and activity limitations. The final goal of rehabilitation is to enable patients to re-integrate to the highest possible level into their previous social life and work. The article presents the functional outcome of patients with lower limb amputation due to oncological disease--cancer of bone or soft tissue admitted for rehabilitation to the University Rehabilitation Institute So^a in the period from 2002 to 2012. During this period 67 amputees were admitted and 60 of them were fitted with appropriate lower limb prosthesis. Younger age and transtibial level of amputation were of better functional outcome than in transfemoral or hip disarticulation amputees.

Emergency Digestive Oncological Surgery in Yaounde (Cameroon): Indications and Short-Term Results

Background: Data on emergency digestive oncology surgery are limited in Cameroon. The aim of this work was to give the short-term results of emergency digestive carcinological surgery in our context. Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical observational study with retrospective data collection in four reference hospitals in the city of Yaoundé. Files of patients who had emergency digestive oncological surgery, for an acute complication, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020, were included. The outcomes of the patients in the 30 days following the surgery had to be known. Results: We collected 41 patients, representing 20% of the digestive oncological surgery activity. Their average age was 51.76 ± 16.59 years with a male predominance (63.4%). The cancer complication was inaugural in 27 patients. The main tumor sites were colic (56.1%), rectal (19.5%), and gastric (9.7%). The indications for surgery were: acute bowel obstruction (60.9%), acute generalized peritonitis (29.3%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (4.9%). The tumor was diagnosed intraoperatively in 10 patients (24.4%). The main operative procedures were left colectomy (21.9%) and Hartmann’s intervention (19.5%). The morbidity and mortality rates were 60.9% and 43.9%, respectively. Preoperative anemia (p = 0.019), peritonitis as indication for surgery (p = 0.039) and TNM stage 4 (p = 0.015) were identified as associated with an increased risk of death. Conclusion: In our context, one-fifth of digestive oncological surgery is done urgently in front of an acute complication which is inaugural for cancer in nearly two-thirds of patients. Postoperative morbidity and mortality are significant.

Postoperative morbidity adversely impacts oncological prognosis after curative resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Postoperative morbidity after curative resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA)is common;however,whether it has an impact on oncological prognosis is unknown.AIM To evaluate the influence of postoperative morbidity on tumor recurrence and mortality after curative resection for HCCA.METHODS Patients with recently diagnosed HCCA who had undergone curative resection between January 2010 and December 2017 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University in China were enrolled.The independent risk factors for morbidity in the 30 d after surgery were investigated,and links between postoperative morbidity and patient characteristics and outcomes were assessed.Postoperative morbidities were divided into five grades based on the Clavien-Dindo classification,and major morbidities were defined as Clavien-Dindo≥3.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the risk factors for recurrence-free survival(RFS)and overall survival(OS).RESULTS Postoperative morbidity occurred in 146 out of 239 patients(61.1%).Multivariate logistic regression revealed that cirrhosis, intraoperative blood loss > 500 mL, diabetes mellitus,and obesity were independent risk factors. Postoperative morbidity was associated with decreasedOS and RFS (OS: 18.0 mo vs 31.0 mo, respectively, P = 0.003;RFS: 16.0 mo vs 26.0 mo, respectively,P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that postoperative morbidity wasindependently associated with decreased OS [hazard ratios (HR): 1.557, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.119-2.167, P = 0.009] and RFS (HR: 1.535, 95%CI: 1.117-2.108, P = 0.008). Moreover, majormorbidity was independently associated with decreased OS (HR: 2.175;95%CI: 1.470-3.216, P <0.001) and RFS (HR: 2.054;95%CI: 1.400-3.014, P < 0.001) after curative resection for HCCA.CONCLUSIONPostoperative morbidity (especially major morbidity) may be an independent risk factor forunfavorable prognosis in HCCA patients following curative resection.

Heating Preciosity—Trends in Modern Oncological Hyperthermia

The use of hyperthermia as a treatment in oncology is a common topic for debate. Some researchers expect a breakthrough in oncological treatments with hyperthermia, whereas others have disregarded the method. Serious questions concerning hyperthermia have arisen. Should homogeneous (isothermal) or heterogeneous (selective) heating being used? When we use selective heating (heterogeneity), should the entire tumour be targeted or should the malignant cells be individually selected? Does the mechanism involve thermal cell death or thermally-assisted cell death? Is the goal necrosis or apoptosis? Is hyperthermia safe as a monotherapy or does it have to be combined with conventional treatments? When the selection is local, how do we act on disseminated cells that represent a high risk of life threatening metastases? When local heating is the focus, how should it be carried out with measured and controlled? Our objective is to show how precise, selective heat transfer is necessary to remove malignant cells and, consequently, how hyperthermia as part of the immune-oncology can change the game in this promising field of oncological therapies.

Renewing Oncological Hyperthermia—Oncothermia

Hyperthermia was the very first oncotherapy in human medicine, but its applicability in modern oncology was dubious. The discovery of electromagnetism gave new hope a century ago, however, until up to now, it has been suffering from lack of wide acceptance. Oncological hyperthermia suffers from multiple unsolved medical and technical problems. The accurate selection of malignant tissue and its proper heating in depth are real challenges together with the control and repeatability of the treatments. However, the center of the problems is not technical: the living system tries to keep its homeostatic equilibrium and creates active feedback mechanisms to eliminate or at least correct the constrain heating in depth. The proper reaction on the “gage of battle” has to involve the physiology, handle it complexly together with bioelectromagnetism and update connected technology. The solution has to be the integration of the natural bio-effects into the technological constrains, acting in synergy with the physiological feedback mechanisms, and without forcing effects out of the homeostatic control. The solution lies in strict selection and adequate action in nanoscopic range, without exciting the robust transport-mechanisms to operate against the energy delivery to the tumor. Together with the local optimization, the systemic effects have to be considered, because malignancy is not a local disease. This concept needs interactions with the immune-system being effective on the disseminated cell in far distance too. Our objective is to present a complex technical solution to this complex problem.

Oncological imaging of the abdomen and pelvis: Spectrum of trends and advances

Advancements in medical imaging have brought about unprecedented changes in the assessment, management and post-treatment follow-up of cancer. Sonography, positron emission tomography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the primary tools being developed for oncological imaging. Advancements in these modalities, the introduction of new imaging and treatment techniques, as well as recent management of tumors, have led to continuous changes in diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we discuss the wide spectrum of imaging trends and advances.

Is it possible to adopt the same oncological approach in urgent surgery for colon cancer?

BACKGROUND Locoregional complications may occur in up to 30%of patients with colon cancer.As they are frequent events in the natural history of this disease,there should be a concern in offering an oncologically adequate surgical treatment to these patients.AIM To compare the oncological radicality of surgery for colon cancer between urgent and elective cases.METHODS One-hundred and eighty-nine consecutive patients with non-metastatic colon adenocarcinoma were studied over two years in a single institution,who underwent surgical resection as the first therapeutic approach,with 123 elective and 66 urgent cases.The assessment of oncological radicality was performed by analyzing the extension of the longitudinal margins of resection,the number of resected lymph nodes,and the percentage of surgeries with 12 or more resected lymph nodes.Other clinicopathological variables were compared between the two groups in terms of sex,age,tumor location,type of urgency,surgical access,staging,compromised lymph nodes rate,differentiation grade,angiolymphatic and perineural invasion,and early mortality.RESULTS There was no difference between the elective and urgency group concerning the longitudinal margin of resection(average of 6.1 in elective vs 7.3 cm in urgency,P=0.144),number of resected lymph nodes(average of 17.7 in elective vs 16.6 in urgency,P=0.355)and percentage of surgeries with 12 or more resected lymph nodes(75.6%in elective vs 77.3%in urgency,P=0.798).It was observed that the percentage of patients aged 80 and over was higher in the urgency group(13.0%in elective vs 25.8%in urgency,P=0.028),and the early mortality was 4.9%in elective vs 15.2%in urgency(P=0.016,OR:3.48,95%CI:1.21–10.06).Tumor location(P=0.004),surgery performed(P=0.016)and surgical access(P<0.001)were also different between the two groups.There was no difference in other clinicopathological variables studied.CONCLUSION Oncological radicality of colon cancer surgery may be achieved in both emergency and elective procedures.

Main Microbial Genres and Its Profile of Resistance and Sensitivity to Antimicrobials Used in the Treatment of Oncological Patients with Febril Neutropenia

Objective: To determine the main microbial genotypes and their antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility profile commonly used in the treatment of oncologic patients with febrile neutropenia, carried out through the review of the clinical histories of the patients’ medical records at the Hospital do Cancer de Muriaé-Fundacao Cristiano Varella. Methods: Quantitative research, determined the susceptibility profile of microorganisms in patients with febrile neutropenia from April 2007 to April 2008 by reviewing clinical histories of patients’ medical records at the referred hospital. Results: Of the total of 8 patients evaluated with Gram-negative microorganisms, 50% of the patients were female and 50% were male. Of the 18 patients evaluated with Gram-positive microorganisms 66% were female and 34% male. Gram-positive bacteria are prevalent and cause around 60% of documented bacteremias, although Gram-negative bacteria are more common in febrile neutropenic patientes. Conclusion: Exaggerated use of antimicrobials in hospitalized patients leads to the suppression of drug-sensitive microorganisms from the intestinal flora and promotes the persistence and growth of resistant bacteria. The antibiotic should be used in a curative manner with other therapeutic measures with the determined bacterial infection.

Analysis of Use and Outcomes of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC-Line) in Hemato-Oncological Patients

Aims: To audit the use and outcomes of using PICC lines in hemato-oncological patients. Objectives: To study the demographics of patients: ?studying the use of PICC line in hemato-oncological patients;studying the rate of complications in PICC line;studying the cause of early removal of PICC line. Methods: All PICCs inserted in adult hemato-oncological patients in Hematology and Medical Oncology Department of Health Care Global (HCG) Hospital were studied prospectively, as per the proforma, till PICCs were removed or patient expired and the pattern of complications were noted. Results: Eighty-four PICCs were inserted over a period of initial nine months and followed for a total of 1 year with three months post insertion duration for a total of 10,868 catheter-days (mean of 129 days i.e. 4.3 months, range: 1 to 288 days). The most common indication for PICC was chemotherapy (100%). Among them 19 (22%) PICCs had complications and 12 were removed at the rate of 1.1/1000 PICC-days. Complications with haematologic malignancies were more as compared to those with solid tissue malignancies. Conclusions: Despite significant complication rates, PICCs are a relatively safe and cost effective mode of establishing central venous access.

The Future Therapy of Renal Cell Carcinoma? Non-Invasive Physical Plasma as an Innovative Oncological Therapy Modality

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most important urological tumors and is one of the most common cancer diseases worldwide. Unfortunately, the treatment options are very limited due to resistances. Non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP) is currently becoming a promising and very well tolerated treatment option for cancer. NIPP represents a highly energized gas and induces varying antioncogenic cell responses in tumor cells. And also in the case of RCC, NIPP treatment has great potential to enhance and supplement existing anticancer treatment options. Outstanding characteristics of NIPP treatment are 1) a precise and local effect on the treated tissue and 2) an almost exclusive effect on treated tumor cells without side effects. This allows an enormously large therapeutic window and makes the combination of NIPP treatment and classical therapy appear particularly promising. In addition to RCC, plasma oncology offers an extremely innovative physical treatment method for future oncology in general. This brief review article summarizes the current knowledge on the potential use of NIPP in RCC therapy.

Transanal total mesorectal excision combined with intersphincteric resection has similar long-term oncological outcomes to laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection in low rectal cancer:a propensity score-matched cohort study

Background Transanal total mesorectal excision(taTME)or intersphincteric resection(ISR)has recently proven to be a valid and safe surgical procedure for low rectal cancer.However,studies focusing on the combination of these two technologies are limited.This study aimed to evaluate perioperative results,long-termoncologic outcomes,and anorectal functions of patients with low rectal cancer undergoing taTME combined with ISR,by comparing with those of patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection(laAPR).Methods After 1:1 propensity score matching,200 patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laAPR(n=100)or taTME combined with ISR(n=100)between September 2013 and November 2019 were included.Patient demographics,clinicopathological characteristics,oncological outcomes,and anal functional results were analysed.Results Patients in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group had less intraoperative blood loss(79.6672.6 vs 107.3665.1 mL,P=0.005)and a lower rate of post-operative complications(22.0%vs 44.0%,P<0.001)than those in the laAPR group.The overall local recurrence rates were 7.0%in both groups within 3 years after surgery.The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 86.3%in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group and 75.1%in the laAPR group(P=0.056),while the 3-year overall survival rates were 96.7%and 94.2%,respectively(P=0.319).There were 39 patients(45.3%)in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group who developed major low anterior resection syndrome,whereas 61 patients(70.9%)had good post-operative anal function(Wexner incontinence score≤10).Conclusion We found similar long-term oncological outcomes for patients with low rectal cancer undergoing laAPR and those undergoing taTME combined with ISR.Patients receiving taTME combined with ISR had acceptable post-operative anorectal function.

Unraveling the landscape of pediatric pancreatic tumors:Insights from Japan

Pediatric pancreatic tumors,though rare,pose significant diagnostic and manage-ment challenges.The recent,22-year nationwide survey on pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan by Makita et al offers valuable insights into this uncommon enti-ty,revealing striking geographical variations and questioning current treatment paradigms.This editorial commentary analyzes the study's key findings,inclu-ding the predominance of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms and their younger age of onset,which contrast sharply with Western data.It explores the implications for clinical practice and research,emphasizing the need for population-specific approaches to diagnosis and treatment.The revealed limited institutional expe-rience and surgical management patterns prompt a reevaluation of optimal care delivery for these complex cases,suggesting benefits of centralizing healthcare services.Furthermore,the commentary advocates for international collaborative studies to elucidate the genetic,environmental,and lifestyle factors influencing the development and progression of pediatric pancreatic tumors across diverse populations.It also outlines future directions,calling for advancements in precision medicine and innovative care delivery models to improve global patient outcomes.Unraveling Makita et al's findings within the broader landscape of pediatric oncology can stimulate further research and clinical advancements in managing pancreatic and other rare tumors in children.

Controversies around the treatment of peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer

In this editorial we examine the article by Wu et al published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology.Surgical resection for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer(CRC)has been gradually accepted in the medical oncology community.A randomized trial(PRODIGE 7)on cytoreductive surgery(CRS)with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)failed to prove any benefit of oxaliplatin in the overall survival of patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal origin.Nevertheless,isolated systemic chemotherapy for CRC stage IV has demonstrated a reduced response in peritoneal metastases than that obtained in other metastatic sites such as the liver.Another tool is required in those patients to achieve more local control of the disease.Surgical groups in peritoneal surgery continue to use HIPEC in their procedures,using other agents than oxaliplatin for peritoneal cavity infusion,such as mitomycin C.These patients present with complex surgical issues to manage,and consequently a large burden of complications has to be anticipated.Therefore,identifying patients who will benefit from CRS with or without HIPEC would be of great interest.

Utilizing complementary therapy to enhance quality of life and reduce stress and fatigue in pediatric cancer patients

The international scientific literature presents still incipient results regarding the management of cancer symptom clusters by oncology nursing,especially in pediatric oncology.This is a promising field of investigation for clinical nurses and researchers,and when it is subsidized by medium-range theories,they co-rroborate the diagnoses and interventions of nursing in oncology,enhancing the science of nursing care.This minireview article aims to discuss the utilizing the hospital clowns as a complementary therapy,to enhance quality of life and reduce stress and fatigue in pediatric cancer patients.Overall,the evidence presented so far pointed out that complementary therapy might help improve the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients,and that complementary therapy usage should be part of a health comprehensive care model,delivering therapeutic approaches that might enhance the mind-body during a pediatric cancer patients’life span.The results of scientific investigations by nurses,particularly those linked to the basic sciences,play a critical role in advancing personalized care in pediatric integrative oncology.