Introduction: Cervical cancer, predominantly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), is a common malignancy in women. Distinct histological subtypes, such as squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and adenocarcinomas (AC), exhibit different characteristics and treatment responses. Immune checkpoint molecules, including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), contribute to immune evasion. This study aims to investigate PD-L1 expression in SCC and AC of cervix and explore its association with clinical features. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on samples from 2016 to 2022 in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences-affiliated hospitals, Tehran, Iran. Paraffin-embedded samples of histologically confirmed cervical cancers (48 SCC - 16 AC) were analyzed, and clinical data were extracted from medical records. PD-L1 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry, and the combined positive score was utilized. Statistical analyses included T-tests, Chi-Square tests, and non-parametric equivalents. Results: PD-L1 expression tended to be higher in SCC cases, although the difference was not statistically significant. Positive PD-L1 expression was more common in SCC cases. However, no significant correlation was observed between PD-L1 expression and clinical features in either subgroup. Mean age and clinical characteristics did not significantly differ between the SCC and AC groups. Conclusion: This study investigated PD-L1 expression in SCC and AC of the cervix and its relationship with clinical features. Although SCC cases tended to exhibit higher PD-L1 expression, the difference was not statistically significant. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of PD-L1 in cervical cancer and its potential implications for immunotherapy.

Cardiac arrhythmias are a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current treatment strategies for ventricular tachycardia (VT) are effective for many patients; however, in several cases, this does not result in a cure. Despite significant clinical improvements, conventional catheter ablation remains relatively unsuccessful in achieving the best outcomes in some challenging cases. Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR), which delivers precise high-dose radiation to well-defined targets with minimal damage to surrounding tissue, is emerging as a new potential treatment option, having the potential to be used for patients at high risk for catheter ablation or who have refractory VT. Ongoing studies and preliminary experiences on f the efficacy of STAR in patients with refractory VT have shown a reduction in VT recurrence and a promising early safety profile. However, STAR is in its infancy, and clinical evidence on its efficacy and safety is limited; thus, conclusions regarding the efficacy of STAR should be drawn with caution. Further investigation of long-term efficacy and tolerability is ongoing to substantiate this promising therapeutic option better. The present review describes the background and general principles, pretreatment procedures, clinical implications, and toxicity of STAR therapy.

Dose escalation to target volume during High Dose Rate brachytherapy was effectively employed to treat locally advanced cervical cancer patients who experienced prolongation of overall treatment time (OTT) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was tried to achieve acceptable oncological outcomesو while respecting the dose constraints of organs at risk.