Hemophilia is a rare, sex-linked congenital bleeding disorder caused by a mutation in the genes responsible for production of coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B), resulting in the inability of blood to clot. According to Stonbraker et al., hemophilia occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 births, with hemophilia A being more common, representing 80-85% of cases.

Cancer is a multifaceted disease that is overwhelming in the breadth and scope of its genetic diversity, tissue pathology, and response to therapy. In recent years, the development of novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) containing cell-based therapies has provided significant clinical benefit to patients with certain hematological malignancies. The overall response rates (ORR) of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved autologous CD19 CAR T cell products for the treatment of refractory and relapsed B cell lymphomas have reached approximately 80% in defined patient populations, with durable remissions of greater than several years. Regrettably, the deployment of these novel cell-based therapies against solid tumor indications has garnered much less enthusiasm due to disappointing clinical success. The intrinsic adaptability of solid tumors makes them particularly elusive for effective targeted treatment, in part due to their extensive cellular heterogeneity and antigen diversity, their capacity to evade immune responses through antigen escape, and their ability to establish immune suppressive microenvironments. Identifying and selecting appropriate tumor specific antigens that distinguish tumor cells from healthy tissue remains arguably one of the most essential requirements to develop efficacious solid tumor targeting cell-based therapies.

Surgery is still one of the key components of Breast Cancer treatment. Even with the advancement in treatment options and surgical techniques, at least 35% of patients still undergo mastectomy, with a recent trend showing increasing rates of mastectomy [1].

The recently published study “Religious practices and quality of life in palliative care: insights from Tanzania” has brought to the forefront the indispensable role of spiritual practices in supporting patients with advanced cancer. The overwhelming demand for prayer and faith-based engagement demonstrates how religion provides meaning, resilience, and comfort in the face of terminal illness.