Risk factors for left atrial thrombus in younger patients (aged < 65 years) with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter: Data from the multicenter left atrial thrombus on transesophageal echocardiography (LATTEE) registry.

Background: Our aim was to assess the characteristics and to identify predictors of left atrial thrombus (LAT) in patients under age 65 with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFl).

Methods: We conducted a subanalysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational study [the LATTEE registry]. Consecutive AF/AFl patients referred for cardioversion or ablation were enrolled.

Increased Body Mass Index and Risk of Left Atrial Thrombus in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients-Data from the Left Atrial Thrombus on Transesophageal Echocardiography (LATTEE) Registry.

An increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and a higher risk of thromboembolic complications in AF patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BMI on the risk of left atrial thrombi (LATs) in patients with nonvalvular AF/atrial flutter (AFl) (NV AF/AFl). Patients diagnosed with NVAF/AFl (between November 2018 and May 2020) were selected from the multicenter, prospective, observational Left Atrial Thrombus on Transesophageal Echocardiography (LATTEE) registry that included AF/AFl patients referred for cardioversion or ablation followed by transesophageal echocardiography.

The Use of ctDNA for Mutation Testing in Routine Clinical Practice in Patients with Advanced Melanoma.

Assessment of mutation status is mandatory in advanced, treatment-naïve melanoma patients. Liquid biopsy can be an alternative in cases with inadequate or unavailable tumor tissue. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical utility of plasma circulating tumor DNA analysis for mutation testing and to assess outcomes of therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors initiated based on the liquid biopsy results.

Detection of Melanoma Cells in Lymphatic Drainage (LD) After Lymph Nodes Dissection Via Nested RT-PCR Analysis of Molecular Melanocytic Markers.

We present the assay based on multimarker analysis of mRNA transcripts associated with melanocytic cells detected in lymphatic fluid collected after lymph node dissection. Positive results of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test have a strong relationship with melanoma recurrence and disease-specific survival time in stage III melanoma.

The prognostic role of BRAF and WNT pathways activation in kinase inhibitors-naïve clinical stage III cutaneous melanoma.

The results of local-regional advanced melanoma (stage III) management are still not satisfactory. Particularly, there is no personalized treatment in stage III melanoma patients due to the lack of useful classical pathological markers for prognostication of indolent or aggressive course of the disease. The aim of this study was to explore melanoma genomic landscape by means of the mutational profiling of 50 genes influencing carcinogenesis pathways in the randomly selected 93 kinase inhibitor-naïve (KI-naïve) stage III patients.

Cell-free DNA V600E measurements during BRAF inhibitor therapy of metastatic melanoma: long-term analysis.

Objective: We assessed the status of the V600E mutation in cell-free circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA) isolated from the plasma of patients with metastatic melanoma treated with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, collected at different time points during therapy to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of quantitative polymerase chain reaction and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and the correlation between the level of plasma cfDNA p.V600E and the long-term clinical outcome.

Methods: cfDNA in patients with -mutated melanoma ( = 62) was analyzed at baseline and at 4-8 weeks from the start of vemurafenib therapy.

Plasma lncRNA expression profile as a prognostic tool in mutant metastatic melanoma patients treated with BRAF inhibitor.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are dysregulated in many cancer types. Abnormal baseline levels of these lncRNAs display diagnostic and prognostic potential in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of plasma lncRNAs in -mutant advanced melanoma patients treated with a BRAF inhibitor.

Comparison between two widely used laboratory methods in BRAF V600 mutation detection in a large cohort of clinical samples of cutaneous melanoma metastases to the lymph nodes.

Aims: The study compares detection rates of oncogenic BRAF mutations in a homogenous group of 236 FFPE cutaneous melanoma lymph node metastases, collected in one cancer center. BRAF mutational status was verified by two independent in-house PCR/Sanger sequencing tests, and the Cobas® 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test.

Results: The best of two sequencing approaches returned results for 230/236 samples.

Molecular alterations in clinical stage III cutaneous melanoma: Correlation with clinicopathological features and patient outcome.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and type of oncogenic v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (/neuroblastoma RAS viral (v-ras) oncogene homolog ( mutations in cutaneous melanoma with clinically detected nodal metastases (stage IIIB and C) in relation to clinicopathological features and outcome. The clinicopathological data of 250 patients following therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND) between 1995 and 2010, as well as / mutational status in corresponding nodal metastases, were analyzed. The median follow-up time was 53 months.

Molecular characterization and patient outcome of melanoma nodal metastases and an unknown primary site.

Background: Melanoma of unknown primary site (MUP) is not a completely understood entity with nodal metastases as the most common first clinical manifestation. The aim of this multicentric study was to assess frequency and type of oncogenic BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutations in MUP with clinically detected nodal metastases in relation to clinicopathologic features and outcome.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed series of 103 MUP patients (period: 1992-2010) after therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND): 40 axillary, 47 groin, 16 cervical, none treated with BRAF inhibitors.