Engineering Tissue-Scale Properties with Synthetic Cells: Forging One from Many.

In metazoans, living cells achieve capabilities beyond individual cell functionality by assembling into multicellular tissue structures. These higher-order structures represent dynamic, heterogeneous, and responsive systems that have evolved to regenerate and coordinate their actions over large distances. Recent advances in constructing micrometer-sized vesicles, or synthetic cells, now point to a future where construction of synthetic tissue can be pursued, a boon to pressing material needs in biomedical implants, drug delivery systems, adhesives, filters, and storage devices, among others.

Light-Activated Assembly of Connexon Nanopores in Synthetic Cells.

During developmental processes and wound healing, activation of living cells occurs with spatiotemporal precision and leads to rapid release of soluble molecular signals, allowing communication and coordination between neighbors. Nonliving systems capable of similar responsive release hold great promise for information transfer in materials and site-specific drug delivery. One nonliving system that offers a tunable platform for programming release is synthetic cells.

The impact of tumor size and histology on local control when utilizing high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: To report long-term results of an outpatient template-based high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR ISBT) program for the treatment of gynecologic malignancies.

Methods: Patients treated between 2006 and 2020 at an academic hospital with outpatient template based HDR ISBT without spinal or general anesthesia were reviewed. Patients who had previously received HDR ISBT were excluded.

Expression of Potential Biomarker Targets by Immunohistochemistry in Cervical Carcinomas.

There have been few clinically useful targetable biomarkers in uterine cervical carcinomas. Estrogen receptor (ER), HER2, and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) are potential therapeutic or theranostic targets in other gynecologic and genitourinary carcinoma types. We determined the immunohistochemical expression patterns of these markers in treatment-naive cervical carcinoma, and whether expression correlated with clinical outcomes after definitive chemoradiation therapy.

A Rational Approach to Unilateral Neck RT for Head and Neck Cancers in the Era of Immunotherapy.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the definitive and adjuvant treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, standard courses of radiation therapy may contribute to the depletion of circulating lymphocytes and potentially attenuate optimal tumor antigen presentation that may be detrimental to the efficacy of novel immunotherapeutic agents. This review explores the advantages of restricting radiation to the primary tumor/tumor bed and ipsilateral elective neck as it pertains to the evolving field of immunotherapy.

Standardized Uptake Value for F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Is a Marker of Inflammatory State and Immune Infiltrate in Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer fails in over a third of patients. Biomarkers with therapeutic implications are therefore needed. We investigated the relationship between an established prognostic marker, maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and the inflammatory and immune state of cervical cancers.

Long-term outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and high dose rate brachytherapy as adjuvant therapy after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Objective: Compared with 3D-planned pelvic radiation, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been shown to reduce acute toxicity in cervical cancer patients after radical hysterectomy. This study evaluated late toxicity and patterns of failure after post-operative pelvic IMRT interdigitated weekly with high dose rate brachytherapy.

Methods: This retrospective study included 53 cervical cancer patients treated between January 2006 and August 2019 with radical hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, and post-operative IMRT and high dose rate brachytherapy.

FIGO 2018 staging criteria for cervical cancer: Impact on stage migration and survival.

Objective: To compare FIGO 2009 and FIGO 2018 cervical cancer staging criteria with a focus on stage migration and treatment outcomes.

Methods: This study is based on a database cohort of 1282 patients newly diagnosed with cervical cancer from 1997 to 2019. All underwent standard clinical examination and whole-body FDG-PET.

A multi-institutional analysis of clinical outcomes and patterns of care of 1p/19q codeleted oligodendrogliomas treated with adjuvant or salvage radiation therapy.

Purpose: Practice patterns vary for adjuvant treatment of 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendroglioma patients. This study evaluates the outcomes of adjuvant (aRT) versus salvage radiation therapy (sRT) in a multi-institutional cohort.

Methods: Oligodendroglioma patients with confirmed 1p/19q codeletion who were treated with RT with or without chemotherapy from 2000 to 2017 at four tertiary centers were retrospectively reviewed.

Molecular Imaging for Radiotherapy Planning and Response Assessment for Cervical Cancer.

Positron emission tomography (PET) with [F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) leverages imaging contrast from accelerated and aberrant glucose metabolism, which is a hallmark of cancer. FDG-PET is essential for assessing involved lymph nodes and distant metastases for cervical cancer. It is also utilized for target delineation in radiation treatment planning, with investigations into functional bone marrow sparing intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Impact of tumor histology on detection of pelvic and para-aortic nodal metastasis with F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in stage IB cervical cancer.

Objective: F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) detection of metastatic nodal disease is useful for guiding cervical cancer treatment but the impact of tumor histology is unknown. This study reports the detection of FDG avid pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes in patients with early stage cervical cancer with squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma tumor histology.

Methods: Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage IB1-2 cervical cancer who underwent pre-surgical FDG-PET between March 1999 and February 2018 were identified in a tertiary academic center database.

Neutrophils promote tumor resistance to radiation therapy.

Nearly two-thirds of cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy (RT), often with the intent to achieve complete and permanent tumor regression (local control). RT is the primary treatment modality used to achieve local control for many malignancies, including locally advanced cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and lung cancer. The addition of concurrent platinum-based radiosensitizing chemotherapy improves local control and patient survival.

Radiation therapy dose de-escalation compared to standard dose radiation therapy in definitive treatment of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Despite existing evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has a favorable prognosis compared to HPV-negative OPSCC, randomized studies have yet to report the effect of de-escalating radiation therapy (RT) dose for definitive treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of dose de-escalated RT (DDRT) vs. standard dose RT (SDRT) in patients with HPV-positive OPSCC.

Concurrent chemoradiation for cervical cancer: Comparison of LDR and HDR brachytherapy.

Purpose: To compare clinical outcomes between low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cervical cancer patients.

Methods And Materials: All consecutive newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients undergoing pretreatment 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging and treated with curative-intent definitive chemoradiation from 1997 to 2016 at a U.S.

Association of Posttreatment Lymphopenia and Elevated Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio With Poor Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Human Papillomavirus-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancers.

Importance: Better biomarkers are needed for human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) to identify patients at risk of recurrence. Lymphopenia and an elevated ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (NLR) have been associated with poor disease outcomes in a number of solid tumors.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that postradiotherapy lymphopenia and elevated NLR are associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Clinical outcomes after isolated pelvic failure in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive radiation.

Purpose: To describe clinical outcomes in patients with isolated pelvic failures after definitive radiation treatment for cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: Cervical cancer patients with isolated pelvic failure after definitive radiation with brachytherapy boost were identified in a tertiary academic center database from 1997 to 2016. All patients received an FDG-PET scan prior to their initial treatment and at the time of their first recurrence.

Combining stereotactic body radiation therapy with immunotherapy: current data and future directions.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers excellent local control of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but there currently is a need for tolerable systemic therapy to address regional and distant disease progression. One potential option is immunotherapy, which in metastatic NSCLC has shown promise for sustained disease control in a subset of patients. There is also growing evidence for a clinical synergy between radiation and immunotherapy, with several ongoing trials studying the abscopal effect.

Patterns of care and survival outcomes for laryngeal small cell cancer.

Background: To determine practice patterns and outcomes of laryngeal small cell cancer (LSCC) across the United States.

Methods: Patients with LSCC were identified in the National Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) was compared with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression.

Brachytherapy and survival in small cell cancer of the cervix and uterus.

Purpose: Small cell cancer involving the cervix and uterus is considered the same rare disease, but management is controversial and disparate. Patterns of care and outcomes in the United States are unclear.

Methods And Materials: Clinical data from patients with small cell cancer of the cervix and uterus were abstracted from the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2014.

A molecular approach combined with American Thyroid Association classification better stratifies recurrence risk of classic histology papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Prognosis among patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is widely variable. Better understanding of biologic subtypes is necessary to stratify patients and improve outcomes.

Methods: In patients diagnosed with classic histology papillary thyroid cancer treated from 1973 to 2009, BRAF V600E mutation status was determined on surgical tumor specimens by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and Image-Guided Adapted Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer.

Purpose: This study reported long-term outcomes of patients with cervical cancer who were treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy and 3-dimensional (3D) image-guided adapted brachytherapy (IMRT/3D-IGABT) compared with those treated with 2-dimensional (2D) external irradiation and 2D brachytherapy (2D EBRT/BT).

Methods And Materials: This study included patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer and pretreatment fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans who were treated with curative-intent irradiation from 1997 to 2013. The treatment policy changed from using 2D EBRT/BT to IMRT/3D-IGABT in 2005.

Post-operative radiation effects on lymphopenia, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and clinical outcomes in palatine tonsil cancers.

Objective: To evaluate radiation-induced lymphopenia associated with unilateral vs. bilateral neck radiation and to test post-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic clinical biomarker.

Methods: This was a single academic center retrospective review of palatine tonsil squamous cell cancer patients treated with post-operative intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) from 1997 to 2013.

Induction chemotherapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Clinical outcomes and patterns of care.

The role of induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains controversial. The primary aim of this study was to use the National Cancer Database to evaluate the patterns of care of induction chemotherapy in NPC and its impact on overall survival (OS). Patients with NPC from 2004 to 2014 were obtained from the NCDB.