Detection of circulating immunosuppressive cytokines in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients for prognostic stratification.

Background: No data on circulating biomarkers for the prognostic stratification of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) patients are available. We prospectively explored the prognostic role of circulating monocyte and cytokine levels and their dynamic change during chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: MPM patients receiving a first line treatment based on a platinum compound plus pemetrexed were eligible.

Detection of Low-Frequency Mutations in cfDNA From -Mutated NSCLC Patients After First-Line EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Background: Molecular profiling of advanced mutated NSCLC has recently demonstrated the co-existence of multiple genetic alterations. Specifically, co-existing -mutations in NSCLCs have been described, despite their prevalence at progression and their role in the response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain marginally explored. Aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of co-existing mutations at the time of progressive disease and explore their impact on clinical outcome.

Combined Immunoscore for Prognostic Stratification of Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: To date, no combined immunoscore has been evaluated for prognostic stratification of early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main goal of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and different immune cell components (CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes, and CD68+ macrophages) in early stage NSCLC patients, distinguishing peritumoral (PT) and intratumoral (IT) localizations. The secondary aim was to identify a combined immunoscore to optimize the prognostic stratification of NSCLC patients.

Immunotherapy in Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Gastrointestinal cancers represent a major public health problem worldwide. Immunotherapeutic strategies are currently under investigation in this setting and preliminary results of ongoing trials adopting checkpoint inhibitors are striking. Indeed, although a poor immunogenicity for GI has been reported, a strong biological rationale supports the development of immunotherapy in this field.

Seasonal and gender-related differences in morphometric features and cellular and biochemical parameters of Carcinus aestuarii from the Lagoon of Venice.

In this study, the seasonal variations in the morphometric features and in the cellular and biochemical parameters of the haemolymph were investigated in both male and female crabs (Carcinus aestuarii). Crabs were seasonally (November 2010-August 2011) collected from the Lagoon of Venice, and the moult stage, weight, width and length of the carapace, and width and length of the bigger chela were evaluated. In addition, the total haemocyte count (THC), haemocyte diameter and volume, haemolymph glucose and total protein levels, and haemolymph phenoloxidase (PO) and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities were measured.