Hu14.18K.322A Causes Direct Cell Cytotoxicity and Synergizes with Induction Chemotherapy in High-Risk Neuroblastoma.

The disialoganglioside, GD2, is a promising therapeutic target due to its overexpression in certain tumors, particularly neuroblastoma (NB), with limited expression in normal tissues. Despite progress, the intricate mechanisms of action and the full spectrum of the direct cellular responses to anti-GD2 antibodies remain incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the direct cytotoxic effects of the humanized anti-GD2 antibody hu14.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination response in pediatric oncology patients.

Background: There remains limited knowledge about the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in pediatric oncology patients, which is essential to provide counseling and risk adaptation in this vulnerable population. The goal of this study was to understand immunogenicity after vaccination in pediatric oncology patients, and determine if certain clinical factors impacted response.

Methods: Patients 0-25 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer and actively receiving therapy were enrolled on study.

Second Generation Small Molecule Inhibitors of Gankyrin for the Treatment of Pediatric Liver Cancer.

Background: Gankyrin, a member of the 26S proteasome, is an overexpressed oncoprotein in hepatoblastoma (HBL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cjoc42 was the first small molecule inhibitor of Gankyrin developed; however, the IC50 values of >50 μM made them unattractive for clinical use. Second-generation inhibitors demonstrate a stronger affinity toward Gankyrin and increased cytotoxicity.

Small Molecule Cjoc42 Improves Chemo-Sensitivity and Increases Levels of Tumor Suppressor Proteins in Hepatoblastoma Cells and in Mice by Inhibiting Oncogene Gankyrin.

Relapsed hepatoblastoma (HBL) and upfront hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are notoriously chemoresistant tumors associated with poor outcomes. Gankyrin (Gank) is a known oncogene that is overexpressed in pediatric liver cancer and implicated in chemo-resistance. The goal of this study was to evaluate if the Gank-tumor suppressor axis is activated in chemoresistant hepatoblastoma patients and examine if an inhibitor of Gank, Cjoc42, might improve the chemosensitivity of cancer cells.

Clinical heterogeneity of pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often a chemoresistant neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Pediatric HCC may reflect unique biological and clinical heterogeneity.

Procedure: An IRB-approved retrospective institutional review of patients with HCC treated between 2004 and 2015 was undertaken.

A General Pediatrician's Approach to Anemia in Childhood.

Anemia may be defined as a reduction in red blood cell mass or blood hemoglobin concentration. Physiologically, this represents a hemoglobin level that is too low to meet cellular oxygen demands. Practically, the lower limit of normal is set at 2 standard deviations below the mean based on age, gender, and ethnicity/race.

Internalizing symptoms in AYA survivors of childhood cancer and matched comparisons.

Objective: As the number of pediatric cancer survivors increases, so does our need to understand behavioral late effects. Prior studies show mixed results, with some noting increased emotional distress and psychiatric diagnoses in cancer survivors and others suggesting resilience. The purpose of our study was to evaluate internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression in young adult survivors of childhood cancer compared with matched classroom matched peers.

Gankyrin Promotes Tumor-Suppressor Protein Degradation to Drive Hepatocyte Proliferation.

Background & Aims: Uncontrolled liver proliferation is a key characteristic of liver cancer; however, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not well understood. Elucidation of these mechanisms is necessary for the development of better therapy. The oncogene Gankyrin (Gank) is overexpressed in both hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma.

Surgical management of children and adolescents with upfront completely resected hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignant neoplasm that is often chemoresistant. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay of therapy. The role of liver transplantation (LT) in pediatric HCC is in evolution, as is the role of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage I disease.

Do amount of variant differentiation and mitotic rate in bladder cancer change with neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is currently recommended to all candidate patients with muscularis propria-invasive bladder cancer. However, NAC is effective in only a subset of patients, and predictors of response are lacking. Our study aimed to characterize tumoral changes with NAC usage and to identify features at bladder biopsy/transurethral resection (Bx/TUR) that may predict response.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival in patients with bladder cancer involving the gastrointestinal tract.

Involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by bladder cancer is rare and documented in only a few case reports with no prognostic information available. The aim of this study was to clinicopathologically characterize patients with pathologically proven bladder cancer in the GI tract. We reviewed pathology reports from cystectomy patients at our institution from 2006 to 2011, identifying those with GI involvement at or after cystectomy.

Retrospective analysis of survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: impact of pT classification, node status, lymphovascular invasion, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

A range of studies have analyzed prognostic factors in bladder cancer. However, prior cohorts have included heterogeneous pT classification at biopsy and others were derived from large, multi-institutional clinical trials over the span of many years. Our objective was to analyze prognostic factors in a recent radical cystectomy (RC) cohort at a single institution and evaluate outcomes based on current practice patterns.