Identification and characterization of tumor and stromal derived liquid biopsy analytes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The lack of predictive biomarkers contributes notably to the poor outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the key components of the prominent PDAC stroma. Data on clinical relevance of CAFs entering the bloodstream, known as circulating CAFs (cCAFs) are scarce.

Dose-Reduced FLA-IDA in Combination with Venetoclax Is an Effective and Safe Salvage Therapy in Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (R/R AML).

Despite the development of targeted therapies in first-line AML, complete remissions (CR) cannot be achieved in 30-40%, and relapse rates remain high. In R/R AML the intensive treatment regimen of fludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin combined with venetoclax (FLA-VIDA) showed improved remission rates compared to FLA-IDA. In this retrospective single-center analysis, we investigated the efficacy and safety of dose-reduced FLA-IDA with and without venetoclax to minimize the risk of infectious complications and excessive myelosuppression; Methods: Between 2011 and 2023, 89 R/R AML patients were treated with dose-reduced FLA-IDA (fludarabine 30 mg/m day 1-4, cytarabine 2000 mg/m day 1-4, idarubicin 10 mg/m day 1 + 4).

Inflammatory stress determines the need for chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive esophagogastric adenocarcinoma receiving targeted and immunotherapy.

Anti-PD-1, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy are used in the treatment of patients with advanced HER2-positive esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EGA), but long-term survival remains limited. Herein, we report extended follow-up data from the INTEGA trial (NCT03409848), which investigated the efficacy of the anti-PD-1 nivolumab, trastuzumab, and FOLFOX chemotherapy (FOLFOX arm) in comparison to a chemotherapy-free regimen involving nivolumab, trastuzumab, and the anti-CTLA-4 ipilimumab (Ipi arm) in the first-line setting for advanced disease. The 12-month overall survival (OS) showed no statistical difference between the arms, with 57% OS (95% CI: 41%-71%) in the Ipi arm and 70% OS (95% CI: 54%-82%) in the FOLFOX arm.

Murine Regulatory CD4 T Cells Are Increased in Leukemic Spleens and Show High Co-Expression of Co-Regulatory Molecules CD39, CD73, PD1, and TIGIT.

Comprehensive characterization of AML-associated T cells during disease progression is essential to identify relevant immune escape mechanisms and new immunotherapeutic approaches. Investigating the processes that lead to an immunosuppressive environment under progression of AML is difficult in humans, because by the time of diagnosis the disease is often progressed far beyond the initial stages. Therefore, to investigate T-cell phenotypes during progression a C57BL/6 mouse model was used.

Effectiveness of high efficiency particulate (HEPA) air condition combined with the antifungal prophylaxis on incidence, morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal infections in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a retrospective single-center study.

Introduction: Our monocentric and retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical effectivity of HEPA filters in combination with the antifungal drug prophylaxis in patients with AML undergoing intensive chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT).

Methods/results: We included 177 patients between 2005 and 2015 representing a total of 372 in-hospital stays, 179 in the HEPA cohort (+HEPA) and 193 in the cohort without HEPA filters (-HEPA). No significant additional benefit of HEPA filtration on the risk reduction of IFI was observed.

Through the patients' eyes: psychometric evaluation of the 64-item version of the Experienced Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire (EPAT-64).

Background: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) are valuable tools to evaluate patient-centredness (PC) from the patients' perspective. Despite their utility, a comprehensive PREM addressing PC has been lacking. To bridge this gap, we developed the preliminary version of the Experienced Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire (EPAT), a disease-generic tool based on the integrative model of PC comprising 16 dimensions.

Alcohol consumption in cancer patients receiving psycho-oncologic care analysis of socio-demographic, health-related and cancer-related factors.

Purpose: The carcinogenic effects of alcoholic beverages and the negative impact of alcohol consumption on cancer progression and treatment outcomes are well established in oncology research. Many cancer patients experience significant psychological distress, often manifesting as elevated levels of depression and anxiety. In the general population, alcohol consumption is commonly used as a coping mechanism for such distress.

Death Anxiety in Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.

Context: Death anxiety is associated with fears of suffering and uncertainty at the end of life. It is also relevant to patients' family caregivers, who can experience fears about the patients' death and dying.

Objectives: This study investigates the prevalence of death anxiety in advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers and its association with sociodemographic and medical characteristics.

The CAREPAL-8: a short screening tool for multidimensional family caregiver burden in palliative care.

Background: Family caregivers of terminally ill and dying people do not only experience varying levels but also different dimensions of caregiver-related strain and burden. The aim of the study was to develop a short multidimensional screening tool for the detection of burden in family caregivers in palliative care.

Methods: Family caregivers of cancer patients newly admitted to specialist inpatient palliative care (N = 232) completed questionnaires on psychological burden, quality of life, social support and need fulfillment.

Smoking patterns and the intention to quit in German cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis can be associated with lower treatment tolerance, poorer outcomes, and reduced quality of life compared to non-smoking cancer patients or to those who have quit. Yet about 60% of patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed and find it difficult to quit. To address this problem, it is necessary to identify current and past smoking patterns (e.

Efficacy and safety of high-dose chemotherapy as the first or subsequent salvage treatment line in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell cancer: an international multicentric analysis.

Background: In relapsed or refractory (RR) metastatic germ cell cancer (GCC), high-dose (HD) chemotherapy (CTX) plus autologous stem cell transplantation is considered the standard of care. Limited data exist regarding the efficacy of HD-CTX following conventionally dosed salvage regimens (CDRs). This analysis explores and contrasts the efficacy of HD-CTX as the first or subsequent salvage regimen.

Expression of CD39 is associated with T cell exhaustion in ovarian cancer and its blockade reverts T cell dysfunction.

Immune exhaustion is a hallmark of ovarian cancer. Using multiparametric flow cytometry, the study aimed to analyze protein expression of novel immunological targets on CD3 T cells isolated from the peripheral blood ( = 20), malignant ascites ( = 16), and tumor tissue ( = 6) of patients with ovarian cancer (OVCA). The study revealed an increased proportion of effector memory CD8 T cells in OVCA tissue and malignant ascites.