Safety and efficacy of the therapeutic DNA-based vaccine VB10.16 in combination with atezolizumab in persistent, recurrent or metastatic HPV16-positive cervical cancer: a multicenter, single-arm phase 2a study.

Background: Second-line treatment options for persistent, recurrent or metastatic (r/m) cervical cancer are limited. We investigated the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the therapeutic DNA-based vaccine VB10.16 combined with the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive r/m cervical cancer.

The beneficial effect of probiotics in the prevention of irinotecan-induced diarrhea in colorectal cancer patients with colostomy: a pooled analysis of two probiotic trials (Probio-SK-003 and Probio-SK-005) led by Slovak Cooperative Oncology Group.

Background: Probiotics could decrease irinotecan-induced diarrhea due to the reduction of intestinal beta-d-glucuronidase activity. This study included a combined analysis of two clinical trials aimed to determine the effectiveness of the probiotics in the prophylaxis of irinotecan-induced diarrhea in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: This combined analysis included 46 patients with CRC enrolled in the Probio-SK-003 (NCT01410955) and 233 patients from Probio-SK-005 (NCT02819960) starting a new line of irinotecan-based therapy with identical eligibility criteria.

Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter phase III study of prevention of irinotecan-induced diarrhea by a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium BB-12 LGG in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: The incidence of irinotecan-induced diarrhea varies between 60-90%, by which the incidence of severe diarrhea is 20-40%. The objective of this phase III trial was to determine the effectiveness of the probiotic mixture containing , BB-12 and , LGG in the prophylaxis of irinotecan-induced diarrhea in metastatic colorectal cancer patients due to a reduction in the activity of intestinal beta-D-glucuronidase.

Methods: From March 2016 to May 2022, a total of 242 patients with colorectal cancer starting a new line of irinotecan-based therapy were registered to the study in 11 cancer centers in Slovakia.

Levels of NT‑proBNP in patients with cancer.

At present, it is well known that natriuretic peptides may be produced by cancer cells. Stimulation of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) synthesis may be a reaction to activity of several proinflammatory cytokines. NT-proBNP is also a marker of myocardial damage during cardiotoxic chemotherapy by anthracyclines.

Genetically defined individual reference ranges for tryptase limit unnecessary procedures and unmask myeloid neoplasms.

Serum tryptase is a biomarker used to aid in the identification of certain myeloid neoplasms, most notably systemic mastocytosis, where basal serum tryptase (BST) levels >20 ng/mL are a minor criterion for diagnosis. Although clonal myeloid neoplasms are rare, the common cause for elevated BST levels is the genetic trait hereditary α-tryptasemia (HαT) caused by increased germline TPSAB1 copy number. To date, the precise structural variation and mechanism(s) underlying elevated BST in HαT and the general clinical utility of tryptase genotyping, remain undefined.

Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia modifies clinical phenotypes among individuals with congenital hypermobility disorders.

Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) is an autosomal dominant (AD) genetic trait characterized by elevated basal serum tryptase ≥8 ng/mL, caused by increased α-tryptase-encoding copy number. HαT affects 5% to 7% of Western populations and has been associated with joint hypermobility. Hypermobility disorders are likewise frequently AD, but genetic etiologies are often elusive.

Safety and efficacy of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy DCVAC/OvCa added to first-line chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel) for epithelial ovarian cancer: a phase 2, open-label, multicenter, randomized trial.

Background: Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) relapse despite primary debulking surgery and chemotherapy (CT). Autologous dendritic cell immunotherapy (DCVAC) can present tumor antigens to elicit a durable immune response. We hypothesized that adding parallel or sequential DCVAC to CT stimulates antitumor immunity and improves clinical outcomes in patients with EOC.

Defining baseline variability of serum tryptase levels improves accuracy in identifying anaphylaxis.

Background: Acute increases of ≥20% + 2 ng/mL (20 + 2 rule) over basal serum tryptase (BST) is the recommended threshold supporting a clinical diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Prospective studies have demonstrated high sensitivity for this algorithm after parenteral exposure, but specificity has not been evaluated.

Objective: We sought to define a serum tryptase change that distinguishes baseline variability from anaphylaxis on the basis of intraindividual variation in BST.

Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy (DCVAC/OvCa) combined with second-line chemotherapy in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (SOV02): A randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial.

Objective: DCVAC/OvCa is an active cellular immunotherapy designed to stimulate an immune response against ovarian cancer. We explored the safety and efficacy of DCVAC/OvCa plus carboplatin and gemcitabine in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Methods: In this open-label, parallel-group, phase 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.

Small intestinal immunopathology and GI-associated antibody formation in hereditary alpha-tryptasemia.

Background: Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HαT) is characterized by elevated basal serum tryptase due to increased copies of the TPSAB1 gene. Individuals with HαT frequently present with multisystem complaints, including anaphylaxis and seemingly functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of HαT in an irritable bowel syndrome cohort and associated immunologic characteristics that may distinguish patients with HαT from patients without HαT.

Neutrophils From Patients With Invasive Candidiasis Are Inhibited by Biofilms.

Invasive candidiasis frequently involves medical device placement. On the surfaces of these devices, can form biofilms and proliferate in adherent layers of fungal cells surrounded by a protective extracellular matrix. Due in part to this extracellular matrix, biofilms resist host defenses and antifungal drugs.

N-Glycome changes reflecting resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.

A number of studies have reported aberrant glycosylation in connection with malignancy. Our investigation further expands on this topic through the examination of N-glycans, which could be associated with the resistance of advanced stage, high-grade non-mucinous ovarian cancer to platinum/taxane based chemotherapy. We used tissue samples of 83 ovarian cancer patients, randomly divided into two independent cohorts (basic and validation).

Heritable risk for severe anaphylaxis associated with increased α-tryptase-encoding germline copy number at TPSAB1.

Background: An elevated basal serum tryptase level is associated with severe systemic anaphylaxis, most notably caused by Hymenoptera envenomation. Although clonal mast cell disease is the culprit in some individuals, it does not fully explain this clinical association.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the prevalence and associated impact of tryptase genotypes on anaphylaxis in humans.

Levels of NT-proBNP and Troponin T in Cancer Patients - Mini-Review.

Background: Natriuretic factors are peptidic substances produced by atrial and ventricular myocardium. Primary stimulus to the synthesis of these factors is intramural pressure of atriums by the increase of venous return during intravascular hypervolemia. They may serve as useful cardiac markers in clinical practice.

Thermal decomposition of mixed calcium oxalate hydrates - kinetic deconvolution of complex heterogeneous processes.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and in situ XRD were used to study dehydration and consequent decomposition reactions of mixed calcium oxalate hydrates. As the complex dehydration kinetics exhibited certain trends with respect to the applied heating rate, the modified multivariate kinetic analysis approach (based on averaged curve-by-curve optimizations) was employed to obtain a full kinetic description of the data. The Šesták-Berggren equation was used to model the two consequent dehydration reactions.

Tomm34 is commonly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and associates with tumour type and high FIGO stage.

Background: Increased activity of the chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90 is a common feature of solid tumours. Translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane 34 (Tomm34) is a cochaperone of both Hsp70 and Hsp90 that was found to be overexpressed in colorectal, hepatocellular, lung and breast carcinomas. The expression profile of Tomm34 in ovarian cancer has not been investigated.

Adjustment of serum HE4 to reduced glomerular filtration and its use in biomarker-based prediction of deep myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of circulating biomarkers together with histological grade and age to predict deep myometrial invasion (dMI) in endometrial cancer patients.

Methods: HE4ren was developed adjusting HE4 serum levels towards decreased glomerular filtration rate as quantified by the eGFR-EPI formula. Preoperative HE4, HE4ren, CA125, age, and grade were evaluated in the context of perioperative depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer (EC) patients.

A common haplotype containing functional CACNA1H variants is frequently coinherited with increased TPSAB1 copy number.

PurposeCa3.2 signaling contributes to nociception, pruritus, gastrointestinal motility, anxiety, and blood pressure homeostasis. This calcium channel, encoded by CACNA1H, overlaps the human tryptase locus, wherein increased TPSAB1 copy number causes hereditary α-tryptasemia.

[Surgical therapy of ovarian cancer].

Epithelial ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the Czech Republic. Due to the nonspecific symptoms of the disease, most cases are diagnosed only in advanced stages. The first line of treatment for ovarian cancer involves primary cytoreductive surgery, followed by combined adjuvant chemotherapy based on platinum and paclixatel, which generally achieves a good therapeutic response.

A novel diagnostic index combining HE4, CA125 and age may improve triage of women with suspected ovarian cancer - An international multicenter study in women with an ovarian mass.

Aim: To develop and validate a biomarker-based index to optimize referral and diagnosis of patients with suspected ovarian cancer. Furthermore, to compare this new index with the Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA).

Patients And Methods: A training study, consisting of patients with benign ovarian disease (n=809) and ovarian cancer (n=246), was used to develop the Copenhagen Index (CPH-I) utilizing the variables serum HE4, serum CA125 and patient age.

Prevention of irinotecan induced diarrhea by probiotics: A randomized double blind, placebo controlled pilot study.

Purpose: Diarrhea is one of the dose limiting toxicity of irinotecan. SN-38 is main irinotecan metabolite responsible for diarrhea development, which is excreted in glucuronidated form into the intestine. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the probiotics in the prevention of irinotecan induced diarrhea due to reduction of intestinal beta-d-glucuronidase activity.

[Preinvasive lesions in gynaecology - endometrium].

Preinvasive lesions of the endometrium are histopathological and molecular alterations related to high-risk of uterine carcinoma development. Incidence has increasing tendency. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia is the preinvasive lesion of type I endometrial carcinoma, developing under a hyperestrogenic background.

[Preinvasive lesions in gynaecology - uterine cervix].

Preinvasive lesion of the uterine cervix can give rise to cervical cancer. High-risk human papillomaviruses with high oncogenic potential are considered to be the main etiopathological factors with interaction of other risk factors (recurrent inflammation of the cervix, injury of the cervix, immunosuppressive conditions, sexual promiscuity, etc.).