Liquid biopsy: the value of different bodily fluids.

Liquid biopsies have gained an increasing interest in the last years among medical and scientific communities. Indeed, the value of liquid effusions, while less invasive and more accurate techniques, has been markedly highlighted. Peripheral blood comprises the most often analyzed sample, but recent evidences have pointed out the huge importance of other bodily fluids, including pleural and peritoneal fluids, urine, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid in the detection and monitoring of different tumor types.

Is there a correlation between HER2 gene amplification level and response to neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer?

There are contradictory data regarding the correlation between HER2 amplification level determined by in situ hybridization and evolution after treatment with anti-HER2 therapies. The aim of this study was to correlate quantitative results of FISH (ratio HER2/CEP17 and number of HER2 signals/nucleus) with pathological response achieved after neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. For this purpose, we analysed 100 consecutive HER2-positive cases of breast carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Effect of antiangiogenic-based treatment and systemic inflammatory factors on outcomes in patients with BRAF v600-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer: a real-world study in Spain.

Background: Outcomes are poorer in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with BRAF V600E mutations than those without it, but the effect of these mutations on treatment response is unclear. This real-world study assessed the effects of antiangiogenic-based treatment and systemic inflammatory factors on outcomes in patients with BRAF V600-mutated mCRC.

Methods: This real-world, multicenter, retrospective, observational study included patients with BRAF V600-mutated mCRC treated in eight hospitals in Spain.

Palbociclib combined with endocrine therapy in heavily pretreated HR/HER2 advanced breast cancer patients: Results from the compassionate use program in Spain (PALBOCOMP).

Background: This study evaluated efficacy and safety of palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, in heavily-pretreated hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR/HER2) metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients during the compassionate use program in Spain from February 2015 to November 2017.

Patients And Methods: Patient data were collected retrospectively from 35 hospitals in Spain. Patients with HR/HER2 mBC who had progressed on ≥4 treatments for advanced disease were eligible.