Cancer regression and neurological toxicity following anti-MAGE-A3 TCR gene therapy.

Nine cancer patients were treated with adoptive cell therapy using autologous anti-MAGE-A3 T-cell receptors (TCR)-engineered T cells. Five patients experienced clinical regression of their cancers including 2 on-going responders. Beginning 1-2 days postinfusion, 3 patients (#'s 5, 7, and 8) experienced mental status changes, and 2 patients (5 and 8) lapsed into comas and subsequently died.

Impact of American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-32 trial results on surgeon practice in the Pacific Northwest.

Background: Recent clinical trials have suggested no survival benefit for completion axillary node dissection (CALND) after sentinel lymph node biopsy (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011) and no clinically meaningful benefit for the routine use of immunohistochemistry (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-32) in clinically node-negative breast cancer.

Methods: A 12-question electronic survey was distributed to members of 3 Pacific Northwest surgical societies. Surgeons were queried regarding the impact of the trial results on their surgical management of breast cancer.

Loss of expression of the cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 correlates with advanced-stage colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is mediated by cancer stem cells (CSCs). We sought to determine if the expression of the CSC marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in CRC tumors varies by American Joint Committee on Cancer stage or correlates to clinical outcomes.

Methods: Primary and metastatic CRC samples from 96 patients were immunostained with antibodies to ALDH1 and imaged to evaluate marker expression.

Comparative validation of online nomograms for predicting nonsentinel lymph node status in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer.

Background: Completion axillary lymph node dissection is recommended for patients with metastases to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer although nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) are often negative for tumor. Online nomograms are available to predict risk of NSLN disease.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram (using 9 variables) with the Stanford nomogram (using 3 variables) in predicting NSLN metastasis.

Comparison of pulmonary nodule detection rates between preoperative CT imaging and intraoperative lung palpation.

Background: Recent advances in computed tomographic (CT) imaging have improved the detection rate of pulmonary metastasis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the pulmonary nodule detection rate for preoperative CT imaging and intraoperative palpation are now equivalent.

Methods: A retrospective review of 108 pulmonary metastasectomies in 84 patients was performed.