Publications by authors named "Damian J Ralser"

Article Synopsis
  • Uterine fibroids present challenges for patients, especially regarding symptoms and fertility, prompting this research to compare open and laparoscopic myomectomy in terms of quality of life and pregnancy outcomes.
  • The study examined 168 patients who underwent myomectomy from October 2017 to July 2023, focusing on preoperative characteristics and postoperative results concerning symptoms and pregnancy.
  • Findings indicated that while both surgical methods resulted in high patient satisfaction and similar pregnancy outcomes, laparoscopic myomectomy had lower recurrence rates and cesarean section recommendations, suggesting it may be a preferable option for patients.
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Background: Fluid overload and hypovolemia promote postoperative complications in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. In the present study, postoperative complications and anastomotic leakage were investigated before and after implementation of pulse pressure variation-guided fluid management (PPVGFM) during ovarian cancer surgery.

Patients And Methods: A total of n = 243 patients with ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery at the University Hospital Bonn were retrospectively evaluated.

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Purpose: CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) represent the first-line therapy approach of choice for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (HR + /HER-ABC). Approximately 50% of HR + /HER2-ABC displays low HER2 expression (HER2 low). Recent data emerging from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial demonstrated practice-changing efficacy of the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients with low HER2 expression.

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Aim: Endometrial cancer (EC) is heterogeneous with respect to epidemiology, clinical course, histopathology and tumor biology. Recently, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) network has identified four molecular subtypes with distinct clinical courses by an integrated multi-omics approach. These subtypes are of critical importance in the clinical management of EC.

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Purpose: Anterior enterocele is a rare but potentially serious complication after cystectomy with heterogeneous treatment options.

Methods: Here we report on the management of a 71-year-old patient with recurrence of anterior enterocele after cystectomy and provide a systematic review of the literature using the PubMed/MEDLINE database.

Results: The 71-year-old patient with recurrence of anterior enterocele after cystectomy was successfully treated with colpocleisis and anterior colporrhaphy at the Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, University Hospital Bonn.

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Introduction: A large number of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) achieve stable disease (SD) as the best overall response, which is associated with heterogeneous outcomes. In this context, complementary biomarkers that improve outcome prediction are needed. We have recently demonstrated that measuring the on-treatment modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), which is based on the two serum markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, can improve outcome prediction complementary to radiological staging in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

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Introduction: Adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor trials in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) call for improved recurrence risk stratification. Due to limitations of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) use in RCC, the use of hypermethylated SHOX2 gene (mSHOX2) in circulating cell-free DNA is explored as a surrogate marker for identifying high-risk patients after RCC surgery.

Methods: Liquid biopsies were collected post-surgery from 45 RCC patients (mean duration 4.

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Introduction: Complete macroscopic cytoreduction represents the most important prognostic parameter for overall survival in ovarian cancer. This dogma remains tenacious despite significant improvements in adjuvant systemic treatment. Hence, optimization of surgical therapy is an overarching goal to improve patients' outcomes.

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PD-L1 status assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) has failed to reliably predict outcomes for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). promoter methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that has been shown to regulate mRNA expression in various malignancies. The aim of our present study was to evaluate the predictive potential of promoter methylation status () in ICB-treated mUC compared to conventional IHC-based PD-L1 assessment.

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Importance: In the era of immuno-oncology, imaging alone seems to be insufficient to capture treatment responses, as patients with stable disease treated with immunotherapy have a wide range of clinical outcomes. There is an unmet need for complementary (ideally cost-efficient) markers that enable assessment of therapy response and outcomes in conjunction with imaging.

Objectives: To examine whether longitudinal changes in the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), which is based on C-reactive protein and albumin, can predict responses and outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

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Background: Inducible T cell costimulator ICOS is an emerging target in immuno-oncology. The aim of this study was to investigate the epigenetic regulation of ICOS in melanoma by DNA methylation.

Methods: We comprehensively investigate ICOS DNA methylation of specific CpG sites and expression pattern within the melanoma microenvironment with regard to immune correlates, differentiation, clinical outcomes, and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response.

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Purpose: Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy of the female genital tract with increasing incidence rates. Etiologically, HPV-dependent and HPV-independent VSCC are distinguished. Surgical treatment and/or radiotherapy represent the therapeutic mainstay for localized disease.

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Background: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) network (United States National Cancer Institute) identified four molecular endometrial cancer (EC) subtypes using an extensive multi-method approach. The aim of this study was to determine the four TCGA EC molecular subtypes using a single-method whole-exome sequencing (WES)-based approach provided by MH Guide (Molecular Health, Heidelberg, Germany).

Methods: WES and clinical data of n = 232 EC patients were obtained from TCGA.

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Purpose: CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy are considered standard-of-care for first-line therapy of patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative, advanced breast cancer (HR+/HER2- ABC). Superiority of combination therapy over endocrine monotherapy has been demonstrated in a multitude of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in phase III and IV. However, RCTs reflect clinical reality only to a limited extent, as narrow inclusion criteria lead to a selected patient collective.

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Background: To analyze clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical correlates of survival in vaginal cancer patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of primary vaginal cancer patients, treated at the Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology of the University Hospital Bonn between 2007 and 2021.

Results: The study cohort comprised 22 patients.

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Purpose: Cervical cancer (CC) is caused by a persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. The cervico-vaginal microbiome may influence the development of (pre)cancer lesions. Aim of the study was (i) to evaluate the new CC screening program in Germany for the detection of high-grade CC precursor lesions, and (ii) to elucidate the role of the cervico-vaginal microbiome and its potential impact on cervical dysplasia.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the prevalence of NECTIN-4 protein expression in primary tumors and corresponding distant metastases in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC), highlighting its role for the antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin (EV).
  • Results showed that membranous NECTIN-4 expression significantly declines in metastatic spread, with nearly 40% of metastases lacking this expression, suggesting that prior receptor status determination may be necessary before EV treatment.
  • The absence or low levels of NECTIN-4 were linked to poorer progression-free survival in patients treated with EV, emphasizing the need to reassess current clinical practices regarding NECTIN-4 receptor testing.
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Background/aim: MicroRNA (miR) is implicated in the development of ovarian cancer (OC), the emergence of therapy resistance, and metastatic spread. In the past decade, a variety of relevant miRs have been identified in the context of OC, including miR-1 and miR-21. miR-21 plays a crucial role in OC carcinogenesis via activation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase signaling and development of platinum resistance, and has prognostic value.

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Background/aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive and prognostic value of the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) with regard to complete cytoreduction and clinical outcomes in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: In a cohort comprising 188 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the PCI was retrospectively assessed. Clinical factors and perioperative complications were analyzed according to different PCI groups.

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Aim: This study aims to evaluate the incidence of postoperative ileus (POI) following cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and its impact on anastomotic leakage occurrence and postoperative complications.

Methods: A total of 357 surgeries were performed on 346 ovarian cancer patients between 1/2010 and 12/2020 at our institution. The postoperative course regarding paralytic ileus, anastomotic leakage, and postoperative complications was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and through ordinal logistic regression.

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