Antibody persistence and booster response in adolescents and young adults 4 and 7.5 years after immunization with 4CMenB vaccine.

Background: Data on duration of protection against invasive meningococcal disease post-vaccination with the recombinant, 4-component, meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) are limited. We evaluated bactericidal activity persistence in adolescents/young adults up to 7.5 years post-primary vaccination with 4CMenB, and response to a booster dose compared with vaccine-naïve controls.

Meningococcal B Vaccine Immunogenicity in Children With Defects in Complement and Splenic Function.

Background: The capsular group B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) is recommended for children with complement deficiencies, asplenia, and splenic dysfunction; however, data on the immunogenicity of 4CMenB in these "at-risk" children are missing.

Methods: Participants aged 2 to 17 years in Italy, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Russia with complement deficiencies, asplenia, or splenic dysfunction received 2 doses of 4CMenB 2 months apart, as did healthy children in the control group. Exogenous and endogenous human complement serum bactericidal activity (SBA) was determined at baseline and 1 month after the second immunization against 4 test strains: H44/76 (assessing vaccine antigen factor H binding protein), 5/99 (Neisserial adhesion A), NZ98/254 (Porin A), and M10713 (Neisserial heparin binding antigen).

Immune Responses to Booster Vaccination With Meningococcal ABCWY Vaccine After Primary Vaccination With Either Investigational or Licensed Vaccines: A Phase 2 Randomized Study.

Background: Current meningococcal prime-boost vaccination schedules include separate vaccines for serogroups ACWY and B. An investigational combined serogroups ABCWY vaccine (MenABCWY) was developed to protect against clinically important Neisseria meningitidis serogroups.

Methods: In this phase 2, randomized, observer-blind, extension study (NCT01272180), participants 10-25 years of age received 1 booster dose of MenABCWY vaccine at 24 months (M) postprimary series of MenABCWY (2 doses), 4CMenB (2 doses) or MenACWY-CRM vaccine (1 dose).

Safety and immunogenicity of a CRM or TT conjugated meningococcal vaccine in healthy toddlers.

Background: MenACWY-CRM (Menveo(®); GlaxoSmithKline) and MenACWY-TT (Nimenrix(®); Pfizer) are two meningococcal vaccines licensed in the European Union for use in both children and adults. While both vaccines target meningococcal serogroups A, C, W and Y, immunogenicity and reactogenicity of these quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines may differ due to differences in formulation processes and chemical structure. Yet data on the comparability of these two vaccines are limited.

Persistence of specific bactericidal antibodies at 5 years of age after vaccination against serogroup B meningococcus in infancy and at 40 months.

Background: The multicomponent serogroup B meningococcal (4CMenB) vaccine induces antibodies against indicator strains of serogroup B meningococcus under various schedules. We investigated the persistence of antibodies in 5-year-old children 18-20 months after their last dose (at about 3.5 years of age).

A comparative evaluation of two investigational meningococcal ABCWY vaccine formulations: Results of a phase 2 randomized, controlled trial.

Background: A meningococcal vaccine protective against all major disease-associated serogroups (A, B, C, W and Y) is an unmet public health need. In this phase 2 observer-blinded, randomized, controlled study, two investigational meningococcal ABCWY vaccine formulations were evaluated to assess their immunological noninferiority to a licensed quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY glycoconjugate vaccine (MenACWY-CRM) for serogroups ACWY and immunogenicity against serogroup B test strains, as well as for formulation selection based on a desirability index (DI). Each investigational MenABCWY formulation contained recombinant protein and outer membrane vesicle (OMV) components of a licensed serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) combined with components of MenACWY-CRM.

Antiviral therapy after complete response to chemotherapy could be efficacious in HCV-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background/aims: Prevalence of HCV infection in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is high. The impact of antiviral therapy on the natural history of this subgroup of lymphomas after a successful chemotherapy regimen is still an argument of debate.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 343 chemotherapy-treated patients referred to our centre for five consecutive years.

Continuing trastuzumab beyond disease progression: outcomes analysis in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Introduction: We performed a retrospective analysis of HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer patients to describe clinical outcomes of those who, despite progression of the disease (PD), maintained trastuzumab for multiple chemotherapy lines. We also compared survival of these patients with that of those who halted trastuzumab at first PD.

Methods: We identified 101 patients treated between July 2000 and January 2007.

Taxane-based combinations as adjuvant chemotherapy of early breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Purpose: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized trials that evaluated the efficacy of incorporating taxanes into anthracycline-based regimens for early breast cancer (EBC). We aimed to determine whether this approach improves disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) and whether benefits are maintained across relevant patient subgroups.

Methods: Studies were retrieved by searching the PubMed database and the proceedings of major conferences.

Estimation of bulky lymph nodes by power Doppler ultrasound scanning in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma: a prospective study.

The accuracy of standard methods in estimating bulky lesions requires validation. We used clinical/computed tomography (CT) evaluation and power Doppler ultrasound (US) to detect bulky disease in 137 consecutive Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, and analyzed the prognostic relevance of each method. Bulky disease was detected by clinical/CT evaluation in 47% of the patients and by power Doppler US in 20%.

Capecitabine plus weekly oxaliplatin in gastrointestinal tumors: a phase I study.

Objective: To investigate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin.

Materials And Methods: Oxaliplatin was given by 2-hour iv infusion on days 1 and 8, and capecitabine was given orally, from day 1 to 14, every 3 weeks. We tested 4 levels of doses: 1) capecitabine 1650 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2; 2) capecitabine 2000 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2; 3) capecitabine 2000 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2; and 4) capecitabine 2500 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2.

A meta-analysis on the interaction between HER-2 expression and response to endocrine treatment in advanced breast cancer.

Purpose: Experimental data suggest a complex cross-talk between HER-2 and estrogen receptor, and it has been hypothesized that HER-2-positive tumors may be less responsive to certain endocrine treatments. Clinical data, however, have been conflicting. We have conducted a meta-analysis on the interaction between the response to endocrine treatment and the overexpression of HER-2 in metastatic breast cancer.