The C1q and gC1qR axis as a novel checkpoint inhibitor in cancer.

Understanding at the molecular level of the cell biology of tumors has led to significant treatment advances in the past. Despite such advances however, development of therapy resistance and tumor recurrence are still unresolved major challenges. This therefore underscores the need to identify novel tumor targets and develop corresponding therapies to supplement existing biologic and cytotoxic approaches so that a deeper and more sustained treatment responses could be achieved.

Analytical Validation and Performance Characteristics of Molecular Serum Biomarkers, miR-371a-3p and miR-372-3p, for Male Germ Cell Tumors, in a Clinical Laboratory Setting.

Detection of serum embryonic miRNAs miR-371a-3p and miR-372-3p has been proposed to aid in diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs). This study describes the analytical validation and performance of a laboratory-developed test to detect these miRNA targets by stem loop real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in serum from patients with GCTs. The assay was standardized using an exogenous spike-in control of nonhuman miRNA from Caenorhabditis elegans (cel-miR-39-3p) to assess extraction efficiency, and an endogenous housekeeping miRNA, miR-30b-5p, to control for miRNA normalization.

Ischemic stroke with cancer: Hematologic and embolic biomarkers and clinical outcomes.

Background: Patients with cancer and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) face high rates of recurrent thromboembolism or death.

Objectives: To examine whether hematologic and embolic biomarkers soon after AIS are associated with subsequent adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 50 adults with active solid tumor cancer and AIS at two hospitals from 2016 to 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 Exacerbates COVID-19 Pathology Through Activation of the Complement and Kinin Systems.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 triggers the simultaneous activation of innate inflammatory pathways including the complement system and the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) generating in the process potent vasoactive peptides that contribute to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and multi-organ failure. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes four major structural proteins - the spike (S) protein, nucleocapsid (N) protein, membrane (M) protein, and the envelope (E) protein. However, the role of these proteins in either binding to or activation of the complement system and/or the KKS is still incompletely understood.