Circulating immune biomarkers correlating with response in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma on immunotherapy.

As multiple front-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combinations are approved for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, biomarkers predicting for ICI responses are needed past clinical prognostication scores and transcriptome gene expression profiling. Circulating markers represent opportunities to assess baseline and dynamic changes in immune cell frequency and cytokine levels while on treatment. We conducted an exploratory prospective correlative study of 33 patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma undergoing treatment with ICIs and correlated changes in circulating immune cell subsets and cytokines with clinical responses to treatment.

Launching Stealth AutoGuide robot for stereotactic biopsy procedures in a neurosurgical centre: learning curve and workflow optimization.

Background: Accurate histological analysis is crucial for confirming intracerebral neoplasia due to the diverse array of potential diagnoses presented by imaging. In the realm of biopsy techniques, the use of robot-based systems is on the rise, primarily owing to their heightened targeting accuracy. The objective of this study was to elucidate the practicality, learning curve and workflow associated with robot-guided biopsies upon their introduction to a neurosurgical centre.

Implementation of flow cytometry testing on rare matrix samples: Special considerations and best practices when the sample is unique or difficult to obtain.

The publication of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute's guideline H62 has provided the flow cytometry community with much-needed guidance on development and validation of flow cytometric assays (CLSI, 2021). It has also paved the way for additional exploration of certain topics requiring additional guidance. Flow cytometric analysis of rare matrices, or unique and/or less frequently encountered specimen types, is one such topic and is the focus of this manuscript.