Prognostic value of CD8CD45RO tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy arising from the biliary tract epithelial cells with poor prognosis. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL)s and programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) have a prognostic impact in various solid tumors. We aimed to investigate TILs and PD-L1 expression and their clinical relevance in cholangiocarcinoma.

Role of Systemic Therapy and Future Directions for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor that often arises in the setting of liver cirrhosis. Although early-stage disease is often amenable for surgical resection, transplant, or locoregional therapies, many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage or have poor liver reserve. Systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for these patients.

Cell-free circulating tumor DNA supplementing tissue biopsies for identification of targetable mutations: Implications for precision medicine and considerations for reconciling results.

Cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS) is emerging as a noninvasive technique for detecting targetable mutations. We describe two lung adenocarcinoma cases that show the clinical utility of supplementing tumor biopsy molecular interrogation with ctDNA NGS. For both cases, ctDNA NGS identified actionable mutations that were previously not reported by molecular interrogation of tissue.

New insights in the treatment of radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid carcinomas: to lenvatinib and beyond.

During the past two decades, several key somatic mutations associated with development and progression of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have been revealed. Historically, the treatment for advanced DTC is challenging after patients become refractory to radioactive iodine. The response to doxorubicin, the only chemotherapy agent approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is disappointing either as monotherapy or combination therapy.

Biologic impact and clinical implication of mTOR inhibition in metastatic breast cancer.

ABSTRACTThe goal of therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is prolonging life and palliation of symptoms. Thus the preferred approach remains to use, at least initially, non-cytotoxic drugs. In hormone receptor-positive breast cancer the sequential use of single anti-estrogen drugs, e.

Is the Improved Efficacy of Trastuzumab and Lapatinib Combination Worth the Added Toxicity? A Discussion of Current Evidence, Recommendations, and Ethical Issues Regarding Dual HER2-Targeted Therapy.

Following FDA approval of trastuzumab in 1998 and lapatinib in 2007, several clinical studies have addressed the question of whether trastuzumab and lapatinib combination therapy is better than trastuzumab alone in the metastatic breast cancer and neoadjuvant setting. In this review, updated to September 2012, we focus on the relevant clinical trials that address this question and, based on the available data, reach conclusions regarding a rational and reasonably individualized approach to the management of HER2+ breast cancer. With the FDA approval of pertuzumab in June 2012 and the likely approval of T-DM1 approaching, several ethical issues overshadow the excitement oncologists have for these new treatment options.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1)-deficient mice are extraordinarily sensitive to tuberculosis.

The programmed death-1 (PD-1) costimulatory receptor inhibits T and B cell responses and plays a crucial role in peripheral tolerance. PD-1 has recently been shown to inhibit T cell responses during chronic viral infections such as HIV. In this study, we examined the role of PD-1 in infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a common co-infection with HIV.