A low aldosterone/renin ratio and high soluble ACE2 associate with COVID-19 severity.

Background: The severity of COVID-19 after SARS-CoV-2 infection is unpredictable. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is the receptor responsible for coronavirus binding, while subsequent cell entry relies on priming by the serine protease TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease, serine 2). Although renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) blockers have been suggested to upregulate ACE2, their use in COVID-19 patients is now considered well tolerated.

RAS and BRAF mutations in cell-free DNA are predictive for outcome of cetuximab monotherapy in patients with tissue-tested RAS wild-type advanced colorectal cancer.

In metastatic colorectal cancer, RAS and BRAF mutations cause resistance to anti-EGFR therapies, such as cetuximab. Heterogeneity in RAS and BRAF mutations might explain nonresponse in a subset of patients receiving cetuximab. Analyzing mutations in plasma-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could provide a more comprehensive overview of the mutational landscape as compared to analyses of primary and/or metastatic tumor tissue.

Decalcification of Breast Cancer Bone Metastases With EDTA Does Not Affect ER, PR, and HER2 Results.

In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) guides treatment selection. In case of bone-only metastatic disease, ER, PR, and HER2 status assessment may be hampered by decalcification. We aimed to determine the optimal decalcification method, and to study discordance of receptor expression between paired primary breast tumors and optimally decalcified bone metastases.

Lesion detection by [Zr]Zr-DFO-girentuximab and [F]FDG-PET/CT in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The main objective of this preliminary analysis of the IMaging PAtients for Cancer drug selecTion (IMPACT)-renal cell cancer (RCC) study is to evaluate the lesion detection of baseline contrast-enhanced CT, [Zr]Zr-DFO-girentuximab-PET/CT and [F]FDG-PET/CT in detecting ccRCC lesions in patients with a good or intermediate prognosis metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) according to the International Metastatic Database Consortium (IMDC) risk model.

Methods: Between February 2015 and March 2018, 42 newly diagnosed mccRCC patients with good or intermediate prognosis, eligible for watchful waiting, were included. Patients underwent CT, [Zr]Zr-DFO-girentuximab-PET/CT and [F]FDG-PET/CT at baseline.

Early 18F-FDG PET/CT Evaluation Shows Heterogeneous Metabolic Responses to Anti-EGFR Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to explore intrapatient mixed metabolic response and early 18F-FDG PET response evaluation using predefined quantification strategies in patients with advanced KRAS wild-type colorectal adenocarcinoma (mCRC) treated with cetuximab.

Methods: A 18F-FDG PET was performed at baseline and after 2 cycles of cetuximab. Metabolic response was categorized using thresholds suggested in PERCIST.