Analysis of mutation profiles in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma: clinical and prognostic correlations.

The molecular pathogenesis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) remains obscured despite the next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies explored on ever larger cohorts in the last decade. We addressed the highly variable mutation frequencies reported among previous studies with comprehensive amplicon coverage and enhanced sequencing depth to achieve higher genomic resolution for novel genetic discovery and comparative mutational profiling of the oncogenesis of NKTCL. Targeted exome sequencing was conducted to interrogate 415 cancer-related genes in a cohort of 36 patients with NKTCL, and a total of 548 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 600 Copy number variances (CNVs) were identified.

Germline mutations of homologous recombination genes and clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer: a multicenter study in Taiwan.

Background: Cancer susceptibility germline mutations are associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the hereditary status of PDAC and its impact on survival is largely unknown in the Asian population.

Methods: Exome sequencing was performed on 527 blood samples from PDAC individuals and analyzed for mutations in 80 oncogenic genes.

PTEN regulates invasiveness in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors through DUSP19-mediated VEGFR3 dephosphorylation.

Background: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor. Low PTEN expression has been observed in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) and is associated with increased liver metastasis and poor survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase and is usually activated by binding with vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC).

Mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promotes tumor growth in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer via regulation of the mTOR pathway.

Background: Tumor cells may aberrantly express metabolic enzymes to adapt to their environment for survival and growth. Targeting cancer-specific metabolic enzymes is a potential therapeutic strategy. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) catalyzes the conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate and links the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis.

The Prognostic and Predictive Role of Chromogranin A in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors - A Single-Center Experience.

Chromogranin A (CgA) is a non-specific biomarker excreted by neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cells. Elevation of circulating CgA level can be detected in gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)-NET patients and has been shown to correlate with tumor burden. The prognostic and predictive roles of CgA level and the change of CgA level are controversial.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Successfully Treated With Radiation and Immunotherapy: A Case Report.

Objective: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare thyroid cancer subtype with a devastating prognosis. Novel treatment strategies are under investigation to improve the survival of patients with ATC.

Methods: We present a case of recurrent ATC treated with a combination of radiation therapy (RT) and pembrolizumab, a programmed death-1 inhibitor, with a durable complete response.

No association between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer even among individuals genetically susceptible to the carcinogenicity of alcohol.

Inconsistent results have been reported for the association between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer, particularly at low levels of alcohol consumption. Individuals genetically susceptible to the carcinogenic effect of alcohol might have higher pancreatic cancer risk after drinking alcohol. The current study investigated the association between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer with 419 pancreatic cancer cases and 963 controls recruited by a hospital-based case-control study in Taiwan.

Cardiovascular events in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Aims: New-generation breakpoint cluster region-Abelson tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have a higher incidence of cardiovascular events than imatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). However, this knowledge is insufficiently proven. Hence, this study aimed to explore the association between cardiovascular events and TKIs in patients with CML.

An updated analysis of the epidemiologic trends of neuroendocrine tumors in Taiwan.

The incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has been increasing in recent decades. Previously, we reported the incidence and survival of NETs in Taiwan by analyzing the 1996-2008 data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Here we performed an updated analysis on the incidence and survival of NETs in Taiwan from 1996 to 2015.

Phase I study of ADI-PEG20 plus low-dose cytarabine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Most acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are argininosuccinate synthetase-deficient. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) monotherapy depletes circulating arginine, thereby selectively inducing tumor cell death. ADI-PEG20 was shown to induce complete responses in ~10% of relapsed/refractory or poor-risk AML patients.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 promotes radiosensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via positive feedback on NF-κB/IL-6/ROS signaling.

Background: Ectopic insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) expression has been shown to enhance cell migration and lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. However, OSCC patients with high IGFBP3 expression had improved survival compared with those with low expression. Therefore, we speculated that IGFBP3 expression may play a role in response to conventional OSCC therapies, such as radiotherapy.

Phase I dose escalation study of sorafenib plus S-1 for advanced solid tumors.

S-1, an oral pyrimidine fluoride-derived agent, is effective against various cancers. Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, was found to prolong the survival of various cancers and enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. We conducted a phase I dose escalation study to determine dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of S-1 when combined with sorafenib for refractory solid tumors.

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of SCB01A, a Microtubule Inhibitor with Vascular Disrupting Activity, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

Lessons Learned: SCB01A is a novel microtubule inhibitor with vascular disrupting activity. This first-in-human study demonstrated SCB01A safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity. SCB01A is safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced solid malignancies with manageable neurotoxicity.

Author Correction: The Impact of Liposomal Irinotecan on the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Real-World Experience in a Taiwanese Cohort.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

c-Myc promotes lymphatic metastasis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor through VEGFC upregulation.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) is a pancreatic neoplasm with neuroendocrine differentiation. pNET in early stage can be treated with surgical resection with long-term survival, whereas the prognosis of pNET with locoregional or distant metastasis is relatively poor. Lymphangiogenesis is essential for tumor metastasis via the lymphatic system and may overhead distant metastasis.

Validation of genome-wide association study-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in a case-control study of pancreatic cancer from Taiwan.

Background: Due to differences in genetic background, it is unclear whether the genetic loci identified by the previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of pancreatic cancer also play significant roles in the development of pancreatic cancer among the Taiwanese population.

Methods: This study aimed to validate the 25 pancreatic cancer GWAS-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a case-control study (278 cases and 658 controls) of pancreatic cancer conducted in Taiwan. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the associations between the GWAS-identified SNPs and pancreatic cancer risk.

Experience of sorafenib treatment in differentiated thyroid cancer from Taiwan.

Background: Sorafenib has been shown to prolong the progression free survival (PFS) of advanced radioiodine (RAI) refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and has been approved by the FDA as the result of the phase III DECISION trial. Sorafenib has been reimbursed for the treatment of RAI refractory DTC in Taiwan since Jan 2017. High percentage of adverse events (AE) was noted in DECISION trial.