Publications by authors named "Julia C Thierauf"

Article Synopsis
  • - The objective of the study was to analyze clear cell sarcoma (CCS) in relation to two other rare tumors: clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) and clear cell carcinoma of the salivary gland (CCC) to find similarities among them.
  • - The research involved reviewing existing literature, collecting data on the characteristics, symptoms, imaging results, and genetic features of these tumors through PubMed.
  • - Findings indicated that CCS shares histological similarities and genetic profiles with CCOC and CCC, with all three tumors showing a tendency to occur in soft tissue and bones, primarily affecting women and typically presenting at different ages.
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Background: Companion diagnostics are an essential component of oncology. Timing, cost, and adaptability to new drug/biomarker approvals represent challenges in assuring value-based care. Overcoming these challenges requires strategies for equitable access and efficient integration.

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  • - Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma, and while we know pigmentation absence and NRAS/KRAS mutations impact outcomes in cutaneous melanoma (CM), similar data for MM were previously lacking.
  • - The study involved 39 genotyped MM patients and found that those with amelanotic (non-pigmented) melanoma had significantly shorter overall survival, as did patients with NRAS/KRAS mutations.
  • - The findings suggest that the lack of pigmentation and presence of RAS mutations, known prognostic indicators in CM, also play a crucial role in the prognosis of MM, highlighting their potential as novel prognostic factors.
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Tissue microarrays (TMA) have become an important tool in high-throughput molecular profiling of tissue samples in the translational research setting. Unfortunately, high-throughput profiling in small biopsy specimens or rare tumor samples (eg, orphan diseases or unusual tumors) is often precluded owing to limited amounts of tissue. To overcome these challenges, we devised a method that allows tissue transfer and construction of TMAs from individual 2- to 5-μm sections for subsequent molecular profiling.

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  • Laboratory medicine is at a stage where AI and machine learning are being explored, but there's a lack of tools to evaluate the diagnostic quality of these technologies, currently reliant on medical directors for assessments.
  • An expert discussion at a conference led to the development of a diagnostic quality model (DQM) that categorizes AI/ML improvements across different levels, offering a structured way to assess their impact on laboratory diagnostics.
  • The DQM framework provides a clear operational definition and rubric to measure AI/ML advancements while adhering to regulatory standards, helping to clarify the implications of these technologies in clinical settings.
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Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are central to recovery and immunity from COVID-19. However, the relationship between disease severity and the repertoire of antibodies against specific SARS-CoV-2 epitopes an individual develops following exposure remains incompletely understood. Here, we studied seroprevalence of antibodies to specific SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronavirus antigens in a well-annotated, community sample of convalescent and never-infected individuals obtained in August 2020.

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  • Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a type of cancer primarily found in salivary glands and can be identified by the presence of MAML2 translocations, which aid in differentiating it from more aggressive cancers like adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC).
  • A study analyzing 8,106 solid tumors revealed MAML2 translocations in 0.28% of cases, mainly within head and neck tumors, highlighting its diagnostic significance, especially in confirming MEC diagnoses where distinguishing it from ASC is challenging.
  • The sensitivity of MAML2 as a diagnostic tool for MEC was found to be 60%, and in a significant number of cases, MAML2 results altered the initial diagnosis, underscoring
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Background: New ultrasensitive methods for detecting residual disease after surgery are needed in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+OPSCC).

Methods: To determine whether the clearance kinetics of circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA (ctHPVDNA) is associated with postoperative disease status, a prospective observational study was conducted in 33 patients with HPV+OPSCC undergoing surgery. Blood was collected before surgery, postoperative days 1 (POD 1), 7, and 30 and with follow-up.

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Background: Understanding immunogenicity and effectiveness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines is critical to guide rational use.

Methods: We compared the immunogenicity of mRNA-1273, BNT-162b2, and Ad26.COV2.

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Purpose: The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with cancer are poorly understood.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of adults with solid-organ or hematologic cancers to evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin A/M/G spike antibodies, neutralization, and reactogenicity ≥ 7 days following two doses of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, or one dose of Ad26.COV2.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study compared the immune responses of three COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA-1273, BNT-162b2, and Ad26.COV2.S) among adults in Massachusetts to understand their effectiveness.
  • One dose of mRNA vaccines produced antibody levels similar to those in people who recovered from COVID-19, while Ad26.COV2.S had lower antibody levels and less neutralization ability.
  • Overall, mRNA vaccines showed better immune responses and effectiveness against infection and hospitalization compared to Ad26.COV2.S, highlighting varying vaccine performance.
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Cutaneous, ocular, and mucosal melanomas are histologically indistinguishable tumors that are driven by a different spectrum of genetic alterations. With current methods, identification of the site of origin of a melanoma metastasis is challenging. DNA methylation profiling has shown promise for the identification of the site of tumor origin in various settings.

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Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a palliative treatment resulting in induction of inflammatory reactions with importance for the development of an antitumor immunity. Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) have been associated with poor prognosis in different types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: Tumor tissue samples before and after PDT were evaluated for the expression of four different CTAs by immunohistochemistry.

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