Final outcomes analysis of the cell product SQZ-PBMC-HPV Phase 1 trial in incurable HPV16+ solid tumors shows improved overall survival in patients with increased CD8+ T cell tumor infiltration.

Cancer vaccines strive to induce robust, antigen-targeted, T-cell-mediated immune responses but have struggled to produce meaningful regression in solid tumors. An autologous cell vaccine, SQZ-PBMC-HPV, was developed by SQZ Biotechnologies using microfluidic squeezing technology to load PBMCs with HPV16 E6 and E7 antigens in HLA-A*02+ patients. The SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101 Phase 1 trial (NCT04084951) enrolled patients with incurable HPV16+ cancers.

Protein kinase RNA-activated controls mitotic progression and determines paclitaxel chemosensitivity through B-cell lymphoma 2 in ovarian cancer.

Anti-tubulin agents, such as paclitaxel, have been used extensively for treatment of several types of cancer, including ovarian, lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Despite their wide use in cancer treatment, however, patient response is highly variable and drug resistance remains a major clinical issue. Protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) plays a critical role in immune response to viral infection.

The Hippo/YAP pathway interacts with EGFR signaling and HPV oncoproteins to regulate cervical cancer progression.

The Hippo signaling pathway controls organ size and tumorigenesis through a kinase cascade that inactivates Yes-associated protein (YAP). Here, we show that YAP plays a central role in controlling the progression of cervical cancer. Our results suggest that YAP expression is associated with a poor prognosis for cervical cancer.

Instituting a robot-assisted surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre.

Background: The initial experience of a gynaecological oncology robotic surgery programme at a tertiary care cancer centre is described.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of 76 patients offered robot-assisted surgery.

Results: Seventy-three patients underwent robot-assisted surgery; three cases were converted to laparotomy; 51% of patients underwent treatment for endometrial cancer; 18% had ovarian cancer risk reduction surgery; and 8% were treated for uterine leiomyomata.

A medical-legal partnership as a component of a palliative care model.

Introduction: A medical-legal partnership (MLP) incorporated as part of a comprehensive palliative care model addresses unmet social and material needs for patients. This study retrospectively reviews the experience of one MLP and quantifies the benefits of the program for both patients and the host health care institution.

Methods: The Legal Services Program, an MLP, reviewed their program referral and outcomes from April 1, 2004 to December 31, 2007 to document legal needs resolved.

Consideration of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in BRCA mutation-negative familial ovarian cancers.

Background: Inherited mutations account for approximately 10% of all epithelial ovarian cancers. Breast cancer (BRCA1 and BRACA2) gene mutations are responsible for up to 85% of inherited breast and/or ovarian cancer. Another condition that has been associated with ovarian cancer is hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC), which carries a lifetime risk of up to 13% for ovarian cancer.

Higher intakes of vegetables and vegetable-related nutrients are associated with lower endometrial cancer risks.

A limited number of studies have investigated diet in association with endometrial cancer (EC). We examined the association between intakes of selected food groups and nutrients with EC risk among 541 women with histologically confirmed EC and 541 women with an intact uterus and noncancer diagnoses seen at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1982 and 1998. Self-reported dietary and other epidemiologic data were collected by questionnaire.

Prospective determination of prevalence of lynch syndrome in young women with endometrial cancer.

Purpose: Age younger than 50 years at the time of colon cancer diagnosis is often used as a screening criterion for Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 mutations in an unselected cohort of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer at age younger than 50 years.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter study was performed at three institutions.

Uterine carcinosarcoma associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Background: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) was originally described as a genetic disorder predominantly involving colorectal cancer. Numerous neoplasms are known to be associated with this condition. Sarcomas have also been reported within families with HNPCC.

Expression characteristics of prostate-derived Ets factor support a role in breast and prostate cancer progression.

The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) protein expression in breast and prostate cancer progression. A polyclonal antibody specific to PDEF was raised and reacted with tissue microarrays consisting of benign breast, in situ ductal, invasive ductal, and invasive lobular breast carcinomas. The antibody was also reacted with tissue microarrays, including benign prostate, prostate intraepithelial neoplasias (PINs), and prostate carcinomas.

Medically related legal needs and quality of life in cancer care: a structural analysis.

Background: This study investigated the interface of medical and legal systems by empirically identifying and evaluating the relation of medically related legal needs and patient quality of life and by assessing the degree to which these needs were addressed in standard patient care.

Methods: Medically related legal needs were identified in a focus group setting. These needs were subsequently sorted and rated by a sample of 50 mixed-site cancer patients (22 men and 28 women; mean age, 52 years) and subjected to multidimensional scaling and cluster analyses.

Prostate-derived Ets factor is overexpressed in serous epithelial ovarian tumors.

The frequent overexpression of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) mRNA in ovarian cancer has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate PDEF protein expression in ovarian cancer and how this expression might vary at different stages of epithelial ovarian tumors in comparison to normal ovary. A new rabbit polyclonal antibody to PDEF was prepared, and immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue sections from 12 normal ovaries, 10 cases of benign serous cystadenoma, 17 cases of low malignant potential tumor, 19 cases of stage 1, and 15 cases of advanced stage primary epithelial (serous) ovarian carcinomas and their peritoneal metastases.

The role of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in the management of familial ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Familial ovarian cancer is most often associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, implicating mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, another common syndrome, is also associated with ovarian cancer and is caused by DNA mismatch repair genes. We sought to identify the role of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in women with family histories of ovarian cancer.

Risk of ovarian cancer associated with BMI varies by menopausal status.

Obesity has been linked to increased risk of several malignancies, but the role of obesity in the etiology of ovarian cancer remains unclear. Therefore, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between body size and risk of ovarian cancer. Participants included 427 women with primary, incident ovarian cancer and 854 cancer-free controls.

Regular analgesic use and risk of endometrial cancer.

Background: Analgesic use has been implicated in the chemoprevention of a number of solid tumors, but thus far, no previous research has focused on the role of aspirin in endometrial cancer etiology.

Methods: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 427 women with primary, incident endometrial cancer, and 427 age- and residence-matched controls without benign or malignant neoplasms. All participants received medical services at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, and completed a comprehensive epidemiologic questionnaire.

Cyclooxygenase 2 expression in serous tumors of the ovary.

This study was designed to investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in ovarian serous tumors (benign, borderline tumors, and carcinomas) and primary peritoneal serous carcinomas. Cases diagnosed between 1995 and 2001 were reviewed; 47 benign tumors, 6 borderline tumors, and 39 carcinomas were examined, as well as 12 normal ovaries that served as controls. Blocks were stained with anti COX-2 polyclonal antibody and staining was graded qualitatively.

Antioxidant inhibits tamoxifen-DNA adducts in endometrial explant culture.

Fresh human endometrial explants were incubated for 24h at 37 degrees C with either tamoxifen (10-100 micro M) or the vehicle (0.1% ethanol). Three metabolites namely, alpha-hydroxytamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and N-desmethyltamoxifen were identified in the culture media.