Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in combination with nivolumab in patients with advanced melanoma.

Background: Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is a personalized immunotherapy. The efficacy of TIL-ACT has been demonstrated prospectively in patients with advanced melanoma but is not limited to melanoma patients. Many patients are refractory to TIL-ACT, however, or their cancer becomes resistant.

The Impact of Perioperative Radiotherapy on Disease-Specific Survival in Patients with Localized Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma: A Population-Based Propensity-Score Matched Analysis.

Background: The impact of radiotherapy on the oncologic outcome of retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on disease-specific survival (DSS) in a cohort of patients with RPLSs.

Methods: In this population-based, retrospective cohort study, patients with localized RPLSs who underwent surgical therapy were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-17 cancer registry program.

Examining immune-inflammatory mechanisms of probiotic supplementation in depression: secondary findings from a randomized clinical trial.

We recently indicated that four-week probiotic supplementation significantly reduced depression along with microbial and neural changes in people with depression. Here we further elucidated the biological modes of action underlying the beneficial clinical effects of probiotics by focusing on immune-inflammatory processes. The analysis included a total of N = 43 participants with depression, from which N = 19 received the probiotic supplement and N = 24 received a placebo over four weeks, in addition to treatment as usual.

Melanoma Clonal Heterogeneity Leads to Secondary Resistance after Adoptive Cell Therapy with Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is effective in patients with melanoma, although long-term responses seem restricted in patients who have complete remissions. Many patients develop secondary resistance to TIL-ACT but the involved mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we describe a case of secondary resistance to TIL-ACT possibly due to intratumoral heterogeneity and selection of a resistant tumor cell clone by the transferred T cells.

Technical considerations for isolated limb perfusion: A consensus paper.

Background: Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a well-established surgical procedure for the administration of high dose chemotherapy to a limb for the treatment of advanced extremity malignancy. Although the technique of ILP was first described over 60 years ago, ILP is utilised in relatively few specialist centres, co-located with tertiary or quaternary cancer centres. The combination of high dose cytotoxic chemotherapy and the cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), mandates leakage monitoring to prevent potentially serious systemic toxicity.

Synovial sarcoma: the misdiagnosed sarcoma.

Synovial sarcoma is a rare and highly malignant soft tissue sarcoma. The inconspicuous and diversity of its early symptoms make it a highly misdiagnosed disease. The management of synovial sarcomas is challenging as they are rare and have a poor prognosis.

Effect of short-term, high-dose probiotic supplementation on cognition, related brain functions and BDNF in patients with depression: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In major depressive disorder (MDD), cognitive dysfunctions strongly contribute to functional impairments but are barely addressed in current therapies. Novel treatment strategies addressing cognitive symptoms in depression are needed. As the gut microbiota-brain axis is linked to depression and cognition, we investigated the effect of a 4-week high-dose probiotic supplementation on cognitive symptoms in depression.

Effects of a probiotic add-on treatment on fronto-limbic brain structure, function, and perfusion in depression: Secondary neuroimaging findings of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Probiotics are suggested to improve depressive symptoms via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. We have recently shown a beneficial clinical effect of probiotic supplementation in patients with depression. Their underlying neural mechanisms remain unknown.

Efficacy of intraoperative cholangiography versus preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiography in patients with intermediate risk for common bile duct stones.

Background: This is the first randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in patients with suspected CBDS.

Methods: This unblinded, multicenter RCT was conducted at five swiss hospitals. Eligibility criteria were suspected CBDS.

Clinical, gut microbial and neural effects of a probiotic add-on therapy in depressed patients: a randomized controlled trial.

A promising new treatment approach for major depressive disorder (MDD) targets the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, which is linked to physiological and behavioral functions affected in MDD. This is the first randomized controlled trial to determine whether short-term, high-dose probiotic supplementation reduces depressive symptoms along with gut microbial and neural changes in depressed patients. Patients with current depressive episodes took either a multi-strain probiotic supplement or placebo over 31 days additionally to treatment-as-usual.

Incidence of Liver Resection Following the Introduction of Caseload Requirements for Liver Surgery in Switzerland.

Background: Centralization of care is an established concept in complex visceral surgery. Switzerland introduced case load requirements (CR) in 2013 in five areas of cancer surgery. The current study investigates the effects of CR on indication and mortality in liver surgery.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) as an Adjunctive Therapy for Depression-Case Report.

Depression is a debilitating disorder, and at least one third of patients do not respond to therapy. Associations between gut microbiota and depression have been observed in recent years, opening novel treatment avenues. Here, we present the first two patients with major depressive disorder ever treated with fecal microbiota transplantation as add-on therapy.

The Simultaneous Presence of Isolated Tumour Cells and Bone Marrow Micrometastases in Stage I and II Colon Cancer-Challenging the Theory of a Chronological Pathway of Tumour Cell Dissemination.

Background: According to the common tenet, tumour progression is a chronological process starting with lymphatic invasion. In this respect, the meaning of bone marrow micrometastases (BMM) in patients with lymph node negative colon cancer (CC) is unclear. This study examines the relationship of isolated tumour cells (ITC) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) and BMM in patients in early CC.

Incidence, Treatment and Outcome of Patients with Retroperitoneal Soft-Tissue Sarcoma in Switzerland 2005-2015: A Population-Based Analysis.

Background: Reports on the epidemiology and mortality of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RSTS) in Switzerland are scarce. This study investigates the incidence and outcomes of surgically treated RSTS inpatients in Switzerland depending on the hospital type and size.

Methods: Data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office were used to conduct a retrospective analysis of all RSTS inpatients and hospitalizations in Switzerland between 2005 and 2015.

Neural mapping of anhedonia across psychiatric diagnoses: A transdiagnostic neuroimaging analysis.

Anhedonia has been associated with abnormal reward-related striatal dopamine functioning in patients with different psychiatric disorders. Here, we tested whether anhedonia expression mapped onto striatal volume across several psychiatric diagnoses. T1-weighted images from 313 participants including 89 healthy controls (HC), 22 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), 50 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 45 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), 49 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), 43 patients with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and 15 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) were included.

The Value of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping for the Staging of Node-Negative Colon Cancer: Propensity Score and Mediation Analyses.

Objectives: Mediation analysis to assess the protective impact of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping on prognosis and survival of patients with colon cancer through a more precise evaluation of the lymph node (LN) status.

Background: Up to 20% of patients with node-negative colon cancer develop disease recurrence. Conventional histopathological LN examination may be limited in describing the real metastatic burden of LN.

Influence of the introduction of caseload requirements on indication for visceral cancer surgery in Switzerland.

Background: In 2013 Swiss health authorities implemented annual hospital caseload requirements (CR) for five areas of visceral surgery. We assess the impact of the implementation of CR on indication for surgery in esophageal, pancreatic and rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of national registry data of all inpatient admissions between January 1st 2005 and December 31st 2015.

Nestin and CD34 expression in colorectal cancer predicts improved overall survival.

Background: Nestin, a class VI intermediate filament protein of the cytoskeleton, and CD34, a transmembrane phosphoglycoprotein, are markers of progenitor cells. This study aimed to evaluate their expression and clinical significance in colorectal cancer.

Methods: A clinically annotated tissue microarray, including 599 patients with colorectal cancer, was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

Evaluation of the prognostic relevance of the recommended minimum number of lymph nodes in colorectal cancer-a propensity score analysis.

Purpose: Nodal status in colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important prognostic factor, and adequate lymph node (LN) staging is crucial. Whether the number of resected and analysed LN has a direct impact on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) is much discussed. Guidelines request a minimum number of 12 LN to be analysed.

Surgical Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Followed by Curative Surgery in Patients With Esophageal Cancer: An Intergroup Phase III Trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK 75/08).

Objective: To assess the impact of surgical technique in regard to morbidity and mortality after neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer.

Background: The SAKK trial 75/08 was a multicenter phase III trial (NCT01107639) comparing induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation and surgery in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: Patients in the control arm received induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel, followed by concomitant chemoradiation therapy with cisplatin, docetaxel, and 45Gy.

Are three antiseptic paints needed for safe preparation of the surgical field? A prospective cohort study with 239 patients.

Background: Preoperative skin antisepsis is an essential component of safe surgery. However, it is unclear how many antiseptic paints are needed to eliminate bacteria prior to incision. This study compared microbial skin counts after two and three antiseptic paints.

Low Expression of Programmed Death 1 (PD-1), PD-1 Ligand 1 (PD-L1), and Low CD8+ T Lymphocyte Infiltration Identify a Subgroup of Patients With Gastric and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma With Severe Prognosis.

Prognosis of gastric and esophageal cancer is poor and treatment improvements are needed. Programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1) interaction with its ligand PD-L1 in tumor micro-environment promotes immune tolerance and blocking monoclonal antibodies have entered clinical practice. However, clinical significance of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas, particularly in non-Asian patients, is still unclear.

Risk of Emergency Surgery or Death After Initial Nonoperative Management of Complicated Diverticulitis in Scotland and Switzerland.

Importance: National guidelines on interval resection for prevention of recurrence after complicated diverticulitis are inconsistent. Although US and German guidelines favor interval colonic resection to prevent a perceived high risk of recurrence, UK guidelines do not.

Objectives: To investigate patient management and outcomes after an index inpatient episode of nonoperatively managed complicated diverticulitis in Switzerland and Scotland and determine whether interval resection was associated with the rate of disease-specific emergency surgery or death in either country.

Diagnostic Nodes of Patient Selection for Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Among Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Swiss National Multicenter Survey.

Background: The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with peritoneal metastases is challenging, and the roles of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are unclear and debated among experts.

Materials And Methods: The experts of the Swiss Peritoneal Cancer Group were contacted and agreed to participate in this analysis. Experts from 9 centers in Switzerland provided their decision algorithms for CRS/HIPEC for patients with or at high risk for peritoneal metastases from CRC.

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumours - further evidence for the watchful waiting policy.

Purpose: Extra-abdominal desmoid tumours are benign and rare, and lead to a persistent treatment dilemma because of their high recurrence rate and their heterogeneous behaviour. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of different treatment modalities for extra-abdominal desmoid tumours at four sarcoma treatment centres.

Methods: The mean follow-up time for the 96 patients included in the study (63.