Autoantibody-positivity before and seroconversion during treatment with anti-PD-1 is associated with immune-related adverse events in patients with melanoma.

Introduction: Treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) often causes immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Since irAEs resemble autoimmune diseases, autoantibodies might play a role and could potentially be used to identify patients at risk. Therefore, we investigated the association between autoantibody-positivity and toxicity as well as clinical response in patients with melanoma treated with anti-PD-1.

Pre-analytical stability of the CEA, CYFRA 21.1, NSE, CA125 and HE4 tumor markers.

Background: For lung cancer, circulating tumor markers (TM) are available to guide clinical treatment decisions. To ensure adequate accuracy, pre-analytical instabilities need to be known and addressed in the pre-analytical laboratory protocols.

Objective: This study investigates the pre-analytical stability of CA125, CEA, CYFRA 21.

Impact of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy on lipid determinants, HbA1c and CRP.

Objective: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is advised before 40-45 years of age for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. This study describes the effect of RRSO on lipid determinants, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: A total of 142 women with increased risk of ovarian cancer were included, 92 premenopausal and 50 postmenopausal.

Conversion of unresponsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibition by fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with metastatic melanoma: study protocol for a randomized phase Ib/IIa trial.

Background: The gut microbiome plays an important role in immune modulation. Specifically, presence or absence of certain gut bacterial taxa has been associated with better antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, in trials using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat melanoma patients unresponsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), complete responses (CR), partial responses (PR), and durable stable disease (SD) have been observed.

NETest: serial liquid biopsies in gastroenteropancreatic NET surveillance.

Objective: Up to now, serial NETest measurements in individuals assessing the disease course of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) at long-term follow-up and treatment response were not studied.

Design: The study was a longitudinal validation study of serial NETest measurements - a blood-based gene expression signature - in 132 patients with GEPNETs on therapy or watch-and-wait strategy.

Methods: Serial samples were collected during 46 (range: 6-71) months of follow-up.

Can serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) support the decision to refer a patient with an ovarian mass to an oncology hospital?

Introduction: The value of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in guiding referral decisions in patients with an ovarian mass remains unclear, because the majority of studies investigating HE4 were performed in oncology hospitals. However, the decision to refer is made at general hospitals with a low ovarian cancer prevalence. We assessed accuracies of HE4 in differentiating benign or borderline from malignant tumors in patients presenting with an ovarian mass at general hospitals.

Elevated Serotonin and NT-proBNP Levels Predict and Detect Carcinoid Heart Disease in a Large Validation Study.

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a rare fibrotic cardiac complication of neuroendocrine tumors. Besides known biomarkers N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and serotonin, activin A, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) have been suggested as potential biomarkers for CHD. Here, we validated the predictive/diagnostic value of these biomarkers in a case-control study of 114 patients between 1990 and 2021.

Changes in Sex Steroids and Relation With Menopausal Complaints in Women Undergoing Risk-reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy.

Context: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is performed in BRCA1 or 2 mutant carriers to minimize ovarian cancer risk. Although studies have been performed investigating sex steroid levels, menopausal complaints, and sexual functioning in relation to RRSO, their exact relationship remains unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of RRSO on serum sex steroid levels and their association with menopausal complaints and sexual functioning.

Light Therapy for Cancer-Related Fatigue in (Non-)Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the short- and long-term effects of light therapy on fatigue (primary outcome) and sleep quality, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and circadian rhythms (secondary outcomes) in survivors of (non-)Hodgkin lymphoma presenting with chronic cancer-related fatigue.

Methods: We randomly assigned 166 survivors (mean survival 13 years) to a bright white light intervention (BWL) or dim white light comparison (DWL) group. Measurements were completed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), at three (T2), and nine (T3) months follow-up.

Validation of a clinical blood-based decision aid to guide immunotherapy treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The widespread introduction of immunotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has led to durable responses but still many patients fail and are treated beyond progression.

Objective: This study investigated whether readily available blood-based tumor biomarkers allow accurate detection of early non-responsiveness, allowing a timely switch of therapy and cost reduction.

Methods: In a prospective, observational study in patients with NSCLC treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab, five serum tumor markers were measured at baseline and every other week.

A real or apparent decrease in glomerular filtration rate in patients using olaparib?

Purpose: Olaparib is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated for ovarian and metastatic breast cancer. Increased serum creatinine levels have been observed in patients taking olaparib, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. This study aimed to investigate if patients receiving olaparib have increased creatinine levels during olaparib treatment and whether this actually relates to a declined glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

A continuous responder algorithm to optimize clinical management of small-cell lung cancer with progastrin-releasing peptide as a simple blood test.

This study aimed to investigate whether changes in progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) levels correlate with treatment response and can be used to optimize clinical management of patients with small-cell lung cancer. Patients with small-cell lung cancer (any stage) receiving chemotherapy were eligible. ProGRP was measured in serum/plasma at baseline and after each chemotherapy cycle using the Elecsys ProGRP assay (Roche Diagnostics).

Survival in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumours of the Small Intestine: Nomogram Validation and Predictors of Survival.

Neuroendocrine tumours of the small intestine (SI-NETs) are rare and heterogeneous. There is an unmet need for prognostication of disease course and to aid treatment strategies. A previously developed nomogram based on clinical and tumour characteristics aims to predict disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with a SI-NET.

The Clinical Utility of Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) Serum Levels as a Biomarker for Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC).

Background: No adequate biomarker for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has been identified. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been tested and is commonly used as a biomarker for several other small cell malignancies. However, the role of NSE in MCC is still unclear.

Blood Molecular Genomic Analysis Predicts the Disease Course of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients: A Validation Study of the Predictive Value of the NETest®.

Reliable prediction of disease status is a major challenge in managing gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). The aim of the study was to validate the NETest®, a blood molecular genomic analysis, for predicting the course of disease in individual patients compared to chromogranin A (CgA). NETest® score (normal ≤20%) and CgA level (normal <100 µg/L) were measured in 152 GEP-NETs.

Pre-operative prediction of residual disease after interval cytoreduction for epithelial ovarian cancer using HE4.

Background: Presence of residual disease after cytoreductive surgery is an important negative prognostic factor for patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Surgery is of limited benefit when the diameter of residual disease is >1 cm. Residual disease is difficult to predict before surgery.

Safety of hormone replacement therapy following risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: systematic review of literature and guidelines.

Women at high risk to develop ovarian cancer opt for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to reduce the risk by 80-96%. RRSO leads to a direct onset of menopause in premenopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used to mitigate menopausal symptoms after RRSO.

Elevated Pretreatment CEA and CA19-9 Levels are Related to Early Treatment Failure in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Chemoradiotherapy and surgery are the basis of the potentially curative treatment for esophageal cancer. Approximately 1 in 5 patients, however, do not benefit from this intensive treatment due to early treatment failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 at diagnosis, in relation to survival and early treatment failure (disease recurrence or death within 1 year after surgery).

Blood Transcript Profiling for the Detection of Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results of a Large Independent Validation Study.

Available neuroendocrine biomarkers are considered to have insufficient accuracy to discriminate patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) from healthy controls. Recent studies have demonstrated a potential role for circulating neuroendocrine specific transcripts analysis-the NETest-as a more accurate biomarker for NETs compared to available biomarkers. This study was initiated to independently validate the discriminative value of the NETest as well as the association between tumor characteristics and NETest score.

Does anti-Müllerian hormone predict change in menopausal symptoms following risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy? A prospective observational study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) predicts symptom burden after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in order to individualize counseling.

Methods: Patient-reported menopausal symptoms, sexual functioning, and psychological distress (depression and anxiety) were assessed 1 day before (T0) and 6 weeks (T1) and 7 months (T2) after RRSO. AMH was assessed before RRSO.