Targeted sequencing of cancer-related genes reveals a recurrent TOP2A variant which affects DNA binding and coincides with global transcriptional changes in glioblastoma.

High-grade gliomas are aggressive, deadly primary brain tumors. Median survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM, WHO grade 4) is 14 months and <10% of patients survive 2 years. Despite improved surgical strategies and forceful radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the prognosis of GBM patients is poor and did not improve over decades.

Regional hyperthermia with cisplatin added to gemcitabine versus gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: The HEAT randomised clinical trial.

Background: Regional hyperthermia (RHT) with cisplatin added to gemcitabine showed efficacy in gemcitabine-pre-treated patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a randomised clinical trial to investigate RHT with cisplatin added to gemcitabine (GPH) compared with gemcitabine (G) in the adjuvant setting of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: This randomised, multicentre, open-label trial randomly assigned patients to either GPH (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m on day 1, 15 and cisplatin 25 mg/m with RHT on day 2, 3 and 15,16) or to G (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m on day 1,8,15), four-weekly over six cycles.

Renal toxicity of targeted therapies for renal cell carcinoma in patients with normal and impaired kidney function.

The introduction of novel targeted therapies during the last 2 decades has led to a significant improvement in patients' clinical outcomes with renal cell carcinoma. However, this improvement came at the price of a whole new spectrum of adverse events, including renal toxicity. Systemic treatment of patients with kidney neoplasms who often present with impairment of kidney function, even prior to treatment, poses an increasing diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians.

Using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for investigations on single hair samples to solve the contamination versus incorporation issue of hair analysis in the case of cocaine and methadone.

Drug testing in hair is a controversial subject of discussion. Claims that decontamination protocols could generate false-positive samples, by washing contamination in hair, have unsettled many toxicologists. At least for zolpidem (known for showing only minor contamination), it could be shown that differentiation of the drug incorporated via the bloodstream from contamination was possible.

Planar perovskite solar cells with long-term stability using ionic liquid additives.

Solar cells based on metal halide perovskites are one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies. Over the past few years, the long-term operational stability of such devices has been greatly improved by tuning the composition of the perovskites, optimizing the interfaces within the device structures, and using new encapsulation techniques. However, further improvements are required in order to deliver a longer-lasting technology.

Direct measurement of topological interactions in polymers under shear using neutron spin echo spectroscopy.

We present in-situ neutron spin echo measurements on an entangled polydimethylsiloxane melt under shear and demonstrate the ability to monitor nano-scale dynamics in flowing liquids. We report no changes in the topological interactions of the chains for shear rates approaching the inverse longest relaxation time. Further experiments following along this line will allow to systematically test the predictions of theories, like e.

The viscoelastic signature underpinning polymer deformation under shear flow.

Entangled polymers are deformed by a strong shear flow. The shape of the polymer, called the form factor, is measured by small angle neutron scattering. However, the real-space molecular structure is not directly available from the reciprocal-space data, due to the phase problem.

Biomarkers defining probability of receiving second-line targeted therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

In order to facilitate long-term treatment decisions, we aimed to define biomarkers defining the probability of receiving second-line (SL) targeted therapy (TT) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) based on their characteristics present at first-line TT initiation. We analysed 152 consecutive mRCC patients treated and used multivariable binominal logistic regression to identify factors contributing to the probability of receiving SL TT. Final model was assessed with bias-corrected indices (Nagelkerke's R and area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]) and two bootstrap procedures were used for internal validation.

Management of pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma: A case-series of 36 patients.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in the pediatric population. In 35% of cases, RMS develops in the head and neck (H&N) region, and only combined therapy is recognized as a curative treatment. However, recent advances in skull base and reconstructive surgery, along with microsurgery and endoscopic surgery, have strengthened the role of surgery as an important part of RMS treatment.

Impaired glucose metabolism treatment and carcinogenesis.

Carbohydrate metabolism disorders increase the risk of carcinogenesis. Diabetes mellitus alters numerous physiological processes that may encourage cancer growth. However, treating impaired glucose homeostasis may actually promote neoplasia; maintaining proper glucose plasma concentrations reduces metabolic stresses, however, certain medications may themselves result in oncogenic effects.

Feasibility, efficacy and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in hemodialyzed patients with renal cell cancer: 10 years of experience.

Aims: Sine efficiency of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in dialyzed patients is still unclear we aim to analyze the outcome of treatment in such cohort.

Patients & Methods: We analyzed treatment outcomes of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with special focus on those who were also treated with hemodialysis and described treatment safety and progression-free survival of eight patients treated with TKIs and hemodialysis.

Discussion & Conclusion: Our report supports statement that TKI treatment of dialyzed patients is safe and effective.