Inflammatory Mesenteric Disease and Sarcoidosis-like Reaction in a Patient with Lung Adenocarcinoma Who Received Pembrolizumab: Paraneoplastic Syndrome, Secondary to Checkpoint Inhibitor or Chance Finding?

: Anti PD1/PD-L1 agents, including pembrolizumab, have revolutionized the oncological treatment of different types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer. The most frequent complications associated with this type of treatment are mild and are located at the thyroid, pulmonary or hepatic level. Sarcoid like reaction and mesenteric panniculitis secondary to pembrolizumab treatment are two very rare adverse effects.

Prognostic Evaluation of Piezo2 Channels in Mammary Gland Carcinoma.

In the last decade, a group of Ca channels called Piezo were discovered, demonstrating a decisive role in the cellular response to mechanical stimuli and being essential in the biological behavior of cells regarding the extracellular compartment. Several investigations have suggested a potential role in carcinogenesis, with a tumor suppressor role in some cases but increased expression in several high-grade neoplasms. Regarding Piezo2 expression in mammary gland neoplasms, a protective role for Piezo2 was initially suggested, but a subsequent study demonstrated a relationship between Piezo2 expression and the highly aggressive triple-negative phenotype of breast carcinoma.

Analysis of Serial Neuroblastoma PDX Passages in Mice Allows the Identification of New Mediators of Neuroblastoma Aggressiveness.

Neuroblastoma is a neural crest cell-derived pediatric tumor characterized by high inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, and by a poor outcome in advanced stages. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) have been shown to be useful models for preserving and expanding original patient biopsies in vivo, and for studying neuroblastoma biology in a more physiological setting. The maintenance of genetic, histologic, and phenotypic characteristics of the original biopsy along serial PDX passages in mice is a major concern regarding this model.

A protocol to enrich in undifferentiated cells from neuroblastoma tumor tissue samples and cell lines.

The existence of a subpopulation of undifferentiated cells with stem-like properties has been suggested in neuroblastoma tumors, but a definitive biomarker for their successful isolation is missing. Here we describe an culture system for the enrichment in undifferentiated stem-like tumor cells for subsequent functional assays. We make use of clonal non-adherent cell culture conditions together with cell sorting with specific expression markers.

Identification of VRK1 as a New Neuroblastoma Tumor Progression Marker Regulating Cell Proliferation.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common pediatric cancers and presents a poor survival rate in affected children. Current pretreatment risk assessment relies on a few known molecular parameters, like the amplification of the oncogene MYCN. However, a better molecular knowledge about the aggressive progression of the disease is needed to provide new therapeutical targets and prognostic markers and to improve patients' outcomes.

Hypoxia in the Initiation and Progression of Neuroblastoma Tumours.

Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extracranial solid tumour in children, causing 10% of all paediatric oncology deaths. It arises in the embryonic neural crest due to an uncontrolled behaviour of sympathetic nervous system progenitors, giving rise to heterogeneous tumours. Low local or systemic tissue oxygen concentration has emerged as a cellular stimulus with important consequences for tumour initiation, evolution and progression.

CD44-high neural crest stem-like cells are associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor survival in neuroblastoma tumours.

Background: Neuroblastoma is a paediatric tumour originated from sympathoadrenal precursors and characterized by its heterogeneity and poor outcome in advanced stages. Intra-tumoral cellular heterogeneity has emerged as an important feature in neuroblastoma, with a potential major impact on tumour aggressiveness and response to therapy. CD44 is an adhesion protein involved in tumour progression, metastasis and stemness in different cancers; however, there has been controversies about the significance of CD44 expression in neuroblastoma and its relationship with tumour progression.

C1q nephropathy in a patient with Gitelman syndrome.

Bartter syndrome can manifest in three different forms and is rarely concomitant with glomerular nephropathies. However, this association is more frequently observed in children. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with Gitelman syndrome for the past 30 years who also had a nephrotic syndrome of recent appearance.