Clinical and Biological Activity of Chemoimmunotherapy in Advanced Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: A Phase II Trial of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in combination with standard carboplatin/paclitaxel in patients with advanced endometrial cancer (EC).

Patients And Methods: This single-arm, open-label, multi-center phase II study enrolled patients with RECIST measurable advanced EC. Patients could have received < 1 prior platinum-based regimen and < one non-platinum chemotherapy.

Efficacy and safety of tivozanib in recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, an NCCN phase II trial.

Objective: Tivozanib is a potent selective pan-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a long half-life. This study assessed its activity in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer (OC).

Methods: This open-label phase II study used a Simon's two-stage design.

Efficacy and safety of niraparib as maintenance treatment in older patients (≥ 70 years) with recurrent ovarian cancer: Results from the ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial.

Objective: To analyze the safety and efficacy of niraparib in patients aged ≥70 years with recurrent ovarian cancer in the ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial.

Methods: The trial enrolled 2 independent cohorts with histologically diagnosed recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer who responded to platinum rechallenge, on the basis of germline breast cancer susceptibility gene mutation (gBRCAmut) status. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive niraparib (300 mg) or placebo once daily until disease progression.

What is integrative oncology and can it help my patients?

Integrative oncology lends itself to the comprehensive practice of gynecologic oncology with multiple tools and interventions that can impact on QoL and survival. However, there remains a paucity of well-designed, well-powered randomized control trials on various CAM modalities for gynecologic cancer patients. The reasons for the lack of level 1 evidence include the nascent state of integrative medicine as a science, the limitations on CAM funding, the relative lack of integration of CAM practitioners into the oncology community, and absence of strict regulation of herbs and supplements by the US FDA.

A TRIM5alpha-independent post-entry restriction to HIV-1 infection of macaque cells that is dependent on the path of entry.

The replication of human immunodeficiency type-1 (HIV-1) is restricted in macaque cells, in part due to host factors that provide intrinsic immunity after entry. Here we show that a rhesus macaque epithelial cell line engineered to express human CD4, sMAGI cells, has at least two post-entry restrictions to HIV-1 replication: one that is dependent on a previously described post-entry restriction factor of macaque cells, TRIM5alpha, and another that is primarily TRIM5alpha-independent. The TRIM5alpha restriction, which was observed with particles that had an HIV-1 core pseudotyped with VSV-G envelope, is saturable and can be completely abrogated by introducing TRIM5alpha-specific siRNA into the cells.

Analysis of aerosol particles and coarse particulate matter concentrations in Chillán, Chile, 2001-2003.

Daily particle samples were collected in Chillán, Chile, at six urban locations from September 1, 2001, through September 30, 2003. Aerosol samples were collected using monitors equipped with a Sierra Andersen 246-b cyclone inlet on Teflon filters. Average concentrations of coarse particulate matter (PM10) for the 2001-2003 period ranged from 43.

Characterization of virus infectivity and cell-free capsid assembly of SIVMneCL8.

We have previously described a cell-free system that reconstitutes immature capsid assembly of Gag polypeptides from viruses belonging to three major primate lentiviral lineages, including HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIVagm. Studies described here examine a member of the SIVmac/Mne lineage, SIVMneCL8, using assays for virus production and infectivity as well as cellular events in capsid formation. We report that SIVMneCL8, a molecular clone with properties typical of transmitted viral variants, is less infectious per unit p27 Gag than another member of the SIVmac/Mne lineage, SIVmac239.

Early- and intermediate-stage variants of simian immunodeficiency virus replicate efficiently in cells lacking CCR5.

Primate lentiviruses are thought to use the chemokine receptor CCR5 as the major coreceptor for entry into cells. Here we show that some variants of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replicate efficiently in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) lacking a functional CCR5. There were differences in the replication patterns of sequential variants that evolved during SIVMne infection; the late-stage pathogenic variants were unable to replicate in PBMCs lacking CCR5, whereas the early- and intermediate-stage viruses replicated as well in PBMCs lacking CCR5 as they did in cells with wild-type CCR5.