Publications by authors named "Michal Szczyrek"

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders, characterized by accumulation of clonal mast cells which can infiltrate several organs, most often spine (70%). The pathogenesis of mastocytosis bone disease is poorly understood. The main aim of the study was to investigate whether neoplastic mast cells may be the source of sclerostin and whether there is an association between sclerostin and selected bone remodeling markers with mastocytosis related bone disease.

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The primary pleural neoplasms constitute around 10% of the pleural tumors. The currently recommended method for their imaging is CT which has been shown to have certain limitations. Strong development of the MRI within the last two decades has provided us with a number of sequences that could potentially be superior to CT when it comes to the pleural malignancies' detection and characterization.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the gene that produces the oncoprotein CIP2A, which is linked to cancer development and has increased expression in multiple myeloma (MM) and other cancers.
  • Researchers analyzed the impact of a specific genetic variation (rs2278911, 686C > T) in 128 newly diagnosed MM patients using blood samples.
  • Results indicated that the TT genotype of this SNP, along with factors like thrombocytopenia and certain disease characteristics, was associated with shorter progression-free and overall survival, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic tool for identifying high-risk patients.
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Introduction: Factors other than PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand 1) are being sought as predictors for cancer immuno- or chemoimmunotherapy in ongoing studies and long-term observations. Despite high PD-L1 expression on tumor cells, some patients do not benefit from immunotherapy, while others, without the expression of this molecule, respond to immunotherapy. Attention has been paid to the composition of the gut microbiome as a potential predictive factor for immunotherapy effectiveness.

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Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy. Despite the huge therapeutic progress thanks to the introduction of novel therapies, MM remains an incurable disease. Extensive research is currently ongoing to find new options.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, often diagnosed late due to limited diagnostic methods, which worsens patient outcomes.
  • There is growing interest in using microRNAs (miRNAs) as early diagnostic tools, which may help detect non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before symptoms appear, potentially improving clinical outcomes.
  • Some studies show that miRNA levels could predict treatment responses in NSCLC, suggesting that analyzing and adjusting these levels might enhance treatment effectiveness.
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The significance of Akkermansia bacteria presence in gut micobiome, mainly Akkermansia mucinifila, is currently being investigated in the context of supporting therapy and marker for response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. It is indicated that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) respond better to treatment if this bacterium is present in the intestine.We performed next-generation sequencing of the gut microbiome from patients treated in the first or second line therapy with anti-PD-1 (anti-programmed death 1) or anti-PD-L1 (anti-programmed death ligand 1) monoclonal antibodies.

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Article Synopsis
  • Osimertinib is a treatment option for NSCLC patients who show resistance to earlier drugs like erlotinib, gefitinib, and afatinib due to the T790M mutation in the EGFR gene.
  • In a study involving 73 plasma samples from 41 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, the T790M mutation was detected in 43.9% of patients, with higher incidence in those with more advanced tumors (T3-T4).
  • Patients with the T790M mutation experienced a longer progression-free survival compared to those without the mutation (22.5 vs. 15 months), highlighting the mutation's importance in treatment responses, although the real-time PCR technique's sensitivity in detection
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Introduction And Objective: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable condition with variable clinical course. The study included a group of patients with especially poor-prognosis, individuals with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) and specific cytogenetic disorders. Among the currently used therapies the ixazomib-lenalidomid-dexamethasone (IRd) is considered as a candidate to improve outcomes.

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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises about 85% of all lung cancers. Currently, NSCLC therapy is based on the analysis of specific predictors, whose presence qualifies patients for appropriate treatment. Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5), also known as "survivin", is a protein whose expression is characteristic for most malignant tumors and fetal tissue, while absent in mature cells.

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MiRNA-8074 is a molecule with the potential to regulate the expression of key genes related to the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), i.e., , , , and .

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: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early diagnosis may improve the prognosis. Using quantitative methylation-specific real-time PCR (qMSP-PCR), we assessed the methylation status of two genes (in two subsequent regions according to locations in their promoter sequences) related to carcinogenesis, and , in 101 plasma samples (obtained prior to the treatment) of lung cancer patients and 45 healthy volunteers.

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Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a recently identified family of lymphocyte-like cells lacking a specific antigen receptor. They are part of the innate immune system. They play a key role in tissue homeostasis and also control inflammatory and neoplastic processes.

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Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence and nature of immune-related endocrine adverse events (irAEs) among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with nivolumab.

Methods: The study group included 35 patients (15 women, 20 men, 65.8 ± 7.

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The immune system plays a key role in cancer suppression. Immunotherapy is widely used as a treatment method in patients with various types of cancer. Immune checkpoint blockade using antibodies, such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and anti-CTLA-4, is currently gaining popularity.

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Caspase 8 is a protein involved in the process of cell apoptosis, which may affect the efficacy of anti-cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of polymorphisms in the gene encoding caspase 8 on the prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study involved 99 patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

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In April 2017 midostaurin was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM). So far, very limited real world data on its efficacy is available. Thirteen patients aged from 48 to 79 years, who received midostaurin in the early access program, were included in the study.

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Introduction: Expression of PD-L1 protein on tumor cells, which is so far the only validated predictive factor for immunotherapy, is regulated by epigenetic and genetic factors. Among the most important ones that regulate gene expression are microRNAs.

Materials And Methods: The study included 60 patients with NSCLC who underwent first or second line immunotherapy with pembrolizumab or nivolumab.

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In recent years, we have observed significant progress in cancer treatment associated with the development of immunotherapy. A programmed cell death 1 molecule (PD-1) on the surface of T lymphocytes may be stimulated via a specific PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1), which inhibits lymphocyte activation and leads to apoptosis. Some malignant cells are characterized by high PD-L1 expression.

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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein with a potent influence on several aspects of neuronal and blood vessel functions. However, its prognostic potential and functional role in multiple myeloma (MM) remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the influence of BDNF on the risk of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and clinical outcome.

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Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR) are considered as laboratory markers of inflammation. They can be potentially useful in predicting the course of multiple neoplasms including selected hematological cancers. The aim of the study was to assess the value of NLR and PLR in predicting the effects of therapy and prognosis in multiple myeloma patients treated with thalidomide-based regimen.

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Introduction: The main treatment regimen for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) involves platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin) and etoposide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in and genes were tested as prognostic and predictive factors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There are limited data about the clinical relevance of these genetic alterations in SCLC.

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Background: Topoisomerase 2-alpha (TOP2A) is an enzyme that controls topologic changes in DNA during transcription and replication. ERCC1 is an enzyme that takes part in DNA repair processes. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive role of particular single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of TOP2A and ERCC1 genes in non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy.

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The qualification of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody therapy is based on an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assessment of PD-L1 expression. Immunological checkpoint inhibitors improve the overall survival of patients with expression of PD-L1; however certain PD-L1-negative patients may also benefit from immunotherapy. This indicates the requirement for novel predictive factors for the qualification of immunotherapy.

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Thalidomide is commonly used in treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). This study aimed to analyse the influence of clinical and molecular factors - single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CRBN gene: rs6768972 and rs1672753, on the risk of adverse effects (AEs) of thalidomide-based chemotherapy in patients with MM. The study group included 82 patients receiving CTD (thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone) as first line treatment.

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