Treatment sequence with tebentafusp and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma and metastatic GNA11/GNAQ mutant melanocytic tumors.

Background: Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) is rare. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown modest efficacy in mUM. Tebentafusp prolonged overall survival (OS) in a phase 3 study.

Caregiver restrictions on child access to tobacco in the home and home Smoking/Vaping bans among Black/African American women caregivers who smoke and live in Resource-limited, rural areas.

Objective: This study examined relationships between home smoking/vaping bans and caregiver restrictions on child access to tobacco in the home among rural, Black/African American caregivers who smoke.

Methods: Data were from the baseline survey of a randomized trial conducted in 2020-2022 among caregivers who smoke cigarettes and/or little cigars/cigarillos (N = 188). Logistic regressions examined associations between independent variables (tobacco product-specific and comprehensive home smoking/vaping bans) and dependent variables (caregiver keeps tobacco in the home; among caregivers with tobacco at home, caregiver restricts child tobacco access at home) Models were adjusted for caregiver tobacco use, income, and additional covariates based on stepwise selection.

Neoadjuvant pemigatinib as a bridge to living donor liver transplantation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 gene rearrangement.

We report a case of a 55-year-old male with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) after complete radiographic response on second-line pemigatinib. LDLT for iCCA is controversial, but recent reports have cited the potential benefit for patients with unresectable disease, especially those with disease stability after 6 months of systemic therapy. Concomitantly, genomic profiling has identified potentially treatable oncologic targets in iCCA.

Meeting Report From the 2023 Cure Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) Global Science Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 2023.

The 2023 Cure Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) Global Science Meeting was held in Philadelphia on November 6, 2023. There is increased awareness and dedicated research in uveal melanoma (UM), but unmet needs remain in the prevention, detection, and treatment of UM. The purpose of this meeting was to provide an international forum for the exchange of research ideas, to allow for discussion of basic science as well as clinical research on UM, and to gather input about advocacy and patient needs.

The Rochester Protocol for Living Donor Liver Transplantation of Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastasis: A 5-Year Report on Selection, Approval, and Outcomes.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a treatment option for select patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastasis. We describe our center's experience of patient selection, insurance approval, and outcomes after LDLT after first referral in March 2019. Of the 206 evaluated patients, 23 underwent LDLT.

DNA methylation of the Lamin A/C gene is associated with congenital heart disease.

Background: Prior studies report associations of maternal serum Lamin A, encoded by the LMNA gene, with fetal congenital heart disease (CHD). It is unknown whether DNA methylation (DNAm) of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in LMNA impacts the CHD susceptibility.

Methods: We investigated the associations of LMNA DNAm with CHD using publicly available data of CHD cases (n = 197) and controls (n = 134) from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository.

Tebentafusp Induces a T-Cell-Driven Rash in Melanocyte-Bearing Skin as an Adverse Event Consistent with the Mechanism of Action.

Tebentafusp is a gp100xCD3-bispecific ImmTAC designed to redirect polyclonal T cells against cells presenting the melanocyte lineage-specific antigen gp100 on HLA-A∗02:01. Skin-related adverse events, predominantly rash, are frequent and occur within a few hours after initial infusions; yet, the mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we analyzed clinical data from the randomized phase 3 trial (NCT03070392) of tebentafusp (n = 252) versus investigator's choice (n = 126).

Coronavirus disease 2019-related hepatic transplant pseudoaneurysm.

Coronavirus disease 2019-related transplant hepatic pseudoaneurysms have not been reported but can be life-threatening. They can be either solitary or multiple and can grow rapidly within weeks. They should be classified as mycotic and treated on an emergent basis.

Changes in Capacity Building and Sustained Implementation Among a Statewide Coalition to Address Racial/Ethnic COVID-19 Disparities.

This article describes Arkansas Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (CEAL) Coalition initiatives and changes in measures of organizational capacity and sustainability via two waves of surveys. The Arkansas CEAL Coalition used several initiatives to address racial/ethnic COVID-19 disparities by building the capacity of community-based organizations and businesses to increase COVID-19 protective behaviors among their clients. Our study can inform future strategies that use a community-engaged coalition structure to reduce disparities among communities that suffer disproportionately from COVID-19.

Tuberculosis and Risk of Emphysema among US Adults in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study Cohort, 1971-1992.

(1) Background: History of TB is a known risk factor for long-term respiratory impairment affecting lung functions in both restrictive and obstructive lung disease. (2) Methods: We analyzed data from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS), a longitudinal study conducted on a noninstitutionalized adult US population aged 25-74 years. Approximately 93 percent of the original NHANES I cohort was successfully traced by the end of the survey period and was available for analysis.

Overall survival from tebentafusp versus nivolumab plus ipilimumab in first-line metastatic uveal melanoma: a propensity score-weighted analysis.

Background: Tebentafusp demonstrated a superior overall survival (OS) benefit [hazard ratio (HR) 0.51] compared to investigator's choice (82% pembrolizumab) in a randomized, phase III trial (IMCgp100-202; N = 378) in untreated metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). The 1-year OS rates for tebentafusp and pembrolizumab were 73% and 59%, respectively.

Three-Year Overall Survival with Tebentafusp in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma.

Background: Tebentafusp, a T-cell receptor-bispecific molecule that targets glycoprotein 100 and CD3, is approved for adult patients who are positive for HLA-A*02:01 and have unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. The primary analysis in the present phase 3 trial supported a long-term survival benefit associated with the drug.

Methods: We report the 3-year efficacy and safety results from our open-label, phase 3 trial in which HLA-A*02:01-positive patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive tebentafusp (tebentafusp group) or the investigator's choice of therapy with pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, or dacarbazine (control group), with randomization stratified according to the lactate dehydrogenase level.

Proceedings from the Melanoma Research Foundation Mucosal Melanoma Meeting (December 16, 2022, New York, USA).

Mucosal melanoma remains a rare cancer with high mortality and a paucity of therapeutic options. This is due in significant part to its low incidence leading to limited patient access to expert care and downstream clinical/basic science data for research interrogation. Clinical challenges such as delayed and at times inaccurate diagnoses, and lack of consensus tumor staging have added to the suboptimal outcomes for these patients.

Biosafety and biohazard considerations of HSV-1-based oncolytic viral immunotherapy.

Oncolytic viral immunotherapies are agents which can directly kill tumor cells and activate an immune response. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) range from native/unmodified viruses to genetically modified, attenuated viruses with the capacity to preferentially replicate in and kill tumors, leaving normal tissue unharmed. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is the only OV approved for patient use in the United States; however, during the last 20 years, there have been a substantial number of clinical trials using OV immunotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

Cognitive maps: Constructing a route with your snout.

Humans construct cognitive maps of the physical, imagined, and abstract world around us based on visually sampled information. A new study shows how the human brain can also use olfactory cues to form and use cognitive maps.

Tebentafusp in combination with durvalumab and/or tremelimumab in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma: a phase 1 study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved outcomes in first line cutaneous melanoma. However, there is a high unmet need for patients who progress on these therapies and combination therapies are being explored to improve outcomes. Tebentafusp is a first-in-class gp100×CD3 ImmTAC bispecific that demonstrated overall survival (OS) benefit (HR 0.

Robotic Assisted Transplant Nephrectomy: Case Series and Training Model for Improving Adoption.

Introduction: Open transplant nephrectomy for failed renal allograft is an invasive procedure associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive surgical approaches have improved a variety of patient outcomes for many surgeries. Thus, robotic assisted transplant nephrectomy (RATN) potentially offers significant patient benefit.

Efficacy and safety of lifileucel, a one-time autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy, in patients with advanced melanoma after progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies: pooled analysis of consecutive cohorts of the C-144-01 study.

Background: Patients with advanced melanoma have limited treatment options after progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Lifileucel, a one-time autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy, demonstrated an investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) of 36% in 66 patients who progressed after ICI and targeted therapy. Herein, we report independent review committee (IRC)-assessed outcomes of 153 patients treated with lifileucel in a large multicenter Phase 2 cell therapy trial in melanoma.

Conditional survival of uveal melanoma using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) classification (Simplified Version) in 1001 cases.

Purpose: To understand conditional prognostic value of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for uveal melanoma metastasis based on event-free survival at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years.

Methods: A retrospective study of eyes with uveal melanoma categorized according to TCGA and studied for nonconditional and conditional risks for metastasis at 5 and 10 years.

Results: Of 1001 eyes with uveal melanoma, the nonconditional (standard, at presentation) 5-year/10-year metastatic rate was 18%/25%.