Combination of EZH2 and ATM inhibition in BAP1-deficient mesothelioma.

Background: More than half of mesothelioma tumours show alterations in the tumour suppressor gene BAP1. BAP1-deficient mesothelioma is shown to be sensitive to EZH2 inhibition in preclinical settings but only showed modest efficacy in clinical trial. Adding a second inhibitor could potentially elevate EZH2i treatment efficacy while preventing acquired resistance at the same time.

The 3q Oncogene Predicts Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Regulates Tumor Cell Migration in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

In the absence of targeted treatment options, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is applied widely for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Response to NACT is an important parameter predictive of oncological outcomes (progression-free and overall survival). An approach to the evaluation of predictive markers enabling therapy individualization is the identification of tumor driver genetic mutations.

Long-term survival of breast cancer patients with brain metastases: subanalysis of the BMBC registry.

Background: Up to 30% of metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients develop brain metastases (BM). Prognosis of patients with BM is poor and long-term survival is rare. Identification of factors associated with long-term survival is important for improving treatment modalities.

Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen 2 (TROP2) as a Predictive Bio-Marker for the Therapeutic Efficacy of Sacituzumab Govitecan in Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus.

Introduction: The Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is expressed in many carcinomas and may represent a target for treatment. Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) is a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Nearly nothing is known about the biological effectiveness of SG in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Combined inhibition of EZH2 and ATM is synthetic lethal in BRCA1-deficient breast cancer.

Background: The majority of BRCA1-mutant breast cancers are characterized by a triple-negative phenotype and a basal-like molecular subtype, associated with aggressive clinical behavior. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the need for the development of novel targeted therapies for this tumor subtype.

Methods: Our group previously showed that EZH2 is functionally relevant in BRCA1-deficient breast tumors and blocking EZH2 enzymatic activity could be a potent treatment strategy.

Characteristics of patients with brain metastases from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: subanalysis of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Registry.

Background: Up to 40% of patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer develop brain metastases (BMs). Understanding of clinical features of these patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and BMs is vital.

Patients And Methods: A total of 2948 patients from the Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer registry were available for this analysis, of whom 1311 had primary tumors with the HER2-positive subtype.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in oncological patients: long-term oncological outcome analysis of the treatment of subcutaneous venous access device scars in 89 breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used product, and meta-analyses showed this product to be beneficial when applied to a wound area. This study group has already demonstrated increased patient satisfaction and lower complication rates in breast cancer patients who received PRP after removal of their subcutaneous venous access device. This work is a follow-up analysis focusing on oncologic safety.

Improving Breast Conserving Surgery Using the Faxitron OR Specimen Radiography System - A Complication Analysis, Cost Evaluation and Literature Review.

Background/aim: The combination of pre-surgical clip placement and hook-wire guided surgery is considered the gold standard for adequately locating non-palpable lesions during breast conserving surgery. After surgical removal of the segment, radiography is required to confirm clip removal, increasing surgical time, post-surgical complication rates, and cost.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis, using the Faxitron in-theater specimen radiography system, of the following primary endpoints: surgical time and complication rates.

Correlation analysis of resected breast tissue and implant volume after mastectomy and its association with breast density.

Background: The current methods for calculating the ideal implant volume for breast reconstruction are based on pre- or intraoperative volume measurements of the existing breast volume and do not take into account the individual breast density of the woman. This study aims is to identify objective parameters that can help to improve the optimal implant selection.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective analysis includes 198 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy.

Intraoperative central nipple biopsy in nipple-sparing mastectomy- A retrospective analysis of 211 patients.

Subcutaneous nipple sparing mastectomies (NSM) are an important tool in modern oncoplastic surgery. Especially when an immediate implant-based reconstruction (IBR) is desired, clean margins are of the utmost importance. Central nipple biopsies during surgery serve two main purposes.

Genomic Signatures in Luminal Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a very heterogeneous disease and luminal breast carcinomas represent the hormone receptor-positive tumors among all breast cancer subtypes. In this context, multigene signatures were developed to gain further prognostic and predictive information beyond clinical parameters and traditional immunohistochemical markers.

Summary: For early breast cancer patients these molecular tools can guide clinicians to decide on the extension of endocrine therapy to avoid over- and undertreatment by adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Working conditions and health status of young physicians and nurses in German hospitals].

Background: Profound transformations in the German healthcare system lead to intense working conditions for young employees in inpatient care. Published data suggest associated health risks.

Objectives: This investigation aims to assess current stress factors, their consequences, and subjective measures for improvement.

Joining to promote young talents: an experience report from the first German Summer School for Obstetrics and Gynaecology for medical students.

Purpose: The Commission for the Promotion of Young Talents of the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics e.V. was founded in 2017, aiming to inspire medical students for a career in obstetrics and gynaecology by developing a concept for the first German Summer School in this field.

EZH2 Is Overexpressed in -like Breast Tumors and Predictive for Sensitivity to High-Dose Platinum-Based Chemotherapy.

Purpose: BRCA1-deficient breast cancers carry a specific DNA copy-number signature ("") and are hypersensitive to DNA double-strand break (DSB) inducing compounds. Here, we explored whether (i) EZH2 is overexpressed in human -deficient breast tumors and might predict sensitivity to DSB-inducing drugs; (ii) EZH2 inhibition potentiates cisplatin efficacy in -deficient murine mammary tumors.

Experimental Design: EZH2 expression was analyzed in 497 breast cancers using IHC or RNA sequencing.

How to Flip the Classroom to Improve Learner Engagement.

Providing effective nursing professional development that meets the needs of a variety of learners, promotes critical thinking skills, and results in application in clinical practice is challenging. The flipped classroom was successfully implemented at a large Midwestern teaching hospital to address these challenges. This article explores flipped classroom exemplars including descriptions of prework, active learning strategies, and recommendations for successful implementation of the flipped classroom.

The impact of EndoPredict on decision making with increasing oncological work experience: can overtreatment be avoided?

Background: Estimating distant recurrence risk in women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer is still challenging. EndoPredict is a gene expression-based test predicting the likelihood of recurrent disease. We analyzed the difference in oncological decision making with and without the knowledge of gene expression tests.

Gene-expression Profiling - A Decision Impact Analysis: Decision Dependency on Oncotype DX® as a Function of Oncological Work Experience in 117 Cases.

Background: Estimating distant recurrence risk in women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative early breast cancer is still challenging. Oncotype DX® is a gene expression-based test predicting the likelihood of recurrent disease. This study analyzed the difference in oncological decision making with and without the knowledge of gene-expression tests based on oncological work experience.

Neoadjuvant Therapy of Cervical Carcinoma with the Angiogenesis Inhibitor Bevacizumab: a Single-Centre Analysis.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide. Addition of the VEGF antibody bevacizumab in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy achieved an improvement in overall survival in advanced cervical cancer. To date there are no data on neoadjuvant use of bevacizumab.

European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology-ENTOG Exchange 2017: an experience report from Slovenia outlining the different trainee situations around Europe.

Purpose: The European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ENTOG) is a non-profit, independent organisation that represents young trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology around Europe. At present, ENTOG has 32 member countries. The organisation was founded in 1997 and shall assure the exchange of experiences between young physicians all over Europe.

The conjugated antimetabolite 5-FdU-ECyd and its cellular and molecular effects on platinum-sensitive vs. -resistant ovarian cancer cells .

Background: Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy is a clinical challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) and limits survival. Therefore, innovative drugs against platinum-resistance are urgently needed. Our therapeutic concept is based on the conjugation of two chemotherapeutic compounds to a monotherapeutic pro-drug, which is taken up by cancer cells and cleaved into active cytostatic metabolites.

Detection of Ductal Carcinoma by Ultrasound and Mammography: Size-dependent Inaccuracy.

Background: Retrospective analysis of breast cancer imaging methods is a common tool for evaluating the effectiveness of ultrasound and mammography regarding ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). No large number subpopulation of pure DCIS has been reported. It is however known that mammography and ultrasound underestimate tumor dimension with increasing tumor size.

Duty Rosters and Workloads of Obstetricians in Germany: Results of a Germany-wide Survey.

Background: Compiling a daily hospital roster which complies with existing laws and tariff regulations and meets the requirements for ongoing professional training while also taking the legal regulations on the health of employees into account makes planning the duty roster a challenge. The aim of this study was to obtain a realistic picture of existing duty roster systems and of the current workloads of obstetricians in Germany.

Method: This online survey was sent to 2770 physicians training to become obstetricians or specializing in specific areas of obstetric care.

A Head to Head Comparison Between SurgiMend® - Fetal Bovine Acellular Dermal Matrix and Tutomesh® - A Bovine Pericardium Collagen Membrane in Breast Reconstruction in 45 Cases.

Background/aim: The use of acellular dermal matrices (ADM) has become a widely used option in breast reconstruction. A great deal of literature is available, totaling over 3,200 ADM reconstructions. Head-to-head comparisons between SurgiMend® and Tutomesh® are not yet reported.

Evaluation of QTc Interval Prolongation in Breast Cancer Patients after Treatment with Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and Docetaxel and the Influence of Interobserver Variation.

Background: Chemotherapy with anthracyclines is associated with life-threatening electrocardiographic alterations including corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation.

Patients And Methods: In this study we assessed the effect of epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel (EC-Doc) on the QTc interval in 10 patients with early breast cancer. Cardiac toxicity was assessed with symptoms, transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), and serum cardiac markers at baseline and after 4 cycles of EC and 4 cycles of docetaxel.