A Phase I, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study of the OX40 Agonist Ivuxolimab in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancers.

Purpose: Stimulation of effector T cells is an appealing immunotherapeutic approach in oncology. OX40 (CD134) is a costimulatory receptor expressed on activated CD4 and CD8 T cells. Induction of OX40 following antigen recognition results in enhanced T-cell activation, proliferation, and survival, and OX40 targeting shows therapeutic efficacy in preclinical studies.

Efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab for the treatment of advanced biliary cancer: Results from the KEYNOTE-158 and KEYNOTE-028 studies.

We present data from patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) receiving pembrolizumab in the KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067; phase 2) and KEYNOTE-028 (NCT02054806; phase 1b) studies. Eligible patients aged ≥18 years from both studies had histologically/cytologically confirmed incurable BTC that progressed after standard treatment regimen(s), measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1, and no prior immunotherapy.

Multiparameter Flow Cytometry Assay for Quantification of Immune Cell Subsets, PD-1 Expression Levels and PD-1 Receptor Occupancy by Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab.

We report the development and validation of a 12 parameter immunofluorescence flow cytometry method for the sensitive determination of cell concentrations, their expression of PD-1, and PD-1 receptor occupancy. Cell subsets include CD4 and CD8 -T-cells, B-cells, natural killer cells, classical-, intermediate- and non-classical monocytes, and myeloid- and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Cells were isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation.

Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab in Previously Treated Advanced Cervical Cancer: Results From the Phase II KEYNOTE-158 Study.

Purpose: KEYNOTE-158 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02628067) is a phase II basket study investigating the antitumor activity and safety of pembrolizumab in multiple cancer types. We present interim results from patients with previously treated advanced cervical cancer.

Enhancing antitumor response by combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy in solid tumors.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy has changed the standard of care for a subgroup of patients with advanced disease. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in particular has shown improved survival compared with previous standards of care for several tumor types. Although proven to be successful in more immunogenic tumors, ICB is still largely ineffective in patients with tumors that are not infiltrated by immune cells, the so-called cold tumors.

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of nivolumab and pembrolizumab in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies targeting the programmed-death-1 (PD-1) receptor has become standard of care for an increasing number of tumor types. Pharmacokinetic studies may help to optimize anti-PD-1 therapy. Therefore, accurate and sensitive determination of antibody concentrations is essential.

Professionals' Use of a Multidisciplinary Communication Tool for Patients With Dementia in Primary Care.

In this descriptive study, the use of a professional e-communication tool, Congredi, is evaluated. Ninety-six Congredi records of patients with dementia could be divided into the subgroups low-complex care (n = 43) and high-complex care (n = 53). If Congredi is an adequate communication tool for professionals, the changing involvement of caregivers must also be reflected within the two subgroups.

A Distress Thermometer Intervention for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer .

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of an intervention using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer and Problem List with nurse-guided follow-up and the effect on depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and worry of cancer in patients with head and neck cancer.
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Sample & Setting: 110 patients with head and neck cancer in a two-arm randomized, controlled trial in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital.

The challenge of involving elderly patients in primary care by using an electronic communication tool with their professionals: a mixed methods study.

Background: Elderly patients in primary care often have multiple health problems,with different healthcare professionals involved. For consistency in care, it is required that communication amongst professionals and patient-systems (patient and informal-carers) be well tuned. Electronic-communication can make it easier for patient-system to be active in care.

How Professionals Share an E-Care Plan for the Elderly in Primary Care: Evaluating the Use of an E-Communication Tool by Different Combinations of Professionals.

Background: Home-dwelling elderly patients with multimorbidity are at risk of fragmentation of care because of the many different professionals involved and a potentially unclear level of communication. Multidisciplinary communication seems to occur incidentally. Mutual feedback is needed for a professional team to provide consistent care and adequate support to the patient system.

Antidrug Antibody Formation in Oncology: Clinical Relevance and Challenges.

Unlabelled: : In oncology, an increasing number of targeted anticancer agents and immunotherapies are of biological origin. These biological drugs may trigger immune responses that lead to the formation of antidrug antibodies (ADAs). ADAs are directed against immunogenic parts of the drug and may affect efficacy and safety.

Exploring the effects of patients taking a vigilant role in collaborating on their e-medication administration record.

Objective: Errors in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) occur in 25.6% of cases, mainly due to communication errors. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the quality of the eMAR improves when patients play a vigilant role by checking their medication using a patient communication tool linked to their eMAR (eMAR-PCT) to communicate asynchronously with the pharmacist about errors.

Moderators of the effects of group-based physical exercise on cancer survivors' quality of life.

Purpose: This study explored demographic, clinical, and psychological moderators of the effect of a group-based physical exercise intervention on global quality of life (QoL) among cancer survivors who completed treatment.

Methods: Cancer survivors were assigned to a 12-week physical exercise (n = 147) or a wait-list control group (n = 62). The main outcome measure was global QoL, assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline and 12 weeks later.

Moderators of the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Little is known about the variables that moderate the response to psychosocial interventions to decrease depressive symptoms in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables associated with depressive symptoms in cancer patients in general moderate the response to a nurse-led psychosocial intervention in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of the nurse counseling and after intervention (NUCAI) on depressive symptoms 12 months after cancer treatment in patients with head and neck cancer.

Replicating reoviruses with a transgene replacing the codons for the head domain of the viral spike.

The capacity to modify the reovirus genome facilitates generation of new therapeutic reoviruses. We describe a method for generating replication-competent reoviruses carrying a heterologous transgene. The strategy is based on the expanded-tropism reovirus mutant jin-3, which can infect cells independent of the reovirus receptor junction-adhesion molecule A (JAM-A).

Differences in health care utilisation between elderly from ethnic minorities and ethnic Dutch elderly.

Introduction: In the Netherlands, as in other Western countries, ethnic minority elderly are more often in poorer health than the indigenous population. The expectation is that this health disadvantage results in more frequent use of health care services.

Methods: We studied registered data on the proportion of health care receivers, frequency of use, and health care costs collected by a major Dutch health insurance company in 2010.

Community health worker interventions to improve access to health care services for older adults from ethnic minorities: a systematic review.

Background: The health status of older adults belonging to ethnic minorities in Western countries is an important public issue because their health is often less favourable than that of older adults from the majority population. In addition, the number of older adults belonging to ethnic minorities is increasing rapidly in Western countries. The introduction of community health workers (CHWs) has proven to be successful in addressing health disparities among ethnic minorities; however, an overview of CHW's benefits for older adults is absent in the literature.

Nurse-led clinics for patients with chronic diseases in hospital and transmural care organizations.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to elucidate the purpose, content, and organization of nurse-led clinics for patients with chronic diseases and to explore whether there are differences in the content and context of the nurse-led clinics and attention for the home situation between a transmural and a hospital setting.

Settings: Transmural setting by which nurses work in both primary and secondary care and hospital setting where nurses are employed by a local hospital. Within the transmural setting, 4 nurse-led clinics were studied: heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Ethnicity does not account for differences in the health-related quality of life of Turkish, Moroccan, and Moluccan elderly in the Netherlands.

Background: Data on how different groups of elderly immigrants perceive health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is scarce and research on the influence of ethnicity on HRQOL across ethnic groups is missing. Measuring HRQOL may help to detect cross-cultural differences and to decide whether ethnic-specific health and prevention programmes are required to improve HRQOL. We investigated differences in HRQOL among three elderly immigrant populations with a special focus on the contribution of ethnicity, in addition to other well-known determinants, to HRQOL.

[Towards culturally sensitive care for elderly immigrants! Design and development of a community based intervention programme in the Netherlands].

Background: In Western countries, health and social welfare facilities are not easily accessible for elderly immigrants and their needs are sub optimally addressed. A transition is needed towards culturally sensitive services to make cure and care accessible for elderly immigrants. We developed an intervention programme in which ethnic community health workers (CHWs) act as liaisons between immigrant elderly and local health care and social welfare services.

The effects on health behavior and health outcomes of Internet-based asynchronous communication between health providers and patients with a chronic condition: a systematic review.

Background: In support of professional practice, asynchronous communication between the patient and the provider is implemented separately or in combination with Internet-based self-management interventions. This interaction occurs primarily through electronic messaging or discussion boards. There is little evidence as to whether it is a useful tool for chronically ill patients to support their self-management and increase the effectiveness of interventions.

Long-term effect of a nurse-led psychosocial intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are prone to have a poor health-related quality of life after cancer treatment. This study investigated the effect of the nurse counselling and after intervention (NUCAI) on the health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms of HNC patients between 12 and 24 months after cancer treatment.

Methods: Two hundred and five HNC patients were randomly allocated to NUCAI (N=103) or usual care (N=102).

Mediators of physical exercise for improvement in cancer survivors' quality of life.

Objective: Mediating mechanisms of a 12-week group-based exercise intervention on cancer survivors' quality of life (QoL) were examined to inform future exercise intervention development.

Methods: Two hundred nine cancer survivors ≥ 3 months posttreatment (57% breast cancer) aged 49.5 (± 10.