Safety and biological outcomes following a phase 1 trial of GD2-specific CAR-T cells in patients with GD2-positive metastatic melanoma and other solid cancers.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies specific for the CD19 and B-cell maturation antigen have become an approved standard of care worldwide for relapsed and refractory B-cell malignancies. If CAR-T cell therapy for non-hematological malignancies is to achieve the same stage of clinical development, then iterative early-phase clinical testing can add value to the clinical development process for evaluating CAR-T cell products containing different CAR designs and manufactured under differing conditions.

Methods: We conducted a phase 1 trial of third-generation GD2-specific CAR-T cell therapy, which has previously been tested in neuroblastoma patients.

Outcomes of Serum Food-Specific Immunoglobulin G 4 to Guide Elimination Diet in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is associated with atopy; however, recent studies have identified an association with food-specific immunoglobulin G 4 (FS-IgG 4 ) rather than immunoglobulin E antibodies. This study aimed to evaluate the role of serum FS-IgG 4 in guiding an elimination diet and its outcomes.

Methods: Patients with and without EoE were enrolled in a prospective, controlled, single tertiary center trial.

Association Between RAS/BRAF Mutations and Complete Response Following Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients with Rectal Cancer: A Prospective Multicentered Study.

Background: The impact of RAS/BRAF mutation on primary response rates after total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) in patients with advanced rectal cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess complete response rates after TNT according to RAS/BRAF mutation status.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in patients with rectal cancer who underwent TNT with curative intent at three South Australian hospitals between 2019 and 2023.

Spontaneous self-expulsion of an oesophageal duplication cyst.

A case report of an oesophageal duplication cyst in an adult patient with chronic cough and presenting with a "coughed out lump". This is an unusual presentation highlighting the importance of considering congenital duplication cysts in patients with chronic cough and no obvious respiratory cause.

Increase in distal esophageal wall thickness with time in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background And Aim: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease which may progress to a fibro-stenotic phenotype due to esophageal sub-epithelial fibrosis. Esophageal wall thickening in patients with EoE has been demonstrated in a few studies using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess the endoscopic appearance, wall thickness, histology, and dysphagia score of EoE patients.

Composite Assessment Using Intestinal Ultrasound and Calprotectin Is Accurate in Predicting Histological Activity in Ulcerative Colitis: A Cohort Study.

Background: Beyond endoscopic remission, histological remission in ulcerative colitis (UC) is predictive of clinical outcomes. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) may offer a noninvasive surrogate marker for histological activity; however, there are limited data correlating validated ultrasound and histological indices.

Aim: Our aim was to determine the correlation of IUS activity in UC with a validated histological activity index.

Methods of tissue preparation after EUS-guided tissue acquisition without rapid on-site assessment: Results of a randomized study.

Unlabelled: In the absence of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE), it is not clear which method of tissue preparation is best to process tissue obtained from EUS guidance. Cytological smearing (CS), cell block (CB), and direct histology (DH) are the available techniques.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic yield of three techniques of tissue preparation for EUS-guided tissue acquisition without ROSE.

Distal esophageal wall thickness correlates with dysphagia in adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background: Thickening of the esophageal wall in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been shown in studies using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). We hypothesise that transmural inflammation in EoE results in prominent esophageal wall thickening compared with the mucosal inflammation in GERD. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship among dysphagia, endoscopic appearance, wall thickness, histology, and motility in EoE and GORD.

Therapeutic Potential of the 4 Strategies to SUlfide-REduction (4-SURE) Diet in Adults with Mild to Moderately Active Ulcerative Colitis: An Open-Label Feasibility Study.

Background: Diet therapy may bridge the therapeutic gap in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Objectives: The novel 4-SURE diet (4-strategies-to-SUlfide-REduction), designed to modulate colonic fermentation and influence production of excess hydrogen sulfide, was examined in a feasibility study for tolerability, clinical efficacy, and effects on microbial endpoints.

Methods: Adults aged ≥18 y old with mild to moderately active UC were advised to increase intake of fermentable fibers, restrict total and sulfur-containing proteins, and avoid specific food additives for 8 wk.

Vasculogenic mimicry structures in melanoma support the recruitment of monocytes.

The progression of cancer is facilitated by infiltrating leukocytes which can either actively kill cancer cells or promote their survival. Our current understanding of leukocyte recruitment into tumors is largely limited to the adhesion molecules and chemokines expressed by conventional blood vessels that are lined by endothelial cells (ECs). However, cancer cells themselves can form their own vascular structures (a process known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM)); but whether they actively participate in the recruitment of leukocytes remains to be elucidated.

Oncological outcomes after piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection of large non-pedunculated colorectal polyps with covert submucosal invasive cancer.

Objective: Management of covert submucosal invasive cancer (SMIC) discovered after piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (pEMR) of large (>20 mm) non-pedunculated colorectal polyps is challenging. The residual cancer risk is largely unknown. We sought to evaluate this in a large tertiary referral cohort.

Characteristics and progression of childhood-onset and adult-onset eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background And Aim: The prevalence and incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been increasing over recent years. However, the natural history remains incompletely understood particularly the differences in disease characteristics and progression of childhood-onset and adult-onset EoE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease characteristics and progression of childhood-onset and adult-onset EoE.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Biopsy With or Without Rapid On-site Evaluation for Diagnosis of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Randomized Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background And Aims: The benefit of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) on the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) has never been evaluated in a randomized study. This trial aimed to test the hypothesis that in solid pancreatic lesions (SPLs), diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNB without ROSE was not inferior to that of EUS-FNB with ROSE.

Methods: A noninferiority study (noninferiority margin, 5%) was conducted at 14 centers in 8 countries.

Multinational survey on the preferred approach to management of Barrett's esophagus in the Asia-Pacific region.

Background: Major societies provide differing guidance on management of Barrett's esophagus (BE), making standardization challenging.

Aim: To evaluate the preferred diagnosis and management practices of BE among Asian endoscopists.

Methods: Endoscopists from across Asia were invited to participate in an online questionnaire comprising eleven questions regarding diagnosis, surveillance and management of BE.

Combined chemotherapy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided intratumoral 32P implantation for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a pilot study.

Background: This study evaluated clinical outcomes of combined chemotherapy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided intratumoral radioactive phosphorus-32 (P) implantation in locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC).

Methods: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed LAPC were recruited over 20 months. Baseline computed tomography and F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography were performed and repeated after 12 weeks to assess treatment response.

The Expression Profile and Textural Characteristics of C595-Reactive MUC1 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy.

Improvements in the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) rely on the development of effective treatments to target advanced disease. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein which is involved in the metastatic progression of PDAC and is a receptor-of-interest for targeted radionuclide therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of MUC1-based targeted radionuclide therapy for PDAC, by evaluating the expression profile of MUC1 in different pancreatic cells and tissues using the C595 antibody.

Distinguishing gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis in adults: The role of esophageal mucosal immunoglobulin G4.

Background And Aim: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be difficult to distinguish as many of their clinical and histological features overlap. Preliminary data suggest a potential association between EoE and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) but not GERD. This study aimed to examine the role of esophageal mucosal IgG4 staining when differentiating EoE from GERD.

Polyp Detection Rate as a Surrogate for Adenoma and Sessile Serrated Adenoma/Polyp Detection Rates.

Introduction: Quality measures for colonoscopy such as adenoma detection rate (ADR) have been proposed to be surveilled for ensuring minimum standards. However, its direct measurement is time consuming and often neglected. Extrapolating ADR and other quality measures from polyp detection rate (PDR) can be a pragmatic alternative.

Young-onset colorectal cancer is associated with a personal history of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising in incidence in young adults, and this observation is currently unexplained. We investigated whether having a personal history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) was a potential risk factor for young-onset colorectal cancer (YOCRC).

Methods: The South Australian Young Onset (SAYO) CRC study is a series of young adults with CRC below age 55.

Signet-ring cell appearance of atrophic fat cells.

Cells with 'signet-ring' appearance were found at post-mortem examination of a man with a history of chronic illness, weight loss and multiple regions of 'bowel thickening' during life. Due to the decedent's history, the finding raised the possibility of disseminated signet-ring adenocarcinoma. However, the vacuoles did not stain for mucin and the cells did not stain for keratin.

Different factors are associated with conventional adenoma and serrated colorectal neoplasia.

Current data shows there are differences in factors associated with colorectal neoplasia based on geographical location and cultural settings. There are no studies focusing on the association between environmental factors and colorectal polyps in Australia. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the association of various factors with different colorectal neoplasia histology.

Agreement on endoscopic ultrasonography-guided tissue specimens: Comparing a 20-G fine-needle biopsy to a 25-G fine-needle aspiration needle among academic and non-academic pathologists.

Background And Aim: A recently carried out randomized controlled trial showed the benefit of a novel 20-G fine-needle biopsy (FNB) over a 25-G fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needle. The current study evaluated the reproducibility of these findings among expert academic and non-academic pathologists.

Methods: This study was a side-study of the ASPRO (ASpiration versus PROcore) study.