Impact of sex hormones on pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Objective: The effects of sex hormones remain largely unexplored in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs).

Methods: We evaluated the effects of estradiol, progesterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and testosterone on human patient-derived PPGL/GEP-NET primary culture cell viability (n = 38/n = 12), performed next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemical hormone receptor analysis in patient-derived PPGL tumor tissues (n = 36).

Results: In PPGLs, estradiol and progesterone (1 µm) demonstrated overall significant antitumor effects with the strongest efficacy in PPGLs with NF1 (cluster 2) pathogenic variants.

Symptom burden and relief in palliative care units of German Comprehensive Cancer Center and other hospitals.

Purpose: The National Hospice and Palliative Registry contains patient data from German hospice and palliative care facilities about symptoms. The aim of the study at hand is to differentiate symptom burden of patients in palliative care units between Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) and other hospitals regarding symptom burden and relief of patients in palliative care units.

Methods: The registry analysis provided data of patients in palliative care units (2014-2018).

Viral host range factors antagonize pathogenic SAMD9 and SAMD9L variants.

SAMD9 and SAMD9L encode homologous interferon-induced genes that can inhibit cellular translation as well as proliferation and can restrict viral replication. Gain-of-function (GoF) variants in these ancient, yet rapidly evolving genes are associated with life-threatening disease in humans. Potentially driving population sequence diversity, several viruses have evolved host range factors that antagonize cell-intrinsic SAMD9/SAMD9L function.

[Health- and disease-related data of inpatients in palliative care units of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers and other hospitals in comparison-Data from the Hospice and Palliative Care Register].

Background: The National Hospice and Palliative Registry is a database for palliative care facilities documenting a core data set for quality assurance and scientific evaluations.

Objectives: The study aims identifying differences between patients in palliative care units treated in Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC) or other hospitals (OH) focussing on sociodemographic and health/disease-related characteristics.

Methods: Descriptive data analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 included patients treated from 2014 to 2018.

[Cooperation between intensive care and palliative care : The status quo in German Comprehensive Cancer Centers].

Background: For intensive care patients with limited life expectancy the integration of palliative care in intensive care may be beneficial. However, little is known about the extent of this interdisciplinary collaboration.

Objectives: The support given by palliative medicine in German oncological centers and used by the intensive care units should be recorded.