Baseline Liquid Biopsy in Relation to Tissue-Based Parameters in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Results From the Randomized FIRE-4 (AIO-KRK-0114) Study.

Purpose: The FIRE-4 study randomly assigned patients with first-line wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer to either flourouracil (FU), folinic acid, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus cetuximab until progression or intolerable toxicity (standard arm) or to FOLFIRI plus cetuximab followed by a switch maintenance treatment using FU plus bevacizumab (experimental arm). Here, we investigate the relevance of liquid biopsy (LB) RAS and BRAF testing compared with tissue-based analyses.

Patients And Methods: LBs were taken at baseline and during treatment and were analyzed for and mutations using the in vitro diagnostics-certified ONCOBEAM RAS procedure (Sysmex Inostics) and digital-droplet polymerase chain reaction technology.

Evaluation of circulating tumor DNA as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in BRAF V600E mutated colorectal cancer-results from the FIRE-4.5 study.

The randomized FIRE-4.5 (AIO KRK0116) trial compared first-line therapy with FOLFOXIRI (folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) plus either cetuximab or bevacizumab in B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. This study was accompanied by a prospective translational project analyzing cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma to test whether ctDNA analysis may help to guide clinical treatment decision making.

Coinhibition of topoisomerase 1 and BRD4-mediated pause release selectively kills pancreatic cancer via readthrough transcription.

Pancreatic carcinoma lacks effective therapeutic strategies resulting in poor prognosis. Transcriptional dysregulation due to alterations in KRAS and MYC affects initiation, development, and survival of this tumor type. Using patient-derived xenografts of KRAS- and MYC-driven pancreatic carcinoma, we show that coinhibition of topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) synergistically induces tumor regression by targeting promoter pause release.

Lasting response by vertical inhibition with cetuximab and trametinib in KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer patient-derived xenografts.

Although approximately half of all metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRCs) harbour mutations in KRAS or NRAS, hardly any progress has been made regarding targeted treatment for this group over the last few years. Here, we investigated the efficacy of vertical inhibition of the RAS-pathway by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumours with primary KRAS mutation. In total, 19 different PDX models comprising 127 tumours were tested.

Minor microbial alterations after faecal diversion do not affect the healing process of anus-near pressure injuries in patients with spinal cord injury - results of a matched case-control study.

Study Design: Retrospective matched case-control study including patients with spinal cord injury who presented with an anus-near pressure injury. Two groups were formed based on the presence of a diverting stoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the primary microbial colonisation and secondary infection of anus-near pressure injuries depending on the presence of a pre-existing diverting stoma and to investigate the effect on the wound healing.

Argon Plasma Coagulation of Gastric Inlet Patches of the Cervical Esophagus Relieves Vocal and Respiratory Symptoms in Selected Patients.

Objectives: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) of gastric inlet patches of the cervical esophagus (GIP) has been shown to relieve the globus sensation. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of APC therapy on a variety of laryngopharyngeal symptoms.

Methods: Patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms who had undergone endoscopic GIP eradication via APC therapy were eligible for a retrospective observational cohort study.

Early detection of duodenal cancer by upper gastrointestinal-endoscopy in Lynch syndrome.

Small bowel cancer (SBC) is the malignancy with the highest standardized incidence ratio in Lynch syndrome (LS) patients. Of all SBCs, about 50% are duodenal cancers (DCs), therefore being accessible by esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) for surveillance. We asked whether early detection of DC is possible for LS patients undergoing surveillance by EGD and if surveillance should be limited to specific subgroups.

Secondary resistance to anti-EGFR therapy by transcriptional reprogramming in patient-derived colorectal cancer models.

Background: The development of secondary resistance (SR) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibodies is not fully understood at the molecular level. Here we tested in vivo selection of anti-EGFR SR tumors in CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models as a strategy for a molecular dissection of SR mechanisms.

Methods: We analyzed 21 KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and PI3K wildtype CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models for their anti-EGFR sensitivity.

No Difference in Penetrance between Truncating and Missense/Aberrant Splicing Pathogenic Variants in and : A Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database Study.

Background: Lynch syndrome is the most common genetic predisposition for hereditary cancer. Carriers of pathogenic changes in mismatch repair (MMR) genes have an increased risk of developing colorectal (CRC), endometrial, ovarian, urinary tract, prostate, and other cancers, depending on which gene is malfunctioning. In Lynch syndrome, differences in cancer incidence (penetrance) according to the gene involved have led to the stratification of cancer surveillance.

Uptake of hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in carriers of pathogenic mismatch repair variants: a Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database report.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the uptake of hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) to prevent gynaecological cancers (risk-reducing surgery [RRS]) in carriers of pathogenic MMR (path_MMR) variants.

Methods: The Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database (PLSD) was used to investigate RRS by a cross-sectional study in 2292 female path_MMR carriers aged 30-69 years.

Results: Overall, 144, 79, and 517 carriers underwent risk-reducing hysterectomy, BSO, or both combined, respectively.

Exploiting the MUC5AC Antigen for Noninvasive Identification of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death; therefore, there is a clinically unmet need for novel therapeutics and diagnostic markers to treat this devastating disease. Physicians often rely on biopsy or CT for diagnosis, but more specific protein biomarkers are highly desired to assess the stage and severity of PC in a noninvasive manner. Serum biomarkers such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 are of particular interest as they are commonly elevated in PC but have exhibited suboptimal performance in the clinic.

Risk-reducing hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in female heterozygotes of pathogenic mismatch repair variants: a Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database report.

Purpose: To determine impact of risk-reducing hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) on gynecological cancer incidence and death in heterozygotes of pathogenic MMR (path_MMR) variants.

Methods: The Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database was used to investigate the effects of gynecological risk-reducing surgery (RRS) at different ages.

Results: Risk-reducing hysterectomy at 25 years of age prevents endometrial cancer before 50 years in 15%, 18%, 13%, and 0% of path_MLH1, path_MSH2, path_MSH6, and path_PMS2 heterozygotes and death in 2%, 2%, 1%, and 0%, respectively.

Value of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for gastric cancer surveillance in patients with Lynch syndrome.

In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy as an instrument for early gastric cancer (GC) detection in Lynch syndrome (LS) patients by analyzing data from the registry of the German Consortium for Familial Intestinal Cancer. In a prospective, multicenter cohort study, 1128 out of 2009 registered individuals with confirmed LS underwent 5176 upper GI endoscopies. Compliance was good since 77.

Age-dependent performance of BRAF mutation testing in Lynch syndrome diagnostics.

BRAF V600E mutations have been reported as a marker of sporadic microsatellite instability (MSI) colorectal cancer (CRC). Current international diagnostic guidelines recommend BRAF mutation testing in MSI CRC patients to predict low risk of Lynch syndrome (LS). We evaluated the age-specific performance of BRAF testing in LS diagnostics.

Risk-Reducing Gynecological Surgery in Lynch Syndrome: Results of an International Survey from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database.

Purpose: To survey risk-reducing hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) practice and advice regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women with Lynch syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a survey in 31 contributing centers from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database (PLSD), which incorporates 18 countries worldwide. The survey covered local policies for risk-reducing hysterectomy and BSO in Lynch syndrome, the timing when these measures are offered, the involvement of stakeholders and advice regarding HRT.

Correction: Cancer risks by gene, age, and gender in 6350 carriers of pathogenic mismatch repair variants: findings from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Cancer risks in Lynch syndrome, Lynch-like syndrome, and familial colorectal cancer type X: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Individuals with pathogenic germline variants in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes are at increased risk of developing colorectal, endometrial and other cancers (Lynch syndrome, LS). While previous studies have extensively described cancer risks in LS, cancer risks in individuals from families without detectable MMR gene defects despite MMR deficiency (Lynch-like syndrome, LLS), and in individuals from families fulfilling the Amsterdam-II criteria without any signs of MMR deficiency (familial colorectal cancer type X, FCCX) are less well studied. The aim of this prospective study was to characterise the risk for different cancer types in LS, LLS, and FCCX, and to compare these with the cancer risks in the general population.

Knowledge transfer as a tool towards improvement of cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. 6th European Roundtable Meeting (ERTM), June 14th, 2019, Berlin, Germany.

Purpose: To identify key factors for the best practice of knowledge transfer from high-income settings to low- and middle-income settings.

Results: Interactive sessions led to the identification of European learnings that can and should be shared beyond Europe. Furthermore, methods were characterised which may lead to successful knowledge transfer with subsequent quality improvement.

[Current recommendations for surveillance, risk reduction and therapy in Lynch syndrome patients].

Introduction:  Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome and accounts for ~3 % of all CRCs. This autosomal dominant disorder is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes (, and ). One in 300 individuals of the general population are considered to be mutation carriers (300 000 individuals/Germany).

Similar Adenoma Detection Rates in Colonoscopic Procedures of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury Compared to Controls.

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Preventive strategies, such as colonoscopy, deal with higher burdens that may lead to lower quality.

Aims: The primary objective was to evaluate the adenoma detection rate.