Functional germline variants in DNA damage repair pathways are associated with altered survival in adults with glioma treated with temozolomide.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) treatment has demonstrated, but variable, impact on glioma prognosis. This study examines associations of survival with DNA repair gene germline polymorphisms among glioma patients who did and did not have TMZ treatment. Identifying genetic markers which sensitize tumor cells to TMZ could personalize therapy and improve outcomes.

Association of immunoglobulin E levels with glioma risk and survival.

Background: Previous epidemiologic studies have reported an association of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels with reduced glioma risk, but the association between IgE and glioma prognosis has not been characterized. This study aimed to examine how sex, tumor subtype, and IgE class modulate the association of serum IgE levels with glioma risk and survival.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study using participants from the University of California, San Francisco Adult Glioma Study (1997-2010).

Functional germline variants in DNA damage repair pathways are associated with altered survival in adults with glioma treated with temozolomide.

Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) treatment has demonstrated, but variable, impact on glioma prognosis. This study examines associations of survival with DNA repair gene germline polymorphisms among glioma patients who did and did not have TMZ treatment. Identifying genetic markers which sensitize tumor cells to TMZ could personalize therapy and improve outcomes.

Oligodendroglioma patient survival is associated with circulating B-cells and age.

Background: Variations in survival among patients with oligodendroglioma are unexplained by known prognostic factors. To assess the impact of peripheral immune profiles on prognosis, we applied immunomethylomics analyses-DNA methylation of archived whole blood samples, to characterize immune cells.

Methods: We compared the proportions of immune cells from patients with oligodendroglioma to other glioma subtypes and controls.

Association of immunoglobulin E levels with glioma risk and survival.

Background: Previous epidemiologic studies have reported an association of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels with reduced glioma risk, but the association between IgE and glioma prognosis has not been characterized. This study aimed to examine how sex, tumor subtype, and IgE class modulate the association of serum IgE levels with glioma risk and survival.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study using participants from the University of California, San Francisco Adult Glioma Study (1997-2010).

VerSoX B07-B: a high-throughput XPS and ambient pressure NEXAFS beamline at Diamond Light Source.

The beamline optics and endstations at branch B of the Versatile Soft X-ray (VerSoX) beamline B07 at Diamond Light Source are described. B07-B provides medium-flux X-rays in the range 45-2200 eV from a bending magnet source, giving access to local electronic structure for atoms of all elements from Li to Y. It has an endstation for high-throughput X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) measurements under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions.

Pediatric brain tumors: Origins, epidemiology, and classification - The 2022 Brain Tumor Epidemiology Consortium meeting report.

The Brain Tumor Epidemiology Consortium (BTEC) is an international organization that fosters collaboration among scientists focused on understanding the epidemiology of brain tumors with interests ranging from the etiology of brain tumor development and outcomes to the control of morbidity and mortality. The 2022 annual BTEC meeting with the theme "Pediatric Brain Tumors: Origins, Epidemiology, and Classification" was held in Lyon, France on June 20 - 22, 2022. Scientists from North America and Europe presented recent research and progress in the field.

Antibodies to varicella-zoster virus and three other herpesviruses and survival in adults with glioma.

Background: Lifetime exposure to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) has been consistently inversely associated with glioma risk, however, the relationship of VZV with survival in adults with glioma has not been investigated. In this study, we analyzed the survival of adults with glioma in relation to their antibody measurements to 4 common herpes viral infections, including VZV, measured post-diagnosis.

Methods: We analyzed IgG antibody measurements to VZV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus 1/2 (HSV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) collected from 1378 adults with glioma diagnosed between 1991 and 2010.

Nivolumab and brentuximab vedotin with or without bendamustine for R/R Hodgkin lymphoma in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) without complete metabolic response (CMR) before autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) have poor survival outcomes. CheckMate 744, a phase 2 study for CAYA (aged 5-30 years) with R/R cHL, evaluated a risk-stratified, response-adapted approach with nivolumab plus brentuximab vedotin (BV) followed by BV plus bendamustine for patients with suboptimal response. Risk stratification was primarily based on time to relapse, prior treatment, and presence of B symptoms.

Accurate Identification of Mucinous Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Using Small-Volume Analytes.

Introduction: The accurate identification of mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) is paramount for cancer risk stratification. Cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the only routinely used test, requires high volumes and has low sensitivity. We aimed to compare the performance of two investigational small-volume biomarkers, glucose and the protease gastricsin, to CEA for PCL classification.

Pre-surgery immune profiles of adult glioma patients.

Introduction: Although immunosuppression is a known characteristic of glioma, no previous large studies have reported peripheral blood immune cell profiles prior to patient surgery and chemoradiation. This report describes blood immune cell characteristics and associated variables prior to surgery among typical glioma patients seen at a large University practice.

Methods: We analyzed pre-surgery blood samples from 139 glioma patients diagnosed with a new or recurrent grade II/III glioma (LrGG, n = 64) or new glioblastoma (GBM, n = 75) and 454 control participants without glioma.

Epidemiology of Brain and Other CNS Tumors.

Purpose Of Review: Brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors, while rare, cause significant morbidity and mortality across all ages. This article summarizes the current state of the knowledge on the epidemiology of brain and other CNS tumors.

Recent Findings: For childhood and adolescent brain and other CNS tumors, high birth weight, non-chromosomal structural birth defects and higher socioeconomic position were shown to be risk factors.

The Epidemiology of Central Nervous System Tumors.

This article reviews the current epidemiology of central nervous system tumors. Population-level basic epidemiology, nationally and internationally, and current understanding of germline genetic risk are discussed, with a focus on known and well-studied risk factors related to the etiology of central nervous system tumors.

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE reveals novel virus mutation, patterns of co-infection and tissue specific host immune response.

To unravel the source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction and the pattern of its spreading and evolution in the United Arab Emirates, we conducted meta-transcriptome sequencing of 1067 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected between May 9th and Jun 29th, 2020 during the first peak of the local COVID-19 epidemic. We identified global clade distribution and eleven novel genetic variants that were almost absent in the rest of the world and that defined five subclades specific to the UAE viral population. Cross-settlement human-to-human transmission was related to the local business activity.

Socioeconomic status and childhood central nervous system tumors in California.

Purpose: Childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the leading cause of cancer mortality in children. Previous studies have suggested that some childhood cancers, including primary CNS tumors, may be associated with higher socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: We linked data from the California Cancer Registry to California birth records for children (age 0-19 years) diagnosed with primary CNS tumors during 1988-2011 and analyzed multiple measures of parental SES around the birth of their children and subsequent risk for childhood CNS tumors.