Risk of COVID-19 death in cancer patients: an analysis from Guy's Cancer Centre and King's College Hospital in London.

Background: Using an updated dataset with more patients and extended follow-up, we further established cancer patient characteristics associated with COVID-19 death.

Methods: Data on all cancer patients with a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) at Guy's Cancer Centre and King's College Hospital between 29 February and 31 July 2020 was used. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to identify which factors were associated with COVID-19 mortality.

Charting the sequence-activity landscape of peptide inhibitors of translation termination.

Apidaecin (Api), an unmodified 18-amino-acid-long proline-rich antibacterial peptide produced by bees, has been recently described as a specific inhibitor of translation termination. It invades the nascent peptide exit tunnel of the postrelease ribosome and traps the release factors preventing their recycling. Api binds in the exit tunnel in an extended conformation that matches the placement of a nascent polypeptide and establishes multiple contacts with ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins.

Solitary Conjunctivocorneal Plasmacytoma Arising After Cataract Surgery.

Purpose: To report a case of solitary plasmacytoma of the conjunctiva with corneal encroachment and to review the literature of all published cases.

Methods: A 70-year-old man presented with 1-month history of pain and watering in the right eye, 7 months after undergoing cataract surgery in the same eye.

Results: The mass was surgically excised.

The relative importance of factors predicting outcome for myeloma patients at different ages: results from 3894 patients in the Myeloma XI trial.

Disease factors such as tumor burden and molecular risk affect myeloma patient outcomes as well as patient factors that impact the capacity to deliver treatment. How the relative importance of these factors changes with patient age has not previously been investigated comprehensively. We analyzed data from 3894 patients of all ages uniformly treated in a large clinical trial of myeloma patients, Myeloma XI.

A clinical prediction model for outcome and therapy delivery in transplant-ineligible patients with myeloma (UK Myeloma Research Alliance Risk Profile): a development and validation study.

Background: Tolerability of treatments for multiple myeloma can depend on the characteristics of the patient being treated. We aimed to develop and validate a risk profile, using routinely collected data, that could predict overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma who were ineligible for stem-cell transplantation.

Methods: We used patient data from two randomised controlled trials done in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for stem-cell transplantation (the NCRI Myeloma XI study [NCRI-XI, n=1852] and the MRC Myeloma IX study [MRC-IX, n=520]), to develop the UK Myeloma Research Alliance Risk Profile (MRP) for overall survival.

Subclonal copy number is associated with prognosis in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically heterogeneous cancer of bone marrow plasma cells with variable outcome. To assess the prognostic relevance of clonal heterogeneity of copy number, we profiled tumors from 1777 newly diagnosed Myeloma XI trial patients with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Subclonal deletions were independently associated with shorter overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.

Apparent diffusion coefficient of vertebral haemangiomas allows differentiation from malignant focal deposits in whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for typical haemangiomas in the spine and to compare them with active malignant focal deposits.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-institution study. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 106 successive patients with active multiple myeloma, metastatic prostate or breast cancer were analysed.

Constitutional mutation in CDKN2A is associated with long term survivorship in multiple myeloma: a case report.

Background: Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells associated with significantly reduced survival. Long term survivorship from myeloma is very rare and despite advances in its treatment the disease is generally considered incurable. We report a patient diagnosed with myeloma carrying a germline mutation of a tumour suppressor gene who has effectively been cured.

Antagonistic human FcγRIIB (CD32B) antibodies have anti-tumor activity and overcome resistance to antibody therapy in vivo.

Therapeutic antibodies have transformed cancer therapy, unlocking mechanisms of action by engaging the immune system. Unfortunately, cures rarely occur and patients display intrinsic or acquired resistance. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting human (h) FcγRIIB (CD32B), a receptor implicated in immune cell desensitization and tumor cell resistance.

Inhibitory FcγRIIb (CD32b) becomes activated by therapeutic mAb in both cis and trans and drives internalization according to antibody specificity.

A major feature that distinguishes type I from type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and reduces their therapeutic efficacy is the tendency to internalize from the cell surface. We have shown previously that the extent of internalization correlates with the capacity of type I mAb to simultaneously engage both CD20 and the inhibitory Fcγ receptor, FcγRIIb, in a bipolar configuration. Here, we investigated whether mAbs directed at other B-cell surface receptors also engaged FcγRIIb and whether this interaction promoted internalization.

Management of median arcuate ligament syndrome in patients who require pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standard treatment for localised neoplasms of the pancreatic head. The operation can be performed safely in specialist units but good outcome is compromised if postoperative blood flow to the liver and biliary tree is inadequate. Coeliac artery occlusion with blood supply to the liver arising from the superior mesenteric artery via the gastroduodenal artery is difficult to recognise, especially intraoperatively.