Prognostic F-flotufolastat PET parameters for outcome assessment of Lu-labeled PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Purpose: This retrospective analysis evaluates baseline F-flotufolastat positron emission tomography (PET) parameters as prognostic parameters for treatment response and outcome in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) undergoing treatment with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T.

Methods: A total of 188 mCRPC patients with baseline F-flotufolastat PET scans were included. Tumor lesions were semiautomatically delineated, with imaging parameters including volume-based and standardized uptake value (SUV)-based metrics.

Optogenetic Clustering and Stimulation of the T Cell Receptor in Nongenetically Modified Human T Cells.

Methods for the precise temporal control of cell surface receptor activation are indispensable for the investigation of signaling processes in mammalian cells. Optogenetics enables such precise control, but its application in primary cells is limited by the imperative for genetic manipulation of target cells. We here describe a method that overcomes this obstacle and enables the precise activation of the T cell receptor in nongenetically engineered human T cells by light.

Third intracellular loop of HCMV US28 is necessary for signaling and viral reactivation.

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encoded chemokine receptor US28 plays a critical role in viral pathogenesis, mediating several processes such as cellular migration, differentiation, transformation, and viral latency and reactivation. Despite significant research examining the signal transduction pathways utilized by US28, the precise mechanism by which US28 activates these pathways remains unclear. We performed a mutational analysis of US28 to identify signaling domains that are critical for functional activities.

Accelerating evidence generation: Addressing critical challenges and charting a path forward.

Efficient evidence generation to assess the clinical and economic impact of medical therapies is critical amid rising healthcare costs and aging populations. However, drug development and clinical trials remain far too expensive and inefficient for all stakeholders. On October 25-26, 2023, the Duke Clinical Research Institute brought together leaders from academia, industry, government agencies, patient advocacy, and nonprofit organizations to explore how different entities and influencers in drug development and healthcare can realign incentive structures to efficiently accelerate evidence generation that addresses the highest public health needs.