Weekly docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer patients: no superior benefits compared to three-weekly docetaxel.

Background: In anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, it is unknown whether weekly single-agent docetaxel is preferable to 3-weekly docetaxel regarding its toxicity and efficacy profile.

Patients And Methods: In this multicenter, randomised, open-label phase III trial, 162 patients were randomised to weekly docetaxel (group A) or 3-weekly docetaxel (group B). The primary end-point was tolerability; secondary end-points were efficacy and quality of life (QoL).

T-cell recognition of HLA-DQ2-bound gluten peptides can be influenced by an N-terminal proline at p-1.

Recent research has implicated a large number of gluten-derived peptides in the pathogenesis of celiac disease, a preponderantly HLA-DQ2-associated disorder. Current evidence indicates that the core of some of those peptides is ten amino acids long, while HLA class II normally accommodates nine amino acids in the binding groove. We have now investigated this in detail, using gluten-specific T-cell clones, HLA-DQ2-specific peptide-binding assays and molecular modelling.

The HLA-DQ2 gene dose effect in celiac disease is directly related to the magnitude and breadth of gluten-specific T cell responses.

In patients with celiac disease, inflammatory T cell responses to HLA-DQ2-bound gluten peptides are thought to cause disease. Two types of HLA-DQ2 molecules exist, termed HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ2.

Characterization of cereal toxicity for celiac disease patients based on protein homology in grains.

Background And Aims: Celiac disease is caused by T-cell responses to wheat gluten-derived peptides. The presence of such peptides in other widely consumed grains, however, has hardly been studied.

Methods: We have performed homology searches to identify regions with sequence similarity to T-cell stimulatory gluten peptides in the available gluten sequences: the hordeins of barley, secalins of rye, and avenins of oats.

The gluten response in children with celiac disease is directed toward multiple gliadin and glutenin peptides.

Background & Aims: Gluten (GLU)-specific T-cell responses in HLA-DQ2 positive adult celiac disease (CD) patients are directed to an immunodominant alpha-gliadin (GLIA) peptide that requires deamidation for T-cell recognition. The aim of the current study was to determine which GLU peptide(s) are involved early in disease.

Methods: We have characterized the GLU-specific T-cell response in HLA-DQ2 positive children with recent onset CD.

Specificity of tissue transglutaminase explains cereal toxicity in celiac disease.

Celiac disease is caused by a selective lack of T cell tolerance for gluten. It is known that the enzyme tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is involved in the generation of T cell stimulatory gluten peptides through deamidation of glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in gluten. Only particular glutamine residues, however, are modified by tTG.