Nationwide multi-centric prospective study for the identification of biomarkers to predict the treatment responses of nivolumab through comprehensive analyses of pretreatment plasma exosome mRNAs from head and neck cancer patients (BIONEXT study).

Background: Nivolumab paved a new way in the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic (RM) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-HNSCC). However, the limited rates of long-term survivors (< 20%) demand a robust prognostic biomarker. This nationwide multi-centric prospective study aimed to identify a plasma exosome (PEX) mRNA signature, which serves as a companion diagnostic of nivolumab and provides a biological clue to develop effective therapies for a majority of non-survivors.

Endoscopic mucosal resection and open-lid submucosal biopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative gastric cancer: a retrospective observational study.

Background And Study Aims: Diffuse infiltrative gastric cancer can be difficult to diagnose owing to a lack of endoscopic features in the superficial mucosa. Moreover, a forceps biopsy may not reveal a pathological diagnosis. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and 'open-lid submucosal biopsy', a technique wherein EMR followed by biopsy of the ulcer floor is performed for a pathological diagnosis.

Formation of a low-mass galaxy from star clusters in a 600-million-year-old Universe.

The most distant galaxies detected were seen when the Universe was a scant 5% of its current age. At these times, progenitors of galaxies such as the Milky Way were about 10,000 times less massive. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) combined with magnification from gravitational lensing, these low-mass galaxies can not only be detected but also be studied in detail.