Unsupervised machine learning models reveal predictive markers of glioblastoma patient survival using white blood cell counts prior to initiating chemoradiation.

Purpose: Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor requiring careful clinical monitoring even after primary management. Personalized medicine has suggested use of various molecular biomarkers as predictors of patient prognosis or factors utilized for clinical decision making. However, the accessibility of such molecular testing poses a constraint for various institutes requiring identification of low-cost predictive biomarkers to ensure equitable care.

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease.

Background: Steroid-refractory acute graft-vs.-host disease (SR-aGVHD) is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with a dismal prognosis and for which there is no consensus-based second-line therapy. Ruxolitinib is not easily accessible in many countries.

Deficient in a Breast Cancer Model Predicts Sensitivity to PARP Inhibitors.

Background: Breast and ovarian tumors with pathogenic variants in or genes are more sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) treatment than wildtype tumors. Pathogenic variants in non- homologous recombination repair genes (HRR) also concede sensitivity to PARPi treatment. participates in the Mre11--Nbn (MRN) complex of the HRR pathway and plays an important role in DNA repair.

PD-L1 and MCL-1 markers and the relationship with prognostic characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: MCL-1 and PD-L1 proteins are related to carcinogenesis mechanisms in differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC). Tumor antigens stimulate the expression of PD-1 in immune cells, which binds to PD-L1 of tumor cells, inducing immune escape from the tumor. MCL-1, an anti-apoptotic member of the BCL-2 family, is necessary for the survival of T and B lymphocytes and has a high oncogenic potential.

The digital expression profile of BMP7, CDKN2C, HIST1H3G, and PKMYT1 genes improves high-grade cervical lesion detection in liquid-based cytology.

Background: Some studies reported that differential gene expression could be used as a biomarker for high-grade cervical lesion identification. The aim was to evaluate the gene expression profile of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) to identify a gene expression signature of CIN2+ in liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples.

Methods: LBC samples (n = 85) obtained from women who underwent colposcopy were included with benign (n = 13), CIN1 (n = 26), CIN2 (n = 16), and CIN3 (n = 30) diagnoses.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Dignity Therapy Question Protocol to Brazilian Portuguese.

Objectives: Dignity therapy (DT) was developed to help patients at their end of life to reframe and give meaning to their illness process. The DT question protocol focuses on personhood and important aspects of the individual's life. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Dignity Therapy Question Protocol (DTQP) to Brazilian Portuguese.

MicroRNA‑130a‑3p inhibition suppresses cervical cancer cell progression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play essential roles in the initiation and progression of human tumors, including cervical cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying their actions in cervical cancer remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the functional role of miR‑130a‑3p in cervical cancer.

Interleukin-8 and Interleukin-6 Are Biomarkers of Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of cancer characterized by fast progression and high mortality rates, which generally implies a poor prognosis at time of diagnosis. Intricate interaction networks of cytokines produced by resident and inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment play crucial roles in ESCC development and metastasis, thus influencing therapy efficiency. As such, cytokines are the most prominent targets for specific therapies and prognostic parameters to predict tumor progression and aggressiveness.

Disruptive and Truncating TP53 Mutations Are Associated with African-Ancestry and Worse Prognosis in Brazilian Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in lung tumors, but its prognostic role in admixed populations, such as Brazilians, remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and clinicopathological impact of TP53 mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Brazil.

Methods: We analyzed 446 NSCLC patients from Barretos Cancer Hospital.

Maternal dietary zinc status alters offspring female mammary gland development and response to acute 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene insult.

We evaluated the effects of prenatal and postnatal dietary zinc (Zn) deficiency or supplementation on mammary gland morphology and on acute response to 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) in pubertal female rats. On gestational day 10 (GD 10), rat dams were allocated randomly into three experimental groups of 10: a Zn-adequate diet group (ZnA) fed 35 mg Zn/kg chow, a Zn-deficient diet group (ZnD) fed 3 mg ZN/kg chow and a Zn-supplemented diet group (ZnS) fed 180 mg Zn/kg chow. After weaning, female offspring were fed the same diet as their dams until postnatal day 53 (PND 53).

Methylation of BDNF gene in association with episodic memory in women.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene regulation plays an important role in long-term memory formation, and the DNA methylation (DNAm) level of promoters has been associated with episodic memory deficits. Our aim was to explore the association between DNAm levels in promoter IV with verbal learning and memory performance in healthy women. We conducted a cross-sectional study by recruiting 53 individuals.

Somatic mutation detection and amplification in testicular germ cell tumors.

Background: Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCT) are the most common cancer among young adult men. The TGCT histopathology is diverse, and the frequency of genomic alterations, along with their prognostic role, remains largely unexplored. Herein, we evaluate the mutation profile of a 15-driver gene panel and copy number variation of in a large series of TGCT from a single reference cancer center.

Discrepancy in transcriptomic profiling between CD34 + stem cells and primary bone marrow cells in myelodysplastic neoplasm.

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) biomarkers can be used to help diagnose and monitor the disease, as well as to determine which treatments are most effective. So, given the complexity of Myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS), it is difficult to determine the impact and disparities of DEGs between CD34 HSC (hematopoietic stem cells) or primary bone marrow cells (PBMC) in MDS pathogenesis, and therefore it remains largely unknown. Here, we performed an in-silico transcriptome analysis on CD34 HSC and PBMC from 1092 MDS patients analyzing the divergences between differential gene expression patterns in these two cell types as potential pathogenic biomarkers for MDS.

Serious Long-Term Effects of Head and Neck Cancer from the Survivors' Point of View.

The long-term problems of head and neck cancer survivors (HNCS) are not well known. In a cross-sectional international study aimed at exploring the long-term quality of life in this population, 1114 HNCS were asked to state their two most serious long-term effects. A clinician recorded the responses during face-to-face appointments.

PD-L1 Tumor Expression as a Predictive Biomarker of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors' Response and Survival in Advanced Melanoma Patients in Brazil.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents are prominent immunotherapies for the treatment of advanced melanoma. However, they fail to promote any durable clinical benefit in a large cohort of patients. This study assessed clinical and molecular predictors of ICB response and survival in advanced melanoma.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in Bleed-positive and Bleed-negative Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Among a Cohort of 5,090 Subjects who Participated in the Colorectal Neoplasia (CRN) Screening in Brazil.

Background/aim: This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy (DA) of fecal immunochemical test (FIT) ColonView (CV) and guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (HemoccultSENSA) among bleed-positive (history or signs of intestinal bleeding) and bleed-negative participants (no history or signs of intestinal bleeding) (n=5,090) in colorectal neoplasia (CRN) screening in Brazil.

Patients And Methods: The eligible patients for the study (n=506) collected three consecutive stool samples, to be analyzed by both assays (CV, SENSA). Finally, 421/5090 (8.

Extremely aggressive course in a poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma presenting a double mutation of the TERT promoter.

BRAF and TERT oncogenes hotspot mutations are associated with a more aggressive outcome in thyroid carcinomas (TC). TERT promoter (pTERT) mutations (C228T and C250T) are related to cancer growth and reduced overall- and disease-free survivals in TC. We report a patient followed up for 8 years with a poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) presenting an extremely aggressive course, who developed a large volume of metastases in a short period.

Management of patients with recurrent/metastatic endometrial cancer: Consensus recommendations from an expert panel from Brazil.

Background: Endometrial cancer is of increasing concern in several countries, including Brazil, in part because of an ageing population, declines in fertility, and the increasing prevalence of obesity. Although endometrial tumors had lagged behind other cancer types in terms of treatment improvements, molecular characterization of these tumors is paving the way for novel therapies and an expansion of the therapeutic arsenal. We aimed to help medical oncologists who manage patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer in the Brazilian healthcare setting.

Disclosing quantitative RT-PCR raw data during manuscript submission: a call for action.

Accuracy and transparency of scientific data are becoming more and more relevant with the increasing concern regarding the evaluation of data reproducibility in many research areas. This concern is also true for quantifying coding and noncoding RNAs, with the remarkable increase in publications reporting RNA profiling and sequencing studies. To address the problem, we propose the following recommendations: (a) accurate documentation of experimental procedures in Materials and methods (and not only in the supplementary information, as many journals have a strict mandate for making Materials and methods as visible as possible in the main text); (b) submission of RT-qPCR raw data for all experiments reported; and (c) adoption of a unified, simple format for submitted RT-qPCR raw data.

Bone Substitutes Graft for Regeneration of the Anterior Maxillary Alveolar Process: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify the available scientific evidence on bone substitutes (BSs) compared with autogenous bone grafts (ABGs) for regeneration of horizontal bone resorption in the anterior maxillary alveolar process, aiming at rehabilitation with endosseous implants. This review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines (2020) and registered in the database PROSPERO (CRD: 42017070574). The databases searched were PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, SCIENCE DIRECT, WEB OF SCIENCE, and CENTRAL COCHRANE, in the English language.

Cytokine profiling of samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papillomavirus.

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with cervical carcinoma. Co-infection in the endocervical environment with other microorganisms, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, may increase the risk of HPV infection and neoplastic progression. While in some individuals, Chlamydia trachomatis infection is resolved with the activation of Th1/IFN-γ-mediated immune response, others develop a chronic infection marked by Th2-mediated immune response, resulting in intracellular persistence of the bacterium and increasing the risk of HPV infection.

Cancer survival in the northwestern of São Paulo State, Brazil: A population-based study.

Background: Population-based cancer registry (PBCR) data provide crucial information for evaluating the effectiveness of cancer services and reflect prospects for cure by estimating population-based cancer survival. This study provides long-term trends in survival among patients diagnosed with cancer in the Barretos region (São Paulo State, Brazil).

Methods: In this population-based study, we estimated the one- and five-year age-standardized net survival rates of 13,246 patients diagnosed with 24 different cancer types in Barretos region between 2000 and 2018.