Research participants' perceptions and views on consent for biobank research: a review of empirical data and ethical analysis.

Background: Appropriate information and consent has been one of the most intensely discussed topics within the context of biobank research. In parallel to the normative debate, many socio-empirical studies have been conducted to gather experiences, preferences and views of patients, healthy research participants and further stakeholders. However, there is scarcity of literature which connects the normative debate about justifications for different consent models with findings gained in empirical research.

Next-generation sequencing: hype and hope for development of personalized radiation therapy?

The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the field of cancer research has boosted worldwide efforts of genome-wide personalized oncology aiming at identifying predictive biomarkers and novel actionable targets. Despite considerable progress in understanding the molecular biology of distinct cancer entities by the use of this revolutionary technology and despite contemporaneous innovations in drug development, translation of NGS findings into improved concepts for cancer treatment remains a challenge. The aim of this article is to describe shortly the NGS platforms for DNA sequencing and in more detail key achievements and unresolved hurdles.

Regional hyperthermia of the abdomen, a pilot study towards the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis occurs in different cancer subtypes and is associated with a dismal prognosis. Some doubts remain whether the whole abdomen can be treated by regional hyperthermia, therefore we analyzed feasibility conducting a pilot study.

Methods: A simulation of the abdominopelvic heat distribution in 11 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis was done using the HyperPlan software and the SIGMA-60 and SIGMA-Eye applicators.

Comprehensive genomic profiles of small cell lung cancer.

We have sequenced the genomes of 110 small cell lung cancers (SCLC), one of the deadliest human cancers. In nearly all the tumours analysed we found bi-allelic inactivation of TP53 and RB1, sometimes by complex genomic rearrangements. Two tumours with wild-type RB1 had evidence of chromothripsis leading to overexpression of cyclin D1 (encoded by the CCND1 gene), revealing an alternative mechanism of Rb1 deregulation.

The Role of Psychological Distress in Relapse Prevention of Alcohol Addiction. Can High Scores on the SCL-90-R Predict Alcohol Relapse?

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify if psychological distress may contribute to treatment outcome in alcohol-addicted patients during a follow-up period of 5 months after detoxification.

Methods: As part of a prospective, multicenter, randomized study in relapse prevention, patients' levels of psychological distress were assessed using the Symptome Checklist (SCL-90-R). At study inclusion, all patients were detoxified and showed no more withdrawal symptoms.

Baseline caspase activity predicts progression free survival of temsirolimus-treated head neck cancer patients.

Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a frequent aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Increasing evidence suggests that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-inhibitors might be effective in advanced SCCHN. However, non-invasive biomarkers for early prediction of treatment efficacy are not established in SCCHN.

Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 is an independent prognostic biomarker for survival in Klatskin tumor patients.

Unlabelled: Curative treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumors) is limited to surgical resection or orthotopic liver transplantation. However, not all patients benefit from a surgical approach and suffer from early tumor recurrence. Response to chemotherapy is generally poor and, until today, no targeted therapy could be established.

Afatinib versus methotrexate as second-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck progressing on or after platinum-based therapy (LUX-Head & Neck 1): an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial.

Background: Patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) progressing after first-line platinum regimens have a poor prognosis and few treatment options. Afatinib, an irreversible ERBB family blocker, has shown efficacy in a phase 2 study in this setting. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of afatinib compared with methotrexate as second-line treatment in patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC progressing on or after platinum-based therapy.

High MACC1 expression in combination with mutated KRAS G13 indicates poor survival of colorectal cancer patients.

Background: The metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) gene has been identified as prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we aimed at the refinement of risk assessment by separate and combined survival analyses of MACC1 expression with any of the markers KRAS mutated in codon 12 (KRAS G12) or codon 13 (KRAS G13), BRAF V600 mutation and MSI status in a retrospective study of 99 CRC patients with tumors UICC staged I, II and III.

Findings: We showed that only high MACC1 expression (HR: 6.

Prognostic and Predictive Value of the Peritoneal Cancer Index in Primary Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients After Complete Cytoreductive Surgery: Study of Tumor Bank Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose: The peritoneal cancer index (PCI) is used to refer gastrointestinal malignancy patients to either palliative or curative management of their peritoneal carcinomatosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the PCI in patients with primary advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) after complete cytoreductive surgery.

Methods: PCI quantitatively assesses cancer distribution on the peritoneum by calculating tumor sizes in each of 13 abdominopelvic regions.

Contribution of human papilloma virus to the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in a European population with high smoking prevalence.

Background: Increases in incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in countries with falling tobacco use have been attributed to a growing role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the carcinogenesis. Trends of HPV prevalence in populations with persistently high portions of smokers are poorly characterised.

Patients And Methods: Registry data from East Germany were used to determine incidence trends between 1998 and 2011.

The combinatorial complexity of cancer precision medicine.

Precision medicine approaches have recently been developed that offer therapies targeting mainly single genetic alterations in malignant tumors. However, next generation sequencing studies have shown that tumors normally harbor multiple genetic alterations, which could explain the so far limited successes of personalized medicine, despite considerable benefits in certain cases. Combination therapies may contribute to a solution, but will pose a major challenge for clinical trials evaluating those therapies.

Assessment of patient-derived tumour xenografts (PDXs) as a discovery tool for cancer epigenomics.

Background: The use of tumour xenografts is a well-established research tool in cancer genomics but has not yet been comprehensively evaluated for cancer epigenomics.

Methods: In this study, we assessed the suitability of patient-derived tumour xenografts (PDXs) for methylome analysis using Infinium 450 K Beadchips and MeDIP-seq.

Results: Controlled for confounding host (mouse) sequences, comparison of primary PDXs and matching patient tumours in a rare (osteosarcoma) and common (colon) cancer revealed that an average 2.

Circulating Metastasis Associated in Colon Cancer 1 transcripts in gastric cancer patient plasma as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating Metastasis Associated in Colon Cancer 1 (MACC1) transcripts in plasma of gastric cancer patients.

Methods: We provide for the first time a blood-based assay for transcript quantification of the metastasis inducer MACC1 in a prospective study of gastric cancer patient plasma. MACC1 is a strong prognostic biomarker for tumor progression and metastasis in a variety of solid cancers.

TEMHEAD: a single-arm multicentre phase II study of temsirolimus in platin- and cetuximab refractory recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) of the German SCCHN Group (AIO).

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a common disease, which has a poor prognosis after failure of therapy. Activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR axis is commonly detected in recurrent or metastatic SCCHN, and provided the rationale for the clinical phase II trial in pretreated SCCHN.

Patients And Methods: The primary end point was the progression-free survival rate (PFR) at 12 weeks.

The bioimpedance phase angle predicts low muscle strength, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality in old patients with cancer.

Objectives: We investigated the impact of low phase angle (PhA) values on muscle strength, quality of life, symptom severity, and 1-year mortality in older cancer patients.

Design: Prospective study with 1-year follow-up.

Participants: Cancer patients aged >60 years.

First-line nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer from routine clinical practice.

Background: The combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine is a new effective first-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. This was demonstrated in the phase III MPACT trial.

Patients And Methods: Four patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer from our clinical practice received combination chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel at doses from 100 to 125 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine at doses from 800 to 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle.

The efficacy of short-term psycho-oncological interventions for women with gynaecological cancer: a randomized study.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the efficacy of two psycho-oncological interventions in anxiety, depression, and self-perceived as well as physiological stress in inpatients with gynaecological cancer.

Methods: Forty-five women were included in the trial. Thirty-five were categorized as being at high risk of anxiety and depression, and were randomized to either a single psycho-oncological therapy session or a single-session relaxation intervention.

Circulating tumour cells as tumour biomarkers in melanoma: detection methods and clinical relevance.

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cells of solid tumour origin detectable in the peripheral blood. Their occurrence is considered a prerequisite step for establishing distant metastases. Metastatic melanoma was the first malignancy in which CTCs were detected and numerous studies have been published on CTC detection in melanoma at various stages of disease.

Preclinical study on combined chemo- and nonviral gene therapy for sensitization of melanoma using a human TNF-alpha expressing MIDGE DNA vector.

Nonviral gene therapy represents a realistic option for clinical application in cancer treatment. This preclinical study demonstrates the advantage of using the small-size MIDGE(®) DNA vector for improved transgene expression and therapeutic application. This is caused by significant increase in transcription efficiency, but not by increased intracellular vector copy numbers or gene transfer efficiency.

Quality of life in oncology.

Continuous improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer lead to improved cure rates and longer survival. However, in many patients, the disease becomes chronic. In this context, the patients' quality of life (QOL) becomes a crucial issue.