Non-invasive optoacoustic imaging of glycogen-storage and muscle degeneration in late-onset Pompe disease.

Pompe disease (PD) is a rare autosomal recessive glycogen storage disorder that causes proximal muscle weakness and loss of respiratory function. While enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is the only effective treatment, biomarkers for disease monitoring are scarce. Following ex vivo biomarker validation in phantom studies, we apply multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT), a laser- and ultrasound-based non-invasive imaging approach, in a clinical trial (NCT05083806) to image the biceps muscles of 10 late-onset PD (LOPD) patients and 10 matched healthy controls.

High-load nanoparticles with a chemotherapeutic SN-38/FdUMP drug cocktail.

[Gd(OH)][(SN-38)(FdUMP)] inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles (IOH-NPs) with a chemotherapeutic cocktail of ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38, active form of irinotecan) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-phosphate (FdUMP, active form of 5'-fluoruracil), 40 nm in size, are prepared in water. The IOH-NPs contain a total drug load of 63 wt% with 33 wt% of SN-38 and 30 wt% of FdUMP. Cell-based assays show efficient cellular uptake and promising anti-tumour activity on two pancreatic cancer cell lines of murine origin (KPC, Panc02).

Label-free quantification of imaging features in the extracellular matrix of left and right-sided colon cancer tissues.

The molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is known to differ between the right and left side of the colon. Several previous studies have focussed on the differences in clinicopathological features, proteomic and genetic biomarkers, the composition of gut microbiota, response to therapy, and the characteristics of the tumour microenvironment. However, the morphology and density of collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) have not been studied intensively.

Modified risk-stratified sequential treatment (subcutaneous rituximab with or without chemotherapy) in B-cell Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after Solid organ transplantation (SOT): the prospective multicentre phase II PTLD-2 trial.

The prospective multicentre Phase II PTLD-2 trial (NCT02042391) tested modified risk-stratification in adult SOT recipients with CD20-positive PTLD based on principles established in the PTLD-1 trials: sequential treatment and risk-stratification. After rituximab monotherapy induction, patients in complete remission as well as those in partial remission with IPI < 3 at diagnosis (low-risk) continued with rituximab monotherapy and thus chemotherapy free. Most others (high-risk) received R-CHOP-21.

Simultaneous assessment of lung morphology and respiratory motion in retrospectively gated in-vivo microCT of free breathing anesthetized mice.

Retrospective gating (RG) is a well established technique in preclinical computed tomography (CT) to assess 3D morphology of the lung. In RG additional angular projections are recorded typically by performing multiple rotations. Consequently, the projections are sorted according to the expansion state of the chest and those sets are then reconstructed separately.

A multimodal imaging workflow for monitoring CAR T cell therapy against solid tumor from whole-body to single-cell level.

CAR T cell research in solid tumors often lacks spatiotemporal information and therefore, there is a need for a molecular tomography to facilitate high-throughput preclinical monitoring of CAR T cells. Furthermore, a gap exists between macro- and microlevel imaging data to better assess intratumor infiltration of therapeutic cells. We addressed this challenge by combining 3D µComputer tomography bioluminescence tomography (µCT/BLT), light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and cyclic immunofluorescence (IF) staining.

Non-Invasive Optical Motion Tracking Allows Monitoring of Respiratory Dynamics in Dystrophin-Deficient Mice.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common x-chromosomal inherited dystrophinopathy which leads to progressive muscle weakness and a premature death due to cardiorespiratory dysfunction. The mouse lacks functional dystrophin protein and has a comparatively human-like diaphragm phenotype. To date, diaphragm function can only be inadequately mapped in preclinical studies and a simple reliable translatable method of tracking the severity of the disease still lacks.

Decreased PRC2 activity supports the survival of basal-like breast cancer cells to cytotoxic treatments.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer occurring in women but also rarely develops in men. Recent advances in early diagnosis and development of targeted therapies have greatly improved the survival rate of BC patients. However, the basal-like BC subtype (BLBC), largely overlapping with the triple-negative BC subtype (TNBC), lacks such drug targets and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies often remain the only treatment option.

The tumor patient in the COVID-19 pandemic-an interview-based study of 30 patients undergoing systemic antiproliferative therapy.

Introduction: Five months after COVID-19 first occurred and protective regulations were introduced, patients at three outpatient hematological/oncological centers in Bavaria who had received antiproliferative tumor therapy (n = 30) were questioned about the pandemic's impact.

Patients, Materials And Methods: In recorded semi-structured telephone interviews, the patients answered questions about their quality of life, treatment procedures, their relationship with medical care staff and modern communication technologies. Each interview consisted of 28 questions.

A phase 3, randomized study of ofatumumab combined with bendamustine in rituximab-refractory iNHL (COMPLEMENT A + B study).

The standard of care for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) is rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, with/without chemotherapy. However, multiple relapses are common in these patients. This phase 3, randomized study compared outcomes of a combination of ofatumumab (a second-generation anti-CD20 antibody) and bendamustine, with bendamustine alone in patients unresponsive to prior rituximab-based treatment.

Use of symptom-focused oncological cancer therapies in hospices: a retrospective analysis.

Background: There is controversy regarding the practical implementation of symptom-focused oncological cancer therapies to hospice residents. In this study, we aim to analyse the use and indication of supportive-oncological cancer therapies in hospices.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective survey of all residents of two hospice centres in the government district of Lower Bavaria, Germany.

Treatment of invasive fungal diseases in cancer patients-Revised 2019 Recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Oncology (DGHO).

Background: Invasive fungal diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients undergoing intensive cytotoxic therapy. The choice of the most appropriate antifungal treatment (AFT) depends on the fungal species suspected or identified, the patient's risk factors (eg length and depth of granulocytopenia) and the expected side effects.

Objectives: Since the last edition of recommendations for 'Treatment of invasive fungal infections in cancer patients' of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) in 2013, treatment strategies were gradually moving away from solely empirical therapy of presumed or possible invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) towards pre-emptive therapy of probable IFD.

X-ray based virtual histology allows guided sectioning of heavy ion stained murine lungs for histological analysis.

Examination of histological or immunohistochemically stained 2D sections of embedded tissue is one of the most frequently used tools in biomedical research and clinical routine. Since to date, targeted sectioning of specific regions of interest (ROI) in the sample is not possible, we aimed at developing a guided sectioning approach based on x-ray 3D virtual histology for heavy ion stained murine lung samples. For this purpose, we increased the contrast to noise ratio of a standard benchtop microCT by 5-10-fold using free-propagation phase contrast imaging and thus substantially improved image quality.

Primary prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in patients with haematological malignancies: 2017 update of the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO).

Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFI), in particular those with haematological malignancies undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). Despite the development of new treatment options in the past decades, IFI remains a concern due to substantial morbidity and mortality in these patient populations. In addition, the increasing use of new immune modulating drugs in cancer therapy has opened an entirely new spectrum of at risk periods.

μCT of ex-vivo stained mouse hearts and embryos enables a precise match between 3D virtual histology, classical histology and immunochemistry.

The small size of the adult and developing mouse heart poses a great challenge for imaging in preclinical research. The aim of the study was to establish a phosphotungstic acid (PTA) ex-vivo staining approach that efficiently enhances the x-ray attenuation of soft-tissue to allow high resolution 3D visualization of mouse hearts by synchrotron radiation based μCT (SRμCT) and classical μCT. We demonstrate that SRμCT of PTA stained mouse hearts ex-vivo allows imaging of the cardiac atrium, ventricles, myocardium especially its fibre structure and vessel walls in great detail and furthermore enables the depiction of growth and anatomical changes during distinct developmental stages of hearts in mouse embryos.