Human Omental Mature Adipocytes used as Paclitaxel Reservoir for Cell-Based Therapy in Ovarian Cancer.

Primary human omental adipocytes and ovarian cancer(OC) cells establish a bidirectional communication in which tumor driven lipolysis is induced in adipocytes and the resulting fatty acids are delivered to cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment. Despite meaningful improvement in the treatment of OC, its efficacy is still limited by hydrophobicity and untargeted effects related to chemotherapeutics. Herein, omental adipocytes are firstly used as a reservoir for paclitaxel, named Living Paclitaxel Bullets (LPB) and secondly benefit from the established dialogue between adipocytes and cancer cells to engineer a drug delivery process that target specifically cancer cells.

Heterozygous loss-of-function SMC3 variants are associated with variable growth and developmental features.

Heterozygous missense variants and in-frame indels in SMC3 are a cause of Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), marked by intellectual disability, growth deficiency, and dysmorphism, via an apparent dominant-negative mechanism. However, the spectrum of manifestations associated with SMC3 loss-of-function variants has not been reported, leading to hypotheses of alternative phenotypes or even developmental lethality. We used matchmaking servers, patient registries, and other resources to identify individuals with heterozygous, predicted loss-of-function (pLoF) variants in SMC3, and analyzed population databases to characterize mutational intolerance in this gene.

Electrochemotherapy combined with immunotherapy - a promising potential in the treatment of cancer.

Electrochemotherapy is a novel, locoregional therapy that is used to treat cutaneous and deep-seated tumors. The electric pulses used in electrochemotherapy increase the permeability of the cell membranes of the target lesion and thus enhance the delivery of low-permeant cytotoxic drugs to the cells, leading to their death. It has also been postulated that electrochemotherapy acts as an vaccination by inducing immunogenic cell death.

Dietary intervention for tertiary prevention in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survivors: clinical and translational results of a randomized phase II trial.

Background: There is a strong need for preventive approaches to reduce the incidence of recurrence, second cancers, and late toxicities in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survivors. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess a dietary intervention as a non-expensive and non-toxic method of tertiary prevention in HNSCC survivors.

Methods: Eligible participants were disease-free patients with HNSCC in follow-up after curative treatments.

Mouse Melanoma Model in Tumor Vaccines and Immunotherapy Research.

Efficacy of novel cancer immunization protocols could be tested in cell line-derived xenograft tumor models (CDX), which are based on the implantation of human tumor cell lines into mice for the development of different tumors by numerous means, such as subcutaneous implantation and orthotopic, venial, or peritoneal injections. However, the disadvantages of this model are the biological alteration of the derived cells or the inability of the cell lines to accurately reflect the complexity of tumor heterogeneity. Therefore, syngeneic mouse models, which offer a relatively simple grafting technique, preservation of lineage hierarchy, and the ability to generate tumors in as little as 2-8 weeks, are being used to study potential future applications in medical treatment, particularly immunotherapies.

Imaging of Extravasation of Splenocytes in the Dorsal Skinfold Window Chamber.

Infiltration of immune cells into the tumor is one of the major drivers of antitumor immune response, which can direct the outcome of anticancer therapies. In mice, implantation of dorsal skinfold window chamber (DSWC) combined with intravital confocal fluorescence microscopy allows real-time observation of splenocyte extravasation and infiltration into tumors. Here, we describe a detailed procedure of the DSWC implantation, splenocyte isolation and fluorescent labeling, intravenous injection of labeled splenocytes, and imaging of splenocyte extravasation into tumors using confocal fluorescence microscopy.

Partial-Volume Irradiation of Murine Tumors.

Radiotherapy is a widely used approach for cancer treatment. However, delivering a single high dose of radiation to bulky tumors can be challenging due to the toxicities induced in the surrounding healthy tissue. To overcome this issue, a nonuniform high dose can be delivered using partial-volume tumor irradiation or spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT).

In Vivo Wound Healing Model for Characterization of Gene Electrotransfer Effects in Mouse Skin.

Wound healing is a complex biological response to injury characterized by a sequence of interdependent and overlapping physiological actions. To study wound healing and cutaneous regeneration processes, the complexity of wound healing requires the use of animal models. In this chapter, we describe the protocol to generate skin wounds in a mouse model.

Preclinical Mouse Metastatic Model Established Through Induced Lung Metastases.

Metastatic disease is the major cause of cancer death, and the lung is one of the most common sites of cancer metastases. To investigate systemic antitumor effects or protective potential of local therapies, mouse models with induced metastases are indispensable in preclinical cancer research. Here, we describe the protocol for the metastatic mouse model established through induced 4T1 mammary carcinoma metastases.

Unmet needs in EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in Central and Eastern Europe: reimbursement, diagnostic procedures, and treatment availability.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85% of cases. NSCLC is a heterogeneous disease encompassing various oncogenic alterations. Among them, EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, constituting 0.

vOARiability: Interobserver and intermodality variability analysis in OAR contouring from head and neck CT and MR images.

Background: Accurate and consistent contouring of organs-at-risk (OARs) from medical images is a key step of radiotherapy (RT) cancer treatment planning. Most contouring approaches rely on computed tomography (CT) images, but the integration of complementary magnetic resonance (MR) modality is highly recommended, especially from the perspective of OAR contouring, synthetic CT and MR image generation for MR-only RT, and MR-guided RT. Although MR has been recognized as valuable for contouring OARs in the head and neck (HaN) region, the accuracy and consistency of the resulting contours have not been yet objectively evaluated.

Serum Calretinin and Genetic Variability as a Prognostic and Predictive Factor in Malignant Mesothelioma.

Calretinin is a promising diagnostic biomarker for malignant mesothelioma (MM), but less is known about its prognostic role. Our aim was to evaluate the association between serum calretinin concentration or genetic factors and the survival or outcome of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in MM. Our study included 265 MM patients.

Application of a 21-Gene Recurrence Score in a Swiss Single-Center Breast Cancer Population: A Comparative Analysis of Treatment Administration before and after TAILORx.

In patients with hormone receptor positive, human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HR+/HER2-) negative breast cancer (BC), the TAILORx study showed the benefit of adding chemotherapy (CHT) to endocrine therapy (ET) in a subgroup of patients under 50 years with an intermediate Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS 11-25). The aim of the present study was to determine if the TAILORx findings, including the changes in the RS categories, impacted CHT use in the intermediate RS (11-25) group in daily practice, as well as to identify the main factors for CHT decisions. We conducted a retrospective study on 326 BC patients (59% node-negative), of which 165 had a BC diagnosis before TAILORx (Cohort A) and 161 after TAILORx publication (Cohort B).

Copper nitroprusside: An innovative approach for targeted cancer therapy via ROS modulation.

The clinical application of nanomaterials for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), which generate multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS), presents significant challenges. These challenges arise due to insufficient levels of endogenous hydrogen peroxide and catalytic ions necessary to initiate Fenton reactions. As a result, sophisticated additional delivery systems are required.

Cognitive functioning is prognostic in patients with IDH1-wild type and MGMT-unmethylated high-grade gliomas.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic factors of survival in patients with high-grade gliomas without isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation.

Methods: The study enrolled Slovenian patients with high-grade gliomas. Postoperatively, they completed a battery of neuropsychological tests.

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Among Slovenian Breast Cancer Survivors Post-Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although anxiety and depression are important determinants of mental health, the literature in this area is sparse as most studies focus on the period during treatment. Mental health problems can affect cancer recovery as well as quality of life and survival. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Slovenian cancer survivors after treatment and assessed the associated correlates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atezolizumab monotherapy versus chemotherapy in untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (IMvigor130): final overall survival analysis from a randomised, controlled, phase 3 study.

Background: The primary analysis of IMvigor130 showed a significant progression-free survival benefit with first-line atezolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy (group A) versus placebo plus platinum-based chemotherapy (group C) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. However, this finding did not translate into significant overall survival benefit for group A versus group C at the final analysis, precluding formal statistical testing of outcomes with atezolizumab monotherapy (group B) versus group C. Here we report the final overall survival results for group B versus group C; this report is descriptive and should be considered exploratory due to the study's statistical design.

On dosimetric characteristics of detectors for relative dosimetry in small fields: a multicenter experimental study.

. In this multicentric collaborative study, we aimed to verify whether the selected radiation detectors satisfy the requirements of TRS-483 Code of Practice for relative small field dosimetry in megavoltage photon beams used in radiotherapy, by investigating four dosimetric characteristics. Furthermore, we intended to analyze and complement the recommendations given in TRS-483.

The association of genetic factors with serum calretinin levels in asbestos-related diseases.

Background: Asbestos exposure is associated with different asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma (MM). MM diagnosis is confirmed with immunohistochemical analysis of several markers, including calretinin. Increased circulating calretinin was also observed in MM.

Imaging microvascular changes in nonocular oncological clinical applications by optical coherence tomography angiography: a literature review.

Background: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an emerging imaging modality that enables noninvasive visualization and analysis of tumor vasculature. OCTA has been particularly useful in clinical ocular oncology, while in this article, we evaluated OCTA in assessing microvascular changes in clinical nonocular oncology through a systematic review of the literature.

Method: The inclusion criterion for the literature search in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus electronic databases was the use of OCTA in nonocular clinical oncology, meaning that all ocular clinical studies and all ocular and nonocular animal, phantom, ex vivo, experimental, research and development, and purely methodological studies were excluded.

Phase angle as a prognostic indicator of surgical outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: In patients with gastrointestinal cancer with planned elective surgery, malnutrition increases the risk of adverse outcomes in the postoperative period. The phase angle, measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis is an indicator of the metabolic and functional status of the patient. It may be an important prognostic indicator for the clinical outcome of post-surgical treatment in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

The prognostic significance of tumor-immune microenvironment in ascites of patients with high-grade serous carcinoma.

Background: High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is often associated with ascites at presentation. Our objective was to quantify immune cells (ICs) in ascites prior to any treatment was given and evaluate their impact on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Patients And Methods: Forty-seven patients with primary HGSC and ascites were included.

Post-radiation xerostomia therapy with allogeneic mesenchymal stromal stem cells in patients with head and neck cancer: study protocol for phase I clinical trial.

Background: Xerostomia is a common side effect of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck tumors that negatively affects quality of life. There is no known effective standard treatment for xerostomia. Here, we present the study protocol used to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSCs) derived from umbilical cord tissue.