Detection of thrombosis in microvessels with indocyanine green videoangiography.

Atherosclerosis is a systemic condition that is responsible for many diseases, and becomes a problem in cases where plaques form at several sites. The formation of a thrombotic embolus may jeopardise vascular operations, including microvascular anastomoses in replantation procedures or free tissue transfers. A mobile imaging tool for the detection of thrombosis preoperatively or intraoperatively would be valuable.

The Light Chain IgLV3-21 Defines a New Poor Prognostic Subgroup in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results of a Multicenter Study.

Unmutated (UM) immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgHV) status or IgHV3-21 gene usage is associated with poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Interestingly, IgHV3-21 is often co-expressed with light chain IgLV3-21, which is potentially able to trigger cell-autonomous BCR-mediated signaling. However, this light chain has never been characterized independently of the heavy chain IgHV3-21.

Sustained efficacy and detailed clinical follow-up of first-line ibrutinib treatment in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: extended phase 3 results from RESONATE-2.

Results of RESONATE-2 (PCYC-1115/1116) supported approval of ibrutinib for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Extended analysis of RESONATE-2 was conducted to determine long-term efficacy and safety of ibrutinib in older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A total of 269 patients aged ≥65 years with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia without del(17p) were randomized 1:1 to ibrutinib (n=136) or chlorambucil (n=133) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle for 12 cycles.

Evaluation of 230 patients with relapsed/refractory deletion 17p chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with ibrutinib from 3 clinical trials.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with deletion 17p [del(17p)] have poor outcomes with chemoimmunotherapy. Ibrutinib is indicated for the treatment of CLL/SLL, including del(17p) CLL/SLL, and allows for treatment without chemotherapy. This integrated analysis was performed to evaluate outcomes in 230 patients with relapsed/refractory del(17p) CLL/SLL from three ibrutinib studies.

Clinical-grade validation of whole genome sequencing reveals robust detection of low-frequency variants and copy number alterations in CLL.

The 100 000 Genome Project aims to develop a diagnostics platform by introducing whole genome sequencing (WGS) into clinical practice. Samples from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were subjected to WGS. WGS detection of single nucleotide variants and insertion/deletions were validated by targeted next generation sequencing showing high concordance (96·3%), also for detection of sub-clonal variants and low-frequency TP53 variants.

An increased fraction of circulating miR-363 and miR-16 is particle bound in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia as compared to normal subjects.

Objectives: In vitro culture studies have shown that miR-363 is enriched in extracellular vesicles from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells. We wondered whether miR-363 was detectable in plasma, which is an essential precondition for further studies to assess its usefulness as a biomarker. Using samples from two clinical trials: one enrolling patients with advanced disease and the other asymptomatic patients with early stage disease, we determined plasma miR-363 levels and secondly investigated the distribution of this miRNA between plasma and particle bound fractions in patients and normal subjects.

Improving quality of life through the routine use of the patient concerns inventory for head and neck cancer patients: a cluster preference randomized controlled trial.

Background: The consequences of treatment for Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients has profound detrimental impacts such as impaired QOL, emotional distress, delayed recovery and frequent use of healthcare. The aim of this trial is to determine if the routine use of the Patients Concerns Inventory (PCI) package in review clinics during the first year following treatment can improve overall quality of life, reduce the social-emotional impact of cancer and reduce levels of distress. Furthermore, we aim to describe the economic costs and benefits of using the PCI.

SYSTEMS-2: A randomised phase II study of radiotherapy dose escalation for pain control in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

SYSTEMS-2 is a randomised study of radiotherapy dose escalation for pain control in 112 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Standard palliative (20 Gy/5#) or dose escalated treatment (36 Gy/6#) will be delivered using advanced radiotherapy techniques and pain responses will be compared at week 5. Data will guide optimal palliative radiotherapy in MPM.

Early experience of a nurse-led clinic in a tertiary centre.

A busy head and neck or oral and maxillofacial (OMFS) National Health Service (NHS) clinic treats patients with many different conditions. A large proportion will have cancer of the head and neck, and they will be at different stages of their treatment. Their clinical needs may be different from a larger group of patients who have been referred through the "two-week wait" referral pathway, and who are present in the same clinic for their biopsy results.

Current thinking about the management of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid: a structured review.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common tumour of the parotid gland, and can recur after excision. Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma can be a challenge to treat, and has variable outcomes. The aim of this review was to summarise current thinking in its management, which may be helpful to clinical teams and could improve patients' health-related quality of life.

Prognostic Factors for Complete Response to Ibrutinib in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Pooled Analysis of 2 Clinical Trials.

Importance: Ibrutinib, a first-in-class Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor taken once daily, is approved in the United States for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and allows for treatment without chemotherapy. Extended treatment with ibrutinib has demonstrated increased complete response (CR) rates over time.

Objective: To analyze baseline factors that predict CR in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma treated with ibrutinib.

Genomic analysis to assess disease progression and recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: - a preliminary study.

We studied the progression from dysplasia to invasive carcinoma and subsequent second primaries or locoregional recurrences in 11 patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Between one and six samples were sequenced/patient. DNA samples were prepared, and libraries multiplexed to between 40 and 80 samples/lane of an Illumina HiSeq 3000 and sequenced with 2×100bp paired end sequencing.

Structured review of the patient-reported outcome instruments used in clinical trials in head and neck surgery.

The number of clinical trials that relate to patients with cancer of the head and neck is growing. Patient-reported outcomes, which are rarely the primary outcome, are now an important component, and in this structured review to identify and report the characteristics of the questionnaires that have been used in these trials, we summarise the findings reported. We searched several online databases using the key terms: head and neck oncology, head and neck surgery, reconstruction, clinical trials patient-reported outcomes, questionnaires, quality of life (QoL), validated instruments, and patients' satisfaction.

Optimising outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia on ibrutinib therapy: European recommendations for clinical practice.

Ibrutinib is indicated in Europe for the treatment of several B-cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). However, despite the high efficacy and favourable toxicity profile of ibrutinib, recent data suggest that it is not always administered optimally in clinical practice, with an increased tendency for dose reduction and a higher frequency of discontinuation. An expert panel of European haematologists was convened to identify practical issues pertinent to physicians involved in the therapeutic management of ibrutinib-treated CLL patients and here we outline the findings.

Review of HaNDLE-on-QoL: a database of published papers that use questionnaires to report quality of life in patients with cancer of the head and neck.

HaNDLE-on-QoL (Head And Neck Database Listing Evidence on QoL) is a searchable database that comprises abstracts of papers that have used questionnaires to report on quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer of the head and neck. It can be searched by title, first author, year of publication, words used in the abstract, site of cancer, study design, and questionnaires used. The aim of this paper was to summarise its contents.

Effect of MAF amplification on treatment outcomes with adjuvant zoledronic acid in early breast cancer: a secondary analysis of the international, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 AZURE (BIG 01/04) trial.

Background: Adjuvant use of bisphosphonates can reduce the incidence of bone metastases in early breast cancer. Recurrence and survival seem to be improved only in postmenopausal patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated whether MAF amplification (a biomarker for bone metastasis) in primary tumours could predict the treatment outcomes of adjuvant zoledronic acid.