Survey on paediatric tumour boards in Europe: current situation and results from the ExPo-r-Net project

Abstract

Background

Under the ExPO-r-NeT project (European Expert Paediatric Oncology Reference Network for Diagnostics and Treatment), we aimed to identify paediatric oncology tumour boards in Europe to investigate the kind of technologies and logistics that are in place in different countries and to explore current differences between regions.

Methods

A 20-question survey regarding several features of tumor boards was designed. Data collected included infrastructure, organization, and clinical decision-making information from the centres. The survey was distributed to the National Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Societies that forwarded the survey to the sites. For comparative analysis, respondents were grouped into four geographical regions.

Results

The questionnaire was distributed amongst 30 countries. Response was obtained from 23 (77%) that altogether have 212 paediatric oncology treating centres. A total of 121 institutions answered (57%). Ninety-one percent of the centres hold multidisciplinary boards; however, international second consultations are performed in 36% and only 15% participate on virtual tumor boards. Videoconferencing facilities and standard operational procedures (SOPs) are available in 49 and 43% of the centres, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between European regions concerning meeting infrastructure and organization/logistics: specific room, projecting equipment, access to medical records, videoconferencing facilities, and existence of SOPs.

Conclusion

Paediatric tumor boards are a common feature in Europe. To reduce inequalities and have equal access to healthcare, a virtual network is needed. Important differences on the functioning and access to technology between regions in Europe have been observed and need to be addressed.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2AFz92G

Perspective on immune oncology with liquid biopsy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and microbiome with non-invasive biomarkers in cancer patients

Abstract

Antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) play a key role in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. To examine the clinical benefits of these agents, preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted to identify definitive biomarkers associated with cancer status. Analysis of the blood and feces of tumor patients has attracted attention in recent studies attempting to identify non-invasive biomarkers such as cytokines, soluble PD-L1, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and gut microbiota. These factors are believed to interact with each other to produce synergistic effects and contribute to the formation of the tumor immune microenvironment through the seven steps of the cancer immunity cycle. The immunogram was first introduced as a novel indicator to define the immunity status of cancer patients. In this review, we discuss the progress in the identification of predictive biomarkers as well as future prospects for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2CRgjLL

The Michel Benoist and Robert Mulholland yearly European Spine Journal Review: a survey of the “surgical and research” articles in the European Spine Journal, 2017

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2m5WF3s

Satisfaction and convenience of using terpenoid-impregnated eyelid wipes and teaching method in people without blepharitis

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2COOnaC

Iris pigmented lesions as a marker of cutaneous melanoma risk: an Australian case-control study

Abstract

Background

Iris naevi and iris freckles have a frequency of 4% and 50% in the European population. They are associated with dysplastic naevi, but few studies examine their link to cutaneous melanoma.

Objectives

To assess whether iris pigmented lesions are a predictive indicator for cutaneous melanoma.

Methods

This is a melanoma case-control study of 1254 European-background Australians. Sun exposure and melanoma history, a saliva sample for DNA analysis, and eye photographs taken with a digital camera were collected from 1117 participants. Iris images were assessed by up to four trained observers for the number of iris pigmented lesions. The data was analysed for correlations between iris pigmented lesions and melanoma history.

Results

Cases over the age of 40 had similar numbers of iris pigmented lesions to age matched controls (mean 5.7 vs 5.2, P=0.02), but younger cases and controls had a greater difference (mean 3.96 vs 2.19, P=0.004). A logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, skin, hair and eye colour, skin freckling and naevus count found that the presence of three or more iris pigmented lesions increases the melanoma risk 1.45-fold (CI 95% 1.07-1.95). HERC2/OCA2 rs12913832 and IRF4 rs12203592 influenced both eye colour and the number of iris pigmented lesions. On the HERC2/OCA2 A/A and A/G genotype background there was an increasing proportion of blue eye colour when carrying the IRF4 T allele (P=3x10^-4) and a higher number of iris pigmented lesions with the IRF4 T/T homozygote (P=3x10^-9).

Conclusions

Iris pigmented lesions count provides additional predictive information for melanoma risk above that from conventional risk factors.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2D6rGfD

GSE99808 Transient activation of tumor-associated macrophages boosts anti-tumor immunity

Contributors : Sabine Hoves ; Chia-Huey Ooi
Series Type : Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing
Organism : Mus musculus

Depletion of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) or reprogramming towards a pro-inflammatory activation state represent different strategies to therapeutically target this frequent myeloid population. Here we report that inhibition of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) signaling sensitizes TAM to profound reprogramming in the presence of a CD40 agonist prior to their depletion. Despite the short-lived nature of macrophage hyperactivation, combined CSF-1R/CD40 stimulation of macrophages is sufficient to trigger a productive and durable T cell response in various mouse cancer models. The central role of macrophages in regulating T cell-dependent tumor rejections was substantiated by depletion experiments and transcriptomic analysis of ex vivo sorted TAM. Since CD40 expression on human TAM varies between different tumor types, co-expression of human CSF-1R and CD40 in colorectal adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma can serve as criteria to select these tumor types for clinical development

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2CCSAuG

Das Sprechen im Rundfunk als interaktive Montage verschiedener Ressourcen

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2nVvwo9