Rare Cancer News & Clinical Trials » Endocrine/Neuroendocrine

Endocrine/Neuroendocrine (330 unread)

1 2 3 ... 5

Comparative effectiveness of avelumab versus chemotherapy in Merkel cell carcinoma: innovative use of patient insights.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Comparative effectiveness of avelumab versus chemotherapy in Merkel cell carcinoma: innovative use of patient insights.

J Comp Eff Res. 2018 Aug 15;:

Authors: Bharmal M, Marrel A, Hennessy M, Fofana F, Lambert J, Arnould B

Abstract
AIM: To assess patient experience with chemotherapy and avelumab in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC).
METHODS: In the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial, chemotherapy-refractory mMCC patients could participate in optional qualitative interviews at baseline documenting recollection of previous chemotherapy experience, and at weeks 13/25 documenting current experience with avelumab. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy subscale for melanoma questionnaire (FACT-M) was administered in parallel.
RESULTS: In our sample, chemotherapy was associated with an unpleasant experience. On selected FACT-M items addressing chemotherapy-impacted concepts, most patients receiving avelumab were improved or stable; few worsened. In addition, a few patients spontaneously reported experiencing less toxicity with avelumab than experienced during previous chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION: This approach merging qualitative and quantitative data suggests that mMCC patients report a better experience with avelumab than with chemotherapy.

PMID: 30107762 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Management of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Management of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma.

Acta Oncol. 2018 Mar;57(3):320-323

Authors: Mendenhall WM, Morris CG, Kirwan JM, Amdur RJ, Shaw C, Dziegielewski PT

Abstract
PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of patients with previously untreated cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) managed with curative intent.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between December 1984 and August 2015, 59 patients with previously untreated cutaneous MCC were managed with curative intent with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (54 patients) or radiotherapy alone (5 patients) at the University of Florida. Primary sites included head and neck (45 patients), extremities (11 patients) and trunk (3 patients). Adjuvant chemotherapy was employed in 14 patients. Patients were staged according to the AJCC staging system: stage I, 25 patients; stage IIA, 7 patients; and, stage III, 27 patients. No patients had distant metastases. Median follow-up for all patients was 3.2 years (range, 0.3-20.9 years). Median follow-up for survivors was 6.7 years (range, 1.6-20.9 years).
RESULTS: The 5-year outcomes were as follows: local control, 91%; regional control, 79%; local-regional control, 77%; disease metastasis-free survival, 60%; cause-specific survival, 53%; and overall survival, 39%. The 5-year outcomes for patients with stage I-IIA versus stage-III disease were the following: local-regional control, 90% versus 57% (p = .0115); distant metastasis-free survival, 78% versus 36% (p = .0002); cause-specific survival, 68% versus 35% (p = .0050); and overall survival, 48% versus 27% (p = .0377). Local-regional recurrences occurred in 12 patients; no patients were successfully salvaged. Severe late complications were observed in four patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Although radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery results in a relatively high likelihood of local-regional control, the majority of recurrences are distant and approximately half of patients are cured. Patients with regional disease at diagnosis have significantly worse outcomes.

PMID: 28712323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Merkel cell carcinoma: new insights into pathogenesis.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel cell carcinoma: new insights into pathogenesis.

Eur J Dermatol. 2017 06 01;27(3):307-309

Authors: Curzio G, Paolini F, Cota C, Donati P, Di Mattia C, Mariani L, Migliano E, Venuti A

PMID: 28382918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Skin cancer management-updates on Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Skin cancer management-updates on Merkel cell carcinoma.

Ann Transl Med. 2018 Jul;6(14):282

Authors: Tai P, Au J

Abstract
There are many different types of skin tumors in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The natural course and treatment varies according to the histological type. This review summarizes clinical experience for treatment decision. Contemporary radiotherapy and systemic therapy are improving. Landmark studies for basal cell and Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) trigger further research and impetus for improving treatment outcome. Avelumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab appear to be promising for treatment of advanced MCCs and adjuvant trials are underway.

PMID: 30105232 [PubMed]

Real-world treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma treated with chemotherapy in the USA.

Fetched: August 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Real-world treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma treated with chemotherapy in the USA.

Future Oncol. 2017 Aug;13(19):1699-1710

Authors: Cowey CL, Mahnke L, Espirito J, Helwig C, Oksen D, Bharmal M

Abstract
AIM: This retrospective study of patients in the USA with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) aimed to assess patient responses to second-line and later (2L+) and first-line (1L) chemotherapy.
PATIENTS & METHODS: Out of 686 patients with MCC identified in The US Oncology Network, 20 and 67 patients with mMCC qualified for the 2L+ and 1L study, respectively; the primary analysis population was restricted to immunocompetent patients.
RESULTS: In the 2L+ primary analysis population, objective response rate (ORR) was 28.6%, median duration of response (DOR) was 1.7 months and median progression-free survival was 2.2 months. In the 1L primary analysis population, ORR was 29.4%, median DOR was 6.7 months and median progression-free survival was 4.6 months.
CONCLUSION: The low ORR and brief DOR underscore the need for novel therapies.

PMID: 28605939 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Importance of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: August 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Importance of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

J Oncol Pract. 2016 07;12(7):647-8

Authors: Angeles CV, Wong SL

PMID: 27407161 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Phase I, open-label study of pasireotide in patients with BRAF-wild type and NRAS-wild type, unresectable and/or metastatic melanoma.'

Phase I, open-label study of pasireotide in patients with BRAF-wild type and NRAS-wild type, unresectable and/or metastatic melanoma.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Phase I, open-label study of pasireotide in patients with BRAF-wild type and NRAS-wild type, unresectable and/or metastatic melanoma.

ESMO Open. 2018;3(5):e000388

Authors: Dummer R, Michielin O, Nägeli MC, M Goldinger S, Campigotto F, Kriemler-Krahn U, Schmid H, Pedroncelli A, Micaletto S, Schadendorf D

Abstract
Introduction: Somatostatin analogues exert antitumour activity via direct and indirect mechanisms. The present study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of pasireotide in patients with BRAF-wild type (WT) and NRAS-WT metastatic melanoma.
Patients and methods: Patients with unresectable and/or metastatic melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma were eligible. Pasireotide was administered at different doses for ≤8 weeks in dose-escalation phase, followed by long-acting pasireotide 80 mg or lower dose in case of toxicity in follow-up phase up to six additional months. Primary endpoint was safety in the first 8 weeks of dose-escalation phase.
Results: The study was terminated early due to slow recruitment. Of the 10 patients with metastatic melanoma enrolled, only four reached the high dose level: two patients reached 3600 µg in dose-escalation and follow-up phases and two patients reached 3600 µg in dose-escalation and long-acting pasireotide 80 mg in follow-up phases and were stable for >5 months. Most common adverse events (AEs) during dose-escalation phase in ≥2 patients (20%) were: diarrhoea (50%), nausea (50%), fatigue (20%), hyperglycaemia (20%), hypophosphatemia (20%), chills (20%) and tumour pain (20%). Grade 3 or 4 study drug-related AEs were diarrhoea and nausea, reported in one patient. Partial response was documented in one patient and stable disease in another.
Conclusions: Pasireotide was well tolerated, and safety results were similar to those previously reported in other indications. Further studies are needed to evaluate its antitumour activity alone and in combination with other drugs in melanoma.

PMID: 30094073 [PubMed]

Permalink for 'Intratumoral G100, a TLR4 agonist, induces anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.'

Intratumoral G100, a TLR4 agonist, induces anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Intratumoral G100, a TLR4 agonist, induces anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Aug 09;:

Authors: Bhatia S, Miller NJ, Lu H, Vandeven NV, Ibrani D, Shinohara M, Byrd D, Parvathaneni U, Kulikauskas RM, Ter Meulen J, Hsu FJ, Koelle DM, Nghiem P

Abstract
PURPOSE: G100 is a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist that triggers innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical models. This pilot study assessed the safety, efficacy, and immunologic activity of intratumoral (IT) administration of G100 in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients with loco-regional MCC (n=3; Cohort A) received neoadjuvant IT G100 (2 weekly doses at 5 μg/dose) followed by surgery and radiotherapy; patients with metastatic MCC (n=7; Cohort B) received 3 doses in a 6-week cycle and could receive additional cycles with/without radiotherapy.
RESULTS: IT G100 was safe and feasible in both neoadjuvant and metastatic settings. Treatment-related adverse events were mostly grade 1 or 2 injection site reactions. IT G100 led to increased inflammation in the injected tumors with infiltration of CD8+and CD4+T cells and activation of immune-related genes. These pro-inflammatory changes were associated with local tumor regression and appeared to promote systemic immunity. All 3 Cohort A patients successfully completed therapy; 2 patients remain recurrence-free at 44+ and 41+ months, including one with a pathologic complete response after G100 alone. In Cohort B, 2 patients achieved sustained partial responses, both lasting 33+ months after 2 cycles of therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: In this first-in-human study, IT G100 induced anti-tumor immune responses, demonstrated acceptable safety, and showed encouraging clinical activity.

PMID: 30093453 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Burden of Disease, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in Latin America.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Burden of Disease, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in Latin America.

J Glob Oncol. 2018 Jul;(4):1-11

Authors: Schmerling RA, Casas JG, Cinat G, Ospina FEG, Kassuga LEBP, Tlahuel JLM, Mazzuoccolo LD

PMID: 30085832 [PubMed - in process]

Permalink for 'INSM1 is More Sensitive and Interpretable than Conventional Immunohistochemical Stains Used to Diagnose Merkel Cell Carcinoma.'

INSM1 is More Sensitive and Interpretable than Conventional Immunohistochemical Stains Used to Diagnose Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

INSM1 is More Sensitive and Interpretable than Conventional Immunohistochemical Stains Used to Diagnose Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Am J Surg Pathol. 2018 Aug 04;:

Authors: Lilo MT, Chen Y, LeBlanc RE

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an extremely aggressive skin cancer that must be distinguished from other basaloid cutaneous neoplasms that have different treatments and prognoses. This is sometimes challenging in small shave specimens, crushed samples, lymph nodes, and core needle biopsies. Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) immunohistochemistry is a sensitive nuclear marker of neuroendocrine differentiation. INSM1 staining was performed on 56 MCC (47 primary tumors, 9 nodal metastases), 50 skin control cases that included basal cell carcinomas, basaloid squamous cell carcinomas, Bowen disease, sebaceous neoplasms, melanoma, and B-cell lymphomas, and 28 lymph node control cases that included metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, lymphomas, and adenocarcinomas. Percent of staining nuclei (0, <25%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75%, >75%) and intensity (weak, moderate, strong) were recorded for each sample. All 56 MCC expressed INSM1. By comparison, synaptophysin, CK20, and chromogranin were expressed in 96%, 92%, and 32% of MCC, respectively. While the 3 conventional markers showed significant variability in staining intensity and distribution, INSM1 stained >75% tumor nuclei in 89% of MCC and 50% to 75% of tumor nuclei in 11%. Staining intensity was strong in 85% and moderate in 15%. None of the 50 cutaneous basaloid non-MCC neoplasms in the control group stained with INSM1, and among the lymph node controls 5 of 5 neuroendocrine neoplasms expressed INSM1, confirming that INSM1 staining cannot distinguish MCC from metastatic extracutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. INSM1 holds promise as a neuroendocrine marker that can distinguish MCC from its mimickers in the skin and improve detection of sentinel lymph node metastases.

PMID: 30080705 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

18F-FDG PET/CT for Monitoring Response of Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Novel Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor Avelumab.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

18F-FDG PET/CT for Monitoring Response of Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Novel Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor Avelumab.

Clin Nucl Med. 2018 May;43(5):e142-e144

Authors: Eshghi N, Lundeen TF, MacKinnon L, Avery R, Kuo PH

Abstract
An 85-year-old man with stage IIIA Merkel cell carcinoma of the left arm was initially treated with local excision and axillary node dissection followed by radiation therapy. Eight months after surgery, whole-body FDG PET/CT demonstrated intensely hypermetabolic hepatic metastases and abdominal lymphadenopathy. Given his age and comorbidities, he was considered a poor candidate for chemotherapy, and therefore the novel programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitor avelumab was initiated. FDG PET/CT after 4 cycles showed complete resolution of hepatic and nodal metastases. Whole-body FDG PET/CT can be used for monitoring response of multisystem metastases from Merkel cell carcinoma to active immunotherapy.

PMID: 29538029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Insulinoma-associated 1: A novel nuclear marker in Merkel cell carcinoma (cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma).

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Insulinoma-associated 1: A novel nuclear marker in Merkel cell carcinoma (cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma).

J Cutan Pathol. 2018 Feb;45(2):129-135

Authors: Rush PS, Rosenbaum JN, Roy M, Baus RM, Bennett DD, Lloyd RV

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, clinically aggressive, cutaneous neuroendocrine (NE) neoplasm. As a tumor with small, round, blue cells, the histologic differential diagnosis for MCC can include melanoma, metastatic small cell carcinoma (SCC), nodular hematopoietic tumors, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), atypical variants of squamous carcinoma and the uncommon occurrence of primary cutaneous Ewing sarcoma. In cases with atypical histology or without the classic immunophenotype, the diagnosis can be challenging. Ultimately, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is essential to the definitive diagnosis of MCC and in difficult cases, the diagnosis may hinge entirely on the immunophenotype of the tumor cells. Insulinoma-associated 1 (INSM1) is a transcription factor expressed in tissues undergoing terminal NE differentiation. As a nuclear protein tied to both differentiation and the cell cycle, INSM1 may offer additional utility in comparison to traditional, cytoplasmic markers of NE differentiation.

PMID: 29148079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Systematic literature review of efficacy, safety and tolerability outcomes of chemotherapy regimens in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.'

Systematic literature review of efficacy, safety and tolerability outcomes of chemotherapy regimens in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Systematic literature review of efficacy, safety and tolerability outcomes of chemotherapy regimens in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Future Oncol. 2017 Jun;13(14):1263-1279

Authors: Nghiem P, Kaufman HL, Bharmal M, Mahnke L, Phatak H, Becker JC

Abstract
AIM: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine, cutaneous malignancy with poor prognosis once metastasized. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to assess clinical outcomes associated with chemotherapy regimens in metastatic MCC.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Embase®, MEDLINE®, MEDLINE®-In-Process and CENTRAL were searched for studies published in January 2016.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Overall, the literature on chemotherapy in patients with metastatic MCC is sparse, with most studies being case series/reports. Across all studies, response rates ranged from 20 to 61%, with higher response rates in first-line setting (53-61%) versus second-line setting (23-45%). Among responders, duration of response was short (≤8 months) in both first- and second-line settings. There is a need for novel agents that can induce durable responses in metastatic MCC.

PMID: 28350180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Resection Margins in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Is a 1-cm Margin Wide Enough?

Fetched: August 5th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Resection Margins in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Is a 1-cm Margin Wide Enough?

Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Aug 02;:

Authors: Perez MC, de Pinho FR, Holstein A, Oliver DE, Naqvi SMH, Kim Y, Messina JL, Burke E, Gonzalez RJ, Sarnaik AA, Cruse CW, Wuthrick EJ, Harrison LB, Sondak VK, Zager JS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Guidelines regarding specific resection margins for primary Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) are not well established. The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend 1- to 2-cm resection margins. This study aimed to determine the impact of margin width on local recurrence (LR), disease-specific survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), and type of wound closure.
METHODS: All patients who underwent resection of primary MCC at a single institution from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed. Patient demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were reviewed.
RESULTS: A total of 240 patients underwent resection of primary MCC with resection margin width identified in the operative report. The median age was 76 years, and 65.8% of the patients were men. Of the 240 patients, 85 (35.4%) had head and neck primaries, 140 (58.3%) had extremity primaries, and 15 (6.3%) had trunk primaries. In terms of margins, 69 patients (28.8%) had a margin of 1 cm, 36 patients (15%) had a margin of 1.1-1.9 cm, and 135 patients (56.2%) had a margin of 2 cm or more. The median follow-up period was 21 months. The LR rate was 2.9% for a margin of 1 cm, 2.8% for a margin of 1.1-1.9 cm, and 5.2% for a margin of 2 cm or more (p = 0.80). The 5-year OS was 63.6% for a margin of 1 cm, 59.7% for a margin of 1.1-1.9, and 70.7% for a margin of 2 cm or more (p = 0.66). The 5-year DSS was 80.3% for a margin of 1 cm, 66.2% for a margin of 1.1-1.9 cm, and 91.8% for a margin of 2 cm or more (p = 0.28). For wound closure, 43.5, 50, and 65.9% of the patients respectively required a flap or graft with a margin of 1, 1.1-1.9, and 2 cm or more (p = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS: A 1-cm resection margins did not increase the risk of LR. Margin width did not make a significant difference in DSS or OS. Larger resection margins increase the need for a graft or flap closure.

PMID: 30073600 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Predictors of survival in neurometastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Predictors of survival in neurometastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Eur J Cancer. 2018 Jul 30;101:152-159

Authors: Harary M, Kavouridis VK, Thakuria M, Smith TR

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy of neuroendocrine origin, with about 30 cases of brain metastasis (BM) reported in the literature. Historically, the treatment of neurometastatic MCC has largely included chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim was to investigate predictors of overall survival (OS) in neurometastatic MCC.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, we surveyed institutional databases and conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify cases reporting on management of distant MCC BM. A pooled survival analysis was performed on the institutional and literature cases to assess predictors of OS.
RESULTS: Forty cases were included for analysis, describing operative [14] and non-operative [26] management. Median time to central nervous system involvement was 17.0-mos (interquartile range 10.5-26.5), and most patients had a single BM (62.5%). Management of intracranial disease included radiotherapy (82.5%), systemic therapy (59.5%) and surgical resection (35%). Operative management was associated with a lower intracranial burden of disease (BoD), but similar systemic BoD. Both neurosurgery (hazard ratio [HR] 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06-0.54, p = 0.002), having RT (HR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14:0.93, p = 0.04) and having a single BM (extensive intracranial BoD: HR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.12-5.6, p = 0.03) conferred an OS benefit on risk-unadjusted analysis. Only, neurosurgical resection was an independent predictor of OS (HR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.49, p = 0.003), controlling for age, BoD and radiotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Resection of MCC BM may confer a survival benefit given appropriate patient selection. Prospective investigation of multimodal management of neurometastatic MCC is warranted, especially given the promise of new immunotherapy agents in treating MCC.

PMID: 30071443 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Circulating cell-free miR-375 as surrogate marker of tumor burden in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Circulating cell-free miR-375 as surrogate marker of tumor burden in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Jul 30;:

Authors: Fan K, Ritter C, Nghiem P, Blom A, Verhaegen ME, Dlugosz A, Odum N, Woetmann A, Tothill RW, Hicks RJ, Sand M, Schrama D, Schadendorf D, Ugurel S, Becker JC

Abstract
PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation. There is an unmet need for MCC-specific blood-based surrogate biomarkers of tumor burden; circulating cell-free micro(mi)RNA may serve this purpose.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Expression of miR-375 was quantified in 24 MCC and 23 non-MCC cell lines, 67 MCC and 58 non-MCC tumor tissues, sera of two preclinical MCC models, sera of 109 MCC patients and 30 healthy controls by nCounter®human-v2-miRNA expression or miR-375 specific real-time PCR assays. The patients' sera consisted of two retrospective (discovery and training) and two prospective (validation) cohorts.
RESULTS: miR-375 expression was high in MCC cell lines and tissues compared to non-MCCs. It was readily detected in MCC conditioned medium and sera of preclinical models bearing MCC xenografts. miR-375 levels were higher in sera from tumor-bearing MCC patients than in tumor-free patients or healthy controls (p<0.0005). Moreover, miR-375 serum levels correlated with tumor stage in tumor-bearing (p=0.037) but not in tumor-free (p=0.372) MCC patients. miR-375 serum level showed high diagnostic accuracy to discriminate tumor-bearing and tumor-free MCC patients as demonstrated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in the retrospective cohorts (AUC=0.954 and 0.800) as well as in the prospective cohorts (AUC=0.929 and 0.959). miR-375 serum level reflected dynamic changes in tumor burden of MCC patients during therapeutic interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Circulating cell-free miR-375 proved as a surrogate marker for tumor burden in MCC without restriction to polyomavirus positivity, it thus appears to be useful for therapy monitoring and the follow-up of MCC patients.

PMID: 30061360 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Recommendations for Diagnostics and Treatment.

Fetched: August 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Recommendations for Diagnostics and Treatment.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Oct;24(11):3430-3437

Authors: Müller-Richter UDA, Gesierich A, Kübler AC, Hartmann S, Brands RC

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive tumor that often occurs in the head and neck region. Because of these features, the classifications and diagnostic and treatment regimens are frequently modified. Especially in the anatomically complex head and neck region, it is crucial to be aware of the current recommendations for diagnostics and treatment of MCC to ensure appropriate treatment. This overview aims to summarize the currently available literature.
METHODS: The authors reviewed the relevant literature and international guidelines for MCC from 2012 to 2017 with respect to epidemiology and prognosis, diagnostic procedures and imaging, surgery, radiation, systemic treatment, and aftercare. These results were compared with existing guidelines, some of them current, and recommendations were derived.
RESULTS: Marked developments in imaging have resulted in an increased use of functional imaging. The surgical concepts have changed regarding safety margins and the use of sentinel node biopsies. In systemic treatment, a move from conventional agents toward immuno-oncology can be observed.
CONCLUSIONS: For staging, it is important to be as exact as possible using functional imaging (e.g., positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan), especially in the head and neck area with its complex lymph drainage. This often plays an especially important role in early stages of the tumor, when the resection margin can be reduced to preserve the organ. Aftercare also should include functional imaging. In an advanced, metastatic stage, immuno-oncology (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4) is superior to the previous methods of systemic treatment.

PMID: 28762116 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Hand: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Fetched: August 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Hand: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Hand (N Y). 2016 12;11(4):NP24-NP29

Authors: Westerveld DR, Hall DJ, Richards WT

Abstract
Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a relatively rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy characterized by high incidence of local recurrence, distant metastases, regional nodal metastases, and high mortality. Clinically, MCC presents as a persistent asymptomatic red/pink shaped nodule, usually smaller than 2 cm with nontender intracutaneous swelling, with rapidly growing localized disease with lymph node metastases preceding distant metastases. Because of its rare nature and the lack of comprehensive understanding of the disease, management of MCC has been controversial. Methods: An 87-year-old retired Caucasian male with a history of tobacco use, chronic sun exposure, and multiple squamous and basal cell carcinomas presented with a 1.8 × 1.3 cm red, nontender nodule on the dorsum of the proximal phalanx of the left long finger first noticed 6 months prior to presentation. Biopsy was consistent with MCC after which he was treated with wide local excision, full-thickness skin grafting, and sentinel lymphadenectomy (1/4 nodes positive) followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Results: He recovered appropriately and was clinically and radiographically disease free at 2.5-year follow-up. Conclusion: Although it remains rare, MCC has increased in incidence over the last several decades and has a predilection to occur over sun exposed areas. Highly aggressive, it has a high incidence of regional and distant metastasis as well as local recurrence. As a result, it is important that practitioners involved in the care of skin and hand lesions be aware of this condition and the need for a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

PMID: 28149222 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Isolated Limb Infusion: A Single-Center Experience with Over 200 Infusions.

Fetched: August 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Isolated Limb Infusion: A Single-Center Experience with Over 200 Infusions.

Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Dec;24(13):3842-3849

Authors: O'Donoghue C, Perez MC, Mullinax JE, Hardman D, Sileno S, Naqvi SMH, Kim Y, Gonzalez RJ, Zager JS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a minimally invasive technique for delivering regional chemotherapy to an extremity for patients with locally advanced cutaneous malignancies and sarcoma.
METHODS: A single-institution, prospectively collected database was analyzed for intention-to-treat with ILI.
RESULTS: From 2007 to 2016, 163 patients underwent 205 procedures (201 were successfully completed), and four malignancies were treated: melanoma (72.1% of all ILIs), sarcoma (23.4%), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 2.0%) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC; 2.5%). A median grade II regional Wieberdink toxicity score was observed, with 88.1% of patients experiencing grade II or less. Median follow-up was 21.8 months, and overall response rate (ORR) was 59.0% for melanoma, 48.9% for sarcoma, 50.0% for SCC, and 60.0% for MCC. A significant difference (p = 0.04) between upper (76.9%) and lower extremity (55.1%) ORR was observed in patients with melanoma. When comparing responders with nonresponders, patients with melanoma had significantly longer in-field progression-free survival (IPFS; 14.1 vs. 3.2 months, p < 0.001), distant metastatic-free survival (DMFS; not reached vs. 25.8 months, p = 0.006), and overall survival (OS; 56.0 vs. 26.7 months, p = 0.0004). Sarcoma responders had a significantly longer IPFS (13.0 vs. 2.7 months, p < 0.0001), but no significant distant metastatic or OS advantage. Over a median follow-up of 19.3 months, sarcoma patients had an overall limb salvage rate of 68.4%.
CONCLUSION: ILI is a well-tolerated procedure for patients with locally advanced melanoma, sarcoma, and other cutaneous malignancies. ILI responders had a significantly longer time to IPFS, while melanoma responders also had a DMFS and OS advantage.

PMID: 29019175 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Biopsy-Proven Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Orbit: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Fetched: July 29th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Biopsy-Proven Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Orbit: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 May/Jun;34(3):e86-e88

Authors: Cugley DR, Roberts-Thomson SJ, McNab AA, Pick Z

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor of subspecialized dermal mechanoreceptors, associated with immunosuppression. The usual ophthalmic presentation is an eyelid lesion. The authors present a case of biopsy-proven orbital metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in the absence of any eyelid lesion, in an immunosuppressed patient with a history of multiple cancers. There are to the authors' knowledge only 2 other case reports of presumed metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma to the orbit, though neither were biopsied. Despite its rarity, metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma should be included in the differential of a metastatic orbital lesion, in the patient with a known or suspected cutaneous primary. The patient has had an excellent response to combined radiotherapy and programmed death-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab, and this case highlights the potential benefit of an exciting new biologic therapy.

PMID: 29505467 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'A Comparison of the Histopathologic Growth Patterns Between Non-Merkel Cell Small Round Blue Cell Tumors and Merkel Cell Carcinoma.'

A Comparison of the Histopathologic Growth Patterns Between Non-Merkel Cell Small Round Blue Cell Tumors and Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: July 28th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

A Comparison of the Histopathologic Growth Patterns Between Non-Merkel Cell Small Round Blue Cell Tumors and Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Am J Dermatopathol. 2018 Jul 24;:

Authors: Bandino JP, Purvis CG, Shaffer BR, Gad A, Elston DM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine cutaneous malignancy that shares cytologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features with other small round blue cell (SRBC) tumors. Although the trabecular pattern is anecdotally associated with MCC, objective data are lacking.
METHODS: This was a retrospective institutional review board-approved observational study conducted on microscopic images of 79 MCCs and 74 other SRBC tumors (desmoplastic small round cell tumor, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, neuroblastoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, carcinoid, metastatic small cell lung cancer, non-Hodgkin small cell lymphoma, retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma, nephroblastoma, small cell osteosarcoma, and round cell liposarcoma). An expert dermatopathologist evaluated blinded and randomized microscopic specimens and recorded histologic patterns (diffuse, infiltrative, large anastomosing nests, small islands, any trabecular, focal trabecular, mixed trabecular, and predominately trabecular).
RESULTS: Trabecular features were identified in over 72% of MCCs but only rarely in non-MCC SRBC tumors. The presence of any amount of a trabecular pattern favored a diagnosis of MCC over SRBC tumors with a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 87.8%. If "any" and "focal" trabecular patterns were discounted, specificity rose to 93.2%.
CONCLUSION: The presence of a trabecular pattern helps to differentiate MCC from other SRBC tumors, and specificity approaches that achieved with immunostaining.

PMID: 30045067 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma: a retrospective case series and critical literature review with emphasis on treatment and prognosis.'

Head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma: a retrospective case series and critical literature review with emphasis on treatment and prognosis.

Fetched: July 28th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma: a retrospective case series and critical literature review with emphasis on treatment and prognosis.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2018 Feb;125(2):126-139

Authors: Papadiochos I, Patrikidou A, Patsatsi A, Mangoudi D, Thuau H, Vahtsevanos K

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy with a high recurrence and mortality rates. More than half of MCCs occur in the head and neck region. This paper aims to present a retrospective case series study of primary MCCs of the head and neck treated in our department over 12 years.
STUDY DESIGN: Six patients were identified, and their characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes are reported. A critical review of the current literature is also included to provide up-to-date information on MCCs with special emphasis on treatment modalities and disease prognosis.
RESULTS: Management of head and neck MCCs requires early and accurate diagnosis and includes surgery, radiotherapy, and/or combination chemotherapy. Accurate cervical nodal staging is of paramount importance before establishing the definite treatment plan.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of both our case series and literature data review indicate that elective management of regional lymph nodes is recommended instead of an observation approach for patients with no identifiable disease in the lymph nodes (cN0). Because the majority of MCCs arise in the head and neck region, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are likely be the first professionals who will encounter this disease and should therefore be aware of the current diagnostic and treatment modalities.

PMID: 29203339 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Avelumab inducing hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism: A case report and review of literature.

Fetched: July 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Avelumab inducing hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism: A case report and review of literature.

EXCLI J. 2018;17:526-530

Authors: Aziz K, Shahbaz A, Umair M, Sachmechi I

Abstract
Avelumab is an anti-PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs) and the monoclonal antibody that constitutes a major development in the immunotherapy of cancer. In 2017, The European Medicine Agency (EMA) approved it as an orphan drug for treatment of gastric cancer. Avelumab has recently been approved in the United States, Europe and Japan for treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Avelumab inhibits the interaction of Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on immune cells with PD-L1 on tumor cells, thus banishing immunosuppressive signals and leading to enhanced immune cell activation. Here we are revealing a case of the patient with metastatic gastric cancer receiving avelumab with the development of undesirable endocrinopathies during the course of treatment. We suggested that patients receiving avelumab immunotherapy should be monitored for signs and symptoms of thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency, which may require immediate attention and supportive treatment by immunosuppression and respective hormone replacement.

PMID: 30034316 [PubMed]

TdT expression in normal and neoplastic sebaceous cells.

Fetched: July 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

TdT expression in normal and neoplastic sebaceous cells.

Histopathology. 2017 Dec;71(6):985-988

Authors: Tzorakoleftheraki SE, Iliadis A, Kostopoulos I, Koletsa T

Abstract
AIMS: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a DNA polymerase expressed in immature, normal and neoplastic, lymphoid or haematopoietic cells and in neuroendocrine carcinomas, such as Merkel cell carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma. It has not yet been described in cells of epithelial origin. After observing TdT immunoreactivity in normal sebaceous glands, we analysed its spectrum of expression in cases of sebaceous cell hyperplasia (SGH) and sebaceous cell neoplasm.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve cases of SGH and three cases of other benign lesions, namely sebaceoma, sebaceous adenoma, and sebaceous naevus, along with four archived cases of sebaceous cell carcinoma (SC) were collected and stained with TdT antibody. In addition, tissue microarrays were constructed from 11 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 10 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which had nine evaluable cases each, and, after carcinoma type confirmation with immunostaining for epithelial membrane antigen, TdT immunohistochemistry was performed. All cases of SGH and sebaceous cell neoplasm were positive for TdT. The staining intensity was variable, being often weak to moderate in a significant proportion of cells, apart from one case of SC and the case of sebaceous naevus, which were only focally positive. No BCCs and only one SCC showed immunoreactivity.
CONCLUSIONS: TdT protein can be found in cells of epithelial origin and specifically sebaceous cells, both benign and malignant. It can be hypothesized that this expression is due to sebaceous cell differentiation as a prelude to apoptosis and holocrine secretion. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate its biological role.

PMID: 28677299 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analogs PET/CT in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma: a comparison study.

Fetched: July 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analogs PET/CT in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma: a comparison study.

EJNMMI Res. 2018 Jul 21;8(1):64

Authors: Taralli S, Sollini M, Milella M, Perotti G, Filice A, Menga M, Versari A, Rufini V

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. Currently, 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT is the functional imaging modality of choice. Few data are available on the use of 68Ga-somatostatin analogs. The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analog PET/CT in MCC patients.
RESULTS: Fifteen patients (12 males, 3 females; median age 73 years; range 41-81 years) with histologically proven MCC (4 with unknown primary lesion) who underwent both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analog PET/CT for staging, re-staging, or treatment response assessment were retrospectively evaluated. Results of both studies were qualitatively analyzed and compared on a patient- and lesion-based analysis, using histology or clinical/radiological follow-up as reference standard for final diagnosis. According to final diagnosis, 8/15 patients had at least one MCC lesion and 7/15 had no evidence of disease. On a patient-based analysis, 18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analogs correctly classified as positive 8/8 (100% sensitivity) patients and as negative 6/7 (85.7% specificity) and 5/7 (71.4% specificity) patients, respectively, with no significant difference. On a lesion-based analysis, 18F-FDG detected 67/75 lesions (89%) and 68Ga-somatostatin analogs 69/75 (92%), with no significant difference. In four patients with unknown primary MCC, both tracers failed to identify the primary MCC site.
CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary data suggest that 18F-FDG and 68Ga-somatostatin analog PET/CT provide good and equivalent diagnostic performance, adding interesting insights into the complex MCC biology. However, these results do not suggest that 18F-FDG PET/CT should be replaced by 68Ga-somatostatin receptor imaging, which should be performed in addition, according to clinical indication, to the perspective of "personalized medicine."

PMID: 30032450 [PubMed]

Permalink for 'The diagnostic utility of Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry in a fine needle aspirate of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary to the pancreas.'

The diagnostic utility of Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry in a fine needle aspirate of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary to the pancreas.

Fetched: July 19th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

The diagnostic utility of Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry in a fine needle aspirate of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary to the pancreas.

Diagn Cytopathol. 2018 Jan;46(1):67-71

Authors: Li L, Molberg K, Cheedella N, Thibodeaux J, Hinson S, Lucas E

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin tumor with a high tendency for metastases. We report a case of MCC initially presenting as axillary and pancreatic metastases. A 33-year-old HIV-positive Hispanic male presented with a history of a rapidly growing axillary mass. A needle core biopsy demonstrated an epithelioid neoplasm composed of small to medium-sized cells with high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear molding, and frequent mitotic figures. A subsequent PET scan revealed a 1.5 cm FDG avid mass in the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA of the pancreatic mass showed neoplastic cells with similar morphology to those of the axillary mass. The tumor cells were positive with pancytokeratin AE1/AE3, CK20, CD56, synatophysin, chromogranin, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). This case of MCC most likely originated from a resolved primary skin lesion drained by the involved axillary lymph node with subsequent metastases to the pancreas and distant lymph nodes.

PMID: 28802095 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Abdominal Lymphangiography and Embolization for Opacification and Treatment of Abdominal Chylous Leakage.'

Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Abdominal Lymphangiography and Embolization for Opacification and Treatment of Abdominal Chylous Leakage.

Fetched: July 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Abdominal Lymphangiography and Embolization for Opacification and Treatment of Abdominal Chylous Leakage.

J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2017 04;28(4):616-618

Authors: Chick JF, VanBelkum A, Yu V, Majdalany BS, Khaja MS, Cooper KJ, Saad WE, Srinivasa RN

PMID: 28343590 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Avelumab: A Novel Anti-PD-L1 Agent in the Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Urothelial Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Avelumab: A Novel Anti-PD-L1 Agent in the Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Urothelial Cell Carcinoma.

Crit Rev Immunol. 2018;38(3):159-206

Authors: Teets A, Pham L, Tran EL, Hochmuth L, Deshmukh R

Abstract
Long-term treatment in the setting of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) has shown that current first-line chemotherapeutic agents are losing effectiveness and that there are limited treatment options available outside of radiation therapy and surgical interventions. The use of immunotherapeutic agents such as monoclonal antibodies has been considered a promising alternative for cancers that progress despite treatment with radiation therapy, surgery, and/or chemotherapeutic agents. Cancer cells escape immune surveillance by interrupting immune checkpoint pathways, resulting in dysregulation of T-cell function and so preventing its antitumor effects. In early 2017, avelumab (BAVENCIO®), a PD-L1-blocking monoclonal antibody agent, was approved for the treatment of metastatic MCC and UC. Trials that evaluated avelumab for the treatment of metastatic MCC and UC were the JAVELIN Merkel 200 Trial and the JAVELIN Solid Tumor trial, respectively. Efficacy results for both trials showed positive overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival rate (PFS). A strong safety profile was also established for avelumab. This review provides a brief introduction to checkpoint inhibitors and focuses on the recently approved PD-L1 inhibitor, avelumab.

PMID: 30004857 [PubMed - in process]

Biomarkers for Clinical Benefit of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment-A Review From the Melanoma Perspective and Beyond.

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Biomarkers for Clinical Benefit of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment-A Review From the Melanoma Perspective and Beyond.

Front Immunol. 2018;9:1474

Authors: Buder-Bakhaya K, Hassel JC

Abstract
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) with anti-CTLA-4 and/or anti-PD-1 antibodies is standard treatment for metastatic melanoma. Anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) and anti-PD-L1 antibodies (atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab) have been approved for treatment of several other advanced malignancies, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); renal cell, and urothelial carcinoma; head and neck cancer; gastric, hepatocellular, and Merkel-cell carcinoma; and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. In some of these malignancies approval was based on the detection of biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or high microsatellite instability.
Methods: We review the current status of prognostic and predictive biomarkers used in ICI for melanoma and other malignancies. We include clinical, tissue, blood, and stool biomarkers, as well as imaging biomarkers.
Results: Several biomarkers have been studied in ICI for metastatic melanoma. In clinical practice, pre-treatment tumor burden measured by means of imaging and serum lactate dehydrogenase level is already being used to estimate the likelihood of effective ICI treatment. In peripheral blood, the number of different immune cell types, such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils, as well as different soluble factors, have been correlated with clinical outcome. For intra-tumoral biomarkers, expression of the PD-1 ligand PD-L1 has been found to be of some predictive value for anti-PD-1-directed therapy for NSCLC and melanoma. A high mutational load, particularly when accompanied by neoantigens, seems to facilitate immune response and correlates with patient survival for all entities treated by use of ICI. Tumor microenvironment also seems to be of major importance. Interestingly, even the gut microbiome has been found to correlate with response to ICI, most likely through immuno-stimulatory effects of distinct bacteria. New imaging biomarkers, e.g., for PET, and magnetic resonance imaging are also being investigated, and results suggest they will make early prediction of patient response possible.
Conclusion: Several promising results are available regarding possible biomarkers for response to ICI, which need to be validated in large clinical trials. A better understanding of how ICI works will enable the development of biomarkers that can predict the response of individual patients.

PMID: 30002656 [PubMed]

Metastatic Merkel-cell carcinoma: the dawn of a new era.

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Metastatic Merkel-cell carcinoma: the dawn of a new era.

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jul 11;2018:

Authors: O'Brien T, Power DG

Abstract
Merkel-cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous malignancy arising most often in sun-exposed Caucasians who are immunosuppressed or the elderly. Patients with metastatic disease treated with chemotherapy have a median progression-free survival of just 3 months. This report describes a 58-year-old man with a background history of psoriasis treated with immunosuppressive therapy and subsequently diagnosed with metastatic MCC. Chemotherapy produced a partial response. Then, a novel immunotherapy agent, pembrolizumab, induced a complete response maintained for at least 19 months. Quality of life was unaffected, and toxicity from immunotherapy was minimal. At the time of writing, there was no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence and treatment is ongoing.

PMID: 30002209 [PubMed - in process]

Eyelid Merkel cell carcinoma in a patient treated with golimumab.

Fetched: July 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Eyelid Merkel cell carcinoma in a patient treated with golimumab.

Orbit. 2018 Feb;37(1):21-25

Authors: Hanafi H, Verdijk RM, Paridaens D

Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe a clinical case of biopsy-proven Merkel cell carcinoma of the eyelid following golimumab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS: Interventional case report.
RESULTS: A 73-year-old woman with a history of chronic RA presented with a right upper eyelid mass. She had been treated with golimumab (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors) injection therapy for the past 6 months. A biopsy showed findings suggestive of a Merkel cell carcinoma of the eyelid.
CONCLUSIONS: Merkel cell carcinoma may be associated with anti-TNF treatment and should be included in the differential diagnosis of an eyelid tumor in patients treated with TNF inhibitors.

PMID: 28841334 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Epidemiological trends in Merkel cell carcinoma in southern France: a registry-based study.

Fetched: July 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Epidemiological trends in Merkel cell carcinoma in southern France: a registry-based study.

Br J Dermatol. 2017 05;176(5):1379-1381

Authors: Fondain M, Du Thanh A, Bessaoud F, Dereure O, Tretarre B, Guillot B

PMID: 27515470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Laparoscopic dissection of Merkel cell carcinoma recurrence at the pelvic lymph node.

Fetched: July 8th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Laparoscopic dissection of Merkel cell carcinoma recurrence at the pelvic lymph node.

Asian J Endosc Surg. 2017 Nov;10(4):427-429

Authors: Watanabe G, Fukunaga Y, Nagasaki T, Akiyoshi T, Konishi T, Fujimoto Y, Nagayama S, Ueno M

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. It has a high propensity for recurrence and metastasis, and there is no clearly defined treatment. MCC recurrence at the pelvic lymph node has rarely been reported. Herein, we report a patient with pelvic lymph node recurrence of MCC that was dissected laparoscopically. Nine years before presenting to us, a 76-year-old male patient had been diagnosed with MCC, and since then, he had had two recurrences. The most recent recurrence-the third recurrence-involved a tumor that had been detected at the right pelvic lymph node, and MCC recurrence was suspected after several imaging studies. Laparoscopic right pelvic lymph node dissection was conducted, and pathological findings confirmed MCC recurrence. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8 and had no recurrence for 2 years as detected by imaging. This case report demonstrates the benefits of laparoscopic treatment of MCC recurrence with respect to intraoperative magnified vision and a more comfortable postoperative course for the patient.

PMID: 28682014 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Mohs micrographic surgery of rare cutaneous tumours.

Fetched: July 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Mohs micrographic surgery of rare cutaneous tumours.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Aug;31(8):1285-1288

Authors: Flohil SC, van Lee CB, Beisenherz J, Mureau MAM, Overbeek LIH, Nijsten T, van den Bos RR

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recurrence rates after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for rare cutaneous tumours are poorly defined.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the recurrence rate after MMS for rare cutaneous tumours at a university centre.
METHODS & MATERIALS: Retrospective review of all rare cutaneous tumours treated with MMS at a large university centre between January 2008 and December 2012. To detect all recurrences, patients were linked to The Nationwide Network and registry of histo- and cytopathology (PALGA).
RESULTS: In total, 80 patients with 80 tumours were included. Tumour types included dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (27), atypical fibroxanthoma (22), Merkel cell carcinoma (8), microcystic adnexal carcinoma (9), sebaceous carcinoma (6), extramammary Paget's disease (2) and other (6). Mean follow-up time was 3.7 years (standard deviation 1.4) during which two atypical fibroxanthomas recurred (2.5%).
CONCLUSION: This large case series shows that MMS is an appropriate treatment for rare cutaneous tumours with a recurrence rate less than 3%. Preferably, MMS for rare cutaneous tumours is performed in experienced multidisciplinary centres to further improve the quality of treatment.

PMID: 27976423 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Investigation of the Diagnostic Precision and Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Treatment of Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma.'

Investigation of the Diagnostic Precision and Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Treatment of Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: July 5th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Investigation of the Diagnostic Precision and Utility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Treatment of Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Am Surg. 2018 May 01;84(5):173-175

Authors: Lamb EP, Shaw FR, Fleming MD

PMID: 29966556 [PubMed - in process]

Painless telangiectatic lesion on the wrist.

Fetched: July 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Painless telangiectatic lesion on the wrist.

Cutis. 2017 Oct;100(4):E7-E9

Authors: Wozniak K, Shamayeva S, Basko-Plluska J, Derick AJ

PMID: 29136061 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Deregulation of the Notch pathway as a common road in viral carcinogenesis.

Fetched: July 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Deregulation of the Notch pathway as a common road in viral carcinogenesis.

Rev Med Virol. 2018 Jun 28;:e1988

Authors: Vázquez-Ulloa E, Lizano M, Sjöqvist M, Olmedo-Nieva L, Contreras-Paredes A

Abstract
The Notch pathway is a conserved signaling pathway and a form of direct cell-cell communication related to many biological processes during development and adulthood. Deregulation of the Notch pathway is involved in many diseases, including cancer. Almost 20% of all cancer cases have an infectious etiology, with viruses responsible for at least 1.5 million new cancer cases per year. Seven groups of viruses have been classified as oncogenic: hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV respectively), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), human papillomavirus (HPV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). These viruses share the ability to manipulate a variety of cell pathways that are critical in proliferation and differentiation, leading to malignant transformation. Viral proteins interact directly or indirectly with different members of the Notch pathway, altering their normal function. This review focuses exclusively on the direct interactions of viral oncoproteins with Notch elements, providing a deeper understanding of the dual behavior of the Notch pathway as activator or suppressor of neoplasia in virus-related cancers.

PMID: 29956408 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Utilization patterns and survival outcomes after wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery for Merkel cell carcinoma in the United States, 2004-2009.'

Utilization patterns and survival outcomes after wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery for Merkel cell carcinoma in the United States, 2004-2009.

Fetched: July 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Utilization patterns and survival outcomes after wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery for Merkel cell carcinoma in the United States, 2004-2009.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 01;78(1):175-177.e3

Authors: Shaikh WR, Sobanko JF, Etzkorn JR, Shin TM, Miller CJ

PMID: 28989113 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: June 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jun 26;19(7):

Authors: Konstatinell A, Coucheron DH, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer associated with a poor prognosis. This carcinoma was named after its presumed cell of origin, the Merkel cell, which is a mechanoreceptor cell located in the basal epidermal layer of the skin. Merkel cell polyomavirus seems to be the major causal factor for MCC because approximately 80% of all MCCs are positive for viral DNAs. UV exposure is the predominant etiological factor for virus-negative MCCs. Intracellular microRNA analysis between virus-positive and virus-negative MCC cell lines and tumor samples have identified differentially expressed microRNAs. Comparative microRNA profiling has also been performed between MCCs and other non-MCC tumors, but not between normal Merkel cells and malignant Merkel cells. Finally, Merkel cell polyomavirus encodes one microRNA, but its expression in virus-positive MCCs is low, or non-detectable or absent, jeopardizing its biological relevance in tumorigenesis. Here, we review the results of microRNA studies in MCCs and discuss the potential application of microRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis, progression and prognosis, and treatment of MCC.

PMID: 29949882 [PubMed - in process]

Systematic review of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Fetched: June 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Systematic review of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Head Neck. 2018 Jun 22;:

Authors: Karunaratne YG, Gunaratne DA, Veness MJ

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor arising on the head and neck in 40%-50% of patients. Between 20% and 40% will harbor subclinical nodal metastasis.
METHODS: Using search terms 'Merkel AND sentinel', MEDLINE, PUMED, and EMBASE databases were systematically reviewed for publications regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in classification I and II MCC of the head and neck.
RESULTS: Twenty-nine publications encompassing 136 patients were included. The SLNB finding was positive in 42 patients (30.9%). Primary MCC was located on the malar/zygomatic (34.4%), forehead/frontal (13.5%), and nasal (13.5%) regions. Recurrence in an SLNB negative nodal basin result occurred in 10 patients (false negative rate of 19.2%). Site of primary MCC was not associated with a false-negative SLNB result; however, there was a non-statistically significant trend for increased frequency among midline lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is recommended for eligible patients with classification I and II head and neck MCC.

PMID: 29934958 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Inferior outcomes in immunocompromised Merkel cell carcinoma patients: Can they be overcome by the use of PD1/PDL1 inhibitors?

Fetched: June 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Inferior outcomes in immunocompromised Merkel cell carcinoma patients: Can they be overcome by the use of PD1/PDL1 inhibitors?

J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2018 Jan 01;:1078155218785002

Authors: Dasanu CA, Del Rosario M, Codreanu I, Hyams DM, Plaxe SC

Abstract
Cases of Merkel cell carcinoma have become increasingly more common in the last two decades, and its incidence has been predicted to climb further. Immunosenescence might explain in part the higher Merkel cell carcinoma prevalence in seniors aged 70 and older. This cancer might also be more aggressive in immunocompromised patients. In a subset of immunocompromised Merkel cell carcinoma patients, we identified significant lymphopenia and a more advanced disease stage compared with their immunocompetent counterparts. Time to death in this cohort was much shorter than in immunocompetent subjects, and their likelihood of death from Merkel cell carcinoma was five times higher. Avelumab approval in 2017 represents an important step forward in the therapy of Merkel cell carcinoma. Hopefully, PD1/PDL1 inhibitors will improve survival in immunocompromised Merkel cell carcinoma hosts, traditionally linked with inferior clinical outcomes.

PMID: 29933728 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Human Oncoviruses and p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway Deregulation at the Origin of Human Cancers.

Fetched: June 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Human Oncoviruses and p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway Deregulation at the Origin of Human Cancers.

Cancers (Basel). 2018 Jun 22;10(7):

Authors: Tornesello ML, Annunziata C, Tornesello AL, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM

Abstract
Viral oncogenesis is a multistep process largely depending on the complex interplay between viruses and host factors. The oncoviruses are capable of subverting the cell signaling machinery and metabolic pathways and exploit them for infection, replication, and persistence. Several viral oncoproteins are able to functionally inactivate the tumor suppressor p53, causing deregulated expression of many genes orchestrated by p53, such as those involved in apoptosis, DNA stability, and cell proliferation. The Epstein⁻Barr virus (EBV) BZLF1, the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6, and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5 proteins have shown to directly bind to and degrade p53. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) HBx and the human T cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) Tax proteins inhibit p53 activity through the modulation of p300/CBP nuclear factors, while the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (HHV8) LANA, vIRF-1 and vIRF-3 proteins have been shown to destabilize the oncosuppressor, causing a decrease in its levels in the infected cells. The large T antigen of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) does not bind to p53 but significantly reduces p53-dependent transcription. This review describes the main molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between viral oncoproteins and p53-related pathways as well as in the development of therapeutic strategies targeting such interactions.

PMID: 29932446 [PubMed]

Permalink for 'The new 8th edition of TNM staging and its implications for skin cancer: a review by the British Association of Dermatologists and the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom.'

The new 8th edition of TNM staging and its implications for skin cancer: a review by the British Association of Dermatologists and the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom.

Fetched: June 23rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

The new 8th edition of TNM staging and its implications for skin cancer: a review by the British Association of Dermatologists and the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom.

Br J Dermatol. 2018 Jun 19;:

Authors: Keohane SG, Proby CM, Newlands C, Motley RJ, Nasr I, Mohd Mustapa MF, Slater DN

Abstract
The 8th edition of TNM (Tumour, Node and Metastasis) has numerous and important changes compared to the 7th edition. Public Health England (PHE) and the Royal College of Pathologists, United Kingdom (RCPath) have adopted the 8th edition of TNM (TNM8) published by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for skin cancer staging. These changes will have an impact on the management of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer by all members of the skin cancer multidisciplinary team. These will also need to be highlighted to commissioners and managers for appropriate service planning. T1 to T3 categories for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) staging require the clinician to measure the maximum dimension (usually diameter) of every potential invasive cancer. This measurement must be recorded in the patient record and entered on the histopathology specimen request form. The clinical measurement should be expressed in whole millimetres and a standardised national request form would promote this overall aim. For squamous, basal and adnexal carcinomas, but not Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), the T1 to T3 categories are defined by new 20 and 40 mm divisions based on the maximum dimension of the lesion. In addition, new risk factors upstage T1 or T2 to T3. These include deep invasion (a tumour depth greater than 6 mm and/or invasion beyond the subcutaneous fat), or specifically defined perineural invasion. Unlike TNM7, tumour site and histological differentiation are not included in TNM8 staging. For melanoma, although ulceration still remains, mitotic index no longer influences separation of pT1 into pT1a and pT1b subdivisions. Instead there is a new additional stratification level at 0.8 mm Breslow thickness. Subdivision pT1b, with a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (pN0), is now stage IA compared to the previous IB and therefore now has a NICE recommendation for a 1-year rather than 5-year follow-up. The pN subdivisions require information on whether involved lymph nodes are clinically occult or detectable; information that must be recorded clinically and conveyed to the reporting pathologist. For MCC, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now included specifically in the pN staging system. The pT1 subdivision requires clinical information as to whether histologically involved nodes were clinically occult or detectable. This, like the maximum tumour diameter for other NMSC, is clinical information which must be recorded and made available to the reporting pathologist for staging purposes. Eyelid carcinoma continues to have a staging system different from general skin and the system is substantially revised in TNM8. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 29923189 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

PHOX2B reliably distinguishes neuroblastoma among small round blue cell tumours.

Fetched: June 23rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

PHOX2B reliably distinguishes neuroblastoma among small round blue cell tumours.

Histopathology. 2017 Nov;71(5):786-794

Authors: Hung YP, Lee JP, Bellizzi AM, Hornick JL

Abstract
AIMS: Neuroblastoma shows considerable histological overlap with other small round blue cell tumours. PHOX2B, a transcription factor that is essential for autonomic nervous system development, has been reported as an immunohistochemical marker for neuroblastoma. The aim of this study was to validate the specificity and diagnostic utility of PHOX2B for peripheral neuroblastic tumours.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 240 cases (133 in whole-tissue sections; 107 in tissue microarrays), including 76 peripheral neuroblastic tumours (median age 2 years; including four adults) and 164 other tumours: 44 Wilms tumours; 20 Ewing sarcomas; 10 each of CIC-rearranged round cell sarcomas, poorly differentiated synovial sarcomas, lymphoblastic lymphomas, alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, mesenchymal chondrosarcomas, Merkel cell carcinomas, olfactory neuroblastomas, and melanomas; and five each of NUT midline carcinomas and desmoplastic small round cell tumours. Immunohistochemistry for PHOX2B was performed with a rabbit monoclonal antibody. PHOX2B positivity was defined as the presence of nuclear immunoreactivity in ≥5% of cells. PHOX2B was positive in 70 (92%) peripheral neuroblastic tumours, including 68 of 72 (94%) paediatric and two of four (50%) adult cases. Furthermore, PHOX2B was consistently negative in all non-peripheral neuroblastic tumours, with staining being absent in 160 cases and limited in four cases.
CONCLUSION: PHOX2B is a highly sensitive and specific immunohistochemical marker for peripheral neuroblastic tumours, including neuroblastoma. PHOX2B reliably distinguishes neuroblastoma from histological mimics such as Wilms tumour, Ewing sarcoma, and CIC-rearranged round cell sarcoma. PHOX2B negativity in two of four adult neuroblastoma cases raises the possibility that some adult neuroblastomas are of a different lineage than paediatric cases.

PMID: 28640941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'How to address the challenges of evaluating treatment benefits-risks in rare diseases? A convergent mixed methods approach applied within a Merkel cell carcinoma phase 2 clinical trial.'

How to address the challenges of evaluating treatment benefits-risks in rare diseases? A convergent mixed methods approach applied within a Merkel cell carcinoma phase 2 clinical trial.

Fetched: June 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

How to address the challenges of evaluating treatment benefits-risks in rare diseases? A convergent mixed methods approach applied within a Merkel cell carcinoma phase 2 clinical trial.

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2018 Jun 18;13(1):95

Authors: Bharmal M, Guillemin I, Marrel A, Arnould B, Lambert J, Hennessy M, Fofana F

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Demonstrating treatment benefits within clinical trials in the context of rare diseases is often methodologically and practically challenging. Mixed methods research offers an approach to overcome these challenges by combining quantitative and qualitative data, thus providing a better understanding of the research question. A convergent mixed methods design in the context of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer, was used during the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial (NCT02155647).
METHODS: Nine patients receiving avelumab in the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial were interviewed at baseline prior to receiving study treatment, and at 13 weeks and 25 weeks after first avelumab administration. Key concepts of interest identified from the baseline interviews were physical functioning, fatigue/energy, and pain. Patient perceptions of the overall change in their cancer-related health status since starting study treatment were also recorded. During qualitative analysis, at each time-point, each concept of interest was assigned a category describing the trend in change (e.g. newly emerged, no change/stable, improved, worsened, ceased/disappeared). In parallel, patients' tumour status was determined by the clinical overall response status as per the clinical trial protocol.
RESULTS: A high concordance between patient-reported qualitative data and assessed tumour response was observed. All eight patients who clinically improved had perceived a subjective improvement in their disease since the beginning of the study; the single patient whose disease worsened had a perceived deterioration. Patient perceived benefit in physical functioning, fatigue/energy and pain was subsequent to the measured change in clinical status as assessed by tumour response. This suggests that patient-reported assessment should be examined over the long term in order to optimally capture meaningful treatment effect.
CONCLUSION: Embedding qualitative research in clinical trials to complement the quantitative data is an innovative approach to characterise meaningful treatment effect. This application of mixed methods research has the potential to overcome the hurdles associated with clinical outcomes assessment in rare diseases.

PMID: 29914528 [PubMed - in process]

Hydrochlorothiazide use and risk of Merkel cell carcinoma and malignant adnexal skin tumors: A nationwide case-control study.

Fetched: June 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Hydrochlorothiazide use and risk of Merkel cell carcinoma and malignant adnexal skin tumors: A nationwide case-control study.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jun 15;:

Authors: Pedersen SA, Johannesdottir Schmidt SA, Hölmich LR, Friis S, Pottegård A, Gaist D

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hydrochlorothiazide use has been associated with markedly increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma. No previous studies have investigated the association between hydrochlorothiazide use and the risk of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and malignant adnexal skin tumors (MAST).
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between hydrochlorothiazide use and the risk of MCC and MAST.
METHODS: Using Danish nationwide health registries, we identified all patients with incident MCC or MAST during 2004-2015 and matched cases individually to cancer-free population controls by risk set sampling. Using conditional logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) associated with cumulative use of hydrochlorothiazide.
RESULTS: The adjusted ORs for MCC and MAST associated with high use (≥50,000 mg) of hydrochlorothiazide was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.1-4.8) and 3.6 (95% CI, 1.9-7.0), respectively, increasing to 3.3 (95% CI 1.3-8.3) and 5.6 (95% CI 2.4-13.3) with highest use (≥100,000mg). We found no increase in risk of the tumors in analyses of drugs with similar indications as hydrochlorothiazide, except a tendency toward an increased risk of MCC associated with use of furosemide (OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.9-4.0).
LIMITATIONS: No data on sun exposure was available.
CONCLUSIONS: Hydrochlorothiazide use is associated with an increased risk of MCC and MAST.

PMID: 29913261 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Arising in an Epidermal Cyst.

Fetched: June 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Arising in an Epidermal Cyst.

Am J Dermatopathol. 2017 Nov;39(11):842-844

Authors: Aljufairi E, Alhilli F

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor. It is associated mostly with malignant skin lesions. Rare cases in the literature described its association with benign skin adnexal lesions. We present here an additional case of Merkel cell carcinoma arising from an epidermal cyst located in the left arm of a 57-year-old male. The tumor was composed of lobules of monotonous round cells with dusty chromatin. It was positive for cytokeratin 20 and neuroendocrine markers. Patient was treated with surgical resection and radiation to the axilla. He is well and free of disease after 5 years of follow-up.

PMID: 27673388 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Why Merkel Cell Cancer Is Garnering More Attention.

Fetched: June 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Why Merkel Cell Cancer Is Garnering More Attention.

JAMA. 2018 Jun 13;:

Authors: Voelker R

PMID: 29898204 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Advances in Immunotherapy for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Clinician's Guide.

Fetched: June 14th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Advances in Immunotherapy for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Clinician's Guide.

J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2018 Jun;16(6):782-790

Authors: Paulson KG, Bhatia S

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine skin cancer. The clinical impact of MCC has been increasing due to steadily rising incidence rates. Since 2001, more than 24,000 cases of MCC have been reported to the US National Program of Cancer Registries database, and in 2018, more than 2,500 incident cases are expected. MCC is highly aggressive, and one-third of patients will either present with or develop metastatic disease. Outcomes in patients with metastatic MCC have historically been poor; median time to progression with cytotoxic chemotherapy is only 3 months. MCC has long been appreciated to be immunogenic, with reports of spontaneous regression and responsiveness to immunotherapy. However, the mechanisms of this immunogenicity have only been understood over the past decade, with approximately 80% of cases in the United States associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and expression of viral antigens (virus-positive [VP] MCC), and the remaining 20% of cases caused by UV radiation-induced damage leading to a high mutational burden and expression of neoantigens (virus-negative [VN] MCC). These insights have led to multiple successful trials of immunotherapies for MCC. PD-1 axis checkpoint inhibitors are now regarded as the preferred frontline systemic therapy in eligible patients (including both VP- and VN-MCC), with impressive frequency, durability, and depth of objective responses, which compare favorably to those of most solid tumors. This article reviews the safety and efficacy data from the key clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic MCC, and discusses several issues relevant to the clinical use of these agents. Finally, emerging immunotherapies for MCC, including cellular therapies and adjuvant systemic therapies, are reviewed.

PMID: 29891528 [PubMed - in process]

Merkel cell carcinoma with intramedullary spinal cord metastasis: a very rare clinical finding.

Fetched: June 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel cell carcinoma with intramedullary spinal cord metastasis: a very rare clinical finding.

Clin Case Rep. 2018 Jun;6(6):1181-1182

Authors: Haykal T, Towfiq B

Abstract
This clinical image teaches readers that a rare finding such as intramedullary spinal metastasis could exist even in the rarest tumors. It adds to the literature how it was managed. It also might reflect the improvement of our cancer treatment allowing us to follow patients longer to find those rare findings in rare tumors.

PMID: 29881592 [PubMed]

Permalink for 'Change in Eyelid Carcinoma T Category With Use of the 8th Versus 7th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer: Cancer Staging Manual.'

Change in Eyelid Carcinoma T Category With Use of the 8th Versus 7th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer: Cancer Staging Manual.

Fetched: June 9th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Change in Eyelid Carcinoma T Category With Use of the 8th Versus 7th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer: Cancer Staging Manual.

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Jun 05;:

Authors: Ding S, Sagiv O, Guo Y, Kandl TJ, Thakar SD, Esmaeli B

Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency and nature of changes in T category when eyelid carcinomas are staged using the criteria in the 8th edition instead of the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual.
METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review was conducted for all consecutive patients with the diagnosis of eyelid carcinoma treated by the senior author from January 2012 through December 2016. After a review of the clinical and pathologic data, each patient's disease was staged using both the 7th-edition and 8th-edition American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria for eyelid carcinomas. Changes in T categories between the 2 staging systems were examined.
RESULTS: The review initially identified 167 patients with the diagnosis of eyelid carcinoma. Four patients were excluded because of incomplete or unclear data. The remaining 163 patients included 78 men and 85 women aged 21 to 97 years (median, 68 years). Eighty-two patients had basal cell carcinoma; 35, squamous cell carcinoma; 32, sebaceous carcinoma; 6, mucinous eccrine carcinoma; 3, Merkel cell carcinoma; 3, adenocarcinomas; and 2, adnexal carcinoma. The most common T category according to the 7th-edition criteria was T2a; the most common T category according to the 8th-edition criteria was T1b. Of the 163 patients, 64 (39%) had a lower T category with the 8th-edition than with the 7th-edition criteria, 59 (36%) had a higher T category, and 40 (25%) had the same T category.
CONCLUSIONS: Application of the 8th-edition American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria for eyelid carcinoma changed the T category in 75% of patients. In general, the new 8th-edition American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) designations allow for a more objective and consistent designation of the T category.

PMID: 29877957 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A 21-year course of Merkel cell carcinoma with adjuvant Viscum album extract treatment: A case report.

Fetched: June 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

A 21-year course of Merkel cell carcinoma with adjuvant Viscum album extract treatment: A case report.

Complement Ther Med. 2018 Jun;38:58-60

Authors: Werthmann PG, Kindermann L, Kienle GS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive, neuroendocrine skin tumor with frequent local recurrence, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and a high mortality rate. Viscum album extracts (VAE) are a widely used adjunct in cancer treatment and show cytotoxic and immune-modulating effects.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with a MCC of the left forearm. In the following course of 21 years, she experienced 4 episodes of lymph node relapse (axillary, submandibular, axillary, clavicular). All lesions were surgically excised. The patient declined chemotherapy and radiation and opted for adjuvant treatment with local subcutaneous VAE injections. Currently-21 years after first diagnosis and 9.5 years after the last relapse-the patient is tumor-free, in good health, and without functional limitations.
CONCLUSION: The presented case shows long-time survival in a patient with MCC treated with surgery and VAE injections. The immune system plays a key role in tumorigenesis of MCC. VAE enhances several immune pathways and might therefore contribute to immunologic tumor control in MCC. The role of VAE in MCC should further be investigated.

PMID: 29857880 [PubMed - in process]

Primary low-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin: An exceedingly rare entity.

Fetched: June 3rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Primary low-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin: An exceedingly rare entity.

J Cutan Pathol. 2017 Nov;44(11):978-981

Authors: Chen TY, Morrison AO, Susa J, Cockerell CJ

Abstract
Low-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), also known as carcinoid tumor, commonly arise from the gastrointestinal (GI) and pulmonary tracts, but rarely occur in the skin. Cutaneous NET typically occurs as metastases or high-grade primary lesions, called Merkel cell carcinoma. In the few cases described in literature, primary low-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas of the skin (LGNECS) are usually indolent cutaneous nodules, presenting on the head and trunk of elderly patients. LGNECS tumors are histologically similar to its counterparts arising in other anatomic locations. As there is no NET cut-off for the skin due to their rarity, the GI scale was used instead; low-grade NETs have a Ki-67 proliferative index of less than 3%. The distinction between primary and metastatic NET, however, is not absolute and can be difficult. A primary vs metastatic NET diagnosis relies on clinical exclusion of a NET in other, more common, anatomic locations. Here, we present a case of an LGNECS on the scalp of a 72-year-old female patient. Whole body imaging failed to identify any octreotide-avid lesions elsewhere in the patient, aside from 2 positive cervical lymph nodes, which were confirmed with a node dissection and histologic evaluation. This is the 19th reported case of LGNECS and the 2nd reported case of LGNECS with nodal metastasis.

PMID: 28815668 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'In-field and abscopal response after short-course radiation therapy in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressing on PD-1 checkpoint blockade: a case series.'

In-field and abscopal response after short-course radiation therapy in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressing on PD-1 checkpoint blockade: a case series.

Fetched: June 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

In-field and abscopal response after short-course radiation therapy in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressing on PD-1 checkpoint blockade: a case series.

J Immunother Cancer. 2018 May 30;6(1):43

Authors: Xu MJ, Wu S, Daud AI, Yu SS, Yom SS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) who experience disease progression on immunotherapy have limited additional standard options. Given evidence of synergism between radiation therapy (RT) and immunotherapy, two patients progressing on PD-1 inhibition were referred for short-course RT.
CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients were found to have progressive mMCC on PD-1 inhibitor therapy and were treated with single-fraction palliative RT. Both patients were observed to have local control at irradiated regions, as well as durable abscopal response at unirradiated, out-of-field, sites of metastatic disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Short-course RT is a compelling strategy that could be a means to augment response in patients with mMCC who show progression on immune checkpoint blockade. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating the relationship between RT and immunotherapy in mMCC.

PMID: 29848371 [PubMed - in process]

Using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors in real-world evidence cancer research.

Fetched: June 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors in real-world evidence cancer research.

Future Oncol. 2018 May 31;:

Authors: Feinberg BA, Bharmal M, Klink AJ, Nabhan C, Phatak H

Abstract
AIM: Real-world evidence of charted treatment responses to cancer drug therapy was compared with medical record derived radiographic measurements of target lesions per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).
MATERIALS & METHODS: 15 physicians treating 59 metastatic Merkel cell cancer (mMCC) patients contributed patient-level data. A comparison of medical record reported best response with radiographic measurements per RECIST of pre- and post-treatment target lesions.
RESULTS: RECIST response rates were significantly lower compared with medical record reported with a concordance of 43.2% (95% CI: 28.0-58.4%).
CONCLUSION: Subjective assessment of tumor response collected via traditional chart abstraction may overestimate benefit and limit the potential role of real-world evidence in value-based care research. The use of target lesion measurements presents an attractive alternative that better aligns with trial results.

PMID: 29848070 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Merkel cell carcinoma and cellular cytotoxicity: sensitivity to cellular lysis and screening for potential target antigens suitable for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.'

Merkel cell carcinoma and cellular cytotoxicity: sensitivity to cellular lysis and screening for potential target antigens suitable for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel cell carcinoma and cellular cytotoxicity: sensitivity to cellular lysis and screening for potential target antigens suitable for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2018 May 28;:

Authors: Ollier J, Kervarrec T, Samimi M, Benlalam H, Aumont P, Vivien R, Touzé A, Labarrière N, Vié H, Clémenceau B

Abstract
The recent success of checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) confirms that MCC tumors can be immunogenic. However, no treatment directly targeting the tumor is available for use in combination with these checkpoint inhibitors to enhance their efficacity. This study was carried out to characterize MCC line sensitivity to cellular lysis and to identify cell surface antigens that could be used for direct targeting of this tumor. For five representative MCC lines, the absence or low expression of MICA, MICB, HLA-I, and ICAM-1 was associated with low level of recognition by NK cells and T lymphocytes. However, expression of HLA-I and ICAM-1 and sensitivity to cellular lysis could be restored or increased after exposure to INFγ. We tested 41 antibodies specific for 41 different antigens using a novel antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) screening system for target antigens. Anti-CD326 (EpCAM) was the only antibody capable of inducing ADCC on the five MCC lines tested. Because MCC tumors are often directly accessible, local pharmacologic manipulation to restore HLA class-I and ICAM-1 cell surface expression (and thus sensitivity to cell lysis) can potentially benefit immune therapeutic intervention. In line with this, our observation that ADCC against EpCAM can induce lysis of MCC lines and suggests that therapeutic targeting of this antigen deserves to be explored further.

PMID: 29808366 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Avelumab: A Review in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Avelumab: A Review in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Target Oncol. 2018 May 24;:

Authors: Shirley M

Abstract
Avelumab (Bavencio®) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that is directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Avelumab functions as an immune checkpoint inhibitor and has recently been approved in the USA, the EU and Japan for the treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). It is thus the first therapeutic agent specifically approved for use in this indication, and is approved for use independent of line of treatment. Approval for avelumab in metastatic MCC was based on the two-part, single-arm, phase II trial, JAVELIN Merkel 200. In Part A of the study, confirmed objective responses were observed in approximately one-third of patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic MCC treated with avelumab. The responses were observed early and appeared to be durable, with an estimated 74% of responses having a duration ≥ 12 months. Furthermore, interim results from a separate cohort of patients (Part B) indicate an objective response rate for avelumab of > 60% in patients who were chemotherapy-naïve in the metastatic disease setting. Avelumab is associated with a risk of immune-related adverse events but, overall, has an acceptable and manageable safety and tolerability profile. In conclusion, currently available data suggest that avelumab presents a clinically beneficial new treatment option for metastatic MCC, a rare but aggressive cancer associated with a poor prognosis.

PMID: 29799096 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Absence of immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement in primary Merkel cell carcinomas.

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Absence of immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement in primary Merkel cell carcinomas.

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2018 May 24;:

Authors: Gambichler T, Segert MH, Höxtermann S, Stockfleth E, Doerler M

PMID: 29797735 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma on the Cheek: Three Case Reports.

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma on the Cheek: Three Case Reports.

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2017 Sep;27(9):S122-S124

Authors: Fan T, Song YJ, Liu XL, Zhou J, Yang H, Wei YN, Wang CQ

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that typically arises in sunexposed areas of the skin. Herein, we present three cases of primary MCC of the cheek. Case 1 had multiple nodules and mild swelling on the left cheek and eyelids, the patient did not receive any treatment and died after 10 months. Case 2 presented with nodule on patient's left cheek, which increased gradually. The patient was treated with surgical resection from the tumor edge 0.3 cm and skin flap transplantation, she died after 21 months. Case 3 presented with a nodule without any symptoms on patient's left cheek, she was treated with surgical resection and the left cheek was reconstructed with a free flap of tissue. Outpatient follow-up did not show any recurrence and metastasis. The authors report the clinical, histopathological, therapy, prognosis features of MCC, and reviewed with literature.

PMID: 28969748 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma in a liver transplant recipient.

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma in a liver transplant recipient.

Cutis. 2017 Aug;100(2):103;104;124

Authors: Obioha J, Miller S

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive cutaneous tumor that commonly occurs in sun-exposed sites. It has a tendency for rapid growth, local recurrence, lymph node invasion, and distant metastases. Risk factors include immunosuppression, advanced age, exposure to UV radiation, and infection with the Merkel cell polyomavirus. We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with rapidly aggressive MCC 6 years after liver transplantation.

PMID: 28961284 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Merkel cell carcinoma: Clinical outcome and prognostic factors in 351 patients.

Fetched: May 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel cell carcinoma: Clinical outcome and prognostic factors in 351 patients.

J Surg Oncol. 2018 May 22;:

Authors: van Veenendaal LM, van Akkooi ACJ, Verhoef C, Grünhagen DJ, Klop WMC, Valk GD, Tesselaar MET

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin.
AIM: To describe clinical outcome and prognostic factors of MCC patients in two expert-centers.
METHOD: Patients with histologically confirmed MCC in 1990-2014 were included. Data on patient, tumor characteristics and treatment were retrospectively collected.
RESULTS: A total of 351 Patients were evaluated, 153 (44%) males, median age 74 years (range 28-94). Median follow-up time was 28 months (IQR 13-58). Median primary tumor size was 17 mm (range 2-135). At time of diagnosis 112 (32%) patients had lymph node metastases. The cohorts' 5-year overall survival (OS) was 58%. Using a competing risk analysis the 5-year relapse and MCC related death was 42% and 22%. Adjuvant radiation therapy (XRT) was associated with reduced recurrence (SDH 0.54; CI 0.3-0.9). Nodal involvement (SDH 2.7; CI 1.1-6.6) and the male gender were associated with higher MCC related death (SDH 3.1; CI 1.2-7.9) CONCLUSION: In a large cohort a low MCC related death, in the presence of a low OS was seen. This indicates that a significant number of MCC patients die due to other causes than MCC. Adjuvant XRT was associated with relapse. Male gender and nodal metastasis were associated with MCC related death.

PMID: 29790179 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Optimal Surgical Modality for Early Merkel Cell Carcinoma-Results from the National Cancer Data Base.

Fetched: May 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Optimal Surgical Modality for Early Merkel Cell Carcinoma-Results from the National Cancer Data Base.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May 19;:

Authors: Singh B, Qureshi MM, Truong MT, Sahni D

PMID: 29787838 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Treatment of Metastatic Eyelid Carcinoma.

Fetched: May 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Treatment of Metastatic Eyelid Carcinoma.

J Craniofac Surg. 2017 Nov;28(8):e722-e725

Authors: Bonavolontà P, Dell'Aversana Orabona G, Abbate V, Iaconetta G, Bonavolontà G, Califano L

Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report management and outcomes in patients affected by eyelids carcinomas involving regional lymph nodes.
METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed the data of patients affected by eyelids carcinoma with nodal involvement. The clinical records of 10 patients with malignant eyelid carcinoma and regional nodal metastasis treated between September 2011 and March 2015 have been analyzed.
RESULTS: The study included 5 women and 5 men (median age 54,5 years; range 37-80 years). The most common tumor was the squamous cell carcinoma (4 cases) followed by sebaceous carcinoma (2 cases): 1 case of epidermoid carcinoma, 1 case of malignant melanoma, 1 case of Merkel carcinoma, and 1 case of basal cell carcinoma. All patients were treated by surgical resection; in 2 cases, orbital exenteration was required. The treatment of regional nodal metastasis consisted of parotidectomy and radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy. None of the patients developed local recurrence. Three patients died: one, affected by Merkel cell carcinoma, died after 2 months because of metastatic dissemination to the lung; another one, affected by epidermoid carcinoma involving the orbit, died because of liver metastasis; the third one, affected by malignant melanoma, died because of other causes. The follow-up time ranged from 9 to 36 months (median 19.3 months).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients affected by advanced malignant eyelid carcinoma need to be strictly controlled because metastasis can develop at least 5 years after surgical treatment. Therapy may include a combination of local surgery, neck dissection, and radiation.

PMID: 28885435 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Single synchronous liver metastasis from Merkel cell carcinoma mimicking a klatskin tumor: A diagnostic challenge.

Fetched: May 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Single synchronous liver metastasis from Merkel cell carcinoma mimicking a klatskin tumor: A diagnostic challenge.

Dig Liver Dis. 2017 Sep;49(9):1059

Authors: Vennarecci G, Tudisco A, Cancellario d'Alena F, Ettorre GM

PMID: 28473299 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Merkel cell carcinoma of the facial skin. Cases presentation and general rules of treatment].

Fetched: May 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Merkel cell carcinoma of the facial skin. Cases presentation and general rules of treatment].

Przegl Lek. 2017;74(3):129-31

Authors: Brodowski R, Startek B, Pakla P, Sternberg Stojałowski S, Frańczak J, Lewandowski B

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive, malignant, neuroendocrine tumor of the skin. The aim of the study is to present the clinical pictures, methods and results of treatment of MCC in the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery in Rzeszow in years 2003-2010. Changes were located on the skin of the face of four patients. All patients were treated surgically, the primary change was removed. Recurrence after surgical treatment was observed in all patients. The observations confirmed the data from the literature about the incidence of MCC over 75 years of age, aggressiveness and difficulties in treatment of this disease.

PMID: 29694773 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pembrolizumab-associated Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid in a Merkel cell carcinoma patient.

Fetched: May 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Pembrolizumab-associated Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid in a Merkel cell carcinoma patient.

Br J Dermatol. 2018 May 14;:

Authors: Haug V, Behle V, Benoit S, Kneitz H, Schilling B, Goebeler M, Gesierich A

Abstract
the anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab, routinely used for treatment of metastatic melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer, was recently shown to have clinical meaningful activity in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Several cases of bullous pemphigoid (BP) induced by PD-1 antibodies in melanoma have been reported so far. Here we report a case of oral mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) - a previously unknown, severe immune-related adverse event (irAE) occurring during pembrolizumab therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 29758087 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Multiple enlarged lymph nodes in axilla A case report of Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Fetched: May 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Multiple enlarged lymph nodes in axilla A case report of Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Ann Ital Chir. 2017 Jan 16;6:

Authors: Noorelahi M, Mahmood R

Abstract
We present the case of a 59-year-old man with a growing mass in his left axillary area. A biopsy and immunostainings demonstrated neuroendocrine carcinoma, which is Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The disease is characterised by neurosecretory granules in tumor cells. MCC is a rare entity. The disease is predominantly seen in the inguinal region or the axilla and typically found incidentally. It presents clinically as multiple lymph nodes enlargement. Yet controversy exists regarding treatment modality of MCC. We report the first case of MCC in (Left) Axilla where there were two cases reported previously in (Right) Axilla.
KEY WORDS: Lymph nodes enlargement, Merkel cell carcinoma, Radiotherapy.

PMID: 28098567 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Co-expression of NGF and PD-L1 on tumor-associated immune cells in the microenvironment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: May 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Co-expression of NGF and PD-L1 on tumor-associated immune cells in the microenvironment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2018 May 09;:

Authors: Wehkamp U, Stern S, Krüger S, Weichenthal M, Hauschild A, Röcken C, Egberts F

Abstract
PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a malignant neuroendocrine skin tumor with known viral association. The microenvironment and its interaction with the tumor via the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway are crucial for response to anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 treatments. However, not all patients respond, which is suggestive of additional mechanisms for tumor growth and/or persistence. We previously detected tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) expression on MCC tumor cells and, therefore, gained interest in the expression of its ligand nerve growth factor (NGF).
METHODS: Thirty-nine patients from our department were studied for immunohistochemical NGF, PD-1, and PD-L1 expression and clinico-pathological correlation.
RESULTS: PD-L1 was expressed on the tumor cells in 42%. In 95%, PD-L1 expression was also found on CD68+ spindle cells at the tumor border, which co-expressed NGF in 71%. 66% contained PD-1+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. PD-1, PD-L1, and NGF expression seems to correlate with a worse outcome.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that PD-L1 and NGF are co-expressed on spindle cells in the microenvironment. The expression of NGF might be a link of the microenvironment to the TrkA-positive tumor cells. Whether this mechanism is critical for tumor growth and lack of response to anti-PD-1/L1 treatment has to be investigated in further studies.

PMID: 29744662 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

PDQ Cancer Information Summaries

Fetched: May 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

PDQ Cancer Information Summaries

Book. 2002

Authors:

Abstract
This PDQ cancer information summary has current information about the treatment of merkel cell carcinoma. It is meant to inform and help patients, families, and caregivers. It does not give formal guidelines or recommendations for making decisions about health care. Editorial Boards write the PDQ cancer information summaries and keep them up to date. These Boards are made up of experts in cancer treatment and other specialties related to cancer. The summaries are reviewed regularly and changes are made when there is new information. The date on each summary ("Date Last Modified") is the date of the most recent change. The information in this patient summary was taken from the health professional version, which is reviewed regularly and updated as needed, by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board.

PMID: 26389202

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasia.

Fetched: May 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasia.

Oncol Res Treat. 2018;41(5):306-312

Authors: Weber MM, Fottner C

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are usually controlled by antiproliferative, local ablative and/or radionuclide therapies, whereas poorly differentiated NENs generally require cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, treatment options for patients with advanced/metastatic high-grade NENs remain limited.
METHOD: Review of the literature and international congress abstracts on the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy by checkpoint inhibition in advanced/metastatic NENs.
RESULTS: Evidence points to an important role of immune phenomena in the pathogenesis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) protein and its ligand are mainly expressed in poorly differentiated NENs. Microsatellite instability and high mutational load are more pronounced in high-grade NENs and may predict response to immunotherapy. Clinical experience of immune checkpoint blockade mainly exists for Merkel cell carcinoma, a high-grade cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), which has led to approval of the anti-PD-1 antibody avelumab. In addition, there is anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in large-cell lung NECs, ovarian NECs and others, including gastroenteropancreatic NENs. Currently, phase II studies investigate PDR001, pembrolizumab, combined durvalumab and tremelimumab, and avelumab treatment in patients with advanced/metastatic NENs.
CONCLUSION: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a promising therapeutic option, especially in progressive NECs or high-grade NETs with high tumor burden, microsatellite instability, and/or mutational load.

PMID: 29742518 [PubMed - in process]

PD-1 and PD-L1 in neoplastic cells and the tumor microenvironment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: May 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

PD-1 and PD-L1 in neoplastic cells and the tumor microenvironment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

J Cutan Pathol. 2017 Sep;44(9):740-746

Authors: Mitteldorf C, Berisha A, Tronnier M, Pfaltz MC, Kempf W

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neoplasm, which is often associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 are key players of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
METHODS: Fourteen paraffin-embedded tissue samples of MCC were stratified by their MCPyV detection. Apart from PD-L1 and PD-1, the TME was further characterized for the expression of CD33, FOXP3 and MxA.
RESULTS: We observed PD-1 in 2 of 12 tumors. PD-L1 expression by tumor cells was found in 7 of 8 MCPyV(+) samples and was detected particularly in the periphery. The tumor cells were surrounded by a shield of PD-L1/CD33 immune cells. Expression of PD-L1 by the tumor cells was higher in areas with a denser immune infiltrate. CD33(+) cells without direct tumor contact were PD-L1 negative. Only a low number of FOXP3(+) regulatory T-cells was admixed. Tumor cells of MCPyV(-) samples were mostly PD-L1 negative.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that PD-L1 expression occurs in tumor and immune cells, in areas in which they are close in contact. Interferon seems to play a role in this interaction. We postulate that PD-L1(+)/CD33(+) cells shield the tumor against attacking PD-1(+) immune cells. Therefore, next to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, blockade of CD33 seems to be a promising therapeutic approach.

PMID: 28569410 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Two for One - HSC Newsbeat

Posted: August 16th, 2018, 11:14am GMT

HSC Newsbeat

Two for One
HSC Newsbeat
Neuroendocrine cancer is rare and hard to diagnose – and it can be difficult to treat and to survive. Its tumors can disrupt the body's hormones and food transit through the bowels, causing an array of nonspecific symptoms that may not be diagnosed ...

and more »

New targeted radiation therapy increases survival for neuroendocrine tumors - DOTmed.com

Posted: August 8th, 2018, 1:09pm GMT

New targeted radiation therapy increases survival for neuroendocrine tumors
DOTmed.com
The University of Kansas Cancer Center is one of the first in the region to offer patients Lutathera®, approved by the FDA earlier this year. Lutathera provides advanced, targeted nuclear medicine radiation therapy to cancer patients with primary ...

CTEP Protocol NCI Trials for August - The Cancer Letter Publications

Posted: August 3rd, 2018, 3:17pm GMT

The Cancer Letter Publications

CTEP Protocol NCI Trials for August
The Cancer Letter Publications
Randomized, Double-Blinded Phase III Study of CABozantinib Versus Placebo IN Patients with Advanced NEuroendocrine Tumors After Progression on Everolimus (CABINET). Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. Chan, Jennifer Ang. (617) 632-6315.

Neuroendocrine Tumor Drug Market Innovations, Business Opportunities, Emerging Trends 2018-2025 - Digital Journal

Posted: July 18th, 2018, 3:26am GMT

Neuroendocrine Tumor Drug Market Innovations, Business Opportunities, Emerging Trends 2018-2025
Digital Journal
This report studies the global Neuroendocrine Tumor Drug market status and forecast, categorizes the global Neuroendocrine Tumor Drug market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in ...

Editors' Choice - Science Magazine

Posted: July 12th, 2018, 3:52pm GMT

Science Magazine

Editors' Choice
Science Magazine
How can we find a target that will kill tumor cells and match it to an effective drug? Alvarez et al. analyzed the protein-signaling networks in human gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) to find master regulators of tumor survival.

OncoBreak: Boosting Anticancer Immunity; IBD to Colon Cancer; Lagging Proton Trials - MedPage Today

Posted: July 12th, 2018, 2:02pm GMT

MedPage Today

OncoBreak: Boosting Anticancer Immunity; IBD to Colon Cancer; Lagging Proton Trials
MedPage Today
(MD Anderson Cancer Center, JAMA Oncology). A Colorado mother heads down the home stretch of a journey to run through 50 national parks to honor her daughter, who died last year of a rare neuroendocrine tumor. (Good Sports). Researchers think ...

New Trends of Neuroendocrine Function Test Market with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2025 - Digital Journal

Posted: July 10th, 2018, 10:31pm GMT

New Trends of Neuroendocrine Function Test Market with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2025
Digital Journal
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/09/2018 -- Neuroendocrine function test is a diagnosis process of finding out the neuroendocrine tumor. Neuroendocrine tumor produce particular tumor biomarkers that may help in detection and neuroendocrine function ...

Tumors grown in the lab provide insights on rare prostate cancer - Medical Xpress

Posted: July 4th, 2018, 10:39am GMT

Medical Xpress

Tumors grown in the lab provide insights on rare prostate cancer
Medical Xpress
Patients with prostate cancer often receive therapies that reduce levels of testosterone. Many of their tumors eventually become resistant to such hormone-reducing therapies and some transform into a rare, but aggressive form called neuroendocrine ...

Donna L. Byrd - Union Democrat

Posted: June 29th, 2018, 8:51pm GMT

Union Democrat

Donna L. Byrd
Union Democrat
In lieu on flowers the family requests that you make a donation in her name to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation. Donna's cancer was very rare and there is little funding or public knowledge. NET cancer day is Nov. 10 and the ribbon is Zebra ...

New type of lung cancer - Science Daily

Posted: June 27th, 2018, 3:08am GMT

New type of lung cancer
Science Daily
Using this "CRISPR screen," the team found that a transcription factor called POU2F3 is expressed exclusively in the minority of SCLC tumors with low levels of neuroendocrine markers. It turns out that this variant form of SCLC tumors are derived from ...

SNMMI: New therapy aids patients with neuroendocrine tumors - AuntMinnie

Posted: June 25th, 2018, 5:02am GMT

">[https%253A%252F%252Fwww.auntminnie.com%252Findex.aspx%253Fsec%253Dsup%2526sub%253Dmol%2526pag%253Ddis%2526ItemID%253D121129">]

AuntMinnie

SNMMI: New therapy aids patients with neuroendocrine tumors
AuntMinnie
June 25, 2018 -- PHILADELPHIA - Researchers from the U.S. and China are reporting early success with a new, long-lasting theranostic radionuclide therapy for patients with advanced metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Study results were presented ...

SNMMI: New therapy aids patients with neuroendocrine tumors - AuntMinnie

Posted: June 25th, 2018, 5:02am GMT

">[https%253A%252F%252Fwww.auntminnie.com%252Findex.aspx%253Fsec%253Dsup%2526sub%253Dmol%2526pag%253Ddis%2526ItemID%253D121129">]

AuntMinnie

Targeting the engine room of the cancer cell - Science Daily

Posted: June 18th, 2018, 6:34pm GMT

Science Daily

Targeting the engine room of the cancer cell
Science Daily
Dr. Modlin, who had initially proposed the concept of addressing Neuroendocrine tumors using the innovative strategy developed by Dr. Califano, commented that the successful demonstration of the efficacy of a pre-treatment molecular identification ...

Targeting the engine room of the cancer cell - Medical Xpress

Posted: June 18th, 2018, 3:01pm GMT

Medical Xpress

Targeting the engine room of the cancer cell
Medical Xpress
Dr. Modlin, who had initially proposed the concept of addressing Neuroendocrine tumors using the innovative strategy developed by Dr. Califano, commented that the successful demonstration of the efficacy of a pre-treatment molecular identification ...

Radionuclide 177Lu-Dotatate Improves QoL in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors - MedicalResearch.com (blog)

Posted: June 13th, 2018, 12:54pm GMT

MedicalResearch.com (blog)

Radionuclide 177Lu-Dotatate Improves QoL in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors
MedicalResearch.com (blog)
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) progression is associated with deterioration in quality of life. We assessed the impact of 177Lu-Dotatate treatment on time to deterioration in health ...

DOTmed.com - New nuclear medicine method shows promise for ... - DOTmed.com

Posted: June 7th, 2018, 2:06pm GMT

DOTmed.com - New nuclear medicine method shows promise for ...
DOTmed.com
RESTON, VA - Researchers have shown that a new nuclear medicine procedure could safely and more effectively detect cancerous gastrointestinal and ...

and more »

New nuclear medicine method shows promise for better detection of neuroendocrine tumors - Science Daily

Posted: June 6th, 2018, 3:37pm GMT

New nuclear medicine method shows promise for better detection of neuroendocrine tumors
Science Daily
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can occur in almost any organ, but they are most commonly observed in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. The average time until diagnosis is 3 to 10 years. An estimated 40 to 95 percent of cancerous ...

North State Modifieds “Driving Out Cancer” tour - Ukiah Daily Journal

Posted: June 2nd, 2018, 2:02pm GMT

North State Modifieds “Driving Out Cancer” tour
Ukiah Daily Journal
Avila first noticed abdominal symptoms of a Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) at the age of 42. He dismissed and ignored the pain for 11 years before going back to the doctor. Three days later he was rushed to surgery to remove tumors in his small intestine.

Somatostatin Receptor Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors: From Agonists to Antagonists - Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 11:24am GMT

Somatostatin Receptor Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors: From Agonists to Antagonists
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration approved ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE for imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and very recently ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE received approval for therapy of gastroenteropancreatic NETs. ⁶⁸Ga/¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE and the ...

This Month in JNM - Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 11:24am GMT

This Month in JNM
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
From SSR agonists to antagonists: Bodei and Weber survey the development of somatostatin receptor–targeted imaging and therapy for neuroendocrine tumors and preview 2 articles in this issue of JNM on systematic evaluation of PET imaging with ...

Permalink for 'Ga-OPS202 in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Prospective Phase I Imaging Study - Journal of Nuclear Medicine'

Ga-OPS202 in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Prospective Phase I Imaging Study - Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 11:24am GMT

Ga-OPS202 in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Prospective Phase I Imaging Study
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Tumor and renal uptake persists over time, whereas organs such as spleen, lungs, and liver, along with urinary excretion, are progressively washed out. Tumor contrast was highest at 1 h after injection, whereas 4-h images suffer from poor count statistics.

Ga-OPS202 in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Prospective Phase I Imaging Study - Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 11:24am GMT

Ga-OPS202 in Patients with Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Prospective Phase I Imaging Study
Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Preclinical and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that radiolabeled somatostatin (sst) receptor antagonists perform better than agonists in detecting neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We performed a prospective phase I/II study to evaluate the sst ...

Rare Skin Cancers - News-Medical.net

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 2:45am GMT

News-Medical.net

Rare Skin Cancers
News-Medical.net
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a type of neuroendocrine carcinoma that is highly aggressive. Merkel cell tumors can be pink, red, or purple in color, and are often firm in nature. They are not usually painful, but are very fast-growing. Merkel cells ...

Carcinoid Tumor Market 2018 Major Key Vendors – Novartis AG (Europe), Amgen Inc. (US), Boehringer Ingelheim ... - Digital Journal

Posted: May 30th, 2018, 6:02am GMT

Carcinoid Tumor Market 2018 Major Key Vendors – Novartis AG (Europe), Amgen Inc. (US), Boehringer Ingelheim ...
Digital Journal
Carcinoid tumor is a type of the neuroendocrine tumor. A neuroendocrine tumor develops in the body's neuroendocrine system, which is made up of cells that are a combination of hormone-producing endocrine cells and nerve cells. The most common site of ...

Cabozantinib Looks Promising for Malignant Pheochromocytoma - Medscape

Posted: May 19th, 2018, 12:55pm GMT

Medscape

Cabozantinib Looks Promising for Malignant Pheochromocytoma
Medscape
All but about 15% of the rare neuroendocrine tumors, pheochromocytomas, and paragangliomas are benign. But because there are no histologic, genetic, or molecular markers of malignancy, the presence of metastases is usually the first signal that the ...

NETRF Announces grant funding for neuroendocrine cancer research - The Cancer Letter Publications

Posted: May 19th, 2018, 1:44am GMT

The Cancer Letter Publications

NETRF Announces grant funding for neuroendocrine cancer research
The Cancer Letter Publications
The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation announced its latest Request for Applications and invites innovative research applications in neuroendocrine tumors that can bring the field closer to more effective therapies. This uncommon cancer occurring ...

Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment Market Is Expanding at a CAGR of 5.73 % from 2017 to 2025 – Credence Research - Digital Journal

Posted: May 15th, 2018, 1:11pm GMT

Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment Market Is Expanding at a CAGR of 5.73 % from 2017 to 2025 – Credence Research
Digital Journal
The latest market report published by Credence Research, Inc. “Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment Market - Growth, Future Prospects, Competitive Analysis, 2017 - 2025,” the global neuroendocrine tumor treatment market was valued at US$ 1,159.5 Mn in ...

and more »

Hypothyroidism After TKIs for Cancer Linked to Longer Survival - Medscape

Posted: May 9th, 2018, 10:35am GMT

Medscape

Hypothyroidism After TKIs for Cancer Linked to Longer Survival
Medscape
The TKIs included axitinib, pazopanib, regorafenib, sorafenib, sunitinib, and vandetanib, and the cancers that were being treated included renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, ...

Dow Biomedica gets insurance coverage for chromogranin A tests - Korea Biomedical Review

Posted: May 8th, 2018, 5:35am GMT

Korea Biomedical Review

Dow Biomedica gets insurance coverage for chromogranin A tests
Korea Biomedical Review
Dow Biomedica said Monday that it received insurance coverage for Neolisa Chromogranin A test, a method that detects chromogranin A, which labels neuroendocrine tumors, from the Ministry of Health and Welfare on May 1. International guidelines from ...

A more affordable drug for neuroendocrine tumors diagnostics passing preclinical tests - EurekAlert (press release)

Posted: May 7th, 2018, 10:56am GMT

EurekAlert (press release)

A more affordable drug for neuroendocrine tumors diagnostics passing preclinical tests
EurekAlert (press release)
This is a drug for the diagnostics of neuroendocrine tumors, which was obtained together with physicists and oncologists. 'Diagnostic drugs should be affordable therefore it is necessary to reduce their cost. Moscow-based company Pharm-Syntez has been ...

Roger “David” Bond - Gulf Coast News Today

Posted: August 6th, 2018, 1:03pm GMT

Gulf Coast News Today

Roger “David” Bond
Gulf Coast News Today
On Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, Roger "David" Bond, husband, father, brother and PaPaw, passed away after a long and valiant fight with Merkel cell cancer. David, a resident of Foley, Alabama, formerly of South Carolina, went to be with his Lord and Savior, ...

Permalink for 'Vyriad Announces Collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer to Evaluate Oncolytic Virus ... - PharmiWeb.com (press release)'

Vyriad Announces Collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer to Evaluate Oncolytic Virus ... - PharmiWeb.com (press release)

Posted: July 18th, 2018, 10:16am GMT

Vyriad Announces Collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer to Evaluate Oncolytic Virus ...
PharmiWeb.com (press release)
Avelumab has received accelerated approval** by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial ...

Merkel Cell Carcinoma | A Pipeline Analysis Report 2018 | Technavio - Taiwan News

Posted: July 6th, 2018, 4:11pm GMT

Taiwan News

Merkel Cell Carcinoma | A Pipeline Analysis Report 2018 | Technavio
Taiwan News
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 6, 2018-- has announced its pipeline analysis report on the . The report includes a detailed analysis of the pipeline molecules under investigation within the defined data collection period to treat Merkel cell carcinoma.

and more »

Merkel Cell Carcinoma | A Pipeline Analysis Report 2018 | Technavio - Digital Journal

Posted: July 6th, 2018, 3:52pm GMT

Digital Journal

Merkel Cell Carcinoma | A Pipeline Analysis Report 2018 | Technavio
Digital Journal
LONDON--(Business Wire)--Technavio has announced its pipeline analysis report on the Merkel cell carcinoma market. The report includes a detailed analysis of the pipeline molecules under investigation within the defined data collection period to treat ...

and more »

Skin Cancer: A Visual Guide to Identifying Warning Signs on Your Body - Allure Magazine

Posted: July 2nd, 2018, 2:59pm GMT

Allure Magazine

Skin Cancer: A Visual Guide to Identifying Warning Signs on Your Body
Allure Magazine
"After 'the big three', the next skin cancer you think about is Merkel cell carcinoma," Doris Day, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation's leadership society, tells Allure. While it's pretty ...

What is Skin Cancer? - tophealthjournal.com

Posted: June 25th, 2018, 4:54pm GMT

tophealthjournal.com

What is Skin Cancer?
tophealthjournal.com
Amongst others, skin cancer is one of the most common cancer in the United States. According to American Academy of Dermatology, at least 9500 people get diagnosed with skin cancer on a daily basis in the United States. Skin cancer has a number of ...

Drugmakers unveil new clinical data at US cancer meet - Korea Biomedical Review

Posted: June 8th, 2018, 3:41am GMT

Korea Biomedical Review

Drugmakers unveil new clinical data at US cancer meet
Korea Biomedical Review
Merck's disclosures include Erbitux (cetuximab) data related to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, data on Bavencio (avelumab) in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, additional efficacy data of the dual-acting immunotherapy fusion ...

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Market Improvement Status, Estimate, Research and development Status and Innovation ... - Digital Journal

Posted: June 7th, 2018, 6:15am GMT

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Market Improvement Status, Estimate, Research and development Status and Innovation ...
Digital Journal
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer with a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Most recurrences occur within two years after the diagnosis of the primary tumor. The main cause of the disease is Merkel cell ...

Two Year Update of Pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 Trial Shows Continued Durable Responses with BAVENCIO(R ... - ACROFAN USA

Posted: June 5th, 2018, 11:14pm GMT

Two Year Update of Pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 Trial Shows Continued Durable Responses with BAVENCIO(R ...
ACROFAN USA
*BAVENCIO^® (avelumab) was first approved in the US in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC). In addition to the FDA ...

Rare Skin Cancers - Brinkwire (press release)

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 2:51am GMT

Rare Skin Cancers
Brinkwire (press release)
There are certain risk factors which can increase the chances of getting MCC, and they include infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), UV-light exposure, light-colored skin, elderly age, male gender, and weak immune system. The biggest risk ...

Rare Skin Cancers - Brinkwire (press release)

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 2:51am GMT

Rare Skin Cancers - News-Medical.net

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 2:45am GMT

News-Medical.net

Rare Skin Cancers
News-Medical.net
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a type of neuroendocrine carcinoma that is highly aggressive. Merkel cell tumors can be pink, red, or purple in color, and are often firm in nature. They are not usually painful, but are very fast-growing. Merkel cells ...

Merck Data at ASCO 2018 to Showcase Progress and Further Optionality of Oncology Pipeline - ACROFAN USA

Posted: May 17th, 2018, 2:31am GMT

Merck Data at ASCO 2018 to Showcase Progress and Further Optionality of Oncology Pipeline
ACROFAN USA
These long-term results include data on avelumab's duration of response and represent the first study to report long-term survival data for an immunotherapy in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC). The company will also present further evidence for ...

and more »

Bristol-Myers Squibb Highlights Breadth of Immuno-Oncology–Based Combination Research and Commitment to ... - Digital Journal

Posted: May 16th, 2018, 7:07pm GMT

Bristol-Myers Squibb Highlights Breadth of Immuno-Oncology–Based Combination Research and Commitment to ...
Digital Journal
PRINCETON, N.J.--(Business Wire)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) today announced that data from over 70 Company-sponsored studies and collaborations evaluating its oncology compounds across more than 20 types of cancer will be ...

and more »

New Data from Merck's Leading Immuno-Oncology Clinical Development Program in Over 25 Tumor Types to Be ... - Digital Journal

Posted: May 16th, 2018, 7:05pm GMT

New Data from Merck's Leading Immuno-Oncology Clinical Development Program in Over 25 Tumor Types to Be ...
Digital Journal
These data are in esophageal cancer (KEYNOTE-180, Abstract #4049), HCC (KEYNOTE-224, Abstract #4020), Merkel cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-017, Abstract #9506), RCC (KEYNOTE-427, Abstract #4500), prostate cancer (KEYNOTE-199, Abstract #5007), ...

Permalink for 'eFFECTOR Initiates Randomized Dosing in Phase 2 Checkpoint Combination Trial of eFT508 and Avelumab in ... - PharmiWeb.com (press release)'

eFFECTOR Initiates Randomized Dosing in Phase 2 Checkpoint Combination Trial of eFT508 and Avelumab in ... - PharmiWeb.com (press release)

Posted: May 11th, 2018, 10:13am GMT

eFFECTOR Initiates Randomized Dosing in Phase 2 Checkpoint Combination Trial of eFT508 and Avelumab in ...
PharmiWeb.com (press release)
Avelumab has received accelerated approval** by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma ...

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of AB154 in Participants With Advanced Malignancies

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Renal Cell Carcinoma; Breast Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Melanoma; Bladder Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Endometrial Cancer; Merkel Cell Carcinoma; GastroEsophageal Cancer
Interventions: Drug: AB154; Drug: AB122
Sponsor: Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Recruiting

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Immunotherapy Combinations in Participants With Advanced Malignancies

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Breast Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Melanoma; Bladder Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Endometrial Cancer; Merkel Cell Carcinoma; GastroEsophageal Cancer; Renal Cell Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: AB928; Drug: AB122
Sponsor: Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Recruiting

A Study of INCMGA00012 in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Posted: July 25th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Intervention: Drug: INCMGA00012
Sponsor: Incyte Corporation
Not yet recruiting

DOTATOC PET/CT for Imaging NET Patients

Posted: July 11th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Insulinoma; Gastrinoma; Glucagonoma; Vipoma; Pheochromocytoma; Paraganglioma; Neuroblastoma; Ganglioneuroma; Medullary Carcinoma; Pituitary Adenoma; Medulloblastoma; Merkel Cell Carcinoma; Small-cell Lung Cancer; Meningioma; Carcinoid
Interventions: Diagnostic Test: 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT; Diagnostic Test: 18F-FDG PET/CT
Sponsor: British Columbia Cancer Agency
Recruiting

Lymph Node Identification in Skin Malignancy Using Indocyanine Green Transcutaneously (LIMIT) Study

Posted: June 4th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma of Skin Staging (Diagnosis); Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Intervention: Diagnostic Test: VS3 - 3DHD camera
Sponsor: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
Recruiting

A Safety and Tolerability Study of INCAGN02385 in Select Advanced Malignancies

Posted: May 25th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Cervical Cancer; Microsatellite Instability (MSI)-High Endometrial Cancer; Gastric Cancer (Including Stomach and Gastroesophageal Junction [GEJ]); Esophageal Cancer; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Melanoma (Uveal Melanoma Excluded); Merkel Cell Carcinoma; Mesothelioma; MSI-high Colorectal Cancer; Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC); Ovarian Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN); Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC); Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC); Triple-negative Breast Cancer; Urothelial Carcinoma; Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Intervention: Biological: INCAGN02385
Sponsor: Incyte Biosciences International Sàrl
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for 'A Study of NKTR-262 in Combination With NKTR-214 and With NKTR-214 Plus Nivolumab in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor Malignancies'

A Study of NKTR-262 in Combination With NKTR-214 and With NKTR-214 Plus Nivolumab in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor Malignancies

Posted: February 16th, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Merkel Cell Carcinoma; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Renal Cell Carcinoma; Colorectal Cancer; Urothelial Carcinoma; Sarcoma
Interventions: Drug: NKTR-262; Drug: NKTR-214; Drug: nivolumab
Sponsor: Nektar Therapeutics
Recruiting

Pfizer Immunotherapy Combinations for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Multi-Arm Study 1

Posted: January 4th, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Interventions: Drug: PF-04518600; Drug: Avelumab; Drug: Azacitidine; Drug: Utomilumab; Drug: Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin; Drug: Glasdegib
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Pfizer
Recruiting

Adjuvant Avelumab in Merkel Cell Cancer

Posted: September 5th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Stage III Merkel Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IIIB Merkel Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7
Interventions: Drug: Avelumab; Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis; Other: Placebo
Sponsors: University of Washington; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'A Study Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of INCAGN01949 in Combination With Immune Therapies in Advanced or Metastatic Malignancies'

A Study Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of INCAGN01949 in Combination With Immune Therapies in Advanced or Metastatic Malignancies

Posted: August 7th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Advanced Malignancies
Interventions: Drug: INCAGN01949; Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab
Sponsor: Incyte Biosciences International Sàrl
Recruiting

Phase 1 Study of CK-301 as a Single Agent in Subjects With Advanced Cancers

Posted: July 11th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Lung Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Malignant Mesothelioma, Advanced; Head and Neck Cancer; Melanoma; Merkel Cell Carcinoma; Renal Cell Carcinoma; Urothelial Carcinoma; Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
Intervention: Drug: CK-301
Sponsors: Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.; Novotech (Australia) Pty Limited
Recruiting

Randomized Study of Nivolumab+Ipilimumab+/- SBRT for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Posted: March 6th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Merkel Cell Carcinoma; Skin Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab; Radiation: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Sponsors: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute; Bristol-Myers Squibb
Recruiting

Permalink for 'An Investigational Immuno-therapy Study to Investigate the Safety and Effectiveness of Nivolumab, and Nivolumab Combination Therapy in Virus-associated Tumors'

An Investigational Immuno-therapy Study to Investigate the Safety and Effectiveness of Nivolumab, and Nivolumab Combination Therapy in Virus-associated Tumors

Posted: July 2nd, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Various Advanced Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab; Drug: Relatlimab; Drug: Daratumumab
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Recruiting

Studies of Dermatologic Diseases Biospecimen Acquisition Protocol

Posted: June 15th, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Dermatologic Conditions; Healthy Volunteers; Normal Volunteers; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
Intervention:
Sponsor: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Recruiting

Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity, and Antitumor Activity of GEN-009 Adjuvanted Vaccine

Posted: August 16th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Cutaneous Melanoma; Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Urothelial Carcinoma; Renal Cell Carcinoma
Interventions: Biological: GEN-009 Adjuvanted Vaccine; Drug: Nivolumab
Sponsor: Genocea Biosciences, Inc.
Recruiting

Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) With Combination of Everolimus and Radiolabeled Somatostatin Analogue

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Drug: Everolimus
Sponsor: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center
Recruiting

Adaptive Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Therapy In Patients With Thyroid Cancer

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Thyroid Cancer; Thyroid Cancer, Medullary; Differentiated Thyroid Cancer; Papillary Thyroid Cancer; Follicular Thyroid Cancer; Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Gland Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: Lenvatinib; Drug: Sorafenib; Drug: Cabozantinib; Drug: Vandetanib
Sponsor: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Recruiting

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Immunotherapy Combinations in Participants With Advanced Malignancies

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of AB154 in Participants With Advanced Malignancies

Posted: August 14th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Molecular-Guided Surgery for Pancreatic and GI Neuroendocrine Cancers

Posted: August 9th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Pancreas
Intervention: Drug: Gallium Dotatate
Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for 'Clinic, Pathologic and Genetic Characterization of Patients With Familial Carcinoid Tumors (Study From the GTE, Groupe d'étude Des Tumeurs Endocrines)'

Clinic, Pathologic and Genetic Characterization of Patients With Familial Carcinoid Tumors (Study From the GTE, Groupe d'étude Des Tumeurs Endocrines)

Posted: August 9th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Small Intestinal Carcinoid Tumors
Intervention: Genetic: Research of constitutional genetic alterations
Sponsor: CHU de Reims
Recruiting

Denosumab + Pembrolizumab in Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

Posted: August 8th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma Stage Iii; Melanoma Stage Iv; Melanoma; Melanoma (Skin); Cutaneous Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Denosumab; Drug: Pembrolizumab
Sponsors: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; Amgen
Not yet recruiting

CMP-001 in Combo With Nivolumab in Stage IIIB/C/D Melanoma Patients With Clinically Apparent Lymph Node Disease

Posted: August 7th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Lymph Node Cancer
Interventions: Drug: CMP-001; Biological: Nivolumab
Sponsors: Diwakar Davar; Checkmate Pharmaceuticals
Not yet recruiting

Pancreatic Cancer Dietary Assessment Study

Posted: August 6th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Pancreatic Neoplasm; Pancreas Adenocarcinoma; Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Malignant Neoplasm of Pancreas
Intervention: Diagnostic Test: Pancreo-KIT breath test
Sponsors: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Pancreatic Cancer UK
Recruiting

A Study of APG-115 in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Melanomas or Advanced Solid Tumors

Posted: August 2nd, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma or Advanced Solid Tumors
Intervention: Drug: APG-115+Pembrolizumab
Sponsor: Ascentage Pharma Group Inc.
Not yet recruiting

Test of Interventions to Prevent Skin Cancer Among Danes on Vacation in High UV Index Sunny Destinations

Posted: July 31st, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Sunburn; Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure; Skin Cancer; Malignant Melanoma; Non-melanoma Skin Cancer; Keratinocyte Skin Cancer
Interventions: Behavioral: Other: Control Group - Minimal Intervention; Behavioral: Experimental: Protection Routine 1; Behavioral: Experimental: Protection Routine 2
Sponsor: Brian Køster
Recruiting

Liquid Biopsy-based Detection of Resistance to Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer Patients

Posted: July 26th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Intervention: Other: Blood samples prior to a new line of AR-targeted therapy
Sponsor: Technische Universität München
Not yet recruiting

Study of CVM-1118 for Patients With Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: July 25th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor; Gastro-enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor; Lung Neuroendocrine Neoplasm; Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Intervention: Drug: CVM-1118
Sponsor: TaiRx, Inc.
Not yet recruiting

$Permalink for 'A GCO Trial Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab Monotherapy or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Pre-treated Patients With Advanced, Refractory Pulmonary or Gastroenteropancreatic Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors (NECs)'$

A GCO Trial Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab Monotherapy or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Pre-treated Patients With Advanced, Refractory Pulmonary or Gastroenteropancreatic Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors (NECs)

Posted: July 19th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab
Sponsors: Intergroupe Francophone de Cancerologie Thoracique; Federation Francophone de Cancerologie Digestive; GERCOR - Multidisciplinary Oncology Cooperative Group
Not yet recruiting

Intra-arterial Lutetium-177-dotatate for Treatment of Patients With Neuro-endocrine Tumor Liver Metastases

Posted: July 18th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Liver Metastases
Intervention: Drug: Lutetium Lu 177-DOTATATE
Sponsor: Marnix Lam
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for 'A Phase 1b Dose Escalation/Expansion Study of Abexinostat in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies'

A Phase 1b Dose Escalation/Expansion Study of Abexinostat in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies

Posted: July 18th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma; Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma; Locally Advanced Melanoma; Locally Advanced Solid Neoplasm; Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Metastatic Melanoma; Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma; Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Stage IB Lung Cancer AJCC v7; Stage III Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8; Stage III Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage III Ureter Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIIA Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIIB Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIIC Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8; Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Ureter Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IVA Lung Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IVB Lung Cancer AJCC v8
Interventions: Drug: Abexinostat; Biological: Pembrolizumab
Sponsors: Rahul Aggarwal; Xynomic Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Recruiting

Ixazomib, Gemcitabine, and Doxorubicin in Treating Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Kidney Cancer

Posted: July 16th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Kidney Medullary Carcinoma; Stage III Renal Cell Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Renal Cell Cancer AJCC v8
Interventions: Drug: Doxorubicin; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Ixazomib
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for '18FDG PET for Early Identification of Tumor Exhaust for Immunotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Bronchopulmonary Carcinoma or Melanoma'

18FDG PET for Early Identification of Tumor Exhaust for Immunotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Bronchopulmonary Carcinoma or Melanoma

Posted: July 12th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Non-Small Cell Bronchopulmonary Carcinoma or Melanoma
Intervention: Radiation: 18FDG PET
Sponsor: Centre Antoine Lacassagne
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for 'Pembrolizumab With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Small Cell/Neuroendocrine Cancers of Urothelium or Prostate'

Pembrolizumab With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Small Cell/Neuroendocrine Cancers of Urothelium or Prostate

Posted: July 11th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Bladder Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Castration-Resistant Prostate Carcinoma; Metastatic Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma; Metastatic Urethral Urothelial Carcinoma; Prostate Carcinoma Metastatic in the Bone; Prostate Neuroendocrine Neoplasm; Prostate Small Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Bladder Cancer AJCC v8; Stage III Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage III Urethral Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Bladder Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Urethral Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IVA Bladder Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IVB Bladder Cancer AJCC v8; Ureter Small Cell Carcinoma; Urothelial Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: Carboplatin; Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: Docetaxel; Drug: Etoposide; Biological: Pembrolizumab
Sponsors: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Not yet recruiting

DOTATOC PET/CT for Imaging NET Patients

Posted: July 11th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Whole Body Dynamic 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: July 3rd, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Device: Whole Body Dynamic 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT
Sponsor: University Hospital, Brest
Not yet recruiting

Olaparib Before Surgery in Treating Participants With Localized Prostate Cancer

Posted: June 27th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: ATM Biallelic Inactivation; ATM Gene Mutation; ATM Monoallelic Inactivation; BRCA1 Biallelic Inactivation; BRCA1 Gene Mutation; BRCA2 Biallelic Inactivation; BRCA2 Gene Mutation; FANCA Biallelic Inactivation; Homologous Recombination Deficiency; PALB2 Biallelic Inactivation; PALB2 Gene Mutation; Prostate Adenocarcinoma Without Evidence of Neuroendocrine Differentiation; Stage I Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage II Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIA Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIB Prostate Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IIC Prostate Cancer AJCC v8
Interventions: Drug: Olaparib; Procedure: Radical Prostatectomy
Sponsors: University of Washington; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Not yet recruiting

Perception of Information and Quality of Life in Neuroendocrine Tumour on Lanreotide Autogel

Posted: June 19th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Other: Data collection
Sponsor: Ipsen
Recruiting

Permalink for 'TITAN With Isolated Limb Perfusion With Melphalan and Tumour Necrosis Factor-α in Patients With Advanced Extremity Tumours Including Metastatic Melanoma'

TITAN With Isolated Limb Perfusion With Melphalan and Tumour Necrosis Factor-α in Patients With Advanced Extremity Tumours Including Metastatic Melanoma

Posted: June 13th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma and Sarcoma
Intervention: Drug: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC)
Sponsor: Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Recruiting

Lymph Node Identification in Skin Malignancy Using Indocyanine Green Transcutaneously (LIMIT) Study

Posted: June 4th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma of Skin Staging (Diagnosis); Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Intervention: Diagnostic Test: VS3 - 3DHD camera
Sponsor: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
Recruiting

Adaptive BRAF-MEK Inhibitor Therapy for Advanced BRAF Mutant Melanoma

Posted: June 1st, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma (Skin); Skin Cancer; Skin Melanoma; Skin Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: Vemurafenib; Drug: Cobimetinib
Sponsor: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Recruiting

Targeted Imaging of Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II With DCFPyL-PET

Posted: May 31st, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Schwannomas; Malignant Tumors
Intervention: Drug: 18F-DCFPyL Injection
Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Recruiting

Phase I of UV1 Vaccine With Pembrolizumab

Posted: May 28th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma
Intervention: Drug: UV1/GM-CSF
Sponsor: Ultimovacs AS
Recruiting

A Safety and Tolerability Study of INCAGN02385 in Select Advanced Malignancies

Posted: May 25th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Analysis of the Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment by MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) Using a Systems Biology Approach (PEMSYS)

Posted: May 23rd, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Melanoma Naive to Immune Therapy in Metastatic Setting
Interventions: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Pembrolizumab - additional treatment
Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
Not yet recruiting

Permalink for 'Methylphenidate and Physical Activity in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Participants With Metastatic Melanoma Who Receive Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy'

Methylphenidate and Physical Activity in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Participants With Metastatic Melanoma Who Receive Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy

Posted: May 16th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Melanoma
Interventions: Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis; Drug: Methylphenidate; Other: Physical Activity; Other: Placebo; Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

A Pilot Study Using Short-Term Cultured Anti-Tumor Autologous Lymphocytes

Posted: May 16th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Melanoma
Intervention: Drug: Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Sponsor: Yale University
Recruiting

Quality of Life in Patients With Multimetastatic Melanoma Currently in Remission (QUALM)

Posted: May 8th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma (Skin) Stage IV; Remission
Intervention: Other: Questionnaires
Sponsors: Lille Catholic University; University Hospital, Lille
Recruiting

A Study of XmAb®20717 in Subjects With Selected Advanced Solid Tumors

Posted: May 7th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Breast Carcinoma; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Urothelial Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Renal Cell Carcinoma; Colorectal Carcinoma; Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma; Endometrial Carcinoma
Intervention: Biological: XmAb20717
Sponsors: Xencor, Inc.; ICON plc
Recruiting

Safety and Efficacy of IMCnyeso in Advanced NY-ESO-1 and/or LAGE-1A Positive Cancers

Posted: May 3rd, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Advanced NSCLC; Urothelial Carcinoma; Synovial Sarcoma
Intervention: Drug: IMCnyeso
Sponsor: Immunocore Ltd
Recruiting

Adoptive Transfer of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Posted: March 16th, 2018, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Uveal Neoplasms; Melanoma, Uveal
Intervention: Biological: Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL)
Sponsor: Udai Kammula
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Resection of the Primary Tumor vs no Resection in Asymptomatic Patients With Unresectable Synchronous Liver Metastases From siNEN'

Resection of the Primary Tumor vs no Resection in Asymptomatic Patients With Unresectable Synchronous Liver Metastases From siNEN

Posted: February 22nd, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor
Intervention: Other: Data record
Sponsor: CHU de Reims
Recruiting

A Study of NKTR-262 in Combination With NKTR-214 and With NKTR-214 Plus Nivolumab in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor Malignancies

Posted: February 16th, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Nivolumab With Ipilimumab in Subjects With Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Carcinoid Tumor
Interventions: Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab
Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Recruiting

A Phase II Study of BVD-523 in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Posted: January 31st, 2018, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Uveal Melanoma
Intervention: Drug: BVD-523
Sponsors: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; BioMed Valley Discoveries, Inc
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Ability of a Dendritic Cell Vaccine to Immunize Melanoma or Epithelial Cancer Patients Against Defined Mutated Neoantigens Expressed by the Autologous Cancer'

Ability of a Dendritic Cell Vaccine to Immunize Melanoma or Epithelial Cancer Patients Against Defined Mutated Neoantigens Expressed by the Autologous Cancer

Posted: October 4th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Gastrointestinal Cancer; Breast Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer
Intervention: Biological: Peptide loaded dendritic cell vaccine
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Adjuvant Avelumab in Merkel Cell Cancer

Posted: September 5th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Nevus Doctor Clinical Decision Support for GPs

Posted: August 11th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma (Skin); Non-melanoma Skin Cancer; Actinic Keratoses
Intervention: Diagnostic Test: Nevus doctor clinical decision support
Sponsor: University Hospital of North Norway
Recruiting

Permalink for 'MGMT-NET: O6-methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) Status in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Predictive Factor of Response to Alkylating Agents'

MGMT-NET: O6-methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) Status in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Predictive Factor of Response to Alkylating Agents

Posted: July 13th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Interventions: Drug: Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy; Drug: Alkylating-based chemotherapy
Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon
Not yet recruiting

Phase 1/2 Study of LOXO-195 in Patients With Previously Treated NTRK Fusion Cancers

Posted: July 12th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Thyroid Neoplasms; Sarcoma; Colorectal Neoplasms; Salivary Gland Neoplasms; Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Brain Neoplasm, Primary; Melanoma; Glioblastoma; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Astrocytoma; Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Pontine Glioma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Cholangiocarcinoma; Skin Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic; Bronchial Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Nevi and Melanomas; Intestinal Neoplasms; Thyroid Cancer; GIST; Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors; Breast Secretory Carcinoma; Uterine Neoplasms; Fibrosarcoma; Infantile Fibrosarcoma; Congenital Mesoblastic Nephroma; Central Nervous System Neoplasms
Intervention: Drug: LOXO-195
Sponsors: Loxo Oncology, Inc.; Bayer
Recruiting

Phase 1 Study of CK-301 as a Single Agent in Subjects With Advanced Cancers

Posted: July 11th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Permalink for 'A Phase II Trial of the DNA Methyl Transferase Inhibitor, Guadecitabine (SGI-110), in Children and Adults With Wild Type GIST,Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Associated With Succinate Dehydrogenase Deficiency and HLRCC-associated Kidney Cancer'

A Phase II Trial of the DNA Methyl Transferase Inhibitor, Guadecitabine (SGI-110), in Children and Adults With Wild Type GIST,Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma Associated With Succinate Dehydrogenase Deficiency and HLRCC-associated Kidney Cancer

Posted: May 24th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Paraganglioma; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Renal Neoplasms; Pheochromocytoma
Intervention: Drug: SGI-110 (guadecitabine)
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Evaluation of Denosumab in Combination With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma'

Evaluation of Denosumab in Combination With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma

Posted: May 22nd, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma Stage Iv; Melanoma Stage Iii; Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Denosumab; Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Ipilimumab
Sponsors: Australia and New Zealand Melanoma Trials Group; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia; Amgen; Bristol-Myers Squibb
Recruiting

MAGE-A4ᶜ¹º³²T for Multi-Tumor

Posted: April 28th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Urinary Bladder Cancer; Melanoma; Head and Neck Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Esophageal Cancer; Gastric Cancer; Synovial Sarcoma; Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma
Intervention: Genetic: Autologous genetically modified MAGE-A4ᶜ¹º³²T cells
Sponsor: Adaptimmune
Recruiting

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Improving Well-Being in Patients With Stage III-IV Cancer and Their Partners

Posted: April 13th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Malignant Female Reproductive System Neoplasm; Malignant Hepatobiliary Neoplasm; Partner; Stage III Breast Cancer; Stage III Cervical Cancer; Stage III Colorectal Cancer; Stage III Lung Cancer; Stage III Prostate Cancer; Stage III Skin Melanoma; Stage III Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IIIA Breast Cancer; Stage IIIA Cervical Cancer; Stage IIIA Colorectal Cancer; Stage IIIA Lung Carcinoma; Stage IIIA Skin Melanoma; Stage IIIA Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IIIB Breast Cancer; Stage IIIB Cervical Cancer; Stage IIIB Colorectal Cancer; Stage IIIB Lung Carcinoma; Stage IIIB Skin Melanoma; Stage IIIB Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IIIC Breast Cancer; Stage IIIC Colorectal Cancer; Stage IIIC Skin Melanoma; Stage IIIC Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IV Breast Cancer; Stage IV Cervical Cancer; Stage IV Colorectal Cancer; Stage IV Lung Cancer; Stage IV Prostate Cancer; Stage IV Skin Melanoma; Stage IV Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IVA Cervical Cancer; Stage IVA Colorectal Cancer; Stage IVA Uterine Corpus Cancer; Stage IVB Cervical Cancer; Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer; Stage IVB Uterine Corpus Cancer
Interventions: Behavioral: Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Other: Survey Administration
Sponsors: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

LY3022855 With BRAF/MEK Inhibition in Patients With Melanoma

Posted: April 5th, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: LY3022855; Drug: Vemurafenib; Drug: Cobimetinib
Sponsors: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Eli Lilly and Company
Recruiting

Asymptomatic Small Pancreatic Endocrine Neoplasms.

Posted: March 21st, 2017, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Non Functioning Pancreatic Endocrine Tumor
Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Radiological imaging studies; Other: Quality of Life Assessment
Sponsor: IRCCS San Raffaele
Recruiting

Pembrolizumab in Recurrent or Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Posted: March 7th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC)
Intervention: Drug: Pembrolizumab
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Randomized Study of Nivolumab+Ipilimumab+/- SBRT for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Posted: March 6th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Permalink for 'Study of Cellular Adoptive Immunotherapy Using Autologous CD8+ Antigen-Specific T Cells and Anti-CTLA4 for Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma'

Study of Cellular Adoptive Immunotherapy Using Autologous CD8+ Antigen-Specific T Cells and Anti-CTLA4 for Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Posted: March 3rd, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma and Other Malignant Neoplasms of Skin
Interventions: Biological: CD 8+ T Cells; Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Interleukin-2; Drug: Ipilimumab
Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Recruiting

Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

Posted: February 10th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Acute Leukemia; Adenomatous Polyposis; Adrenocortical Carcinoma; AML; BAP1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome; Carney Complex; Choroid Plexus Carcinoma; Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome; Diamond-Blackfan Anemia; DICER1 Syndrome; Dyskeratosis Congenita; Emberger Syndrome; Familial Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; Fanconi Anemia; Familial Cancer; Familial Wilms Tumor; Familial Neuroblastoma; GIST; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer; Hereditary Paraganglioma-Pheochromocytoma Syndrome; Hodgkin Lymphoma; Juvenile Polyposis; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome; Lynch Syndrome; MDS; Melanoma Syndrome; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2; Neuroblastoma; Neurofibromatosis Type 1; Neurofibromatosis Type II; Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome; Non Hodgkin Lymphoma; Noonan Syndrome and Other Rasopathy; Overgrowth Syndromes; Pancreatic Cancer; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome; Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma; PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome; Retinoblastoma; Rhabdoid Tumor Predisposition Syndrome; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome; Tuberous Sclerosis; Von Hippel-Lindau Disease
Intervention:
Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Recruiting

Efficacy and Safety of 177Lu-edotreotide PRRT in GEP-NET Patients

Posted: February 9th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Interventions: Drug: 177Lu-edotreotide PRRT; Drug: Everolimus; Other: Amino-Acid Solution
Sponsors: ITM Solucin GmbH; ABX CRO
Recruiting

Nonfunctioning Small (≤2 cm) Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Incidentaloma

Posted: January 16th, 2017, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention:
Sponsor: Société Française d'Endoscopie Digestive
Recruiting

MAGE-A10ᶜ⁷⁹⁶T for Urothelial Cancer, Melanoma or Head and Neck Cancers

Posted: December 12th, 2016, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Urinary Bladder Cancer; Head and Neck Cancer; Melanoma
Intervention: Genetic: Autologous genetically modified MAGE A10ᶜ⁷⁹⁶T cells
Sponsor: Adaptimmune
Recruiting

Study of Imprime PGG and Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma and Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Posted: December 5th, 2016, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Advanced Melanoma; Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Interventions: Biological: Imprime PGG; Drug: Pembrolizumab
Sponsors: Biothera; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Recruiting

Pembrolizumab and Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Melanoma or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases

Posted: August 8th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain; Metastatic Melanoma; Mucosal Melanoma; Ocular Melanoma; Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Skin Melanoma
Interventions: Biological: Pembrolizumab; Radiation: Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Sponsors: Emory University; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Prospective Study Evaluating the Medullary Thyroid Cancer Management's Care Using PET F-DOPA in Patients With a High Level of Postoperative Residual Thyrocalcitonin'

Prospective Study Evaluating the Medullary Thyroid Cancer Management's Care Using PET F-DOPA in Patients With a High Level of Postoperative Residual Thyrocalcitonin

Posted: August 4th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Intervention: Other: 18F-DOPA
Sponsor: Institut Claudius Regaud
Recruiting

Phase IV Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Everolimus in Adult Patients With Progressive pNET in China

Posted: July 25th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Drug: everolimus
Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Recruiting

Study of Oral Azacitidine (CC-486) in Combination With Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Posted: June 28th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma and Other Malignant Neoplasms of Skin; Metastatic Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Azacitidine; Drug: Pembrolizumab
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Celgene
Recruiting

GI Complications in Cancer Immunotherapy Patients

Posted: May 27th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Malignant Melanoma
Intervention:
Sponsors: Massachusetts General Hospital; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Recruiting

Personalized PRRT of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: April 28th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Carcinoid Tumor; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
Intervention: Drug: 177Lu-Octreotate
Sponsor: CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval
Recruiting

SRS and Nivolumab in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Melanoma Metastases in the Brain or Spine

Posted: March 23rd, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain; Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Spine; Stage IV Skin Melanoma
Interventions: Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis; Biological: Nivolumab; Radiation: Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Recruiting

An Open-Label, Dose-Escalation/Dose-Expansion Safety Study of INCB059872 in Subjects With Advanced Malignancies

Posted: March 18th, 2016, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Solid Tumors and Hematologic Malignancy
Interventions: Drug: INCB059872; Drug: all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA); Drug: azacitidine; Drug: nivolumab
Sponsor: Incyte Corporation
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Multi-center Phase I/IIa Trial of an Autologous Tumor Lysate (TL) + Yeast Cell Wall Particles (YCWP) + Dendritic Cells (DC) Vaccine in Addition to Standard of Care Checkpoint Inhibitor of Choice in Metastatic Melanoma Patients With Measurable Disease.'

Multi-center Phase I/IIa Trial of an Autologous Tumor Lysate (TL) + Yeast Cell Wall Particles (YCWP) + Dendritic Cells (DC) Vaccine in Addition to Standard of Care Checkpoint Inhibitor of Choice in Metastatic Melanoma Patients With Measurable Disease.

Posted: February 10th, 2016, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Melanoma
Intervention: Drug: TLPLDC Vaccine
Sponsors: Cancer Insight, LLC; Elios Therapeutics, LLC
Recruiting

A Study Using Regorafenib as Second or Third Line Therapy in Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Posted: January 18th, 2016, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Thyroid Cancer
Intervention: Drug: Regorafenib
Sponsors: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Bayer
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Phase 1/1b Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of CPI-444 Alone and in Combination With Atezolizumab in Advanced Cancers'

Phase 1/1b Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of CPI-444 Alone and in Combination With Atezolizumab in Advanced Cancers

Posted: January 14th, 2016, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Malignant Melanoma; Renal Cell Cancer; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Bladder Cancer; Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer
Interventions: Drug: CPI-444; Drug: CPI-444 + atezolizumab
Sponsors: Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.
Recruiting

$Permalink for 'Trial Of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy In Combination With MEDI4736 And Tremelimumab For Patients With Metastatic Melanoma And Lung, Breast And Pancreatic Cancers'$

Trial Of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy In Combination With MEDI4736 And Tremelimumab For Patients With Metastatic Melanoma And Lung, Breast And Pancreatic Cancers

Posted: December 24th, 2015, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Metastatic; Melanoma; Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC); Breast Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer
Interventions: Radiation: Radiotherapy; Drug: MEDI4736; Drug: Tremelimumab
Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Recruiting

Study For Evaluating The Value Of A Multi Biomarker Approach In Metastatic GEP NETs

Posted: December 15th, 2015, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Other: This is a non-interventional study. Patients will be treated with any intervention deemed appropriate by the patient's physician.
Sponsor: Ipsen
Recruiting

Study to Evaluate the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of 177Lu-OPSC001 in NETs

Posted: October 30th, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Neuroendocrine Tumors
Intervention: Drug: 177Lu-OPS201
Sponsor: Ipsen
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Relationship Between Tumor Mutation Burden and Predicted Neo-antigen Burden in Patients With Advanced Melanoma or Bladder Cancer Treated With Nivolumab or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab (CA209-260)'

Relationship Between Tumor Mutation Burden and Predicted Neo-antigen Burden in Patients With Advanced Melanoma or Bladder Cancer Treated With Nivolumab or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab (CA209-260)

Posted: September 17th, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Bladder Cancer; Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Nivolumab; Drug: Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab
Sponsors: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; UConn Health; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Adaptive Biotechnologies; MedGenome
Recruiting

Impact of Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT Imaging in Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: May 12th, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Carcinoid Tumors; Neuroblastoma; Medulloblastoma
Intervention: Drug: 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT
Sponsors: Sue O'Dorisio; University of Iowa Foundation
Recruiting

Evaluation of the Safety and Tolerability of i.v. Administration of a Cancer Vaccine in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

Posted: April 8th, 2015, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma
Intervention: Biological: Lipo-MERIT
Sponsor: Biontech RNA Pharmaceuticals GmbH
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Phase I/Ib Dose Escalation & Biomarker Study of Ceritinib (LDK378) + Everolimus for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors With an Expansion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Characterized by Abnormalities in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Exp'

Phase I/Ib Dose Escalation & Biomarker Study of Ceritinib (LDK378) + Everolimus for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors With an Expansion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Characterized by Abnormalities in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Exp

Posted: December 22nd, 2014, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer; Lung Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Ceritinib (LDK378); Drug: Ceritinib (LDK378) 750 mg; Drug: Everolimus
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Novartis
Recruiting

Phase IIB TL + YCWP + DC in Melanoma

Posted: November 26th, 2014, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: TLPLDC; Drug: Placebo
Sponsors: Cancer Insight, LLC; Elios Therapeutics, LLC
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Antitumor Efficacy of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy With 177Lutetium -Octreotate Randomized vs Sunitinib in Unresectable Progressive Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumor: First Randomized Phase II'

Antitumor Efficacy of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy With 177Lutetium -Octreotate Randomized vs Sunitinib in Unresectable Progressive Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumor: First Randomized Phase II

Posted: September 3rd, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Interventions: Drug: Sunitinib; Drug: 177Lu-DOTA0-Tyr3-Octreotate
Sponsors: Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris; National Cancer Institute, France; Advanced Accelerator Applications
Recruiting

Transformation of Plexiform Neurofibromas to Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Posted: August 7th, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neurofibromatosis; MPNST
Interventions: Procedure: MRI, FDG-PET/CT scans; Procedure: [18F]-FLT-PET/CT scans; Drug: 18FLT
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Sapanisertib and Ziv-Aflibercept in Treating Patients With Recurrent Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery'

Sapanisertib and Ziv-Aflibercept in Treating Patients With Recurrent Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Posted: June 10th, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Fibrolamellar Carcinoma; Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Ovarian Carcinoma; Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor; Recurrent Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Refractory Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Unresectable Solid Neoplasm
Interventions: Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis; Drug: Sapanisertib; Biological: Ziv-Aflibercept
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

T Cell Receptor Immunotherapy Targeting MAGE-A3 for Patients With Metastatic Cancer Who Are HLA-A*01 Positive

Posted: June 3rd, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Cervical Cancer; Renal Cancer; Melanoma; Bladder Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Aldesleukin; Drug: Fludarabine; Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Biological: Anti-MAGE-A3 HLAA* 01-restricted TCR
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Tissue Procurement and Natural History Study of People With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancer, Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors, and Thymic Epithelial Tumors'

Tissue Procurement and Natural History Study of People With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancer, Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors, and Thymic Epithelial Tumors

Posted: May 23rd, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Small Cell Lung Cancer; Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancer; Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors; Thymic Epithelial Tumors
Intervention:
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

177Lu-PP-F11N for Receptor Targeted Therapy and Imaging of Metastatic Thyroid Cancer.

Posted: March 17th, 2014, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Thyroid Cancer, Medullary
Intervention: Drug: 177Lu-PP-F11N
Sponsors: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland; Krebsforschung Schweiz, Bern, Switzerland; Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland; University Hospital, Zürich; University Hospital Freiburg
Recruiting

Immunotherapy Using Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Posted: November 25th, 2013, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Metastatic Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Aldesleukin; Drug: Fludarabine; Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Biological: Young Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (Young TIL); Drug: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Dabrafenib, Trametinib, and Navitoclax in Treating Patients With BRAF Mutant Melanoma or Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery'

Dabrafenib, Trametinib, and Navitoclax in Treating Patients With BRAF Mutant Melanoma or Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Posted: November 21st, 2013, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: BRAF V600E Mutation Present; BRAF V600K Mutation Present; Metastatic Melanoma; Solid Neoplasm; Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v7; Stage IIIA Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v7; Stage IIIB Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v7; Stage IIIC Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v7; Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v6 and v7
Interventions: Drug: Dabrafenib; Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis; Biological: Navitoclax; Other: Pharmacological Study; Drug: Trametinib
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

T Cell Receptor Immunotherapy Targeting NY-ESO-1 for Patients With NY-ESO-1 Expressing Cancer

Posted: October 23rd, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Melanoma; Synovial Sarcoma; Breast Cancer; Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Hepatocellular Cancer
Interventions: Biological: Anti-NY ESO-1 mTCR PBL; Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Fludarabine; Drug: Aldesleukin
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Study of Lymphodepletion Plus Adoptive Cell Transfer With TGF-beta Resistant (DNRII) and NGFR Transduced T-Cells Followed by High Dose Interleukin-2 in Participants With Metastatic Melanoma'

Study of Lymphodepletion Plus Adoptive Cell Transfer With TGF-beta Resistant (DNRII) and NGFR Transduced T-Cells Followed by High Dose Interleukin-2 in Participants With Metastatic Melanoma

Posted: October 7th, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Melanoma
Interventions: Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Mesna; Drug: Fludarabine monophosphate; Biological: T-Cells; Drug: Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas
Recruiting

Observational Study to Evaluate Vandetanib in RET -/+ Patients With Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Posted: September 19th, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Symptomatic, Aggressive, Sporadic, Unresectable, Locally; Advanced/Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC)
Intervention: Drug: Vandetanib 300 mg
Sponsors: Genzyme, a Sanofi Company; Worldwide Clinical Trials
Recruiting

Minimal SN Tumor Burden

Posted: September 16th, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Cutaneous Melanoma
Intervention:
Sponsor: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer - EORTC
Recruiting

Trial of WP1066 in Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma and Brain Metastasis From Melanoma

Posted: July 22nd, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Brain Cancer; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Melanoma; Solid Tumors
Interventions: Drug: WP1066; Procedure: Advanced Brain Tumor Imaging (ABTI); Procedure: Surgical Resection
Sponsors: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

A Study of Two Different Doses of Cabozantinib (XL184) in Progressive, Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Posted: July 11th, 2013, 2:00pm GMT

Condition: Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Cabozantinib (XL184) 140 mg; Drug: Cabozantinib (XL184) 60 mg; Drug: Placebo tablet; Drug: Placebo capsule
Sponsor: Exelixis
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Immune Responses in Prostate, Lung, Melanoma and Breast Cancer Patients Following Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or Brachytherapy'

Immune Responses in Prostate, Lung, Melanoma and Breast Cancer Patients Following Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or Brachytherapy

Posted: January 29th, 2013, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Prostate Cancer; Breast Cancer; Lung Cancer; Melanoma
Interventions: Radiation: SBRT; Radiation: IMRT; Radiation: Brachytherapy
Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
Recruiting

Sandostatin LAR and Axitinib vs Pbo in Pnts With Advanced Well-differentiated Non-pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinomas

Posted: December 6th, 2012, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumors; Advanced Cancer
Interventions: Drug: Axitinib; Drug: Sandostatin LAR; Drug: Placebo
Sponsors: Grupo Espanol de Tumores Neuroendocrinos; Pfizer
Recruiting

Trial of TRX518 (Anti-GITR mAb) in Stage III or IV Malignant Melanoma or Other Solid Tumors

Posted: November 11th, 2010, 3:00pm GMT

Condition: Unresectable Stage III or Stage IV Malignant Melanoma or Other Solid Tumor Malignancies
Intervention: Biological: TRX518
Sponsors: Leap Therapeutics, Inc.; Cancer Research Institute, New York City
Recruiting

Permalink for 'A Collection of Clinical and Epidemiologic Data Combined With Tissue and Blood From Patients With a Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Tumors'

A Collection of Clinical and Epidemiologic Data Combined With Tissue and Blood From Patients With a Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Posted: September 3rd, 2008, 2:00pm GMT

Conditions: Gastric Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer
Intervention: Other: questionnaire, Blood specimens
Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Recruiting

Evaluation for NCI Surgery Branch Clinical Studies

Posted: November 4th, 1999, 3:00pm GMT

Conditions: Synovial Cell Cancer; Melanoma; Colorectal Cancer; Lung Cancer; Bladder Cancer
Intervention:
Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruiting

Permalink for 'Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: a Retrospective Analysis of a Community Oncology Database.'

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: a Retrospective Analysis of a Community Oncology Database.

Fetched: August 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: a Retrospective Analysis of a Community Oncology Database.

J Gastrointest Cancer. 2018 Aug 18;:

Authors: Fisher MD, Pulgar S, Kulke MH, Mirakhur B, Miller PJ, Walker MS, Schwartzberg LS

Abstract
PURPOSE: Metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (mNETs) are rare, heterogeneous tumors that present diagnostic and treatment challenges, with limited data on the management of mNETs in clinical practice. The present study was designed to identify current diagnostic and treatment patterns in mNET patients treated in the US community oncology setting.
METHODS: Patient-level data was collected from medical records of adults with mNETs from the Vector Oncology Data Warehouse, a comprehensive US community oncology network database.
RESULTS: Of the 263 patients included (median follow-up, 22 months; range, 0.1-193.9), 30.4% (80/263) had intestinal tumors, 11.0% (29/263) had pancreatic, and 58.6% (154/263) had tumors of other or unknown location. Progression-free survival (PFS) from the start of first-line therapy differed significantly by tumor grade (log rank P = 0.0016) and location (P = 0.0044), as did overall survival (OS) (grade, P < 0.0001; location, P = 0.0068). Median PFS and OS for patients with undocumented tumor grade were shorter than for patients with G1/G2 tumors and longer than patients with G3 tumors. Median PFS and OS for patients with other or unknown tumors were shorter than for patients with intestinal tumors.
CONCLUSIONS: While potentially confounded by the high number of patients with other or unknown tumor locations, this retrospective study of patients in a US community oncology setting identified the importance of awareness of tumor grade and tumor location at diagnosis, as these were direct correlates of PFS and OS.

PMID: 30121904 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Simple Vascular Architecture Classification in Predicting Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Grade and Prognosis.

Fetched: August 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Simple Vascular Architecture Classification in Predicting Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Grade and Prognosis.

Dig Dis Sci. 2018 Aug 18;:

Authors: Chen K, Zhang W, Zhang Z, He Y, Liu Y, Yang X

Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Vascularity is a critical feature in the evaluation of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). When done by EUS, contrast agents are recommended. However, vascular architecture (VA) can also be evaluated by routine Doppler flow in EUS without contrast agents. Our aim was to provide a simple VA classification in EUS for PNET grade and prognosis.
METHODS: All pathologically proven PNET cases with EUS between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The Doppler imaging was retrieved for VA classification. Predictive model construction was performed by machine learning algorithms.
RESULTS: A total of 112 PNET cases were evaluated, among which 93 cases were subjected to VA classification. The VA was classified into type A (peritumoral with or without intratumoral vessels [A1 or A2]); type B (only intratumoral vessels); and type C (flow was absent). The VA classification was significantly correlated with tumor grades: 74% type A1 was G1, 73% type B was G2, and 58% type C was G3. Multivariate analysis indicated that elevated serum CA19-9 and type C classification were the independent predictors of G3 tumor. Five machine learning models were constructed, among which random forest was the best one with an AUC of 0.9972. Low-risk patients classified by this model exhibited better prognosis than high-risk patients (p = 0.0087).
CONCLUSIONS: In the novel simple VA classification, peritumoral, intratumoral, and absent vessels are prone to be G1, G2, and G3, respectively. Combined with serum CA19-9 and lesion size, the VA classification could predict tumor grade and prognosis in PNET.

PMID: 30121810 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Diagnostic Value Comparison of Urothelium Carcinoma Among Urine Exfoliated Cells Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Examination, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, and Urine Cytologic Examination.'

Diagnostic Value Comparison of Urothelium Carcinoma Among Urine Exfoliated Cells Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Examination, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, and Urine Cytologic Examination.

Fetched: August 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Diagnostic Value Comparison of Urothelium Carcinoma Among Urine Exfoliated Cells Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Examination, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, and Urine Cytologic Examination.

Med Sci Monit. 2018 Aug 19;24:5788-5792

Authors: Yang T, Li Y, Li J, Liu J, Deng X, Wang G

Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of urine exfoliated cells FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination on the diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma with hematuresis symptom. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 30 patients with suspicious upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma between Aug 2010 and Aug 2011 were enrolled, including 23 males and 7 females. All the subjects received urine exfoliated cells FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination. Twenty-one cases were diagnosed as urothelium carcinoma, including 14 cases of carcinoma of renal pelvis and 7 cases of carcinoma of ureter. There were 6 cases in stage Ta/T1, 12 cases in stage T2, and 3 cases in T3/T4. The other 9 cases consisted of 1 case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the renal pelvis, 2 cases of nephrotuberculosis, and 6 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma. RESULTS The total sensitivity of FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination on upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma was 85.7%, 66.7%, and 28.6%, respectively (P<0.05). The tumor staging detection on Ta/T1, T2, and T3/T4 by FISH was 66.7%, 91.7%, 100%; by CT scan 33.3%, 75.0%, 100%; and by urine cytologic examination 0%, 25.0%, and 100%. Their diagnostic specificities were 88.9%, 77.8%, and 100%, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic sensitivity on upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma was highest in FISH examination, followed by CT scan and urine cytologic examination. FISH technique obviously improves the diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma.

PMID: 30121694 [PubMed - in process]

An integrative analysis of transcriptome and epigenome features of ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinomas.

Fetched: August 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

An integrative analysis of transcriptome and epigenome features of ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinomas.

J Thorac Oncol. 2018 Aug 16;:

Authors: Miyashita N, Horie M, Suzuki HI, Yoshihara M, Djureinovic D, Persson J, Brunnström H, Lindskog C, Elfving H, Micke P, Saito A, Nagase T

Abstract
A subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma shows neuroendocrine differentiation and expression of achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1), common to high-grade neuroendocrine tumors, small cell lung cancer and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. The aim of this study was to characterize clinical and molecular features of ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinoma by utilizing recent transcriptome profiling in multiple patient cohorts and genome-wide epigenetic profiling including data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The ASCL1-positive subtype of lung adenocarcinoma developed preferentially in current or former smokers and usually did not harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. In transcriptome profiling, this subtype overlapped with the recently proposed proximal-proliferative molecular subtype. Gene expression profiling of ASCL1-positive cases suggested generally poor immune cell infiltration and none of the tumors were positive for programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein expression. Genome-wide methylation analysis demonstrated global DNA hypomethylation in ASCL1-positive cases. ASCL1 was associated with super-enhancers in ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinoma cells, and ASCL1 silencing suppressed other super-enhancer-associated genes, suggesting that ASCL1 acts as a master transcriptional regulator. This was further reinforced by the essential roles of ASCL1 in cell proliferation, survival, and cell cycle control. These results suggest that ASCL1 defines a subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma with distinct molecular features by driving super-enhancer-mediated transcriptional programs.

PMID: 30121393 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Radiotherapeutic Approved for Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Fetched: August 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Radiotherapeutic Approved for Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Cancer Discov. 2018 Aug 17;:

Authors:

Abstract
The FDA has approved the first drug for locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma-a radioactive isotope of iodine called iobenguane I 131 that's absorbed by tumor cells. Twenty-five percent of patients who received it reduced their use of antihypertensive drugs by half for at least 6 months.

PMID: 30120112 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Measurement of circulating transcript levels (NETest) to detect disease recurrence and improve follow-up after curative surgical resection of well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.'

Measurement of circulating transcript levels (NETest) to detect disease recurrence and improve follow-up after curative surgical resection of well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Measurement of circulating transcript levels (NETest) to detect disease recurrence and improve follow-up after curative surgical resection of well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

J Surg Oncol. 2018 Aug 16;:

Authors: Genç CG, Jilesen APJ, Nieveen van Dijkum EJM, Klümpen HJ, van Eijck CHJ, Drozdov I, Malczewska A, Kidd M, Modlin I

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recurrence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) after surgery is common. Strategies to detect recurrence have limitations. We investigated the role of clinical criteria and the multigene polymerase chain reaction-based NETest during post-operative follow-up of pNET.
METHODS: We studied 3 groups of resections: R0 with no recurrence (n = 11), R0 with recurrence (n = 12), and R1 with no recurrence (n = 12). NETest levels (>40%) were compared with chromogranin A (CgA) and clinicopathological criteria (CC; grade, lymph node metastases, size). Nonparametric, receiver operating characteristics, logistic regression, and predictive feature importance analyses were performed.
RESULTS: NETest was higher in R0 with recurrence (56 ± 8%) compared with R1 with no recurrence (39 ± 6%) and R0 with no recurrence (28 ± 6%, P < .005). NETest positively correlated with recurrence (area under the curve: 0.82), CgA was not (area under the curve: 0.51 ± 0.09). Multiple regression analysis defined factor impact as highest for NETest (P < .005) versus CC (P < .03) and CgA (P = .23). NETest gave false positive or negative recurrence in 18% using a 40% cutoff. Logistic regression modeling of CC was 83% accurate; it was 91% when the NETest was included. Combining CC and NETest was approximately 2× more effective than individual CC alone (increase in R 2 value from 43% to 80%).
CONCLUSIONS: A multigene blood test facilitates effective identification of pNET recurrence, prediction of disease relapse, and outperforms CgA.

PMID: 30114319 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Intrapancreatic accessory spleen].

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Intrapancreatic accessory spleen].

Khirurgiia (Mosk). 2018;(8):68-71

Authors: Kriger AG, Gorin DS, Kaldarov AR, Berelavichus SV, Akhtanin AE

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Accessory spleen is the human growth anomaly, which appears in embryogenesis and frequently becomes an accidental finding during prophylactic medical examination. Pancreatic tail - the second frequent localization after the splenic hilus. Intrapancreatic accessory spleen can mimic the pancreatic tumor.
AIM: To demonstrate case series of intrapancreatic accessory spleen in course of differential diagnostic with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and metastasis of renal - cell cancer.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three patients with intrapancreatic accessory spleen were observed in abdominal department #1 A.V.Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery, - two females and one male.
RESULTS: Two patients were surgically treated: in the first case basing on preoperative anamnesis and diagnostic data diagnosis of renal - cell cancer metastasis was established, in the second case - nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. In both cases robotic distal pancreatectomy was performed. There were no conversions. Postoperative recovery was accompanied by clinicaly not relevant pancreatic fistulas, which didn't increase length of hospitalization. In the third case during CT and MRI diagnosis of intrapancreatic accessory spleen was determined. Surgical treatment wasn't performed. Control examination showed an absence of dynamic of characteristics and growth.
CONCLUSION: Described cases demonstrate difficulty of differential diagnostics of tumor - like mass. Neuroendocrine tumors, renal - cell cancer metastases, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms and accessory spleen can have similar CT-characteristics. In appearance of differential diagnostic difficulties minimally invasive surgical treatment has to be performed.

PMID: 30113596 [PubMed - in process]

Clinical profile and treatment outcomes of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single institution experience.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Clinical profile and treatment outcomes of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single institution experience.

South Asian J Cancer. 2018 Jul-Sep;7(3):207-209

Authors: Lokesh KN, Anand A, Lakshmaiah KC, Babu KG, Lokanatha D, Jacob LA, Babu MCS, Rudresha AH, Rajeev LK, Saldanha SC, Giri GV, Panwar D, Koppaka D, Patidar R

Abstract
Background: Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare tumor arising from the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Most of these present in the advanced stage and palliative chemotherapy remains the only option. The prognosis remains poor with the standard chemotherapy regimen of platinum and etoposide (EP) providing modest survival benefit.
Methods: The study was done for 3 years at a tertiary cancer center in South India. Patients with a diagnosis of metastatic NEC were analyzed for clinical and pathological characteristics. The treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were evaluated using appropriate statistical test.
Results: A total of 114 patients of metastatic NEC satisfied the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Gastrointestinal including hepatobiliary tract (33%) was the most common site of primary disease followed by lung (26%), genitourinary (15%), head and neck (14%), and unknown primary (9%). On analysis of pattern of metastasis, liver (65%) was the most common site followed by bone (54%) and lung (42%). The median overall survival was 11 months with a statistically significant difference between pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease (8 vs. 13 months; P = 0.003). Ki67% value was strongly associated with prognosis (hazard ratio 0.517, 95% confidence interval; 0.318-0.840, P = 0.008) whereas age, sex, and lactate dehydrogenase level did not show any relation with survival.
Conclusion: The outcome of advanced NEC with standard chemotherapy remains poor. Larger studies with other therapeutic and novel agents are warranted to improve the treatment outcomes.

PMID: 30112343 [PubMed]

68-Gallium DOTATATE scanning in symptomatic patients with negative anatomic imaging but suspected neuroendocrine tumor.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

68-Gallium DOTATATE scanning in symptomatic patients with negative anatomic imaging but suspected neuroendocrine tumor.

Int J Endocr Oncol. 2018 Feb;5(1):IJE04

Authors: Shell J, Keutgen XM, Millo C, Nilubol N, Patel D, Sadowski S, Boufraqech M, Yang L, Merkel R, Atallah C, Herscovitch P, Kebebew E

Abstract
Aim: The study's aim was to determine the utility of 68-Gallium DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scanning in patients with carcinoid-like symptoms and negative anatomical imaging.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of 22 of 196 patients with carcinoid-like symptoms and no evidence of primary neuroendocrine tumor (NET) based on anatomical imaging and endoscopy who underwent 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT as part of a prospective clinical trial.
Results: Of the biochemically positive patients (n = 11), 18% (n = 2) had additional evidence of NETs based on 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT. Of the patients identified by 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT, 50% (n = 1) had a treatment change and 100% showed symptom improvement. Of the biochemically negative patients (n = 11), 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT identified NETs in 64% (n = 7). Change in management occurred in 71% patients, and 57% of patients showed symptom improvement.
Conclusion: 68-Gallium DOTATATE PET-CT imaging is useful in detecting NETs in symptomatic patients with negative anatomical imaging and changes the treatments in these patients.

PMID: 30112163 [PubMed]

Stem-like and highly invasive prostate cancer cells expressing CD44v8-10 marker originate from CD44-negative cells.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Stem-like and highly invasive prostate cancer cells expressing CD44v8-10 marker originate from CD44-negative cells.

Oncotarget. 2018 Jul 20;9(56):30905-30918

Authors: Di Stefano C, Grazioli P, Fontanella RA, De Cesaris P, D'Amore A, Regno M, Starace D, Padula F, Fiori ME, Canipari R, Stoppacciaro A, Pesce M, Filippini A, Campese AF, Ziparo E, Riccioli A

Abstract
In human prostate cancer (PCa), the neuroendocrine cells, expressing the prostate cancer stem cell (CSC) marker CD44, may be resistant to androgen ablation and promote tumor recurrence. During the study of heterogeneity of the highly aggressive neuroendocrine PCa cell lines PC3 and DU-145, we isolated and expanded in vitro a minor subpopulation of very small cells lacking CD44 (CD44neg). Unexpectedly, these sorted CD44neg cells rapidly and spontaneously converted to a stable CD44high phenotype specifically expressing the CD44v8-10 isoform which the sorted CD44high subpopulation failed to express. Surprisingly and potentially interesting, in these cells expression of CD44v8-10 was found to be induced in stem cell medium. CD44 variant isoforms are known to be more expressed in CSC and metastatic cells than CD44 standard isoform. In agreement, functional analysis of the two sorted and cultured subpopulations has shown that the CD44v8-10pos PC3 cells, resulting from the conversion of the CD44neg subpopulation, were more invasive in vitro and had a higher clonogenic potential than the sorted CD44high cells, in that they produced mainly holoclones, known to be enriched in stem-like cells. Of interest, the CD44v8-10 is more expressed in human PCa biopsies than in normal gland. The discovery of CD44v8-10pos cells with stem-like and invasive features, derived from a minoritarian CD44neg cell population in PCa, alerts on the high plasticity of stem-like markers and urges for prudency on the approaches to targeting the putative CSC.

PMID: 30112117 [PubMed]

Permalink for 'Hydroalcoholic extract of Spartium junceum L. flowers inhibits growth and melanogenesis in B16-F10 cells by inducing senescence.'

Hydroalcoholic extract of Spartium junceum L. flowers inhibits growth and melanogenesis in B16-F10 cells by inducing senescence.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Hydroalcoholic extract of Spartium junceum L. flowers inhibits growth and melanogenesis in B16-F10 cells by inducing senescence.

Phytomedicine. 2018 Jul 15;46:1-10

Authors: Nanni V, Canuti L, Gismondi A, Canini A

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet light exposure generates, in human tissues, radical species, which represent the main cause of photo-aging, DNA damage and skin cancer onset. On the other hand, Mediterranean plants, being continuously subjected to high solar radiation levels, are naturally adapted to take on this type of abiotic stress, thanks to the production of antioxidant secondary metabolites. For these reasons, several plant extracts were documented to be excellent antineoplastic drugs.
PURPOSE: We investigated the potential antitumor activity of the flower extract obtained by Spartium junceum L., a Mediterranean shrub, correlating it with the plant metabolic profile.
STUDY DESIGN: After selecting the best extraction method to obtain as more secondary metabolites as possible from S. junceum flowers, we characterized the extract metabolic content. Then, by in vitro analyses, the antioxidant profile and the antineoplastic activity on B16-F10 murine melanoma cell of our extract were investigated.
METHODS: Spectrophotometric assays, HPLC-DAD and GC-MS analyses provided us information about flower extract composition and antioxidant activity. MTT assay and Trypan Blue exclusion test were performed to assess the extract toxicity and the viability, after treatments, of B16-F10 cancer cells and of C2C12 murine myoblasts. In vitro experiments (i.e. cytofluorimetry, protein analysis and qPCR) allowed us to analyze the effect of the plant extract on B16-F10 cell redox state, melanogenesis and cell cycle. Senescence induction was investigated by using a specific kit.
RESULTS: We observed that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. junceum flowers (HFE) strongly inhibited B16-F10 murine melanoma cell proliferation, while just a feeble effect was observed on C2C12 murine myoblasts. Moreover, we found that HFE exerted a pro-oxidant activity on melanoma cells, inhibited melanogenesis and caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, inducing senescence. These anti-cancer properties of HFE could be related to the rich metabolic profile of the extract that we characterized by HPLC-DAD and GC-MS analyses.
CONCLUSION: This evidence suggests that S. junceum phytocomplex can be used as a selective, nontoxic, economic and easily available anticancer drug.

PMID: 30097108 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Contrasting features of childhood and adolescent melanomas.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Contrasting features of childhood and adolescent melanomas.

Pediatr Dermatol. 2018 May;35(3):354-360

Authors: Bartenstein DW, Kelleher CM, Friedmann AM, Duncan LM, Tsao H, Sober AJ, Hawryluk EB

Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Melanoma in children and adolescents is uncommon, and there are limited data on pediatric outcomes. Several studies have shown comparable survival rates in children and adults, but other research demonstrates that prepubescent children have more favorable outcomes. This study aims to compare childhood and adolescent melanoma.
METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of children who received a melanoma diagnosis at the Massachusetts General Hospital between January 1, 1995, and December 21, 2016. Childhood melanoma is defined as disease occurring in patients younger than 11 years old, and adolescent melanoma is defined as disease occurring in patients 11 to 19 years old. Patients diagnosed with ocular melanoma and borderline tumors of uncertain malignant potential were excluded. This analysis compares clinical, histopathologic, and outcome characteristics of childhood and adolescent melanoma.
RESULTS: Thirty-two children with melanoma were identified (12 children, 20 adolescents). The spitzoid melanoma subtype was significantly more common in children (6/12) than adolescents (2/20) (P = .01). Four adolescents and no children with melanoma died from melanoma, and survival was significantly different between the age groups (P = .04). Median follow-up time for survivors was 3.6 years.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that children and adolescents present with different melanoma subtypes and that adolescents have a more aggressive disease course than children.

PMID: 29569376 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Dermatological Complications After Solid Organ Transplantation.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Dermatological Complications After Solid Organ Transplantation.

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2018 Feb;54(1):185-212

Authors: Naldi L, Venturuzzo A, Invernizzi P

Abstract
Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are a population at high risk for cutaneous adverse events. Their early recognition and appropriate treatment is an important component of the clinical management of OTRs and should be optimally dealt with by dermatologists working in the context of a transplant dermatology clinic. Skin examination should be a standard procedure before performing organ transplantation to assess conditions which may be difficult to manage after the transplant procedure has been performed or which may represent a contraindication to transplantation, e.g., malignant melanoma. It also offers an opportunity to educate patients on skin care after organ transplantation. Skin infections can occur at any time after organ transplantation and include viral, bacterial, and fungal opportunistic infections. The risk of reactivation of latent viruses, such as varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), is high. Bacterial infections are frequent and may be caused by unusual agents such Actinomyces, Mycobacteria, Legionella, or Nocardia. A large spectrum of fungal infections may occur, ranging from superficial (e.g., dermatophytes) to deeper and more severe ones (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma). Drug-related idiosyncratic reactions usually occur early after the introduction of the causative drug, e.g., hypersensitivity reaction to azathioprine. On the long-term run, cutaneous effects due to cumulative drug toxicity, e.g., sebaceous hyperplasia from cyclosporine, may appear. Rare immunologically driven inflammatory reactions may occur in OTRs such as GVH or autoimmune disease. Tumors are particularly frequent. Kaposi's sarcoma, associated with persistent human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) infection, and cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) occur early after transplantation. Other cancers, such as nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSCs), associated with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, malignant melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, or adnexal tumors, manifest later with an incidence which is much higher than observed in the general population. The incidence increases further after a first NMSC occurs.

PMID: 29177692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Nail apparatus melanoma in a Japanese population: a comparative study of surgical procedures and prognoses in a large series of 151 cases.'

Nail apparatus melanoma in a Japanese population: a comparative study of surgical procedures and prognoses in a large series of 151 cases.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Nail apparatus melanoma in a Japanese population: a comparative study of surgical procedures and prognoses in a large series of 151 cases.

Eur J Dermatol. 2017 Dec 01;27(6):620-626

Authors: Ogata D, Uhara H, Tsutsumida A, Yamazaki N, Mochida K, Amano M, Yoshikawa S, Kiyohara Y, Tsuchida T

Abstract
Nail apparatus melanoma (NAM) is a rare subtype of malignant melanoma with a prevalence that varies among populations. Conservative surgical approaches for thin to intermediate NAMs have recently been reported, however, their adoption is controversial, and resulting long-term prognoses are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognosis of NAM in a sample Asian population, and to investigate whether there is a difference in the local control and overall survival (OS) rates according to the extent of resection of the primary tumour. We performed a retrospective study of NAM patients treated at five medical institutions in Japan between 2000 and 2013. Outcomes according to surgery (amputation vs. resection) and tumour thickness were compared. We identified 151 cases of NAM in 83 men and 68 women; the thumb (n = 50; 33.1%) and hallux (n = 55; 36.4%) were the most common sites. No local recurrence was detected following any of the surgical procedures; Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the surgical procedure type was not significantly associated with disease-free survival (p = 0.786) or OS (p = 0.997). Five-year OS rates according to tumour thickness were 100% for in situ, 94.4% for ≤1-mm, 91.7% for 1.01-2.0-mm, 72.7% for 2.01-4.0-mm, and 47.6% for ≥4.01-mm tumours. Surgical procedure type does not influence survival as long as total primary tumour resection is accomplished. The prognosis of NAM is comparable to that of other types of melanoma.

PMID: 29165298 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Impact of extended lymphadenectomy on morbidity and regional recurrence-free survival in melanoma patients.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Impact of extended lymphadenectomy on morbidity and regional recurrence-free survival in melanoma patients.

J Dermatolog Treat. 2018 Aug;29(5):515-521

Authors: Baur J, Mathe K, Gesierich A, Weyandt G, Wiegering A, Germer CT, Pelz JOW

Abstract
Introdurction: Current guidelines for malignant melanoma do not set a concrete cutoff limit for the number of lymph nodes to be resected during regional lymph node dissection (LND). Here, we investigate if extended LND (ext-LND) has an impact on surgical morbidity and oncological outcome in melanoma patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 245 melanoma patients receiving axillary or inguinal LND in curative intention were investigated retrospectively. Ext-LND was defined as axillary LND with 20 or more and inguinal LND with 10 or more resected lymph nodes. Surgical morbidity and regional recurrence-free survival were investigated.
RESULTS: Ext-LND did not lead to increased surgical morbidity in the overall study collective. After ext-LND, 55.4% of the patients experienced one of the investigated complications compared to 46.2% in the limited LND group (p = .2113). There was no difference in the occurrence of lymphatic fistula, wound infection, severe bleeding or neurological complications. In addition, patients with positive lymph node status showed improved regional recurrence-free survival following ext-LND (p = .0425).
CONCLUSION: Ext-LND can be considered a quality marker of LND in melanoma patients.

PMID: 29098910 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

SVM classifier on chip for melanoma detection.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

SVM classifier on chip for melanoma detection.

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2017 07;2017:270-274

Authors: Afifi S, GholamHosseini H, Sinha R

Abstract
Support Vector Machine (SVM) is a common classifier used for efficient classification with high accuracy. SVM shows high accuracy for classifying melanoma (skin cancer) clinical images within computer-aided diagnosis systems used by skin cancer specialists to detect melanoma early and save lives. We aim to develop a medical low-cost handheld device that runs a real-time embedded SVM-based diagnosis system for use in primary care for early detection of melanoma. In this paper, an optimized SVM classifier is implemented onto a recent FPGA platform using the latest design methodology to be embedded into the proposed device for realizing online efficient melanoma detection on a single system on chip/device. The hardware implementation results demonstrate a high classification accuracy of 97.9% and a significant acceleration factor of 26 from equivalent software implementation on an embedded processor, with 34% of resources utilization and 2 watts for power consumption. Consequently, the implemented system meets crucial embedded systems constraints of high performance and low cost, resources utilization and power consumption, while achieving high classification accuracy.

PMID: 29059862 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Metal arc welding and the risk of skin cancer.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Metal arc welding and the risk of skin cancer.

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2017 Nov;90(8):873-881

Authors: Heltoft KN, Slagor RM, Agner T, Bonde JP

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Arc welding produces the full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation and may be a contributory cause of skin cancer; however, there has been little research into this occupational hazard. The aim of this study is to explore if metal arc welding increases the risk of malignant melanoma and/or basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on skin areas which may possibly be exposed (neck, head, and upper extremities).
METHOD: A Danish national company-based historic cohort of 4333 male metal arc welders was followed from 1987 through 2012 to identify the risk of skin cancer. An external reference group was established including all Danish skilled and unskilled male workers with similar age distribution. Occupational histories were gathered by questionnaires in 1986 and information about skin cancer diagnoses [BCC, SCC, cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), and precancerous conditions, actinic keratosis (AK)] were gathered from the Danish Cancer Registry supplemented by the data from the Danish Pathology Register. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated in the follow-up period from 1987 until 2012 using Cox regression analysis and adjusted for baseline data regarding age and social group.
RESULTS: The adjusted HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) for skin cancer (all types) were 0.99 (CI 0.94-1.04) for welders. The adjusted HR for AK and BCC located only at neck was 2.49 (CI 1.03-5.99) for welders exposed >20 years (n = 5) and 2.46 (CI 1.02-5.94), respectively, for welders exposed >30 years (n = 5). No statistically significant difference was observed for SCC. The risk of CMM at the neck was also significantly elevated after 30 years of welding, but this is based upon only one exposed case.
CONCLUSION: This study indicates that long-term exposure to metal arc welding may be related to increased risk of BCC and AK located exclusively at the neck. The study provides no support for the hypothesis that welding exposure increases the risk for skin cancer at other locations.

PMID: 28766013 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Mixed mucinous adenocarcinoma and somatostatinoma of the ampulla of Vater associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Mixed mucinous adenocarcinoma and somatostatinoma of the ampulla of Vater associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Pathology. 2017 Aug;49(5):553-555

Authors: Reynolds R, Marjoniemi V

PMID: 28693748 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Iridociliary cysts masquerading as neoplasia in cats: a morphologic review of 14 cases.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Iridociliary cysts masquerading as neoplasia in cats: a morphologic review of 14 cases.

Vet Ophthalmol. 2018 Mar;21(2):125-131

Authors: Fragola JA, Dubielzig RR, Bentley E, Teixeira LBC

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report 14 neoplasia-free feline eyes enucleated for suspected intraocular neoplasia containing only iridociliary cysts. To analyze clinical findings that may have led veterinarians to suspect neoplasia in these globes.
PROCEDURES: The archives at the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) were searched to identify neoplasia-free feline globes enucleated for suspected neoplasia. Clinical data were obtained from medical records, veterinarian surveys, and COPLOW submission forms. All samples were examined grossly and histologically.
RESULTS: All eyes were free of neoplasia and contained one or more iridociliary cysts. Nine of 14 globes were enucleated by or based on the recommendation of a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. In eight of 14 cases, the submitting clinician listed melanoma as the only suspected diagnosis; in six of 14 cases, 'tumor' or 'mass' was listed. Clinical examination revealed a darkly pigmented intraocular mass in 11 of 14 cases. The mass was clinically perceived to be within the iris in seven of 14 cases. When examined histologically, 11 of 14 eyes contained multiple cysts, 13 of 14 contained multiloculated cysts, eight of 14 had a hyperplastic iris pigmented epithelium or cysts with thick black walls, and five of 14 had cysts prolapsed into the anterior chamber.
CONCLUSIONS: Although most iridociliary cysts in cats are easily diagnosed on clinical examination, a subset may be mistaken for neoplasia. In cases of suspected iris melanoma, iridociliary cysts should be considered as a differential diagnosis, especially if a mass appears to emanate from behind the iris, dyscoria is present, or if similar changes are noted in the contralateral eye.

PMID: 28685998 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Systemic therapy for previously untreated advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma: navigating a shifting landscape.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Systemic therapy for previously untreated advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma: navigating a shifting landscape.

Immunotherapy. 2017 03;9(5):375-378

Authors: Levine O, Devji T, Xie F

PMID: 28357918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Uveal schwannoma in a brown-eyed dog.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Uveal schwannoma in a brown-eyed dog.

Vet Ophthalmol. 2018 Mar;21(2):205-209

Authors: Marlo TL, Giuliano EA, Moore CP, Shaw GC, Teixeira LBC

Abstract
An eleven-year-old, female spayed Boxer dog was diagnosed with a uveal schwannoma (formerly known as the spindle cell tumor of the blue-eyed dog or SCTBED) despite having a uniformly brown iris. The patient presented to emergency for ocular discomfort, and the right globe was subsequently enucleated due to glaucoma and submitted for histopathology. Upon histopathologic evaluation, a uveal schwannoma was diagnosed and confirmed with immunohistochemical staining. Complete metastatic evaluation 1 and 6 months after initial presentation did not reveal evidence of metastasis, and the dog remains systemically healthy. This case represents a unique variant of uveal schwannoma and is relevant because although the vast majority of these tumors occur in blue-eyed dogs, clinicians should not completely rule out this tumor as a differential based on the iris color.

PMID: 28095610 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

An Unusual Cause of Hematuria: Primary Bladder Melanoma in an Older Man.

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

An Unusual Cause of Hematuria: Primary Bladder Melanoma in an Older Man.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016 10;64(10):e122-e123

Authors: Laudisio A, Giua R, Papalia R, Taffon C, Muto G, Antonelli Incalzi R

PMID: 27685245 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Folic acid modified polyrotaxanes effectively transfer si RNA-CD47 to inhibit the proliferation of melanoma].

Fetched: August 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Folic acid modified polyrotaxanes effectively transfer si RNA-CD47 to inhibit the proliferation of melanoma].

Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2016 03;51(3):455-61

Authors: Zhu LN, Li YS, Zhou Y, Wang H, Chen JH

Abstract
To investigate the effect that folic acid-modified polyrotaxanes(FPP) transfered siRNA CD47 to inhibit melanoma proliferation, the expression of CD47 in clinical melanoma patients was tested by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. Physical performance of FPP(siRNA-CD47: CD47) nanoparticles was tested by Malvern particle size instrument and scanning electron microscope. The clone formation experiment demonstrated that FPP(CD47) nanoparticles inhibited the growth of clones. Invasion assay revealed that FPP(CD47) inhibited migration of B16F10 cells. Tumor bearing mice were used in the experiment to test the efficacy of FPP(CD47) treatment. Compared with the control group, high expression of CD47 was observed in the clinical melanoma patients. FPP(CD47) nanoparticle size at 80 nm exhibited a potential of 10 m V; compared with FPP(Con), fluorescence intensity was significantly reduced to 4.2% and B16F10 cell clone formation was decreased by 91% in the FPP(CD47) treatment. Tumor volume of tumor-burdened mice was decreased by 90% with FPP(CD47) treatment. FPP(CD47) lowered CD47 protein and m RNA expression in the tumor. This study suggests that FPP may transfer siRNA CD47 into the cancer cells to inhibit melanoma growth effectively.

PMID: 29859029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Correction to: Pre-therapy Somatostatin Receptor-Based Heterogeneity Predicts Overall Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy.'

Correction to: Pre-therapy Somatostatin Receptor-Based Heterogeneity Predicts Overall Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Correction to: Pre-therapy Somatostatin Receptor-Based Heterogeneity Predicts Overall Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy.

Mol Imaging Biol. 2018 Aug 14;:

Authors: Werner RA, Ilhan H, Lehner S, Papp L, Zsótér N, Schatka I, Muegge DO, Javadi MS, Higuchi T, Buck AK, Bartenstein P, Bengel F, Essler M, Lapa C, Bundschuh RA

Abstract
The article "Pre-therapy Somatostatin Receptor-Based Heterogeneity Predicts Overall Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy," was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal without open access.

PMID: 30109540 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Recent advances in the management of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: focus on tyrosine kinase and hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitors.'

Recent advances in the management of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: focus on tyrosine kinase and hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitors.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Recent advances in the management of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: focus on tyrosine kinase and hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitors.

F1000Res. 2018;7:

Authors: Toledo R, Jimenez C

Abstract
Inactivating mutations of the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B ( SDHB) gene and the subsequent stabilization and activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2α) unit are recognized hallmarks associated with the development of metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (MPPG). Despite this discovery, the development of systemic therapies for patients with MPPG has been very slow. The rarity of the disease, the lack of preclinical animal models, and the impracticable development of large clinical trials has hindered the therapeutic progress for MPPG. Chemotherapy and low-specific activity 131meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (MIBG) (manufactured by simple isotope exchange methodology) led to positive clinical responses in about a third of patients. Molecular targeted therapies were introduced into oncological clinical practice at the beginning of the 21st century. These therapies have been demonstrated to be effective for patients with cancers that previously exhibited limited responses to systemic chemotherapy, such as kidney and thyroid carcinomas and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The pathogenesis of MPPG overlaps in some way with the pathogenesis of kidney, medullary thyroid, and pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas, providing scientific support to explore molecular targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase and HIF inhibitors.

PMID: 30109021 [PubMed - in process]

Treatment outcomes and incidence of brain metastases in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Treatment outcomes and incidence of brain metastases in pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Curr Probl Cancer. 2018 May 24;:

Authors: Zhao Y, Castonguay M, Wilke D, Xu Z, Plourde M, Mulroy L, MacNeil M, Bowes D

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare type of high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor. The study objective is to investigate its survival outcomes, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence.
METHODS: This is a single center study of patients with pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary LCNEC. Patient data were collected retrospectively and analyzed, including survival, incidence of brain metastases, and patterns of recurrence.
RESULTS: Of 87 patients (stages I: 24, II: 14, III: 23, IV: 26), 52 were managed curatively and 35 palliatively. The median follow-up time was 17.3 months (range 0.6-89.5) for those treated with curative intent and 7.0 months (range 0.1-28.6) for those treated palliatively. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates are 48.4% and 25.5% for the curative group, with a median OS of 13.5 months. In the palliative group, the OS are 30.8% at 1 year and 6.8% at 2 years, with a median OS of 7.0 months. Thirty-eight of 52 (73%) patients treated with curative intent had disease relapse, with the common sites being regional lymph nodes (20), brain (18), bones (11), and liver (9). The incidence of brain recurrence among those managed curatively are 21.4% and 41.3%, respectively at 1 and 2 years. Of 18 patients experiencing brain metastases, 14 developed them as part of a first relapse.
CONCLUSIONS: LCNEC's survival outcomes are poor. The incidence of brain metastases is higher than what is observed for other types of nonsmall cell lung cancers. Prophylactic cranial irradiation should be investigated as a means of improving outcomes.

PMID: 30107896 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Coexistence of medullary thyroid carcinoma and recurrent non-functional pituitary adenoma: a case report.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Coexistence of medullary thyroid carcinoma and recurrent non-functional pituitary adenoma: a case report.

J Med Case Rep. 2018 Aug 15;12(1):220

Authors: Bagherzadeh M, Aminorroaya A, Vafaeimanesh J, Mohajeri-Tehrani MR

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma and pituitary adenoma are neuroendocrine tumors and their coexistence has not been reported in the literature, previously. Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a neoplasm of the thyroid gland arising from parafollicular c-cells producing calcitonin, and pituitary adenoma is a benign hyperplasia of the cells of the pituitary gland. Coexistence of these neoplasms can be explained by being affected by simultaneous primary neoplasms or tumor-to-tumor metastasis phenomenon.
CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 60-year-old Persian man who presented to the clinic with a chief complaint of headache for the last 2 months. His past medical history was significant for non-functional pituitary macroadenoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma and he had received a total thyroidectomy and a transsphenoidal surgery several years ago. Diagnostic evaluations revealed that the pituitary adenoma has recurred. He was well and symptom-free after the second transsphenoidal surgery for resection of the adenoma. Noticeably, investigations were negative for any form of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes; however, we could not rule them out definitively.
CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case reported in the literature of a patient who has been affected by recurrent non-functional pituitary adenoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma, concomitantly. Although this association can be accidental, it emphasizes the fact that patients with a history of a neoplasm should be monitored regularly in order to diagnose and treat possible second primary cancers in a timely manner. Of note, this consideration is of great importance in patients whose first neoplasms have better prognosis and survival rates, which provide them more time to develop second primary cancers, for example, pituitary adenoma.

PMID: 30107852 [PubMed - in process]

[Clinicopathologic features of glomus tumor of the kidney].

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Clinicopathologic features of glomus tumor of the kidney].

Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi. 2018 Aug 08;47(8):580-584

Authors: Zhao M, Wang AX, Zhu X, Yu JJ, Wang W, Zhang DH, He XL, He HY, Teng XD

Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic and differential diagnostic features of glomus tumor of the kidney. Methods: Four cases of glomus tumor of the kidney were collected from the archives of Peking University Third Hospital, the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Ningbo Yinzhou Second Hospital and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between January 2012 to June 2017; the clinical and radiologic features, histomorphology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastucture and prognosis were analyzed and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: Patients consisted of 2 men and 2 women with ages ranging from 37 years to 66 years (mean 55 years). Three patients had history of hypertensive disease (grade Ⅱ, 3 to 10 years). The tumors measured in maximum diameter from 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm (mean 3.6 cm) and showed gray-white to yellow and tan on cut surface. Macroscopical examinations showed all tumors were circumscribed but non-encapsulated. Histologically, 1 tumor presented as glomus tumor with extensive myxoid change, 1 as cellular and solid pattern glomus tumor, 1 as glomangioma with focal myopericytoma-like pattern and 1 as symplastic glomus tumor with areas resembling myopericytoma. The tumor cells in two cases showed scant cytoplasm and uniform, bland-appearing nuclei without mitoses. In one case, the tumor cells were epithelioid with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and relatively well-defined cell borders. There was an increased mitosis of 4/50 HPF; however, no evidence of atypical mitosis or nuclear atypia was noted. In the symplastic glomus tumor the tumor cells showed frequently nuclear pleomorphism without mitoses. By immunohistochemistry, all tumors showed strong and diffuse reactivities to at least 3 of the 4 muscle-associated markers (SMA, h-Caldesmon, MSA and Calponin), 3 tumors strongly and diffusely expressed collagen Ⅳ, 2 expressed CD34 and 1 focally expressed desmin; whereas markers including epithelial, neuroendocrine, nephrogenic, melanoma-associated, STAT6, S-100 protein, CD117 and β-catenin all were negative in all the 4 tumors. Ultrastuctural analysis was done in 2 cases and showed prominent cytoplasmic actin bundles and pericellular basement membrane, and lacking of rhomboid renin crystals in both tumors. The hypertension persisted after surgical resection for all the 3 patients with this medical history. Follow-up information (range: 6-64 months, mean: 44 months)showed that no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis was identified in all 4 patients. Conclusions: Glomus tumor rarely occurs in the kidney and usually has a good prognosis. Careful attention to its morphology with the judicious use of immunohistochemistry and ultrastuctural analysis can be helpful for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

PMID: 30107661 [PubMed - in process]

Mechanisms of antimelanoma effect of oat β-glucan supported by electroporation.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Mechanisms of antimelanoma effect of oat β-glucan supported by electroporation.

Bioelectrochemistry. 2018 Oct;123:255-259

Authors: Choromanska A, Lubinska S, Szewczyk A, Saczko J, Kulbacka J

Abstract
There are still not specified mechanisms how beta-glucan molecules are transported into cells. Supposing, beta-glucan toxicity against tumor cells may be related to the overexpression of the transporter responsible for the transport of glucose molecules in the cells. In this case, glucans - polymers composed of glucose units are much more up-taken by tumor than normal cells. Increased GLUT1 (Glucose Transporter Type 1) expression has been demonstrated earlier in malignant melanomas. GLUT1 expression promotes glucose uptake and cell growth in that cells. Also, in human melanoma tissues a significant correlation between GLUT1 expression and mitotic activity was found. The aim of the study was to verify if oat β-glucan (OβG) is delivered into cells by GLUT-1 membrane protein. To check it out we blocked GLUT1 transporters by an inhibitor WZB117 and then we investigated cells viability with and without reversible electroporation (EP). The obtained results bring us to elucidate the mechanism of transport of the OβG into the cells is GLUT-1 dependent and moreover can be supported by EP method.

PMID: 29929176 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Panduratin A induces protective autophagy in melanoma via the AMPK and mTOR pathway.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Panduratin A induces protective autophagy in melanoma via the AMPK and mTOR pathway.

Phytomedicine. 2018 Mar 15;42:144-151

Authors: Lai SL, Mustafa MR, Wong PF

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Targeting autophagy is emerging as a promising strategy in cancer therapeutics in recent years. Autophagy can be modulated to drive cancer cell deaths that are notoriously resistant to apoptotic-inducing drugs. In addition, autophagy has been implicated as a prosurvival mechanism in mediating cancer chemoresistance. Our previous study has demonstrated that Panduratin A (PA), a plant-derived active compound exploits ER-stress-mediated apoptosis as its cytotoxic mechanism on melanoma.
PURPOSE: Our previous proteomics analysis revealed that treatment with PA resulted in the upregulation of an autophagy marker, LC3B in melanoma cells. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the role of PA-induced autophagy in melanoma cells.
METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy was performed for examination of autophagic ultra-structures in PA-treated A375 cells. Cytoplasmic LC3B and p62/SQSMT1 punctate structures were detected using immunofluorescene staining. Expression levels of LC3B II, p62/SQSMT1, ATG 12, Beclin 1, phospho S6 (ser235/236), phospho AMPK (Thr172) and cleaved PARP were evaluated by western blotting.
RESULTS: Autophagosomes, autolysosomes and punctuates of LC3 proteins could be observed in PA-treated A375 cells. PA-induced autophagy in A375 melanoma cells was found to be mediated through the inhibition of mTOR signaling and activation of AMPK pathway. Furthermore, we showed that PA-induced apoptosis was increased in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor, signifying the cytoprotective effect of PA-induced autophagy in melanoma cells.
CONCLUSION: Taken together, results from the present study suggest that the inhibition of autophagy by targeting mTOR and AMPK could potentiate the cytotoxicity effects of PA on melanoma cells.

PMID: 29655680 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Preparation of Novel Homodimers Derived from Cytotoxic Isoquinolinequinones. A Twin Drug Approach.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Preparation of Novel Homodimers Derived from Cytotoxic Isoquinolinequinones. A Twin Drug Approach.

Molecules. 2018 Feb 16;23(2):

Authors: Ibacache JA, Faundes J, Montoya M, Mejías S, Valderrama JA

Abstract
The synthesis of five novel homodimers is reported based on the anilinoisoquinolinequinone scaffold. In these twin-drug derivatives, two units of the anilinoquinone pharmacophores are linked through a methylene spacer. The formation of dimers was achieved by reaction of isoquinolinequinones with 4, 4'-diaminodiphenylmethane via a sequence of two oxidative amination reactions. A preliminary in vitro screening of the homodimers reveals moderate to high cytotoxic activities against MDA-MB-21 breast adenocarcinoma and B16-F10 murine metastatic melanoma cell lines. The asymmetrical homodimer 15 stands out due to its cytotoxic potencies at submicromolar concentrations and high selectivity index (mean IC50 = 0.37 μM; SI = 6.97) compared to those of etoposide (mean IC50 = 3.67; SI = 0.32) and taxol (mean IC50 = 0.35; SI = 0.91) employed as reference anticancer drugs.

PMID: 29462956 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Anticarcinogenic activities of sulforaphane are influenced by Nerve Growth Factor in human melanoma A375 cells.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Anticarcinogenic activities of sulforaphane are influenced by Nerve Growth Factor in human melanoma A375 cells.

Food Chem Toxicol. 2018 Mar;113:154-161

Authors: Arcidiacono P, Stabile AM, Ragonese F, Pistilli A, Calvieri S, Bottoni U, Crisanti A, Spaccapelo R, Rende M

Abstract
Melanoma is a severe form of cancer, resistant to conventional therapies. According to in vitro studies, sulforaphane, a dietary component, has been considered a promising antineoplastic candidate. The present study analyzes the in vitro biological effects of sulforaphane in A375 melanoma cell line with or without the addition of Nerve Growth Factor. For the first time, our results show that a supplementation of Nerve Growth Factor partially reverses the sulforaphane-induced: i) inhibition of cell migration, ii) pro apoptotic changes in cell cycle and iii) modulation of active caspase-3. Furthermore, we report the sulforaphane-induced modulation in the expression of Nerve Growth Factor receptors TrKA and p75NTR, shifting their ratio from pro survival to pro apoptotic. In conclusion, the present study evidences that in vivo the antineoplastic effects of sulforaphane may be reduced by the contemporaneous presence of other biological elements such as Nerve Growth Factor and it contributes to a better definition of the real in vivo potentiality of sulforaphane as antineoplastic candidate.

PMID: 29407470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Diagnostic conundrum of a perineal tumour: a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumour mimic.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Diagnostic conundrum of a perineal tumour: a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumour mimic.

Malays J Pathol. 2017 Dec;39(3):293-296

Authors: Shi R, Chew MH, Leow WQ

Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a common mesenchymal tumour arising in the gastrointestinal tract, but not frequently encountered in the rectum. Herein, we describe a case of a rectal GIST which mimicked histomorphological features of a schwannoma; thus, making intraoperative frozen section evaluation challenging. Although subsequent immunohistochemistry and molecular findings readily confirmed the diagnosis of a GIST, we wish to draw attention to three clues that will help the pathologist steer clear of this potential diagnostic pitfall. One, GISTs are relatively more common than schwannomas in the rectum. Two, schwannomas usually have very little mitoses. Three, rectal GISTs commonly exhibit nuclear palisades. We also discuss the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic functions of immunohistochemical and molecular investigations. As the surgical intent for rectal GISTs is for en-bloc excision with wide margins, we surmise that the intraoperative consult should include GIST as a possible differential diagnosis for rectal mesenchymal tumours. In view of the potential for neoadjuvant treatment with imatinib before surgical excision to preserve sphincter function, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended for establishing most effective treatment strategy in these rare complex cases.

PMID: 29279593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 pathways by Sparstolonin B suppresses inflammation-induced melanoma metastasis.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 pathways by Sparstolonin B suppresses inflammation-induced melanoma metastasis.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Feb;98:382-389

Authors: Tang YM, Cao QY, Guo XY, Dong SH, Duan JA, Wu QN, Liang QL

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cancer related inflammation plays a fatal role in the metastatic process, which can foster tumor growth, angiogenesis and dissemination. Sparstolonin B (SsnB), derived from Chinese medicine of the tubers of Scirpus yagara, is a TLR2 and TLR4 antagonists. It has exhibited multiple activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity and anti-hepatitis. However, whether SsnB is involved in the regulation of inflammation-induced tumor metastasis is not well elucidated.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of SsnB as a treatment of inflammation-induced tumor metastasis and identify the underlying mechanisms of its anti-tumor metastatic activity.
METHOD: The anti-tumor metastatic activity in vitro was estimated by MTT, wound-healing assay, matrigel invasion analysis and extracellular matrix adhesion assay. Mice lung metastasis and hepatic metastasis experiments were performed to assess the activities in vivo. Lungs or livers were weighed and the number of metastatic nodules was determined after mice were sacrificed. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum, lungs and livers were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Micro-metastasis nodules in lungs or livers were analyzed by histological examination. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were conducted to determine protein expression.
RESULT: Herein, SsnB dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion in mouse melanoma B16 cells with or without stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Pam3csk4 or molecules from damaged tumor cells (DTC-Ms). The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 was also significantly abated by SsnB in LPS-modulated B16 cells. And SsnB reduced LPS-activated B16 cells adhesion to extracellular matrix components collagen I and fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, SsnB obviously attenuated LPS-activated pulmonary metastasis in mice by reduction the number of metastatic nodules on the lung surfaces, lung weight and levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in serums and lungs. Moreover, in experimental hepatic metastasis model mice, SsnB remarkably repressed LPS-stimulated the number of metastatic nodules along with liver weight; and SsnB significantly suppressed LPS-activated increase levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in livers. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that SsnB inhibited the expression of TLR4 in livers. Furthermore, SsnB remarkably blocked p38 and ERK1/2 signaling pathway in LPS-induced B16 cells. P38 and ERK1/2 signaling silencing, using BIRB0796 (small molecular inhibitor of p38 MAPK) and PD184352 (inhibitor of MEK1/2 kinases that activate ERK1/2), significantly abated LPS-induced migration and invasion of B16 cells.
CONCLUSION: The present study reports a novel use of SsnB in mitigating TLRs ligands-induced melanoma metastasis by inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 pathway.

PMID: 29276966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

SEOM clinical guideline for the management of malignant melanoma (2017).

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

SEOM clinical guideline for the management of malignant melanoma (2017).

Clin Transl Oncol. 2018 Jan;20(1):69-74

Authors: Berrocal A, Arance A, Castellon VE, de la Cruz L, Espinosa E, Cao MG, Larriba JLG, Márquez-Rodas I, Soria A, Algarra SM

Abstract
All melanoma suspected patients must be confirmed histologically and resected. Sentinel node biopsy must be done when tumor is over 1 mm or if less with high-risk factors. Adjuvant therapy with interferon could be offered for patients with high-risk melanoma and in selected cases radiotherapy can be added. Metastatic melanoma treatment is guided by mutational BRAF status. BRAF wild type patients must receive anti-PD1 containing therapy and BRAF mutated patients BRAF/MEK inhibitors or anti-PD1 containing therapy. Up to 10 years follow up is reasonable for melanoma patients with dermatologic examinations and physical exams.

PMID: 29116432 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Anthropometric factors and cutaneous melanoma: Prospective data from the population-based Janus Cohort.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Anthropometric factors and cutaneous melanoma: Prospective data from the population-based Janus Cohort.

Int J Cancer. 2018 02 15;142(4):681-690

Authors: Stenehjem JS, Veierød MB, Nilsen LT, Ghiasvand R, Johnsen B, Grimsrud TK, Babigumira R, Rees JR, Robsahm TE

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to prospectively examine risk of cutaneous melanoma (CM) according to measured anthropometric factors, adjusted for exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), in a large population-based cohort in Norway. The Janus Cohort, including 292,851 Norwegians recruited 1972-2003, was linked to the Cancer Registry of Norway and followed for CM through 2014. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of CM with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic splines were incorporated into the Cox models to assess possible non-linear relationships. All analyses were adjusted for attained age, indicators of UVR exposure, education, and smoking status. During a mean follow-up of 27 years, 3,000 incident CM cases were identified. In men, CM risk was positively associated with body mass index, body surface area (BSA), height and weight (all ptrends < 0.001), and the exposure-response curves indicated an exponential increase in risk for all anthropometric factors. Weight loss of more than 2 kg in men was associated with a 53% lower risk (HR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.57). In women, CM risk increased with increasing BSA (ptrend = 0.002) and height (ptrend < 0.001). The shape of the height-CM risk curve indicated an exponential increase. Our study suggests that large body size, in general, is a CM risk factor in men, and is the first to report that weight loss may reduce the risk of CM among men.

PMID: 28983909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sporadic minute medullary thyroid carcinoma with a double RET mutation: A case report.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Sporadic minute medullary thyroid carcinoma with a double RET mutation: A case report.

Pathol Int. 2017 Nov;67(11):580-584

Authors: Yamamoto H, Ishii J, Chiba T, Nakazato Y, Hirano K, Kamma H

Abstract
We describe a 74-year-old man with a nodular goiter accompanied by an incidental sporadic minute medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Histopathologically, the MTC was a well-defined 1.7 mm tumor in the upper one-third right lobe, with solid cell nests (SCNs) adjacent to the MTC. C-cells were scattered mainly around the SCNs, but C-cell hyperplasia was not evident in the background thyroid. The MTC cell phenotype was immunohistochemically identical to background C-cells, but was completely different from the SCN main cells. Direct DNA analyses of isolated MTC paraffin-embedded specimens revealed two RET proto-oncogene missense point mutations in exon 11 (i.e., C630R and C634W). The non-tumor thyroid tissue did not reveal any mutations. This study reports the smallest case of sporadic MTC with a double RET somatic mutation, substantiating that RET mutations can occur during a very early stage of carcinogenesis. The combined presence of C630R and C634W represent a novel somatic mutation in sporadic MTC. The present case indicates that the sporadic MTC originated from the surrounding C-cells of the SCNs without C-cell hyperplasia and that the SCN main cells may not be able to develop into an MTC.

PMID: 28952196 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Calcium electroporation for treatment of cutaneous metastases; a randomized double-blinded phase II study, comparing the effect of calcium electroporation with electrochemotherapy.'

Calcium electroporation for treatment of cutaneous metastases; a randomized double-blinded phase II study, comparing the effect of calcium electroporation with electrochemotherapy.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Calcium electroporation for treatment of cutaneous metastases; a randomized double-blinded phase II study, comparing the effect of calcium electroporation with electrochemotherapy.

Acta Oncol. 2018 Mar;57(3):311-319

Authors: Falk H, Matthiessen LW, Wooler G, Gehl J

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Calcium electroporation is a novel anticancer treatment, which utilizes high voltage pulses to permeabilize cell membranes and expose the cell to supraphysiological doses of calcium. Preclinical studies on calcium electroporation have shown strikingly high tumor response with cell necrosis. Calcium electroporation builds on the treatment electrochemotherapy, where chemotherapeutic drugs, mostly bleomycin, are internalized by electroporation. This double-blinded randomized study compared calcium electroporation to electrochemotherapy in terms of objective response measured 6 months after treatment.
METHODS: Seven patients with a total of 47 cutaneous metastases from breast cancer and malignant melanoma were included in the protocol. A total of 37 metastases were randomized and evaluated for response, another 10 metastases were used for biopsy. This was a non-inferiority trial and metastases were randomized individually in each patient to either intratumoral calcium or bleomycin followed by application of electric pulses to tumor site. All metastases were treated once, and after 6-months of follow-up, the randomization code was revealed.
RESULTS: Objective response of calcium electroporation was 72% (13/18) with complete response in 66% (12/18). For electrochemotherapy, objective response was 84% (16/19) with complete response in 68% (13/19). There was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments (p = 0.5). After 1 year, only three out of 25 metastases had relapsed. Ulceration, itching and exudation were reported slightly more frequently in metastases treated with bleomycin, and hyperpigmentation was only seen in metastases treated with bleomycin.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that calcium electroporation is feasible and effective in patients with cutaneous metastases.

PMID: 28816072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Management of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Management of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma.

Acta Oncol. 2018 Mar;57(3):320-323

Authors: Mendenhall WM, Morris CG, Kirwan JM, Amdur RJ, Shaw C, Dziegielewski PT

PMID: 28712323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Functional Ulnar Nerve Paraganglioma: First Documented Occurrence in the Extremity With Hitherto Undescribed Associated Extensive Glomus Cell Hyperplasia and Tumorlet Formation.'

Functional Ulnar Nerve Paraganglioma: First Documented Occurrence in the Extremity With Hitherto Undescribed Associated Extensive Glomus Cell Hyperplasia and Tumorlet Formation.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Functional Ulnar Nerve Paraganglioma: First Documented Occurrence in the Extremity With Hitherto Undescribed Associated Extensive Glomus Cell Hyperplasia and Tumorlet Formation.

Int J Surg Pathol. 2018 Feb;26(1):64-72

Authors: Chow LTC, Chan MHM, Wong SKC

Abstract
Extra-adrenal paraganglioma has never been described in the extremities. A 34-year-old woman complained of an enlarging mass in the right forearm for 18 months. Imaging showed a circumscribed vascular tumor attached to the ulnar nerve; biopsy revealed features of paraganglioma. The resected tumor consisted of zellballen pattern of chief cells staining positively for chromogranin with surrounding S100-positive sustentacular cells. The chief cells contained many neurosecretory granules and mitochondria, whereas the sustentacular cells contained a large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum and some microfilaments. There was adjacent extensive glomus cell hyperplasia and tumorlet formation. The intraoperative blood pressure dropped abruptly on tumor removal. The serum normetanephrine level decreased from a preoperative level of 1987 pg/mL (normal < 149 pg/mL) to normal after operation. The patient admitted on questioning to a history of paroxysmal attacks of transient palpitation, hand tremors, and sweating; imaging showed no evidence of tumor in other parts of the body, and there was no family history of similar tumor; she remained well 33 months after the operation. This occurrence of functional ulnar nerve paraganglioma with the hitherto undescribed associated glomus cell hyperplasia and tumorlet formation attests to the probable existence of normal sympathetic paraganglia in the extremity and their intimate functional relationship with glomus bodies.

PMID: 28697655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

$Permalink for 'Azathioprine combination therapy for steroid-refractory hepatic immune system-related adverse events.'$

Azathioprine combination therapy for steroid-refractory hepatic immune system-related adverse events.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Azathioprine combination therapy for steroid-refractory hepatic immune system-related adverse events.

Eur J Dermatol. 2017 06 01;27(3):301-303

Authors: Iwamoto K, Ishitsuka Y, Tanaka R, Sekine I, Fujimoto M

PMID: 28468733 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Merkel cell carcinoma: new insights into pathogenesis.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Merkel cell carcinoma: new insights into pathogenesis.

Eur J Dermatol. 2017 06 01;27(3):307-309

Authors: Curzio G, Paolini F, Cota C, Donati P, Di Mattia C, Mariani L, Migliano E, Venuti A

PMID: 28382918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Molecular imaging reporting and data systems (MI-RADS): a generalizable framework for targeted radiotracers with theranostic implications.'

Molecular imaging reporting and data systems (MI-RADS): a generalizable framework for targeted radiotracers with theranostic implications.

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Molecular imaging reporting and data systems (MI-RADS): a generalizable framework for targeted radiotracers with theranostic implications.

Ann Nucl Med. 2018 Aug 14;:

Authors: Werner RA, Bundschuh RA, Bundschuh L, Javadi MS, Higuchi T, Weich A, Sheikhbahaei S, Pienta KJ, Buck AK, Pomper MG, Gorin MA, Lapa C, Rowe SP

Abstract
Both prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)- and somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-targeted positron emission tomography (PET)-based imaging agents for prostate carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors, respectively, are seeing rapidly expanding use. In addition to diagnostic applications, both classes of radiotracers can be used to triage patients for theranostic endoradiotherapy. While interpreting PSMA- or SSTR-targeted PET/computed tomography (CT) scans, the reader has to be aware of certain pitfalls. Adding to the complexity of the interpretation of those imaging agents, both normal biodistribution, and also false-positive and -negative findings differ between PSMA- and SSTR-targeted PET radiotracers. Herein summarized under the umbrella term molecular imaging reporting and data systems (MI-RADS), two novel RADS classifications for PSMA- and SSTR-targeted PET imaging are described (PSMA- and SSTR-RADS). Notably, PSMA- and SSTR-RADS are structured in a reciprocal fashion, i.e., if the reader is familiar with one system, the other system can readily be applied, as well. In the present review, we will discuss the most common pitfalls on PSMA- and SSTR-targeted PET/CT, briefly introduce PSMA- and SSTR-RADS, and define a potential future role of the umbrella framework MI-RADS compared to other classification systems.

PMID: 30109562 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Partial hepatic resections for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors: perioperative outcomes.

Fetched: August 14th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Partial hepatic resections for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors: perioperative outcomes.

J Clin Anesth. 2018 Aug 08;51:93-96

Authors: Kinney MAO, Nagorney DM, Clark DF, O'Brien TD, Turner JD, Marienau ME, Schroeder DR, Martin DP

Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Partial hepatic resection reduces tumor burden in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors, thereby improving quality and length of life. These procedures can be challenging as well as life-threatening. Our aim was to evaluate our patients' perioperative outcomes and propose a definition for an intraoperative carcinoid crisis relevant to this surgery, given its unique surgical considerations.
DESIGN: Retrospective study.
SETTING: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-nine patients undergoing partial hepatic resection for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors between 1997 and 2015 were identified retrospectively from a surgical database at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS: Intraoperative carcinoid crisis for patients undergoing hepatic resection of neuroendocrine tumors was defined. Patients' medical records were reviewed and data were abstracted describing patient and procedural characteristics and perioperative outcomes.
MAIN RESULTS: There were no documented cases of carcinoid crisis (0.0%, 95% C.I. 0.0% to 2.2%). One patient developed clinical findings of an emerging carcinoid crisis, but was successfully treated with doses of octreotide and findings resolved in <10 min. Prophylactically 500 μg octreotide was given subcutaneously in 77% (130/169) of patients preoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS: There were no documented cases of carcinoid crisis (0.0%, 95% C.I. 0.0% to 2.2%). Adverse events were infrequent.

PMID: 30098573 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Implementation of Current ENETS Guidelines for Surgery of Small (≤2 cm) Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the German Surgical Community: An Analysis of the Prospective DGAV StuDoQ|Pancreas Registry.'

Implementation of Current ENETS Guidelines for Surgery of Small (≤2 cm) Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the German Surgical Community: An Analysis of the Prospective DGAV StuDoQ|Pancreas Registry.

Fetched: August 14th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Implementation of Current ENETS Guidelines for Surgery of Small (≤2 cm) Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the German Surgical Community: An Analysis of the Prospective DGAV StuDoQ|Pancreas Registry.

World J Surg. 2018 Aug 10;:

Authors: Mintziras I, Keck T, Werner J, Fichtner-Feigl S, Wittel U, Senninger N, Vowinkel T, Köninger J, Anthuber M, Geißler B, Bartsch DK, StuDoQ|Pancreas study group of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV)

Abstract
BACKGROUND: ENETS guidelines recommend parenchyma-sparing procedures without formal lymphadenectomy, ideally with a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach for sporadic small pNENs (≤2 cm). Non-functioning (NF) small pNENs can also be observed. The aim of the study was to evaluate how these recommendations are implemented in the German surgical community.
METHODS: Data from the prospective StuDoQ|Pancreas registry of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery were analyzed regarding patient's demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, histology and perioperative outcomes.
RESULTS: Eighty-four (29.2%) of 287 patients had sporadic pNENs ≤2 cm. Forty-three (51.2%) patients were male, and the mean age at diagnosis was 58.8 ± 15.6 years. Twenty-five (29.8%) pNENs were located in the pancreatic head. The diagnosis pNEN was preoperatively established in 53 (65%) of 84 patients. Sixty-two (73.8%) patients had formal pancreatic resections, including partial pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy (21.4%). Only 22 (26.2%) patients underwent parenchyma-sparing resections and 23 (27.4%) patients had minimally invasive procedures. A lymphadenectomy was performed in 63 (75.4%) patients, and lymph node metastases were diagnosed in 6 (7.2%) patients. Eighty-two (97.7%) patients had an R0 resection. Sixty (72%) tumors were classified G1, 24 (28%) tumors G2. Twenty-seven (32.2%) of 84 patients had postoperative relevant Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 complications. Thirty- and 90-day mortalities were 2.4% and 3.6%.
CONCLUSIONS: ENETS guidelines for surgery of small pNENs are yet not well accepted in the German surgical community, since the rate of formal resections with standard lymphadenectomy is high and the minimally invasive approach is underused. The attitude to operate small NF tumors seems to be rather aggressive.

PMID: 30097704 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Influence of lanreotide on uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE in patients with neuroendocrine tumours: a prospective intra-patient evaluation.'

Influence of lanreotide on uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE in patients with neuroendocrine tumours: a prospective intra-patient evaluation.

Fetched: August 14th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Influence of lanreotide on uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE in patients with neuroendocrine tumours: a prospective intra-patient evaluation.

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2018 Aug 10;:

Authors: Aalbersberg EA, de Wit-van der Veen BJ, Versleijen MWJ, Saveur LJ, Valk GD, Tesselaar MET, Stokkel MPM

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Somatostatin receptor imaging with PET is the standard of care for patients with a neuroendocrine tumour (NET). Since therapy and imaging with somatostatin analogues utilize the same receptor, current guidelines recommend withdrawing long-acting somatostatin analogues for 3-4 weeks prior to somatostatin receptor PET imaging. The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the effect of lanreotide use on the uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE intra-individually 1 day prior to and 1 day post injection of lanreotide.
METHODS: Thirty-four patients with metastatic and/or unresectable NET and currently on lanreotide therapy for at least 4 months were included in the study. A 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT scan was performed on the day before and the day after lanreotide injection. In each patient 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake (SUVmax, mean, peak) was assessed in both tumour lesions and normal tissue. All scans were assessed by two blinded nuclear medicine physicians for visual analysis. Paired T-tests were performed to determine the differences between the scans.
RESULTS: Of the 34 patients included, 31 were available for analyses in which 190 tumour lesions were measured. Uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE in tumour lesions was increased significantly after lanreotide, but decreased significantly in the liver, spleen, and thyroid gland resulting in a higher tumour-to-liver ratio.
CONCLUSION: Lanreotide injection prior to 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT does not result in decreased tumour uptake. In contrast, tumour uptake was increased, whereas the uptake in normal organs is decreased, leading to an increased tumour-to-liver ratio. However, these differences were small and not deemed clinically relevant. These results strongly suggest that discontinuation of lanreotide injections in the weeks prior to 68Ga-DOTATATE PET examinations is unnecessary and does not compromise nuclear medicine imaging results.

PMID: 30097670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[DEVELOPMENT AND CHALLENGES IN TREATMENT OF UVEAL MELANOMA].

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[DEVELOPMENT AND CHALLENGES IN TREATMENT OF UVEAL MELANOMA].

Harefuah. 2018 Feb;157(2):95-98

Authors: Zloto O, Vishnevskia-Dai V, Moisseiev J, Fabian ID

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Uveal melanoma, the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, is potentially a lethal tumour. Since the development of local radiotherapy, tumour control is achieved in the majority of cases and most eyes are salvaged. Despite this, more than 50% of patients develop distant metastatic spread, mainly to the liver, and in the absence of efficient treatments to extend life, die soon after. A great deal of effort has been put into developing prognostic markers for metastatic spread and survival. Novel genetic prognostic tests, recently introduced, are now being clinically used in many ocular oncology centres worldwide. In addition, in most centres, patients are referred for systemic surveillance programs for early detection of liver metastasis. Novel treatment modalities to battle metastatic uveal melanoma are being developed and used in clinical trials. Their efficacy is yet to be proved. This review summarizes the recent developments and current challenges related to uveal melanoma management.

PMID: 29484864 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Intergenic disease-associated regions are abundant in novel transcripts.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Intergenic disease-associated regions are abundant in novel transcripts.

Genome Biol. 2017 12 28;18(1):241

Authors: Bartonicek N, Clark MB, Quek XC, Torpy JR, Pritchard AL, Maag JLV, Gloss BS, Crawford J, Taft RJ, Hayward NK, Montgomery GW, Mattick JS, Mercer TR, Dinger ME

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Genotyping of large populations through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has successfully identified many genomic variants associated with traits or disease risk. Unexpectedly, a large proportion of GWAS single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and associated haplotype blocks are in intronic and intergenic regions, hindering their functional evaluation. While some of these risk-susceptibility regions encompass cis-regulatory sites, their transcriptional potential has never been systematically explored.
RESULTS: To detect rare tissue-specific expression, we employed the transcript-enrichment method CaptureSeq on 21 human tissues to identify 1775 multi-exonic transcripts from 561 intronic and intergenic haploblocks associated with 392 traits and diseases, covering 73.9 Mb (2.2%) of the human genome. We show that a large proportion (85%) of disease-associated haploblocks express novel multi-exonic non-coding transcripts that are tissue-specific and enriched for GWAS SNPs as well as epigenetic markers of active transcription and enhancer activity. Similarly, we captured transcriptomes from 13 melanomas, targeting nine melanoma-associated haploblocks, and characterized 31 novel melanoma-specific transcripts that include fusion proteins, novel exons and non-coding RNAs, one-third of which showed allelically imbalanced expression.
CONCLUSIONS: This resource of previously unreported transcripts in disease-associated regions ( [gwas-captureseq.dingerlab.org] ) should provide an important starting point for the translational community in search of novel biomarkers, disease mechanisms, and drug targets.

PMID: 29284497 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Photodynamic therapy as initial treatment for small choroidal melanomas.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Photodynamic therapy as initial treatment for small choroidal melanomas.

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2017 Dec;20:175-181

Authors: Jmor F, Hussain RN, Damato BE, Heimann H

Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) as primary treatment for small, posterior choroidal melanoma.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort review.
SUBJECTS, PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Retrospective case note review of 20 patients with small juxtapapillary and juxtafoveal choroidal melanomas treated with PDT at the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Clinic.
METHODS: Patient and tumour characteristics, PDT session details, visual acuity and B-scan ultrasonography measurements as well as colour fundus photographs at each examination were collated and analysed.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Local tumour control and Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA).
RESULTS: The 20 patients (14 male, 6 female) had a mean age of 61.2 years (range, 40-85) and were treated between 2001 and 2012. Seven tumours were amelanotic, while 13 were pigmented. Of 20 melanomas, 11 (55%) showed complete regression on B-scan ultrasonography and colour photography; five (25%) showed partial regression; four (20%) remained unchanged and two (10%) showed further growth, for which alternative standard treatment was required. Baseline BCVA was 0.1 logMAR (mean; range 0.0-0.6) compared to a post-PDT BCVA of 0.4 logMAR (mean; range -0.2 to 1.7) over a follow-up of 60.0 months (mean; range 25-156 months).
CONCLUSIONS: PDT can induce tumour regression in a significant proportion of small, posterior, choroidal melanomas but is less reliable than other forms of therapy. It may have a role in patients with special visual requirements if they accept the increased risk of treatment failure requiring radiotherapy.

PMID: 29074262 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

$Permalink for 'Local control in sinonasal malignant melanoma: Comparing conventional to hypofractionated radiotherapy.'$

Local control in sinonasal malignant melanoma: Comparing conventional to hypofractionated radiotherapy.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Local control in sinonasal malignant melanoma: Comparing conventional to hypofractionated radiotherapy.

Head Neck. 2018 Jan;40(1):86-93

Authors: Lansu J, Klop WM, Heemsbergen W, Navran A, Al-Mamgani A, Langendijk JA, Kaanders JH, Terhaard C, Karakullukcu B, Hamming-Vrieze O

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of fractionation schedule on local control in postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for sinonasal malignant melanoma.
METHODS: Sixty-three patients who were treated with surgery and postoperative RT in 4 accredited head and neck cancer centers in the Netherlands between 1998 and 2013 were retrospectively studied. Outcomes with conventional fractionation (2-2.4 Gy per fraction; n = 27) were compared to hypofractionation (4-6 Gy per fraction; n = 36). The primary endpoint was local control and the secondary endpoint was toxicity.
RESULTS: Comparable local control rates were found after 2 and 5 years (63% vs 64% and 47% vs 53%; P = .73 for, respectively, conventional fractionation vs hypofractionation). Local recurrences were predominantly present ipsilateral (92%) and within the irradiated volume (88%). Late toxicity grade ≥ 3 was observed in 2 of 63 patients, 1 patient in both groups.
CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy fractionation schedule did not influence the local control rate or the incidence of late toxicity in patients treated with surgery and RT for sinonasal malignant melanoma in this retrospective analysis. Due to this retrospective nature and the limited number of patients, strong recommendations cannot be made. Expected toxicity, patient convenience, and workload may be taken into account for the choice of fractionation schedule until conclusive evidence becomes available.

PMID: 29044881 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Management of the lateral neck compartment in patients with sporadic medullary thyroid cancer.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Management of the lateral neck compartment in patients with sporadic medullary thyroid cancer.

Head Neck. 2018 Jan;40(1):79-85

Authors: Pena I, Clayman GL, Grubbs EG, Bergeron JM, Waguespack SG, Cabanillas ME, Dadu R, Hu MI, Fellman BM, Li Y, Gross ND, Lai SY, Sturgis EM, Zafereo ME

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the benefits of an elective lateral neck dissection (ELND) in patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) without radiographically apparent lateral neck metastases.
METHODS: Patients with sporadic MTC without radiographic evidence of lateral neck metastasis who underwent definitive surgery were divided into 2 groups based on surgical approach: no ELND (the observation group) and ipsilateral or bilateral ELND (the ELND group). Primary outcomes were biochemical cure, locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, and overall survival (OS).
RESULTS: Sixty-six patients met inclusion criteria: 44 patients (67%) in the observation group and 22 patients (33%) in the ELND group. Two of 44 patients (5%) in the observation group developed subsequent (ipsilateral) lateral neck disease. At last follow-up, locoregional disease control rates among the observation and ELND groups were 98% and 100% (P > .999), respectively, whereas biochemical cure rates were 82% and 85% (P > .999), respectively, and 5-year OSs were 84% and 100% (P = .156), respectively.
CONCLUSION: Patients with MTC without lateral neck metastasis have similar biochemical cure rates with observation or elective dissection of lateral neck compartments.

PMID: 29044788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Recombinant protein rMBP-NAP restricts tumor progression by triggering antitumor immunity in mouse metastatic lung cancer.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Recombinant protein rMBP-NAP restricts tumor progression by triggering antitumor immunity in mouse metastatic lung cancer.

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2018 Feb;96(2):113-119

Authors: Wang T, Du M, Ji Z, Ding C, Wang C, Men Y, Liu S, Liang T, Liu X, Kang Q

Abstract
Recombinant Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein fused with maltose-binding protein (rMBP-NAP), a potential TLR2 ligand, was reported to possess immunomodulatory effects on in situ tumors in our previous study. In the present work, we attempt to elucidate the effect of rMBP-NAP at the local immune modulation in B16-F10-induced metastatic lung cancer. Our results demonstrated that growth of B16-F10 melanoma metastases in the lung was significantly arrested after rMBP-NAP treatment, along with marked reduction in metastatic lung nodules and significant increase in survival. The treatment induced both local and systemic immune responses, which were associated with higher influx of CD4+/CD8+ T cells and drove toward Th1-like and cytotoxic immune environment. Moreover, rMBP-NAP also showed significant anti-angiogenic activity by reducing vascularization in lung tumor sections. rMBP-NAP could induce antitumor immunity through activating Th1 cells and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are responsible for the effective cytotoxic immune response against cancer progression. Our findings indicate that rMBP-NAP might be a novel antitumor therapeutic strategy.

PMID: 28863272 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Primary Amelanotic CNS Melanoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Primary Amelanotic CNS Melanoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2018 Jan;79(1):96-100

Authors: Mayer S, Mauer UM, Mathieu R, Hackenbroch C, Knupfer J, Schulz C

Abstract
Primary malignant melanomas of the central nervous system (CNS) are rarely seen entities in the clinical routine. Primary amelanotic melanomas are even rarer. In our literature review, we found only six case reports of primary amelanotic CNS melanomas. Our case report describes the course of a 71-year-old man with a primary amelanotic CNS melanoma with secondary spread to the spine.

PMID: 28750450 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Metastatic Melanoma in Sentinel Node-Negative Patients: The Ottawa Experience.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Metastatic Melanoma in Sentinel Node-Negative Patients: The Ottawa Experience.

J Cutan Med Surg. 2018 Jan/Feb;22(1):14-21

Authors: Ward CE, MacIsaac JL, Heughan CE, Weatherhead L

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lymph node involvement is a major independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with malignant melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) detection of microscopic nodal melanoma has been shown to improve both 5-year survival and 5-year disease-free survival.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of metastatic melanoma in SLNB-negative patients at long-term follow-up.
METHODS: Study subjects include all 152 patients who had a negative SLNB and were followed at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre (ORCC) between 1999 and 2004. Patients with a follow-up period less than 6 months, more than 1 primary melanoma, and metastatic melanoma at diagnosis were excluded. Age at diagnosis, sex, Breslow thickness, ulceration, mitoses, regression, Clark level, anatomical location, development of metastatic melanoma, time to detection of metastatic disease, and time to death from melanoma were studied.
RESULTS: In this retrospective study at the ORCC, 40 of 140 (28.6%) patients with a single primary melanoma developed metastatic melanoma following negative SLNB at a mean follow-up of 63 months.
CONCLUSION: The rate of metastatic melanoma following negative SLNB at long-term follow-up at the ORCC is higher than the upper limit of rates reported in the literature (6%-24%). The reason for this is multifactorial, and the long follow-up period of 5 years allowed for detection of metastatic disease at a mean of 3.9 years. Long-term prognosis may be guarded in node-negative patients with a primary cutaneous melanoma, and surveillance by a multidisciplinary team is crucial.

PMID: 28689448 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Amelanotic Lentigo Maligna Melanoma: Mohs Surgery as the Definitive Treatment of an Invisible Tumour.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Amelanotic Lentigo Maligna Melanoma: Mohs Surgery as the Definitive Treatment of an Invisible Tumour.

J Cutan Med Surg. 2018 Jan/Feb;22(1):51-57

Authors: Ponzo MG, Crawford RI, Kossintseva I

Abstract
Amelanotic lentigo maligna melanoma represents <2% of melanomas. Diagnosis is delayed owing to the lack of lesion pigmentation and advanced disease at presentation. Excision with appropriate margins is the treatment standard, but the starting point for such margins is often unclear. We describe 2 patients with amelanotic melanoma treated by Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) that would not have been cleared by wide local excision alone and provide an extensive review of the literature. Both patients presented with histologic diagnoses of malignant melanoma, one with a barely perceptible biopsy site scar on the left infraorbital cheek/lower eyelid (Breslow 1.8 mm) and the second with an amelanotic tumour on the right helix (Breslow 10 mm). Due to location, aggressive histology, amelanotic appearance, and no apparent surrounding skin surface changes, MMS was elected to maximise margin control. For patient 1, invasive and in situ tumour was found at the American Joint Committee on Cancer-recommended margin of 1.5 cm, and the final defect measured 8.5 × 4.8 cm. Patient 2 had a significant invasive and amelanotic lentigo maligna component, resulting in a 9.0 × 6.5-cm defect. MMS allows for immediate histologic feedback on tumour margins of a clinically invisible tumour and thus offers the most definitive treatment.

PMID: 28685596 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Polymyalgia rheumatica and vagal paraganglioma.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Polymyalgia rheumatica and vagal paraganglioma.

Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2017 Dec;134(6):427-430

Authors: L'Huillier V, Mauvais O, Valmary-Degano S, Tavernier L

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Vagal paraganglioma are rare tumors that are mostly asymptomatic. We report a case of vagal paraganglioma associated with paraneoplastic polymyalgia rheumatica and review the literature on benign paragangliomas of the head and neck associated with paraneoplastic syndrome.
CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man presented with atypical polymyalgia rheumatica. MRI revealed a tumor that was then surgically excised. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of benign vagal paraganglioma. Rapid, complete and permanent resolution of all rheumatological symptoms were observed postoperatively, confirming the diagnosis of paraneoplastic polymyalgia rheumatica.
CONCLUSION: Paraganglioma of the neck associated with paraneoplastic syndrome remains exceptional. A predisposing gene mutation must be systematically investigated. Long-term surveillance must be ensured due to the risk of local recurrence, second tumors or metastasis.

PMID: 28412079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A pooled analysis of published, basket trials in cancer medicine.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

A pooled analysis of published, basket trials in cancer medicine.

Eur J Cancer. 2018 Aug 07;101:244-250

Authors: Hazim A, Prasad V

Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is widespread interest in cancer basket trials. However, to date, there has been no formal analysis of all published basket trials.
METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify all published basket trials in cancer medicine. We included studies that (1) did not place restriction on tumour type and (2) used a biomarker for the basis of enrolment (3) administered at least one anti-cancer agent in prospective fashion and (4) reported responses by each tumour type included. We sought information regarding the tumour histology included and the response rate in basket trials. In addition, we used national cancer statistics to identify which tumour types have been overrepresented in basket studies (i.e. more representation in trials than their incidence would suggest) and those which are under-represented.
RESULTS: We identified eight articles with a combined enrolment of 1176 patients were included in our analysis, representing over 33 tumour types. Ovarian and fallopian tube cancers 221/1176 (19%), colorectal cancer 144/1176 (12%) and sarcoma 129 (11%) were the most common tumours represented, whereas renal cell cancer, seminoma, thymic carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumour and appendiceal carcinoma were the least represented with one case each. The overall response rate was 25%. Common cancers may be underrepresented compared with rarer tumour types (linear regression beta = 0.58, 95% confidence interval = -0.037-1.21) (slope < 1 implies under-representation, >1 over-representation).
CONCLUSIONS: We found that, to date, over 1100 patients have been enrolled on published basket studies. Common cancers may be underrepresented compared with rarer tumours. The overall response rate was 25%. Patients enrolling on basket trials should be counselled appropriately that although these studies are highly promising, most patients did not respond. Future targets and drugs may improve on these results.

PMID: 30096705 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors: Big Advances in the Land of Small Tumors.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors: Big Advances in the Land of Small Tumors.

J Oncol Pract. 2018 Aug;14(8):485-486

Authors: Singh S, Chan DL

PMID: 30096275 [PubMed - in process]

Management of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Management of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors.

J Oncol Pract. 2018 Aug;14(8):471-482

Authors: Scott AT, Howe JR

Abstract
Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are increasing in incidence and are now the most common primary malignancies of the small intestine. Despite this increase, the vague presentation and slow growth of these tumors lead to long delays in diagnosis, and many patients present with metastases. Patients with metastatic small bowel NETs have a favorable disease prognosis, particularly when contrasted with other GI malignancies, and benefit from aggressive, multimodal therapy. During the past decade, the options for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel NETs have increased considerably. This review provides a practical framework for the physician who seek to understand the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and management of small bowel NETs.

PMID: 30096273 [PubMed - in process]

Progress in the Evaluation and Treatment of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Progress in the Evaluation and Treatment of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors.

J Oncol Pract. 2018 Aug;14(8):487-489

Authors: Mulvey CK, Bergsland EK

PMID: 30096272 [PubMed - in process]

APOBEC3B High Expression in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Association With Lymph Metastasis.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

APOBEC3B High Expression in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Association With Lymph Metastasis.

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2018 Aug 08;:

Authors: Feng C, Zheng Q, Yang Y, Xu M, Lian Y, Huang J, Jiang Y

Abstract
PURPOSE: Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3B (APOBEC3B) is known as a source of mutations in multiple cancers. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are a group of heterogeneous tumors. However, the expression and significance of APOBEC3B in GEP-NENs remains unclear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 158 cases of GEP-NENs, including 78 cases of biopsy or endoscopic submucosal dissection resection specimens and 83 cases of surgical resection specimens were collected in this study. The cases were grouped according to tumor classification grade, including 42 cases of neuroendocrine tumors G1 (NET G1), 36 cases of NET G2, 36 cases of NET G3, 44 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC). All of the 158 tumors were immunohistochemically studied using a polyclonal antibody against APOBEC3B. We evaluated APOBEC3B expression in GEP-NENs and investigated the relationships among the immunoreactivity of APOBEC3B, clinical and pathologic features, such as age, sex, tumor site, Ki67 cell proliferation index, and lymph metastasis.
RESULTS: A total of 33 cases (78.6%) of NET G1 showed high expression of APOBEC3B. A total of 28 cases (77.8%) of NET G2 demonstrated high expression of APOBEC3B. In NET G3 and NEC cases, the positive rates were 52.8% and 2.3%, respectively. The expression of APOBEC3B in NETs was significantly higher than that in NECs, NET G1 and NET G2 were higher than NET G3, and the difference was statistically significant. APOBEC3B high expression cases have lower lymph node metastasis rate, lower Ki67 cell proliferation index.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, APOBEC3B is highly expressed in GEP-NETs and is a predictor of lymph node metastasis in NET G3 and NEC cases. These findings might provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of GEP-NENs tumorigenesis and progression.

PMID: 30095460 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Economic analysis of inadequate symptom control in carcinoid syndrome in the United States.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Economic analysis of inadequate symptom control in carcinoid syndrome in the United States.

Future Oncol. 2018 Aug 10;:

Authors: Burton T, Lapuerta P

Abstract
AIM: We investigated the healthcare resource utilization and costs of patients with dose escalations beyond recommended levels of long-acting octreotide for persistent carcinoid syndrome (CS) symptoms.
MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective study of US health insurance claims included 358 adults with ≥1 medical claim for CS and ≥6 claims for long-acting octreotide (10-30 mg) between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2013.
RESULTS: Pre-escalation per-patient per-month outcomes and costs were lower versus post-escalation, including vascular conditions (0.11 vs 0.21), metastasis/secondary neoplasms (0.45 vs 0.74), total all-cause costs (US$4116 vs US$8305; p < 0.001) and CS-related costs (US$3156 vs US$7101; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Higher mean pre-escalation per-patient per-month resource use and costs post-escalation primarily attributable to CS-related ambulatory care suggests continuing challenges in managing CS despite octreotide dose escalation.

PMID: 30095284 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

An unusual presentation of Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

An unusual presentation of Merkel cell carcinoma: a case report.

J Surg Case Rep. 2018 Aug;2018(8):rjy185

Authors: Howell RS, Rice JA, Sticco K, Donovan V, Castellano M, Gillette B, Gorenstein S

Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive carcinoma that usually arises in sun-exposed regions. MCC is a primary neuroendocrine tumor that arises in the skin. This report describes an unusual case of MCC on the buttocks that was treated with excision, radiation and chemotherapy. Physicians should consider MCC as a differential diagnosis when encountering a rapidly growing, painless lesion. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve patient survival rates.

PMID: 30093989 [PubMed]

Thyroid paraganglioma: a case series of a rare head and neck tumor.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Thyroid paraganglioma: a case series of a rare head and neck tumor.

J Surg Case Rep. 2018 Aug;2018(8):rjy184

Authors: Kiriakopoulos A, Linos D

Abstract
Thyroid paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors. We present two cases analyzing their clinical presentation and pathology findings. A 44-year-old woman presented with a 33 mm left thyroid lobe mass. A 27-year-old male presented with a 27-mm right thyroid lobe mass and a FNA biopsy suggesting a follicular thyroid tumor. Both patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Vigorous bleeding was noted on the first case. Histologic sections revealed encapsulated tumors, whereas immunochemical stains were positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and NSE and negative for thyroglobulin, calcitonin, CEA and S-100. After an 18- and 12-month follow-up, respectively, both patients have no signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis. Preoperative diagnosis of thyroid paragangliomas was never attained in this series. Immunohistochemistry is mandatory for proper differential diagnosis. For the surgeon, the operation is technically demanding mainly due to the increased vascularity and friability of the tumor.

PMID: 30093988 [PubMed]

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resected Stage III Melanoma.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resected Stage III Melanoma.

N Engl J Med. 2018 Aug 09;379(6):593

Authors: Barker CA

PMID: 30091350 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resected Stage III Melanoma.

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resected Stage III Melanoma.

N Engl J Med. 2018 Aug 09;379(6):593-595

Authors:

PMID: 30089063 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

ING5-mediated antineuroblastoma effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

ING5-mediated antineuroblastoma effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid.

Cancer Med. 2018 Aug 09;:

Authors: Wu JC, Jiang HM, Yang XH, Zheng HC

Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid neuroendocrine cancer and is one of the leading causes of death in children. To improve clinical outcomes and prognosis, discovering new promising drugs and targeted medicine is essential. We found that applying Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA; Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor) and MG132 (a proteasome inhibitor) to SH-SY5Y cells synergistically suppressed proliferation, glucose metabolism, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. These effects occurred both concentration and time dependently and were associated with the effects observed with inhibitor of growth 5 (ING5) overexpression. SAHA and MG132 treatment increased the expression levels of ING5, PTEN, p53, Caspase-3, Bax, p21, and p27 but decreased the expression levels of 14-3-3, MMP-2, MMP-9, ADFP, Nanog, c-myc, CyclinD1, CyclinB1, and Cdc25c concentration dependently, similar to ING5. SAHA may downregulate miR-543 and miR-196-b expression to enhance the translation of ING5 protein, which promotes acetylation of histones H3 and H4. All three proteins (ING5 and acetylated histones H3 and H4) were recruited to the promoters of c-myc, Nanog, CyclinD1, p21, and p27 for complex formation, thereby regulating the mRNA expression of downstream genes. ING5 overexpression and SAHA and/or MG132 administration inhibited tumor growth in SH-SY5Y cells by suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis. The expression of acetylated histones H3 and ING5 may be closely linked to the tumor size of neuroblastomas. In summary, SAHA and/or MG132 can synergistically suppress the malignant phenotypes of neuroblastoma cells through the miRNA-ING5-histone acetylation axis and via proteasomal degradation, respectively. Therefore, the two drugs may serve as potential treatments for neuroblastoma.

PMID: 30091530 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Telotristat ethyl for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome diarrhea not controlled by somatostatin analogues.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Telotristat ethyl for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome diarrhea not controlled by somatostatin analogues.

Drugs Today (Barc). 2018 Jul;54(7):423-432

Authors: Kasi PM

Abstract
Telotristat ethyl (Xermelo), developed by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, is an oral tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor blocking peripheral conversion of tryptophan to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]). It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2017 and by the European Commission in September 2017 for patients with carcinoid syndrome in whom diarrhea is not adequately controlled by somatostatin analogues (SSAs). Diarrhea, secondary to the release of serotonin, is the predominant gastrointestinal symptom in patients with carcinoid syndrome and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Telotristat is not meant for all patients with diarrhea and carcinoid syndrome. Prescribing of telotristat for patients with diarrhea refractory to SSAs requires careful consideration and an approach that involves identifying and ruling out other common causes of diarrhea in patients with carcinoid syndrome. Delineating the timing of diarrhea and whether it occurs in patients with stable disease versus cancer progression can help identify the right drug candidates for therapy.

PMID: 30090879 [PubMed - in process]

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Rare Locations: Clinicopathological Features and Review of the Literature.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Rare Locations: Clinicopathological Features and Review of the Literature.

Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2018 May-Jun;22(3):308-315

Authors: Del Arco CD, Sastre J, Peinado P, Díaz Á, Medina LO, Fernández Aceñero MJ

Abstract
Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) occur more often in lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or pancreas. Data about terminology and grading of NETs in rare locations are scarce and variable, and they have been reported mainly as case reports.
Materials and Methods: We here describe our experience with NETs in unusual locations. We have reviewed all NETs diagnosed in our institution and summarized their clinicopathological features. We have also reviewed the literature and discussed the main characteristics of NETs in each site.
Results: Two hundred and forty-three primary NETs were diagnosed. About 55.2% of patients were men and the mean age was 62 years. About 90.7% of NETs were located in lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or pancreas, and 50.8% of them were low-grade tumors. We identified 13 NETs in rare locations: breast, ovary, endometrium, vulva, uterine cervix, extrahepatic biliary tract, kidney, sinonasal tract, and thymus. Three additional tumors were diagnosed by the senior author in other institution. Patients were asymptomatic or presented with nonspecific symptoms. All NETs were treated with surgery and 31% of patients received adjuvant therapy. There were 10 Grade 3 (62.5%), 2 Grade 2 (12.5%), and 4 Grade 1 (25%) tumors. Mean follow-up was 72 months. About 60% of G3 tumors recurred or progressed. G2 tumors were located in breast, and both patients are stable. About 50% of G1 tumors recurred or progressed (both renal NETs).
Conclusions: NETs in rare locations are heterogeneous, and their behavior does not seem to correlate absolutely with tumor grade. More studies are needed to clarify the role of proliferation rate in these tumors.

PMID: 30090720 [PubMed]

Upfront surgery of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Time to reconsider?

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Upfront surgery of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Time to reconsider?

World J Gastroenterol. 2018 Aug 07;24(29):3201-3203

Authors: Daskalakis K, Tsolakis AV

Abstract
Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) may demonstrate a widely variable clinical behavior but usually it is indolent. In cases with localized disease, locoregional resective surgery (LRS) is generally indicated with a curative intent. LRS of SI-NETs is also the recommended treatment when symptoms are present, regardless of the disease stage. Concerning asymptomatic patients with distant metastases, prophylactic LRS has been traditionally suggested to avoid possible future complications. Even the current European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society guidelines emphasize a possible effect of LRS in Stage IV SI-NETs with unresectable liver metastases. On the contrary, the 2017 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines on carcinoid tumors do not support the resection of a small, asymptomatic, relatively stable primary tumor in the presence of unresectable metastatic disease. Furthermore, a recent study revealed no survival advantage for asymptomatic patients with distant-stage disease who underwent upfront LRS. At the aforementioned paper, it was suggested that delayed surgery as needed was comparable with the upfront surgical approach in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality, the length of the hospital stay and the rate of incisional hernia repairs but was associated with fewer reoperations for bowel obstruction. On the other hand, it is also important to note that some patients might benefit from a prophylactic surgical approach and our attention should focus on identifying this patient population.

PMID: 30090001 [PubMed - in process]

Permalink for 'Transformation of a non-secretory neuroendocrine tumor to insulinoma after treatment with Sunitinib: A case report and review of the literature.'

Transformation of a non-secretory neuroendocrine tumor to insulinoma after treatment with Sunitinib: A case report and review of the literature.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Transformation of a non-secretory neuroendocrine tumor to insulinoma after treatment with Sunitinib: A case report and review of the literature.

J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2018 Aug 08;:1078155218791309

Authors: Clover T, Abdelkader A, Guru Murthy GS

Abstract
We report a case of a non-secretory neuroendocrine tumor which transformed into an insulin secreting tumor after treatment with Sunitinib. To our knowledge, this has only been described in three other cases worldwide. Previously reported case series find transformation of non-secretory neuroendocrine cancers into secretory lesions occurs in 3.4-6.8% of cases. Sunitinib is known to have the potential to lower blood glucose and induce epigenetic changes in cells of various types. We hypothesize that the mechanism for Sunitinib-induced transformation in cancer phenotype is through epigenetic changes in DNA expression within the tumor cells.

PMID: 30089432 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for '[Knockdown of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 2 (IDO2)gene inhibits tumor growth and enhances immune function in mice bearing melanoma].'

[Knockdown of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 2 (IDO2)gene inhibits tumor growth and enhances immune function in mice bearing melanoma].

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Knockdown of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 2 (IDO2)gene inhibits tumor growth and enhances immune function in mice bearing melanoma].

Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2017 Dec;33(12):1605-1609

Authors: Liu Y, Liu H, Xiang Y, Chen X, Xu P, Min W

Abstract
Objective To study the role of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 2 (IDO2) in anti-tumor therapy and its effect on the immune response when using IDO2 as therapeutic target. Methods B16-BL6 cells were used to construct mouse xenografted melanoma model. IDO2-shRNA that contained IDO2-siRNA or control shRNA (scrambled-shRNA) was injected hydrodynamically via the tail vein to treat melanoma. The tumor size was measured by vernier caliper. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs), T cell apoptosis rate in draining lymph nodes and the expressions of co-stimulatory molecules on splenic dendritic cells (DCs) from different treatment groups. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was used to determine the CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were detected by ELISA. Results In the IDO2-shRNA treated group, the tumor formation time was delayed, tumor grew slowly, and excised tumor mass was significantly reduced. IDO2-shRNA treatment also decreased the percentage of Tregs and T cell apoptosis in draining lymph nodes and increased the expressions of co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on splenic DCs. The capacity of CD8+ T cells to kill B16-BL6 cells was enhanced and the serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were upregulated. Conclusion Silencing IDO2 can effectively inhibit the growth of melanoma and improve the anti-tumor immune response in vivo.

PMID: 29382418 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Innate immunity mediated by dendritic cells/macrophages plays a central role in the early period in tumor treatment using gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen.'

Innate immunity mediated by dendritic cells/macrophages plays a central role in the early period in tumor treatment using gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Innate immunity mediated by dendritic cells/macrophages plays a central role in the early period in tumor treatment using gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen.

J Vet Med Sci. 2018 Feb 09;80(2):190-196

Authors: Ushigusa T, Koyama Y, Ito T, Watanabe K, Chambers JK, Hasegawa A, Uchida K, Kanegi R, Hatoya S, Inaba T, Sugiura K

Abstract
By using a complex of DNA, polyethylenimine and chondroitin sulfate, the in vivo transfection of early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) gene into tumor cells was found to cause significant suppression of the tumor growth. In order to apply the method in clinical cancer treatment in dogs and cats, mechanisms underlying the suppressive effects were investigated in a tumor-bearing mouse model. The transfection efficiency was only about 10%, but the transfection of ESAT-6 DNA nevertheless induced systemic immune responses against ESAT-6. By triple injection of ESAT-6 DNA at three day intervals, the tumor was significantly reduced and almost disappeared by 5 days after the start of treatment, and did not increase for more than 15 days after the final treatment. In the immunohistochemistry, a larger number of dendritic cells (DCs)/macrophages expressing ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 and CD3+ T cells was observed in tumors treated with ESAT-6 DNA, and their population further increased significantly by day 5. Moreover, the amount of tumor necrosis factor, which is an apoptosis-inducing factor produced mainly by DCs/macrophages, was greater in the ESAT-6 DNA treated tumors than in controls, and increased with repeat of the treatment. These results indicate that in vivo transfection of ESAT-6 DNA into tumor cells elicits significant inhibition of tumor growth by inducing potent activity of innate immunity mediated by DCs/macrophages, which may be followed by adaptive immunity against tumor associated antigens, elicited by the costimulation with ESAT-6 antigen.

PMID: 29311492 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Melanoma and Benign Melanocytic Lesions Suspected of Melanoma Using High-Wavenumber Raman Spectroscopy.'

Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Melanoma and Benign Melanocytic Lesions Suspected of Melanoma Using High-Wavenumber Raman Spectroscopy.

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Melanoma and Benign Melanocytic Lesions Suspected of Melanoma Using High-Wavenumber Raman Spectroscopy.

Anal Chem. 2016 08 02;88(15):7683-8

Authors: Santos IP, Caspers PJ, Bakker Schut TC, van Doorn R, Noordhoek Hegt V, Koljenović S, Puppels GJ

Abstract
Melanoma is a pigmented type of skin cancer, which has the highest mortality of all skin cancers. Because of the low clinical diagnostic accuracy for melanoma, an objective tool is needed to assist clinical assessment of skin lesions that are suspected of (early) melanoma. The aim of this study was to identify spectral differences in the CH region of HWVN (high-wavenumber) Raman spectra between melanoma and benign melanocytic lesions clinically suspected of melanoma. We used these spectral differences to explore preliminary classification models to distinguish melanoma from benign melanocytic lesions. Data from 82 freshly excised melanocytic lesions clinically suspected of melanoma were measured using an in-house built Raman spectrometer, which has been optimized for measurements on pigmented skin lesions (excitation wavelength 976 nm and a wavelength range of the Raman signal 1340-1540 nm). Clear spectral differences were observed between melanoma and benign melanocytic lesions. These differences can be assigned mainly to the symmetric CH2 stretching vibrations of lipids. Our results show that the Raman bands between 2840 and 2930 cm(-1) have increased intensity for melanoma when compared to benign melanocytic lesions, suggesting an increase in lipid content in melanoma. These results demonstrate that spectroscopic information in the CH-stretching region of HWVN Raman spectra can discriminate melanoma from benign melanocytic lesions that are often clinically misdiagnosed as melanoma and that Raman spectroscopy has the potential to provide an objective clinical tool to improve the clinical diagnostic accuracy of skin lesions suspected of melanoma.

PMID: 27382927 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Surgical and molecular characterization of primary and metastatic disease in a neuroendocrine tumor arising in a tailgut cyst.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Surgical and molecular characterization of primary and metastatic disease in a neuroendocrine tumor arising in a tailgut cyst.

Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud. 2018 Aug 07;:

Authors: Erdrich J, Schaberg K, Khodadoust MS, Zhou L, Shelton AA, Visser BC, Ford JM, Alizadeh AA, Quake SR, Kunz PL, Beausang JF

Abstract
Neuroendocrine tumors arising from tailgut cysts are rare but increasingly reported entity with gene expression profiles that may be indicative of the gastrointestinal cell of origin. We present a case report describing the unique pathological and genomic characteristics of a tailgut cyst neuroendocrine tumor that metastasized to liver. The histologic and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Genomic testing indicates a germline frame-shift in BRCA1 and a few somatic mutations of unknown significance. Transcriptomic analysis suggests an enteroendocrine L-cell in the tailgut as a putative cell-of-origin. Genomic profiling of a rare neuroendocrine tumor and metastasis provides insight into its origin, development and potential therapeutic options.

PMID: 30087100 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Differentiation of intrapancreatic accessory spleen from small hypervascular neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: textural analysis on contrast-enhanced computed tomography.'

Differentiation of intrapancreatic accessory spleen from small hypervascular neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: textural analysis on contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Differentiation of intrapancreatic accessory spleen from small hypervascular neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: textural analysis on contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Acta Radiol. 2018 Aug 07;:284185118788895

Authors: Lin X, Xu L, Wu A, Guo C, Chen X, Wang Z

Abstract
Background Intrapancreatic accessory spleens (IPASs) are usually misdiagnosed as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Texture analysis is valuable in tumor detection, diagnosis, and staging. Purpose To identify the potential of texture features in differentiating IPASs from small hypervascular PNETs. Material and Methods Twenty-one patients with PNETs and 13 individuals with IPASs who underwent pretreatment dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively analyzed. The routine imaging features-such as location, size, margin, cystic or solid appearance, enhancement degree and pattern, and lymph node enlargement-were recorded. Texture features, such as entropy, skewness, kurtosis, and uniformity, on contrast-enhanced images were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to differentiate IPASs from PNETs. Results No significant differences were observed in margin, enhancement degree (arterial and portal phase), lymph node enlargement, or size between PNETs and IPASs (all P > 0.05). However, IPASs usually showed heterogeneous enhancement at the arterial phase and the same degree of enhancement as the spleen at the portal phase, both of which were greater than those of PNETs (69% vs. 35%, P = 0.06; 100% vs. 29%, P = 0.04). Entropy and uniformity were significantly different between IPASs and PNETs at moderate (1.5) and high sigma values (2.5) (both P < 0.01). ROC analysis showed that uniformity at moderate and high sigma had the highest area under the curve (0.82 and 0.89) with better sensitivity (85.0-95.0%) and acceptable specificity (75.0-83.3%) for differentiating IPASs from PNETs. Conclusions Texture parameters have potential in differentiating IPASs from PNETs.

PMID: 30086651 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

OPG, OPN, EGF and VEGF Levels at Individual Breslow Score Stages in Malignant Melanoma.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

OPG, OPN, EGF and VEGF Levels at Individual Breslow Score Stages in Malignant Melanoma.

Anticancer Res. 2018 Aug;38(8):4907-4911

Authors: Treskova I, Topolcan O, Windrichova J, Simanek V, Slouka D, Treska V, Kucera R

Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Melanoma represents one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. With the rapid increases in the incidence of melanoma in the United States, Australia and Europe over the last decades, melanoma has been considered an epidemic cancer in these areas. The aim of our study was to evaluate the utility of osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteopontin (OPN), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF for the diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 322 individuals were assessed: 183 melanoma patients and 139 healthy individuals. Melanoma patients were divided into four subgroups according to the Breslow score. OPN, OPG, EGF, and VEGF were determined in each plasma sample.
RESULTS: The serum levels of the following biomarkers were statistically significantly higher in the melanoma group compared to the control group: OPG and, OPN (p<0.0001), EGF (p=0.0379). In the first stage, OPG (p=0.0236) and OPN (p=0.0327) showed a statistically significant increase. Concerning positive and negative sentinel node metastases a statistically significant change was observed in: OPN (p<0.0001), EGF (p=0.0114), VEGF (p=0.0114).
CONCLUSION: OPG and OPN are promising biomarkers of early-stage melanoma. EGF and VEGF appear to be prognostic biomarkers.

PMID: 30061268 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Relationship Among Tumor Attenuation Value of Pre-contrast Computed Tomography (CT), Washout Rate and Constituent Cells in Adrenal Adenoma: Proposition of a New Approach for Diagnosing Adrenal Adenoma on Dynamic CT.'

Relationship Among Tumor Attenuation Value of Pre-contrast Computed Tomography (CT), Washout Rate and Constituent Cells in Adrenal Adenoma: Proposition of a New Approach for Diagnosing Adrenal Adenoma on Dynamic CT.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Relationship Among Tumor Attenuation Value of Pre-contrast Computed Tomography (CT), Washout Rate and Constituent Cells in Adrenal Adenoma: Proposition of a New Approach for Diagnosing Adrenal Adenoma on Dynamic CT.

Anticancer Res. 2018 Aug;38(8):4767-4773

Authors: Nishie A, Sugimoto M, Asayama Y, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Takayama Y, Okamoto D, Fujita N, Yokomizo A, Tatsugami K, Honda H

Abstract
AIM: To elucidate the relationship among tumor attenuation of pre-contrast-enhanced (TApre) computed tomography (CT), washout rate and clear cell ratio (CCR) in adrenal adenoma (AA) and propose a new approach for diagnosing AA on dynamic CT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The training set consisted of 43 AAs and 15 non-AAs, while the validation set comprised 44 AAs and 11 non-AAs. Using the training set, the pairwise correlation between CCR, TApre and washout rate in AA was evaluated by linear regression analysis. A predictive formula for diagnosing AA was established by multiple logistic regression analysis using washout rate and TApre. Using the validation set, the diagnostic performance of this formula was investigated by comparing with the conventional diagnostic criteria: TApre ≤10 HU or washout rate ≥an optimal threshold calculated in the training set.
RESULTS: Washout rate increased as CCR decreased, and as TApre increased. The formula predicting the probability of AA was: p(AA)=1/{1+exp(-1.5257+0.4923× TApre-0.3264×washout rate)}. Diagnostic performance of this formula was sensitivity of 93.2% and accuracy of 89.1%, while for the conventional diagnostic criteria, sensitivity was 81.8-86.4% and accuracy 81.8-83.6%.
CONCLUSION: The diagnostic potential of dynamic CT for diagnosing AA may be improved by changing the threshold of washout rate based on substituting TApre for CCR.

PMID: 30061247 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

18F-FDG PET/CT for Monitoring Response of Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Novel Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor Avelumab.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

18F-FDG PET/CT for Monitoring Response of Merkel Cell Carcinoma to the Novel Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor Avelumab.

Clin Nucl Med. 2018 May;43(5):e142-e144

Authors: Eshghi N, Lundeen TF, MacKinnon L, Avery R, Kuo PH

PMID: 29538029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Complete Metabolic Response of Advanced Melanoma to Vemurafenib Assessed with FDG-PET-CT at 85 Hours.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Complete Metabolic Response of Advanced Melanoma to Vemurafenib Assessed with FDG-PET-CT at 85 Hours.

Clin Nucl Med. 2018 May;43(5):333-334

Authors: Pascal P, Dercle L, Weyts K, Meyer N, Courbon F

Abstract
Vemurafenib improves the management of advanced melanoma due to selective inhibition of the mutated BRAF V600E kinase. FDG-PET-CT is a tool for the evaluation of the biologic impact of inhibiting mutant BRAF. With vemurafenib at day 15, all the patients had at least partial metabolic response. Reductions in uptake correlate with longer progression free survival. In this case, incomplete information provided by the patient led to the performance of his third PET 85 hours after the introduction of vemurafenib. This early case of complete metabolic response suggests that FDG-PET-CT is a useful marker of early biologic response to vemurafenib.

PMID: 29485438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Supratentorial Meningeal Melanoma with Nevus of Ota:A Case Report].

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

[Supratentorial Meningeal Melanoma with Nevus of Ota:A Case Report].

No Shinkei Geka. 2018 Feb;46(2):139-145

Authors: Shima S, Sato S, Moteki Y, Inoue T, Suzuki K, Niimi Y, Okada Y

Abstract
We present a rare case of supratentorial meningeal melanoma associated with ipsilateral nevus of Ota, and a review of the literature. The patient was a 32-year-old man with a right-sided nevus of Ota, presenting with unconsciousness. His CT and MRI scans revealed an extra axial tumor with dural tail signs; no lesion was detected on systemic examination. Intraoperatively, the tumor demonstrated black hyperpigmentation and was histologically diagnosed as malignant melanoma. Following surgery, he received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For over a year and a half, the patient has shown no recurrence of the lesion.

PMID: 29449519 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A Rare Tumor Presenting as a Rectal Mass.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

A Rare Tumor Presenting as a Rectal Mass.

Gastroenterology. 2018 08;155(2):273-275

Authors: Kaila V, Lager D, Jain R

PMID: 29408635 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Antioxidative and Anti-Melanogenic Activities of Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) via PKA/CREB-Mediated MITF Downregulation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells.'

Antioxidative and Anti-Melanogenic Activities of Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) via PKA/CREB-Mediated MITF Downregulation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Antioxidative and Anti-Melanogenic Activities of Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) via PKA/CREB-Mediated MITF Downregulation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells.

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 30;19(2):

Authors: Choi MH, Jo HG, Yang JH, Ki SH, Shin HJ

Abstract
Phyllostachys nigra var. henosis, a domestic bamboo species, has been attracting much attention; its bioactive compounds (especially in the leaf) show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity activities. Little information is available on the antioxidative and anti-melanogenetic activities of the bioactive compounds in bamboo stems. The anti-melanogenic and antioxidative activities of the EtOAc fraction (PN3) of a P. nigra stem extract were investigated in a cell-free system and in B16F10 melanoma cells. PN3 consisted of a mixture of flavonoids, such as catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and p-coumaric acid. The antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)), and hydroxyl radical scavenging) was evaluated, as well as the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the Fenton reaction. PN3 showed in vitro tyrosinase inhibition activity with the half maximal inbihitory concentration (IC50) values of 240 μg/mL, and in vivo cytotoxic concentration ranges > 100 μg/mL. The protein expression levels and mRNA transcription levels of TYR, TRP-1, and MITF were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by the treatment with PN3. PN3 interfered with the phosphorylation of intracellular protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), demonstrating potent anti-melanogenic effects. PN3 could inhibit PKA/CREB and the subsequent degradation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), resulting in the suppression of melanogenic enzymes and melanin production, probably because of the presence of flavonoid compounds. These properties make it a candidate as an additive to whitening cosmetics.

PMID: 29385729 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Permalink for 'Naturally Occurring Canine Melanoma as a Predictive Comparative Oncology Model for Human Mucosal and Other Triple Wild-Type Melanomas.'

Naturally Occurring Canine Melanoma as a Predictive Comparative Oncology Model for Human Mucosal and Other Triple Wild-Type Melanomas.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Naturally Occurring Canine Melanoma as a Predictive Comparative Oncology Model for Human Mucosal and Other Triple Wild-Type Melanomas.

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 30;19(2):

Authors: Hernandez B, Adissu HA, Wei BR, Michael HT, Merlino G, Simpson RM

Abstract
Melanoma remains mostly an untreatable fatal disease despite advances in decoding cancer genomics and developing new therapeutic modalities. Progress in patient care would benefit from additional predictive models germane for human disease mechanisms, tumor heterogeneity, and therapeutic responses. Toward this aim, this review documents comparative aspects of human and naturally occurring canine melanomas. Clinical presentation, pathology, therapies, and genetic alterations are highlighted in the context of current basic and translational research in comparative oncology. Somewhat distinct from sun exposure-related human cutaneous melanomas, there is growing evidence that a variety of gene copy number alterations and protein structure/function mutations play roles in canine melanomas, in circumstances more analogous to human mucosal melanomas and to some extent other melanomas with murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF), Neuroblastoma RAS Viral (V-Ras) Oncogene Homolog (NRAS), and neurofibromin 1 tumor suppressor NF1 triple wild-type genotype. Gaps in canine genome annotation, as well as an insufficient number and depth of sequences covered, remain considerable barriers to progress and should be collectively addressed. Preclinical approaches can be designed to include canine clinical trials addressing immune modulation as well as combined-targeted inhibition of Rat Sarcoma Superfamily/Mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) and/or Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B/Mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signal transduction, pathways frequently activated in both human and canine melanomas. Future investment should be aimed towards improving understanding of canine melanoma as a predictive preclinical surrogate for human melanoma and for mutually benefiting these uniquely co-dependent species.

PMID: 29385676 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Prognostic significance of RBP2-H1 variant of JARID1B in melanoma.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Prognostic significance of RBP2-H1 variant of JARID1B in melanoma.

BMC Cancer. 2017 Dec 15;17(1):854

Authors: Kuźbicki Ł, Lange D, Stanek-Widera A, Chwirot BW

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Histone demethylase JARID1B plays several context dependent roles in epigenetic regulation of cellular differentiation in normal development and is highly expressed in multiple human cancers. The protein is a strong transcriptional repressor capable of downregulating numerous genes. There are three splicing isoforms of JARID1B, however the links between the protein structure and function are not clear. The expression pattern of JARID1B in human melanoma seems to be different from observed in other cancers. Moreover, up to now no data on the impact of JARID1B expression in cutaneous melanoma on the patients' prognosis have been reported.
METHODS: We investigated immunohistochemically the association of intratumoral expression of total JARID1B protein and its RBP2-H1 isoform in primary and metastatic melanomas with prognosis for the patients.
RESULTS: Expression of both total JARID1B protein and its RBP2-H1 variant was found in all the melanomas investigated. Our results indicate, however, that only high (above 90% of the cells) intratumoral expression of RBP2-H1 can be considered prognostic factor associated with worse overall survival of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Such results if considered together with data demonstrating a switch to enhanced expression of RBP2-H1 at early stages of malignant transformation of melanocytes are in agreement with hypothetical crucial role of JARID1B in the course of melanoma development and progression and suggest that altered splicing of JARID1B may be important factor increasing melanoma aggressiveness.

PMID: 29246117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Pancreatic schwannoma: a case report and an updated 40-year review of the literature yielding 68 cases.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Pancreatic schwannoma: a case report and an updated 40-year review of the literature yielding 68 cases.

BMC Cancer. 2017 Dec 14;17(1):853

Authors: Ma Y, Shen B, Jia Y, Luo Y, Tian Y, Dong Z, Chen W, Li ZP, Feng ST

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic schwannoma is a rare tumor. Preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic schwannoma is challenging due to its tendency to mimic other lesions of the pancreas. We describe a case of pancreatic schwannoma and present a review of the cases currently reported in the English literature to identify characteristics of pancreatic schwannoma on imaging.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old male presented with a history of intermittent periumbilical abdominal pain and lower back pain for 1 week. Based on ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) findings, we made a preoperative diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor and performed a standard pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pathological examination showed that the tumor was composed of spindle cells with a palisading arrangement, and immunohistochemistry revealed strong positive staining for S-100 protein, which was consistent with a diagnosis of pancreatic schwannoma. At the 8-month follow-up visit, the patient was doing well without recurrent disease, and his abdominal pain had resolved.
CONCLUSIONS: Although pancreatic schwannoma is rare, it should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of pancreatic masses, both solid and cystic. A tumor size larger than 6.90 cm, vascular encasement, or visceral invasion should elicit suspicion of malignant transformation.

PMID: 29241452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Common Histologically Benign Tumors of the Brain.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Common Histologically Benign Tumors of the Brain.

Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2017 12;23(6, Neuro-oncology):1680-1708

Authors: Strowd RE, Blakeley JO

Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As a group, benign tumors account for the majority of primary neoplasms affecting the central nervous system (CNS). This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, neuroimaging features, and management of the most common of these tumors: meningiomas, schwannomas, and pituitary adenomas.
RECENT FINDINGS: Awareness of the most common nonmalignant tumors of the CNS and their management guidelines is important as many of these tumors are managed conservatively, with neurologists playing a primary role in both surveillance and symptom management. Knowledge of the varied neurologic consequences of these tumors allows optimizing interventions that improve quality of life in people living with these tumors without incurring treatment-related complications. Awareness of the clinical features that require surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy is imperative. Finally, important discoveries in both germline and somatic mutations underlying some of these lesions have contributed to the launch of several novel drug trials for these tumors.
SUMMARY: As a group, nonmalignant neoplasms are the most common neoplasms affecting the CNS in adults. Because of their unique neuroanatomic location or containment within the bony skull, these histologically benign lesions can cause significant neurologic morbidity. Management with a multidisciplinary team that includes neurologists, neuro-oncologists, radiologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, otolaryngologists, pathologists, neuropsychologists, physiatrists, and others is necessary for the optimal management of these lesions.

PMID: 29200117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Retrospective study of advanced melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab after nivolumab: Analysis of 60 Japanese patients.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Retrospective study of advanced melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab after nivolumab: Analysis of 60 Japanese patients.

J Dermatol Sci. 2018 Jan;89(1):60-66

Authors: Fujisawa Y, Yoshino K, Otsuka A, Funakoshi T, Uchi H, Fujimura T, Matsushita S, Hata H, Okuhira H, Tanaka R, Nagai K, Ishida Y, Nakamura Y, Furudate S, Yamamura K, Imafuku K, Yamamoto Y

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to resistance and immune-related adverse events (irAE) some melanoma patients require ipilimumab after nivolumab therapy. However, little is known about the result of this switching.
OBJECTIVE: Investigate the outcome of ipilimumab switching in Japanese patients.
METHODS: We retrospectively collected 60 patients who were treated with ipilimumab after nivolumab from 9 institutes in Japan. Information of the primary tumor, treatment, response, irAE), and survival was collected.
RESULTS: In our cohort, acral lentiginous and mucosal melanoma accounted for 53% of the cases. The most common reason for initiating ipilimumab was disease progression (93%). Median interval from the last nivolumab administration to first ipilimumab administration was 29days. Only 38% of patients completed 4 injections of ipilimumab. The best overall response was 3.6%. IrAE occurred in 78% of patients and 70% of those were of grade 3/4 (G3/4) and 31% of patients experienced 2 or more irAEs. An within interval of 28days or less between the last nivolumab administration and ipilimumab administration was correlated with the development of G3/4 pyrexia and 3 or more irAEs, but irAE occurrence did not affect survival. Multivariate analysis showed that endocrine irAE (relative risk=0.22, P=0.015) and skin irAE (relative risk=2.78, P=0.048) were significant factors associated with survival.
CONCLUSION: In our study, the response ratio to ipilimumab after nivolumab was unsatisfactory and associated with a high frequency of severe irAEs. As there are few second-line treatment options for patients with BRAF wild-type advanced melanoma after nivolumab failure, patients should be closely monitored if ipilimumab is initiated.

PMID: 29079332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Systematic literature review of efficacy, safety and tolerability outcomes of chemotherapy regimens in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Systematic literature review of efficacy, safety and tolerability outcomes of chemotherapy regimens in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Future Oncol. 2017 Jun;13(14):1263-1279

Authors: Nghiem P, Kaufman HL, Bharmal M, Mahnke L, Phatak H, Becker JC

PMID: 28350180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Automatic measurement of melanoma depth of invasion in skin histopathological images.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Automatic measurement of melanoma depth of invasion in skin histopathological images.

Micron. 2017 Jun;97:56-67

Authors: Xu H, Berendt R, Jha N, Mandal M

Abstract
Measurement of melanoma depth of invasion (DoI) in skin tissues is of great significance in grading the severity of skin disease and planning patient's treatment. However, accurate and automatic measurement of melanocytic tumor depth is a challenging problem mainly due to the difficulty of skin granular identification and melanoma detection. In this paper, we propose a technique for measuring melanoma DoI in microscopic images digitized from MART1 (i.e., meleanoma-associated antigen recognized by T cells) stained skin histopathological sections. The technique consists of four modules. First, skin melanoma areas are detected by combining color features with the Mahalanobis distance measure. Next, skin epidermis is segmented by a multi-thresholding method. The skin granular layer is then identified based on Bayesian classification of segmented skin epidermis pixels. Finally, the melanoma DoI is computed using a multi-resolution approach with Hausdorff distance measurement. Experimental results show that the proposed technique provides a superior performance in measuring the melanoma DoI than two closely related techniques.

PMID: 28346884 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Sunscreen Use in the Prevention of Melanoma: Common Sense Rules.

Fetched: August 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Sunscreen Use in the Prevention of Melanoma: Common Sense Rules.

J Clin Oncol. 2016 11 20;34(33):3956-3958

Authors: Nijsten T

PMID: 28056596 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Improved survival with higher doses of octreotide long-acting release in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Improved survival with higher doses of octreotide long-acting release in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Med Oncol. 2018 Aug 04;35(9):123

Authors: Lau SC, Abdel-Rahman O, Cheung WY

Abstract
Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a heterogeneous group of tumors that is associated with an indolent course. Octreotide has a positive effect on disease stabilization in well-differentiated midgut NETs, but a meaningful survival analysis was not possible due to insufficient events. Higher doses of octreotide long-acting release (LAR) are often used in clinical practice for control of carcinoid symptoms and our objective was to determine if dose of octreotide correlates with survival. We reviewed all patients with advanced GEP NETs who initiated treatment with octreotide LAR between 2000 and 2013 in a large, representative Canadian province. We compared overall survival in patients who received low (< 30 mg) compared to high (≥ 30 mg) doses of octreotide. A total of 170 patients were identified. Baseline characteristics in the low- and high-dose groups were similar: median age 62/63 years, 50/58% were male, 46/48% originated from the small bowel, and 74/66% had liver metastases at diagnosis. The median time from diagnosis to treatment initiation was 5.5 and 6.0 months. Octreotide LAR was initiated with the intent of symptom management (71%), disease stabilization (23%), or biomarker control (6%). Median overall survival (OS) was better in the high-dose group, 66 months compared to 22 months (multivariate HR 0.5, p < 0.01). Age ≥ 65 (HR 1.9, p < 0.01), ECOG ≥ 2 (HR 2.7, p < 0.01), and pancreatic NETs (HR 1.7, p = 0.03) were all predictors of worse survival. Our findings suggest that octreotide may confer survival benefits in GEP NETs. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate the impact of high-dose octreotide on outcomes.

PMID: 30078166 [PubMed - in process]

Permalink for 'Grade 3 Neuroendocrine Tumor (G3 NET) in a Background of Multiple Serotonin Cell Neoplasms of the Ileum Associated with Carcinoid Syndrome and Aggressive Behavior.'

Grade 3 Neuroendocrine Tumor (G3 NET) in a Background of Multiple Serotonin Cell Neoplasms of the Ileum Associated with Carcinoid Syndrome and Aggressive Behavior.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Grade 3 Neuroendocrine Tumor (G3 NET) in a Background of Multiple Serotonin Cell Neoplasms of the Ileum Associated with Carcinoid Syndrome and Aggressive Behavior.

Endocr Pathol. 2018 Aug 03;:

Authors: Capuano F, Grami O, Pugliese L, Paulli M, Pietrabissa A, Solcia E, Vanoli A

Abstract
Grade 3 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (G3 NETs) have been characterized in the pancreas and stomach and distinguished from low-to-intermediate grade (G1-G2) NETs, as well as from highly malignant, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). Up to now, no G3 NET has been thoroughly described in the distal small intestine. We herein report a case of a 61-year-old man presenting with carcinoid syndrome. The surgical specimen showed, in a background of small G1 ileal NETs, a larger, grade 3 NET, which retained the nesting pattern and the expression of serotonin, chromogranin-A, and type 2A somatostatin receptors, typical of well-differentiated jejuno-ileal NETs. The patient had G3 NET metastasis to the liver and he died 14 months after surgery, due to deterioration in his clinical conditions.

PMID: 30076568 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Permalink for 'Patient-specific image-based bone marrow dosimetry in Lu-177-[DOTA0,Tyr3]-Octreotate and Lu-177-DKFZ-PSMA-617 therapy: investigation of a new hybrid image approach.'

Patient-specific image-based bone marrow dosimetry in Lu-177-[DOTA0,Tyr3]-Octreotate and Lu-177-DKFZ-PSMA-617 therapy: investigation of a new hybrid image approach.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Patient-specific image-based bone marrow dosimetry in Lu-177-[DOTA0,Tyr3]-Octreotate and Lu-177-DKFZ-PSMA-617 therapy: investigation of a new hybrid image approach.

EJNMMI Res. 2018 Aug 03;8(1):76

Authors: Gosewisch A, Delker A, Tattenberg S, Ilhan H, Todica A, Brosch J, Vomacka L, Brunegraf A, Gildehaus FJ, Ziegler S, Bartenstein P, Böning G

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The bone marrow (BM) is a main organ at risk in Lu-177-PSMA-617 therapy of prostate cancer and Lu-177-Octreotate therapy of neuroendocrine tumours. BM dosimetry is challenging and time-consuming, as different sequential quantitative measurements must be combined. The BM absorbed dose from the remainder of the body (ROB) can be determined from sequential whole-body planar (WB-P) imaging, while quantitative Lu-177-SPECT allows for more robust tumour and organ absorbed doses. The aim was to investigate a time-efficient and patient-friendly hybrid protocol (HP) for the ROB absorbed dose to the BM. It combines three abdominal quantitative SPECT (QSPECT) scans with a single WB-P acquisition and was compared with a reference protocol (RP) using sequential WB-P in combination with sequential QSPECT images. We investigated five patients receiving 7.4 GBq Lu-177-Octreotate and five patients treated with 3.7 GBq Lu-177-PSMA-617. Each patient had WB-P and abdominal SPECT acquisitions 24 (+ CT), 48, and 72 h post-injection. Blood samples were drawn 30 min, 80 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-injection. BM absorbed doses from the ROB were estimated from sequential WB-P images (RP), via a mono-exponential fit and mass-scaled organ-level S values. For the HP, a mono-exponential fit on the QSPECT data was scaled with the activity of one WB-P image acquired either 24, 48, or 72 h post-injection (HP24, HP48, HP72). Total BM absorbed doses were determined as a sum of ROB, blood, major organ, and tumour contributions.
RESULTS: Compared with the RP and for Lu-177-Octreotate therapy, median differences of the total BM absorbed doses were 13% (9-17%), 8% (4-15%), and 1% (0-5%) for the HP24, HP48, and HP72, respectively. For Lu-177-PSMA-617 therapy, total BM absorbed doses deviated 10% (2-20%), 3% (0-6%), and 2% (0-6%).
CONCLUSION: For both Lu-177-Octreotate and Lu-177-PSMA-617 therapy, BM dosimetry via sequential QSPECT imaging and a single WB-P acquisition is feasible, if this WB-P image is acquired at a late time point (48 or 72 h post-injection). The reliability of the HP can be well accepted considering the uncertainties of quantitative Lu-177 imaging and BM dosimetry using standardised organ-level S values.

PMID: 30076556 [PubMed]

Nuts and Bolts of 177Lu-DOTATATE Administration in the Nuclear Medicine Division: Guidance from a Single Institute's Experience.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Nuts and Bolts of 177Lu-DOTATATE Administration in the Nuclear Medicine Division: Guidance from a Single Institute's Experience.

J Nucl Med Technol. 2018 Aug 03;:

Authors: Abbott A, Sakellis CG, Andersen E, Kuzuhara Y, Gilbert L, Boyle K, Kulke MH, Chan JA, Jacene HA, Van den Abbeele AD

Abstract
[Lutetium-177-DOTA(0),Tyr(3)]octreotate (177Lu-DOTATATE) is a radiolabeled somatostatin analog that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in adults. Radionuclide therapies have been administered for many years within nuclear medicine departments in North America. However, in comparison to other radiotherapies, 177Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) involves more planning, coordination, concomitant medication administration (anti-emetic medications and amino acids) and direct patient care. To date, various methods have been utilized in multiple centers during the Phase 3 trial and the provision of patient care. As participants in the NETTER-1 and subsequent Expanded Access Program for the administration of 177Lu-DOTATATE studies, as well as recently starting post-approval clinical care, we have administered 61 177Lu-DOTATATE therapies (13 NETTER-1, 39 Expanded Access Program, 9 clinical) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and here share our procedures, personnel training and workflow processes to help other centers establish programs for this Food and Drug Administration-approved 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT.

PMID: 30076245 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

PRACTICAL PROTOCOL TIPS: 177Lu-DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT).

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

PRACTICAL PROTOCOL TIPS: 177Lu-DOTATATE Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT).

J Nucl Med Technol. 2018 Aug 03;:

Authors: Abbott A, Jacene HA

PMID: 30076242 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine causing a desmoplastic reaction of the mesentery are a more aggressive cohort.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine causing a desmoplastic reaction of the mesentery are a more aggressive cohort.

Surgery. 2018 Jul 31;:

Authors: Bösch F, Bruewer K, D'Anastasi M, Ilhan H, Knoesel T, Pratschke S, Thomas M, Rentsch M, Guba M, Werner J, Angele MK

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Desmoplastic reaction of the mesentery is commonly seen in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine. However, it is not clear whether desmoplastic reaction is associated with tumor-specific characteristics and diminished prognosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of a desmoplastic reaction correlates with prognostic and molecular markers of neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine.
METHODS: Patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine operated at our department from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed. Patient and tumor characteristics were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses were performed.
RESULTS: In total, 148 patients underwent surgery, and preoperative imaging was available in 113 patients. A total of 45 patients showed desmoplastic reaction of the mesentery and progression-free survival was significantly impaired (26 months versus 65.4 months) compared with patients without desmoplastic reaction. These patients had significantly more often distant metastases (84.4% vs 39.7%), lymphatic vessel (68.9% vs 44.1%), and perineural tissue infiltration (57.8% vs 17.6%) compared with patients without desmoplastic reaction. However, proliferation index (positive desmoplastic reaction 4.1% versus negative desmoplastic reaction 3.3%) and tumor size (positive desmoplastic reaction 2 cm versus negative desmoplastic reaction 1.9 cm) were not diverging significantly.
CONCLUSION: This study revealed that tumors leading to desmoplastic reaction are more aggressive, despite similar Ki67 indices.

PMID: 30076029 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: Long-time surgical outcome and prognosis.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm: Long-time surgical outcome and prognosis.

Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Aug;97(31):e11764

Authors: Shi C, Zhao Q, Dai B, Xie F, Yang J

Abstract
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PHNENs) represent a kind of rare liver tumor and its clinical features and prognosis remain unclear. This study aims to reveal the long-term therapeutic outcome of PHNEN and to present its prognostic feature.A retrospective designed, single-center study containing 22 patients with PHNENs receiving surgical resections was done. Clinical data were reviewed and long-term follow-up was updated. Survival analysis was tried to find the prognostic factors.Nine patients recurred (recurrence rate = 40.9%) and 6 patients died on the disease. The actual 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rate were 86.4%, 63.6%, and 52.9%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate were 95.5%, 81.8%, and 64.7%, respectively. Median overall survival for group G1, G2, and G3 were 69, 67, and 42 months, respectively.Patients with PHNEN can have a long survival after radical surgical resection, especially when the tumor proliferative grade exhibits lower (G1/2).

PMID: 30075602 [PubMed - in process]

Tumor size and lymph node metastasis are prognostic markers of small cell lung cancer in a Chinese population.

Fetched: August 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Tumor size and lymph node metastasis are prognostic markers of small cell lung cancer in a Chinese population.

Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Aug;97(31):e11712

Authors: Wang L, Dou X, Liu T, Lu W, Ma Y, Yang Y

Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a high-grade neuroendocrine tumor characterized by rapid growth, early metastatic spread, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the prognosis factors of survival in Chinese SCLC patients.A total of 78 patients with stage IIIA SCLC (mean age: 53.9 years, 65 males and 13 females) were enrolled in this retrospective study. At least of 5 years follow-up was performed.The survival time of these patients ranged from 1 month to 66 months with a median survival time of 11 months. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was performed and showed that survival time in patients with tumor size ≤4 cm (median: 16 months) was significantly longer (P < .001) than that in patients with tumor size > 4 cm (median: 8 months); the median survival time of the patients with single lymph node metastasis was significantly longer than that in patients with multiple lymph node metastasis (P = .043). Combined multiple lymph node metastasis and tumor size >4 cm presented the worst survival outcome than others. Multivariate analysis by Cox Hazard model shows that the lymph node metastasis and tumors size were prognostic factors independent of age, sex, smoke, surgery, and treatment regimen (P < .05).Results showed that larger tumor size and multiple lymph node metastasis were associated with the poor survival in SCLC.

PMID: 30075575 [PubMed - in process]

Permalink for 'Clinicopathological features and outcome for neuroendocrine neoplasms of gastroesophageal junction: A population-based study.'

Clinicopathological features and outcome for neuroendocrine neoplasms of gastroesophageal junction: A population-based study.

Fetched: August 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Clinicopathological features and outcome for neuroendocrine neoplasms of gastroesophageal junction: A population-based study.

Cancer Med. 2018 Jul 31;:

Authors: Zhang P, Wang W, Lu M, Zeng C, Chen J, Li E, Tan H, Wang W, Yu X, Tang Q, Zhao J, Shen L, Li J

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal Junction neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEJ-NENs) are rare and heterogeneous tumors. We aim to analyze the clinicopathlogical features and prognostic factors of GEJ-NENs and to compare the outcome of GEJ-NENs with other gastric NENs.
METHODS: A total of 297 GEJ-NENs patients were enrolled from 10 Chinese hospitals and 3152 gastric NENs patients, including 274 GEJ-NENs, were retrieved from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
RESULTS: The clinical characteristics of GEJ-NENs among different races were different. All Chinese patients had GEJ-NENs of grade 3, with 67.7% of poorly differentiated NEC and 32.3% of MANEC. In SEER database, 70.8% of white, 62.5% of black, and 87.5% of AP patients had poorly differentiated/undifferentiated tumors. In Cox multivariate analysis, NEC/MANEC (HR 2.09, 95%CI 1.24-3.56; P = 0.006), lymph node metastasis (HR 3.52, 95%CI 1.68-7.34; P = 0.001), and distant metastases (HR 3.90, 95%CI 2.50-6.08; P < 0.001) are independent predictors of overall survival. Surgical resection showed a median OS improvement of 13.1-73.3 months (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.14-0.33, P < 0.001). Adjuvant therapy did not improve survival for postoperative GEJ-NEN patients (P = 0.141). GEJ-NENs were larger, higher grade, more distant metastasis, and worse prognosis than other gastric NENs.
CONCLUSION: GEJ-NENs were mostly poorly differentiated carcinomas, and all of Chinese patients were NEC/MANEC. The outcome of MANEC was preferable to NECs. Both lymph nodes metastasis and distant disease were independent predictors of prognosis. Surgical resection can improve survival, but postoperative adjuvant therapy had no additional benefit. GEJ-NENs have worse survival than other gastric NENs.

PMID: 30062861 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

1 2 3 ... 5

Rare Cancer News & Clinical Trials » Endocrine/Neuroendocrine

Feeds

Endocrine/Neuroendocrine (330 unread)

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 17th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 5th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: August 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 29th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 28th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 28th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 19th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 8th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 7th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 5th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: July 1st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 23rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 23rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 21st, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 15th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 14th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 10th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 9th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 4th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 3rd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: June 2nd, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 30th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 25th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 24th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 20th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 18th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 16th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 12th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Fetched: May 11th, 2018, 5:00am GMT

Posted: August 16th, 2018, 11:14am GMT