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BACKGROUND
Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) belongs to the family of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and is considered to be a benign disease typically found in children younger than 15 years of age. Here, the authors describe an EG of unusual localization and clinical presentation.
OBSERVATIONS
The authors report a 9-year-old girl with an EG presenting as an osteolytic lesion of the clivus. After transsphenoidal resection and histological confirmation, adjuvant chemotherapy was initiated. Presenting signs and symptoms were weight loss, episodic grimacing, and moderate ballism-like movements. After a follow-up-period of 32 months, the patient presented with a total resolution of initial symptoms and no further tumor growth.
LESSONS
Although these lesions are rare, one should consider EG as a differential diagnosis when confronted with osteolytic lesions of the clivus.
Despite continuous advances in therapy, malignant melanoma is still among the deadliest
types of cancer. At the same time, owing to its high plasticity and immunogenicity, melanoma is
regarded as a model tumor entity when testing new treatment approaches. Cold physical plasma is a
novel anticancer tool that utilizes a plethora of reactive oxygen species (ROS) being deposited on the
target cells and tissues. To test whether plasma treatment would enhance the toxicity of an established
antitumor therapy, ionizing radiation, we combined both physical treatment modalities targeting
B16F10 murine melanoma cell in vitro. Repeated rather than single radiotherapy, in combination
with gas plasma-introduced ROS, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in an additive fashion. In
tendency, gas plasma treatment sensitized the cells to subsequent radiotherapy rather than the other
way around. This was concomitant with increased levels of TNFα, IL6, and GM-CSF in supernatants.
Murine JAWS dendritic cells cultured in these supernatants showed an increased expression of cell
surface activation markers, such as MHCII and CD83. For PD-L1 and PD-L2, increased expression
was observed. Our results are the first to suggest an additive therapeutic effect of gas plasma and
radiotherapy, and translational tumor models are needed to develop this concept further.
Considering cancer not only as malignant cells on their own but as a complex disease in which tumor cells interact and communicate with their microenvironment has motivated the establishment of clinically relevant 3D models in past years. Technological advances gave rise to novel bioengineered models, improved organoid systems, and microfabrication approaches, increasing scientific importance in preclinical research. Notwithstanding, mammalian in vivo models remain closest to mimic the patient’s situation but are limited by cost, time, and ethical constraints. Herein, the in ovo model bridges the gap as an advanced model for basic and translational cancer research without the need for ethical approval. With the avian embryo being a naturally immunodeficient host, tumor cells and primary tissues can be engrafted on the vascularized chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) with high efficiencies regardless of species-specific restrictions. The extraembryonic membranes are connected to the embryo through a continuous circulatory system, readily accessible for manipulation or longitudinal monitoring of tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and matrix remodeling. However, its applicability in immunoncological research is largely underexplored. Dual engrafting of malignant and immune cells could provide a platform to study tumor-immune cell interactions in a complex, heterogenic and dynamic microenvironment with high reproducibility. With some caveats to keep in mind, versatile methods for in and ex ovo monitoring of cellular and molecular dynamics already established in ovo are applicable alike. In this view, the present review aims to emphasize and discuss opportunities and limitations of the chicken embryo model for pre-clinical research in cancer and cancer immunology.
Im Rahmen des Verbund-Forschungsprojektes KOKON wurde nach systematischer Literaturrecherche eine Datenbank entwickelt; in der KOKONbase sind sowohl die Interaktionsprofile als auch die Interaktionsmatrix die wesentlichen Elemente der Vorhaltung von primärem und bewertetem Wissen. In der Interaktionsmatrix wird mit Hilfe eines Ampelschemas die Möglichkeit der Beeinflussung der Pharmakokinetik von Arzneistoffen durch ausgewählte Drogen dargestellt. Die Droge und die Arzneistoffe werden paarweise abgebildet. Die Interaktionsmatrix wird durch praktisch tätige Onkologen als sehr wertvolles Instrument in der onkologischen Beratungspraxis angesehen, um schnell einen Überblick über das von einer Droge ausgehende Gefahrenpotential bzgl. der Beeinflussung der Wirksamkeit eines in der Onkologie genutzten Arzneistoffs zu bekommen.
Parental cancer poses major challenges for families with minor children. Due to diagnosis and treatment family life is disrupted. To prevent long-term consequences in all family members and to design needs-oriented family-centered interventions, further understanding of the family's situation including the impact on the children, quality of life levels and the parental psychosocial needs is necessary. This study aims at investigating the impact of parental cancer on the minor children, family-specific psychosocial needs and quality of life levels of parents and children. Cancer patients parenting at least 1 minor child (<18 years) were eligible for study participation. In total, n=86 cancer patients under treatment participated in the study. After excluding participants without a minor child, 78 patients remained for analyses. We assessed children's quality of life using the parent proxy version of the KIDSCREEN-10 and parental quality of life using the EORTC QLQ C30 quality of life questionnaire. Additionally, the questionnaire comprised open questions about positive and negative changes parents perceived in their children as well as questions on specific family- and child-related psychosocial needs. The majority of participants were mothers (91%), mainly diagnosed with breast cancer (59%). The participating parents provided data on 117 minor children. Parents mentioned positive changes in 38% of the children (e.g., being more attentive and helpful). Negative changes were reported in 37% of the children (e.g., being more anxious and clingy). Parents reported family-specific psychosocial supportive care needs for themselves as a parent (e.g., support regarding parenting concerns), support needs for the partner or the children. Moreover, parents expressed family-related information needs and needs regarding practical aspects (e.g., childcare, household help). Global quality of life was M = 55.7 (SD = 23.4) for parents and M = 57.5 (SD = 15.5) for children. Pearson's correlation coefficient between parental and children's quality of life was 0.377 (p < 0.001). To identify parents with cancer and children in need for additional support, health care providers should proactively inquire about the impact of the disease on the children. In terms of a comprehensive cancer care, the direct assessment of family impact and family-specific support needs in cancer patients with minor children allows for needs-based allocation to support offers.
This review assessed population-based estimate rates of cancer patients with minor and young adult children (≤ 25 years), children and young adults having a parent with cancer as well as the psychosocial situation and well-being of children and young adults affected by parental cancer. Eighteen publications on population-based studies were included. Studies varied in the age ranges of both cancer patients and children. The prevalence rates of cancer patients having children ranged from 14 to 24.7% depending on the sample structure (e.g., age, gender). Studies reported that between 1.6 and 8.4% of children resp. young adult children have a parent with a history of cancer. Seven publications reported on the psychosocial situation or well-being in children and young adults affected by parental cancer. Estimate rates of psychosocial problems, psychiatric diagnoses or distress ranged between 2.5 and 34% of children depending on the method of measurement and outcome. The differences in the sample structure between the studies impeded the comparison of prevalence rates. However, the findings help to determine the need for specific support services and health care planning. The results emphazise the importance to routinely include issues on the parental role of patients and questions on the well-being and coping of children into psychooncological care. If necessary, support should be provided to families living with a cancer diagnosis.
Objective
To identify and summarise evaluated interventions aiming to improve the communication of palliative care (PC) and end-of-life (EoL) issues in physicians caring for cancer patients. Such interventions are needed with regard to the aim of an earlier communication of those issues in oncology daily practice, which is associated with a range of benefits for patients and caregivers but is often impeded by physicians’ communication insecurities.
Design
Systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Data sourcesRelevant publications were systematically searched in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science databases in September 2020 with an update in July 2021.
Eligibility criteria
We included publications reporting a quantitative evaluation of a communication intervention on one or more PC/EoL issues with a communication-related main outcome. Target group had to be physicians caring for cancer patients non-specialist in PC.
Data extraction and synthesis
Two independent raters extracted intervention characteristics, publication characteristics and publication quality. Results were narratively synthesised.
Results
24 publications reporting 22 interventions were included. 13 publications reported randomised controlled trials. A majority of the interventions addressed one specific PC/EoL issue, most often breaking bad news. Teaching strategies mostly involved role-plays. Target group were mainly oncologists. In addition to self-reported outcome measurements for evaluation, most publications also reported the use of external rating data. All but one publication reported significant intervention effects on at least one outcome parameter. Publication quality was overall moderate.
Conclusions
The empirically tested communication interventions on PC/EoL issues seem to effectively improve physicians’ communication. Future interventions should focus on other issues than breaking bad news, such as preparing for the future. Target group should also be organ-specific oncologists, as all primary caring physicians are responsible for timely communication. Our risk-of-bias assessment revealed some weaknesses, indicating that more high-quality studies for evaluation are needed.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42020191054.
Einleitung Das kolorektale Karzinom ist eine der häufigsten Tumorerkrankungen der westlichen Welt und die zweithäufigste tumorassoziierte Todesursache bezogen auf die Gesamtbevölkerung. Im Stadium IV beträgt das 5-Jahresüberleben unbefriedigende 12%. Minnelide™ ist das wasserlösliche Prodrug des pflanzlichen Wirkstoffs Triptolid, der vielversprechende Ergebnisse in der Behandlung des Pankreaskarzinoms zeigt. Über die Effektivität von Minnelide™ im Kolonkarzinom und den Mechanismus von Triptolide ist nur wenig bekannt. Material und Methoden Der Einfluss von Minnelide™ auf das Tumorwachstum, das Fortschreiten der Metastasierung und das Gesamtüberleben wurde in einem subkutanen und einem Lebermetastasen-Xenograftmodell mit humanen HCT116-Zellen in nu/nu-Mäusen untersucht. In vitro Studien zum Mechanismus von Triptolid wurden in HCT116 und HT29 Zelllinien durchgeführt und mit Pankreaskarzinomzelllinien S2-VP10 und MiaPaCa-2 verglichen. Zellviabilität wurde mittels CCK-8, Caspaseaktivität fluorometrisch und der Zellzyklusarrest mittels FACS bestimmt. Autophagie und die Expression von anti-apoptotischen und proliferationsfördernden Proteinen XIAP, Survivin, BCL-Xl, c-Myc, Cyclin D1 und Cdk-4 in Zelllysaten und Tumorhomogenaten wurden im Western Blot bestimmt. C-myc mRNA wurde mittels Real-Time-PCR gemessen. Jak-2-Aktivierung wurde durch Bestimmung von P-Jak-2 im Western Blot bestimmt und die physische Interaktion zwischen Jak-2 und STAT-3 in Co-Immunopräzipitationen untersucht. Der Einfluss auf die STAT-3-Aktivität wurde mit STAT-3-Dual-Luciferase-Reporter-Assay erfasst. Als spezifischer Jak2-Inhibitor kam WP1066 zum Einsatz. Ergebnisse Minnelide™ hemmt das Wachstum von subkutanen Tumoren und von Lebermetastasen signifikant und verlängert das Überleben von Mäusen mit Lebermetastasen. Triptolid führt dosisabhängig zu Zelltod durch Apoptose und G1-Zellzyklusarrest in dem es die Expression von XIAP, Survivin, BCL-Xl und c-Myc, nicht jdeoch Cyclin D1 und Cdk-4 hemmt. Dies geht mit einem Verlust von P-Jak-2 und STAT-3-Aktivität einher und der Effekt läßt sich durch Verwendung eines Jak2-Inhibitors validieren. Die Inhibtion des Jak-2/STAT-3-Signalweg ist in Kolon- und Pankreaskarzinomzellen gleichermaßen nachvollziehbar. Diskussion In dieser Arbeit wird gezeigt, dass Minnelide™ in Analogie zu den Ergebnissen in Pankreaskarzinommodellen das Tumorwachstum signifkant hemmt, die Metastasierung bremst und das Überleben der Versuchstiere verbessert und damit eine vielversprechende Substanz für die Behandlung des metastasierten Kolonkarzinoms darstellt. Weitere Studien zum Vergleich mit Standardsubstanzen und in nicht-immundefizienten Tiermodellen sind jedoch notwendig. Eine Inhibtion von Jak-2 durch Triptolid war bisher weder für das Kolon- noch für das Pankreaskarzinom beschrieben. Jak-2, als Zielstruktur von Triptolid, reiht sich damit in eine ständig wachsende Liste von möglichen Wirkmechanismen ein. In welcher Weise Triptolid mit Jak-2 und anderen Signalwegen interagiert, bleibt weiter unverstanden und bedarf weiterer Forschung.
The first Therapeutic ROS and Immunity in Cancer (TRIC) meeting was organized by the excellence research center ZIK plasmatis (with its previous Frontiers in Redox Biochemistry and Medicine (FiRBaM) and Young Professionals’ Workshop in Plasma Medicine (YPWPM) workshop series in Northern Germany) and the excellence research program ONKOTHER-H (Rostock/Greifswald, Germany). The meeting showcased cutting-edge research and liberated discussions on the application of therapeutic ROS and immunology in cancer treatment, primarily focusing on gas plasma technology. The 2-day hybrid meeting took place in Greifswald and online from 15–16 July 2021, facilitating a wide range of participants totaling 66 scientists from 12 countries and 5 continents. The meeting aimed at bringing together researchers from a variety of disciplines, including chemists, biochemists, biologists, engineers, immunologists, physicists, and physicians for interdisciplinary discussions on using therapeutic ROS and medical gas plasma technology in cancer therapy with the four main sessions: “Plasma, Cancer, Immunity”, “Plasma combination therapies”, “Plasma risk assessment and patients studies”, and “Plasma mechanisms and treated liquids in cancer”. This conference report outlines the abstracts of attending scientists submitted to this meeting.