No abstract

At menopause, the dramatic loss of ovarian estradiol (E2) necessitates the adaptation of estrogen-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus to an estrogen-depleted environment. We developed a rat model to test the "critical window" hypothesis of the effects of timing and duration of E2 treatment after deprivation on the hypothalamic neuronal gene network in the arcuate nucleus and the medial preoptic area. Rats at 2 ages (reproductively mature or aging) were ovariectomized and given E2 or vehicle replacement regimes of differing timing and duration. Using a 48-gene quantitative low-density PCR array and weighted gene coexpression network analysis, we identified gene modules differentially regulated by age, timing, and duration of E2 treatment. Of particular interest, E2 status differentially affected suites of genes in the hypothalamus involved in energy balance, circadian rhythms, and reproduction. In fact, E2 status was the dominant factor in determining gene modules and hormone levels; age, timing, and duration had more subtle effects. Our results highlight the plasticity of hypothalamic neuroendocrine systems during reproductive aging and its surprising ability to adapt to diverse E2 replacement regimes.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential associations between increased platelets and oncologic outcomes in oropharyngeal cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation. 433 oropharyngeal cancer patients (OPC) treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with concurrent chemotherapy between 2002 and 2012 were included under an approved IRB protocol. Complete blood count (CBC) data was extracted. Platelet and hemoglobin from the last phlebotomy (PLTpre-chemoRT, Hgbpre-chemoRT) before start of treatment were identified. Patients were risk-stratified using Dahlstrom-Sturgis criteria and were tested for association with survival and disease-control outcomes. Locoregional control (LRC), freedom from distant metastasis (FDM) and overall survival (OS) were decreased (p<0.03, p<0.04, and p<0.0001, respectively) for patients with PLT pre-chemoRT value of ≥350 × 109/L. Actuarial 5-year locoregional control (LRC) and FDM were 83% and 85% for non-thrombcythemic patients while patient with high platelets had 5-year LRC and FDM of 73% and 74%, respectively. Likewise, 5- year OS were better for patients with normal platelet counts by comparison (76% vs. 57%; p<0.0001). Comparison of univariate parametric models demonstrated PLTpre-chemoRT was better among tested models. Multivariate assessment demonstrated improved performance of models which included pre-therapy platelet indices. On Bayesian information criteria analysis, the optimal prognostic model was then used to develop nomograms predicting 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS. In conclusion, pre-treatment platelet elevation is a promising predictor of prognosis, and further work should be done to elucidate the utility of anti-platelets in modifying risk in OPC patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) and programed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 have increased the survival and cure rates for patients with many cancer types in various disease settings. However, only 10–40% of cancer patients benefited from these ICIs, of whom ~ 20% have treatment interruption or discontinuation due to immune-related adverse events that can be severe and even fatal. Current efforts in precision immunotherapy are focused on improving biomarker-based patient selection for currently available ICIs and exploring rationale combination and novel strategies to expand the benefit of immunotherapy to more cancer patients. Neoantigens arise from ~ 10% of the non-synonymous somatic mutations in cancer cells, are important targets of T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity for individual patients. Advances in next generation sequencing technology and computational bioinformatics have enable the identification of genomic alterations, putative neoantigens, and gene expression profiling in individual tumors for personal oncology in a rapid and cost-effective way. Among the genomic biomarkers, defective mismatch DNA repair (dMMR), microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) and high tumor mutational burden (H-TMB) have received FDA approvals for selecting patients for ICI treatment. All these biomarkers measure high neoantigen load and tumor antigenicity, supporting the current development of neoantigen-based personalized cancer vaccines for patients with high TMB tumor. Several studies have shown neoantigen vaccines are feasible, safe and have promising clinical activity in patients with high TMB tumors in both metastatic and adjuvant settings. This review summarizes the emerging data and technologies for neoantigen-based personalized immunotherapy.

Purpose/Objective To determine the impact of computerized tomography (CT)-determined pretreatment primary tumor volume (TV) on survival and disease control in T4a larynx squamous cell carcinoma. Materials/Methods We retrospectively reviewed 124 patients with T4a larynx cancer from 2000–2011. TV measurements were collected and correlated with outcomes. Results 5-year overall survival (OS) for patients with TV≥21cm3 treated with larynx preservation (n=26 of 41) was significantly inferior compared with <21cm3 (42% vs 64% respectively, p=0.003). 5-year OS for patients with TV≥21cm3 in the cohort treated with total laryngectomy followed by radiotherapy (n=42 of 83) was not statistically significant when compared with <21cm3 (50% vs 63% respectively, p=0.058). On multivariate analysis, TV ≥21cm3 was a significant independent correlate of worse disease-specific survival (p=0.004), event-free survival (p=0.005), recurrence free survival (p=0.04), non-cancer cause specific survival (p=0.02), and OS (p=0.0002). Conclusion Pretreatment CT-based TV is an independent prognostic factor of outcomes in T4a larynx cancer.