The identification of novel cancer-related and immunogenic proteins is still a challenge to be faced to improve antigen-specific tumor immunotherapy. The category of so-called cancer-testis (CT) antigens is one of the most perspective groups of proteins for anticancer immune response activation as normally they are expressed in immunoprivileged tissues and are immunogenic if aberrantly generated in tumors. The heterogeneous group of proteins called sperm-associated antigens (SPAG) might encompass novel CT antigens owing to their common expression in male germ cells, their ability to elicit immune response underlying infertility, and lately proposed oncogenic properties. We carried out a comprehensive analysis of the expression pattern in various normal and cancerous tissues and assessed the frequency of spontaneous humoral immune response against members of the SPAG group in cancer patients using phage-displayed antigen microarrays. Our results show that out of 15 analyzed SPAG genes only SPAG1, SPAG6, SPAG8, SPAG15, and SPAG17 are predominantly expressed in testis, whereas the others are ubiquitously expressed with only a testis-associated alternative splice variant of SPAG16. mRNA expression of SPAG1, SPAG6, and alternative splice variants of SPAG8, SPAG16, and SPAG17 was elevated in various tumors with frequencies ranging from approximately 10% to 70%. The upregulation of SPAG6 in lung and breast cancer was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of tumor and normal tissue microarrays. Cancer-associated spontaneous humoral immune response was detected against SPAG1, SPAG6, SPAG8, and a novel testis-specific splice variant of SPAG17 and ascribe these as novel CT antigens that potentially are applicable as immunotherapeutic targets and serologic biomarkers.

AimsThese recommendations aim to improve care for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high cardiovascular (CV) risk in Central and Eastern Europe. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD) are major interdependent comorbidities in patients with T2D, accounting for 50% of mortality. Following recent CV outcomes trial (CVOT) results, including those from EMPA-REG OUTCOME®, LEADER®, SUSTAIN™-6 and, most recently, the CANVAS study, it is essential to develop regional expert consensus recommendations to aid physicians in interpreting these newest data to clinical practice.MethodsThe Central and Eastern European Diabetes Expert Group (CEEDEG) followed a Delphi method to develop treatment algorithms to aid physicians in the clinical management of patients with T2D at high CV risk.ResultsIn light of the latest CVOT results, and in particular the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® and LEADER® trials, the diagnosis, assessment, treatment choice and monitoring of patients with T2D and established CVD and/or CKD have been considered together with existing guidelines and presented in two reference algorithms. In addition, adherence, special prescribing considerations and a proposed multidisciplinary management approach have been discussed and are presented with the proposed algorithms.ConclusionsThe latest available high-level evidence on glucose-lowering drugs has enabled CEEDEG to develop practical consensus recommendations for patients with established CVD and/or CKD. These recommendations represent an update to international and country-level guidelines used for these patients, with the aim of providing a resource not only to endocrinologists, but to cardiologists, nephrologists and primary care physicians in the region.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-017-0622-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single most common cause of mortality. In 2008 and 2012, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) respectively mandated cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) on all new anti-diabetic agents, as prospective trials statistically powered to rule out excess cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D. Unexpectedly, some of these CVOTs have demonstrated not only cardiovascular safety, but also cardioprotective effects, as was first shown for the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in EMPA-REG OUTCOME. Expert opinion: To debate newly available CVOT data and to put them into context, we convened as a group of medical experts from the Central and Eastern European Region. Here we describe our discussions, focusing on the conclusions we can draw from EMPA-REG OUTCOME and other SGLT2 inhibitor CVOTs, including when considered alongside real-world evidence. Conclusion: CVOTs investigating SGLT2 inhibitors have suggested benefits beyond glucose lowering that have been confirmed in real-world evidence studies.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most significant prognostic factor in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, a significant number of individuals may develop CVD that does not present with the classic angina-related or heart failure symptoms. In these cases, CVD may seem to be ‘silent’ or ‘asymptomatic’, but may be more accurately characterised as unrecognised diabetic cardiac impairment. An initial step to raise awareness of unrecognised CVD in individuals with T2D would be to reach a consensus regarding the terminology used to describe this phenomenon. By standardising the terminologies, and agreeing on the implementation of an efficient screening program, it is anticipated that patients will receive an earlier diagnosis and appropriate and timely treatment. Given the availability of anti-diabetic medications that have been shown to concomitantly reduce CV risk and mortality, it is imperative to improve early identification and initiate treatment as soon as possible in order to enable as many patients with T2D as possible to benefit.

BackgroundCurrently the cytological examination of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies is the standard technique for the pre-operative differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. However, the results may be non-informative in ~20% of cases due to an inadequate sampling and the lack of highly specific, measurable cytological criteria, therefore ancillary biomarkers that could aid in these cases are clearly needed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of 8 candidate marker genes as the diagnostic biomarkers for the discrimination of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and to find a combination of biomarkers with the highest diagnostic value.Materials and methodsmRNA expression levels of eight candidate marker genes - BIRC5, CCND1, CDH1, CITED1, DPP4, LGALS3, MET and TFF3 was measured by real-time RT-PCR in paired nodular and surrounding normal thyroid tissue specimens of 105 consecutive patients undergoing thyroid surgery and compared between different types of thyroid lesions.ResultsSignificant differences in the mRNA expression levels between the normal and malignant thyroid tissues and between benign and malignant nodules were found for BIRC5, CCND1, CITED1, DPP4, LGALS3, MET and TFF3, but not CDH1. On a single gene basis, relative quantity (RQ) of LGALS3 had the highest diagnostic value for the discrimination of malignant and benign thyroid nodules (AUC = 0.832, P < 0.0001 and 90.9% sensitivity and 65.6% specificity at the optimal cut-off on ROC curve). The only two-marker set that outperformed LGALS3 was RQ sum of LGALS3 and BIRC5 (AUC = 0.841, P < 0.0001). An application of multivariate logistic regression analysis resulted in the generation of a multiplex biomarker model based on LGALS3, BIRC5, TFF3, CCND1, MET and CITED1 that had considerably higher specificity than a single marker or two marker gene-based models (AUC = 0.895, P < 0.0001, 70.5% sensitivity and 93.4% specificity).ConclusionsThis study confirmed that mRNA expression levels of 7 out of 8 candidate genes analysed have a diagnostic value for the distinction of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The multiplex biomarker model based on 6 genes outperformed a single marker or two marker-based models and warrants feasibility studies on FNA biopsies and the validation in a larger cohort of patients.