Publications by authors named "Alexandre de Wind"

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is now the standard of care for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (BC). TIL scoring is prognostic and adds predictive value to the residual cancer burden evaluation after NAC. However, NAC induces changes in the tumor, and the reliability of TIL scoring in post-NAC samples has not yet been studied.

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Article Synopsis
  • A phase II clinical trial investigated the effectiveness and safety of low-dose nivolumab, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with ipilimumab, for melanoma patients after surgery.
  • The primary endpoint was the 12-month relapse-free survival (RFS), which showed 55.9% RFS for the short regimen and 85.7% for the year-long treatment.
  • While many patients experienced treatment-related side effects, the study suggests that a year of low-dose nivolumab could be a beneficial and cost-effective option compared to standard doses, although further research with more participants is needed.
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Invasive histoplasmosis is the most common AIDS-defining event in endemic regions such as South America. In non-endemic regions, less familiar to the diagnosis, invasive histoplasmosis can be mistakenly diagnosed as miliary tuberculosis leading to a high mortality rate. Here we present the case of an invasive histoplasmosis mistakenly diagnosed as tuberculosis.

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We previously demonstrated that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in human breast cancer sometimes form organized tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) characterized by CXCL13-producing T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. The present study found that CD4+ Tfh TIL, CD8+ TIL, and TIL-B, colocalizing in TLS, all express the CXCL13 receptor CXCR5. An ex vivo functional assay determined that only activated, functional Th1-oriented Tfh TIL (PD-1hiICOSint phenotype) provide help for immunoglobulin and IFN-γ production.

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Tumor banks make a considerable contribution to translational research. Using emerging molecular tests on frozen material facilitates the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, especially in rare cases. However, standard quality control schemes are lacking in the current literature.

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Tumor-infiltrating B-cells (TIL-B) in breast cancer (BC) have previously been associated with improved clinical outcomes; however, their role(s) in tumor immunity is not currently well known. This study confirms and extends the correlation between higher TIL-B densities and positive outcomes through an analysis of HER2-positive and triple-negative BC patients from the BIG 02-98 clinical trial (10yr mean follow-up). Fresh tissue analyses identify an increase in TIL-B density in untreated primary BC compared to normal breast tissues, which is associated with global, CD4+ and CD8+ TIL, higher tumor grades, higher proliferation and hormone receptor negativity.

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This study investigated the prevalence of TIL subpopulations, TLS, PD-1 and PD-L1 in tumors from TNBC patients harboring wild-type or mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline genes. This TNBC cohort included 85% TIL-positive (≥10%) tumors with 21% classified as TIL (≥50%). Interestingly, the BRCA group had a significantly higher incidence of TIL tumors compared to the BRCA group (P = 0.

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Background: FOXP1, a transcriptional regulator of lymphocyte development, is abnormally expressed in some human tumors. This study investigated FOXP1-mediated regulation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in untreated primary breast cancer (BC).

Methods: FOXP1 expression was analyzed in tissues from primary untreated breast tumors, BC cell lines and the METABRIC gene expression BC dataset.

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An important role for tumor infiltrating B lymphocytes (TIL-B) in the immune response to cancer is emerging; however, very little is known about the antigen specificity of antibodies produced . The presence of IgA antibodies in the tumor microenvironment has been noted although their biological functions and clinical significance are unknown. This study used a 91-antigen microarray to examine the IgG and IgA autoantibody repertoires in breast cancer (BC).

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Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare lymphoma (<5% of Hodgkin's lymphomas) predominantly affecting the middle-aged man, with an indolent behavior. Given the rare occurrence of this lymphoma, there are currently no clear guidelines for initial treatment or relapse. In this report, we present the follow-up of 2 patients treated by radioimmunotherapy for first relapse of their NLPHL.

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There is an exponentially growing interest in targeting immune checkpoint molecules in breast cancer (BC), particularly in the triple-negative subtype where unmet treatment needs remain. This study was designed to analyze the expression, localization, and prognostic role of PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, LAG3, and TIM3 in primary BC. Gene expression analysis using the METABRIC microarray dataset found that all six immune checkpoint molecules are highly expressed in basal-like and HER2-enriched compared to the other BC molecular subtypes.

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The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), reflecting host immune activity, is frequently correlated with better clinical outcomes, particularly in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer. Recent findings suggest that organization of immune infiltrates in tertiary lymphoid structures also has a beneficial effect on survival. This study investigated inter- and intra-observer variation in TIL assessment using conventional hematoxylin-eosin versus immunohistochemical staining to identify immune cells.

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T follicular helper cells (TFH cells) are important regulators of antigen-specific B cell responses. The B cell chemoattractant CXCL13 has recently been linked with TFH cell infiltration and improved survival in human cancer. Although human TFH cells can produce CXCL13, their immune functions are currently unknown.

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The clinical relevance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in breast cancer (BC) has been clearly established by their demonstrated correlation with long-term positive outcomes. Nevertheless, the relationship between protective immunity, observed in some patients, and critical features of the infiltrate remains unresolved. This study examined TIL density, composition and organization together with PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in freshly collected and paraffin-embedded tissues from 125 patients with invasive primary BC.

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Multifocal breast cancer (MFBC), defined as multiple synchronous unilateral lesions of invasive breast cancer, is relatively frequent and has been associated with more aggressive features than unifocal cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the genomic heterogeneity between MFBC lesions sharing similar histopathological parameters. Characterization of different lesions from 36 patients with ductal MFBC involved the identification of non-silent coding mutations in 360 protein-coding genes (171 tumour and 36 matched normal samples).

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CD4⁺ T cells are critical regulators of immune responses, but their functional role in human breast cancer is relatively unknown. The goal of this study was to produce an image of CD4⁺ T cells infiltrating breast tumors using limited ex vivo manipulation to better understand the in vivo differences associated with patient prognosis. We performed comprehensive molecular profiling of infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells isolated from untreated invasive primary tumors and found that the infiltrating T cell subpopulations included follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, which have not previously been found in solid tumors, as well as Th1, Th2, and Th17 effector memory cells and Tregs.

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Intraarterial administration of (90)Y microspheres to the spleen in patients with malignant lymphoma was mentioned once in the literature in 1973. This case study illustrates the potential indication of selective internal radiotherapy in a heavily pretreated patient with highly refractory disease with a marginal zone lymphoma in leukemic phase and symptomatic splenomegaly. We describe the clinical course of disease; the biological and clinical response to the treatment after radioembolization; and simulation and dosimetry by multimodal imaging via single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography.

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Retiform haemangioendothelioma is a locally aggressive, very rarely metastasizing vascular lesion. Histologically, it is characterized by distinctive arborizing blood vessels resembling "rete testis" and lined by endothelial cells with characteristic hobnail morphology. We present an additional case, in the leg of a 64-year-old patient.

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