Comparative analysis of patient-derived organoids and patient-derived xenografts as avatar models for predicting response to anti-cancer therapy.

Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and organoids (PDO) are widely used to model cancer and predict treatment response in matched patients. However, their predictive accuracy has not been systematically studied nor compared. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies using PDX or PDO from solid tumors treated with identical anti-cancer agents as the matched patient, identifying 411 patient-model pairs (267 PDX, 144 PDO).

Favorable response to nivolumab combined with radiotherapy for retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma.

Unlabelled: Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a biologically heterogeneous tumor and rare malignant mesenchymal soft-tissue neoplasm. Although the 5-year overall survival rate for RPS is approximately 60%-70%, it is quite low for unresectable tumors. Surgery is a standard treatment for RPS.

Antitumor Effect of Farletuzumab ecteribulin in Molecular Subtypes of Endometrial Cancer Patient-Derived Xenograft Models.

Endometrial cancer (EC) represents a significant health burden globally, particularly in postmenopausal women. Current treatment options for advanced-stage EC remain limited, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate farletuzumab ecteribulin (FZEC), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting folate receptor alpha (FRα), as a potential new therapeutic agent for EC.

Establishing a comprehensive panel of patient-derived xenograft models for high-grade endometrial carcinoma: molecular subtypes, genetic alterations, and therapeutic target profiling.

Background: High-grade endometrial cancer (EC) has a poor prognosis, but molecular classification-based treatments present new therapeutic opportunities. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) emerge as promising tools, yet a deeper understanding of antigen dynamics, optimal therapeutic sequencing, and resistance mechanisms is essential. This study investigates the utility of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models for EC as preclinical platforms, evaluating molecular subtypes and the ADC targets expression of patient and PDX tumors.

Implications of EGFR expression on EGFR signaling dependency and adaptive immunity against EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: In EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma (EGFRm LUAD), EGFR mutations do not necessarily result in increased EGFR expression (EGFR-exp), which differs among patients. However, the factors influencing EGFR-exp and the impact of EGFR-exp on tumor characteristics in patients with EGFRm LUAD remain unclear.

Patients And Methods: Whole-exome and RNA sequencing were performed for patients with early- and advanced-stage EGFRm LUAD.

Elevated mepolizumab levels in patients with severe asthma responsive to 1 year's mepolizumab treatment.

Background: Asthma involves variable airflow limitation and persistent airway inflammation. Eosinophilic asthma, characterized by cytokine-mediated type 2 inflammation, is generally treated with inhaled corticosteroids. However, patients with severe asthma may require biologics, such as mepolizumab, which targets IL-5 and can manage uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 expression in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: a potential target for ovarian mucinous and clear cell carcinoma.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3), a tyrosine kinase belonging to the HER family, is a known target for cancer therapy; recently, an anti-HER3 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is developing. To understand HER3 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), this study was conducted.

Methods: We investigated the expression of HER3 in 202 patients with EOC using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the association between HER3 expression, clinicopathological features, prognosis, and treatment timing.

Diversity of TCR repertoire predicts recurrence after CRT followed by durvalumab in patients with NSCLC.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by durvalumab is standard for unresectable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). This study assesses how CRT alters the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in CD8 + PD-1 + T-cells and its impact on clinical outcomes. This prospective study, conducted from November 2019 to May 2021 at three institutions in Japan, evaluated the diversity of TCR repertoire (DE50) in PD-1 + CD8 + T-cells and CD8 + T-cell phenotypes in peripheral blood before and after CRT.

WEE1 confers resistance to KRAS inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.

KRAS inhibitors sotorasib and adagrasib have been approved for the treatment of KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the efficacy of single-agent treatments is limited, presumably due to multiple resistance mechanisms. To overcome these therapeutic limitations, combination strategies that potentiate the antitumor efficacy of KRAS inhibitors must be developed.

Multicenter Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Pembrolizumab for Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older.

Pembrolizumab is a major treatment for recurrent or advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, data on its use and pharmacokinetics (PK) in older patients are limited. This open-label, multicenter, observational study evaluated real-world data on the safety, efficacy, and PK of pembrolizumab in older patients with NSCLC.

descSPIM: an affordable and easy-to-build light-sheet microscope optimized for tissue clearing techniques.

Despite widespread adoption of tissue clearing techniques in recent years, poor access to suitable light-sheet fluorescence microscopes remains a major obstacle for biomedical end-users. Here, we present descSPIM (desktop-equipped SPIM for cleared specimens), a low-cost ($20,000-50,000), low-expertise (one-day installation by a non-expert), yet practical do-it-yourself light-sheet microscope as a solution for this bottleneck. Even the most fundamental configuration of descSPIM enables multi-color imaging of whole mouse brains and a cancer cell line-derived xenograft tumor mass for the visualization of neurocircuitry, assessment of drug distribution, and pathological examination by false-colored hematoxylin and eosin staining in a three-dimensional manner.

Rapid Response to Lenvatinib and Disease Flare After Discontinuation in a Patient With Thymic Carcinoma Harboring KIT Exon 11 Mutation: A Case Report.

Lenvatinib, a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor for c-Kit and other kinases, has exhibited promising efficacy in treating advanced or metastatic thymic carcinoma (TC). Here, we present the case of a patient with metastatic TC harboring a exon 11 deletion and amplification. The patient exhibited a remarkable response to lenvatinib but experienced rapid disease progression after discontinuation of lenvatinib, referred to as a "disease flare.

Immunogenicity after vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with cancer: a prospective, single center, observational study.

Background: Patients with cancer, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk from the low immunogenicity of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccines.

Methods: This prospective study assessed the seroconversion rate of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with cancer and hospital staff. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein-specific IgG (S-IgG) concentrations were evaluated before the first vaccination, and 1-3 and 4-6 months after the second vaccination.

Fucoxanthin Inhibits Development of Sigmoid Colorectal Cancer in a PDX Model With Alterations of Growth, Adhesion, and Cell Cycle Signals.

Background/aim: Fucoxanthin (Fx), a dietary marine xanthophyll, exerts potent anticancer effects in various colorectal cancer (CRC) animal models. However, therapeutic effects of Fx in human cancer tissues remain unclear. A patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model transplanted with cancer tissues from patients is widely accepted as the best preclinical model for evaluating the anticancer potential of drug candidates.

Exploratory analysis to predict pneumonitis during durvalumab consolidation therapy for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer from proteomic profiling of circulating extracellular vesicles.

Background: Risk factors for predicting pneumonitis during durvalumab consolidation after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) are still lacking. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in intercellular communication and are potential diagnostic tools for various diseases.

Methods: We retrospectively collected predurvalumab treatment serum samples from patients treated with durvalumab for LA-NSCLC, isolated EVs using anti-CD9 and anti-CD63 antibodies, and performed proteomic analyses.

Development of a Detection System for Mutations in Circulating Tumour DNA Using PNA-LNA-Mediated PCR Clamping.

Although circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA)-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a less invasive method for assessing mutations that are essential mechanisms of endocrine therapy resistance in patients with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, adequate amounts of DNA are required to assess polyclonal mutations. By combining a peptide nucleic acid and locked nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (PNA-LNA PCR) clamping assay, we have developed a novel detection system to screen for polyclonal mutations in ctDNA. A validation assay was prospectively performed on clinical samples and compared with the NGS results.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Expressing Advanced or Recurrent Uterine Carcinosarcoma (NCCH1615): The STATICE Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload, in patients with uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) expressing HER2.

Patients And Methods: Patients with recurrent UCS with HER2 immunohistochemistry scores ≥1+ previously treated with chemotherapy were included. Patients were assigned to the HER2-high (immunohistochemistry score ≥2+; n = 22) or low (immunohistochemistry score of 1+; n = 10) groups for primary and exploratory analyses, respectively.