Erratum: Actionable mutations in plasma cell-free DNA in patients with advanced cancers referred for experimental targeted therapies.

The Abstract is incorrect in PubMed. The corrected Abstract is provided here

Metastasis of Ciliary Body Melanoma to the Contralateral Eye: A Case Report and Review of Uveal Melanoma Literature

Many types of cancers metastasize to the eye. However, uveal melanoma metastasizing to the contralateral choroid is very rare. We report the case of a 68-year-old man with history of treated uveal melanoma of the right eye that developed metastasis to the liver and the choroid of the left eye. Ten years earlier, he was diagnosed to have uveal melanoma of the right eye and was initially treated with plaque radiotherapy. Two years later, upon progression of the disease in the right eye he had enucleation of the eye. We describe the patient’s clinical history, the diagnosis of recurrent disease in the contralateral eye, therapy of the left eye, and systemic metastasis. In addition, we reviewed the published medical literature and described the recent advances in the management of uveal melanoma

Clinical pharmacology of 2,5′-diaziridinyl-3,6-biscarboethoxyamino-1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ)

2,5′-Diaziridinyl-3,6-biscarboethoxyamino-1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ) is an alkylating compound which has exhibited a broad spectrum of antitumor activity against a variety of experimental tumors, particularly those implanted intracranially. We have studied the clinical pharmacology of AZQ in 11 patients with various types of tumors. AZQ was administered at 1–12 mg/ m 2 daily for 5 days by i.v. infusion in 10–30 min. 14 C-labelled AZQ was given on day 1 only. Blood and urine specimens were analyzed radiochemically and chromatographically. The plasma disappearance of unchanged AZQ was essentially biphasic, with an initial plasma t 1 2 of 1.4 ± 0.4 hr and a terminal t 1 2 of 45.5 ± 3.1 hr. The apparent volume of distribution was 14.2 ± 3.0 l/kg. The cumulative urinary excretion of unchanged AZQ was 4.3% in 24 hr and 8.6% in 96 hr. The total clearance of the drug was 200 ml/kg/hr. Cerebrospinal fluid AZQ concentration peaked 45–90 min after drug administration, reaching about 70% of that in plasma, and then declined at nearly the same rate

Autologous tumor-derived heat-shock protein peptide complex-96 (HSPPC-96) in patients with metastatic melanoma

Abstract Background Glycoprotein-96, a non-polymorphic heat-shock protein, associates with intracellular peptides. Autologous tumor-derived heat shock protein-peptide complex 96 (HSPPC-96) can elicit potent tumor-specific T cell responses and protective immunity in animal models. We sought to investigate the feasibility, safety, and antitumor activity of HSPPC-96 vaccines prepared from tumor specimens of patients with metastatic melanoma. Methods Patients with a Karnofsky Performance Status >70% and stage III or stage IV melanoma had to have a metastasis >3 cm in diameter resectable as part of routine clinical management. HSPPC-96 tumor-derived vaccines were prepared in one of three dose levels (2.5, 25, or 100 μg/dose) and administered as an intradermal injection weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. In vivo induction of immunity was evaluated using delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to HSPPC-96, irradiated tumor, and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The γ-interferon (IFNγ) ELISPOT assay was used to measure induction of a peripheral blood mononuclear cell response against autologous tumor cells at baseline and at the beginning of weeks 3, 4, and 8. Results Among 36 patients enrolled, 72% had stage IV melanoma and 83% had received prior systemic therapy. The smallest tumor specimen from which HSPPC-96 was prepared weighed 2 g. Twelve patients (including 9 with stage IV and indicator lesions) had a negative DNCB skin test result at baseline. All 36 patients were treated and evaluable for toxicity and response. There were no serious toxicities. There were no observed DTH responses to HSPPC-96 or to autologous tumor cells before or during treatment. The IFNγ-producing cell count rose modestly in 5 of 26 patients and returned to baseline by week 8, with no discernible association with HSPPC-96 dosing or clinical parameters. There were no objective responses among 16 patients with stage IV disease and indicator lesions. Among 20 patients treated in the adjuvant setting, 11 with stage IV melanoma at baseline had a progression-free and overall survival of 45% and 82%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 10 years. Conclusion Treatment with autologous tumor-derived HSPPC-96 was feasible and safe at all doses tested. Observed immunological effects and antitumor activity were modest, precluding selection of a biologically active dose. Nevertheless, the 25-μg dose level was shown to be practical for further study.</p