Targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma: moving from molecular agents to specific immunotherapy

Non-specific immunotherapy has been for a long time a standard treatment option for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma but was redeemed by specific targeted molecular therapies, namely the VEGF and mTOR inhibitors. After moving treatment for mRCC to specific molecular agents with a well-defined mode of action, immunotherapy still needs this further development to increase its accuracy. Nowadays, an evolution from a rather non-specific cytokine treatment to sophisticated targeted approaches in specific immunotherapy led to a re-launch of immunotherapy in clinical studies. Recent steps in the development of immunotherapy strategies are discussed in this review with a special focus on peptide vaccination which aims at a tumor targeting by specific T lymphocytes. In addition, different combinatory strategies with immunomodulating agents like cyclophosphamide or sunitinib are outlined, and the effects of immune checkpoint modulators as anti-CTLA-4 or PD-1 antibodies are discussed

Expression of Olig2, Nestin, NogoA and AQP4 have no impact on overall survival in IDH- wildtype glioblastoma

Despite many years of research efforts and clinical trials the prognosis of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma remains very poor. The oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2) was identified as a marker for glioma stem cells, which are believed to be responsible for glioma recurrence and therapy resistance. In this retrospective analysis we assessed the prognos- tic value of oligodendroglial and glioma stem cell markers in 113 IDH-wildtype glioblasto- mas. Immunohistochemical staining for Olig2, NogoA, AQP4 and Nestin was performed in combination with sequencing of IDH1 and IDH2 as well as promotor methylation analysis of the MGMT gene. Even though differences in overall survival according to Olig2 expression were observed, univariate and multivariate survival analysis did not reveal a firm significant prognostic impact of Olig2, NogoA, AQP4 or Nestin expression. Additionally, no differences in the expression of these markers depending on clinical status, age or gender were found. The established independent prognostic factors age = 70 and methylated MGMT gene promoter were significant in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion expression of oligodendroglial and glioma stem cell markers do not have an inde- pendent prognostic effect in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma.German Research Foundation/[]/DGF/AlemaniaPublication Fund of Hannover Medical School/[]/MHH/AlemaniaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Neurociencias (CIN

Sex cord gonadal stromal tumors

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification from 2004, sex cord gonadal stromal tumors are divided into Leydig cell tumors, Sertoli cell tumors, granulosa cell tumors, tumors of the thecoma-fibroma group, incompletely differentiated sex cord gonadal stromal tumors, mixed forms of sex cord gonadal stromal tumors and tumors containing both germ cell and sex cord gonadal stromal elements. These tumors can appear sporadically or in combination with hereditary syndromes. To diagnose these rare tumors the combination of characteristic morphological aspects and various immunohistochemical markers is useful. Latest investigations demonstrate the potential role of mutation analyses in the diagnosis of this heterogeneous group of tumors

Primary bladder adenocarcinoma: Case report with long-term follow-up

Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy that has been observed in a heterogeneous patient population.This case report presents a 51 year old female with muscle-invasive primary bladder adenocarcinoma diagnosed in 2008. After transurethral resection and cystectomy with ileum neobladder adjuvant radiochemotherapy was administered. Two years later, a symptomatic fistula between neobladder and ileoileal anastomosis was excised, resulting in urinary incontinency. In 2016, the patient shows no signs of disease relapse but suffers from reduction of bladder capacity.This case report presents classical symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the bladder and a possible treatment regimen with associated side effects. Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, Urinary bladder, Urinary diversion, Urinary fistula, Oncolog