Pediatric T- and NK-cell lymphomas: new biologic insights and treatment strategies

T- and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are challenging childhood neoplasms. These cancers have varying presentations, vast molecular heterogeneity, and several are quite unusual in the West, creating diagnostic challenges. Over 20 distinct T- and NK-cell neoplasms are recognized by the 2008 World Health Organization classification, demonstrating the diversity and potential complexity of these cases. In pediatric populations, selection of optimal therapy poses an additional quandary, as most of these malignancies have not been studied in large randomized clinical trials. Despite their rarity, exciting molecular discoveries are yielding insights into these clinicopathologic entities, improving the accuracy of our diagnoses of these cancers, and expanding our ability to effectively treat them, including the use of new targeted therapies. Here, we summarize this fascinating group of lymphomas, with particular attention to the three most common subtypes: T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified. We highlight recent findings regarding their molecular etiologies, new biologic markers, and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies applied to this intriguing class of neoplasms

Endoscopic risk factors for neoplastic progression in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus

Barrett’s oesophagus is a precursor lesion for oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which generally has a poor prognosis. Patients diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus therefore undergo regular endoscopic surveillance to detect neoplastic lesions at a curable stage. The efficacy of endoscopic surveillance of Barrett’s oesophagus patients is, however, hampered by difficulties to detect early neoplasia endoscopically, biopsy sampling error, inter-observer variability in histological assessment and the relatively low overall progression rate. Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Barrett’s surveillance may be improved by using endoscopic and clinical characteristics to risk-stratify Barrett’s patients to high- and low-risk categories. Recent national and international surveillance guidelines have incorporated Barrett’s length and presence of low-grade dysplasia in the advised surveillance intervals. In this review we will discuss endoscopic characteristics that may be associated with neoplastic progression in Barrett’s oesophagus and that may be used to tailor surveillance in Barrett’s patients

Micrometeorite and space debris simulation for Columbus hull components

An experimental impact simulation is currently performed with respect to Columbus hull components. The man objectives are to establish a data base for an optimum design of meteoroid/debris protection shields (MDPS) as weil as viewport components, and to obtain input data for numerical models which describe the penetration and perforation processes of meteoroid bumper and viewport systems. As expected, it has been experimentally demonstrated that protection against particles in the order of 1 cm, at relatively low impact (around 3 km/s), is extremely problematic. Applying usual dual-plate Al bumper techniques would require unrealistically thick and heavy systems in order for safely stop such particles, which are eypected to occur within the low earth orbit space debris complex. Preliminary results obtained with multiplate Al targets as well as hybrid target systems (Al-ceramics, Al-Kevlar) indicate that the situation can be considerably improved with respect to the shielding efficiency at a given areal material density. These investigations are still progress. Results of the test series performed with Al dual-plate systems and with laminated glass targets as viewport components are reported and discussed

Advances in Cellular and Humoral Immunotherapy - Implications for the Treatment of Poor Risk Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Patients with relapsed, refractory or advanced stage B non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) continue to have a dismal prognosis. This review summarises current and novel cellular and immunotherapy for these high-risk populations, including haematopoietic stem cell transplant, bispecific antibodies, viral-derived cytotoxic T cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and natural killer (NK) cell therapy, as discussed at the 6th International Symposium on Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma on September 26th-29th 2018 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and explores the future of NK/CAR NK therapies

The Amsterdam ReBus progressor cohort : Identification of 165 Barrett's surveillance patients who progressed to early neoplasia and 723 nonprogressor patients

Patient selection is suboptimal in most studies focused on identifying biological markers for neoplastic progression in Barrett's esophagus (BE). This study aims to describe a stringently selected community-based casecontrol cohort of non-dysplastic BE (NDBE) patients who progressed to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and BE patients who never progressed to be used for future biomarker studies. We identified all patients referred for endoscopic work-up of BE neoplasia at three tertiary referral centers for treatment of BE neoplasia between 2000 and 2013. We performed a detailed registration of any endoscopic surveillance history before neoplastic progression. Controls were selected from a retrospective BE surveillance registration in 10 community hospitals. A total of 887 patients were referred for endoscopic work-up of BE neoplasia. Based on predefined selection criteria, we identified 165 progressor patients (82% men; mean age 55 years ± 10.4) with a baseline endoscopy demonstrating NDBE > 2 years before neoplastic progression. Using the same predefined selection criteria, 723 nonprogressor patients (67% men; mean age 57 years ± 11.3) with >2 years of endoscopic surveillance were identified. Median length of the BE segment was 5 cm (IQR 4-7) in progressors and 4 cm (IQR 2-6) in controls. Median duration of surveillance was 89 months (IQR 54-139) in progressors and 76 months (IQR 47-116) in nonprogressors. Paraffin embedded biopsies are available for biomarker research in all patients. Ethical approval was obtained and material transfer agreements were signed with all 58 contributing pathology labs. This is the largest community-based case-control cohort of BE patients with and without progression to early neoplasia. The stringent selection criteria and the availability of paraffin embedded biopsy specimens make this a unique cohort for biomarker studies