The tale of TILs in breast cancer : a report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC

The tale of TILs in breast cancer: A report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC

Effect of Tetraethylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether on Electrical, Structural and Thermal Properties of PVA-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Magnesium Battery

The aim of the contribution is to introduce a high performance magnesium conducting polymer electrolytes (PEs) comprising hybrid of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), magnesium bromide ($MgBr_2$) and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) as plasticizer are prepared at various compositions by solution cast technique. X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses suggest a substantial structural modification, decrease in crystallinity and various interactions in the polymer electrolyte components due to addition of TEGDME. Also there is a marked decrease in $T_{g}$ with increasing TEGDME. The conductivity conformation with the addition of plasticizer which can be explained on the basis of dissociation of ion aggregates formed in $PVA-MgBr_2$ polymer electrolytes at higher concentrations of the salt. The ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte increased with addition of salt and plasticizer reached to the highest conductivity value of ≈ $10^{-6} S cm^{-1}$ at 0.8 ml TEGDME. The frequency dependence of AC conductivity obeys the Jonscher power law. The estimated value of $Mg^{+2}$ ion transference number is found to be 0.68 for high conducting film. The open circuit voltage of a solid state battery which based on the optimum polymer electrolyte with a configuration Mg|PE|$V_2O_5$ is 1.5 V. Also this battery has exhibited a discharge capacity ≈3.78 mAh/g. The discharge characteristics are found to be satisfactory as a laboratory cell

Production of reduced iron from mill scale waste using tilting rotary furnace

The production of steel in steel mills generates undesired scales of oxidized iron on the surface of the hot steel. Although several attempts have been made to transform mill scale into valuable products, the low porosity of the oxides and the presence of oil contamination have been the main limitations in pelletizing the scales. In our recent research, we were able to produce reduced iron in the form of spheres with a 93% metallization degree using only mill scale as a source of iron without the need for any agglomeration or cleaning steps. The main equipment used in the production process was a tilting rotary furnace. We also examined the relationship between fuel consumption and the metallization degree of the reduced iron, as well as the effect of furnace RPM on the cross-sectional diameter of the produced spheres. By adjusting the process parameters, we were able to produce spheroidal iron with a cross-sectional diameter ranging from 10 mm to 400 mm. This high-quality reduced iron can be directly used as a replacement for DRI or scrap in traditional steel production methods

Systemic review: Radiation therapy alone in medical non-operable endometrial carcinoma

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy is a good option for inoperable and frail patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Because of the lack of large multicentre trials, a systematic review was performed in an attempt to get an overview on the feasibility and efficacy of this specific approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a bibliographic search for articles in English or French which were published in PubMed from the start of this database in January 1969 to identify publications on radiation therapy (RT) as single treatment for localised non-operable carcinoma of the endometrium. The review was completed following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Twenty-five reports containing 2694 patients treated with RT as single treatment were identified that fulfilled the selection criteria. Disease-specific survival (DSS) at 5 years was reported for a cohort of 1322 (49.1%) patients. The combined DSS for this group of patients was 78.5% (range: 68.4-92%; 95% confidence interval: 74.5-82.5). External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) combined with brachytherapy (BT) was used in 1278 patients (47.4%), BT alone in 1383 patients (51.3%), and EBRT alone in 33 patients (1.2%). The average occurrence of grade III or worse late toxicity was 3.7% for EBRT + BT, 2.8% for BT alone, and 1.2% for EBRT alone. CONCLUSIONS: RT is in terms of disease control and toxicity, an acceptable option for non-surgical candidate patients. Prospective multicentre randomised or observational trials are needed to validate these results

Quality of Life and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials A Call for Action!

Biological, physical and clinical aspects of cancer treatment with ionising radiatio

Quality of Life Research in Endometrial Cancer What Is Needed to Advance Progress in This Disease Site? Methodological Considerations From the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup Symptom Benefit Working Group Brainstorming Session, Leiden 2012

Biological, physical and clinical aspects of cancer treatment with ionising radiatio