p 257improvement of metastatic colorectal cancer patient survival single institution experience

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Retrospective Study of Regorafenib Versus TAS-102 Efficacy and Safety in Chemorefractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) Patients: A Multi-institution Real Life Clinical Data

INTRODUCTION: There have been significant developments in colorectal cancer (CRC) research over the last few years, with the introduction of new agents that have been prolonged median overall survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). These therapies have improved patient outcomes; however, despite significant progress in strategies for cancer treatment, their use is limited by development of resistant mechanism. Almost 30% of patients with refractory mCRC will remain good candidates for further treatment. Regorafenib and TAS-102 are novel antitumor agents for patients with refractory mCRC. However, it is unclear which patients may derive a survival benefit from these drugs in real-life clinical practice.; METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis evaluating safety and efficacy of TAS-102 and regorafenib in a cohort of refractory mCRC patients, in 3 different centers between January 1 2018 and May 31 2020, with the aim of assessing the optimal sequence treatment for these 2 drugs.; RESULTS: One hundred and forty mCRC patients were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 64 received regorafenib and 76 received TAS-102 as first treatment. After progression, in the regorafenib 24 (37%) patients switched to secondary treatment with TAS-102, instead, in the TAS-102 group, among 76 patients, 29 (45%) patients switched to secondary treatment with regorafenib. Disease control was achieved in 8 (12.5%) of 64 patients in the regorafenib group and 17 (22.4%) of 76 patients in the TAS-102 group. In terms of efficacy, the PFS and OS were similar in both treatment groups for primary and secondary treatments. AEs reported in this analysis were mostly consistent with the known safety profiles of regorafenib and TAS-102 in previous clinical trials.; CONCLUSION: The present study is the first one to compare the activity of the two agents in a large cohort of chemo-refractory mCRC patients providing more details about the best sequence, to be incorporated in clinical practice. Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Chromosome evolution in the erythrinid fish, Erythrinus erythrinus (Teleostei : Characiformes)

The genus Erythrinus belongs to the family Erythrinidae, a neotropical fish group. This genus contains only two described species, Erythrinus erythrinus being the most widely distributed in South America. Six samples of this species from five distinct Brazilian localities and one from Argentina were studied cytogenetically. Four groups were identified on the basis of their chromosomal features. Group A comprises three samples, all with 2n = 54 chromosomes, a very similar karyotypic structure, and the absence of chromosome differentiation between males and females. One sample bears up to four supernumerary microchromosomes, which look like 'double minute chromosomes' in appearance. Groups B - D comprise the three remaining samples, all sharing an X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y sex chromosome system. Group B shows 2n = 54/53 chromosomes in females and males, respectively, and also shows up to three supernumerary microchromosomes. Groups C and D show 2n = 52/51 chromosomes in females and males, respectively, but differ in the number of metacentric, subtelocentric, and acrocentric chromosomes. In these three groups ( B - D), the Y is a metacentric chromosome clearly identified as the largest in the complement. The present results offer clear evidence that local samples of E. erythrinus retain exclusive and fixed chromosomal features, indicating that this species may represent a species complex

Retrospective Study of Regorafenib Versus TAS-102 Efficacy and Safety in Chemorefractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) Patients: A Multi-institution Real Life Clinical Data

Introduction: There have been significant developments in colorectal cancer (CRC) research over the last few years, with the introduction of new agents that have been prolonged median overall survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). These therapies have improved patient outcomes; however, despite significant progress in strategies for cancer treatment, their use is limited by development of resistant mechanism. Almost 30% of patients with refractory mCRC will remain good candidates for further treatment. Regorafenib and TAS-102 are novel antitumor agents for patients with refractory mCRC. However, it is unclear which patients may derive a survival benefit from these drugs in real-life clinical practice. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis evaluating safety and efficacy of TAS-102 and regorafenib in a cohort of refractory mCRC patients, in 3 different centers between January 1 2018 and May 31 2020, with the aim of assessing the optimal sequence treatment for these 2 drugs. Results: One hundred and forty mCRC patients were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 64 received regorafenib and 76 received TAS-102 as first treatment. After progression, in the regorafenib 24 (37%) patients switched to secondary treatment with TAS-102, instead, in the TAS-102 group, among 76 patients, 29 (45%) patients switched to secondary treatment with regorafenib. Disease control was achieved in 8 (12.5%) of 64 patients in the regorafenib group and 17 (22.4%) of 76 patients in the TAS-102 group. In terms of efficacy, the PFS and OS were similar in both treatment groups for primary and secondary treatments. AEs reported in this analysis were mostly consistent with the known safety profiles of regorafenib and TAS-102 in previous clinical trials. Conclusion: The present study is the first one to compare the activity of the two agents in a large cohort of chemo-refractory mCRC patients providing more details about the best sequence, to be incorporated in clinical practice

Hidden Diversity in the Populations of the Armored Catfish Ancistrus Kner, 1854 (Loricariidae, Hypostominae) from the Paraná River Basin Revealed by Molecular and Cytogenetic Data

Only one species of armored catfish, Ancistrus cirrhosus Valenciennes 1836, has been historically described in the basin of the Paraná River, from Misiones (Argentina). However, the ample variation found in the morphology and coloration of the populations sampled in the tributaries of the Brazilian state of Paraná makes it difficult to establish the real taxonomic status and evolutionary history of the Ancistrus specimens, suggesting that A. cirrhosus is not the only species found in this basin. By combining data on mitochondrial DNA (COI gene) and chromosomal markers from different Ancistrus populations, totaling 144 specimens, in the tributaries of the Paraná, and specimens from Misiones (type-locality of A. cirrhosus), we detected five distinct evolutionary lineages. All the specimens were 2n = 50, but had four distinct karyotype formulae. The results of the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GYMC) and the genetic distances (uncorrected P-values) between lineages ranged from 3 to 5%. Clusters of 18S rDNA were observed in a single chromosome pair in seven populations of Ancistrus, but at different positions, in some cases, in synteny with the 5S rDNA sites. Multiple 5S sites were observed in all populations. Overall, the cytogenetic data reinforce the genetic evidence of the diversification of lineages, and indicate the existence of candidate species in the study region. The evidence indicates that at least four candidate species of the Ancistrus may coexist in the Paraná basin besides A. cirrhosus. Overall, our results provide a comprehensive scenario for the genetic variation among Ancistrus populations and reinforce the conclusion that the true diversity of the freshwater fish of the Neotropical regions has been underestimated

Chromosomal characterization of the bonytongue Arapaima gigas (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaimidae)

The mitotic chromosomes of the pirarucu Arapaima gigas inhabiting the middle Araguaia River and collected in the municipality of Araguaiana (MT, Brazil) were studied. The chromosomes were analyzed through Giemsa staining, C-banding, Ag-NOR staining and in situ hybridization using an 18S rRNA gene probe. The karyotype had 2n=56 comprising 14 biarmed and 14 uniarmed chromosome pairs in both sexes. No cytologically distinguishable sex chromosome was identified. A single NOR-bearing chromosome pair was detected by Ag-NOR staining and confirmed by 18S rDNA- FISH. Faint constitutive heterochromatin was C-banded in the centromeric region of some chromosomes

PRODUTIVIDADE DE CULTIVARES DE UVAS PARA SUCO SOBRE DIFERENTES PORTA-ENXERTOS IAC EM MOCOCA-SP YIELD OF JUICE GRAPE CULTIVARS GRAFTED ON SOME IAC ROOTSTOCKS

Estimou-se o potencial de produção de uvas das cultivares copa Concord, Isabel e Seibel 2, recomendadas para produção de suco, enxertadas sobre os porta-enxertos IAC 313 'Tropical', 'IAC 571-6', IAC 572 'Jales', e IAC 766 'Campinas', num experimento conduzido, durante seis anos, na Estação Experimental de Mococa (21º28'S, 47º01'W) do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. Para a variedade Concord, as maiores produções médias foram obtidas quando se utilizaram os porta-enxertos 'IAC 313', 'IAC 571-6' e 'IAC 572', totalizando 3,86kg/planta, 3,81kg/planta e 3,65kg/planta, respectivamente; para 'Isabel', quando se empregaram os porta-enxertos 'IAC 572', 'IAC 571-6' e 'IAC 313', somando 3,85kg/planta, 3,63kg/planta e 3,26kg/planta; para o cv. Seibel 2, quando se fez uso dos porta-enxertos 'IAC 313', 'IAC 572' e 'IAC 571-6', auferiram-se 2,61kg/planta, 2,40kg/planta e 2,10kg/planta; por outro lado, para as três variedades, o porta-enxerto de pior performance foi o 'IAC 766'. Quanto ao vigor, representado pela massa dos ramos podados ao longo dos anos, os melhores porta-enxertos para 'Concord' foram 'IAC 572' e 'IAC 313'; para 'Isabel': 'IAC 766' e 'IAC 313'; e para 'Seibel 2': 'IAC 766' e 'IAC 572'.<br>The yield potential of juice grape cultivars, namely Concord, Isabel and Seibel 2, grafted on 'IAC 313', 'IAC 571-6', 'IAC 572' and 'IAC 766' rootstocks was studied in an experiment conducted for six years at Mococa Experimental Station (21º28'S, 47º01'W). Regarding Concord cultivar, the greatest mean yields were achieved when grafted on 'IAC 313', 'IAC 571-6' and 'IAC 572'rootstocks, respectively 3.86kg/plant, 3.81 kg/plant and 3.65 kg/plant. 'Isabel' gave the largest grape productions when grafted on 'IAC 572' (3.85kg/plant), 'IAC 571-6' (3.63kg/plant) and 'IAC 313' (3.26kg/plant). The best grape yields of 'Seibel-2' were obtained when it was grafted on 'IAC 313', 'IAC 572' and 'IAC 571-6', being respectively 2.61kg/plant, 2.40 kg/plant and 2.10 kg/plant. Regardless the variety used as scion, the rootstock with the worst performance in grape production was 'IAC 766'. Vigor, measured through the weight of pruned stems along the period of the experiment, was higher when 'IAC 572' and 'IAC 313' were used for 'Concord', 'IAC 766' and 'IAC 313' for 'Isabel' and 'IAC 766' and 'IAC 572' for 'Seibel-2'