A phase I/II study of siltuximab (CNTO 328), an anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody, in metastatic renal cell cancer

Background: Serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels correlate with disease outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Siltuximab, a chimeric, murine-human mAb against IL-6, was evaluated in a three-part phase I/II study in patients with progressive metastatic RCC. Methods: In part 1, 11 patients received 1, 3, 6, or 12 mg kg–1 at weeks 1, 4 and q2w × 2 thereafter; in part 2, 37 patients randomly received 3 or 6 mg kg–1 q3w × 4; in part 3, 20 low-risk patients received 6 mg kg–1 q2w × 6. Modified WHO response criteria were assessed at weeks 7, 11, the 6-week follow-up, and when clinically indicated. Results: Siltuximab was well tolerated overall, with no maximum tolerated dose or immune response observed. In all, 5 out of 11, 17 out of 37, and 9 out of 20 patients in parts 1, 2, and 3, respectively, received extended treatment beyond 4–6 initial infusions. In part 2, stable disease (SD) (greater than or equal to11weeks) or better was achieved by 11 out of 17 (65%) 3 mg kg–1 treated patients (one partial response (PR) ~8 months, 10 SD) and 10 out of 20 (50%) 6 mg kg–1 treated patients (10 SD). In part 3, documented complete or PR was not observed, but 13 out of 20 (65%) patients achieved SD. Conclusion: Siltuximab stabilised disease in >50% of progressive metastatic RCC patients. One PR was observed. Given the favourable safety profile of siltuximab and poor correlation of tumour shrinkage with clinical benefit demonstrated for other non-cytotoxic therapies, further evaluation of dose-escalation strategies and/or combination therapy may be considered for patients with RCC

Transcriptome 3′end organization by PCF11 links alternative polyadenylation to formation and neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma

In gene regulation, diversification at the transcriptome 3′end is linked to differentiation and dedifferentiation. Here, the authors discover extensive transcriptome 3′end-alterations in neuroblastoma, regulated by PCF11, and provide an interactive data repository of transcriptome-wide alternative polyadenylation

Evaluation of the first Turkish in vitro diagnostic symposium

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical laboratory devices, tests and equipment are closely related with public health, patient safety and the safety of all who utilize these tools in laboratories. The close monitoring of the process from the production line to the end-point user is crucial so that IVD devices and tests do not pose a risk to individuals and society. Based on this background, the "First Turkish in vitro Diagnostic Symposium: Medical Laboratory Tests" was held in February, 2016. The symposium was organized by the cooperation of Turkish Biochemical Society, Izmir Branch and Dokuz Eylul University Health Sciences Institute along with the contributions of TurkLab Calibration Association. It was intended that the meeting would shed light on questions such as, 'What is the place and importance of IVD in Turkey?', 'What are the responsibilities of educational institutions?', 'What is the role of Ministry of Health?', with the aim that the answers would help to determine the infrastructure needed for successful production of IVD medical devices in Turkey. At the end of the symposium, feedback from participants were collected via a questionnaire. This article presents the general evaluation of the symposium based on the results of this survey

The 1st Turkish in vitro diagnostic symposium evaluation

41st FEBS Congress on Molecular and Systems Biology for a Better Life -- SEP 03-08, 2016 -- Kusadasi, TURKEYWOS: 000383616901461FEB

Antibiotic consumption in Turkish hospitals; a multi-centre point prevalence study

PMID = 2723824