A digitally driven manufacturing process for high resolution patterning of cell formations

This paper presents the engineering and validation of an enabling technology that facilitates new capabilities in in vitro cell models for high-throughput screening and tissue engineering applications. This is conducted through a computerized system that allows the design and deposition of high-fidelity microscale patterned coatings that selectively alter the chemical and topographical properties of cell culturing surfaces. Significantly, compared to alternative methods for microscale surface patterning, this is a digitally controlled and automated process thereby allowing scientists to rapidly create and explore an almost infinite range of cell culture patterns. This new capability is experimentally validated across six different cell lines demonstrating how the precise microscale deposition of these patterned coatings can influence spatiotemporal growth and movement of endothelial, fibroblast, neuronal and macrophage cells. To further demonstrate this platform, more complex patterns are then created and shown to guide the behavioral response of colorectal carcinoma cells

Health-Related Quality of Life in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Curative Resection and/or Local Ablative Therapy or Systemic Therapy in the Finnish RAXO-Study

Simple Summary Metastatic colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death. Long-term survival and cure can be achieved after intensive treatments, including metastasectomy, i.e., the removal of all metastases. We wanted to clarify whether a patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was reduced by treatments that aimed to maximise metastasectomy rates, and whether HRQoL of treated patients is comparable to the general population. In a cross-sectional study of 444 patients (1751 questionnaires) in the RAXO-study population, we show that HRQoL of intensively treated patients, sometimes with multiple and multisite metastasectomies-usually combined with systemic therapy-remains at a high level during and after curative treatment and when compared with the general population. Good HRQoL was also seen during non-curative treatment from first- to later-lines, with an impaired HRQoL only at end-of-life. Thus, we should aim at maximising metastasectomies since they give long-term survival and sometimes cure with a high HRQoL. Metastasectomy and/or local ablative therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients often provide long-term survival. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data in curatively treated mCRC are limited. In the RAXO-study that evaluated repeated resectability, a multi-cross-sectional HRQoL substudy with 15D, EQ-5D-3L, QLQ-C30, and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires was conducted. Mean values of patients in different treatment groups were compared with age- and gender-standardized general Finnish populations. The questionnaire completion rate was 444/477 patients (93%, 1751 questionnaires). Mean HRQoL was 0.89-0.91 with the 15D, 0.85-0.87 with the EQ-5D, 68-80 with the EQ-5D-VAS, and 68-79 for global health status during curative treatment phases, with improvements in the remission phase (disease-free >18 months). In the remission phase, mean EQ-5D and 15D scores were similar to the general population. HRQoL remained stable during first- to later-line treatments, when the aim was no longer cure, and declined notably when tumour-controlling therapy was no longer meaningful. The symptom burden affecting mCRC survivors' well-being included insomnia, impotence, urinary frequency, and fatigue. Symptom burden was lower after treatment and slightly higher, though stable, through all phases of systemic therapy. HRQoL was high in curative treatment phases, further emphasizing the strategy of metastasectomy in mCRC when clinically meaningful.</p