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

Radiation-induced lattice relaxation in α\alpha α -Fe 2_2 2 O 3_3 3 nanorods

Abstract We report radiation-induced lattice relaxation of the $$\alpha$$ α -Fe $$_2$$ 2 O $$_3$$ 3 and its associated alteration of particle morphology. The $$\alpha$$ α -Fe $$_2$$ 2 O $$_3$$ 3 was grown in solution by microwave hydrothermal synthesis technique in which more than half of the synthesized material was nanorods with axis along the (001) direction. Five sets of the synthesized $$\alpha$$ α -Fe $$_2$$ 2 O $$_3$$ 3 samples were irradiated using gamma-ray from $$^{60}$$ 60 Co cell with doses of 600 kGy, 700 kGy, 800 kGy, 900 kGy, and 1 MGy. The investigation of the pristine and gamma-irradiated samples was carried out using X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and electron paramagnetic resonance methods. Results showed that continuous alternation of radiation-induced lattice compression and expansion causes lattice relaxation. The morphology of the $$\alpha$$ α -Fe $$_2$$ 2 O $$_3$$ 3 nanorods was found to change with absorbed dose into buckyball-shaped particles in response to the alternation of the compression and expansion strain. The EPR results showed a correlation between distortion in the $$O_h$$ O h – $$FeO_6$$ F e O 6 octahedron structure and the relaxation of the lattice. The synthesis, growth, and relaxation are discussed in detail

Predictors of Recurrent Acute Chest Syndrome in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a common cause of death in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Multiple studies investigated the risk factors of developing ACS; however, predictors of recurrent ACS episodes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aim to examine the clinical and laboratory predictors of recurrent ACS in pediatric patients with SCD. A retrospective case-control study included pediatric patients with SCD (˂14 years) admitted with ACS or developed ACS during admission for another indication. Patients were classified into recurrent ACS episodes (≥2 episodes) and a single ACS episode groups. Ninety-one ACS episodes (42 patients) were included, with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.18 ± 3.38 years. Twenty-two (52.4%) patients were male, and twenty-five (59.5%) patients had recurrent ACS. Younger age at first ACS was significantly associated with recurrence (p = 0.003), with an optimal cutoff at 7.5 years (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] = 0.833; p < 0.001). Higher SCD-related hospitalizations were significantly associated with recurrence (p = 0.038). Higher mean values of baseline white blood count (WBC) (p = 0.009), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (p = 0.011), and reticulocyte (p = 0.036) were significantly associated with recurrence. Contrarily, lower baseline hematocrit values (p = 0.016) were significantly associated with recurrence. The ACS frequencies were significantly lower after hydroxyurea (p = 0.021). The odds of ACS recurrence increased with a positive C-reactive protein (CRP) at admission (p = 0.006). In conclusion, several baseline and admission laboratory data showed significant associations with recurrence. Hydroxyurea therapy demonstrated reduced ACS episodes