Prognostic value of the 6-gene OncoMasTR test in hormone receptor–positive HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer: Comparative analysis with standard clinicopathological factors

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic performance of a 6-gene molecular score (OncoMasTR Molecular Score [OMm]) and a composite risk score (OncoMasTR Risk Score [OM]) and to conduct a within-patient comparison against four routinely used molecular and clinicopathological risk assessment tools: Oncotype DX Recurrence Score, Ki67, Nottingham Prognostic Index and Clinical Risk Category, based on the modified Adjuvant! Online definition and three risk factors: patient age, tumour size and grade. Methods: Biospecimens and clinicopathological information for 404 Irish women also previously enrolled in the Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment [Rx] were provided by 11 participating hospitals, as the primary objective of an independent translational study. Gene expression measured via RT-qPCR was used to calculate OMm and OM. The prognostic value for distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) and invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided ones. Results: OMm and OM (both with likelihood ratio statistic [LRS] P Discussion: Both OncoMasTR scores were significantly prognostic for DRFS and IDFS and provided additional prognostic information to the molecular and clinicopathological risk factors/tools assessed. OM was also the most accurate risk classification tool for identifying DR. A concise 6-gene signature with superior risk stratification was shown to increase prognosis reliability, which may help clinicians optimise treatment decisions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02050750 NCT00310180.</p

Microencapsulation for gastrointestinal delivery of probiotic bacteria

Microencapsulation (ME) offers the potential to reduce the adverse effects on probiotic viability in the food and gastrointestinal (GI) tract environments as well as during food or nutraceutical processing, storage, and consumption. ME separates bacterial cells from their environment until they are released. This chapter discusses the current knowledge and techniques used in the ME of probiotic micro-organisms to enhance the performance of these organisms during fermentation, downstream processing, and utilization in commercial products. The techniques include ME in gel particles using polymers, the extrusion technique, the emulsion technique, and spray-drying, spray-coating and spray-chilling technologies. Controlled release of bacteria is a critical benefit of ME. It is beneficial for encapsulated probiotic bacteria to be released in the small intestine where the Peyer's patches exist to activate the immune system. Potential applications of encapsulated probiotics include yoghurt, cheese and frozen desserts