halo 109 301 phase iii randomized double blind placebo controlled study of pegvorhyaluronidase alfa pegph20 nab paclitaxel gemcitabine ag in patients with previously untreated hyaluronan ha high stage iv pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma pda

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Tuber Yield, Quality and Infestation Levels of Potato Genotypes, Resistant to the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne chitwoodi

As part of developing a routine potato cultivars resistance test to Meloidogyne chitwoodi, both the effect of nematode density (Pi) and pot size on growth, tuber yield, quality and tuber infestation level were studied in glasshouse conditions. The study was carried out in four experiments using cv. Desiree as control and seven genotypes with a single resistance gene to M. chitwoodi and 1 genotype, with resistance to Globodera pallida. Plants were inoculated with ranges of Pi from 0.0625 to 256 J2 (g dry soil)−1 in log series. Haulm height, tuber yield, starch dry matter content (SDC) and tuber quality were recorded. Additionally, harvested tubers of experiment 2 were stored for 240–300 days to estimate actual tuber infestation at planting when used as seed in a subsequent season. Haulm height was positively affected with increasing Pi’s and negatively with decreasing pot size. The yield was not affected in four out of seven genotypes with resistance to M. chitwoodi; they can be considered as tolerant, having a relative minimum yield, m = 1. Three genotypes and cv. Desiree showed relative minimum yield, m 20 and are not accepted for processing. The fraction of clean tubers of the resistant genotypes had significantly increased to 91% compared to < 8% for cv. Desiree and MDG2. Tuber infestation, expressed to number of juveniles per gram dry soil of cv. Desiree after storage, showed no regression with the Pi and averaged 0.35 J2 (g dry soil)−1, while all tested genotypes provided ca. 0.002 J2 (g dry soil)−1

Targeting angiogenesis in melanoma: prospects for the future

Angiogenesis has been identified as a relevant target for melanoma experimental therapeutics, based on preclinical and clinical studies. A variety of angiogenesis inhibitors are currently being tested in both metastatic and adjuvant melanoma clinical trials. To date, the most promising evidence of benefit is based on a statistically nonsignificant trend in survival gain reported in a randomized phase II trial combining bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Larger phase III studies are required to determine the true extent of clinical benefit with this class of agents. Key to these clinical trials is the need to include translational endpoints, since correlation of biological and clinical data will provide the opportunity to identify biomarkers predictive of treatment response. These biological studies will also aid our, as yet, poor understanding of the mechanism of action of angiogenesis inhibitors, as well as drug-related side effects. Finally, if these trials show meaningful clinical benefit, then careful consideration will need to be given when designing second-generation trials, in the light of novel gene-directed therapies currently showing promise in melanoma