653 research outputs found
Molecular Basis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Implications for Therapy
Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer with limited treatment options and is without proven targeted therapy. Understanding the molecular basis of triple negative breast cancer is crucial for effective new drug development. Recent genomewide gene expression and DNA sequencing studies indicate that this cancer type is composed of a molecularly heterogeneous group of diseases that carry multiple somatic mutations and genomic structural changes. These findings have implications for therapeutic target identification and the design of future clinical trials for this aggressive group of breast cancer
Ab-initio insights into the structural, elastic, bonding, and thermophysical properties of UHx (x = 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8) under pressure: possible relevance to high-Tc superconductivity
Binary uranium hydrides, UHx (x = 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8), with different
crystal symmetries are potentially interesting compounds for high-Tc
superconductivity and as hydrogen storage systems. In this work we have
explored the structural, elastic, mechanical, bonding, and thermophysical
properties of these systems under uniform pressure via density functional
theory based computations. Most of the results disclosed in this work are
novel. From the calculations of the cohesive energy and enthalpy of formation,
we have found that the titled compounds are chemically stable. The computed
elastic constants at different pressures ensure elastic stability. All the
binary hydrides are mechanically anisotropic. Pressure induced brittle-ductile
transition takes place under high pressure. The compounds are machinable with
the cubic {\alpha}-UH3-Pm-3n showing very high value of the machinability
index. All the compounds are fairly hard with cubic UH8 showing superhard
character. The Debye temperatures and acoustic velocities of these compounds
are high; the highest value is found for the cubic UH8. The melting
temperature, Gr\"uneisen parameter, minimal phonon thermal conductivity, and
the thermal expansion coefficient of these compounds have also been studied at
different pressures. All these parameters show excellent correspondence with
the estimated Debye temperature, elastic parameters and bonding
characteristics
First-principles pressure dependent investigation of the physical properties of KB2H8: a prospective high-TC superconductor
Using the density functional theory (DFT) based first-principles
investigation, the structural, mechanical, hardness, elastic anisotropy,
optoelectronic, and thermal properties of cubic KB2H8 have been studied within
the uniform pressure range of 0 - 24 GPa. The calculated structural parameters
are in good agreement with the previous theoretical work. The compound KB2H8 is
found to be structurally and thermodynamically stable in the pressure range
from 8 GPa to 24 GPa. Single crystal elastic constants Cij and bulk elastic
moduli (B, G and Y) increase systematically with pressure from 8 GPa to 24 GPa.
In the stable phase, KB2H8 is moderately elastically anisotropic and ductile in
nature. The compound is highly machinable and fracture resistant. The Debye
temperature, melting temperature and thermal conductivity increases with
pressure. The results of electronic band structure calculations and optical
parameters at different pressures are consistent with each other. The compound
is optically isotropic. The compound KB2H8 has potential to be used as a very
efficient solar energy reflector. The electronic energy density of states at
the Fermi level decreases systematically with increasing pressure. The same
trend is found for the repulsive Coulomb pseudopotential. Possible relevance of
the studied properties to superconductivity has also been discussed in this
paper
Nab-paclitaxel monotherapy in refractory pancreatic adenocarcinoma
BACKGROUND: The standard of care in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma is undefined beyond second line of treatment. There have been scant reports of benefit from nab-paclitaxel in patients with refractory pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma at Siteman Cancer Center, who had received nab-paclitaxel monotherapy after experiencing disease progression on standard treatments. Nab-paclitaxel was given either two out of every three weeks or three out of every four weeks. RESULTS: Twenty patients were identified and included for data analysis. Median age was 63.5 years old. All patients had previously received gemcitabine, while 40% had also received FOLFIRINOX. Median number of prior lines of systemic treatment was 2. Patients were treated for a median of 15 weeks, with a range of 1 to 41.7 weeks. Median dose of nab-paclitaxel was 100 mg/m(2) with range of 75-125 mg/m(2). Best response imaging was available in 17 patients and 11 out of the 17 patients (64.7%) had stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 months and overall survival (OS) were 5.2 months. Most common treatment related toxicities included grade 1 pneumonitis in five patients (25%), grade 3 or 4 neutropenia in three patients (15%), and dehydration resulting in hospitalization in one patient (5%). CONCLUSIONS: Nab-paclitaxel monotherapy had acceptable level of toxicity in a heavily pretreated patient population with pancreatic cancer and appeared to provide a clinical benefit. This agent is worthy of further prospective studies to evaluate extent of benefit after standard therapies have failed
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