Inflammatory indexes as predictive factors for platinum sensitivity and as prognostic factors in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients: a MITO24 retrospective study

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic inflammatory index (SII) are prognostic factors in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Their predictive value for platinum-sensitivity and their role in recurrent EOC are unknown. A total of 375 EOC patients were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between baseline NLR and SII, and platinum-free interval (PFI) according to first line bevacizumab treatment were analyzed using logistic regression analyses adjusted for baseline patient characteristics. Subsequently NLR and SII calculated before second line treatment initiation were evaluated to identify a potential correlation with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in platinum-sensitive and in platinum-resistant population. In multivariate analysis, NLR ≥ 3 is an independent predictive factor for PFI at 6 months in the chemotherapy group (OR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.38–5.56, p = 0.004), not in bevacizumab treated patients. After having adjusted for ECOG performance status, histology, ascites, bevacizumab treatment at second line and BRCA status, NLR ≥ 3 and SII ≥ 730 are significantly associated with worse OS in platinum-sensitive (HR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.60–4.53, p = 0.002; HR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.29–3.43, p = 0.003, respectively), not in platinum-resistant EOC patients. Low NLR is an independent predictive factor for platinum-sensitivity in patients treated without bevacizumab. NLR and SII are prognostic factors in recurrent platinum-sensitive EOC patients

Intramolecular Triplet Quenching by Nitroxide Radicals as a Tool for Determining Peptide Secondary Structure in Solution.

In: "Understanding Biology Using Peptides". S.E. Blondelle, Ed., American Peptide Society, Secaucus, NY, 2006, pp. 603-604

Intramolecular Triplet Quenching by Nitroxide Radicals as a Tool for Determining Peptide Secondary Structure in Solution.

Quenching of the excited states of a chromophore by a suitable moiety can provide important information on the probe-quencher distance. Singlet quenching through Förster energy transfer has been exploited by us in the determination of the structural features of many ordered oligopeptides in solution, by combining experimental data with molecular modeling studies. Quenching of excited triplet states would extend this approach from the nanoseconds time-region of singlet lifetimes to the microseconds, possibly providing new insights on peptide dynamics. To verify the scope of this method, we have investigated the distance dependence of the intramolecular quenching of the benzophenone triplet of the Bpa residue by the nitroxide radical of TOAC in the oligopeptides listed in Figure 1. BT0 Boc-Aib-Bpa-TOAC-Ala-Aib-Aib-Ala-OtBu BT1 Boc-Aib-Bpa-Aib-TOAC-Ala-Aib-Ala-OtBu BT2 Boc-Aib-Bpa-Aib-Ala-TOAC-Aib-Ala-OtBu BT3 Boc-Aib-Bpa-Aib-Aib-Ala-TOAC-Ala-OtBu B Boc-Bpa-Aib-Aib-Aib-Aib-Aib-OtB