molecular imaging and immunotherapy

The utility of positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation of response to immunotherapy has been considered a hot topic, particularly in the last 2 to 3 years. Different experiences have been collected in clinical practice, with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT), particularly in patients affected by lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and lung cancer. It has been tested in different settings of disease, from the prediction to the prognosis relative to the response to immunotherapy. In the present mini-review, some evidence is reported about the role of FDG PET/CT in patient candidates to or treated with immunotherapy

Beyond equality, women require extra care in cardiovascular imaging

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Conflicting or complementary role of computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the assessment of thymic cancer and thymoma: Our experience and literature review

Background: To evaluate the role of computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in patients with thymic cancer and thymoma at initial staging. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CT and PET/CT scans of 26 patients with a thymic cancer (n = 9) or thymoma (n = 17). Chest CT findings documented were qualitative and quantitative. Both qualitative and semiquantitative data were recovered by PET/CT. The comparisons among histological entities, outcome, and qualitative data from CT and PET/CT were made by non-parametric analysis. Results: PET/CT resulted positive in 15/17 patients with thymoma. CT was available in 5/9 (56%) patients with thymic cancer and in 3/17 with thymoma. All quantitative CT parameters were significantly higher in patients with thymic cancer than thymoma (maximum axial diameter: 45 vs. 20 mm, maximum longitudinal diameter: 69 vs. 21 mm and volume: 77.91 vs. 4.52 mL; all P < 0.05). Conversely, only metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis were significantly different in patients with thymic cancer than thymoma (126.53 vs. 6.03 cm3 and 246.05 vs. 20.32, respectively; both P < 0.05). After a median follow-up time of 17.45 months, four recurrences of disease occurred: three in patients with thymic cancer and one with a type B2 thymoma. CT volume in patients with recurrent disease was 102.19 mL versus a median value of 62.5 mL in six disease-free patients. MTV was higher in the recurrent than disease-free patient subset (143.3 vs. 81.13 cm3), although not statistically significant (P = 0.075). Conclusion: Our preliminary results demonstrated that both morphological and metabolic volume could be useful from a diagnostic and prognostic point of view in thymic cancer and thymoma patients. A large multi-center clinical trial experience for confirming the findings of this study seems mandatory

Can FDG PET/CT monitor the response to hormonal therapy in breast cancer patients?

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The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and Possible Repercussions to BRICS and Brazil: Facing Complexity under Uncertainty

This paper focuses on the study of the Belt and Road Initiative and its eventual impacts on the BRICS project, especially regarding the potential logistical integration it evokes. In this sense, the initiative is very open to the inclusion of several countries that are willing to adapt to the models of cooperation and financing means that China proposes. The objective is to estimate, observing the main routes of the initiative, possible impacts on the BRICS development and corresponding ties. The scope of the initiative and its effect in South America is also the subject of this article, although taking an off-the-land route. At this point, we wish to observe the nature of this Chinese foreign policy and how much it affects China's expansion and its relations with BRICS partners. However, to understand the Chinese motivations of this initiative, a study of the origins of Chinese foreign policy tendencies and the search for a new international identity is essential. Mapping the initiative in light of the BRICS windows of opportunities in the main focus of the paper, that presents the hypothesis of the expansion of the Chinese influence, including within BRICS, based on the route project, but aligned with the historical path it represents. Keywords: Belt and Road; Brazilian-Chinese Relation

Immortalized mouse embryo fibroblasts are resistant to miR-290-induced senescence regardless of p53 status

Immortalized mouse embryo fibroblasts are resistant to miR-290-induced senescence regardless of p53 status. Physiol Genomics 43: 1153-1159, 2011. First published August 16, 2011; doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00064.2011.-The prosenescence role of miR-290 and nocodazole has been documented in primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF), while it is not clear whether immortal murine fibroblasts are still responsive to these senescence inducing stimuli. To establish this point, immortal murine fibroblasts with functional (NIH3T3) or nonfunctional p53 (I-MEF) and low levels of miR-290 were tested for their capability to undergo senescence after exposure to either nocodazole or miR-290. Our results clearly indicate that nocodazole induces senescence only in NIH3T3 cells with a functional p53 but not in I-MEF lacking a functional p53. miR-290 overexpression is unable to address any of the tested immortalized clones toward senescence, regardless of the p53 status, suggesting that the prosenescence role of miR-290 is specific for primary but not for immortal murine fibroblasts. Moreover our findings suggest that the mere downregulation of a potential tumor suppressor miRNA in a given cell type does not necessarily imply that it behaves as a tumor suppressor

Exceptional and Durable Responses to TDM-1 After Trastuzumab Failure for Breast Cancer Skin Metastases: Potential Implications of an Immunological Sanctuary

Breast Cancer (BC) skin metastases represent a challenging clinical scenario. Although they usually arise when other distant metastases are already present, they may also represent a form of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Systemic therapy in this setting may have a role both in case a radical locoregional approach is unfeasible in order to achieve disease control, and as adjuvant strategy after radical removal of cutaneous lesions, in order to prevent or delay subsequent disease spread. Systemic therapy for HER2+ metastatic BC (MBC) currently relies on anti-HER2 targeted agents. In this context TDM1 is an option in trastuzumab-resistant patients.Here we present 2 cases of isolated skin metastases in patients with HER2+ BC progressing during or early after trastuzumab-based therapy, showing impressive responses to TDM1. We hypothesize that the unique properties of skin immune microenvironment may explain the failure of trastuzumab, which exerts its action also through immunological mechanisms, and the subsequent outlier responses to TDM1, that relies on a partially different mechanism of action