Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive malignancy of the pleura and other serosal membranes originating from mesothelial cells that, despite decades of research, continues to have limited therapeutic options and is associated with a poor prognosis. Areas covered: MMs induce a strong inflammatory response that is also associated with neoangiogenesis and activation of proangiogenic factors. Given this, several anti-angiogenic agents have been trialled in a variety of malignancies including mesothelioma. Herein we summarise the role of angiogenesis in MM and the current available data targeting these pathways. Expert commentary: The addition of bevacizumab to cisplatin/pemetrexed chemotherapy is currently a therapeutic option with a proven 2.7 month overall survival benefit in fit patients less than 75. Other antiangiogenics such as nintedinib show early promise, although the Phase III trial results are eagerly awaited before this therapy enters treatment paradigms. Beyond this, it is likely that combinations of antiangiogenics with immunotherapies will be investigated in future studies.
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease where there is accumulation of surfactant in the alveoli. It can be classified based on the underlying aetiology into three categories: primary, secondary and congenital. Autoantibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF-Ab) are a key diagnostic feature of autoimmune PAP. High intensity occupational exposure and inhalation of toxic particles such as silica can cause a form of secondary PAP called acute silicoproteinosis. We describe a 26-year-old stone benchtop fabricator with silicoproteinosis following daily exposure to high levels of silica who had elevated serum GM-CSF-Ab. We discuss the role of GM-CSF-Ab in cases of PAP with occupational inhalational exposure and the challenges in its interpretation.
While the introduction of poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in homologous recombination DNA repair (HR) deficient high grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers (HGSC) has improved patient survival, resistance to PARP inhibitors frequently occurs. Preclinical and translational studies have identified multiple mechanisms of resistance; here we examined tumour samples collected from 26 women following treatment with PARP inhibitors as part of standard of care or their enrolment in clinical trials. Twenty-one had a germline or somatic BRCA1/2 mutation. We performed targeted sequencing of 63 genes involved in DNA repair processes or implicated in ovarian cancer resistance. We found that just three individuals had a small-scale mutation as a definitive resistance mechanism detected, having reversion mutations, while six had potential mechanisms of resistance detected, with alterations related to BRCA1 function and mutations in SHLD2. This study indicates that mutations in genes related to DNA repair are detected in a minority of HGSC patients as genetic mechanisms of resistance. Future research into resistance in HGSC should focus on copy number, transcriptional and epigenetic aberrations, and the contribution of the tumour microenvironment.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) may diagnose suspected lung cancer. Determination of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype may guide therapy in select patients. Small-volume biopsies may be subject to significant interobserver variability in subtype determination. Three pathologists independently reviewed specimens from 60 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis/staging of suspected/known NSCLC. Smear, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) specimens were reviewed without reference to other specimen types obtained from the same patient. Final diagnoses, and degree of confidence in the diagnosis, were recorded for each specimen. Almost perfect agreement was seen for distinguishing between small cell lung cancer and NSCLC for all specimen types. Agreement in determination of NSCLC subtype for smear, H&E and IHC specimens was slight (κ=0.095, 95% CI -0.164-0.355), fair (κ=0.278, 95% CI 0.075-0.481) and moderate (κ=0.564, 95% CI 0.338-0.740), respectively. Perfect agreement was seen when all three observers were confident of diagnoses made on IHC specimens. Interobserver agreement in interpretation of EBUS-TBNA specimens is moderate for determination of NSCLC subtype. Agreement is highest following examination of IHC specimens. Clinicians should be aware of the degree of pathologist confidence in the tissue diagnosis prior to commencement of subtype-specific therapy for NSCLC.
Abstract Assessment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is increasingly recognized as an integral part of the prognostic workflow in triple-negative (TNBC) and HER2-positive breast cancer, as well as many other solid tumors. This recognition has come about thanks to standardized visual reporting guidelines, which helped to reduce inter-reader variability. Now, there are ripe opportunities to employ computational methods that extract spatio-morphologic predictive features, enabling computer-aided diagnostics. We detail the benefits of computational TILs assessment, the readiness of TILs scoring for computational assessment, and outline considerations for overcoming key barriers to clinical translation in this arena. Specifically, we discuss: 1. ensuring computational workflows closely capture visual guidelines and standards; 2. challenges and thoughts standards for assessment of algorithms including training, preanalytical, analytical, and clinical validation; 3. perspectives on how to realize the potential of machine learning models and to overcome the perceptual and practical limits of visual scoring.
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