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This review article illuminates the role of liquid biopsy in the continuum of care for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We discuss its current application in advanced-stage NSCLC at the time of diagnosis and at progression. We highlight research showing that concurrent testing of blood and tissue yields faster, more informative, and cheaper answers than the standard stepwise approach. We also describe future applications for liquid biopsy including treatment response monitoring and testing for minimal residual disease. Lastly, we discuss the emerging role of liquid biopsy for screening and early detection.

Mutations in valosin-containing protein (VCP), an ATPase involved in protein degradation and autophagy, cause VCP disease, a progressive autosomal dominant adult onset multisystem proteinopathy. The goal of this study is to examine if phenotypic differences in this disorder could be explained by the specific gene mutations. We therefore studied 231 individuals (118 males and 113 females) from 36 families carrying 15 different VCP mutations. We analyzed the correlation between the different mutations and prevalence, age of onset and severity of myopathy, Paget's disease of bone (PDB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other comorbidities. Myopathy, PDB and FTD was present in 90%, 42% and 30% of the patients, respectively, beginning at an average age of 43, 41, and 56 years, respectively. Approximately 9% of patients with VCP mutations had an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) phenotype, 4% had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 2% had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Large interfamilial and intrafamilial variation made establishing correlations difficult. We did not find a correlation between the mutation type and the incidence of any of the clinical features associated with VCP disease, except for the absence of PDB with the R159C mutation in our cohort and R159C having a later age of onset of myopathy compared with other molecular subtypes.

Introduction Adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who receive intensive remission induction typically remain hospitalized until blood count recovery due to the high risk of infection and bleeding related to pancytopenia. This usually translates into at least 4 weeks of hospitalization, which can lead to reduced quality of life, increased risk of nosocomial infections, significant resource utilization and economic burden. Previous studies conducted at academic centers with large AML populations have suggested that outpatient management following induction chemotherapy is feasible and safe with close follow-up. These studies may have limited generalizability based on exceptional outpatient resources. Thus, this practice has not been widely adopted. To assess the feasibility of early patient discharge at our academic center which provides care for a smaller AML population, where we have a 6-days per week infusion center and hospitalize all AML patients undergoing induction until count recovery, we conducted a retrospective analysis of complications prior to blood count recovery in this patient population. Methods We identified patients ≥18 years with newly diagnosed non-APL AML admitted to the University of California, Davis Medical Center from 1/1/14 to 1/1/19 who received induction chemotherapy with cytarabine/daunorubicin (7+3) or a regimen of similar intensity with first interim bone marrow biopsy showing hypocellularity with Results Overall, 50 patients were identified; 42 (84%) received 7+3, 3 (6%) received FLAG and 5 (10%) received liposomal daunorubicin-cytarabine induction. Median age was 56 (range 25-81) years. ELN 2017 favorable, intermediate and adverse risk disease was observed in 18 (36%), 20 (40%) and 12 (24%) patients, respectively. Forty-nine (98%) patients with a negative interim marrow achieved a complete remission with first induction therapy. Forty-five (90%) patients had infectious complications at any time (Table 1), with 34 (68%) having infectious complications occurring prior to day 15 of induction. All patients with culture negative neutropenic fever prior to day 15 of induction as their only infectious complication had no further infectious complications throughout hospitalization although all received IV antibiotics until count recovery. Ten (20%) patients had hemorrhagic complications at any time (Table 1), with 9 (18%) having hemorrhagic complications occurring between day 15 of induction and discharge. Median platelet transfusion volume between days 15-21 and 22-discharge was 3.5 (range 1-18) and 0 (range 0-15) units, respectively. Three (6%) patients required ICU transfer. All ICU transfers occurred after day 14 of induction. One patient had hypoxic respiratory failure on admission and required transfer back to the ICU. Death prior to marrow recovery was observed in 1 patient (2%) due to subdural hemorrhage. Conclusion Intensive remission induction in hospitalized patients with newly diagnosed AML is associated with good efficacy and safety outcomes for patients with blast clearance on interim bone marrow biopsy. Although the rate of infectious complications was high, the majority debuted early during hospitalization and the rate of ICU transfers was low. All patients with culture negative neutropenic fever prior to day 15 of induction as their sole infectious complication who were treated with IV antibiotics had no further infectious complications throughout hospitalization. Hemorrhagic complications more commonly occurred later during hospitalization, although platelet transfusion requirements were manageable after day 15 of induction. These data suggest that at our institution, select patients receiving intensive remission induction and without infectious complications could be considered for early discharge and close outpatient follow-up after interim bone marrow biopsy showing hypoplasia. A prospective early discharge study to confirm these findings is being developed. Disclosures Poh: Acrotech: Honoraria. Tuscano:Spectrum: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria. Rosenberg:Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jonas:Forma: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; AROG: Research Funding; Accelerated Medical Diagnostics: Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sigma Tau: Research Funding; Hanmi: Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; GlycoMimetics: Consultancy, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding; Treadwell: Consultancy; Tolero: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; LP Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding.

Over fifty missense mutations in the gene coding for valosin-containing protein (VCP) are associated with a unique autosomal dominant adult-onset progressive disease associated with combinations of proximo-distal inclusion body myopathy (IBM), Paget's disease of bone (PDB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We report the clinical, histological, and molecular findings in four new patients/families carrying novel VCP mutations: c.474 G > A (p.M158I); c.478 G > C (p.A160P); c.383G > C (p.G128A); and c.382G > T (p.G128C). Clinical features included myopathy, PDB, ALS and Parkinson's disease though frontotemporal dementia was not an associated feature in these families. One of the patients was noted to have severe manifestations of PDB and was suspected of having neoplasia. There were wide inter- and intra-familial variations making genotype-phenotype correlations difficult between the novel mutations and frequency or age of onset of IBM, PDB, FTD, ALS and Parkinson's disease. Increasing awareness of the full spectrum of clinical presentations will improve diagnosis of VCP-related diseases and thus proactively manage or prevent associated clinical features such as PDB. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The most internal part of the human ear, the inner ear, is essential for us to hear and have a sense of balance. It is formed by a complex series of connected cavities filled by a liquid. When sound waves and changes in the position of the body make this liquid move, specialized ‘hair’ cells can detect these subtle movements; neurons then relay this information to the brain where it is decoded and interpreted. For the inner ear to work properly, the body needs to finely regulate the pressure created by the liquid inside the cavities. For example, people with unstable pressure in their ears can experience deafness or problems with balance. A structure known as the endolymphatic sac, which is a balloon-like chamber connected to the rest of the inner ear by a thin tube, helps with this regulation. However, scientists are still unsure about how exactly the sac performs its role. One problem is that the inner ear is difficult to study because it is encased in one of the densest bones in the body. Many other animals also have inner ears, from fish to birds and mammals. Here, Swinburne et al. examine the inner ear of zebrafish embryos because, in this fish, the ear starts working before the bones around it form; the structure is therefore accessible for injections and microscopy. Experiments show that when the pressure in the inner ear rises, the endolymphatic sac slowly fills up with the ear liquid, and then it rapidly deflates. Fish with mutations that stop the sac from deflating have overinflated sacs, which is a symptom also found in certain patients with hearing and balance disorders. Looking into the details of these inflation-deflation cycles, Swinburne et al. found that the cells that form the sac have gaps between them, unlike a normal sheet of cells. A flap covers these gaps to keep the liquid in, but under pressure, the flap opens and the liquid can escape. These results show that the endolymphatic sac works as a pressure relief valve for the inner ear. Ultimately, understanding how pressure is regulated in the ear could help patients with inner ear disorders. It could also serve as a template to investigate how eyes, kidneys and the brain, which all have liquid-filled cavities, control their internal pressure.

The inner ear is a fluid-filled closed-epithelial structure whose normal function requires maintenance of an internal hydrostatic pressure and fluid composition by unknown mechanisms. The endolymphatic sac (ES) is a dead-end epithelial tube connected to the inner ear. ES defects can cause distended ear tissue, a pathology often seen in hearing and balance disorders. Using live imaging of zebrafish larvae, we reveal that the ES undergoes cycles of slow pressure-driven inflation followed by rapid deflation every 1-3 hours. Using serial-section electron microscopy and adaptive optics lattice light-sheet microscopy, we find a pressure relief valve in the ES comprised of thin overlapping basal lamellae that dynamically extend over neighboring cells before rupturing under pressure leading to ES collapse. The unexpected discovery of a physical relief valve in the ear emphasizes the need for further study into how organs control fluid pressure, volume, flow, and ion homeostasis in development and disease.