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Summary: Three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo cultures allow the study of cancer progression and drug resistance mechanisms. Here, we present a protocol for measuring on-target drug sensitivity in a scaffold-free 3D culture system through quantification of apoptotic tumor cells. We provide detailed steps for sample processing, immunofluorescence staining, semi-high-throughput confocal imaging, and imaged-based quantification of 3D cultures. This protocol is versatile and can be applied in principle to any patient-derived material. : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Abstract Intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been associated with improved outcome in various cohorts of patients with cancer, reflecting their contribution to the development of tumor-targeting immunity. Here, we demonstrate that high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) contains distinct immune aggregates with varying degrees of organization and maturation. Specifically, mature TLSs (mTLS) as forming only in 16% of HGSOCs with relatively elevated tumor mutational burden (TMB) are associated with an increased intratumoral density of CD8+ effector T (TEFF) cells and TIM3+PD1+, hence poorly immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-sensitive, CD8+ T cells. Conversely, CD8+ T cells from immunologically hot tumors like non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) are enriched in ICI-responsive TCF1+ PD1+ T cells. Spatial B-cell profiling identifies patterns of in situ maturation and differentiation associated with mTLSs. Moreover, B-cell depletion promotes signs of a dysfunctional CD8+ T cell compartment among tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from freshly isolated HGSOC and NSCLC biopsies. Taken together, our data demonstrate that – at odds with NSCLC – HGSOC is associated with a low density of follicular helper T cells and thus develops a limited number of mTLS that might be insufficient to preserve a ICI-sensitive TCF1+PD1+ CD8+ T cell phenotype. These findings point to key quantitative and qualitative differences between mTLSs in ICI-responsive vs ICI-irresponsive neoplasms that may guide the development of alternative immunotherapies for patients with HGSOC.

Abstract Laparoscopic hysterectomy is a commonly performed procedure. However, one high-risk complication is vaginal cuff dehiscence. Currently, there is no standardization regarding thread material or suturing technique for vaginal cuff closure. Therefore, this study aimed to compare extracorporeal and intracorporeal suturing techniques for vaginal cuff closure using a pelvic trainer model. Eighteen experts in laparoscopic surgery performed vaginal cuff closures with interrupted sutures using intracorporeal knotting, extracorporeal knotting and continuous, unidirectional barbed sutures. While using an artificial tissue suturing pad in a pelvic trainer, experts performed vaginal cuff closure using each technique according to block randomization. Task completion time, tension resistance, and the number of errors were recorded. After completing the exercises, participants answered a questionnaire concerning the suturing techniques and their performance. Experts completed suturing more quickly (p

Abstract Background Vision is an important and defining element of laparoscopy and significantly affects the outcome of surgery in terms of time, error, and precision. Several new imaging systems have become available for laparoscopic surgery, including three-dimensional (3D) high-definition (HD) and two-dimensional (2D) ultra-high-resolution (4K) monitors. 3D HD systems offer a number of potential benefits to surgeons and patients over traditional 2D systems, including reduced operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay. However, the performance of 3D systems against the new, ultra-high definition 4K systems is barely known and highly controversial. There is a paucity of studies comparing them in clinical settings. The aim of this study is to compare 2D 4K and 3D HD perspectives in gastric bypass surgery. Methods Forty-eight patients with an indication for gastric bypass will be randomized to receive laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery using either 2D 4K or 3D HD systems. The operations will be performed by a well-coordinated team of three senior surgeons. The primary outcome is operative time. Secondary outcomes include intraoperative complications, blood loss, operator workload as assessed by the validated Surg-TLX questionnaire, and postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. An interim analysis is planned after enrollment of 12 participants for each group. Discussion This prospective, randomized trial is designed to test the hypothesis that the use of a 3D HD system will result in a significant improvement in operative time compared to a 2D 4K system in bariatric surgery. The objective is to provide clinical evidence for new laparoscopic imaging systems and to evaluate potential benefits. Trial registration This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT05895058. Registered 30 May 2023. BASEC2023-D0014 [Registry ID Swissethics, approved 3 May 2023]. SNCTP000005489 [SNCTP study register, last updated 13 July 2023].

Approximately 50% of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) have functional homologous recombination-mediated (HR) DNA repair, so-called HR-proficient tumors, which are often associated with primary platinum resistance (relapse within six months after completion of first-line therapy), minimal benefit from poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, and shorter survival. HR-proficient tumors comprise multiple molecular subtypes including cases with CCNE1 amplification, AKT2 amplification or CDK12 alteration, and are often characterized as “cold” tumors with fewer infiltrating lymphocytes and decreased expression of PD-1/PD-L1. Several new treatment approaches aim to manipulate these negative prognostic features and render HR-proficient tumors more susceptible to treatment. Alterations in multiple different molecules and pathways in the DNA damage response are driving new drug development to target HR-proficient cancer cells, such as inhibitors of the CDK or P13K/AKT pathways, as well as ATR inhibitors. Treatment combinations with chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors and agents targeting DNA replication stress have shown promising preclinical and clinical results. New approaches in immunotherapy are also being explored, including vaccines or antibody drug conjugates. Many approaches are still in the early stages of development and further clinical trials will determine their clinical relevance. There is a need to include HR-proficient tumors in ovarian cancer trials and to analyze them in a more targeted manner to provide further evidence for their specific therapy, as this will be crucial in improving the overall prognosis of HGSC and ovarian cancer in general.

Abstract Understanding the complex background of cancer requires genotype-phenotype information in single-cell resolution. Here, we perform long-read single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on clinical samples from three ovarian cancer patients presenting with omental metastasis and increase the PacBio sequencing depth to 12,000 reads per cell. Our approach captures 152,000 isoforms, of which over 52,000 were not previously reported. Isoform-level analysis accounting for non-coding isoforms reveals 20% overestimation of protein-coding gene expression on average. We also detect cell type-specific isoform and poly-adenylation site usage in tumor and mesothelial cells, and find that mesothelial cells transition into cancer-associated fibroblasts in the metastasis, partly through the TGF-β/miR-29/Collagen axis. Furthermore, we identify gene fusions, including an experimentally validated IGF2BP2::TESPA1 fusion, which is misclassified as high TESPA1 expression in matched short-read data, and call mutations confirmed by targeted NGS cancer gene panel results. With these findings, we envision long-read scRNA-seq to become increasingly relevant in oncology and personalized medicine.

Objective: Tying knots during suturing is one of the most challenging tasks in laparoscopic surgery. Therefore, measures aimed at ensuring both the ease and speed of knot tying not only benefit the surgeon but can also reduce operating time significantly. This study compared extracorporeal and intracorporeal knot tying techniques using a Szabo pelvic trainer model from the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment program. Design: The students tied intra- and extracorporeal knots using closed- and open-jaw knot pushers. Using an artificial tissue suturing pad in a certified Szabo pelvic trainer, students tied three knots using each technique according to block randomization. Task completion time, knot strength, knot-spread ability, and number of errors were recorded. The Wilcoxon test and mixed-effects models were used to analyze the results. After completing the exercises, participants answered a questionnaire concerning knot-tying techniques and their performance. Setting: University Hospital Basel, which provides tertiary-level clinical care. Participants: Fifty-seven medical students with no experience in laparoscopy voluntarily signed up for this study. Results: Open and closed extracorporeal knot tying was significantly faster (p

Introduction. Women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and high-tone pelvic floor often experience pain and have positive trigger points upon pelvic floor examination. However, the correlation of these findings has not yet been systematically examined and sufficiently understood. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the correlation of pelvic myofascial pain with LUTS and pelvic floor tone. Materials and Methods. All participants filled a standardized pelvic floor questionnaire to assess LUTS, which consists of a total of 43 questions regarding bladder, bowel, and sexual function as well as prolapse symptoms. Myofascial trigger points in different muscle groups including pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, and obturator as well as pelvic floor muscle tone were assessed using a standardized digital examination technique. Results. 110 women were included in the study. There was a significant correlation between pain in various muscle groups and LUTS as well as high-tone pelvic floor muscle. A significant correlation could also be found between high pelvic floor muscle tone and the overall questionnaire score (p

Abstract Background Exposure to paclitaxel and carboplatin has the risk of developing hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), which could necessitate using less effective treatments to avoid anaphylaxis. Desensitization to platinum and taxane HSRs can be used to complete chemotherapy according to the standard regimen; therefore, this study investigated rates and benefits of successful desensitization in patients with gynecologic cancers (GC). Methods We collected data from 241 patients with GC who had at least one cycle of platinum or taxane chemotherapy. The rate of HSRs and successful desensitization were evaluated, and an outcome analysis was conducted. Results The rate of HSRs to platinum and taxane was 6.39% and 13.07%, respectively. We observed a 100% success rate of desensitization in our cohort. Patients with HSR were significantly younger (57.1 vs. 64.9 years, p = 0.030) in the taxane cohort. Importantly, the overall survival (OS) of patients with platinum and taxane HSRs who underwent desensitization was comparable to that of patients with no HSRs (platinum vs. controls; median OS 60.36 vs. 60.39 months, p = 0.31; taxane vs. controls; OS 80.29 vs. 60.00 months, p = 0.59). Conclusion Thus, we show that desensitization for platinum and taxane HSRs is safe and effective, resulting in an outcome that is well comparable to patients without HSR. Based on these observations, desensitization procedures might be considered as standard of care before switching to less effective treatment for patients with GC.

Abstract Introduction Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CALNM) in breast cancer (BC) is considered a distant metastasis, marking stage 4cancer. Therefore, it is generally treated as an incurable disease. However, in clinical practice, staging and treatment remain controversial due to a paucity of data, and the St. Gallen 2021 consensus panel recommended a curative approach in patients with oligometastatic disease. Aberrant lymph node (LN) drainage following previous surgery or radiotherapy is common. Therefore, CALNM may be considered a regional event rather than systemic disease, and a re-sentinel procedure aided by lymphoscintigraphy permits adequate regional staging. Case report Here, we report a 37-year-old patient with Lynch syndrome who presented with CALNM in an ipsilateral relapse of a moderately differentiated invasive ductal BC (ER 90%, PR 30%, HER2 negative, Ki-67 25%, microsatellite stable), 3 years after the initial diagnosis. Lymphoscintigraphy detected a positive sentinel LN in the contralateral axilla despite no sign of LN involvement or distant metastases on FDG PET/CT or MRI. The patient underwent bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node dissection, surgical reconstruction with histological confirmation of the CALNM, left axillary dissection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and anti-hormone therapy. In addition to her regular BC follow-up visits, the patient will undergo annual colonoscopy, gastroscopy, abdominal, and vaginal ultrasound screening. In January 2023, the patient was free of progression for 23 months after initiation of treatment for recurrent BC and CALNM. Conclusion This case highlights the value of delayed lymphoscintigraphy and the contribution of sentinel procedure for local control in the setting of recurrent BC. Aberrant lymph node drainage following previous surgery may be the underlying cause of CALNM. We propose that CALNM without evidence of systemic metastasis should be considered a regional event in recurrent BC, and thus, a curative approach can be pursued. The next AJCC BC staging should clarify the role of CALNM in recurrent BC to allow for the development of specific treatment guidelines.

Abstract Cancer patients with advanced disease are characterized by intrinsic challenges in predicting drug response patterns, often leading to ineffective treatment. Current clinical practice for treatment decision-making is commonly based on primary or secondary tumour biopsies, yet when disease progression accelerates, tissue biopsies are not performed on a regular basis. It is in this context that liquid biopsies may offer a unique window to uncover key vulnerabilities, providing valuable information about previously underappreciated treatment opportunities. Here, we present MyCTC chip, a novel microfluidic device enabling the isolation, culture and drug susceptibility testing of cancer cells derived from liquid biopsies. Cancer cell capture is achieved through a label-free, antigen-agnostic enrichment method, and it is followed by cultivation in dedicated conditions, allowing on-chip expansion of captured cells. Upon growth, cancer cells are then transferred to drug screen chambers located within the same device, where multiple compounds can be tested simultaneously. We demonstrate MyCTC chip performance by means of spike-in experiments with patient-derived breast circulating tumour cells, enabling >95% capture rates, as well as prospective processing of blood from breast cancer patients and ascites fluid from patients with ovarian, tubal and endometrial cancer, where sensitivity to specific chemotherapeutic agents was identified. Together, we provide evidence that MyCTC chip may be used to identify personalized drug response patterns in patients with advanced metastatic disease and with limited treatment opportunities.

Abstract PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treatment with outstanding benefits in regard to progression-free survival, especially in patients either carrying BRCA1/2 mutations or harboring defects in the homologous recombination repair system. Yet, it remains uncertain which PARPi to apply and how to predict responders when platinum sensitivity is unknown. To shed light on the predictive power of genes previously suggested to be associated with PARPi response, we systematically reviewed the literature and identified 79 publications investigating a total of 93 genes. The top candidate genes were further tested using a comprehensive CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis screening in combination with olaparib treatment. Therefore, we generated six constitutive Cas9 + EOC cell lines and profiled 33 genes in a CRISPR-Cas9 cell competition assay using non-essential (AAVS1) and essential (RPA3 and PCNA) genes for cell fitness as negative and positive controls, respectively. We identified only ATM, MUS81, NBN, BRCA2, and RAD51B as predictive markers for olaparib response. As the major survival benefit of PARPi treatment was reported in platinum-sensitive tumors, we next assessed nine top candidate genes in combination with three PARPi and carboplatin. Interestingly, we observed similar dropout rates in a gene and compound independent manner, supporting the strong correlation of cancer cell response to compounds that rely on DNA repair for their effectiveness. In addition, we report on CDK12 as a common vulnerability for EOC cell survival and proliferation without altering the olaparib response, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in EOC.

Abstract Background A high percentage of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) express the estrogen receptor (ER), which is an ideal target for endocrine therapy. Letrozole is a proven, potent aromatase inhibitor, extensively tested and used in the treatment of ER positive breast cancer. In addition, it seems a potent drug for patients with heavily pre-treated OC as demonstrated in several distinctive settings. However, it has never been evaluated prospectively in a maintenance setting for ovarian cancer after standard of care. The here proposed trial aims to define a population of EOC patients, who would benefit from the effectiveness of the generic agent letrozole, with little expected toxicity and thus beneficial impact on overall quality of life (QoL). Methods In this international multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial at clinical centers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, we plan to include 540 patients with primary, newly diagnosed FIGO Stage II to IV and histologically confirmed low- or high-grade serous or endometrioid epithelial ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal cancer. Patients are randomized in a 1:1 ratio into two groups: receiving blinded study treatment (letrozole or placebo tablets). When assuming a HR of 0.7, a median PFS of 18 months in the control arm and a median PFS of 25.7 months in the treatment arm, a two-sided alpha level of 5%, 3.5 years recruitment and 1.5 years observation time, we expect 330 events to have occurred within these 5 years in the total cohort yielding a power of 90%. Follow-up data for the whole cohort will be collected for up to 10 years and for the low-grade cancer for up to 12 years. Discussion The here proposed randomized phase III trial aims to identify patients with EOC in the maintenance setting, who benefit from the effectiveness of the letrozole, by proving its efficacy whilst maintaining a high standard of QoL due to the limited toxicity expected in comparison to the current alternative drugs on the market for this treatment phase. Trial registration This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT04111978 . Registered 02 October 2019.

Abstract Background Lateral excess tissue after mastectomy is a frequent problem, which should be included into preoperative planning. Women with lateral tissue abundance are frequently impaired cosmetically and functionally. We suggest a novel oncoplastic mastectomy technique to eliminate the above mentioned. Methods Surgical technique Two small horizontal lines are drawn, one line above and one line below the Nipple Areola Complex. These lines should represent the possible skin excision and allow tight skin closure. Consecutively, two ending points of the incision are planned, one close to the xyphoid area and the other one in the anterior axillary line. These points are then interconnected in an s-shaped manner to form a double s-shaped skin excision. Results The double S-shaped technique is an easy reproducible technique which not only allows good access to the lateral side of the mastectomy, but also and mainly the reduction of lateral fat and skin. Conclusion The double S mastectomy allows for simultaneous removal of access in the axillary region, eliminating skin, and fat as needed and preventing the lateral dog ear

Background Next-generation cancer immunotherapies are designed to broaden the therapeutic repertoire by targeting new immune checkpoints including lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3). Yet, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which either receptor functions to mediate its inhibitory effects are still poorly understood. Similarly, little is known on the differential effects of dual, compared with single, checkpoint inhibition.Methods We here performed in-depth characterization, including multicolor flow cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing and multiplex supernatant analysis, using tumor single cell suspensions from patients with cancer treated ex vivo with novel bispecific antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and TIM-3 (PD1-TIM3), PD-1 and LAG-3 (PD1-LAG3), or with anti-PD-1.Results We identified patient samples which were responsive to PD1-TIM3, PD1-LAG3 or anti-PD-1 using an in vitro approach, validated by the analysis of 659 soluble proteins and enrichment for an anti-PD-1 responder signature. We found increased abundance of an activated (HLA-DR+CD25+GranzymeB+) CD8+ T cell subset and of proliferating CD8+ T cells, in response to bispecific antibody or anti-PD-1 treatment. Bispecific antibodies, but not anti-PD-1, significantly increased the abundance of a proliferating natural killer cell subset, which exhibited enrichment for a tissue-residency signature. Key phenotypic and transcriptional changes occurred in a PD-1+CXCL13+CD4+ T cell subset, in response to all treatments, including increased interleukin-17 secretion and signaling toward plasma cells. Interestingly, LAG-3 protein upregulation was detected as a unique pharmacodynamic effect mediated by PD1-LAG3, but not by PD1-TIM3 or anti-PD-1.Conclusions Our in vitro system reliably assessed responses to bispecific antibodies co-targeting PD-1 together with LAG-3 or TIM-3 using patients’ tumor infiltrating immune cells and revealed transcriptional and phenotypic imprinting by bispecific antibody formats currently tested in early clinical trials.

Colpocleisis is a surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse that results in vaginal obliteration. This review aims to systematically evaluate the quality of life, changes in body image, regret, and impact on sexual activity in women after colpocleisis. A review was conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases with search criteria specifying pelvic organ prolapse, colpocleisis, quality of life, body image, regret, sexuality, and their synonyms. For the selection of the eligible articles, we used the PRISMA reporting system. A total of 1285 articles were found. After removing duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 articles were reviewed in full length. Quality of life after colpocleisis was evaluated in 22 articles, and 20 authors used validated questionnaires. All concluded that quality of life improved after surgical treatment. Twenty-one articles studied regret after obliterative treatment for pelvic organ prolapse. Most of the patients reported no regret. Regret was often due to bowel and bladder symptoms. A few patients reported regret because of loss of coital function. Body image was highlighted in six studies. Three articles assessed body image using the modified Body Image scale. The body image scores demonstrated a significant improvement after surgery. Women tended to remain sexually active and some also regained sexual activities after surgery. Colpocleisis remains a viable option for pelvic organ prolapse, without compromising quality of life, body image, or sexuality, but diligent patient selection is needed. Particular concern should be given to bladder and bowel symptoms since these are the main reason for dissatisfaction after colpocleisis.

Endocrine therapy is an effective treatment for low-grade serous ovarian cancer. However, the role of estrogen and progesterone receptors as biomarkers for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is yet to be elucidated because not all estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive tumors benefit from anti-estrogen therapy. The degree of expression is presumed to play a vital role; however, that role is not well-defined in ovarian cancer. We aimed to determine the role of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in primary and paired relapsed HGSOC. In this study, primary and matched relapsed tumor samples were collected from 80 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage II–IV HGSOC. Tissue microarray was conducted and immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone receptor expression was performed. Two independent pathologists performed the tissue microarray analysis with the Immunoreactive Score and Allred Total score. In the paired analysis, no significant difference in estrogen receptor expression was observed. However, progesterone receptor expression was significantly lower in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive HGSOC. We conclude that anti-estrogen therapy targeting estrogen receptor positive HGSOC could be administered in primary and relapsed settings. The use of endocrine maintenance with an aromatase inhibitor in patients with estrogen receptor positive HGSOC needs to be further evaluated and validated in a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background Treatment options for advanced cervical cancer are limited and patients experiencing recurrence after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab have a poor prognosis. A recent phase II study in advanced cervical cancer has demonstrated a disease control rate of 68.4% with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab. By blocking immune checkpoints, immunotherapy puts the immune system into a state of hyper-activation that can cause immune-related adverse events. We present the clinical, pathological and molecular data of a patient with metastatic cervical cancer and progressive disease after second-line therapy. We report on the therapeutic response under third-line immunotherapy with nivolumab, the immune-related adverse events (IRAE), and their successful management. Case presentation We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who was diagnosed with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with paraaortic lymph node metastases. After an initial combined radio-chemotherapy with cisplatin, she developed local and nodal (supraclavicular) recurrence. Second-line chemotherapy with 6 cycles of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab resulted in a partial response for 6 months. Checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab was started due to progression, leading to persistent complete remission. Immunotherapy was well tolerated for 8 months until the patient presented with an immune-related isolated vulvitis, which was successfully managed with topical corticosteroids. Conclusions The persistent complete response after third-line treatment for relapsed chemotherapy-resistant cervical cancer presented in this case highlights the potential of immunotherapy for patients with advanced cervical cancer impressively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an isolated immune-related vulvitis under nivolumab. This adverse event might be underdiagnosed and mistreated, however, it is of importance due to its impact on quality of life, sexual wellbeing and compliance of patients. Successful IRAE management may enable prolonged immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In the future, routine molecular tumour profiling is likely to aid in the stratification of cervical cancer patients for immunotherapy. Here, we provide the methylome data of a case with complete response.

Abstract Background The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with breast cancer correlates to a bad prognosis. Yet, CTCs are detectable in only a minority of patients with progressive breast cancer, and factors that influence the abundance of CTCs remain elusive. Methods We conducted CTC isolation and enumeration in a selected group of 73 consecutive patients characterized by progressive invasive breast cancer, high tumor load and treatment discontinuation at the time of CTC isolation. CTCs were quantified with the Parsortix microfluidic device. Clinicopathological variables, blood counts at the time of CTC isolation and detailed treatment history prior to blood sampling were evaluated for each patient. Results Among 73 patients, we detected at least one CTC per 7.5 ml of blood in 34 (46%). Of these, 22 (65%) had single CTCs only, whereas 12 (35%) featured both single CTCs and CTC clusters. Treatment with the monoclonal antibody denosumab correlated with the absence of CTCs, both when considering all patients and when considering only those with bone metastasis. We also found that low red blood cell count was associated with the presence of CTCs, whereas high CA 15-3 tumor marker, high mean corpuscular volume, high white blood cell count and high mean platelet volume associated specifically with CTC clusters. Conclusions In addition to blood count correlatives to single and clustered CTCs, we found that denosumab treatment associates with most patients lacking CTCs from their peripheral circulation. Prospective studies will be needed to validate the involvement of denosumab in the prevention of CTC generation.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays critical roles in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the contribution of ECM proteins to early metastatic onset in the peritoneal cavity remains unexplored. Here, we suggest a new route of metastasis through the interaction of integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) with collagens enriched in the tumor coinciding with poor outcome in patients with ovarian cancer. Using multiple gene-edited cell lines and patient-derived samples, we demonstrate that ITGA2 triggers cancer cell adhesion to collagen, promotes cell migration, anoikis resistance, mesothelial clearance, and peritoneal metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, phosphoproteomics identify an ITGA2-dependent phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway leading to enhanced oncogenic properties. Consequently, specific inhibition of ITGA2-mediated cancer cell-collagen interaction or targeting focal adhesion signaling may present an opportunity for therapeutic intervention of metastatic spread in ovarian cancer.

Background The costimulatory receptor 4-1BB (CD137, TNFRSF9) plays an important role in sustaining effective T cell immune responses and is investigated as target for cancer therapy. Systemic 4-1BB directed therapies elicit toxicity or low efficacy, which significantly hampered advancement of 4-1BB-based immunotherapy. Therefore, targeted delivery of 4-1BB agonist to the tumor side is needed for eliciting antitumor efficacy while avoiding systemic toxicity.Methods We analyzed the immunostimulatory properties of a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted 4-1BB agonist (FAP-4-1BBL) by assessing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes’ (TIL) activity from patients with non-small cell lung cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer.Results Combination treatment with FAP-4-1BBL and T cell receptor stimulation by either anti-CD3 or T cell bispecific antibodies significantly enhanced TIL activation and effector functions, including T cell proliferation, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxicity. Notably, costimulation with FAP-4-1BBL led to de novo secretion of interleukin (IL)−13. This was associated with cytokine-mediated tumor cell apoptosis, which was partially dependent on IL-13 alpha 1/2 receptors and STAT6 phosphorylation.Conclusions Our study provides mechanistic insights into T cell stimulation induced by FAP-4-1BBL in primary human tumors and supports the investigation of FAP-4-1BBL compound in early clinical trials.

The presence of ascites in the peritoneal cavity leads to morphological and functional changes of the peritoneal mesothelial cell layer. Cells loose cell-cell interactions, rearrange their cytoskeleton, activate the production of fibronectin, and change their cell surface morphology in a proinflammatory environment. Moreover, ovarian cancer cell adhesion has been shown to be facilitated by these changes due to increased integrin- and CD44-mediated binding sites. In this study, the biological responsiveness of the human pleural mesothelial cell line MeT-5A to patient-derived and artificial ascites was studied in vitro and adhesion of ovarian cancer cells, i.e. SKOV-3 cells, investigated. Changes were mainly observed in cells exposed to artificial ascites containing higher cytokine concentrations than patient-derived ascites. Interestingly, reduced cell-cell interactions were already observed in untreated MeT-5A cells and effects on tight junction protein expression and permeability upon exposure to ascites were minor. Ascites induced upregulation of CDC42 effector protein 2 expression, which affects stress fiber formation, however significant F-actin reorganization was not observed. Moreover, fibronectin production remained unchanged. Analysis of mesothelial cell surface characteristics showed upregulated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, slightly increased hyaluronic acid secretion and decreased microvillus expression upon exposure to ascites. Nevertheless, the observed changes were not sufficient to facilitate adhesion of SKOV-3 cells on MeT-5A cell layer. This study revealed that MeT-5A cells show a reduced biological responsiveness to the presence of ascites, in contrast to published studies on primary human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Background: The clinical presentation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is heterogeneous ranging from single-organ involvement to systemic disease causing substantial morbidity and mortality. We describe an unusual course of severe multisystem LCH with spontaneous remission. Case Presentation: We report on a 45-year-old Caucasian woman with cervical cancer, FIGO stage IVB. Five months after the end of combined radiochemotherapy and brachytherapy, the patient was readmitted because of severe dysuria. Sterile leukocyturia was seen, and cystoscopy revealed only 3 unspecific small mucosal lesions compatible with postradiation cystitis. Incidentally, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the body showed diffuse micronodular and cystic lesions in lungs and hypodense lesions in the liver. Biopsies revealed infiltrations of CD1a and Langerin (CD207)-positive histiocytes in the lung, liver, and bladder. Additionally, positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) was compatible with bone involvement. Retrospective analysis revealed that the increase in alkaline phosphatase might have been a surrogate of bone marrow infiltration with osseous activity. Repeated pneumothoraces occurred, and only one course of vinblastine-prednisolone could be applied. Despite ongoing tobacco consumption and without further therapy, PET-CT showed considerable remission 2 months later. However, despite stable remission, documented by serial PET and conventional CT scans, persistent infiltration of the bladder by Langerhans histiocytes could still be demonstrated 17 months later. Unfortunately, cervical cancer recurred and progressed. Conclusion: Multisystem LCH may rapidly occur, may be oligosymptomatic and, even in high-risk cases, remission without specific therapy might occur. Whether alkaline phosphatase might be a surrogate to monitor osseous disease activity has to be further explored.

OBJECTIVES:Pelvic congestion syndrome is defined as chronic pelvic pain due to incompetent (dilated and refluxing) pelvic veins. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of this condition by examining the prevalence of dilated ovarian and para-uterine veins in pre- and postmenopausal female patients, irrespective of their symptoms. We subsequently investigated how many women with dilated veins suffered from chronic pelvic pain. Additionally, we attempted to define diagnostic criteria that may allow for early identification of affected patients. METHODS:We reassessed 2384 abdomino-pelvic computed tomography scans performed on women at our institution. The maximal diameters of the ovarian and para-uterine veins were measured. Patients with a pathological process in the abdomen or pelvis affecting the veins were excluded. We considered ovarian vein dilation to be 6 mm or more in the axial plane. For patients that met these criteria, we performed a retrospective chart review to evaluate the clinical presentation and/or symptoms of these patients. RESULTS:Dilated pelvic veins were present in 293/2384 (12%) patients, 118/559 premenopausal (21%) and 175/1825 postmenopausal (10%). Chronic pelvic pain of unclear etiology had been documented prior to the CT in 54/293 (18%) women with dilated veins-2% of the whole study collective (54/2384); 8% of all premenopausal (44/559) and 0.5% of all postmenopausal (10/1825). It was often accompanied by urological symptoms such as hematuria, dysuria, and urinary frequency, in the absence of infection (p

The relationship between ABO blood groups (BG) and risk of incidence in cancers including gynecological cancers has been widely studied, showing increased incidence risk for BG A patients. As available data are inconsistent we investigated whether BG and their anti-glycan antibodies (anti-A and anti-B) have prognostic values in gynecological cancers. We retrospectively evaluated 974 patients with gynecological cancers in three cancer centers (Switzerland and Australia) between 1974 and 2014 regarding the relationships between clinico-pathological findings and the BG. Time to disease recurrence was significantly influenced by BG in patients with ovarian (n = 282) and vulvar (n = 67) cancer. BG O or B patients showed a significantly increased risk for ovarian cancer relapse compared to A, 59% and 82%, respectively (p = 0.045; HR O vs A = 1.59 (CI 1.01-2.51) and (p = 0.036; HR A vs B = 0.55 (CI 0.32-0.96). Median time to relapse for advanced stage (n = 126) ovarian cancer patients was 18.2 months for BG O and 32.2 for A (p = 0.031; HR O vs A = 2.07 (CI 1.07-4.02)). BG also significantly influenced relapse-free survival in patients with vulvar cancer (p = 0.002), with BG O tending to have increased relapse risk compared to A (p = 0.089). Blood groups hence associate with recurrence in ovarian and vulvar cancer: women with BG O seem to have a lower ovarian cancer incidence, however are more likely to relapse earlier. The significance of the BG status as a prognostic value is evident and may be helpful to oncologists in prognosticating disease outcome and selecting the appropriate therapy.

Glycans are important partners in many biological processes, including carcinogenesis. The rapidly developing field of functional glycomics becomes one of the frontiers of biology and biomedicine. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids occurs commonly during malignant transformation and leads to the expression of specific tumor-associated glycans. The appearance of aberrant glycans on carcinoma cells is typically associated with grade, invasion, metastasis and overall poor prognosis. Cancer-associated carbohydrates are mostly located on the surface of cancer cells and are therefore potential diagnostic biomarkers. Currently, there is increasing interest in cancer-associated aberrant glycosylation, with growing numbers of characteristic cancer targets being detected every day. Breast and ovarian cancer are the most common and lethal malignancies in women, respectively, and potential glycan biomarkers hold promise for early detection and targeted therapies. However, the acceleration of research and comprehensive multi-target investigation of cancer-specific glycans could only be successfully achieved with the help of a combination of novel high-throughput glycomic approaches.

Altered levels of naturally occurring anti-glycan antibodies (AGA) circulating in human blood plasma are found in different pathologies including cancer. Here the levels of AGA directed against 22 negatively charged (sialylated and sulfated) glycans were assessed in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC, n = 22) patients and benign controls (n = 31) using our previously developed suspension glycan array (SGA). Specifically, the ability of AGA to differentiate between controls and HGSOC, the most common and aggressive type of ovarian cancer with a poor outcome was determined. Results were compared to CA125, the commonly used ovarian cancer biomarker. AGA to seven glycans that significantly (P