Phase I study of sorafenib combined with radiation therapy and temozolomide as first-line treatment of high-grade glioma.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.209.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for the isolation and detection of biotin and biotinylated biomolecules.

Magnetic separation based on biologically-modified magnetic particles is a preconcentration procedure commonly integrated in magneto actuated platforms for the detection of a huge range of targets. However, the main drawback of this material is the low stability and high cost. In this work, a novel hybrid molecularly-imprinted polymer with magnetic properties is presented with affinity towards biotin and biotinylated biomolecules. During the synthesis of the magneto core-shell particles, biotin was used as a template. The characterization of this material by microscopy techniques including SEM, TEM and confocal microscopy is presented. The application of the magnetic-MIPs for the detection of biotin and biotinylated DNA in magneto-actuated platforms is also described for the first time. The magnetic-MIP showed a significant immobilization capacity of biotinylated molecules, giving rise to a cheaper and a robust method (it is not required to be stored at 4°C) with high binding capacity for the separation and purification under magnetic actuation of a wide range of biotinylated molecules, and their downstream application including determination of their specific targets.

Comparing nucleic acid lateral flow and electrochemical genosensing for the simultaneous detection of foodborne pathogens.

Due to the increasing need of rapid tests for application in low resource settings, WHO summarized their ideal features under the acronym ASSURED (Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment-free, Delivered to those who need it). In this work, two different platforms for the rapid and simultaneous testing of the foodborne pathogens E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica, in detail a nucleic acid lateral flow and an electrochemical magneto-genosensor are presented and compared in terms of their analytical performance. The DNA of the bacteria was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using a quadruple-tagging set of primers specific for E. coli eaeA (151bp) and Salmonella enterica yfiR (375bp) genes. During the amplification, the amplicons were labelled at the same time with biotin/digoxigenin or biotin/fluorescein tags, respectively. The nucleic acid lateral flow assay was based on the use of streptavidin gold nanoparticles for the labelling of the tagged amplicon from E. coli and Salmonella. The visual readout was achieved when the gold-modified amplicons were captured by the specific antibodies. The features of this approach are discussed and compared with an electrochemical magneto-genosensor. Although nucleic acid lateral flow showed higher limit of detection, this strategy was able to clearly distinguish positive and negative samples of both bacteria being considered as a rapid and promising detection tool for bacteria screening.

Phase I study of sorafenib combined with radiation therapy and temozolomide as first-line treatment of high-grade glioma.

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib (Sb) is a multiple kinase inhibitor targeting both tumour cell proliferation and angiogenesis that may further act as a potent radiosensitizer by arresting cells in the most radiosensitive cell cycle phase. This phase I open-label, noncontrolled dose escalation study was performed to determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Sb in combination with radiation therapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) in 17 patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. METHODS: Patients were treated with RT (60 Gy in 2 Gy fractions) combined with TMZ 75 mg m(-2) daily, and Sb administered at three dose levels (200 mg daily, 200 mg BID, and 400 mg BID) starting on day 8 of RT. Thirty days after the end of RT, patients received monthly TMZ (150-200 mg m(-2) D1-5/28) and Sb (400 mg BID). Pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses were performed on day 8 (TMZ) and on day 21 (TMZ&Sb) (Clinicaltrials ID: NCT00884416). RESULTS: The MTD of Sb was established at 200 mg BID. Dose-limiting toxicities included thrombocytopenia (two patients), diarrhoea (one patient) and hypercholesterolaemia (one patient). Sb administration did not affect the mean area under the curve(0-24) and mean Cmax of TMZ and its metabolite 5-amino-imidazole-4-carboxamide (AIC). Tmax of both TMZ and AIC was delayed from 0.75 (TMZ alone) to 1.5 h (combined TMZ/Sb). The median progression-free survival was 7.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.4-14.55), and the median overall survival was 17.8 months (95% CI: 14.7-25.6). CONCLUSIONS: Although Sb can be combined with RT and TMZ, significant side effects and moderate outcome results do not support further clinical development in malignant gliomas. The robust PK data of the TMZ/Sb combination could be useful in other cancer settings.

Allo-SCT for multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents: a retrospective study on behalf of Swiss Blood SCT.

Despite the introduction of novel drugs, cure of multiple myeloma remains rare. Allo-SCT can induce long-term remission, but randomized studies in advanced disease are lacking and the influence of novel drugs remains unclear. In our retrospective analysis of all patients with myeloma allografted in Switzerland, 95 patients were transplanted between 1988 and 2011. Most patients were heavily pre-treated, and 53% received novel drugs before transplant. In all, 51% were allografted after relapse or progression. Transplant trends changed over time with an increase in reduced intensity conditioning and unrelated donors. At the time of analysis 47 patients remained alive, with a median follow-up of survivors of 53 months. Acute GVHD II-IV and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) occurred in 49% and 53%, respectively; TRM at 5 years was 18%. Five-year OS and PFS were 51% and 29%, respectively. Patients who received transplant upfront vs after relapse had a significantly better outcome, as well as those who had a related donor and achieved CR post transplant. We found no impact of pre-treatment with novel drugs or cGVHD. Although long-term remission following allo-SCT can be achieved, GVHD and TRM remain major limitations. Our series suggests that benefit is highest when allo-SCT is used early in the disease.

[Anticancer drugs under pressure]. / Anticancéreux sous haute tension.

Angiogenesis inhibitor drugs, targeting VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) are used increasingly in oncology for a wide range of advanced cancers (colorectal cancer, lung cancer, renal cell cancer,...). Generally, they are well tolerated but cardiovascular and renal side effects may appear. The most frequent complications are hypertension and proteinuria which, very often, remain asymptomatic. Therefore, they have to be searched for systematically before and during the treatment. Sometimes, anti-hypertensive medication is needed. We are just beginning to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of antiangiogenic therapies. Only a multidisciplinary approach will improve our knowledge of those target agents and allow a better management of the cancer patient.