Prognostic significance of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in patients undergoing treatment with nivolumab for recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer.

AIM: We investigated the prognostic potential of pretherapy measurement of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients (n = 56) with non-small-cell lung cancer deemed suitable for treatment with nivolumab. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective data analysis, involving five oncology centers. RESULTS: Patients with prenivolumab NLR values of <5 and ≥5 had respective median overall survival (OS) values of 14.5 and 7.02 months (p = 0.0026). Patients with ≤2 and >2 metastatic sites had median OS values of 11.4 and 6.1 months, respectively (p = 0.0174). A Cox multiple regression model revealed baseline NLR ≥5 as the only variable significantly associated with decreased OS (p < 0.0447). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment elevated NLR values are associated with poor outcomes in patients with recurrent metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab.

Dupuytren's contractures associated with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Two previous cases of the development of Dupuytren's contractures were reported in association with BRAF inhibitor treatment for BRAF V600E mutation-positive metastatic melanoma and metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. We reported on a third case with a slower onset of presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old white man was diagnosed with a BRAF V600E mutated metastatic cutaneous melanoma. He was commenced on oral vemurafenib 960 mg twice daily. A marked response was achieved for his metastatic disease. He noticed a change of his hair characteristics and a feeling of "lumps" in both palms by 6 months. By 9 months, classical Dupuytren's contracture was apparent. CONCLUSIONS: Dupuytren's contracture is not a known side effect of BRAF inhibitor treatment. The timeline for the development of Dupuytren's contracture on BRAF inhibitor treatment is not well defined. Although the etiology of Dupuytren's contracture is unknown, an increase in tumor necrosis factor has been demonstrated to be a possible mechanism. BRAF inhibition has been shown to increase immune reaction in the tumor microenvironment and is associated with high serum tumor necrosis factor level. We propose that an increased level of tumor necrosis factor associated with BRAF inhibition may increase the risk of the development of Dupuytren's contractures.

Homogeneous population of the brown alga Sargassum polycystum in Southeast Asia: possible role of recent expansion and asexual propagation.

Southeast Asia has been known as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. Repeated glacial cycles during Pleistocene were believed to cause isolation of marine taxa in refugia, resulting in diversification among lineages. Recently, ocean current was also found to be another factor affecting gene flow by restricting larval dispersal in animals. Macroalgae are unique in having mode of reproduction that differs from that of animals. Our study on the phylogeographical pattern of the brown macroalga Sargassum polycystum using nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2), plastidal RuBisCO spacer (Rub spacer) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit-III (Cox3) as molecular markers revealed genetic homogeneity across 27 sites in Southeast Asia and western Pacific, in sharp contrast to that revealed from most animal studies. Our data suggested that S. polycystum persisted in single refugium during Pleistocene in a panmixia pattern. Expansion occurred more recently after the Last Glacial Maximum and recolonization of the newly flooded Sunda Shelf could have involved asexual propagation of the species. High dispersal ability through floating fronds carrying developing germlings may also contribute to the low genetic diversity of the species.