establishing-3-dimensional-spheroids-from-patient-derived-tumor

Establishing 3-Dimensional Spheroids from Patient-Derived Tumor Samples and Evaluating their Sensitivity to Drugs

Despite remarkable advances in understanding tumor biology, the vast majority of oncology drug candidates entering clinical trials fail, often due to a ...

Felsenstein Medical Research Center

Davidoff Center, Rabin Medical Center

Tel Aviv University

tel aviv university

Oncotype DX testing is reimbursed in Israel for node-negative and node-positive (N1+; up to 3 positive nodes including micrometastases), estrogen receptor positive (ER+), breast cancer patients. This retrospective study evaluated the impact of Oncotype DX testing on treatment decisions in N1+/ER+ breast cancer patients. To this end, we compared treatments for all N+ patients for whom testing had been ordered with treatments for patients with similar characteristics where the test had not been available. The retrospective analysis included 951 patients (282 Oncotype DX, 669 controls), all of whom received endocrine therapy with or without chemotherapy. In Oncotype DX patients, 7.1, 37.0, and 100 % of those with low, intermediate, and high Recurrence Score results (Oncotype DX summary score) received chemotherapy, respectively (P < 0.0001, all comparisons). Chemotherapy use was lower in Oncotype DX patients versus controls (24.5 vs. 70.1 %). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis in which the probability of receiving chemotherapy was modeled as a function of Oncotype DX testing, age, tumor size, tumor grade, nodal status, and the interactions between Oncotype DX testing and the other covariates, Oncotype DX testing was associated with significantly lower odds of receiving chemotherapy (odds ratio 0.16; 95 % CI 0.11-0.24; P < 0.0001). In summary, our findings suggest that Oncotype DX testing has a significant impact on reducing chemotherapy use in N1+/ER+ breast cancer patients in Israel.

The impact of the 21-gene Recurrence Score assay on clinical decision-making in node-positive (up to 3 positive nodes) estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients.

Encounters between patients and medical staff are the foundation for building the patient–medical staff relationship, which is a keystone of care. We investigated perspectives of patients, caregivers, and medical staff related to greetings in oncology practice.

ReCAP: Perspectives of Patients, Caregivers, and Medical Staff on Greetings in Oncology Practice: A Prospective Survey.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an emerging modality for definitive treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for definitive treatment and as a bridge to liver transplantation in early stage inoperable Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients with cancer undergoing treatment are at high risk of COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, their ability to produce an adequate antibody response to messenger RNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is unclear.

Evaluation of Seropositivity Following BNT162b2 Messenger RNA Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and is, therefore, treated with systemic drugs, such as tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). These drugs, however, offer only modest survival benefits due to the rapid development of drug resistance. To identify genes implicated in TKI resistance, a cluster of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 activation screen was performed in hepatoma cells treated with regorafenib, a TKI used as second-line therapy for advanced HCC. The screen results show that Hexokinase 1 (HK1), catalyzing the first step in glucose metabolism, is a top candidate for conferring TKI resistance. Compatible with this, HK1 was upregulated in regorafenib-resistant cells. Using several experimental approaches, both in vitro and in vivo, we show that TKI resistance correlates with HK1 expression. Furthermore, an HK inhibitor resensitized resistant cells to TKI treatment. Together, our data indicate that HK1 may function as a critical factor modulating TKI resistance in hepatoma cells and, therefore, may serve as a biomarker for treatment success.

A genome-wide CRISPR activation screen reveals Hexokinase 1 as a critical factor in promoting resistance to multi-kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The efficacy/safety of combining palbociclib (a CDK4/6 inhibitor) and sunitinib (a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) was evaluated, using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Twenty-three PDX mice models were developed from patients with various solid tumors. The mice were randomized to 4 groups (5-6 mice in each): control/palbociclib (100 mg/kg)/sunitinib (50 mg/kg)/combination. Drugs were administered orally, 5 days/week. In 17/23 PDX models (74%), the combination demonstrated a synergistic inhibitory effect vs the monotherapies ("responder" models) with no unexpected toxicities. In 13/17 responder models, where standard-of-care (SOC) was an additional comparator, the combination was more effective than SOC in 7 models, as effective in 4, and less effective in 2. The mean ± SEM experiment duration in 15/17 responder models (2/17 were excluded due to technical issues) was 86 ± 12 and 31 ± 5 days for the combination and control groups, respectively (p = 0.0002). The effect of the combination was dose-dependent. Cell-viability experiments in A549/MDA-MB-231/HT-29 cell lines and experiments using tumor-derived primary cell spheroids supported the PDX findings. In conclusion, combination of palbociclib and sunitinib exerts a synergistic anti-tumor effect without adding unexpected toxicity. A clinical trial assessing this combination is underway.

Palbociclib in combination with sunitinib exerts a synergistic anti-cancer effect in patient-derived xenograft models of various human cancers types.

Both humoral and cellular anamnestic responses are significant for protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. In the current study, the responses in elderly people before and after a fourth vaccine dose of BNT162b2 were compared to those of individuals immunized with three vaccine doses. Although a boost effect was observed, the high response following the third administration questions the necessity of an early fourth boost.

Humoral and T-Cell Response before and after a Fourth BNT162b2 Vaccine Dose in Adults ≥60 Years.

To evaluate the durability of response 3 months after the third BNT162b2 vaccine in adults aged 60 years and older.

Three-month follow-up of durability of response to the third dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in adults aged 60 years and older: a prospective cohort study.

Article	Year
The impact of the 21-gene Recurrence Score assay on clinical decision-making in node-positive (up to 3 positive nodes) estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients. Breast cancer research and treatment\| PubMed ID: 23801158	2013
ReCAP: Perspectives of Patients, Caregivers, and Medical Staff on Greetings in Oncology Practice: A Prospective Survey. Journal of oncology practice\| PubMed ID: 26374863	2016
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for definitive treatment and as a bridge to liver transplantation in early stage inoperable Hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiation oncology (London, England)\| PubMed ID: 29052532	2017
Evaluation of Seropositivity Following BNT162b2 Messenger RNA Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Cancer. JAMA oncology\| PubMed ID: 34047765	2021
A genome-wide CRISPR activation screen reveals Hexokinase 1 as a critical factor in promoting resistance to multi-kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology\| PubMed ID: 35147243	2022
Palbociclib in combination with sunitinib exerts a synergistic anti-cancer effect in patient-derived xenograft models of various human cancers types. Cancer letters\| PubMed ID: 35358627	2022
Humoral and T-Cell Response before and after a Fourth BNT162b2 Vaccine Dose in Adults ≥60 Years. Journal of clinical medicine\| PubMed ID: 35566774	2022
Three-month follow-up of durability of response to the third dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in adults aged 60 years and older: a prospective cohort study. BMJ open\| PubMed ID: 35918111	2022

Salomon M. Stemmer

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