Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria Ramundo, Giada Zanirato, Elisabetta Aldieri
Summary: This review aims to describe how EMT is involved in driving the development and invasiveness of MPM, in an attempt to open new scenarios useful in the identification of predictive markers and improve the pharmacological approach against this aggressive cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Valeria Panzetta, Ida Musella, Sabato Fusco, Paolo A. Netti
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare but devastating tumor that is difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. Effusion cytology, although used for diagnosis, is time-consuming and has limited sensitivity. Therefore, alternative research methods are needed to support early diagnosis. Mechanobiology offers new perspectives and diagnostic tools for the mechanical and biophysical characterization of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Valentina Cocce, Silvia La Monica, Mara Bonelli, Giulio Alessandri, Roberta Alfieri, Costanza Annamaria Lagrasta, Denise Madeddu, Caterina Frati, Lisa Flammini, Daniela Lisini, Angela Marcianti, Eugenio Parati, Francesca Paino, Aldo Gianni, Giampietro Farronato, Angela Falco, Lorenzo Spaggiari, Francesco Petrella, Augusto Pessina
Summary: The study demonstrates that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can significantly inhibit the growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) through various mechanisms, both in vitro and in vivo. This suggests that MSCs could offer a potential new therapeutic approach for MPM patients, especially considering the limited treatment options available for this malignancy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emanuela Felley-Bosco, Weihong Qi, Didier Jean, Clement Meiller, Hubert Rehrauer
Summary: This study reveals the association between RNA editing and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in pleural mesothelioma (PM). Analysis of RNA editing expression changes in PM samples showed increased editing in introns and decreased editing in 3' UTR in samples with EMT phenotype.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Antonia Marazioti, Anthi C. Krontira, Sabine J. Behrend, Georgia A. Giotopoulou, Giannoula Ntaliarda, Christophe Blanquart, Hasan Bayram, Marianthi Iliopoulou, Malamati Vreka, Lilith Trassl, Mario A. A. Pepe, Caroline M. Hackl, Laura Klotz, Stefanie A. Weiss, Ina Koch, Michael Lindner, Rudolph A. Hatz, Juergen Behr, Darcy E. Wagner, Helen Papadaki, Sophia G. Antimisiaris, Didier Jean, Sophie Deshayes, Marc Gregoire, Ozgecan Kayalar, Deniz Mortazavi, Sukru Dilege, Serhan Tanju, Suat Erus, Omer Yavuz, Pinar Bulutay, Pinar Firat, Ioannis Psallidas, Magda Spella, Ioanna Giopanou, Ioannis Lilis, Anne-Sophie Lamort, Georgios T. Stathopoulos
Summary: A portion of human MPM cases have mutations in KRAS, and mouse models suggest that KRAS mutations can lead to MPM, especially when combined with TP53 deletion. These findings indicate that KRAS alterations may play an important and underestimated role in certain MPM patients.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sam M. Janes, Doraid Alrifai, Dean A. Fennell
Summary: Mesothelioma, mostly caused by asbestos exposure, has a decreasing incidence but high mortality due to late diagnosis and treatment resistance. Pemetrexed-cisplatin and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest survival extension.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Rita Terenziani, Silvia Zoppi, Claudia Fumarola, Roberta Alfieri, Mara Bonelli
Summary: ICIs have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for difficult-to-treat cancers, especially showing superior efficacy in first-line treatment. Immunotherapeutic approaches for malignant pleural mesothelioma have also shown encouraging results. These novel treatments are crucial for the management of this disease.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
DeVon Hunter-Schlichting, Karl T. Kelsey, Ryan Demmer, Manish Patel, Raphael Bueno, Brock Christensen, Naomi Fujioka, Deepa Kolarseri, Heather H. Nelson
Summary: A study found that nearly half of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients have high level current HCMV infection, with a higher detection rate of HCMV DNA in tumor tissue compared to normal pleural tissue, suggesting the pleura may serve as a reservoir for latent HCMV infection.
Review
Oncology
Dean A. Fennell, Sean Dulloo, James Harber
Summary: ICIs have greatly improved the treatment of mesothelioma, but the predictive biological features of response to ICIs are still poorly understood. Rational combinations involving ICIs are being studied and there is emerging evidence of synergistic antitumour activity. Non-ICI-based immunotherapies also show promising efficacy. Results from trials of dendritic cell vaccines and viral cytokine delivery, among others, are eagerly awaited.
NATURE REVIEWS CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Alex Dipper, Nick Maskell, Anna Bibby
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) presents diagnostic challenges, with ancillary diagnostic tests such as immunocytochemical markers, molecular techniques, diagnostic biomarkers, and imaging discussed in cases where histological samples are unavailable or inconclusive. While no single adjunctive test has the sensitivity and specificity to diagnose MPM in isolation, correlation of pleural fluid cytology with radiology and biomarkers can help make an MDT-consensus diagnosis when invasive tests are not feasible.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Morani, Luisa Bisceglia, Giulia Rosini, Luciano Mutti, Ombretta Melaiu, Stefano Landi, Federica Gemignani
Summary: The study identified multiple molecular signatures associated with the progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma, including genes involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, mitotic cell division, and apoptosis inhibition. Some proteins were found to potentially drive tumorigenesis, suggesting they could be targets for novel therapies. Further research with small-molecule inhibitors or silencing RNAs is warranted to evaluate the cancer-driving role of the identified targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Agnes Y. Choi, Anand Singh, Danyi Wang, Karthik Pittala, Chuong D. Hoang
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a thoracic surface cancer without cure. Multimodality therapy, including surgical resection, is the current paradigm in treating MPM. However, the main limitation of surgical approaches is the lack of long-term durability due to frequent locoregional relapse. Various intrapleural strategies, such as intracavitary chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy, have been studied to extend the effect of surgical resection. Novel therapeutics delivered by specialized drug vehicles show great potential for improved efficacy in the management of MPM.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Alex Di Genova, Lise Mangiante, Alexandra Sexton-Oates, Catherine Voegele, Lynnette Fernandez-Cuesta, Nicolas Alcala, Matthieu Foll
Summary: In the context of the MESOMICS project, this study provided the most comprehensive molecular characterization of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) to date. The high-quality multiomics dataset and bioinformatics tools provided in this study will support the development of precision medicine in MPM.
Article
Oncology
Zhenying Guo, Li Shen, Ningning Li, Xiaoxiao Wu, Canming Wang, Zheng Gu, Zhongjian Chen, Junping Liu, Weimin Mao, Yuchen Han
Summary: This study used bioinformatics to identify key genes in malignant mesothelioma, finding that Aurora-A could be an optimal diagnostic biomarker and a potential prognostic marker. Additionally, seven genes were identified as potential prognostic markers for MM.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Critical Care Medicine
Chuan T. Foo, Anna Paterson, Adam Duckworth, Jurgen Herre
Summary: Malignant pleural effusion is common in mesothelioma, with the presence of hyaluronic acid contributing to its viscosity. Intrapleural hyaluronidase can effectively reduce fluid viscosity and drainage duration, demonstrating feasibility and safety in managing hyaluronic acid-rich viscous malignant pleural effusion.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yoshito Yamada, Tevfik Kaplan, Alex Soltermann, Isabelle Schmitt-Opitz, Didier Schneiter, Walter Weder, Ilhan Inci
Summary: Surgical resection for PPS patients showed favorable outcomes for long-term survival, with incomplete resection, advanced pathological stage, higher pathological grade, and tumor size being unfavorable factors.
THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Stephan Arni, Tatsuo Maeyashiki, Necati Citak, Isabelle Opitz, Ilhan Inci
Summary: The study found that subnormothermic EVLP at 28 degrees Celsius improved lung function and inflammatory parameters, which were also observed post left lung transplantation.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marc de Perrot, Deepa Gopalan, David Jenkins, Irene M. Lang, Elie Fadel, Marion Delcroix, Raymond Benza, Gustavo A. Heresi, Manreet Kanwar, John T. Granton, Micheal McInnis, Frederikus A. Klok, Kim M. Kerr, Joanna Pepke-Zaba, Mark Toshner, Anastasia Bykova, Andrea M. D' Armini, Ivan M. Robbins, Michael Madani, David McGiffin, Christoph B. Wiedenroth, Sebastian Mafeld, Isabelle Opitz, Olaf Mercier, Patricia A. Uber, Robert P. Frantz, William R. Auger
Summary: ISHLT members have acknowledged the significance of a consensus statement on the assessment and treatment of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The creation of the document involved multiple steps, with working groups providing individual sections that were later compiled into a single document. Due to limited comparative trials, the document is based more on literature review and expert opinion.
JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Oncology
M. Gachechiladze, I Uberall, D. Skanderova, J. Matchavariani, M. Ibrahim, I Shani, P. Smickova, V Kolek, L. Cierna, J. Klein, R. Stahel, M. Joerger, A. Soltermann, J. Skarda
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the prognostic and predictive value of LC3A positive SLSs in NSCLC patients and its association with TILs and PD-L1 expression. Results showed that LC3A positive SLSs were associated with worse outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma patients and better outcomes in lung squamous cell carcinoma patients, with different associations with CD68 count in LADC and LSCC. Further studies are warranted to understand the underlying biological mechanisms of this phenomenon.
Article
Pathology
Alex Soltermann, Isabelle Opitz, Irene A. Burger
Summary: The study compared tumor sites with high versus low [F-18]FDG uptake in pleural mesothelioma patients, finding that high metabolic activity is mainly associated with fibro-inflammatory remodeling of the pleural rind, which has important implications for evaluation after induction chemotherapy.
PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matthias Eberhard, Micheal McInnis, Marc de Perrot, Mona Lichtblau, Silvia Ulrich, Ilhan Inci, Isabelle Opitz, Thomas Frauenfelder
Summary: Dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography is highly sensitive in classifying the level of disease in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and is associated with hemodynamic improvement after surgery.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Oliver Guido Verhoek, Lisa Jungblut, Olivia Lauk, Christian Bluethgen, Isabelle Opitz, Thomas Frauenfelder, Katharina Martini
Summary: This study evaluated the prognostic value of sarcopenia, low precardial adipose tissue (PAT), and high tumor volume in the outcome of surgically-treated pleural mesothelioma (PM) patients. The results showed that sarcopenia and tumor volume were associated with long-term mortality in these patients, while a correlation with PAT could only be shown for epithelioid PM.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Isabelle Opitz, Miriam Patella, Olivia Lauk, Ilhan Inci, Dominique Bettex, Thomas Horisberger, Reto Schuepbach, Dagmar Keller, Thomas Frauenfelder, Nils Kucher, John Granton, Thomas Pfammatter, Marc de Perrot, Silvia Ulrich
Summary: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a distinct form of pulmonary hypertension closely related to acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The importance of diagnosing and distinguishing CTEPH during an episode of acute PE should not be underestimated. A multidisciplinary expert team evaluation is needed, along with consideration of clinical condition and imaging findings, for diagnosis and management.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Carolin Steinack, Ariana Gaspert, Fiorenza Gautschi, Rene Hage, Bart Vrugt, Alex Soltermann, Mace Matthew Schuurmans, Daniel Franzen
Summary: This study found that transbronchial cryobiopsy (CB) provided an improved diagnostic yield for acute cellular rejection (ACR) compared to transbronchial forceps biopsy (FB), leading to reclassification and changes in treatment strategies in 28.6% of cases.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marc Humbert, Gabor Kovacs, Marius M. Hoeper, Roberto Badagliacca, Rolf M. F. Berger, Margarita Brida, Jorn Carlsen, Andrew J. S. Coats, Pilar Escribano-Subias, Pisana Ferrari, Diogenes S. Ferreira, Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani, George Giannakoulas, David G. Kiely, Eckhard Mayer, Gergely Meszaros, Blin Nagavci, Karen M. Olsson, Joanna Pepke-Zaba, Jennifer K. Quint, Goran Radegran, Gerald Simonneau, Olivier Sitbon, Thomy Tonia, Mark Toshner, Jean-Luc Vachiery, Anton Vonk Noordegraaf, Marion Delcroix, Stephan Rosenkranz, Markus Schwerzmann, Anh-Tuan Dinh-Xuan, Andy Bush, Magdy Abdelhamid, Victor Aboyans, Eloisa Arbustini, Riccardo Asteggiano, Joan-Albert Barbera, Maurice Beghetti, Maja Cikes, Robin Condliffe, Frances de Man, Volkmar Falk, Laurent Fauchier, Sean Gaine, Nazzareno Galie, Wendy Gin-Sing, John Granton, Ekkehard Grunig, Paul M. Hassoun, Merel Hellemons, Tiny Jaarsma, Barbro Kjellstrom, Frederikus A. Klok, Aleksandra Konradi, Konstantinos C. Koskinas, Dipak Kotecha, Irene Lang, Basil S. Lewis, Ales Linhart, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Maja-Lisa Lochen, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Richard Mindham, Shahin Moledina, Robert Naeije, Jens Cosedis Nielsen, Horst Olschewski, Isabelle Opitz, Steffen E. Petersen, Eva Prescott, Amina Rakisheva, Abilio Reis, Arsen D. Ristic, Nicolas Roche, Rita Rodrigues, Christine Selton-Suty, Rogerio Souza, Andrew J. Swift, Rhian M. Touyz, Silvia Ulrich, Martin R. Wilkins, Stephen John Wort
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Marc Humbert, Gabor Kovacs, Marius M. Hoeper, Roberto Badagliacca, Rolf M. F. Berger, Margarita Brida, Jorn Carlsen, Andrew J. S. Coats, Pilar Escribano-Subias, Pisana Ferrari, Diogenes S. Ferreira, Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani, George Giannakoulas, David G. Kiely, Eckhard Mayer, Gergely Meszaros, Blin Nagavci, Karen M. Olsson, Joanna Pepke-Zaba, Jennifer K. Quint, Goran Radegran, Gerald Simonneau, Olivier Sitbon, Thomy Tonia, Mark Toshner, Jean Luc Vachiery, Anton Vonk Noordegraaf, Marion Delcroix, Stephan Rosenkranz
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Uwe Bieri, Benedikt Kranzbuehler, Burkhardt Seifert, Birgit Maria Helmchen, Alexander Gu, Basil Kaufmann, Dejan Lavrek, Thomas Scherer, Marian S. Wettstein, Cedric Poyet, Thomas Hermanns
Summary: Patients with non-muscle invasive urothelial bladder cancer are at increased risk for a secondary upper-urinary-tract urothelial carcinoma. Routine upper-tract imaging surveillance during bladder cancer follow-up may not be useful in detecting these secondary cancers. Risk-adjusted follow-up strategies should be explored in the future.
Article
Oncology
Alexander Laure, Angelica Rigutto, Michaela B. Kirschner, Lennart Opitz, Linda Grob, Isabelle Opitz, Emanuela Felley-Bosco, Stefanie Hiltbrunner, Alessandra Curioni-Fontecedro
Summary: Patient-derived cell lines show closer resemblance to MPM tumors in terms of genome and transcriptome compared to commercial cell lines. This finding has significant implications for using cell line models to study predictive biomarkers and interpret preclinical results that cannot be translated in clinical practice.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lisa Jungblut, Harry Etienne, Caroline Zellweger, Alessandra Matter, Miriam Patella, Thomas Frauenfelder, Isabelle Opitz
Summary: This pilot study in Switzerland assesses the implementation and performance of low-dose CT lung cancer screening and explores its potential impact on reducing mortality rates. The study enrolls participants meeting specific criteria and uses LDCT scans for assessment. Preliminary results suggest the feasibility of LDCT lung cancer screening in Switzerland.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Paula Appenzeller, Mona Lichtblau, Charlotte Berlier, John-David Aubert, Andrea Azzola, Jean-Marc Fellrath, Thomas Geiser, Frederic Lador, Susanne Pohle, Isabelle Opitz, Markus Schwerzmann, Hans Stricker, Michael Tamm, Stephanie Saxer, Silvia Ulrich
Summary: Pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, is a rare and progressive condition. This retrospective analysis of the Swiss Pulmonary Hypertension Registry found that newly diagnosed patients are older, have a more balanced gender distribution, improved hemodynamics, and better survival rates.
PULMONARY CIRCULATION
(2022)
