Large-scale screening of patients with lung cancer for EGFR mutations is feasible and can have a role in decisions about treatment.

Epigenetic abnormalities are common in hematologic malignancies, including multiple myeloma, and their effects can be efficiently counteracted by a class of tumor suppressor miRNAs, named epi-miRNAs. Given the oncogenic role of histone deacetylases (HDAC) in multiple myeloma, we investigated whether their activity could be antagonized by miR-29b, a well-established epi-miRNA. We demonstrated here that miR-29b specifically targets HDAC4 and highlighted that both molecules are involved in a functional loop. In fact, silencing of HDAC4 by shRNAs inhibited multiple myeloma cell survival and migration and triggered apoptosis and autophagy, along with the induction of miR-29b expression by promoter hyperacetylation, leading to the downregulation of prosurvival miR-29b targets (SP1, MCL-1). Moreover, treatment with the pan-HDAC inhibitor SAHA upregulated miR-29b, overcoming the negative control exerted by HDAC4. Importantly, overexpression or inhibition of miR-29b, respectively, potentiated or antagonized SAHA activity on multiple myeloma cells, as also shown in vivo by a strong synergism between miR-29b synthetic mimics and SAHA in a murine xenograft model of human multiple myeloma. Altogether, our results shed light on a novel epigenetic circuitry regulating multiple myeloma cell growth and survival and open new avenues for miR-29b-based epi-therapeutic approaches in the treatment of this malignancy. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(6); 1-12. Ó2016 AACR.

The introduction of druggable targets has significantly improved the outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC). EML4-ALK translocation represents 4-6% of the druggable alterations in NSCLC.With the approval of Crizotinib, first discovered drug for the EML4-ALK translocation, on first line treatment for patients with detected mutation meant a complete change on the treatment landscape. The current standard method for EML4-ALK identification is immunohistochemistry or FISH in a tumor biopsy. However, a big number of NSCLC patients have not tissue available for analysis and others are not suitable for biopsy due to their physical condition or the location of the tumor. Liquid biopsy seems the best alternative for identification in these patients that have no tissue available. Circulating free RNA has not been validated for the identification of this mutation. As a complementary tool, exosomes might represent a good tool for predictive biomarkers study, and due to their stability, they preserve the genetic material contained in them. Our group has described for the first time the translocation EML4-ALK in RNA isolated from exosomes derived from NSCLC patients using next generation sequencing.

Background: Unresectable LAPC has a poor prognosis. Current standard-of-care (SoC) is limited to chemotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy. Phosphorus-32 (P-32) microparticles comprise a brachytherapy device that implants a predetermined dose of beta radiation-emitting P-32 into pancreatic tumors via endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance. Here, we report updated results of the pilot PanCO study of P-32 microparticles combined with SoC chemotherapy in patients with unresectable LAPC.Methods: Eligible patients could receive either gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GNP; 28day cycles) or FOLFIRINOX (14-day cycles) chemotherapy. P-32 microparticles (OncoSilÔ; OncoSil Medical) implantation was planned at weeks 4-5. P-32 activity was calculated from patients' tumor volume (TV) to deliver 100 Gy absorbed dose, with implantation assessment by EUS and Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT imaging. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability, graded using CTCAE v4.0. Response was assessed using RECIST 1.1 with 8-weekly CT scans and FDG-PET scans at baseline and week 12. abstracts Annals of Oncology Volume 31 -Issue S3 -2020 S233

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