MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: THE THIRD MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE SYMPOSIUM ON CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE AT ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, BUFFALO, NY, SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2023.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Symposia on Cancer Research and Care (MSCS-CRC) promote collaborations between cancer researchers and care providers in the United States, Canada and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies, advance early detection and prevention, increase cancer awareness, and improve cancer care and the quality of life of patients and their families. The third edition of MSCS-CRC, held at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, in September 2023, brought together 137 participants from 20 academic institutions in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia and Hungary, together with 16 biotech and pharma entities. The key areas of collaborative opportunity identified during the meeting are a) creating of a database of available collaborative projects in the areas of early-phase clinical trials, preclinical development, and identification of early biomarkers; b) promoting awareness of cancer risks and efforts at cancer prevention; c) laboratory and clinical training; and d) sharing experience in cost-effective delivery of cancer care and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Examples of ongoing international collaborations in the above areas were discussed. Participation of the representatives of the Warsaw-based Medical Research Agency, National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States, National Cancer Research Institutes of Poland and Lithuania, New York State Empire State Development, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Translational Research Cancer Center Consortium of 13 cancer centers from the US and Canada, facilitated the discussion of available governmental and non-governmental funding initiatives in the above areas.

Role of Vitamin D and Its Receptors in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease that represents a challenging therapeutic problem. Vitamin D and its receptors (VDR) are involved in the regulation of the immune system and may play role in CRS. Objectives of this study were to assess the relationships between the total concentration of vitamin D (25VD3) in sera, vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression, 1α-hydroxylase expression, and clinical data, including age, gender, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), computerized tomography (CT) scan, allergy status, and vitamin D supplementation in CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and in a control group. METHODS: The studied group comprised 52 patients with CRS without nasal polyps (sNP), 55 with CRS with nasal polyps (wNP), and 59 in the control group. The endpoints were determined by appropriate methods. We conducted immunohistochemical staining of gathered tissue from the ostiomeatal complex for determination of VDR and 1α-hydroxylase. Analytical results were compared with clinical data as already noted. RESULTS: A decrease in VDR nuclear staining occurred in CRS patients as compared to controls. Insignificant differences were observed in 1α-hydroxylase, expression in all studied groups, while VDR and cytochrome CYP27B1 protein expression (1α-hydroxylase) correlated with clinical data. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide evidence that indicates that vitamin D and its receptor and enzymes may play a role in CRS.