Avelumab: A Novel Anti-PD-L1 Agent in the Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Urothelial Cell Carcinoma.

Long-term treatment in the setting of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) has shown that current first-line chemotherapeutic agents are losing effectiveness and that there are limited treatment options available outside of radiation therapy and surgical interventions. The use of immunotherapeutic agents such as monoclonal antibodies has been considered a promising alternative for cancers that progress despite treatment with radiation therapy, surgery, and/or chemotherapeutic agents. Cancer cells escape immune surveillance by interrupting immune checkpoint pathways, resulting in dysregulation of T-cell function and so preventing its antitumor effects. In early 2017, avelumab (BAVENCIO®), a PD-L1-blocking monoclonal antibody agent, was approved for the treatment of metastatic MCC and UC. Trials that evaluated avelumab for the treatment of metastatic MCC and UC were the JAVELIN Merkel 200 Trial and the JAVELIN Solid Tumor trial, respectively. Efficacy results for both trials showed positive overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival rate (PFS). A strong safety profile was also established for avelumab. This review provides a brief introduction to checkpoint inhibitors and focuses on the recently approved PD-L1 inhibitor, avelumab.

Inhibition of lipid oxidation in refrigerated and frozen salted raw minced chicken breasts with electron beam irradiated almond skin powder.

Antioxidant effects of electron beam irradiated almond skin powder (ASP) in raw minced chicken breasts (MCB) during refrigerated and frozen storage were studied. MCB samples were treated with BHT, non-irradiated ASP (0kGy), irradiated ASP (10kGy, 20kGy and 30kGy) and compared to MCB without antioxidants. Colour was determined on initial and final day of analysis while conjugated dienes (CD), peroxide values (POV), TBARS and hexanal content were evaluated periodically for 12 days of refrigerated storage and seven months of frozen storage. ASP addition lowered L* values compared to MCB without ASP or BHT. During refrigerated storage, MCB containing ASP had decreased formation of lipid oxidation products ranging from 0 to 66%, 7 to 24%, 0 to 37% and 4 to 71% reduction in POV, CD, TBARS and hexanal content, respectively, as compared to MCB without antioxidants over duration of study. A 15-65%, 3-25%, 14-50% and 28-82% reduction in POV, CD, TBARS and hexanal content, respectively, for frozen MCB was detected.