A novel prostate cancer immunotherapy using prostate-specific antigen peptides and Candida skin test reagent as an adjuvant.

OBJECTIVES: Our group developed the use of the Candida skin test reagent as an adjuvant of cell-mediated immunity in designing a human papillomavirus therapeutic vaccine. Here, this technology is being applied for designing a prostate cancer immunotherapy. METHODS: Peptides based on the prostate-specific antigen amino acid sequences were selected, synthesized, and evaluated in terms of their (1) solubility, (2) maturation effects on Langerhans cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, and (3) recognition by peripheral immune cells from prostate cancer patients using interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. RESULTS: The peptides were soluble in 10 mM succinate at pH of 5 with 5% glycine, and they demonstrated no maturation effects on Langerhans cells from healthy donors. On the other hand, peripheral immune cells from 4 of 10 prostate cancer patients examined had positive responses in enzyme-linked immunospot assay to one or more prostate-specific antigen peptides. CONCLUSION: In summary, a design and a formulation of a novel prostate cancer immunotherapy are described. The immunogenicity of prostate-specific antigen peptides in some prostate cancer patients supports further development of this immunotherapy.

Cancer patient perspectives regarding preparedness for end-of-life care: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The extent to which patients feel prepared for end-of-life (EOL) may be associated with important clinical outcomes. Despite growing interest in the concept of "preparedness," however, there is insufficient information about what cancer patients actually need to feel prepared. Such information is foundational for patient-centered care, theory-building, and instrument development. DESIGN: This qualitative study examined patient perspectives regarding preparedness for EOL care. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with patients with advanced malignancies and limited life expectancies. Participants were drawn from a large academic cancer center and had a diverse range of malignancies. Thematic text analysis was used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: Six overarching themes emerged. These included readiness to manage concerns about: (1) EOL planning (e.g., goals of care, location of care); (2) interactions with healthcare providers (e.g., communication, symptom control); (3) interactions with family/friends (e.g., perceived burden, support); (4) emotional well-being (e.g., existential distress, fulfillment); (5) spiritual well-being (e.g., spiritual comfort, congregational support); and (6) financial well-being (e.g., medical expenses, estate planning). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight areas that patients themselves regard as critical for a sense of preparedness for EOL care. Participants emphasized broader concerns than those previously construed as facets of patient preparedness, and these domains offer modifiable targets for intervention.

Polymethylmethacrylate pulmonary embolism as a complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty in cancer patients.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is frequently used in the treatment of vertebral body fractures due to osteoporosis, vertebral body metastasis, or myeloma. Acrylic cement of polymethylmethacrylate injected into the vertebral body can leak into the paravertebral venous system and reach the pulmonary artery via the azygos vein leading to a cement pulmonary embolism. We are presenting a case of a 78 year old woman who was found to have polymethylmethacrylate pulmonary embolism as a result of vertebroplasty used for vertebral collapse from metastatic breast cancer. The appearance of new intrapulmonary artery tubular opaque density on CXR performed post procedure is highly suggestive of the diagnosis. In this case, we are exploring the importance of clinical and radiographic correlations, as well as evaluation of the hemodynamic and perfusion effect of the cement pulmonary embolism as essential steps in the management of this condition.

Prolonged period of acute bronchitis with late progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome as possible result of influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

Young adults with underlying medical conditions who are infected with the H1N1 virus are at risk of quickly progressing from mild upper airways infection to severe ARDS within 4 to 5 days after the onset of the illness. Here, we report the case of a 46-year-old morbidly obese and diabetic woman infected with the H1N1 virus who developed acute bronchitis that lasted for 4 weeks and then progressed to ARDS. We discuss the month-long persistence of the H1N1 viral bronchitis and its late progression to ARDS which may reflect prolonged viral activity. Such a prolonged, rather than quick, course of deterioration can cause clinicians to misdiagnose the etiology of the ARDS and may cause the patient to receive a prolonged treatment with steroids to treat bronchitis symptoms. These steroids may cause increased viral replication and promote parenchymal involvement and the development of ARDS.

Clinical pathological characteristics and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome resulting from influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Young adults, especially pregnant woman and patients with pre-existing medical conditions, appear to be at risk for the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from influenza A (H1N1) infection, leading to critical hypoxemia. This may require high ventilator settings, the use of nonconventional modes, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in some cases. This severe ARDS may be related to prolonged and virulent viral infection, inducing ongoing aberrant immune responses and leading to extensive lung damage. Duration of antiviral therapy, the timing of steroid introduction, and moving away from standard ventilation techniques in ARDS may be key points in disease management.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with lung involvement in a psoriatic arthritis patient treated with methotrexate.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurs in the setting of methotrexate (MTX) therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. However, it has been very rarely reported in subjects with psoriatic arthritis treated with MTX. We report here a case of a 70-year-old woman with psoriatic arthritis who presented with bilateral lung infiltrates, pleural effusion, splenomegaly, and inguinal lymphadenopathy during treatment with MTX. The diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was made by analysis of the pleural fluid via thoracentesis and biopsy of an enlarged inguinal lymph node. Clinicians should consider the possibility of a NHL complicating psoriasis and with MTX therapy in order to prevent treatment delays.

Squamous cell lung cancer presenting with pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis.

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (PLC) refers to the infiltration of lung lymphatic channels with metastatic carcinoma and is associated with a dismal prognosis. PLC accompanies circa 7% of all pulmonary metastases and is most commonly caused by various metastatic adenocarcinomas. Only two cases of PLC due to squamous cell lung carcinoma have been reported to date in the English literature. We report herein a unique case of squamous cell lung carcinoma with lymphangitic spread, displaying bilateral and diffuse bronchial tree involvement that might have been a result of invasion from the pulmonary lymphatics into the bronchial lumen.