Prognostic value of ultra-low-pass whole-genome sequencing of circulating tumor DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma under systemic treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: New prognostic markers are needed to identify patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who carry a worse prognosis. Ultra-low-pass whole-genome sequencing (ULP-WGS) (≤0.5× coverage) of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a low-cost promising tool to assess both circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) fraction and large structural genomic alterations. Here, we studied the performance of ULP-WGS of plasma cfDNA to infer prognosis in patients with HCC. METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained from patients with HCC prior to surgery, locoregional or systemic therapy, and were analyzed by ULP-WGS of cfDNA to an average genome-wide fold coverage of 0.3x. ctDNA and copy number alterations (CNA) were estimated using the software package ichorCNA. RESULTS: Samples were obtained from 73 HCC patients at different BCLC stages (BCLC 0/A: n=37, 50.7%; BCLC B/C: n=36, 49.3%). ctDNA was detected in 18 out of 31 patients who received systemic treatment. Patients with detectable ctDNA showed significantly worse overall survival (median, 13.96 months vs not reached). ctDNA remained an independent predictor of prognosis after adjustment by clinical-pathologic features and type of systemic treatment (hazard ratio 7.69; 95%, CI 2.09-28.27). Among ctDNA-positive patients under systemic treatments, the loss of large genomic regions in 5q and 16q arms was associated with worse prognosis after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: ULP-WGS of cfDNA provides clinically relevant information about the tumor biology. The presence of ctDNA and the loss of 5q and 16q arms in ctDNA-positive patients are independent predictors of worse prognosis in patients with advanced HCC receiving systemic therapy.

Partial Radiation Nephrectomy Using 90 Y Resin Microspheres: A Treatment Option for Renal Tumors With Malignant Characteristics in Patients Not Candidates for Surgery.

ABSTRACT: Contrast-enhancing renal masses are likely to be malignant in over 90% of cases due to the high diagnostic accuracy of abdominal imaging. In this situation, tumor biopsy is unnecessary and should be managed as a renal cell carcinoma. Resection remains the only potentially curative treatment. However, as in the case herein presented, comorbidities can prevent surgical resection. Radioembolization with 90 Y microspheres is an intra-arterial procedure capable of delivering high doses of radiation to tumors. The present case demonstrates the concept of partial radiation nephrectomy in treating renal tumors with malignant characteristics in patients not amenable to surgery.

Systemic lupus erythematosus myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: Cases of acute myocarditis have been after administration of the BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. OBJECTIVE: Describe another possible mechanism of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the clinical case of a 72-year-old female with pleuritic chest pain one week after the third of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Serological tests for cardiotropic pathogens were negative, and autoimmunity screening was positive with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in 1:160 dilution, Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-histone antibodies. 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a focal myocardial and pericardial inflammatory process in the cardiac apex. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis was made with myocardial affection. As far as we know, this is the first report of a case of lupus myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: Given the pathogenic rationales, the association between SLE and myocarditis should be considered.

Systemic lupus erythematosus myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination / Miocarditis por lupus eritematoso sistémico después de la vacunación contra el COVID-19

Introduction: Cases of acute myocarditis have been after administration of the BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. Objective: Describe another possible mechanism of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. Case presentation: We describe the clinical case of a 72-year-old female with pleuritic chest pain one week after the third of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Serological tests for cardiotropic pathogens were negative, and autoimmunity screening was positive with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in 1:160 dilution, Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-histone antibodies. 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a focal myocardial and pericardial inflammatory process in the cardiac apex. Results and discussion: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis was made with myocardial affection. As far as we know, this is the first report of a case of lupus myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Given the pathogenic rationales, the association between SLE and myocarditis should be considered.(AU)

Introducción: Se han presentado casos de miocarditis aguda tras la administración de las vacunas BNT162b2 y Ad26.COV2.S. Objetivo: Describir otro posible mecanismo de miocarditis posterior a la vacunación contra el COVID-19. Presentación del caso: Describimos el caso clínico de una mujer de 72 años con dolor torácico pleurítico una semana después de la tercera vacuna de ARNm BNT162b2. Las pruebas serológicas para patógenos cardiotrópos fueron negativas y el cribado de autoinmunidad fue positivo con anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA) en dilución 1:160, anticuerpos anti-ADN de doble cadena (anti-dsADN) y antihistonas. La tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada (PET/TC) con 18F-fluorodesoxiglucosa (FDG) mostró un proceso inflamatorio miocárdico y pericárdico focal en el ápex cardíaco. Resultados y discusión: Se realizó el diagnóstico de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) con afectación miocárdica. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer reporte de un caso de miocarditis lúpica después de la vacuna contra el COVID-19. Conclusión: Dadas las justificaciones patogénicas, se debe considerar la asociación entre lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) y miocarditis.(AU)

Systemic lupus erythematosus myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination.

Introduction: Cases of acute myocarditis have been after administration of the BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. Objective: Describe another possible mechanism of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. Case presentation: We describe the clinical case of a 72-year-old female with pleuritic chest pain one week after the third of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Serological tests for cardiotropic pathogens were negative, and autoimmunity screening was positive with anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in 1:160 dilution, Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and anti-histone antibodies. 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a focal myocardial and pericardial inflammatory process in the cardiac apex. Results and discussion: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis was made with myocardial affection. As far as we know, this is the first report of a case of lupus myocarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Given the pathogenic rationales, the association between SLE and myocarditis should be considered.

Introducción: Se han presentado casos de miocarditis aguda tras la administración de las vacunas BNT162b2 y Ad26.COV2.S. Objetivo: Describir otro posible mecanismo de miocarditis posterior a la vacunación contra el COVID-19. Presentación del caso: Describimos el caso clínico de una mujer de 72 años con dolor torácico pleurítico una semana después de la tercera vacuna de ARNm BNT162b2. Las pruebas serológicas para patógenos cardiotrópos fueron negativas y el cribado de autoinmunidad fue positivo con anticuerpos antinucleares (ANA) en dilución 1:160, anticuerpos anti-ADN de doble cadena (anti-dsADN) y antihistonas. La tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada (PET/TC) con 18F-fluorodesoxiglucosa (FDG) mostró un proceso inflamatorio miocárdico y pericárdico focal en el ápex cardíaco. Resultados y discusión: Se realizó el diagnóstico de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) con afectación miocárdica. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer reporte de un caso de miocarditis lúpica después de la vacuna contra el COVID-19. Conclusión: Dadas las justificaciones patogénicas, se debe considerar la asociación entre lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) y miocarditis.