Matroid connectivity and singularities of configuration hypersurfaces.

Consider a linear realization of a matroid over a field. One associates with it a configuration polynomial and a symmetric bilinear form with linear homogeneous coefficients. The corresponding configuration hypersurface and its non-smooth locus support the respective first and second degeneracy scheme of the bilinear form. We show that these schemes are reduced and describe the effect of matroid connectivity: for (2-)connected matroids, the configuration hypersurface is integral, and the second degeneracy scheme is reduced Cohen-Macaulay of codimension 3. If the matroid is 3-connected, then also the second degeneracy scheme is integral. In the process, we describe the behavior of configuration polynomials, forms and schemes with respect to various matroid constructions.

[Erlotinib plus Gemcitabine in metastatic pancreatic cancer: Results from a non-interventional trial]. / Erlotinib plus Gemcitabin als Therapie bei Patienten mit metastasiertem Pankreaskarzinom: Ergebnisse einer nicht-interventionellen Studie.

Metastatic pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis of all cancers. With nab-Paclitaxel/gemcitabine, FOLFIRINOX, and gemcitabine/erlotinib, several treatment options are available which improve the patient's overall survival. Especially for patients who develop rash under erlotinib treatment can benefit from gemcitabine/erlotinib combination therapy. This non-interventional study (NIS ML21284) investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of gemcitabine/erlotinib therapy in the treatment routine of metastatic pancreatic cancer, in particular, in the context of the occurrence of a rash.Between 2007 and 2010, the treatment data of 433 patients in 98 centres were documented. All parameters recorded were assessed descriptively.Treatment with gemcitabine/erlotinib resulted in both a significant increased median overall survival of the patient subgroup with rash grade ≥ 1 (9.90; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 8.19 to 11.05 vs. 6.48 months; 95 % CI, 5.66 to 7.40, p = 0.0010) and median progression-free survival (5.43, 95 % CI, 4.90 to 6.12 vs. 3.98 months, 95 % CI, 3.52 to 5.03, p = 0.0131). The overall response rate of patients treated with gemcitabine/erlotinib, who had developed rash grade ≥ 1, was 5.9 % higher compared to patients without rash (31.7 % vs. 25.8 %).In conclusion, these results from the daily treatment routine of metastatic pancreatic cancer underline the importance of combined gemcitabine/erlotinib therapy for a subgroup of patients who develop a rash in the course of erlotinib treatment.

Nintedanib plus docetaxel after progression on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: insights from VARGADO, a prospective study in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Aim: To assess outcomes in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma non-small-cell lung cancer who received nintedanib plus docetaxel after progression on prior chemotherapy followed by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Patients & methods: VARGADO is a prospective, noninterventional study. We describe initial data from a cohort of 22 patients who received nintedanib plus docetaxel after chemotherapy and ICI therapy. Results: Median progression-free survival with nintedanib plus docetaxel was 5.5 months (95% CI: 1.9-8.7 months). The objective response rate was 7/12 (58%) and the disease control rate was 10/12 (83%). Data for overall survival rate 12 months after the start of treatment (primary end point) are not yet mature and are not reported. Of 22 patients, 73% experienced drug-related adverse events; adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 32% of patients. Conclusion: These data highlight the potential clinical benefit of nintedanib plus docetaxel in patients who failed prior ICI therapy. Trial registration number: NCT02392455.

Bevacizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: results from a large German community-based observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: After approval of bevacizumab in Germany in 2005 for the treatment of unresectable advanced or refractory colorectal cancer (CRC), this observational cohort study was initiated to assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab with various chemotherapy regimen in patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: To facilitate enrolment of a typical mCRC population, eligibility criteria were minimised. Choice of chemotherapy regimen was at the physicians' discretion, but influenced by current registration status. Predefined endpoints were treatment characteristics, response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events assessed as potentially related to bevacizumab treatment. Patients were followed for up to four years. RESULTS: In total 1777 eligible patients were enrolled at 261 sites from January 2005 to June 2008. Median age: 64 years (range 19-100); male 62%; ECOG performance status 0-1/≥ 2 89%/11%. Chemotherapy choice was fluoropyrimidine (FU) 12%, FU/oxaliplatin 18%, FU/irinotecan 64%, no chemotherapy concurrent to bevacizumab 2% and other 4%. Best investigator-assessed response rate was 60% (complete response 10%, partial response 51%). Median PFS was 10.2 months and median OS was 24.8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety profile of bevacizumab in this population of mCRC patients with different chemotherapy regimens is consistent with that observed in other patient registries/non-randomised trials and also corresponds well with data from similar treatment arms of phase III trials.

Bevacizumab in first-line treatment of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: German community-based observational cohort study results.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of first-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapy for untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on age. METHODS: Eligibility criteria focused on M1 disease without prior palliative chemotherapy. Choice of chemotherapy regimen was at the physician's discretion. Predefined efficacy endpoints were response rate, progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS). Patients were analysed by age (<70 vs. ≥70 years, <75 vs. ≥75 years). RESULTS: Of 1777 patients, 27% and 12% were ≥70 and ≥75 years, respectively. PFS was shorter in elderly patients (<70 vs. ≥70 years: 10.5 vs. 9.5 months, p = 0.074; <75 vs. ≥75 years: 10.5 vs. 8.9 months, p = 0.00019), as was OS (<70 vs. ≥70 years: 25.8 vs. 22.7 months, p < 0.0008; <75 vs. ≥75 years: 25.8 vs. 20.8 months; p < 0.0001). In the groups <70 and <75 years, PFS was longer in those receiving oxaliplatin-/irinotecan-containing regimens vs. those receiving 5-FU/capecitabine (<70 years: 10.6 vs. 9.0 months; p = 0.0065; <75 years: 10.6 vs. 9.2 months; p = 0.028); no difference in PFS was observed between oxaliplatin-/irinotecan-containing regimens vs. 5-FU/capecitabine regimens in both elderly age-group comparisons (≥70 years: 9.7 vs. 9.2 months; ≥75 years: 8.3 and 9.0 months). CONCLUSION: First-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapies were effective in German mCRC patients ≥75 years of age, but PFS and OS were significantly shorter in this age group vs. younger patients.

(E)-2-[2-(3-Nitro-phen-yl)ethen-yl]quinolin-8-ol.

In the title compound, C17H12N2O3, the mean planes of the benzene ring and the quinoline moiety are inclined to one another by 11.0 (1)°. The nitro substituent is twisted at an angle of 7.9 (2)° with respect to the attached benzene ring. Intra-molecular O-H⋯N and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds occur. The crystal is constructed of mol-ecular stacks without involvement of π-stacking inter-actions, but showing inter-stack association via O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding. Thus, the supramolecular architecture of the crystal results from stacked molecules stabilized by hydrogen bonding between the stacks.

(E)-2-[2-(4-Carb-oxy-phen-yl)ethen-yl]-8-hydroxy-quinolin-1-ium chloride ethanol monosolvate.

In the title compound, C18H14NO3 (+)·Cl(-)·CH3CH2OH, the dihedral angle formed by the mean planes of the quinolinium and benzene rings is 3.4 (1)°, while the carb-oxy substituent is tilted at an angle of 4.8 (1)° with respect to the benzene ring. There is a short N-H⋯O contact in the cation. In the crystal, due to the planar mol-ecular geometry, two-dimensional aggregates are formed parallel to (221) via C-H⋯O, C-H⋯Cl, O-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. Inter-layer association is accomplished by O-Hethanol⋯Cl and O-H⋯Oethanol hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid distances vary from 3.6477 (12) to 3.8381 (11) Å]. A supra-molecular three-dimensional architecture results from a stacked arrangement of layers comprising the ionic and hydrogen-bonded components.

10-Year Results of FLEx Refractive Surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 10-year results of femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLEx) for treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. METHODS: This long-term follow-up of a prospective clinical trial was conducted at HELIOS Klinikum Erfurt and Phillips University of Marburg, Germany. In 2006, 108 eyes underwent the FLEx procedure. All patients were invited for reexamination 10 years after FLEx treatment for myopia and astigmatism. Visual acuity, objective and manifest refraction, intraocular pressure, and slit-lamp examination and side effects were documented. Main outcome measures were uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, objective and manifest refraction, and slit-lamp examination and side effects. RESULTS: A total of 77 eyes of 40 patients of the original treatment group volunteered for a reexamination 10 years after surgery. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 years; 26 were women and 14 were men. UDVA was 0.09 ± 0.19 logMAR and CDVA was stable at -0.1 ± 0.09 logMAR. More than half of the eyes gained one or two Snellen lines, and none of the eyes lost two or more lines. Over the 10-year period, regression was 0.18 D. CONCLUSIONS: FLEx has stable results 10 years after treatment for myopia and astigmatism. [J Refract Surg. 2019;35(11):707-711.].

Cetuximab plus capecitabine and irinotecan compared with cetuximab plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: AIO KRK-0104--a randomized trial of the German AIO CRC study group.

PURPOSE: The AIO KRK-0104 randomized phase II trial investigated the efficacy and safety of cetuximab combined with capecitabine and irinotecan (CAPIRI) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 185 patients with mCRC were randomly assigned to cetuximab (400 mg/m(2) day 1, followed by 250 mg/m(2) weekly) plus CAPIRI (irinotecan 200 mg/m(2), day 1; capecitabine 800 mg/m(2) twice daily days 1 through 14, every 3 weeks; or cetuximab plus CAPOX (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) day 1; capecitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily day 1 through 14, every 3 weeks). The primary study end point was objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat patient population (n = 177), ORR was 46% (95% CI, 35 to 57) for CAPIRI plus cetuximab versus 48% (95% CI, 37 to 59) for CAPOX plus cetuximab. Analysis of the KRAS gene mutation status was performed in 81.4% of the intention to treat population. Patients with KRAS wild-type in the CAPIRI plus cetuximab arm showed an ORR of 50.0%, a PFS of 6.2 months and an OS of 21.1 months. In the CAPOX plus cetuximab arm, an ORR of 44.9%, a PFS of 7.1 months and an OS of 23.5 months were observed. While ORR and PFS were comparable in KRAS wild-type and mutant subgroups, a trend toward longer survival was associated with KRAS wild-type. Both regimens had manageable toxicity profiles and were safe. CONCLUSION: This randomized trial demonstrates that the addition of cetuximab to CAPIRI or CAPOX is effective and safe in first-line treatment of mCRC. In the analyzed regimens, ORR and PFS did not differ according to KRAS gene mutation status.