COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusions: A Multidisciplinary Initiative to Operationalize EUA Novel Treatment Options

Introduction: Hodgkin lymphoma is a curable lymphoma with an 80–90% long-term survival, however, 30% of the patients develop relapse. Only half of relapsed patients can be cured with autologous stem cell transplantation. Aim: The aim of the authors was to analyze survival rates and incidence of relapses among Hodgkin lymphoma patients who were treated between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2014. Novel therapeutic options are also summarized. Method: Retrospective analysis of data was performed. Results: A total of 715 patients were treated (382 men and 333 women; median age at the time of diagnosis was 38 years). During the studied period the frequency of relapsed patients was reduced from 24.87% to 8.04%. The numbers of autologous stem cell transplantations was increased among refracter/relapsed patients, and 75% of the patients underwent transplantation since 2000. The 5-year overall survival improved significantly (between 1980 and 1989 64.4%, between 1990 and 1999 82.4%, between 2000 and 2009 88.4%, and between 2010 and 2014 87.1%). Relapse-free survival did not change significantly. Conclusions: During the study period treatment outcomes improved. For relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma patients novel treatment options may offer better chance for cure. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(45), 1824–1833.

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Nano-Neurotherapeutics (NNTs): An Emergent and Multifaceted Tool for CNS Disorders

Current Drug Metabolism ◽

10.2174/1389200221666201124123939 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

Author(s):

Aashish Sharma ◽

Romila Manchanda ◽

Faheem Hyder Pottoo ◽

Ghulam Md. Ashraf

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Driving Force ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Clinical Aspects ◽

Future Scenarios ◽

Cns Disorders ◽

Drug Conjugates ◽

Novel Treatment ◽

Pharmacological Targets

: Impressive research steps have been taken for the treatment of neurological disorders in the last few decades. Still effective treatments of brain related disorders are very less due to problems associated with crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB), non-specific therapies, and delay in functional recovery of central nervous system (CNS) after treatment. Striving for novel treatment options for neurological disorders, nanotechnology-derived materials, and devices have gained the ground due to inherent features of derivatization/encapsulation with drugs as per the neurological ailments and pharmacological targets. Facile developments/syntheses of the nanomaterials-drug conjugates have also been the driving force for researchers to get into this field. Moreover, the tunable size and hydro/lipophilicity of these nanomaterials are the added advantages that make these materials more acceptable for CNS disorders. These nano-neurotherapeutics (NNTs) systems provide the platform for diagnosis, theranostics, treatments, restoration of CNS disorders, and encourage the translation of NNTs from “bench to bedside”. Still, these techniques are in primary stages of medical development. This review describes the latest advancements and future scenarios of developmental and clinical aspects of polymeric NNTs.

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Retargeting of NK-92 Cells against High-Risk Rhabdomyosarcomas by Means of an ERBB2 (HER2/Neu)-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13061443 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1443

Author(s):

Leonie D. H. Gossel ◽

Catrin Heim ◽

Lisa-Marie Pfeffermann ◽

Laura M. Moser ◽

Halvard B. Bönig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Antigen Receptor ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Cell Monolayers ◽

Novel Treatment ◽

Dismal Prognosis

The dismal prognosis of pediatric and young adult patients with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) underscores the need for novel treatment options for this patient group. In previous studies, the tumor-associated surface antigen ERBB2 (HER2/neu) was identified as targetable in high-risk RMS. As a proof of concept, in this study, a novel treatment approach against RMS tumors using a genetically modified natural killer (NK)-92 cell line (NK-92/5.28.z) as an off-the-shelf ERBB2-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered cell product was preclinically explored. In cytotoxicity assays, NK-92/5.28.z cells specifically recognized and efficiently eliminated RMS cell suspensions, tumor cell monolayers, and 3D tumor spheroids via the ERBB2-CAR even at effector-to-target ratios as low as 1:1. In contrast to unmodified parental NK-92 cells, which failed to lyse RMS cells, NK-92/5.28.z cells proliferated and became further activated through contact with ERBB2-positive tumor cells. Furthermore, high amounts of effector molecules, such as proinflammatory and antitumoral cytokines, were found in cocultures of NK-92/5.28.z cells with tumor cells. Taken together, our data suggest the enormous potential of this approach for improving the immunotherapy of treatment-resistant tumors, revealing the dual role of NK-92/5.28.z cells as CAR-targeted killers and modulators of endogenous adaptive immunity even in the inhibitory tumor microenvironment of high-risk RMS.

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Conserved host-pathogen interactions identify novel treatment options in betacoronavirus infections

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41392-021-00480-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Soeren Lukassen ◽

Roland Eils

Keyword(s):

Treatment Options ◽

Host Pathogen Interactions ◽

Novel Treatment ◽

Host Pathogen

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In Vitro Lung Models and Their Application to Study SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and Disease

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13050792 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 792

Author(s):

Natalie Heinen ◽

Mara Klöhn ◽

Eike Steinmann ◽

Stephanie Pfaender

Keyword(s):

Cell Culture ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Pharmaceutical Companies ◽

Cell Culture Techniques ◽

Culture Techniques ◽

Novel Treatment ◽

Cell Culture Systems ◽

Drug Efficiency

SARS-CoV-2 has spread across the globe with an astonishing velocity and lethality that has put scientist and pharmaceutical companies worldwide on the spot to develop novel treatment options and reliable vaccination for billions of people. To combat its associated disease COVID-19 and potentially newly emerging coronaviruses, numerous pre-clinical cell culture techniques have progressively been used, which allow the study of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, basic replication mechanisms, and drug efficiency in the most authentic context. Hence, this review was designed to summarize and discuss currently used in vitro and ex vivo cell culture systems and will illustrate how these systems will help us to face the challenges imposed by the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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