The link between cancer and the microbiome is a fast-moving field in research. There is little knowledge on the microbiome in ((pre)malignant) conditions of the vulvar skin. This systematic review... Show moreThe link between cancer and the microbiome is a fast-moving field in research. There is little knowledge on the microbiome in ((pre)malignant) conditions of the vulvar skin. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding the microbiome composition of the healthy vulvar skin and in (pre)malignant vulvar disease. This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive, electronic search strategy was used to identify original research articles (updated September 2021). The inclusion criteria were articles using culture-independent methods for microbiome profiling of the vulvar region. Ten articles were included. The bacterial composition of the vulva consists of several genera including Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus and Prevotella, suggesting that the vulvar microbiome composition shows similarities with the corresponding vaginal milieu. However, the vulvar microbiome generally displayed higher diversity with commensals of cutaneous and fecal origin. This is the first systematic review that investigates the relationship between microbiome and vulvar (pre)malignant disease. There are limited data and the level of evidence is low with limitations in study size, population diversity and methodology. Nevertheless, the vulvar microbiome represents a promising field for exploring potential links for disease etiology and targets for therapy. Show less
The link between cancer and the microbiome is a fast-moving field in research. There is little knowledge on the microbiome in ((pre)malignant) conditions of the vulvar skin. This systematic review... Show moreThe link between cancer and the microbiome is a fast-moving field in research. There is little knowledge on the microbiome in ((pre)malignant) conditions of the vulvar skin. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding the microbiome composition of the healthy vulvar skin and in (pre)malignant vulvar disease. This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive, electronic search strategy was used to identify original research articles (updated September 2021). The inclusion criteria were articles using culture-independent methods for microbiome profiling of the vulvar region. Ten articles were included. The bacterial composition of the vulva consists of several genera including Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus and Prevotella, suggesting that the vulvar microbiome composition shows similarities with the corresponding vaginal milieu. However, the vulvar microbiome generally displayed higher diversity with commensals of cutaneous and fecal origin. This is the first systematic review that investigates the relationship between microbiome and vulvar (pre)malignant disease. There are limited data and the level of evidence is low with limitations in study size, population diversity and methodology. Nevertheless, the vulvar microbiome represents a promising field for exploring potential links for disease etiology and targets for therapy. Show less
Huisman, B.W.; Cankat, M.; Bosse, T.; Vahrmeijer, A.L.; Rissmann, R.; Burggraaf, J.; ... ; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van 2021
Simple Summary: Vulvar tumors are sometimes difficult to distinguish from adjacent healthy tissue during surgery, causing recurrence rates of up to 40% and co-morbidity. Fluorescence-guided surgery... Show moreSimple Summary: Vulvar tumors are sometimes difficult to distinguish from adjacent healthy tissue during surgery, causing recurrence rates of up to 40% and co-morbidity. Fluorescence-guided surgery illuminating neoplastic tissue is increasingly being used to assist surgeons for various types of cancers. As no suitable tracers are known yet for vulvar tumors, we have evaluated which proteins could be targeted for fluorescence-guided surgery. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the distribution of nine membrane proteins in healthy and (pre)malignant tissues that were consequently analyzed using quantitative image analysis. Integrin alpha v beta 6 allowed for the most robust discrimination of VSCCs and adjacent premalignant lesions compared with surrounding healthy tissue. The use of an alpha v beta 6 targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for FGS of vulvar (pre)malignancies should be evaluated in future studies.Surgical removal of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is associated with significant morbidity and high recurrence rates. This is at least partially related to the limited visual ability to distinguish (pre)malignant from normal vulvar tissue. Illumination of neoplastic tissue based on fluorescent tracers, known as fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS), could help resect involved tissue and decrease ancillary mutilation. To evaluate potential targets for FGS in VSCC, immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded premalignant (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia) and VSCC (human papillomavirus (HPV)-dependent and -independent) tissue sections with healthy vulvar skin as controls. Sections were stained for integrin alpha v beta 6, CAIX, CD44v6, EGFR, EpCAM, FR alpha, MRP1, MUC1 and uPAR. The expression of each marker was quantified using digital image analysis. H-scores were calculated and percentages positive cells, expression pattern, and biomarker localization were assessed. In addition, tumor-to-background ratios were established, which were highest for (pre)malignant vulvar tissues stained for integrin alpha v beta 6. In conclusion, integrin alpha v beta 6 allowed for the most robust discrimination of VSCCs and adjacent premalignant lesions compared to surrounding healthy tissue in immunohistochemically stained tissue sections. The use of an alpha v beta 6 targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for FGS of vulvar (pre)malignancies should be evaluated in future studies. Show less
Huisman, B.W.; Cankat, M.; Bosse, T.; Vahrmeijer, A.L.; Rissmann, R.; Burggraaf, J.; ... ; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van 2021
Surgical removal of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is associated with significant morbidity and high recurrence rates. This is at least partially related to the limited visual ability to... Show moreSurgical removal of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is associated with significant morbidity and high recurrence rates. This is at least partially related to the limited visual ability to distinguish (pre)malignant from normal vulvar tissue. Illumination of neoplastic tissue based on fluorescent tracers, known as fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS), could help resect involved tissue and decrease ancillary mutilation. To evaluate potential targets for FGS in VSCC, immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded premalignant (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia) and VSCC (human papillomavirus (HPV)-dependent and -independent) tissue sections with healthy vulvar skin as controls. Sections were stained for integrin αvβ6, CAIX, CD44v6, EGFR, EpCAM, FRα, MRP1, MUC1 and uPAR. The expression of each marker was quantified using digital image analysis. H-scores were calculated and percentages positive cells, expression pattern, and biomarker localization were assessed. In addition, tumor-to-background ratios were established, which were highest for (pre)malignant vulvar tissues stained for integrin αvβ6. In conclusion, integrin αvβ6 allowed for the most robust discrimination of VSCCs and adjacent premalignant lesions compared to surrounding healthy tissue in immunohistochemically stained tissue sections. The use of an αvβ6 targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for FGS of vulvar (pre)malignancies should be evaluated in future studies. Show less
Background A profound insight into the immune landscape of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is lacking. Here, an in-depth interrogation of T cell infiltration, local immune contexture,... Show moreBackground A profound insight into the immune landscape of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is lacking. Here, an in-depth interrogation of T cell infiltration, local immune contexture, signaling pathways and checkpoint molecule expression was performed in early-stage and late-stage VSCC.Methods The type, location, and infiltration pattern of T cells were studied in 109 patients with primary VSCC FIGO stage I-III. RNA expression of genes involved in immune oncology and oncogenic signaling pathways was analyzed in 40 VSCC, matched for prognostic clinicopathological variables, analyzed for HPV and p53 status, and selected based on T cell infiltration.Results High intraepithelial infiltration with CD4 or CD8 T cells was associated with longer overall and recurrence-free survival and formed an independent prognostic factor, outperforming molecular subtype and stage of the disease. Strong T cell infiltrated VSCC displayed a coordinated immune response reflected by a positive association between T cells and different lymphocyte and myeloid cell subsets. The expression of genes involved in the migration of T cells and myeloid cells, T cell activation and costimulation, interferon (IFN)-gamma signaling, cytotoxicity and apoptosis was higher than in low infiltrated tumors. An active immune signaling profile was observed in all inflamed, part of the altered-excluded and not in altered-immunosuppressed or deserted VSCC. While several checkpoint molecules were overexpressed, only PD-L1 expression displayed discriminatory ability and clinical usefulness. High PD-L1 expression was detected in all inflamed and similar to 60% of the altered-excluded VSCC.Conclusion An active immune signaling profile is present in 35% of primary FIGO I-III VSCCs, suggesting potential responsiveness to neoadjuvant PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Show less
Boer, F.L.; Eikelder, M.L.G. ten; Geloven, N. van; Kapiteijn, E.H.; Gaarenstroom, K.N.; Hughes, G.; ... ; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van 2021
Objective. To identify clinicopathological characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with vulvar melanoma (VM). Materials & methods. This... Show moreObjective. To identify clinicopathological characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with vulvar melanoma (VM). Materials & methods. This retrospective multicentre cohort study included 198 women with VM treated in eight cancer centres in the Netherlands and UK between 1990 and 2017. Clinicopathological features, treatment, recurrence, and survival data were collected. Overall and recurrence-free survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic parameters were identified with multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results. The majority of patients (75.8%) had localized disease at diagnosis. VM was significantly associated with high-riskclinicopathological features, including age, tumour thickness, ulceration, positive resection margins and involved lymph nodes. Overall survival was 48% (95% CI 40?56%) and 31% (95% CI 23?39%) after 2 and 5 years respectively and did not improve in patients diagnosed after 2010 compared to patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2009. Recurrence occurred in 66.7% of patients, of which two-third was non-local. In multivariable analysis, age and tumour size were independent prognostic factors for worse survival. Prognostic factors for recurrence were tumour size and tumour type. Only the minority of patients were treated with immuno- or targeted therapy. Conclusion. Our results show that even clinically early-stage VM is an aggressive disease associated with poor clinical outcome due to distant metastases. Further investigation into the genomic landscape and the immune microenvironment in VM may pave the way to novel therapies to improve clinical outcomes in these aggressive tumours. Clinical trials with immunotherapy or targeted therapy in patients with high-risk, advanced or metastatic disease are highly needed.Objective. To identify clinicopathological characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with vulvar melanoma (VM).Materials & methods. This retrospective multicentre cohort study included 198 women with VM treated in eight cancer centres in the Netherlands and UK between 1990 and 2017. Clinicopathological features, treatment, recurrence, and survival data were collected. Overall and recurrence-free survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic parameters were identified with multivariable Cox regression analysis.Results. The majority of patients (75.8%) had localized disease at diagnosis. VM was significantly associated with high-riskclinicopathological features, including age, tumour thickness, ulceration, positive resection margins and involved lymph nodes. Overall survival was 48% (95% CI 40-56%) and 31% (95% CI 23-39%) after 2 and 5 years respectively and did not improve in patients diagnosed after 2010 compared to patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2009. Recurrence occurred in 66.7% of patients, of which two-third was non-local. In multivariable analysis, age and tumour size were independent prognostic factors for worse survival. Prognostic factors for recurrence were tumour size and tumour type. Only the minority of patients were treated with immuno-or targeted therapy.Conclusion. Our results show that even clinically early-stage VM is an aggressive disease associated with poor clinical outcome due to distant metastases. Further investigation into the genomic landscape and the immune microenvironment in VM may pave the way to novel therapies to improve clinical outcomes in these aggressive tumours. Clinical trials with immunotherapy or targeted therapy in patients with high-risk, advanced or metastatic disease are highly needed. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Show less
Rijsbergen, M.; Rijneveld, R.; Todd, M.; Feiss, G.L.; Kouwenhoven, S.T.P.; Quint, K.D.; ... ; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van 2020
AIMS\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION\n To assess safety and tolerability and explore pharmacodynamics and efficacy of omiganan in external anogenital warts (AGW) and vulvar high-grade squamous... Show moreAIMS\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSION\n To assess safety and tolerability and explore pharmacodynamics and efficacy of omiganan in external anogenital warts (AGW) and vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).\nTwo randomized controlled trials in patients with external AGW and vulvar HSIL were conducted. Patients received topical omiganan 2.5% or placebo gel once daily for 12 weeks with a follow-up of 12 weeks. Safety and tolerability were monitored and pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy of omiganan were assessed by analysing lesion count, size and viral load. Self-reported pain, itch and quality of life were assessed by an electronic diary and questionnaire.\nTwenty-four AGW and 12 vulvar HSIL patients were enrolled. All patients had a high treatment adherence (99%). No serious adverse events occurred and all adverse events (n = 27) were mild, transient and self-limiting. The treatment groups were not different in terms of safety and tolerability, lesion count and size, and patient-reported outcomes pain, itch and quality of life. Human papillomavirus load significantly reduced after 12 weeks of treatment with omiganan compared to placebo (-96.6%; 95% confidence interval -99.9 to -7.4%; P = .045) in AGW patients only.\nTopical omiganan appears to be safe in patients with AGW and vulvar HSIL and reduced human papillomavirus load after 12 weeks of treatment in AGW patients. Show less
Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the superiority of ICG-Tc-99m-nanocolloid for the intraoperative visual detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma ... Show moreObjective. The aim of this study was to assess the superiority of ICG-Tc-99m-nanocolloid for the intraoperative visual detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) patients compared to standard SLN detection using Tc-99m-nanocolloid with blue dye.Methods. In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, VSCC patients underwent either the standard SLN procedure or with the hybrid tracer ICG-Tc-99m-nanocolloid. The primary endpoint was the percentage of fluorescent SLNs compared to blue SLNs. Secondary endpoints were successful SLN procedures, surgical outcomes and postoperative complications.Results. Forty-eight patients were randomized to the standard (n = 24) or fluorescence imaging group (n = 24) using ICG-Tc-99m-nanocolloid. The percentage of blue SLNs was 65.3% compared to 92.5% fluorescent SLNs (p < 0.001). A successful SLN procedure was obtained in 92.1% of the groins in the standard group and 97.2% of the groins in the fluorescence imaging group (p = 0.33). Groups did not differ in surgical outcome, although more short-term postoperative complications were documented in the standard group (p = 0.041).Conclusions. Intraoperative visual detection of SLNs in patients with VSCC using ICG-Tc-99m-nanocolloid was superior compared to Tc-99m-nanocolloid and blue dye. The rate of successful SLN procedures between both groups was not significantly different. Fluorescence imaging has potential to be used routinely in the SLN procedure in VSCC patients to facilitate the search by direct visualization. Clinical Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register (Trial ID NL7443). (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. Show less
Objective. There is great need for better risk stratification in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Our aim was to define the prognostic significance of stratifying VSCC based on p16 and p53... Show moreObjective. There is great need for better risk stratification in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Our aim was to define the prognostic significance of stratifying VSCC based on p16 and p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as surrogate markers for HPV and TP53 mutations.Methods. A large retrospective cohort of surgically treated women with primary VSCC was used. VSCC were classified into three subtypes: HPV-positive (HPVpos), HPV-negative/p53 mutant (HPVneg/p53mut), and HPVnegative/p53 wildtype (HPVneg/p53wt). Overall survival (OS), relative survival (RS), and recurrence-free period (RFP) were depicted using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves for relative survival; associations were studied using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models.Results. Of the 413 VSCCs, 75 (18%) were HPVpos, 63 (15%) HPVneg/p53wt, and 275 (66%) HPVneg/p53mut VSCC. Patients with HPVneg/p53mut VSCC had worse OS and RS (HR 3.43, 95%CI 1.80-6.53, and relative excess risk (RER) of 4.02; 95%CI 1.48-10.90, respectively, and worse RFP (HR 3.76, 95%CI 2.02-7.00). HPVpos VSCC patients showed most favorable outcomes. In univariate analysis, the molecular subtype of VSCC was a prognostic marker for OS, RS and RFP (p = 0.003, p = 0.009, p < 0.001, respectively) and remained prognostic for RFP even after adjusting for known risk factors (p = 0.0002).Conclusions. Stratification of VSCC by p16and p53-IHC has potential to be used routinely in diagnostic pathology. It results in the identification of three clinically distinct subtypes and may be used to guide treatment and follow-up, and in stratifying patients in future clinical trials. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Show less
Kortekaas, K.E.; Santegoets, S.J.; Sturm, G.; Ehsan, I.; Egmond, S.L. van; Finotello, F.; ... ; Burg, S.H. van der 2020
The accumulation of tumor-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) effector T cells is key to an effective antitumor response. Locally, CD4(+) T cells promote the recruitment and effector function of tumor... Show moreThe accumulation of tumor-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) effector T cells is key to an effective antitumor response. Locally, CD4(+) T cells promote the recruitment and effector function of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells and activate innate killer cells in the tumor. Here, we show that tumor-specific CD4(+) T cells were predominantly present in the CD39(+) subset of tumorinfiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The CD39(+) CD4(+) and CD8(+) TILs were detected in three different tumor types, and displayed an activated (PD-1(+), HLA(-) DR+) effector memory phenotype. CD4(+) CD39(+) single- cell RNA-sequenced TILs shared similar well-known activation, tissue residency, and effector cellassociated genes with CD8(+) CD39(+) CD103(+) TILs. Finally, analysis of directly ex vivo cell-sorted and in vitro expanded pure populations of CD39-positive and negative CD4(+) and CD8(+) TILs revealed that tumor-specific antigen reactivity was almost exclusively detected among CD39(+) cells. Immunotherapy of cancer is based on the activation of tumor-reactive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. We show that the expression of CD39 can be used to identify, isolate, and expand tumor-reactive T-cell populations in cancers. Show less
Rijsbergen, M.; Rijneveld, R.; Todd, M.; Feiss, G.L.; Kouwenhoven, S.T.P.; Quint, K.D.; ... ; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van 2020
Aims To assess safety and tolerability and explore pharmacodynamics and efficacy of omiganan in external anogenital warts (AGW) and vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).... Show moreAims To assess safety and tolerability and explore pharmacodynamics and efficacy of omiganan in external anogenital warts (AGW) and vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Methods Two randomized controlled trials in patients with external AGW and vulvar HSIL were conducted. Patients received topical omiganan 2.5% or placebo gel once daily for 12 weeks with a follow-up of 12 weeks. Safety and tolerability were monitored and pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy of omiganan were assessed by analysing lesion count, size and viral load. Self-reported pain, itch and quality of life were assessed by an electronic diary and questionnaire. Results Twenty-four AGW and 12 vulvar HSIL patients were enrolled. All patients had a high treatment adherence (99%). No serious adverse events occurred and all adverse events (n =27) were mild, transient and self-limiting. The treatment groups were not different in terms of safety and tolerability, lesion count and size, and patient-reported outcomes pain, itch and quality of life. Human papillomavirus load significantly reduced after 12 weeks of treatment with omiganan compared to placebo (-96.6%; 95% confidence interval -99.9 to -7.4%;P =.045) in AGW patients only. Conclusion Topical omiganan appears to be safe in patients with AGW and vulvar HSIL and reduced human papillomavirus load after 12 weeks of treatment in AGW patients. Show less
Background: Mucosal melanoma (MM) is rare and has a poor prognosis. Since 2011, new effective treatments are available for advanced melanoma. It is unclear whether patients with mucosal melanoma... Show moreBackground: Mucosal melanoma (MM) is rare and has a poor prognosis. Since 2011, new effective treatments are available for advanced melanoma. It is unclear whether patients with mucosal melanoma equally benefit from these new treatments compared with patients with cutaneous melanoma (CM).Methods: Patients with advanced MM and CM diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 were included from a nationwide population-based registry the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry. Overall survival (OS) was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method (also for a propensity score-matched cohort). A Cox model was used to analyse the association of possible prognostic factors with OS.Results: In total, 120 patients with MM and 2960 patients with CM were included. Median OS was 8.7 months and 14.5 months, respectively. Patients with MM were older (median age 70 versus 65 years) and more often female (60% versus 41%), compared with CM. In total, 77% and 2% of the MM patients were treated with first-line immunotherapy and targeted therapy, respectively, compared with 49% and 33% of the CM patients. In contrast to CM, OS for MM did not improve for patients diagnosed in 2015-2017, compared with 2013-2014. ECOG performance score >= 1 (HR = 1.99 [1.26-3.15; p = 0.003]) and elevated LDH level (HR = 1.63 [0.96-2.76]; p = 0.069) in MM were associated with worse survival.Conclusions: Within the era of immune and targeted therapies, prognosis for patients with advanced MM has not improved as much as for CM. Collaboration is necessary to enlarge sample size for research to improve immunotherapeutic strategies and identify targetable mutations. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Show less
Kortekaas, K.E.; Vijver, K.K. van de; Poelgeest, M.I.E. van; Gilks, C.B.; Smit, V.T.H.B.M.; Arif, S.; ... ; Bosse, T. 2020
Surgical resection with free surgical margins is the cornerstone of successful primary treatment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). In general reexcision is recommended when the minimum... Show moreSurgical resection with free surgical margins is the cornerstone of successful primary treatment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). In general reexcision is recommended when the minimum peripheral surgical margin (MPSM) is <8 mm microscopically. Pathologists are, therefore, required to report the minimum distance from the tumor to the surgical margin. Currently, there are no guidelines on how to make this measurement, as this is often considered straightforward. However, during the 2018 Annual Meeting of the British Association of Gynaecological Pathologists (BAGP), a discussion on this topic revealed a variety of opinions with regard to reporting and method of measuring margin clearance in VSCC specimens. Given the need for uniformity and the lack of guidance in the literature, we initiated an online survey in order to deliver a consensus-based definition of peripheral surgical margins in VSCC resections. The survey included questions and representative diagrams of peripheral margin measurements. In total, 57 pathologists participated in this survey. On the basis of consensus results, we propose to define MPSM in VSCC as the minimum distance from the peripheral edge of the invasive tumor nests toward the inked peripheral surgical margin reported in millimeters. This MPSM measurement should run through tissue and preferably be measured in a straight line. Along with MPSM, other relevant measurements such as depth of invasion or tumor thickness and distance to deep margins should be reported. This manuscript provides guidance to the practicing pathologist in measuring MPSM in VSCC resection specimens, in order to promote uniformity in measuring and reporting. Show less
Immunotherapy of vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (vHSIL) is investigated as an alternative for surgery, because of high comorbidity and risk of recurrence. Limited evidence exists... Show moreImmunotherapy of vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (vHSIL) is investigated as an alternative for surgery, because of high comorbidity and risk of recurrence. Limited evidence exists on the role and composition of the immune microenvironment in current immunotherapeutic approaches for vHSIL. The vHSIL of 29 patients biopsied before treatment with imiquimod were analyzed by two multiplex seven-color immunofluorescence panels to investigate the pre-existing T-cell and myeloid cell composition in relation to treatment response. The samples were scanned with the Vectra multispectral imaging system. Cells were automatically phenotyped and counted with inForm advanced image analysis software. Cell counts and composition were compared to that of vHSIL patients before therapeutic vaccination (n = 29) and to healthy vulva (n = 27). Our data show that the immune microenvironment of complete responders (CR) to imiquimod resembled the coordinated infiltration with type 1 CD4(+)and CD8(+)T cells and CD14(+)inflammatory myeloid cells also found in healthy vulva. However, more CD8(+)T cells and FoxP3(+)regulatory T cells were present in CR. The lesions of partial responders (PR) lacked such a coordinated response and displayed an impaired influx of CD14(+)inflammatory myeloid cells. Importantly, complete responses after imiquimod or therapeutic vaccination showed the same dependency on a pre-existing coordinated type 1 T-cell and CD14(+)myeloid cell infiltration. In conclusion, a good clinical outcome after two different forms of immunotherapy for vHSIL is associated with the presence of a primary inflammatory process resulting in the coordinated influx of several types of immune cells which is then amplified. Show less
Melief, C.J.M.; Welters, M.J.P.; Vergote, I.; Kroep, J.R.; Kenter, G.G.; Ottevanger, P.B.; ... ; Burg, S.H. van der 2020
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have effectively induced durable regressions of premalignant oncogenic human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16)-induced anogenital lesions. However, the treatment of HPV16... Show moreTherapeutic cancer vaccines have effectively induced durable regressions of premalignant oncogenic human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16)-induced anogenital lesions. However, the treatment of HPV16-induced cancers requires appropriate countermeasures to overcome cancer-induced immune suppression. We previously showed that standard-of-care carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy can reduce abnormally high numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells in patients, allowing the development of much stronger therapeutic HPV16 vaccine (ISA101)-induced tumor immunity. We now show the clinical effects of ISA101 vaccination during chemotherapy in 77 patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer in a dose assessment study of ISA101. Tumor regressions were observed in 43% of 72 evaluable patients. The depletion of myeloid suppressive cells by carboplatin/paclitaxel was associated with detection of low frequency of spontaneous HPV16-specific immunity in 21 of 62 tested patients. Patients mounted type 1 T cell responses to the vaccine across all doses. The group of patients with higher than median vaccine-induced immune responses lived longer, with a flat tail on the survival curve. This demonstrates that chemoimmunotherapy can be exploited to the benefit of patients with advanced cancer based on a defined mode of action. Show less
Rijsbergen, M.; Niemeyer-van der Kolk, T.; Rijneveld, R.; Pinckaers, J.H.F.M.; Meshcheriakov, I.; Bavinck, J.N.B.; ... ; Rissmann, R. 2020
BackgroundAssessment of treatment effects in clinical trials requires valid information on treatment adherence, adverse events and symptoms. Paper-based diaries are often inconvenient and have... Show moreBackgroundAssessment of treatment effects in clinical trials requires valid information on treatment adherence, adverse events and symptoms. Paper-based diaries are often inconvenient and have limited reliability, particularly for outpatient trials.ObjectivesTo investigate the utility of an electronic diary (e-diary) application for patients with skin diseases in outpatient clinical trials.MethodsAn e-diary application was developed and technically validated. Treatment adherence was defined as topical administration by the patient, and patient-reported outcomes, i.e. pain and itch, were evaluated by the e-diary in six clinical trials on newly tested topical drugs. Additionally, the proportion of patients capturing the applied topical drug by camera and filling in the pain and itch scores was defined as e-diary adherence, and patients' perception of usefulness and acceptability of the e-diary were evaluated.ResultsTreatment adherence rates of the included 256 patients were high (median 98%, range 97-99%). E-diary adherence was also high with a median of 93% (range 87-97%) for capturing the applied drug by camera, and 89% (range 87-96%) and 94% (range 87-96%) for entering respectively the itch and pain score. Daily symptom scores provided good insights into the disease burden, and patients rated the e-diary as good to excellent with respect to user acceptability.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the e-diary is an excellent way to ensure proper treatment administration, indicated by both the high user acceptability scores and high treatment adherence. Moreover, the e-diary may also be valuable for frequent and reliable monitoring of patient-reported outcomes in daily clinical practice. Show less
Introduction. Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy with an increasing incidence, especially in young women. Surgical treatment of VSCC is associated with significant morbidity... Show moreIntroduction. Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy with an increasing incidence, especially in young women. Surgical treatment of VSCC is associated with significant morbidity and high recurrence rates, which is related to the limited ability to distinguish (pre)malignant from healthy tissue. There is a need for new tools for specific real-time detection of occult tumor lesions and localization of cancer margins in patients with VSCC. Several tumor-specific imaging techniques are developed to recognize malignant tissue by targeting tumor markers. We present a systematic review to identify, evaluate, and summarize potential markers for tumor-specific imaging of VSCC.Methods. Relevant papers were identified by a systematic cross-database literature search developed with assistance of an experienced librarian. Data were extracted from eligible papers and reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. VSCC-specific tumor markers were valued based on a weighted scoring system, in which each biomarker was granted points based on ranked eligibility criteria: I) percentage expression, II) sample size, and Ill) in vivo application.Results. In total 627 papers were included of which 22 articles met the eligibility criteria. Twelve VSCC-specific tumor markers were identified and of these 7 biomarkers were considered most promising: EGFR, CD44v6, GLUT1, MRP1, MUC1, CXCR-4 and VEGF-A.Discussion. This overview identified 7 potential biomarkers that can be used in the development of VSCCspecific tracers for real-time and precise localization of tumor tissue before, during, and after treatment. These biomarkers were identified in a small number of samples, without discriminating for VSCC-specific hallmarks such as HPV-status. Before clinical development, experimental studies should first aim at validation of these biomarkers using immunohistochemistry and cell line-based examination, discriminating for HPV-status and the expression rate in lymph nodes and precursor lesions. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. Show less
Introduction. Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy with an increasing incidence, especially in young women. Surgical treatment of VSCC is associated with significant morbidity... Show moreIntroduction. Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is a rare malignancy with an increasing incidence, especially in young women. Surgical treatment of VSCC is associated with significant morbidity and high recurrence rates, which is related to the limited ability to distinguish (pre)malignant from healthy tissue. There is a need for new tools for specific real-time detection of occult tumor lesions and localization of cancer margins in patients with VSCC. Several tumor-specific imaging techniques are developed to recognize malignant tissue by targeting tumor markers. We present a systematic review to identify, evaluate, and summarize potential markers for tumor-specific imaging of VSCC.Methods. Relevant papers were identified by a systematic cross-database literature search developed with assistance of an experienced librarian. Data were extracted from eligible papers and reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. VSCC-specific tumor markers were valued based on a weighted scoring system, in which each biomarker was granted points based on ranked eligibility criteria: I) percentage expression, II) sample size, and Ill) in vivo application.Results. In total 627 papers were included of which 22 articles met the eligibility criteria. Twelve VSCC-specific tumor markers were identified and of these 7 biomarkers were considered most promising: EGFR, CD44v6, GLUT1, MRP1, MUC1, CXCR-4 and VEGF-A.Discussion. This overview identified 7 potential biomarkers that can be used in the development of VSCCspecific tracers for real-time and precise localization of tumor tissue before, during, and after treatment. These biomarkers were identified in a small number of samples, without discriminating for VSCC-specific hallmarks such as HPV-status. Before clinical development, experimental studies should first aim at validation of these biomarkers using immunohistochemistry and cell line-based examination, discriminating for HPV-status and the expression rate in lymph nodes and precursor lesions. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. Show less
