Chava Perry

Bio: Chava Perry is an academic researcher from Tel Aviv University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 90 publications receiving 1638 citations. Previous affiliations of Chava Perry include Weizmann Institute of Science & Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT in patients with extranodal marginal zone MALT lymphoma

Abstract: Background: 18 Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ( 18 FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used for initial staging and follow-up in patients with malignant lymphoma. While earlier studies suggested a limited role for PET in extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma patients due to their non-FDG avidity, more recent reports have suggested that the issue is controversial. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of PET integrated with CT (PETCT) in patients with MALT lymphoma and assessed its reliability in clinical staging and monitoring response. Methods: Thirty-three patients with biopsy proven MALT lymphoma in 37 sites, who underwent PET ⁄CT at diagnosis, were enrolled. Medical records, PET ⁄CT findings and data obtained by other diagnostic procedures were reviewed. Results: Common sites of MALT lymphoma were the stomach (18), lung (5), orbit (4), and parotid gland (3). PET ⁄CT detected active disease in 18 of 33 patients (54.5%) at diagnosis. Sensitivity in gastric MALT (38.9%) was lower when compared with non-gastric MALT (75%). PET ⁄CT detected active disease in 100% patients with advanced disease (stage III‐IV) but only in 42.3% with early stage disease (I‐II). The incidence of gastric FDG uptake was higher in patients showing gastric ulcer on gastroscopy than in subjects with minimal or no macroscopic findings. Of the 33 patients in the study cohort, 12 had a followup PET ⁄CT which detected relapse in three patients. Conclusions: These data suggest that PET ⁄CT is a useful tool for both, initial staging and follow-up after therapy in patients with MALT lymphoma. Its sensitivity depends on disease location and stage at initial diagnosis.

Safety and Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients after Allogeneic HCT or CD19-based CART therapy-A Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study.

Abstract: Data are scarce regarding both the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients undergoing immune cell therapy; thus, we prospectively evaluated these two domains in patients receiving this vaccine after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT; n = 66) or after CD19-based chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CART) therapy (n = 14). Overall, the vaccine was well tolerated, with mild non-hematologic vaccine-reported adverse events in a minority of the patients. Twelve percent of the patients after the first dose and 10% of the patients after the second dose developed cytopenia, and there were three cases of graft-versus-host disease exacerbation after each dose. A single case of impending graft rejection was summarized as possibly related. Evaluation of immunogenicity showed that 57% of patients after CART infusion and 75% patients after allogeneic HCT had evidence of humoral and/or cellular response to the vaccine. The Cox regression model indicated that longer time from infusion of cells, female sex, and higher CD19+ cells were associated with a positive humoral response, whereas a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio was correlated with a positive cellular response, as confirmed by the ELISpot test. We conclude that the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has impressive immunogenicity in patients after allogeneic HCT or CART. Adverse events were mostly mild and transient, but some significant hematologic events were observed; hence, patients should be closely monitored.

Immune modulation of learning, memory, neural plasticity and neurogenesis

Abstract: Over the past two decades it became evident that the immune system plays a central role in modulating learning, memory and neural plasticity. Under normal quiescent conditions, immune mechanisms are activated by environmental/psychological stimuli and positively regulate the remodeling of neural circuits, promoting memory consolidation, hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and neurogenesis. These beneficial effects of the immune system are mediated by complex interactions among brain cells with immune functions (particularly microglia and astrocytes), peripheral immune cells (particularly T cells and macrophages), neurons, and neural precursor cells. These interactions involve the responsiveness of non-neuronal cells to classical neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate and monoamines) and hormones (e.g., glucocorticoids), as well as the secretion and responsiveness of neurons and glia to low levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and TNFα, as well as other mediators, such as prostaglandins and neurotrophins. In conditions under which the immune system is strongly activated by infection or injury, as well as by severe or chronic stressful conditions, glia and other brain immune cells change their morphology and functioning and secrete high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins. The production of these inflammatory mediators disrupts the delicate balance needed for the neurophysiological actions of immune processes and produces direct detrimental effects on memory, neural plasticity and neurogenesis. These effects are mediated by inflammation-induced neuronal hyper-excitability and adrenocortical stimulation, followed by reduced production of neurotrophins and other plasticity-related molecules, facilitating many forms of neuropathology associated with normal aging as well as neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Role of Imaging in the Staging and Response Assessment of Lymphoma: Consensus of the International Conference on Malignant Lymphomas Imaging Working Group

Abstract: PurposeRecent advances in imaging, use of prognostic indices, and molecular profiling techniques have the potential to improve disease characterization and outcomes in lymphoma. International trials are under way to test image-based response–adapted treatment guided by early interim positron emission tomography (PET) –computed tomography (CT). Progress in imaging is influencing trial design and affecting clinical practice. In particular, a five-point scale to grade response using PET-CT, which can be adapted to suit requirements for early- and late-response assessment with good interobserver agreement, is becoming widely used both in practice- and response-adapted trials. A workshop held at the 11th International Conference on Malignant Lymphomas (ICML) in 2011 concluded that revision to current staging and response criteria was timely.MethodsAn imaging working group composed of representatives from major international cooperative groups was asked to review the literature, share knowledge about research i...

The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73: Novel checkpoint inhibitor targets.

Abstract: Cancers are able to grow by subverting immune suppressive pathways, to prevent the malignant cells as being recognized as dangerous or foreign. This mechanism prevents the cancer from being eliminated by the immune system and allows disease to progress from a very early stage to a lethal state. Immunotherapies are newly developing interventions that modify the patient's immune system to fight cancer, by either directly stimulating rejection-type processes or blocking suppressive pathways. Extracellular adenosine generated by the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 is a newly recognized "immune checkpoint mediator" that interferes with anti-tumor immune responses. In this review, we focus on CD39 and CD73 ectoenzymes and encompass aspects of the biochemistry of these molecules as well as detailing the distribution and function on immune cells. Effects of CD39 and CD73 inhibition in preclinical and clinical studies are discussed. Finally, we provide insights into potential clinical application of adenosinergic and other purinergic-targeting therapies and forecast how these might develop in combination with other anti-cancer modalities.