University of Turin

About: University of Turin is a education organization based out in Turin, Piemonte, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 29607 authors who have published 77952 publications receiving 2480900 citations. The organization is also known as: Universita degli Studi di Torino & Università degli Studi di Torino.

Evaluation of candidate control genes for diagnosis and residual disease detection in leukemic patients using 'real-time' quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) - a Europe against cancer program

Abstract: Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RQ-PCR) is a sensitive tool to monitor minimal residual disease (MRD) in leukemic patients through the amplification of a fusion gene (FG) transcript. In order to correct variations in RNA quality and quantity and to calculate the sensitivity of each measurement, a control gene (CG) transcript should be amplified in parallel to the FG transcript. To identify suitable CGs, a study group within the Europe Against Cancer (EAC) program initially focused on 14 potential CGs using a standardized RQ-PCR protocol. Based on the absence of pseudogenes and the level and stability of the CG expression, three genes were finally selected: Abelson (ABL), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), and beta-glucuronidase (GUS). A multicenter prospective study on normal (n=126) and diagnostic leukemic (n=184) samples processed the same day has established reference values for the CG expression. A multicenter retrospective study on over 250 acute and chronic leukemia samples obtained at diagnosis and with an identified FG transcript confirmed that the three CGs had a stable expression in the different types of samples. However, only ABL gene transcript expression did not differ significantly between normal and leukemic samples at diagnosis. We therefore propose to use the ABL gene as CG for RQ-PCR-based diagnosis and MRD detection in leukemic patients. Overall, these data are not only eligible for quantification of fusion gene transcripts, but also for the quantification of aberrantly expressed genes.

Environmental Implications of Hydroxyl Radicals ((•)OH).

Abstract: The hydroxyl radical (•OH) is one of the most powerful oxidizing agents, able to react unselectively and instantaneously with the surrounding chemicals, including organic pollutants and inhibitors. The •OH radicals are omnipresent in the environment (natural waters, atmosphere, interstellar space, etc.), including biological systems where •OH has an important role in immunity metabolism. We provide an extensive view on the role of hydroxyl radical in different environmental compartments and in laboratory systems, with the aim of drawing more attention to this emerging issue. Further research on processes related to the hydroxyl radical chemistry in the environmental compartments is highly demanded. A comprehensive understanding of the sources and sinks of •OH radicals including their implications in the natural waters and in the atmosphere is of crucial importance, including the way irradiated chromophoric dissolved organic matter in surface waters yields •OH through the H2O2-independent pathway, and the ...

Mutant antimicrobial peptide hepcidin is associated with severe juvenile hemochromatosis.

Abstract: Animal models indicate that the antimicrobial peptide hepcidin (HAMP; OMIM 606464) is probably a key regulator of iron absorption in mammals. Here we report the identification of two mutations (93delG and 166C→T) in HAMP on 19q13 in two families with a new type of juvenile hemochromatosis.

Phase III randomized trial comparing three platinum-based doublets in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate whether two commonly used newer platinum-based regimens offer any advantage over vinorelbine-cisplatin (reference regimen) in response rate for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients were randomized to receive gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 day 2 every 21 days (GC arm), or paclitaxel 225 mg/m2 (3-hour infusion) then carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve of 6 mg/mL·min), both on day 1 every 21 days (PCb arm), or vinorelbine 25 mg/m2/wk for 12 weeks then every other week plus cisplatin 100 mg/m2 day 1 every 28 days (VC arm). RESULTS: Six hundred twelve patients were randomized to treatment (205 GC, 204 PCb, and 203 VC). Overall response rates for the GC (30%) and PCb (32%) arms were not significantly different from that of the VC arm (30%). There were no differences in overall survival, time to disease progression, or time to treatment failure. Median survival for the GC, P...

Targeting CD38 with daratumumab monotherapy in multiple myeloma

Abstract: BACKGROUND Multiple myeloma cells uniformly overexpress CD38. We studied daratumumab, a CD38-targeting, human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody, in a phase 1–2 trial involving patients with relapsed myeloma or relapsed myeloma that was refractory to two or more prior lines of therapy. METHODS In part 1, the dose-escalation phase, we administered daratumumab at doses of 0.005 to 24 mg per kilogram of body weight. In part 2, the dose-expansion phase, 30 patients received 8 mg per kilogram of daratumumab and 42 received 16 mg per kilogram, administered once weekly (8 doses), twice monthly (8 doses), and monthly for up to 24 months. End points included safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics. RESULTS No maximum tolerated dose was identified in part 1. In part 2, the median time since diagnosis was 5.7 years. Patients had received a median of four prior treatments; 79% of the patients had disease that was refractory to the last therapy received (64% had disease refractory to proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs and 64% had disease refractory to bortezomib and lenalidomide), and 76% had received autologous stem-cell transplants. Infusion-related reactions in part 2 were mild (71% of patients had an event of any grade, and 1% had an event of grade 3), with no dose-dependent adverse events. The most common adverse events of grade 3 or 4 (in ≥5% of patients) were pneumonia and thrombocytope nia. The overall response rate was 36% in the cohort that received 16 mg per kilogram (15 patients had a partial response or better, including 2 with a complete response and 2 with a very good partial response) and 10% in the cohort that received 8 mg per kilogram (3 had a partial response). In the cohort that received 16 mg per kilogram, the median progression-free survival was 5.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2 to 8.1), and 65% (95% CI, 28 to 86) of the patients who had a response did not have progression at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Daratumumab monotherapy had a favorable safety profile and encouraging efficacy in patients with heavily pretreated and refractory myeloma. (Funded by Janssen Research and Development and Genmab; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00574288.)