AllergoOncology - the impact of allergy in oncology: EAACI position paper

Th2 immunity and allergic immune surveillance play critical roles in host responses to pathogens, parasites and allergens. Numerous studies have reported significant links between Th2 responses and cancer, including insights into the functions of IgE antibodies and associated effector cells in both antitumour immune surveillance and therapy. The interdisciplinary field of AllergoOncology was given Task Force status by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2014. Affiliated expert groups focus on the interface between allergic responses and cancer, applied to immune surveillance, immunomodulation and the functions of IgE-mediated immune responses against cancer, to derive novel insights into more effective treatments. Coincident with rapid expansion in clinical application of cancer immunotherapies, here we review the current state-of-the-art and future translational opportunities, as well as challenges in this relatively new field. Recent developments include improved understanding of Th2 antibodies, intratumoral innate allergy effector cells and mediators, IgE-mediated tumour antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells, as well as immunotherapeutic strategies such as vaccines and recombinant antibodies, and finally, the management of allergy in daily clinical oncology. Shedding light on the crosstalk between allergic response and cancer is paving the way for new avenues of treatment.

32nd International Austrian Winter Symposium : Zell am See, the Netherlands. 20-23 January 2016

A1 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in staging and restaging of Prostate Cancer Patients: comparative study with 18F-Choline PET/CT

W Langsteger, A Rezaee, W Loidl, HS Geinitz, F Fitz, M Steinmair, G Broinger, L Pallwien-Prettner, M Beheshti

A2 F18 Choline PET – CT: an accurate diagnostic tool for the detection of parathyroid adenoma?

L Imamovic, M Beheshti, G Rendl, D Hackl, O Tsybrovsky, M Steinmair, K Emmanuel, F Moinfar, C Pirich, W Langsteger

A3 [18F]Fluoro-DOPA-PET/CT in the primary diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma

A Bytyqi, G Karanikas, M Mayerhöfer, O Koperek, B Niederle, M Hartenbach

A4 Variations of clinical PET/MR operations: An international survey on the clinical utilization of PET/MRI

T Beyer, K Herrmann, J Czernin

A5 Standard Dixon-based attenuation correction in combined PET/MRI: Reproducibility and the possibility of Lean body mass estimation

I Rausch, P Rust, MD DiFranco, M Lassen, A Stadlbauer, ME Mayerhöfer, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, T Beyer

A6 High resolution digital FDG PET/MRI imaging for assessment of ACL graft viability

K Binzel, R Magnussen, W Wei, MU Knopp, DC Flanigan, C Kaeding, MV Knopp

A7 Using pre-existing hematotoxicity as predictor for severe side effects and number of treatment cycles of Xofigo therapy

A Leisser, M Nejabat, M Hartenbach, G Kramer, M Krainer, M Hacker, A Haug

A8 QDOSE – comprehensive software solution for internal dose assessment

Wencke Lehnert, Karl Schmidt, Sharok Kimiaei, Marcus Bronzel, Andreas Kluge

A9 Clinical impact of Time-of-Flight on next-generation digital PET imaging of Yttrium-90 radioactivity following liver radioembolization

CL Wright, K Binzel, J Zhang, Evan Wuthrick, Piotr Maniawski, MV Knopp

A10 Snakes in patients! Lessons learned from programming active contours for automated organ segmentation

M Blaickner, E Rados, A Huber, M Dulovits, H Kulkarni, S Wiessalla, C Schuchardt, RP Baum, B Knäusl, D Georg

A11 Influence of a genetic polymorphism on brain uptake of the dual ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate [11C]tariquidar

M Bauer, B Wulkersdorfer, W Wadsak, C Philippe, H Haslacher, M Zeitlinger, O Langer

A12 Outcome prediction of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery from P-glycoprotein activity. Pooled analysis of (R)-[11C]-verapamil PET data from two European centres

M Bauer, M Feldmann, R Karch, W Wadsak, M Zeitlinger, MJ Koepp, M-C Asselin, E Pataraia, O Langer

A13 In-vitro and in-vivo characterization of [18F]FE@SNAP and derivatives for the visualization of the melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1

M Zeilinger, C Philippe, M Dumanic, F Pichler, J Pilz, M Hacker, W Wadsak, M Mitterhauser

A14 Reducing time in quality control leads to higher specific radioactivity of short-lived radiotracers

L Nics, B Steiner, M Hacker, M Mitterhauser, W Wadsak

A15 In vitro 11C-erlotinib binding experiments in cancer cell lines with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations

A Traxl, Thomas Wanek, Kushtrim Kryeziu, Severin Mairinger, Johann Stanek, Walter Berger, Claudia Kuntner, Oliver Langer

A16 7-[11C]methyl-6-bromopurine, a PET tracer to measure brain Mrp1 function: radiosynthesis and first PET evaluation in mice

S Mairinger, T Wanek, A Traxl, M Krohn, J Stanek, T Filip, M Sauberer, C Kuntner, J Pahnke, O Langer

A17 18F labeled azidoglucose derivatives as “click” agents for pretargeted PET imaging

D Svatunek, C Denk, M Wilkovitsch, T Wanek, T Filip, C Kuntner-Hannes, J Fröhlich, H Mikula

A18 Bioorthogonal tools for PET imaging: development of radiolabeled 1,2,4,5-Tetrazines

C Denk, D Svatunek, T Wanek, S Mairinger, J Stanek, T Filip, J Fröhlich, H Mikula, C Kuntner-Hannes

A19 Preclinical evaluation of [18F]FE@SUPPY- a new PET-tracer for oncology

T Balber, J Singer, J Fazekas, C Rami-Mark, N Berroterán-Infante, E Jensen-Jarolim, W Wadsak, M Hacker, H Viernstein, M Mitterhauser

A20 Investigation of Small [18F]-Fluoroalkylazides for Rapid Radiolabeling and In Vivo Click Chemistry

C Denk, D Svatunek, B Sohr, H Mikula, J Fröhlich, T Wanek, C Kuntner-Hannes, T Filip

A21 Microfluidic 68Ga-radiolabeling of PSMA-HBED-CC using a flow-through reactor

S Pfaff, C Philippe, M Mitterhauser, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, W Wadsak

A22 Influence of 24-nor-ursodeoxycholic acid on hepatic disposition of [18F]ciprofloxacin measured with positron emission tomography

T Wanek, E Halilbasic, M Visentin, S Mairinger, B Stieger, C Kuntner, M Trauner, O Langer

A23 Automated 18F-flumazenil production using chemically resistant disposable cassettes

P Lam, M Aistleitner, R Eichinger, C Artner

A24 Similarities and differences in the synthesis and quality control of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE, 177Lu -HA-DOTA-TATE and 177Lu-DOTA-PSMA (PSMA-617)

H Eidherr, C Vraka, A Haug, M Mitterhauser, L Nics, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, W Wadsak

A25 68Ga- and 177Lu-labelling of PSMA-617

H Kvaternik, R Müller, D Hausberger, C Zink, RM Aigner

A26 Radiolabelling of liposomes with 67Ga and biodistribution studies after administration by an aerosol inhalation system

U Cossío, M Asensio, A Montes, S Akhtar, Y te Welscher, R van Nostrum, V Gómez-Vallejo, J Llop

A27 Fully automated quantification of DaTscan SPECT: Integration of age and gender differences

F VandeVyver, T Barclay, N Lippens, M Troch

A28 Lesion-to-background ratio in co-registered 18F-FET PET/MR imaging – is it a valuable tool to differentiate between low grade and high grade brain tumor?

L Hehenwarter, B Egger, J Holzmannhofer, M Rodrigues-Radischat, C Pirich

A29 [11C]-methionine PET in gliomas - a retrospective data analysis of 166 patients

N Pötsch, I Rausch, D Wilhelm, M Weber, J Furtner, G Karanikas, A Wöhrer, M Mitterhauser, M Hacker, T Traub-Weidinger

A30 18F-Fluorocholine versus 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose for PET/CT imaging in patients with relapsed or progressive multiple myeloma: a pilot study

T Cassou-Mounat, S Balogova, V Nataf, M Calzada, V Huchet, K Kerrou, J-Y Devaux, M Mohty, L Garderet, J-N Talbot

A31 Prognostic benefit of additional SPECT/CT in sentinel lymph node mapping of breast cancer patients

S Stanzel, G Pregartner, T Schwarz, V Bjelic-Radisic, B Liegl-Atzwanger, R Aigner

A32 Evaluation of diagnostic value of TOF-18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected pancreatic cancer

S Stanzel, F Quehenberger, RM Aigner

A33 New quantification method for diagnosis of primary hyperpatahyroidism lesions and differential diagnosis vs thyropid nodular disease in dynamic scintigraphy

A Koljević Marković, Milica Janković, V Miler Jerković, M Paskaš, G Pupić, R Džodić, D Popović

A34 A rare case of diffuse pancreatic involvement in patient with merkel cell carcinoma detected by 18F-FDG

MC Fornito, D Familiari

A35 TSH-stimulated 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent/metastatic radioiodine-negative differentiated thyroid carcinomas in patients with various thyroglobuline levels

P Koranda, H Polzerová, I Metelková, L Henzlová, R Formánek, E Buriánková, M Kamínek

A36 Breast Dose from lactation following I131 treatment

WH Thomson, C Lewis

A37 A new concept for performing SeHCAT studies with the gamma camera

WH Thomson, J O’Brien, G James, A Notghi

A38 Whole body F-18-FDG-PET and tuberculosis: sensitivity compared to x-ray-CT

H Huber, I Stelzmüller, R Wunn, M Mandl, F Fellner, B Lamprecht, M Gabriel

A39 Emerging role 18F-FDG PET-CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of the infection in heartware ventricular assist system (HVAD)

MC Fornito, G Leonardi

A40 Validation of Poisson resampling software

WH Thomson, J O’Brien, G James

A41 Protection of PET nuclear medicine personnel: problems in satisfying dose limit requirements

J Hudzietzová, J Sabol, M Fülöp

Ebola virus disease: awareness among junior doctors in England

The current Ebola virus epidemic continues to pose a threat to the UK. Junior clinicians are often at the frontline of medical care in hospitals and their awareness of the clinical features and management of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) may significantly influence the timely implementation of infection control measures. In view of this, we carried out a cross-sectional survey of 119 junior doctors across four different hospitals in England in order to assess their level of knowledge of EVD. We demonstrate that there is currently a deficiency of knowledge about critical aspects of EVD in this population.

[Viral screening of organ donors and human cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in the Hungarian population]

The authors investigated 998 organ-donors for Human cytomegalovirus seroprevalence. The donors were divided into three age-groups. In organ-donors the seroprevalence was found to be 84%. A study was also conducted on a fourth group consisting of 200 residents from an old-age home. The youngest donor was 2 years of age, the eldest old-age home resident was of 92 years. The examined persons represent the hungarian population. It was found that as the result of the investigation of all 1198 subjects, the Human cytomegalovirus overall seroprevalence in Hungary is 86%. The age specific prevalence increases starting from 73% in the first group (2 to 20 years old) to 99% in the fourth group (71 to 92 years old). This has indicated that most of the population acquired the primary infection in the childhood or during early adulthood. According to these results the authors resumed that in Hungary the Human cytomegalovirus seroprevalence is high. This would cause problems when a seronegative organ-recipient needs an organ transplantation. Between males and females a significant difference of Human cytomegalovirus seroprevalence was found: 89% of females were seropositive in contrast to 81% of males (p < 0.05). The organ-donors were also examined for the presence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV. 1.8% of donors were HbsAg positive, 0.9% were anti-HCV positive and 1 person was anti-HIV positive, but these results weren't verificated.

Telomere associations in interphase nuclei: possible role in maintenance of interphase chromosome topology

The relative sizes of individual telomeres in cultured human cells under conditions of cell cycling, replicative quiescence, cell transformation and immortalization were determined using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) with a telomere-specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe. Results obtained from analysis of telomere length profiles (TLPs), which display the distribution of relative telomere lengths for individual cells, confirmed telomere length heterogeneity at the single cell level and proportional shortening of telomere length during replicative aging of virus-transformed cells. TLPs also revealed that some telomeric ends of chromosomes are so closely juxtaposed within interphase nuclei that their fluorescent signals appear as a single spot. These telomeric associations (TAs) were far more prevalent in interphase nuclei of noncycling normal and virus-transformed cells than in their cycling counterparts. The number of interphase TAs per nucleus observed in late-passage E6/E7-transformed cells did not increase during progression to crisis, suggesting that telomere shortening does not increase the frequency of interphase TAs. Furthermore, interphase TAs were rarely observed in rapidly cycling, telomerase-positive, immortalized cells that exhibit somewhat shortened, but stabilized, telomere length through the activity of telomerase. Our overall results suggest that the number of interphase TAs is dependent more on whether or not cells are cycling than on telomere length, with TAs being most prominent in the nuclei of replicatively quiescent cells in which nonrandom (even preferred) chromosome spatial arrangements have been observed. We propose that interphase TAs may play a role in the generation and/or maintenance of nuclear architecture and chromosome positional stability in interphase nuclei, especially in cells with a prolonged G(1)/G(0) phase and possibly in terminally differentiated cells.

Chromosome spatial order in human cells: evidence for early origin and faithful propagation

We have investigated the origin and nature of chromosome spatial order in human cells by analyzing and comparing chromosome distribution patterns of normal cells with cells showing specific chromosome numerical anomalies known to arise early in development. Results show that all chromosomes in normal diploid cells, triploid cells and in cells exhibiting nondisjunction trisomy 21 are incorporated into a single, radial array (rosette) throughout mitosis. Analysis of cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization, digital imaging and computer-assisted image analysis suggests that chromosomes within rosettes are segregated into tandemly linked "haploid sets" containing 23 chromosomes each. In cells exhibiting nondisjunction trisomy 21, the distribution of chromosome 21 homologs in rosettes was such that two of the three homologs were closely juxtaposed, a pattern consistent with our current understanding of the mechanism of chromosomal nondisjunction. Rosettes of cells derived from triploid individuals contained chromosomes segregated into three, tandemly linked haploid sets in which chromosome spatial order was preserved, but with chromosome positional order in one haploid set inverted with respect to the other two sets. The spatial separation of homologs in triploid cells was chromosome specific, providing evidence that chromosomes occupy preferred positions within the haploid sets. Since both triploidy and nondisjunction trisomy 21 are chromosome numerical anomalies that arise extremely early in development (e.g., during meiosis or during the first few mitoses), our results support the idea that normal and abnormal chromosome distribution patterns in mitotic human cells are established early in development, and are propagated faithfully by mitosis throughout development and into adult life. Furthermore, our observations suggest that segregation of chromosome homologs into two haploid sets in normal diploid cells is a remnant of fertilization and, in normal diploid cells, reflects segregation of maternal and paternal chromosomes.

The relationship of nasopharyngeal carcinomas and second independent malignancies based on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group experience

The authors sought to learn if the incidence of second independent malignancies after the irradiation of carcinomas of the nasopharynx is similar to that observed after treatment of tumors arising in other head and neck sites. One hundred twenty-one patients who had primary carcinomas of the nasopharynx who were treated solely by ionizing radiation (according to the specifications of a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol) were identified and their subsequent well-being was reviewed. Overall there was a 4.1% incidence of second malignancies (2% after 3 years, 5% after 5 years, and 8% after 8 years) with most arising in the upper aerodigestive tract. This rate is significantly less than the rate associated with other head and neck sites. It is not significantly different from the rate of first malignancies observed in an age-matched and sex-matched population. When only those patients who were free of all evidence of neoplastic disease 6 months after the completion of radiotherapy are considered, similar analysis leads to similar outcomes. The authors conclude that the risk of second malignancies after the successful irradiation of carcinomas of the nasopharynx is substantially less than after treatment of tumors at other head and neck sites.

Failure of misonidazole-sensitized radiotherapy to impact upon outcome among stage III-IV squamous cancers of the head and neck

As part of the RTOG research effort in the treatment of advanced, inoperable squamous cancer of the head and neck region, the hypoxic cell sensitizer, misonidazole, was selected for investigation as an adjuvant to definitive irradiation. Based upon a pilot experience (78-02) showing a 67% complete response rate among 36 AJC Stage III-IV patients receiving full-dose irradiation and 6 weekly p.o. doses of misonidazole, a phase III trial was carried out from '79-'83. Three hundred and six patients were entered, 42% of whom had oropharyngeal primaries and with 78% of all cases representing T3 or T4 (inoperable) lesions. Only 16% of the entire series presented with N0 necks. Fractionation was altered among the misonidazole-receiving patients, in contrast to "standard" 5 treatments per week among "control" patients, such that 2 separate treatments were given on each day of p.o. misonidazole administration (2.0 gm/m2/wk X 6 doses, 2.5 Gy in a.m., 2.1 Gy in p.m.). Total tumor doses were identical among the two treatment arms except that a limitation of 40.0 Gy to spinal cord was specified for sensitized radiotherapy vs. 45.0 Gy for "control" patients. Primary tumor clearance was observed to be 55-60%, with minor variations according to tumor stage and site. The local regional control rate among radiotherapy-alone patients was 26% at 2 years compared to 22% (2 years) within the misonidazole-receiving group. Analysis of survival revealed no advantage to the sensitized patients, with 55 +/- 2% surviving 1 year and 22 +/- 1% living 3 years following treatment in both treatment categories. Distant metastases as first site of failure (12-13%) and the local failure among initial complete responders (46%) showed no advantage to the misonidazole group. Although a misonidazole dosage of 2.0 gm/m2/wk X 6 (12 gm/m2 total) is well tolerated, no clinical benefit was demonstrated in this randomized trial. Other nitroimidazole analogs (e.g. SR-2508) are now being investigated.