Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many types of cancers, especially colorectal cancer (CRC), and seems to reflect more aggressive histological and clinical behaviors. The aim of this study was to evaluate EGFR immunohistochemical reactivity in CRC biopsies, and to analyze its relationship with various histological and clinical characteristics and survival. Patients and methods: A composite EGFR score, obtained by multiplying the grade (% positive cells) by the intensity of labeling (0–9) was used to define patients with low or high EGFR expression whose clinicopathological features were then compared. Univariate tests and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model were applied for data analysis. Results: Tissue sections from 150 CRC patients with a median follow-up of 40 months were examined. Median patient age at diagnosis was 70 years (range 38–89 years). EGFR reactivity was positive for 143 patients (97%) and high for 118 (80%). According to multivariate analysis, EGFR overexpression was significantly associated with tumor stage, with a higher percentage of EGFR overexpression in T3 than T4 (P=0.003) and not with overall survival. Conclusions: EGFR was overexpressed in this CRC patient population and was significantly associated with TNM (tumor–node–metastasis) stage T3. In the context of a new therapeutic strategy using EGFR-targeted therapies, although EGFR remains a controversial prognostic factor, this expression–stage association may play a crucial role in a decision to initiate an adjuvant treatment.

Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is an effective treatment in brain metastases and, when combined with local treatments such as surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery, gives the best brain control. Nonetheless, WBRT is often omitted after local treatment due to its potential late neurocognitive effects. Publications on radiation-induced neurotoxicity have used different assessment methods, time to assessment, and definition of impairment, thus making it difficult to accurately assess the rate and magnitude of the neurocognitive decline that can be expected. In this context, and to help therapeutic decision making, we have conducted this literature review, with the aim of providing an average incidence, magnitude and time to occurrence of radio-induced neurocognitive decline. We reviewed all English language published articles on neurocognitive effects of WBRT for newly diagnosed brain metastases or with a preventive goal in adult patients, with any methodology (MMSE, battery of neurcognitive tests) with which baseline status was provided. We concluded that neurocognitive decline is predominant at 4 months, strongly dependant on brain metastases control, partially solved at later time, graded 1 on a SOMA-LENT scale (only 8% of grade 2 and more), insufficiently assessed in long-term survivors, thus justifying all efforts to reduce it through irradiation modulation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) belongs to a family of receptors known as the ErbB family (ErbB tyrosine kinase receptors) which comprises four proteins encoded by the c-erbB proto-oncogene. EGFR is known to activate a cascade of multiple signaling pathways that facilitate tumor growth process. EGFR has been shown to be overexpressed in colorectal cancer patient populations but its prognostic value in colorectal cancer progression remains unclear. The development of a panel of EGFR inhibitors could reduce the proliferation of tumor cells when used alone or in combination with cytotoxic drugs or radiation. This review focuses on the potential role of EGFR signaling in the survival of colorectal tumor cells and the possible modulation of such signaling pathways by EGFR inhibitors so as to increase tumor control or render tumor cells more sensitive to conventional therapy.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene pathogenic variants account for most hereditary breast cancer and are increasingly used to determine eligibility for PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy of BRCA-related cancer. Because issues of BRCA testing in clinical practice now overlap with both preventive and therapeutic management, updated and comprehensive practice guidelines for BRCA genotyping are needed. The integrative recommendations for BRCA testing presented here aim to (1) identify individuals who may benefit from genetic counselling and risk-reducing strategies; (2) update germline and tumour-testing indications for PARPi-approved therapies; (3) provide testing recommendations for personalised management of early and metastatic breast cancer; and (4) address the issues of rapid process and tumour analysis. An international group of experts, including geneticists, medical and surgical oncologists, pathologists, ethicists and patient representatives, was commissioned by the French Society of Predictive and Personalised Medicine (SFMPP). The group followed a methodology based on specific formal guidelines development, including (1) evaluating the likelihood of BRCAm from a combined systematic review of the literature, risk assessment models and expert quotations, and (2) therapeutic values of BRCAm status for PARPi therapy in BRCA-related cancer and for management of early and advanced breast cancer. These international guidelines may help clinicians comprehensively update and standardise BRCA testing practices.

Therapy with immune check point inhibitors (ICPIs) may have dual benefits in HIV infection by acting not only on the cancers frequently associated but also by helping to purge the HIV reservoirs that indefinitely persist despite antiretroviral therapy. Indeed, it is hypothesized that ICPIs could de-repress the blockade of HIV transcription in the reservoirs concentrated in memory CD4 T cells co-expressing ICPs and simultaneously restore functions in exhausted HIV-specific T cells displaying high Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) levels [1]. This hypothesis has not been confirmed yet. Two case reports of HIV-infected patients treated for cancer with an anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) [2], or an anti-PD1 [3] monoclonal antibody showed a good safety profile that was recently confirmed by two series of patients treated for melanoma (N = 9) [4] or lung cancer (N = 10) [5]. However, no clear effect on HIV reservoirs was reported despite some transient increase in HIV transcription after anti-CTLA-4, and in HIV-specific T cells after anti-PD1 therapy [2, 3]. Here, we report for the first time a new case with a drastic and sustained decrease of the HIV reservoir paralleling the increase in HIV-specific CD8 T cells under anti-PD1 therapy.