Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy最新文献

{"title":"SEQUENTIAL FDG PET/CT FOLLOW-UP IN A RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT WITH MULTIPLE CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS AND POST-TRANSPLANT LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDER: SUSTAINED METABOLIC STABILITY WITHOUT PROGRESSION","authors":"Barbara Rayne Santos de Alencar,&nbsp;Mariana Maitto,&nbsp;Tomás Agnello,&nbsp;Barbara Juarez Amorim,&nbsp;Elba C.S. Camargo Etchebehere,&nbsp;Allan Oliveira Santos,&nbsp;Celso Dario Ramos,&nbsp;Mariana da Cunha Lopes de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most frequent malignancy in solid-organ transplant recipients, promoted by chronic immunosuppression and oncogenic viral mechanisms. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) may coexist or alternate with epithelial neoplasms, complicating follow-up. FDG PET/CT plays a pivotal role in differentiating recurrence, metastasis, and inflammation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To describe sequential FDG PET/CT findings in a renal-transplant recipient with overlapping cSCC and PTLD, highlighting the role of metabolic imaging in disease monitoring.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Clinical, histopathological, and imaging data were retrospectively reviewed. Serial FDG PET/CT scans (2022–2025) were analyzed for SUVmax, anatomic distribution, and temporal evolution.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A 54-year-old woman, 12 years post-renal transplant under tacrolimus and prednisone, had multiple cSCCs, Merkel-cell carcinoma, vulvar carcinoma (2021) and PTLD-DLBCL (2022) treated with mini-CHOP + rituximab. The PET/CT in Nov 2023 revealed FDG-avid subcutaneous lesions in the right leg (SUVmax 33) and a lingular pulmonary nodule (SUVmax 4.1). Biopsy confirmed poorly differentiated SCC, leading to transtibial amputation (Jun 2024, clear margins). PET/CT May 2024 showed postoperative uptake and bone-marrow activation; the pulmonary nodule remained stable. PET/CT Mar 2025 demonstrated absence of progression and stable pulmonary lesion, consistent with controlled disease.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Chronic immunosuppression predisposes to multiple synchronous malignancies. Serial PET/CT was decisive for distinguishing inflammation from recurrence, preventing overtreatment, and confirming metabolic stability after surgery. Recent evidence shows PET/CT enhances early relapse detection and guides immunosuppression adjustment in transplant oncology. In this case, sustained metabolic stability underscored the effectiveness of multimodal management and the integrative value of PET/CT in long-term surveillance of immunosuppressed patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"THE WASHOUT PHENOMENON AS A THERANOSTIC CHALLENGE: A KINETIC ANALYSIS OF 18F-PSMA UPTAKE IN ADVANCED HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA","authors":"Giulia Picciola Bordoni,&nbsp;Maria Emilia Seren Takahashi,&nbsp;Fabíola Furtuoso Zarpelão,&nbsp;Najua Abou Arabi Silveira,&nbsp;Victor C.C.R. Heringer,&nbsp;Simone Kuba,&nbsp;Natália Tobar Toledo Prudente da Silva,&nbsp;Sérgio Querino Brunetto,&nbsp;José Barreto Campello Carvalheira,&nbsp;Carmino Antonio de Souza,&nbsp;Celso Dario Ramos","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106311","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction/Justification&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal neoplasm characterized by intense angiogenesis. While Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) was originally associated with prostate cancer, it is extensively overexpressed in the endothelial cells of the tumor neovasculature in HCC, rather than in the tumor cells themselves. This characteristic positions 18F-PSMA PET/CT as a promising in vivo biomarker for angiogenesis. However, unlike the metabolic trapping observed with other tracers, the temporal behavior of PSMA in HCC is not fully understood. Understanding the kinetic profile of this radiotracer is critical for the “Theranostics” approach, as rapid washout poses a significant challenge regarding the absorbed radiation dose and the efficacy of future Radioligand Therapies (RLT). This study investigates the kinetic behavior of 18F-PSMA in HCC, focusing specifically on the washout pattern observed in dual-time point imaging.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To evaluate the kinetic profile and temporal stability of 18F-PSMA uptake in patients with advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma using a dual-time point PET/CT protocol. Specifically,the study aims to quantify the variation in Maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax) between early and late acquisitions to characterize the washout phenomenon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This prospective, single-center cohort study was conducted at blinding. The protocol included patients with confirmed advanced or unresectable HCC. Participants underwent a dual-time point 18F-PSMA PET/CT scan. Images were acquired at two distinct time points: Early (90 minutes post-injection) and Late (150 minutes post-injection). The primary quantitative parameter analyzed was the SUVmax of the hepatic lesions. The kinetic variation (SUVmax) was calculated using the formula: DeltaSUVmax(%) = [(Late SUVmax - Early SUVmax) /Early SUVmax] × 100. A negative DeltaSUVmax indicates a washout pattern, while a positive value indicates accumulation/retention.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The cohort consisted of 11 patients (median age 77 years). The 18F-PSMA PET/CT showed positive uptake in the 10 of 11 patients. The kinetic analysis revealed a predominant pattern of signal reduction over time. In the early phase, the mean SUVmax of the lesions was (23.9 ± 10.5). In the late phase, there was a decrease in signal intensity, with the mean SUVmax dropping to 18.3 ± 8.3. The calculation of DeltaSUVmax confirmed a consistent washout phenomenon, with a mean variation of -21.69% ± 28.83%. This kinetic behavior contrasts with the progressive accumulation often seen in tumors where the target is internalized and retained intracellularly.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study demonstrates that 18F-PSMA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma exhibits a distinct kinetic profile characterized by significant washout between 90 and 150 minutes. This finding supports","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106311"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"FDG PET/CT FINDINGS IN A GIANT CELL TUMOR OF THE DISTAL FEMUR MIMICKING HIGH-GRADE SARCOMA: DIAGNOSTIC AND METABOLIC IMPLICATIONS","authors":"Barbara Rayne Santos de Alencar,&nbsp;Mariana Maitto,&nbsp;Tomás Agnello,&nbsp;Barbara Juarez Amorim,&nbsp;Elba C.S. Camargo Etchebehere,&nbsp;Allan Oliveira Santos,&nbsp;Celso Dario Ramos,&nbsp;Mariana da Cunha Lopes de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm representing about 5% of primary bone tumors, typically affecting the metaepiphyseal region of long bones in young adults. On 18F-FDG PET/CT, these lesions often show intense uptake due to the high glycolytic activity of stromal and multinucleated giant cells. This overlap with malignant sarcomas can complicate diagnosis and impact therapeutic decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To describe the metabolic and morphological features of a distal femoral GCT on 18F-FDG PET/CT and discuss diagnostic challenges related to its high glycolytic activity and differentiation from sarcomatous lesions.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>A 25-year-old male presented with progressive left-knee pain and swelling for six months. MRI showed an expansile metaepiphyseal lesion with cortical thinning and septations. Bone scintigraphy revealed a “doughnut” uptake pattern suggesting an aggressive yet likely benign lesion. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed 60 minutes after intravenous tracer injection using a dedicated hybrid scanner (BLINDING). Images were visually and semi-quantitatively analyzed using SUVmax measurement.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PET/CT demonstrated intense FDG uptake (SUVmax 15.1) in the distal femoral lesion with cortical rupture and a soft-tissue component of 11 cm, without other hypermetabolic foci. The high SUV initially raised suspicion for osteosarcoma, but histopathology revealed spindle cells and multinucleated giant cells with low mitotic activity, confirming GCT with fibrohistiocytic features. The patient underwent tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction, achieving satisfactory functional recovery.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>GCTs may exhibit SUV values as high as those of malignant sarcomas. This finding reflects increased glycolysis in tumor stroma and osteoclast-like cells rather than true malignant transformation. Histopathologic confirmation remains essential, as FDG uptake alone cannot distinguish benign from malignant bone lesions. Recent studies demonstrate that FDG PET/CT may aid in monitoring response to denosumab therapy and detecting recurrence after surgery. Understanding this metabolic overlap is crucial for avoiding overtreatment and optimizing management in musculoskeletal oncology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PEPTIDE INHIBITORS IN MDA-MB-231 BREAST CANCER CELL LINE","authors":"Felipe Barbieri Gabrielli ,&nbsp;Fernanda Ferreira Mendonça ,&nbsp;Danielle Vieira Sobral ,&nbsp;Caiubi Rodrigues de Paula Santos ,&nbsp;Marycel Rosa Felisa Figols de Barboza ,&nbsp;Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi ,&nbsp;Luciana Malavolta","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106286","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among Brazilian women and is frequently characterized by overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein closely associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The MDA-MB-231 (EGFR-overexpressing) cell line is widely used model for investigating receptor-ligand interactions. Due to their high affinity for EGFR, peptides such as GE11 and EEEEYFELV have emerged as promising candidates for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in tumors expressing this molecular marker.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to evaluate the interaction of the GE11 and EEEEYFELV peptides toward EGFR in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Peptides were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using the Fmoc/tBu strategy and subsequently characterized and purified by HPLC. The GE11 and EEEEYFELV peptides were radiolabeled with Iodine-131 (¹³¹I) using the Chloramine-T method. Radiochemical yields of [¹³¹I]I-GE11 and [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV were evaluated by ascending thin-layer chromatography (TLC). For [¹³¹I]I-GE11, TLC-SG with 95% acetonitrile was used as the stationary and mobile phase, respectively, whereas [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV was analyzed using Whatman 3MM with 95% methanol as the mobile phase. Radiochemical stability was assessed at room temperature for up to 4h. The radiolabeled peptides, [¹³¹I]I-GE11 and [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV were incubated with 2 × 106 MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells at 37°C under gentle agitation (500 rpm) to evaluate binding and internalization at 1 and 2h post-incubation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To date, the peptides [¹³¹I]I-GE11 and [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV have been successfully synthesized, characterized, and purified, achieving yields of approximately 80% for both peptides. After radiolabeling, radiochemical purities of about 94% were obtained for compounds. Stability assays for [¹³¹I]I-GE11 demonstrated radiolabeling maintenance of 93.09% (1h), 85.87% (2h), and 89% (4h). Similarly, [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV showed stability percentages of 88.78% (1h), 88.54% (2h), and 87.69% (4h). In vitro assays indicated affinity of [¹³¹I]I-GE11 for MDA-MB-231 cells, with binding percentages of 1.77 ± 0.52% (1h) and 2.21 ± 0.26% (2h), and internalization rates of 67.80 ± 5.38% (1h) and 31.77 ± 5.39% (2h). For [¹³¹I]I-EEEEYFELV, binding percentages were 1.22 ± 0.25% (1h) and 0.91 ± 0.22% (2h), while internalization rates reached 43.77 ± 10.86% (1h) and 10.21 ± 5.59% (2h).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Preliminary results of this study demonstrate that GE11 and EEEEYFELV peptides were successfully synthesized and radiolabeled, exhibiting high radiochemical yields and satisfactory stability under the evaluated conditions. In the in vitro assays performed to date, [¹³¹I]I-GE11 showed binding and internalization affinity in MDA-MB-231 cells, consistent with the known E","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106286"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS AS PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH SORAFENIB","authors":"Yolanda José Ricardo Soares Manuel,&nbsp;Ananda Giovana Cabral Silva,&nbsp;Renata Erbert Contriciani,&nbsp;Leo Victor Kim,&nbsp;Sandra Regina Branbilla,&nbsp;Ligia M. Antunes Correa,&nbsp;Maria Carolina Santos Mendes,&nbsp;José Barreto Campello Carvalheira","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor prognosis. Systemic inflammation, assessed by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), has been associated with tumor progression and reduced survival; however, its prognostic value in HCC patients treated with sorafenib remains incompletely defined.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To evaluate the association between systemic inflammation, assessed by NLR, and clinical and nutritional characteristics with overall survival in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>This retrospective single-cohort study included patients with HCC treated with sorafenib at the oncology outpatient clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, between 2010 and 2018. Systemic inflammation was defined by NLR using the median value (2.3) as the cutoff. Clinical and nutritional variables were collected and recorded in REDCap. Overall survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test. Prognostic factors were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for relevant clinical variables. Statistical analyses were performed using Jamovi®, with p-values &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant. This study was approved by the institutional Review Board (CAAE 42743020.8.0000.5404).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 101 patients were analyzed. Systemic inflammation was present in approximately half of the cohort and was associated with a more aggressive disease profile, including higher rates of macrovascular invasion (25.5% vs. 10.0%; p=0.042) and extrahepatic spread (27.5% vs. 10.0%; p=0.025). Clinical characteristics, liver function, tumor stage, and treatment-related variables were otherwise comparable between groups. Patients with inflammation showed a higher prevalence of clinically significant weight loss (&gt;5%), particularly &gt;10% (26.5% vs. 15.2%; p=0.031), and lower skeletal muscle radiodensity (p=0.043), while muscle mass and adipose tissue parameters did not differ. Median NLR values were significantly higher in the inflammatory group (3.09 vs. 1.65; p&lt;0.001). Overall survival was significantly reduced in patients with inflammation (median 6.1 vs. 14.5 months; HR=1.74, 95% CI 1.15–2.61; p=0.008). In multivariable analysis, inflammation remained independently associated with worse survival (HR=1.62, 95% CI 1.02–2.60; p=0.043), along with advanced BCLC stage and weight loss &gt;10%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Systemic inflammation assessed by NLR is independently associated with greater tumor aggressiveness, impaired nutritional status, and reduced overall survival in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106334"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"VALIDATION OF THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY (TLC) FOR RADIOCHEMICAL IMPURITY DETERMINATION OF 68GA-PSMA-11","authors":"Luiza Mascarenhas Balieiro,&nbsp;Laila Lima da Silva,&nbsp;Maria Renata Brandão Freire,&nbsp;Luana Pereira,&nbsp;Renata Ruggier de Mattos,&nbsp;Joel Mendes dos Santos,&nbsp;Margareth Mie Nakamura Matsuda,&nbsp;Elaine Bortoleti de Araujo","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106340","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;European Pharmacopoeia (EP) published in 2024 the monograph “Gallium (68Ga) PSMA-11 injection”, one of the most used PET-radiopharmaceutical for prostate cancer diagnosis, establishing the limit and procedure for radiochemical impurity determination by TLC. When the method for release the product is pharmacompendial, it is not required to validate the analytical method; instead, it must be performed the verification of the method to demonstrate the performance under the laboratory conditions. This work aimed to validate the TLC method used to quantify % free Ga-68 after labeling BLINDING PSMA-11 cold kit formulation, performing repeatability, intermediate precision, selectivity, linearity, and robustness tests. TLC was performed as described in EP. Radioactive samples of 37 MBq/mL were applied to iTLC strips (1.5 × 12.5 cm) at 1.5 cm from the base. Automatic gamma counter (Cobra II, Packard) was used to measure the radioactivity of the strips at 300–1200 keV energy window. For assessment the repeatability, 6 samples were prepared by the same analyst. For intermediate precision, samples were tested by another analyst; both assays evaluated the relative standard deviation (RSD) of % free Ga-68. The selectivity evaluate the retention factor (Rf) and the profile of the chromatographic separation of 6 samples containing or not the following solutions 0.1 mL of 68Ga-PSMA-11, 68GaCl3 or excipient (0.02 mL of 100 mg/mL mannitol) in final volume of 1 mL. The analytical curve was obtained with radioactive concentrations solutions of 1.11, 3.7, 18.5, 29.6, 37, and 44.4 MBq/mL. The counting of the strips considered Ga-68 decay using the time of beginning of the test. Counting of the strips related to free Ga-68 should be proportional to concentration, the slope must be significantly different from zero, and the correlation coefficient must be above 0.990. Linearity analysis was performed using statistical methods. Robustness evaluated the influence of sample radioactive concentration (44 MBq/mL and 18.5 MBq/mL), sample volume (5 µL and 2 µL), and stationary phase (iTLC and TLC). The acceptance criteria established for this assay was Ga-68 &lt; 3%, Rf Ga-68 of 0.2 and RSD = 25.0%. All assays were performed in triplicate. The RSD of repeatability and intermediate precision assays were 9.36 and 12.4%, respectively. According to TLC profile, the Rf of 68Ga-PSMA-11 was 0.8–1.0 and the selectivity test showed that there is no variation in the Rf of the product and free Ga-68 even in the presence of mannitol (component of the cold kit formulation). In linearity, Cochran test showed homoscedasticity of the results, demonstrating that the use of ordinary least squares (OLS) is adequate, F-test confirmed the linear correlation between radioactive concentration and counting, and the variance of the analytical curve. Shapiro-Wilk test demonstrated normal distribution of the residuals, and consequently, Grubbs test indicated that there are no outliers. Slope an","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IN SILICO STUDY OF SOME PHARMACOKINETIC AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THREE ANACARDIC ACIDS IN THE CONTEXT OF SKIN DISEASES","authors":"Augusto de Souza Silva,&nbsp;Ana Lucia Tasca Gois Ruiz","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106312","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer characterized by pronounced tissue invasion and early metastases, driven by extracellular matrix remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, play a central role in this process and are key contributors to melanoma progression, making them attractive therapeutic targets. Among natural products, anacardic acids derived from cashew pulp and nut (Anacardium occidentale) have shown relevant biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as inhibitory activity against several enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, lipoxygenase, and histone acetyltransferase. These properties suggest a potential role in regulating processes associated with the tumor microenvironment and extracellular matrix remodeling, thereby justifying their investigation in the context of melanoma.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To evaluate in silico the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of three anacardic acids (monoene, diene and triene) and their modulating potential on metalloproteinases MMP-2 (1QIB) and MMP-9 (2OVX).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Material and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Physicochemical (lipophilicity and aqueous solubility), pharmacokinetic (absorption and metabolism), and toxicological (skin sensitivity, hepatotoxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity) properties were predicted using SwissADME and ADMET Predictor platforms. Molecular docking was performed in DockThor platform using the crystallographic structures of MMP-2 (PDB:1QIB) and MMP-9 (PDB:2OVX) obtained from the Protein Data Bank. The chemical structures of 6-[8′(Z),11′(Z),14′-pentadecatrienyl] salicylic acid (triene anacardic acid), 6-[8′(Z),11′(Z)-pentadecadienyl] salicylic acid (diene anacardic acid), and 6-[8′(Z)-pentadecenyl] salicylic acid (monoene anacardic acid) were obtained from PubChem database. Protein-ligand interactions were evaluated based on binding energy, intermolecular interaction profiles, and engagement of residues within or proximal to the catalytic site.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In silico analyses indicated that the three anacardic acids exhibit high lipophilicity and low aqueous solubility, favoring skin retention and topical use. Predicted skin absorption was observed; however, CYP2C9 inhibition may limit concomitant oral administration with drugs of narrow therapeutic index. Toxicological predictions showed low risk of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and hepatotoxicity, despite skin sensitization potential, indicating a mainly local risk manageable through dose and formulation strategies. Docking studies revealed binding of anacardic acids, particularly the diene derivative, to catalytically relevant regions of MMP-2 and MMP-9, suggesting potential enzymatic modulation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The in silico findings suggest that, in addition to favorable skin permeation and low predicted toxicity,","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106312"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"APPLICATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE TO ASSESS DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY AND THE EFFECTS OF DISINFORMATION IN THE CANCER CONTEXT","authors":"Romulo Santana Osthues,&nbsp;Barbara Juarez Amorim,&nbsp;Carmino Antonio de Souza,&nbsp;Elba C.S.C. Etchebehere","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106349","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106349","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Adequate digital health literacy is a key determinant of an individual’s ability to navigate the vast online information ecosystem and to cope with disinformation. In a scenario in which Nuclear Medicine and the Theranostic model play central roles, disinformation can represent a critical barrier to cancer prevention and care. Understanding different target audiences – by identifying information-seeking patterns, levels of trust in sources, and the practical application of information – is essential for designing effective science communication strategies.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To measure public understanding of cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment with an emphasis on nuclear technologies; to assess the ability to search for and apply health information; and to map the main areas of uncertainty and vulnerability to misinformation in the studied population.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methodology&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cross-sectional observational study conducted through an online questionnaire adapted from digital health literacy scales (eHealth Literacy Scales). Data collection, between September and November 2025, yielded 505 responses (499 individuals in the analytical sample), including sociodemographic data, information consumption habits, and respondents’ positions (agreement, disagreement, or neutrality) regarding factual and false information circulating on the internet. This preliminary analysis focuses on identifying strengths (consolidated knowledge), weaknesses (conceptual gaps), and information-related risk behaviors.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The data reveal social media use with skepticism: although 24.2% of participants use social media to seek cancer information still only 9.8% trust these platforms. Additionally, physicians remain central, with 75.9% of respondents stating that they understand the health information provided by professionals and 53.3% reporting that they can distinguish a physician from an impostor. From a technical standpoint, the studied population recognizes that Nuclear Medicine uses radiation (76.2%) and radiopharmaceuticals (62.8%); however, 79.8% do not know or are unsure of what “Theranostics” means. Regarding disinformation, 22.6% believe that radiation is a human invention (ignoring natural radiation), and 10.8% are uncertain; 38.7% of participants could not say whether the drug omeprazole causes stomach cancer (which is false); and 36.5% were neutral regarding the statement that radiopharmaceuticals are sold in pharmacies (also false). Finally, despite high connectivity (93% use the internet daily), only 27.2% report applying online information to decision-making about their own health.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A highly educated audience – 87.2% of the sample has a higher education degree, with 67.9% holding postgraduate qualifications – demonstrates selective discernment: it rejects alarmist myths (such as the alleged link between vaccines ","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106349"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ASSOCIATIONS OF FEEDING ROUTE, SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY CHANGES, AND IL6 GENETIC VARIANT WITH TREATMENT-RELATED WEIGHT LOSS IN LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK CANCER","authors":"Richard Silva de Sousa,&nbsp;Daniel Paixão Pequeno,&nbsp;Juliana Carron,&nbsp;Carmen Silvia Passos Lima,&nbsp;Gustavo Jacob Lourenço","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106276","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Weight loss during chemoradiotherapy remains a major clinical challenge in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), contributing to increased toxicity and poorer outcomes. Mechanical barriers to oral intake, systemic inflammatory activation, and individual genetic susceptibility could contribute to nutritional decline. Interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 plays are key mediators of cancer-related inflammation and metabolic dysregulation, and functional genetic variants may modulate inflammatory responses and weight loss susceptibility.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To evaluate the associations of feeding route, systemic inflammatory changes, and IL1B rs16944 and IL6 rs1800795 genetic variants with percentage weight loss in patients with locally advanced HNSCC undergoing chemoradiotherapy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A retrospective cohort of 46 patients (mean age 60 years, 32 men and 11 women, 35 smokers and 30 alcohol users) with locally advanced HNSCC (TNM stage III or IV) treated with chemoradiotherapy was analyzed. Percentage weight loss was calculated between treatment initiation and completion. The feeding route was categorized as oral intake versus tube feeding. Systemic inflammatory indices, neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) were calculated as log-transformed differences between post- and pre-treatment values. Data were collected from medical records. Genotyping of IL1B rs16944 (T&gt;C) and IL6 rs1800795 (G&gt;C) variants was performed using real-time PCR with TaqMan assays. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess independent associations between clinical, inflammatory, and genetic variables and percentage weight loss. Variables with p&lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Tube feeding was independently associated with reduced weight loss, with patients receiving tube feeding exhibiting approximately 6% less treatment-related weight loss compared to oral intake alone (p = 0.009). Significant associations were observed between inflammatory changes and weight loss, including PLR (ß = -582.8, p = 0.003), LMR (ß = -591.2, p = 0.002), SII (ß = 583.6, p = 0.002), and SIRI (ß = -588.5, p = 0.002), indicating that greater systemic inflammatory shifts during treatment correlated with increased weight loss. Carriers of the IL6 rs1800795 GC or CC genotypes experienced approximately 5% higher weight loss compared to the wild-type GG genotype (p = 0.02).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Treatment-related weight loss in locally advanced HNSCC could be influenced by clinical nutritional support, systemic inflammatory dynamics, and IL6 genetic variant. Tube feeding appears protective, while inflammatory escalation and the IL6 rs1800","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106276"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING PRE-CLINICAL INSTRUMENTATION","authors":"Michel David Raed ,&nbsp;Maria Clara Westmann Anderlini Mattos ,&nbsp;Arthur Viana de Laffitte ,&nbsp;Orfa Yineth Galvis Alonso ,&nbsp;Solange Amorim Nogueira ,&nbsp;Lilian Yuri Yamaga ,&nbsp;Marycel Rosa Felisa Figols de Barboza ,&nbsp;Luciana Malavolta ,&nbsp;Jorge Mejia Cabeza","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106306","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Nuclear medicine imaging techniques use unsealed radiation sources to obtain images displaying specific physiologic processes, represented by the concentration of emissions in a given volume. In preclinical research, those techniques are crucial for developing new radiopharmaceuticals and characterizing disease models. However, clinical imaging systems are often unsuitable for small animal organs, as their size is typically comparable to the equipment's resolution. While dedicated preclinical instruments exist, their high-cost limits accessibility. Currently, in Brazil, only six centers operate such equipment, mostly for Positron Emission Tomography imaging, with just one operational Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system in the state of São Paulo.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To use Monte Carlo simulations to support the development of upgrading strategies for clinical instruments, enabling SPECT and planar imaging of small animals. Simulations will be used to characterize the system's point spread function (PSF) and assess attainable spatial resolution using a digital micro Derenzo phantom. Furthermore, these simulations allow for testing the reconstruction techniques under development.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The proposed system geometry was simulated using GATE (Geant4 Application for Emission Tomography). It consists of a lead box with pinholes drilled on one lateral side, which collimate photons onto a clinical system's crystal detector. Pinhole magnification helps to overcome spatial resolution limitations. Point sources in different locations inside the FOV were simulated to characterize the system's response. Additionally, to evaluate tomographic response, sets of 40 projections (2 secs each) of a Derenzo phantom containing 10 MBq of 99mTc or 131I were simulated. Images were reconstructed using in-house software, and spatial resolution was assessed based on the smallest group of resolvable rods.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;FOV analysis showed that the system's PSF varies with position, with distortions at the edges where points approximated an ellipse before disappearing. This suggests that future reconstruction algorithms must account for these variations. Tomographic reconstruction demonstrated that the current version of the proposed system and algorithm achieve a spatial resolution of around 1.5 mm, suitable for small animal imaging. Future work will focus on building a physical prototype for clinical gamma cameras and comparing experimental data against these simulations.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We present a cost-effective solution for imaging small animal organs by adapting a clinical gamma camera. Furthermore, we developed reconstruction algorithms capable of generating tomographic images. For 99mTc, we observed spatial resolutions of ∼1.5 mm, confirming the system suitability for pre-clinical imaging. Additionally, we demonstrated","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106306"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}