Eric Thompson, Ph.D.

CAP TODAY header with a report on NTRK1-rearranged spindle cell sarcoma in a rare pediatric location confirmed by molecular methods.

Microscopic view of spindle cell neoplasm with intersecting fascicles and hemangiopericytoma-like vessels at low magnification.

The latest case report in CAP Today looks at an NTRK1-rearranged spindle cell sarcoma in a pediatric patient at an unusual site, stressing the importance of fusion testing in atypical tumors to guide targeted therapy & improve care
https://www.amp.org/clinical-practice/amp-case-reports-in-cap-today/

Mapping the specificity of H3N2 strain-specific and cross-reactive human neutralizing antibodies elicited by the 2025-2026 influenza vaccine An H3N2 variant, named subclade K, continues to circulate widely during the 2025-2026 influenza season. This virus possesses a hemagglutinin (HA) protein that has eleven substitutions relative to the ...

Our preprint examining the specificity of human antibodies that cross-react with subclade K H3N2 viruses was posted this morning on medRxiv. These studies have implications on what vaccine strains should be selected for next year’s influenza season. 1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.6...

If one of your goals for 2026 is to invest in yourself, now is a great time to become a member of AMP. Begin the new year already connected, informed and empowered. Learn about AMP membership: https://www.amp.org/membership/join-renew/

For the oral exam, we had to write an R01 grant tangential to our PI‘s work. The oral exam was in two sections. The first was general knowledge where any of our classwork was fair game. The second was defending the R01. In this setting, I wouldn’t see a problem with allowing the use of AI as a tool.

We had a written exam and a oral exam. The written exam we gave them blank blue books and received blank blue books and we had pencils and questions. We had to answer four questions a day for two days. Anything from our class work was fair game. This is also a good test of writing ability.

"Higher intake of high-fat cheese and high-fat cream was associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia."
Results of a 25-year prospective study of ~27,000 participants.
The purported benefit was not linked to APOE4 carriers or low-fat cheese intake
www.neurology.org/doi/full/10....

🚨 HER2+ MBC Maintenance News! 🚨
The Phase 3 HER2CLIMB-05 trial (Dieras et al.) was simultaneously published at #SABCS25. This study assesses Tucatinib vs. Placebo with Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab as first-line maintenance.
👉 See the results: ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1...

#HER2Positive #BreastCancer

Simultaneous publication at #SABCS25! Horimoto et al.'s real-world data explores the clinical relevance of HER2 mutations in the efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer.

👉 See the analysis: ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1...

#BreastCancer

If we don’t boil the ocean we cannot achieve perfect statistics. We don’t make the rules.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TYPE AND LOCATION OF GERMLINE BRCA1/2 PATHOGENIC OR LIKELY PATHOGENIC VARIANTS WITH PHENOTYPE AND PROGNOSIS IN YOUNG PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER: RESULTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL COHO... Clinical implications of specific pathogenic and likely pathogenic variant (LP/PV) types and locations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 tumor-suppressor genes remain to be elucidated.

Just found this I think will interest you as well:
www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S092...

A systematic review on the frequency of BRCA promoter methylation in breast and ovarian carcinomas of BRCA germline mutation carriers: Mutually exclusive, or not? - PubMed BRCA methylation is rare in breast and ovarian carcinomas of BRCA germline mutation carriers, although the frequency of BRCA promoter methylation may be underestimated. This could have major implications for clinical practice, including referral for genetic testing and BRCAness analysis for treatmen …

Here is BRCA1 methylation: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29891109/

I'll probably remember a couple more in a few hours... but this should get you on the right path. Haven't recalled any transcription factor binding sites yet, but seems like they are rattling around somewhere in my head.

Endometrial cancer in Lynch syndrome - PubMed Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. LS-associated endometrial cancer (LS-EC) is the most common extraintestinal sentinel cancer caused by germline PVs in MMR genes, including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and …

See also promoter methylation in Lynch Syndrome - e.g. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34398969/

If you want to check out more about large scale changes see the MRC Holland MLPA website: www.mrcholland.com/technology/m...

Inversion of exons 1-7 of the MSH2 gene is a frequent cause of unexplained Lynch syndrome in one local population - PubMed Germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, such as MSH2, cause Lynch syndrome, an autosomal dominant predisposition to colorectal as well as other cancers. Our research clinic focuses on hereditary colorectal cancer, and over the past 9 years we have identified germline mutations in DNA …

The Boland inversion is another interesting example. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24114314/

Clinical and Functional Significance of TP53 Exon 4-Intron 4 Splice Junction Variants Germline TP53 splicing variants are uncommon, and their clinical relevance is unknown. However, splice-altering variants at exon 4-intron 4 junctions are relatively enriched in pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACTs). Nevertheless, family histories ...

The TP53 splice junction variants are what immediately sprang to mind. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Synonymous mutation in TP53 results in a cryptic splice site affecting its DNA binding site in an adolescent with two primary sarcomas Pathologic variants in TP53 are known risk factors for the development of cancer. We report a 17-year-old male who presented with two primary sarcomas. Germline sequencing revealed a novel TP53 c.672 G>A mutation. Sequencing revealed wild-type TP53 ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

A Vaccine for your Mind — RApport The public has taken a renewed interest in discussing vaccines, with many people asking to be convinced that vaccines are safe and effective enough to be used as widely as modern medicine recommends. ...

An interesting summary of data:

rapport.racap.com/all-stories/...

It worked. Stem cells (mesenchymal) given to patients with a large heart attack reduced major adverse events in a randomized trial vs standard care www.bmj.com/content/391/...

The finance bros were way ahead of the curve - think Kronos that John Sperling had running in the mid 90's. They just need to hire Nicolas Flamel!

Any plans for the companies to drive strengthening of GINA so the risk of the data falling into underwriting hands is less acute? Genetic discrimination is legal outside of employment and health insurance.

The Crick is looking for new junior group leaders! Any postdocs or early career researchers wanting to be our colleagues should apply 👍

Apologies - the decision support interpretation isn’t quite there outside of these Rx ( e.g. DPYD for fluoropyrimidines).

There are a couple of instances in cancer Rx when it is crucial, but the decision support interpretation isn’t quite there. I have these conversations all the time - en route to some now. Polite is all we can ask. We have to bring the science.

Think I saw a recent announcement of a company re-entering this space. Have not checked their science.

There is not enough data spanning the entire ADME enzymatic system to integrate findings into clinical decisions. There is not a monetary incentive to create these data. Until this is solved you are correct. The data existing often are not used (e.g. warfarin, irinoteca).

The 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.”

Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who revealed secrets of immune system ‘regulation’ Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi discovered cells that protect the body from autoimmune diseases.

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three scientists for discovering a class of immune cells that help to prevent the body from attacking its own tissues

go.nature.com/3VNrH1s

Regulatory T cell biology

Today's Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine relates to research on regulatory T cells www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...

For readers interested in harnessing the biology of regulatory T cells to treat disease, here's a comprehensive review www.nature.com/articles/s41...
rdcu.be/eJHU8

Prostate Cancer: Radiopharmaceutical Plus SBRT Delays Progression in Patients With Limited Metastatic Disease In prostate cancer, radiopharmaceuticals typically target PSMA, delivering precise doses of radiation directly to tumors; these medicines are currently approved for later-stage prostate cancer. The LU...

Phase II LUNAR Trial: PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceutical plus SBRT improved PFS in pts with oligometastatic prostate cancer (18 vs 7 mo), which helped to delay ADT by 24 months

Presented by Amar U. Kishan, MD, at the ASTRO Annual Meeting @astro-org.bsky.social

ascopost.com/news/septemb...