Search

Therapies that target specific tumor drivers or immune checkpoints are increasingly explored for esophageal cancer patients. This review addresses developments in therapies with targeted anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer. First-line palliative treatment with the anti-HER2 agent trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has been approved for use in patients with HER2 positive gastro-esophageal adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus perioperative trastuzumab however has not demonstrated a survival benefit in advanced esophageal cancer patients eligible for surgery. Potentially better responses are expected with dual agent anti-HER2 therapy instead of monotherapy. In the metastatic setting, the antibody–drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan is effective after progression on trastuzumab. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, antibodies blocking the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, have recently gained approval for clinical use in esophageal cancer patients for specific indications. Synergistic effects might be achieved with combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors that target PD-1 on T cells or PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) receptor on T cells. Multiple clinical trials investigating combinations of targeted and immunotherapies, with or without (neo)adjuvant chemo(radio)therapy, for curative and palliative treatment, are underway, and are expected to deliver a long-awaited improvement in the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.

It is shown that macroscopic phase separation of an otherwise immiscible dendrimer in a typical organosilicate can be kinetically hindered by incorporation of the dendrimers in a chemical network. Subsequent removal of sacrificial dendritic templates by thermolysis results in formation of nanoporous organosilicates. The phase separation of a dendritic diol in an organosilicate was studied by light microscopy. It was shown that macroscopic phase separation of such dendrimers could be drastically hindered by addition of a small amount of a triisocyanate, resulting in the formation of a polyurethane network bearing dendritic wedges at moderate temperatures. Curing of the organosilicate at elevated temperatures creates an interpenetrating network, in which the phase separation of dendrimers is prohibited because of topological constraints. Small-angle X-ray scattering revealed that pore sizes of approximately 12 nm can be generated upon thermolysis even in a matrix containing 70 wt % of dendrimer. The results were in qualitative agreement with field emission SEM images of the cross section of the coatings.

A hyperbranched polyester based on 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was completely modified with dodecanoyl chloride to result in an amphiphilic, globular polymer, which has a polar core and a nonpolar outer sphere with the ability both to incorporate an organic dye and to interact with a nonpolar matrix. A series of blends were prepared using either polypropylene or polyethylene (HDPE) as the matrix. The content of the polyester as disperse phase was varied between 0.05 and 20 wt %. The blends with polyester contents up to 5% were prepared for colorization of polyolefins using the polyester as a dye carrier. The blends with higher polyester contents were prepared in order to investigate the influence of the hyperbranched material on the material properties. The blends exhibited a heterogeneous morphology with very small particle sizes even at high polyester concentrations. The melt rheology measurements resulted in a reduced complex viscosity for both polyolefins when the hyperbranched polyester was added. The observed melt viscosity of the i-PP blends deviated from the linear mixing rule, whereas the HDPE blends followed it. The use of amphiphilic hyperbranched polyesters as dye carriers allowed a homogeneous distribution of an organic dye in a polyolefin matrix with similar dynamic-mechanical behavior of the blends compared to the case of pure polyolefins. The dyed samples exhibited good stability in extraction experiments.

The preparation of Si2H5J as well as Si2H4J2 (SiH3-SiHJ2+SiH2J-SiH2J), Si3H7J (SiH3-SiH2-SiH2J+SiH3-SiHJ-SiH3) and Si3H6J2 (isomeric mixture) by reaction of the corresponding silanes with elementary iodine without using a solvent is communicated. The reaction of iodine with silanes is accelerated by catalysings amounts of alcohol. At the same time, however, the cleavage of the Si-Si-bond is stimulated.

Density, vapour pressure and molecular refraction as well as the corresponding atom increments and bond increments of the iodine derivatives of the silanes SiH4, Si2H6 and Si3H8 are communicated. The Raman spectra of SiH3J, Si2H5J and Si3H7J are recorded and assigned.