Mario Otto

Barriers to pediatric palliative care (PPC) integration in pediatric oncology encompass resource availability, provider attitudes, patient/family hesitancy, and timing. We report on a unique multistep approach for the creation of a pediatric palliative oncology program that (1) optimizes PPC delivery for all resource‐typed settings, (2) offers continuity of care by spanning inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, (3) improves PPC equity through standardized referral practices, and (4) promotes collaborator buy‐in and partnership through the utilization of tools to introduce PPC to patients/families. Our model demonstrates success through objective increases in PPC consultation and reported satisfaction from patients, families, and oncologists.

Cancer immunotherapy has gained momentum for treating malignant tumors over the past decade. Checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy (CAR-T) have shown considerable potency against liquid and solid cancers. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is highly immunosuppressive and hampers the effect of currently available cancer immunotherapies on overall treatment outcomes. Advancements in the design and engineering of nanomaterials have opened new avenues to modulate the TME. Progress in the current nanocomposite technology can overcome immunosuppression and trigger robust immunotherapeutic responses by integrating synergistic functions of different molecules. We will review recent advancements in nanomedical applications and discuss specifically designed nanocomposites modulating the TME for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, we provide information on the current landscape of clinical-stage nanocomposites for cancer immunotherapy.

Despite recent advances in the therapy of multiple myeloma (MM), this blood cancer is characterized by initial response to treatment, but the majority of patients eventually experience refractory r...

Specific targeting is a key step to realize the full potential of iron oxide nanoparticles in biomedical applications, especially tumor-associated diagnosis and therapy. Here, we developed anti-GD2 antibody conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles for highly efficient neuroblastoma cell targeting. The antibody conjugation was achieved through an easy, linker-free method based on catechol reactions. The targeting efficiency and specificity of the antibody-conjugated nanoparticles to GD2-positive neuroblastoma cells were confirmed by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscopy. These detailed studies indicated that the receptor–recognition capability of the antibody was fully retained after conjugation and the conjugated nanoparticles quickly attached to GD2-positive cells within four hours. Interestingly, longer treatment (12 h) led the cell membrane-bound nanoparticles to be internalized into cytosol, either by directly penetrating the cell membrane or escaping from the endosomes. Last but importantly, the uniquely designed functional surfaces of the nanoparticles allow for easy conjugation of other bioactive molecules.