tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Distinct Prognostic Factors in Patients with Stage I Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer with Radiologic Part-Solid or Solid Lesions
Authors: Fangqiu Fu, Yang Zhang, Zhexu Wen, Difan Zheng, Zhendong Gao, Han Han, Lin Deng, Shengping Wang, Quan Liu, Yuan Li, Lei Shen, Xuxia Shen, Yue Zhao, Zitong Zhao, Ting Ye, Jiaqing Xiang, Yawei Zhang, Yihua Sun, Hong Hu, Haiquan Chen
Journal: Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2019)

IntroductionRecent studies have indicated that the presence of ground-glass opacity (GGO) components is associated with favorable survival. The purpose of this study was to reveal the prognostic value of GGO components and differences in prognostic factors for part-solid and solid lesions in invasive stage I NSCLC.MethodsThe cases of 2010 patients with completely resected invasive pathological stage I NSCLC were reviewed according to the eighth edition of the TNM classification. Patients were categorized into the pure-GGO, part-solid, and solid groups based on consolidation-to-tumor ratio. Cox multivariate proportional hazard analyses were conducted to identify independent prognostic factors in each group.ResultsOf the 2010 patients, 146 (7.3%) were in the pure-GGO group, 732 (36.4%) were in the part-solid group, and 1132 (56.3%) were in the solid group. Cox multivariate analyses revealed that GGO absence was a strong independent risk factor for worse recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). For the pure-GGO group, there was no recurrence in spite of the invasive stage. For the part-solid group, visceral pleural invasion could not predict recurrence-free survival in general (p = 0.514) or in each tumor size group (for tumors size ≤1 cm, p = 0.664; for tumors size >1 to 2 cm, p = 0.456; for tumors size >2 to 3 cm, p = 0.900; and for tumors size >3 to 4 cm, p = 0.397). For the solid group, adenocarcinoma subtype was not a prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in general (p = 0.162) or in each tumor size group (for tumors size ≤ 2 cm, p = 0.092; for tumors size >2 to 3 cm, p = 0.330; and for tumors size >3 to 4 cm, p = 0.885).ConclusionsThe presence of GGO components was a strong predictor in patients with invasive pathological stage I NSCLC. Risk factors were distinct in the part-solid and solid groups. There was no prognostic value of visceral pleural invasion in the part-solid group. Adenocarcinoma subtype did not have prognostic value in the solid group.
Smoking Cessation and Reduction of Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Authors: Thomas B. Cole
Journal: JAMA (2019)

Meredith S. Duncan, MA; Matthew S. Freiberg, MD, MSc; Robert A. Greevy Jr, PhD; Suman Kundu, DSc, MSc; Ramachandran S. Vasan, MD; Hilary A. Tindle, MD, MPH
Prevalence and Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the United States
Authors: Adam I. Biener, Sandra L. Decker, Frederick Rohde
Journal: JAMA (2019)

Magnus Ekström, MD, PhD; Diana Ferreira, MD, PhD; Sungwon Chang, PhD; Sandra Louw, BSc; Miriam J. Johnson, MD, MBChB; Danny J. Eckert, PhD; Belinda Fazekas, GDip; Katherine J. Clark, PhD; Meera R. Agar, PhD; David C. Currow, MPH, PhD; Australian National Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative; Christine McDonald Prof; John Miners Prof; Carl Kirkpatrick Prof; Andrew Somogyi Prof; Linda Denehy Prof; Nikki McCaffrey Dr; Lawrence Lam Prof; Aine Greene Ms; Brian Le Dr; Katherine Clark Prof; Kwun Fong Prof; Meera Agar Prof; Rohit Joshi Dr; Sharon Kilbreath Prof; Diana Ferreira Dr; Angela Clow Prof; Nina Smith Dr; Richella Ryan Dr; Sara Booth Dr; Peter Martin Prof; Suharsha Kanathigoda Dr; Caitlin Sheehan Dr; Jessica Lee Dr; Peter Allcroft Dr; Erica Cameron-Taylor Dr; Philip Good Dr; Louise Welch Dr; Richard Chye Prof; Jennifer Phillip Prof; John Wheatley Prof; Anu krishnan Dr; Michael Epton Dr; Rajesh Aggarwal Dr; Philip McCloud Mr; Jessie Chan Ms; Douglas Bellamy Mr; Frances Bellemore Ms; Priyanka Bhatarai Ms; Helen Biggins Ms; Mary-Rose Birch Ms; Lesley Burke Ms; Tracey Burns Ms; Naomi Byfieldt Ms; Diana Charlesworth Ms; Gillian Collins Ms; Helen Cooper Ms; Urska Cosic Ms; Deborah Courtney Ms; Georgie Cupples Ms; Anna Dowd Ms; Ruth Dunleavey Ms; Terence Edgar Mr; Amanda Fischer Ms; Lisa Fuhrmeister Ms; Jan Gesling Ms; Rosetta Hart Ms; Kim Hopkinson Ms; Michelle Kaczurowski Ms; Sally Kidd Ms; Ngaire Kingi Ms; Vera Margitanovic Ms; Gillian McCarthy Ms; Robin O'Reilly Ms; Mary Perry Ms; Bronwyn Raymond Ms; Di Saward Ms; Aaron Shanon-Honson Mr; Karyn Sullivan Ms; Michelle Tonkin Ms; Zac Vandersman Mr; Penny West Ms; Julie Wilcock Ms; Malina Storer Dr; Sarah Nestor Dr; Safrina Thristiawati Ms; Manraaj Sidhu Mr
Significance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Authors: Grace G Kim, Adam M Zanation, Nicholas A Taylor, Carol G. Shores, Karen P McKinnon, Jonathan Stuart Serody
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

6070 Background: Patients with advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) have less than 50% 5-year survival rate Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated SCCHN in oropharyngeal sites have shown better prognosis. Little is known about the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in immune suppression or tumor progression in the setting of SCCHN. Our objective is to evaluate the clinical significance of MDSCs in subjects with SCCHN, HPV-positivity, and advanced cancer staging. Methods: Thirty-three subjects with SCCHN and 10 healthy donors were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Fresh blood was collected at the time of surgical resection of SCCHN in a tertiary academic center between August 2011 and January 2013. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained using Ficoll Hypaque. MDSCs were immunophenotyped as CD14 - CD33 + CD11b + by flow cytometry. HPV status was determined by in situ hybridization Frequencies of MDSCs in blood of different cohorts were evaluated. Results: Thirty-three subjects (ages 34-83 years, 25 males) with SCCHN were enrolled. Increased numbers of CD14 - CD33 + CD11b + cells of total leukocytes were found in HPV-associated SCCHN (median 26.6%, n=11) compared to HPV-negative SCCHN (16.3%, n=19). Interestingly, 3 subjects who previously had HPV-positive SCCHN but with no evidence of disease had 6.24% (n=3) CD14 - CD33 + CD11b + cells of leukocytes which was higher than healthy donors (3.55%, n=10). Subjects with advanced cancer stages (III-IV) had higher levels of MDSCs (26%, n=19) compared to those with a lower grade (I-II, 15.5%, n=11) regardless of HPV status. Three subjects were lost to follow up. Of the remaining subjects, the overall median follow time was 3 months and subjects who were found to have recurrence, regional or local metastasis had higher frequencies of MDSCs in the blood (26.35%, n=4) compared to those with no evidence of disease (18.5%, n=26) at the time of surgery. Conclusions: This study suggests there is an accumulation of MDSCs in peripheral blood of patients with SCCHN, particularly in HPV-associated SCCHN. Further, increased levels of MDSCs in the peripheral blood are related to more advance cancer stage and poor clinical outcomes.
Is PAX3-FOXO1 associated with worse outcome in adults with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)?
Authors: Sheena Guram, Julia Dirks, Shivali Barot, Anthony Griffin, Ilan Weinreb, Elizabeth Demicco, David Benjamin Shultz, Albiruni Ryan Abdul Razak, Rebecca Anne Gladdy, Abha A. Gupta
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2019)

e22525 Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma in adults. The PAX3-FOXO1 fusion gene is associated with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. PAX3-FOXO1 results from a stable reciprocal translocation of chromosomes 2 and 13, which fuses in-frame the DNA binding domain of PAX3 with the transactivation domain of FOXO1. Occasionally, PAX7-FOXO1 is expressed. In children, the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion gene is associated with worse outcome. We evaluated the prognostic role of FOXO1 fusion status in adults with RMS treated in a single, large volume sarcoma centre. Methods: A retrospective review of adult RMS patients (pts) diagnosed from 1984 to 2018 was done. Information on demographics, treatment, fusion status and survival was collected. Primary favourable site was defined as tumour arising in orbit, non-bladder/prostate genitourinary system and non-parameningeal head and neck. Factors were compared using Fisher’s Exact test. Event-free survival (EFS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log rank test. FOXO1 fusion status was coded as FP (fusion positive) or FN (fusion negative). Results: Of 134 pts identified in our database, fusion testing was performed in 55 (41%). Of these, PAX3 fusion was detected in 22 (40%). PAX7 was not detected. The median age of FP and FN pts was 25 yrs (range 18, 90) and 27 yrs (range 18, 65), respectively. Gender distribution was similar between FP and FN. Favourable site was seen in 13 (60%) FP and 21 (64%) FN. Nodal disease was present in 21 (95%) FP and 21 (64%) FN (p = 0.02). Distant metastases were present in 10 (45%) FP and 9 (27%) FN (n.s.). Treatment received was as follows for FP and FN, respectively: chemotherapy (21(95%), 33(100%)), radiation (14(64%), 22(67%)) and surgery (4(18%), 17(52%)). 5-yr EFS for pts without distant metastases was 27% (CI 22.6-76.6) and 46% (CI 21.5 – 70.5) for FP and FN respectively (n.s.). Conclusions: FP and FN RMS occurs in adults of all ages. Similar to children, adults with FP are more likely to present with nodal disease. Our study did not show that fusion status was associated with poorer EFS in adult RMS, however, larger series are needed to confirm this preliminary data.
Tissue and Plasma EGFR Mutation Analysis in the FLAURA Trial: Osimertinib versus Comparator EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor as First-Line Treatment in Patients with EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Jhanelle E. Gray, Isamu Okamoto, Virote Sriuranpong, Johan Vansteenkiste, Fumio Imamura, Jong Seok Lee, Yong-Kek Pang, Manuel Cobo, Kazuo Kasahara, Ying Cheng, Naoyuki Nogami, Eun Kyung Cho, Wu Chou Su, Guili Zhang, Xiangning Huang, Xiaocheng Li-Sucholeiki, Brian Lentrichia, Simon Dearden, Suzanne Jenkins, Matilde Saggese, Yuri Rukazenkov, Suresh S. Ramalingam
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2019)

To assess the utility of the
Management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer with bladder preservation in Russia: A survey-based analysis of current practice and the impact of an educational workshop on clinical expertise.
Authors: Natalia Dengina, Marina Chernich, Sergey Usychkin, Catherine Degnin, Yiyi Chen, Oleg Gladkov, Dmitry Nosov, Ilya Tsimafeyeu, Charles R. Thomas, Sergei Tjulandin, Timur Mitin
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2019)

10509 Background: Trimodality bladder preservation (BP) is an accepted alternative to radical cystectomy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The global utilization of BP is variable, and practice patterns have not been previously studied in Russia. During the Russian Annual Oncology Congress, organized by the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology in November 2018, our group has conducted a contouring workshop for Russian radiation oncologists (ROs). We sought to elucidate the contemporary practice patterns in Russia and determine the impact of this workshop on attitudes of Russian ROs towards BP. Methods: Pre- and post-workshop IRB-approved surveys were analyzed to determine baseline clinical experience and patterns of care among Russian ROs. The effect of the contouring workshop on participants’ knowledge and attitudes was performed using tests for paired nominal data. Results: We analyzed 77 pre-workshop and 32 matched post-workshop questionnaires. 56% (43 out of 77) of respondents treated MIBC patients with bladder-directed radiation therapy (RT). Of these, 40% (17 out of 43) treated only inoperable patients, and 60% treated both operable and inoperable MIBC patients. 14% offered RT alone to their patients, while the rest offered concurrent chemoRT. 63% (26 out of 41) offered suboptimal concurrent systemic agents, such as single agents carboplatin or paclitaxel. 63% of respondents felt that BP can only be done in specialized centers with established expertise, but only 10% felt uncomfortable offering an MIBC patient a BP option in their clinic. Prior to workshop, 40% of respondents estimated universal poor bladder and erectile functions after BP. The workshop resulted in dramatic change in participants’ attitudes towards BP long-term urinary (Stuart-Maxwell-test, p &lt; 0.01), and sexual (exact McNemar test, p &lt; 0.01) side-effects. Prior to workshop, only 52% of respondents routinely discussed smoking cessation (SC) with their patients, whereas after workshop almost 90% agreed that SC discussion is mandatory (exact McNemar test, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Bladder preservation is commonly used in Russia in the management of MIBC patients. Our contouring workshop resulted in dramatically improved understanding of long-term BP toxicities and inspired Russian ROs to incorporate smoking cessation counseling into routine clinical practice. International educational efforts are critical to improve multi-disciplinary management of MIBC patients.
GP is struck off after writing to colleague’s patients claiming she had treated them inappropriately
Authors: Clare Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2019)

A GP has been struck off the UK medical register after writing letters to six of his practice partner’s patients alleging that she had used a contraindicated disinfectant in their vaginas while inserting a contraceptive coil.

Frank Kwame Hlordzi, a GP principal at the Clayhill Medical Practice in Basildon, was motivated by a “desire to avenge what he considered to be wrongdoing committed against him,” a medical practitioners tribunal found.

His relationship with certain colleagues broke down, and the working atmosphere became “toxic and dysfunctional,” which may not have been entirely Hlordzi’s fault, said Geoffrey Payne, chairing the tribunal in Manchester.

Hlordzi had a particularly …
Presence of mutations in the bile salt excretory pump gene in two families with pediatric cholangiocarcinoma and PFIC.
Authors: A O Scheimann, W Karnsakul, S Strautnieks, R J Thompson, G D Ferry, G S Gopalakrishna, R P Wood, C F Ozaki, H E Soriano, M Munden, M J Finegold
Journal: Hepatology (2001)
Association Between Clinically Meaningful Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Improvement and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Jeffrey F. Scherrer, Joanne Salas, Sonya B. Norman, Paula P. Schnurr, Kathleen M. Chard, Peter Tuerk, F. David Schneider, Carissa van den Berk-Clark, Beth E. Cohen, Matthew J. Friedman, Patrick J. Lustman
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry (2019)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Improvement in PTSD has been associated with improved self-reported physical health and hypertension; however, there is no literature, to our knowledge, on whether PTSD improvement is associated with T2D risk.To examine whether clinically meaningful PTSD symptom reduction is associated with lower risk of T2D.This retrospective cohort study examined Veterans Health Affairs medical record data from 5916 patients who received PTSD specialty care between fiscal years 2008 and 2012 and were followed up through fiscal year 2015. Eligible patients had 1 or more PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores of 50 or higher between fiscal years 2008 and 2012 and a second PCL score within the following 12 months and at least 8 weeks after the first PCL score of 50 or higher. The index date was 12 months after the first PCL score. Patients were free of T2D diagnosis or an antidiabetic medication use for 12 months before the index date and had at least 1 visit after the index date. Data analyses were completed during January 2019.Reduction in PCL scores during a 12-month period was used to define patients as those with a clinically meaningful improvement (≥20-point PCL score decrease) and patients with less or no improvement (<20-point PCL score decrease).Incident T2D diagnosed during a 2- to 6-year follow-up.Medical records from a total of 1598 patients (mean [SD] age, 42.1 [13.4] years; 1347 [84.3%] male; 1060 [66.3%] white) were studied. The age-adjusted cumulative incidence of T2D was 2.6% among patients with a clinically meaningful PCL score decrease and 5.9% among patients without a clinically meaningful PCL score decrease (P = .003). After control for confounding, patients with a clinically meaningful PCL score decrease were significantly less likely to develop T2DM compared with those without a clinically meaningful decrease (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.26-0.98).The findings suggest that clinically meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms are associated with a lower risk of T2D. A decrease in PCL score, whether through treatment or spontaneous improvement, may help mitigate the greater risk of T2D in patients with PTSD.
Prostate cancer survival at Oncologos del Occidente from Colombia, South America.
Authors: Hernan Dario Salazar Piedrahita, Carlos Raul Villegas Mejia, Jose Arnoby Chacon Cardona, Tomas Sanchez Villegas
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

e16102 Background: Prostate cancer occupies the first place in USA and the sixth in developing countries. In our records is the seventh and the second as general attention and mortality cause on men. Methods: A descriptive analysis of patients attending and treated at Oncologos del Occidente a Private Cancer Center was developed with 404 cases from January 2007 to June 2012. Results: Age mean 69.161 (Range 49-92 SD.8.614), 54% under 70 and 36% 70-80 years old; 56% Stage II and 0.7% unknown stage, 39% with Gleasson score under 6, 35% of Gleasson 7 and 25% with 8-10; PSA mean 41.394 (Range 0.002-900, SD.81.380) with 33% with PSA 4-10 and 24% with PSA of 10-20 ng/dl and 14% over 100; 64% without previous treatment; mean Previous Symptoms in months 6.002 (Range 1-120 months SD.11.901) with 75% under 3 months of symptoms; 90% of patients with Karnofsky over 80%; 29% relapsed and 56% of them biochemical relapsed; 75% of patients without any surgery and 17% Radical prostatectomy; 60% Radical radiation only to the prostate and 15% because of metastases and 9% because of post-Surgery cause; 34% with T1c; survival to 5 and 10 years about many prognosis factors are shown in the Table. Conclusions: This is the first effort in a specific area from Colombia related to general survival to 5 and 10 years based on prognosis factor and the results are similar to others experience centers. [Table: see text]
Payment Plans Bridging Gap: An Equalizer for the Hispanic Population with Lymphoid Neoplasms in a Majority-Minority Community
Authors: Jessica Trevino Jones, Sushanth Kakarla, Annie Hung, Michelle Janania Martinez, Prathibha Surapaneni, Juan Garza, David Gregorio, Elva Nora Osuna Salazar, Joel E Michalek, Qianqian Liu, Adolfo E Diaz
Journal: Blood (2018)
Emphysema Is—at the Most—Only a Mild Phenotype in the Sugen/Hypoxia Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Harm J. Bogaard, Ekaterina Legchenko, Ketul R. Chaudhary, Xiao-Qing Sun, Duncan J. Stewart, Georg Hansmann
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2019)
Phase I trial of SU014813 in patients (pts) with advanced solid malignancies
Authors: W. M. Fiedler, G. Giaccone, P. Lasch, I. Van der Horst, N. M. Brega, S. Raber, D. Shalinsky, V. Ljubmir, C. Bokemeyer, E. Boven
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

3521 Background: SU014813 is an oral multi-targeted small molecule RTK inhibitor of VEGFRs, PDGFRs, sKIT &amp; FLT-3 at nM concentrations. This study was designed to determine the safety, PK, PD, &amp; preliminary efficacy of SU014813. Methods: Cohorts of pts with (w/) relapsed or refractory solid tumors received oral SU014813 at 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 mg on a 4 wks on/1 wk off (4/1), or 100 or 150 mg on a continuous dose (CD) schedule. The MTD was defined as the highest dose at which 0 of 3 or 1 of 6 pts encountered DLT during Cycle 1. Primary study endpoints included safety &amp; PK. Plasma VEGF receptor &amp; ligand concentrations were measured by ELISA &amp; antitumor activity was assessed by CT scan. Results: 77 pts (57 M, 20 F; mean age 54.3 yrs) w/ chemorefractory solid tumors (22 CRC, 12 NSCLC, 12 sarcoma, 6 RCC,25 other) were enrolled. The rate of grade 3/4 AEs increased at doses above 100 mg w/hypertension &amp; fatigue occurring in 18 % &amp; 12 % of pts, diarrhea (9%) &amp; thrombocytopenia (5%). The MTD was determined to be 100 mg CD, which was well-tolerated w/ manageable G3 diarrhea (n=2/6). PK was generally dose-proportional; at 100 mg CD, C max = 255 ng/mL, T max = 3 h, C 24h = 63 ng/mL. SU014813 decreased plasma VEGFR2 &amp; R3 concentrations in a dose- dependent manner (50–200 mg doses) but rebounded off treatment (4/1 schedule). Plasma VEGF generally increased after treatment but effects were variable. Twelve pts had an objective response at =50 mg daily dose levels; 1 pt w/ RCC had CR (183 days [d]);11 pts had PR (2 RCC, 2 thymoma, 2 NSCLC, 1 CRC, 4 other)(median 235 d; range 35- 470); 14 pts had stable disease (SD; median 178 d, range 58–554). Seven other pts who did not meet RECIST response criteria had long disease stabilization (median 200 d; range 180 - 440). Conclusions: SU014813 has a manageable safety &amp; tolerability profiles at the doses studied. The MTD &amp; recommended Ph II dose were determined to be 100 mg CD, as SU014813 had linear PK, modulated plasma VEGF receptors consistent with RTK inhibition, &amp; demonstrated encouraging preliminary activity w/ durable responses across several tumor types. [Table: see text]
Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) represents a link between inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Minghua Wu, Brian Skaug, Xiongjie Bi, Tingting Mills, Gloria Salazar, Xiaodong Zhou, John Reveille, Sandeep K Agarwal, Michael R Blackburn, Maureen D Mayes, Shervin Assassi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

Objectives There is considerable evidence that implicates dysregulation of type I interferon signalling (or type I IFN signature) in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) has been recognised as a master regulator of type I IFN signalling. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of IRF7 in dermal fibrosis and SSc pathogenesis. Methods SSc and healthy control skin biopsies were investigated to determine IRF7 expression and activation. The role of IRF7 in fibrosis was investigated using IRF7 knockout (KO) mice in the bleomycin-induced and TSK/+mouse models. In vitro experiments with dermal fibroblasts from patients with SSc and healthy controls were performed. Results IRF7 expression was significantly upregulated and activated in SSc skin tissue and explanted SSc dermal fibroblasts compared with unaffected, matched controls. Moreover, IRF7 expression was stimulated by IFN-α in dermal fibroblasts. Importantly, IRF7 co-immunoprecipitated with Smad3, a key mediator of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signalling, and IRF7 knockdown reduced profibrotic factors in SSc fibroblasts. IRF7 KO mice demonstrated attenuated dermal fibrosis and inflammation compared with wild-type mice in response to bleomycin. Specifically, hydroxyproline content, dermal thickness as well as Col1a2, ACTA2 and interleukin-6 mRNA levels were significantly attenuated in IRF7 KO mice skin tissue. Furthermore, IRF7 KO in TSK/+mice attenuated hydroxyproline content, subcutaneous hypodermal thickness, Col1a2 mRNA as well as α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin expression. Conclusions IRF7 is upregulated in SSc skin, interacts with Smad3 and potentiates TGF-β-mediated fibrosis, and therefore may represent a promising therapeutic target in SSc.