“High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening in BRCA1/2 Carriers Leads to Early Detection and Improved Survival After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis”

BackgroundGermline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant (PV) carriers have high lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and therefore subjected to intense lifetime screening. However, solid data on the effectiveness of high-risk screening of the BRCA1/2 carrier population is limited.Patients and MethodsRetrospectively, we analyzed 346 women diagnosed with breast tumors. Patients were divided according to the timing of BRCA1/2 PVrecognition, before (BRCA-preDx awareness, N = 62) or after (BRCA-postDx awareness group, N = 284) cancer diagnosis.ResultsMedian follow-up times were 131.42 and 93.77 months in the BRCA-preDx awareness and BRCA-postDx awareness groups, respectively. In the BRCA-preDx awareness group, 78.7% of the patients had invasive tumors and 21.3% were diagnosed with pure ductal carcinoma in situ. In contrast, in the BRCA-postDx awareness group over 93% of women were diagnosed with invasive cancer and only 6.4% had in situ disease. The mode of tumor detection differed significantly between the groups: 71.9% in the BRCA-postDx awareness group and 26.2% in the BRCA-preDx awareness group were diagnosed after personally palpating a lump. Tumor size and nodal involvement were significantly more favorable in the BRCA-preDx awareness group. T stage was significantly lower in the BRCA-preDx awareness group: 54.84% at T1 and 20.96% at Tis. In the BRCA-postDx awareness group, only 37.54% were at T1 and 6.49% at Tis. The N stage was also significantly lower in the BRCA-preDx awareness group: 71% had no lymph node metastases, compared with 56.1% in the BRCA-postDx awareness group. Additionally, therapeutic procedures varied between the groups: BRCA-preDx awareness group patients underwent more breast conserving surgeries. Axillary lymph node dissection was done in 38% of women in the BRCA-postDx awareness group and in only 8.7% of the BRCA-preDx awareness group patients. Interestingly, improved survival was found among patients who underwent high-risk screening (hazard ratio=0.34).ConclusionsHigh-risk screening might facilitate downstaging of detected breast tumor among BRCA1/2 carrier population.

Ultrafast stimulated emission microscopy of single nanocrystals

Single-molecule detection is a powerful method used to distinguish different species and follow time trajectories within the ensemble average. However, such detection capability requires efficient emitters and is prone to photobleaching, and the slow, nanosecond spontaneous emission process only reports on the lowest excited state. We demonstrate direct detection of stimulated emission from individual colloidal nanocrystals at room temperature while simultaneously recording the depleted spontaneous emission, enabling us to trace the carrier population through the entire photocycle. By capturing the femtosecond evolution of the stimulated emission signal, together with the nanosecond fluorescence, we can disentangle the ultrafast charge trajectories in the excited state and determine the populations that experience stimulated emission, spontaneous emission, and excited-state absorption processes.

Detailed balance calculations for hot-carrier solar cells: coupling high absorptivity with low thermalization through light trapping

Hot-carrier solar cells could enable an efficiency gain compared to conventional cells, provided that a high current can be achieved, together with a hot-carrier population. Because the thermalization rate is proportional to the volume of the absorber, a fundamental requirement is to maximize the density of carriers generated per volume unit. In this work, we focus on the crucial role of light trapping to meet this objective. Using a detailed balance model taking into account losses through a thermalization factor, we obtained parameters of the hot-carrier population generated under continuous illumination. Different absorptions corresponding to different light path enhancements were compared. Results are presented for open-circuit voltage, at maximum power point and as a function of the applied voltage. The relation between the parameters of the cell (thermalization rate and absorptivity) and its characteristics (temperature, chemical potential, and efficiency) is explained. In particular, we clarify the link between absorbed light intensity and chemical potential. Overall, the results give quantitative values for the thermalization coefficient to be achieved and show that in the hot-carrier regime, absorptivity enhancement leads to an important increase in the carrier temperature and efficiency.

Ab initio calculation of electronic charge mobility in metal–organic frameworks

The electron mobility of a Zr-UiO-66 benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) metal-organic framework (MOF) with three functional designs was investigated using a DFT method in combination with a Boltzmann relaxation time approximation. The results provide evidence of strong control of the charge carrier mobility in functionalized MOFs through manipulation of the majority carrier population.