original posts at bsky.app/profile/bowtiepolitics.bsky.social. here: mostly RTs
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Articles by Michael Bitzer
Role prompting modulates linguistic style but not clinical decision structure in GPT-5 tumour board simulation
Abstract Multidisciplinary tumour boards (MDTs) are the standard for gastrointestinal oncological decision-making but remain resource-intensive. Whether specialty-specific role prompting induces genuinely distinct clinical reasoning in large language models (LLMs)—or merely role-appropriate language around an invariant output—has not been systematically tested.
Author Correction: First-line modified FOLFOX plus/minus nivolumab and Ipilimumab or FLOT plus nivolumab in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: a phase II multi-cohort IKF-AIO-MOONLIGHT trial
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Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69622-7, published online 27 February 2026 In the version of this article initially published, funding information did not acknowledge the sponsor of the trial is the Frankfurt Institute of Clinical Cancer Research IKF GmbH and that financial support and drug supply for the conduct of the trial was granted by Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, while the title was incomplete and did not reference the Institut für...
By Sylvie Lorenzen, Thorsten Oliver Goetze, Peter C Thuss-Patience, Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild, Eray Goekkurt, Tobias Dechow, Thomas Ettrich, Ralf Dieter Hofheinz, Kim Barbara Luley, Daniel H. Pink, Udo Lindig, Gunnar Folprecht, Gunter Schuch, Michael Bitzer, Volker Heinemann, Stefan Angermeier, Claus Bolling, Maria Loose, Sabine Junge, Claudia Pauligk, Salah-Eddin Al-Batran
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Nature
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First-line modified FOLFOX plus/minus nivolumab and Ipilimumab or FLOT plus nivolumab in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: a phase II multi-cohort trial | Nature Communications
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Abstract This multi-cohort study evaluates whether dual immune checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab and ipilimumab in parallel or sequentially, or triplet chemotherapy with nivolumab can enhance efficacy as first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Patients are randomized 1:1 to Arm A (mFOLFOX + nivolumab 240 mg every two weeks + ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every six weeks in parallel or Arm B (mFOLFOX).
By Sylvie Lorenzen, Thorsten Oliver Goetze, Peter C Thuss-Patience, Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild, Eray Goekkurt, Tobias Dechow, Thomas Ettrich, Ralf Dieter Hofheinz, Kim Barbara Luley, Daniel H. Pink, Gunnar Folprecht, Michael Bitzer, Volker Heinemann, Maria Loose, Sabine Junge, Claudia Pauligk, Salah-Eddin Al-Batran, Udo Lindig, Gunter Schuch, Stefan Angermeier, Claus Bolling
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Nature
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Personalized signaling pathway analysis of gastrointestinal tumors for patient stratification and drug target evaluation using clinically derived core biopsies | npj Precision Oncology
Abstract Aberrant cellular signaling underlies cancer development and progression. Identifying alterations in these pathways yields critical insights for personalized oncology. Clinically, assessing the activation status of signaling proteins complements genetic and histopathological analyses, improving therapeutic evaluation and accuracy.
Is GOP gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson too MAGA for North Carolina?
After the Super Tuesday primary in North Carolina, the state’s political observers are turning their eyes to what will likely be the nation’s most competitive presidential and gubernatorial contests — with diametrically opposed nominees leading the ballot. North Carolina voters are familiar with this dynamic, having a long political history of electing Republican candidates at the federal level and Democratic state-level candidates.
Is GOP gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson too MAGA for North Carolina?
After the Super Tuesday primary in North Carolina, the state’s political observers are turning their eyes to what will likely be the nation’s most competitive presidential and gubernatorial contests — with diametrically opposed nominees leading the ballot. North Carolina voters are familiar with this dynamic, having a long political history of electing Republican candidates at the federal level and Democratic state-level candidates.
Columna de Michael Bitzer: ¿Trump tiene el camino libre?
Por Michael Bitzer, profesor de política e historia del Catawba College, EE.UU. Concluida la contienda inicial para la nominación presidencial de 2024 (el caucus de Iowa), tenemos una mejor idea de cómo ve el Partido Republicano a su expresidente que busca una tercera nominación para el más alto cargo ejecutivo de Estados Unidos.
Nivolumab and ipilimumab in recurrent or refractory cancer of unknown primary: a phase II trial - Nature Communications
Abstract Cancer of unknown primary has a dismal prognosis, especially following failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. 10-20% of patients have a high tumor mutational burden (TMB), which predicts response to immunotherapy in many cancer types. In this prospective, non-randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase II trial (EudraCT 2018-004562-33; NCT04131621), patients relapsed or refractory after platinum-based chemotherapy received nivolumab and ipilimumab following TMBhigh vs.
Substitution Effect, Turnout Effect, or Both? Changes in Distance to the Early Voting Site and Voter Turnout
INTRODUCTION Voting is a habitual act. When someone votes in one election, they are more likely to vote in subsequent elections (Gerber, Green, and Shachar, 2003; Coppock and Green, 2015). Likewise, when a voter chooses a method to cast their vote, they are likely to continue to use that same method in future elections. These empirical findings follow from basic economic models that assume that voters act as if they are maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.
Even if Georgia turns blue, North Carolina may not follow
Updated December 8, 2020 4:00 PM This year's presidential election saw Georgia go blue for the first time since Bill Clinton secured its electoral votes in 1992. Yet, in the South's other most competitive contest, President Donald Trump eked out a narrow win with the closest margin of victory of any state he carried. The rest of North Carolina's electoral outcomes cast more of a purple hue over the state, with a mix of Republicans and Democrats winning statewide seats.
Perspective | Even if Georgia turns blue, North Carolina may not follow
This year’s presidential election saw Georgia go blue for the first time since Bill Clinton secured its electoral votes in 1992. Yet, in the South’s other most competitive contest, President Trump eked out a narrow win with the closest margin of victory of any state he carried. The rest of North Carolina’s electoral outcomes cast more of a purple hue over the state, with a mix of Republicans and Democrats winning statewide seats.
Previewing North Carolina for 2020's election
Published 4:09 p.m. yesterday With an upcoming interview for Spectrum News' "Capital Tonight" that previews the 2020 election in North Carolina, I thought it might be worthwhile to share some findings of the Old North State's electoral dynamics in the past several presidential election years, as we are slated to another "competitivebattleground/lean GOP" state for next year's campaign.
Three lessons from North Carolina's tainted election - and what comes next
When the North Carolina State Board of Elections' investigation of the 9th Congressional District with a call for a new election, the nation witnessed what is probably the first federal election overturned because of fraud. As a new campaign begins, three key lessons can be learned from 2018's tainted contest. It was election fraud, not voter fraud.
Dr. Michael Bitzer: Thoughts on the Old North State's political character - Salisbury Post
This is an excerpt from a blog at OldNorthStatePolitics.com. The Ninth Congressional District’s election fraud storm that has rocked this state is unlike anything I have seen or experienced in 16 years of studying North Carolina politics.
After Pennsylvania, is it time for NC Republicans to panic yet?
From a post in Bitzer’s blog, OldNorthStatePolitics.com: The Democratic wave crashed into Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district last week, and Republicans have begun the appropriate stage in a mid-term election year that’s moving against them: in a phrase, “batten down the hatches.” In a leaked e-mail, the N.C. House GOP political director “predicted” that if North Carolina experienced a similar wave as the one that occurred in Pennsylvania, Democrats would not only capture the lower...
Hockey | Senior CLASS Award
Voting Ballot YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Fan balloting counts for 1/3 of the total with the remaining 2/3 determined by NCAA Division I coaches and national media members. Please see the Selection Process section of the Senior CLASS Award website for more information. Fans can vote on this page through midnight CT on the final day of voting. To vote, check the box next to your favorite candidates (you may select up to 3), enter the text string below and click the VOTE NOW button.
PICCA study: panitumumab in combination with cisplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy in KRAS wild-type patients with biliary cancer-a randomised biomarker-driven clinical phase II AIO study - European Journal of Cancer
Publication HistoryPublished online: January 31, 2018Accepted: December 29, 2017; Received in revised form: December 19, 2017; Received: November 1, 2017;
The Possible Ramifications Of NC's Congressional Gerrymandering Decision
In what may be a landmark decision, a federal panel of judges has ruled all of North Carolina's congressional districts are illegal partisan gerrymanders. They've banned the map from being used in this year's election and ordered the General Assembly to draw new districts by 5pm on January 24th. Lawmakers are expected to appeal the ruling.
The Possible Ramifications Of NC's Congressional Gerrymanering Decision
In what may be a landmark decision, a federal panel of judges has ruled all of North Carolina's congressional districts are illegal partisan gerrymanders. They've banned the map from being used in this year's election and ordered the General Assembly to draw new districts by 5pm on January 24th. Lawmakers are expected to appeal the ruling.
Cellular senescence in gastrointestinal diseases: from pathogenesis to therapeutics
Key Points Senescence is a durable cell cycle arrest induced in response to various stress factors such as telomere erosion, DNA damage or the aberrant activation of oncogenes; the senescence response counteracts tumorigenesis Senescence plays important physiological roles in nondisease settings such as embryonic development, wound healing, tissue repair and ageing Senescent cells secrete various cytokines, chemokines, matrix remodelling proteases and growth factors, forming the...
Supreme Court Now Appears Ready To Insert Itself In 'Political Question' On Redistricting
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Wisconsin redistricting case and consider whether partisan gerrymandering is constitutional. In the past, the courts have deferred on answering whether partisan gerrymandering is constitutional or not for the simple fact that it inserts the judiciary into a “political question.” In 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a redistricting effort, drawn by Republicans, in Pennsylvania against the claim that excessive partisan gerrymandering occurred.
About That Rural vs. Urban Political Divide...
Scholars and analysts have much to research about the 2016 election, but some early analysis is confirming what we have seen for some time among the electorate, particularly in two key areas. The first confirmation of past trends is what most political scientists and analysts continue to point to as the profound vote division based on party identification.
The Numbers Are In: Breaking Down NC's 2016 Voter Demographics
For most of us who study North Carolina politics, 2008’s election was the great demarcation in terms of the state being a “strong Republican” presidential state (George W. Bush won by 13 percentage points) to a competitive battleground. 2008’s election saw a notable difference from 2004’s election in that registered Democrats matched registered Republicans in their turnout.
Republican Lawmakers' Power Games Continue Long Tradition
Once upon a time, a political party was faced with the loss of a branch of government to its political nemesis. It came following a rancorous and bitter election, which saw the sitting incumbent defeated in his bid for re-election.
Election Data Shows Widening of NC's Urban vs. Rural Divide
Now that the dust has finally settled on North Carolina’s elections, some preliminary analyses can be conducted on the voting patterns in the state, which experienced a 2-to-1 split in the big three statewide contests between the two parties. With Republicans claiming the U.S. presidential and U.S. senate contests, and the Democrats claiming the governor’s, it would appear that the era of split ticket voters has returned to the state. We’ve been here before.
Breaking Down 2012 to Forecast 2016 Turnout
As we enter the homestretch of the 2016 election, much attention will turn from the horse race (i.e., the polls) to the turnout race. Much will be made about what kind of electorate will show up, based on racial dynamics, age, gender, and, from what seems like a major fault line for 2016, education. North Carolina’s electorate has expanded considerably since 2000, with 2008 and 2012 continuing to see more voters casting ballots: 4.3 million in 2008 and 4.5 million in 2012.
Political Polarization Grows The More We Live in Like-Minded Communities
A recent Charlotte Talks show discussed how polarization has increased in our politics, based on a recent Pew Research Center study of partisan animosity between voters, with one of the guests contending that Americans are ‘sorting’ themselves based on lifestyle and location, with an effect of living in ‘like-minded’ communities and voting in like-minded fashion. As a potential result of this ‘sorting,’ more Americans see their communities reflect their same political orientation.
Trump Campaign Shows It's Not Ready For Prime Time
With Donald Trump’s newest attempt to ‘reboot’ his presidential campaign, speculation abounds as to whether this latest campaign shake-up, along with the candidate’s mea culpa in Charlotte, will have any profound impact on his poll numbers in the race towards November.
Political Roundup with Professor Bitzer
The state Fraternal Order of Police is still upset that the office of Attorney General Roy Cooper prosecuted former CMPD officer Randall Kerrick last summer in the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell. FOP members walked out on Cooper, the Democratic candidate for governor, as he was speaking at the group's annual conference. The group also endorsed incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory.
Mecklenburg Early Voting Plan Could Be A Gift For GOP
On the day that the state of North Carolina asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision regarding the state's voting law changes, especially voter identification and early voting, Mecklenburg County’s Board of Elections, on a 2-1 partisan vote, voted to cut 238 hours from early voting. The Republican-adopted plan calls for 2,504 hours of voting spread over six sites the first week, and 22 locations over the second 10 days.
A Look at Trump's Voter Mobilization Strategy
Much has been made about the role that white voters will play in this year’s election, especially those without a college education who are seen as the backbone of Donald Trump's support. With the continuing division of the electorate based on a number of factors (partisanship, gender, age, race, and ethnicity), it is not surprising that the continued coalition-building by both parties are honing in on discrete groups that have traditionally been core groups.
Degree Of Voter Chill Is Key To Presidential Victory
Much has been made about the favorability, or more notably, the lack thereof, of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
A Review of the Democratic, Republican Conventions
Modern-day nominating conventions have become nothing more than ‘infomercials’ for both political parties, and this year's Democratic and Republican national party conventions were indeed that. However, both presented stark contrasts in terms of the product they were selling to the American electorate for purchase this coming November. As is tradition, the party out of power of the White House went first, and the one word that seems to sum up the Republican’s nomination of Donald J.
What To Look For As Voter Pool Changes Leading To November
Heading into the general election, I'm analyzing the voter registration pool for North Carolina at the beginning of each month, watching for key trends and development of certain voting groups.
Breaking Down November's Voting Pool
With any general election, there are two aspects that most political analysts will start to evaluate: the composition of the possible electorate (‘who shows up’) and the behavior of that possible electorate (‘how do different groups vote?’). Granted, North Carolina’s potential electorate can expand between now and November, but an early breakdown of the voter registration pool can give some hint of who is eligible to cast their ballots in the fall.
Trump's Wishful Thinking on New Primary Voters
With Republican voters solidified behind their presumptive nominee, Donald Trump has turned his focus to the general election. In many statements, Trump has indicated he has brought “new voters” to the GOP primary contests, with the assertion that these new voters will follow him into the general election. Using this logic, Trump has laid claims to flipping traditionally blue states, like New York and California, to red this coming fall.
The Trump Effect on Partisan Voting
Now that both Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s Chairman, Reince Priebus, have declared Trump as the presumptive presidential nominee, the attention turns to the general campaign and the November election. Since the “presumptive” title was bestowed, the GOP nominee has made some interesting statements regarding “party unity,” especially since the GOP’s convention chairman, House Speaker Paul Ryan, said he’s not able to support Trump.
Republican Lawmakers Get A Big Court Victory
With the decision by federal judge Thomas Schroeder upholding the North Carolina’s election law overhaul that Republicans approved in 2013, the 485-page opinion is a massive analysis of the legislative intent and, at times, a stark dismissal of opponent’s criticisms. The ruling can only be viewed as a solid win for the Republicans when they were desperate for any news of a victory for their party’s policies in the state.
HB 2 Is Part Of A GOP Strategy For November
In 1992, the voters of Colorado passed a state constitution amendment in response to several local governments, including Denver, Aspen, and Boulder, that had enacted local laws to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
A Preview of Tuesday's NC Presidential Primary
The key questions throughout the prior primaries and caucuses have been about the electorates’ composition. With the notable influx of voters into the Republican presidential primary and the clear distinction between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders when it comes to Democratic primary voters’ age and race, who shows up in Tuesday’s primary will be a key question.
Some Thoughts on Super Tuesday and What's Ahead
Donald Trump, while not completely engulfing his opponents with a tsunami, did extremely well on Super Tuesday.
Breaking Down Trump's Domination of SC GOP Primary
Some thoughts following both the Nevada Democratic caucus and the South Carolina Republican primary appear to show a clearer sense of where things are headed in the presidential battles. For Hillary Clinton’s campaign, coming off a thumping in New Hampshire’s primary, Clinton needed the first state where minority voters would be influential, and she managed to achieve that in Nevada.
As The Supreme Court Turns...
With the unexpected death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, the 2016 political landscape has shifted dramatically, from the current divided government between a Democratic president and a Republican-controled Senate to those who want to be the next occupant of the Oval Office.
What's Next For Congressional District Maps (Besides Uncertainty)?
The scramble for what happens next in North Carolina’s 1st and 12th congressional districts is well underway now that a federal 3-judge panel has declared their Republican-drawn maps unconstitutional. Unfortunately, this pattern of judicial ‘holds’ on North Carolina legislative and congressional maps is nothing that we haven’t experienced before.
Don't Believe Media Hype on 'Independent' Voters
In the past few weeks, two news stories implied this year’s election could be determined by not only "independent" voters but a possible ‘independent’ presidential candidate. The media hyped a Gallup Poll that indicates more than 40 percent of Americans identify as politically independent. Gallup also found that conservatives and moderates were neck and neck in the ideological contest in American politics.
Breaking Down the Political 'God Gap'
Recently, Franklin Graham announced that he was going on a 50-state tour to call on evangelicals to go to the polls and vote for “godly leaders.” And while he promised not to endorse any candidates and expressed dismay with the Republican Party (“I’m as disappointed in them as I am the Democrats,” Graham remarked), it is clear that there is a partisan approach to any religious rally among conservative Christians to the cause of politics.
Confused About Different Primaries? Here's a Primer
Now that the State Board of Elections has finalized the ballot for North Carolina’s March 15 primary election, some have commented that voters will face a ‘closed’ primary ballot. In the parlance of primary elections and political science research, North Carolina use one of several different forms of primary systems that states have for their election processes.
Expectations For A Quiet 2015 Prove False
For an ‘odd-year’ in the election cycle, it was a pretty intense one, from the local level in Charlotte to the state and the nation. I’m reminded of just how intense taking a look back at some of the blog posts I wrote in 2015. My first post was about 2015 being the “year of the invisible primary.” Well, the primary contests were anything but “invisible” for both sides of the political aisle.
Voter Anger Over I-77 Tolls Could Mean Trouble For McCrory
With the controversy surrounding the I-77 toll lane project continuing to swirl, the policy issues of whether the contract should be canceled, and who has that power, has become a political hot potato. Just recently, Governor Pat McCrory sent a letter to the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization chairs. He wants the organization to give a clear ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ to moving ahead with the toll project.
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