Biomarker analysis from a randomized phase II study of olaparib with or without cediranib in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

7

Background: We previously reported that cediranib, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, prolonged radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) compared with olaparib alone in patients with mCRPC. Herein, we present updated clinical data in the overall population and in subgroups by homologous recombination (HR) gene status. Methods: Men with a minimum of one prior line of systemic therapy for mCRPC were randomized 1:1 to receive olaparib 200 mg by mouth twice daily with cediranib 30 mg by mouth daily (C+O) or olaparib 300 mg by mouth twice daily (O). Patients were required to undergo a baseline metastasis biopsy. Next generation sequencing of HR genes was performed on available samples using BROCA-HR assay. HR deficiency (HRD) was defined by presence of homozygous deletions or deleterious mutations in HR genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, and others. The primary endpoint was rPFS and secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: Eighty-four patients were included in the analysis of whom 26 patients (31.0%) had HRD mCRPC. The most common HR gene alterations included BRCA2 (n=17, 20%), CDK12 (n=9, 11%), and ATM (n=7, 8%). Consistent with our prior report, in the overall cohort, C+O compared to O resulted in a significant improvement in rPFS (Table). The benefit in rPFS was most pronounced in patients with HRD mCRPC; however, there was no difference between arms in HR proficient (HRP) cancers. Independent of arm allocation, rPFS and OS were numerically longer in patients with HRD mCRPC compared to HRP mCRPC (rPFS: 8.8 versus 4.3 months, p=0.14; OS: 18.6 vs. 12.3 months, p=0.24). Conclusions: C+O improved rPFS in patients with mCPRC compared with O alone. The biomarker analyses revealed that the rPFS benefit of C+O over O is likely driven by patients with HRD mCRPC. Our data warrant validation and support further investigation of the combination of C+O in patients with HRD mCRPC. Clinical trial information: NCT02893917. [Table: see text]

Safety and Clinical Activity of Atezolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Phase I Study

PURPOSE

Atezolizumab [anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1)] is well tolerated and efficacious in multiple cancers, but has not been previously evaluated in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This study examined the safety, efficacy, and biomarkers of atezolizumab monotherapy for mCRPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This phase Ia, open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study (PCD4989g) enrolled patients with mCRPC who had progressed on sipuleucel-T or enzalutamide. Atezolizumab was given intravenously every 3 weeks until confirmed disease progression or loss of clinical benefit. Prespecified endpoints included safety, efficacy, biomarker analyses, and radiographic assessments.

RESULTS

All 35 evaluable patients [median age, 68 years (range, 45-83 years)] received atezolizumab after ≥1 prior line of therapy; 62.9% of patients had received ≥3 prior lines. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 21 patients (60.0%), with no deaths. One patient had a confirmed partial response (PR) per RECIST 1.1, and 1 patient had a PR per immune-related response criteria. The confirmed 50% PSA response rate was 8.6% (3 patients). Median overall survival (OS) was 14.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.9-not evaluable], with a 1-year OS rate of 52.3% (95% CI: 34-70); 2-year OS was 35.9% (95% CI: 13-59). Median follow-up was 13.0 months (range, 1.2-28.1 months). Biomarker analyses showed that atezolizumab activated immune responses; however, a composite biomarker failed to reveal consistent correlations with efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Atezolizumab was generally well tolerated in patients with mCRPC, with a safety profile consistent with other tumor types. In heavily pretreated patients, atezolizumab monotherapy demonstrated evidence of disease control; however, its limited efficacy suggests a combination approach may be needed.

Liposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil/leucovorin versus FOLFIRINOX as the second-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: a multicenter retrospective study of the Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG)

Background

There is no clear consensus on the recommended second-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have disease progression following gemcitabine-based therapy. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus fluorouracil/leucovorin (FL) and FOLFIRINOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) in patients who had failed on the first-line gemcitabine-based therapy.

Patients and methods

From January 2015 to August 2019, 378 patients with MPC who had received nal-IRI/FL (n = 104) or FOLFIRINOX (n = 274) as second-line treatment across 11 institutions were included in this retrospective study.

Results

There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups, except age and first-line regimens. With a median follow-up of 6 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.7 months with nal-IRI/FL versus 4.6 months with FOLFIRINOX (P = 0.44). Median overall survival (OS) was 7.7 months with nal-IRI/FL versus 9.7 months with FOLFRINOX (P = 0.13). There was no significant difference in PFS and OS between the two regimens in the univariate and multivariate analyses. The subgroup analysis revealed that younger age (<70 years) was associated with better OS with FOLFIRINOX. In contrast, older age (≥70 years) was associated with better survival outcomes with nal-IRI/FL. Adverse events were manageable with both regimens; however, the incidence of grade 3 or higher neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy was higher in patients treated with FOLFIRINOX than with nal-IRI/FL.

Conclusions

Second-line nal-IRI/FL and FOLFIRINOX showed similar effectiveness outcomes after progression following first-line gemcitabine-based therapy. Age could be the determining factor for choosing the appropriate second-line therapy.

•

This multicenter retrospective study investigated nal-IRI/FL and FOLFIRINOX outcomes after gemcitabine-based therapy.

•

We found no significant differences in outcome between nal-IRI/FL and FOLFIRINOX treatment.

•

Both regimens were well tolerated; however, neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy were more frequent with FOLFIRINOX.

•

Age (cut-off, 70 years) showed differential efficacy between chemotherapy regimens.

Safety and efficacy of transarterial embolisation for treatment of dorsal pancreatic artery haemorrhage

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolisation (TAE) of dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) haemorrhage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen consecutive patients (M:F = 16:3, mean age 59.6 years) who underwent TAE of DPA in three tertiary medical centres between January 2001 to January 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Angiographic features and the technical and clinical outcomes of TAE were analysed.

RESULTS

The clinical presentations were a bloody drain from the Jackson-Pratt drainage tube (n=8), melaena (n=7), abdominal pain (n=4), and haematochezia (n=3). Angiographic findings included pseudoaneurysm (n=14), contrast media extravasation (n=4), or abrupt cut-off of the arterial branch (n=1). The NBCA (N-butyl-cyanoacrylate; n=4), microcoils (n=4), and a combination of these agents (n=7) were used as embolic agents. The most common origin of the DPA in the present study cohort was the splenic artery (n=7), followed by the coeliac trunk (n=4), common hepatic artery (n=4), and superior mesenteric artery (n=4). Technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 84.2% (16/19), respectively. Of the three clinically unsuccessful cases, two patients were revealed to have newly developed bleeding from another artery. The other patient expired 1 day after the TAE procedure due to a progression of hepatic failure. In one patient, an asymptomatic non-target embolisation occurred in the right posterior tibial artery as a procedure-related complication. No major complications were observed.

CONCLUSION

TAE is safe and effective for the management of bleeding from the DPA. It is important to be aware of the DPA as a potential bleeding source, including the relevant clinical characteristics.

A Phase 1b Study Evaluating the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of CMB305, a Lentiviral-Based Prime-Boost Vaccine Regimen, in Patients with Locally Advanced, Relapsed, or Metastatic Cancer Expressing NY-ESO-1

Preclinical data suggest that a "prime-boost" vaccine regimen using a target-expressing lentiviral vector for priming, followed by a recombinant protein boost, may be effective against cancer; however, this strategy has not been evaluated in a clinical setting. CMB305 is a prime-boost vaccine designed to induce a broad anti-NY-ESO-1 immune response. It is composed of LV305, which is an NY-ESO-1 expressing lentiviral vector, and G305, a recombinant adjuvanted NY-ESO-1 protein. This multicenter phase 1b, first-in-human trial evaluated CMB305 in patients with NY-ESO-1 expressing solid tumors. Safety was examined in a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, followed by an expansion with CMB305 alone or in a combination with either oral metronomic cyclophosphamide or intratumoral injections of a toll-like receptor agonist (glucopyranosyl lipid A). Of the 79 patients who enrolled, 81.0% had sarcomas, 86.1% had metastatic disease, and 57.0% had progressive disease at study entry. The most common adverse events were fatigue (34.2%), nausea (26.6%), and injection-site pain (24.1%). In patients with soft tissue sarcomas, a disease control rate of 61.9% and an overall survival of 26.2 months (95% CI, 22.1-NA) were observed. CMB305 induced anti-NY-ESO-1 antibody and T-cell responses in 62.9% and 47.4% of patients, respectively. This is the first trial to test a prime-boost vaccine regimen in patients with advanced cancer. This approach is feasible, can be delivered safely, and with evidence of immune response as well as suggestion of clinical benefit.

Cabozantinib plus docetaxel and prednisone in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cabozantinib combined with docetaxel.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a phase 1/2 multicentre study in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Docetaxel (75 mg/m² every 3 weeks with daily prednisone 10 mg) was combined with escalating doses of daily cabozantinib (20, 40 and 60 mg). Based on the results of the phase 1 study, the investigation was expanded into a randomized study of docetaxel with prednisone (hereafter 'docetaxel/prednisone') plus the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of cabozantinib compared with docetaxel/prednisone alone.

RESULTS

A total of 44 men with mCRPC were enrolled in this phase 1/2 trial. An MTD of 40 mg cabozantinib plus docetaxel/prednisone was determined. Dose-limiting toxicities were neutropenic fever and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and there was one death attributable to a thromboembolic event. In addition, grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression, hypophosphataemia and neuropathy were seen in three or more patients. In the phase 1 study, the median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) time were 13.6 and 16.3 months, respectively. In the phase 2 study, which was terminated early because of poor accrual, the median TTP and OS favoured the combination (n = 13) compared to docetaxel/prednisone alone (n = 12; 21.0 vs 6.6 months; P = 0.035 and 23.8 vs 15.6 months; P = 0.072, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Despite the limited number of patients in this study, preliminary data suggest that cabozantinib can be safely added to docetaxel/prednisone with possible enhanced efficacy.

Intramedullary pneumorrhachis following a cervical epidural steroid injection

Pneumorrhachis (PR) is a rare radiological condition characterized by the presence of intraspinal air. PR is commonly classified as spontaneous (nontraumatic), traumatic, or iatrogenic, and iatrogenic PR is the most common and often occurs secondary to invasive procedures such as epidural anesthesia, lumbar puncture, or spinal surgery. PR is usually asymptomatic, but it can produce symptoms associated with its underlying pathology. Here, we report a rare case of intramedullary cervical PR following a cervical epidural steroid injection (ESI) and include pertinent discussion.

FAM83H and Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcified Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Autosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta (ADHCAI; OMIM #130900) is a genetic disorder exhibiting severe hardness defects and reduced fracture toughness of dental enamel. While the condition is nonsyndromic, it can be associated with other craniofacial anomalies, such as malocclusions and delayed or failed tooth eruption. Truncation mutations in FAM83H (OMIM *611927) are hitherto the sole cause of ADHCAI. With human genetic studies, Fam83h knockout and mutation-knock-in mouse models indicated that FAM83H does not serve a critical physiologic function during enamel formation and suggested a neomorphic mutation mechanism causing ADHCAI. The function of FAM83H remains obscure. FAM83H has been shown to interact with various isoforms of casein kinase 1 (CK1) and keratins and to mediate organization of keratin cytoskeletons and desmosomes. By considering FAM83H a scaffold protein to anchor CK1s, further molecular characterization of the protein could gain insight into its functions. In this study, we characterized 9 kindreds with ADHCAI and identified 3 novel FAM83H truncation mutations: p.His437*, p.Gln459*, and p.Glu610*. Some affected individuals exhibited hypoplastic phenotypes, in addition to the characteristic hypocalcification enamel defects, which have never been well documented. Failed eruption of canines or second molars in affected persons was observed in 4 of the families. The p.Glu610* mutation was located in a gap area (amino acids 470 to 625) within the zone of previously reported pathogenic variants (amino acids 287 to 694). In vitro pull-down studies with overexpressed FAM83H proteins in HEK293 cells demonstrated an interaction between FAM83H and SEC16A, a protein component of the COP II complex at endoplasmic reticulum exit sites. The interaction was mediated by the middle part (amino acids 287 to 657) of mouse FAM83H protein. Results of this study significantly extended the phenotypic and genotypic spectrums of FAM83H-associated ADHCAI and suggested a role for FAM83H in endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi vesicle trafficking and protein secretion (dbGaP phs001491.v1.p1).

Associations of marijuana with markers of chronic lung disease in people living with HIV

OBJECTIVES

The relationship between marijuana use and markers of chronic lung disease in people living with HIV (PLWH) is poorly understood.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Examinations of HIV-Associated Lung Emphysema (EXHALE) study, including 162 HIV-positive patients and 138 participants without HIV. We modelled marijuana exposure as: (i) current daily or weekly marijuana smoking vs. monthly or less often; or (ii) cumulative marijuana smoking (joint-years). Linear and logistic regression estimated associations between marijuana exposure and markers of lung disease, adjusted for tobacco smoking and other factors.

RESULTS

In PLWH, current daily or weekly marijuana use was associated with a larger forced vital capacity (FVC), larger total lung capacity and increased odds of radiographic emphysema compared with marijuana non-smokers in adjusted models; these associations were not statistically significant in participants without HIV. Marijuana joint-years were associated with higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s and FVC in PLWH but not with emphysema.

CONCLUSIONS

In PLWH, marijuana smoking was associated with higher lung volumes and potentially with radiographic emphysema. No consistently negative associations were observed between marijuana and measures of chronic lung health.

Investigation of photodarkening in tandem-pumped Yb-doped fibers

Investigation of photodarkening (PD) in Yb-doped fibers tandem-pumped at 1018 nm is reported. For a homemade Yb-doped aluminosilicate double-clad fiber (YADF), the transmitted power of a 633 nm probe beam is reduced by 2.4% over 2 hours for the tandem pumping configuration at 1018 nm, which is significantly smaller than 33.3% for a laser diode (LD) pumping at 976 nm. A tandem-pumped Yb fiber amplifier also shows a much smaller decrease in the amplified output power over time than a LD-pumped Yb fiber amplifier. Based on fluorescence spectra of the YADF, we can not only associate PD of the YADF to intrinsic oxygen deficiency centers or Tm³⁺ impurities but also confirm the impact of the excited Yb³⁺ ion density on PD. The benefits of the tandem pumping in a high-power Yb fiber laser system will be discussed.

Targeting NLRP3 Inflammasome Reduces Age-Related Experimental Alveolar Bone Loss

The cause of chronic inflammatory periodontitis, which leads to the destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, is multifactorial. An increasing number of studies have shown the clinical significance of NLRP3-mediated low-grade inflammation in degenerative disorders, but its causal linkage to age-related periodontitis has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the therapeutic potential of NLRP3 inhibition in age-related alveolar bone loss by using in vivo and in vitro models. The poor quality of alveolar bones in aged mice was correlated with caspase-1 activation by macrophages and elevated levels of IL-1β, which are mainly regulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome, in periodontal ligament and serum, respectively. Aged mice lacking Nlrp3 showed better bone mass than age-matched wild-type mice via a way that affects bone resorption rather than bone formation. In line with this finding, treatment with MCC950, a potent inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, significantly suppressed alveolar bone loss with reduced caspase-1 activation in aged mice but not in young mice. In addition, our in vitro studies showed that the addition of IL-1β encourages RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow-derived macrophages and that treatment with MCC950 significantly suppresses osteoclastic differentiation directly, irrelevant to the inhibition of IL-1β production. Our results suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical mediator in age-related alveolar bone loss and that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome could be a novel option for controlling periodontal degenerative changes with age.

Preliminary efficacy data of triple-negative breast cancer cohort of NCI 9881 study: A phase II study of cediranib in combination with olaparib in advanced solid tumors

1077

Background: Cediranib, a pan-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppresses expression of BRCA1, BRCA2, and RAD51 and increases sensitivity of tumors to poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in vitro. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, demonstrates clinical efficacy in patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. We therefore tested the anti-tumor activity of the combination of cediranib and olaparib in patients (pts) with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: This multi-institutional, two-stage, phase II study enrolled patients with metastatic TNBC previously treated with a minimum of one prior line of systemic therapy in the advanced setting. Patients were treated with cediranib 30mg po daily plus olaparib 200mg po BID until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate by RECIST v1.1. Baseline tumor biopsies were obtained for biomarker analyses. Results: Baseline characteristics of the 37pts enrolled are summarized below. The overall objective response rate was 14% (95% CI: 0.025, 0.2453). Median duration of response was 2.0 months (mos) with a range of 1.8 to 6.3 mos. Disease control rate ((# of pts with CR, PR or SD)/(# of evaluable pts)) was 81% (95% CI: 0.6846, 0.937). Median PFS was 3.7 mos (95% CI: 2.1, 4.3). Grade 3/4 adverse events (G3/4 AEs), irrespective of attribution, occurred in 25 of 38 (66%).G3/4 AEs occurring in > 5% of pts were hypertension (24%) and dyspnea (11%), diarrhea (8%) vomiting (8%). Conclusions: The cediranib/olaparib combination resulted in promising objective responses in 14% of biomarker-unselected patients with heavily pre-treated, metastatic TNBC. The regimen required prompt initiation of antihypertensives, but AEs were overall manageable. Analyses of mutation status in homologous recombination DNA repair genes are ongoing and will be correlated with clinical outcome. Clinical trial information: NCT02498613 . [Table: see text]

Preliminary efficacy data of platinum-pretreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cohort of NCI 9881 study: A phase II study of cediranib in combination with olaparib in advanced solid tumors

9065

Background: Cediranib, a pan-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppresses expression of BRCA1, BRCA2, and RAD51 and increases sensitivity of tumors to poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in vitro. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors carrying a germline BRCA mutation. We therefore tested the anti-tumor activity of cediranib and olaparib combination in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors. Here, we report the data from the SCLC cohort. Methods: This multi-institutional, two-stage, phase 2 study enrolled pts with metastatic SCLC previously treated with a minimum of one prior line of platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced setting. Patients were treated with cediranib 30mg po daily plus olaparib 200mg po BID until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST v1.1. Baseline tumor biopsies were obtained for biomarker analyses. Results: Baseline characteristics of the 25 pts enrolled are summarized below. The overall ORR rate was 28% (95% CI: 0.104,0.456). Median duration of response was 3.8 months (mos). Six of 8 pts had an objective response lasting longer than 3 mos up to 10.3 months. Disease control rate (# of pts with CR, PR or SD / # evaluable pts) was 88% (95% CI: 0.75,1.01). Median progression free survival was 4.1 mos (95% CI: 2.3, 6.2). Median OS was 5.5 mos (95% CI: 3.4, NA). Grade 3/4 adverse events (G3/4 AEs), irrespective of attribution, occurred in 14 of 25 (56%). G3/4 AEs occurring in > 10% of pts were hypertension (21%), fatigue (17%) and weight loss (13%). Conclusions: The cediranib/olaparib combination resulted in promising clinical activity with ORR of 28% in biomarker-unselected pts with platinum-pretreated SCLC. The regimen required prompt initiation of antihypertensives, but AEs were overall manageable. Analyses of mutation status in homologous recombination DNA repair genes are going and will be correlated with clinical activity. Clinical trial information: NCT02498613. [Table: see text]

Randomized phase II study of olaparib with or without cediranib in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

111

Background: Cediranib, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppresses expression of BRCA1, BRCA2, and RAD51 and increases sensitivity of tumors to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in vitro. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, demonstrates clinical efficacy in men with DNA repair deficient, mCRPC. We therefore performed a randomized phase 2 trial comparing olaparib with or without cediranib in men with mCRPC. Methods: Men with a minimum of one prior line of systemic therapy for mCRPC were randomized 1:1 to receive cediranib 30mg po daily plus olaparib 200mg po BID (Arm A) or olaparib 300mg BID alone (Arm B). At radiographic progression, patients (pts) in Arm B could crossover to Arm A. The primary endpoint was radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS). Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and PSA50 decline rate (PSA50). Tumor biopsy specimens were obtained for biomarker analyses pre- and on-treatment. Results: Baseline characteristics of the 90 pts enrolled are summarized below. The median rPFS was 11.1 versus 4.0 months in Arm A and Arm B, respectively (Hazard Ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.317, 0.928, p=0.026). Trends toward a higher ORR (19% and 12%), Disease Control Rate (Stable Disease + Partial Response) (77% and 64%,) and PSA50 (29% and 17%) were observed in Arm A compared to Arm B, respectively. Thirteen pts in Arm B crossed over to Arm A. One pt had a PR after crossover. Grade 3/4 adverse events (G3/4 AEs), irrespective of attribution, occurred in 77% and 58% of Arm A and Arm B pts, respectively. G3/4 AEs occurring in >10% of pts were hypertension (32%), fatigue (23%) and diarrhea (11%) in Arm A, and anemia (16%) and lymphopenia (11%) in Arm B. Conclusions: The cediranib/olaparib combination significantly improves rPFS in unselected, mCRPC pts. AEs were manageable. Analyses of mutation status in homologous recombination DNA repair genes are pending and will be key in interpreting the data. Clinical trial information: NCT02893917. [Table: see text]

Interventional treatment of arterial injury during blind central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax: experience from two centres

AIM

To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of interventional treatment for arterial injury during blind, central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax at two tertiary medical centres.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen consecutive patients (37-81 years; M:F=8:10) who underwent interventional treatment for the arterial injuries that occurred during central venous catheterisation without any imaging guidance between November 2007 and December 2018 were included. Clinical data, angiographic findings, detailed interventional procedures, and technical and clinical outcomes were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Arterial injury sites were the subclavian artery/branches (n=12), axillary artery/branches (n=2), and common carotid artery (n=4). The target vein was not correlated with the corresponding artery/branches in eight patients (44.4%); internal jugular vein to subclavian artery branches. Angiographic findings were pseudoaneurysm (66.7%, 12/18), contrast medium extravasation (22.2%, 4/18), or both (11.1%, n=2). A stent graft was inserted for the main trunk injuries in nine patients, with (n=2) or without (n=7) prior arterial branch embolisation to prevent potential endoleak, while embolisation for the arterial branch injuries was performed in nine patients. Direct percutaneous access with thrombin injection to the pseudoaneurysm or residual arteriovenous fistula was utilised in two. The technical and clinical success rate was 94.4% (17/18) each. There were no procedure-related complications. In one patient without immediate clinical success, there was a persistent pseudoaneurysm after stent graft placement, which was treated with in-stent balloon dilation.

CONCLUSION

Interventional treatment serves as a safe and effective treatment modality for inadvertent arterial injury related to blind, central venous access catheterisation in the upper thorax.

Efficacy and safety findings from DREAM: a phase III study of DHP107 (oral paclitaxel) versus i.v. paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy

Background

Paclitaxel is currently only available as an intravenous (i.v.) formulation. DHP107 is a novel oral formulation of lipid ingredients and paclitaxel. DHP107 demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics to i.v. paclitaxel as a second-line therapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). DREAM is a multicenter, open-label, prospective, randomized phase III study of patients with histologically/cytologically confirmed, unresectable/recurrent AGC after first-line therapy failure.

Methods and materials

Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to DHP107 (200 mg/m2 orally twice daily days 1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks) or i.v. paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 day 1 every 3 weeks). Patients were stratified by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, disease status, and prior treatment; response was assessed (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) every 6 weeks. Primary end point: non-inferiority of progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end points: overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety. For the efficacy analysis, sequential tests for non-inferiority were carried out, first with a non-inferiority margin of 1.48, then with a margin of 1.25.

Results

Baseline characteristics were balanced in the 236 randomized patients (n = 118 per arm). Median PFS (per-protocol) was 3.0 (95% CI 1.7-4.0) months for DHP107 and 2.6 (95% CI 1.8-2.8) months for paclitaxel (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.85; 95% CI 0.64-1.13). A sensitivity analysis on PFS using independent central review showed similar results (HR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.70-1.24). Median OS (full analysis set) was 9.7 (95% CI 7.1 - 11.5) months for DHP107 versus 8.9 (95% CI 7.1-12.2) months for paclitaxel (HR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.76-1.41). ORR was 17.8% for DHP107 (CR 4.2%; PR 13.6%) versus 25.4% for paclitaxel (CR 3.4%; PR 22.0%). Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis were more common with DHP107; peripheral neuropathy was more common with paclitaxel. There were only few Grade≥3 adverse events, most commonly neutropenia (42% versus 53%); febrile neutropenia was reported infrequently (5.9% versus 2.5%). No hypersensitivity reactions occurred with DHP107 (paclitaxel 2.5%).

Conclusions

DHP107 as a second-line treatment of AGC was non-inferior to paclitaxel for PFS; other efficacy and safety parameters were comparable. DHP107 is the first oral paclitaxel with proven efficacy/safety for the treatment of AGC.

ClinicalTrials.gov

NCT01839773.

P2523Hand grip strength as a predictor of exercise capacity in coronary heart disease

A recent study has shown that quadriceps strength can be used to predict the level of exercise capacity in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated whether the relationship between muscular strength and exercise capacity is also observed with hand grip strength (HGS). We studied 443 participants (age, 61.8±11.2 y; 77.7% male) who underwent coronary intervention and participated in cardiac rehabilitation between 2015 and 2018. Participants were assessed for grip strength, measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between various clinical measures (HGS, age, sex, etc) with the distance walked on a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). HGS was significantly related to distance walked on the 6MWT (r=0.435, p<0.001). It was the only predictor of all exercise capacity categories, and one of the strongest predictors of each exercise capacity category. A HGS of 25.5% of body weight predicted an achievement of a 200 m walk on the 6MWT (positive predictive value = 0.95). However, HGS less than 35.5% of body weight predicted that 500m could not be done in 6 minutes (negative predictive value = 0.97). This trend was also observed in the subgroups in which VO2max was measured. This study demonstrates that HGS is associated with exercise capacity in CHD and can be used to predict the level of exercise capacity. These findings may contribute to setting the recommended level of daily activity as well as the level of cardiac rehabilitation in CHD.

Logistic regression models for different levels of exercise capacity Level of exercise capacity B±S.E p-value Odd ratio 95% CI Distance of 6MWT   200 m Grip strength 0.054±0.014 <0.001 1.056 1.027–1.086   300 m Grip strength 0.042±0.009 <0.001 1.042 1.024–1.062   400 m Grip strength 0.047±0.011 <0.001 1.048 1.026–1.070   500 m Grip strength 0.051±0.016 0.001 1.053 1.021–1.086 VO2max level   4 METs Grip strength 0.054±0.010 <0.001 1.056 1.036–1.076   6 METs Grip strength 0.059±0.011 <0.001 1.061 1.039–1.083   8 METs Grip strength 0.081±0.015 <0.001 1.085 1.053–1.117   10 METs Grip strength 0.113±0.049 0.019 1.12 1.019–3.232 Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). 6MWT, 6-minute walk test; STEMI, ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction; SE, standard error; CI, confidence interval; VO2max, Maximal Oxygen uptake; METs, Metabolic equivalents.

Atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) Monotherapy for Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Cancer: Long-term Outcomes From a Phase 1 Study

Importance

Atezolizumab (anti-programmed death ligand 1) has demonstrated safety and activity in advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma, but its long-term clinical profile remains unknown.

Objective

To report long-term clinical outcomes with atezolizumab therapy for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Patients were enrolled in an expansion cohort of an ongoing, open-label, phase 1 study. Median follow-up was 37.8 months (range, >0.7 to 44.4 months). Enrollment occurred between March 2013 and August 2015 at US and European academic medical centers. Eligible patients had measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1, and a representative tumor sample. Programmed death ligand 1 expression on immune cells was assessed (VENTANA SP142 assay).

Interventions

Atezolizumab was given intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxic effects, protocol nonadherence, or loss of clinical benefit.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcome was safety. Secondary outcomes included objective response rate, duration of response, and progression-free survival. Response and overall survival were assessed in key baseline subgroups.

Results

Ninety-five patients were evaluable (72 [76%] male; median age, 66 years [range, 36-89 years]). Forty-five (47%) received atezolizumab as third-line therapy or greater. Nine patients (9%) had a grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse event, mostly within the first treatment year; no serious related adverse events were observed thereafter. One patient (1%) discontinued treatment due to a related event. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Responses occurred in 26% (95% CI, 18%-36%) of patients. Median duration of response was 22.1 months (range, 2.8 to >41.0 months), and median progression-free survival was 2.7 months (95% CI, 1.4-4.3 months). Median overall survival was 10.1 months (95% CI, 7.3-17.0 months); 3-year OS rate was 27% (95% CI, 17%-36%). Response occurred in 40% (95% CI, 26%-55%; n = 40) and 11% (95% CI, 4%-25%; n = 44) of patients with programmed death ligand 1 expression of at least 5% tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC2/3) or less than 5% (IC0/1), respectively. Median overall survival in patients with IC2/3 and IC0/1 was 14.6 months (95% CI, 9.0 months to not estimable) and 7.6 months (95% CI, 4.7 to 13.9 months), respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance

Atezolizumab remained well tolerated and provided durable clinical benefit to a heavily pretreated metastatic urothelial carcinoma population in this long-term study.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01375842.

Spin-liquid-like state in pure and Mn-doped TbInO3 with a nearly triangular lattice

Inelastic neutron scattering studies in single crystals of TbInO3 and TbIn0.95Mn0.05O3 with nearly triangular antiferromagnetic lattice are reported. At low energies, a broad and apparently gapless continuum of magnetic excitations, located at the triangular lattice (TL) Brillouin zone boundary, is observed. The data are well described by the uncorrelated nearest-neighbor valence bonds model. At higher energies, a broad excitation branch dispersing from the TL zone boundary is observed. No signs of static magnetic order are found down to the temperatures two orders of magnitude smaller than the effective interaction energy. The fluctuating magnetic moment exceeds two-thirds of the Tb3+ free-ion value and is confined to the TL plane. These observations are consistent with a TL-based spin liquid state in TbInO3.

Impact of Balloon-Guiding Catheter Location on Recanalization in Patients with Acute Stroke Treated by Mechanical Thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Mechanical thrombectomy with proximal flow control and forced aspiration may improve the outcome of endovascular revascularization therapy for patients with acute stroke. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of balloon-guiding catheter locations in patients treated for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke using mechanical thrombectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The influence of the balloon-guiding catheter location (proximal, balloon-guiding catheter tip proximal to C1 vertebral body; distal, between the skull base and the C1 vertebral body) was analyzed in patients with acute anterior circulation stroke treated with stent-retriever thrombectomy. The baseline angiographic/clinical characteristics, time intervals, recanalization rates, and clinical outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

The clinical analysis included 102 patients (mean age, 69.5 ± 12.8 years; male/female ratio = 52:50). The balloon-guiding catheter was located distally in 49 patients and proximally in 53 patients for flow control and forced aspiration during stent retrieval. The puncture-to-recanalization time was shorter in the distal group than in the proximal group (40 versus 56 minutes, P = .02). Successful and complete recanalizations were more frequently achieved in the distal group compared with the proximal group (98.0% versus 75.5%. P = .003; 67.3% versus 45.3%, P = .04, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the distal catheterization location was independently associated with successful recanalization (adjusted OR, 13.4; 95% CI, 2.4-254.8; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Location of the balloon-guiding catheter has a significant impact on recanalization in patients with acute stroke. The balloon-guiding catheter should be positioned as distally as safely possible in the cervical ICA for maximally effective thrombectomy.

A phase I and randomized phase II study of cabozantinib plus docetaxel and prednisone (C+DP) versus docetaxel and prednisone (DP) alone in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)

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Background: A phase I study of Cabozantinib (C) in combination with docetaxel (D) and prednisone (P) in patients (pts) with mCRPC determined that 40 mg daily was the maximum tolerated dose of C in combination with D and P (C+DP). We report a pooled analysis of the phase I and randomized phase II study comparing C+DP to DP alone. Methods: Eligible pts had mCRPC without prior chemotherapy in the castrate setting. All pts received a fixed dose of D (75 mg/m2IV day one of each 21 day cycle) and P (5 mg PO twice daily), and in the C+DP group, C at three escalating dose levels: 20 mg, 40 mg, or 60 mg in the phase I cohort (all PO daily) and 40 mg daily in the phase II cohort. Results: A total of 32 pts received C+DP (19 pts in phase I and 13 pts in the phase II cohort). 12 pts received DP alone. Baseline characteristics for C+DP vs DP included median age 69 (45 – 84) vs 69 (50-83) and median PSA 74.8 ng/ml (0.01-4093.7) vs 309.5 ng/ml (94.6 – 2649) respectively. Clinical trial information: NCT01683994. 18/32 C+DP pts had previous enzalutamide or abiraterone, with a median PFS of 13.6 months (95% CI: 5.2 – 21.0). 23/32 pts (72%) treated with C+DP required dose reduction or discontinuation of C, and 10/32 (31%) required C discontinuation. 2/32 patients (6%) in the C+DP group died on protocol, possibly related to study drug (sudden death NOS/venous thromboembolism). Grade 4 adverse events (AEs) in the C+DP group included: neutropenia (28%), leukopenia (6%), pulmonary embolism (3%), and mucositis (3%) and in DP: hyperglycemia (8%). Grade 3 AEs (>10%) in C+DP included: neutropenia (31%), febrile neutropenia (16%), leukopenia (13%), hypophosphatemia (13%) and in DP: anemia (17%). Conclusions: In pts with mCRPC, C+DP is associated with a greater PFS and PSA responses compared to DP alone. Toxicities with the combination were manageable. Further study is required to better define the potential benefits of C+DP in mCRPC.[Table: see text]

Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in high-protein sunflower meal for broiler chickens and effects of dietary phytase supplementation on bone traits, growth performance, and apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients

An experiment was conducted to determine the relative bioavailability (RBV) of P in high-protein sunflower meal (HP-SFM) fed to broiler chickens based on bone traits and to determine the effects of dietary phytase supplementation and increasing levels of HP-SFM as a P source on bone traits, growth performance, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of DM and nutrients. In total, 240 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 1 of 10 experimental diets with 6 replicate cages of 4 birds each and fed experimental diets from day 14 to 21 of age. Diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet (0.35% total P; P-deficient diet), or the basal diet supplemented with 0.05, 0.10, or 0.15% P from either monosodium phosphate (MSP) or HP-SFM. Another 3 diets were formulated by supplementing the HP-SFM-containing diets with 500 phytase unit/kg of phytase. The bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), and bone mineral density (BMD) of femur and tibia and tibia ash content increased (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing dietary P content from MSP. A linear increase in femur and tibia BMC, femur BA, and tibia BMD was also observed (P < 0.01) with increasing level of dietary P from HP-SFM. The RBV of P in HP-SFM based on femur and tibia BMC were 41 and 44%, respectively. Dietary phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.01) most of bone traits of the birds except for femur BMD. In addition, birds fed the diets supplemented with dietary phytase had greater (P < 0.05) BW gain, feed efficiency, and AID of P than those fed the diets without dietary phytase. In conclusion, the estimated RBV of P in HP-SFM to P in MSP were 41 and 44% based on femur and tibia BMC, respectively. Also, dietary phytase supplementation increased AID of P, growth performance, and bone traits of the birds fed P-deficient diets containing increasing inclusion level of HP-SFM as a P source.

Dissecting alterations in human CD8+ T cells with aging by high-dimensional single cell mass cytometry

We investigated the effect of aging on the multi-dimensional characteristics and heterogeneity of human peripheral CD8⁺ T cells defined by the expression of a set of molecules at the single cell level using the recently developed mass cytometry or Cytometry by Time-Of-Flight (CyTOF) and computational algorithms. CD8⁺ T cells of young and older adults had differential expression of molecules, especially those related to cell activation and migration, permitting the clustering of young and older adults through an unbiased approach. The changes in the expression of individual molecules were collectively reflected in the altered high-dimensional profiles of CD8⁺ T cells in older adults as visualized by the dimensionality reduction analysis tools principal component analysis (PCA) and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). A combination of PhenoGraph clustering and t-SNE analysis revealed heterogeneous subsets of CD8⁺ T cells that altered with aging. Furthermore, intermolecular quantitative relationships in CD8⁺ T cells appeared to change with age as determined by the computational algorithm conditional-Density Resampled Estimate of Mutual Information (DREMI). The results of our study showed that heterogeneity, multidimensional characteristics, and intermolecular quantitative relationships in human CD8⁺ T cells altered with age, distinctively clustering young and older adults through an unbiased approach.