Inferring phenotypic causal structures among meat quality traits and the application of a structural equation model in Japanese Black cattle

Meat quality is one of the most important traits determining carcass price in the Japanese beef market. Optimized breeding goals and management practices for the improvement of meat quality traits requires knowledge regarding any potential functional relationships between them. In this context, the objective of this research was to infer phenotypic causal networks involving beef marbling score (BMS), beef color score (BCL), firmness of beef (FIR), texture of beef (TEX), beef fat color score (BFS), and the ratio of MUFA to SFA (MUS) from 11,855 Japanese Black cattle. The inductive causation (IC) algorithm was implemented to search for causal links among these traits and was conditionally applied to their joint distribution on genetic effects. This information was obtained from the posterior distribution of the residual (co)variance matrix of a standard Bayesian multiple trait model (MTM). Apart from BFS, the IC algorithm implemented with 95% highest posterior density (HPD) intervals detected only undirected links among the traits. However, as a result of the application of 80% HPD intervals, more links were recovered and the undirected links were changed into directed ones, except between FIR and TEX. Therefore, 2 competing causal networks resulting from the IC algorithm, with either the arrow FIR → TEX or the arrow FIR ← TEX, were fitted using a structural equation model () to infer causal structure coefficients between the selected traits. Results indicated similar genetic and residual variances as well as genetic correlation estimates from both structural equation models. The genetic variances in BMS, FIR, and TEX from the structural equation models were smaller than those obtained from the MTM. In contrast, the variances in BCL, BFS, and MUS, which were not conditioned on any of the other traits in the causal structures, had no significant differences between the structural equation model and MTM. The structural coefficient for the path from MUS (BCL) to BMS showed that a 1-unit improvement in MUS (BCL) resulted in an increase of 0.85 or 1.45 (an decrease of 0.52 or 0.54) in BMS in the causal structures. The analysis revealed some interesting functional relationships, direct genetic effects, and the magnitude of the causal effects between these traits, for example, indicating that BMS would be affected by interventions on MUS and BCL. In addition, if interventions existed in this scenario, a breeding strategy based only on the MTM would lead to a mistaken selection for BMS.

A control method for transfemoral prosthetic knees in level walking and stair ascending based on thigh angular motion

Regaining the locomotive ability is necessary to maintain the activities of daily living in lower extremity amputees. Recently, the stability of the gait and multifunctionality of transfemoral prosthetic knees have drastically improved with the use of microprocessor-controlled knees, such as Genium ® (Otto Bock, GmbH). However, these knees, which also include products from other companies, are very expensive. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to develop a control method for transfemoral prosthetic knees in order to perform level walking and stairs ascending safely, with fewer sensors or simpler procedures. First, we analyzed the gait of an intact subject and therefore we proposed a control algorithm for prosthetic knees with only thigh angular kinematics. Then, an evaluation experiment on the prototype knee, in which the proposed algorithm was implemented, was conducted. As a result, the participant successfully performed level walking, stairs ascending and transition between the two types of gait. The functions of the prosthetic knee changed automatically using the proposed algorithm with thigh angular kinematics. Then, the reliability of the algorithm was checked with a database of gait analyses. The results showed that the algorithm was applicable to 99.8 % of the population.

Morphological features of an endangered Japanese strain of Cyprinus carpio: reconstruction based on seven SNP markers

Morphological analyses of 183 specimens of Japanese common carp Cyprinus carpio (171 from Lake Biwa and 12 from nursery ponds) using genetic hybrid indices demonstrated that the typical native Japanese strain of C. carpio has a more elongate body, more branched dorsal-fin rays, fewer and shorter gill rakers, more developed pneumatic bulb, more coiled pneumatic duct, longer posterior swimbladder and shorter intestine than the typical introduced C. carpio. These results provide a basis for a better understanding of the ecological characteristics and taxonomic status of the endangered Japanese strain of C. carpio.

Effects of simplified lymph drainage on the body: in females with menopausal disorder

[Purpose] Hormone replacement therapy has been reported to be effective for alleviating menopausal symptoms, its side effects have been a concern. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate methods that could alleviate menopausal symptoms but with fewer side effects. Few previous reports have investigated the effects of simplified, viable manual lymph drainage, particularly the effects of one-time therapy on physiologically active substances and other variables. Effects of one-time simplified lymph drainage performed at salon A were investigated in females with any type of menopausal symptoms, such as edema or a sense of fatigue. [Subjects and Methods] Before and after lymph drainage, saliva was collected to detect substances that would reveal immune function. Questionnaire surveys were also conducted before and after therapy. [Results] Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels were significantly reduced after therapy compared with those before therapy. The questionnaire survey showed a significant decrease in the visual analog scale. Also apparent were positive opinions, such as “I feel better” and “My legs feel lighter.” [Conclusion] These results demonstrated the stress reduction effect of one-time simplified lymph drainage, which decreased cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels. This therapy was also shown to produce positive mental and physical effects.

Abstract OT2-01-04: SOLAR-1: A phase III study of alpelisib and fulvestrant in men and postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–) advanced breast cancer (BC) progressing on or after aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy

Background: The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is often dysregulated in HR+ BC and is associated with resistance to endocrine therapy (ET). Alpelisib (BYL719; PI3Kα-specific inhibitor) and fulvestrant showed signs of antitumor activity in patients (pts) with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2– advanced BC (phase I), especially in PIK3CA-altered tumors (Janku et al. SABCS 2014, PD5-5).

Methods: SOLAR-1 (NCT02437318) is a phase III, randomized, double-blind study in men and postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2– advanced BC. Pts are assigned to 1 of 2 cohorts based on PIK3CA tumor status (mutant vs non-mutant), and randomized 1:1 to oral alpelisib/placebo (300 mg once daily) and intramuscular fulvestrant (500 mg on Day 1 and 15 of Cycle 1; Day 1 of Cycles ≥2 [28-day cycles]) until disease progression or discontinuation. Randomization is stratified by presence of liver and/or lung metastases and prior CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. Key inclusion criteria: recurrence or progression on or after AI therapy, ≥1 measurable lesion (RECIST v1.1) or predominantly lytic bone lesion, and ECOG performance status ≤1. Key exclusion criteria: symptomatic visceral disease or disease burden precluding ET, acute pancreatitis ≤1 year prior to screening or history of chronic pancreatitis, and prior therapy with fulvestrant, chemotherapy (except [neo]adjuvant), or PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors.

The primary and key secondary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS; RECIST v1.1; local assessment) and overall survival (OS), respectively, in the PIK3CA-mutant cohort. Other secondary endpoints include PFS and OS in the PIK3CA non-mutant cohort, PFS (Blinded Independent Central Review; RECIST v1.1), the association between PFS and baseline PIK3CA status in circulating tumor DNA, overall response rate, clinical benefit rate, safety, and pharmacokinetics. The primary endpoint will be analyzed by a stratified log-rank test at one-sided 2% level of significance.

Recruitment of the planned 560 pts is ongoing.

Citation Format: Andre F, Kaufman B, Juric D, Ciruelos EM, Iwata H, Mayer IA, Rugo HS, Conte P, Liobl S, Rubovszky G, Inoue K, Tesch H, Lu Y-S, Ryvo L, Longin A-S, Mills D, Wilke C, Germa C, Campone M. SOLAR-1: A phase III study of alpelisib and fulvestrant in men and postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–) advanced breast cancer (BC) progressing on or after aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-01-04.

Development of an eyewear to measure eye and body movements

To enable precise detection of mental and physical states of users in a daily life, we have been developing an eyewear to measure eye and body movement in a unrestricted way. The horizontal and vertical EOG (electrooculogram) signals are measured and amplified with three metal dry electrodes placed near nasion and both sides of rhinion, of which positions correspond to the bridge and nose pads of eyewear, respectively. The user's mental states like drowsiness, sleepiness, fatigue, or interest to objects can be identified by the movements and blinking of the eyes extracted from the measured EOG. And the six-axis motion sensor (three-axis accelerometer and three-axis gyroscope) mounted in the eyewear measures the body motion. As the sensor located near the head is on the body axis, this eyewear is suitable to measure user's movement or shift of center of gravity during physical exercise with a high precision. The measured signals are used to extract various events of eye and body movement by the mounted microcontroller chip, or can be transmitted to the external devices via Bluetooth communication. This device can enable you to look into "yourself", as well as outer scenes. In this presentation, the outline of the eyewear is introduced and some possible applications are shown.

Publisher's Note: Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 082503 (2016)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.082503.

Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen

We present an improved search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of ^{136}Xe in the KamLAND-Zen experiment. Owing to purification of the xenon-loaded liquid scintillator, we achieved a significant reduction of the ^{110m}Ag contaminant identified in previous searches. Combining the results from the first and second phase, we obtain a lower limit for the 0νββ decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}>1.07×10^{26}  yr at 90% C.L., an almost sixfold improvement over previous limits. Using commonly adopted nuclear matrix element calculations, the corresponding upper limits on the effective Majorana neutrino mass are in the range 61-165 meV. For the most optimistic nuclear matrix elements, this limit reaches the bottom of the quasidegenerate neutrino mass region.

Chiral Surface Twists and Skyrmion Stability in Nanolayers of Cubic Helimagnets

Theoretical analysis and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) investigations in an FeGe wedge demonstrate that chiral twists arising near the surfaces of noncentrosymmetric ferromagnets [Meynell et al., Phys. Rev. B 90, 014406 (2014)] provide a stabilization mechanism for magnetic Skyrmion lattices and helicoids in cubic helimagnet nanolayers. The magnetic phase diagram obtained for freestanding cubic helimagnet nanolayers shows that magnetization processes differ fundamentally from those in bulk cubic helimagnets and are characterized by the first-order transitions between modulated phases. LTEM investigations exhibit a series of hysteretic transformation processes among the modulated phases, which results in the formation of the multidomain patterns.

Validation of the distress and impact thermometer and the changes of mood during the first 6 months of treatment in gynecological cancer patients: a Kansai Clinical Oncology Group (KCOG)-G1103 prospective study

PURPOSE

To verify distress and impact thermometer (DIT) for screening emotional distress in gynecological cancer patients by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total (HADS-T) as gold standard and to assess emotional changes by DIT and HADS-T.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in newly diagnosed gynecological cancer patients during the peri-treatment period after the cancer diagnosis followed by 6-month. We defined a HADS-T score of ≥11 as being indicative of emotional distress.

RESULTS

117 patients were enrolled between May 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012, and 95 were eligible. The median age was 54 years (range 31-77). (1) From the baseline to 3-month, distress (DIT-D) ≥4 with Impact (DIT-I) ≥2 exhibited sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of 0.776 [95 % confidential interval (CI) 0.688, 0.850], 0.889 (95 % CI 0.824, 0.954), 0.868 (95 % CI 0.792, 0.949), and 0.808 (95 % CI 0.731, 0.886), respectively. (2) At 6-month, DIT-D ≥2 with DIT-I ≥1 exhibited sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 0.893 (95 % CI 0.778, 1), 0.825 (95 % CI 0.707, 0.942), 0.781 (95 % CI 0.638, 0.928), and 0.917 (95 % CI 0.826, 1). (3) At 6-month, the HADS-T, DIT-D, and DIT-I scores in individual patients were significantly reduced by a mean of 4.57 (p < 0.0001), 2.34 (p < 0.0001), and 1.10 (p = 0.0031), respectively, compared with those scores of baseline (Student's paired t test), but still remained high.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) On acute phase within 3-month setting, DIT; DIT-D ≥4 with DIT-I ≥2, is a reliable cut-off to screen emotional distress among gynecological cancer patients. (2) The patients' moods had improved, but not completely recovered at 6-month after the diagnosis.

Oxidized LDL/β2-glycoprotein I complexes: new aspects in atherosclerosis

β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is a major antigenic target for antiphospholipid antibodies. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is the principal lipoprotein found in atherosclerotic lesions, and it colocalizes with β2GPI and immunoreactive lymphocytes. oxLDL/β2GPI complexes appeared in the blood circulation of patients with diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), systemic sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and chronic renal diseases. Thus, the complexes may be associated with systemic and chronic inflammation of the vasculature. IgG anti-oxLDL/β2GPI complexes autoantibodies and their immune complexes were detected only in SLE/APS patients and in its animal model and were strongly associated with arterial thrombosis. The oxLDL/β2GPI complexes were internalized by macrophages via IgG anti-β2GPI antibody-mediated phagocytosis. In contrast, IgM anti-oxLDL antibodies derived from hyperlipidemic mice reduced the incidence of atherosclerosis. The distribution patterns of IgG and IgM anti-oxLDL antibodies in patients suggest the different roles of these antibodies.

Pulmonary Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particle Components Enhances Circulatory Chemokines during Lung Inflammation

This study examines the effects of DEP components on circulatory CC and CXC chemokines, potent activators and chemoattractants for macrophage and leukocyte subpopulations, in a murine model of lung inflammation. 1CR mice were divided into six experimental groups which received intratracheal inoculation of vehicle, LPS alone (2.5 mg/kg), organic chemicals in DEP (DEP-OC: 4 mg/kg) extracted with dichloromethane, residual carbonaceous nuclei after the extraction (washed DEP: 4 mg/kg), DEP-OC + LPS, or washed DEP + LPS. Intratracheal instillation of each DEP component alone did not significantly change the circulatory level of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-2, and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) 24 h after the exposure as compared with vehicle instilled alone. In the LPS group, MCP-1, but not MIP-1α or MIP-2, was significantly greater than in the vehicle group. The combined administration of LPS and washed DEP caused a further three to five-fold increase in MIP-1α, MIP-2, and MCP-1 proteins in the serum as compared with LPS administered alone. No significant difference between the LPS + DEP-OC group and the LPS group was observed. These results indicate that pulmonary exposure to washed DEP enhances circulatory level of chemokines during lung inflammation. The enhancement may be important in the aggravations of systemic inflammatory responses and ischemic cardiovascular conditions associated with air pollution.

Candida Soluble Cell Wall β-D-Glucan Induces Lung Inflammation in Mice

Bioactivity of cell wall component(s) of fungi has not been fully elucidated, especially in vivo. We isolated Candida soluble beta-D-glucan (CSBG) from Candida albicans (C. albicans). We investigated the effects of airway exposure to CSBG on the immune systems in the airways in mice. CSBG exposure induced neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation in the lung, which was concomitant with the increased local expression of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor - α, interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein -1 α, macrophage chemoattractant protein -1, RANTES (regulated on activation and normal T cells expressed and secreted), and eotaxin. The lung inflammation with enhanced expression of proinflammatory proteins caused by CSBG was directly related to its structure, since structurally degraded products of CSBG by formic acid induced negligible responses in the lung. CSBG enhanced nuclear localization of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-6 in the lung. These results suggest that airway exposure to CSBG induces lung inflammation, at least partly, via the enhanced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of STAT-6 pathway, and can be a proper murine model for fungal lung inflammation.

Distributions of oxytocin and vasopressin 1a receptors in the Taiwan vole and their role in social monogamy

Social monogamy is a mating strategy rarely employed by mammalian species. Laboratory studies in socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) demonstrate that oxytocin and vasopressin act within the mesolimbic dopamine pathway to facilitate pair-bond formation. Species differences in oxytocin receptor (OTR) and vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) distribution in this pathway are associated with species differences in mating strategy. Here we characterize the neuroanatomical distribution of OTR and V1aR binding sites in naturally occurring populations of Taiwan voles (M. kikuchii), which purportedly display social monogamy. Live trapping was conducted at two sites in 2009-2010 and receptor autoradiography for OTR and V1aR was performed on brains from 24 animals. OTR binding in two brain regions where OTR signaling regulates pair-bonding were directly compared with that of prairie voles. Our results show that like prairie voles, Taiwan voles exhibit OTR in the prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, claustrum, nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, dorsal lateral septal nucleus, central amygdala, and ventromedial hypothalamus. Unlike prairie voles, Taiwan voles exhibit OTR binding in the CA3 pathway of the hippocampus, as well as the indusium griseum, which has only previously been documented in tuco-tucos (Ctenomys haigi, C. sociabilis), Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber). V1aR binding was present in the ventral pallidum, lateral septum, nucleus basalis, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hippocampus, medial amygdala, and anterior, ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamus. Marked individual differences in V1aR binding were noted in the cingulate cortex and several thalamic nuclei, remarkably similar to prairie voles. While pharmacological studies are needed to determine whether oxytocin and vasopressin are involved in pair-bond formation in this species, our results lay a foundation for future investigations into the role of these neuropeptides in Taiwan vole social behavior.

Influence of ABCB1 and ABCG2 polymorphisms on the antiemetic efficacy in patients with cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy: a TRIPLE pharmacogenomics study

Resistance to antiemetic treatment with 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist is an issue. This study evaluated the potential roles of ABCB1 and ABCG2 polymorphisms in antiemetic treatment resistance in patients with cancer previously enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. A total of 156 patients were evaluated for their responses to antiemetic therapy and then subdivided into granisetron or palonosetron groups. The genotypes were evaluated for their association with antiemetic efficacy in each treatment groups. Additional risk factors associated with complete response (CR) were examined using a multivariate regression analysis. No significant associations were identified for genetic polymorphisms in the palonosetron group. In the granisetron group, patients with ABCB1 2677TT and 3435TT genotypes had higher proportion of CR. In addition to ABCB1 polymorphisms, gender and cisplatin dose were associated with granisetron response by univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the ABCB1 3435C>T polymorphism and cisplatin dose were significant predictors of CR.

The role of PSMB9 upregulated by interferon signature in the pathophysiology of cutaneous lesions of dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have common skin features, including dermal mucin deposition and interferon signature, although their roles are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To identify common or specific molecular changes in DM and SLE skin.

METHODS

Proteomic analysis was performed using DM and healthy skin. Glycosaminoglycans were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

The expression of 60 proteins was upregulated or downregulated in DM skin compared with healthy skin in the proteomic analysis. Among those proteins, PSMB9, an immunoproteasome subunit, was upregulated in the epidermis of DM and SLE, but not in other skin diseases. Furthermore, versican V1, a core protein for glycosaminoglycans, was upregulated, while type I collagen was downregulated in the dermis of DM and SLE skin. Interferon stimulated PSMB9 expression in cultured keratinocytes and reduced collagen expression in dermal fibroblasts, but did not affect versican expression. The PSMB9 knock-down in keratinocytes led to significant suppression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and TGF-β3, inducers of versican synthesis. TGF-β3 expression was upregulated in both DM and SLE, while TGF-β2 expression was increased only in the DM epidermis. ΔDiHS-diS1, a component of heparan sulfate, was significantly increased only in DM. TGF-β2 expression significantly increased the ΔDiHS-diS1 expression in dermal fibroblasts in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

The interferon signature in DM and SLE skin reduces collagen in dermal fibroblasts, whereas overexpression of PSMB9 induced by interferon stimulates versican inducers in epidermal keratinocytes. In addition, the TGF-β2-ΔDiHS-diS1 pathway may be responsible for the specific molecular change in DM skin.

Different X-linked KDM5C mutations in affected male siblings: is maternal reversion error involved?

Genetic reversion is the phenomenon of spontaneous gene correction by which gene function is partially or completely rescued. However, it is unknown whether this mechanism always correctly repairs mutations, or is prone to error. We investigated a family of three boys with intellectual disability, and among them we identified two different mutations in KDM5C, located at Xp11.22, using whole-exome sequencing. Two affected boys have c.633delG and the other has c.631delC. We also confirmed de novo germline (c.631delC) and low-prevalence somatic (c.633delG) mutations in their mother. The two mutations are present on the same maternal haplotype, suggesting that a postzygotic somatic mutation or a reversion error occurred at an early embryonic stage in the mother, leading to switched KDM5C mutations in the affected siblings. This event is extremely unlikely to arise spontaneously (with an estimated probability of 0.39-7.5 × 10(-28) ), thus a possible reversion error is proposed here to explain this event. This study provides evidence for reversion error as a novel mechanism for the generation of somatic mutations in human diseases.

Ex vivo effects of naphthoquinones on allergen-sensitized mononuclear cells in mice

Naphthoquinone (NQ), one of the extractable chemical compounds of diesel exhaust particles, enhances allergic asthma traits in mice. However, it remains unknown whether: (1) several types of NQs have the same potential to facilitate allergies; and (2) NQs synergistically disrupt the functional phenotypes of immune cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two types (1,2- and 1,4-) of NQs on sensitized mononuclear cells using an ex vivo assay. Male BALB/c mice were repeatedly and intraperitoneally administered ovalbumin (OVA: 20 µg) plus alum with or without two different doses of each NQ. After the final administration, splenocytes (mononuclear cells) were isolated from these mice and cultured in the presence of OVA. Helper T-related cytokines in the culture supernatants and downstream molecules were then evaluated. Protein levels of interferon-γ were higher in the supernatants from 1,2-NQ and 1,4-NQ at low dose + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells following the OVA stimulation than in those from OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. Interleukin (IL)-13 levels were higher in the supernatants from low dose NQs + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the supernatants from low dose 1,2-NQ + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. The quantity of phosphorylated STAT6 in the nuclei of these cells was significantly greater in the low dose NQ + OVA groups than in the OVA group. These findings suggest NQs differently enhance allergen sensitization in the context of the Th response against mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes.

Abstract P2-02-20: Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer patients based on size and deformability

Background :

The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood is an independent predictor of the efficacy of systemic therapy and a prognostic marker for patients with metastatic breast cancer. One of the leading techniques to detect CTCs uses immune-magnetic separation followed by immunocytochemistry. A microdevice can capture and enumerate CTCs using distinctive physiological difference (size and deformability) between cancer cells and blood cells. This microdevice thus obtains a larger CTC yield than that of affinity based separation which enriches the samples from a particular subgroup of cells based on biomarker (EpCAM) used. In this study, we investigated CTCs in peripheral blood from metastatic breast cancer patients using this microdevice.

Patients and methods:

We examined blood samples of 9 patients with heavily treated locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Informed consent from these patients was obtained before blood extraction. Blood samples were taken into sodium EDTA tubes after discarding the first 1ml of blood samples. Two ml whole blood were subjected to the microdevice (Clear cell system), and CTCs were trapped in the microwells: Trapped cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies specific for leukocytes (CD45) and epithelial cells (CK8/18), along with 4,2-diamidino-2-phenylndole dihydrochloride (DAPI) for nuclei. CK8/18- positive, DAPI-positive and CD45-negative cells were defined as CTCs. Three patients were examined using both this microdevice and affinity-based separation with EpCAM, to compare the yield of CTCs.

Results:

Of the 9 patients: 7 had ER-positive primary tumors, and 6 had PgR-positive ones, HER2 overexpression was detected in 2 primary tumors. CTCs were detected in 8 patients. The single patient in whom CTCs were not detected suffered from local recurrence (axillary lymph node metastasis) only, with no distant metastases. We were also unable to detect CTCs using EpCAM affinity method for this patient. The number of detected CTCs in the other patients ranged from 19/2ml to 156/2ml (mean 90/2ml), and the sizes of CTCs varied from 5 to 16μm. CK8/18-negative and DAPI positive were detected in most patients, and these cells tended to be larger than CK8/18-positive cells, suggesting that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) might occur in CTCs. The total number of CTCs detected by the microdevice from 2 patients was larger than that of CTCs detected by EpCAM affinity method (107/2ml vs 1/7.5ml, and 19/2ml vs 39/7.5ml).

Conclusion:

CTCs detected by this microdevice varied in regard to the size of trapped cells and characteristics examined by immunochemistry, suggesting the heterogeneity of CTCs. Further research on this heterogeneity is vital in order to develop personalized treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Citation Format: Tozuka K, Nagai SE, Inoue K, Komatsu K, Matsumoto H, Hayashi Y, Kurozumi S, Suganuma M. Enumeration of heterogeneous circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer patients based on size and deformability. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-02-20.

Abstract P4-14-17: Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy concomitant with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer

Background:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with taxanes, followed by fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC), with concurrent trastuzumab is known to achieve a high pCR rate of more than 60% for HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) as well as good prognoses in those obtaining pCR. On the other hand, the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has recently been described in triple-negative BC. However, the prognostic and predictive values of TILs in HER2-positive BC remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the grades of TILs in pre-treatment cancer tissues and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab, and also investigated its predictive utility for pCR and prognostic power for HER2-positive BC.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 128 Japanese women with HER2-positive BC received either paclitaxel or docetaxel followed by FEC, with concomitant trastuzumab. The proportional grades of stromal (Str)-TILs in pre-treatment biopsy specimens and residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab were determined as follows: low grade (0-10%), intermediate grade (10-40%), and high grade (40-90%), using the criteria of the International Working Group for TILs in BC. Analysis 1: The relationship between the grades of Str-TILs in pre-treatment tumors and pCR rates was investigated. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analyzed for a correlation with pre-treatment Str-TILs. Analysis 2: Alterations in the grade of Str-TILs were examined in the residual tumors of non-pCR patients, and RFS and CSS were analyzed for a correlation with residual Str-TILs.

Results:

pCR was achieved in 83 out of the 128 patients (pCR rate, 64.8%) who received NAC with trastuzumab, and RFS was significantly better in the pCR group than in the non-pCR group (p = 0.0071). Analysis 1: The patient distribution of the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors was as follows: high: 24 (18.8%); intermediate: 38 (29.7%); and low: 66 (51.6%). pCR rates correlated with the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors: 83.3% in the high group, 71.1% in the intermediate group, and 54.5% in the low group (p = 0.026); however, the Str-TILs grade in pre-treatment tumors did not correlate with survival. Analysis 2: In 45 non-pCR patients, the distribution of the Str-TILs grade in residual tumors was as follows: high: 9 (20.0%); intermediate: 8 (17.8%); and low: 28 (62.2%), respectively. In non-pCR patients, the rate of a high Str-TILs grade was greater in residual tumors than in pre-treatment tumors (residual, 20.0%, pre-treatment, 8.9%). RFS was significantly better with a high grade than with a low grade of residual Str-TILs (p = 0.033).

Conclusions:

The status of TILs in pre-treatment tumors predicted responses to NAC concomitant with trastuzumab in HER2-positive BC. The grade of TILs was higher in residual tumors than in pre-treatment tumors, and, among non-pCR patients, the prognosis of patients with a high residual-TILs grade was better prognosis than that of patients with a low residual-TILs grade. We speculate that an examination of TILs in residual tumors after NAC with trastuzumab may be necessary for selecting patients with a good prognosis from non-pCR patients.

Citation Format: Kurozumi S, Inoue K, Matsumoto H, Hayashi Y, Tozuka K, Kubo K, Komatsu K, Takai K, Nagai SE, Oba H, Horiguchi J, Takeyoshi I, Kurosumi M. Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in residual tumors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy concomitant with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-14-17.

Variation of radiocesium concentrations in cedar pollen in the Okutama area since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Due to releases of radionuclides in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, radiocesium ((134)Cs and (137)Cs) has been incorporated into large varieties of plant species and soil types. There is a possibility that radiocesium taken into plants is being diffused by pollen. Radiocesium concentrations in cedar pollen have been measured in Ome City, located in the Okutama area of metropolitan Tokyo, for the past 3 y. In this research, the variation of radiocesium concentrations was analysed by comparing data from 2011 to 2014. Air dose rates at 1 m above the ground surface in Ome City from 2011 to 2014 showed no significant difference. Concentration of (137)Cs contained in the cedar pollen in 2012 was about half that in 2011. Between 2012 and 2014, the concentration decreased by approximately one-fifth, which was similar to the result of a press release distributed by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.