Phase I study of continuous afatinib (BIBW 2992) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy/erlotinib/gefitinib (LUX-Lung 4)

PURPOSE

This Phase I study determined the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of afatinib (Afatinib is an investigational compound and its safety and efficacy have not yet been established) (BIBW 2992; trade name not yet approved by FDA), an irreversible inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)1 and 2, up to a dose of 50 mg/day in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), to establish the recommended dose for Phase II.

METHODS

Patients with advanced NSCLC who had received prior platinum-doublet chemotherapy and/or erlotinib/gefitinib therapy, or who were ineligible for, or not amenable to, treatment with established therapies, received oral afatinib once daily. The MTD was determined based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs); other assessments included safety, pharmacokinetic profile, antitumour activity according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumours and EGFR/HER1 mutation analysis where possible.

RESULTS

Twelve evaluable patients were treated at doses of 20-50 mg/day. One DLT was observed at 50 mg/day in Course 1 (Grade 3 mucositis). The most frequent drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea, dry skin, stomatitis, rash, paronychia and anorexia; most were Grade 1 or 2. Six out of 12 patients had tumour size reductions; durable stable disease was achieved in three patients including one with EGFR/HER1 exon 19 and T790 M mutations. Peak plasma concentrations of afatinib were reached 3-4 h after administration and declined with a half-life of 30-40 h. Afatinib 50 mg/day was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile during Phase I.

CONCLUSION

Recommended dose for Phase II was defined as 50 mg/day for Japanese patients; the same as for non-Japanese patients.

Phylogenetic study of the species within the family Streptomycetaceae

Species of the genus Streptomyces, which constitute the vast majority of taxa within the family Streptomycetaceae, are a predominant component of the microbial population in soils throughout the world and have been the subject of extensive isolation and screening efforts over the years because they are a major source of commercially and medically important secondary metabolites. Taxonomic characterization of Streptomyces strains has been a challenge due to the large number of described species, greater than any other microbial genus, resulting from academic and industrial activities. The methods used for characterization have evolved through several phases over the years from those based largely on morphological observations, to subsequent classifications based on numerical taxonomic analyses of standardized sets of phenotypic characters and, most recently, to the use of molecular phylogenetic analyses of gene sequences. The present phylogenetic study examines almost all described species (615 taxa) within the family Streptomycetaceae based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and illustrates the species diversity within this family, which is observed to contain 130 statistically supported clades, as well as many unsupported and single member clusters. Many of the observed clades are consistent with earlier morphological and numerical taxonomic studies, but it is apparent that insufficient variation is present in the 16S rRNA gene sequence within the species of this family to permit bootstrap-supported resolution of relationships between many of the individual clusters.

Relationship between body-mass index and serum folate concentrations in pregnant women

The concentration of micronutrients impacts fetal development and pregnancy outcome and has been suggested to be negatively correlated with the body-mass index (BMI). We evaluated the relationship between BMI and the serum folate concentration in 802 and 660 Korean pregnant women in mid- and late pregnancy, respectively, who participated in a multicenter prospective study. There was a significant negative correlation between BMI value and the serum folate concentration at mid- and late pregnancy (P for trend 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). A general linear model confirmed this correlation at both time points after adjusting for gestational age and total folate intake. These findings are important as the serum folate concentration is a rate-limiting factor for placental folate transport to the fetus, and an inadequate folate supply may cause various malformations.

Abstract P2-02-01: Characterization of the Breast Lesions by Biexponential Signal Attenuation Analysis of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images

Purpose: Signal attenuation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images (DWI) in vivo with high b-values is sometimes non-linear when plotted with a semilogarithmic function, but it fits well with the biexponential equation, Sb/S0=f1exp(bD1) + (1-f1)(bD2). Others have indicated that the fast and slow component fractions (f1, 1-f1) of the apparent diffusion coefficients (D1, D2) can be derived by biexponential fitting, and that these fractions correspond to actual diffusion components in the extra-and intracellular space. Here, we investigated the clinical value of DWI for breast screening by performing multi b-factor DWI on healthy volunteers and patients. We then analyzed signals by fitting them with the biexponential equation and compared the fitting parameters of breast lesions.

Patients and methods: This study was approved by our center's institutional review board and all patients and volunteers gave their informed consent. We analyzed data from eight healthy females (controls) and 80 female patients with a total of 100 breast tumors (42 benign and 58 malignant). We performed DWI using 12 and 6 b-values for the controls and patients up to a maximum b-value of 3500 sec/mm2.

Results: We identified the DWI signal attenuation features of the normal mammary gland, and of benign and malignant tumors [Figure1]. The DWI signal attenuation was similar between some proliferative benign tumors and malignancies. A comparison of the parameters derived from biexponential fitting revealed a significant difference in f1 between noninvasive and invasive ductal carcinoma [Figure 2]. Conclusion: The biexponential fitting parameters might reflect the features of tumor cellularity. Thus, to distinguish malignant from benign breast tumors only by DWI is difficult due to the pathological diagnosis that rather emphasizes cell configuration or shape rather than cellularity. Nevertheless, our findings will help to understand why malignant tumors present as high signal intensity in DWI.

Phase I study of LY2181308, an antisense oligonucleotide against survivin, in patients with advanced solid tumors

PURPOSE

LY2181308 is an antisense oligonucleotide that complementarily binds to survivin mRNA and inhibits its expression in tumor tissue. This phase I dose escalation study evaluated the tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer activity of LY2181308 in Japanese.

METHODS

Patients with solid tumors refractory to standard therapy received LY2181308 (400, 600, or 750 mg) as a 3-h intravenous infusion for 3 consecutive days and thereafter once a week.

RESULTS

LY2181308 was administered to 14 patients, aged 44-73 (median 60) years. Flu-like syndrome, prolonged prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR), thrombocytopenia, and fatigue were common reversible grade 1/2 toxicities. The dose-limiting toxicity was reversible grade 3 elevation of ALT/AST/γ-GTP in 1 patient treated at the 750-mg dose. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed a long terminal half-life of 21 days and an extensive tissue distribution of LY2181308. In 12 evaluable patients, one patient had stable disease, while the remaining 11 patients had progressive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

LY2181308 monotherapy is well tolerated up to 750 mg with a manageable toxicity, the pharmacokinetic profile warrants further evaluation of LY2181308 in combination with cytotoxic agents or radiotherapy.

Transgenic analysis of the BmBLOS2 gene that governs the translucency of the larval integument of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The larval integument of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is opaque because urate granules accumulate in the epidermis. Although the biosynthetic pathway of uric acid is well studied, little is known about how uric acid accumulates as urate granules in epidermal cells. In the distinct oily (od) mutant silkworm, the larval integument is translucent because of the inability to construct urate granules. Recently, we have found that the od mutant has a genomic deletion in the B. mori homologue of the human biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex1, subunit 2 (BLOS2) gene (BmBLOS2). Here, we performed a molecular and functional characterization of BmBLOS2. Northern blot analysis showed that BmBLOS2 was ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. We analysed the structure of a newly isolated mutant (od(B) ) allelic to od and found a premature stop codon in the coding sequence of BmBLOS2 in this new mutation. Moreover, the translucent phenotype was rescued by the germ-line transformation of the wild-type BmBLOS2 allele into the od mutant. Our results suggest that BmBLOS2 is responsible for the od mutant phenotype and plays a crucial role in biogenesis of urate granules in the larval epidermis of the silkworm. The relationships amongst Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) genes in mammals, granule group genes in Drosophila and translucent mutant genes in B. mori are discussed.

A phase II trial of dose-dense chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection and/or thoracic radiotherapy, in locally advanced thymoma: report of a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 9606)

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dose-dense weekly chemotherapy, followed by resection and/or thoracic radiotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with histologically documented thymoma with unresectable stage III disease received 9 weeks of chemotherapy: cisplatin 25 mg m(-2) on weeks 1-9; vincristine 1 mg m(-2) on weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8; and doxorubicin 40 mg m(-2) and etoposide 80 mg m(-2) on days 1-3 of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Patients went on to surgery and post-operative radiotherapy of 48 Gy; those with unresectable disease received 60 Gy radiotherapy.

RESULTS

total of 23 patients were entered. The main toxicities of the chemotherapy regimen were neutropenia and anaemia, and 57% of patients completed the planned 9 weeks of therapy. There were no toxic deaths. Of the 21 eligible patients, 13 (62%) achieved a partial response (95% confidence interval: 38-82%). Thirteen patients underwent a thoracotomy and nine (39%) underwent complete resection. Progression-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 80 and 43%, respectively. Overall survival at 5 and 8 years was 85 and 69%, respectively. Survival did not seem to be affected by resection.

CONCLUSION

In thymoma patients, weekly dose-dense chemotherapy has activity similar to that of conventional regimens. Although some patients could achieve complete resection, the role of surgery remains unclear.

Distribution and enumeration of attractors in probabilistic Boolean networks

Many mathematical models for gene regulatory networks have been proposed. In this study, the authors study attractors in probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs). They study the expected number of singleton attractors in a PBN and show that it is (2 - (1/2)(L-1))(n), where n is the number of nodes in a PBN and L is the number of Boolean functions assigned to each node. In the case of L=2, this number is simplified into 1.5(n). It is an interesting result because it is known that the expected number of singleton attractors in a Boolean network (BN) is 1. Then, we present algorithms for identifying singleton and small attractors and perform both theoretical and computational analyses on their average case time complexities. For example, the average case time complexities for identifying singleton attractors of a PBN with L=2 and L=3 are O(1.601(n)) and O(1.763(n)), respectively. The results of computational experiments suggest that these algorithms are much more efficient than the naive algorithm that examines all possible 2(n) states.

A phase-II trial of dose-dense chemotherapy in patients with disseminated thymoma: report of a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 9605)

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dose-dense weekly chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced thymoma.

METHODS

Subjects comprised patients with histologically documented chemotherapy-naïve thymoma with stage-IVa or IVb disease. Thymic carcinoma, carcinoid or lymphoma cases were excluded. Patients received 9 weeks of chemotherapy: cisplatin (25 mg m(-2)) on weeks 1-9; vincristine (1 mg m(-2)) on weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8; and doxorubicin (40 mg m(-2)) and etoposide (80 mg m(-2)) on days 1-3 of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Chemotherapy courses were supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Post-protocol local therapy was allowed.

RESULTS

From July 1997 to March 2004, 30 patients were entered. Three were ineligible due to different histology. Chemotherapy-associated toxicity was mainly haematological and was well tolerated, with no deaths due to toxicity, and 87% of patients completed the planned 9-week regimen. Overall response rate was 59%, with 16 of the 27 eligible patients achieving partial response. Median progression-fee survival (PFS) was 0.79 years (95% confidence interval: 0.52-1.40 years), and PFS at 1 and 2 years was 37 and 15%, respectively. Overall survival rates at 2 and 5 years were 89 and 65%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In stage-IV thymoma patients, weekly dose-dense chemotherapy offers similar activity to conventional regimens.

Computer-based detection of diabetes retinopathy stages using digital fundus images

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome characterized by hyperglycaemia and the long-term complications are retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and cardiomyopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is the progressive pathological alterations in the retinal microvasculature, leading to areas of retinal nonperfusion, increased vascular permeability, and the pathological proliferation of retinal vessels. Hence, it is beneficial to have regular cost-effective eye screening for diabetes subjects. Nowadays, different stages of diabetes retinopathy are detected by retinal examination using indirect biomicroscopy by senior ophthalmologists. In this work, morphological image processing and support vector machine (SVM) techniques were used for the automatic diagnosis of eye health. In this study, 331 fundus images were analysed. Five groups were identified: normal retina, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Four salient features blood vessels, microaneurysms, exudates, and haemorrhages were extracted from the raw images using image-processing techniques and fed to the SVM for classification. A sensitivity of more than 82 per cent and specificity of 86 per cent was demonstrated for the system developed.

Plasma biomarkers predictive for disease control duration in the phase I study of E7080, a multitarget kinase inhibitor

e14524

Background: E7080 is an oral multi-targeted kinase inhibitor of VEGFRs, PDGFRs, FGFRs and c-kit. In the phase I study for advanced solid tumors, E7080 was repeated every 3 weeks (twice daily by 2 wks-on/ 1 wk-off). The toxicities were manageable and the preliminary antitumor activity including one partial response was observed at doses up to MTD [ASCO 2008; abstract 3527]. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the change of plasma biomarkers in the E7080 phase I study could predict the antitumor activity or the disease control duration. Methods: The treatment duration was determined as a period from the first dosing to treatment failure. Plasma angiogenic proteins and circulating endothelial cells (CEC)/ progenitor cells (CEP) were measured in blood samples collected on Days 1 (pre-dose), 8 and 15 of Cycles 1 and 2. CEC and CEP population with (+) or (-) c-kit expression were analyzed by FACS. Correlation was determined by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r) and test for non-correlation (p). Results: 19 (76%) out of 25 evaluable patients had PR/SD including 6 (24%) patients with the treatment duration of ≥180 days. VEGF increase and sVEGFR1 and -R2 decreases in plasma were seen with the increased dose of E7080. But these changes had no correlations with disease control. E7080 decreased c-kit(+) CEC and CEP, but not c-kit(-) population. Importantly, patients showing the decrease of c-kit(+) CEC in Cycle 1 had received E7080 treatment for significantly longer duration (r=-0.468, p=0.018). The decrease of c- kit(+) CEC diminished during treatment-off for final 7 days in Cycle 1 and repeatedly decreased in Cycle 2 treatment. The decrease of c- kit(+) ratio in CEP correlated with the increase of plasma SCF (r=-0.457, p=0.021) and SDF1 (r=-0.466, p=0.018), but not with VEGF or thrombopoietin. Conclusions: The change of c-kit(+) CEC correlated with the disease control duration in the phase I study of E7080. SCF and SDF1 may play a role in c-kit(+) CEP accumulation. C-kit(+)-selective changes of CEC could be a candidate biomarker to predict the disease control duration in anti-angiogenic therapy of E7080.

[Table: see text]

Cisplatin + irinotecan versus cisplatin + etoposide in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (E-SCLC): Final “common arm”: Comparative outcomes analysis of JCOG 9511 and SWOG 0124

8027

Background: S0124 was a large North American phase III trial (n=651) that failed to confirm a survival benefit for cisplatin/irinotecan over cisplatin/etoposide in patients with E-SCLC, contrary to the results of J9511, a phase III trial exclusively in Japanese patients (n=154). As S0124 and J9511 protocols used identical treatment regimens and similar eligibility criteria, we compared demographics, toxicity, and outcomes using patient-level data and a “common arm” analysis to explore potential reasons for the divergent results. Methods: In both trials, patients with documented E-SCLC and adequate end-organ function were randomized to receive either cisplatin 60 mg/m2 day 1 + irinotecan 60 mg/m2 days 1, 8, & 15 Q 4 weeks or cisplatin 80 mg/m2 day 1 + etoposide 100 mg/m2 days 1–3 Q 3 weeks. Demographics and outcomes data were compared among 805 patients enrolled in J9511 and S0124 receiving identical treatment using a logistic model adjusted for age, sex, and performance status. Results: Of 671 patients in S0124, 651 were eligible. Patient characteristics (J9511 & S0124, respectively): Mean age - 61 & 62 years; Male sex - 132 (86%) & 370 (57%), p<0.001; Performance status 0 - 19 (12%) & 211 (32%), p<0.001. Efficacy and toxicity comparisons are summarized below. Conclusions: Significant differences in patient demographics, toxicity, and efficacy exist between J9511 and S0124 populations. These results, relevant in the current era of clinical trials globalization, warrant 1) consideration of differential patient characteristics and outcomes amongst populations receiving identical therapy; 2) utilization of the “common arm” model in prospective trials; and 3) inclusion of pharmacogenomic correlates in cancer trials where ethnic/racial differences in drug disposition are expected.

[Table: see text]

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Impact of revised lymph node measurement rules in the new RECIST version 1.1 on the tumor response evaluation in patients with advanced lung cancer

7567

Background: The new RECIST ver. 1.1 was published in a special edition of the European Journal of Cancer in the first quarter of 2009 (EJC 2009;45:228). The major change involves the rules for lymph node measurement, which is to measure SHORT axis in stead of the longest diameter of lymph node. To be considered pathologically enlarged and measurable, a size of lymph node must be at least 15mm in short axis when assessed by CT scan. Lymph nodes that are at least 10mm but less than 15mm in short axis may be pathologic and can be considered as non-measurable/non-target lesions (not measured). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the response assessment using RECIST ver. 1.1. in comparison with that using ver. 1.0 in patients with advanced lung cancer. Methods: Two radiologists independently reviewed the objective tumour response of 305 patients (pts) with advanced lung cancer who had primary lesion and lymph node metastases as target lesions measured more than 10 mm in the longest diameter. According to ver. 1.1, only the short axis will be measured both at baseline and at follow-up. The response rates were calculated according to both the versions of RECIST. The tumor responses were divided into four categories (CR, PR, SD, PD), following proportion of agreement and estimation of kappa statistics between two the criteria as agreement measure. Results: The best overall responses as assessed by RECIST ver. 1.0 and ver. 1.1 are shown in the table. Out of the 108 pts with PR by ver.1.0, 8.3 % were downgraded to SD and 1.0 % was categorized as PD by ver.1.1. On the other hand, out of the 190 pts with SD by ver.1.0, 6.3 % were upgraded to PR and 8.9 % were downgraded to PD by ver.1.1. The proportion of agreement was 86.2 % (263/305, 95% CI: 75.8 - 96.6) and the kappa coefficient was 0.734 (95% CI: 0.662 - 0.806). Conclusions: No significant impact was observed for the revised lymph node measurement rules in the new RECIST ver. 1.1 on the response evaluation in pts with advanced lung cancer registered in this analysis.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Phase I study of concurrent high-dose three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) without elective nodal irradiation with chemotherapy using cisplatin and vinorelbine for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

7546

Background: The optimal dose of radiotherapy remains unclear in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for unresectable stage III NSCLC. Methods: Eligible patients (unresectable stage III NSCLC, age ≥ 20 years, PS 0–1, V20 ≤ 30%) received cisplatin (80mg/m2 day 1) and vinorelbine (20mg/m2 days 1 and 8) repeated every 4 weeks for 3–4 cycles. The dose of 3D-CRT was 66 Gy in 33 fractions, 72 Gy in 36 fractions, and 78 Gy in 39 fractions at levels 1–3, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), defined as grade ≥3 esophagitis, pneumonitis, myelitis, dermatitis and heart injury, and early stop of protocol treatment, was evaluated in 6–12 patients at each level. Results: Of the 17, 16 and 24 patients assessed for eligibility, 13 (76%), 12 (75%), and 6 (25%) were enrolled into levels 1–3, respectively, of the study. A total of 26 patients were excluded because of V20 > 30% (n=10), overdose to the esophagus (n=8) and brachial plexus (n=2), comorbidity (n=3), or patient refusal (n=3). There were 26 men and 5 women with a median (range) age of 60 (41–75) years. Of these, 23 (74%) had adenocarcinoma and 20 (65%) had stage IIIA disease. The full planned dose of radiotherapy could be administered in all the patients, and more than 80% of the patients received 3–4 cycles of chemotherapy. Grade 3–4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia were noted in 24 (77%) and 5 (16%) of the 31 patients, respectively. Grade 4 infection, grade 3 esophagitis and grade 3 pulmonary toxicity were noted in one, two and one patients, respectively. DLT was noted in 17% of the patients at each level. Two (6%) complete and 27 (87%) partial responses were obtained. In a preliminary survival analysis, the median progression-free and overall survivals were determined to be 15.0 months and 37.6 months, respectively. Conclusions: At the level of 78Gy, only 25% of the patients assessed for eligibility were actually eligible. Toxicity was relatively mild up to 78 Gy in this highly selective patient group. Thus, we determined that the recommended dose of 3D-CRT administered concurrently with cisplatin and vinorelbine chemotherapy was 72Gy.

[Table: see text]

A phase I study of enzastaurin (Enz) combined with pemetrexed (Pem) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

2572

Background: Enz is an oral serine-threonine kinase inhibitor that is designed to suppress tumor growth through PKC and PI-3 kinase/AKT. Pre-clinical data shows Enz's synergistic activity with Pem in many cancer cell lines including NSCLC. This phase 1 study is to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and clinical activity of two schedules of Enz combined with Pem in patients (pts) with previously treated advanced NSCLC. Methods: An oral daily dose of 500 mg Enz was given once daily (QD) in cohort 1 or twice daily (BID) in cohort 2 in combination with 500 mg/m2 Pem on day 1 in repeated 21-day cycles. Cycle 1 started with a 7-day Enz lead-in treatment that preceded Pem administration: a loading dose of 1125 mg on day 1 followed by 500 mg total daily dose on days 2–7. Blood samples for PK evaluation were collected on day 2 of cycle 1 (following loading dose) and day 1 of cycle 2 (steady- state). Samples were analyzed for Enz, Pem, and its active metabolites. Results: 12 pts (8 males, 4 females; ECOG PS 0–1) with median age of 62 (49 - 74) were enrolled into this study and completed safety evaluation for cycle 1: 8 pts with adenocarcinoma, 3 pts with squamous cell carcinoma, and one with other. All pts had received prior platinum-based chemotherapy. Total analyte concentrations (sum of Enz and its metabolites) reached steady-state by day 8 of dosing. Total analyte mean steady-state average concentrations (%CV) following QD and BID dosing were 2850 nmol/L (53.5%) and 3420 nmol/L (39.5%), respectively. Exposures following loading dose were within the range of concentrations seen at steady-state. Enz dosing regimen (QD or BID) did not alter Pem PK. One dose-limiting toxicity (Grade 3 QTc prolongation) occurred 1 day after the Enz loading dose in cohort 1. Grade 3/4 toxicities occurring in 6 pts included leukocytopenia, neutropenia (3 pts each), increased ALT, and increased AST (2 pts each). To date, 1 pt achieved PR and 6 pts achieved SD. 5 pts received more than 10 cycles of treatment without disease progression; 4 of these pts are still on therapy. Conclusions: Both schedules of Enz in combination with Pem are well tolerated and clinically active in pts with advanced NSCLC.

[Table: see text]

Genome-wide association scan detected candidate polymorphisms associated with overall survival (OS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with carboplatin (CBDCA) and paclitaxel (PTX)

8031

Background: The combination of CBDCA and PTX is one of the standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a powerful tool for identifying genes for biomarkers of common diseases. This prospective study was investigated whether candidate polymorphisms in GWAS could influence OS in advanced NSCLC patients treated with CBDCA and PTX. Methods: Chemotherapy naïve stage IIIB or IV NSCLC patients, treated with CBDCA (AUC=6mg/ml/min) and PTX (200mg/m2, 3-hour), were eligible in this study. The DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells before treatment and 110,000 SNPs were obtained by Illuimna's Sentrix Human-1 Genotyping BeadChip. Statistical analyses were performed by the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model in consideration of the linkage disequilibrium. Results: From July 2002 to May 2004, 117 patients (male/female: 85/32, PS 0/1/2: 22/92/3, stage IIIB/IV: 50/67), aged 29–80 (median: 61) years, received a total of 387 cycles of treatment. The median survival time (MST) of 117 patients was 17.1 months. In the GWAS, four SNPs were associated significantly with shortened OS: rs1656402 in the EIF4E2 Gene (MST for AG [n = 54] + AA [n = 44] and GG [n = 19] were 18.2 and 7.7 months, respectively; p = 4.2× 10-7, HR = 3.58 [2.1–6.1]), rs1209950 in the ETS2 gene (MST for AA [n = 105] and AG [n = 12] + GG [n = 0] were 17.7 and 7.0 months, respectively. p = 9.2×10-8, HR = 4.95 [2.6–9.5]), rs10074374 (MST for CC [n = 114] and CT [n = 3] + TT [n = 0] were 17.1 and 2.2 months, respectively. p = 2.2×10-6, HR = 23.2 [6.3–85.1]) and rs2063681 (MST for CT [n = 45] + CC [n = 61] and TT [n = 11] were 17.8 and 6.6 months, respectively. p = 5.2×10-8, HR = 5.47 [2.8–10.9]). These four SNPs were statistically significant even after multiple comparison adjustment. Conclusions: GWAS is a powerful tool to search for new prognostic biomarkers for patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC who receive CBDCA and PTX as the first-line chemotherapy and may unveil an unexplored molecular pathways correlated with the drug response.

[Table: see text]

Comparison of reflected green light and infrared photoplethysmography

We evaluated the accuracy of pulse rate measurements obtained by reflected green light photoplethysmography (PPG) compared to reflected infrared light photoplethysmography and ECG. The wavelengths of the green and infrared light were 525 and 880 nm, respectively, and experiments were performed at 25 degrees C and at a skin temperature below 15 degrees C. The pulse rate obtained from reflected green light PPG was compared with the ECG RR interval and the pulse rate from reflected infrared PPG. The results indicated a stronger correlation between green PPG and ECG results at both temperatures. These results suggested that reflected green light PPG had an advantage over reflected infrared PPG, especially at temperatures below 15 degrees C.