Impact of KRAS mutational status on outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer (PDAC).

4142 Background: KRAS mutations (m) (KRASm) are present in over 90% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAC) with a predominance of G12 substitutions. KRAS wildtype (WT) PDAC relies on alternate oncogenic drivers, and the prognostic impact of these remains unknown. We evaluated alterations in WT PDAC and explored the impact of specific KRASm and WT status on survival. Methods: WGS and RNAseq were performed on 570 patients (pts) ascertained through our translational research program from 2012-2021, of which 443 were included for overall survival (OS) analyses. This included 176 pts with resected and 267 pts with advanced PDAC enrolled on the COMPASS trial (NCT02750657). The latter cohort underwent biopsies prior to treatment with first line gemcitabine-nab-paclitaxel or mFOLFIRINOX as per physician choice. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods were used to estimate OS. Results: KRAS WT PDAC (n = 52) represented 9% of pts, and these cases trended to be younger than pts with KRASm (median age 61 vs 65 years p = 0.1). In resected cases, the most common alterations in WT PDAC (n = 23) included GNASm (n = 6) and BRAFm/fusions (n = 5). In advanced WT PDAC (n = 27), alterations in BRAF (n = 11) and ERBB2/3/4 (n = 6) were most prevalent. Oncogenic fusions (NTRK, NRG1, BRAF/RAF, ROS1, others) were identified in 9 pts. The BRAF in-frame deletion p.486_491del represented the most common single variant in WT PDAC, with organoid profiling revealing sensitivity to both 3rd generation BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibition. In resected PDAC, multivariable analyses documented higher stage (p = 0.043), lack of adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001), and the KRAS G12D variant (p = 0.004) as poor prognostic variables. In advanced disease, neither WT PDAC nor KRAS specific alleles had an impact on prognosis (median OS WT = 8.5 mths, G12D = 8.2, G12V = 10.0, G12R = 12.0, others = 9.2, p = 0.73); the basal-like RNA subtype conferred inferior OS (p < 0.001). A targeted therapeutic approach following first line chemotherapy was undertaken in 10% of pts with advanced PDAC: MMRd (n = 1), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) (n = 19), KRASG12C (n = 1), CDK4/6 amplification (n = 3), ERBB family alterations (n = 2), BRAF variants (n = 2). OS in this group was superior (14.7 vs 8.8 mths, p = 0.04), mainly driven by HRD-PDAC where KRASm were present in 89%. Conclusions: In our dataset, KRAS G12D is associated with inferior OS in resected PDAC, however KRAS mutational status was not prognostic in advanced disease. This suggests that improved OS in the WT PDAC population can only be achieved if there is accelerated access to targeted drugs for pts.

The functional vascular anatomy of the swine for research

Objectives Swine ( Sus Scrofa) are utilized broadly in research settings, given similarities to human vessel size and function; however, there are some important differences for clinicians to understand in order to interpret and perform translational research. This review article uses angiograms acquired in the course of a translational research program to present a description of the functional anatomy of the swine. Methods Digital subtraction angiography and computed tomography angiography were obtained throughout the course of multiple studies utilizing power injection with iodinated contrast. Subtracted two-dimensional images and three-dimensional multiplanar reformations were utilized post image acquisition to create maximal intensity projections and three-dimensional renderings of using open-source software (OsiriX). These imaging data are presented along with vessel measurements for reference. Results An atlas highlighting swine vascular anatomy, with an emphasis on inter-species differences that may influence how studies are conducted and interpreted, was compiled. Conclusions Swine are utilized in broad-reaching fields for preclinical research. While many similarities between human and swine vasculature exist, there are important differences to consider when conducting and interpreting research. This review article highlights these differences and presents accompanying images to inform clinicians gaining experience in swine research.

Evolving Concepts of the Schizophrenia Spectrum: A Research Domain Criteria Perspective

Several trends intersecting over the past two decades have generated increasing debate as to how the concepts of schizophrenia, the schizophrenia spectrum, and the psychotic disorders spectrum should be regarded. These trends are reflected in various areas of research such as genomics, neuroimaging, and data-driven computational studies of multiple response systems. Growing evidence suggests that schizophrenia represents a broad and heterogenous syndrome, rather than a specific disease entity, that is part of a multi-faceted psychosis spectrum. Progress in explicating these various developments has been hampered by the dependence upon sets of symptoms and signs for determining a diagnosis, and by the reliance on traditional diagnostic categories in reviewing clinical research grants. To address these concerns, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health initiated the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project, a translational research program that calls for studies designed in terms of empirically-based functions (such as cognitive control or reward learning) rather than diagnostic groups. RDoC is a research framework rather than an alternative diagnostic system, intended to provide data that can inform future nosological manuals. This commentary includes a brief summary of RDoC as it pertains to schizophrenia and psychotic spectra, examples of recent data that highlight the utility of the approach, and conclusions regarding the implications for evolving conceptualizations of serious mental illness.

4183 Micro-consults: An effective tool for meeting statistical support needs in an academic medical research center

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Access to biostatistics expertise is essential for a successful clinical and translational research program. However, demand for statistical support at academic research centers can strain the capacity of biostatistics units. Our objective was to efficiently increase access to statistical expertise. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In cooperation with the Cancer Center Biostatistics Shared Resource, we replaced an informal 1-hour drop-in consultation program with structured office hours to provide statistical support to clinical and translational researchers at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. We doubled office hours to 2 hours per week and established six 20-minute appointments. Two Ph.D. level statisticians staff office hours. Researchers schedule appointments through Acuity Scheduling, a free on-line resource. Availability of the service is advertised monthly by sending an informational flyer to various university listservs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Prior to implementing the program in 2014, we averaged 91 office hour consults per year. Subsequently, consultations jumped to 171 in 2014 and have averaged 150 per year since then. Office hours attract students, residents, staff and faculty from a wide range of disciplines including the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and basic science departments. Project types span the clinical and translational spectrum covering lab, animal, clinical and population-level studies. Most consults related to data analysis and interpretation (57%) followed by sample size calculations/study design (29%) and response to reviewers (4%), with general statistical advice as the remainder. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: With 6 micro-consults per week, we can meet with many investigators and triage their statistical support needs. This program has proved very popular and was highly rated in a recent user survey, with several investigators noting that the consults facilitated successful publications and proposals.

Open Development and Clinical Validation of Multiple 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Collection Swabs: Rapid Resolution of a Critical COVID-19 Testing Bottleneck

ABSTRACT The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a severe international shortage of the nasopharyngeal swabs that are required for collection of optimal specimens, creating a critical bottleneck blocking clinical laboratories’ ability to perform high-sensitivity virological testing for SARS-CoV-2. To address this crisis, we designed and executed an innovative, cooperative, rapid-response translational-research program that brought together health care workers, manufacturers, and scientists to emergently develop and clinically validate new swabs for immediate mass production by 3D printing. We performed a multistep preclinical evaluation of 160 swab designs and 48 materials from 24 companies, laboratories, and individuals, and we shared results and other feedback via a public data repository (http://github.com/rarnaout/Covidswab/). We validated four prototypes through an institutional review board (IRB)-approved clinical trial that involved 276 outpatient volunteers who presented to our hospital’s drive-through testing center with symptoms suspicious for COVID-19. Each participant was swabbed with a reference swab (the control) and a prototype, and SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) results were compared. All prototypes displayed excellent concordance with the control (κ = 0.85 to 0.89). Cycle threshold (CT) values were not significantly different between each prototype and the control, supporting the new swabs’ noninferiority (Mann-Whitney U [MWU] test, P > 0.05). Study staff preferred one of the prototypes over the others and preferred the control swab overall. The total time elapsed between identification of the problem and validation of the first prototype was 22 days. Contact information for ordering can be found at http://printedswabs.org. Our experience holds lessons for the rapid development, validation, and deployment of new technology for this pandemic and beyond.

Open Development and Clinical Validation Of Multiple 3D-Printed Sample-Collection Swabs: Rapid Resolution of a Critical COVID-19 Testing Bottleneck

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused a severe international shortage of the nasopharyngeal swabs that are required for collection of optimal specimens, creating a critical bottleneck in the way of high-sensitivity virological testing for COVID-19. To address this crisis, we designed and executed an innovative, radically cooperative, rapid-response translational-research program that brought together healthcare workers, manufacturers, and scientists to emergently develop and clinically validate new swabs for immediate mass production by 3D printing. We performed a rigorous multi-step preclinical evaluation on 160 swab designs and 48 materials from 24 companies, laboratories, and individuals, and shared results and other feedback via a public data repository (http://github.com/rarnaout/Covidswab/). We validated four prototypes through an institutional review board (IRB)-approved clinical trial that involved 276 outpatient volunteers who presented to our hospital’s drive-through testing center with symptoms suspicious for COVID-19. Each participant was swabbed with a reference swab (the control) and a prototype, and SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were compared. All prototypes displayed excellent concordance with the control (κ=0.85-0.89). Cycle-threshold (Ct) values were not significantly different between each prototype and the control, supporting the new swabs’ non-inferiority (Mann-Whitney U [MWU] p>0.05). Study staff preferred one of the prototypes over the others and the control swab overall. The total time elapsed between identification of the problem and validation of the first prototype was 22 days. Contact information for ordering can be found at http://printedswabs.org. Our experience holds lessons for the rapid development, validation, and deployment of new technology for this pandemic and beyond.