Cholesterol modified DP7 and pantothenic acid induce dendritic cell homing to enhance the efficacy of dendritic cell vaccines

Dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines have so far achieved good therapeutic effects in animal experiments and early clinical trials for certain malignant tumors. However, the overall objective response rate in clinical trials rarely exceeds 15%. The poor efficiency of DC migration to lymph nodes (LNs) (< 5%) is one of the main factors limiting the effectiveness of DC vaccines. Therefore, increasing the efficiency of DC migration is expected to further enhance the efficacy of DC vaccines. Here, we used DP7-C (cholesterol modified VQWRIRVAVIRK), which can promote DC migration, as a medium. Through multiomics sequencing and biological experiments, we found that it is the metabolite pantothenic acid (PA) that improves the migration and effectiveness of DC vaccines. We clarified that both DP7-C and PA regulate DC migration by regulating the chemokine receptor CXCR2 and inhibiting miR-142a-3p to affect the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study will lay the foundation for the subsequent use of DP7-C as a universal substance to promote DC migration, further enhance the antitumor effect of DC vaccines, and solve the bottleneck problem of the low migration efficiency and unsatisfactory clinical response rate of DC vaccines.

Posttranslational Modifications in PD-L1 Turnover and Function: From Cradle to Grave

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is one of the most classic immune checkpoint molecules. Cancer cells express PD-L1 to inhibit the activity of effector T cells’ cytotoxicity through programmed death 1 (PD-1) engagement in exposure to inflammatory cytokines. PD-L1 expression levels on cancer cells might affect the clinical response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies. Hence, understanding molecular mechanisms for regulating PD-L1 expression is essential for improving the clinical response rate and efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, regulate PD-L1 stability, cellular translocation, and interaction with its receptor. A coordinated positive and negative regulation via PTMs is required to ensure the balance and function of the PD-L1 protein. In this review, we primarily focus on the roles of PTMs in PD-L1 expression, trafficking, and antitumor immune response. We also discuss the implication of PTMs in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies.

Tocilizumab in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Response Differs by Disease Duration at Medication Initiation and by Phenotype of Disease

Objective: We performed a single-center retrospective study to determine the different efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) in the early and late stages and in three phenotypic subgroups (monocyclic, polycyclic, and persistent) of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA).Methods: Clinical and serological parameters of 77 sJIA patients treated by TCZ were collected from November 1, 2013 to May 1, 2019. Patients were grouped based on the duration group A &lt; 6 months (n = 41) and group B &gt; 6 months (n = 36) and divided into three phenotypes: monocyclic (n = 12), polycyclic (n = 14), and persistent (n = 51) course.Results: At baseline, group A had pronounced ESR, fever less active arthritis than group B (p &lt; 0.05). After 12 weeks of therapy, TCZ alleviated fever, ESR, CRP, and systemic-onset juvenile arthritis disease activity score-27 (sJADAS27) in both group A and group B (p&gt;0.05), while the efficacy of TCZ in relieving active arthritis in group A was better than that in group B (p&lt;0.05). After 1 year of TCZ therapy, it showed that patients with monocyclic phenotype had the highest clinical response rate (91.7%, odds ratio = 0, 95% CI: 24–24, p = 0.00), followed by the polycyclic (28.6%, odds ratio = 2.1, 95% CI: 10.5–18.8, p = 0.00) and the persistent course (9.8%, odds ratio = 1.2, 95% CI: 9.5–13.8, p = 0.00).Conclusion: TCZ can quickly relieve fever and inflammation, especially when patients have less active arthritis with shorter disease duration. The long-term efficacy of TCZ is related to the phenotypes, among which the monocyclic is the best, and the persistent is the worst.

Ruxolitinib for Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Introduction: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is an extremely unfavorable chronic GVHD manifestation with limited therapeutic options. Recent small retrospective series and the only prospective randomized trial have demonstrated different response rates (8.6 - 66.7%) in patients with BOS to JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib (Streiler C. et al. BMT 2020, Zhao Y. et al. Front. Pharmacol. 2021, Zeiser R. et al. NEJM 2021). Here we report a single-center study of the ruxolitinib efficacy for BOS in adults after HSCT. Methods: The study included 52 patients (median age 33 years (18-58), female 48%) diagnosed with BOS according to the NIH (2014) criteria between 2008 and 2020. The median %FEV1 at BOS diagnosis was 41.6% (20.0-74.1). Severe BOS was present in 44% patients. Due to the previous extrapulmonary cGVHD, the vast majority of patients (81%) had a history of various treatment options, including calcineurin inhibitors, systemic steroids, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs imatinib, dasatinib) and ruxolitinib. After BOS diagnosis the following treatments were administered: a FAM-like regimen (fluticasone, azithromycin and montelukast) (94%), CNIs (50%), mTOR inhibitor (35%), systemic corticosteroids (52%), ECP (25%) or low-dose rIL-2 (19%) as the first and subsequent lines of therapy. Seventeen patients (33%) received TKIs. A total of 20 BOS patients received ruxolitinib (median dose of 15 mg/day). The remaining 32 patients were included in the control group. The response was assessed by the dynamics of FEV1 according to the NIH scale (2014): partial response (PR, ≥10% increase in FEV1), stabilization (&lt;10% change), progression (≥10% decrease) (n=45), as well as clinically by the degree of dyspnea according to the NIH symptom-based lung score and mMRC scale with PR defined as a decrease in dyspnea by at least 1 point (n=52). The overall survival (OS) was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method from the moment of BOS diagnosis. Results: At a median follow up of 27 months (5-102) in the ruxolitinib group, 5 (26%) patients achieved PR criteria, while BOS stabilization and progression was observed in 7 (37%) cases each. In the control group, PR, stabilization and progression were documented in 3 (12%, p=0.253), 17 (65%) and 6 (23%) cases respectively (Fig.1). The clinical evaluation of dyspnea also did not reveal statistically significant differences in PR rate: 15% vs 19% according to NIH-CC and 30% vs 31% according to mMRC scale (p = 1.0). Systemic steroids were used less frequently in the ruxolitinib group (35% versus 63%, p = 0.049). As of July 1, 2021, 32 (62%) patients were alive. Twenty patients died due to cGVHD and infectious complications (n = 16, 80%) or underlying disease relapse (n = 4, 20%). As a result, the 5-year OS was 54.4% (95% CI, 36.7-69.1) with no statistically significant differences between ruxolitinib and control groups: 59.1% (95% CI, 25.6-81.6) vs 50.2 (95% CI, 29.5-67.7) (p=0.387). Conclusions: In comparison with the retrospective control group, ruxolitinib showed no significant benefit in FEV1-based and clinical response rate in patients with BOS after HSCT. However, ruxolitinib therapy provides a more frequent systemic steroid-free strategy. These data are consistent with the results of REACH3 (Zeiser R. et al. NEJM 2021). Despite very positive results of ruxolitinib in the general cGVHD population, BOS remains an unsolved problem. Novel approaches are required. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. OffLabel Disclosure: Ruxolitinib for BOS in the settings of cGVHD

1256. Clinical Response by Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations in Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections under Cefiderocol Compassionate Use Program

Background Cefiderocol (CFDC) has been developed for the treatment of serious infections caused by drug-resistant aerobic Gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant (CR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). The current CFDC susceptibility breakpoints for P. aeruginosa differ between US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (Table). Data characterizing the impact of CFDC minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) on the clinical responses of patients treated with CFDC for CRPA are sparse. Methods We reviewed patients treated with compassionate-use CFDC (2 g, q8h or renally adjusted dosages) for infections caused by CRPA with no alternative treatment options. CFDC minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were evaluated according to CLSI guidelines in iron-depleted cation-adjusted Müller–Hinton broth for available CRPA isolates. We then assessed physician-reported clinical responses to CFDC therapy and stratified results by CFDC MIC. Results There were 71 patients overall with CRPA treated with CFDC. Treatment duration ranged from 1 to 132 days. For the subset of 33 patients for whom CFDC MIC values were available, the most common infection sites were the respiratory tract (n=15), blood (n=12), and urinary tract (n=4). Patients could have had an infection at ≥1 sites and in other locations. CFDC MIC range was ≤0.03– &gt;64 µg/mL. The modal MIC value was 2 µg/mL (n=13; Table). CRPA isolates were susceptible to CFDC in 13/33 patients (39.4%) based on the FDA breakpoint (MIC ≤1 µg/mL) and in 31/33 patients (93.9%) based on the CLSI breakpoint (MIC ≤4 µg/mL). Clinical response was reported for 15/18 patients (83.3%) who had infections with CFDC MICs of 2–4 µg/mL, organisms that are considered susceptible by CLSI but not by FDA breakpoints (Table). Clinical response was reported in 6/13 patients (46.1%) with infections with CFDC MIC ≤1 µg/mL and in 1 of 2 patients (50.0%) with CFDC MIC ≥8 µg/mL (Table). 21 (63.6%) patients survived to Day 28 and there were no trends in mortality by CFDC MIC. Conclusion Clinical response rate was high for CRPA infections with CFDC MICs of 2–4 µg/mL, supporting the higher CLSI susceptibility breakpoint. Disclosures Michael J. Satlin, MD, MS, Achaogen (Consultant)Allergan (Research Grant or Support)BioFire Diagnostics (Research Grant or Support)Merck (Research Grant or Support)Shionogi (Consultant) David Fam, PharmD, Shionogi (Employee) Roger Echols, MD, Shionogi (Consultant) Christopher Longshaw, PhD, Shionogi (Employee) Miki Takemura, MS, SHIONOGI & CO., LTD. (Employee) Yoshinori Yamano, PhD, Shionogi (Employee)

Basal cell carcinoma treated with HeberFERON. A real world retrospective study

BackgroundBasal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer with major impact in health-related quality of life. The use of the formulation based on the combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma (HeberFERON) is an effective alternative in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, immunogenic tumor, potentially responsible to immunotherapies. The aim of this report is to record, retrospectively, the effect of HeberFERON patients with BCC in the Cuban real word condition.MethodsThis is a retrospectively study of the use of HeberFERON in real world conditions. Eligible patients were adults with histologic diagnosis of single or multiple basal cell carcinoma of any skin phototype, lesions of any size, subtype, location, recurrent or not, with or without specific prior treatments. Adult patients, who signed the informed consent to receive the treatment with HeberFERON, were identified from the data bases. The evaluation of clinical effectiveness was carried out according to RECIST 1.1. Ethical committee of participating institutions approved the study.ResultsIn clinical practice evaluated patients the nose was the region of higher frequency of tumors (36.3%) and the nodular clinical subtype was the predominant (45.3%). Clinical response rate differences (p=0. 000) were found, with complete response of 61.9%, and partial response of 32.7%; with an overall response rate of 94.2% The HeberFERON exerted a 100% disease control, with no progression reported in 640 treated patients. The best responder tumor subtypes to HeberFERON were the more aggressive tumors, morpheaform with complete response of 72% (overall response=96%), followed by the infiltrative with complete response of 66.7% (overall response=100%). Tumor with larger size and patients with more than four tumors had lesser response to the anti-tumor effect of HeberFERON.ConclusionsHeberFERON was highly effective in basal cell carcinomas in real world conditions. In the context of resistance of skin tumors to hedgehog and immune check point inhibitors the combination of IFNs alpha 2b and IFN gamma appears as a plausible therapeutic option for a wide number of basal cell carcinomas.

A phase II study of sequential treatment with anthracycline and taxane followed by eribulin in patients with HER2-negative, locally advanced breast cancer (JBCRG-17)

Purpose The sequence of taxanes (T) followed by anthracyclines (A) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard of care for almost 20 years for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Sequential administration of eribulin (E) following A/T could provide a greater response rate for women with LABC. Methods In this single-arm, multicenter, Phase II prospective study, the patients received 4 cycles of the FEC regimen and 4 cycles of taxane. After the A/T-regimen, 4 cycles of E were administered followed by surgical resection. The primary endpoint was the clinical response rate. Eligible patients were women aged 20 years or older, with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, clinical Stage IIIA (T2–3 and N2 only), Stage IIIB, and Stage IIIC, HER2-negative. Results A preplanned interim analysis aimed to validate the trial assumptions was conducted after treatment of 20 patients and demonstrated that clinical progressive disease rates in the E phase were significantly higher (30%) than assumed. Therefore, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended stopping the study. Finally, 53 patients were enrolled, and 26 patients received the A/T/E-regimen. The overall observed clinical response rate (RR) was 73% (19/26); RRs were 77% (20/26) in the AT phase and 23% (6/26) in the E phase. Thirty percent (8/26) of patients had PD in the E phase, 6 of whom had achieved cCR/PR in the AT phase. Reported grade ≥ 3 AEs related to E were neutropenia (42%), white blood cell count decrease (27%), febrile neutropenia (7.6%), weight gain (3.8%), and weight loss (3.8%). Conclusion Sequential administration of eribulin after the A/T-regimen provided no additional effect for LABC patients. Future research should continue to focus on identifying specific molecular biomarkers that can improve response rates.

Anti-MRSA Cephalosporin versus Vancomycin-Based Treatment for Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared the clinical efficacy and safety of anti-MRSA cephalosporin and vancomycin-based treatment in treating acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Turning Research into Practice, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for relevant articles from inception to 15 June 2020. RCTs comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of anti-MRSA cephalosporin with those of vancomycin-based regimens in treating adult patients with ABSSSIs were included. The primary and secondary outcomes were clinical response at the test-of-cure assessments and risk of adverse events (AEs), respectively. Eight RCTs were enrolled. The clinical response rate was not significantly different between anti-MRSA cephalosporin and vancomycin-based treatments (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.90–1.23; I2 = 0%). Except for major cutaneous abscesses in which anti-MRSA cephalosporin-based treatment was associated with a lower clinical response rate than vancomycin-based treatment (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40–0.97; I2 = 0%), other subgroup analyses according to the type of cephalosporin (ceftaroline or ceftobiprole), type of infection, and different pathogens did not show significant differences in clinical response. Anti-MRSA cephalosporin-based treatment was only associated with a higher risk of nausea than vancomycin-based treatment (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.07–1.85; I2 = 0%). In treating ABSSSIs, the clinical efficacy of anti-MRSA cephalosporin is comparable to that of vancomycin-based treatment, except in major cutaneous abscesses. In addition to nausea, anti-MRSA cephalosporin was as tolerable as vancomycin-based treatment.

A Phase II Study of Sequential Treatment with Anthracycline and Taxane Followed by Eribulin in Patients with HER2-negative, Locally Advanced Breast Cancer (JBCRG-17)

PurposeThe sequence of taxanes (T) followed by anthracyclines (A) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been the standard of care for almost 20 years for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Sequential administration of eribulin (E) following A/T could provide a greater response rate for women with LABC.MethodsIn this single-arm, multicenter, Phase II prospective study, the patients received 4 cycles of the FEC regimen and 4 cycles of taxane. After the A/T-regimen, 4 cycles of E were administered followed by surgical resection. The primary endpoint was the clinical response rate. Eligible patients were women aged 20 years or older, with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, clinical Stage IIIA (T2-3 and N2 only), Stage IIIB, and Stage IIIC, HER2-negative.ResultsA preplanned interim analysis aimed to validate the trial assumptions was conducted after treatment of 20 patients and demonstrated that clinical progressive disease (cPD) rates in the E phase were significantly higher (30%) than assumed. Therefore, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended stopping the study. Finally, 53 patients were enrolled, and 26 patients received the A/T/E-regimen. The overall observed clinical response rate (RR) was 73% (19/26); RRs were 77% (20/26) in the AT phase and 23% (6/26) in the E phase. Thirty percent (8/26) of patients had PD in the E phase, 6 of whom had achieved cCR/PR in the AT phase. Reported grade >3 AEs related to E were neutropenia (42%), white blood cell count decrease (27%), febrile neutropenia (7.6%), weight gain (3.8%), and weight loss (3.8%)ConclusionSequential administration of eribulin after the A/T-regimen provided no additional effect for LABC patients. Future research should continue to focus on identifying specific molecular biomarkers that can improve response rates.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery in locally advanced vulvar carcinoma: a single-institution experience

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is a rare malignancy that affects elderly women. About one-third of vulvar cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage, requiring extensive surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been introduced to reduce local tumor burden. In this retrospective study, we analyze the efficacy and toxicity of NACT followed by radical surgery. Methods: Patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC) treated at our institution with neoadjuvant platinum and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy ± ifosfamide followed by surgery at our institution were retrospectively identified. Results: Fourteen patients (93%) completed NACT with tolerable toxicities (G3–G4 toxicity: 30%). Thirteen patients (87%) underwent surgery. The overall clinical response rate on vulvar disease was 66% (20% complete response, 46% partial response), confirmed by histopathologic analysis, while on inguinal lymph nodes it was 69% (23% complete response, 46% partial response). At the pathologic examination, all patients had negative surgical margins. Three out of 9 patients (33%) with lesions infiltrating the urethral meatus and 4 patients out of 7 (57%) with anal involvement did not require urethral amputation or colostomy, respectively, after NACT. No severe postoperative complications were described. Overall survival at 5 years was 60%, and median overall survival was 76 months. Conclusion: NACT followed by surgery in locally advanced vulvar cancer is well tolerated and allows surgical modulation.