Death from metastatic donor-derived ovarian cancer in a male kidney transplant recipient

Posttransplant malignancy developing in an allograft is an uncommon complication of organ transplantation. The tumor may represent malignant transformation of donor or recipient cells that were previously normal, metastatic malignancy of recipient origin or malignancy transmitted from organ donor to recipient. Establishing the origin of the malignancy is critical to treatment algorithms. It is generally believed allograft removal and immunosuppression withdrawal will lead to resolution of transmitted malignancies in cases where the renal allograft is the origin. We report a male patient who developed metastatic ovarian malignancy secondary to donor transmission.

Global gene expression profiling and histochemical analysis of the developing human fetal pancreas

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

An immunohistochemical and genomic analysis of human pancreatic development from 9-23 weeks of fetal age was undertaken to provide a comparative analysis of human and murine islet development.

METHODS

Human fetal pancreases obtained at gestational ages 9-23 weeks were processed in parallel for immunohistochemistry and gene expression profiling by Affymetrix microarrays.

RESULTS

By 9-11 weeks, the pancreas was made up principally of mesenchymal tissue infiltrated by branched epithelial structures containing scattered hormone-negative neurogenin3-positive endocrine cells. Protoacinar structures emerged by 15-19 weeks, along with clusters of endocrine cells producing either glucagon or insulin. By 20-23 weeks, vascularised islet-like structures appeared. More than 70% of endocrine cells produced a single hormone at any age. Analysis of Ki67 immunoreactivity showed that the replicative rate of endocrine cells was low and suggested that the endocrine expansion was derived from hormone-negative precursors. Insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, ghrelin and pancreatic polypeptide transcripts were present at 9-10 weeks and increased progressively, commensurate with the expansion of endocrine cell volume. The human equivalent of a mouse endocrine secondary transition was not evident, neither in terms of morphology nor in dramatic changes in endocrine-specific transcriptional regulators. By contrast, exocrine genes showed a marked transition at around 11 weeks, associated with a greater than sixfold increase in exocrine gene transcripts.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The observed extension of terminal differentiation of human endocrine tissue into late gestation is in contrast with findings in the mouse. It indicates that the human fetal pancreas could provide an abundant islet precursor cell population that could be expanded ex vivo for therapeutic transplantation.

Acute decompression illness and serum s100beta levels: a prospective observational pilot study

BACKGROUND

S100beta, a calcium binding protein associated with astroglial cells and other tissues has been shown to be raised in the serum of patients with a number of neurological pathologies. As there are no published data on serum S100beta determinations in recreational divers affected by decompression illness (DCI) this pilot study determines whether S100beta is a possible biochemical marker of DCI worthy of further investigation.

METHODS

Venous blood samples were drawn from patients diagnosed with, and treated for acute DCI at a hyperbaric facility and analysed for serum S100beta concentration and Creatine Kinase (CK) activity. Samples were taken at initial presentation, and again following final treatment.

RESULTS

Twenty one patients were included in the study. Neither S100beta, nor CK levels were significantly raised above population normal limits.

CONCLUSION

S100beta is not a clinically useful serum marker of acute DCI.

Effect of puerarin on bone formation

OBJECTIVE

Puerarin is one of the major phytoestrogens isolated from Pueraria lobata, a Chinese medicine known as Gegen. Our laboratory compared the amount of new bone produced by puerarin in collagen matrix (carrier) to that produced by the collagen matrix alone.

METHOD

Eighteen bone defects, 5mm by 10mm were created in the parietal bone of nine New Zealand White rabbits. In the experimental group, six defects were grafted with puerarin solution mixed with collagen matrix. In the control groups, six defects were grafted with collagen matrix alone (active control) and six were left empty (passive control). Animals were killed on day 14 and the defects were dissected and prepared for histological assessment. Serial sections were cut across each defect. No new bone was formed in the passive control group. Quantitative analysis of new bone formation was made on 100 sections (10 sections in each defect, in five defects randomly selected in each of the experimental group and active control group) using image analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 554% more new bone was present in defects grafted with puerarin in collagen matrix than those grafted with the collagen matrix alone.

CONCLUSION

Puerarin in collagen matrix has the effect of increasing new bone formation locally and can be used for bone grafting or for bone induction often required in surgery.

5. A needs assessment for a CanMEDS-based curriculum in ambulatory care for internal medicine residents in Canada

In Canada, graduates of internal medicine training programs should be proficient in ambulatory medicine and practice. Before determining how to improve education in ambulatory care, a list of desired learning outcomes must be identified and used as the foundation for the design, implementation and evaluation of instructional events. The Delphi technique is a qualitative-research method that uses a series of questionnaires sent to a group of experts with controlled feedback provided by the researchers after each round of questions. A modified Delphi technique was used to determine the competencies required for an ambulatory care curriculum based on the CanMEDS roles. Four groups deemed to be critical stakeholders in residency education were invited to take part in this study: 1. Medical educators and planners, 2. Members of the Canadian Society of Internal Medicine (CSIM), 3. Recent Royal College certificants in internal medicine, 4. Residents currently in core internal medicine residency programs. Panelists were sent questionnaires asking them to rate learning outcomes based on their importance to residency training in ambulatory care. Four hundred and nineteen participants completed the round 1 questionnaire that was comprised of 75 topics identified through a literature search. Using predefined criteria for degree of importance and consensus, 19 items were included in the compendium and 9 were excluded after one round. Forty-two items for which the panel that did not reach consensus, as well as 3 new items suggested by the panel were included in the questionnaire for round 2. Two hundred and forty participants completed the round 2 questionnaire; consensus was reached for each of the 45 items. After two rounds, 21 items were included in the final compendium as very high priority topics (“must be able to”). An additional 26 items were identified as high priority topics (“should be able to”). The overall ratings by each of the four groups were similar and there were no differences between groups that affected the selection of items for the final compendium. To our knowledge this is the first time a Delphi-process has been used to determine the content of an ambulatory care curriculum in internal medicine in Canada. The compendium could potentially be used as the basis to structure training programs in ambulatory care. Barker LR. Curriculum for Ambulatory Care Training in Medical residency: rationale, attitudes and generic proficiencies. J Gen Intern Med 1990; 5(supp.):S3-S14. Levinsky NG. A survey of changes in the proportions of ambulatory training in internal medicine clerkships and residencies from 1986-87 to 1996-97. Acad Med 1998; 73:1114-1115. Linn LS, Brook RH, Clarke VA, Fink A, Kosecoff J. Evaluation of ambulatory care training by graduates of internal medicine residencies. J Med Educ 1986; 61:293-302.

The prognostic value of health-related quality-of-life data in predicting survival in glioblastoma cancer patients: results from an international randomised phase III EORTC Brain Tumour and Radiation Oncology Groups, and NCIC Clinical Trials Group study

This is one of the few studies that have explored the value of baseline symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in predicting survival in brain cancer patients. Baseline HRQOL scores (from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Brain Cancer Module (BN 20)) were examined in 490 newly diagnosed glioblastoma cancer patients for the relationship with overall survival by using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Refined techniques as the bootstrap re-sampling procedure and the computation of C-indexes and R²-coefficients were used to try and validate the model. Classical analysis controlled for major clinical prognostic factors selected cognitive functioning (P=0.0001), global health status (P=0.0055) and social functioning (P<0.0001) as statistically significant prognostic factors of survival. However, several issues question the validity of these findings. C-indexes and R²-coefficients, which are measures of the predictive ability of the models, did not exhibit major improvements when adding selected or all HRQOL scores to clinical factors. While classical techniques lead to positive results, more refined analyses suggest that baseline HRQOL scores add relatively little to clinical factors to predict survival. These results may have implications for future use of HRQOL as a prognostic factor in cancer patients.

XELOX compared to FOLFOX4: Survival and response results from XELOX-1/ NO16966, a randomized phase III trial of first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC)

4030

Background: In a phase II study in untreated MCRC patients, XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin) appeared to have similar efficacy compared with previously published FOLFOX4 data [1]. We therefore started a phase III 2-arm open-label non-inferiority study comparing XELOX with FOLFOX4. In 2003 the addition of bevacizumab (Bev) to irinotecan/5-FU/LV was shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival [2]. We then amended our trial to a 2x2 partially blinded study to assess the addition of Bev. Methods: Original 2-arm study: XELOX (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 iv, capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid oral d1- 14, q3w) vs. FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU, leucovorin as described previously) [3]. In August 2003, amended to 2x2 partially blinded study: by adding Bev 7.5 mg/kg iv q3w or placebo (Pla) to XELOX and Bev 5 mg/kg iv q2w or Pla to FOLFOX4. Results: The original 2-arm study recruited 634 pts; after transition to 2x2, an additional 1400 patients were recruited. We previously reported non-inferiority in terms of PFS of XELOX vs. FOLFOX4 for the whole study population [4]. With 404 events, the overall survival data from the original 2-arm study are mature and show a HR for XELOX vs. FOLFOX4 of 0.93 (97.5% CI, 0.74–1.16). The response rates by investigator and independent review for the whole study population are shown in the table . Conclusions: XELOX is non-inferior to FOLFOX4. Overall survival data for the whole 2034 patient study population will be presented at the meeting. *no response assessment. 1. Cassidy J et al. J Clin Oncol 2004;22:2084–91. 2. Hurwitz H et al. N Eng J Med 2004;350:2335–42 3. De Gramont A et al. J Clin Oncol 2000;18:2938–47. 4. Cassidy J et al. Ann Oncol 2006;17(Suppl. 9):LBA3.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

A comparison of medical resource use for 4 chemotherapy regimens as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC): XELOX vs. FOLFOX4 ± bevacizumab (A)

4098

Background: A recent randomized phase III trial with a 2x2 factorial design compared 4 chemotherapy regimens as first-line treatment for MCRC: oral capecitabine + i.v. oxaliplatin q3w (XELOX); 5-FU/LV + i.v. oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4); XELOX+A; and FOLFOX4+A. The XELOX regimens were found to be non-inferior to FOLFOX4 in terms of progression-free survival (the primary endpoint), and the A regimens were superior to the placebo arms. The attractiveness of these regimens to providers, patients, and payers will also depend on the medical resources involved. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the expected resource use across the 4 groups. Methods: A resource use model was constructed based on trial data and projections from trial protocols. Both medical resources and patient time were considered. The medical resources included visits for chemotherapy administration, central venous access (CVA), treatment of adverse events (AEs), and hospital use for common treatment-related AEs. Patient time for chemotherapy administration, ambulatory visits, and hospital stays was estimated. Results: FOLFOX and FOLFOX4+A required more administration visits due to the q2w cycle (22–27 visits in total for the FOLFOX arms vs. 7–9 visits for the XELOX arms). With FOLFOX regimens, patients spend 60–200 additional hours receiving i.v. drug administration, and 22–27 additional hours traveling and waiting to receive chemotherapy. The rate of hospital admissions for common AEs did not differ among the arms, but mean hospital days for common AEs were slightly higher in the XELOX arms. Ambulatory encounters to treat AEs added only about 1 hour of encounter time per patient on average in all 4 arms. The 2 FOLFOX4 arms had twice as many placements for CVA. Conclusion: In the first-line setting, the 2 FOLFOX4 chemotherapy regimens involve substantially more i.v. drug administration visits and time - the equivalent of more than two 40-hour workweeks. The 4 regimens were similar in terms of the amount of resource use needed to treat AEs.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phase III study of gemcitabine [G] plus cetuximab [C] versus gemcitabine in patients [pts] with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma [PC]: SWOG S0205 study

LBA4509

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] pathway is a rational target for therapeutic intervention. This study tested the efficacy of an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and gemcitabine [G] combination in the Phase III setting in patients with advanced PC. Methods: Eligibility included locally advanced unresectable or metastatic PC; adequacy of organ function; performance status (PS) 0- 2; no prior EGFR therapy; no prior systemic chemotherapy except for adjuvant chemotherapy; and submission of tumor for EGFR immunostaining. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Secondary endpoints included objective response, time to progression, pain control, and quality of life. Assuming 6 months median survival, the study was designed to detect a median improvement to 8 months (1.33 hazard ratio) with 90% power, based on a one-sided 0.0125 test, and 704 eligible patients. Primary analyses used a Cox regression model, stratified for factors used in the randomization. Patients were stratified by PS, stageand prior pancreatectomy, and randomized to either G alone or G plus C. G was given at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2/wk for seven weeks out of 8, then 3 weeks on and one week off. C was given as a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 on week 1 and then 250 mg/m2 weekly. Results: 766 pts (735 eligible) with a median age of 64 (30–91) were enrolled by SWOG and CTSU between January 2004 and April 2006. Of those, 51% were males, 21.5% had locally advanced disease, and 13% had PS of 2. The study closed with full accrual. The median survival was 6 months in the G arm and 6.5 months in the G plus C arm for an overall HR of 1.09 (95% CI 0.93–1.27, p= 0.14) . The corresponding PFS was 3 months and 3.5 months, for G and G+C arms, respectively (HR =1.13, 95%CI .97–1.3, p=.058). The confirmed response probabilities were 7 % in each arm, and inclusion of unconfirmed responses yielded 14% in the G arm and 12% in the G + C arm.702 pts were evaluable for toxicity. 90 pts experienced at least one grade 4 toxicity; 14% on the G plus C, 11% on G alone. Conclusions: This study failed to demonstrate a clinically significant advantage of the addition of cetuximab to gemcitabine for overall survival, PFS and response in advanced PC.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Bevacizumab (Bev) in combination with XELOX or FOLFOX4: Updated efficacy results from XELOX-1/ NO16966, a randomized phase III trial in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer

4028

Background: NO16966 is the first phase III trial to evaluate the combination of Bev with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (FOLFOX4 or the XELOX regimen) in the first-line setting. Methods: 1401 pts were randomized to receive FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU, leucovorin as described previously) or XELOX (oxaliplatin 130mg/m2 iv, capecitabine 1000mg/m2 bid oral d1–14, q3w) plus Bev (5mg/kg q 2 weeks for FOLFOX, 7.5mg/kg q 3 weeks for XELOX) or Placebo in a 2x2 factorial design. Results: The addition of Bev to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy demonstrated a significant benefit in terms of PFS in the primary analysis (HR 0.83; 97.5% CI 0.72- 0.95, p=0.0023). Prespecified analysis of PFS on treatment (defined as progressive disease or death within 28 days from the last dose of study treatment) and PFS analysis based on tumor assessments by an independent review committee (IRC) were consistent with the benefit observed in the primary analysis. PFS results are shown in Table 1 . 34% of patients have died and the median follow-up for survival at this time is 18.6 months. Mature overall survival data will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: This large, international phase III trial demonstrates that the addition of Bev to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens significantly improves PFS.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Variables affecting refractive outcome following LASIK for myopia

AIM

To investigate factors affecting refractive outcome following LASIK for myopia.

METHOD

Six hundred and seventy-four consecutive uncomplicated myopic LASIK surgeries, performed by a single surgeon, either using the Technolas 217 planoscan (n=372) or the NIDEK EC 5000 (n=302), were evaluated. Stratified random sampling was used to match the groups for refractive error, patient age, and gender. The final analysis included 302 patients from each treatment group. Conditions were identical for both surgeries, and pre-operative refractive errors were between -1.00 and -14.00 DS and <-1.50 DC. Refractive success was defined as -0.50 to +0.50 DS of the targeted refraction measured 3 months after surgery. A stepwise logistical regression analysis was used to determine variables associated with refractive failure.

RESULTS

A successful refractive outcome was achieved in 78% (235/302) of surgeries using the Technolas laser and in 88% (266/302) using the NIDEK laser. Predictor variables for not achieving refractive success were pre-operative refractive error of above -5.00 DS, age more than 40 years, and surgery performed with the Technolas laser.

CONCLUSION

Both the Technolas 217 and the NIDEK EC-5000 excimer lasers achieve a successful refractive outcome in the majority of cases. However, patient and surgical factors can influence refractive outcome.

Viable CD34+/CD133+ blood progenitor cell dose as a predictor of haematopoietic engraftment in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Both CD34 (cluster of differentiation 34) and the more recently described CD133 are markers of primitive stem cells with haematopoietic repopulating ability. Most transplanting centres use a minimum number of CD34+ cells as the requirement for a transplant and consider this a predictor of haematopoietic engraftment. However, transplanted CD34+ cell dose does not always give a close correlation with time to engraftment nor explain delayed engraftment in some patients. We have retrospectively evaluated the potential of measuring viable CD133+ cell numbers in the autograft as an alternative predictor of haematological engraftment after autologous stem-cell transplantation in a cohort of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We found an average 32% loss of viability of CD34+ cells in the post-thaw sample compared with the fresh sample. Of the original estimated CD34+ cell numbers transplanted per kg, 43% of the thawed samples were double positive for CD34+/CD133+. In this patient group, the CD34+/CD133+ subset gave the closest statistical correlation with time to neutrophil engraftment (p < 0.05), particularly for patients given above median (1.8 x 10(6)/kg) dose of the double-positive cells. The CD34+/CD133+ population was the only parameter to give a significant correlation with white cell engraftment in this patient cohort (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between CD34+, viable CD34+ or viable CD34+/CD133+ cells/kilogram with platelet engraftment. Determination of viable CD34+/CD133+ progenitor cell dose in the autograft may be a useful tool to predict neutrophil recovery after autologous transplantation than conventional assessment of CD34+ numbers. These results warrant further investigation of the role of CD133 in haematopoietic engraftment.

The development of the perceptual organization of sound by frequency separation in 5-11-year-old children

The analysis of the auditory scene begins from the moment we hear sounds, making it possible for the infant to distinguish the mother's voice from other sounds in the environment. The purpose of the study was to determine, in two experiments, whether the frequency separation threshold, at which the perception of a mixture of sounds turns from being perceived as one stream to two streams, differs between two groups of school-aged children (ages 5-8 and 9-11 years) and adults. The results show a developmental course for the perception of auditory streams that is not simply dependent upon frequency discrimination. This suggests that maturation of the stream segregation process follows a longer developmental course than maturation of simple feature discrimination. The data indicate that the ability to hear distinct sound streams in the environment takes time to develop and becomes sharpened with experience and maturity.