CD19 CAR-T cells of defined CD4+:CD8+ composition in adult B cell ALL patients

BACKGROUND

T cells that have been modified to express a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) have antitumor activity in B cell malignancies; however, identification of the factors that determine toxicity and efficacy of these T cells has been challenging in prior studies in which phenotypically heterogeneous CAR-T cell products were prepared from unselected T cells.

METHODS

We conducted a clinical trial to evaluate CD19 CAR-T cells that were manufactured from defined CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets and administered in a defined CD4+:CD8+ composition to adults with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia after lymphodepletion chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The defined composition product was remarkably potent, as 27 of 29 patients (93%) achieved BM remission, as determined by flow cytometry. We established that high CAR-T cell doses and tumor burden increase the risks of severe cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Moreover, we identified serum biomarkers that allow testing of early intervention strategies in patients at the highest risk of toxicity. Risk-stratified CAR-T cell dosing based on BM disease burden decreased toxicity. CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-CAR transgene product immune responses developed after CAR-T cell infusion in some patients, limited CAR-T cell persistence, and increased relapse risk. Addition of fludarabine to the lymphodepletion regimen improved CAR-T cell persistence and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Immunotherapy with a CAR-T cell product of defined composition enabled identification of factors that correlated with CAR-T cell expansion, persistence, and toxicity and facilitated design of lymphodepletion and CAR-T cell dosing strategies that mitigated toxicity and improved disease-free survival.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01865617.

FUNDING

R01-CA136551; Life Science Development Fund; Juno Therapeutics; Bezos Family Foundation.

Effects of low doses of mifepristone on human embryo implantation process in a three-dimensional human endometrial in vitro co-culture system

OBJECTIVES

We wanted to explore the effects of two different low doses (0.5μM and 0.05μM) of mifepristone, exposed during the receptive period, on the human embryo implantation process, using a well-established three-dimensional in vitro cell culture model, specifically developed to study this process.

METHODS

An in vitro three-dimensional cell culture model was constructed using human endometrial cells isolated from the endometrium of proven fertile women, collected on cycle day LH+4. After 5 days of culture, supernumerary human embryos were added and cultured for another 5 days with mifepristone 0.5μM (n=8) or 0.05μM (n=10) or vehicle as control (n=10). The cultures were checked for embryo attachment and terminated. We studied the expression of 16 reported endometrial receptivity markers in the endometrial constructs using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

None of the embryos in 0.5μM of mifepristone attached to the endometrial constructs (p=.004), whereas 4 out of 10 in 0.05μM (p=.3698) and 7 out of 10 embryos in the control group attached to the cultures. We found that most of the studied receptivity markers were significantly altered with mifepristone exposure in a similar direction in both treatment groups. Only IL6 was significantly differentially expressed between the treatment groups (p=.017).

CONCLUSION

We report for the first time that exposure to a low concentration (0.5μM) of mifepristone during the receptive period successfully inhibits human embryo implantation process in vitro. Further, we observed a dose-dependent effect of mifepristone on endometrial receptivity at the functional level.

IMPLICATION

This study contributes new knowledge that low dose of mifepristone during the short period of receptive phase can inhibit endometrial receptivity, which further promotes mifepristone as a contraceptive agent. This could give women a treatment choice to avoid unwanted pregnancy with high efficacy and minimal side effects.

Associations of Protein Intake and Protein Source with Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study

High dietary protein has been hypothesized to cause lower bone mineral density (BMD) and greater fracture risk. Previous results are conflicting and few studies have assessed potential differences related to differing protein sources.

OBJECTIVE

To determine associations between total protein intake, and protein intake by source (dairy, non-dairy animal, plant) with BMD, BMD change, and incident osteoporotic fracture.

DESIGN/SETTING

Prospective cohort study (Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study). Participants/Measures: Protein intake was assessed as percent of total energy intake (TEI) at Year 2 (1997-99) using a food frequency questionnaire (N=6510). Participants were contacted annually to ascertain incident fracture. Total hip and lumbar spine BMD was measured at baseline and Year 5. Analyses were stratified by group (men 25-49 y, men 50+ y, premenopausal women 25-49 y, and postmenopausal women 50+ y) and adjusted for major confounders. Fracture analyses were limited to those 50+ y.

RESULTS

Intakes of dairy protein (with adjustment for BMI) were positively associated with total hip BMD among men and women aged 50+ y, and in men aged 25-49. Among adults aged 50+ y, those with protein intakes of <12% TEI (women) and <11% TEI (men) had increased fracture risk compared to those with intakes of 15% TEI. Fracture risk did not significantly change as intake increased above 15% TEI, and was not significantly associated with protein source.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to hypothesized risk of high protein, we found that for adults 50+ y, low protein intake (below 15% TEI) may lead to increased fracture risk. Source of protein was a determinant of BMD, but not fracture risk.

Comparison of naïve and central memory derived CD8+ effector cell engraftment fitness and function following adoptive transfer

Human CD8⁺ effector T cells derived from CD45RO⁺CD62L⁺ precursors enriched for central memory (T_CM) precursors retain the capacity to engraft and reconstitute functional memory upon adoptive transfer, whereas effectors derived from CD45RO⁺CD62L^- precursors enriched for effector memory precursors do not. Here we sought to compare the engraftment fitness and function of CD8⁺ effector T cells derived from CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺ precursors enriched for naïve and stem cell memory precursors (T_N/SCM) with that of T_CM. We found that cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) derived from T_CM transcribed higher levels of CD28, FOS, INFγ, Eomesodermin (Eomes), and lower levels of BCL2L11, maintained higher levels of phosphorylated AKT, and displayed enhanced sensitivity to the proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of γ-chain cytokines compared to CTLs derived from T_N/SCM. Higher frequencies of CTLs derived from T_CM retained CD28 expression and upon activation secreted higher levels of IL-2. In NOD/Scid IL-2RγC^null mice, CD8⁺ T_CM derived CTLs engrafted to higher frequencies in response to human IL-15 and mounted robust proliferative responses to an immunostimulatory vaccine. Similarly, CD8⁺ T_CM derived CD19CAR⁺ CTLs exhibited superior antitumor potency following adoptive transfer compared to their CD8⁺ T_N/SCM derived counterparts. These studies support the use of T_CM enriched cell products for adoptive therapy of cancer.

Retroperitoneal anatomy of the iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: consequences for prevention and treatment of chronic inguinodynia

PURPOSE

Chronic inguinodynia is one of the most frequent complications after groin herniorrhaphy. We investigated the retroperitoneal anatomy of the iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve to prevent direct nerve injury during hernia repairs and to find the most advantageous approach for posterior triple neurectomy.

METHODS

We dissected the inguinal nerves in 30 human anatomic specimens bilaterally. The distances from each nerve and their entry points in the abdominal wall were measured in relation to the posterior superior iliac spine, anterior superior iliac spine, and the midpoint between the two iliac spines on the iliac crest. We evaluated our findings by creating high-resolution summation images.

RESULTS

The courses of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerve are most consistent on the anterior surface of the quadratus lumborum muscle. The genitofemoral nerve always runs on the psoas muscle. The entry points of the nerves in the abdominal wall are located as follows: the iliohypogastric nerve is above the iliac crest and lateral from the anterior superior iliac spine, the ilioinguinal nerve is with great variability, either above or below the iliac crest and lateral from the anterior superior iliac spine, the genital branch is around the internal inguinal ring, the femoral branch is either cranial or caudal to the iliopubic tract, and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is either medial or lateral to the anterior superior iliac spine.

CONCLUSION

Nerve injury during inguinal hernia repairs can be avoided by taking the topographic anatomy of the inguinal nerves into consideration. The most advantageous plane to look for the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerve during posterior neurectomy is on the anterior surface of the quadratus lumborum muscle. For the surgical treatment of severe chronic inguinodynia, especially after posterior open or endoscopic mesh repair (TAPP/TEP), the retroperitoneoscopic or open retroperitoneal approach for posterior triple neurectomy can be considered.

The effects on ovarian activity of ulipristal acetate when 'quickstarting' a combined oral contraceptive pill: a prospective, randomized, double-blind parallel-arm, placebo-controlled study

STUDY QUESTION

What is the effect on ovarian activity of a preceding intake of ulipristal acetate (UPA) when starting a combined oral contraceptive (COC) in the mid- to late-follicular phase of the cycle?

SUMMARY ANSWER

This study shows that UPA does not affect the ability of the COC to induce ovarian quiescence.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

UPA is a progesterone receptor modulator that is available for emergency contraception (EC). In theory, UPA could alter the effectiveness of hormonal contraception started immediately following it and vice versa. Current guidelines regarding quick starting a COC following UPA are based on expert opinion only.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at three separate sites, Edinburgh (Scotland), Stockholm (Sweden) and Groningen (the Netherlands), over a 5-month period in 2012. Healthy female volunteers were randomized to take either UPA or an identically packaged placebo, at mid-cycle (once a lead ovarian follicle was determined to be >13 mm on transvaginal ultrasound imaging). Participants were randomized by a computer-generated randomization schedule, allocated by sequential, sealed envelopes. All women then started 21 days of the same COC the following day. The study was designed to show non-inferiority of UPA compared with placebo in terms of the proportion of women attaining ovarian quiescence, as measured by the Hoogland scoring system, while taking COC.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

A total of 76 women were recruited over the three sites, Edinburgh (n = 18), Stockholm (n = 13), Groningen (n = 45) and received either UPA (n = 39) or placebo (n = 37).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics of women in the UPA and placebo groups. Among the 76 participants treated, 47 (61.8%) reached quiescence and 25 (32.9%) ovulated. There were no significant differences between the groups in the odds ratio (OR) of reaching ovarian quiescence or not; OR 0.97 (95% CI: 0.39-2.46). All women who reached quiescence had done so after taking COCs for 14 days.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The main limitations of the study were that measurements of follicle size and blood tests were performed every 2-3 days and so it was not possible to determine the actual day that follicle rupture occurred for the women who ovulated. Furthermore, the ultrasonography was conducted by a number of investigators at the sites which may introduce error in the form of inter-observer variability in measurements of follicle growth. Finally, the findings of the study cannot be extrapolated to other combined hormonal methods of contraception such as the patch or ring, nor to progestogen- only methods of contraception.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This study provides evidence to suggest that UPA does not affect the ability of the COC to induce ovarian quiescence. However, this study design cannot determine whether the COC affects the ability of UPA to delay ovulation.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

Funding was provided by HRA Pharma Paris, France. C.K., S.T.C. and K.G.D. have received funds for conducting research studies and lectures for HRA Pharma. C.K. is director of a contract research organization (Dinox). The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01569113.

Psychiatric disorders in 130 survivors of childhood cancer: preliminary results of a semi-standardized interview

BACKGROUND

Although psychological sequelae are well known among survivors of childhood cancer, psychiatric sequelae remain inadequately explored. Long-term psychiatric sequelae and their main risk factors in this population were evaluated.

PROCEDURE

Initially, 483 survivors of childhood cancer, except leukemia, were invited to complete a questionnaire assessing their health and quality of life. Of them, 130 completed the survey, subsequently consulted with a pediatric oncologist and an internist, and met with a psychologist for a semi-standardized interview based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), which allowed diagnosis of DSM-IV Axis 1 psychiatric disorders. The collected data were compared with those of the French general population.

RESULTS

Seventy-three of the 130 survivors (56.2%) who completed the MINI interview reported experiencing at least one psychiatric disorder since cancer diagnosis, mostly anxiety (39.2%), mood (27.7%), or major depressive (24.6%) disorders; 46 reported at least one current disorder (35.4%). Agoraphobia (P = 0.02) and psychotic disorders were more common (P = 0.003) and general anxiety disorder less common (P < 0.001) among survivors than the general population. Most disorders correlated significantly with survivors' ratings of lower quality of life. Smoking, cancer type, and treatments significantly influenced the prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Results were consistent between the self-questionnaire and MINI interview responses, though time may have biased memory. Vulnerability to and high risk for developing DSM-IV Axis 1 psychiatric disorders of childhood cancer survivors can persist long after diagnosis and treatment. Thus, systematic and general psychological screening of survivors may facilitate long-term psychological restoration.

Novel type-II material system for laser applications in the near-infrared regime

The design and experimental realization of a type-II "W"-multiple quantum well heterostructure for emission in the λ > 1.2 μm range is presented. The experimental photoluminescence spectra for different excitation intensities are analyzed using microscopic quantum theory. On the basis of the good theory-experiment agreement, the gain properties of the system are computed using the semiconductor Bloch equations. Gain values comparable to those of type-I systems are obtained.

Effects of ulipristal acetate on human embryo attachment and endometrial cell gene expression in an in vitro co-culture system

STUDY QUESTION

Does ulipristal acetate (UPA) used for emergency contraception (EC) interfere with the human embryo implantation process?

SUMMARY ANSWER

UPA, at the dosage used for EC, does not affect human embryo implantation process, in vitro.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

A single pre-ovulatory dose of UPA (30 mg) acts by delaying or inhibiting ovulation and is recommended as first choice among emergency contraceptive pills due to its efficacy. The compound has also been demonstrated to have a dose-dependent effect on the endometrium, which theoretically could impair endometrial receptivity but its direct action on human embryo implantation has not yet been studied.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Effect of UPA on embryo implantation process was studied in an in vitro endometrial construct. Human embryos were randomly added to the cultures and cultured for 5 more days with UPA (n = 10) or with vehicle alone (n = 10) to record the attachment of embryos.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Endometrial biopsies were obtained from healthy, fertile women on cycle day LH+4 and stromal and epithelial cells were isolated. A three-dimensional in vitro endometrial co-culture system was constructed by mixing stromal cells with collagen covered with a layer of epithelial cells and cultured in progesterone containing medium until confluence. The treatment group received 200 ng/ml of UPA. Healthy, viable human embryos were placed on both control and treatment cultures. Five days later the cultures were tested for the attachment of embryos and the 3D endometrial constructs were analysed for endometrial receptivity markers by real-time PCR.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

There was no significant difference in the embryo attachment rate between the UPA treated group and the control group as 5 out of 10 human embryos exposed to UPA and 7 out of 10 embryos in the control group attached to the endometrial cell surface (P = 0.650). Out of 17 known receptivity genes studied here, only 2 genes, HBEGF (P = 0.009) and IL6 (P = 0.025) had a significant up-regulation and 4 genes, namely HAND2 (P = 0.003), OPN (P = 0.003), CALCR (P = 0.016) and FGF2 (P = 0.023) were down-regulated with the exposure of UPA, compared with control group.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

This proof of concept study was conducted with a few human embryos, as their availability was limited. Although the 3D model used for this study is well established and the artificial endometrial luminal epithelium shown to express progesterone regulated markers of endometrial receptivity it is still an in vitro model, lacking all cell types that constitute the receptive endometrium in vivo.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This study provides new insights on the mechanism of action of UPA on human embryo implantation, demonstrating that UPA in a dosage used for EC does not affect embryo viability and the implantation process of embryo. Progesterone receptor modulators (PRMs) hold the potential to be attractive estrogen- and gestagen-free contraceptives and thus may be made available to a larger proportion of women globally due to these findings.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

Swedish Research Council (K2010-54X-14212-09-3) and support provided through the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research (ALF) between Stockholm County Council and Karolinska University Hospital.

Characteristics of hyperparathyroid states in the Canadian multicentre osteoporosis study (CaMos) and relationship to skeletal markers

CONTEXT

PTH is an essential regulator of mineral metabolism; PTH hypersecretion may result in hyperparathyroidism including normocalcaemic, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the characteristics of participants with hyperparathyroid states and the relationship to bone mineral density (BMD).

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

A cross-sectional study of 1872 community-dwelling men and women aged 35+ years (mostly Caucasian) with available serum PTH from Year 10 Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study follow-up (2005-07). PTH was determined using a second-generation chemiluminescence immunoassay.

OUTCOME MEASURES

L1-L4, femoral neck and total hip BMD.

RESULTS

We established a PTH reference range (2·7-10·2 pmol/l) based on healthy participants (i.e. normal serum calcium, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, kidney function and body mass index, who were nonusers of antiresorptives, glucocorticoids and diuretics and not diagnosed with diabetes or thyroid disease). Participants with PTH levels in the upper reference range (5·6-10·2 pmol/l), representing a prevalence of 10·7%, had lower femoral neck and total hip BMD, by 0·030 g/cm(2) [95% confidence interval: 0·009; 0·051] and 0·025 g/cm(2) (0·001; 0·049), respectively, than those with levels 2·7-5·6 pmol/l. Participants with normocalcaemic and secondary hyperparathyroidism also had lower total hip BMD than those with levels 2·7-5·6 pmol/l, and CaMos prevalences of normocalcaemic, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism were 3·3%, 1·4% and 5·2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We found reduced BMD in participants with accepted hyperparathyroid states but also a notable proportion of other participants that might benefit from having lower PTH levels.