Abstract P5-08-15: Prognostic value of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) to predict the late recurrence in ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancer

Introduction: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1(ALDH1) is known to be cancer stem cell marker. Also, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are known to be prognostic factor for triple negative breast cancer. It is reported that these factors have the correlation with chemosensitivity. Meanwhile, the late recurrence (LRec; 5 years after primary surgery) of ER positive breast cancer is the major problem. Significance of expressions of ALDH1 and TILs in primary tumor as predictive factors for late recurrence in ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancer is still unknown.

Methods: ER-positive, and HER2-negative breast cancer patients who underwent surgery or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy between January 2000 and December 2004 were registered from nine institutes belonging the Collaborative Study Group of Scientific Research of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society. For each LRec patient, approximately two matched control patients without relapse for more than ten years were selected. Expression of ALDH1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Positive ALDH1 was defined as tumor including more than 1% cancer cells with ALDH1 expression. TIL was assessed by single whole section according to Denkert's definition. A tumor showing high ki67 and/or low PgR expressions was categorized into Luminal B-like group.

Results: 639 patients (184 with early recurrence (ERec), 134 with LRec and 321 with no recurrence (NoRec)) were analyzed. The rates of positive ALDH1 in ERec, LRec and NoRec groups were 18%, 13% and 8%, respectively. ALDH1 positivity was significantly higher in ERec compared with NoRec group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between LRec and NoRec group (p=0.12). Positive ALDH1 showed significantly shorter DFS and OS in multivariate analyses (DFS: p=0.03, OS: p<0.01). Especially, that was the significantly prognostic factor in the Luminal B like tumor with adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.01), but not in those without any chemotherapy (p=0.53). High TILs in ERec, LRec and NoRec was 1.1%, 1.5% and 3.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference among three recurrent groups (p=0.13). High TILs was not significantly associated with DFS (p=0.09) and OS (p=0.72). However, there was significant correlation between High TILs and DFS in Luminal B like group (p=0.04) and ALDH1-negative group (p=0.02).

Conclusion: In ER-positive, and HER2-negative breast cancer, ALDH1 was an independent prognostic factor (a predictor of ERec, but not LRec). ALDH1 might be a predictor of benefit from chemotherapy in Luminal B like subtype. TILs was neither a predictor of ERec nor LRec. However, significance of TILs as prognostic factor might differ depending on subtypes and cancer stemness.

Citation Format: Miyoshi Y, Shien T, Ogiya A, Ishida N, Yamazaki K, Horii R, Horimoto Y, Masuda N, Yasojima H, Inao T, Osako T, Takahashi M, Tomioka N, Hagio K, Endo Y, Hosoda M, Yamashita H. Prognostic value of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) to predict the late recurrence in ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-08-15.

Switching between intermolecular and intramolecular reactions using flow microreactors: lithiation of 2-bromo-2′-silylbiphenyls

Switching between the intermolecular reaction and the intramolecular reaction was achieved at will using flow microreactors.

Phase Transition during Heating of Nanostructured Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Membranes

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) membranes were prepared using biaxial melt-drawing and subsequent melt-shrinking. Electron microscopy observations indicate that the former membrane has more extended-chain crystals (ECCs), whereas the latter is mainly composed of folded-chain crystals (FCCs). Corresponding double-melting endotherms are recorded on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. Detailed assignments of such double-melting components are performed using in situ X-ray measurements during heating. Wide- and small-angle X-ray diffraction and scattering (WAXD/SAXS) images were simultaneously recorded at SPring-8. Changes in WAXD images indicate that the orthorhombic reflection peak begins to decrease at 130 °C, followed by the appearance of the hexagonal reflection peak beyond 145 °C for both membranes, but the latter melt-shrunk membrane exhibits weaker hexagonal reflection intensity. Simultaneous SAXS results indicate that FCCs rapidly disappear at 135 °C for the melt-shrunk membrane, resulting in a sharper endotherm. In contrast, residual ECCs restrict the melting of FCCs for the melt-drawn membrane, resulting in a broader endotherm of FCC melting spread to a slightly higher temperature position.

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) current inhibition selectively prolongs action potential of midmyocardial cells to augment transmural dispersion

The majority of drug induced arrhythmias are related to the prolongation of action potential duration following inhibition of rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kr)) mediated by the hERG channel. However, for arrhythmias to develop and be sustained, not only the prolongation of action potential duration but also its transmural dispersion are required. Herein, we evaluated the effect of hERG inhibition on transmural dispersion of action potential duration using the action potential clamp technique that combined an in silico myocyte model with the actual I(Kr) measurement. Whole cell I(Kr) current was measured in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing the hERG channel. The measured current was coupled with models of ventricular endocardial, M-, and epicardial cells to calculate the action potentials. Action potentials were evaluated under control condition and in the presence of 1, 10, or 100 μM disopyramide, an hERG inhibitor. Disopyramide dose-dependently increased the action potential durations of the three cell types. However, action potential duration of M-cells increased disproportionately at higher doses, and was significantly different from that of epicardial and endocardial cells (dispersion of repolarization). By contrast, the effects of disopyramide on peak I(Kr) and instantaneous current-voltage relation were similar in all cell types. Simulation study suggested that the reduced repolarization reserve of M-cell with smaller amount of slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium current levels off at longer action potential duration to make such differences. The action potential clamp technique is useful for studying the mechanism of arrhythmogenesis by hERG inhibition through the transmural dispersion of repolarization.

Employment status among non-retired cancer survivors in Japan

Employed cancer patients confront some challenges as they attempt to return to work after treatment. We aimed to identify correlates of return to work for cancer survivors in Japan, with an emphasis on employment status. Participants were 260 patients (aged <65 years) who had received a cancer diagnosis ≥ 1 year previously and who were employed at the time of diagnosis. Participants completed questionnaires at consultations at any Regional Cancer Center Hospitals in Yamagata, Japan between 28 November 2011 and 9 December 2011. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of return to work. Data cross-tabulation was used to evaluate relationships to workplace and income-changes by employment status. A high proportion of patients (75.8%) had returned to work. Non-regularly employed survivors were less likely to return to work (odds ratio = 5.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-21.35). Individuals with poor health, advanced-stage tumours, of advanced age and women were significantly less likely to return to work. Only 52.8% of non-regular employees continued to be employed, and their income decreased by as much as 61.1%. Social and financial support policies should be organised based on more intensive study of employment circumstances.

Investigation of Pd nanoparticles supported on zeolites for hydrogen production from formic acid dehydrogenation

Palladium nanoparticles supported on different BETA zeolites are promising catalysts for H₂production from formic acid dehydrogenation.

Vision-based endoscope tracking for 3D ultrasound image-guided surgical navigation

This work introduces a self-contained framework for endoscopic camera tracking by combining 3D ultrasonography with endoscopy. The approach can be readily incorporated into surgical workflows without installing external tracking devices. By fusing the ultrasound-constructed scene geometry with endoscopic vision, this integrated approach addresses issues related to initialization, scale ambiguity, and interest point inadequacy that may be faced by conventional vision-based approaches when applied to fetoscopic procedures. Vision-based pose estimations were demonstrated by phantom and ex vivo monkey placenta imaging. The potential contribution of this method may extend beyond fetoscopic procedures to include general augmented reality applications in minimally invasive procedures.

A Novel and Efficient Method for Enzymatic Synthesis of High Purity Maltose Using Moranoline (1-Deoxynojirimycin)

A transglycosylation reaction with moranoline (1-deoxynojirimycin) was done with soluble starch as the glucosyl donor and Bacillus macerans amylase as a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase [EC 2.4.1.19]. The resultant transglycosylation products with moranoline, obtained by treating the reaction mixture with a strong cation exchange resin, were hydrolyzed by beta-amylase [EC 3.2.1.2] from sweet potatoes. The hydrolysate was treated with a strong cation exchange resin, and high purity maltose was obtained.

Randomized trial of preoperative docetaxel with or without capecitabine after 4 cycles of 5-fluorouracil– epirubicin–cyclophosphamide (FEC) in early-stage breast cancer: exploratory analyses identify Ki67 as a predictive biomarker for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

This randomized, multicenter study compared the efficacy of docetaxel with or without capecitabine following fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC) therapy in operable breast cancer and investigated the role of Ki67 as a predictive biomarker. Patients were randomized to 4 cycles of docetaxel/capecitabine (docetaxel: 75 mg/m² on day 1; capecitabine: 1,650 mg/m² on days 1–14 every 3 weeks) or docetaxel alone (75 mg/m² on day 1 every 3 weeks) after completion of 4 cycles of FEC (5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m², epirubicin 100 mg/m² and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m² on day 1 every 3 weeks). The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Predictive factor analysis was conducted using clinicopathological markers, including hormone receptors and Ki67 labeling index (Ki67LI). A total of 477 patients were randomized; the overall response in the docetaxel/capecitabine and docetaxel groups was 88.3 and 87.4 %, respectively. There were no significant differences in the pCR rate (docetaxel/capecitabine: 23 %; docetaxel: 24 %; p = 0.748), disease-free survival, or overall survival. However, patients with mid-range Ki67LI (10–20 %) showed a trend towards improved pCR rate with docetaxel/capecitabine compared to docetaxel alone. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed pre-treatment Ki67LI (odds ratio 1.031; 95 % CI 1.014–1.048; p = 0.0004) to be a significant predictor of pCR in this neoadjuvant treatment setting. Docetaxel/capecitabine (after 4 cycles of FEC) did not generate significant improvement in pCR compared to docetaxel alone. However, exploratory analyses suggested that assessment of pre-treatment Ki67LI may be a useful tool in the identification of responders to preoperative docetaxel/capecitabine in early-stage breast cancer.