Adjuvant FOLFIRI with or without cetuximab in patients with resected stage III colon cancer: NCCTG Intergroup phase III trial N0147

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Background: Irinotecan (CPT-11) has demonstrated antitumor activity against metastatic colorectal cancer used alone or with 5-fluorouracil (5FU)/leucovorin (LV). Two arms with CPT-11, 5FU, and LV (FOLFIRI) +/- cetuximab (Cmab) were originally included in N0147. However, after CALGB 89803 (J Clin Oncol. 25:3456, 2007), PETACC-3 (J Clin Oncol. 27:3117, 2009), and Accord02 (Ann Oncol. 20:674, 2009) showed no benefit to the three-drug combination in adjuvant therapy, the CPT-11 arms of N0147 were discontinued. We report the outcomes for patients given FOLFIRI +/- Cmab.

Methods: Following a signed informed consent patients with resected stage III colon cancer were randomized to one of 6 arms including 12 biweekly cycles of CPT-11 180 mg/m2 d1 with LV 400 mg/m2, 5FU 400 mg/m2 bolus IV, then 46-hr IV 5FU 2,400 mg/m2 on d1-2 without (Arm B, FOLFIRI) or with Cmab (Arm E) 400 mg/m2 d1 cycle 1 then Cmab at 250 mg/m2 d1 and 8. Primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and toxicity.

Results: 156 patients (Arm B-111, Arm E-45) were enrolled; median follow-up on 81 patients in Arm B was 60.3 months and 58.2 months in Arm E for 41 patients. wtKRAS (vs mt) status was associated with improved DFS (HR=0.6 [95% CI 0.4-1.1], p = 0.09) and OS (HR 0.7 [95% CI 0.4-1.5], p = 0.38). The addition of Cmab improved DFS and OS in the overall group and within wtKRAS pts. Grade greater than III non-hematologic adverse effects were significantly increased in the Cmab arm (46% vs. 64%, p = 0.05).

Conclusions: In this randomized phase III trial adjuvant FOLFIRI resulted in a 3-year DFS lower than that expected for FOLFOX. Trends for improved DFS and OS with the addition of Cmab were observed in patients with resected stage III colon cancer patients, regardless of KRAS status. Supported by NIH Grant CA25224, Bristol-Myers Squibb, ImClone, Sanofi-Aventis, and Pfizer.

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Potential role of chemoradiotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer

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Background: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer have a poor outcome and the radiotherapy is typically only given to patients requiring palliation. We analyzed our institutional pancreas database to compare the outcome between chemotherapy alone vs. chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2008, 199 metastatic pancreatic cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. 13 (6.5%) patients received chemoradiotherapy and 186 (93.5%) patients received chemotherapy alone. Chemotherapy regimens consisted of 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, erlotinib, or cisplatin. The follow-up time was calculated from the time of diagnosis to the date of death or the last contact. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the overall survival (OS).

Results: Median OS was 5.3 months for all patients. Median OS was 4.9 months (0.4–27.0) for patients treated with chemotherapy alone and 7.8 months (0.6–44.1) for those treated with chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.013). Univariate survival analysis of categorical variables for patients treated with chemoradiotherapy revealed that age, race, gender, location of metastatic site, T stage (T3 v. T4) or nodal stage were not significant. However, ECOG performance status (1 v. 2/3) and the dose of radiation (<35 v. >35 Gy) received were associated with improved survival (p = 0.013, p=0.049). Median OS was 12.9 months for ECOG 1 vs. 5.6 months for ECOG 2/3. Median OS was 11.1 months for patients treated with radiotherapy dose > 35 Gy vs. 5.9 months for those who received less than 35 Gy. 3/13 (23%) patients who received chemoradiotherapy lived nearly two years or more.

Conclusions: Metastatic pancreatic cancer patients with good performance score may benefit from chemoradiotherapy. Long-term survival was observed in this selected group.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The I/D polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and asthma risk: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

  The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been implicated in susceptibility to asthma, but a large number of studies have reported inconclusive results. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene and asthma risk by meta-analysis.

METHODS

  We searched Medline (Ovid), Pubmed, CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu database, covering all papers until March 12, 2010. Statistical analysis was performed by using the software revman 4.2 (The Cochrane Collaboration, http://www.cochrane.org) and stata 10.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA, http://www.stata.com).

RESULTS

  A total of 1946 cases and 2152 controls in 18 case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that the DD homozygote carriers had a 59% increased risk of asthma, when compared with the homozygotes II and heterozygote DI [odds ratio (OR)=1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-2.18]. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant elevated risks were associated with DD homozygote carriers in Asians (OR=2.02 and 95% CI: 1.29-3.16 for DD vs DI+II) but not in Caucasians (OR=1.14 and 95% CI: 0.76-1.72 for DD vs DI+II). In the subgroup analysis by age, significant elevated risks were associated with DD homozygote carriers in children (OR=2.44 and 95% CI: 1.36-4.38 for DD vs II+DI) but not in adults (OR=1.54 and 95% CI: 0.94-2.51 for DD vs II+DI).

CONCLUSIONS

  This meta-analysis suggested that the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene would be a risk factor of asthma. To further evaluate gene-to-gene and gene-to-environment interactions between polymorphisms of ACE gene and asthma risk, more studies with large groups of patients are required.

A Novel Surface Topographical Concept for Bone Implant

Template-assisted electrohydrodynamic atomization (TAEA) spraying deposition, a recently developed and an electric-driven jet-based technique has been used to prepare bioactive surface topography on titanium (Ti). Nanometer-scaled SiHA (nanoSiHA), which closely resembles the bone mineral, has been synthesized and deposited on Ti surfaces with a range of patterns, such as pillars and tracks. A human osteoblast (HOB) cell model has been used to evaluate the in vitro cellular responses to nanoSiHA deposition. alamarBlue™ assay showed that nanoSiHA patterns are able to encourage the attachment and growth of HOB cells in comparison to those of nanoSiHA coating. The preferential growth of HOB cells was found along and across the track, HOB cells were also found to stretch between two tracks. Image analysis of HOB cell responses to the size of nanoSiHA pattern showed that the length of HOB cells was proportional to the gaps between the tracks until reaching the maximum length of 110 μm. The results indicate that the distance between the structures is paramount over the width. Our study will pave the way to control and guide cellular responses for new generation of bone implants.

The pathway to intelligent implants: osteoblast response to nano silicon-doped hydroxyapatite patterning

Bioactive hydroxyapatite (HA) with addition of silicon (Si) in the crystal structure (silicon-doped hydroxyapatite (SiHA)) has become a highly attractive alternative to conventional HA in bone replacement owing to the significant improvement in the in vivo bioactivity and osteoconductivity. Nanometre-scaled SiHA (nanoSiHA), which closely resembles the size of bone mineral, has been synthesized in this study. Thus, the silicon addition provides an extra chemical cue to stimulate and enhance bone formation for new generation coatings, and the next stage in metallic implantation design is to further improve cellular adhesion and proliferation by control of cell alignment. Topography has been found to provide a powerful set of signals for cells and form contact guidance. Using the recently developed novel technique of template-assisted electrohydrodynamic atomization (TAEA), patterns of pillars and tracks of various dimensions of nanoSiHA were achieved. Modifying the parameters of TAEA, the resolution of pattern structures was controlled, enabling the topography of a substrate to be modified accordingly. Spray time, flow rate and distance between the needle and substrate were varied to improve the pattern formation of pillars and tracks. The 15 min deposition time provided the most consistent patterned topography with a distance of 50 mm and flow rate of 4 µl min(-1). A titanium substrate was patterned with pillars and tracks of varying widths, line lengths and distances under the optimized TAEA processing condition. A fast bone-like apatite formation rate was found on nanoSiHA after immersion in simulated body fluid, thus demonstrating its high in vitro bioactivity. Primary human osteoblast (HOB) cells responded to SiHA patterns by stretching of the filopodia between track and pillar, attaching to the apex of the pillar pattern and stretching between two. HOB cells responded to the track pattern by elongating along and between the track, and the length of HOB cells was proportional to the gaps between track patterns, but this relationship was not observed on the pillar patterns. The study has therefore provided an insight for future design of next generation implant surfaces to control and guide cellular responses, while TAEA patterning provides a controllable technique to provide topography to medical implants.

Abstract P4-10-04: Rates of Second Malignancies after Definitive Local Treatment for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast

Background: We analyzed the risk of developing second malignancies in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing surgery and radiotherapy (S+RT) versus surgery alone (S).

Material and Methods: The S+RT cohort consisted of 256 women treated with breast conserving therapy at William Beaumont Hospital. The S cohort consisted of 2,788 women with DCIS in the regional SEER database treated during the same time period. A matched-pair analysis was performed in which each S+RT patient was randomly matched with 8 S patients (total of 2048 patients). Matching criteria included age +/− 2 years. The rates of second malignancies were analyzed overall and as contralateral breast versus non-breast cancers and by organ system. Results: Median follow-up was 13.7 years for the S+RT cohort and 13.3 years for the S cohort. The overall 10-/15-year rate of second malignancies among the S+RT and S cohorts were 14.2%/24.2% and 16.4%/22.6%, respectively (p=0.668). The 15-year second contralateral breast cancer rate was 14.2% in the S+RT cohort and 10.3% in the S cohort (p=0.439). The 15- year risk of a second non-breast malignancy was 14.2% for the S+RT cohort and 13.4% for the S alone cohort (p=0.660). When analyzed by organ system, the 10- and 15-year rates of second malignancies did not differ between the S+RT and the S cohorts for pulmonary, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, gynecological, genitourinary, lymphoid, sarcomatoid, head and neck, or unknown primary tumors.

Discussion: Compared with S alone, S +RT was not associated with an overall increased risk of second malignancies in women with DCIS.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-04.

Mating behaviors of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as influenced by sex pheromone in electrostatic powder

Entostat is an electrostatically charged wax powder that can adhere strongly to insect cuticle, making it an ideal carrier to deliver pheromone for pheromone-based confusion techniques. We investigated the attractiveness of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) males treated with pheromone-laden Entostat powder to naive conspecifics as well as mating behaviors of males after such treatment in a laboratory flight tunnel. Male moths exposed to Entostat containing 1% E,E-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone) acquired and retained the largest amount of the powder and became more attractive as point sources to naive moths compared with those treated with powder containing 5 or 10% codlemone. All Entostat-exposed males remained as attractive as a 0.1-mg codlemone lure for up to 24 h in flight tunnel investigations. Male moth orientation to normally attractive sources of codlemone was completely disrupted directly after treatment with Entostat powder. Males' ability to orient to 0.1-mg lures recovered progressively over a 6-d postexposure interval; however, their responses never reached the levels observed with untreated control moths. Entostat-exposed moths retained detectable amounts of codlemone up to 4 d. Our laboratory flight tunnel results suggest that the mode of action of Entostat powder as an autodissemination control tactic may be due to creating both attractive false point sources after exposure to the powder as well as directly inhibiting contaminated males' capability to orient to pheromone.

Genomic indicators in the blood predict drug-induced liver injury

Genomic biomarkers for the detection of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) from blood are urgently needed for monitoring drug safety. We used a unique data set as part of the Food and Drug Administration led MicroArray Quality Control Phase-II (MAQC-II) project consisting of gene expression data from the two tissues (blood and liver) to test cross-tissue predictability of genomic indicators to a form of chemically induced liver injury. We then use the genomic indicators from the blood as biomarkers for prediction of acetaminophen-induced liver injury and show that the cross-tissue predictability of a response to the pharmaceutical agent (accuracy as high as 92.1%) is better than, or at least comparable to, that of non-therapeutic compounds. We provide a database of gene expression for the highly informative predictors, which brings biological context to the possible mechanisms involved in DILI. Pathway-based predictors were associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, Toll-like receptor signaling, apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage. The results show for the first time and support the hypothesis that genomic indicators in the blood can serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers predictive of DILI.

Characterization of immune responses following intranasal immunization with the Mycobacterium bovis CFP-10 protein expressed by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium

Culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) from Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an immunodominant T-cell antigen expressed during the early stages of infection. Because lungs are most commonly associated with primary M. bovis infections, specific immunity at this site is desirable for protection. Therefore, in this study, immune responses generated in mouse lung, spleen and Peyer's patches were examined following intranasal (i.n.) immunization with Salmonella typhimurium- expressing CFP-10. Cells harvested from the lungs and Peyer's patches of immunized mice and then stimulated with CFP-10 produced significant levels of IFN-γ and these mice developed elevated serum IgG and lung IgA anti-CFP-10 responses, suggesting that this approach induced potent anti-CFP-10 mucosal immunity. Our study demonstrates that i.n. administration of CFP-10 expressed by S. typhimurium represents an effective way to induce efficient immune response to M. bovis antigen.

Genetic variations and sequences analysis of MTATP6 and MTATP8 genes among different Chinese pig breeds

To investigate the genetic variations of mtATP6 and mtATP8 genes among different Chinese pig breeds, two fragments of 425 and 743 bp containing the whole coding region of mtATP8 and mtATP6 genes were amplified with 805 individuals from 23 Chinese local pig breeds, three types of Chinese wild boars and three European pig breeds. Sequence comparison identified a total number of 17 substitutions including six variable sites in mtATP8 and eleven substitutions in mtATP6 gene. The restriction enzyme Fok I revealed four polymorphic sites (nt8086, 8176, 8514 and 7784), and four RFLP haplotype patterns (A, B, C and D) were identified in mtATP6 and mtATP8 genes among all tested samples. Our data showed AC combined haplotype originated from Asia and BD was regarded as European origin. The average frequency of Asian mtDNA haplotypes was 38.3% across the investigated European breeds but varied within each breeds (13.3∼76.7%). Phylogenetic analyses were performed also considering some published sequences in the databases; the sequences were divided into three distinct groups, denoted A, E1, and E2. The Asian AC haplotype existed among the European domestic pigs was fully consistent with the results of previous molecular studies and well-documented history. This study will help us to better understand the genetic variations of mitochondrial genes among different Chinese pig breeds.

A nonhuman primate model of Alzheimer's disease generated by intracranial injection of amyloid-β42 and thiorphan

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and neuropathological changes, including the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide. Aged monkeys have proven to be invaluable in the study of AD, as their brains naturally develop amyloid plaques similar to those in AD brains. However, spontaneous development of AD-like pathologies in aged monkeys is time-consuming, often taking several years. Here, we created an experimentally induced AD model in middle-aged (16-17 years) rhesus monkeys by intracranial injection of Aβ42 and thiorphan, an inhibitor of neprilysin that is responsible for Aβ clearance. The working memory capacity of the monkeys in a delayed-response task was little affected following the delivery of Aβ42 and thiorphan. However, the administration of Aβ42 and thiorphan resulted in a significant intracellular accumulation of Aβ in the neurons of the basal ganglia, the cortex, and the hippocampus, accompanied by neuronal atrophy and loss. Moreover, immunohistochemistry revealed a degeneration of choline acetyltransferase-positive cholinergic neurons and an increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes. In conclusion, our data demonstrate a primate model of AD generated by combined infusion of Aβ42 and thiorphan, which duplicates a subset of neuropathological changes in AD brains, thereby having implications in the elucidation of this disease.

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) in urine as biological index of exposure

Fifteen human volunteers were exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) vapor at 72-495 mg/m3 for a period of 2 to 4 hours at rest (ten cases) and during light physical exercise (five cases). Subsequently 60 workers occupationally exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane in a refrigerator manufacturing plant were studied (median value: 178 mg/m3; geometrical standard deviation: 2.19 mg/m3). As expected, the relative uptake (R) of 1,1,1-trichloroethane decreased in the course of exposure at rest (R = 0.44 after 20 minutes of exposure; R = 0.26 after 240 minutes of exposure). Both in the experimentally exposed subjects and in the occupationally exposed workers, the urinary concentration of 1,1,1-trichloroethane showed a linear relationship to the corresponding environmental time-weighted average concentration. The correlation coefficients (r) were 0.95 in occupationally exposed subjects and more than 0.90 in experimentally exposed groups. A linear equation also existed between urinary concentration and amount of 1,1,1-trichloroethane absorbed (r = 0.88). The findings indicate that the urinary concentration of 1,1,1-trichloroethane can be used as an appropriate biological exposure indicator. In occupationally exposed subjects performing moderate work, the urinary 1,1,1-trichloroethane concentration corresponding to the time-weighted average of the threshold limit value was found to be 860 micrograms/L and its 95% lower confidence limit (biological threshold) 805 micrograms/L.

Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Carbon Monoxide-Myoglobin Recombination After Laser Photolysis

Results are presented for the first time-resolved x-ray absorption measurements with a time resolution of 300 microseconds on a dynamically evolving chemical system. By synchronizing a neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet pulsed laser with the bursts of x-rays emitted from the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, it was possible to monitor at room temperature the recombination of carbon monoxide with myoglobin after laser photolysis. Changes in the pre-edge structure and in the position of the iron edge of this protein were detected as a function of time.