NQO1 targeting prodrug triggers innate sensing to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance

Lack of proper innate sensing inside tumor microenvironment (TME) limits T cell-targeted immunotherapy. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is highly enriched in multiple tumor types and has emerged as a promising target for direct tumor-killing. Here, we demonstrate that NQO1-targeting prodrug β-lapachone triggers tumor-selective innate sensing leading to T cell-dependent tumor control. β-Lapachone is catalyzed and bioactivated by NQO1 to generate ROS in NQO1^high tumor cells triggering oxidative stress and release of the damage signals for innate sensing. β-Lapachone-induced high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) release activates the host TLR4/MyD88/type I interferon pathway and Batf3 dendritic cell-dependent cross-priming to bridge innate and adaptive immune responses against the tumor. Furthermore, targeting NQO1 is very potent to trigger innate sensing for T cell re-activation to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance in well-established tumors. Our study reveals that targeting NQO1 potently triggers innate sensing within TME that synergizes with immunotherapy to overcome adaptive resistance.

Improper innate sensing within the tumor microenvironment limits immunotherapy success. Here, the authors show that targeting NQO1 triggers immunogenic innate sensing to reactivate T cells and overcome immune checkpoint blockade resistance.

Targeting Tumors with IL-10 Prevents Dendritic Cell-Mediated CD8+ T Cell Apoptosis

Increasing evidence demonstrates that interleukin-10 (IL-10), known as an immunosuppressive cytokine, induces antitumor effects depending on CD8⁺ T cells. However, it remains elusive how immunosuppressive effects of IL-10 contribute to CD8⁺ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. We generated Cetuximab-based IL-10 fusion protein (CmAb-(IL10)₂) to prolong its half-life and allow tumor-targeted delivery of IL-10. Our results demonstrated potent antitumor effects of CmAb-(IL10)₂ with reduced toxicity. Moreover, we revealed a mechanism of CmAb-(IL10)₂ preventing dendritic cell (DC)-mediated CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte apoptosis through regulating IFN-γ production. When combined with immune checkpoint blockade, CmAb-(IL10)₂ significantly improves antitumor effects in mice with advanced tumors. Our findings reveal a DC-regulating role of IL-10 to potentiate CD8⁺ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity and provide a potential strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Adipose insulin resistance is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovary syndrome

PURPOSE

The effects of adipose insulin resistance on cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate associations between adipose insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in PCOS.

METHODS

A total of 207 PCOS and 47 non-PCOS women were recruited from a large reproductive medicine center in this cross-sectional study. The PCOS diagnosis was based on the Rotterdam Criteria. The subjects received a standard oral glucose tolerance test. Adipose insulin resistance was evaluated using a validated index (adipose-IR = fasting insulin × free fatty acid concentrations).

RESULTS

The women with PCOS showed a higher adipose-IR index, and the adipose-IR index was tightly associated with the blood pressure, glucose and lipid parameters. A total of 98.0% of the women with PCOS in the highest adipose-IR quartile showed cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance or dyslipidemia), and this percentage was significantly higher than the percentage of those in the lowest quartile (32.7%). In addition, the percentages of women with three (31.4%) and four (13.7%) cardiovascular risk factors were significantly elevated in the highest adipose-IR quartile. The multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that each 1-SD increment in the adipose-IR index resulted in higher risks of obesity (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 2.12-4.76), hypertension (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.31-2.73), glucose intolerance (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.73-3.48), and dyslipidemia (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.57-3.01). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was positively associated with the adipose-IR index in women with PCOS (r = 0.45, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The adipose-IR index was associated with cardiovascular risk factors in women with PCOS. Chronic inflammation may induce insulin resistance in the adipose tissue of women with PCOS.

[The relationship between autoimmune thyroiditis and pregnancy outcomes of patients with PCOS following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer IVF-ET]

Objective: To investigate the impact of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) on pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) following the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) by analyzing their pregnancy outcomes. Methods: The patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment diagnosed with PCOS in Peking University Third Hospital from May 2010 to December 2014 were investigated. According to the anti-thyroid antibodies (TPOAb or TGAb), patients were divided into AIT group and non-AIT group. The pregnancy outcomes of two groups were analysed for investigate the effect of AIT on pregnancy outcomes. Results: Four hundred and ninety patients with PCOS were enrolled, 119 (24.3%) of AIT group and 371 (75.7%) of non-AIT group. Patients with PCOS had a higher incidence (24.3%) of AIT. There was no correlation between AIT and the different pregnancy outcomes.TSH was negatively correlated with pregnancy as a risk factor. Hyperandrogenemia was negatively correlated with clinical pregnancy as a risk factor. Hyperprolactinemia was negatively correlated with delivery as a risk factor, while TSH was positively correlated with delivery. Conclusions: The incidence of AIT was higher in patients with PCOS. AIT was not the risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes for PCOS women undergoing IVF. The metabolic disorders (including hyperinsulinemia, hyperandrogenemia and hyperprolactinemia) were the risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Patients in AIT group had the high TSH level. They should be received more care and monitoring to make it conducive to delivery.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra) and miR-140 overexpression via pNNS-conjugated chitosan-mediated gene transfer enhances the repair of full-thickness cartilage defects in a rabbit model

Objectives

Previously, we reported the improved transfection efficiency of a plasmid DNA-chitosan (pDNA-CS) complex using a phosphorylatable nuclear localization signal-linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide (pNNS) conjugated to chitosan (pNNS-CS). This study investigated the effects of pNNS-CS-mediated miR-140 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra) gene transfection both in rabbit chondrocytes and a cartilage defect model.

Methods

The pBudCE4.1-miR-140, pBudCE4.1-IL-1Ra, and negative control pBudCE4.1 plasmids were constructed and combined with pNNS-CS to form pDNA/pNNS-CS complexes. These complexes were transfected into chondrocytes or injected into the knee joint cavity.

Results

High IL-1Ra and miR-140 expression levels were detected both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, compared with the pBudCE4.1 group, the transgenic group presented with significantly increased chondrocyte proliferation and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, as well as increased collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1), aggrecan (ACAN), and TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) levels. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis was reduced, as were a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 (ADAMTS-5) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 levels. In vivo, the exogenous genes reduced the synovial fluid GAG and NO concentrations and the ADAMTS-5 and MMP-13 levels in cartilage. In contrast, COL2A1, ACAN, and TIMP-1 levels were increased, and the cartilage Mankin score was decreased in the transgenic group compared with the pBudCE4.1 group. Double gene combination produced greater efficacies than each single gene, both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

This study suggests that pNNS-CS is a good candidate for treating cartilage defects via gene therapy, and that IL-1Ra in combination with miR-140 produces promising biological effects on cartilage defects.

Cite this article: R. Zhao, S. Wang, L. Jia, Q. Li, J. Qiao, X. Peng. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra) and miR-140 overexpression via pNNS-conjugated chitosan-mediated gene transfer enhances the repair of full-thickness cartilage defects in a rabbit model. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:165–178. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.83.BJR-2018-0222.R1.

[Monitoring by high-sensitivity HBV DNA assay during treatment in chronic hepatitis B e antigen negative patients]

Objective: To explore the efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil and adefovir dipivoxil treatment in patients with hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) negative was analyzed through the comparison of highly sensitive HBV viral load monitoring with HBV genotyping and drug resistance mutations. Methods: The clinical data of newly diagnosed chronic hepatitis B patients from January 2015 to June 2017 in outpatients and inpatients were randomly divided into tenofovir and adefovir group. Quantitative detection of HBV DNA levels before therapy and at 12, 24, 48, 96, and 120 weeks after therapy were determined for HBV genotypes and drug-resistant mutations in HBeAg-negative patients. Student's t-test was used to compare the measurement data between groups. The data of comparison between groups were tested by χ (2). Results: A total of 106 cases of HBeAg-negative patients were collected. Tenofovir disoproxil had a higher rate of HBV DNA suppression (54%) than adefovir dipivoxil treatment (42%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.19). After 120 weeks of treatment, a total of 46 patients (93.9%) were enrolled in the tenofovir disoproxil group with HBV DNA quantitation < 2 000 IU / ml. Adefovir dipivoxil group of patients with HBV DNA < 2 000 IU / ml a total of 40 cases, accounting for 75.5%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). For 49 cases of HBeAg-negative patients, HBV B, C, B and C were mixed before tenofovir dipivoxil treatment, and C1653T, A1762T and G1764A mutation sites were detected in patients with D genotype. Patients C, B, C, B, and C were examined for C1673T, G1896, G1858, G1899A. After treatment, the detection rate of the above mutation sites decreased, but C1653T, C1673T and G1899A were not detected. New mutation sites such as G1915A / C, L180M, M204V, V207I / L, T184A and V173L were detected, Low resistance rate (25%). Conclusion: Tenofovir disoproxil can be recommended as a treatment for HBeAg-negative patients. For HBeAg-negative patients, the choice of high-sensitivity detection of HBV DNA levels, better monitoring of anti-HBV efficacy.

Design, analysis, and testing of a novel compliant underactuated gripper

This paper proposes a novel compliant underactuated gripper with multiple working modes. Based on the pseudo-rigid-body method, a static analysis of different working modes is carried out, establishing an analytical relationship between the output grasping forces and the input load. For the enveloped grasping mode, an algorithm to determine the static equilibrium position is given. Furthermore, a parametric optimization algorithm based on gradient descent is designed to obtain the maximum grasping forces. The effectiveness of the multiple grasping modes, the grasping force models, and the optimization algorithm are verified by a dynamic simulation package and finite element analysis as well as by experimental tests. Finally, various grasping experiments are conducted to further validate each working mode, the stability of grasping, and the ability to protect fragile objects.

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube fibers at extreme temperatures

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers are strong, flexible, and multifunctional, which makes them promising candidates for use at extreme temperatures. However, the current reported mechanical properties of CNT fibers were commonly obtained at room temperature. Here, we report the measurement of the mechanical properties of CNT fibers at temperatures ranging from -196 °C to 2400 °C. Compared with the room temperature strength and modulus, CNT fibers tested at 1000 °C and 2400 °C retained 82% and 54% of the strength, and 71% and 50% of the modulus, respectively, while 68% and 220% increases in the strength and modulus, respectively, were observed for CNT fibers tested at -196 °C. We attributed the decay in the mechanical properties at high temperatures to the weakening of individual nanotubes and intertube interactions, and the strength enhancement at low temperature to the increased activation energy to break the nanotubes. The present study provides the fundamental mechanical properties of CNT fibers at extreme temperatures, which could facilitate the applications of CNT fibers in aeronautics and astronautics where extreme temperature conditions commonly exist.

[Role of Inflammasome in Children's Immune Thrombocytopenia]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role and the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in children's immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

METHODS

Twenty-one children suffered from ITP were enrolled in ITP group, 10 healthy children were selected in control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were isolated from ITP children and healthy controls. The mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in PBMNCs were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, the protein level of NLRP3 in PBMNCs was detected by Western blot. The plasma IL-18 level was detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

The expression level of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA in newly-diagnosed ITP children was dramatically higher than that in control. The plasma IL-18 level was higher than that in healthy control. Furthermore, the level of NLRP3 protein was up-regulated in ITP children.

CONCLUSION

The NLRP3 inflammasome and up-regulated level of IL-18 have been found in newlydiagnosed ITP patients, and they may involve in the pathogenesis of ITP.

[Prognostic significance of CLL-IPI for Chinese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia]

目的

明确慢性淋巴细胞白血病国际预后指数（CLL-IPI）评分系统在中国慢性淋巴细胞白血病（CLL）患者中的预后评估价值。

方法

回顾性分析2002年1月至2017年11月诊断的215例初治CLL患者的临床资料，采用CLL-IPI评分系统进行危险分层和预后评估。

结果

①215例患者中，男143例，女72例，中位年龄60（16~85）岁。中位无治疗生存（TFS）和中位总生存（OS）时间分别为16（4~24）个月和180（145~215）个月。②按照CLL-IPI评分系统进行危险分层，低危组（60例）、中危组（50例）、高危组（45例）及极高危组（60例）的中位TFS时间分别为56、15、12及5个月，差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。③中位随访48（1~192）个月，低危组、中危组、高危组及极高危组的中位OS时间分别为未达到和180、89、74个月，预计5年OS率分别为97.6%、83.7%、67.8%及55.2%，差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。④多因素分析结果显示，免疫球蛋白重链可变区（IGHV）基因无突变（P=0.038）、β₂微球蛋白>3.5 mg/L（P<0.001）是影响患者TFS的独立危险因素；而TP53缺失和（或）突变（P=0.008）、IGHV基因无突变（P=0.017）、年龄>65岁（P=0.045）是影响患者OS的独立危险因素。

结论

CLL-IPI评分系统在中国初治CLL患者中具有较好的预后判断意义，可作为CLL有效的预后分层工具。

Evidence summaries and recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome: assessment and treatment of infertility

STUDY QUESTION

What is the recommended assessment and management of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), based on the best available evidence, clinical expertize and consumer preference?

SUMMARY ANSWER

International evidence-based guidelines, including 44 recommendations and practice points, addressed prioritized questions to promote consistent, evidence-based care and improve the experience and health outcomes of infertile women with PCOS.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Previous guidelines on PCOS lacked rigorous evidence-based processes, failed to engage consumer and multidisciplinary perspectives or were outdated. The assessment and management of infertile women with PCOS are inconsistent. The needs of women with PCOS are not being adequately met and evidence practice gaps persist.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Governance included a six continent international advisory and a project board, a multidisciplinary international guideline development group (GDG), consumer and translation committees. Extensive health professional and consumer engagement informed the guideline scope and priorities. The engaged international society-nominated panel included endocrinology, gynaecology, reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics, public health and other experts, alongside consumers, project management, evidence synthesis and translation experts. Thirty-seven societies and organizations covering 71 countries engaged in the process. Extensive online communication and two face-to-face meetings over 15 months addressed 19 prioritized clinical questions involving nine evidence-based reviews and 10 narrative reviews. Evidence-based recommendations (EBRs) were formulated prior to consensus voting within the guideline panel.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

International evidence-based guideline development engaged professional societies and consumer organizations with multidisciplinary experts and women with PCOS directly involved at all stages. A (AGREE) II-compliant processes were followed, with extensive evidence synthesis. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied across evidence quality, desirable and undesirable consequences, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation and ultimately recommendation strength. The guideline was peer-reviewed by special interest groups across our partner and collaborating societies and consumer organizations, was independently assessed against AGREE II criteria and underwent methodological review. This guideline was approved by all members of the GDG and has been approved by the NHMRC.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The quality of evidence (QOE) for the EBRs in the assessment and management of infertility in PCOS included very low (n = 1), low (n = 9) and moderate (n = 4) quality with no EBRs based on high-quality evidence. The guideline provides 14 EBRs, 10 clinical consensus recommendations (CCRs) and 20 clinical practice points on the assessment and management of infertility in PCOS. Key changes in this guideline include emphasizing evidence-based fertility therapy, including cheaper and safer fertility management.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Overall evidence is generally of low to moderate quality, requiring significantly greater research in this neglected, yet common condition. Regional health systems vary and a process for adaptation of this guideline is provided.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The international guideline for the assessment and management of infertility in PCOS provides clinicians with clear advice on best practice based on the best available evidence, expert multidisciplinary input and consumer preferences. Research recommendations have been generated and a comprehensive multifaceted dissemination and translation program supports the guideline with an integrated evaluation program.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

The guideline was primarily funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) supported by a partnership with ESHRE and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). GDG members did not receive payment. Travel expenses were covered by the sponsoring organizations. Disclosures of conflicts of interest were declared at the outset and updated throughout the guideline process, aligned with NHMRC guideline processes. Dr Costello has declared shares in Virtus Health and past sponsorship from Merck Serono for conference presentations. Prof. Norman has declared a minor shareholder interest in the IVF unit Fertility SA, travel support from Merck and grants from Ferring. Prof. Norman also has scientific advisory board duties for Ferring. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

This article was not externally peer-reviewed by Human Reproduction Open.

TLR4 deficiency reduces pulmonary resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae in gut microbiota-disrupted mice

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a clinically important pathogen responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disruption of the host gut microbiota by antibiotics reduces the pulmonary resistance to S. pneumoniae. The aim of our study was to determine the potential role of TLR4 in the reduced pulmonary resistance to S. pneumoniae following gut microbiota disruption. Wild-type and TLR4-deficient mice were given broad-spectrum antibiotics for 3 weeks by oral gavage to disrupt the gut microbiota, and subsequently inoculated intra-nasally with S. pneumoniae. The extent of the decline in pulmonary resistance in both animal groups was evaluated in terms of the overall survival and pulmonary bacterial clearance. Both survival and pulmonary clearance of S. pneumoniae were lower in the TLR4-deficient mice with disrupted gut microbiota, compared to their intestinally healthy counterparts after pneumococcal infection. However, the degree of decline was much lower in the TLR4-deficient mice compared to the wild-type mice. Our findings indicate that impaired TLR4 function might be the basis of the reduced pulmonary resistance to S. pneumoniae caused by gut microbiota disruption.

All-in-One Bifunctional Oxygen Electrode Films for Flexible Zn-Air Batteries

As a promising energy-storage device, rechargeable Zn-air batteries have attracted considerable interests. Herein, a bifunctional oxygen electrode film prepared by adhering NiCo₂ O₄ nanosheets to a nitrogen and oxygen dual-doped carbon nanotubes film in a large scale is reported. The resulting self-supporting film electrode is multifunctional, which integrates a porous conducting structure for air diffusion and charge transfer, high-performance catalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution, and novel structural flexibility. The composite film demonstrates excellent oxygen reduction/evolution reaction catalytic activities with low Tafel slopes (50 mV dec^-1 for oxygen reduction reaction; 92 mV dec^-1 for oxygen evolution reaction). Without any additional current collector, gas diffusion layer, or binder, the obtained bifunctional film performs as an "all-in-one" air electrode in a Zn-air battery. A 50-cm-long cable-shaped Zn-air battery based on such a film air electrode exhibits high operating potentials (≈1.2 V at 0.25 mA cm^-2 ), low charging-discharging overpotentials (≈0.7 V), and stable cycling performance. Moreover, the flexible cable Zn-air batteries show excellent stability under different deformation conditions. The proposed concept of constructing scalable, all-in-one, freestanding, and flexible air electrodes would pave the way to develop next-generation wearable and portable energy-storage devices.

Direct binary search for improved coherent beam shaping and optical differentiation wavefront sensing

Spatially dithered distributions of binary amplitude pixels are optimized using a full direct binary search, taking into account the experimental configuration for amplitude modulation of coherent waves. This design process is shown to yield a significant reduction of the noise induced by binarization and pixelation over the region of interest. We demonstrate this approach for beam shaping and optical differentiation wavefront sensing, where the region of interest is in an image plane of the pixel distribution, and in the far field of the pixel distribution, respectively. The observed reduction in error compared to a standard error diffusion algorithm is significant for both applications because it improves performance without the tighter fabrication tolerance and cost associated with smaller pixels.

Large-Stroke Electrochemical Carbon Nanotube/Graphene Hybrid Yarn Muscles

Artificial muscles are reported in which reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is trapped in the helical corridors of a carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn. When electrochemically driven in aqueous electrolytes, these coiled CNT/rGO yarn muscles can contract by 8.1%, which is over six times that of the previous results for CNT yarn muscles driven in an inorganic electrolyte (1.3%). They can contract to provide a final stress of over 14 MPa, which is about 40 times that of natural muscles. The hybrid yarn muscle shows a unique catch state, in which 95% of the contraction is retained for 1000 s following charging and subsequent disconnection from the power supply. Hence, they are unlike thermal muscles and natural muscles, which need to consume energy to maintain contraction. Additionally, these muscles can be reversibly cycled while lifting heavy loads.

[Effect of testicular puncture biopsy on the success rate of microdissection testicular sperm extraction for idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictive effect of testicular puncture biopsy and the biopsy results on the success rate of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the micro-TESE performance in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) referred to the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2012 and August 2017. We discussed whether to take the testicular biopsy and testicular biopsy results, including the intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathology findings, could predict the success rate of the late micro-TESE.

RESULTS

There were 237 patients who were diagnosed as idiopathic NOA and received micro-TESE involved in the study and the total sperm retrieve rate was 25.7%. In 103 patients without testicular biopsy and 134 patients with preoperative testicular biopsy, the sperm retrieve rate was 26.2% and 25.4%, respectively. And there was no significant difference between the two groups. The testicular volume and serum follicle stimulating hormone levels of the two groups were (4.3±1.4) mL vs.(8.5±2.4) mL and (36.1±5.2) IU/L vs.(26.1±3.5) IU/L, respectively. Compared to the patients with preoperative testicular biopsy, the group of patients without testicular biopsy had a much smaller test volume and higher serum follicle stimulating hormone and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. For the patients who were found with a small amount of sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination, the sperm retrieve rate was 100% (7/7). And for the patients who were only found with sperm in intraoperative microscopic examination or postoperative pathology examination, the sperm retrieve rate (SRR) was 47.2% (17/36). For the patients who could be not found with sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination, the SRR was only 11% (10/91). The difference between the groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia patients with smaller testicular volume still have a chance to be found with sperm by micro-TESE. The testicular biopsy results, including intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological findings, have predictive effect on the SRR for late micro-TESE. The patient who could not be found with sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination have a small chance of success in micro-TESE.

Gene Therapy and Virotherapy of Gliomas

Despite many recent advances in the management of gliomas, such as aggressive surgical resection, chemoradiotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and molecular targeted therapy, the survival of patients with high-grade neoplasms remains dismal. Gene therapy and oncolytic virotherapy have emerged as highly promising strategies for treatment of malignant brain tumors due to recent progress in understanding of the underlying cancer biology as well as improved techniques for genetic modification of potential therapeutics.

Abstract 2752: EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor limits tumor relapse through enhancing anti-tumor T cell responses

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been clinically considered as the first line therapy for EGFR-driven tumor patients. Although the initial outcome of patients has significantly improved, almost all patients eventually relapse. Fully understanding the mechanisms of the anti-tumor effect of EGFR TKIs will help promote the clinical development of more efficient therapeutic strategies. The traditional view of the main mechanism is that the inhibitors can directly inhibit EGFR downstream signaling pathways to induce tumor cell death. Whether and how EGFR TKIs affect the host immune system is largely unknown. In current study, we have established syngeneic murine tumor models that are sensitive to EGFR TKIs treatment. To our surprise, we revealed that EGFR TKI treatment could control tumor growth and limit tumor relapse in T cells dependent manner. Mechanistically, EGFR TKI triggers type I IFN and its stimulation gene CXCL10 production through the Myd88 signaling pathway to enhance tumor specific T cells infiltration and activation. However, EGFR TKI cannot efficiently limit tumor relapse in advanced tumor models because of PD-L1 upregulation in the tumor microenvironment after treatment. We have observed that anti-PDL1 blockade can synergize with EGFR TKI to control advanced tumors. Our study will challenge the current regimen of EGFR TKI in clinic and provide new efficient therapeutic strategies for EGFR dependent cancer patients.

Citation Format: Zhida Liu, Chuanhui Han, Aijun Shen, Chunbo Dong, Jian Qiao, Yang-Xin Fu. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor limits tumor relapse through enhancing anti-tumor T cell responses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2752.