C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene is not associated with blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in healthy male subjects

In vitro studies have shown that multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) has an affinity for cortisol; however, in vivo association studies on the relationship between MDR1 gene polymorphisms and blood cortisol levels have produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we examined the effects of the C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene on blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in healthy subjects. The subjects comprised 30 healthy Japanese males. Ten subjects were recruited for each of the C3435T MDR1 genotypes: C/C, C/T, and T/T. Blood samples were taken at 6:00 pm on two occasions with an interval of 2 weeks. Blood levels of cortisol and ACTH were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. There were no significant differences in the blood levels of the HPA axis hormones among the MDR1 genotypes. The present study suggests that the C3435T MDR1 polymorphism does not affect blood levels of HPA axis hormones in healthy Japanese males.

Preparation and Properties of Novel Aromatic Polyimides from 5,7-Diamino-1,1,4,6-Tetramethylindan and Aromatic Tetracarboxylic Dianhydrides

Novel aromatic polyimides containing indan structure units were prepared from 5,7-diamino-1,1,4,6-tetramethylindan and various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. The glass transition temperatures ( Tg’s) of these polyimides were not observed by differential scanning calorimetry at a temperature lower than 500 °C and the 5% weight loss temperatures ( Td5’s) of them were above 422 and 474 °C in air and nitrogen, respectively. Polyimide prepared from 5,7-diamino-1,1,4,6-tetramethylindan and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentanone, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and cresol at 20 wt% concentration at ambient temperature. The other resulting polyimides obtained from this diamine possessing an indan structure were also soluble in several organic solvents. These results indicated that polymer properties such as thermal behaviour and solubilities were influenced by the indan structure unit in a repeating structure.

Abstract B135: Chemotherapy for esophageal cancer: Off-target effect and biomarker

Background/Purpose: For esophageal cancer patients, combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5FU (DCF therapy) is adopted for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Although the response rate is high (72.5%), further investigation of indicators to predict its therapeutic effects is needed because of its side effects, and few have been reported. In this study, we obtained peripheral blood before and after the DCF therapy, analyzed various immune related cells by flow cytometry and tried to identify indicators to predict its therapeutic effects.

Subjects/Methods: Peripheral blood were obtained from 20 esophageal cancer patients before and after preoperative DCF therapy. During two cycles of one-week-on and three-week-off administration, peripheral blood was collected before and after each “on” and before and after the surgical treatment followed by. By flow cytometry, CD15+CD14− granulocytes and CD15−CD14+ monocytes were observed. The effectiveness of NAC was determined hisitopathologically in accordance with the grading system of the Japanese Classification of Esophageal Carcinoma. Grading was as follows: Grade 0, no part of the tumor was affected; Grade1, less than two-thirds of the tumor was affected; Grade2, between two-thirds and the entire tumor was affected; and Grade 3, no residual tumor was present (Pathologically complete response) and clinically RECIST. Then their association were analyzed.

Results/Discussion: Of 20 patients with esophageal cancer, 13 patients were responders and 7 patients were non-responders to the DCF therapy. Just after the first “on” course, the ratio of monocytes to myelocytes was observed in 25.4 ± 32.0% in the non-responders and 7.8 ± 10.3% in the responders (p = 0.073). The numbers of monocytes calculated were 229.4 ± 212.2 /μL in the non-responders and 51.1 ± 71.1 /μL in the responders (p = 0.01). Patients with better pathological or clinical responses showed lower ratio of monocytes to myelocytes and fewer number of monocytes in peripheral blood. No relationship was observed between granulocytes and the therapeutic response.

Conclusion: These results suggest that analyzing immune related cells in peripheral blood might be useful for identification of predictive indicators for the response of preoperative DCF therapy.

Citation Format: Tomohira Takeoka, Kumiko Goto, Mitsunobu Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Miyazaki, Tomoki Makino, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yukinori Kurokawa, Makoto Yamasaki, Shuji Takiguchi, Masaki Mori, Yuichiro Doki, Hisashi Wada. Chemotherapy for esophageal cancer: Off-target effect and biomarker [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B135.

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab and standard chemotherapy drug combination in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a four arms phase Ib study

In this phase Ib study, four combination therapies of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and standard chemotherapy (cisplatin/gemcitabine, cisplatin/pemetrexed, carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab, or docetaxel) showed acceptable toxicity profiles in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Furthermore, these combination therapies presented encouraging antitumor activities.

Background

The human IgG4 monoclonal antibody nivolumab targets programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and promotes antitumor response by blocking the interaction of PD-1 with its ligands. This single-center phase Ib study investigated the tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics of nivolumab combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

Patients who had stage IIIB without indication for definitive radiotherapy, stage IV, or recurrent NSCLC were eligible. Regimens were nivolumab 10 mg/kg + gemcitabine/cisplatin (arm A), pemetrexed/cisplatin (arm B), paclitaxel/carboplatin/bevacizumab (arm C), or docetaxel (arm D). Regimens A, B, and D were repeated every 3 weeks for up to four cycles and regimen C was repeated for up to six cycles; nivolumab alone (arm A), with pemetrexed (arm B), bevacizumab (arm C), or docetaxel (arm D) was continued every 3 weeks as maintenance therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was evaluated during the first treatment cycle.

Results

As of March 2014, six patients were enrolled in each arm. The combination of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy was well tolerated. DLT was observed in only one patient in arm A (alanine aminotransferase increased). Select adverse events (those with a potential immunologic cause) of any grade were observed in six, four, six, and five patients in arms A, B, C, and D, respectively. Three, three, six, and one patient achieved partial response while median progression-free survival was 6.28, 9.63 months, not reached, and 3.15 months in arms A, B, C, and D, respectively.

Conclusions

Combination of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy showed an acceptable toxicity profile and encouraging antitumor activity in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Clinical trials number

Japanese Pharmaceutical Information Center Clinical Trials Information (JapicCTI)-132071.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of anthocyanin-rich purple sweet potato beverage on serum hepatic biomarker levels in healthy Caucasians with borderline hepatitis

The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich purple-fleshed sweet potato (PSP) beverage on the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in healthy Caucasians with borderline hepatitis. Forty healthy Caucasians (41-69 years) consumed three bottles of the PSP beverage (177 mg anthocyanins per 125-ml bottle) or placebo (1.3 mg) per day for 8 weeks. Thirty-nine subjects completed the study and two subjects were excluded from statistical analysis. GGT levels in the PSP group on days 15 and 43 were lower (P=0.077 and 0.038, respectively), AST levels in the PSP group on days 29 and 43 were lower (P=0.010 and 0.045, respectively) and ALT level in the PSP group on day 43 was lower (P=0.037) than in the placebo group. The PSP beverage did not induce clinically relevant changes in other blood and clinical chemistry parameters.

Heat shock transcription factor 1-associated expression of slow myosin heavy chain in mouse soleus muscle in response to unloading with or without reloading

AIM

The effects of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) deficiency on the fibre type composition and the expression level of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family members (NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3α (p-GSK3α) and p-GSK3β, microRNA-208b (miR-208b), miR-499 and slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC) mRNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) of antigravitational soleus muscle in response to unloading with or without reloading were investigated.

METHODS

HSF1-null and wild-type mice were subjected to continuous 2-week hindlimb suspension followed by 2- or 4-week ambulation recovery.

RESULTS

In wild-type mice, the relative population of slow type I fibres, the expression level of NFATc2, p-GSK3 (α and β), miR-208b, miR-499 and slow MyHC mRNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) were all decreased with hindlimb suspension, but recovered after it. Significant interactions between train and time (the relative population of slow type I fibres; P = 0.01, the expression level of NFATc2; P = 0.001, p-GSKβ; P = 0.009, miR-208b; P = 0.002, miR-499; P = 0.04) suggested that these responses were suppressed in HSF1-null mice.

CONCLUSION

HSF1 may be a molecule in the regulation of the expression of slow MyHC as well as miR-208b, miR-499, NFATc2 and p-GSK3 (α and β) in mouse soleus muscle.

Wearing Compression Garment after Endurance Exercise Promotes Recovery of Exercise Performance

The present study examined the effects of wearing a lower-body compression garment (CG) after endurance exercise on recovery of physiological function. 18 males were divided into 2 experiments, the downhill running (n=10, DHR) experiments and the level running (n=8, LR) experiments. Subjects performed 30 min of DHR (gradient: - 10%) or LR (gradient: 0%) at 70% of  ˙VO2max with either wearing a CG (CG trial) or normal garment (CON trial) for 24 h after running. Changes in jump performance (counter movement jump; CMJ, rebound jump; RJ, drop jump; DJ), subjective feelings, circumferences of leg, and blood variables (creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) were evaluated before exercise, immediately after exercise, 1, 3 and 24 h following exercise. Running economy was evaluated at 24 h following exercise. CMJ height and RJ index were significantly higher in the CG trial than in the CON trial 24 h after running (P<0.05). Although changes in muscle soreness and blood variables were significantly greater in the DHR experiment than in the LR experiment, there was no significant difference between the trials in either experiment. Wearing a CG following endurance exercise facilitated recovery of jump performance under situations with severe exercise-induced muscle damage.

Abstract 3227: Intratumor diversity of surface marker expressions on tissue infiltrating lymphocytes in renal cell carcinoma patients

Introduction and Objectives:

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered as an immunogenic tumor and several immune checkpoint inhibitors including anti PD-1 antibody has been reported to have impressive antitumor responses. Immunotherapy is believed to overcome tumor heterogeneity as previously reported in RCC patients. However, there were no reports whether there was intra-tumor diversity of surface marker expressions which could combine the new immune checkpoint inhibitors though the existence of polyclonal expansion of T lymphocytes in RCC were reported. Here, we investigated the surface marker expressions of tumor tissue infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and classified them based on their functional populations. Moreover, we explored the presence of intra-tumor diversity of surface marker expressions of TILs in each individual.

Material and Methods:

We extracted 70 sites 46 patients underwent surgical resection (clear cell RCC; 40, non-clear cell RCC; 6). Each TIL was characterized based on functional T cell populations (naïve T cell, effector T cell, regulatory T cell, Activated T cell, Exhausted T cell) using seven surface marker expressions (CD4, CD8, CD45RA, PD-1, Tim3, ICOS, CD25) measured by flow cytometry. Then we classified and examined the presence of intra-tumor diversity using 36 TILs from 12 patients by clustering analysis. Finally, all of TILs were classified and we examined both the validity and the clinical importance of its classification. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 20.0.

Results:

Firstly, 36 TILs could be classified into three groups. Although 28 TILs of 10 patients were classified into the same group within each individual, 8 TILs of 2 patients (16.7%) were classified into different groups within each individual and those patients had intra-tumor diversity of surface marker expressions of TILs. Secondly, 70 TILs including previous ones were classified into three groups and 2 patients were consistently classified into different groups within each individual and this classification could be validated. Finally, we analyzed the correlation between this classification and clinical features to show the clinical importance of this classification. The presence of lymphovascular invasion was significantly correlated with this classification by both univariate (p = 0.002) and multivariate analysis (OR: 0.093, 95%CI: 0.016 - 0.533, p = 0.008).

Conclusions:

This study showed the presence of intra-tumor diversity of surface marker expressions of TILs in some patients and the reactivity of the new immune checkpoint inhibitors could differ such as other drugs already used in general practice. Also this classification based on functional populations of TILs might help to understand the comprehensive immune conditions in tumor tissues.

Citation Format: Atsunari Kawashima, Takayuki Kanazawa, Kayoko Maekawa Kato, Kumiko Goto, Mitsunobu Matsumoto, Akiko Morimoto, Kota Iwahori, Takeshi Ujike, Akira Nagahara, Kazutoshi Fujita, Motohide Uemura, Norio Nonomura, Hisashi Wada. Intratumor diversity of surface marker expressions on tissue infiltrating lymphocytes in renal cell carcinoma patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3227.