Low level of Fibrillarin, a ribosome biogenesis factor, is a new independent marker of poor outcome in breast cancer

Background

A current critical need remains in the identification of prognostic and predictive markers in early breast cancer. It appears that a distinctive trait of cancer cells is their addiction to hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis. Thus, ribosome biogenesis might be an innovative source of biomarkers that remains to be evaluated.

Methods

Here, fibrillarin (FBL) was used as a surrogate marker of ribosome biogenesis due to its essential role in the early steps of ribosome biogenesis and its association with poor prognosis in breast cancer when overexpressed. Using 3,275 non-metastatic primary breast tumors, we analysed FBL mRNA expression levels and protein nucleolar organisation. Usage of TCGA dataset allowed transcriptomic comparison between the different FBL expression levels-related breast tumours.

Results

We unexpectedly discovered that in addition to breast tumours expressing high level of FBL, about 10% of the breast tumors express low level of FBL. A correlation between low FBL mRNA level and lack of FBL detection at protein level using immunohistochemistry was observed. Interestingly, multivariate analyses revealed that these low FBL tumors displayed poor outcome compared to current clinical gold standards. Transcriptomic data revealed that FBL expression is proportionally associated with distinct amount of ribosomes, low FBL level being associated with low amount of ribosomes. Moreover, the molecular programs supported by low and high FBL expressing tumors were distinct.

Conclusion

Altogether, we identified FBL as a powerful ribosome biogenesis-related independent marker of breast cancer outcome. Surprisingly we unveil a dual association of the ribosome biogenesis FBL factor with prognosis. These data suggest that hyper- but also hypo-activation of ribosome biogenesis are molecular traits of distinct tumors.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09552-x.

A Randomised, Controlled Trial: Effect of a Multi-Strain Fermented Milk on the Gut Microbiota Recovery after Helicobacter pylori Therapy

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy alters gut microbiota, provoking gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that could be improved by probiotics. The study aim was to assess the effect in Hp patients of a Test fermented milk containing yogurt and Lacticaseibacillus (L. paracasei CNCM I-1518 and I-3689, L. rhamnosus CNCM I-3690) strains on antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) (primary aim), GI-symptoms, gut microbiota, and metabolites. A randomised, double-blind, controlled trial was performed on 136 adults under 14-day Hp treatment, receiving the Test or Control product for 28 days. AAD and GI-symptoms were reported and feces analysed for relative and quantitative gut microbiome composition, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and calprotectin concentrations, and viability of ingested strains. No effect of Test product was observed on AAD or GI-symptoms. Hp treatment induced a significant alteration in bacterial and fungal composition, a decrease of bacterial count and alpha-diversity, an increase of Candida and calprotectin, and a decrease of SCFA concentrations. Following Hp treatment, in the Test as compared to Control group, intra-subject beta-diversity distance from baseline was lower (p_adj = 0.02), some Enterobacteriaceae, including Escherichia-Shigella (p_adj = 0.0082) and Klebsiella (p_adj = 0.013), were less abundant, and concentrations of major SCFA (p = 0.035) and valerate (p = 0.045) were higher. Viable Lacticaseibacillus strains were detected during product consumption in feces. Results suggest that, in patients under Hp treatment, the consumption of a multi-strain fermented milk can induce a modest but significant faster recovery of the microbiota composition (beta-diversity) and of SCFA production and limit the increase of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Predicting immunotherapy outcomes under therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC using dNLR and its early dynamics

BACKGROUND

dNLR at the baseline (B), defined by neutrophils/[leucocytes-neutrophils], correlates with immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) outcomes in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). However, dNLR is dynamic under therapy and its longitudinal assessment may provide data predicting efficacy. We sought to examine the impact of dNLR dynamics on ICI efficacy and understand its biological significance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

aNSCLC patients receiving ICI at 17 EU/US centres were included [Feb/13-Jun/18]. As chemotherapy-only group was evaluated (NCT02105168). dNLR was determined at (B) and at cycle2 (C2) [dNLR≤3 = low]. B+C2 dNLR were combined in one score: good = low (B+C2), poor = high (B+C2), intermediate = other situations. In 57 patients, we prospectively explored the immunophenotype of circulating neutrophils, particularly the CD15+CD244-CD16^lowcells (immature) by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

About 1485 patients treatment with ICI were analysed. In ICI-treated patients, high dNLR (B) (~1/3rd) associated with worse progression-free (PFS)/overall survival (OS) (HR 1.56/HR 2.02, P < 0.0001) but not with chemotherapy alone (N = 173). High dNLR at C2 was associated with worse PFS/OS (HR 1.64/HR 2.15, P < 0.0001). When dNLR at both time points were considered together, those with persistently high dNLR (23%) had poor survival (mOS = 5 months (mo)), compared with high dNLR at one time point (22%; mOS = 9.2mo) and persistently low dNLR (55%; mOS = 18.6mo) (P < 0.0001). The dNLR impact remained significant after PD-L1 adjustment. By cytometry, high rate of immature neutrophils (B) (30/57) correlated with poor PFS/OS (P = 0.04; P = 0.0007), with a 12-week death rate of 49%.

CONCLUSION

The dNLR (B) and its dynamics (C2) under ICI associate with ICI outcomes in aNSCLC. Persistently high dNLR (B+C2) correlated with early ICI failure. Immature neutrophils may be a key subpopulation on ICI resistance.

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte density is associated with favourable outcome in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

The established role of morphological evaluation of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. We aimed to determine TIL association with the outcome for ICIs and for chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective study of a nivolumab cohort of 221 patients treated between November 2012 and February 2017 and a chemotherapy cohort of 189 patients treated between June 2009 and October 2016. Patients with available tissue for stromal TIL evaluation were analysed. The presence of a high TIL count (high-TIL) was defined as ≥10% density. The primary end-point was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among the nivolumab cohort, 64% were male, with median age of 63 years, 82.3% were smokers, 77% had performance status ≤1 and 63% had adenocarcinoma histology. High-TIL was observed in 22% patients and associated with OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.28-0.81) and progression-free survival [PFS] (HR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.25-0.64). Median PFS was 13.0 months (95% CI: 5.0-not reached) with high-TIL versus 2.2 months (95% CI: 1.7-3.0) with the presence of a low TIL count (low-TIL). Median OS for high-TIL was not reached (95% CI: 12.2-not reached) versus 8.4 months (95% CI: 5.0-11.6) in the low-TIL group. High-TIL was associated with the overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) (both, P < .0001). Among the chemotherapy cohort, 69% were male, 89% were smokers, 86% had performance status ≤1 and 90% had adenocarcinoma histology. High-TIL was seen in 37%. Median PFS and OS were 5.7 months (95% CI: 4.9-6.7) and 11.7 months (95% CI: 9.3-13.0), respectively, with no association with TILs.

CONCLUSIONS

High-TIL was associated with favourable outcomes in a real-world immunotherapy cohort of patients with NSCLC, but not with chemotherapy, suggesting that TILs may be useful in selecting patients for immunotherapy.

Prognostic Clinical and Biologic Features for Overall Survival after Relapse in Childhood Medulloblastoma

Simple Summary

Despite progress in the biology and upfront treatment of childhood medulloblastoma, relapse is almost universally fatal. No standardized treatment has so far been established for these patients. By determining which characteristics are prognostic after relapse, treatment strategies may be optimized for each of these children. We demonstrated that molecular subgroup at diagnosis is a relevant prognostic factor of outcome after relapse. Moreover, we showed that time to relapse and the use of salvage radiotherapy at relapse might have a potential impact on post-relapse survival. Our data suggest that ongoing efforts toward a better understanding of the biology, timing and type of relapse would be important to understand the determinants of tumor behavior at relapse. This could help us address more specific questions on the best surveillance strategies after completion of the treatment and the introduction of risk-stratified second-line treatment strategies.

Abstract

Given the very poor prognosis for children with recurrent medulloblastoma, we aimed to identify prognostic factors for survival post-relapse in children with childhood medulloblastoma. We retrospectively collected clinico-biological data at diagnosis and main clinical characteristics at relapse of children newly diagnosed with a medulloblastoma between 2007 and 2017 at Gustave Roussy and Necker Hospital. At a median follow-up of 6.6 years (range, 0.4–12.3 years), relapse occurred in 48 out 155 patients (31%). The median time from diagnosis to relapse was 14.3 months (range, 1.2–87.2 months). Relapse was local in 9, metastatic in 22 and combined (local and metastatic) in 17 patients. Second-line treatment consisted of chemotherapy in 31 cases, radiotherapy in 9, SHH-inhibitor in four and no treatment in the remaining four. The 1-year overall survival rate post-relapse was 44.8% (CI 95%, 31.5% to 59.0%). While molecular subgrouping at diagnosis was significantly associated with survival post-relapse, the use of radiotherapy at relapse and time to first relapse (>12 months) might also have a potential impact on post-relapse survival.

Prospective Multicenter Study Validate a Prediction Model for Surgery Uptake Among Women with Atypical Breast Lesions

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of atypical breast lesions (ABLs) leads to unnecessary surgery in 75-90% of women. We have previously developed a model including age, complete radiological target excision after biopsy, and focus size that predicts the probability of cancer at surgery. The present study aimed to validate this model in a prospective multicenter setting.

- METHODS

Women with a recently diagnosed ABL on image-guided biopsy were recruited in 18 centers, before wire-guided localized excisional lumpectomy. Primary outcome was the negative predictive value (NPV) of the model.

RESULTS

The NOMAT model could be used in 287 of the 300 patients included (195 with ADH). At surgery, 12 invasive (all grade 1), and 43 in situ carcinomas were identified (all ABL: 55/287, 19%; ADH only: 49/195, 25%). The area under the receiving operating characteristics curve of the model was 0.64 (95% CI 0.58-0.69) for all ABL, and 0.63 for ADH only (95% CI 0.56-0.70). For the pre-specified threshold of 20% predicted probability of cancer, NPV was 82% (77-87%) for all ABL, and 77% (95% CI 71-83%) for patients with ADH. At a 10% threshold, NPV was 89% (84-94%) for all ABL, and 85% (95% CI 78--92%) for the ADH. At this threshold, 58% of the whole ABL population (and 54% of ADH patients) could have avoided surgery with only 2 missed invasive cancers.

CONCLUSION

The NOMAT model could be useful to avoid unnecessary surgery among women with ABL, including for patients with ADH.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02523612.

A comparison of phase I dose-finding designs in clinical trials with monotonicity assumption violation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In oncology, new combined treatments make it difficult to order dose levels according to monotonically increasing toxicity. New flexible dose-finding designs that take into account uncertainty in dose levels ordering were compared with classical designs through simulations in the setting of the monotonicity assumption violation. We give recommendations for the choice of dose-finding design.

METHODS

Motivated by a clinical trial for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, we considered designs that require a monotonicity assumption, the Bayesian Continual Reassessment Method, the modified Toxicity Probability Interval, the Bayesian Optimal Interval design, and designs that relax monotonicity assumption, the Bayesian Partial Ordering Continual Reassessment Method and the No Monotonicity Assumption design. We considered 15 scenarios including monotonic and non-monotonic dose-toxicity relationships among six dose levels.

RESULTS

The No Monotonicity Assumption and Partial Ordering Continual Reassessment Method designs were robust to the violation of the monotonicity assumption. Under non-monotonic scenarios, the No Monotonicity Assumption design selected the correct dose level more often than alternative methods on average. Under the majority of monotonic scenarios, the Partial Ordering Continual Reassessment Method selected the correct dose level more often than the No Monotonicity Assumption design. Other designs were impacted by the violation of the monotonicity assumption with a proportion of correct selections below 20% in most scenarios. Under monotonic scenarios, the highest proportions of correct selections were achieved using the Continual Reassessment Method and the Bayesian Optimal Interval design (between 52.8% and 73.1%). The costs of relaxing the monotonicity assumption by the No Monotonicity Assumption design and Partial Ordering Continual Reassessment Method were decreases in the proportions of correct selections under monotonic scenarios ranging from 5.3% to 20.7% and from 1.4% to 16.1%, respectively, compared with the best performing design and were higher proportions of patients allocated to toxic dose levels during the trial.

CONCLUSIONS

Innovative oncology treatments may no longer follow monotonic dose levels ordering which makes standard phase I methods fail. In such a setting, appropriate designs, as the No Monotonicity Assumption or Partial Ordering Continual Reassessment Method designs, should be used to safely determine recommended for phase II dose.

Sequential or combined designs for Phase I/II clinical trials? A simulation study

Background:

Phase I and Phase II clinical trials aim at identifying a dose that is safe and active. Both phases are increasingly combined. For Phase I/II trials, two main types of designs are debated: a dose-escalation stage to select the maximum tolerated dose, followed by an expansion cohort to investigate its activity (dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort), or a joint modelling to identify the best trade-off between toxicity and activity (efficacy–toxicity). We explore this question in the context of a paediatric Phase I/II platform trial.

Methods:

In series of simulations, we assessed the operating characteristics of dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort (DE-EC) designs without and with reassessment of the maximum tolerated dose during the expansion cohort (DE-ECext) and of the efficacy–toxicity (EffTox) design. We investigated the probability to identify an active and tolerable agent, that is, the percentage of correct decision, for various dose-toxicity activity scenarios.

Results:

For a large therapeutic index, the percentage of correct decision reached 96.0% for efficacy–toxicity versus 76.1% for dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort versus 79.6% for DE-ECext. Conversely, when all doses were deemed not active, the percentage of correct decision was 47% versus 55.9% versus 69.2%, respectively, for efficacy–toxicity, dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort and DE-ECext. Finally, in the case of a narrow therapeutic index, the percentage of correct decision was 48.0% versus 64.3% versus 67.2%, respectively, efficacy–toxicity, dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort and DE-ECext.

Conclusion:

As narrow indexes are common in oncology, according to the present results, the sequential dose-escalation followed by an expansion cohort is recommended. The importance to re-estimate the maximum tolerated dose during the expansion cohort is confirmed. However, despite their theoretical advantages, Phase I/II designs are challenged by the variations in populations between the Phase I and the Phase II parts and by the lagtime in the evaluation of toxicity and activity.

P14.99 Clinical and biologic features predictive of survival after relapse of childhood medulloblastoma

BACKGROUND

Salvage therapy for recurrent medulloblastoma (MB) is not standardized. Factors associated with survival after recurrence have not been reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Medical records were reviewed for 155 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed MB between 2007 and 2017, treated at Gustave Roussy and Hospital Necker. The following variables were collected for all patients: age at diagnosis, stage, histology (central review according to WHO 2016 classification), molecular subgrouping (DNA methylation), first-line treatment modalities, time to relapse, pattern of recurrence and current status.

RESULTS

A disease recurrence was observed in 47 patients (30%) at a median time of 15 months (range, 1–88 months). The 1-year survival after recurrence was 44% (CI 95%,29.6 to 58.8). The pattern of recurrence was local in 9 patients, metastatic in 21 and combined local and metastatic in 17 patients. The time to first recurrence, less or more than 12 months from diagnosis, was a predictor of post-recurrence overall survival (p < 0.0001) after adjustment for age, treatment, MYC amplification and molecular subgroups. Twenty-seven patients (57%) experiencing recurrent or progressive disease more than 12 months after diagnosis, had an estimated 1-year survival after recurrence of 100% (CI 95%, 100.0 to 100.0) vs 30% (CI 95%, 12.2 to 50.1) with an earlier recurrence. Early relapse was more frequent in children younger than 5 years of age at diagnosis (75% vs 37%, p =0.009), anaplastic/large cell MB (30% vs 3.7%, p=0.046) and Group 3 tumours (76.5% vs 20.8%, p=0.003). Other factors influencing post-relapse survival were metastatic disease and treatment modalities at diagnosis. Multivariable analyses will be presented.

CONCLUSION

The overall prognosis after relapse remains poor. Time to relapse is a significant prognostic factor for postrelapse survival and may help in the design of clinical trials evaluating new agents.

Evaluation of the efficacy of immunotherapy for non-resectable mucosal melanoma

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are now standard-of-care treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma. However, for rare sub-groups, such as mucosal melanomas, few published data are available, and with no established therapeutic guidelines. Our objective was to assess the response to anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 immunotherapy in patients with mucosal melanomas.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, prospective cohort analysis of patients with non-surgical locally advanced and/or metastatic mucosal melanoma receiving anti-CTLA4 and/or anti-PD1 immunotherapy from 2010 to 2016.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were enrolled, including 18 (40.9%) with head and neck, 12 (27.3%) with vulvo-vaginal and 14 (31.8%) with ano-rectal primary tumours. Eleven (25%) patients had stage 3 disease, and 11 (25%) had distant metastases. The first-line immunotherapy was ipilimumab in 24 patients and pembrolizumab in 20. The objective response rate (ORR) was 8.2% (one complete response) for ipilimumab and 35% (four complete responses) for pembrolizumab. No significant difference was observed for primary tumour location. The median follow-up was 24 months (range 4-73). The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the first-line ipilimumab and pembrolizumab groups was 3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-4.6] and 5 months (95% CI 2.6-33.1), respectively (p = 0.0147).

CONCLUSION

In the patients with unresectable and/or metastatic mucosal melanoma, we found ORR and PFS rates comparable to those in patients with cutaneous melanoma, with no significant differences in the types of mucosal surfaces involved. Anti-PD1 therapy has a more favorable benefit-risk ratio than ipilimumab and should be used preferentially.

AcSé-ESMART: European Proof of Concept Therapeutic Stratification Trial of Molecular Anomalies in Relapsed or Refractory Tumors in Children and Adolescents–Arm D: Olaparib and irinotecan

10047

Background: AcSé-ESMART is a proof-of-concept, phase I/II, multicenter, prospective basket trial designed to explore targeting agents in a molecularly enriched cancer population; treatment arms with targeted agents as single agent or in combination regimens are explored independently. Arm D explores the PARP inhibitor olaparib (ola) in combination with irinotecan (iri). The design is based on the hypothesis that in pediatric cancer pathogenic BRCA alterations are extremely rare and proliferative capacity is high requiring a chemotherapy sensitisation approach. Preclinical data in pediatric cancer suggest PARP inhibitor activity in other genomic alterations impairing homologous recombination (HR) and demonstrate synergy with iri. We here report the results of the Phase I part of the trial. Methods: Children and adolescents with relapsed/refractory cancer and comprehensive molecular profiling (whole exome and RNA sequencing) at relapse were eligible. Dose-escalation followed a continuous reassessment method design of pre-specified dose combinations of oral ola and iv iri. Plasma for pharmacokinetics (PK) was collected. Results: From Oct 2016 to April 2018, 27 pts (19 sarcomas, 3 brain tumors, 5 other) with a median age of 15 y (range 4;22) were enrolled over 4 dose levels. Dose limiting toxicities occurred in 7 of 24 evaluable pts (gastrointestinal (n = 4), febrile neutropenia (n = 1), thrombocytopenia (n = 2)). The RP2D was defined as ola 90 mg/m2 BID day 1-10 and iri 20 mg/m2 day 4-8. Twenty-three pts evaluable for response received a median of 2 cycles (range 1-27+). Confirmed PRs were seen in one osteosarcoma, one pinealoblastoma and one neuroblastoma; time to progression was 22.4, 50 and 89+ weeks, respectively. Eight pts experienced disease stabilization (median 14.8 weeks, range 9;42.3). PK and biomarker analysis (ie. HR alterations, DNA and gene expression signatures) is ongoing to identify factors associated with clinical benefit and data will be presented. Conclusions: The RP2D of the combination is ola 90 mg/m2 BID day 1-10 and iri 20 mg/m2 day 4-8. Preliminary activity led to the ongoing Phase II part of the arm. Clinical trial information: NCT02813135.

Tetrastischus howardi density and dispersal toward augmentation biological control of sugarcane borer

The number of Tetrastischus howardi (Olliff) females to be released and their dispersion should be known, that way, used D. saccharalis pupae as sentinel host to measure parasitism as function of the release density of the parasitoid and its location in the field. Two sets of trials were run aiming first to define the number of parasitoids to be released and the dispersal of the parasitoid using plots in sugarcane commercial fields, respectively. Pieces of sugarcane stalk holding sentinel pupae were taken to the field and exposed to parasitism in both trials. The parasitoid was released at the rate of 20, 40, 80, and 160 females per sentinel pupa, except for the control plot without releasing. The parasitism rate was calculated based on the recovered pupae after 96 h of exposure time from releasing the parasitoids. The models estimated the best parasitism rate by releasing 102 parasitoids per pupa. In the second trial, sentinel pupae were arranged in five subsequent circles corresponding 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 m around the central parasitoid releasing point at rate of 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18 pupae per circle. The mean estimated dispersal distance was 7.64 m, with a covering area of 80.07 m². Based on these findings, release of T. howardi is recommended in 125 points per hectare of sugarcane at rate of 102 females per pupa of the pest aiming to achieve homogeneous distribution and parasitism.

Abstract P3-05-14: Expression of the tumor associated carbohydrate antigen Tn and immune effectors in invasive breast cancer

Background:

Glycosylation is a post-translational modification generating complex carbohydrate O-glycans. Tn antigen, a N-acetyl-galactosamine-α-O-Ser/Thr residue that is the core glycosylated component of complex mucin-type O-glycans, is expressed in breast cancers. Tn has been associated with invasion, survival and decreased T-cell mediated immune response in several types of cancer including breast cancer. There is therefore a potential rationale to combine Tn vaccine with checkpoint blockers such as PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors. Little is known regarding the link between the respective expression of Tn antigen, PDL-1, and TILs, in breast cancer. Our study aimed at characterizing Tn expression in a series of invasive breast cancers, and its correlation with immune response.

Methods

Tn expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry performed on a tissue microarray of 1864 invasive breast cancer samples (1850 patients for statistical analyses), consisting of 189 (10%) TNBC, 1601 (86%) ER and/or PR positive à checker tumors and 191 (10%) HER-2 positive tumors treated at our institution between 2005 and 2013. Among these cases, 50 luminal B tumors and 50 TNBC were selected for full section and immune analysis, i.e. to study the pattern of Tn expression across whole tumor section and the link between Tn expression and the level of CD3+ and CD8+ infiltrates, and PDL-1 expression. The level of Tn expression was assessed using H-score, combining the percentage of stained cells with staining intensity.

Results:

In the 100 initial samples, Tn expression was observed in 95%, with a H-Score&gt;10 in 85% of the cases, and with homogeneous staining across the whole tumor section in 86% of the cases. Tn expression was increased in Luminal B subtype as compared to TNBC, with a mean H-Score of 100.9 vs 55, respectively (p &lt;0,0001). The CD3+ infiltrate was more important in TNBC as compared to luminal B tumors (mean stromal CD3+: 34.3% vs 21.2%, p=0,0052). No significant difference was found for the CD8+ infiltrate. PDL-1 expression in stromal cells (≥1%) was observed in 43% of the cases, and increased in TBNC as compared to Luminal B (mean of 7.3% vs 2.2% of cells respectively, p=0.0252). In both tumor subtypes, we observed a positive correlation between the CD3/CD8 infiltrates and PDL-1 expression in stroma cells (p&lt;0,0001), but not with Tn expression.

In the TMA cohort, Tn expression was observed in 1723 (92%) tumors with a mean H-Score of 82.75. Similarly, to the results obtained in full section, Tn expression was less intense in TNBC as compared to other subtypes (mean H-Score of 62 vs 85, p&lt;0.001). Tn expression was lower in histological grade I as compared to grade II/III tumors (64,69 for grade I, 88,84 for grade II and 88.99 for grade III, p&lt;0.0001), and significantly higher in HER2 positive tumors versus others (mean H score 62,06 for HER2-/RE-, 119,05 for HER2+ and 80,25 for HER2-/RE+, p&lt;0.0001).

Conclusion:

Our study shows a lower level of expression of Tn antigen in TNBC as compared to luminal tumors. We could not identify any correlation between Tn antigen expression and immune status of the tumor as defined by CD3+, CD8+ and PDL-1+ infiltrate in tumor stroma. The role of Tn antigen in the HER2-positive subgroup requires further investigation.

Citation Format: Verret B, Rossoni C, Lebeherec D, Michiels S, Castanon-Alvarez E, Leclerc C, Delaloge S, Artaud C, Lacroix-Tikri M. Expression of the tumor associated carbohydrate antigen Tn and immune effectors in invasive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-05-14.

Mutational profile of HPV-driven head and neck cancers according to tobacco consumption

e17535

Background: HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients are characterized by a better prognosis than their HPV-negative counterparts. However, this significant survival advantage is not homogeneous and studies have highlighted that among HPV-positive patients those with a smoking history have a significantly increased risk of disease progression and death compared to those who have never smoked. The reason why tobacco consumption impacts negatively the prognosis is still elusive. Tobacco might induce additional genetic alterations leading to a more aggressive phenotype. The purpose of this study is to characterize the mutational profile of HPV-positive OPC by smoking status. We hypothesize a higher frequency of mutations affecting among smokers. Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing of 38 oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes that are commonly mutated in cancers caused by tobacco/alcohol consumption was performed in 62 HPV-driven OPC cases stratified by smoking status. Results: The study population included 37 (60%) non-smokers and 25 (40%) smokers distributed as follows: 1 (4%) patient smoked <10 pack-year (PY), 8 (32%) patients between 10-20 PY and 16 (64%) >20 PY. Twenty (31%) patients had no mutation, 14 (23%) had 1 mutation and 28 (46%) had 2 or more mutations. The most commonly mutated genes regardless of tobacco consumption were PIK3CA (20%), MLL2 (20%), TP53 (8%), FAT 1 (15%), FBXW7 (16%), NOTCH 1 (9%) and FGFR3 (9%). Mutation rate was not significantly different in smokers compared to non-smokers even when analyses focused on heavy smokers (>20 pack-years compared to <20 pack-years). Similarly there was no significant difference in mutations patterns according to tobacco consumption. The 3 years overall survival, disease-specific-survival and loco-regional-control rates for the whole cohort are respectively 88% (95% CI: 76.4-94.1), 88% (95% CI: 76.4-94.1) and 80.6% (95% CI: 67.5-88.8). Despite a median follow-up was 4.5 years (6 months to 11.7 years), the few number of events (13 relapses, 13 deaths including 10 due to OPC) precludes detailed prognosis analyses. Conclusions: HPV-driven OPC patients with a smoking history have a comparable mutational rate than non-smokers. Smoking impact on the prognosis isn’t attributable to the mutational burden. Further studies are warranted.

Alteração no método de amostragem de Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) (Hem.: Cercopidae) e avaliação da eficiência de Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff, 1879) Sorokin, 1883 (Hyp.: Clavicipitaceae)

Sugere-se uma alteração no método de amostragem da cigarrinha-da-raiz para a cultura da cana-de-açúcar com o objetivo de aprimorar o controle da praga. O monitoramento convencional de Mahanarva fimbriolata pode subestimar o número de ovos da área, ocasionando ressurgência da praga. Neste sentido, um estudo foi realizado em Ponta Porã, MS, com o objetivo de alterar a proposta de amostragem da M. fimbriolata. O delineamento experimental composto por blocos casualizados, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos testados foram: 1) Testemunha - não tratada, 2) Thiamethoxam 250WG - 250 g ha-1, 3) IBCB 425 - 5 x 10(9) con ha-1, 4) IBCB 425 - 10 x 10(9) con ha-1, 5) IBCB 425 - 15 x 10(9) con ha-1, 6) BIO 08 - 5 x 10(9) con ha-1, 7) BIO 08 - 10 x 10(9) con ha-1, 8) BIO 08 - 15 x 10(9) con ha-1, 9) IBCB 425 - 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 - aplicação granulada e 10) BIO 08 - 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 - aplicação granulada. As avaliações de eficiência dos tratamentos obtidas aos 15, 45, 75 e 105 dias após a aplicação (DAA). Aos 15 DAA os tratamentos com os isolados BIO 08 - aplicação granulada e IBCB 425 nas doses de 5 x 10(9) con ha-1 e 10 x 10(9) con ha-1 apresentaram eficiência de 73,33 e 70,66%, respectivamente. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos com os inseticidas biológicos e químicos testados no experimento aos 75 e 105 DAA.

Modulation of the induction of ornithine decarboxylase by some opioid receptor agonists in immune cells and cardiomyocytes

The ability of natural and synthetic opioids to modulate the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was investigated in immune cells and cardiomyocytes in culture. In particular, Leu-enkephalin, which shows preference for delta-receptors, enhanced ODC activity in both thymocytes and cardiomyocytes, whereas the effect of U-50488H, a synthetic kappa-selective agonist, was cell-specific. In thymocytes, U-50488H markedly inhibited the induction of the enzyme elicited by the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) or by a combined treatment with PMA and A23187, and also reduced basal ODC activity. However the drug did not affect ODC induced by other stimuli. The inhibition of the induction of ODC activity was accompanied by a reduction of ODC mRNA level and an acceleration of ODC turnover. The action of U-50488H in thymocytes does not appear to be mediated by kappa or other classical opioid receptors lacking both stereospecificity and antagonist sensitivity, but may involve a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Splenocytes also showed the ODC inhibiting effect of U-50488H, although they were less sensitive compared to thymocytes. In contrast, U-50488H enhanced ODC activity in cardiomyocytes and this effect was blocked by a specific kappa-antagonist. In conclusion, these results indicate that some opioid agonists can modulate ODC expression in non neural cells. In particular, kappa-opioid receptors may be involved in the U-50488H action in cardiomyocytes, and a distinct site, linked to inhibition of cell proliferation, may operate in immune cells.

Inhibition of the expression of ornithine decarboxylase and c-Myc by cell-permeant ceramide in difluoromethylornithine-resistant leukaemia cells

Ceramide has emerged as a novel lipid mediator in cell growth and apoptosis. In difluoromethylornithine-resistant L1210 cells stimulated to growth from quiescence, the cell-permeant analogues of ceramide N-acetylsphingosine (C2-ceramide) and N-hexanoylsphingosine (C6-ceramide) inhibited the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity with IC50 of 8.3 and 1.5 microM respectively. This effect was strictly related to the ability to inhibit cell growth and [3H]thymidine incorporation. The suppression of cell growth was also associated with apoptosis. The addition of bacterial sphingomyelinase resulted in a significant, but limited, reduction of ODC induction and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which may act as a ceramide analogue, also inhibited the induction of the enzyme. Moreover, C6-ceramide largely prevented the accumulation of ODC mRNA and its precursor, ODC heterogeneous nuclear RNA, that accompanied the induction of ODC activity. A slight increase in ODC turnover was also observed. The DNA-binding activity of some transcription factors known to bind and transactivate the ODC gene was investigated by gel mobility-shift assay under the same experimental conditions. However, only the binding of Myc/Max was negatively affected by the treatment with C6-ceramide. Furthermore, the amount of immunoreactive c-Myc, which increased after stimulation of the cells to growth, was strongly reduced by C6-ceramide. These results suggest that the inhibition of c-Myc and ODC expression may be early events in the response of leukaemia cells to ceramide.

ATP depletion inhibits glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte apoptosis

In quiescent thymocytes, mitochondrial de-energization was not correlated to apoptotic death. In fact, thymocytes treated with oligomycin, a highly specific inhibitor of ATP synthase, alone or with atractyloside to block ATP translocation from the cytoplasm, were alive, even if their mitochondria were depolarized, as revealed by flow cytometry after Rhodamine 123 staining. Furthermore, oligomycin was a powerful inhibitor of apoptosis induced in rat thymocytes by dexamethasone and, to a lesser extent, by the calcium ionophore A23187 and etoposide, but was without effect when apoptosis was induced by staurosporine, and increased cell death in mitogen-treated thymocytes. The inhibition of apoptosis was confirmed by morphological criteria, inhibition of inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation and inhibition of the loss of membrane integrity. The anti-apoptotic effect of oligomycin in cells treated with A23187 or etoposide was correlated to the inhibition of protein synthesis, while inhibition of apoptosis induced by dexamethasone, already evident at an oligomycin concentration of 10 ng/ml, was instead strictly correlated to the effect exerted on the cellular ATP level. Thymocyte apoptosis triggered by dexamethasone was blocked or delayed by inhibitors of respiratory-chain uncouplers, inhibitors of ATP synthase and antioxidants: a lasting protection from dexamethasone-induced apoptosis was always correlated to a drastic and rapid reduction in ATP level (31-35% of control), while a delay in the death process was characterized by a moderate decrease in ATP (73-82% of control). Oligomycin inhibited the specific binding of radioactive corticosteroid to thymocyte nuclei, confirming the inhibitory effect of ATP depletion on glucocorticoid binding and suggesting that ATP depletion is a common mediator of the anti-apoptotic action of different effectors in glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, the reported data indicate that ATP may act as a cellular modulator of some forms of apoptosis, depending on the death trigger, and that in quiescent cells the de-energization of mitochondria is not necessarily linked to apoptosis.

Inhibition of the expression of ornithine decarboxylase by haloperidol in difluoromethylornithine-resistant leukemia cells

In difluoromethylornithine-resistant L1210 cells stimulated to grow from quiescence, haloperidol caused an early and dose-dependent inhibition of the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, with an IC50 of 3.5 microM. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in the ODC mRNA level and inhibition of cell growth. Other sigma ligands of different chemical classes inhibited the induction of ODC activity, whereas sulpiride, a dopamine antagonist devoid of sigma-binding affinity, was ineffective. These results indicate that the inhibition of ODC expression may be an early event involved in the antiproliferative response of leukemia cells to haloperidol.

Inhibition of the expression of ornithine decarboxylase by some kappa-opioidergic receptor ligands in difluoromethylornithine-resistant L1210 cells

In difluoromethylornithine resistant L1210 cells stimulated to growth from quiescence, the selective kappa-opioidergic agonist trans-(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneaceta mid e (U-50488H) caused a dose dependent inhibition of the induction of ODC activity, with a half-maximal effect at about 1 microM. U-50488H also provoked reduction of ODC mRNA level and increase of ODC turnover, as well as inhibition of cell growth. U-69593, another kappa-selective agonist, was only slightly effective. The action of U-50488H on ODC induction was not blocked by naloxone, beta-chlornaltrexamine or by the kappa-selective opioid antagonists Mr1452 and nor-binaltorphimine (nBNI). Actually Mr1452 and nBNI exerted some inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the separated enantiomers (+) and (-) of U-50488H were similarly effective. The (-)cis-(1S,2R)-U50488 stereoisomer, exhibiting low affinity for kappa and high affinity for sigma receptors and carbetapentane, another sigma ligand, also inhibited ODC induction, although less effectively than U-50488H. None of several other opioid ligands tested had significant effects on ODC induction. In conclusion, the inhibition of ODC expression by U-50488H does not involve classical, enantiospecific opioid receptors; rather, these results suggest the involvement of a distinct site of action linked to inhibition of lymphoid cell proliferation.

Oxygen tension influences DNA fragmentation and cell death in glucocorticoid-treated thymocytes

Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and cell death induced by dexamethasone in rat thymocytes were inhibited when cells were cultured in 95% N2/5% CO2 atmosphere, in which oxygen was rapidly reduced to under 0.5%. DNA fragmentation was delayed by a less severe hypoxia in 5% oxygen whilst in cell cultured in high oxygen atmosphere (95% O2) cell death was increased. On the other hand, prolonged oxygen deprivation caused an increase of spontaneous apoptotic cell death. Hypoxia also inhibited DNA fragmentation induced by calcium ionophore A23187, but not by topoisomerase inhibitor camptothecin. These data support the hypothesis of the involvement of oxygen reactive species in calcium-mediated apoptosis and suggest a complex role of oxygen in the modulation of programmed cell death.

Post-transcriptional inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase induction by zinc in a difluoromethylornithine resistant cell line

Addition of Zn2+ to cell medium inhibited the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in ODC overproducing L1210-DFMOr cells. A significant effect was observed at a concentration as low as 0.01 mM, however, a more marked inhibition was caused by the addition of 0.1 mM Zn2+. The inhibition of the induction of ODC activity was accompanied by a proportional decrease in the content of immunoreactive ODC protein, whereas the level of ODC mRNA, determined by a solution hybridization RNase protection assay, was not affected significantly. Instead, some acceleration of ODC turnover was observed. The addition of 0.1 mM Co2+ or Mn2+, but not of other divalent metal ions, also inhibited ODC induction; differently from Zn2+ however, these metals affected cell viability and/or cell growth. Removal of endogenous Zn2+ by a chelator also provoked a strong decrease of ODC induction, which was reversed by Zn2+. However, addition of Zn2+ in excess of the chelator proved to be markedly inhibitory. These results indicate that both a restricted Zn2+ availability and an enhanced presence of the metal can inhibit the induction of ODC in L1210-DFMOr cells.

Acylated proteins in Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia parkeri, Borrelia anserina, and Borrelia coriaceae

Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia parkeri, Borrelia anserina, and Borrelia coriaceae produced several lipoproteins identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography of bacteria grown in [3H]palmitate. Five major acylated proteins were demonstrated by sequential alkaline and acid hydrolysis. High-pressure liquid chromatography of isolated proteins confirmed that covalently bound radioactivity was represented by fatty acids.

Zinc can influence ornithine decarboxylase activity in rat thymus cells

The thymus of young rats contained a high basal activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Treatment with zinc sulphate caused a slight increase of thymic ODC activity within 6 hours and a more marked enhancement (three-fold) in the spleen 24 h after treatment. In spite of the high activity of thymic ODCin vivo, ODC was not detectable in primary cultures of rat thymocytes, but was early and largely induced after treatment with Concanavalin A (Con A). The presence of 0.1 mM zinc in the medium increased the response of ODC to Con A. This effect of zinc in mitogen activated thymocytes may be due to the stabilization of ODC, which was found to decay with a half life of 65 min after the block of protein synthesis with cycloheximide. On the contrary in absence of zinc the half life of the enzyme was 40 min, as in the rat thymus in vivo.Zinc alone, at 0.1 mM concentration, did not affect ODC activity in resting thymocytes during the early times, but the metal was able to cause an increase of the enzyme activity after 4-6 days of culture. Other heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and copper provoked a late increase of ODC activity, but their action was evident only at dosages which were toxic for the cells.

Ornithine decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase-inhibiting activity in rat thymocytes

Isolation of thymocytes from rat thymus resulted in the disappearance of the high activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) that characterizes the thymus of young rats, together with the appearance of an antizyme-like ODC inhibiting activity, which showed a chromatographic profile that resembled that of dexamethasone-treated rat thymus. Omission of serum or addition of dexamethasone or spermidine did not affect appreciably the extent of the antizyme-like activity. On the other hand, a variety of hormonal effectors, i.e. insulin, glucagon, adrenalin and T3, as well as the phorbol ester, PMA or the mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A) induced ODC activity in cultured thymocytes together with the disappearance of the antizyme-like activity. A paradoxical, transient induction of ODC was caused by the transcriptional inhibitor, actinomycin D. Complexed ODC was detected in rat thymus, but not in thymocytes, either quiescent or stimulated by mitogens. These results indicate that thymic lymphocytes can express either ODC activity or its inhibitor depending on the hormonal and proliferative status of the cells.

[Coenzyme Q9 biosynthesis in the aging myocardium after ischemia and reperfusion]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9) in isolated and perfused young (6 months) and aged (24 months) rat hearts, either under aerobic perfusion condition or during postischemic reperfusion. The young and aged hearts have been divided into 2 groups: Group A, aerobic perfusion for 60 min with recirculating Krebs-Henseleit solution, containing 0.8 microM p-OH-[U-14C]benzoate plus 2.5 mM mevalonlactone; Group B, severe ischemic perfusion for 30 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion under the same experimental condition of Group A. At the end of the reperfusion the mitochondrial content of CoQ9 was lower in young than aged rat hearts (p < 0.01). In Group A the incorporation of the labeled precursor into mitochondrial CoQ9 was greater in the hearts of aged than young rats (p < 0.01); on the contrary, in Group B this incorporation was significantly reduced in aged than in young rats (p < 0.05). Thus, it is possible that, in the aged rat heart, the higher activity of CoQ9 biosynthesis is related to an elevated turnover of the coenzyme due to the aging process; moreover, this activity is partially reduced by an ischemic-reperfusion stress.

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase by transcriptional inhibitors in quiescent thymocytes

The transcriptional inhibitors actinomycin D and dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole induced ornithine decarboxylase activity in isolated, quiescent thymocytes, which otherwise did not show detectable levels of the enzyme. This paradoxical induction was transient and dependent on the presence of serum and continuous protein synthesis. However, alpha-amanitin, another inhibitor of transcription, did not affect ornithine decarboxylase activity. Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole and actinomycin D were unable to enhance the activity of spermidine acetyltransferase or S-adenosyl-methionine decarboxylase, which are other inducible and short-lived enzymes involved in the metabolism of polyamines.

Effects of dexamethasone on spermidine N1-acetyltransferase and ornithine activities in rat spleen

Treatment of rats with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone causes an increase in the activity of cytosolic spermidine N1-acetyltransferase both in the spleen and thymus, but not, however, in liver, kidney or lung. The induced spermidine N1-acetyltransferase activity in the spleen catalyses acetylation of spermidine as well as spermine and sym-norspermidine, but not of diamines and histones. The enzyme induction depends on the dose of dexamethasone, and is suppressed by cycloheximide, which suggests that de novo protein synthesis is required for the action of this glucocorticoid. N1-acetylspermidine accumulates in the spleen after dexamethasone treatment, while spermidine progressively decreases and is partly converted into putrescine, the content of which transiently increases. In accordance with previous reports, dexamethasone was found to cause a rapid and large fall in the activity of spleen ornithine decarboxylase which was effected via the appearance of an inhibitor of the enzyme. Glucocorticoids exert large catabolic effects on lymphoid tissues, and further selectively affect the activities of spermidine N1-acetyltransferase and ornithine decarboxylase in the thymus and spleen. These latter selective responses may represent an important early event in lymphoid tissue response to glucocorticoid hormones.

Accumulation of N1-acetylspermidine in heart and spleen of isoprenaline-treated rats

N1-Acetylspermidine is not detectable in rat heart, but its content greatly increases after a single injection of isoprenaline (10 mg/kg), reaching a concentration of about 10 nmol/g of tissue 4 h after the treatment. Part of the accumulated N1-acetylspermidine was split to putrescine. Isoprenaline also caused an increase of N1-acetylspermidine in the spleen, where its concentration increased 3.5-fold 6 h after the catecholamine. The accumulation of N1-acetylspermidine was dependent on the dose of isoprenaline in both the heart and the spleen, and was strongly inhibited by beta-antagonists and inhibitors of protein synthesis.

Separation of N1- and N8-acetylspermidine isomers by reversed-phase column liquid chromatography after derivatization with dansyl chloride

The separation of dansyl derivatives of N1- and N8-acetylspermidine by reversed-phase column liquid chromatography is reported. The influence of organic solvents on the retention of acetylspermidines was studied. Best resolutions were achieved using a C18 column and a ternary mobile phase composed of water, methanol and acetonitrile. The precolumn derivatization method permitted the detection of picomole quantities. A method for the determination of acetylspermidines in rat tissues is described.

Effect of adrenergic stimulation on ornithine decarboxylase activity in the rat spleen

The effect of a single administration of catecholamines on ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine biosynthesis in the rat spleen was investigated. Isoproterenol elicited a dose-dependent increase in spleen ODC activity which reached a maximum 4 hr after the administration of the drug. Putrescine content was also found to increase within a few hours, whereas S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity and spermidine and spermine levels did not change significantly. Adrenaline and noradrenaline proved to be even more effective in increasing splenic ODC activity than isoproterenol. alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists prevented the ODC increase by catecholamines to a different extent.