Gigaxonin Suppresses Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Cancer Through Downregulation of Snail

Gigaxonin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a role in cytoskeletal stability. Its role in cancer is not yet clearly understood. Our previous studies of head and neck cancer had identified gigaxonin interacting with p16 for NFκB ubiquitination. To explore its role in cancer cell growth suppression, we analyzed normal and tumor DNA from cervical and head and neck cancers. There was a higher frequency of exon 8 SNP (c.1293 C>T, rs2608555) in the tumor (46% vs. 25% normal, P = 0.011) pointing to a relationship to cancer. Comparison of primary tumor with recurrence and metastasis did not reveal a statistical significance. Two cervical cancer cell lines, ME180 and HT3 harboring exon 8 SNP and showing T allele expression correlated with higher gigaxonin expression, reduced in vitro cell growth and enhanced cisplatin sensitivity in comparison with C allele expressing cancer cell lines. Loss of gigaxonin expression in ME180 cells through CRISPR-Cas9 or siRNA led to aggressive cancer cell growth including increased migration and Matrigel invasion. The in vitro cell growth phenotypes were reversed with re-expression of gigaxonin. Suppression of cell growth correlated with reduced Snail and increased e-cadherin expression. Mouse tail vein injection studies showed increased lung metastasis of cells with low gigaxonin expression and reduced metastasis with reexpression of gigaxonin. We have found an association between C allele expression and RNA instability and absence of multimeric protein formation. From our results, we conclude that gigaxonin expression is associated with suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition through inhibition of Snail.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results suggest that GAN gene exon 8 SNP T allele expression correlates with higher gigaxonin expression and suppression of aggressive cancer cell growth. There is downregulation of Snail and upregulation of e-cadherin through NFκB ubiquitination. We hypothesize that exon 8 T allele and gigaxonin expression could serve as diagnostic markers of suppression of aggressive growth of head and neck cancer.

Bone marrow graft versus peripheral blood graft in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells transplantation: a retrospective analysis in1344 patients of SFGM-TC registry

The use of peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM) stem cells graft in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis remains controversial. Moreover, the value of adding anti-thymoglobulin (ATG) to PTCy is unknown. A total of 1344 adult patients received an unmanipulated haploidentical transplant at 37 centers from 2012 to 2019 for hematologic malignancy. We compared the outcomes of patients according to the type of graft, using a propensity score analysis. In total population, grade II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) were lower with BM than with PB. Grade III-IV aGVHD was lower with BM than with PB + ATG. All outcomes were similar in PB and PB + ATG groups. Then, in total population, adding ATG does not benefit the procedure. In acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative syndrome (AL-MDS-MPS) subgroup receiving non-myeloablative conditioning, risk of relapse was twice greater with BM than with PB (51 vs. 22%, respectively). Conversely, risk of aGVHD was greater with PB (38% for aGVHD II-IV; 16% for aGVHD III-IV) than with BM (28% for aGVHD II-IV; 8% for aGVHD III-IV). In this subgroup with intensified conditioning regimen, risk of relapse became similar with PB and BM but risk of aGVHD III-IV remained higher with PB than with BM graft (HR = 2.0; range [1.17-3.43], p = 0.012).

A Rare Case of Spontaneous Fungal Peritonitis Caused by Candida lusitaniae in a Patient With Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Candida lusitaniae is a rare cause of peritonitis most commonly associated with peritoneal dialysis patients. Pancreatitis is one possible cause of ascites with a low serum ascites albumin gradient. Herein, we present a case of spontaneous fungal peritonitis caused by Candida lusitaniae in a patient with necrotizing pancreatitis. The patient was treated with antifungal medication, while her pancreatitis was managed endoscopically with necrosectomy. She improved clinically and was discharged in stable condition.

High prevalence of pre-existing sarcopenia in critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies admitted to the intensive care unit for sepsis or septic shock

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to evaluate body composition (BC) by computed tomography (CT) in hematologic malignancy (HM) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for sepsis or septic shock.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed BC and its impact on outcome of 186 patients at the 3rd lumbar (L3) and 12th thoracic vertebral levels (T12) using CT-scan performed before ICU admission.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 58.0 [47; 69] years. Patients displayed adverse clinical characteristics at admission with median [q1; q3] SAPS II and SOFA scores of 52 [40; 66] and 8 [5; 12], respectively. The mortality rate in the ICU was 45.7%. Overall survival rates at 1 month after admission in the pre-existing sarcopenic vs. non pre-existing sarcopenic patients were 47.9% (95% CI [37.6; 61.0]) and 55.0% (95% CI [41.6; 72.8]), p = 0.99), respectively, at the L3 level and 48.4% (95% CI [40.4; 58.0]) vs. 66.7% (95% CI [51.1; 87.0]), p = 0.062), respectively, at the T12 level.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia is assessable by CT scan at both the T12 and L3 levels and is highly prevalent in HM patients admitted to the ICU for severe infections. Sarcopenia may contribute to the high mortality rate in the ICU in this population.

Case report: CAR-T cell therapy-induced cardiac tamponade

CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has recently been shown to improve the prognosis of refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, CAR-T cells may induce numerous adverse events, in particular cytokine release syndrome (CRS) which is frequently associated with cardiovascular manifestations. Among the latter, acute pericardial effusion represents less than 1% of cases and cardiac tamponade has only been reported once. The management and outcome of these severe complications are not well established. We report here, a case of cardiac tamponade associated with CRS in a context of CAR-T cell therapy, which required urgent pericardiocentesis.

Case summary

A 65-year-old man with refractory DLBCL was treated with CAR-T cell therapy. He had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy with preserved ejection fraction and transient atrial fibrillation. A pericardial localization of the lymphoma was observed on the second relapse. One day after CAR-T cell infusion the patient was diagnosed with grade 1 CRS. Due to hypotension, he was treated with tocilizumab and dexamethasone, and then transferred to intensive care unit (ICU). Echocardiography performed at ICU admission showed acute pericardial effusion with signs of right ventricular heart failure due to cardiac tamponade. It was decided to perform pericardiocentesis despite grade IV thrombocytopenia in a context of aplasia. Analysis of pericardial fluid showed a large number of lymphoma cells and 73% of CAR-T cells amongst lymphocytes, a level that was similar in blood. Hemodynamic status improved after pericardiocentesis, and no recurrence of pericardial effusion was observed. The presence of a high count of activated CAR-T cells in the pericardial fluid as well as the short interval between CAR-T cells injection and the symptoms appear as potential arguments for a direct action of CAR-T cells in the mechanism of this adverse event. The patient was discharged from ICU after two days and initially exhibited a good response to DLBCL treatment. Unfortunately, he died fifty days after starting CAR-T cell therapy due to a new DLBCL relapse.

Conclusion

Patients with a pericardial localization of DLBCL should be assessed for a risk of cardiac tamponade if receiving CAR-T cell therapy and presenting CRS. In this case, cardiac tamponade seems directly related to CAR-T cell expansion. Pericardiocentesis should be considered as a feasible and effective treatment if the risk of bleeding is well controlled, in association with anti-IL6 and corticosteroids.

Anabolic Steroid-Induced Cholestatic Liver Injury: A Case Report

Owing to performance-enhancing and cosmetic effects, illicit use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has been well-described and can be associated with significant complications. We report a 27-year-old Caucasian male who self-medicated with AAS in the form of intramuscular injections and oral testosterone for a one-year duration. He complained of persistent jaundice and moderate generalized itching for one month. On admission, his total bilirubin level was 11.4 mg/dl (normal: 0-1.2 mg/dl), and liver enzymes were slightly elevated. On follow-up, the patient stated complete resolution of symptoms and near-normalization of lab results after one month of conservative management.

Retrospective analysis of the safety of peripherally inserted catheters versus implanted port catheters during first-line treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Objectives

Both peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and implanted port catheters (PORTs) are commonly used for the delivery of immunochemotherapy. We compared the safety of the two types of devices in a homogeneous and monocentric population of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who were treated with first‐line immunochemotherapy by evaluating the numbers of catheter‐related venous thromboses (VTs) and infections that occurred in the six months after implantation according to the type of device.

Methods

Using a propensity score, the adjusted relative risk (ARR) between the type of catheter and the occurrence of catheter‐related complications (infection and/or VT) of interest was retrospectively determined.

Results

479 patients were enrolled (266 PORTs/213 PICCs), and 26 VTs (5.4%) and 30 infections (6.3%) were identified in the period following PICC/PORT implantation. The adjusted relative risk (ARR) of catheter‐related complications (infection and/or VT) according to the type of device was 2.6 (95% CI =1.3–5.9, p = .0075). This risk increase associated with the PICC device was significant for both infections (ARR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.3–10.9) and thrombosis (ARR = 4; 95% CI = 1.5–11.6).

Conclusion

Our study supports the preferential use of PORTs for the first line of treatment for DLBCL patients.

Coaxial Double-Pigtail Stent Placement: A Simple Solution to Decrease Bleeding Risk Associated With Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent?

Endoscopic cystogastrostomy using lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is considered the first-line therapy for symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs). Routine coaxial placement of a double-pigtail stent (DPS) through LAMS is debated. We report the case of a patient with delayed massive gastrointestinal bleed eight weeks after LAMS placement due to splenic artery pseudoaneurysm leading to a complicated hospitalization. Theoretically, coaxial placement of DPS through LAMS can prevent the relatively sharp LAMS from eroding into the mucosa of the collapsed cavity of PFCs, decreasing the risk of bleeding. Our case adds to the growing need to further explore the utility of this combined intervention.

AB0259 EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF FILGOTINIB ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF ROSUVASTATIN, ATORVASTATIN, AND PRAVASTATIN

Background:

Filgotinib is an orally administered small molecule that preferentially inhibits Janus kinase 1 and is approved for use in Europe and Japan in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapies. Patients with RA are at a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality relative to the general population1. Thus, it is important to understand potential drug-drug interactions of filgotinib with lipid-lowering agents such as statins. Based on in vitro studies, filgotinib is not expected to significantly increase exposure of statins via inhibition of the organic anion transporting peptide (OATP) at clinically relevant exposures. Hence, in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical studies, statins were allowed for use with filgotinib. A post-hoc analysis showed no increase in statin-induced AEs such as muscle or liver toxicities when statins were coadministered with filgotinib (“Concomitant Use of Statins in Filgotinib-Treated Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Post Hoc Analysis”, submitted to EULAR 2021).

Objectives:

The objectives of this study (NCT04608344) were to evaluate the effect of filgotinib on the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin, which are sensitive substrates for the OATP-1B1/1B3, and the short-term safety of administering filgotinib with or without statins.

Methods:

This was an open-label, randomized, two-way, crossover study in healthy adult volunteers (n = 27). Study participants received a single dose of atorvastatin (ATV 40 mg) and a single dose of a cocktail of pravastatin (PRA 40 mg)/rosuvastatin (ROS 10 mg), on two different occasions with washout in between, alone or in combination with filgotinib (200 mg QD for 11 days). Serial pharmacokinetic sampling was performed and pharmacokinetic parameters for each statin were calculated. Safety was assessed throughout the study. An analysis of variance using a mixed-effects model was applied to the natural logarithmic transformation of pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax and AUCinf) for ATV, 2-OH-ATV (active metabolite of ATV), PRA, and ROS. Geometric-least squares means (GLSM) ratios and 90% confidence intervals (90% CI) of pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated for each analyte and were compared against pre-specified lack of pharmacokinetic alteration boundaries of 70 to 143%.

Results:

Of the 27 enrolled participants, 25 participants completed all study treatments. Most AEs and laboratory abnormalities were Grade 1 or 2 in severity; 1 participant discontinued due to a Grade 3 increase in creatine kinase and 1 participant discontinued due to difficulty in blood draws. Following coadministration of filgotinib with ATV, relative to ATV alone, ATV AUCinf was unaffected (GLSM ratio (90% CI): 0.91 (0.84, 0.99)), but ATV Cmax was slightly reduced (GLSM ratio (90% CI): 0.82 (0.69, 0.98)). 2-OH-ATV exposure (Cmax and AUCinf) were unaffected (GLSM ratio (90% CI): 0.98 (0.81, 1.18) for Cmax and 1.12 (1.02, 1.22) for AUCinf), and were within the pre-specified lack-of-effect bounds. Following coadministration with filgotinib, PRA AUCinf was unaffected (GLSM ratio (90% CI): 1.22 (1.06, 1.42)), but PRA Cmax was slightly higher (1.25 (1.01, 1.54)). ROS exposure (Cmax and AUCinf) were moderately higher upon coadministration with filgotinib (GLSM ratio (90% CI): 1.68 (1.43, 1.97) for Cmax and 1.42 (1.30, 1.56) for AUCinf), and these changes in rosuvastatin exposure are not considered to be clinically relevant.

Conclusion:

All study treatments were generally well tolerated. Co-administration with filgotinib did not have a clinically meaningful impact on the exposure of ATV, PRA, and ROS. These data support concomitant use of filgotinib with OATP substrates such as statins.

References:

[1]Piepoli MF, Hoes AW, Agewall S, et al. Eur Heart J. 2016;37(29): 2315-2381.

Disclosure of Interests:

Kacey Anderson Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Cara Nelson Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Qi Gong Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Thomas Tarnowski Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Ahmed A. Othman Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences

POS1049 EFFECT OF FILGOTINIB ON PASDAS: DRIVERS OF LOW AND VERY LOW ACTIVITY UP TO WEEK 100

Background:

EQUATOR (NCT03101670) was a Phase 2, double-blind, randomised placebo (PBO)- controlled trial of the preferential Janus kinase 1 inhibitor filgotinib (FIL) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA); EQUATOR2 (NCT03320876) is the open-label extension (OLE).

Objectives:

This post-hoc analysis assessed the effect of FIL on individual Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) components; and the association between PASDAS disease activity (DA) levels and DA levels achieved for each PASDAS component and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) up to OLE Week (Wk) 100.

Methods:

In EQUATOR, patients with active moderate-to-severe PsA were randomised 1:1 to oral FIL 200 mg or PBO once daily (QD) for 16 wks.1 At Wk 16, patients could continue into the 304-wk OLE, in which all patients received FIL 200 mg QD. The proportions of patients with PASDAS of very low DA (VLDA; ≤1.9), LDA (>1.9–<3.2), moderate DA (MoDA; ≥3.2–<5.4), and high DA (HDA; ≥5.4) at core Wk 16 and OLE Wk 52 and 100 were assessed. The proportion with improved PASDAS status vs baseline (BL) at OLE Wk 52 and 100 was calculated. Percent change from BL in PASDAS components and PROs were assessed at core Wk 16 and OLE Wk 52 and 100 by PASDAS status (VLDA, LDA, other). Multivariate logistic regression analyses performed cross-sectionally identified PASDAS components and PROs associated with not achieving VLDA or LDA at core Wk 16 and OLE Wk 52 and 100; all analyses were observed cases.

Results:

At OLE Wk 52, LDA and VLDA were achieved by 27.5% and 16.8% of randomised patients, respectively (44.3% combined). At OLE Wk 100, LDA and VLDA were achieved by 26.0% and 17.6% of patients (43.6% combined; Figure 1). Of patients with HDA at BL, 69% improved to MoDA/LDA/VLDA, <4% remained in HDA and 27% did not reach Wk 100; of those in MoDA at BL, 63% improved to VLDA/LDA, 11% remained stable, <4% worsened and 22% did not reach Wk 100. Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity (PtGDA), Short Form-36 physical component scale (SF-36 PCS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index were found to be important components/PRO measures in achieving VLDA vs LDA (Table 1). Logistic regression indicated that factors associated with not achieving LDA at Wk 52 were PtGDA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.35), physician GDA (PhGDA; OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18–2.12), and SF-36 PCS (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.95); PtGDA was associated with not achieving VLDA (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15–1.47).

Conclusion:

The proportion of patients achieving PASDAS VLDA or LDA increased over time and remained stable between OLE Wk 52 and 100. Important factors in determining whether VLDA/LDA was met were PtGDA, PhGDA, and SF-36 PCS, although the low patient numbers is a limitation.

References:

[1]Mease P, et al. Lancet. 2018;392:2367–77

Table 1.

Mean % change from baseline in PASDAS components and PROs (observed cases)

Core Wk 16 (FIL + PBO groups combined)n=122OLE Wk 52n=110OLE Wk 100n=97VLDAn=8(7%)LDAn=22(18%)Othersn=92(75%)VLDAn=22(20%)LDAn=36(33%)Othersn=52(47%)VLDA n=23(24%)LDAn=34(35%)Othersn=40(41%)PhGDA−93−75−44−94−82−56−96−84−54PtGDA−87−69−13−86−58−24−90−57−13Tender joint count 68−94−80−42−99−84−64−98−87−61Swollen joint count 66−99−80−64−99−96−78−99−94−80LEI−100−86−32−96−100−78−100−99−78Dactylitis−100−100−73−100−100−97−100−100−98C-reactive protein−66−2217138*−32−25−12−1324SF-36 PCS53261133239472316FACIT1195032975134994636HAQ-DI−84−68−18−85−51−18−88−45−19PASI−84−66−29−54−59−56−49−76−42

Components or PRO measures in bold are those for which numerical differences between VLDA and LDA are greatest across timepoints

*Due to outlier (3784)

FACIT, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy; HAQ-DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index; LEI, Leeds Enthesitis Index; PASI, Psoriasis Area Severity Index; PhGDA, Physician Global Assessment of Disease Activity; PtGDA, Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity; SF-36 PCS, Short Form-36 physical component summary; (V)LDA, (very) low disease activity

Acknowledgements:

EQUATOR and EQUATOR2 were sponsored by Galapagos NV Mechelen, Belgium) and co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences, Inc (Foster City, CA, USA). Benjamin Pett and his team, employees of Galapagos, provided assistance with statistical analyses. Medical writing/editorial support was provided by Debbie Sherwood, BSc, CMPP (Aspire Scientific, Bollington, UK), and was funded by Galapagos NV.

Disclosure of Interests:

Laura C Coates Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Pfizer, Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN, and UCB, Philip Helliwell Paid instructor for: Janssen, Novartis, and Pfizer, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Merck, and UCB, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Franck Olivier Le Brun Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Lien Gheyle Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Emilia Gvozdenovic Employee of: Galapagos, Dafna D Gladman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB., Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB.

POS1038 THE EFFECT OF FILGOTINIB ON ENTHESITIS: 100-WEEK DATA FROM AN OPEN-LABEL EXTENSION STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Filgotinib (FIL), a novel preferential Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, was assessed in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the 16-week, Phase 2, EQUATOR trial (NCT03101670).1 EQUATOR2 (NCT03320876) is the open-label extension (OLE). As previously reported, an interim analysis of the OLE showed that the majority of patients had clinical resolution of enthesitis by Week 52.2

Objectives:

This post-hoc analysis evaluated the effect of FIL on clinical enthesitis after 100 weeks of treatment in the OLE, as assessed using the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI) and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) index, and evaluated the discriminatory capacity of the two indices. In addition, we assessed which of the sites included in LEI and SPARCC were most frequently involved and whether treatment effect was consistent across sites.

Methods:

In EQUATOR, patients with active moderate-to-severe PsA (≥5 swollen joints and ≥5 tender joints, fulfilling Classification for PsA criteria) were randomised 1:1 to receive oral FIL 200 mg or placebo (PBO) once daily (QD) for 16 weeks. At Week 16, all patients could continue into the OLE, receiving FIL 200 mg QD for up to an additional 304 weeks. We compared changes from core baseline in LEI and SPARCC measures, the effect on enthesitis at sites included in LEI and SPARCC assessments and the discriminatory capacity of both enthesitis indices.

Results:

Of 131 patients randomised to EQUATOR, 122 entered the OLE. There was strong agreement between LEI and SPARCC at baseline. While most patients had enthesitis at baseline according to either index (76/131 [58.0%] by LEI; 85/131 [64.9%] by SPARCC), a minority had enthesitis at a large number of sites (6.9% with 5–6 LEI sites; 12.2% with ≥9 SPARCC sites). The sites most frequently involved at baseline were the lateral epicondyle humerus and Achilles tendon, sites common to both LEI and SPARCC. There was greater variability in the change from baseline to Week 16 in SPARCC compared with LEI (Table 1). LEI showed a greater discriminatory capacity than SPARCC when change from baseline was compared for FIL vs PBO at Week 16, as shown by higher absolute standardised mean difference: −0.70 (LEI) and −0.30 (SPARCC) (observed cases; Table 1). Subgroup analyses indicated that the treatment effect of FIL vs PBO at Week 16 for all sites was consistent with the overall treatment effect seen for LEI or SPARCC, and indicative of an improvement with FIL vs PBO for nearly all sites. The proportion of patients with enthesitis decreased from baseline up to OLE Week 100 (Figure 1). There were no major differences in long-term effect on enthesitis between sites.

Conclusion:

FIL improved enthesitis consistently across sites compared with PBO. Rapid improvement in enthesitis was seen up to Week 16 of the core study and improvements continued up to Week 52, after which responses were generally stable up to Week 100. LEI assesses fewer locations than SPARCC, but reassuringly captured the sites most commonly affected by enthesitis; LEI also had greater discriminatory capacity.

References:

[1]Mease P, et al. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77

[2]Mease P, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2020;72(suppl 10): abstract 0910

Figure 1.

Acknowledgements:

EQUATOR and EQUATOR2 were sponsored by Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium) and co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences, Inc (Foster City, CA, USA). Eline Vetters, Leen Gilles, Benjamin Pett and his team, all employees of Galapagos, provided assistance with statistical analyses. Medical writing/editorial support was provided by Debbie Sherwood, BSc, CMPP (Aspire Scientific, Bollington, UK), and funded by Galapagos NV.

Disclosure of Interests:

Philip Helliwell Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, Paid instructor for: Pfizer, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Laura C Coates Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Pfizer, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Merck and UCB, Dafna D Gladman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Lien Gheyle Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Franck Olivier Le Brun Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN and UCB.

POS1037 CORRELATION BETWEEN SKIN INVOLVEMENT, JOINT INVOLVEMENT AND ENTHESITIS IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: POST-HOC ANALYSIS OF EQUATOR/EQUATOR2

Background:

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous, inflammatory disease involving multiple clinical domains including arthritis/synovitis, enthesitis, dactylitis, spondylitis and psoriasis. Effects on each domain should be assessed to determine the overall quality of treatment. Filgotinib (FIL) is a novel preferential Janus kinase 1 inhibitor that is in development for inflammatory conditions including PsA. EQUATOR (NCT03101670) was a 16-week, Phase 2, double-blind, randomised, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial of FIL for patients with active PsA.1 EQUATOR2 (NCT03320876) is an open-label extension (OLE) of the study.

Objectives:

This post-hoc analysis of EQUATOR and EQUATOR2 assessed the patient-level correlation between changes over time in the three PsA clinical disease domains of skin, joint and enthesitis in patients treated with FIL.

Methods:

In EQUATOR, patients with active moderate-to-severe PsA (≥5 swollen joints and ≥5 tender joints, fulfilling Classification for PsA criteria) were randomised 1:1 to receive oral FIL 200 mg or PBO once daily (QD) for 16 weeks. At Week 16, patients could continue into the 304-week OLE, with all patients receiving FIL 200 mg QD regardless of previous treatment in EQUATOR. This post-hoc analysis was limited to patients with skin involvement (≥3% body surface area), joint involvement and enthesitis at baseline, with changes from baseline in the three domains assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), swollen/tender joint count (S/TJC), and the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI) and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) index, respectively. Analyses that used LEI as the enthesitis index to assess change from baseline included patients with LEI score ≥1 at baseline; those using SPARCC included patients with SPARCC score ≥1 at baseline.

Results:

The EQUATOR study enrolled 131 patients and 122 patients continued into the EQUATOR2 OLE. Of the 131 patients enrolled in EQUATOR, 49 and 56 patients had PsA involving all three domains at core study baseline when enthesitis was assessed using LEI and SPARCC index, respectively. Pooled data for all patients receiving FIL during the OLE indicate that improvements from baseline in the clinical domains continued with long-term treatment, with 22/42 (52%) and 23/38 (61%) patients having both SJC66 and LEI resolution at Weeks 52 and 100, respectively. For the 22 patients with both SJC and LEI resolution at Week 52, the mean percent change from baseline for PASI was –64%; for the 23 patients with both SJC and LEI resolution at Week 100, the mean percent change from baseline for PASI was –60%. The Figure 1 shows correlation between SJC, LEI and PASI at Week 100. A relationship between the three clinical domains was observed at the individual level; within a single patient, an improvement in one domain was generally followed by improvements in the other two domains. With regard to the sequence in which changes were observed, joints improved first, followed by improvements in the skin and enthesitis. There were no notable differences between changes in LEI and SPARCC enthesitis index in terms of their correlation with improvements in joint and skin involvement. Similarly, there were no notable differences in correlation between the three domains when joints were assessed using TJC rather than SJC.

Conclusion:

Patients with improvements in skin, joints or enthesitis following treatment with FIL generally also had improvements in the other clinical domains of PsA. The joints were found to be the first of the three domains to improve.

References:

[1]Mease P et al. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77

Acknowledgements:

EQUATOR and EQUATOR2 were sponsored by Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium) and co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences, Inc (Foster City, CA, USA). Medical writing/editorial support was provided by Debbie Sherwood, BSc, CMPP (Aspire Scientific, Bollington, UK), funded by Galapagos NV.

Disclosure of Interests:

Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, SUN and UCB, Laura C Coates Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Medac, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Pfizer, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Merck and UCB, Dafna D Gladman Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Lien Gheyle Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Eline Vetters Employee of: Galapagos, Franck Olivier Le Brun Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Philip Helliwell Speakers bureau: Janssen and Novartis, Paid instructor for: Pfizer, Consultant of: Eli Lilly.

POS0660 CONCOMITANT USE OF STATINS IN FILGOTINIB-TREATED PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

The Janus kinase-1 preferential inhibitor filgotinib (FIL) improved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) signs and symptoms in phase (P)3 trials.1–3 RA elevates cardiovascular disease risk; statins are used to reduce risk.

Objectives:

To assess safety of statin and filgotinib coadministration across the clinical program.

Methods:

Patients (pts) meeting 2010 ACR/EULAR RA criteria in P2 DARWIN 1–2 (D1–2; NCT01888874, NCT01894516), P3 FINCH 1–3 (F1–3; NCT02889796, NCT02873936, NCT02886728), and long-term extensions DARWIN 3 and FINCH 4 (D3, F4; NCT02065700, NCT03025308) receiving FIL 100 mg (FIL100) QD, FIL 200 mg QD (FIL200), adalimumab (ADA), methotrexate (MTX), or placebo (PBO) were included. Events related to statin use were analysed as exposed by treatment received. N and % were provided.

Week (W)12 PBO-controlled safety analysis included pts receiving FIL100, FIL200, or PBO for ≤12W (D1–2, F1–2); as-treated safety analysis included pts receiving long-term FIL100 QD (n=1647), FIL200 QD (n=2267), ADA (n=325), MTX (n=416), or PBO (n=781) (D1–3, F1–4); P3 as-randomised analysis included data up to W52 (F1–3) per assigned treatment.

Results:

In each arm, similar proportions of pts took statins at baseline (9.4%–11.9%); initiation during study was low (1.2%–6.8%). Through W12 in PBO-controlled analysis, mean creatine phosphokinase (CPK; Figure 1), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were similar regardless of statin use and remained within normal levels across all arms.

Mean baseline ALT and AST levels were 20–23 and 20–22 U/L, respectively; at W12, ALT and AST ranged from 22–24 and 20–25 U/L, respectively. Graded CPK, ALT, and AST elevations are in Table 1.

Table 1.

Graded laboratory abnormalities at week 12 by baseline statin use in PBO-controlled analysis

ConcomitantNoneFIL200(n=68)FIL100(n=95)PBO(n=93)FIL200 (n=709)FIL100(n=693)PBO(n=688)CPK increased*598281562549537G1 (≤2.5×ULN)10 (16.9)13 (15.9)6 (7.4)71 (12.6)47 (8.6)18 (3.4)G2 (>2.5 to 5×ULN)3 (5.1)006 (1.1)2 (0.4)3 (0.6)G3 (>5 to 10×ULN)0001 (0.2)03 (0.6)G4 (>10×ULN)0001 (0.2)2 (0.4)0AST increased**689492708692684G1 (≤3.0×ULN)9 (13.2)11 (11.7)7 (7.6)97 (13.7)79 (11.4)60 (8.8)G2 (>3.0 to 5.0×ULN)0003 (0.4)2 (0.3)3 (0.4)G3 (>5.0 to 20.0×ULN)01 (1.1)02 (0.3)00G4 (>20.0×ULN)000000ALT increased**689492708692684G1 (≤3.0×ULN)13 (19.1)14 (14.9)13 (14.1)98 (13.8)92 (13.3)72 (10.5)G2 (>3.0 to 5.0×ULN)02 (2.1)010 (1.4)5 (0.7)6 (0.9)G3 (>5.0 to 20.0×ULN)0001 (0.1)01 (0.1)G4 (>20.0×ULN)000000

Data are n (%). Grading per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.03

*FINCH 1–2

**DARWIN 1–2, FINCH 1–2

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CPK, creatine phosphokinase; csDMARD, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; FIL200/100, filgotinib 200/100 mg + csDMARDs; Grade, G; PBO, placebo; ULN, upper limit of normal.

In the long-term as-treated analysis, 1 (0.5%)/6 (3.2%)/0/0/0 treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) of myalgia occurred in pts on statins at baseline receiving FIL200/FIL100/ADA/MTX/PBO and in 12 (0.6%)/8 (0.5%)/3 (1.0%)/2 (0.5%)/1 (0.1%) pts not on statins. Muscle spasms occurred in 2 (0.9%)/3 (1.6%)/1 (3.2%)/0/1 (1.1%) pts on statins at baseline receiving FIL200/FIL100/ADA/MTX/PBO and 21 (1.0%)/8 (0.5%)/0/3 (0.8%)/1 (0.1%) pts not on statins at baseline. One patient not on statins receiving FIL200 reported rhabdomyolysis. For all treatment arms in P3 as-randomised analysis, mean LDL and HDL increased similarly from baseline (108–110 and 56–59 mg/dL, respectively) to W52 (119–130 and 59–71 mg/dL, respectively).

Conclusion:

No increases in statin-induced AEs such as muscle or liver toxicities occurred with statins and filgotinib coadministration; results are supported by a drug-drug interaction study.4 Mean LDL and HDL increased at W52 in all treatment arms.

References:

[1]Genovese et al. JAMA. 2019;322:315–25.

[2]Westhovens et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021; online first.

[3]Combe et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021; online first.

[4]Anderson et al. EULAR 2021 abstract.

Disclosure of Interests:

Peter C. Taylor Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Fresenius, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Nordic Pharma, Pfizer, Roche, BMS, Sanofi, Celltrion, and UCB, Grant/research support from: Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, and Gilead, Christina Charles-Schoeman Consultant of: Gilead, Pfizer, and Regeneron-Sanofi, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Inc, Muhsen Alani Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Vanessa Castellano Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Iyabode Tiamiyu Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Deyuan Jiang Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Lei Ye Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Sander Strengholt Shareholder of: Galapagos BV, Employee of: Galapagos BV, Michael Nurmohamed Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Roche, and Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, and Sanofi, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi, Gerd Rüdiger Burmester Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Gilead Sciences, Inc., Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

FRI0343 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF FILGOTINIB, A SELECTIVE JANUS KINASE 1 INHIBITOR, IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: SUBGROUP ANALYSES FROM A RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, PHASE 2 TRIAL (EQUATOR)

Background:

Treatment with the oral selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor filgotinib was associated with rapid and significant improvements in multiple domains of active psoriatic arthritis versus placebo in the 16-week Phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, randomized EQUATOR trial (NCT03101670).1A significantly greater proportion of patients receiving filgotinib, versus placebo, achieved the primary endpoint of 20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at Week 16 (80% vs 33%, respectively).1

Objectives:

The aim of this predefined analysis was to evaluate the consistency of the response to filgotinib across predefined relevant subpopulations participating in the EQUATOR trial.

Methods:

In EQUATOR, patients with active psoriatic arthritis were treated with filgotinib 200 mg (n=65) or placebo (n=66) once daily for 16 weeks. Key clinical endpoints, including ACR20 and ACR50 (50% improvement) response rates, Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), and Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) were evaluated according to the following baseline characteristics: sex, body mass index, disease duration, baseline disease severity, concurrent use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug(s), and prior exposure to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor(s). For PASDAS and DAPSA scores, statistical analysis of changes from baseline was performed using analysis of covariance with factors for treatment, randomization stratification, subgroup, and an interaction between treatment and subgroup. Least-squares (LS) mean difference between treatment arms and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. For ACR20 and ACR50 response rates, statistical analysis used the point estimate and corresponding 95% CI, based on the Newcombe method.

Results:

Sixty patients (92%) in the filgotinib group and 64 (97%) in the placebo group completed the study. The total number of patients in each subpopulation ranged from 18 to 104 (Figure 1). Differences in the proportions of patients achieving ACR20 consistently favored filgotinib, compared with placebo, across all subgroups (Figure 1); all differences reached statistical significance. Similarly, differences in the proportions of ACR50 responders and LS mean treatment differences for PASDAS and DAPSA consistently favored filgotinib, reaching statistical significance in most subgroups. No clinically relevant differences in the effect of filgotinib were observed across subgroups. Filgotinib was generally well tolerated and no new safety signals were identified.

Conclusion:

In the 16-week EQUATOR trial, the effects of filgotinib on key efficacy endpoints were generally consistent across a range of subgroups based on patient, disease, and treatment characteristics.

References:

[1]Mease P, et al. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77.

Acknowledgments:

The EQUATOR trial was sponsored by Galapagos NV and co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences. Medical writing support was provided by Hannah Mace MPharmacol, CMPP (Aspire Scientific Ltd, Bollington, UK) and funded by Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium).

Disclosure of Interests:

Philip Helliwell: None declared, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Laura C Coates: None declared, Dafna D Gladman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – consultant, Chantal Tasset Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, Luc Meuleners Employee of: Galapagos, Leen Gilles Consultant of: Galapagos, Lien Gheyle Employee of: Galapagos, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Amgen and Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – consultant, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB – speakers bureau

FRI0339 LONG-TERM EFFICACY OF THE ORAL SELECTIVE JANUS KINASE 1 INHIBITOR FILGOTINIB IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: WEEK 52 RESPONSE PATTERNS IN INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS FROM AN OPEN-LABEL EXTENSION (OLE) STUDY (EQUATOR2)

Background:

EQUATOR (NCT03101670) was a 16-week, Phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of filgotinib in patients with active psoriatic arthritis.1Filgotinib demonstrated rapid efficacy compared with placebo across multiple domains, including the primary endpoint of Week 16 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response.1Patients completing the RCT could join an ongoing 148-week OLE (EQUATOR2;NCT03320876).

Objectives:

In this prespecified interim analysis at Week 52 of the OLE, individual patient responses with respect to disease activity were evaluated.

Methods:

Placebo-treated RCT patients switched to filgotinib (200 mg once daily) at Week 16 and entered the OLE; patients previously assigned to filgotinib continued. Individual response patterns at Week 52 of the OLE were evaluated for ACR20/50/70, Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) low disease activity (LDA), minimal disease activity (MDA), and MDA/very low disease activity (VLDA).

Results:

124 patients (95%) completed EQUATOR; 122 (93%) enrolled in the OLE. At Week 52, 11 patients (9%) had discontinued treatment in the OLE. Median (range) exposure to filgotinib was 66.0 (0.4–104.1) weeks. In patients originally assigned to filgotinib, sustained efficacy was seen through to OLE Week 52 for ACR20, 50, and 70; PASDAS LDA; MDA (Table;Figure 1a); and MDA/VLDA. In total, 77% and 93% of those achieving MDA and ACR50 response in the RCT period maintained this at Week 52 (Table). A substantial proportion of RCT non-responders also achieved a treatment response in the OLE, meeting MDA and ACR50 criteria (22% and 37%, respectively;Table). Response patterns in the OLE were similar regardless of prior RCT treatment. In total, at Week 52 of the OLE, 33.6% of patients achieved MDA response (Figure 1a); 55.0% achieved ACR50 response. Figure 1bshows individual patient response over time for MDA.

Conclusion:

Data from this 52-week OLE interim analysis suggest that further improvement in disease activity can be expected with filgotinib beyond 16 weeks in patients with active psoriatic arthritis. Sustained efficacy was demonstrated across several measures of disease activity, including MDA and ACR50.

References:

[1]Mease P, et al. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77.

Table.

Responders at Week 52 of the OLE, by treatment and previous RCT responder status (observed cases).

TreatmentFilgotinib (N=59) → Filgotinib (N=54)aPlacebo (N=63) → Filgotinib (N=57)an/N, %OLE responders/RCT respondersOLE responders/RCT non-respondersOLE responders/RCT respondersOLE responders/RCT non-respondersACR2040/47 (85.1)5/7 (71.4)17/18 (94.4)27/38 (71.1)ACR5025/27 (92.6)10/27 (37.0)5/8 (62.5)21/49 (42.9)ACR7010/13 (76.9)12/41 (29.3)3/4 (75.0)12/53 (22.6)PASDAS LDAb19/21 (90.5)12/32 (37.5)5/6 (83.3)21/48 (43.8)MDA10/13 (76.9)9/41 (22.0)4/5 (80.0)14/51 (27.5)

aIndicates number remaining at OLE Week 52 interim analysis, after dropouts

bPASDAS information was not available for one patient at Week 16 of the RCT

Acknowledgments:

EQUATOR and EQUATOR2 were sponsored by Galapagos NV and co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences. Medical writing support was provided by Hannah Mace MPharmacol, CMPP (Aspire Scientific Ltd, Bollington, UK) and funded by Galapagos NV.

Disclosure of Interests:

Dafna D Gladman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – consultant, Laura C Coates: None declared, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Philip Helliwell: None declared, Chantal Tasset Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, Luc Meuleners Employee of: Galapagos, Leen Gilles Consultant of: Galapagos, Lien Gheyle Employee of: Galapagos, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Amgen and Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – consultant, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB – speakers bureau

FRI0344 THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF TREATING PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS WITH THE JANUS KINASE 1-SELECTIVE INHIBITOR FILGOTINIB ON LIPID PROFILES: AN ANALYSIS OF THE EQUATOR AND EQUATOR2 TRIALS

Background:

Cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities are common in psoriatic arthritis (PsA); patients are at high risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).1In the Phase 2, double-blind, randomized EQUATOR trial, significant improvements across multiple PsA domains were observed with the oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor filgotinib compared with placebo.2Inhibition of JAK signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling is associated with raised serum lipids.3

Objectives:

To evaluate the effects of filgotinib on the lipid profile of PsA patients and determine if those with higher MACE risk show similar changes in lipid profile compared with the overall population.

Methods:

In EQUATOR, 131 patients with active PsA received filgotinib 200 mg (n=65) or placebo (n=66) once daily for 16 weeks. Patients completing EQUATOR could enter the ongoing EQUATOR2 open-label extension (OLE;NCT03320876), in which patients receive filgotinib 200 mg for up to 148 weeks. Effects of filgotinib on total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and TC/HDL-C ratio at OLE Week 52 (68 weeks after EQUATOR initiation) were analyzed. In a post hoc analysis, patients were classified into subgroups according to presence/absence of obesity (baseline body mass index [BMI]; ≥30 vs <30 kg/m2, respectively), diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension (≥130/80 mmHg), hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Changes in lipid levels were explored graphically.

Results:

124 patients (95%) completed EQUATOR; 122 (93%) enrolled in the OLE. Of these, 11 patients (9%) discontinued treatment by OLE Week 52. Median (range) exposure to filgotinib was 66.0 (0.4–104.1) weeks. In the OLE, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels increased versus baseline with filgotinib, resulting in a decreased TC/HDL-C ratio. Changes in lipid levels were consistent irrespective of presence of obesity (n=56;Fig), diabetes (n=53), arterial hypertension (n=80), hyperlipidemia (n=108), or metabolic syndrome (n=36); baseline lipid values were greater in the higher risk groups. In patients who were assigned placebo in the randomized controlled trial (RCT), HDL-C increased on switching to filgotinib in the OLE (in a manner similar to that seen in filgotinib-treated patients during the RCT), and remained elevated compared with baseline (Fig). Triglyceride levels remained stable throughout, across all subgroups. Seventeen patients (13%) were taking lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) prior to the start of the trial (and continued to do so); the effect of filgotinib on the lipid profile in these patients was similar to that in the overall population. During the RCT phase, another six patients in the filgotinib group and one in the placebo group began taking LLDs.

Conclusion:

In patients exposed to filgotinib for ≥52 weeks, the effects on lipid profile were consistent regardless of baseline CV risk. Lipid changes included an elevation in TC and HDL-C, with a decrease in TC/HDL-C ratio.

References:

[1]Haddad A & Zisman D. Rambam Maimonides Med J 2017;8:e0004

[2]Mease P, et al. Lancet 2018;392:2367–77

[3]Sands B, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020;18:123–32

Acknowledgments:

Studies were sponsored by Galapagos NV; co-funded by Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences. Writing support from Hannah Mace MPharmacol, CMPP (Aspire Scientific Ltd, Bollington, UK) was funded by Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium).

Disclosure of Interests:

M Elaine Husni Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Regeneron, and UCB, Dafna D Gladman Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen Inc., BMS, Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB – consultant, Philip Helliwell: None declared, Filip van den Bosch Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, Chantal Tasset Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, Luc Meuleners Employee of: Galapagos, Leen Gilles Consultant of: Galapagos, Lien Gheyle Employee of: Galapagos, Mona Trivedi Shareholder of: Amgen and Gilead Sciences, Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Muhsen Alani Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Robin Besuyen Shareholder of: Galapagos, Employee of: Galapagos, Philip J Mease Grant/research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – grant/research support, Consultant of: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB – consultant, Speakers bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Biogen Idec, BMS, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen, Pfizer, UCB – speakers bureau

Utility of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement for Maintaining Portal Vein Patency in Candidates on Wait Lists Who Develop Thrombus

OBJECTIVES

Although no longer a contraindication to liver transplant, portal vein thrombosis may lead to longer operative time and complexities in venous reconstruction. Strategies to maintain preoperative patency include systemic anticoagulation and/or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement. The former may not be ideal in cirrhotic patients prone to luminal gastrointestinal tract bleeding, and factors that predict improvements in portal vein thrombosis with the latter have not been well defined. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement as monotherapy to improve and/or resolve portal vein thrombosis in otherwise eligible liver transplant candidates with partial or complete portal vein thrombosis and to identify factors predicting success.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 30 patients from 2010 to 2015 who had transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placementfor primary indication to maintain portal vein patency.

RESULTS

The main portal vein was completely thrombosed in 5 of 30 (16.6%), nearly completely thrombosed in 9 of 30 (30%), and partially thrombosed in 16 patients (53.3%). Twenty-four patients (80%) had improvement and/or resolution of portal vein thrombosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement, with 18 of these (75%) having complete resolution. All 5 patients (20.8%) with complete thrombosis had improvement/resolution of portal vein thrombosis. Nine patients (30%) required hospitalization within 3 months for hepatic encephalopathy. There were 3 deaths (10%) not related to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement (10%). Nine patients underwent liver transplant after shunt placement (median 2.9 mo; range, 0.3-32 mo); all 9 received endto-end anastomosis without need for intraoperative thrombectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement may be effective as monotherapy for maintaining or restoring portal vein patency in selected livertransplant candidates, even in those with complete portal vein thrombosis. Further studies are needed to define potential responders to this approach.

Diagnosis and immediate treatment of acquired von Willebrand syndrome revealed by recurrent cerebral hemorrhage

We report the case of a French woman with acquired von Willebrand syndrome who presents recurrent subarachnoid and intra-cerebral hemorrhage since 2012. She had no family or personal bleeding history. In the biologic explorations, APTT was abnormally high with no anticoagulant drugs (it was normal, historically). Two monoclonal IgG and IgM kappa proteins were detected without any lymphoproliferative disorder. Intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin is very effective in AVWS with immunoglobulin G monoclonal gammapathie of undetermined significance. We had a satisfactory correction of coagulation factors for about 30 days. The exploration of APTT is surely essential for the diagnosis and treatment.

Impact of the relative dose intensity on survival of patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes treated with Azacitidine

We performed a retrospective analysis of 93 myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with intermediate 2 or high‐risk IPSS score to study the impact of Azacitidine (AZA) relative dose intensity (RDI) <80% on the overall survival (OS). There were 51.6% of patients who had full dose and 48.4% had dose reduction or delayed with a RDI <80%. Nineteen patients (20.4%) had RDI <80% before getting objective response. Overall and progression‐free survivals (OS, PFS) probabilities for the whole population were 58% (95% CI: 48‐69) and 47% (95% CI: 38‐58) at 1 year; 35% (95% CI: 26‐47) and 31% (95% CI: 23‐43) at two years, respectively. When analyzing the outcomes according to the response to AZA, median OS was 32 months (range: 26‐55) for responders and 8 months (range: 7‐12) for nonresponders, with a respective 1‐year and 2‐year OS probabilities of 91% vs 28% and 66% vs 6%, respectively (P < 0.001). Interestingly, there was no impact of dose reduction on OS nor on PFS, however, when analyzing the timing of dose reduction as time‐dependent variable, we found that patients who had dose reduction before achieving the objective response, had significantly lower OS (P = 0.02) and PFS (P = 0.01) compared to patients who had dose reduction after achieving the objective response. In multivariate analysis, acute myeloid leukemia with 21%‐30% blasts in BM and poor and very poor karyotype significantly impacted OS, (HR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.27‐3.44, P = 0.004, and HR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.6‐4.6, P < 0.001 respectively), as well as PFS (HR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.07‐3.17, P = 0.028, and HR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.7‐5.39, P < 0.001, respectively).

A pre-neoplastic epigenetic field defect in HCV-infected liver at transcription factor binding sites and polycomb targets

The predisposition of patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves components of viral infection, inflammation and time. The development of multifocal, genetically distinct tumours is suggestive of a field defect affecting the entire liver. The molecular susceptibility mediating such a field defect is not understood. One potential mediator of long-term cellular reprogramming is heritable (epigenetic) regulation of transcription, exemplified by DNA methylation. We studied epigenetic and transcriptional changes in HCV-infected livers in comparison with control, uninfected livers and HCC, allowing us to identify pre-neoplastic epigenetic and transcriptional events. We find the HCV-infected liver to have a pattern of acquisition of DNA methylation targeted to candidate enhancers active in liver cells, enriched for the binding sites of the FOXA1, FOXA2 and HNF4A transcription factors. These enhancers can be subdivided into those proximal to genes implicated in liver cancer or to genes involved in stem cell development, the latter distinguished by increased CG dinucleotide density and polycomb-mediated repression, manifested by the additional acquisition of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). Transcriptional studies on our samples showed that the increased DNA methylation at enhancers was associated with decreased local gene expression, results validated in independent samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Pharmacological depletion of H3K27me3 using the EZH2 inhibitor GSK343 in HepG2 cells suppressed cell growth and also revealed that local acquired DNA methylation was not dependent upon the presence of polycomb-mediated repression. The results support a model of HCV infection influencing the binding of transcription factors to cognate sites in the genome, with consequent local acquisition of DNA methylation, and the added repressive influence of polycomb at a subset of CG-dense cis-regulatory sequences. These epigenetic events occur before neoplastic transformation, resulting in what may be a pharmacologically reversible epigenetic field defect in HCV-infected liver.

Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Recurrence in Multiply Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

To date, evidence for the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been limited to case series and open-label clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy and safety of FMT for treatment of recurrent CDI.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01703494).

SETTING

Two academic medical centers.

PATIENTS

46 patients who had 3 or more recurrences of CDI and received a full course of vancomycin for their most recent acute episode.

INTERVENTION

Fecal microbiota transplantation with donor stool (heterologous) or patient's own stool (autologous) administered by colonoscopy.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary end point was resolution of diarrhea without the need for further anti-CDI therapy during the 8-week follow-up. Safety data were compared between treatment groups via review of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and new medical conditions for 6 months after FMT. Fecal microbiota analyses were performed on patients' stool before and after FMT and also on donors' stool.

RESULTS

In the intention-to-treat analysis, 20 of 22 patients (90.9%) in the donor FMT group achieved clinical cure compared with 15 of 24 (62.5%) in the autologous FMT group (P = 0.042). Resolution after autologous FMT differed by site (9 of 10 vs. 6 of 14 [P = 0.033]). All 9 patients who developed recurrent CDI after autologous FMT were free of further CDI after subsequent donor FMT. There were no SAEs related to FMT. Donor FMT restored gut bacterial community diversity and composition to resemble that of healthy donors.

LIMITATION

The study included only patients who had 3 or more recurrences and excluded those who were immunocompromised and aged 75 years or older.

CONCLUSION

Donor stool administered via colonoscopy seemed safe and was more efficacious than autologous FMT in preventing further CDI episodes.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal cancer: The changing face of a disease

The last decade has brought about an unexpected rise in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) primarily in white males from the ages of 40-55years, with limited exposure to alcohol and tobacco. This subset of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been found to be associated with human papillomavirus infection (HPV). Other Head and Neck Squamous Cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subtypes include oral cavity, hypopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal SCC which tend to be HPV negative. HPV associated oropharyngeal cancer has proven to differ from alcohol and tobacco associated oropharyngeal carcinoma in regards to the molecular pathophysiology, presentation, epidemiology, prognosis, and improved response to chemoradiation therapy. Given the improved survival of patients with HPV associated SCC, efforts to de-intensify treatment to decrease treatment related morbidity are at the forefront of clinical research. This review will focus on the important differences between HPV and tobacco related oropharyngeal cancer. We will review the molecular pathogenesis of HPV related oropharyngeal cancer with an emphasis on new paradigms for screening and treating this disease.

Limited Fibrosis Progression but Significant Mortality in Patients Ineligible for Interferon-Based Hepatitis C Therapy

BACKGROUND

Individuals ineligible for interferon-based hepatitis C therapy may have a worse prognosis than patients who have failed or not received treatment.

AIMS

To provide information about the limitations of medical treatment of hepatitis C in real-world patients.

METHODS

We studied 969 treatment-ineligible patients and 403 treated patients enrolled between 1/1/01 and 6/30/06; data were collected until 3/31/13. Treatment barriers were grouped into five categories and classified as health-related or health-unrelated. Fibrosis stage was assessed initially and at the end of follow-up. Mortality was determined by search of the Social Security database. Death certificates of treatment-ineligible patients were reviewed.

RESULTS

Initially, 288 individuals had advanced fibrosis and compensated disease; 87 untreated patients developed advanced fibrosis during follow-up. Health-related treatment barriers were more commonly associated with fibrosis progression and worse survival. During follow-up, 247 untreated patients died: 47% of liver-related and 53% of liver-unrelated causes. Patients with significant comorbid illness had the worst five- (70%) and ten-year (50.5%) survival. Despite high mortality (47%) in persons with decompensated liver disease, no treatment barrier was associated with a greater incidence of liver-related death. Only significant comorbid medical illness was an independent predictor of disease progression; however, it was not associated with a greater incidence of liver-related death. Furthermore, treated patients had better 10-year survival than untreated patients on Kaplan-Meier analysis (80.3% vs. 74.5%, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Many patients with hepatitis C will die of non-liver-related causes and may not be helped by anti-viral treatment.

Genetic analysis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease within a Caribbean-Hispanic population

We explored potential genetic risk factors implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) within a Caribbean–Hispanic population in New York City. A total of 316 individuals including 40 subjects with biopsy‐proven NAFLD, 24 ethnically matched non‐NAFLD controls, and a 252 ethnically mixed random sampling of Bronx County, New York were analyzed. Genotype analysis was performed to determine allelic frequencies of 74 known single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with NAFLD risk based on previous genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and candidate gene studies. Additionally, the entire coding region of PNPLA3, a gene showing the strongest association to NAFLD was subjected to Sanger sequencing. Results suggest that both rare and common DNA variations in PNPLA3 and SAMM50 may be correlated with NAFLD in this small population study, while common DNA variations in CHUK and ERLIN1, may have a protective interaction. Common SNPs in ENPP1 and ABCC2 have suggestive association with fatty liver, but with less compelling significance. In conclusion, Hispanic patients of Caribbean ancestry may have different interactions with NAFLD genetic modifiers; therefore, further investigation with a larger sample size, into this Caribbean–Hispanic population is warranted.