Single-cell mapping of focused ultrasound-transfected brain

Gene delivery via focused ultrasound (FUS) mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is a disruptive therapeutic modality. Unlocking its full potential will require an understanding of how FUS parameters (e.g., peak-negative pressure (PNP)) affect transfected cell populations. Following plasmid (mRuby) delivery across the BBB with 1 MHz FUS, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing to ascertain that distributions of transfected cell types were highly dependent on PNP. Cells of the BBB (i.e., endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes) were enriched at 0.2 MPa PNP, while transfection of cells distal to the BBB (i.e., neurons, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) was augmented at 0.4 MPa PNP. PNP-dependent differential gene expression was observed for multiple cell types. Cell stress genes were upregulated proportional to PNP, independent of cell type. Our results underscore how FUS may be tuned to bias transfection toward specific brain cell types in vivo and predict how those cells will respond to transfection.

Long term outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma without macrovascular invasion

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is a non-invasive ablative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This report aimed to address the limited availability of long-term outcomes after SBRT for HCC from North America.

METHODS

Localized HCC patients without vascular invasion, who were ineligible for other liver-directed therapies and treated with SBRT at the University of Toronto or University of Michigan, were pooled to determine overall survival (OS), cumulative recurrence rates, and ≥ grade-3 toxicity. Multivariable analysis determined factors affecting OS and local recurrence rates.

RESULTS

In 297 patients with 436 HCCs (42% > 3 cm), one-, three- and five-year OS was 77·3%, 39·0% and 24·1%, respectively. On Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, liver transplant after SBRT, Child-Pugh A liver function, alpha-fetoprotein ≤ 10 ng/ml, and Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group performance status 0 significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0·06, 95% confidence interval [CI- 0·02-0·25; p<0·001; HR = 0·42, 95% CI = 0·29-0·60, p<0·001; HR = 0·61, 95% CI- 0·44-0·83; p=0·002 and HR = 0·71, 95% CI = 0·51-0·97, p=0·034, respectively). Cumulative local recurrence was 6·3% (95% CI = 0.03-0.09) and 13·3% (95% CI = 0.06-0.21) at one and three years, respectively. Using Cox regression modelling, local control was significantly higher using breath-hold motion management and in HCC smaller than 3 cm (HR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.58-0.98; p=0.042 and HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.26-0.98; p=0.042, respectively). Worsening of Child-Pugh score by ≥2 points three months after SBRT was seen in 15.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT confers high local control and long-term survival in a substantial proportion of HCC patients unsuitable for, or refractory to standard loco-regional treatments. Liver transplant should be considered if appropriate downsizing occurs after SBRT.

Early stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy: A pooled analysis from two North American institutions

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Background: To report outcomes of pooled data from patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) at two North American Institutions. Methods: An IRB approved collaborative review of patients with HCC treated with radical intent SBRT was conducted. Inclusion criteria included patients with Stage I-IIIA HCC (UICC/AJCC 7th Ed.) treated with SBRT (≥ 4.5 Gy/ fraction) from June 2003 until Dec 2016. Patients who were treated with SBRT were ineligible for resection, percutaneous ablative or hepatic intravascular therapies. Patients with vascular invasion and those treated with palliative intent (e.g. HCC rupture) were excluded. Overall survival, local control and toxicity of treatment were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 310 eligible patients, 23% were Child-Pugh (CP) class B/C (21%/2%), and 40% had failed prior liver directed therapies. The median HCC diameter was 2.4 cm (range 0.5-18.1 cm), and the median prescribed dose was 39 Gray (Gy) in 5 fractions (range: 14 - 60 Gy in 2-6 fractions). Median BED was 78.75 Gy (Range: 23.8-180.0 Gy). 8.4% of patients underwent liver transplant after SBRT. Local control at 1, 3 and 5 years was 91.5%, 82.6% and 82.6%. On multivariable analysis (MVA), the use of breath-hold motion management, but not T stage, size or dose, was significantly associated with local control (p = 0.0098). The 1, 3, and 5 year overall survival (OS) was 77.3%, 37.9% and 23.5%. Factors associated with improved OS on MVA included baseline CP A score (HR = 0.58, p < 0.0045), AFP < 10 µg/L (HR = 0.66, p = 0.0094), and transplant post SBRT (HR = 0.05, p < 0.0001). The median survival of CP A vs. B/C patients was 30.3 and 17.6 months respectively. CTCAE (v4.0) grade 3 or higher luminal gastrointestinal organ toxicity occurred in 2.5% of patients, while a decline in CP score ≥ 2 points was seen in 16.7% of patients at 3 months post SBRT. Grade 3 and above elevated liver enzymes were seen in 12.6% and 8.1% of patients at baseline and at 3 months post SBRT. Conclusions: Similar to Asian series, this North American pooled analysis found high sustained local control and excellent survival in patients with early stage HCC treated with SBRT.

A prospective study of telephonic contact and subsequent physical follow-up of radically treated lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

We tested the hypothesis that telephonic follow-up (FU) may offer a convenient and equivalent alternative to physical FU of radically treated lung cancer patients.

DESIGN

Prospective study carried out at a tertiary referral cancer care institute, Mumbai.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred consecutive lung cancer patients treated with curative intent were followed up regularly with telephonic interviews paired with their routine physical FU visits. Patient satisfaction with the telephonic call and the physical visit, the anxiety level of the patient after meeting the physician and the economic burden of the visit to the patient were noted in a descriptive manner. Kappa statistics was used to assess concurrence between the telephonic and physical impression of disease status.

RESULTS

With a median FU duration of 21.5 months, the median satisfaction scores for telephonic and physical FU were 8 and 9, respectively. The prevalence and bias adjusted kappa (PABAK) score of the entire cohort of patients was 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] =0.58-0.70). Data analyzed up to first disease progression/relapse on FU had a PABAK score of 0.71 (95% CI = 0.64-0.77) indicating substantial agreement. Patients with disease controlled at the FU had a significant PABAK score of 0.88 (95% CI = 0.80-0.94) indicating excellent concurrence. On average, each patient spent Rs. 5117.10 on travel and Rs. 3079.06 on lodging per FU visit.

CONCLUSION

Telephonic FU is substantially accurate in assessing disease status until the first relapse. In a resource-constrained country like India, it is worthwhile to further explore the benefits of such an alternative strategy.

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide in clinical acute renal failure

Fifty-three consenting patients meeting clinical and urine composition criteria for established intrinsic ARF were assigned to two treatment groups. Group I patients were treated with human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) with or without diuretics. Groups II patients were treated with or without diuretics and with no ANP. Age, sex, etiology of ARF, entry serum creatinines (SCr) (Group I, 5.3 +/- 1.8; Group II, 5.1 +/- 2.1 mg/dl) and creatinine clearances (CCr) (Group I, 9.9 +/- 2.1; Group II, 9.2 +/- 2.1 ml/min) were similar. Thirty patients received ANP [0.20 micrograms/kg/min i.v. x 24 hr (N = 20) or 0.08 micrograms/kg/min i.a. x 8 hr (N = 10)] and furosemide, 0.5 mg/kg/hr x 24 hr or mannitol, 12.5 g every six hours x 4, or no diuretic; 23 Group II patients received diuretics as above or no diuretic in a similar distribution to Group I. CCr (verified with simultaneous inulin clearances x 12, r = 0.93, P < 0.001) increased significantly by eight hours of ANP treatment to 17.1 +/- 3.2 ml/min and by 24 hours after discontinuing ANP to 21.0 +/- 4.4 ml/min (both P < 0.05). There was no corresponding increase in CCr in Group II. Dialysis was required in 23% of Group I and in 52% of Group II patients (different at P < 0.05). Mortality rates of 17% for Group I and 35% for Group II were not significantly different (P = 0.11). It is concluded that parenteral ANP increases CCr and reduces need for dialysis in patients with established intrinsic ARF.