Adipose tissue protects against sepsis-induced muscle weakness in mice: from lipolysis to ketones

Background

ICU-acquired weakness is a debilitating consequence of prolonged critical illness that is associated with poor outcome. Recently, premorbid obesity has been shown to protect against such illness-induced muscle wasting and weakness. Here, we hypothesized that this protection was due to increased lipid and ketone availability.

Methods

In a centrally catheterized, fluid-resuscitated, antibiotic-treated mouse model of prolonged sepsis, we compared markers of lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation in lean and obese septic mice (n = 117). Next, we compared markers of muscle wasting and weakness in septic obese wild-type and adipose tissue-specific ATGL knockout (AAKO) mice (n = 73), in lean septic mice receiving either intravenous infusion of lipids or standard parenteral nutrition (PN) (n = 70), and in lean septic mice receiving standard PN supplemented with either the ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate or isocaloric glucose (n = 49).

Results

Obese septic mice had more pronounced lipolysis (p ≤ 0.05), peripheral fatty acid oxidation (p ≤ 0.05), and ketogenesis (p ≤ 0.05) than lean mice. Blocking lipolysis in obese septic mice caused severely reduced muscle mass (32% loss vs. 15% in wild-type, p < 0.001) and specific maximal muscle force (59% loss vs. 0% in wild-type; p < 0.001). In contrast, intravenous infusion of lipids in lean septic mice maintained specific maximal muscle force up to healthy control levels (p = 0.6), whereas this was reduced with 28% in septic mice receiving standard PN (p = 0.006). Muscle mass was evenly reduced with 29% in both lean septic groups (p < 0.001). Lipid administration enhanced fatty acid oxidation (p ≤ 0.05) and ketogenesis (p < 0.001), but caused unfavorable liver steatosis (p = 0.01) and a deranged lipid profile (p ≤ 0.01). Supplementation of standard PN with 3-hydroxybutyrate also attenuated specific maximal muscle force up to healthy control levels (p = 0.1), but loss of muscle mass could not be prevented (25% loss in both septic groups; p < 0.001). Importantly, this intervention improved muscle regeneration markers (p ≤ 0.05) without the unfavorable side effects seen with lipid infusion.

Conclusions

Obesity-induced muscle protection during sepsis is partly mediated by elevated mobilization and metabolism of endogenous fatty acids. Furthermore, increased availability of ketone bodies, either through ketogenesis or through parenteral infusion, appears to protect against sepsis-induced muscle weakness also in the lean.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-019-2506-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Premorbid obesity, but not nutrition, prevents critical illness-induced muscle wasting and weakness

BACKGROUND

The 'obesity paradox' of critical illness refers to better survival with a higher body mass index. We hypothesized that fat mobilized from excess adipose tissue during critical illness provides energy more efficiently than exogenous macronutrients and could prevent lean tissue wasting.

METHODS

In lean and premorbidly obese mice, the effect of 5 days of sepsis-induced critical illness on body weight and composition, muscle wasting, and weakness was assessed, each with fasting and parenteral feeding. Also, in lean and overweight/obese prolonged critically ill patients, markers of muscle wasting and weakness were compared.

RESULTS

In mice, sepsis reduced body weight similarly in the lean and obese, but in the obese with more fat loss and less loss of muscle mass, better preservation of myofibre size and muscle force, and less loss of ectopic lipids, irrespective of administered feeding. These differences between lean and obese septic mice coincided with signs of more effective hepatic fatty acid and glycerol metabolism, and ketogenesis in the obese. Also in humans, better preservation of myofibre size and muscle strength was observed in overweight/obese compared with lean prolonged critically ill patients.

CONCLUSIONS

During critical illness premorbid obesity, but not nutrition, optimized utilization of stored lipids and attenuated muscle wasting and weakness.

Baboon syndrome

An 18-month-old patient developed Baboon syndrome after oral treatment with erythromycin syrup for a sore throat. The lymphoblastic transformation test was positive for erythromycin. Prick tests were negative although the intradermal test was positive at a concentration of erythromycin of 1:10,000. The biopsy showed a perivascular lymphocytic dermatitis. Local treatment with a potent corticoid improved the lesions after 3 days. The Baboon syndrome is uncommon among children. It has a pattern similar to systemic contact dermatitis with particular features (erythema in flexural areas). In our case, the role of erythromycin was documented. However, this antibiotic remains a relatively rare allergen.

Role of Glucagon in Catabolism and Muscle Wasting of Critical Illness and Modulation by Nutrition

RATIONALE

Critical illness is hallmarked by muscle wasting and disturbances in glucose, lipid, and amino acid homeostasis. Circulating concentrations of glucagon, a catabolic hormone that affects these metabolic pathways, are elevated during critical illness. Insight in the nutritional regulation of glucagon and its metabolic role during critical illness is lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether macronutrient infusion can suppress plasma glucagon during critical illness and study the role of illness-induced glucagon abundance in the disturbed glucose, lipid, and amino acid homeostasis and in muscle wasting during critical illness.

METHODS

In human and mouse studies, we infused macronutrients and manipulated glucagon availability up and down to investigate its acute and chronic metabolic role during critical illness.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In critically ill patients, infusing glucose with insulin did not lower glucagon, whereas parenteral nutrition containing amino acids increased glucagon. In critically ill mice, infusion of amino acids increased glucagon and up-regulated markers of hepatic amino acid catabolism without affecting muscle wasting. Immunoneutralizing glucagon in critically ill mice only transiently affected glucose and lipid metabolism, did not affect muscle wasting, but drastically suppressed markers of hepatic amino acid catabolism and reversed the illness-induced hypoaminoacidemia.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that elevated glucagon availability during critical illness increases hepatic amino acid catabolism, explaining the illness-induced hypoaminoacidemia, without affecting muscle wasting and without a sustained impact on blood glucose. Furthermore, amino acid infusion likely results in a further breakdown of amino acids in the liver, mediated by increased glucagon, without preventing muscle wasting. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00512122).

Effect of withholding early parenteral nutrition in PICU on ketogenesis as potential mediator of its outcome benefit

Background

In critically ill children, omitting early use of parenteral nutrition (late-PN versus early-PN) reduced infections, accelerated weaning from mechanical ventilation, and shortened PICU stay. We hypothesized that fasting-induced ketogenesis mediates these benefits.

Methods

In a secondary analysis of the PEPaNIC RCT (N = 1440), the impact of late-PN versus early-PN on plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), and on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and glucagon as key ketogenesis regulators, was determined for 96 matched patients staying ≥ 5 days in PICU, and the day of maximal 3HB-effect, if any, was identified. Subsequently, in the total study population, plasma 3HB and late-PN-affected ketogenesis regulators were measured on that average day of maximal 3HB effect. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression analyses were performed adjusting for randomization and baseline risk factors. Whether any potential mediator role for 3HB was direct or indirect was assessed by further adjusting for ketogenesis regulators.

Results

In the matched cohort (n = 96), late-PN versus early-PN increased plasma 3HB throughout PICU days 1–5 (P < 0.0001), maximally on PICU day 2. Also, blood glucose (P < 0.001) and plasma insulin (P < 0.0001), but not glucagon, were affected. In the total cohort (n = 1142 with available plasma), late-PN increased plasma 3HB on PICU day 2 (day 1 for shorter stayers) from (median [IQR]) 0.04 [0.04–0.04] mmol/L to 0.75 [0.04–2.03] mmol/L (P < 0.0001). The 3HB effect of late-PN statistically explained its impact on weaning from mechanical ventilation (P = 0.0002) and on time to live PICU discharge (P = 0.004). Further adjustment for regulators of ketogenesis did not alter these findings.

Conclusion

Withholding early-PN in critically ill children significantly increased plasma 3HB, a direct effect that statistically mediated an important part of its outcome benefit.

Efficacy and safety of ketone ester infusion to prevent muscle weakness in a mouse model of sepsis-induced critical illness

In septic mice, 3-hydroxybutyrate-sodium-salt has shown to partially prevent sepsis-induced muscle weakness. Although effective, the excessive sodium load was toxic. We here investigated whether ketone ester 3-hydroxybutyl-3-hydroxybutanoate (3HHB) was a safer alternative. In a mouse model of abdominal sepsis, the effects of increasing bolus doses of 3HHB enantiomers on mortality, morbidity and muscle force were investigated (n = 376). Next, plasma 3HB^- clearance after bolus d-3HHB was investigated (n = 27). Subsequently, in septic mice, the effect on mortality and muscle force of a continuous d,l-3HHB infusion was investigated (n = 72). In septic mice, as compared with placebo, muscle force was increased at 20 mmol/kg/day l-3HHB and at 40 mmol/kg/day d- and d,l-3HHB. However, severity of illness and mortality was increased by doubling the effective bolus doses. Bolus 3HHB caused a higher 3HB⁻ plasma peak and slower clearance with sepsis. Unlike bolus injections, continuous infusion of d,l-3HHB did not increase severity of illness or mortality, while remaining effective in improving muscle force. Treatment of septic mice with the ketone ester 3HHB partly prevented muscle weakness. Toxicity of 3HHB administered as bolus was completely avoided by continuous infusion of the same dose. Whether continuous infusion of ketone esters represents a promising intervention to also prevent ICU-acquired weakness in human patients should be investigated.

Use of a Central Venous Line for Fluids, Drugs and Nutrient Administration in a Mouse Model of Critical Illness

This protocol describes a centrally catheterized mouse model of prolonged critical illness. We combine the cecal ligation and puncture method to induce sepsis with the use of a central venous line for fluids, drugs and nutrient administration to mimic the human clinical setting. Critically ill patients require intensive medical support in order to survive. While the majority of patients will recover within a few days, about a quarter of the patients need prolonged intensive care and are at high risk of dying from non-resolving multiple organ failure. Furthermore, the prolonged phase of critical illness is hallmarked by profound muscle weakness, and endocrine and metabolic changes, of which the pathogenesis is currently incompletely understood. The most widely used animal model in critical care research is the cecal ligation and puncture model to induce sepsis. This is a very reproducible model, with acute inflammatory and hemodynamic changes similar to human sepsis, which is designed to study the acute phase of critical illness. However, this model is hallmarked by a high lethality, which is different from the clinical human situation, and is not developed to study the prolonged phase of critical illness. Therefore, we adapted the technique by placing a central venous catheter in the jugular vein allowing us to administer clinically relevant supportive care, to better mimic the human clinical situation of critical illness. This mouse model requires an extensive surgical procedure and daily intensive care of the animals, but it results in a relevant model of the acute and prolonged phase of critical illness.

Optimization of Endometrial Decidualization in the Menstruating Mouse Model for Preclinical Endometriosis Research

BACKGROUND

To induce endometrial decidualization in rodents, an intrauterine oil stimulus can be delivered via the nontraumatic vagina or via the traumatic laparotomy. However, there is considerable variation in amount of decidualization using these inducing methods. Therefore, we studied which oil delivery route could achieve the highest rate of endometrial decidualization along the full length of both uterine horns.

METHODS

To induce decidualization, ovariectomized C57Bl/6J mice were injected with estrogen (100 ng/day; 3 days). A progesterone pellet (5 mg) was implanted subcutaneously, followed by estrogen injections (5 ng/day; 3 days). Oil (20 µL/horn) was injected in the uterus via laparotomy, laparoscopy, or vagina. Four days later, the pellet was removed, followed by hysterectomy after 4 to 6 hours. Endometrial decidualization was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically using hematoxylin and eosin and desmin staining. Furthermore, uterine weight and hormone levels were measured.

RESULTS

The proportion of animals with macroscopic bicornuate decidualization was higher after laparoscopic (83%) and laparotomic (89%) injection than after sham injection (11%). Furthermore, macroscopic bicornuate decidualization was significantly higher after laparotomic injection (89%) compared to the vaginal injection (38%). Uterine weight and endometrial surface area were significantly higher in both laparotomy and laparoscopy groups compared to the sham group, while the relative desmin-positive endometrial surface area was only significantly different between the laparotomy and the sham animals.

CONCLUSION

Methods using laparoscopic and laparotomic intrauterine oil injection resulted in a higher amount of decidualized endometrium compared to sham injection, although further optimization is needed to reach full bicornuate decidualization.

Altered cholesterol homeostasis in critical illness-induced muscle weakness: effect of exogenous 3-hydroxybutyrate

Background

Muscle weakness is a complication of critical illness which hampers recovery. In critically ill mice, supplementation with the ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate has been shown to improve muscle force and to normalize illness-induced hypocholesterolemia. We hypothesized that altered cholesterol homeostasis is involved in development of critical illness-induced muscle weakness and that this pathway can be affected by 3-hydroxybutyrate.

Methods

In both human critically ill patients and septic mice, the association between circulating cholesterol concentrations and muscle weakness was assessed. In septic mice, the impact of 3-hydroxybutyrate supplementation on cholesterol homeostasis was evaluated with use of tracer technology and through analysis of markers of cholesterol metabolism and downstream pathways.

Results

Serum cholesterol concentrations were lower in weak than in non-weak critically ill patients, and in multivariable analysis adjusting for baseline risk factors, serum cholesterol was inversely correlated with weakness. In septic mice, plasma cholesterol correlated positively with muscle force. In septic mice, exogenous 3-hydroxybutyrate increased plasma cholesterol and altered cholesterol homeostasis, by normalization of plasma mevalonate and elevation of muscular, but not hepatic, expression of cholesterol synthesis genes. In septic mice, tracer technology revealed that 3-hydroxybutyrate was preferentially taken up by muscle and metabolized into cholesterol precursor mevalonate, rather than TCA metabolites. The 3-hydroxybutyrate protection against weakness was not related to ubiquinone or downstream myofiber mitochondrial function, whereas cholesterol content in myofibers was increased.

Conclusions

These findings point to a role for low cholesterol in critical illness-induced muscle weakness and to a protective mechanism-of-action for 3-hydroxybutyrate supplementation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03688-1.

Proliferation and differentiation of adipose tissue in prolonged lean and obese critically ill patients

Background

In prolonged non-obese critically ill patients, preservation of adipose tissue is prioritized over that of the skeletal muscle and coincides with increased adipogenesis. However, we recently demonstrated that in obese critically ill mice, this priority was switched. In the obese, the use of abundantly available adipose tissue-derived energy substrates was preferred and counteracted muscle wasting. These observations suggest that different processes are ongoing in adipose tissue of lean vs. overweight/obese critically ill patients.

Methods

We hypothesize that to preserve adipose tissue mass during critical illness, adipogenesis is increased in prolonged lean critically ill patients, but not in overweight/obese critically ill patients, who enter the ICU with excess adipose tissue. To test this, we studied markers of adipogenesis in subcutaneous and visceral biopsies of matched lean (n = 24) and overweight/obese (n = 24) prolonged critically ill patients. Secondly, to further unravel the underlying mechanism of critical illness-induced adipogenesis, local production of eicosanoid PPARγ agonists was explored, as well as the adipogenic potential of serum from matched lean (n = 20) and overweight/obese (n = 20) critically ill patients.

Results

The number of small adipocytes, PPARγ protein, and CEBPB expression were equally upregulated (p ≤ 0.05) in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue biopsies of lean and overweight/obese prolonged critically ill patients. Gene expression of key enzymes involved in eicosanoid production was reduced (COX1, HPGDS, LPGDS, ALOX15, all p ≤ 0.05) or unaltered (COX2, ALOX5) during critical illness, irrespective of obesity. Gene expression of PLA2G2A and ALOX15B was upregulated in lean and overweight/obese patients (p ≤ 0.05), whereas their end products, the PPARγ-activating metabolites 15s-HETE and 9-HODE, were not increased in the adipose tissue. In vitro, serum of lean and overweight/obese prolonged critically ill patients equally stimulated adipocyte proliferation (p ≤ 0.05) and differentiation (lipid accumulation, DLK1, and CEBPB expression, p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

Contrary to what was hypothesized, adipogenesis increased independently of initial BMI in prolonged critically ill patients. Not the production of local eicosanoid PPARγ agonists but circulating adipogenic factors seem to be involved in critical illness-induced adipogenesis. Importantly, our findings suggest that abundantly available energy substrates from the adipose tissue, rather than excess adipocytes, can play a beneficial role during critical illness.

Impact of prolonged sepsis on neural and muscular components of muscle contractions in a mouse model

BACKGROUND

Prolonged critically ill patients frequently develop debilitating muscle weakness that can affect both peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle. In-depth knowledge on the temporal contribution of neural and muscular components to muscle weakness is currently incomplete.

METHODS

We used a fluid-resuscitated, antibiotic-treated, parenterally fed murine model of prolonged (5 days) sepsis-induced muscle weakness (caecal ligation and puncture; n = 148). Electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed in two nerve-muscle complexes, combined with histological analysis of neuromuscular junction denervation, axonal degeneration, and demyelination. In situ muscle force measurements distinguished neural from muscular contribution to reduced muscle force generation. In myofibres, imaging and biomechanics were combined to evaluate myofibrillar contractile calcium sensitivity, sarcomere organization, and fibre structural properties. Myosin and actin protein content and titin gene expression were measured on the whole muscle.

RESULTS

Five days of sepsis resulted in increased EMG latency (P = 0.006) and decreased EMG amplitude (P < 0.0001) in the dorsal caudal tail nerve-tail complex, whereas only EMG amplitude was affected in the sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle complex (P < 0.0001). Myelin sheath abnormalities (P = 0.2), axonal degeneration (number of axons; P = 0.4), and neuromuscular junction denervation (P = 0.09) were largely absent in response to sepsis, but signs of axonal swelling [higher axon area (P < 0.0001) and g-ratio (P = 0.03)] were observed. A reduction in maximal muscle force was present after indirect nerve stimulation (P = 0.007) and after direct muscle stimulation (P = 0.03). The degree of force reduction was similar with both stimulations (P = 0.2), identifying skeletal muscle, but not peripheral nerves, as the main contributor to muscle weakness. Myofibrillar calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus was unaffected by sepsis (P ≥ 0.6), whereas septic myofibres displayed disorganized sarcomeres (P < 0.0001) and altered myofibre axial elasticity (P < 0.0001). Septic myofibres suffered from increased rupturing in a passive stretching protocol (25% more than control myofibres; P = 0.04), which was associated with impaired myofibre active force generation (P = 0.04), linking altered myofibre integrity to function. Sepsis also caused a reduction in muscle titin gene expression (P = 0.04) and myosin and actin protein content (P = 0.05), but not the myosin-to-actin ratio (P = 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged sepsis-induced muscle weakness may predominantly be related to a disruption in myofibrillar cytoarchitectural structure, rather than to neural abnormalities.

Development of muscle weakness in a mouse model of critical illness: does fibroblast growth factor 21 play a role?

BACKGROUND

Critical illness is hallmarked by severe stress and organ damage. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been shown to rise during critical illness. FGF21 is a pleiotropic hormone that mediates adaptive responses to tissue injury and repair in various chronic pathological conditions. Animal studies have suggested that the critical illness-induced rise in FGF21 may to a certain extent protect against acute lung, liver, kidney and brain injury. However, FGF21 has also been shown to mediate fasting-induced loss of muscle mass and force. Such loss of muscle mass and force is a frequent problem of critically ill patients, associated with adverse outcome. In the present study, we therefore investigated whether the critical illness-induced acute rise in FGF21 is muscle-protective or rather contributes to the pathophysiology of critical illness-induced muscle weakness.

METHODS

In a catheterised mouse model of critical illness induced by surgery and sepsis, we first assessed the effects of genetic FGF21 inactivation, and hence the inability to acutely increase FGF21, on survival, body weight, muscle wasting and weakness, and markers of muscle cellular stress and dysfunction in acute (30 h) and prolonged (5 days) critical illness. Secondly, we assessed whether any effects were mirrored by supplementing an FGF21 analogue (LY2405319) in prolonged critical illness.

RESULTS

FGF21 was not required for survival of sepsis. Genetic FGF21 inactivation aggravated the critical illness-induced body weight loss (p = 0.0003), loss of muscle force (p = 0.03) and shift to smaller myofibers. This was accompanied by a more pronounced rise in markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress in muscle, without effects on impairments in mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities or autophagy activation. Supplementing critically ill mice with LY2405319 did not affect survival, muscle force or weight, or markers of muscle cellular stress/dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Endogenous FGF21 is not required for sepsis survival, but may partially protect muscle force and may reduce cellular stress in muscle. Exogenous FGF21 supplementation failed to improve muscle force or cellular stress, not supporting the clinical applicability of FGF21 supplementation to protect against muscle weakness during critical illness.

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N, Avard B, Burns R, Patarchi A, Spina T, Tanaka H, Otani N, Ode S, Ishimatsu S, Cho J, Moon JB, Park CW, Ohk TG, Shin MC, Won MH, Dakova S, Ramsheva Z, Ramshev K, Cho J, Moon JB, Park CW, Ohk TG, Shin MC, Cho J, Moon JB, Park CW, Ohk TG, Shin MC, Marudi A, Baroni S, Gaspari A, Bertellini E, Orhun G, Senturk E, Ozcan PE, Sencer S, Ulusoy C, Tuzun E, Esen F, Tincu R, Cobilinschi C, Tomescu D, Ghiorghiu Z, Macovei R, Van Assen M, Admiraal MM, Van Putten MJ, Tjepkema-Cloostermans M, Van Rootselaar AF, Horn J, Fallenius M, Skrifvars MB, Reinikainen M, Bendel S, Raj R, Abu-Habsa M, Hymers C, Borowska A, Sivadhas H, Sahiba S, Perkins S, Rubio J, Rubio JA, Sierra R, English S, Chasse M, Turgeon A, Lauzier F, Griesdale D, Garland A, Fergusson D, Zarychanski R, Tinmouth A, Van Walraven C, Montroy K, Ziegler J, Dupont Chouinard R, Carignan R, Dhaliwal A, Lum C, Sinclair J, Pagliarello G, McIntyre L, English S, Chasse M, Turgeon A, Lauzier F, Griesdale D, Garland A, Fergusson D, Zarychanski R, Tinmouth A, Van Walraven C, Montroy K, Ziegler J, Dupont Chouinard R, Carignan R, Dhaliwal A, Lum C, Sinclair J, Pagliarello G, McIntyre L, Groza T, Moreau N, Castanares-Zapatero D, Hantson P, Carbonara M, Ortolano F, Zoerle T, Magnoni S, Pifferi S, Conte V, Stocchetti N, Carteron L, Suys T, Patet C, Quintard H, Oddo M, Rubio JA, Rubio J, Sierra R, Spatenkova V, Pokorna E, Suchomel P, Ebert N, Jancik J, Rhodes H, Bylinski T, Hawthorne C, Shaw M, Piper I, Kinsella J, Kink AK, Rätsep IR, Boutin A, Moore L, Chasse M, Zarychanski R, Lauzier F, English S, McIntyre L, Lacroix J, Griesdale D, Lessard-Bonaventure P, Turgeon AF, Boutin A, Moore L, Green R, Lessard-Bonaventure P, Erdogan M, Butler M, Lauzier F, Chasse M, English S, McIntyre L, Zarychanski R, Lacroix J, Griesdale D, Desjardins P, Fergusson DA, Turgeon AF, Goncalves B, Vidal B, Valdez C, Rodrigues AC, Miguez L, Moralez G, Hong T, Kutz A, Hausfater P, Amin D, Struja T, Haubitz S, Huber A, Mueller B, Schuetz P, Brown T, Collinson J, 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R, Kordis P, Patel S, Grover V, Kuchyn I, Bielka K, Aidoni Z, Grosomanidis V, Kotzampassi K, Stavrou G, Fyntanidou B, Patsatzakis S, Skourtis C, Lee SD, Williams K, Weltes ID, Berhane S, Arrowsmith C, Peters C, Robert S, Caldas J, Panerai RB, Robinson TG, Camara L, Ferreira G, Borg-Seng-Shu E, De Lima Oliveira M, Mian NC, Santos L, Nogueira R, Zeferino SP, Jacobsen Teixeira M, Galas F, Hajjar LA, Killeen P, McPhail M, Bernal W, Maggs J, Wendon J, Hughes T, Taniguchi LU, Siqueira EM, Vieira Jr JM, Azevedo LC, Ahmad AN, Abu-Habsa M, Bahl R, Helme E, Hadfield S, Loveridge R, Shak J, Senver C, Howard-Griffin R, Wacharasint P, Fuengfoo P, Sukcharoen N, Rangsin R, Sbiti-Rohr D, Schuetz P, Na H, Song S, Lee S, Jeong E, Lee K, Cooper M, Milinis K, Williams G, McCarron E, Simants S, Patanwala I, Welters ID, Zoumpelouli E, Volakli EA, Chrysohoidou V, Georgiou S, Charisopoulou K, Kotzapanagiotou E, Panagiotidou V, Manavidou K, Stathi Z, Sdougka M, Salahuddin N, AlGhamdi B, Marashly Q, Zaza K, Sharshir M, Khurshid M, Ali Z, Malgapo M, Jamil M, Shafquat A, Shoukri M, Hijazi M, Abe T, Uchino S, Takinami M, Rangel Neto NR, Oliveira S, Reis FQ, Rocha FA, Moralez G, Ebecken K, Rabello LS, Lima MF, Hatum R, De Marco FV, Alves A, Pinto JE, Godoy M, Brasil PE, Bozza FA, Salluh JI, Soares M, Krinsley J, Kang G, Perry J, Hines H, Wilkinson KM, Tordoff C, Sloan B, Bellamy MC, Moreira E, Verga F, Barbato M, Burghi G, Soares M, Silva UV, Azevedo LC, Torelly AP, Kahn JM, Angus DC, Knibel MF, Brasil PE, Bozza FA, Salluh JI, Velasco MB, Dalcomune DM, Marshall R, Gilpin T, Tridente A, Raithatha A, Mota D, Loureiro B, Dias J, Afonso O, Coelho F, Martins A, Faria F, Al-Dorzi H, Al Orainni H, AlEid F, Tlaygeh H, Itani A, Hejazi A, Arabi Y, Gaudry S, Messika J, Ricard JD, Guillo S, Pasquet B, Dubief E, Dreyfuss D, Tubach F, Battle C, James K, Temblett P, Davies L, Battle C, Lynch C, Pereira S, Cavaco S, Fernandes J, Moreira I, Almeida E, Seabra Pereira F, Malheiro M, Cardoso F, Aragão I, Cardoso T, Fister M, Knafelj R, Muraray Govind P, Brahmananda Reddy N, Pratheema R, Arul ED, Devachandran J, Velasco MB, Dalcomune DM, Knafelj R, Fister M, Chin-Yee N, D’Egidio G, Thavorn K, Heyland D, Kyeremanteng K, Murchison AG, Swalwell K, Mandeville J, Stott D, Guerreiro I, Devine H, MacTavish P, McPeake J, Quasim T, Kinsella J, Daniel M, Goossens C, Marques MB, Derde S, Vander Perre S, Dufour T, Thiessen SE, Güiza F, Janssens T, Hermans G, Vanhorebeek I, De Bock K, Van den Berghe G, Langouche L, Devine H, MacTavish P, Quasim T, Kinsella J, Daniel M, McPeake J, Miles B, Madden S, Devine H, Weiler M, Marques P, Rodrigues C, Boeira M, Brenner K, Leães C, Machado A, Townsend R, Andrade J, MacTavish P, McPeake J, Devine H, Kinsella J, Daniel M, Kishore R, Fenlon C, Quasim T, Fiks T, Ruijter A, Te Raa M, Spronk P, Chiew YS, Docherty P, Dickson J, Moltchanova E, Scarrot C, Pretty C, Shaw GM, Chase JG, Hall T, Ngu WC, Jack JM, Morgan P, Avard B, Pavli A, Gee X, Bor C, Akin Korhan E, Demirag K, Uyar M, Shirazy M, Fayed A, Gupta S, Kaushal A, Dewan S, Varma A, Ghosh E, Yang L, Eshelman L, Lord B, Carlson E, Helme E, Broderick R, Hadfield S, Loveridge R, Ramos J, Forte D, Yang F, Hou P, Dudziak J, Feeney J, Wilkinson K, Bauchmuller K, Shuker K, Faulds M, Raithatha A, Bryden D, England L, Bolton N, Tridente A, Bauchmuller K, Shuker K, Tridente A, Faulds M, Matheson A, Gaynor J, Bryden D, ᅟ SSYHRC, Ramos J, Peroni B, Daglius-Dias R, Miranda L, Cohen C, Carvalho C, Velasco I, Forte D, Kelly JM, Neill A, Rubenfeld G, Masson N, Min A, Boezeman E, Hofhuis J, Hovingh A, De Vries R, Spronk P, Cabral-Campello G, Aragão I, Cardoso T, Van Mol M, Nijkamp M, Kompanje E, Ostrowski P, Omar A, Kiss K, Köves B, Csernus V, Molnár Z, Hoydonckx Y, Vanwing S, Stessel B, Van Assche A, Jamaer L, Dubois J, Medo V, Galvez R, Miranda JP, Stone C, Wigmore T, Arunan Y, Wheeler A, Bauchmuller K, Bryden D, Wong Y, Poi C, Gu C, Molmy P, Van Grunderbeeck N, Nigeon O, Lemyze M, Thevenin D, Mallat J, Ramos J, Correa M, Carvalho RT, Forte D, Fernandez A, McBride C, Koonthalloor E, Walsh C, Webber A, Ashe M, Smith K, Jeanrenaud P, Marudi A, Baroni S, Ragusa F, Bertellini E, Volakli EA, Chochliourou E, Dimitriadou M, Violaki A, Mantzafleri P, Samkinidou E, Vrani O, Arbouti A, Varsami T, Sdougka M, Bollen JA, Van Smaalen TC, De Jongh WC, Ten Hoopen MM, Ysebaert D, Van Heurn LW, Van Mook WN, Sim K, Fuller A, Roze des Ordons A, Couillard P, Doig C, Van Keer RV, Deschepper RD, Francke AF, Huyghens LH, Bilsen JB, Nyamaizi B, Dalrymple C, Molokhia A, Dobru A, Marrinan E, Ankuli A, Molokhia A, McPeake J, Struthers R, Crawford R, Devine H, Mactavish P, Quasim T, Morelli P, Degiovanangelo M, Lemos F, MArtinez V, Verga F, Cabrera J, Burghi G, Rutten A, Van Ieperen S, De Geer S, Van Vugt M, Der Kinderen E, Giannini A, Miccinesi G, Marchesi T, Prandi E. Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Identification of the toxic threshold of 3-hydroxybutyrate-sodium supplementation in septic mice

BACKGROUND

In septic mice, supplementing parenteral nutrition with 150 mg/day 3-hydroxybutyrate-sodium-salt (3HB-Na) has previously shown to prevent muscle weakness without obvious toxicity. The main objective of this study was to identify the toxic threshold of 3HB-Na supplementation in septic mice, prior to translation of this promising intervention to human use.

METHODS

In a centrally-catheterized, antibiotic-treated, fluid-resuscitated, parenterally fed mouse model of prolonged sepsis, we compared with placebo the effects of stepwise escalating doses starting from 150 mg/day 3HB-Na on illness severity and mortality (n = 103). For 5-day survivors, also the impact on ex-vivo-measured muscle force, blood electrolytes, and markers of vital organ inflammation/damage was documented.

RESULTS

By doubling the reference dose of 150 mg/day to 300 mg/day 3HB-Na, illness severity scores doubled (p = 0.004) and mortality increased from 30.4 to 87.5 % (p = 0.002). De-escalating this dose to 225 mg still increased mortality (p ≤ 0.03) and reducing the dose to 180 mg/day still increased illness severity (p ≤ 0.04). Doses of 180 mg/day and higher caused more pronounced metabolic alkalosis and hypernatremia (p ≤ 0.04) and increased markers of kidney damage (p ≤ 0.05). Doses of 225 mg/day 3HB-Na and higher caused dehydration of brain and lungs (p ≤ 0.05) and increased markers of hippocampal neuronal damage and inflammation (p ≤ 0.02). Among survivors, 150 mg/day and 180 mg/day increased muscle force compared with placebo (p ≤ 0.05) up to healthy control levels (p ≥ 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that 150 mg/day 3HB-Na supplementation prevented sepsis-induced muscle weakness in mice. However, this dose appeared maximally effective though close to the toxic threshold, possibly in part explained by excessive Na+ intake with 3HB-Na. Although lower doses were not tested and thus might still hold therapeutic potential, the current results point towards a low toxic threshold for the clinical use of ketone salts in human critically ill patients. Whether 3HB-esters are equally effective and less toxic should be investigated.

OR26-02 The Effect on Ketogenesis of Withholding Early Parenteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Children, as a Potential Mediator of the Improved Acute Outcome

Introduction: In adults and children, withholding parenteral nutrition (PN) for 1 week in ICU (late PN), hereby accepting macronutrient deficit early during critical illness, as compared with supplementing insufficient enteral nutrition with PN (early PN), accelerates weaning from mechanical ventilation, reduces infections, and shortens ICU stay^1,2. We hypothesized that these benefits are in part mediated by fasting-induced ketogenesis.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Early versus Late Parenteral Nutrition in the Pediatric ICU (PEPaNIC) RCT (N=1440)². First, for a matched subset of 96 patients with a PICU stay of ≥5 days, daily plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) concentrations were determined to identify the time point of maximal effect of late PN versus early PN, if any, on 3HB. Thereafter, for all patients with a plasma sample available on that “maximal effect day” (or last day for shorter stayers), plasma 3HB and insulin concentrations were quantified (N=1142). The independent association between plasma 3HB on that day and outcome was assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis for time to live weaning from mechanical ventilation and for time to live PICU discharge and by multivariable logistic regression for incidence of new infection and PICU mortality, adjusted for randomization to late PN versus early PN and baseline risk factors (demographics, diagnosis, illness severity). In a sensitivity analysis, models were further adjusted for key regulators of ketogenesis (plasma insulin, blood glucose, corticosteroids and catecholamines) to assess whether any effect was direct or indirect.

Results: In the matched cohort, late PN increased plasma 3HB as compared with early PN (P<0.0001 for PICU-days 1 to 5), with maximal effect observed on PICU day 2. In the 1142 patients, plasma 3HB concentration on that “maximal effect day” was (mean±SEM) 0.19±0.05 mM in early PN patients and 1.17±0.02 mM in late-PN patients (P<0.0001). Adding these plasma 3HB concentrations to the multivariable models, adjusted for baseline risk factors and randomization, showed that higher plasma 3HB concentrations were independently associated with a higher likelihood of early live weaning from mechanical ventilatory support (P=0.0002) and of early live PICU discharge (P=0.004). As the 3HB concentrations replaced the effect of the randomization, this suggested that the 3HB effect statistically explained these effects of the randomization. Further adjustment for key regulators of ketogenesis did not alter these findings. The effect of late PN versus early PN on plasma 3HB did not explain its impact on infections and was not related to mortality.

Conclusion: Withholding early PN increased plasma 3HB concentrations in critically ill children, a direct effect that mediated an important part of its beneficial impact on recovery.

¹Casaer M. et al, N Engl J Med 2011²Fivez T. et al, N Engl J Med 2016

Prognosis prediction with the IHC3 score in patients with node-negative, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Prognostication has been used to identify patient populations that could potentially benefit from treatment de-escalation. In patients with hormone receptor-positive (HRpos), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2neg) early breast cancer (eBC), treatment de-escalation classically involved omitting chemotherapy. With recently developed specialized therapies that require hands-on side-effect management, the therapeutic landscape is changing and therapy decisions are no longer based only on prognosis, but also consider potential side-effects. Therefore, identification of patient groups based on prognostication has gained importance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, a population of 2359 node-negative HRpos/HER2neg eBC patients was selected from all patients treated at the University Breast Center of Franconia, Germany between 2002 and 2021. The prognostic value of the IHC3 score (incorporating immunohistochemical measurements of the estrogen and progesterone receptor status and Ki-67) with clinical parameters (lymph node status, tumor stage, grading) regarding invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed.

RESULTS

IHC3 positively correlated with Ki-67 expression and inversely correlated with hormone receptor expression. IHC3 categorized into quartiles identified patients with a more unfavorable prognosis: 5-year and 10-year iDFS rates for patients in the highest versus the lowest quartile were 84% versus 95% and 70% versus 88%, respectively. A sensitivity analysis of distant disease-free survival showed similar results to those of iDFS. Five-year and 10-year OS rates for patients in the highest versus the lowest quartile were, respectively, 92% versus 97% and 81% versus 92%.

CONCLUSIONS

IHC3 is able to define prognostic groups in patients with node-negative, HRpos/HER2neg eBC. Node-negative patients with a high IHC3 score had the worst prognosis, which was comparable to that of node-positive patients described in recent trials. This simple and cost-effective tool could thus potentially aid in identifying patient groups for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Attrition in the First Three Therapy Lines in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer in the German Real-World PRAEGNANT Registry

Background With more effective therapies for patients with advanced breast cancer (aBC), therapy sequences are becoming increasingly important. However, some patients might drop out of the treatment sequence due to deterioration of their life status. Since little is known about attrition in the real-world setting, this study assessed attrition in the first three therapy lines using a real-world registry. Methods Patients with information available on the first three therapy lines were selected from the German PRAEGNANT registry (NCT02338167). Attrition was determined for each therapy line using competing risk analyses, with the start of the next therapy line or death as endpoints. Additionally, a simple attrition rate was calculated based on the proportion of patients who completed therapy but did not start the next therapy line. Results Competitive risk analyses were performed on 3988 1st line, 2651 2nd line and 1866 3rd line patients. The probabilities of not starting the next therapy line within 5 years after initiation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd line therapy were 30%, 24% and 24% respectively. Patients with HER2-positive disease had the highest risk for attrition, while patients with HRpos/HER2neg disease had the lowest risk. Attrition rates remained similar across molecular subgroups in the different therapy lines. Conclusion Attrition affects a large proportion of patients with aBC, which should be considered when planning novel therapy concepts that specifically address the sequencing of therapies. Taking attrition into account could help understand treatment effects resulting from sequential therapies and might help develop treatment strategies that specifically aim at maintaining quality of life.

Prediction of pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer patients with routine immunohistochemical markers

BACKGROUND

Pathological complete response (pCR) is an established surrogate marker for prognosis in patients with breast cancer (BC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Individualized pCR prediction based on clinical information available at biopsy, particularly immunohistochemical (IHC) markers, may help identify patients who could benefit from preoperative chemotherapy.

METHODS

Data from patients with HER2-negative BC who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 2002 to 2020 (n = 1166) were used to develop multivariable prediction models to estimate the probability of pCR (pCR-prob). The most precise model identified using cross-validation was implemented in an online calculator and a nomogram. Associations among pCR-prob, prognostic IHC3 distant recurrence and disease-free survival were studied using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. The model's utility was further evaluated in independent external validation cohorts.

RESULTS

273 patients (23.4%) achieved a pCR. The most precise model had across-validated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.82, and specificity of 0.71. External validation yielded AUCs between 0.75 (95% CI, 0.70-0.81) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.78-0.87). The higher the pCR-prob, the greater the prognostic impact of pCR status (presence/absence): hazard ratios decreased from 0.55 (95% central range, 0.07-1.77) at 0% to 0.20 (0.11-0.31) at 50% pCR-prob. Combining pCR-prob and IHC3 score further improved the precision of disease-free survival prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A pCR prediction model for neoadjuvant therapy decision-making was established. Combining pCR and recurrence prediction allows identification of not only patients who benefit most from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but also patients with a very unfavorable prognosis for whom alternative treatment strategies should be considered.

SUN-548 Ketone Bodies in Critical Illness Alter Cholesterol Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle, Interlinked with Protection Against Weakness

Background: Critically ill patients often develop muscle weakness, which hampers recovery. In septic mice, supplementing parenteral nutrition (PN) with ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) attenuated muscle weakness, but also normalized sepsis-induced low cholesterol¹. As 3HB can be metabolized into cholesterol, we hypothesized that improved muscle function with 3HB was related to altered cholesterol metabolism. Methods: In a catheterized, fluid-resuscitated, antibiotics-treated mouse model of prolonged sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture), septic mice received PN supplemented with either D,L-3HB sodium salt (PN+3HB; 150 mg/day) or isocaloric glucose (PN+gluc) and healthy pair-fed mice served as controls (n=15-17 mice/group). After 5 days, ex vivo muscle force and markers of cholesterol metabolism were assessed. In 600 weak and non-weak human critically ill patients (weakness assessed on day 8±1 in ICU by MRC sum score), serum total cholesterol concentration was measured on ICU day 3 or last day for shorter stayers. Results: In mice, PN+3HB counteracted the sepsis-induced lowering of plasma cholesterol (p=0.04), which correlated positively with absolute muscle force (R²=0.19, p=0.002). Plasma mevalonate concentration, a surrogate marker of cholesterol synthesis, was reduced by sepsis (p=0.03 vs. controls), but normalized by PN+3HB (p=0.001 vs. PN+gluc). Skeletal muscle expression of cholesterol synthesis genes Srebf2, Hmgcr and Hmgcs1 was higher in PN+3HB than in PN+gluc septic mice (p≤0.01). Expression of cholesterol uptake receptor Ldlr was also increased in PN+3HB septic mice (p=0.02 vs. PN+gluc), whereas PN+3HB did not affect cholesterol efflux transporters. In contrast, PN+3HB did not alter sepsis-induced alterations in markers of hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Plasma concentration of ubiquinone, a central co-factor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain derived from mevalonate, was increased by sepsis, irrespective of PN+3HB (p<0.0001 vs. controls) and PN+3HB could not counteract sepsis-induced muscular mitochondrial dysfunction (p≤0.0009 vs. controls). This excludes the involvement of ubiquinone in muscle weakness attenuation by 3HB supplementation. However, higher muscular Nceh1 expression was observed with PN+3HB (p≤0.04 vs. controls and PN+gluc), suggesting enhanced shuttling of newly formed free cholesterol to the membranes. In human ICU patients, lower serum cholesterol concentration was observed in weak vs. non-weak patients (p=0.0002). In a multivariate model adjusted for baseline risk factors, low serum cholesterol concentrations were independently associated with muscle weakness (p=0.05). Conclusion: 3HB supplementation of PN enhanced muscle cholesterol synthesis and increased plasma cholesterol, which appeared to independently protect against sepsis-induced muscle weakness. 1 Goossens et al. (2019). Crit Care. 23: 236.

The impact of physical activity on progression-free and overall survival in metastatic breast cancer based on molecular subtype

BACKGROUND

Although adequate physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in early breast cancer, evidence in metastatic breast cancer is sparse and contradictory, which could be related to distinct effects of physical activity on the different molecular cancer subtypes. Therefore, we here evaluated the effect of physical activity on progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS) in metastatic breast cancer, specifically looking at molecular subtypes.

METHODS

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaires, filled out by patients enrolled in the prospective PRAEGNANT registry (NCT02338167; n = 1,270) were used to calculate metabolic equivalent task (MET) minutes, which were subsequently categorized into low (n = 138), moderate (n = 995) or high IPAQ categories (n = 137). Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of IPAQ categories and its interaction with molecular subtypes on PFS and OS.

RESULTS

Patient and tumor characteristics were equally distributed across IPAQ categories. HER2pos, HRpos and TNBC were present in 23.1%, 65.7% and 11.2% of patients, respectively. IPAQ scores did not have an impact on PFS and OS in addition to established prognostic factors, either overall or in particular molecular subtypes (PFS: p = 0.33 and OS: p = 0.08, likelihood ratio test). Exploratory analyses showed higher overall survival rates for high IPAQ categories compared to low/moderate IPAQ categories in luminal B-like breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported physical activity using the IPAQ questionnaire did not significantly affect PFS or OS in patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer. Nevertheless, some hypothesis-generating differences between molecular subtypes could be observed, which may be interesting to evaluate further.

Prognostic impact of selection criteria of current adjuvant endocrine therapy trials NATALEE and monarchE in postmenopausal HRpos/HER2neg breast cancer patients treated with upfront letrozole

BACKGROUND

The monarchE and NATALEE trials demonstrated the benefit of CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) therapy in adjuvant breast cancer (BC) treatment. Patient selection, based on clinical characteristics, delineated those at high (monarchE) and high/intermediate recurrence risk (NATALEE). This study employed a historical patient cohort to describe the proportion and prognosis of patients eligible for adjuvant CDK4/6i trials.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2011, 3529 patients were enrolled in the adjuvant PreFace clinical trial (NCT01908556). Eligibility criteria included postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive (HRpos) BC for whom a five-year upfront therapy with letrozole was indicated. Patients were categorized into prognostic groups according to monarchE and NATALEE inclusion criteria, and their invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 2891 HRpos patients, 384 (13.3 %) met the primary monarchE inclusion criteria. The majority (n = 261) qualified due to having ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes. For NATALEE, 915 out of 2886 patients (31.7 %) met the eligibility criteria, with 126 patients (13.7 %) being node-negative. Patients from monarchE with ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes and NATALEE with stage III BC exhibited the poorest prognosis (3-year iDFS rate 0.87). Patients ineligible for the trials demonstrated prognoses similar to the most favorable patient groups within the eligibility criteria.

CONCLUSION

Patient populations eligible for monarchE and NATALEE trials differed. Nearly a third of the postmenopausal HRpos population, previously under upfront letrozole treatment, met the NATALEE prognostic eligibility criteria. As certain eligible groups had a prognosis similar to non-eligible patients, it might be interesting to explore additional patient groups for CDK4/6i therapy.

Real-world utilization of aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, and ovarian function suppression in premenopausal patients with early hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with increased recurrence risk

BACKGROUND

The optimal adjuvant endocrine treatment in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HRpos/HER2neg) early breast cancer (eBC) remains debated, particularly the choice between aromatase inhibitors plus ovarian function suppression (AI + OFS) or tamoxifen (TAM) with or without additional OFS. This study assessed the use of adjuvant endocrine therapies for premenopausal patients with intermediate/high-risk HRpos/HER2neg eBC.

METHODS

CLEAR-B (AGO-B-059; NCT05870813) was a retrospective study analyzing data, collected from January 2016 to June 2019 and from January 2022 to December 2023 during the certification process of breast centers in Germany. Premenopausal patients with HRpos/HER2neg intermediate/high-risk eBC were eligible. Patient and disease characteristics, in addition to recommended and received adjuvant treatments, were evaluated.

RESULTS

The number of registered patients was 3137, of whom 2789 had complete information on endocrine treatments (1717 for 2016-2019 and 1072 for 2022-2023). In 2016-2019, 8.4 % of the patients were recommended to be treated with AI + OFS, whereas in 2022-2023, the proportion of patients with a treatment recommendation for AI + OFS rose to 42.1 %. In 2016-2019, TAM monotherapy was most frequently recommended (80.8 %). Conversely, TAM + OFS was not commonly recommended (9.3 % in 2016-2019 and 16.5 % in 2022-2023). While no clear association between tumor stage and chosen endocrine therapy was found in 2016-2019, most patients with ≥stage IIA were recommended to be treated with AI + OFS in 2022-2023.

CONCLUSION

This analysis shows that treatment recommendation for AI + OFS in premenopausal patients with HRpos/HER2neg eBC increased relevantly in the past years, reflecting latest guideline recommendations.