Longitudinal trajectories of anterior cingulate glutamate and subclinical psychotic experiences in early adolescence: the impact of bullying victimization

Previous studies reported decreased glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in non-treatment-resistant schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis. However, ACC glutamatergic changes in subjects at high-risk for psychosis, and the effects of commonly experienced environmental emotional/social stressors on glutamatergic function in adolescents remain unclear. In this study, adolescents recruited from the general population underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the pregenual ACC using a 3-Tesla scanner. We explored longitudinal data on the association of combined glutamate-glutamine (Glx) levels, measured by MRS, with subclinical psychotic experiences. Moreover, we investigated associations of bullying victimization, a risk factor for subclinical psychotic experiences, and help-seeking intentions, a coping strategy against stressors including bullying victimization, with Glx levels. Finally, path analyses were conducted to explore multivariate associations. For a contrast analysis, gamma-aminobutyric acid plus macromolecule (GABA+) levels were also analyzed. Negative associations were found between Glx levels and subclinical psychotic experiences at both Times 1 (n = 219, mean age 11.5 y) and 2 (n = 211, mean age 13.6 y), as well as for over-time changes (n = 157, mean interval 2.0 y). Moreover, effects of bullying victimization and bullying victimization × help-seeking intention interaction effects on Glx levels were found (n = 156). Specifically, bullying victimization decreased Glx levels, whereas help-seeking intention increased Glx levels only in bullied adolescents. Finally, associations among bullying victimization, help-seeking intention, Glx levels, and subclinical psychotic experiences were revealed. GABA+ analysis revealed no significant results. This is the first adolescent study to reveal longitudinal trajectories of the association between glutamatergic function and subclinical psychotic experiences and to elucidate the effect of commonly experienced environmental emotional/social stressors on glutamatergic function. Our findings may deepen the understanding of how environmental emotional/social stressors induce impaired glutamatergic neurotransmission that could be the underpinning of liability for psychotic experiences in early adolescence.

Neutropenia and survival outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with trifluridine/tipiracil in the RECOURSE and J003 trials

Background:

The phase II J003 (N = 169) and phase III RECOURSE (N = 800) trials demonstrated a significant improvement in survival with trifluridine (FTD)/tipiracil (TPI) versus placebo in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. This post hoc analysis investigated pharmacokinetic data of FTD/TPI exposure and pharmacodynamic markers, such as chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) and clinical outcomes.

Patients and methods:

A total of 210 patients from RECOURSE were enrolled in this substudy. A limited sampling approach was used, with three pharmacokinetic samples drawn on day 12 of cycle 1. Patients were categorized as being above or below the median area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) for FTD and TPI. We conducted a post hoc analysis using the entire RECOURSE population to determine the correlations between CIN and clinical outcome. We then carried out a similar analysis on the J003 trial to validate the results.

Results:

In the RECOURSE subset, patients in the high FTD AUC group had a significantly increased CIN risk. Analyses of the entire population demonstrated that FTD/TPI-treated patients with CIN of any grade in cycles 1 and 2 had significantly longer median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than patients who did not develop CIN and patients in the placebo group. Patients who required an FTD/TPI treatment delay had increased OS and PFS versus those in the placebo group and those who did not develop CIN. Similar results were obtained in the J003 cohort.

Conclusions:

In RECOURSE, patients with higher FTD drug exposure had an increased CIN risk. FTD/TPI-treated patients who developed CIN had improved OS and PFS versus those in the placebo group and those who did not develop CIN. Similar findings were reported in the J003 cohort, thus validating the RECOURSE results. The occurrence of CIN may be a useful predictor of treatment outcomes for FTD/TPI-treated patients.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:

NCT01607957 (RECOURSE).

Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center number:

JapicCTI-090880 (J003).

[Novel platelet pharming using human induced pluripotent stem cells]

La production in vitro de plaquettes offre une opportunité de résoudre les problèmes liés aux limitations d’approvisionnement et à la sécurité des dons de produits dérivés du sang. Les cellules souches pluripotentes induites – ou iPSC – sont une source idéale pour la production de cellules à des fins de thérapies régénératives. Nous avons précédemment établi avec succès une lignée mégacaryocytaire immortalisée à partir d’iPSC. Celle-ci possède une capacité de prolifération fiable. Par ailleurs, il est possible de les cryoconserver. Elle est donc une source adaptée de cellules primaires pour la production de plaquettes suivant les Bonnes Pratiques de Fabrication (BPF). Dans le même temps, la capacité améliorée des bioréacteurs à reproduire certaines conditions physiologiques, telle que la turbulence, de pair avec la découverte de molécules favorisant la thrombopoïèse, a contribué à l’accomplissement de la production de plaquettes en quantité et qualité suffisantes pour répondre aux besoins cliniques. La production de plaquettes à partir de cellules iPS s’étend aussi aux patients en état de réfraction allo-immune, par la production de plaquettes autologues ou dont on a génétiquement manipulé l’expression des Antigènes des Leucocytes Humains (HLA) et des Antigènes Plaquettaires Humain (HPA). Considérant ces avancées fondamentales, les plaquettes iPSC avec expression des HLA modifiées se présentent comme un potentiel produit de transfusion universel. Dans cette revue, nous souhaitons apporter une vue d’ensemble de la production in vitro de plaquettes à partir de cellules iPS, et de son possible potentiel transformatif, d’importance capitale dans le domaine de la transfusion des produits sanguins.

THU0144 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF PREGNANCY, DELIVERY, AND LACTATION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FROM THE IORRA COHORT

Background:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is common in women with reproductive age. For this reason, RA treatment during pregnancy and lactation is very important. In recent years, the use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) has become common in RA treatment (1), treatment during pregnancy and lactation has changed drastically (2,3).

Objectives:

To investigate the pregnancy, delivery and lactation status of RA patients and treatment during that period in daily practice.

Methods:

The IORRA cohort is a large, single institute-based, observational cohort of RA patients established at Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, in 2000. We identified female RA patients aged 20-49 years who answered ‘pregnant’ or ‘delivered’ in the IORRA survey in 2010-2016 and whose pregnancies were confirmed in the medical records. We examined the Disease Activity Score with 28 joint count (DAS28)-CRP, medication use situation, the outcome of pregnancy, and lactation in those patients.

Results:

A total of 101 patients and 143 pregnancies were confirmed, of which 136 outcomes of pregnancy could be confirmed in the medical records. Among 136 confirmed pregnancy cases, there were 106 births and 30 miscarriages. Among 106 births, 4 cases (3.8%) were birth defects that could be confirmed in the medical records. The average age at pregnancy was 34.2±3.7 years and 36.1±3.3 years in delivered and miscarried cases, respectively. Miscarried cases were significantly older pregnancies (p=0.01). Of the 106 births, 65 birth weeks were confirmed, with an average of 37.9±1.8 weeks. The number of preterm delivery was 11 cases (16.9%). The average birth weight of 59 babies whose birth weight could be confirmed was 2699±517 g. There were 21 cases (35.6%) of low birth weight infants. The proportion of patients in DAS28-CRP remission was 73.1% before pregnancy, 61.6% during pregnancy, and 68.0% 1 year after delivery. Drugs used before pregnancy were glucocorticoid (48.8%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (14.2%), conventional synthetic DMARDs (24.8%), and bDMARDs (48.0%). Etanercept accounted for 90% of bDMARDs. Among taking bDMARDs patients, 73.8% were discontinued after the pregnancy, and 26.2% were continued during pregnancy. Among those patients who continued bDMARDs, lactating patients were 12/26 (46.2%) cases after delivery, 10/30 (33.3%) cases in six months after delivery, and 7/36 (19.4%) cases in 1 year after delivery, respectively.

Conclusion:

The actual situation of pregnancy, delivery, and lactation in RA patients was revealed. Especially, bDMARDs were used at relatively high rates in RA patients who wish to have a child.

References:

[1]Lancet. 2017;10;389:2338-2348.

[2]Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2019;49:S32-S35.

[3]Rheumatology. 2016;55:1693-7.

Disclosure of Interests:

Moeko Ochiai: None declared, Eiichi Tanaka Consultant of: ET has received lecture fees or consulting fees from Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Speakers bureau: ET has received lecture fees or consulting fees from Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Eisuke Inoue Speakers bureau: EI has received speaker fee from Bristol-Meyers, Pfizer, Merck serono., Mai Abe: None declared, Eri Sugano: None declared, Naohiro Sugitani: None declared, Kumiko Saka: None declared, higuchi yoko: None declared, Rei Yamaguchi: None declared, Naoki Sugimoto: None declared, Ikari Katsunori Speakers bureau: KI has received speaker’s fee from Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eis, ai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teijin Pharma Ltd and UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Ayako Nakajima Grant/research support from: AN has received research grants from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Pfizer Japan Inc., Consultant of: AN has consultant fee from Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd., Speakers bureau: AN has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Japan LTD., Asahi Kasei Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd., Atsuo Taniguchi: None declared, Hisashi Yamanaka Grant/research support from: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., Speakers bureau: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., masayoshi harigai Grant/research support from: AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Oxford Immuotec, Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH is a consultant for AbbVie, Boehringer-ingelheim, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Teijin Pharma.

AB0257 ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WHO PLANNED PREGNANCY FROM THE IORRA COHORT

Background:

It has been reported that female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a longer time to pregnancy than healthy women (1), and that high Disease Activity Score with 28 joint count (DAS28) -CRP in preconception increases the frequency of infertility (2). Before the era of biologics, RA treatment tended to be inadequate from pregnancy planning to the end of lactation. And it was not uncommon for female RA patients to be unable to get pregnant or develop physical dysfunction as a result of insufficient control of the disease. There are some reports of disease activity during pregnancy and postpartum in RA patients, and the effects of RA disease activity on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes (3-5), but there are few reports focusing on the physical function during pregnancy planning of RA patients.

Objectives:

To investigate disease activity and physical function in female patients with RA who planned and didn’t plan pregnancy.

Methods:

The IORRA cohort is a large, single institute-based, observational cohort of RA patients established at the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, in 2000. We identified female RA patients aged 20-49 years who answered ‘pregnant’ or ‘delivered’ in the IORRA survey in 2010-2015 and whose pregnancy and the pregnancy planning time was confirmed in the medical records, and defined them as the pregnancy planning (PP) group. Matched control was extracted at 1:3 ratio from patients without pregnancy plan based on entry time, age, RA disease duration, DAS28-CRP, Japanese version of Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) score, and comorbidities. The primary endpoint was J-HAQ at 3years from the baseline, which was defined as the most recent IORRA survey before planning pregnancy. The mixed-effect model for repeated measures was used to analyze group difference.

Results:

There were 40 patients in the PP group (average 32.2 years, disease duration 5.7 years, DAS28-CRP 1.7, J-HAQ 0.26), and 120 patients in the control group (average 32.4 years, disease duration 5.9 years, DAS28-CRP 1.7, J-HAQ 0.21). The proportion of user and dosage of MTX and glucocorticoid (GC) and bDMARDs user at baseline were comparable between the groups (MTX: PP 87.5% [9.8 mg/week], control 85.0% [8.8 mg/week]; GC: PP 32.5% [3.6 mg/day], control 27.5% [4.4 mg/day]; bDMARDs: PP 40.0%, control 27.5%). DAS28-CRP at year 3 of the PP group elevated and was higher than the control group (PP 2.3, control 1.7, p<0.01), while J-HAQ was stable over the observation period and did not differ significantly at year 3 (PP 0.21, control 0.22, p=0.92). At year 3, the proportion of patients taking MTX was lower and taking GC was higher in the PP group than those in the control group (MTX: PP 36.7%, control 76.7%, p<0.01; GC: PP 70.0%, control 25.6%, p<0.01). The proportion of patients taking bDMARDs was not different in both groups (PP 36.7%, control 32.6%, p=0.68).

Conclusion:

Physical function in pregnancy planning patients with RA did not deteriorate as well as the control patients in clinical settings.

References:

[1]Arthritis Rheum. 2011;63:1517-1521.

[2]Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;10:1836-1841.

[3]J Rheumatol. 2015;42:1376-1382.

[4]J Rheumatol. 2019;46:245-250.

[5]Arthritis Care Res. 2017;69:1297-1303.

Disclosure of Interests:

Moeko Ochiai: None declared, Eiichi Tanaka Consultant of: ET has received lecture fees or consulting fees from Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Speakers bureau: ET has received lecture fees or consulting fees from Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Eisuke Inoue Speakers bureau: EI has received speaker fee from Bristol-Meyers, Pfizer, Merck serono., Mai Abe: None declared, Eri Sugano: None declared, Naohiro Sugitani: None declared, Kumiko Saka: None declared, higuchi yoko: None declared, Rei Yamaguchi: None declared, Naoki Sugimoto: None declared, Ikari Katsunori Speakers bureau: KI has received speaker’s fee from Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eis, ai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teijin Pharma Ltd and UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Ayako Nakajima Grant/research support from: AN has received research grants from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Pfizer Japan Inc., Consultant of: AN has consultant fee from Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd., Speakers bureau: AN has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Japan LTD., Asahi Kasei Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd., Atsuo Taniguchi: None declared, Hisashi Yamanaka Grant/research support from: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., Speakers bureau: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., masayoshi harigai Grant/research support from: AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Oxford Immuotec, Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH is a consultant for AbbVie, Boehringer-ingelheim, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Teijin Pharma.

OP0221 HAVE 5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE AND MORTALITY CHANGED IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS?-RESULTS FROM THE IORRA COHORT

Background:

The mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had been reported as being worse than that of the general population [1, 2], but is expected to have improved over time because the progress in treatment of RA during the past twenty years has been actively adopted to RA management [3, 4]. However, the change in the mortality still remains controversial in patients with early RA [5, 6].

Objectives:

To investigate whether the vital prognosis of patients with early RA has changed in the past twenty years.

Methods:

The IORRA cohort is a large observational cohort established in 2000 at the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University. Essentially, all Japanese patients diagnosed with RA at our institute were registered and clinical parameters were assessed biannually. As there is no National Death Registry in Japan, we obtained death report from residual families who responded to our mail query to patients who failed to conduct the subsequent IORRA survey, from physicians of affiliated hospitals and from police in case they found dead patient outside of a hospital. In this study, the patients with early RA (less than 2 years of disease duration) who participated in the survey for the first time from 2001 to 2012 were included and observed for five years from the date of the initial survey. We classified patients into group A (enrolled in 2001-2006) and B (enrolled in 2007-2012). Five-year survival rate and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) were calculated for each group. SMR was calculated using the life tables in Japanese general population reported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. The effects of loss to follow-up cases were evaluated by multiple imputation method as a sensitivity analysis of SMR.

Results:

A total of 3,217 patients with early RA were analyzed. The number of patients was 1,609 (79.4% female) in the group A and 1,608 (81.8% female) in B. The median age at baseline was 55 in both groups. Among a total of 3,217 patients, 486 (15.1%) patients were lost during 5-year follow-up; 213 (13.2%) in the group A and 273 (17.0%) in B, respectively. During the observational period, deaths were confirmed in 47 cases (2.9%) in the group A and 45 (2.8%) in B. Major causes of death included malignancies (28% in the group A, 38% in B), respiratory involvement (23% in the group A, 40% in B), cerebrovascular disorders (11% in the group A, 2% in B), and cardiovascular disorders (11% in the group A, 0% in B). The five-year survival rate was 88.8% for the group A and 87.8% for B, and the SMR was 0.81 (95%CI: 0.59-1.08) for the group A and 0.78 (0.57-1.04) for B when assuming all the lost to follow-up patients were alive for 5 years. In the sensitivity analysis assuming that the mortality rate of patients who were lost to follow-up was twice as that of the general population, the SMR was 0.90 (0.68-1.19) for the group A and 0.92 (0.68-1.23) for B.

Conclusion:

The mortality of patients with early RA in the past twenty years has been comparable to that of the Japanese general population. In addition, the SMR and the five-year survival rate did not change overtime.

References:

[1]Cobb, S., et al. N Engl J Med 1953; 249(14): 553-556.

[2]Nakajima, A., et al. Scand J Rheumatol 2010; 39(5): 360-367.

[3]Smolen, J. S., et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 73(3): 492-509.

[4]Singh, J. A., et al. Arthritis Care Res 2016; 68(1): 1-25.

[5]Lacaille, D., et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017; 76(6): 1057-1063.

[6]Humphreys, J. H., et al. Arthritis Care Res 2014; 66(9): 1296-1301.

Disclosure of Interests:

Naohiro Sugitani: None declared, Eiichi Tanaka Consultant of: Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Eisuke Inoue Speakers bureau: EI has received speaker fee from Bristol-Meyers, Pfizer, Merck serono., Mai Abe: None declared, Eri Sugano: None declared, Kumiko Saka: None declared, Moeko Ochiai: None declared, Yoko Shimizu: None declared, Rei Yamaguchi: None declared, Naoki Sugimoto: None declared, Katsunori Ikari Speakers bureau: Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eis, ai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teijin Pharma Ltd and UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Ayako Nakajima Grant/research support from: AN has received research grants from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Pfizer Japan Inc., Consultant of: AN has consultant fee from Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd., Speakers bureau: AN has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Japan LTD., Asahi Kasei Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd., Atsuo Taniguchi: None declared, Hisashi Yamanaka Grant/research support from: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., Speakers bureau: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., masayoshi harigai Grant/research support from: AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Oxford Immuotec, Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH is a consultant for AbbVie, Boehringer-ingelheim, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Teijin Pharma.

THU0086 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH ELDERLY-ONSET RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: 3-YEAR OBSERVATION USING THE IORRA COHORT

Background:

Patients with elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) are on the rise in the aging or super-aging society, especially in Japan. Patients with EORA have more comorbidities than those with younger-onset RA, a higher risk of adverse drug reactions due to reduced drug metabolism, and a higher risk of infections1). Therefore, patients with EORA tend to receive suboptimal treatment, resulting in insufficient control of disease activity2). Although several studies reported treatment responsiveness in patients with EORA, many of them have a limited observation period3-8), and long-term treatment responses and their associated factors need to be clarified.

Objectives:

We retrospectively evaluated treatment responses of patients with EORA for 3 years and their associated factors in a clinical setting.

Methods:

The Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA) cohort is a large, single institute-based, observational cohort of RA patients established at Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, in 2000. The subjects were RA patients who first enrolled in the IORRA cohort from 2010 to 2014, were over 60 years old with less than 1-year disease duration, and had a DAS28-ESR over 3.2 at entry. The primary endpoint was DAS28-ESR <3.2 after 3-year observation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors at baseline associated with the primary endpoint. The missing values of DAS28-ESR were imputed by using the last observation carried forward method.

Results:

Among a total of 250 patients in this study, 152 patients (60.8%) achieved DAS28-ESR <3.2 after 3-year observation (remission/low disease activity (RL) group), and 98 patients did not (moderate/high disease activity (MH) group). Baseline characteristics of the patients were as follows (average ± SD or %): the RL group, age 69.9 ± 6.5, female 77%, DAS28-ESR 4.3 ± 0.8, J-HAQ 0.9 ± 0.7, PSL user 23.7%, MTX user 64.5%, and biologics user 4.0%; the MH group, age 69.4 ± 6.7, female 80.6%, DAS28-ESR 4.4 ± 0.8, J-HAQ 1.0 ± 0.7, PSL user 36.7%, MTX user 64.3%, and biologics user 6.1%. Proportions of the patients with cardiovascular disease and malignancy were 13.3% and 11.2% in the MH group and 5.9% and 1.3% in the RL group, respectively. DAS28-ESR and J-HAQ score after 3-year observation of the RL group were 2.3±0.5 and 0.4±0.5, respectively, and those of the MH group were 3.4±0.9 and 1.0±0.8, respectively. Corticosteroid use and having malignancy at baseline were associated with not achieving DAS28-ESR <3.2 after 3-year observation using multivariate analysis (Table 1). Similar results were obtained when MTX use and corticosteroid use were replaced by the average dose of each drug.

Conclusion:

The majority of the patients with EORA achieved DAS28-ESR <3.2 after 3-year observation, and no use of corticosteroid and absence of malignancy at baseline were associated with the good outcome.

References:

[1]Nat Rev Rheumatol 2013;9:604-613

[2]Ann Rheum Dis 2006;65:1226-1229

[3]Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1470–1473

[4]Joint Bone Spine 2015;82:25-30

[5]J Rheumatol 2016;43:1974-1983

[6]Rheumatology 2015;54:798-807

[7]Rheumatology 2014;53:1075-1086

[8]Japanese Journal of Geriatrics 2018;55:251-258

Acknowledgments:

We thank all patients who participated in the IORRA survey and all of the members of the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, for the successful management of the IORRA cohort.

Disclosure of Interests:

Mai Abe: None declared, Eiichi Tanaka Consultant of: Abbvie, Asahi Kasei pharma co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Eisai Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., and UCB Pharma., Eisuke Inoue Speakers bureau: EI has received speaker fee from Bristol-Meyers, Pfizer, Merck serono., Eri Sugano: None declared, Naohiro Sugitani: None declared, Kumiko Saka: None declared, Moeko Ochiai: None declared, Yoko Shimizu: None declared, Rei Yamaguchi: None declared, Naoki Sugimoto: None declared, Katsunori Ikari Speakers bureau: Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp., Astellas Pharma Inc., AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eis, ai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teijin Pharma Ltd and UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Ayako Nakajima Grant/research support from: AN has received research grants from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Pfizer Japan Inc., Consultant of: AN has consultant fee from Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd., Speakers bureau: AN has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Japan LTD., Asahi Kasei Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd., Atsuo Taniguchi: None declared, Hisashi Yamanaka Grant/research support from: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., Speakers bureau: HY has received research grant or speaker fee from AbbVie, Astellas, Ayumi, Behringer, Bristol-Meyers, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kaken, Nippon-Shinyaku, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Taisyo-Toyama, Takeda, Tanabe-Mitsubishi, Teijin Pharma, Torii, UCB, YLbio., masayoshi harigai Grant/research support from: AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH has received speaker’s fee from AbbVie Japan GK, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Oxford Immuotec, Pfizer Japan Inc., and Teijin Pharma Ltd. MH is a consultant for AbbVie, Boehringer-ingelheim, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Teijin Pharma.

Use of social networking sites and desire for slimness among 10-year-old girls and boys: A population-based birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Desire for slimness (DS) is a well-established risk factor for eating disorders among adolescents, particularly girls. It is known that exposure to traditional media such as television can increase DS. However, the association between DS and the use of new media, such as social networking sites (SNS), adjusting for relevant potential confounders, has not been examined to-date. In this study, we assessed the relationship between DS and SNS use among early adolescent girls and boys, adjusting for body mass index (BMI), time spent watching television, and Internet use.

METHOD

DS, SNS use, and confounding variables were assessed using self-report questionnaires and face-to-face interviews from a cross-sectional population-based survey of 4,478 10-year-old Japanese adolescents (2,100 girls and 2,378 boys).

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounding variables, SNS use was associated with increased risk of DS among girls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-3.18, p = .010), but not among boys (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 0.64-1.80, p = .786).

DISCUSSION

Exposure to SNS was associated with an increased risk of DS among early adolescents, especially girls. Targeting SNS use in early adolescence seems a promising approach to prevention of DS and subsequent eating problems, particularly among girls.

Smaller anterior subgenual cingulate volume mediates the effect of girls' early sexual maturation on negative psychobehavioral outcome

Early-maturing girls are relatively likely to experience compromised psychobehavioral outcomes. Some studies have explored the association between puberty and brain morphology in adolescents, while the results were non-specific for females or the method was a region-of-interest analysis. To our knowledge, no large-scale study has comprehensively explored the effects of pubertal timing on whole-brain volumetric development or the neuroanatomical substrates of the association in girls between pubertal timing and psychobehavioral outcomes. We collected structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of a subsample (N ​= ​203, mean age 11.6 years) from a large-scale population-based birth cohort. Tanner stage, a scale of physical maturation in adolescents, was rated almost simultaneously with MRI scan. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total difficulties (SDQ-TD) scores were rated by primary parents some duration after MRI scan (mean age 12.1 years). In each sex group, we examined brain regions associated with Tanner stage using whole-brain analysis controlling for chronological age, followed by an exploration of brain regions also associated with the SDQ-TD scores. We also performed mediation analyses. In girls, Tanner stage was significantly negatively correlated with gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the anterior/middle cingulate cortex (ACC/MCC), of which the subgenual ACC (sgACC) showed a negative correlation between GMVs and SDQ-TD scores. Smaller GMVs in the sgACC mediated the association between higher Tanner stages and higher SDQ-TD scores. We found no significant results in boys. Our results from a minimally biased, large-scale sample provide new insights into neuroanatomical correlates of the effect of pubertal timing on developmental psychological difficulties emerging in adolescence.

Population-neuroscience study of the Tokyo TEEN Cohort (pn-TTC): Cohort longitudinal study to explore the neurobiological substrates of adolescent psychological and behavioral development

AIM

Adolescence is a crucial stage of psychological development and is critically vulnerable to the onset of psychopathology. Our understanding of how the maturation of endocrine, epigenetics, and brain circuit may underlie psychological development in adolescence, however, has not been integrated. Here, we introduce our research project, the population-neuroscience study of the Tokyo TEEN Cohort (pn-TTC), a longitudinal study to explore the neurobiological substrates of development during adolescence.

METHODS

Participants in the first wave of the pn-TTC (pn-TTC-1) study were recruited from those of the TTC study, a large-scale epidemiological survey in which 3171 parent-adolescent pairs were recruited from the general population. Participants underwent psychological, cognitive, sociological, and physical assessment. Moreover, adolescents and their parents underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy), and adolescents provided saliva samples for hormone analysis and for DNA analysis including epigenetics. Furthermore, the second wave (pn-TTC-2) followed similar methods as in the first wave.

RESULTS

A total of 301 parent-adolescent pairs participated in the pn-TTC-1 study. Moreover, 281 adolescents participated in the pn-TTC-2 study, 238 of whom were recruited from the pn-TTC-1 sample. The instruction for data request is available at: http://value.umin.jp/data-resource.html.

CONCLUSION

The pn-TTC project is a large-scale and population-neuroscience-based survey with a plan of longitudinal biennial follow up. Through this approach we seek to elucidate adolescent developmental mechanisms according to biopsychosocial models. This current biomarker research project, using minimally biased samples recruited from the general population, has the potential to expand the new research field of population neuroscience.

Neurometabolic and functional connectivity basis of prosocial behavior in early adolescence

Human prosocial behavior (PB) emerges in childhood and matures during adolescence. Previous task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have reported involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in social cognition in adolescence. However, neurometabolic and functional connectivity (FC) basis of PB in early adolescence remains unclear. Here, we measured GABA levels in the ACC and FC in a subsample (aged 10.5–13.4 years) of a large-scale population-based cohort with MR spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) and resting-state fMRI. PB was negatively correlated with GABA levels in the ACC (N = 221), and positively correlated with right ACC-seeded FC with the right precentral gyrus and the bilateral middle and posterior cingulate gyrus (N = 187). Furthermore, GABA concentrations and this FC were negatively correlated, and the FC mediated the association between GABA levels and PB (N = 171). Our results from a minimally biased, large-scale sample provide new insights into the neurometabolic and neurofunctional correlates of prosocial development during early adolescence.

Disciplinary slapping is associated with bullying involvement regardless of warm parenting in early adolescence

INTRODUCTION

Bullying among adolescents can cause depression and suicidality. Identifying the risk factors for bullying in early adolescence, when its prevalence tends to increase, would assist in its prevention. Although certain parenting styles are known to be associated with bullying, the association of slapping as a parental disciplinary practice with early adolescent bullying is not sufficiently understood. Furthermore, little is known about how warm parenting modifies this association although slapping and warm parenting are not mutually exclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of slapping with the experience of early adolescent bullying--categorized in terms of victims, bullies, and bully-victims--while considering how warm parenting modifies this association.

METHODS

This study used data from the Tokyo Early Adolescence Survey, a cross-sectional survey of 4478 children aged 10 from the general population. Data were collected from both children and their primary parent using self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Responses from 4326 participants with no missing data were usable for the current analysis (mean age,  10.2 ± 0.3 years; 53 % boys).

RESULTS

Frequent and occasional slapping was associated with increased odds of youth being identified as bullies or bully-victims, even after adjusting for warm parenting. The likelihood of being victims, bullies or bully-victims increased as the frequency of slapping increased.

CONCLUSION

Disciplinary slapping was associated with increased odds of bullying in early adolescence, regardless of whether warm parenting was present or not.

Platelet production from induced pluripotent stem cells

Ex vivo production of human platelets has been pursued as an alternative measure to resolve limitations in the supply and safety of current platelet transfusion products. To this end, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are considered an ideal global source, as they are not only pluripotent and self-renewing, but are also available from basically any person, have relatively few ethical issues, and are easy to manipulate. From human iPSCs, megakaryocyte (MK) lines with robust proliferation capacity have been established by the introduction of specified sets of genes. These expandable MKs are also cryopreservable and thus would be suitable as master cells for good manufacturing practice (GMP)-grade production of platelets, assuring availability on demand and safety against blood-borne infections. Meanwhile, developments in bioreactors that physically mimic the in vivo environment and discovery of substances that promote thrombopoiesis have yielded competent platelets with improved efficiency. The derivation of platelets from iPSCs could further resolve transfusion-related alloimmune complications through the manufacturing of autologous products and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-compatible platelets from stocked homologous HLA-type iPSC libraries or by manipulation of HLAs and human platelet antigens (HPAs). Considering these key advances in the field, HLA-deleted platelets could become a universal product that is manufactured at industrial level to safely fulfill almost all demands. In this review, we provide an overview of the ex vivo production of iPSC-derived platelets toward clinical applications, a production that would revolutionize the blood transfusion system and lead the field of iPSC-based regenerative medicine.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extracts produced using artificial hydroponic and artificial hydroponic-field hybrid cultivation systems

Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots used in this study were produced using novel cultivation systems, including artificial hydroponics and artificial hydroponic-field hybrid cultivation. The equivalency between G. uralensis root extracts produced by hydroponics and/or hybrid cultivation and a commercial Glycyrrhiza crude drug were evaluated for both safety and efficacy, and there were no significant differences in terms of mutagenicity on the Ames tests. The levels of cadmium and mercury in both hydroponic roots and crude drugs were less than the limit of quantitation. Arsenic levels were lower in all hydroponic roots than in the crude drug, whereas mean lead levels in the crude drug were not significantly different from those in the hydroponically cultivated G. uralensis roots. Both hydroponic and hybrid-cultivated root extracts showed antiallergic activities against contact hypersensitivity that were similar to those of the crude drug extracts. These study results suggest that hydroponic and hybrid-cultivated roots are equivalent in safety and efficacy to those of commercial crude drugs. Further studies are necessary before the roots are applicable as replacements for the currently available commercial crude drugs produced from wild plant resources.

Computer-Aided Interpretation of Coronary Cineangiograms

To accurately diagnose stenotic lesions on coronary cineangiograms, an automatic detection method using computer image processing was developed. We evaluated its accuracy by comparing the results of computer-aided interpretation (CAI) with those obtained independently by 3 observers. Evaluation was performed on 129 segments from 27 arteries visualized on angiograms obtained in 18 patients. The detection rates of stenosis of the 3 observers by pure visual interpretation were 7.0%, 27.9%, and 17.1%, and using CAI 40.0%, 42.6%, and 47.3%. By computer recognition alone, a detection rate of 51.9% was achieved. The agreement by at least 2 observers (consensus) on the sites with lesions was 41.1% while the consensus of computer recognition regarding the sites with lesion was 40.3%. Therefore, our findings indicated that computer recognition of cineangiograms is likely to result in overdetection of lesions. However, all 3 observers detected stenotic lesions better with CAI than with pure visual interpretation. Accordingly, CAI may improve the reliability of cineangiographic diagnosis.

Enuresis and Hyperactivity-Inattention in Early Adolescence: Findings from a Population-Based Survey in Tokyo (Tokyo Early Adolescence Survey)

BACKGROUND

Enuresis (9% at age 9.5) negatively affects children's psychosocial status. Clinically-diagnosed enuresis (2% at the age) is associated with hyperactivity-inattention, and common neural bases have been postulated to underlie this association. It is, however, unclear whether this association is applicable to enuresis overall among the general population of early adolescents when considered comorbid behavioral problems. We aimed to examine whether enuresis correlates with hyperactivity-inattention after controlling for the effects of other behavioral problems.

METHODS

Participants were 4,478 children (mean age 10.2 ± 0.3 years old) and their parents from the Tokyo Early Adolescence Survey (T-EAS), a population-representative cross-sectional study conducted in Tokyo, Japan conducted from 2012 to 2015. Children's enuresis and behavioral problems, including hyperactivity-inattention (as measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire), were examined using parent-reporting questionnaires. Multivariate linear regression was used to explore whether enuresis predicts hyperactivity-inattention.

RESULTS

The hyperactivity-inattention score was significantly higher in the enuretic group than the non-enuretic group (enuretic: M (SD) = 3.8 (2.3), non-enuretic: M (SD) = 3.0 (2.1), Hedge's g = 0.39, p < .001). This association remained significant even after controlling for other behavioral problems and including sex, age, intelligence quotient (IQ), low birth weight and parents' education (β = .054 [95% CI: .028-.080], p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Enuresis was independently associated with hyperactivity-inattention in early adolescents among general population even when other behavioral problems were considered. These results suggest that, as with clinically-diagnosed cases, enuresis may predict need for screening and psychosocial support for hyperactivity-inattention.

Principal component analysis uncovers cytomegalovirus-associated NK cell activation in Ph+ leukemia patients treated with dasatinib

Dasatinib treatment markedly increases the number of large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) in a proportion of Ph⁺ leukemia patients, which associates with a better prognosis. The lymphocytosis is predominantly observed in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive patients, yet detectable CMV reactivation exists only in a small fraction of patients. Thus, etiology of the lymphocytosis still remains unclear. Here, we identified NK cells as the dominant LGLs expanding in dasatinib-treated patients, and applied principal component analysis (PCA) to an extensive panel of NK cell markers to explore underlying factors in NK cell activation. PCA displayed phenotypic divergence of NK cells that reflects CMV-associated differentiation and genetic differences, and the divergence was markedly augmented in CMV-seropositive dasatinib-treated patients. Notably, the CMV-associated highly differentiated status of NK cells was already observed at leukemia diagnosis, and was further enhanced after starting dasatinib in virtually all CMV-seropositive patients. Thus, the extensive characterization of NK cells by PCA strongly suggests that CMV is an essential factor in the NK cell activation, which progresses stepwise during leukemia and subsequent dasatinib treatment most likely by subclinical CMV reactivation. This study provides a rationale for the exploitation of CMV-associated NK cell activation for treatment of leukemias.

Randomized phase III study of bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI and bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6 as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (WJOG4407G)

BACKGROUND

FOLFIRI and FOLFOX have shown equivalent efficacy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but their comparative effectiveness is unknown when combined with bevacizumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

WJOG4407G was a randomized, open-label, phase III trial conducted in Japan. Patients with previously untreated mCRC were randomized 1:1 to receive either FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab (FOLFIRI + Bev) or mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab (mFOLFOX6 + Bev), stratified by institution, adjuvant chemotherapy, and liver-limited disease. The primary end point was non-inferiority of FOLFIRI + Bev to mFOLFOX6 + Bev in progression-free survival (PFS), with an expected hazard ratio (HR) of 0.9 and non-inferiority margin of 1.25 (power 0.85, one-sided α-error 0.025). The secondary end points were response rate (RR), overall survival (OS), safety, and quality of life (QoL) during 18 months. This trial is registered to the University Hospital Medical Information Network, number UMIN000001396.

RESULTS

Among 402 patients enrolled from September 2008 to January 2012, 395 patients were eligible for efficacy analysis. The median PFS for FOLFIRI + Bev (n = 197) and mFOLFOX6 + Bev (n = 198) were 12.1 and 10.7 months, respectively [HR, 0.905; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.723-1.133; P = 0.003 for non-inferiority]. The median OS for FOLFIRI + Bev and mFOLFOX6 + Bev were 31.4 and 30.1 months, respectively (HR, 0.990; 95% CI 0.785-1.249). The best overall RRs were 64% for FOLFIRI + Bev and 62% for mFOLFOX6 + Bev. The common grade 3 or higher adverse events were leukopenia (11% in FOLFIRI + Bev/5% in mFOLFOX6 + Bev), neutropenia (46%/35%), diarrhea (9%/5%), febrile neutropenia (5%/2%), peripheral neuropathy (0%/22%), and venous thromboembolism (6%/2%). The QoL assessed by FACT-C (TOI-PFC) and FACT/GOG-Ntx was favorable for FOLFIRI + Bev during 18 months.

CONCLUSION

FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab was non-inferior for PFS, compared with mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab, as the first-line systemic treatment for mCRC.

CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER

UMIN000001396.

Quality-of-life and performance status results from the phase III RAINBOW study of ramucirumab plus paclitaxel versus placebo plus paclitaxel in patients with previously treated gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The phase III RAINBOW trial demonstrated that the addition of ramucirumab to paclitaxel improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and tumor response rate in fluoropyrimidine-platinum previously treated patients with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Here, we present results from quality-of-life (QoL) and performance status (PS) analyses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS of 0/1 were randomized to receive ramucirumab (8 mg/kg i.v.) or placebo on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle, with both arms receiving paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8, and 15. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed with the QoL/health status questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D at baseline and 6-week intervals. PS was assessed at baseline and day 1 of every cycle. Time to deterioration (TtD) in each QLQ-C30 scale was defined as randomization to first worsening of ≥10 points (on 100-point scale) and TtD in PS was defined as first worsening to ≥2. Hazard ratios (HRs) for treatment effect were estimated using stratified Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Of the 665 patients randomized, 650 (98%) provided baseline QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D data, and 560 (84%) also provided data from ≥1 postbaseline time point. Baseline scores for both instruments were similar between arms. Of the 15 QLQ-C30 scales, 14 had HR < 1, indicating similar or longer TtD in QoL for ramucirumab + paclitaxel. Treatment with ramucirumab + paclitaxel was also associated with a delay in TtD in PS to ≥2 (HR = 0.798, P = 0.0941). Alternate definitions of PS deterioration yielded similar results: PS ≥ 3 (HR = 0.656, P = 0.0508), deterioration by ≥1 PS level (HR = 0.802, P = 0.0444), and deterioration by ≥2 PS levels (HR = 0.608, P = 0.0063). EQ-5D scores were comparable between treatment arms, stable during treatment, and worsened at discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

In patients with previously treated advanced gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma, addition of ramucirumab to paclitaxel prolonged overall survival while maintaining patient QoL with delayed symptom worsening and functional status deterioration.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV

NCT01170663.

Phase III study comparing oxaliplatin plus S-1 with cisplatin plus S-1 in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) as an alternative to cisplatin plus S-1 (CS) in first-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this randomized, open-label, multicenter phase III study, patients were randomly assigned to receive SOX (80-120 mg/day S-1 for 2 weeks with 100 mg/m(2) oxaliplatin on day 1, every 3 weeks) or CS (S-1 for 3 weeks with 60 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 8, every 5 weeks). The primary end points were noninferiority in progression-free survival (PFS) and relative efficacy in overall survival (OS) for SOX using adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with stratification factors; performance status and unresectable or recurrent (+adjuvant chemotherapy) disease.

RESULTS

Overall, 685 patients were randomized from January 2010 to October 2011. In per-protocol population, SOX (n = 318) was noninferior to CS (n = 324) in PFS [median, 5.5 versus 5.4 months; HR 1.004, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.840-1.199; predefined noninferiority margin 1.30]. The median OS for SOX and CS were 14.1 and 13.1 months, respectively (HR 0.958 with 95% CI 0.803-1.142). In the intention-to-treat population (SOX, n = 339; CS, n = 337), the HRs in PFS and OS were 0.979 (95% CI 0.821-1.167) and 0.934 (95% CI 0.786-1.108), respectively. The most common ≥grade 3 adverse events (SOX versus CS) were neutropenia (19.5% versus 41.8%), anemia (15.1% versus 32.5%), hyponatremia (4.4% versus 13.4%), febrile neutropenia (0.9% versus 6.9%), and sensory neuropathy (4.7% versus 0%).

CONCLUSION

SOX is as effective as CS for AGC with favorable safety profile, therefore SOX can replace CS.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

JapicCTI-101021.

Pressure-dependent formation of i-motif and G-quadruplex DNA structures

Pressure is an important physical stimulus that can influence the fate of cells by causing structural changes in biomolecules such as DNA.