Long-term effects of a randomised trial of a 6-year lifestyle intervention in impaired glucose tolerance on diabetes-related microvascular complications: the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We determined the effects of 6 years of lifestyle intervention in persons with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on the development of retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy over a 20 year period.

METHODS

In 1986, 577 adults with IGT from 33 clinics in Da Qing, China were randomly assigned by clinic to a control group or one of three lifestyle intervention groups (diet, exercise, and diet plus exercise). Active intervention was carried out from 1986 to 1992. In 2006 we conducted a 20 year follow-up study of the original participants to compare the incidence of microvascular complications in the combined intervention group vs the control group.

RESULTS

Follow-up information was obtained on 542 (94%) of the 577 original participants. The cumulative incidence of severe retinopathy was 9.2% in the combined intervention group and 16.2% in the control group (p = 0.03, log-rank test). After adjusting for clinic and age, the incidence of severe retinopathy was 47% lower in the intervention group than the control group (hazard rate ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.99, p = 0.048). No significant differences were found in the incidence of severe nephropathy (hazard rate ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.16-7.05, intervention vs control, p = 0.96) or in the prevalence of neuropathy (8.6% vs 9.1%, p = 0.89) among the 20 year survivors.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Lifestyle intervention for 6 years in IGT was associated with a 47% reduction in the incidence of severe, vision-threatening retinopathy over a 20 year interval, primarily due to the reduced incidence of diabetes in the intervention group. However, similar benefits were not seen for nephropathy or neuropathy.

MiR-26a functions oppositely in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and ADSCs depending on distinct activation and roles of Wnt and BMP signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as important regulators of stem cell lineage commitment and bone development. MiRNA-26a (miR-26a) is one of the important miRNAs regulating osteogenic differentiation of both bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). However, miR-26a functions oppositely in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and ADSCs, suggesting distinct post-transcriptional regulation of tissue-specific MSC differentiation. However, the molecular basis is largely unknown. Here, we report that the function of miR-26a is largely depended on the intrinsic signaling regulation network of MSCs. Using bioinformatics and functional assay, we confirmed that miR-26a potentially targeted on GSK3β and Smad1 to regulate Wnt and BMP signaling pathway. Overall comparative analysis revealed that Wnt signaling was enhanced more potently and played a more important role than BMP signaling in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, whereas BMP pathway was more essential for promoting osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. The distinct activation pattern and role of signaling pathways determined that miR-26a majorly targeted on GSK3β to activate Wnt signaling for promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, whereas it inhibited Smad1 to suppress BMP signaling for interfering with the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. Taken together, our study demonstrated that BMSCs and ADSCs applied different signaling pathway to facilitate their osteogenic differentiation, which determined the inverse function of miR-26a. The distinct transcriptional regulation and post-transcriptional regulation network suggested the intrinsic molecular differences between tissue-specific MSCs and the complexity in MSC research and MSC-based cell therapy.

Response assessment by combined PET-CT scan versus CT scan alone using RECIST in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

RECIST have limitations when applied to potentially curable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) scan may be useful in assessing treatment response and predicting patient outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied patients with previously untreated stages III-IVb SCCHN treated with primary concurrent chemoradiotherapy on five prospective clinical trials. Response was assessed by clinical exam, computed tomography (CT), and PET portions of combined PET-CT scan ∼8 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients were analyzed. Complete response (CR) was demonstrated in 42 patients (79%) by clinical exam, 15 (28%) by CT, and 27 (51%) by PET. CR as assessed by PET, but not as assessed by clinical exam or CT using RECIST, correlated significantly with progression-free status (PFS) (P < 0.0001). The 2-year PFS for patients with CR and without CR by PET was 93% and 48%, respectively (P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

A negative PET scan on combined PET-CT after chemoradiotherapy is a powerful predictor of outcome in patients receiving curative chemoradiotherapy for SCCHN. PET-CT is indicated for response evaluation in this setting to improve the accuracy of post-treatment assessment by CT.

Seven genes for the prognostic prediction in patients with glioma

PURPOSE

Glioma is a common malignant tumor of the central nervous system, which is characterized by a low cure rate, high morbidity, and high recurrence rate. Consequently, it is imperative to explore some indicators for prognostic prediction in glioma.

METHODS

We obtained glioma data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by R software from TCGA data sets. Through Cox regression analysis, risk scores were obtained to assess the weighted gene-expression levels, which could predict the prognosis of patients with glioma. The validity and the prognostic value of this model in glioma were confirmed by the manifestation of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC), and 5-year overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

In total, 920 DEGs of transcriptome genes in glioma were extracted from the TCGA database. We identified a novel seven-gene signature associated with glioma. Among them, AL118505.1 and SMOC1 were positively related to the 5-year OS of patients with glioma, showing a better prognosis for glioma; however, RAB42, SHOX2, IGFBP2, HIST1H3G, and IGF2BP3 were negatively related to 5-year OS, displaying a worse prognosis. In addition, according to risk scores, AL118505.1 was also a protective factor, while others were risk factors. Furthermore, the expression levels of SHOX2, IGFBP2, and IGF2BP3 were significantly positively correlated with glioma grades. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessed the accuracy and sensitivity of the gene signature. Each of the seven genes for patients with the distribution of the risk score was presented in the heat map.

CONCLUSION

We identified a novel seven-gene signature in patients with glioma, which could be used as a predictor for the prognosis of patients with glioma in the future.

Phase I trial of pemetrexed in combination with cetuximab and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

We studied the combination of pemetrexed, a multi-targeted antifolate, and cetuximab, an mAb against the epidermal growth factor receptor, with radiotherapy in poor prognosis head and neck cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received pemetrexed on days 1, 22, and 43 on a dose-escalation scheme with starting level (0) 350 mg/m(2) (level -1, 200 mg/m(2); level +1, 500 mg/m(2)) with concurrent radiotherapy (2 Gy/day) and cetuximab in two separate cohorts, not previously irradiated (A) and previously irradiated (B), who received 70 and 60-66 Gy, respectively. Genetic polymorphisms of thymidylate synthase and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase were evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were enrolled. The maximum tolerated dose of pemetrexed was 500 mg/m(2) in cohort A and 350 mg/m(2) in cohort B. Prophylactic antibiotics were required. In cohort A, two dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred (febrile neutropenia), one each at levels 0 and +1. In cohort B, two DLTs occurred at level +1 (febrile neutropenia; death from perforated duodenal ulcer and sepsis). Grade 3 mucositis was common. No association of gene polymorphisms with toxicity or efficacy was evident.

CONCLUSION

The addition of pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) to cetuximab and radiotherapy is recommended for further study in not previously irradiated patients.

Mutations in and Expression of the Tumor Suppressor Gene p53 in Egg-Type Chickens Infected With Subgroup J Avian Leukosis Virus

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the oncogenic effects of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), we examined mutations in and the expression of p53 in the myelocytomas distributed in the liver, spleen, trachea, and bone marrow, as well as in fibrosarcomas in the abdominal cavity and hemangiomas in skin from chickens that were naturally or experimentally infected with ALV-J. Two types of mutations in the p53 gene were detected in myelocytomas of both the experimentally infected and the naturally infected chickens and included point mutations and deletions. Two of the point mutations have not been reported previously. Partial complementary DNA clones with a 122-bp deletion in the p53 gene ORF and a 15-bp deletion in the C-terminus were identified in the myelocytomas. In addition, moderate expression of the mutant p53 protein was detected in the myelocytomas that were distributed in the liver, trachea, spleen, and bone marrow. Mutant p53 protein was not detected in the subcutaneous hemangiomas or in the abdominal fibrosarcomas associated with natural and experimental ALV-J infection, respectively. These results identify mutations associated with abnormal expression of p53 in ALV-J-associated myelocytomas, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis.

Mapping multimodal phenotypes to perturbations in cells and tissue with CRISPRmap

Unlike sequencing-based methods, which require cell lysis, optical pooled genetic screens enable investigation of spatial phenotypes, including cell morphology, protein subcellular localization, cell-cell interactions and tissue organization, in response to targeted CRISPR perturbations. Here we report a multimodal optical pooled CRISPR screening method, which we call CRISPRmap. CRISPRmap combines in situ CRISPR guide-identifying barcode readout with multiplexed immunofluorescence and RNA detection. Barcodes are detected and read out through combinatorial hybridization of DNA oligos, enhancing barcode detection efficiency. CRISPRmap enables in situ barcode readout in cell types and contexts that were elusive to conventional optical pooled screening, including cultured primary cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, derived neurons and in vivo cells in a tissue context. We conducted a screen in a breast cancer cell line of the effects of DNA damage repair gene variants on cellular responses to commonly used cancer therapies, and we show that optical phenotyping pinpoints likely pathogenic patient-derived mutations that were previously classified as variants of unknown clinical significance.

[Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance returned to normal glucose status for six years had lower long-term risk of diabetes: 20 years follow up of Daqing diabetes prevention study]

Objective: To explore the influence of lifestyle intervention on long-term diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) returned to normal glucose tolerance (NGT) within 6 years. Methods: A total of 577 subjects (aged 25-74 years old) with IGT in Daqing were enrolled and randomly assigned to control, and diet, exercise and diet plus exercise groups in a six-year intervention trial in 1986. Subjects who were non-diabetic at the end of the intervention were followed up for additional 14 years. Results: Among all the subjects, 41.38% of them who had returned to NGT from IGT within 6 years maintained NGT status after 20 years, and had a lower incidence of diabetes than subjects maintained IGT status (46.55% vs. 75.25%). Of note, in the intervention group, the percentage of participants developed diabetes in the NGT subjects was significantly lower than that in the IGT group (43.71% vs. 76.25%) after 20 years. There was high long-term risk for diabetes in the IGT subjects after the adjustment of age, sex and baseline glucose (HR=1.81, 95%CI 1.27-2.58, P=0.001), whereas in the non-intervention group, no significant difference could be viewed in long-term diabetic risk between subjects maintained IGT status and those returned to NGT (71.43% vs. 65.22%) after adjusting of the same confounders (HR=1.03, 95%CI 0.45-2.35, P=0.94). Conclusions: IGT subjects who had returned to NGT in early years had lower risk for future diabetes than those who remained IGT. However, this beneficial effect could only be viewed in the intervention group, but not in the non-intervention group.

Phase II study of irinotecan and paclitaxel for patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

18011

Background: Recurrent SCLC has a poor prognosis and is devoid of treatment options that improve overall survival. Irinotecan and paclitaxel are both active agents against SCLC, and have synergistic preclinical interactions. We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of irinotecan and paclitaxel for patients with recurrent SCLC. Methods: Patients with SCLC who relapsed following one prior chemotherapy regimen were eligible. Other pertinent inclusion criteria were: ECOG performance status 0–2, adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function and willingness to provide informed consent. Patients with untreated brain metastasis were excluded. Paclitaxel (75 mg/m2) and irinotecan (50 mg/m2) were administered on days 1 & 8 of every 3-week cycle. Treatment was continued until progression up to a maximum of 6 cycles or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was response rate. Toxicity was graded by CTC version 2.0. The simon two-stage design was utilized and the estimated sample size was 55 patients (stage I - 23 patients; stage 2 - 32 patients). The study has a 90% power to detect a response rate of 30%, with an alpha error rate of 10%. Results: 55 patients have been enrolled and complete data are available for 32 patients at the time of this report. Patient baseline characteristics are: male 53%, PS 0–44%; PS 1–47% and PS 2–6%. The median age is 61 years. Fifteen patients received ≥ 4 cycles. Salient grades 3–5 toxicities seen: neutropenia (13%), fatigue (13%); diarrhea (3%), hypersensitivity (3%) and hyponatremia (3%).The objective response rate is 37% (95% CI 19%-55%) with 9 PRs and 1 CR. Additional 8 patients (24%) had stable disease. The median survival is 19.6 weeks (95% CI 15.1–29.4) and the 1-year survival rate is 15%. Conclusions: The combination of irinotecan and paclitaxel is well tolerated and has promising anti-cancer activity in recurrent SCLC. Updated data on all 55 patients will be available at the time of the presentation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

CRISPRmap: Sequencing-free optical pooled screens mapping multi-omic phenotypes in cells and tissue

Pooled genetic screens are powerful tools to study gene function in a high-throughput manner. Typically, sequencing-based screens require cell lysis, which limits the examination of critical phenotypes such as cell morphology, protein subcellular localization, and cell-cell/tissue interactions. In contrast, emerging optical pooled screening methods enable the investigation of these spatial phenotypes in response to targeted CRISPR perturbations. In this study, we report a multi-omic optical pooled CRISPR screening method, which we have named CRISPRmap. Our method combines a novel in situ CRISPR guide identifying barcode readout approach with concurrent multiplexed immunofluorescence and in situ RNA detection. CRISPRmap barcodes are detected and read out through combinatorial hybridization of DNA oligos, enhancing barcode detection efficiency, while reducing both dependency on third party proprietary sequencing reagents and assay cost. Notably, we conducted a multi-omic base-editing screen in a breast cancer cell line on core DNA damage repair genes involved in the homologous recombination and Fanconi anemia pathways investigating how nucleotide variants in those genes influence DNA damage signaling and cell cycle regulation following treatment with ionizing radiation or DNA damaging agents commonly used for cancer therapy. Approximately a million cells were profiled with our multi-omic approach, providing a comprehensive phenotypic assessment of the functional consequences of the studied variants. CRISPRmap enabled us to pinpoint likely-pathogenic patient-derived mutations that were previously classified as variants of unknown clinical significance. Furthermore, our approach effectively distinguished barcodes of a pooled library in tumor tissue, and we coupled it with cell-type and molecular phenotyping by cyclic immunofluorescence. Multi-omic spatial analysis of how CRISPR-perturbed cells respond to various environmental cues in the tissue context offers the potential to significantly expand our understanding of tissue biology in both health and disease.

Canonical and non-canonical functions of the non-coding RNA component (TERC) of telomerase complex

The telomerase complex consists of a protein component (TERT), which has reverse transcriptase activity, and an RNA component (TERC), which serves as a template for telomere synthesis. Evidence is rapidly accumulating regarding the non-canonical functions of these components in both normal or diseased cells. An oligonucleotide-based drug, the first telomerase inhibitor, secured FDA approval in June 2024. We recently summarized the non-canonical functions of TERT in viral infections and cancer. In this review, we expand on these non-canonical functions of TERC beyond telomere maintenance. Specifically, we explore TERC's roles in cellular aging and senescence, immune regulation, genetic diseases, human cancer, as well as involvement in viral infections and host interactions. Finally, we discuss a transcription product of telomere repeats, TERRA, and explore strategies for targeting TERC as a therapeutic approach.

Abstract P6-07-02: Prediction of oncotype DX® recurrence score using pathology generated equations

BACKGROUND: Oncotype DX® is a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction based assay that has been shown to have prognostic and predictive value in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancers. The result is reported as a recurrence score (RS) ranging from 0–100, divided into low risk (&lt;18), intermediate risk (18–30), and high risk (≥31) categories. Prior studies have shown that RS is influenced by ER and progesterone receptor (PR) expression, HER2 status, proliferation index, and tumor grade. Our pilot study showed that RS can be predicted by an equation incorporating standard morpho-immunohistologic variables (referred to as Original Magee Equation; Mod Pathol. 2008;21:1255–1261).

METHODS: Using a dataset of 817 cases, we formulated three additional equations to predict the RS category for an independent set of 255 cases. Three models were built based on different hypotheses and data availability and are represented below.

New Magee Equation 1 (nME1): RS = 15.31385 + Nottingham score*1.4055+ ER H-score*(−0.01924) + PR H-score*(−0.02925) + (0 for HER2 negative, 0.77681 for equivocal, 11.58134 for HER2 positive) + Tumor size*0.78677 + KI67 index*0.13269.

New Magee Equation 2 (nME2): RS = 18.8042+ Nottingham score*2.34123 + ER H-score*(−0.03749) + PR H-score*(−0.03065) + (0 for HER2 negative, 1.82921 for equivocal, 11.51378 for HER2 positive) + Tumor size*0.04267.

New Magee Equation 3 (nME3): RS = 24.30812+ ER H-score*(−0.02177) + PR H-score*(−0.02884) + (0 for HER2 negative, 1.46495 for equivocal, 12.75525 for HER2 positive) + KI-67*0.18649.

RESULTS: The concordance between the risk category of oncotype DX® and our equations was 55.8%, 59.4%, and 54.4% for nME1, nME2, and nME3 respectively. With exclusion of the intermediate risk categories for both the actual RS and estimated RS, the concordance for each equation increased to more than 95%, reflecting the very low two step discordance (100% {76/76}, 98.6% {75/76}, and 98.7% {79/80} for nME1, nME2, and nME3 respectively). Even when the estimated RS fell in the intermediate category with any of the equations, the actual RS was either intermediate or low in more than 85% of the cases. The Pearson correlation coefficient between estimated and actual RS was similar for each of the equations (0.61661, 0.60386 and 0.59407 for nME1, nME2 and nME3, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Any of the 3 equations can be used to estimate the RS depending on available data. If the estimated RS is clearly high or low, the oncologists should not expect a dramatically different result from oncotype DX®, and the oncotype DX® test may not be needed. Conversely, an oncotype DX® result that is dramatically different from what is expected based on standard morpho-immunohistologic variables should be thoroughly investigated.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-02.