Initial ribociclib plus endocrine therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women: Primary results from a phase 2 randomized study.

BACKGROUND: The MONALEESA­7 and ­2 phase 3 randomized trials demonstrated a statistically significant progression­free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefit with initial ribociclib + endocrine therapy (ET) versus placebo + ET in pre­ and postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor­positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2­negative (HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC), respectively. Similar trends were observed in Asian subgroup analyses. This phase 2 bridging study of initial ET + ribociclib enrolled pre­ and postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2­ ABC from China and was conducted to demonstrate consistency of PFS results in a Chinese population relative to the global MONALEESA­7 and ­2 studies. METHODS: Patients were randomized (1:1) to ET (nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor + goserelin for premenopausal patients; letrozole for postmenopausal patients) + either ribociclib or placebo. The primary endpoint was investigator­assessed PFS. RESULTS: As of April 25, 2022, the median follow­up was 34.7 months in both cohorts. In the premenopausal cohort, median PFS was 27.6 months in the ribociclib arm (n = 79) versus 14.7 months in the placebo arm (n = 77) (hazard ratio 0.67 [95% CI: 0.45, 1.01]). In the postmenopausal cohort, median PFS was not reached in the ribociclib arm versus 18.5 months in the placebo arm (n = 77 in each arm) (hazard ratio 0.40 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.62]). Data also suggested improvements in secondary efficacy endpoints, although OS data were not mature. The safety profile in this population was consistent with that in global studies. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a favorable benefit­risk profile for ribociclib + ET in Chinese patients.

Comparative analysis of adverse events associated with CDK4/6 inhibitors based on FDA's adverse event reporting system: a case control pharmacovigilance study.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors marked a milestone in the breast cancer treatment. Due to the potential impact of adverse effects on treatment decisions and patient outcomes, careful consideration of the varying toxicities of CDK4/6 inhibitors is crucial, as three inhibitors-palbociclib, abemaciclib, and ribociclib-have been approved with differences in adverse event profiles. However, limitations in clinical trials call for urgent real-world safety studies to evaluate and compare the risk of adverse events (AEs) among these CDK4/6 inhibitors. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze AEs of CDK4/6 inhibitors and provide insights for clinical drug selection, using real world database. METHODS: The AEs of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (2015-2022) were analyzed. Four disproportionality methods were used to detect safety signals: reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio, Bayesian Confidence Neural Network Propagation, and Multi-Item Gamma Poisson Shrinker. Venn analysis was used to compare and select common and specific AEs. RESULTS: This study included 73,042 patients treated with palbociclib, 25,142 with ribociclib, and 7563 with abemaciclib. All three inhibitors had 27 common AEs. Palbociclib exhibited the highest ROR for hematologic toxicities, while ribociclib showed the highest ROR for macrocytosis, nail disorders, and hepatic lesions. Abemaciclib displayed the highest ROR for mucosal toxicity. Common signals for both palbociclib and ribociclib included hematologic toxicities, decreased immune responsiveness, and aphthous ulcers. Myelosuppression, oral pain, and pseudocirrhosis were common signals for palbociclib and abemaciclib. Anemia, hepatotoxicity, and pneumonitis were observed as common signals for ribociclib and abemaciclib. Furthermore, specific AEs associated with palbociclib included fatigue, alopecia, and stomatitis. For ribociclib, specific AEs included electrocardiogram QT prolongation, thrombocytopenia, and decreased hemoglobin. Abemaciclib was specifically linked to diarrhea, vomiting, and interstitial lung disease. CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed that palbociclib showed a higher risk of hematologic toxicity. Ribociclib showed higher risks of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and QT prolongation. Abemaciclib showed higher risks of hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal effects, interstitial lung disease, and thrombosis. These findings provide valuable insights for CDK4/6 inhibitor selection.

Comparative effectiveness analysis of survival with first-line palbociclib or ribociclib plus AI in HR + /HER2- advanced breast cancer (CEPRA study): preliminary analysis of real-world data from Thailand.

BACKGROUND: The current standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR + /HER2 -) advanced breast cancer (ABC) is a combination of aromatase inhibitor (AI) plus CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i). Direct comparison trials of different CDK4/6i are scarce. This real-world study compared the effectiveness of first-line AI plus ribociclib versus palbociclib. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study, conducted in six cancer centers in Thailand, enrolled patients with HR + /HER2 - ABC treated with first-line AI, and either ribociclib or palbociclib. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), time to chemotherapy (TTC), and adverse events. RESULTS: Of the 250 patients enrolled, 134 patients with ribociclib and 49 patients with palbociclib were captured after PSM. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between groups. Median PFS in patients receiving ribociclib and palbociclib were 27.9 and 31.8 months, respectively (hazard ratio: 0.87; 0.55-1.37). The median OS in the AI + ribociclib arm was 48.7 months compared to 59.1 months in the AI + palbociclib arm (hazard ratio: 0.55; 0.29-1.05). The median TTC in the AI + palbociclib group was 56 months, but not reached in the AI + ribociclib group (p = 0.42). The ORR of AI + ribociclib and AI + palbociclib were comparable (40.5% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.29). Patients receiving palbociclib demonstrated a higher proportion of neutropenia compared to those receiving ribociclib, despite a similar dose reduction rate (p = 0.28). Hepatitis rate was similar between the ribociclib (21%) and palbociclib groups (22%). Additionally, a low incidence of QT prolongation was observed in both the ribociclib (5%) and palbociclib groups (4%). CONCLUSION: This preliminary analysis of a real-world study demonstrated the comparable effectiveness of ribociclib and palbociclib with AI as an initial therapy for HR + /HER2 - ABC. No statistically significant difference in PFS, OS, and TTC was found in patients treated with AI combined with palbociclib or ribociclib. Longer follow-up and further prospective randomized head-to-head studies are warranted.

A comparison of the safety and efficacy of tapinarof and roflumilast topical therapies in the management of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. First-line topical treatments include steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin D analogs, and anthralin. Recently, novel topical therapeutics like tapinarof and roflumilast have emerged with unique anti-inflammatory mechanisms and promising efficacy profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review utilized PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases to identify recent studies on tapinarof and roflumilast. Criteria focused on efficacy, safety profiles, and therapeutic roles in psoriasis treatment. RESULTS: Four primary literature articles were identified for tapinarof and five for roflumilast. Both drugs demonstrated strong efficacy with minimal adverse events in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. Tapinarof showed more frequent but mild adverse effects, while roflumilast had less frequent but more severe side effects. DISCUSSION: Tapinarof and roflumilast offer once-daily dosing and successful treatment in restricted areas, potentially enhancing patient adherence. Cost remains a limiting factor, necessitating future comparative studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness between the two drugs. CONCLUSION: Tapinarof and roflumilast present promising topical treatments for psoriasis, showing efficacy and manageable safety profiles. Further research is crucial to fully elucidate their comparative benefits and drawbacks in clinical practice.

Chidamide plus R-GDP for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in patients ineligible for autologous transplantation: A prospective, single-arm, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: In relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a negative prognosis is frequently linked to heightened epigenetic heterogeneity. Chidamide, a selective histone deacetylase inhibitor, shows promise as a targeted therapy for R/R DLBCL by targeting abnormal epigenetic changes associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: A cohort of 27 ineligible patients with R/R DLBCL participated in an open - label, single - arm study. Chidamide was administered orally at a dose of 30 mg twice weekly for one week during the induction monotherapy phase. The subsequent combination therapy phase involved oral chidamide at a dose of 20 mg twice weekly for two weeks, followed by a one-week discontinuation period, in conjunction with intravenous R-GDP every 21 days. RESULTS: Among the cohort of 31 patients who underwent screening (median age: 67 years), 27 were ultimately included in the study, with 14 individuals successfully completing six cycles of C-R-GDP treatment. The overall best objective response rate was determined to be 79.1% (95% CI: 75.1%-83.3%), comprising a complete response rate of 45.8% (95% CI: 41.6%-49.9%) and a partial response rate of 33.3% (95% CI: 29.3%-37.4%). Within the subgroup of 14 patients who completed the full treatment regimen, the best objective response rate reached 100%, with 71.4% achieving complete response (n = 10) and 28.6% achieving partial response (n = 4). The median follow-up period for these patients was 17.0 months, ranging from 3.5 to 55 months. Progression-free survival was 5.9 months and overall survival was 48.3 months. Anemia was the most common adverse event, affecting all patients. Thrombocytopenia led to treatment interruption or dose reduction in 13 patients. Other common adverse events included hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia. Three patients experienced grade 3 pneumonitis and one had grade 3 skin rash. CONCLUSIONS: Chidamide combined with R-GDP is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with R/R DLBCL who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation.

Long-Term Safety of Roflumilast in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a Multinational Observational Database Cohort Study.

Purpose: This study evaluated the long-term safety of roflumilast in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic bronchitis using electronic healthcare databases from Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (US). Patients and Methods: The study population consisted of patients aged ≥40 years who had been exposed to roflumilast and a matched cohort unexposed to roflumilast. The matching was based on sex, age, calendar year of cohort entry date (2010-2011, 2012, or 2013), and a propensity score that included variables such as demographics, markers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity and morbidity, and comorbidities. In comparison to the unexposed matched cohort (never use), three exposure definitions were used for the exposed matched cohort: ever use, use status (current, recent, past use), and cumulative duration of use. The main outcome was 5-year all-cause mortality. Cox regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: 112,541 unexposed and 23,239 exposed patients across countries were included. Some variables remained unbalanced after matching, indicating higher COPD disease severity among the exposed patients. Adjusted HRs of 5-year all-cause mortality for "ever use" of roflumilast, compared to "never use", were 1.12 (95% CI, 1.08-1.17) in Germany, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.92-1.08) in Norway, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.92-1.04) in Sweden, and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.12-1.20) in the US. Compared to never users, there was a decrease in 5-year mortality risk observed among "current users" in Germany (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.98), Norway (HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67-0.87), and Sweden (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.88). Conclusion: There was no observed increase in 5-year mortality risk with the use of roflumilast in Sweden or Norway. A small increase in 5-year mortality risk was observed in Germany and the US in the ever versus never comparison, likely due to residual confounding by indication.

The efficacy and safety of chidamide in combination with etoposide and glucocorticoids for the treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adult patients: an open-label, single-center study.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by hyperinflammation and organ failure, with a high mortality rate. Current first-line treatments for adult patients have limited efficacy and significant toxicity. The novel selective histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), chidamide, has shown promise in preclinical studies for the potential treatment of HLH. Methods: An open-label, single-center study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chidamide in combination with etoposide and glucocorticoids for the treatment of HLH in adult patients. Seventeen patients who fulfilled at least five of the eight HLH-2004 criteria were enrolled and treated with the combination therapy. The primary outcome was overall response rate (ORR), and secondary outcomes included survival, safety and tolerability, and changes in laboratory indicators. Results: A total of 17 HLH patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study, with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. The age range at enrollment was 31 to 71 years old, with a median age of 52 years old. The ORR was 76.5% (13/17 patients), with a complete response (CR) rate of 17.6% (3/17 patients) and a partial response (PR) rate of 58.8% (10/17 patients). The median overall survival (OS) was not achieved, with OS at 6 months and 12 months being 81% and 65%, respectively. The median progression free survival (PFS) was not achieved, with PFS at 6 months and 12 months being 68% and 55%, respectively. Hematologic toxicities is the most common. Safety profile was favorable, with very few cases of grade 3/4 toxicities observed. The results showed that the levels of sCD25, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and albumin in these patients were significantly improved 3 weeks after treatment. Conclusion: The addition of chidamide to etoposide and glucocorticoids may be a promising new treatment option for patients with HLH, with a high ORR, manageable safety profile, and significant improvement in laboratory indicators. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal dosing and duration of therapy.

High Creatinine Level Secondary to Use of CDK 4/6 Inhibitor Treatment (Palbociclib and Ribociclib) + Endocrine Therapy (ET).

The aim of this study is to share real-life data on the increase in creatinine due to CDK 4/6 inhibitor treatment and patients diagnosed with HR+/HER2-MBC and treated with ribociclib or palbociclib combined with ET were included in the study. While creatinine increase was observed in 17.9% (n = 19) of the 106 patients in the study population, 8.5% (n = 9) had Grade 1, 8.5% (n = 8) had Grade 2, and % 0.9 (n = 1) had Grade 3 creatinine elevation. The increase in creatinine occurred in 25% (n = 12) of ribociclib users and 12.1% (n = 7) of palbociclib users. No patient required a dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment due to elevated creatinine. Of the patients with high creatinine levels, 36.8% (n = 7) were over 65 years of age. Those with multiple comorbidities, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) >13.5 mg/dl, creatinine >0.66 mg/dl, BUN/creatinine ratio >19.95, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) >96.05 ml/min, and uric acid >4.69mg/dl. It was observed that the increase in the creatinine level was statistically significant (p <0.001). In conclusion, this study revealed that the increase in the serum creatinine secondary to ribociclib and palbociclib treatments is associated with kidney function tests and the number of concomitant diseases. Key Words: CDK 4/6 inhibitor, Creatinine elevation, Palbociclib, Ribociclib.

Cardiac safety of ribociclib evaluated with 24-hour rhythm Holter electrocardiogram.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate cardiac safety profile of ribociclib with 24-h rhythm Holter ECG. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Forty-two female metastatic breast cancer patients were included in the study. Rhythm Holter ECG was performed before starting treatment with ribociclib and after 3 months of the treatment initiation. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 56.36 ± 12.73. 52.4% (n = 22) of the patients were using ribociclib in combination with fulvestrant and 47.6% (n = 20) with aromatase inhibitors. None of the patients developed cardiotoxicity. When the rhythm Holter results before and in third month of the treatment were compared, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating effects of ribociclib treatment on cardiac rhythm with Holter ECG. The findings suggested ribociclib has a low risk of causing early cardiotoxicity.

CDK4/6 inhibitors as adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer? Uncertain benefits, guaranteed harms.

CDK4/6 inhibitors are oral agents inhibiting key molecules of the cell cycle regulation. In patients with endocrine receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer, the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors with endocrine therapy is an effective treatment in the metastatic setting. Now, two studies in the adjuvant setting - MonarchE (2 years of abemaciclib) and NATALEE (3 years of ribociclib) - report positive invasive disease-free survival. Here, we re-evaluate these seminal trials. First, an excess drop-out or loss-to-follow up occurred early in the control arms of both studies. Since both trials are open-label, there is concern that the patients who drop-out do not do so at random but based on socioeconomic factors and alternative options. Is it possible that the results merely appear favorable due to loss to follow up? Based on re-constructed Kaplan-Meier curves, we concluded the results of these studies remain fragile, being prone to informative censoring. Secondly, adverse events were notably higher in both trials, and some of them, like COVID-19 related deaths in NATALEE, raise serious concerns. Third, the potential costs associated with CDK4/6 inhibition given as adjuvant therapy are unprecedented. The NATALEE strategy, in particular, could affect up to 35 % of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, which is the cancer with the highest incidence worldwide. Without confirmatory data based on a placebo-controlled trial, or better identification of patients that would benefit from the addition of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the adjuvant setting, we argue against their routine use as adjuvant therapy in ER+ /HER2- early breast cancer.

Expert Consensus on the Management of Adverse Events of Lorlatinib in the Treatment of ALK+ Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

The use of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as lorlatinib, for the treatment of patients with ALK gene rearrangement (or ALK-positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been shown to improve the overall survival and quality of life of these patients. However, lorlatinib is not exempt from potential adverse events. Adequate monitoring and management of these adverse events are critical for increasing patient adherence to lorlatinib, thereby maximizing the benefits of treatment and minimizing the risks associated with treatment discontinuation. Considering that the adverse events of lorlatinib can affect different organs and systems, the participation of a multidisciplinary team, including cardiologists, neurologists, internal medicine specialists, and oncology pharmacists, is needed. This article presents specific and pragmatic strategies for identifying and treating the most relevant adverse events associated with lorlatinib in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC based on the clinical experience of a multidisciplinary panel of experts.

Fostamatinib effectiveness and safety for immune thrombocytopenia in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT: Fostamatinib, a recently approved Syk inhibitor used in adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), has been shown to be safe and effective in this disorder. However, clinical trial results may not be similarly reproduced in clinical practice. Here, 138 patients with ITP (both primary and secondary) from 42 Spanish centers who had been treated with fostamatinib were evaluated prospectively and retrospectively. The median age of our cohort (55.8% women) was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 56-80). The median time since ITP diagnosis at fostamatinib initiation was 51 months (IQR, 10-166). The median number of therapies before fostamatinib initiation was 4 (IQR, 2-5), including eltrombopag (76.1%), romiplostim (57.2%), and IV immunoglobulins (44.2%). Fifty-eight patients (42.0%) had signs/symptoms of bleeding in the month before treatment initiation. Seventy-nine percent of patients responded to fostamatinib with 53.6% complete responses (platelet count > 100 × 109/L). Eighty-three patients (60.1%) received fostamatinib monotherapy, achieving a high response rate (85.4%). The proportion of time in response during the 27-month period examined was 83.3%. The median time to platelet response was 11 days (IQR, 7-21). Sixty-seven patients (48.5%) experienced adverse events, mainly grade 1 to 2; the commonest of which were diarrhea (n = 28) and hypertension (n = 21). One patient had deep venous thrombosis, and one patient developed acute myocardial infarction. Fostamatinib was shown to be effective with good safety profile in patients with primary and secondary ITP across a wide age spectrum in this real-world study.

Efficacy and safety of fostamatinib in refractory immune thrombocytopenia: a meta-analysis from randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disease that results in low platelet counts. Despite appropriate treatment, many patients continue to experience refractory disease. Fostamatinib, an oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, has emerged as a promising option for refractory ITP. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fostamatinib compared to conventional therapy in adults aged ≥ 18 years with refractory ITP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and clinicaltrials.gov databases from inception to March 31, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the safety and efficacy of fostamatinib in adults with refractory ITP were included. Data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and statistical analysis were performed following PRISMA guideline. RESULTS: A total of 495 articles were screened, with three RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria. Fostamatinib therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in achieving stable platelet response by week 24 (ORR 0.80; 95%CI 0.72-0.88), platelet count ≥ 50,000/µL at weeks 12 (ORR 0.80; 95%CI 0.72-0.90) and week 24 (ORR 0.82; 95%CI 0.72-0.90). Additionally, fostamatinib improves platelet counts in subjects with a baseline count of < 15,000/µL. The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) was calculated as 10. Adverse effects include diarrhea (RR 2.32; 95%CI 1.11-4.84), hypertension (RR 2.33; 95%CI 1.00-5.43), and abnormal liver function tests (RR 4.18; 95% CI 1.00-17.48). Interestingly, the occurrences of nausea (RR 1.77; 95% CI 0.33-9.67) and rash (RR 2.28; 95% CI 0.50-10.29) did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides robust evidence supporting the efficacy of fostamatinib in improving platelet counts and achieving therapeutic goals in adults with refractory ITP. However, fostamatinib's safety profile warrants consideration due to higher rates of diarrhea, hypertension, and abnormal liver function tests.

Efficacy and safety of flumatinib in the treatment of newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase: A real-world single-center retrospective study, with a focus on premature drug discontinuation.

PURPOSE: To assess the real-world efficacy and safety of flumatinib as first-line and post-line treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP). RESULTS: Among 141 patients receiving flumatinib as first-line and post-line treatment, the 12-month major molecular response (MMR) rates were 69.4% and 67.6%, respectively. The median time to response was 6 and 10.5 months, respectively. In post-line treatment, the early molecular response (EMR) of flumatinib as second-line is significantly superior to that of third-line treatment (3-month EMR rate: 79.2% vs. 39.3%, P<0.001; 3-month MMR rate: 45.8% vs. 21.4%, P=0.033). Contrastively, patients who switched to flumatinib due to intolerance had significantly higher MMR rates at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to patients who switched due to inadequate response (60.6% vs. 24.2%, P=0.003; 66.7% vs. 36.0%, P=0.027; 84.2% vs. 50.0%, P=0.038). Premature drug discontinuation was observed in 28.4% of the patients. Grades 3-4 hematologic adverse events (AEs) were identified as independent risk factors for premature drug discontinuation. Patients who discontinued treatment and those who previously received only imatinib therapy had a poorer molecular response and failure-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Flumatinib demonstrates favorable efficacy and safety. Treatment discontinuation can result in a poorer molecular response and long-term prognosis.

Sintilimab (anti-PD-1 antibody) plus chidamide (histone deacetylase inhibitor) in relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma (SCENT): a phase Ib/II study.

Anti-PD-1 antibodies are a favorable treatment for relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T cell lymphoma (RR-ENKTL), however, the complete response (CR) rate and the duration of response (DOR) need to be improved. This phase 1b/2 study investigated the safety and efficacy of sintilimab, a fully human anti-PD-1 antibody, plus chidamide, an oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor in 38 patients with RR-ENKTL. Expected objective response rate (ORR) of combination treatment was 80%. Patients received escalating doses of chidamide, administered concomitantly with fixed-dose sintilimab in 21-days cycles up to 12 months. No dose-limiting events were observed, RP2D of chidamide was 30 mg twice a week. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in phase 2. In the intention-to-treat population (n = 37), overall response rate was 59.5% with a complete remission rate of 48.6%. The median DOR, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 25.3, 23.2, and 32.9 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (28.9%) and thrombocytopenia (10.5%), immune-related AEs were reported in 18 (47.3%) patients. Exploratory biomarker assessment suggested that a combination of dynamic plasma ctDNA and EBV-DNA played a vital prognostic role. STAT3 mutation shows an unfavorable prognosis. Although outcome of anticipate ORR was not achieved, sintilimab plus chidamide was shown to have a manageable safety profile and yielded encouraging CR rate and DOR in RR-ENKTL for the first time. It is a promising therapeutic option for this population.

Optimizing abemaciclib-induced diarrhea management in patients with breast cancer: a pragmatic 2-group study using a postbiotic microbiota stabilizer.

BACKGROUND: Abemaciclib-induced diarrhea is a relevant concern in clinical practice. Postbiotics have emerged as a promising option for managing it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective-prospective, 2-group, observational study to assess the impact of the postbiotic PostbiotiX-Restore, derived by Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM I-5220, on abemaciclib-induced diarrhea in patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer. The prospective population (Postbio group) received postbiotic during the first cycle of abemaciclib, while the retrospective one received standard care (Standard group). Diarrhea grading was defined according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. RESULTS: During the first cycle, diarrhea occurred in 78.9% of patients in the Standard cohort and 97.1% in the Postbio one, with most cases being G1-G2. Severe (G3) diarrhea was significantly less frequent in the Postbio group (0%) compared to the Standard one (7.9%; P = .029). Over the entire study period, while the grading difference was not statistically significant, G3 events were less frequent in the Postbio population (5.9%) than the Standard one (15.4%). Moreover, Postbio patients required fewer dose reductions due to diarrhea compared to the Standard group (P = .002). Notably, in the Postbio population, G1 and G2 events had short median durations (3 and 1 days, respectively) and, for the 2 patients experiencing G3 events during the second abemaciclib cycle (off postbiotic), diarrhea lasted only 1 day. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the effect of PostbiotiX-Restore in mitigating abemaciclib-induced diarrhea, resulting in reduced severity, fewer dose reductions, and shorter duration. Further exploration and validation in larger cohorts are needed.

Impact of lumacaftor/ivacaftor on the bacterial and fungal respiratory pathogens in cystic fibrosis: a prospective multicenter cohort study in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: A significant decline in pulmonary exacerbation rates has been reported in CF patients homozygous for F508del treated with lumacaftor/ivacaftor. However, it is still unclear whether this reduction reflects a diminished microbiological burden. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of lumacaftor/ivacaftor on the bacterial and fungal burden. DESIGN: The study is a prospective multicenter cohort study including 132 CF patients homozygous for F508del treated with lumacaftor/ivacaftor. METHODS: Clinical parameters as well as bacterial and fungal outcomes 1 year after initiation of lumacaftor/ivacaftor were compared to data from 2 years prior to initiation of the treatment. Changes in the slope of the outcomes before and after the onset of treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Lung function measured as ppFEV1 (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) in adults (p < 0.001), and BMI z-score in children (p = 0.007) were improved after initiation of lumacaftor/ivacaftor. In addition, the slope of the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (p = 0.007) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (p < 0.001) shifted from positive to negative, that is, became less prevalent, 1 year after treatment, while the slope for Candida albicans (p = 0.009), Penicillium spp (p = 0.026), and Scedosporium apiospermum (p < 0.001) shifted from negative to positive. CONCLUSION: The current study showed a significant improvement in clinical parameters and a reduction of some of CF respiratory microorganisms 1 year after starting with lumacaftor/ivacaftor. However, no significant changes were observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Aspergillus fumigatus, key pathogens in the CF context.

Final Results of RIGHT Choice: Ribociclib Plus Endocrine Therapy Versus Combination Chemotherapy in Premenopausal Women With Clinically Aggressive Hormone Receptor-Positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: A head-to-head comparison of efficacy between a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy (ET) versus combination chemotherapy (CT) has never been reported in patients with clinically aggressive hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized phase II trial, pre/perimenopausal women with clinically aggressive HR+/HER2- ABC were randomly assigned 1:1 to first-line ribociclib (600 mg once daily; 3 weeks on, 1 week off) plus letrozole/anastrozole and goserelin or investigator's choice of combination CT (docetaxel plus capecitabine, paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, or capecitabine plus vinorelbine). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Among 222 patients randomly assigned to ribociclib plus ET (n = 112) or combination CT (n = 110), 150 (67.6%) had symptomatic visceral metastases, 41 (18.5%) had rapid disease progression per investigator's judgment, and 31 (14.0%) had symptomatic nonvisceral disease. Overall, 106 (47.7%) patients had investigator-assessed visceral crisis. The median follow-up time was 37.0 months. At data cutoff, 31.3% (ribociclib arm) and 15.5% (CT arm) of patients had completed study treatment and transitioned to post-trial access. The median PFS was 21.8 months (ribociclib plus ET; [95% CI, 17.4 to 26.7]) and 12.8 months (combination CT; [95% CI, 10.1 to 18.4); hazard ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.87]; P = .003. The overall response rates and the median time to response in the ribociclib versus CT arms, respectively, were 66.1% and 61.8% and 4.9 months and 3.2 months (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.55 to 1.06]). Lower rates of symptomatic adverse events were observed in the ribociclib versus CT arm. CONCLUSION: First-line ribociclib plus ET showed a significant PFS benefit, similar response rates, and better tolerability over combination CT in patients with clinically aggressive HR+/HER2- ABC.