The Efficacy of Bepotastine Besilate Compared With Hydroxyzine Pamoate for Preventing Infusion Reactions to the First Dose of Rituximab in Patients With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Protocol for a Phase II, Double-Blind, Multicenter Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, can cause infusion reactions (IRs), especially during the initial rituximab infusion therapy. Generally, patients are administered a histamine H1-receptor antagonist before the rituximab infusion, along with an antipyretic analgesic, to prevent or reduce IRs. Multiple retrospective case-control studies indicate that the second generation of histamine H1-receptor antagonists might be more effective than the first generation in suppressing IRs caused by the rituximab infusion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of first- and second-generation histamine H1-receptor antagonists for preventing IRs resulting from the initial infusion of rituximab in patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. METHODS: This is a phase II, double-blind, active-controlled randomized trial. It will be a multicenter study conducted across 3 facilities that aims to enroll a total of 40 patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who will receive their initial rituximab infusion. Participating patients will be administered hydroxyzine pamoate or bepotastine besilate, representing first- or second-generation histamine H1-receptor antagonists, respectively. This will be combined with 400-mg acetaminophen tablets taken approximately 30 minutes before the first infusion of rituximab. The primary end point of this trial is to assess severe IRs, equivalent to grade 2 or higher as defined by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0, that occur within a 4-hour period after the initiation of rituximab infusion. The secondary end points include assessing the severity of the initial IR, the maximum severity of the IR, and the duration between rituximab infusion initiation and the onset of the first IR within a 4-hour period. Additionally, the trial will evaluate histamine H1-receptor antagonist-induced drowsiness using the visual analogue scale, with each patient providing their individual response. RESULTS: This study began with patient recruitment in April 2023, with 17 participants enrolled as of November 12, 2023. The anticipated study completion is set for February 2026. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of oral first- and second-generation histamine H1-receptor antagonists in preventing IRs induced by the initial administration of rituximab. The findings from this study hold the potential to establish the rationale for a phase III study aimed at determining the standard premedication protocol for rituximab infusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs051220169; https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs051220169. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/54882.

Association of STAT3, CYP3A5, and ABCG2 Polymorphisms With Osimertinib-induced Adverse Events in NSCLC Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Osimertinib is a key drug for treating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genetic differences may be associated to adverse events (AEs) induced by osimertinib. This retrospective observational multicenter study evaluated the association of genotypes, including STAT3 -1697C>G, CYP3A5 6986A>G, and ABCG2 421C>A, with the incidence of osimertinib-induced AEs in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 85 patients treated with osimertinib (Institution A: 33 patients, Institution B: 52 patients) were enrolled in the study. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were determined by real-time PCR, and the incidence of AEs was compared for each genotype. RESULTS: Paronychia incidence was 59% for the CC genotype, 19% for the CG genotype, and 19% for the GG genotype at STAT3 -1697C>G. A genotype-related trend was observed (Cochran-Armitage test, p=0.009). Multivariate analysis showed that the CC genotype at STAT3 -1697C>G and female sex were significant independent factors associated with paronychia [odds ratio (OR)=6.41, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.94-21.20 and OR=3.40, 95%CI=1.03-11.22, respectively]. The incidence of diarrhea was 53% for the CC genotype, 30% for the AC genotype, and 29% for the AA genotype at ABCG2 421C>A, and a genotype-related trend was observed (p=0.048). However, the CC genotype at ABCG2 421C>A was not a significant independent factor associated with diarrhea in multivariate analysis. No significant associations were detected between other polymorphisms and the incidence of AEs. CONCLUSION: STAT3 -1697C>G may be a novel risk factor for osimertinib-induced paronychia in patients with NSCLC.

Efficacy and Safety of Synbiotics in Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.

Objective High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is an effective treatment option for relapsed and refractory aggressive malignant lymphoma. However, patients frequently experience treatment-induced gastrointestinal symptoms. Synbiotics, including live microorganisms and nondigestible food ingredients, reportedly ameliorate chemotherapy-induced mucosal damage. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of synbiotics in patients undergoing auto-HSCT. Methods This randomized, double-blinded study included patients with malignant lymphoma eligible for auto-HSCT. The patients were randomly assigned to either a synbiotic group receiving Bifidobacterium longum (BB536) and guar gum or a placebo group receiving a placebo containing dextrin. The supplements were administered twice daily from the start of conditioning chemotherapy up to 28 days after auto-HSCT. The primary endpoint was the duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Results In total, 12 patients were included and randomized. The median duration of TPN was 15 (range, 12-33) days in the synbiotic group and 17.5 (range, 0-32) days in the placebo group. The median duration of grade ≥3 diarrhea was shorter in the synbiotic group than in then placebo group (2.5 vs. 6.5 days), as was the duration of hospital stay (31.5 vs. 43 days). The oral intake and quality of life regarding diarrhea and anorexia improved in the synbiotic group after engraftment. Synbiotic infections, including bacteremia, were not observed. Conclusion Synbiotics may reduce gastrointestinal toxicity, thereby reducing nutritional problems and improving the quality of life of patients undergoing auto-HSCT, without severe adverse events.

Ibuprofen gargle for chemo- or Chemoradiotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis frequently occurs in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (CRT). This study examined the safety and efficacy of ibuprofen gargle in healthy volunteers and patients with chemotherapy- and concomitant CRT-induced oral mucositis. METHODS: We enrolled healthy volunteers and patients with chemotherapy- and CRT-induced oral mucositis. In cohort I, single and multiple doses of ibuprofen gargle (0.6% or 1.0%) were administered to healthy volunteers on day 1 and days 4-10. In cohort II, multiple doses of ibuprofen gargle (0.6%) were administered to patients with complicated grade 2-3 oral mucositis based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. The primary endpoint of cohort I was the treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) as defined by CTCAE version 4.0. The primary endpoint of cohort II was the change in the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score from before to 15 min after gargle use on day 3. The incidence and severity of TRAEs were assessed based on the CTCAE version 4.0 and a subjective rating scale completed by healthy volunteers and patients. RESULTS: In cohort I, 9 of 10 healthy volunteers were evaluable for safety. All 9 healthy volunteers reported the TRAE of oral irritation with single or multiple use of the gargle. In cohort II, 10 patients were enrolled and evaluable for safety and 7 of 10 patients were evaluable for efficacy. The mean change in the VAS pain score from before to 15 min after using the gargle on day 3 was - 1.28 (95% confidence interval: - 2.06, - 0.51), and all patients experienced some degree of pain relief (range: - 0.2 to - 2.5). All 10 patients reported the TRAE of oral irritation. No other TRAEs of ibuprofen gargle were observed in the healthy volunteers and patients. CONCLUSION: Despite oral irritation, the ibuprofen gargle appeared to be safe and effective for the pain related to chemo- or CRT-induced oral mucositis. However, ibuprofen-related oral irritation warrants further formulation improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000014433).

Induction of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state in Salmonella cultured in M9 minimal medium containing high glucose.

An environmental isolate of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) clone, SE Cl#15-1, loses its culturability during 72-h culture in M9 minimal medium containing 0.8% glucose, a concentration twice higher than that in normal M9 medium, whereas the bacterium retains its culturability in normal M9 medium. Live/dead analysis using the 5-cyano-2,3-di(p-tolyl) tetrazolium chloride (CTC)-reduction assay revealed that SE cells cultured in M9 medium containing 0.8% glucose died with time when in the "viable but non-culturable" (VBNC) state. Assay of the culturability of SE cells in the used supernatant (0.4 spent M9 or 0.8 spent M9) also indicated that 0.8 spent M9 soon showed a lethal effect on intact SE cells. These results suggest that large amounts of glucose metabolites might have been responsible for the toxicity. Analysis of the 0.8 spent M9 revealed that formate rapidly accumulated in the medium. The pH of the medium rapidly dropped to 4.7, leading to conversion of formate to formic acid, which might have damaged the bacterial cell membrane. These results suggest that the excessive amount of glucose in the M9 medium might have injured SE cells in the VBNC state by being metabolized to formic acid and other acidic compounds.