Colorectal cancer harboring EGFR kinase domain duplication response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor kinase domain duplication (EGFR-KDD) is a rare, recurrent oncogenic variant that constitutively activates EGFR in non-small-cell lung cancer. Herein, we report the case of a 70-year-old man with resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery followed by adjuvant therapy. He relapsed with multiple liver metastases and received standard chemotherapy until his disease became refractory. Comprehensive genomic profiling of his postoperative colorectal cancer tissue revealed EGFR-KDD. He was treated with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), afatinib and achieved a partial response (- 55%) after 8 weeks; however, he developed massive malignant ascites after 13 weeks. Osimertinib, another EGFR-TKI, controlled his tumors for 9 months. Patient-derived cancer organoids from his malignant ascites confirmed sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. The findings suggest that EGFR-TKIs can be a potential treatment option for this molecular subgroup.

Obicetrapib as an Adjunct to Stable Statin Therapy in Japanese Subjects: Results from a Randomized Phase 2 Trial.

AIMS: Obicetrapib is a highly selective cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (apoB), when taken as monotherapy and in combination with ezetimibe on a background of statins, in clinical trials predominantly conducted in Northern European/Caucasian participants. We characterized the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of obicetrapib within an Asian-Pacific region population. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, phase 2 trial examined obicetrapib 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/d, compared with placebo, for 8 weeks as an adjunct to stable statin therapy (atorvastatin 10 or 20 mg/d or rosuvastatin 5 or 10 mg/d) in Japanese men and women who had not achieved 2022 Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines and had LDL-C ＞70 mg/dL or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) ＞100 mg/dL and triglycerides (TG) ＜400 mg/dL. Endpoints included LDL-C, non-HDL-C, HDL-C, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoproteins, TG, steady state pharmacokinetics (PK) in obicetrapib arms, safety, and tolerability. RESULTS: In the 102 randomized subjects (mean age 64.8 y, 71.6% male), obicetrapib significantly lowered median LDL-C, apoB, and non-HDL-C, and raised HDL-C at all doses; responses in the obicetrapib 10 mg group were -45.8%, -29.7%, -37.0%, and +159%, respectively (all p＜0.0001 vs. placebo). The PK profile demonstrated near complete elimination of drug by 4 weeks. Obicetrapib was well tolerated and there were no adverse safety signals. CONCLUSIONS: All doses of obicetrapib taken as an adjunct to stable statin therapy significantly lowered atherogenic lipoprotein lipid parameters, showed near complete elimination of drug by 4 weeks, and were safe and well tolerated in a Japanese population, similar to previous studies of obicetrapib conducted in predominantly Caucasian participants.

Transition of blood glucose level in a patient with pregnancy-associated fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus.

We report on the transition in blood glucose levels before and after the onset of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus in a perinatal woman. In week 38 of pregnancy, before which the patient had normal glucose tolerance, idiopathic acute pancreatitis was diagnosed. Five days thereafter, she became hypoglycemic, so we closely monitored her blood glucose levels. A total of 13 days later, she was hyperglycemic with a blood glucose level >16.0 mmol/L and glycated hemoglobin of 6.4%. Her fasting serum C-peptide reactivity level was 3.6 ng/mL on the 5th day, and 0.2 ng/mL on the 18th day. Multiple insulin injection therapy was administered since the 18th day; after that, ketoacidosis did not occur. The patient was diagnosed with fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus based on hyperglycemia without high glycated hemoglobin levels and sudden onset insulin-dependent diabetes. Monitoring glucose levels in the case of idiopathic acute pancreatitis during pregnancy and prompt initiation of insulin therapy are important.

PIEZO1 gene mutation in a Japanese family with hereditary high phosphatidylcholine hemolytic anemia and hemochromatosis-induced diabetes mellitus.

Hereditary xerocytosis (HX) or dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (DHS) [OMIM 194380], in which PIEZO1 gene mutation has recently been identified, is difficult to diagnose. We report here the discovery of a PIEZO1 gene mutation in a Japanese family (father, daughter, and son) who were previously diagnosed with hereditary high phosphatidylcholine hemolytic anemia (HPCHA). All of the affected family members had non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia associated with severe hemochromatosis-related diabetes mellitus. Although the causative correlation between HPCHA and PIEZO1-gene mutated HX/DHS remains to be clarified, our findings raise an important question as to whether any of the HPCHA cases previously diagnosed in Japan may have in fact been the form of hemolytic anemia known as HX/DHS with PIEZO1 gene mutation.

A Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction due to Left Main Trunk Occlusion Complicated With Aortic Dissection as Diagnosed by Intravascular Ultrasound.

A 52-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with a sudden onset of severe chest pains. His electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment elevation suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary angiography showed subtotal occlusion of left main trunk (LMT) with delayed coronary flow. Because intravascular ultrasound revealed a large intimal flap, we diagnosed aortic dissection involving the LMT. After stenting of the LMT, the patient underwent surgical repair of the aortic dissection. Although it is difficult to obtain a correct diagnosis of aortic dissection complicated with myocardial ischemia, we succeeded in diagnosing this rare condition by use of a intravascular ultrasound.

Development of a tennis ball-sized tumor at the site of an implanted pacemaker.

A 77-year-old woman who had undergone a pacemaker implantation 6 years previously developed a tumor on the left side of the chest. The mass gradually grew to the size of a tennis ball and was excised along with the pacemaker generator. Histopathological examination revealed that the mass was a chronic expanding hematoma. Although carcinogenesis occurring around a pacemaker has been reported previously, the development of a hematoma has not been reported. Thus, we suggest that when a patient has a mass in the proximity of a pacemaker, chronic expanding hematoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses.