A B-Cell Gene Signature Correlates With the Extent of Gluten-Induced Intestinal Injury in Celiac Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Celiac disease (CeD) provides an opportunity to study autoimmunity and the transition in immune cells as dietary gluten induces small intestinal lesions. METHODS: Seventy-three celiac disease patients on a long-term, gluten-free diet ingested a known amount of gluten daily for 6 weeks. A peripheral blood sample and intestinal biopsy specimens were taken before and 6 weeks after initiating the gluten challenge. Biopsy results were reported on a continuous numeric scale that measured the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio to quantify gluten-induced intestinal injury. Pooled B and T cells were isolated from whole blood, and RNA was analyzed by DNA microarray looking for changes in peripheral B- and T-cell gene expression that correlated with changes in villus height to crypt depth, as patients maintained a relatively healthy intestinal mucosa or deteriorated in the face of a gluten challenge. RESULTS: Gluten-dependent intestinal damage from baseline to 6 weeks varied widely across all patients, ranging from no change to extensive damage. Genes differentially expressed in B cells correlated strongly with the extent of intestinal damage. A relative increase in B-cell gene expression correlated with a lack of sensitivity to gluten whereas their relative decrease correlated with gluten-induced mucosal injury. A core B-cell gene module, representing a subset of B-cell genes analyzed, accounted for the correlation with intestinal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Genes comprising the core B-cell module showed a net increase in expression from baseline to 6 weeks in patients with little to no intestinal damage, suggesting that these individuals may have mounted a B-cell immune response to maintain mucosal homeostasis and circumvent inflammation. DNA microarray data were deposited at the GEO repository (accession number: GSE87629; available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/).

No Difference Between Latiglutenase and Placebo in Reducing Villous Atrophy or Improving Symptoms in Patients With Symptomatic Celiac Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gluten ingestion leads to symptoms and small intestinal mucosal injury in patients with celiac disease. The only option is the strict lifelong exclusion of dietary gluten, which is difficult to accomplish. Many patients following a gluten-free diet continue to have symptoms and have small intestinal mucosal injury. Nondietary therapies are needed. We performed a phase 2 study of the ability of latiglutenase, an orally administered mixture of 2 recombinant gluten-targeting proteases, to reduce mucosal morphometric measures in biopsy specimens from patients with celiac disease. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study to assess the efficacy and safety of latiglutenase in 494 patients with celiac disease (with moderate or severe symptoms) in North America and Europe, from August 2013 until December 2014. Participants reported following a gluten-free diet for at least 1 year before the study began. Patients with documented moderate or severe symptoms and villous atrophy (villous height:crypt depth ratio of ≤2.0) were assigned randomly to groups given placebo or 100, 300, 450, 600, or 900 mg latiglutenase daily for 12 or 24 weeks. Subjects completed the Celiac Disease Symptom Diary each day for 28 days and underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with duodenal biopsy of the distal duodenum at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24. The primary end point was a change in the villous height:crypt depth ratio. Secondary end points included numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes, serology test results (for levels of antibodies against tissue transglutaminase-2 and deamidated gliadin peptide), symptom frequencies, and safety. RESULTS: In a modified intent-to-treat population, there were no differences between latiglutenase and placebo groups in change from baseline in villous height:crypt depth ratio, numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes, or serologic markers of celiac disease. All groups had significant improvements in histologic and symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: In a phase 2 study of patients with symptomatic celiac disease and histologic evidence of significant duodenal mucosal injury, latiglutenase did not improve histologic and symptom scores when compared with placebo. There were no significant differences in change from baseline between groups. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01917630.

Glutenase ALV003 attenuates gluten-induced mucosal injury in patients with celiac disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gluten ingestion leads to small intestinal mucosal injury in patients with celiac disease, necessitating strict life-long exclusion of dietary gluten. Despite adherence to a gluten-free diet, many patients remain symptomatic and still have small intestinal inflammation. In this case, nondietary therapies are needed. We investigated the ability of ALV003, a mixture of 2 recombinant gluten-specific proteases given orally, to protect patients with celiac disease from gluten-induced mucosal injury in a phase 2 trial. METHODS: We established the optimal daily dose of gluten to be used in a 6-week challenge study. Then, in the intervention study, adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease were randomly assigned to groups given ALV003 (n = 20) or placebo (n = 21) together with the daily gluten challenge. Duodenal biopsies were collected at baseline and after gluten challenge. The ratio of villus height to crypt depth and densities of intraepithelial lymphocytes were the primary end points. RESULTS: A daily dose of 2 g gluten was selected for the intervention study. Sixteen patients given ALV003 and 18 given placebo were eligible for efficacy evaluation. Biopsies from subjects in the placebo group showed evidence of mucosal injury after gluten challenge (mean villus height to crypt depth ratio changed from 2.8 before challenge to 2.0 afterward; P = .0007; density of CD3(+) intraepithelial lymphocytes changed from 61 to 91 cells/mm after challenge; P = .0003). However, no significant mucosal deterioration was observed in biopsies from the ALV003 group. Between groups, morphologic changes and CD3(+) intraepithelial lymphocyte counts differed significantly from baseline to week 6 (P = .0133 and P = .0123, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in symptoms between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a phase 2 trial, the glutenase ALV003 appears to attenuate gluten-induced small intestinal mucosal injury in patients with celiac disease in the context of an everyday gluten-free diet containing daily up to 2 g gluten. Clinicaltrial.gov, NUMBERS: NCT00959114 and NCT01255696.

Phase II multicenter trial of voreloxin as second-line therapy in chemotherapy-sensitive or refractory small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Voreloxin is an anticancer quinolone derivative that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, causing double-strand breaks in DNA, irreversible G2 arrest, and rapid onset of apoptosis. Based on preclinical activity of voreloxin in chemoresistant tumors, early phase I clinical activity, and a mechanism of action similar to other topoisomerase II inhibitors such as the anthracyclines and etoposide, this phase II trial was undertaken as second-line treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: Patients with extensive stage SCLC previously treated with one prior chemotherapy regimen were eligible. Patients with chemotherapy-sensitive or chemotherapy-refractory disease were considered as separate cohorts. Voreloxin (48 mg/m) was administered on the first day of each 21-day cycle for up to six cycles. The primary end point was objective response rate. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled including 28 with refractory SCLC and 27 with sensitive SCLC; 47 were evaluable for response. Three patients with sensitive SCLC had an objective response, including one complete response and two partial responses (11% response rate based on intent to treat). No patients in the refractory cohort had a response. The primary grade 3 toxicity was neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Voreloxin has minimal activity in relapsed SCLC when administered at 48 mg/m in a 3-week schedule.

Voreloxin, a first-in-class anticancer quinolone derivative, in relapsed/refractory solid tumors: a report on two dosing schedules.

PURPOSE: Voreloxin, a novel replication-dependent DNA-damaging agent, intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Voreloxin induces site-selective DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis. We report the phase 1 experience of voreloxin in patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors, including dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and clinical activity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Two dose-escalation studies evaluated voreloxin administered i.v. every 3 weeks (SPO-0001) or weekly for 3 weeks every 28 days (SPO-0002). In SPO-0001, patients were classified as heavily pretreated (HP) or minimally pretreated (MP) based on therapeutic history. RESULTS: In the SPO-0001 study, 41 patients (24 HP/17 MP) were treated in eight dose cohorts (3-75 mg/m(2)). At 60 mg/m(2), four HP patients experienced DLTs: grade 4 neutropenia (n = 3, one with fever) and grade 3 febrile neutropenia/pneumonia (n = 1). At 75 mg/m(2), two MP patients experienced DLTs: grade 4 neutropenia/thrombocytopenia (n = 1) or grade 2 oral thrush for >29 days (n = 1). Therefore, the MTD was 48 mg/m(2) (HP patients) and 60 mg/m(2) (MP patients). In the SPO-0002 study, 21 patients were treated in six dose cohorts (3-24 mg/m(2)). At 18 mg/m(2), two patients experienced DLTs: grade 3 neutropenia, one with pleural effusion (>14 days each). The MTD was 15 mg/m(2). Voreloxin exhibited low clearance (2 L/h/m(2)), a long terminal half-life (22 hours), and dose-proportional exposure. Overall, 31 of 62 patients had stable disease and 1 patient (ovarian cancer) had a partial response per Rustin criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Voreloxin showed an acceptable safety profile with clinical activity in patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors. The MTD was schedule-dependent. Voreloxin is currently in clinical studies of ovarian cancer and acute myeloid leukemia.

A phase 1 study of SNS-032 (formerly BMS-387032), a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 7 and 9 administered as a single oral dose and weekly infusion in patients with metastatic refractory solid tumors.

PURPOSE: SNS-032, (formerly BMS-387032) is a potent and selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 2, 7 and 9. The primary objective of the study was to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the maximum administered dose (MAD), dose limiting toxicity (DLT), and the recommended phase 2 dose for SNS-032 when administered as a weekly 1-h infusion. The secondary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of SNS-032 and to evaluate its bioavailability as an oral solution. METHODS: Patients with metastatic solid tumors or refractory lymphoma were treated with a starting dose of 4 mg/m2 intravenously administered over 1-h with a cycle defined as 3 weekly doses of SNS-032 every 21 days. Three patient cohorts were utilized in the dose-escalation schema. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed. For the 13 and 16 mg/m2 dose cohorts, the first dose of cycle 2 was given as an oral solution to estimate the oral bioavailability of the drug in humans. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were enrolled. Twenty treated patients received a total of 39 cycles of treatment. The most common treatment-related adverse events occurring with greater than 20% incidence were fatigue (25%) and nausea (20%). Following intravenous administration, plasma concentrations declined in a biphasic manner, resulting in mean terminal half-lives between 5 and 10 hours. The mean Cmax and AUC0-inf increased nearly linearly with dose, ranging from 0.067 to 0.287 microg/ml and 0.103 to 0.553 microg h/ml, respectively. The CL and Vss remained unchanged with increasing dose levels, averaging 38 l/h/m2 and 212 l/m2, respectively. Average oral bioavailability was 19% (range: 4-33%). Three (15%) patients experienced a best response of stable disease. Study enrollment was terminated during dose-escalation due to a change in the development strategy for the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: SNS-032 administered as a weekly 1-h infusion was well tolerated, although study enrollment was terminated during dose-escalation and the MTD of SNS-032 administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of each treatment cycle was not reached. Tumor progression or stable disease was determined to be the best response in all evaluable patients. At the dose levels tested, the oral bioavailability of SNS-032 ranged from 4-33%. The data suggest that oral administration of SNS-032 may be feasible, though the tolerability and bioavailability of the oral formulation would have to be formally assessed.

Phase I drug and light dose-escalation trial of motexafin lutetium and far red light activation (phototherapy) in subjects with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and stent deployment: procedural and long-term results.

BACKGROUND: Motexafin lutetium (MLu; Antrin) is a photosensitizer that is taken up by atherosclerotic plaque and concentrated within macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. After photoactivation with far red light, MLu facilitates production of cytotoxic oxygen radicals that mediate apoptosis. We assessed the safety and tolerability of phototherapy (PT) with MLu in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent deployment. METHODS AND RESULTS: An open-label, phase I, drug and light dose-escalation clinical trial of MLu PT enrolled 80 patients undergoing de novo coronary stent deployment. MLu was administered to 79 patients by intravenous infusion 18 to 24 hours before procedure, and photoactivation was performed after balloon predilatation and before stent deployment. Clinical evaluation, serial quantitative angiography, and intravascular ultrasound were performed periprocedurally and at 6 months follow-up. MLu PT was well tolerated without serious dose-limiting toxicities, and side effects (paresthesia and rash) were minor. No adverse angiographic outcomes were attributed to phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that coronary MLu PT seems safe, and the maximum well-tolerated MLu dose and range of tolerated light doses were identified. These data can be used in phase II efficacy trials of MLu PT for the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis or vulnerable plaque.