Talazoparib versus chemotherapy in patients with germline BRCA1/2-mutated HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: final overall survival results from the EMBRACA trial.

BACKGROUND: In EMBRACA, talazoparib prolonged progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.542 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.413-0.711]; P < 0.0001) and improved patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2)-mutated advanced breast cancer (ABC). We report final overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized phase III trial enrolled patients with gBRCA1/2-mutated HER2-negative ABC. Patients received talazoparib or physician's choice of chemotherapy. OS was analyzed using stratified HR and log-rank test and prespecified rank-preserving structural failure time model to account for subsequent treatments. RESULTS: A total of 431 patients were entered in a randomized study (287 talazoparib/144 chemotherapy) with 412 patients treated (286 talazoparib/126 chemotherapy). By 30 September 2019, 216 deaths (75.3%) occurred for talazoparib and 108 (75.0%) chemotherapy; median follow-up was 44.9 and 36.8 months, respectively. HR for OS with talazoparib versus chemotherapy was 0.848 (95% CI 0.670-1.073; P = 0.17); median (95% CI) 19.3 months (16.6-22.5 months) versus 19.5 months (17.4-22.4 months). Kaplan-Meier survival percentages (95% CI) for talazoparib versus chemotherapy: month 12, 71% (66% to 76%)/74% (66% to 81%); month 24, 42% (36% to 47%)/38% (30% to 47%); month 36, 27% (22% to 33%)/21% (14% to 29%). Most patients received subsequent treatments: for talazoparib and chemotherapy, 46.3%/41.7% received platinum and 4.5%/32.6% received a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, respectively. Adjusting for subsequent PARP and/or platinum use, HR for OS was 0.756 (95% bootstrap CI 0.503-1.029). Grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 69.6% (talazoparib) and 64.3% (chemotherapy) patients, consistent with previous reports. Extended follow-up showed significant overall improvement and delay in time to definitive clinically meaningful deterioration in global health status/quality of life and breast symptoms favoring talazoparib versus chemotherapy (P < 0.01 for all), consistent with initial analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In gBRCA1/2-mutated HER2-negative ABC, talazoparib did not significantly improve OS over chemotherapy; subsequent treatments may have impacted analysis. Safety was consistent with previous observations. PRO continued to favor talazoparib.

Particulate air pollutants, APOE alleles and their contributions to cognitive impairment in older women and to amyloidogenesis in experimental models.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) in the ambient air and its interactions with APOE alleles may contribute to the acceleration of brain aging and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurodegenerative effects of particulate air pollutants were examined in a US-wide cohort of older women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) and in experimental mouse models. Residing in places with fine PM exceeding EPA standards increased the risks for global cognitive decline and all-cause dementia respectively by 81 and 92%, with stronger adverse effects in APOE ɛ4/4 carriers. Female EFAD transgenic mice (5xFAD+/-/human APOE ɛ3 or ɛ4+/+) with 225 h exposure to urban nanosized PM (nPM) over 15 weeks showed increased cerebral ß-amyloid by thioflavin S for fibrillary amyloid and by immunocytochemistry for Aß deposits, both exacerbated by APOE ɛ4. Moreover, nPM exposure increased Aß oligomers, caused selective atrophy of hippocampal CA1 neurites, and decreased the glutamate GluR1 subunit. Wildtype C57BL/6 female mice also showed nPM-induced CA1 atrophy and GluR1 decrease. In vitro nPM exposure of neuroblastoma cells (N2a-APP/swe) increased the pro-amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). We suggest that airborne PM exposure promotes pathological brain aging in older women, with potentially a greater impact in ɛ4 carriers. The underlying mechanisms may involve increased cerebral Aß production and selective changes in hippocampal CA1 neurons and glutamate receptor subunits.

Effect of portal vein embolisation on the growth rate of colorectal liver metastases.

Portal vein embolisation (PVE) is used to increase the remnant liver volume before major liver resection for colorectal metastases. The resection rate after PVE is 60-70%, mainly limited by disease progression. The effect of PVE on tumour growth rate has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to compare the growth characteristics of resected colorectal liver metastases in patients undergoing pre-operative PVE with those of matched controls who had not undergone PVE. There were 22 patients who had undergone preoperative PVE and 20 matched controls. Tumour growth rate was calculated by the change in tumour volume (CT/MRI volumetric assessment) from diagnosis to resection. Resected histological specimens were examined by two histopathologists independently for cell differentiation, percentage tumour cell necrosis and mitotic rate. Immunochemical staining with Ki67 was carried out using the MIB-1 monoclonal antibody and quantified using a Glasgow cell-counting graticule. The groups were comparable in demographics, stage of primary disease, volume of liver metastases at presentation and chemotherapy received. The tumour growth rate calculated from imaging was more rapid in the PVE group compared with that in controls (control: 0.05+/-0.25 ml day(-1), PVE: 0.36+/-0.68 ml day(-1), P=0.06). Histology showed no difference in the degree of differentiation, extent of necrosis or apoptosis between the two groups. However, mitotic rate was higher post PVE, as was the proliferation index Ki67 (P=0.04). This study has confirmed that tumour growth rate increased following PVE and that this is related to increased tumour cell division.

Hybrid capture as a means of detecting human papillomavirus DNA from liquid-based cytology specimens: a preliminary evaluation.

The connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is well documented, as is the benefit of an adjunctive, standardised objective test to complement cervical screening. Here, 197 liquid-based cytology (LBC) specimens previously processed for cytological examination (75 negative, 108 borderline/mild dyskaryosis, and 14 moderate/severe dyskaryosis) are examined for the presence of HPV using a hybrid capture assay. Of the 197 specimens tested for HPV DNA, 97 (49.2%) were positive using the combined high/low-risk probe, and 59 (29.9%) were negative cytologically and with the hybrid capture HPV test; however, 16/175 (21.3%) specimens classified as negative cytologically with LBC proved positive for HPV by hybrid capture. Of the 122 samples that showed abnormal cytology, 81 (66.4%) were positive for HPV. Although the number of samples tested is small, the results show that the use of LBC technology for both cervical cytological screening and the hybrid capture test has the potential to reduce both false-negative and -positive rates associated with cytological screening alone.

Single institution outcomes of treatment of severe aplastic anaemia.

BACKGROUND: In severe aplastic anaemia, the treatment of choice for young patients with a human leucocyte antigen-matched sibling is now established as allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In older patients and in those without a matched sibling donor, immunosuppressive therapy is the usual first option. 'Alternative' marrow donors are emerging as an option for those without a matched sibling donor. AIMS: To review 10 years of local experience in treating severe aplastic anaemia with BMT and immunosuppressive therapy with emphasis on long-term outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients with severe aplastic anaemia presenting to the Royal Brisbane and Royal Children's Hospitals between 1989 and 1999. Data were abstracted regarding patient demographics, pretreatment characteristics and outcome measures, including response rates, overall survival and long-term complications. RESULTS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients were identified, 12 treated with immunosuppression alone and 15 with BMT. In these two groups, transfusion independence was attained in 25% and 100%, respectively, with overall survival being 36% and 100%, respectively. Those treated with immunosuppression were significantly older (median 41.5 versus 22 years, P = 0.008). Long-term survivors of either treatment had extremely low morbidity. Three patients carried pregnancies to term post-transplant. Three patients received alternative donor BMT with correspondingly excellent survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with allogeneic BMT for severe aplastic anaemia enjoyed extremely good long-term survival and minimal morbidity. Patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy had a poorer outcome reflecting their older age and different usage of therapies over the past decade. Optimal treatment strategies for severe aplastic anaemia remain to be determined.

Health care implications of desire and expectancy for control in elderly adults.

Two cross-sectional studies explored the relationship between age and individuals' desire for control both on a general day-to-day level and as patients in health care situations. The relationship between age and expectancies for control over health also was examined. In Study 1, questionnaire surveys completed by 246 community adults ranging in age from 19 to 77 indicated that for health-specific measures at older ages, belief in internal control and desire for control are lower, and belief in control by powerful others is higher. In contrast, no significant differences in general desires for control were found across age groups. In Study 2, expectancies and desire for control in relation to the health of 350 patients about to undergo barium enemas, chemotherapy, or surgery were measured. Older adults reported a lower desire for control of their health care and a greater belief in the ability of powerful others to control their health than did younger adults. The replication of these age differences across samples differing in several respects, including education and health status, suggests that this is a highly reliable finding.

Antiemetic effect of oral versus intravenous metoclopramide in patients receiving cisplatin: a randomized, double-blind trial.

In a study of the antiemetic effectiveness of high-dose oral metoclopramide, 66 previously untreated patients receiving 60 mg/m2 cisplatin were entered into a double-blind randomized trial. Patients were stratified according to age and tumor type, then randomized to receive either oral or intravenous (IV) high-dose metoclopramide. Patients were evaluated for antiemetic protection, toxicity, affect (anxiety, hostility, and depression), and autonomic arousal (pulse rate and blood pressure) at three-hour intervals on the day of their chemotherapy. Metoclopramide serum levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated no significant differences between the oral and IV groups on any measurement of antiemetic protection, affect, or autonomic arousal. There were also no significant differences in side effects except for frequency of stools; patients who received oral metoclopramide had significantly more stools than patients who received IV metoclopramide. The mean (+/- SD) serum metoclopramide level at four hours achieved orally was 1,171 +/- 660 ng/mL; the mean (+/- SD) level achieved IV was 1,030 +/- 392 ng/mL (P = .498). We conclude that high-dose oral and IV regimens of metoclopramide as administered in this study have equivalent antiemetic efficacy in previously untreated patients receiving 60 mg/m2 cisplatin.