Durability of the Blood Pressure Effects of Renal Pelvis Denervation in Patients with Hypertension During a 12-Month Observation.

INTRODUCTION: We previously completed a trial of renal pelvic denervation for treating hypertension that reduced blood pressure by the 2-month primary endpoint. However, information on the durability of effectiveness is a critical requirement for device therapy and we now report data up to 12 months. METHODS: This was an open label single-arm feasibility study in patients with increased blood pressure despite taking an average of 2.7 medications. The key endpoint reported here was ambulatory blood pressure at 12 months following renal pelvic denervation. RESULTS: In the 17 patients (mean age 56) studied, there was a reduction from the baseline of 148 + 8.7 mmHg in the primary endpoint of mean daytime systolic blood pressure at 12 months of 19.1 (26.7, 11.6) mmHg, P<0.001, as compared with the 2-month result of 19.4 (24.9, 14.0) mmHg. The 24-hour systolic blood pressure fell by 19.3 (26.7, 11.9), P<0.001, and nighttime systolic fell by 18.7 (27.5, 9.8), P<0.001, mmHg at 12 months. Diastolic pressures also fell significantly from baseline at 12 months. As well, automated office systolic blood pressure was reduced from the baseline of 156.5 + 12.3 by 24.8 (33.2. 16.8) mmHg, P<0.001, at 12 months as compared with 22.4 (31.5, 13.3) at 2-months. . All blood pressure changes at 12 months were not different from those at 2 months, thus confirming the durability of the procedure. There were no serious procedural, clinical or laboratory adverse events related to the intervention. Serum creatinine fell from 1.03 + 0.22 to 0.82 + 0.16 mg/dl and estimated glomerular filtration rate rose from 79.6 + 17.8 to 96.3 + 16.4 ml/min/1.73m2 by 12 months, again sustaining effects seen at 2 months. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence that the significant blood pressure-lowering effects of renal pelvis denervation are durable and safe for at least one year and provide the basis for a pivotal randomized blinded trial to further define the safety and effectiveness of this procedure.

PreSERVE-AMI: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Intracoronary Administration of Autologous CD34+ Cells in Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction Post STEMI.

RATIONALE: Despite direct immediate intervention and therapy, ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) victims remain at risk for infarct expansion, heart failure, reinfarction, repeat revascularization, and death. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and bioactivity of autologous CD34+ cell (CLBS10) intracoronary infusion in patients with left ventricular dysfunction post STEMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who underwent successful stenting for STEMI and had left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction≤48%) ≥4 days poststent were eligible for enrollment. Subjects (N=161) underwent mini bone marrow harvest and were randomized 1:1 to receive (1) autologous CD34+ cells (minimum 10 mol/L±20% cells; N=78) or (2) diluent alone (N=83), via intracoronary infusion. The primary safety end point was adverse events, serious adverse events, and major adverse cardiac event. The primary efficacy end point was change in resting myocardial perfusion over 6 months. No differences in myocardial perfusion or adverse events were observed between the control and treatment groups, although increased perfusion was observed within each group from baseline to 6 months (P<0.001). In secondary analyses, when adjusted for time of ischemia, a consistently favorable cell dose-dependent effect was observed in the change in left ventricular ejection fraction and infarct size, and the duration of time subjects was alive and out of hospital (P=0.05). At 1 year, 3.6% (N=3) and 0% deaths were observed in the control and treatment group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This PreSERVE-AMI (Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial) represents the largest study of cell-based therapy for STEMI completed in the United States and provides evidence supporting safety and potential efficacy in patients with left ventricular dysfunction post STEMI who are at risk for death and major morbidity. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01495364.

ATM Mutations Associate with Distinct Co-Mutational Patterns and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in NSCLC.

PURPOSE: Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is the most frequently mutated DNA damage repair gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the molecular correlates of ATM mutations and their clinical implications have not been fully elucidated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Clinicopathologic and genomic data from 26,587 patients with NSCLC from MD Anderson, public databases, and a de-identified nationwide (US-based) NSCLC clinicogenomic database (CGDB) were used to assess the co-mutation landscape, protein expression, and mutational processes in ATM-mutant tumors. We used the CGDB to evaluate ATM-associated outcomes in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) with or without chemotherapy, and assessed the effect of ATM loss on STING signaling and chemotherapy sensitivity in preclinical models. RESULTS: Nonsynonymous mutations in ATM were observed in 11.2% of samples (2,980/26,587) and were significantly associated with mutations in KRAS, but mutually exclusive with EGFR (q < 0.1). KRAS mutational status constrained the ATM co-mutation landscape, with strong mutual exclusivity with TP53 and KEAP1 within KRAS-mutated samples. Those ATM mutations that co-occurred with TP53 were more likely to be missense mutations and associate with high mutational burden, suggestive of non-functional passenger mutations. In the CGDB cohort, dysfunctional ATM mutations associated with improved OS only in patients treated with ICI-chemotherapy, and not ICI alone. In vitro analyses demonstrated enhanced upregulation of STING signaling in ATM knockout cells with the addition of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: ATM mutations define a distinct subset of NSCLC associated with KRAS mutations, increased TMB, decreased TP53 and EGFR co-occurrence, and potential increased sensitivity to ICIs in the context of DNA-damaging chemotherapy.

Transurethral Renal Pelvic Denervation: A Feasibility Trial in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular renal denervation reduces blood pressure (BP). We explored an alternative approach to renal denervation using radiofrequency energy delivered across the renal pelvis utilizing the natural orifice of the urethra and the ureters. METHODS: This open-label, single-arm feasibility study enrolled patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite antihypertensive drug therapy. The primary effectiveness endpoint was the change in ambulatory daytime systolic BP (SBP) 2 months following renal pelvic denervation. RESULTS: The 18 patients (mean age 56±12 years) enrolled were taking an average of 2.7 antihypertensive drugs daily. Renal pelvic denervation reduced mean daytime SBP by 19.4 mm Hg (95% CI, -24.9 to -14.0, P<0.001) from its baseline of 148.4±8.7 mm Hg. Mean nighttime (-21.4 mm Hg [95% CI, -29.5 to -13.3]) and 24-hour (-20.3 mm Hg [95% CI, -26.2 to -14.5]) SBP each fell significantly (P<0.001) as did the corresponding diastolic BPs (P<0.001). Office SBP decreased from 156.5±12.3 mm Hg by 22.4 mm Hg (95% CI, -31.5 to -13.3, P<0.001) by 2 months. Office SBP decreased over time (P=0.001 by linear trend test) starting by day 1 with a decrease of 8.3 mm Hg (95% CI, -16.9 to 0.3, P=0.057). There were no serious adverse events. Mild transitory back pain followed the procedure. Serum creatinine decreased by 0.08 mg/dL (P=0.02) and estimated glomerular filtration rate increased by 7.2 mL/min/1.73m2 (P=0.03) 2 months following ablation procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these initial findings, a well-powered, sham-controlled trial of renal pelvic denervation to more fully establish its safety and effectiveness is now justified in patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite drug therapy. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT05440513.