A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach to Droplet Routing for Erroneous Digital Microfluidic Biochips.

Digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs), which are used in various fields like DNA analysis, clinical diagnosis, and PCR testing, have made biochemical experiments more compact, efficient, and user-friendly than the previous methods. However, their reliability is often compromised by their inability to adapt to all kinds of errors. Errors in biochips can be categorized into two types: known errors, and unknown errors. Known errors are detectable before the start of the routing process using sensors or cameras. Unknown errors, in contrast, only become apparent during the routing process and remain undetected by sensors or cameras, which can unexpectedly stop the routing process and diminish the reliability of biochips. This paper introduces a deep reinforcement learning-based routing algorithm, designed to manage not only known errors but also unknown errors. Our experiments demonstrated that our algorithm outperformed the previous ones in terms of the success rate of the routing, in the scenarios including both known errors and unknown errors. Additionally, our algorithm contributed to detecting unknown errors during the routing process, identifying the most efficient routing path with a high probability.

IMpower132: Atezolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy vs chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in Japanese patients.

IMpower132 explored the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Key eligibility criteria for the phase 3, open-label, IMpower132 study included age ≥18 y, histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced non-squamous NSCLC per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0/1, and no prior systemic treatment for stage IV NSCLC. Patients received atezolizumab (1200 mg) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m2 ) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 ) or carboplatin (area under the concentration curve, 6 mg/mL/min) (APP arm) or chemotherapy alone (PP arm). The co-primary study endpoints were overall survival (OS) and investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) per RECIST 1.1 in the intention-to-treat population. A subgroup analysis was conducted in Japanese patients. In the Japanese subgroup (n = 101), median OS was 30.8 (95% CI, 24.3 to not estimable) mo in the APP arm (n = 48) and 22.2 (95% CI, 15.7-30.8) mo in the PP arm (n = 53; hazard ratio [HR], 0.63 [95% CI, 0.36-1.14]). PFS was 12.8 (95% CI, 8.6-16.6) mo in the APP arm vs 4.5 (95% CI, 4.1-6.7) mo in the PP arm (HR, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.21-0.58]). Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 68.8% of APP arm patients and 44.2% of PP arm patients. Consistent with global study results, atezolizumab plus pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy improved efficacy and was well tolerated in Japanese patients with advanced NSCLC despite a higher incidence of grade 3/4 TRAEs.

Phase I dose-finding study of monotherapy with atezolizumab, an engineered immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody targeting PD-L1, in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors.

Background Atezolizumab is an engineered immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 pathway. Methods In this phase I dose-finding study, we assessed the safety, feasibility, pharmacokinetics (PK), and exploratory anti-tumor activity of atezolizumab monotherapy up to 20 mg/kg in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors who had failed standard therapy or for whom there is no standard therapy. Results Six patients were enrolled and received intravenous atezolizumab every 3 weeks (q3w) at doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg. Tumor types were non-small cell lung cancer (n = 3), melanoma (n = 1), pancreatic cancer (n = 1), and thymic cancer (n = 1). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. All adverse events (AEs) were grade 1 or 2 in severity. No discontinuations or deaths due to AEs were observed. As of the data cutoff, no partial responses were observed; however, stable disease was observed in all six patients. The maximum mean serum atezolizumab concentration was 220 µg/mL (SD ± 21.9), with 10-mg/kg dosing and 536 µg/mL (SD ± 49.4) with 20-mg/kg dosing. Three patients were still on treatment, and three of the six had achieved a progression-free survival of >12 months. Conclusions Atezolizumab was well tolerated in Japanese patients at doses up to 20 mg/kg q3w. The safety profile and Cycle 1 serum atezolizumab concentrations were similar to those previously observed in non-Japanese patients. These data support the participation of Japanese patients in ongoing pivotal global studies of atezolizumab.

Cell behaviors within a confined adhesive area fabricated using novel micropatterning methods.

In the field of cell and tissue engineering, there is an increasing demand for techniques to spatially control the adhesion of cells to substrates of desired sizes and shapes. Here, we describe two novel methods for fabricating a substrate for adhesion of cells to a defined area. In the first method, the surface of the coverslip or plastic dish was coated with Lipidure, a non-adhesive coating material, and air plasma was applied through a mask with holes, to confer adhesiveness to the surface. In the second method, after the surface of the coverslip was coated with gold by sputtering and then with Lipidure; the Lipidure coat was locally removed using a novel scanning laser ablation method. These methods efficiently confined cells within the adhesive area and enabled us to follow individual cells for a longer duration, compared to the currently available commercial substrates. By following single cells within the confined area, we were able to observe several new aspects of cell behavior in terms of cell division, cell-cell collisions, and cell collision with the boundary between adhesive and non-adhesive areas.

Subgroup Analysis of Japanese Patients in a Phase III Study of Atezolizumab in Extensive-stage Small-cell Lung Cancer (IMpower133).

BACKGROUND: Atezolizumab is effective and well-tolerated in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), but differences in response to systemic therapy exist between Asian and Caucasian patients. Here, we assess the efficacy and tolerability of atezolizumab in Japanese patients from the IMpower133 trial (NCT02763579). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Key eligibility criteria for this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study included age ≥ 18 years; histologically or cytologically confirmed ES-SCLC, measurable per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0/1; and no prior systemic treatment for ES-SCLC. Patients were treated with either atezolizumab 1200 mg or placebo with carboplatin (area under the curve of 5 mg/mL/min) and etoposide (100 mg/m2). Primary endpoints were overall survival and investigator-assessed progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. Of the 403 patients randomized in the IMpower133 trial, 42 were enrolled at Japanese centers. RESULTS: In Japanese patients in the intention-to-treat population, the median overall survival in the atezolizumab group (n = 20) was longer than that in the placebo group (n = 22; 14.6 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.8-17.8 months vs. 11.9 months; 95% CI, 8.4-15.8, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.31-1.67). The median progression-free survival was 4.5 months (95% CI, 4.2-8.1 months) versus 4.0 months (95% CI, 2.9-5.6 months; hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.23-0.96), respectively. Atezolizumab was generally well-tolerated, with no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: The addition of atezolizumab to carboplatin and etoposide was effective and well-tolerated in Japanese patients with ES-SCLC. Results are consistent with the primary analysis of the IMpower133 trial.

Atezolizumab in Japanese Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Subgroup Analysis of the Phase 3 OAK Study.

INTRODUCTION: Atezolizumab, an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agent, is effective and well tolerated in patients with pretreated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We assessed its efficacy and safety in Japanese patients through subgroup analyses of the phase 3 OAK study (NCT02008227). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Key eligibility criteria of this randomized, controlled, open-label, international study include locally advanced/metastatic NSCLC, ≥ 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy, age ≥ 18 years, measurable disease (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1. Atezolizumab 1200 mg or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 was provided intravenously every 3 weeks. Co-primary end points were overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and those with ≥ 1% PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TC) or tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC; TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3). RESULTS: Sixty-four ITT patients were Japanese; 19 had TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 status. In Japanese ITT patients, median OS in the atezolizumab arm (n = 36) was longer than the docetaxel arm (n = 28; 21.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.0-not estimable (NE)] versus 17.0 months [95% CI, 12.5-NE], respectively; hazard ratio 0.80 [95% CI, 0.41-1.57]). In the TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 population, median OS was 21.3 months (95% CI, 15.0-NE) and NE in the atezolizumab (n = 11) and docetaxel (n = 8) groups, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.22-3.05]). Atezolizumab was generally well tolerated, with no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: Atezolizumab was effective and well tolerated in pretreated Japanese patients with NSCLC. Results are consistent with the primary analysis of OAK.