Randomised phase II trial of irinotecan plus S-1 in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of irinotecan/S-1 (IRIS) therapy with S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients were treated with oral S-1 (80-120 mg for 14 days every 4 weeks) plus intravenous irinotecan (100 mg m-2 on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks; IRIS group) or oral S-1 group (80-120 mg daily for 28 days every 6 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Of 137 patients enrolled, 127 were eligible for efficacy. The median PFS in the IRIS group and S-1 monotherapy group were 3.5 and 1.9 months, respectively (hazard ratio (HR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53-1.11; P=0.18), while the median overall survival (OS) were 6.8 and 5.8 months, respectively (HR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.51-1.09; P=0.13). Response rate was significantly higher in the IRIS group than in the S-1 monotherapy group (18.3% vs 6.0%, P=0.03). Grade 3 or higher neutropenia and anorexia occurred more frequently in the IRIS group. CONCLUSIONS: There was a trend for better PFS and OS in the IRIS group that could be a treatment arm in the clinical trials for gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.

Randomised phase II trial of S-1 plus oxaliplatin vs S-1 in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: This randomised, open-label, multicenter phase II study compared progression-free survival (PFS) of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) with that of S-1 alone in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients with confirmed progressive disease following the first-line treatment with a gemcitabine-based regimen were randomised to receive either S-1 (80/100/120 mg day(-1) based on body surface area (BSA), orally, days 1-28, every 6 weeks) or SOX (S-1 80/100/120 mg day(-1) based on BSA, orally, days 1-14, plus oxaliplatin 100 mg m(-2), intravenously, day 1, every 3 weeks). The primary end point was PFS. RESULTS: Between January 2009 and July 2010, 271 patients were randomly allocated to either S-1 (n=135) or SOX (n=136). Median PFS for S-1 and SOX were 2.8 and 3.0 months, respectively (hazard ratio (HR)=0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65-1.08; stratified log-rank test P=0.18). Median overall survival (OS) was 6.9 vs 7.4 months (HR=1.03; 95% CI, 0.79-1.34; stratified log-rank test P=0.82). The response rate (RR) was 11.5% vs 20.9% (P=0.04). The major grade 3/4 toxicities (S-1 and SOX) were neutropenia (11.4% and 8.1%), thrombocytopenia (4.5% and 10.3%) and anorexia (12.9% and 14.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Although SOX showed an advantage in RR, it provided no significant improvement in PFS or OS compared with S-1 alone.

A phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ganitumab or placebo in combination with gemcitabine as first-line therapy for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: the GAMMA trial.

BACKGROUND: This double-blind, phase 3 study assessed the efficacy and safety of ganitumab combined with gemcitabine as first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned 2 : 2 : 1 to receive intravenous gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) (days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle) plus placebo, ganitumab 12 mg/kg, or ganitumab 20 mg/kg (days 1 and 15 of each cycle). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), safety, and efficacy by levels of circulating biomarkers. RESULTS: Overall, 322 patients were randomly assigned to placebo, 318 to ganitumab 12 mg/kg, and 160 to ganitumab 20 mg/kg. The study was stopped based on results from a preplanned futility analysis; the final results are reported. Median OS was 7.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 6.3-8.2] in the placebo arm, 7.0 months (95% CI, 6.2-8.5) in the ganitumab 12-mg/kg arm [hazard ratio (HR), 1.00; 95% CI, 0.82-1.21; P = 0.494], and 7.1 months (95% CI, 6.4-8.5) in the ganitumab 20-mg/kg arm (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.76-1.23; P = 0.397). Median PFS was 3.7, 3.6 (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.84-1.20; P = 0.520), and 3.7 months (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.77-1.22; P = 0.403), respectively. No unexpected toxicity was observed with ganitumab plus gemcitabine. The circulating biomarkers assessed [insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-binding protein-2, and -3] were not associated with a treatment effect on OS or PFS by ganitumab. CONCLUSION: Ganitumab combined with gemcitabine had manageable toxicity but did not improve OS, compared with gemcitabine alone in unselected patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01231347.

Phase II trial of combination therapy of gemcitabine plus anti-angiogenic vaccination of elpamotide in patients with advanced or recurrent biliary tract cancer.

Background Elpamotide is an HLA-A*24:02-restricted epitope peptide of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) and induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against VEGFR-2/KDR. Given the high expression of VEGFR-2 in biliary tract cancer, combination chemoimmunotherapy with elpamotide and gemcitabine holds promise as a new therapy. Patients and Methods Patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent biliary tract cancer were included in this single-arm phase II trial, with the primary endpoint of overall survival. Survival analysis was performed in comparison with historical control data. The patients concurrently received gemcitabine once a week for 3 weeks (the fourth week was skipped) and elpamotide once a week for 4 weeks. Results Fifty-five patients were registered, of which 54 received the regimen and were included in the full analysis set as well as the safety analysis set. Median survival was 10.1 months, which was longer than the historical control, and the 1-year survival rate was 44.4%. Of these patients, injection site reactions were observed in 64.8%, in whom median survival was significantly longer (14.8 months) compared to those with no injection site reactions (5.7 months). The response rate was 18.5%, and all who responded exhibited injection site reactions. Serious adverse reactions were observed in five patients (9%), and there were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion Gemcitabine and elpamotide combination therapy was tolerable and had a moderate antitumor effect. For future development of therapies, it will be necessary to optimize the target population for which therapeutic effects could be expected.

Impact of excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 (ERCC1) on the outcomes of patients with advanced gastric cancer: correlative study in Japan Clinical Oncology Group Trial JCOG9912.

BACKGROUND: Since the best chemotherapy regimen for each patient with advanced gastric cancer is uncertain, we aimed to identify molecular prognostic or predictive biomarkers from biopsy specimens in JCOG9912, a randomized phase III trial for advanced gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Endoscopic biopsy specimens from primary lesions were collected in 445 of 704 randomized patients in JCOG9912. We measured the mRNA expression of excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1), thymidylate synthase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, and five other genes, then, categorized them into low and high groups relative to the median, and examined whether gene expression was associated with efficacy end point. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed that high ERCC1 expression [HR 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.75; P = 0.010], performance status ≥ 1 (HR 1.45; 95% CI 1.13-1.86; P = 0.004), and number of metastatic sites ≥ 2 (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.28-1.86; P < 0.001) were associated with a poor prognosis, and recurrent disease (versus unresectable; HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.56-1.00; P = 0.049) was associated with a favorable prognosis. None of these molecular factors were a predictive marker for choosing irinotecan plus cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil rather than S-1. CONCLUSION: These correlative analyses suggest that ERCC1 is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in the first-line treatment of gastric cancer. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: C000000062, www.umin.ac.jp.

Clinical outcome of endoscopic mucosal resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer invading muscularis mucosa and submucosal layer.

When a tumor invades the muscularis mucosa and submucosal layer (T1a-MM and T1b in Japan), esophageal squamous cell cancer poses 10-50% risk of lymph node metastasis. By this stage of esophageal cancer, surgery, although very invasive, is the standard radical therapy for the patients. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is the absolutely curable treatment for cancer in the superficial mucosal layer. Because of its minimal invasiveness, the indications of EMR may be expanded to include the treatment of T1a-MM and T1b esophageal carcinoma. To date, the clinical outcomes of EMR for T1a-MM and T1b patients have not been fully elucidated. Here, the retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes is reported. Between January 1994 and December 2007, 247 patients underwent EMR at Kanagawa Cancer Center. Of these individuals, 44 patients with 44 lesions fulfilled the following criteria: (i) extended EMR treatment for clinical T1a-MM and T1b tumor; (ii) diagnosis of clinical N0M0; and (iii) follow up for at least 1 year, and negative vertical margin. These patients were reviewed for their clinical features and outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed by the Kaplan-Meier methods, the Chi-square test, and the Cox proportional hazard model. P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The data were analyzed in February 2009. Based on the informed consent and their general health conditions, 44 patients decided the following treatments immediately after the EMR: 2 underwent surgery, 1 underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, and 41 selected follow up without any additional therapy. Of the 41 patients, 20 selected this course by choice, 12 because of severe concurrent diseases, 2 because of poor performance status, and 7 because of other multiple primary cancers. Twelve patients died; two were cause specific (4.5%), eight from multiple primary cancers, one from severe concurrent diseases, and one from unknown causes. No critical complications were noted. Median follow-up time was 51 months (12-126). Five patients ultimately developed lymph node metastasis. One patient with adjuvant chemotherapy required surgery, and another was treated with chemotherapy whose subsequent death was cause specific. The other three patients received chemoradiotherapy and have not shown cause-specific death. Overall and cause-specific survival rates at 5 years were 67.3% and 91.8%, respectively. Among 41 patients treated by EMR alone, only one died from primary esophageal cancer (2.4%), and overall and cause-specific survival rates at 5 years were 75.6% and 97.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that severe concurrent diseases including multiple primary cancers and the administration of 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for multiple primary cancers significantly influenced survival (P= 0.025, hazard ratio [HR] 13.1 [95% confidence interval 1.5-114]) and (P= 0.037, HR 0.213 [95% confidence interval 0.05-0.914]), respectively. Eight and six patients developed metachronous esophageal squamous cell cancer and local recurrence, respectively. With the exception of one patient, they could be retreated endoscopically. EMR is a reasonable option for the patients with T1a-MM and T1b esophageal carcinoma without clinical metastasis, especially for the individuals with severe concurrent diseases. The prognostic factors for the benefit of EMR in such cases should be further examined.

Gemcitabine alone or in combination with cisplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer: a comparative multicentre study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: A British randomised study of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) combination showed promising results in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients. In our study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of this combination compared with gemcitabine alone (G) in Japanese BTC patients. METHODS: Overall, 84 advanced BTC patients were randomised to either cisplatin 25 mg m(-2) plus gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) on days 1, 8 of a 21-day cycle (GC-arm), or single-agent gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle (G-arm). Treatments were repeated for at least 12 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred, up to a maximum of 48 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were included in the analysis. For the GC and G-arms, respectively, the 1-year survival rate was 39.0 vs 31.0%, median survival time 11.2 vs 7.7 months, median progression-free survival time 5.8 vs 3.7 months and overall response rate 19.5 vs 11.9%. The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicities (GC-arm/G-arm) were neutropenia (56.1%/38.1%), thrombocytopenia (39.0%/7.1%), leukopenia (29.3%/19.0%), haemoglobin decrease (36.6%/16.7%) and gamma-GTP increase (29.3%/35.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Gemcitabine plus cisplatin combination therapy was found to be effective and well tolerated, suggesting that it could also be a standard regimen for Japanese patients.

A formalin-inactivated whole SIV vaccine confers protection in macaques.

A vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) would be highly effective in stopping the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. A comprehensive evaluation of potential vaccine methodologies can be made by means of the simian model for AIDS, which takes advantage of the similarities in viral composition and disease potential between simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques and HIV infection in humans. Immunization with a formalin-inactivated whole SIV vaccine potentiated with either alum and the Syntex adjuvant threonyl muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or MDP alone resulted in the protection of eight of nine rhesus monkeys challenged with ten animal-infectious doses of pathogenic virus. These results demonstrate that a whole virus vaccine is highly effective in inducing immune responses that can protect against lentivirus infection and AIDS-like disease.

Updated results from GEST study: a randomized, three-arm phase III study for advanced pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: The GEST study showed non-inferiority of S-1 but not superiority of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) to gemcitabine alone for overall survival with the data by the cut-off date of 31st July in 2010 for chemo-naïve patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. We considered it important to determine whether S-1 maintains non-inferiority after a long-term follow-up in the GEST study and to obtain a firm positive conclusion. In addition, it may be an interesting challenge to explore the efficacious profile of GS in the long-term follow-up study. Using the data from the follow-up period, background and efficacy in patients from Taiwan and Japan, as well as the rates of tumor shrinkage in locally advanced and metastatic patients (Waterfall plot) were also analyzed. METHODS: The results of the primary analysis were reconfirmed, and subset analysis of overall survival and progression-free survival was performed based on the overall survival data updated by the cut-off date of 31st July in 2011. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 29.8 months, and 795 deaths occurred (95.6%). The median overall survival was 8.8 months for gemcitabine, 9.7 months for S-1 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.96; 97.5% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.17), and 9.9 months for GS (HR 0.91; 97.5% CI 0.75-1.11). In patients with performance status (PS) 0, the median overall survival was 9.8 months for gemcitabine, 10.9 months for S-1, and 10.5 months for GS. In patients with PS 1, the median overall survival was 6.2 months for gemcitabine, 6.3 months for S-1, and 9.6 months for GS. CONCLUSION: Our survey reconfirmed the non-inferiority of S-1 to gemcitabine and showed S-1 can be used as one of the standard treatment options for advanced pancreatic cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00498225.

Low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate in human blood and urine.

Blood and urinary low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate from healthy young and aged volunteers have been characterized by gel chromatography, two-dimensional electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips and by chemical and enzymatic analysis. No difference in content of the material (24 nmol hexosamine per ml plasma) was observed regardless of age. Chemical composition (approximately 40% sulfation at 4-position of galactosamine) and molecular weight (about 8000) of blood and urinary low-sulfated chondroitin sulfates were found to be the same, though urinary excretion of the material was much higher in the aged than in the young adults (Ohkawa et al. (1972) J. Biochem. 72, 1495--1501). Low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate in serum was in a bound form with a molecular weight of more than 100000, irrespective of age. These results suggest that increase in urinary excretion of low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate in the aged is mainly due to renal dysfunction. Low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate was also the main component of acidic glycosaminoglycans in blood from patients with Hurler's syndrome who excreted excessive amounts of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate in urine. This suggests that low sulfated chondroitin sulfate in blood is not merely a precursor of urinary glycosaminoglycans in the case of healthy young adults.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of elderly patients with persistent ST segment elevation and inverted T waves: evidence of insidious or healed myocarditis?

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of insidious or healed myocarditis in the elderly. BACKGROUND: Myocarditis is the cause of unexplained congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. However, acute myocarditis of the Fiedler type is rare, and the incidence and implication of insidious or healed myocarditis in the elderly are not yet known. METHODS: In an autopsy study of 3,000 patients aged > or = 60 years, there were 12 (0.4%) with insidious or healed myocarditis, showing extensive and circumferential fibrosis and scattered lymphocytic infiltration of both ventricular walls without acute necrosis of the myocardial fibers. RESULTS: Unexplained congestive heart failure was found in seven cases. In all cases, electrocardiography had demonstrated upward elevation of the ST segment and inverted T waves for durations ranging from 1 month to 12.7 years (mean 5.7 years). Mean (+/- SD) heart weight was 338 +/- 81 g (range 220 to 470). In nine cases, fibrous lesions, which were scattered but extensive and circumferential, were located in the subepicardial and middle layers of the left ventricle. In the remaining three cases, the fibrous lesions were located predominantly in the subepicardial and middle layers, but the subendocardial layer was also locally involved. Fibrous lesions of the right ventricle were predominant in the subepicardial layer and involved the subendocardial layer in four cases. Scattered lymphocytic infiltration was found in the fibrous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In more than half of the aged cases with insidious or healed myocarditis, unexplained congestive heart failure was also present. Fibrous lesions due to myocarditis were located predominantly in the subepicardial and middle layers and led to persistent upward elevation of the ST segment and inverted T waves.

Pathologic implications of restored positive T waves and persistent negative T waves after Q wave myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the pathologic implications of restored positive T waves and persistent negative T waves in the chronic stage of Q wave myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Some inverted T waves (coronary T waves) become positive after acute myocardial infarction; others retain their negative T wave component for a long time. The pathologic implications of the difference between restored positive T waves and persistent negative T waves in leads with Q waves has not, until now, been given much careful study. METHODS: Of 17 patients with anterior or anteroseptal myocardial infarction confirmed by autopsy, 8 (group P) had positive and 9 (group N) had negative T waves in precordial leads with Q waves > or = 1 year after the onset of myocardial infarction. The appearance and extent of the infarct area and the degree of coronary artery stenosis were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: At autopsy, seven of eight patients in group P had nontransmural fibrotic changes in the anteroseptal or anterior wall. However, seven of nine patients in group N had a transmural myocardial infarction consisting of only a thin fibrotic layer in the anteroseptal or anterior wall. The left anterior descending coronary artery showed 75% stenosis in 1 patient in each group but > 90% stenosis in the remaining 15 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent negative T waves in leads with Q waves in the chronic stage of myocardial infarction indicate the presence of a transmural infarction with a thin fibrotic layer, whereas positive T waves indicate a nontransmural infarct containing viable myocardium within the layer.

Evaluating the effects of spatial frequency on migraines by using pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effects of contrast and spatial frequency in patients with migraine by means of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs). METHODS: PVEPs were obtained from 14 patients who had migraine without aura (MO), 11 patients who had migraine with aura (MA), and 25 age-matched, healthy controls (CO). PVEPs were binocularly recorded with a reversal rate of 1Hz (2 reversal/s) at 3 spatial frequencies (0.5, 1.0 and 4.0 cpd) at high (98%), medium (83%) and low (29%) contrast. N75, P100 and N135 latency and the amplitudes of P50-N75, N75-P100 and P100-N135 were analyzed. RESULTS: Increased amplitude of PVEPs in patients with migraines were revealed at 3 different spatial frequencies in all components. The MO and the MA showed increased amplitudes mostly in high contrasts (98%). These findings were detected more at a high spatial frequency (4.0 cpd) than at a low spatial frequency (0.5 cpd). Increased amplitude with prolonged latency of N135 were found both in MO and MA at 4.0 cpd. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pattern stimuli of high contrasts may be particularly effective in uncovering abnormal cortical reactivity which may be modified in the primary and secondary visual cortex in the interictal state of migraine. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate that there is abnormal visual cortex processing in patients with migraine.

Efficacy of SIV/deltaB670 glycoprotein-enriched and glycoprotein-depleted subunit vaccines in protecting against infection and disease in rhesus monkeys.

Immunization with an inactivated whole-virus vaccine is highly effective in preventing lentivirus infection. The viral protein(s) essential to the induction of protective responses, however, have not been identified. To define the role of virion components in the induction of protective immunity, we evaluated the efficacy of glycoprotein-enriched and glycoprotein-depleted simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) subunit vaccines prepared by lentil-lectin affinity chromatography of gradient-purified virions using the immunization and challenge regimen previously found successful with an inactivated whole-virus vaccine. Infection was determined by successful recovery of virus, the induction of SIV-specific antibody responses, and infection of naive recipients by inoculation with lymph-node-derived lymphocytes from the vaccinates. Immunization with the glycoprotein-enriched preparation prevented infection in two out of four monkeys, whereas the glycoprotein-depleted vaccine failed to prevent infection in all four vaccinates tested. However, the glycoprotein-depleted vaccine appeared to moderate the progression of SIV-induced disease compared with non-immunized infected control monkeys inoculated with the same challenge dose. These data suggest that subunit vaccines containing sufficient quantities of viral glycoproteins can protect against SIV infection, whereas subunit vaccines composed predominantly of viral core proteins cannot. The development of effective vaccines against HIV infection should include studies on the optimum presentation of the viral envelope glycoproteins to produce long-term broadly protective immune responses.

Standardized thigh muscle area measured by computed axial tomography as an alternate muscle mass index for nutritional assessment of hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of muscle mass, which represents the largest protein pool in the body, is important for nutritional assessment but is difficult to achieve with conventional methods in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: We measured the cross-sectional area of the thigh occupied by muscle by using computed tomography and compared this with other muscle mass indicators. DESIGN: Thigh muscle area (TMA) was examined and correlated with creatinine production and various nutritional indexes in 163 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Where appropriate, TMA was expressed relative to bone area in the thigh (TBA) to avoid the influence of body size. RESULTS: TMA was highly correlated with creatinine production as measured in the spent dialysate (r = 0.85, P < 0.001), indicating that TMA substantially reflects total-body muscle mass. TMA standardized for TBA was negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with other nutritional indicators including body weight, body mass index, serum albumin, serum transthyretin, and protein catabolic rate. Multiple regression analysis revealed that of these variables, age, serum albumin, and protein catabolic rate independently predicted TMA standardized for TBA. By using correlations with various nutritional indicators, we concluded that patients with a value <10.0 for TMA standardized for TBA were likely to be malnourished whereas those with a value >13.0 were likely to be well nourished. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that TMA standardized for TBA, measured by computed tomography, is a reliable indicator of muscle mass that could be used for nutritional assessment of hemodialysis patients.

Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute carotid artery territory stroke.

To determine the effect of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on vascular and neurologic outcomes, we enrolled 31 patients with acute carotid artery-territory ischemic stroke within 6 hours from symptom onset in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. We gave either rt-PA (duteplase at the dose of 20 or 30 mega-international units [MIU]) or placebo intravenously for 60 minutes in patients randomly assigned to the three groups. A comparison between the baseline and postinfusion angiograms showed that complete or partial reperfusion occurred in 50% (5/10) of patients treated with 30 MIU rt-PA, 44% (4/9) of those treated with 20 MIU rt-PA, and 17% (2/12) in the control group. In patients with middle cerebral artery occlusions, reperfusion occurred in 71% (5/7) of the 30-MIU group, in 67% (4/6) of the 20-MIU group, and in 13% (1/8) of the control group. Patients treated with 30 MIU rt-PA showed a significantly early and better clinical improvement, as measured by the neurologic scale, than did those treated with placebo. Parenchymal hemorrhage occurred in one patient in each group, and frequency of clinically insignificant hemorrhagic infarction was comparable among the treatment groups. No major systemic complications occurred in any group. These results support the efficacy of intravenous infusion of rt-PA soon after the onset of stroke in producing rapid thrombolysis and neurologic recovery; it may be of particular value in patients with thromboembolic occlusion in the middle cerebral artery.

7-Arylidenenaltrexones as selective delta1 opioid receptor antagonists.

A series of 7-arylidinenaltrexones (2a-m) related to the prototypical delta1-selective antagonist, 7-benzylidenenaltrexone 1 (BNTX), have been synthesized in an effort to develop more selective ligands. Testing in smooth muscle preparations revealed that members of the series exhibited varying degrees of selectively for delta receptors, with the o-methoxy (2e) and o-chloro (2j) congeners being most potent and most selective (Ke approximately 0.8 nm). Evaluation of 1, 2e, and 2f sc in mice using the tail-flick procedure indicated that they are selective delta1 opioid receptor antagonists in the lower dose range. At high doses these ligands, including BNTX, exhibited decreased delta1 selectivity due to increases in the ED50 ratios of [D-Ser2,Leu5]enkephalin-Thr6 and morphine. It is concluded that 2e and 2f possess in vivo selectivity similar to that of BNTX, but are less potent as delta1 antagonists.

Dual inhibitors of thromboxane A2 synthase and 5-lipoxygenase with scavenging activity of active oxygen species. Synthesis of a novel series of (3-pyridylmethyl)benzoquinone derivatives.

A novel series of (3-pyridylmethyl)benzoquinone derivatives was molecular designed and synthesized for the dual purpose of inhibiting thromboxane A2 and leukotriene biosynthesis enzymes and scavenging active oxygen species (AOS). They were evaluated for inhibition of TXA2 synthase, inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, and for their scavenging activity of AOS using the thiobarbituric acid method. 2,3,5-Trimethyl-6-(3-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (24, CV-6504) was the most promising derivative since it showed efficient AOS scavenging activity (inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates: IC50 = 1.8 x 10(-6) M) as well as potent, specific, and well-balanced inhibitory effects on both enzymes (inhibitory effect on TXA2 synthase in human blood, IC50 = 3.3 x 10(-7) M; inhibitory effect on 5-lipoxygenase in human blood, IC50 = 3.6 x 10(-7) M). In adriamycin-induced proteinuria in a rat model, compound 24 at 10 mg/kg per day (po) suppressed proteinuria by more than 50%. The proteinuria, however, could not be reduced by single administration of an inhibitor specific for thromboxane A2 synthase [(E)-7-phenyl-7-(3-pyridyl)-6-heptenoic acid (2, CV-4151)] or for 5-lipoxygenase [2-(12-hydroxy-5,10-dodecadiynyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1, AA-861)]. The proteinuria was also not reduced by administration of an AOS scavenger, 2-O-octadecylascorbic acid (4, CV-3611). Triple function compounds such as compound 24 that specifically inhibit both enzymes as well as scavenge AOS possess a variety of pharmacologically beneficial effects.

Synthesis and delta-opioid receptor antagonist activity of a naltrindole analogue with a regioisomeric indole moiety.

Indolomorphinans 2 and 3, in which the indole moiety is fused to the 7,8-position of the morphinan system, have been synthesized from dihydropseudocodeinone 4 and evaluated for antagonist activity on the mouse vas deferens (MVD) and guinea pig ileum (GPI) preparations. Indolomorphinan 2 was found to be approximately 1/60th as potent as naltrindole 1 in the MVD and an agonist in the GPI preparation. A comparable difference in affinity between 1 and 2 was observed. The methyl analogue 3 was inactive in both preparations. The results of this study support the idea that the regio orientation of the indolic benzene moiety of 1 is optimal for delta-opioid receptor antagonist activity. It is proposed that the proper alignment of the benzene moiety with an address subsite on the delta receptor is critical for potent delta antagonist activity.

Thromboxane synthetase inhibitors (TXSI). Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel series of omega-pyridylalkenoic acids.

A novel series of omega-pyridylalkenoic acids has been prepared by applying the Wittig reaction. Modifications were made in the omega-aryl moiety, the alkylene chain length, the alpha-methylene group adjacent to the carbonyl group, and the carboxyl group of the molecule. The compounds were tested as inhibitors of thromboxane synthetase in an in vitro assay and in ex vivo experiments with the rat. Most members of this new class of thromboxane synthetase inhibitors (TXSI) showed good activity in both assay systems. (E)-7-Phenyl-7-(3-pyridyl)-6-heptenoic acid (9c; CV-4151) was one of the most potent compounds in in vitro enzyme inhibition (IC50 = 2.6 X 10(-8) M) and, when orally administered, the most potent and long acting in the inhibition of blood thromboxane A2 production in the rat. New conceptual models I-III for the enzyme-substrate (prostaglandin H2, PGH2) and the enzyme-TXSI interactions are proposed for understanding the molecular design and structure-activity relations.