Ventilatory Assistance Before Umbilical Cord Clamping in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Providing assisted ventilation during delayed umbilical cord clamping may improve outcomes for extremely preterm infants. Objective: To determine whether assisted ventilation in extremely preterm infants (23 0/7 to 28 6/7 weeks' gestational age [GA]) followed by cord clamping reduces intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or early death. Design, Setting, and Participants: This phase 3, 1:1, parallel-stratified randomized clinical trial conducted at 12 perinatal centers across the US and Canada from September 2, 2016, through February 21, 2023, assessed IVH and early death outcomes of extremely preterm infants randomized to receive 120 seconds of assisted ventilation followed by cord clamping vs delayed cord clamping for 30 to 60 seconds with ventilatory assistance afterward. Two analysis cohorts, not breathing well and breathing well, were specified a priori based on assessment of breathing 30 seconds after birth. Intervention: After birth, all infants received stimulation and suctioning if needed. From 30 to 120 seconds, infants randomized to the intervention received continuous positive airway pressure if breathing well or positive-pressure ventilation if not, with cord clamping at 120 seconds. Control infants received 30 to 60 seconds of delayed cord clamping followed by standard resuscitation. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was any grade IVH on head ultrasonography or death before day 7. Interpretation by site radiologists was confirmed by independent radiologists, all masked to study group. To estimate the association between study group and outcome, data were analyzed using the stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for relative risk (RR), with associations summarized by point estimates and 95% CIs. Results: Of 1110 women who consented to participate, 548 were randomized and delivered infants at GA less than 29 weeks. A total of 570 eligible infants were enrolled (median [IQR] GA, 26.6 [24.9-27.7] weeks; 297 male [52.1%]). Intraventricular hemorrhage or death occurred in 34.9% (97 of 278) of infants in the intervention group and 32.5% (95 of 292) in the control group (adjusted RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.81-1.27). In the prespecified not-breathing-well cohort (47.5% [271 of 570]; median [IQR] GA, 26.0 [24.7-27.4] weeks; 152 male [56.1%]), IVH or death occurred in 38.7% (58 of 150) of infants in the intervention group and 43.0% (52 of 121) in the control group (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.68-1.21). There was no evidence of differences in death, severe brain injury, or major morbidities between the intervention and control groups in either breathing cohort. Conclusions and Relevance: This study did not show that providing assisted ventilation before cord clamping in extremely preterm infants reduces IVH or early death. Additional study around the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of assisted ventilation before cord clamping may provide additional insight. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02742454.

Applications of the partial-order continual reassessment method in the early development of treatment combinations.

Combination therapy is increasingly being explored as a promising approach for improving cancer treatment outcomes. However, identifying effective dose combinations in early oncology drug development is challenging due to limited sample sizes in early-phase clinical trials. This task becomes even more complex when multiple agents are being escalated simultaneously, potentially leading to a loss of monotonic toxicity order with respect to the dose. Traditional single-agent trial designs are insufficient for this multi-dimensional problem, necessitating the development and implementation of dose-finding methods specifically designed for drug combinations. While, in practice, approaches to this problem have focused on preselecting combinations with a known toxicity order and applying single-agent designs, this limits the number of combinations considered and may miss promising dose combinations. In recent years, several novel designs have been proposed for exploring partially ordered drug combination spaces with the goal of identifying a maximum tolerated dose combination, based on safety, or an optimal dose combination, based on toxicity and efficacy. However, their implementation in clinical practice remains limited. In this article, we describe the application of the partial order continual reassessment method and its extensions for combination therapies in early-phase clinical trials. We present completed trials that use safety endpoints to identify maximum tolerated dose combinations and adaptively use both safety and efficacy endpoints to determine optimal treatment strategies. We discuss the effectiveness of the partial-order continual reassessment method and its extensions in identifying optimal treatment strategies and provide our experience with executing these novel adaptive designs in practice. By utilizing innovative dose-finding methods, researchers and clinicians can more effectively navigate the challenges of combination therapy development, ultimately improving patient outcomes in the treatment of cancer.

Novel Form of Breast Intraoperative Radiation Therapy with CT-Guided High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy: Interim Results of a Prospective Phase-II Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Precision breast intraoperative radiation therapy (PB-IORT) is a novel method of IORT that uses customized CT-based treatment plans and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. We conducted a phase-II multi-institution trial to evaluate the efficacy of PB-IORT. STUDY DESIGN: Between 2015 and 2022, 3 centers enrolled women aged 45 years and older with invasive or in situ carcinoma measuring 3 cm or smaller and N0 status (n = 358). Breast-conserving surgery was performed, and a multilumen balloon catheter was placed in the lumpectomy bed. CT images were used to create customized HDR brachytherapy plans that delivered 12.5 Gy to the tumor bed. The primary outcome assessed was the 5-year rate of index quadrant tumor recurrence. An interim analysis was conducted after one-third of eligible participants completed 5 years of follow-up. This trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02400658). RESULTS: The cohort comprised 153 participants with a median age of 64 years and median follow-up time of 5.9 years. The estimated 5-year index quadrant tumor recurrence rate and overall survival were 5.08% (95% CI 2.23 to 9.68) and 95.1%, respectively. Locoregional (ipsilateral breast and axilla) and distant recurrence rates were each 1.96%. Seven deaths occurred during the first 5 years of follow-up, with only 1 attributable to breast cancer. Overall, 68.6% of patients experienced any adverse effects, and 4 cases of breast-related severe toxicities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the results of a planned interim analysis of a phase-II trial investigating PB-IORT and demonstrates the efficacy and safety of single-fraction, CT-based, HDR brachytherapy after breast-conserving surgery. These findings provide valuable insights into the use of PB-IORT as a treatment modality.

Multicenter randomized controlled trial of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy alone or in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging target for immunotherapy because it has an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density, which may predict overall survival (OS). We hypothesized that adding programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade to chemoradiotherapy would be well tolerated and increase TILs among patients with localized PDAC. METHODS: Patients were randomized 2:1 to Arm A (receiving pembrolizumab plus chemoradiotherapy (capecitabine and external beam radiation)) or Arm B (receiving chemoradiotherapy alone) before anticipated pancreatectomy. Primary endpoints were (1) incidence and severity of adverse events during neoadjuvant therapy and (2) density of TILs in resected tumor specimens. TIL density was assessed using multiplexed immunofluorescence histologic examination. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were randomized to Arms A (n=24) and B (n=13). Grade ≥3 adverse events related to neoadjuvant treatment were experienced by 9 (38%) and 4 (31%) patients in Arms A and B, respectively, with one patient experiencing dose-limiting toxicity in Arm A. Seventeen (71%) and 7 (54%) patients in Arms A and B, respectively, underwent pancreatectomy. Median CD8+ T-cell densities in Arms A and B were 67.4 (IQR: 39.2-141.8) and 37.9 (IQR: 22.9-173.4) cells/mm2, respectively. Arms showed no noticeable differences in density of CD8+Ki67+, CD4+, or CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells; M1-like and M2-like macrophages; or granulocytes. Median OS durations were 27.8 (95% CI: 17.1 to NR) and 24.3 (95% CI: 12.6 to NR) months for Arms A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Adding pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was safe. However, no convincing effect on CD8+ TILs was observed.

Alirocumab and plaque volume, calf muscle blood flow, and walking performance in peripheral artery disease: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The distal superficial femoral artery (SFA) is most commonly affected in peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effects of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab added to statin therapy on SFA atherosclerosis, downstream flow, and walking performance are unknown. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with PAD on maximally tolerated statin therapy were recruited. Patients were randomized to alirocumab 150 mg subcutaneously (n = 18) or matching placebo (n = 17) therapy every 2 weeks for 1 year. The primary outcome was change in SFA plaque volume by black blood magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Secondary outcomes were changes in calf muscle perfusion by cuff/occlusion hyperemia arterial spin labeling MRI, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and other biomarkers. RESULTS: Age (mean ± SD) was 64 ± 8 years, 20 (57%) patients were women, 17 (49%) were Black individuals, LDL was 107 ± 36 mg/dL, and the ankle-brachial index 0.71 ± 0.20. The LDL fell more with alirocumab than placebo (mean [95% CI]) (-49.8 [-66.1 to -33.6] vs -7.7 [-19.7 to 4.3] mg/dL; p < 0.0001). Changes in SFA plaque volume and calf perfusion showed no difference between groups when adjusted for baseline (+0.25 [-0.29 to 0.79] vs -0.04 [-0.47 to 0.38] cm3; p = 0.37 and 0.22 [-8.67 to 9.11] vs 3.81 [-1.45 to 9.08] mL/min/100 g; p = 0.46, respectively), nor did 6MWD. CONCLUSION: In this exploratory study, the addition of alirocumab therapy to statins did not alter SFA plaque volume, calf perfusion or 6MWD despite significant LDL lowering. Larger studies with longer follow up that include plaque characterization may improve understanding of the effects of intensive LDL-lowering therapy in PAD (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02959047).

Evaluation of Preoperative and Intraoperative Mobile Gamma Camera Imaging in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Melanoma Independent of Preoperative Lymphoscintigraphy.

INTRODUCTION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard practice for staging cutaneous melanoma. High false-negative rates have an increased interest in adjunctive techniques for localizing SLNs. Mobile gamma cameras (MGCs) represent potential tools to enhance SLNB performance. METHODS: An institutional review board approval was obtained for this study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01531608). After obtaining informed consent, 20 eligible melanoma patients underwent 99mTc sulfur colloid injection and standard lymphoscintigraphy with a fixed gamma camera (FGC). A survey using a 20 cm square MGC, performed immediately preoperatively by the study surgeon, was used to establish an operative plan while blinded to the FGC results. Subsequently, SLNB was performed using a gamma probe and a novel 6 cm diameter handheld MGC. RESULTS: A total of 24 SLN basins were detected by FGC. Prior to unblinding, all 24 basins were identified with the preoperative MGC and the operative plan established by preoperative MGC imaging was confirmed accurate by review of the FGC images. All individual sentinel lymph nodes were identified during intraoperative MGC imaging, and in 5/24 (21%) cases, surgeon-reported additional clinically useful information was obtained from the MGC. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MGC images provide information consistent with FGC images for planning SLNB and in some cases provide additional information that aided in surgical decision-making.

Prophylactic Pretransplant Ganciclovir to Reduce Cytomegalovirus Infection After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) occurring in approximately 60-70% of CMV-seropositive HCT recipients. CMV reactivation leads to adverse outcomes including end-organ damage, graft-versus-host disease, and graft failure. METHODS: Ganciclovir was administered pretransplant at 5 mg/kg twice daily intravenously from the start of conditioning to Day T-2 to CMV-seropositive patients receiving their first allogeneic HCT. CMV DNA was monitored weekly until at least Day 100 posttransplant. RESULTS: A total of 109 consecutive patients were treated, median age 57 (range 20-73) years. Of these, 36 (33%) patients had a CMV reactivation within the first 105 days posttransplant with a median time of reactivation of 52.5 (range 36-104) days posttransplant. The cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation at Day 105 posttransplant was 33.1% (95% confidence interval: 24.4-42.0). One patient developed CMV disease. CONCLUSION: The use of pretransplant ganciclovir was associated with low incidence of CMV reactivation and disease. These data suggest that pretransplant ganciclovir with preemptive therapy for viral reactivation may be a useful strategy to reduce CMV reactivation. Future prospective trials are needed to compare strategies for CMV prophylaxis.

Phase I/II clinical trial of a helper peptide vaccine plus PD-1 blockade in PD-1 antibody-naïve and PD-1 antibody-experienced patients with melanoma (MEL64).

BACKGROUND: A vaccine containing 6 melanoma-associated peptides to stimulate helper T cells (6MHP) is safe, immunogenic, and clinically active. A phase I/II trial was designed to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of 6MHP vaccines plus programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Participants with advanced melanoma received 6MHP vaccines in an incomplete Freund's adjuvant (6 vaccines over 12 weeks). Pembrolizumab was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Tumor biopsies at baseline and day 22 were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry. Primary end points were safety (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.4.03) and immunogenicity (ex vivo interferon-γ ELISpot assay). Additional end points included changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible participants were treated: 6 naïve to PD-1 antibody (Ab) and 16 PD-1 Ab-experienced. Median follow-up was 24.4 months. Most common treatment-related adverse events (any grade) included injection site reactions, fatigue, anemia, lymphopenia, fever, elevated aspartate aminotransferase, pruritus, and rash. Treatment-related dose-limiting toxicities were observed in 3 (14%) participants, which did not cross the study safety bound. A high durable T cell response (Rsp) to 6MHP was detected in only one participant, but twofold T cell Rsps to 6MHP were detected in 7/22 (32%; 90% CI (16% to 52%)) by week 13. Objective clinical responses were observed in 23% (1 complete response, 4 partial responses), including 4/6 PD-1 Ab-naïve (67%) and 1/16 PD-1 Ab-experienced (6%). Overall survival (OS) was longer for PD-1 Ab-naïve than Ab-experienced participants (HR 6.3 (90% CI (2.1 to 28.7)). In landmark analyses at 13 weeks, OS was also longer for those with T cell Rsps (HR 6.5 (90% CI (2.1 to 29.2)) and for those with objective clinical responses. TME evaluation revealed increased densities of CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, and Tbet+ cells by day 22. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the 6MHP vaccine plus pembrolizumab was safe, increased intratumoral lymphocytes, and induced T cell Rsps associated with prolonged OS. The low T cell Rsp rate in PD-1 Ab-experienced participants corroborates prior murine studies that caution against delaying cancer vaccines until after PD-1 blockade. The promising objective response rate and OS in PD-1 Ab-naïve participants support consideration of a larger study in that setting.

Video-Assisted Informed Consent in a Clinical Trial of Resuscitation of Extremely Preterm Infants: Lessons Learned.

OBJECTIVE: Obtaining informed consent for clinical trials is challenging in acute clinical settings. For the VentFirst randomized clinical trial (assisting ventilation during delayed cord clamping for infants <29 weeks' gestation), we created an informational video that sites could choose to use to supplement the standard in-person verbal and written consent. Using a postconsent survey, we sought to describe the impact of the video on patient recruitment, satisfaction with the consent process, and knowledge about the study. STUDY DESIGN: This is a descriptive survey-based substudy. RESULTS: Of the sites participating in the VentFirst trial that obtained institutional review board (IRB) approval to allow use of the video to supplement the standard informed consent process, three elected to participate in the survey substudy. From February 2018 to January 2021, 82 women at these three sites were offered the video and completed the postconsent survey. Overall, 73 of these 82 women (89%) consented to participate in the primary study, 78 (95%) indicated the study was explained to them very well or extremely well, and the range of correct answers on five knowledge questions about the study was 63 to 98%. Forty-six (56%) of the 82 women offered the video chose to watch it. There were no major differences in study participation, satisfaction with the consent process, or knowledge about the study between the women who chose to watch or not watch the video. CONCLUSION: Watching an optional video to supplement the standard informed consent process did not have a major impact on outcomes in this small substudy. The ways in which audiovisual tools might modify the traditional informed consent process deserve further study. KEY POINTS: · Informed consent in acute clinical contexts is difficult.. · Videos offer an alternative communication tool.. · Continued research is necessary to optimize the consent process..

Effects of a novel form of intraoperative radiation therapy on quality of life among patients with early-stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate patient-perceived quality of life (QOL) among patients treated with a novel form of breast intraoperative radiation therapy (PB-IORT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients treated with PB-IORT as part of a phase II clinical trial from 2013 to 2020 were identified. Patients were given the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core 30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) encompassing global health, functionality, and symptomatology at baseline, 1-month, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months after PB-IORT. Scores were on a 100-point scale with change greater than 10 considered clinically significant. Scores at interval follow-up were compared to baseline using repeated measure modeling with an unstructured covariance matrix. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 303 patients, a majority of which were White (84.2%) with a median age of 64 years (IQR: 52, 76). One month after PB-IORT, a decline from baseline in physical (-2.5, 95% CI: -4.4 - -0.55, p = 0.01), role (-7.6, 95% CI: -11.7 - -3.5, p < 0.001), and social functioning (-3.0, 95% CI: -5.5 - -0.42, p = 0.02) were observed, which correlated with increased fatigue (8.4, 95% CI: 5.5-11.3, p < 0.001). At 6 months, nearly all QOL measures returned to baseline or improved. There were no statistically or clinically significant differences from baseline in overall global health. All functional and symptom scale differences were less than 10, indicating minimal clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: PB-IORT has minimal negative impact on QOL, further supporting this patient-centered treatment approach for early-stage breast cancer.

Dose-finding study of ibrutinib and venetoclax in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Relapsed Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is often treated with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi); however, post-BTKi relapse can be challenging. Adding venetoclax (VEN) to ibrutinib (IBR) has shown synergy in preclinical MCL models. Prior MCL studies of the combination show promising efficacy but have conducted limited dose finding. We sought to identify the optimal dosing combination, based on efficacy and toxicity, utilizing a continual reassessment method of 6 combinations of IBR (280 mg, 420 mg, and 560 mg by mouth daily) and VEN (max dose of 200 mg and 400 mg by mouth daily). Eligible participants were not previously exposed to BTKi and not high risk for tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). VEN, initiated first at 100 mg, then at 20 mg by mouth daily after a TLS event, was started prior to adding IBR and ramped-up based on the dose level assigned. Combination treatment continued for six 28-day cycles. Thirty-five participants were enrolled and treated. One TLS event occurred with starting dose of 100 mg VEN; no TLS was seen with 20 mg. The optimal dosing combination was considered to be VEN 200 mg and IBR 420 mg with an overall response rate (ORR) of 93.8% (95% CI: 73.6% to 99.7%) and DLT incidence of 6.2% (95% CI: 0.3% to 26.4%). ORR for all arms was 82.3% (28/34; 95% CI: 65.5% to 93.2%) with a complete response (CR) rate of 42.4% (14/33; 95% CI: 25.5% to 60.8%). A participant was not allocated to IBR 560 mg and VEN 400 mg. ORR benefit was not seen with higher dosing combinations and toxicity was higher; a comparison made within the limitations of small cohorts. Resistance was seen in nearly all arms. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov #NCT02419560.

Phase I/II trial of a long peptide vaccine (LPV7) plus toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists with or without incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) for resected high-risk melanoma.

BACKGROUND: We performed a clinical trial to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of a novel long peptide vaccine administered in combinations of incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) and agonists for TLR3 (polyICLC) and TLR7/8 (resiquimod). We hypothesized that T cell responses to minimal epitope peptides (MEPs) within the long peptides would be enhanced compared with prior vaccines with MEP themselves and that T cell responses would be enhanced with TLR agonists, compared with IFA alone. METHODS: Participants with resected stage IIB-IV melanoma were vaccinated with seven long melanoma peptides (LPV7) from tyrosinase, gp100, MAGE-A1, MAGE-A10, and NY-ESO-1, each containing a known MEP for CD8+ T cells, plus a tetanus helper peptide (Tet) restricted by Class II MHC. Enrollment was guided by an adaptive design to one of seven adjuvant combinations. Vaccines were administered at weeks 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 at rotating injection sites. T cell and IgG antibody (Ab) responses were measured with IFN-gamma ELIspot assay ex vivo and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: Fifty eligible participants were assigned to seven study groups, with highest enrollment on arm E (LPV7+Tet+IFA+polyICLC). There was one dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in Group E (grade 3 injection site reaction, 6% DLT rate). All other treatment-related adverse events were grades 1-2. The CD8+ T cell immune response rate (IRR) to MEPs was 18%, less than in prior studies using MEP vaccines in IFA. The CD8+ T cell IRR trended higher for IFA-containing adjuvants (24%) than adjuvants containing only TLR agonists (6%). Overall T cell IRR to full-length LPV7 was 30%; CD4+ T cell IRR to Tet was 40%, and serum Ab IRR to LPV7 was 84%. These IRRs also trended higher for IFA-containing adjuvants (36% vs 18%, 48% vs 24%, and 97% vs 60%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The LPV7 vaccine is safe with each of seven adjuvant strategies and induced T cell responses to CD8 MEPs ex vivo in a subset of patients but did not enhance IRRs compared with prior vaccines using short peptides. Immunogenicity was supported more by IFA than by TLR agonists alone and may be enhanced by polyICLC plus IFA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02126579.

Operating characteristics are needed to properly evaluate the scientific validity of phase I protocols.

PURPOSE: Operating characteristics for proposed clinical trial designs provide insight into performance regarding safety and accuracy, allowing the study team and review entities to determine the design's suitability to achieve the study's proposed objectives. Advances in cancer therapeutics have augmented the needs of early phase clinical trial design. Additionally, advances in research on early-phase trial design have led to the availability of a wide range of methods that show vast improvement over outdated approaches. METHODS: Three trials utilizing variations of the 3 + 3 decision rule are discussed. The protocols lacked detail, including operating characteristics and guidance for decision-making that deviated from the 3 + 3 decision rule and MTD determination. We provide a discussion of the statistical issues associated with each design and operating characteristics for the proposed design compared to alternatives better suited to achieve the aims of each trial. RESULTS: Our results illustrate how operating characteristics inform a design's safety and accuracy. Operating characteristics can unmask poor behavior, such as a high percentage of particiapnts exposed to overly toxic doses, a low probability of correctly identifying the MTD, and inappropriate early study termination. CONCLUSION: Selection of early-phase trial design has significant implications on a trial's ability to meet its objectives. Operating characteristics are a necessary component in the design and review of a protocol, determining if the study's objectives can be achieved and documenting the study's scientific validity. Continued use of outdated approaches due to historical acceptance hinders scientific rigor and the effort to move effective agents through the drug development process.

Phase II randomized study of preoperative calcitriol to prevent hypocalcemia following thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: A prospective, stratified, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to observe the impact of preoperative calcitriol supplementation on serum calcium levels following total thyroidectomy. METHODS: Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive 1 µg calcitriol or placebo for 1 week preceding thyroidectomy. The primary outcome measure was change in serum calcium from baseline to 18 h post-thyroidectomy. Subjects were also assessed for incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia, length of stay, readmission for hypocalcemia, and intravenous calcium supplementation. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients underwent thyroidectomy; 23 received preoperative calcitriol supplementation, and 24 received placebo. Repeated measures regression demonstrated no difference in postoperative serum calcium over time (p = 0.22). There were no occurrences of hypocalcemia, intravenous calcium supplementation, or readmission in either group. No difference was observed in length of stay (p = 0.38). One patient in the calcitriol group developed Grade 3 hypercalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative calcitriol supplementation had no impact on postoperative serum calcium levels compared to placebo.

Immunogenicity in humans of a transdermal multipeptide melanoma vaccine administered with or without a TLR7 agonist.

BACKGROUND: Experimental cancer vaccines are traditionally administered by injection in subcutaneous tissue or muscle, commonly with adjuvants that create chronic inflammatory depots. Injection of melanoma-derived peptides induces T cell responses; however, the depots that form following injection may inhibit optimization of the immune response. In skin, epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are a dominant source of professional antigen presenting cells. We hypothesized that: (1) applying melanoma-derived peptides topically, in proximity to LC, could be immunogenic and safe, with low vaccine-site toxicity and (2) topical toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist would increase immunogenicity of the peptide vaccine. METHODS: Twelve melanoma peptides plus a tetanus helper peptide were combined with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and were administered topically on days 1, 8, and 15, to 28 patients randomized to one of four adjuvant preparations: (1) incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA); (2) IFA plus a TLR7 agonist (imiquimod) administered on days 0, 7, 14; (3) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or (4) DMSO+ imiquimod administered on day 0, 7, 14. Every 3 weeks thereafter (x 6), the peptides were combined with GM-CSF and were injected into the dermis and subcutis in an emulsion with IFA. Toxicities were recorded and immune responses assayed by ELIspot. RESULTS: CD8+ T cell responses to transdermal vaccination in DMSO occurred in 83% of participants in group 3 and 86% in group 4, and responses to vaccination in IFA were observed in 29% of participants in group 1 and 14% in group 2. Overall, 61% of participants had CD4+ T cell immune responses to the tetanus peptide, with large, durable responses in groups 3 and 4. Five of seven participants in group 4 had a severe rash, one that was dose limiting. Ten-year overall survival was 67% and disease-free survival was 44%. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide proof of principle for immunogenicity in humans of transdermal immunization using peptides in DMSO. Further study is warranted into the pharmacokinetics and immunobiology of TLR agonists as vaccine adjuvants during transcutaneous application. Overall survival is high, supporting further investigation of this immunization approach.

Adapting isotonic dose-finding to a dynamic set of drug combinations with application to a phase I leukemia trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This article describes the proposed design of a phase I study evaluating the safety of ceramide nanoliposome and vinblastine among an initial set of 19 possible dose combinations in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia who are not candidates for intensive induction chemotherapy. METHODS: Extensive collaboration between statisticians and clinical investigators revealed the need to incorporate several adaptive features into the design, including the flexibility of adding or eliminating certain dose combinations based on safety criteria applied to multiple dose pairs. During the design stage, additional dose levels of vinblastine were added, increasing the dimension of the drug combination space and thus the complexity of the problem. Increased complexity made application of existing drug combination dose-finding methods unsuitable in their current form. RESULTS: Our solution to these challenges was to adapt a method based on isotonic regression to meet the research objectives of the study. Application of this adapted method is described herein, and a simulation study of the design's operating characteristics is conducted. CONCLUSION: The aim of this article is to bring to light examples of novel design applications as a means of augmenting the implementation of innovative designs in the future and to demonstrate the flexibility of adaptive designs in satisfying changing design conditions.

Characterization and comparison of innate and adaptive immune responses at vaccine sites in melanoma vaccine clinical trials.

The strength and durability of systemic anti-tumor immune responses induced by cancer vaccines depends on adjuvants to support an immunogenic vaccine site microenvironment (VSME). Adjuvants include water-in-oil emulsions with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) and combinations of toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, including a preparation containing TLR4 and TLR9 agonists with QS-21 (AS15). IFA-containing vaccines can promote immune cell accumulation at the VSME, whereas effects of AS15 are largely unexplored. Therefore, we assessed innate and adaptive immune cell accumulation and gene expression at the VSME after vaccination with AS15 and compared to effects with IFA. We hypothesized that AS15 would promote less accumulation of innate and adaptive immune cells at the VSME than IFA vaccines. In two clinical trials, patients with resected high-risk melanoma received either a multipeptide vaccine with IFA or a recombinant MAGE-A3 protein vaccine with AS15. Vaccine site biopsies were obtained after one or multiple vaccines. T cells accumulated early after vaccines with AS15, but this was not durable or of the same magnitude as vaccination in IFA. Vaccines with AS15 increased durable expression of DC- and T cell-related genes, as well as PD-L1 and IDO1, suggesting complex activation and regulation of innate and adaptive immune function with AS15. These changes were generally greater with vaccines containing IFA, but IFA induced reduction in myeloid suppressor cells markers. Evidence of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation was observed with both adjuvants. Our findings highlight adjuvant-dependent changes in immune features at the VSME that may impact systemic immune responses.

Trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a melanoma helper peptide vaccine plus incomplete Freund's adjuvant, cyclophosphamide, and polyICLC (Mel63).

BACKGROUND: Peptide vaccines designed to stimulate melanoma-reactive CD4+ T cells can induce T cell and antibody (Ab) responses, associated with enhanced overall survival. We hypothesized that adding toll-like receptor 3 agonist polyICLC to an incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) would be safe and would support strong, durable CD4+ T cell and Ab responses. We also hypothesized that oral low-dose metronomic cyclophosphamide (mCy) would be safe, would reduce circulating regulatory T cells (T-regs) and would further enhance immunogenicity. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: An adaptive design based on toxicity and durable CD4+ T cell immune response (dRsp) was used to assign participants with resected stage IIA-IV melanoma to one of four study regimens. The regimens included a vaccine comprising six melanoma peptides restricted by Class II MHC (6MHP) in an emulsion with IFA alone (Arm A), with IFA plus systemic mCy (Arm B), with IFA+ local polyICLC (Arm C), or with IFA+ polyICLC+ mCy (Arm D). Toxicities were recorded (CTCAE V.4.03). T cell responses were measured by interferon γ ELIspot assay ex vivo. Serum Ab responses to 6MHP were measured by ELISA. Circulating T-regs were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Forty-eight eligible participants were enrolled and treated. Early data on safety and dRsp favored enrollment on arm D. Total enrollment on Arms A-D were 3, 7, 6, and 32, respectively. Treatment-related dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 1/7 (14%) participants on arm B and 2/32 (6%) on arm D. None exceeded the 25% DLT threshold for early closure to enrollment for any arm. Strong durable T cell responses to 6MHP were detected ex vivo in 0%, 29%, 67%, and 47% of participants on arms A-D, respectively. IgG Ab responses were greatest for arms C and D. Circulating T-regs frequencies were not altered by mCy. CONCLUSIONS: 6MHP vaccines administered with IFA, polyICLC, and mCy were well tolerated. The dRsp rate for arm D of 47% (90% CI 32 to 63) exceeded the 18% (90% CI 11 to 26) rate previously observed with 6MHP in IFA alone. Vaccination with IFA+ polyICLC (arm C) also showed promise for enhancing T cell and Ab responses.

Results of an early safety analysis of a study of the combination of pembrolizumab and pelvic chemoradiation in locally advanced cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are being considered for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) together with standard-of-care pelvic chemoradiation (CRT). However, the safety of the combination and its optimal schedule are unknown. Defining the safety of the combination is a primary objective of a study examining concurrent and sequential schedules. This article presents a safety analysis that was fully accrued and met reporting requirements. METHODS: Pembrolizumab was given after CRT (arm 1) or during CRT (arm 2) according to a randomized phase 2 design. Patients who were 18 years old or older and had LACC (stages IB-IVA according to the 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics system) were randomized 1:1 to the treatment regimens. The CRT was identical in the 2 arms. Pembrolizumab was administered every 3 weeks for 3 doses; no maintenance was allowed. All patients receiving any treatment were evaluated for safety. Safety assessments included the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) and the occurrence of protocol-defined dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) through 30 days after the last pembrolizumab infusion. RESULTS: As of August 2019, 52 of the 88 planned patients had completed treatment and were evaluable for toxicity. Treatment-related grade 2 or higher toxicity was experienced by 88%; 11 had at least 1 grade 4 AE, and another 23 had at least 1 grade 3 AE. Grade 1 or higher diarrhea was reported in 34 patients (65%; 50% of these were grade 1), and there was no difference between arms (63% in arm 1 vs 68% in arm 2). Two patients experienced 3 DLTs. Most patients completed cisplatin (100% in arm 1 vs 82% in arm 2); 83% in both arms completed all pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results support the safety and feasibility of adding pembrolizumab to pelvic CRT concurrently or sequentially. LAY SUMMARY: Pembrolizumab is a humanized antibody against programmed cell death protein 1 that is used in cancer immunotherapy. Preliminary data suggest that pembrolizumab can be safely combined with chemotherapy and pelvic radiation in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. Future studies of the addition of immunotherapy to traditional chemoradiation are planned to determine the best way to deliver the treatment and whether any improvement is seen with the addition of immunotherapy to traditional therapy.

Toxicity and cosmetic outcomes after treatment with a novel form of breast IORT.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), a form of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), is an appealing alternative to postoperative whole breast irradiation for early-stage breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicity and cosmetic outcomes of patients treated with a novel form of breast IORT (precision breast IORT; PB-IORT), that delivers a targeted, higher dose of radiation than conventional IORT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The first 204 patients treated with PB-IORT in a Phase II clinical trial (NCT02400658) with 12 months of followup were included. Trial inclusion criteria were age ≥45 years, invasive or in situ breast cancer, tumor size ≤3 cm, and node negative. Toxicity and cosmetic scoring were performed at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: 98 patients (48%; 95% CI, 41-55%) experienced toxicity. Seven Grade 3 toxicities occurred (3.4%; 95% CI, 1.4-6.9%). Most patients (95%) had excellent or good cosmetic outcomes (95% CI, 91-98%) at 12 months. Most patients (94%) had little or no pigmentation change (95% CI, 90-97%), 88% little to no size change (95% CI, 82-92%), and 87% experienced minimal shape change (95% CI, 82-92%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Grade 3+ toxicity was rare and cosmetic outcomes were excellent. Severe toxicity with PB-IORT is similar to that reported in the TARGIT trial (3.3% rate of major toxicity) but lower than APBI (NSABP-39, 10.1% Grade 3/4 toxicities). We propose that the toxicity of PB-IORT compared with TARGIT and NSABP-39 is related to the radiation dose and delivery schedule. PB-IORT offers low-toxicity and good cosmetic outcomes when compared with other forms of APBI.