SPOSAB ABP 501: A Sicilian Prospective Observational Study of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with Adalimumab Biosimilar ABP 501.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There are few clinical data on Adalimumab (ADA) biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease. We aimed to perform a multicenter, observational, prospective study on safety and effectiveness of ADA biosimilar ABP 501 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: All consecutive patients from the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease treated with ADA biosimilar ABP 501 from February 2019 to February 2020 were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups: group A, naïve to ADA and naïve to anti-tumor necrosis factors; group B, naïve to ADA and previously exposed to anti-tumor necrosis factors; and group C: switched from ADA originator to ABP 501. RESULTS: A total of 559 patients (median age 39 years; Crohn's disease 88.0%, ulcerative colitis 12.0%) were included, with a follow-up time of 403.4 patient-years. Thirty-six serious adverse events occurred in 36 patients (6.4%; incidence rate [IR]: 8.9 per 100 person-years [PY]). The IR of serious adverse events was higher among patients in group A compared with group C (17.4 vs 4.8 per 100 PY; IR ratio = 3.61; P < 0.001) and among patients in group B compared with group C (16.4 vs 4.8 per 100 PY; IR ratio = 3.42; P = 0.041). Among ADA-naïve patients (group A + B), 188 (85.8%) had a clinical response after 12 weeks, including 165 (75.3%) who achieved steroid-free remission. Higher treatment persistence estimates were reported for patients in group C compared with groups A and B (log-rank P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Safety and effectiveness of ABP 501 seem to be overall similar to those reported for ADA originator. Switching from originator to ABP 501 was safe and effective.

Glycolytic competence in gastric adenocarcinomas negatively impacts survival outcomes of patients treated with salvage paclitaxel-ramucirumab.

INTRODUCTION: For energy production, cancer cells maintain a high rate of glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation converting glucose into lactic acid. This metabolic shift is useful to survive in unfavorable microenvironments. We investigated whether a positive glycolytic profile (PGP) in gastric adenocarcinomas may be associated with unfavorable outcomes under an anticancer systemic therapy, including the anti-angiogenic ramucirumab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal mucosa (NM) and primary tumor (PT) of 40 metastatic gastric adenocarcinomas patients who received second-line paclitaxel-ramucirumab (PR) were analyzed for mRNA expression of the following genes: HK-1, HK-2, PKM-2, LDH-A, and GLUT-1. Patients were categorized with PGP when at least a doubling of mRNA expression (PT vs. NM) in all glycolytic core enzymes (HK-1 or HK-2, PKM-2, LDH-A) was observed. PGP was also related to TP53 mutational status. RESULTS: Mean LDH-A, HK-2, PKM-2 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in PT compared with NM. 18 patients were classified as PGP, which was associated with significantly worse progression-free and overall survival times. No significant association was observed between PGP and clinical-pathologic features, including TP53 positive mutational status, in 28 samples. CONCLUSIONS: Glycolytic proficiency may negatively affect survival outcomes of metastatic gastric cancer patients treated with PR systemic therapy. TP53 mutational status alone does not seem to explain such a metabolic shift.

MET tyrosine kinase receptor expression and amplification as prognostic biomarkers of survival in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: MET gene amplification and Met protein overexpression may be associated with a poor prognosis. The MET/Met status is typically determined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Targeted proteomics uses mass spectrometry-based selected reaction monitoring (SRM) to accurately quantitate Met expression. FISH, IHC, and SRM analyses were compared to characterize the prognostic value of MET/Met in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEC). METHODS: Samples from 447 GEC patients were analyzed for MET gene amplification (FISH) and Met protein expression (IHC and SRM). Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier estimates were applied to explore relations between Met, overall survival (OS), and clinical/pathological characteristics. Spearman's rank coefficient was used to assess the correlation between parameters. RESULTS: Patients with MET-amplified tumors had worse OS when: the MET/centromere enumeration probe for chromosome 7 FISH ratio was ≥ 2 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84-5.33), the MET gene copy number was ≥5 (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.45-4.34), or ≥ 10% of the cells had ≥15 copies (HR, 4.28; 95% CI, 2.18-8.39). Similar observations were made with Met protein overexpression by IHC (≥1 + intensity in ≥ 25% of the tumor cell membrane: HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04-1.86) or SRM (≥400 amol/µg: HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.06-2.90). A significant correlation was observed between MET FISH/Met IHC, MET FISH/Met SRM, and Met IHC/Met SRM; only MET FISH and Met SRM were independent negative prognostic biomarkers in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: MET amplification and overexpression, assessed by multiple methods, were associated with a worse prognosis in univariate analyses. However, only MET amplification by FISH and Met expression by SRM were independent prognostic biomarkers. Compared with IHC, SRM may provide an added benefit for informed decisions about Met-targeted therapy. Cancer 2017;123:1061-70. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Topoisomerase 1 Promoter Variants and Benefit from Irinotecan in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Topoisomerase 1 (topo-1) is an important target for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between topo-1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical outcome in metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients. METHODS: With the use of specific software (PROMO 3.0), we performed an in silico analysis of topo-1 promoter SNPs; the rs6072249 and rs34282819 SNPs were included in the study. DNA was extracted from 105 mCRC patients treated with FOLFIRI ± bevacizumab in the first line. SNP genotyping was performed by real-time PCR. Genotypes were correlated with clinical parameters (objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival). RESULTS: No single genotype was significantly associated with clinical variables. The G allelic variant of rs6072249 topo-1 SNP is responsible for GC factor and X-box-binding protein transcription factor binding. The same allelic variant showed a nonsignificant trend toward a shorter progression-free survival (GG, 7.5 months; other genotypes, 9.3 months; HR 1.823, 95% CI 0.8904-3.734; p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Further analyses are needed to confirm that the topo-1 SNP rs6072249 and transcription factor interaction could be a part of tools to predict clinical outcome in mCRC patients treated with irinotecan-based regimens.

Genetic modulation of the interleukin 6 (IL-6) system in patients with advanced gastric cancer: a background for an alternative target therapy.

BACKGROUND: IL-6 triggers oncogenic/angiogenic signals and the cytokine-dependent pro-cachexia cascade. The prognostic role of the functional IL-6 (promoter) rs1800795 and the IL-6R (receptor) rs8192284 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) was studied in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with palliative chemotherapy. METHODS: One-hundred-sixty-one patients were genotyped for rs1800795 and rs8192284 SNPs using polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis assay. These results were studied for association with overall survival (OS). RESULTS: In 161 assessable patients, frequencies of rs1800795 G/G, G/C and C/C genotypes were 46%, 42% and 12%, respectively. Frequencies of rs8192284 A/A, A/C and C/C genotypes were 36%, 45% and 19%, respectively. Carriers of the rs1800795 G/G and rs8192284 C/C genotypes showed the worst OS. In the multivariate model, rs1800795 G/G (1.69 hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.42), and rs8192284 C/C (1.78 hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.83) confirmed an adverse prognostic impact. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, genetic variants that up-regulate the IL-6 system showed impact on OS. This findings sustain the hypothesis that anti-IL-6 compounds deserve clinical studies as novel therapeutics in the palliative treatment of cancer patients.

Adalimumab Biosimilar in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Study from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SN-IBD).

BACKGROUND: The utilization of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is constantly increasing. However, pediatric data are limited. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab biosimilar (ADL-BioS) in pediatric IBD patients. METHODS: All consecutive pediatric IBD patients from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease cohort treated with ADL-BioS from 2019 to 2021 were recruited. Remission at weeks 14 and 52, treatment persistence, and adverse events were the endpoints of this study. Factors associated with clinical remission and treatment persistence were examined. RESULTS: There were 41 patients in total. Nine (22%) patients were switched from the reference product to ADL-BioS. Two patients had multiple switches. Eleven months was the median follow-up period. Clinical remission was attained by 70.7% and 72.0% of patients on weeks 14 and 52, respectively. Four (9.8%) adverse events occurred (10.1/100 person-year). Treatment persistence was 85.4% at 1 and 2 years. Patients with a longer duration of disease had a higher probability of stopping their treatment (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first real-world study that particularly addresses the use of ADL-BioS in pediatric IBD. With high rates of treatment persistence and a low frequency of non-serious side effects, ADL-BioS seems to be effective.

Efficacy and Tolerance of Thalidomide in Patients With Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Few drugs have been studied for patients with very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEOIBD). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of thalidomide in children with VEOIBD compared with children with pediatric-onset IBD (pIBD). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study with a control group was conducted. Propensity score 1:1 matching was used to identify control subjects. The treatment persistence; the causes of drug withdrawal; the rate of clinical remission and mucosal healing at 1, 2, and 3 years; and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated in children with VEOIBD treated with thalidomide and compared with children with pIBD. RESULTS: Thirty-nine courses of treatment with thalidomide in VEOIBD and pIBD patients were compared. The treatment persistence at 1, 2, and 3 years was 68.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50.8%-80.6%), 57.0% (95% CI, 39.6%-71.1%), and 50.9% (95% CI, 33.7%-65.8%) for VEOIBD patients and 81.7% (95% CI, 65.3%-90.9%), 60.0% (95% CI, 41.7%-74.3%) and 33.0% (95% CI, 17.4%-49.5%) for pIBD patients, respectively (P = .12). A significantly higher proportion of VEOIBD patients discontinued therapy due to lack of efficacy (48.2% vs 17.2%; P = .03), while AEs were the main reason for discontinuation in pIBD patients. Clinical remission and mucosal healing rates did not significantly differ between VEOIBD and pIBD patients. A significatively lower number of VEOIBD patients experienced AEs compared with pIBD patients (14 [35.9%] vs 30 [76.9%]; P = .0005). CONCLUSIONS: Thalidomide is an effective and tolerated treatment in children with VEOIBD. Discontinuation due to lack of efficacy is more frequent, but AEs are less common than in children with pIBD.

Thalidomide is a valid therapeutic option in children with very early onset inflammatory bowel diseases unresponsive to conventional therapies. Discontinuation due to lack of efficacy is more frequent, but adverse events are less common than in children with pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Disease course of ulcerative proctitis in children: A population-based study on behalf of the SIGENP IBD Group.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of ulcerative proctitis (UP) has been poorly investigated in children. AIMS: We aimed to compare the disease course of children with UP at diagnosis to the other locations and to identify extension predictors. METHODS: This was a multicenter, observational study carried out from data prospectively entered in the SIGENP-IBD-Registry. Children with ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosis and at least 1-year follow-up were included. On the basis of Paris classification UP patients were identified and compared with the other locations. RESULTS: 872 children were enrolled (median age at diagnosis: 11.2 years; M/F: 426/446), of whom 78 (9%) with UP. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated increased cumulative probabilities of disease extension in the E1 group [1 year: 20.3%; 5 years: 52.7%; 10 years: 72.4%] compared to E3 group [1 year: 8.5%; 5 years: 24.9% and 10 years: 60.1%, p=0.001]. No differences were observed comparing E1 and E2 groups [p=0.4]. Cumulative probabilities of surgery at 1, 5 and 10 years were 1.3, 2.8 and 2.8% in the E1 group and 2.5, 8 and 12.8% in the E2-E3-E4 group, respectively (p=0.1). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that PUCAI>35 at diagnosis was associated with endoscopic extension (HR=4.9; CI 95% 1.5-15.2, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: UP is associated with similar short and long-term outcomes compared to other locations.

The role of macrophages polarization in predicting prognosis of radically resected gastric cancer patients.

Tumour-associated Macrophages (TAM) present two different polarizations: classical (M1) characterized by immunostimulation activity and tumour suppression; alternative (M2) characterized by tumour promotion and immune suppression. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the correlation between the two forms of TAM with survival time in radically resected gastric cancer patients. A total of 52 chemo- and radio-naive patients were included. Two slides were prepared for each patient and double-stained for CD68/NOS2 (M1) or CD68/CD163 (M2) and five representative high-power fields per slide were evaluated for TAM count. The median value of the two macrophage populations density and the median value of M1/M2 ratio were used as cut-off. Twenty-seven patients with M1 density above-the-median had a significantly higher survival compared to those below the median. Twenty-six patients with M1/M2 ratio above the median showed median OS of 27.2 months compared to 15.5 months of the patients below the median. No association between M2 macrophage density and patient's outcome was found. In multivariate analysis, M1/M2 was a positive independent predictor of survival. The M1 macrophage density and M1/M2 ratio, as confirmed in multivariate analysis, are factors that can help in predicting patients survival time after radical surgery for gastric cancer.

A phase II study of modified FOLFOX as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer in elderly patients with associated diseases.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients are generally underrepresented in the study populations of combination chemotherapy trials. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a modified FOLFOX regimen in elderly patients with metastatic gastric cancer and presenting associated disease(s). METHODS: A total of 43 patients aged ≥70 years received oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) together with 6S-leucovorin 200 mg/m(2) on day 1, followed by a 46-h infusion of 5-fluorouracil 2,400 mg/m(2), every 2 weeks. Assessment of response was performed every four cycles according to RECIST criteria. RESULTS: Median patient age was 74 years (range, 70-83 years). Overall response rate was 34.9% [95% confidence interval (CI), 20.6-49.1, with 3 complete responses and 12 partial responses. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 4 patients (9.3%), fatigue in 3 patients (7.0%), and vomiting in 2 patients (4.6%). Grade 2 and 3 peripheral neuropathy was observed in 5 patients (11.6%) and 1 patient (2.3%), respectively. No treatment-related death was observed. Median progression-free and overall survival were 6.8 and 10.5 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This modified FOLFOX regimen is an active and well-tolerated treatment for elderly patients with metastatic gastric cancer and also represents a good therapeutic option in patients with associated disease(s).

Identification of clinical predictive factors of oxaliplatin-induced chronic peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant Folfox IV.

PURPOSE: Oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy is a dose-related side effect which occurs in almost 40 % of patients treated with oxaliplatin. Aim of the present study was to identify reliable clinical factors predicting its development and duration. METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine completely resected colorectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant Folfox IV regimen were retrospectively included. The following pre-treatment clinical parameters were collected: hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, anaemia, diabetes, chronic renal failure (CRF), folate deficiency, vitamin B(12) deficiency, number of cycles received and habit to alcohol consumption. Incidence, grade (NCI-CTCAE v.3) and duration of neuropathy were recorded. RESULTS: Incidence of neuropathy was found to be higher in patients with pre-treatment anaemia (p = 0.001), hypoalbuminaemia (p = 0.01) and hypomagnesaemia (p = 0.001) as well in those with habit to alcohol consumption (p = 0.003). Neuropathy durations were conversely associated with age, being longer in younger patients (p = 0.03), and again with hypoalbuminaemia (p = 0.04) and hypomagnesaemia (p = 0.002). No correlation was found with gender, hypocalcaemia, diabetes and CRF. The correlation between vitamin B(12) and folate levels and the development of neurotoxicity were not analysed because of the high number of missing data in the population. CONCLUSIONS: Age, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, hypomagnesaemia and alcohol consumption are reliable and easily assessable clinical factors predicting incidence and length of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy.

KRAS4A and KRAS4B in liquid biopsy of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with Pembrolizumab or chemotherapy plus Pembrolizumab.

KRAS is involved in the stability and expression of PD-L1. We investigated the expression of circulating mRNA (cmRNA) of KRAS4A and KRAS4B and the possible impact on progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma treated with immunotherapy. Patients without driver mutations undergoing Pembrolizumab (P) or P plus chemotherapy (PC) were prospectively accrued for liquid biopsy analysis of KRAS4A, KRAS4B, and PD-L1 cmRNA. Both KRAS isoforms were also studied for association with PD-L1 cmRNA. Of 56 patients, 28 received P and 28 PC. Patients with high levels of both KRAS isoforms showed significantly better PFS. The median PFS for KRAS4A was 29 months (95% CI 22-29 months) and KRAS4B 24 months (95% CI 13-29 months), respectively. The median PFS of patients with low levels of both isoforms was 12 months (95% CI 6-15 months for KRAS4A and 95% CI 5-20 months for KRAS4B). High KRAS4A retained a significant positive association with PFS in the multivariate model. An exploratory analysis in treatment subgroups found a positive association between high KRAS4A and KRAS4B with PFS in patients treated with P. PD-L1 cmRNA was significantly higher in patients with high KRAS isoforms levels and this effect was pronounced for high KRAS4A carriers. KRAS4A deserves further investigation as a potential marker for defining patients who may benefit the most from immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy and improving personalized cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.

Impact of Signet-Ring Cell Histology in the Management of Patients with Non-Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Results from a Retrospective Multicenter Analysis Comparing FLOT Perioperative Chemotherapy vs. Surgery Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: FLOT perioperative chemotherapy represents the standard of care in non-metastatic gastric cancer patients. Signet-ring cell positivity is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy. Comparison between FLOT perioperative chemotherapy vs. surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy based on signet-ring cell positivity is lacking. The aim of the analysis was to compare perioperative FLOT with adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients stratified by signet-ring cell positivity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis based on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with gastric cancer who received perioperative chemotherapy with a FLOT regimen and compared their survival with a historical cohort of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, matched by cT and cN stage and by tumor histological features. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were enrolled and 24 (32%) were signet-ring cell positive. At a median follow-up time of 39 months, the median DFS was 26.3 months and the median OS was 37.3 months. Signet-ring cell positivity was associated with a shorter OS (median OS: 20.4 vs. 46.9 months, HR: 3.30, 95%CI: 1.56-6.99, p = 0.0018) and DFS (mDFS: 15.2 vs. 38.6 months, HR: 3.18, 95%CI: 1.55-6.54, p = 0.0016). This was confirmed by multivariate analysis for DFS (Exp(B): 2.55) and OS (Exp(B): 2.68). After propensity score matching, statistically significant shorter DFS (HR: 3.30, 95%CI: 1.50-7.35, p = 0.003) and OS (HR: 5.25, 95%CI: 2.18-12-68, p = 0.0002) were observed for patients with signet-ring cell positivity who received perioperative treatment vs. those who received surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Signet-ring positivity was associated with shorter DFS and OS in patients who received perioperative treatment with FLOT compared with surgery followed by adjuvant therapy. These data suggest that for patients with signet-ring cell histology, FLOT perioperative treatment might not always be the best choice of treatment, and further research should be focused on this group of patients.

DNA methylation of the TPMT gene and azathioprine pharmacokinetics in children with very early onset inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a crucial enzyme for azathioprine biotransformation and its activity is higher in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) patients than in adolescents with IBD (aIBD). AIMS: The aims of this pharmacoepigenetic study were to evaluate differences in peripheral blood DNA methylation of the TPMT gene and in azathioprine pharmacokinetics in patients with VEO-IBD compared to aIBD. METHODS: The association of age with whole genome DNA methylation profile was evaluated in a pilot group of patients and confirmed by a meta-analysis on 3 cohorts of patients available on the public functional genomics data repository. Effects of candidate CpG sites in the TPMT gene were validated in a larger cohort using pyrosequencing. TPMT activity and azathioprine metabolites (TGN) were measured in patients' erythrocytes by HPLC and associated with patients' age group and TPMT DNA methylation. RESULTS: Whole genome DNA methylation pilot analysis, combined with the meta-analysis revealed cg22736354, located on TPMT downstream neighboring region, as the only statistically significant CpG whose methylation increases with age, resulting lower in VEO-IBD patients compared to aIBD (median 9.6% vs 12%, p = 0.029). Pyrosequencing confirmed lower cg22736354 methylation in VEO-IBD patients (median 4.0% vs 6.0%, p = 4.6 ×10-5). No differences in TPMT promoter methylation were found. Reduced cg22736354 methylation was associated with lower TGN concentrations (rho = 0.31, p = 0.01) in patients with VEO-IBD and aIBD. CONCLUSION: Methylation of cg22736354 in TPMT gene neighborhood is lower in patients with VEO-IBD and is associated with reduced azathioprine inactivation and increased TGN concentrations.

Severe Activity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Data from the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic suggested that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not at higher risk of being infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the general population and that a worse prognosis is not associated with immunomodulatory drugs, with the possible exception of systemic steroids. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included consecutive IBD patients from the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SN-IBD) cohort who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis (polymerase chain reaction-confirmed presence of the viral genome in a nasopharyngeal swab) during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave (September 2020 to December 2020). Data regarding demographics, IBD features and treatments, and comorbidities were analyzed in correlation with COVID-19 clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Data on 122 patients (mean age, 43.9 ±â€…16.7 years; males, 50.0%; Crohn's disease, 62.3%; ulcerative colitis, 37.7%) were reported. Twelve patients developed COVID-19-related pneumonia (9.8%), 4 (3.3%) required respiratory assistance (nonmechanical ventilation or orotracheal intubation), and 4 died (case fatality rate, 3.3%). In a multivariable analysis, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.034; 95% CI, 1.006-1.147; P = .032) and severe IBD activity (OR, 13.465; 95% CI, 1.104-164.182; P = .042) were independent predictors of COVID-19-related pneumonia, while severe IBD activity (OR, 15.359; 95% CI, 1.320-178.677; P = .030) was the only independent predictor of severe COVID-19, a composite endpoint defined as the need for respiratory assistance or death. A trend towards a protective role of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors on pneumonia development was reported (P = .076). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with IBD and SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe IBD activity was the only independent risk factor for severe COVID-19.

This retrospective, observational study on patients with inflammatory bowel disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection showed that severe inflammatory bowel disease activity was the only independent risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019.

Induction of Remission With Exclusive Enteral Nutrition in Children With Crohn's Disease: Determinants of Higher Adherence and Response.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the first choice to induce remission and promote mucosal healing in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). However, full adherence to EEN treatment may be problematic for children with CD. METHODS: The goal of the current multicenter retrospective study was to define predictive factors of nonadherence to treatment and nonremission at the end of induction treatment. Those data together were analyzed with the ultimate goal of trying to define an individualized induction treatment for children with CD. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy-six children with CD from 14 IBD pediatric referral centers were enrolled in the study. The rate of EEN adherence was 89%. Colonic involvement and fecal calprotectin >600 µg/g at diagnosis were found to be associated with a reduced EEN adherence. Exclusive enteral nutrition administered for 8 weeks was effective for inducing clinical remission in 67% of the total cohort. Factors determining lower remission rates were age >15 years and Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index >50. CONCLUSION: Although EEN is extremely effective in promoting disease remission, several patients' related factors may adversely impact EEN adherence and response. Personalized treatments should be proposed that weigh benefits and risks based on the patient's disease location, phenotype, and disease activity and aim to promote a rapid control of inflammation to reduce long-term bowel damage.

PML as a potential predictive factor of oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine-based first line chemotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer patients.

PML regulates a wide range of pathways involved in tumorigenesis, such as apoptosis, which is also one of the main mechanisms through which oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine exert their antineoplastic activity. The present study aims to investigate PML expression as a predictive factor of oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine therapy efficacy. Seventy-four metastatic colorectal cancer patients who received oxaliplatin/floropyrimidine-based first line therapy have been included in this retrospective study. PML expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. PML down-regulation was detected in 39 (52.7%) patients (14 complete and 25 partial PML loss). RR was significantly lower (25.6%) in patients with PML down-regulation than in patients with preserved PML expression (60%) (P = 0.006). Median TTP was 5.5 months when PML was down-regulated versus 11.9 months in case of preserved PML expression (P < 0.0001). A statistical significant difference was also detected in OS (15.6 and 24.5 months, respectively, P = 0.003). The impact of PML down-regulation on TTP and OS was statistically significant also in a multivariate model. This study represents the first evidence of a possible correlation between PML protein expression and outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine-based first line therapy.

High let-7a microRNA levels in KRAS-mutated colorectal carcinomas may rescue anti-EGFR therapy effects in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic disease.

Preclinical and experimental data in vivo indicate that Lethal-7 (Let-7) microRNA downregulates KRAS with antitumor effects in the presence of activating KRAS mutations. We quantified the Let-7a isoform in KRAS-mutated colorectal carcinomas from patients who received salvage cetuximab plus irinotecan. The study population was retrospectively identified among metastatic colorectal cancer patients who underwent third-line therapy with cetuximab plus irinotecan in a period when only epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was required for anti-EGFR therapy. In 59 patients harboring KRAS mutations, Let-7a levels were analyzed for association with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) times. An exploratory subgroup analysis was performed using the rs61764370 (LCS6 T>G) polymorphism that experimentally impairs Let-7 binding to KRAS mRNA. In the whole group, higher Let-7a levels were significantly associated with better survival outcomes. For the primary OS endpoint, the multivariate hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.91; p = .01). The same findings with an accentuated positive effect of high Let-7a levels on both OS and PFS times were observed in an exploratory analysis of the 45 wild-type LCS6 patients (excluding 14 carriers of the LCS6 G allele variant). All survival associations were confirmed after excluding patients with KRAS codon 13 mutations. Among the clinicopathologic features, high Let-7a levels were associated with grade 2-3 skin toxicity (p = .002). In patients with KRAS mutations, Let-7a analysis may serve to identify subgroups of patients who may still benefit from EGFR inhibition and this may open up new perspectives for alternative treatment strategies.

A phase II trial of fixed-dose rate gemcitabine plus capecitabine in metastatic/advanced biliary tract cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This phase II trial was conducted to determine the activity and safety of the combination of fixed-dose rate (FDR) gemcitabine and capecitabine in metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients. METHODS: Patients with unresectable BTC who had pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma, no prior chemotherapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤1 and measurable disease were enrolled. Treatment consisted of FDR gemcitabine at 800 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days with capecitabine administered orally b.i.d. in equal doses (650 mg/m(2) b.i.d.) for 14 days (28 doses). RESULTS: Between May 2005 and February 2009, 30 patients were enrolled. The median age was 67 years (45-76) and there were 14 males. Thirty patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. A total of 221 cycles were administered (median 7, range 2-16). One patient achieved complete response and 7 patients achieved partial response, giving an overall response rate of 26.7% in the intention-to-treat population. Twelve patients (40.0%) had stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 6.33 months. The median overall survival was 10.8 months. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were noted in 13 and 7% of the patients, respectively. Grade 2/3 nonhematologic toxicities were asthenia (54% of patients), diarrhea (17%), stomatitis (23%) and hand-foot syndrome (7%). There was no treatment-related death. The drugs taken were skipped at least once in 45% of the patients and the dose was reduced in 26% of them. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of FDR gemcitabine and capecitabine in this 3-week cycle is safe and seems to have a good activity in advanced biliary cancer.