A phase I dose escalation trial of tremelimumab (CP-675,206) in combination with gemcitabine in chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tremelimumab (CP-675,206) is a fully human monoclonal antibody binding to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) on T cells that stimulates the immune system by blocking the CTLA4-negative regulatory signal. Combination with standard chemotherapy may strengthen antitumor therapy. This is a phase Ib, multisite, open-label, nonrandomized dose escalation trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of tremelimumab combined with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycles) was administrated with escalating doses of i.v. tremelimumab (6, 10, or 15 mg/kg) on day 1 of each 84-day cycle for a maximum of 4 cycles. The first 18 patients had an initial 4-week gemcitabine-only lead-in period. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) related to tremelimumab were evaluated during the first 6 weeks after the first dose of tremelimumab. RESULTS: From June 2008 to August 2011, 34 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of tremelimumab. No DLTs related to tremelimumab were observed at any dose, even when the maximum dose established for tremelimumab (15 mg/kg) was used. Most frequent grade 3/4 toxicities were asthenia (11.8%) and nausea (8.8%). Only one patient had a serious drug-related event (diarrhea with dehydration). The median overall survival was 7.4 months (95% confidence interval 5.8-9.4 months). At the end of treatment, two patients achieved partial response. Both patients received tremelimumab 15-mg/kg group (n = 2/19, 10.5%). CONCLUSION: Tremelimumab plus gemcitabine demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile, warranting further study in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. CLINICALTRIALSGOV ID: NCT00556023.

Beneficial effects of calcium channel blockade on acute glomerular hemodynamic changes induced by cyclosporine.

Experimental and human studies have documented that cyclosporine (CsA) acutely reduces glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It has been reported that this effect can be partially prevented by calcium (Ca) channel blockade; however, the mechanisms by which this combination exerts its beneficial effects are unknown. We evaluated glomerular ultrafiltration determinants during acute CsA administration in the rat. First, we determined that maximal whole-kidney functional changes occur between 120 and 150 minutes after CsA administration and confirmed that pretreatment of MWF rats with the Ca channel blocker lacidipine effectively prevents a reduction in GFR. Micropuncture measurements in CsA-treated animals showed that a reduction in GFR (0.49 +/- 0.24 v 0.88 +/- 0.26 mL/min; P < 0.05; CsA-treated v untreated rats) is associated with a significant increase in glomerular capillary pressure (Pgc; 63.1 +/- 2.1 v 52.8 +/- 2.8 mm Hg; P < 0.01) and efferent arteriolar resistance, whereas single-nephron (SN) GFR and ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) are both importantly reduced (34.0 +/- 11.7 v 68.9 +/- 23.8 nL/min; P < 0.05 and 1.04 +/- 0.33 v 4.40 +/- 2.36 nL/min/mm Hg; P < 0.01, respectively). Lacidipine partially prevented SNGFR (43.1 +/- 14.3 nL/min) and Kf decline (2.08 +/- 1.10 nl/min/mm Hg) despite the presence of elevated Pgc. This study further documents that Ca channel blockade has favorable effects on CsA-induced acute renal dysfunction. The mechanism of protection includes the prevention of glomerular hemodynamic changes induced by CsA, mainly GFR decline and reduction in glomerular Kf.

Immobilized hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases for the transformation of steroids in water--organic solvent systems.

The hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases: beta-HSDH, 20 beta-HSDH, and 3 alpha-HSDH, were immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose. The effect of various immobilization conditions on the activity recovery and stability were examined. The presence of cofactor during the immobilization reaction increased the activity recovery (40--60% of the total) and also led to materials highly stable in the presence of organic solvents. For example, beta-HSDH maintained 60% of its original activity two months after continuous use in the water--ethyl-acetate system. Kinetic experiments showed that the increase of the apparent Km values is poor and demonstrated that the organic solvent behaves as a weak inhibitor (ki greater than 0.2M) for the substrate. The immobilized enzymes lyophilized in the presence of sucrose had full activity restored even after several months storage at room temperature. Immobilized hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were shown to be suitable for preparative transformation of steroids in water--organic solvent systems.

Progressive glomerular injury in the MWF rat is predicted by inborn nephron deficit.

It has been suggested that a reduced number of nephrons may predispose to systemic hypertension and glomerular injury. Compensatory hemodynamic changes, due to a low number of glomeruli, might be responsible for glomerular functional and structural changes. It is difficult to evaluate this hypothesis in humans because of limitations in estimating the number of nephrons in the living kidney. The aim of the present study was to estimate nephron number, single glomerular hemodynamics, and glomerular volume in male and female MWF rats, a strain that spontaneously develops systemic hypertension, proteinuria, and glomerulosclerosis. Male and female Wistar rats were used as controls. At 12 to 14 wk of age, male MWF rats developed proteinuria, whereas female MWF and Wistar rats showed normal urinary protein excretion rate. Glomerular number was significantly reduced in male and female MWF rats (13,690+/-1,489 and 12,855+/-1,781 gl/ kidney, respectively) compared with Wistar rats (26,955+/-2,171 and 27,166+/-1,754 gl/kidney, respectively). The mean number of nephrons per unit of body weight was also lower in MWF males (88+/-10) compared with MWF females (139+/-20) and compared with male and female Wistar animals (142+/-14 and 221+/-22 gl/g body wt). Whole-kidney hemodynamic parameters and the number of nephrons were used to calculate single-nephron filtration rate and plasma flow. Both measures were markedly elevated in male MWF rats relative to values obtained in the other three groups. Similarly, glomerular volume was significantly greater in MWF males than in other animals. These results suggest that an inborn deficit of nephrons may be responsible for spontaneous development of later-in-life hypertension and renal dysfunction. The data also indicate the need to investigate the role of this potential pathogenetic factor for human hypertension and kidney disease in humans.