Early repolarization pattern is the strongest predictor of arrhythmia recurrence in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation: results from a single centre long-term follow-up over 20 years.

AIMS: Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (iVF) accounts for up to 14% of VF incidence. Data regarding long-term outcome and clinical risk markers of arrhythmia recurrence are scarce. The objective of our study was to describe a long-term follow-up (FU) of a cohort of iVF survivors in our centre during the past 20 years, and to investigate the influence of clinical parameters, e.g. presence of an early repolarization pattern (ERP), on recurrence rate of arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five iVF survivors were identified and retrospectively analysed regarding recurrent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) interventions and covariates potentially influencing arrhythmia recurrence. Appropriate ICD interventions occurred in 15 patients (43%) after a median of 6.6 years during a median FU period of 8.8 years. Two patients (13%) received the first appropriate therapy after an assumed average ICD battery longevity of 7 years, while in all other patients, the first therapy occurred within the first ICD period. Appropriate interventions were observed more often and earlier in patients with ERP (HR 3.9; 1.4-11.0; P = 0.01), whereas all other covariates failed to predict subsequent events. A high incidence of inappropriate ICD therapies (67 interventions in 14 patients) could be attributed to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (66% of all inappropriate therapies). CONCLUSION: The recurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmias in iVF survivors is high and recurrence might occur delayed (>7 years after the initial event). ERP seems to be highly predictive with respect to early arrhythmia recurrence. Our results highlight that better pathophysiologic understanding of ERP might facilitate a better risk stratification before and an optimal treatment after an iVF event. The high rate of AF and ERP in iVF survivors might indicate an underlying heart disease or myocardial electrical disorder not apparent at the index event.

Assessing novel prognostic serum biomarkers in advanced pancreatic cancer: the role of CYFRA 21-1, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and 25-OH vitamin D3.

The present prospective single-center study investigated the prognostic role of novel serum biomarkers in advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). Patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic PC treated with first-line palliative chemotherapy were included. Among others, the serum markers CYFRA 21-1, haptoglobin, serum-amyloid A (SAA), and 25-OH vitamin D3 were determined at baseline and categorized by pre-defined cut-offs [median values (MV), upper limits of normal (ULN), lower limits of normal (LLN), or the natural logarithm (ln)] and correlated with overall survival (OS). Among the 59 pts included, pre-treatment CYFRA 21-1 levels showed a strong correlation with OS independent of the applied cut-off (MV 4.9 ng/ml-14.2 vs. 4.2 months, HR 0.18, p = 0.001; ULN 3.3 ng/ml-14.2 vs. 4.4 months, HR 0.28, p = 0.003; [ln] CYFRA 21-1-HR 0.77, p = 0.013). Lower values of haptoglobin were additionally associated with an improvement in OS (categorized by LLN of 2.05 g/l-10.4 vs. 5.5 months, HR 0.46, p = 0.023; [ln] haptoglobin-HR 0.51, p = 0.036). Pts with baseline SAA values below the MV of 22 mg/l also had a prolonged OS (10.4 vs. 5.0 months, HR 0.47, p = 0.036). For 25-OH vitamin D3 levels, no significant correlation with OS was found. In multivariate analyses, pre-treatment CYFRA 21-1 levels (categorized by MV-HR 0.15, p = 0.032) as well as [ln] haptoglobin (HR 0.30, p = 0.006) retained their independent prognostic significance for OS. CYFRA 21-1, haptoglobin, and SAA might provide useful prognostic information in advanced PC. An external multicenter validation of these results is necessary.

Effect of KRAS exon 2 mutations on antitumor activity of afatinib and gefitinib.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different KRAS mutations on the inhibitory potential of afatinib and gefitinib in SW48 colorectal cancer cells. The influence of afatinib/gefitinib on cell viability and cell cycle was evaluated in isogenic SW48 KRAS wild-type/mutant cells. Protein levels of phosphorylated/total EGFR, HER-2, HER-3, ERK, and AKT were compared between treated/untreated samples using western blotting. The activity of both afatinib and gefitinib was the lowest in KRAS G12C/G12S/G12D and the highest in G13D/G12A mutant subtypes. A 50% decrease in cell viability was achieved at concentrations of 3.0-7.7 µmol/l for afatinib and 5.4-19.5 µmol/l for gefitinib. The effect of both drugs on apoptosis appeared to be stronger than their influence on proliferation and was generally less pronounced in mutant cells than in wild-type cells. The average number of apoptotic cells after treatment with afatinib was 2.6 times as high as the corresponding value following treatment with gefitinib (P<0.01). Levels of pEGFR, pHER-2, pERK, and pAKT were reduced more extensively by afatinib than by gefitinib (P<0.001). Some KRAS mutations (G12C/G12S/G12D) appear to weaken the activity of afatinib and gefitinib whereas others seem to increase sensitivity to treatment (G13D/G12A) compared with the parental clone (KRAS wild-type). In SW48 colorectal cancer cells, afatinib seems to be more potent than gefitinib because of its superior efficacy in inhibiting both EGFR and HER-2, suppressing signaling along both MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways to a greater extent.

Anti-TNF antibody-induced psoriasiform skin lesions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are characterised by interferon-γ-expressing Th1 cells and IL-17A/IL-22-expressing Th17 cells and respond to anti-IL-12/IL-23 antibody treatment.

BACKGROUND: We analysed incidence, predictors, histological features and specific treatment options of anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) antibody-induced psoriasiform skin lesions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). DESIGN: Patients with IBD were prospectively screened for anti-TNF-induced psoriasiform skin lesions. Patients were genotyped for IL23R and IL12B variants. Skin lesions were examined for infiltrating Th1 and Th17 cells. Patients with severe lesions were treated with the anti-interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 p40 antibody ustekinumab. RESULTS: Among 434 anti-TNF-treated patients with IBD, 21 (4.8%) developed psoriasiform skin lesions. Multiple logistic regression revealed smoking (p=0.007; OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.55 to 13.60) and an increased body mass index (p=0.029; OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.24) as main predictors for these lesions. Nine patients with Crohn's disease and with severe psoriasiform lesions and/or anti-TNF antibody-induced alopecia were successfully treated with the anti-p40-IL-12/IL-23 antibody ustekinumab (response rate 100%). Skin lesions were histologically characterised by infiltrates of IL-17A/IL-22-secreting T helper 17 (Th17) cells and interferon (IFN)-γ-secreting Th1 cells and IFN-α-expressing cells. IL-17A expression was significantly stronger in patients requiring ustekinumab than in patients responding to topical therapy (p=0.001). IL23R genotyping suggests disease-modifying effects of rs11209026 (p.Arg381Gln) and rs7530511 (p.Leu310Pro) in patients requiring ustekinumab. CONCLUSIONS: New onset psoriasiform skin lesions develop in nearly 5% of anti-TNF-treated patients with IBD. We identified smoking as a main risk factor for developing these lesions. Anti-TNF-induced psoriasiform skin lesions are characterised by Th17 and Th1 cell infiltrates. The number of IL-17A-expressing T cells correlates with the severity of skin lesions. Anti-IL-12/IL-23 antibody therapy is a highly effective therapy for these lesions.

pERK, pAKT and p53 as tissue biomarkers in erlotinib-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a translational subgroup analysis from AIO-PK0104.

BACKGROUND: The role of pERK, pAKT and p53 as biomarkers in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has not yet been defined. METHODS: Within the phase III study AIO-PK0104 281 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer received an erlotinib-based 1st-line regimen. Archival tissue from 153 patients was available for central immunohistochemistry staining for pERK, pAKT and p53. Within a subgroup analysis, biomarker data were correlated with efficacy endpoints and skin rash using a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Fifty-five out of 153 patients were classified as pERKlow and 98 patients as pERKhigh; median overall survival (OS) was 6.2 months and 5.7 months, respectively (HR 1.29, p = 0.16). When analysing pERK as continuous variable, the pERK score was significantly associated with OS (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.0-1.12, p = 0.05). Twenty-one of 35 patients were pAKTlow and 14/35 pAKThigh with a corresponding median OS of 6.4 months and 6.8 months, respectively (HR 1.03, p = 0.93). Four out of 50 patients had a complete loss of p53 expression, 20 patients a regular expression and 26 patients had tumors with p53 overexpression. The p53 status had no impact on OS (p = 0.91); however, a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) (6.0 vs 1.8 months, HR 0.24, p = 0.02) and a higher rate of skin rash (84% vs 25%, p = 0.02) was observed for patients with a regular p53 expression compared to patients with a complete loss of p53. CONCLUSION: pERK expression may have an impact on OS in erlotinib-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer; p53 should be further investigated for its potential role as a predictive marker for PFS and skin rash. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00440167 (registration date: February 22, 2007).

Outcome of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer depends on the primary tumor site (midgut vs. hindgut): analysis of the FIRE1-trial (FuFIRI or mIROX as first-line treatment).

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of midgut versus hindgut as the primary tumor site in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receiving chemotherapy with FuFIRI or mIROX. We analyzed 423 patients from a phase III trial that randomized patients in a 1 : 1 fashion to either FuFIRI or mIROX. The cohort was grouped into midgut (n=82) and hindgut (n=341) primary tumors. The primary tumor site (midgut vs. hindgut) was correlated with parameters of treatment efficacy and survival. Our cohort comprised 82 patients presenting with primary midgut tumors and 341 with primary hindgut tumors. Tumors of midgut origin compared with hindgut origin were associated with inferior outcome. Objective response rate was 37 versus 43% (P=0.34), median progression-free survival was 6.0 versus 8.2 months (P=0.024, hazard ratio: 0.75), and median overall survival was 13.6 versus 21.8 months (P=0.001, hazard ratio: 0.65). Patients with midgut mCRC showed a clear trend toward inferior outcome in both study arms. However, the effect appeared less pronounced in the mIROX arm. Further datasets from large trials with various regimens are required as confirmation.

Risk of malignancies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with thiopurines or anti-TNF alpha antibodies.

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyse malignancy rates and predictors for the development of malignancies in a large German inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort treated with thiopurines and/or anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies. METHODS: De novo malignancies in 666 thiopurine-treated and/or anti-TNF-treated IBD patients were analysed. Patients (n = 262) were treated with thiopurines alone and never exposed to anti-TNF antibodies (TP group). In addition, patients (n = 404) were exposed to anti-TNF antibodies (TNF+ group) with no (7.4%), discontinued (80.4%) or continued (12.1%) thiopurine therapy. RESULTS: In the TP group, 20 malignancies were observed in 18 patients compared with 8 malignancies in 7 patients in the TNF+ group (hazard ratio 4.15; 95% CI 1.82-9.44; p = 0.0007; univariate Cox regression). Moreover, 18.2% of all patients in the TP group ≥50 years of age developed a malignancy, compared with 3.8% of all patients <50 years of age (p = 0.0008). In the TNF+ group, 6.5% of all patients ≥50 years of age developed malignancies compared with 0.3% of all patients <50 years of age (p = 0.0007). In both groups combined, thiopurine treatment duration ≥4 years was associated with the risk for skin cancer (p = 0.0024) and lymphoma (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate an increased risk for the development of malignancies in IBD patients treated with thiopurines in comparison with patients treated with anti-TNF antibodies with or without thiopurines.

Circulating concentrations of GLP-1 are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in humans.

BACKGROUND: GLP-1 is an incretine hormone which gets secreted from intestinal L-cells in response to nutritional stimuli leading to pancreatic insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon release. GLP-1 further inhibits gastric motility and reduces appetite which in conjunction improves postprandial glucose metabolism. Additional vasoprotective effects have been described for GLP-1 in experimental models. Despite these vasoprotective actions, associations between endogenous levels of GLP-1 and cardiovascular disease have yet not been investigated in humans which was the aim of the present study. METHODS: GLP-1 serum levels were assessed in a cohort of 303 patients receiving coronary CT-angiography due to typical or atypical chest pain. RESULTS: GLP-1 was found to be positively associated with total coronary plaque burden in a fully adjusted model containing age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, triglycerides, LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), hsCRP (high-sensitive C-reactive protein), and eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) (OR: 2.53 (95% CI: 1.12 - 6.08; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Circulating GLP-1 was found to be positivity associated with coronary atherosclerosis in humans. The clinical relevance of this observation needs further investigations.

Clinical relevance and utility of cetuximab-related changes in magnesium and calcium serum levels.

Hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia are common adverse events during cetuximab treatment. The influence of the chemotherapeutic combination on serum levels is unknown and the predictive value is currently under discussion. This analysis investigated 79 patients who had received cetuximab for at least 6 weeks in the day clinic of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Munich. Calcium and magnesium serum levels were analyzed weekly; tumor response and adverse events were followed. Thirty-eight patients had metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and the predictive value of hypomagnesemia was tested in these patients. During therapy, calcium serum levels decreased to about 97% of the baseline levels and were maintained for the duration of treatment. Magnesium levels showed a significant time-dependent decrease. Serum levels of magnesium were lower when cetuximab was combined with a platinum derivative. After a treatment duration of 12 weeks, magnesium levels decreased to 70% in platinum-treated patients, whereas they decreased to only 90% of baseline in patients who did not receive platinum therapy. In patients treated for mCRC, a decrease of serum magnesium below 95% of the baseline levels 14 days after initiating treatment separated patients significantly in terms of survival times. Magnesium levels decrease in a time-dependent manner during cetuximab therapy. As hypomagnesemia was more prominent in patients receiving platinum agents, magnesium measurements may be advised in these patients. In mCRC patients treated with cetuximab, day-14 magnesium serum levels correlated with treatment efficacy.

Diagnostic biomarkers of pro-inflammatory immune-mediated preterm birth.

PURPOSE: Pro-inflammatory immunity, either infectious or sterile-derived, is one of the major causes of preterm birth and associated with enhanced maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing intrauterine inflammation at an early stage is tremendously important. Amniotic fluid interleukin (IL)-6 concentration is currently the most investigated diagnostic tool for detecting intrauterine inflammation. METHODS: Amniotic fluid samples were obtained from women with no signs of intrauterine infection [amniocentesis (n = 82), cesarean section (n = 110), spontaneous delivery (n = 20) and those with clinical signs of intrauterine infection or inflammation (AIS, n = 16)]. Amniotic fluid was screened by commercial ELISAs for IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, growth regulated oncogene-α (gro) α, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1α, MIP1ß, histone, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, proIL1ß and interferon γ-induced protein (IP) 10. RESULTS: ProIL-1ß, MIP1ß, IL-10 and IL-8 levels were significantly elevated in the AIS group, whereas IL-4 levels were significantly lower in the AIS group. No significant differences were found regarding IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, GROα, MIP1α, histone, TNFα, ProIL1ß and IP10. CONCLUSION: MIP1ß, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and proIL-1ß might be potential singular biomarkers in diagnosing intrauterine inflammation. The combinations of elevated levels of IL-17/GROα, MIP1ß/IL-15 and histone/IL-10 are new potentially advantageous biomarker combinations.

Heat shock protein 27 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

A role of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) as a potential biomarker has been reported in various tumour entities, but comprehensive studies in pancreatic cancer are lacking. Applying tissue microarray (TMA) analysis, we correlated HSP27 protein expression status with clinicopathologic parameters in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma specimens from 86 patients. Complementary, we established HSP27 overexpression and RNA-interference models to assess the impact of HSP27 on chemo- and radiosensitivity directly in pancreatic cancer cells. In the TMA study, HSP27 expression was found in 49% of tumour samples. Applying univariate analyses, a significant correlation was found between HSP27 expression and survival. In the multivariate Cox-regression model, HSP27 expression emerged as an independent prognostic factor. HSP27 expression also correlated inversely with nuclear p53 accumulation, indicating either protein interactions between HSP27 and p53 or TP53 mutation-dependent HSP27-regulation in pancreatic cancer. In the sensitivity studies, HSP27 overexpression rendered HSP27 low-expressing PL5 pancreatic cancer cells more susceptible towards treatment with gemcitabine. Vice versa, HSP27 protein depletion in HSP27 high-expressing AsPC-1 cells caused increased gemcitabine resistance. Importantly, HSP27 expression was inducible in pancreatic cancer cell lines as well as primary cells. Taken together, our study suggests a role for HSP27 as a prognostic and predictive marker in pancreatic cancer. Assessment of HSP27 expression could thus facilitate the identification of specific patient subpopulations that might benefit from individualized treatment options. Additional studies need to clarify whether modulation of HSP27 expression could represent an attractive concept to support the incorporation of hyperthermia in clinical treatment protocols for pancreatic cancer.

Iron status and analysis of efficacy and safety of ferric carboxymaltose treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We analyzed iron deficiency and the therapeutic response following intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in a large single-center inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort. METHODS: 250 IBD patients were retrospectively analyzed for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. A subgroup was analyzed regarding efficacy and side effects of iron supplementation with ferric carboxymaltose. RESULTS: In the cohort (n = 250), 54.4% of the patients had serum iron levels ≤60 µg/dl, 81.2% had ferritin ≤100 ng/ml, and 25.6% had hemoglobin (Hb) of ≤12 g/dl (females) or ≤13 g/dl (males). In the treatment subcohort (n = 80), 83.1% of the patients had iron ≤60 µg/dl, 90.4% had ferritin ≤100 ng/ml, and 66.7% had Hb ≤12/13 g/dl before ferric carboxymaltose treatment. After a median dose of 500 mg ferric carboxymaltose, 74.7% of the patients reached iron >60 µg/dl, 61.6% had ferritin >100 ng/ml, and 90.7% reached Hb >12/13 g/dl at follow-up (p < 0.0001 for all parameters vs. pretreatment values). The most frequent adverse event was a transient increase of liver enzymes with male gender as risk factor (p = 0.008, OR 8.62, 95% CI 1.74-41.66). CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency and anemia are frequent in IBD patients. Treatment with ferric carboxymaltose is efficious, safe and well tolerated in iron-deficient IBD patients.

Disease activity, ANCA, and IL23R genotype status determine early response to infliximab in patients with ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the efficacy and safety of the antitumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody infliximab (IFX) for induction therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) in a large single-center cohort. METHODS: A total of 90 UC patients treated with IFX for 14 weeks were analyzed retrospectively. Colitis activity index (CAI) and markers of inflammation were measured during IFX induction therapy. Genotyping for UC-associated variants in the IL23R gene and in the IL2/IL21 region was performed. RESULTS: At week 2 (after the first IFX infusion), 64.1% of IFX-treated patients had clinical response to IFX and 52.6% were in remission. At week 14 (after three infusions), 61.0% showed clinical response and 52.5% were in remission. The mean CAI decreased significantly from 10.4 points at week 0 to 5.1 at week 2 (P<0.001), to 4.4 at week 6 (P<0.001), and to 5.0 at week 14 (P<0.001). Similarly, IFX therapy significantly decreased C-reactive protein levels and leukocyte counts (P=0.01 and P=0.001 at week 2 and week 0, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis identified high CAI before IFX therapy (P=0.01) and negative antineutrophil cytoplasmatic autoantibody (ANCA) status (P=0.01) as independent positive predictors for response to IFX. Homozygous carriers of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk-increasing IL23R variants were more likely to respond to IFX than were homozygous carriers of IBD risk-decreasing IL23R variants (74.1 vs. 34.6%; P=0.001). No serious adverse IFX-related events requiring hospitalization were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that IFX therapy is safe and effective in patients with moderate-to-severe UC. A high CAI before IFX therapy, ANCA seronegativity, and the IL23R genotype were predictors of early response to IFX.

Prognostic relevance of CA 19-9, CEA, CRP, and LDH kinetics in patients treated with palliative second-line therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.

The objective of this study was to define prognostic serum biomarkers that could serve as surrogate survival endpoints during second-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. This retrospective single-center study included patients treated with second-line therapy for advanced exocrine pancreatic cancer. A pretreatment value and at least one serial measurement during the first two cycles of second-line chemotherapy for CA 19-9, CEA, CRP, and LDH had to be available in order to evaluate the prognostic role of kinetics on overall survival. A cutoff of a >20% increase from baseline during treatment was defined in order to form groups with suspected different outcomes. The effect of serial biomarker changes on survival was modeled by Cox proportional hazards regression in univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, 70 patients treated with second-line therapy for advanced disease were included; 94% had distant metastases at treatment initiation. Median time to progression was 2.7 months and median survival 5.4 months. Univariate analysis found that an increase of >20% during treatment was significantly associated with a worse overall survival for CA 19-9 (HR 2.00, p = 0.018), CEA (HR 2.38, p = 0.004), and CRP (HR 3.06, p < 0.001). These associations remained significant within multivariate analysis for CEA (HR 2.86, p = 0.001) and CRP (HR 3.20, p = 0.001). Serum biomarker kinetics might serve as useful prognostic tools during second-line chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer.

MMP-1 serum levels predict coronary atherosclerosis in humans.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction results as a consequence of atherosclerotic plaque rupture, with plaque stability largely depending on the lesion forming extracellular matrix components. Lipid enriched non-calcified lesions are considered more instable and rupture prone than calcified lesions. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix degrading enzymes with plaque destabilisating characteristics which have been implicated in atherogenesis. We therefore hypothesised MMP-1 and MMP-9 serum levels to be associated with non-calcified lesions as determined by CT-angiography in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: 260 patients with typical or atypical chest pain underwent dual-source multi-slice CT-angiography (0.6-mm collimation, 330-ms gantry rotation time) to exclude coronary artery stenosis. Atherosclerotic plaques were classified as calcified, mixed or non-calcified. RESULTS: In multivariable regession analysis, MMP-1 serum levels were associated with total plaque burden (OR: 1.37 (CI: 1.02-1.85); p < 0.05) in a model adjusted for age, sex, BMI, classical cardiovascular risk factors, hsCRP, adiponectin, pericardial fat volume and medication. Specification of plaque morphology revealed significant association of MMP-1 serum levels with non-calcified plaques (OR: 1.16 (CI: 1.0-1.34); p = 0.05) and calcified plaques (OR: 1.22 (CI: 1,03-1.45); p < 0.05) while association with mixed plaques was lost in the fully adjusted model. No associations were found between MMP9 serum levels and total plaque burden or plaque morphology. CONCLUSION: MMP-1 serum levels are associated with total plaque burden but do not allow a specification of plaque morphology.

Brain Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer Patients: Survival and Analysis of Prognostic Factors.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to characterize the rare cohort of patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and brain metastasis (BM) and to identify prognostic subgroups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In collaboration with the Munich Cancer Registry, pts with mCRC and BM who were diagnosed between 1998 and 2011 were identified. Survival from the time of first diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) (OS-1), from the time of diagnosis of metastatic disease (OS-2) and of BM (OS-3) was calculated regarding (1) the temporal occurrence of extra- and intracranial metastasis (meta- vs. synchronous) and (2) tumor and patient characteristics. For survival analysis the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression models were used. RESULTS: A total of 228 pts (134 male [59%], 94 female [41%]) were identified. The median age was 63 years (142 pts [62%] were 65 years of age or younger). Most pts presented with primary tumors staged T3/4, N+, Grade 2. The primary tumor was located predominantly in the left colon (155 pts; 68%), especially in the rectum (95 pts; 42%). Median OS-1 was 35.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.1-41.1 months), OS-2 was 16.5 months (95% CI, 13.9-19.1 months), and OS-3 was 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.5-2.5 months). Median time from first CRC diagnosis to BM was 29.2 months. Subsequent BM after extracranial metastasis were observed in 184 pts (80.7%), whereas 31 pts (13.6%) presented with solitary BM. Univariate analysis did not reveal a prognostic variable for overall survival after diagnosis of BM. CONCLUSION: This study presents the largest number of pts with mCRC and BM analyzed to date. The results show that most mCRC pts develop BM as a late step in the course of disease. Median time from first CRC diagnosis to BM is 29.2 months. Only a few pts were diagnosed with BM early in the disease or with solitary BM. When BM is present survival is poor.

An algorithm that predicts the viability and the yield of human hepatocytes isolated from remnant liver pieces obtained from liver resections.

Isolated human primary hepatocytes are an essential in vitro model for basic and clinical research. For successful application as a model, isolated hepatocytes need to have a good viability and be available in sufficient yield. Therefore, this study aims to identify donor characteristics, intra-operative factors, tissue processing and cell isolation parameters that affect the viability and yield of human hepatocytes. Remnant liver pieces from tissue designated as surgical waste were collected from 1034 donors with informed consent. Human hepatocytes were isolated by a two-step collagenase perfusion technique with modifications and hepatocyte yield and viability were subsequently determined. The accompanying patient data was collected and entered into a database. Univariate analyses found that the viability and the yield of hepatocytes were affected by many of the variables examined. Multivariate analyses were then carried out to confirm the factors that have a significant relationship with the viability and the yield. It was found that the viability of hepatocytes was significantly decreased by the presence of fibrosis, liver fat and with increasing gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and bilirubin content. Yield was significantly decreased by the presence of liver fat, septal fibrosis, with increasing aspartate aminotransferase activity, cold ischemia times and weight of perfused liver. However, yield was significantly increased by chemotherapy treatment. In conclusion, this study determined the variables that have a significant effect on the viability and the yield of isolated human hepatocytes. These variables have been used to generate an algorithm that can calculate projected viability and yield of isolated human hepatocytes. In this way, projected viability can be determined even before isolation of hepatocytes, so that donors that result in high viability and yield can be identified. Further, if the viability and yield of the isolated hepatocytes is lower than expected, this will highlight a methodological problem that can be addressed.

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 is not predictive for gemcitabine efficacy in advanced pancreatic cancer: translational results from the AIO-PK0104 phase III study with the clone SP120 rabbit antibody.

BACKGROUND: The role of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) as a predictive biomarker for gemcitabine efficacy in advanced pancreatic cancer remains unclear to date. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AIO-PK0104 was a German multicenter phase III trial comparing gemcitabine/erlotinib followed by capecitabine (GEC) with capecitabine/erlotinib followed by gemcitabine (CEG) in advanced pancreatic cancer. Archival tumour tissue from 169 of the 274 eligible study patients was available for a central and standardised immunohistochemistry staining for hENT1 expression using the SP120 rabbit monoclonal anti-hENT1 antibody. Within a retrospective translational subgroup analysis, biomarker data were correlated with efficacy end-points. RESULTS: Thirty-nine out of 130 fresh-cut slides were scored as hENT1(high) (30%), whereas 91 samples were classified as hENT1(low) (70%). For the 62 patients randomised to CEG median overall survival was estimated with 6.4 months in the hENT1(low) compared to 6.9 months in the hENT1(high) subgroup (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-1.61, p=0.67). For the 68 patients randomised to GEC survival was 5.7 months in the hENT1(low) compared to 4.4 months in the hENT1(high) subgroup (HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.69-1.96, p=0.57). In 101 patients receiving gemcitabine at any time during study treatment (either within the 1st- or 2nd-line setting) hENT1(low) cases had a median overall survival of 7.5 months and hENT1(high) patients an overall survival of 4.4 months (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.84-2.03, p=0.24), respectively. CONCLUSION: Within this subgroup analysis from Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie-pancreatic cancer (AIO-PK0104), no evidence supporting the use of hENT1 as a predictive biomarker for gemcitabine efficacy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer was found.

MRI evidence for preserved regulation of intracranial pressure in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate intracranial pressure and associated hemo- and hydrodynamic parameters in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations AVMs. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with arteriovenous malformations (median age 38.7 years, 27/30 previously treated with radiosurgery) and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were investigated on a 3.0T MR scanner. Nidus volume was quantified on dynamic MR angiography. Total arterial cerebral blood flow (tCBF), venous outflow as well as aqueductal and craniospinal stroke volumes were obtained using velocity-encoded cine-phase contrast MRI. Intracranial volume change during the cardiac cycle was calculated and intracranial pressure (ICP) was derived from systolic intracranial volume change (ICVC) and pulse pressure gradient. RESULTS: TCBF was significantly higher in AVM patients as compared to healthy controls (median 799 vs. 692 mL/min, p=0.007). There was a trend for venous flow to be increased in both the ipsilateral internal jugular vein (IJV, 282 vs. 225 mL/min, p=0.16), and in the contralateral IJV (322 vs. 285 mL/min, p=0.09), but not in secondary veins. There was no significant difference in median ICP between AVM patients and control subjects (6.9 vs. 8.6 mmHg, p=0.30) and ICP did not correlate with nidus volume in AVM patients (ρ=-0.06, p=0.74). There was a significant positive correlation between tCBF and craniospinal CSF stroke volume (ρ=0.69, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The elevated cerebral blood flow in patients with AVMs is drained through an increased flow in IJVs but not secondary veins. ICP is maintained within ranges of normal and does not correlate with nidus volume.

Pharmacological challenge with naloxone and cue exposure in alcohol dependence: results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Animal and clinical studies implicated opioid dysfunction in the pathogenesis of alcohol abuse and dependence. The π-opioid antagonist naltrexone reduces craving, eventually modulated by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Altered cortisol response to opioid receptor blockade not only in alcohol dependent persons, but also in persons with a family history of alcohol dependency was reported. METHODS: Twenty patients with alcohol dependence who had undergone detoxification were recruited. Naloxone (3.2 mg/70 kg body weight) having a very similar receptor profile to naltrexone and placebo were administered in cross-over fashion on two separate days 48 h apart. Mood and craving was assessed with well-established instruments (Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (ACQ), Profile of Mood Scale (POMS)). Both patients and raters were blind to all treatments. Twelve patients were first treated with naloxone, eight were first treated with placebo. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the placebo and naloxone groups according to ACQ and POMS. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in naloxone group. CONCLUSIONS: We could not replicate the result, that blocking of the endogenous opioid system leads to reduced craving in alcohol-dependent individuals, while increase of cortisol after naloxone challenge is the expected biological effect of opioid receptor blockade on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.