Relationship between Respiratory Microbiome and Systemic Inflammatory Markers in COPD: A Pilot Study.

The respiratory microbiome may influence the development and progression of COPD by modulating local immune and inflammatory events. We aimed to investigate whether relative changes in respiratory bacterial abundance are also associated with systemic inflammation, and explore their relationship with the main clinical COPD phenotypes. Multiplex analysis of inflammatory markers and transcript eosinophil-related markers were analyzed on peripheral blood in a cohort of stable COPD patients (n = 72). Respiratory microbiome composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA microbial sequencing on spontaneous sputum. Spearman correlations were applied to test the relationship between the microbiome composition and systemic inflammation. The concentration of the plasma IL-8 showed an inverted correlation with the relative abundance of 17 bacterial genera in the whole COPD cohort. COPD patients categorized as eosinophilic showed positive relationships with blood eosinophil markers and inversely correlated with the degree of airway obstruction and the number of exacerbations during the previous year. COPD patients categorized as frequent exacerbators were enriched with the bacterial genera Pseudomonas which, in turn, was positively associated with the severity of airflow limitation and the prior year's exacerbation history. The associative relationships of the sputum microbiome with the severity of the disease emphasize the relevance of the interaction between the respiratory microbiota and systemic inflammation.

COPD: systemic proteomic profiles in frequent and infrequent exacerbators.

Background: Some patients with COPD suffer frequent exacerbations (FE). We hypothesised that their systemic proteomic profile would be different from that of non-frequent exacerbators (NFE). The objective of the present study was to contrast the systemic proteomic profile in FE versus NFE. As a reference, we also determined the systemic proteomic profile of healthy controls (HC) and COPD patients during an actual episode of exacerbation (AE). Methods: In the analysis we included 40 clinically stable COPD patients (20 FE and 20 NFE), and 20 HC and 10 AE patients. Their plasma samples were analysed by combining two complementary proteomic approaches: label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and multiplex immunoassays. Gene Ontology annotation, pathway enrichment and network analyses were used to investigate molecular pathways associated with differentially abundant proteins/peptides (DAPs). Results: Compared with HC, we identified 40 DAPs in FE, 10 in NFE and 63 in AE. Also compared to HC, pathway functional and protein-protein network analyses revealed dysregulation of inflammatory responses involving innate and antibody-mediated immunity in COPD, particularly in the FE group, as well as during an AE episode. Besides, we only identified alterations in the complement and coagulation cascades in AE. Conclusion: There are specific plasma proteome profiles associated with FE, which are partially shared with findings observed during AE, albeit others are uniquely present during the actual episode of AE.

Computer-assisted diagnosis for an early identification of lung cancer in chest X rays.

Computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) algorithms have shown its usefulness for the identification of pulmonary nodules in chest x-rays, but its capability to diagnose lung cancer (LC) is unknown. A CAD algorithm for the identification of pulmonary nodules was created and used on a retrospective cohort of patients with x-rays performed in 2008 and not examined by a radiologist when obtained. X-rays were sorted according to the probability of pulmonary nodule, read by a radiologist and the evolution for the following three years was assessed. The CAD algorithm sorted 20,303 x-rays and defined four subgroups with 250 images each (percentiles ≥ 98, 66, 33 and 0). Fifty-eight pulmonary nodules were identified in the ≥ 98 percentile (23,2%), while only 64 were found in lower percentiles (8,5%) (p < 0.001). A pulmonary nodule was confirmed by the radiologist in 39 out of 173 patients in the high-probability group who had follow-up information (22.5%), and in 5 of them a LC was diagnosed with a delay of 11 months (12.8%). In one quarter of the chest x-rays considered as high-probability for pulmonary nodule by a CAD algorithm, the finding is confirmed and corresponds to an undiagnosed LC in one tenth of the cases.

Quantitative Image Analysis of Fibrillar Collagens Reveals Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers and Histotype-Dependent Aberrant Mechanobiology in Lung Cancer.

Fibrillar collagens are the most abundant extracellular matrix components in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the potential of collagen fiber descriptors as a source of clinically relevant biomarkers in NSCLC is largely unknown. Similarly, our understanding of the aberrant collagen organization and associated tumor-promoting effects is very scarce. To address these limitations, we identified a digital pathology approach that can be easily implemented in pathology units based on CT-FIRE software (version 2; https://loci.wisc.edu/software/ctfire) analysis of Picrosirius red (PSR) stains of fibrillar collagens imaged with polarized light (PL). CT-FIRE settings were pre-optimized to assess a panel of collagen fiber descriptors in PSR-PL images of tissue microarrays from surgical NSCLC patients (106 adenocarcinomas [ADC] and 89 squamous cell carcinomas [SCC]). Using this approach, we identified straightness as the single high-accuracy diagnostic collagen fiber descriptor (average area under the curve = 0.92) and fiber density as the single descriptor consistently associated with a poor prognosis in both ADC and SCC independently of the gold standard based on the TNM staging (hazard ratio, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.55-4.66; P < .001). Moreover, we found that collagen fibers were markedly straighter, longer, and more aligned in tumor samples compared to paired samples from uninvolved pulmonary tissue, particularly in ADC, which is indicative of increased tumor stiffening. Consistently, we observed an increase in a panel of stiffness-associated processes in the high collagen fiber density patient group selectively in ADC, including venous/lymphatic invasion, fibroblast activation (α-smooth muscle actin), and immune evasion (programmed death-ligand 1). Similarly, a transcriptional correlation analysis supported the potential involvement of the major YAP/TAZ pathway in ADC. Our results provide a proof-of-principle to use CT-FIRE analysis of PSR-PL images to assess new collagen fiber-based diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in pathology units, which may improve the clinical management of patients with surgical NSCLC. Our findings also unveil an aberrant stiff microenvironment in lung ADC that may foster immune evasion and dissemination, encouraging future work to identify therapeutic opportunities.

The Microbiome in COPD: Emerging Potential for Microbiome-Targeted Interventions.

The aim of interventions over the respiratory microbiome in COPD is to preserve the original microbial flora, focusing in taxa with a demonstrated impact on the prognosis of the disease. Inhaled therapy is the main treatment for COPD, and chronic corticosteroid use is recommended for patients with frequent exacerbations. This therapy, however, increases both the bronchial microbial load and the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria in patients with low peripheral eosinophil counts, and to minimize its use in patients without peripheral eosinophilia, when possible, may avoid increases in bacterial loads of microorganisms as Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In exacerbations antibiotics determine a decrease in the microbial diversity, a change that persists during stability periods in frequent exacerbators. High-diversity bronchial microbiomes are enriched in non-dominant genera and determine low exacerbation frequencies and survival improvement. Limiting the antibiotic use to the treatment of exacerbations which would clearly benefit would favor the diversity of the respiratory microbiome and may have a positive impact on quality of life and survival. Oral antiseptics have shown and effect on the bronchial microbiome that was associated with improvements in quality of life, and the gut microbiome may be also modified through the oral administration of probiotics or prebiotics, that potentially may determine decreases in lung inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity. High fiber diets also favor the production of anti-inflammatory molecules by the digestive flora, which would reach the respiratory system through the bloodstream. Interventional approaches favoring the preservation of the respiratory microbiome in COPD need first to select accurately the patients who would benefit from long-term inhaled corticosteroids and antibiotic treatments during exacerbations, under the hypothesis that keeping a respiratory microbiome close to the healthy subject would favor the respiratory health. Additionally, high fiber diets may be able to modify the gut microbiome and influence the respiratory system through the gut-lung axis. Therapeutic approaches targeting the microbiome to improve COPD, however, still require clinical validation and the identification of patient subtypes who would benefit the most with their use.

The Respiratory Microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis: Compartment Patterns and Clinical Relationships in Early Stage Disease.

We compared the bacterial microbiomes lodged in the bronchial tree, oropharynx and nose of patients with early stage cystic fibrosis (CF) not using chronic antibiotics, determining their relationships with lung function and exacerbation frequency. CF patients were enrolled in a cohort study during stability and were checked regularly over the following 9 months. Upper respiratory samples (sputum [S], oropharyngeal swab [OP] and nasal washing [N]) were collected at the first visit and every 3 months. 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing was performed and analyzed with QIIME. Seventeen CF patients were enrolled (16.6 SD 9.6 years). Alpha-diversity of bacterial communities between samples was significantly higher in S than in OP (Shannon index median 4.6 [IQR: 4.1-4.9] vs. 3.7 [IQR: 3-1-4.1], p = 0.003/Chao 1 richness estimator median 97.75 [IQR: 85.1-110.9] vs. 43.9 [IQR: 31.7-59.9], p = 0.003) and beta-diversity analysis also showed significant differences in the microbial composition of both respiratory compartments (Adonis test of Bray Curtis dissimilarity matrix, p = 0.001). Dominant taxa were found at baseline in five patients (29.4%), who showed lower forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%, mean 74.8 [SD 19] vs. 97.2 [SD 17.8], p = 0.035, Student t test). The Staphylococcus genus had low RAs in most samples (median 0.26% [IQR 0.01-0.69%]), but patients with RA > 0.26% of Staphylococcus in bronchial secretions suffered more exacerbations during follow-up (median 2 [IQR 1-2.25] vs. 0 [0-1], p = 0.026. Mann-Whitney U test), due to S. aureus in more than a half of the cases, microorganism that often persists as bronchial colonized in these patients (9/10 [90%] vs. 2/7 [28.6%], p = 0.034, Fisher's exact test). In conclusion, the bronchial microbiome had significantly higher diversity than the microbial flora lodged in the oropharynx in early stage CF. Although the RA of the Staphylococcus genus was low in bronchial secretions and did not reach a dominance pattern, slight overrepresentations of this genus was associated with higher exacerbation frequencies in these patients.

Determinants of empirical antipseudomonal antibiotic prescription for adults with pneumonia in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Antipseudomonal antibiotics should be restricted to patients at risk of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. However, the indications in different guidelines on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are discordant. Our objectives were to assess the prevalence of antipseudomonal antibiotic prescriptions and to identify determinants of empirical antibiotic choices in the emergency department. METHODS: Observational, retrospective, one-year cohort study in hospitalized adults with pneumonia. Antibiotic choices and clinical and demographic data were recorded on a standardized form. Antibiotics with antipseudomonal activity were classified into two groups: a) ß-lactam antipseudomonals (ß-APS), including carbapenems, piperacillin / tazobactam or cefepime (in monotherapy or combination) and b) monotherapy with antipseudomonal quinolones. RESULTS: Data were recorded from 549 adults with pneumonia, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being isolated in only nine (1.6%). Most (85%) prescriptions were compliant with SEPAR guidelines and 207 (37%) patients received antibiotics with antipseudomonal activity (14% ß-APS and 23% levofloxacin). The use of ß-APS was independently associated with ICU admission (OR 8.16 95% CI 3.69-18.06) and prior hospitalization (OR 6.76 95% CI 3.02-15.15), while levofloxacin was associated with negative pneumococcal urine antigen tests (OR 3.41 95% CI 1.70-6.85) but negatively associated with ICU admission (OR 0.26 95% CI 0.08-0.86). None of these factors were associated with P aeruginosa episodes. In univariate analysis, prior P aeruginosa infection/colonization (2/9 vs 6/372, p = 0.013), severe COPD (3/9 vs 26/372, p = 0.024), multilobar involvement (7/9 vs 119/372, p = 0.007) and prior antibiotic (6/9 vs 109/372, p = 0.025) were significantly associated with P aeruginosa episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Antipseudomonal prescriptions were common, in spite of the very low incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The rationale for prescription was influenced by both severity-of-illness and pneumococcal urine antigen test (levofloxacin) and prior hospitalization and ICU admission (ß-APS). However, these factors were not associated with P aeruginosa episodes. Only prior P aeruginosa infection/colonization and severe COPD seem to be reliable indicators in clinical practice.

Reduced airway levels of fatty-acid binding protein 4 in COPD: relationship with airway infection and disease severity.

BACKGROUND: For still unclear reasons, chronic airway infection often occurs in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), particularly in those with more severe airflow limitation. Fatty-acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is an adipokine involved in the innate immune response against infection produced by alveolar macrophages (Mɸ). We hypothesized that airway levels of FABP4 may be altered in COPD patients with chronic airway infection. METHODS: In this prospective and controlled study we: (1) compared airway FABP4 levels (ELISA) in induced sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma samples in 52 clinically stable COPD patients (65.2 ± 7.9 years, FEV1 59 ± 16% predicted) and 29 healthy volunteers (55.0 ± 12.3 years, FEV1 97 ± 16% predicted); (2) explored their relationship with the presence of bacterial airway infection, defined by the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria (PPB) at ≥103 colony-forming units/ml in BALF; (3) investigated their relationship with the quantity and proportion of Mɸ in BALF (flow cytometry); and, (4) studied their relationship with the severity of airflow limitation (FEV1), GOLD grade and level of symptoms (CAT questionnaire). RESULTS: We found that: (1) airway levels of FABP4 (but not plasma ones) were reduced in COPD patients vs. controls [219.2 (96.0-319.6) vs. 273.4 (203.1-426.7) (pg/ml)/protein, p = 0.03 in BALF]; (2) COPD patients with airway infection had lower sputum FABP4 levels [0.73 (0.35-15.3) vs. 15.6 (2.0-29.4) ng/ml, p = 0.02]; (3) in COPD patients, the number and proportion of Mɸ were positively related with FABP4 levels in BALF; (4) BALF and sputum FABP4 levels were positively related with FEV1, negatively with the CAT score, and lowest in GOLD grade D patients. CONCLUSIONS: Airway FABP4 levels are reduced in COPD patients, especially in those with airway infection and more severe disease. The relationship observed between Mɸ and airway FABP4 levels supports a role for FABP4 in the pathogenesis of airway infection and disease severity in COPD.

Mirar el bosque y no el árbol: el microbioma en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y la fibrosis quística / Look at the wood and not at the tree: The Microbiome in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease and Cystic Fibrosis

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Epigenetic SMAD3 Repression in Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts Impairs Fibrosis and Response to the Antifibrotic Drug Nintedanib in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The tumor-promoting fibrotic stroma rich in tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) is drawing increased therapeutic attention. Intriguingly, a trial with the antifibrotic drug nintedanib in non-small cell lung cancer reported clinical benefits in adenocarcinoma (ADC) but not squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), even though the stroma is fibrotic in both histotypes. Likewise, we reported that nintedanib inhibited the tumor-promoting fibrotic phenotype of TAFs selectively in ADC. Here we show that tumor fibrosis is actually higher in ADC-TAFs than SCC-TAFs in vitro and patient samples. Mechanistically, the reduced fibrosis and nintedanib response of SCC-TAFs was associated with increased promoter methylation of the profibrotic TGFß transcription factor SMAD3 compared with ADC-TAFs, which elicited a compensatory increase in TGFß1/SMAD2 activation. Consistently, forcing global DNA demethylation of SCC-TAFs with 5-AZA rescued TGFß1/SMAD3 activation, whereas genetic downregulation of SMAD3 in ADC-TAFs and control fibroblasts increased TGFß1/SMAD2 activation, and reduced their fibrotic phenotype and antitumor responses to nintedanib in vitro and in vivo. Our results also support that smoking and/or the anatomic location of SCC in the proximal airways, which are more exposed to cigarette smoke particles, may prime SCC-TAFs to stronger SMAD3 epigenetic repression, because cigarette smoke condensate selectively increased SMAD3 promoter methylation. Our results unveil that the histotype-specific regulation of tumor fibrosis in lung cancer is mediated through differential SMAD3 promoter methylation in TAFs and provide new mechanistic insights on the selective poor response of SCC-TAFs to nintedanib. Moreover, our findings support that patients with ADC may be more responsive to antifibrotic drugs targeting their stromal TGFß1/SMAD3 activation. SIGNIFICANCE: This study implicates the selective epigenetic repression of SMAD3 in SCC-TAFs in the clinical failure of nintedanib in SCC and supports that patients with ADC may benefit from antifibrotic drugs targeting stromal TGFß1/SMAD3.

Nebulized Colistin And Continuous Cyclic Azithromycin In Severe COPD Patients With Chronic Bronchial Infection Due To Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Long-term use of nebulized or oral antibiotics is common in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. To date, however, few studies have focused on the use of nebulized antibiotics in COPD patients. The aims of this study are: to establish whether a combination of nebulized colistin plus continuous cyclic azithromycin in severe COPD patients with chronic bronchial infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa reduces the frequency of exacerbations, and to assess the effect of this treatment on microbiological sputum isolates. Material and methods: A retrospective cohort was created for the analysis of patients with severe COPD and chronic bronchial infection due to P. aeruginosa treated with nebulized colistin at the Respiratory Day Care Unit between 2005 and 2015. The number and characteristics of COPD exacerbations (ECOPD) before and up to two years after the introduction of nebulized colistin treatment were recorded. Results: We analyzed 32 severe COPD patients who received nebulized colistin for at least three months (median 17 months [IQR 7-24]). All patients but one received combination therapy with continuous cyclic azithromycin (median 24 months [IQR 11-30]). A significant reduction in the number of ECOPD from baseline of 38.3% at two years of follow-up was observed, with a clear decrease in P. aeruginosa ECOPD (from 59.5% to 24.6%) and a P. aeruginosa eradication rate of 28% over the two-year follow-up. Conclusion: In patients with severe COPD and chronic bronchial infection due to P. aeruginosa, combination therapy with nebulized colistin and continuous cyclic azithromycin significantly reduced the number of ECOPD, with a marked decrease in P. aeruginosa sputum isolates.

Economic impact of delaying initiation with multiple-inhaler maintenance triple therapy in Spanish patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: Guidelines recommend the use of triple therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), a long-acting ß2 agonist (LABA) and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) to reduce the risk of future exacerbations in symptomatic COPD patients with a history of exacerbations. This study aimed to estimate COPD-related healthcare resource use and costs, and subsequent exacerbation rates, for patients initiating multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT) early (≤30 days) versus late (31-180 days) following an exacerbation, in a real-world clinical setting. Patients and methods: This was an observational, longitudinal, retrospective study using electronic medical records from the Spanish database of the Red de Investigación en Servicios Sanitarios Foundation. Patients ≥40 years old with a confirmed COPD diagnosis who were newly prescribed MITT up to 180 days after an exacerbation between January 2013 and December 2015 were included. Patients were followed from the date of MITT initiation for up to 12 months to assess COPD-related health care resource use (routine and emergency visits, hospitalizations, pharmacologic treatment), exacerbation rate, and costs (€2017); these endpoints were compared between early versus late groups. Results: The study included 1280 patients who met selection criteria: mean age 73 years, 78% male, and 41% had severe/very severe lung function impairment. The proportion of patients initiating MITT early versus late was 61.6% versus 38.4%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups. During follow-up, health care resource consumption was lower in the early versus late group, especially primary care and ED visits, leading to lower total costs (€1861 versus €1935; P<0.05). In the follow-up period, 28.0% of the patients in the early group experienced ≥1 exacerbation versus 36.4% in the late group (P=0.002), with an exacerbation rate of 0.5 versus 0.6 per person per year (P=0.022), respectively. Conclusion: Initiating MITT early (≤30 days after an exacerbation) may reduce health care costs and exacerbation rate compared with late MITT initiation.

Stromal markers of activated tumor associated fibroblasts predict poor survival and are associated with necrosis in non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Tumor associated fibroblasts (TAFs) are essential contributors of the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most lung TAFs exhibit an activated phenotype characterized by the expression of α-SMA and fibrillar collagens. However, the prognostic value of these activation markers in NSCLC remains unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a quantitative image analysis of α-SMA immunostaining and picrosirius red staining of fibrillar collagens imaged by bright-field and polarized microscopy, respectively, using tissue microarrays with samples from 220 surgical patients, which elicited a percentage of positive staining area for each marker and patient. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier curves showed that all TAF activation markers were significantly associated with poor survival, and their prognostic value was independent of TNM staging as revealed by multivariate analysis, which elicited an adjusted increased risk of death after 3 years of 129% and 94% for fibrillar collagens imaged with bright-field (p = 0.004) and polarized light (p = 0.003), respectively, and of 89% for α-SMA (p = 0.009). We also found a significant association between all TAF activation markers and tumor necrosis, which is often indicative of hypoxia, supporting a pathologic link between tumor desmoplasia and necrosis/hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings identify patients with large histologic coverage of fibrillar collagens and α-SMA + TAFs to be at higher risk of recurrence and death, supporting that they could be considered for adjuvant therapy.

Relationship between the respiratory microbiome and the severity of airflow limitation, history of exacerbations and circulating eosinophils in COPD patients.

BACKGROUND: The respiratory microbiome is altered in COPD patients but its relationship with core components of the disease, such as the severity of airflow limitation, the frequency of exacerbations or the circulating levels of eosinophils, is unclear. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comprising 72 clinically stable COPD patients (mean age 68 [SD 7.9] years; FEV1 48.7 [SD 20.1]% of reference) who provided spontaneous sputum samples for 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. The microbiome composition was analysed with QIIME. RESULTS: We observed that: (1) more severe airflow limitation was associated with reduced relative abundance (RA) of Treponema and an increase in Pseudomonas; (2) patients with ≥2 exacerbations the previous year showed a significantly different bacterial community with respect to non-exacerbators (p = 0.014), with changes in 13 genera, including an increase of Pseudomonas, and finally, (3) peripheral eosinophils levels ≥2% were associated with more diverse microbiome [Chao1 224.51 (74.88) vs 277.39 (78.92) p = 0.006; Shannon 3.94 (1.05) vs 4.54 (1.06) p = 0.020], and a significant increase in the RAs of 20 genera. CONCLUSION: The respiratory microbiome in clinically stable COPD patients varies significantly according to the severity of airflow limitation, previous history of exacerbations and circulating eosinophils levels.

Proyecto de biomarcadores y perfiles clínicos personalizados en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (proyecto BIOMEPOC) / The BIOMEPOC Project: Personalized Biomarkers and Clinical Profiles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es una entidad de presentación heterogénea. Por ello, se han intentado perfilar diferentes fenotipos y endotipos, que permitirían un manejo más diferenciado. El objetivo del proyecto Biomarcadores en la EPOC (BIOMEPOC) es identificar biomarcadores sanguíneos útiles para tipificar mejor a los enfermos. Se analizarán datos clínicos y muestras sanguíneas en un grupo de pacientes y controles sanos. El proyecto constará de fases de prospección y de validación. Se realizarán determinaciones analíticas sanguíneas con técnicas convencionales y de diversas ciencias «ómicas» (transcriptómica, proteómica y metabolómica). Las primeras se realizarán orientadas por hipótesis, mientras que con las segundas se realizará una exploración sin dicho condicionante. Finalmente se realizará un análisis multinivel. En el momento actual se han reclutado 269 pacientes y 83 controles, y se está iniciando el procesamiento de muestras. Con los resultados obtenidos se espera identificar nuevos biomarcadores que, en solitario o combinados, permitan una mejor tipificación de los pacientes

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an entity with a heterogeneous presentation. For this reason, attempts have been made to characterize different phenotypes and endotypes to enable a more individualized approach. The aim of the Biomarkers in COPD (BIOMEPOC) project is to identify useful biomarkers in blood to improve the characterization of patients. Clinical data and blood samples from a group of patients and healthy controls will be analyzed. The project will consist of an exploration phase and a validation phase. Analytical parameters in blood will be determined using standard techniques and certain ‘omics’ (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). The former will be hypothesis-driven, whereas the latter will be exploratory. Finally, a multilevel analysis will be conducted. Currently, 269 patients and 83 controls have been recruited, and sample processing is beginning. Our hope is to use the results to identify new biomarkers that, alone or combined, will allow a better characterization of patients

Physical Activity Is Associated with Attenuated Disease Progression in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression is variable and affects several disease domains, including decline in lung function, exercise capacity, muscle strength, and health status as well as changes in body composition. We aimed to assess the longitudinal association of physical activity (PA) with these a priori selected components of disease progression. METHODS: We studied 114 COPD patients from the PAC-COPD cohort (94% male, mean [SD], 70 yr [8 yr] of age, 54 [16] forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted) at baseline and 2.6 yr (0.6 yr) later. Baseline PA was assessed by accelerometry. Multivariable general linear models were built to assess the association between PA and changes in lung function, functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, health status, and body composition. All models were adjusted for confounders and the respective baseline value of each measure. RESULTS: Per each 1000 steps higher baseline PA, forced expiratory volume in 1 s declined 7 mL less (P < 0.01), forced vital capacity 9 mL less (P = 0.03) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity 0.10 mL·min·mm Hg less (P = 0.04), while the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire symptom domain deteriorated 0.4 points less (P = 0.03), per year follow-up. Physical activity was not associated with changes in functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, other domains of health status or body composition. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PA is associated with attenuated decline in lung function and reduced health status (symptoms domain) deterioration in moderate-to-very severe COPD patients.

The BIOMEPOC Project: Personalized Biomarkers and Clinical Profiles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. / Proyecto de biomarcadores y perfiles clínicos personalizados en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (proyecto BIOMEPOC).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an entity with a heterogeneous presentation. For this reason, attempts have been made to characterize different phenotypes and endotypes to enable a more individualized approach. The aim of the Biomarkers in COPD (BIOMEPOC) project is to identify useful biomarkers in blood to improve the characterization of patients. Clinical data and blood samples from a group of patients and healthy controls will be analyzed. The project will consist of an exploration phase and a validation phase. Analytical parameters in blood will be determined using standard techniques and certain 'omics' (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). The former will be hypothesis-driven, whereas the latter will be exploratory. Finally, a multilevel analysis will be conducted. Currently, 269 patients and 83 controls have been recruited, and sample processing is beginning. Our hope is to use the results to identify new biomarkers that, alone or combined, will allow a better characterization of patients.

5 protein-based signature for resectable lung squamous cell carcinoma improves the prognostic performance of the TNM staging.

INTRODUCTION: Prognostic biomarkers have been very elusive in the lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and none is currently being used in the clinical setting. We aimed to identify and validate the clinical utility of a protein-based prognostic signature to stratify patients with early lung SCC according to their risk of recurrence or death. METHODS: Patients were staged following the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) staging criteria (eighth edition, 2018). Three independent retrospective cohorts of 117, 96 and 105 patients with lung SCC were analysed to develop and validate a prognostic signature based on immunohistochemistry for five proteins. RESULTS: We identified a five protein-based signature whose prognostic index (PI) was an independent and significant predictor of disease-free survival (DFS) (p<0.001; HR=4.06, 95% CI 2.18 to 7.56) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.004; HR=2.38, 95% CI 1.32 to 4.31). The prognostic capability of PI was confirmed in an external multi-institutional cohort for DFS (p=0.042; HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.94) and for OS (p=0.031; HR=2.29, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.86). Moreover, PI added complementary information to the newly established IASLC TNM 8th edition staging system. A combined prognostic model including both molecular and anatomical (TNM) criteria improved the risk stratification in both cohorts (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We have identified and validated a clinically feasible protein-based prognostic model that complements the updated TNM system allowing more accurate risk stratification. This signature may be used as an advantageous tool to improve the clinical management of the patients, allowing the reduction of lung SCC mortality through a more accurate knowledge of the patient's potential outcome.

Tumor-associated metabolic and inflammatory responses in early stage non-small cell lung cancer: Local patterns and prognostic significance.

INTRODUCTION: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients diagnosed in early stage and surgically-treated have five-year mortality rate >20%. The identification of biomarkers able to predict progression and death may help to identify patients needing closer follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of early-stage surgically-treated NSCLC patients enrolled in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Staging Project was created, and tissue Microarrays (TMAs) were constructed with tumor and non-tumor lung tissue. Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) proteins (transketolase [TKT] and transketolase-like 1 [TKTL1]), inflammatory markers (cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin 1 beta [IL1ß], nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells [NFκB]-p65 and antigen Ki-67), and programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1) were measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: NSCLC patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were included in the study (n = 199). TKT and TKTL1 were significantly higher in ADC than in non-tumor tissue (p < 0.001). Higher values were also observed in NSCLC for all the inflammatory markers, with figures >30% above those of non-tumor tissue (p < 0.001). PDL1 analysis showed a higher percentage of positivity in ADC than in non-tumor tissue (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling confirmed that high IL1ß level in tumor tissue was independently associated with 3-year mortality in NSCLC [HR = 2.05, 95% CI (1.1-3.7), p = 0.019], a relationship driven by ADC subtype. CONCLUSION: This study confirms an increase in metabolic activity and an inflammatory response in tumor tissue of early stage NSCLC, and a significant relationship between high levels of IL1ß in the tumor and poor prognosis in ADC.