MRD at the End of Induction and EFS in T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: Children's Oncology Group Trial AALL1231.

Defining prognostic variables in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) remains a challenge. AALL1231 was a COG phase 3 clinical trial for newly diagnosed with T Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia or T-LL patients randomizing children and young adults to a modified augmented BFM backbone to receive standard therapy (Arm A) or with addition of bortezomib (Arm B). Optional bone marrow (BM) samples to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction (EOI) were collected in T-LL analyzed to assess the correlation of MRD at the EOI to event-free survival (EFS). Eighty-six (41%) of the 209 T-LL patients accrued to this trial submitted samples for MRD assessment. Patients with MRD <0.1% (n= 75) at EOI had a superior 4-year EFS versus those with MRD >0.1% (n= 11), (89.0±4.4% versus 63.6±17.2%, p= 0.025). Overall survival did not significantly differ between the two groups. Cox regression for EFS using Arm A as a reference demonstrated that MRD EOI ≥0.1% was associated with a greater risk of inferior outcome (Hazard Ratio, HR= 3.73 (1.12-12.40, p= 0.032), which was independent of treatment arm assignment. Consideration to incorporate MRD at EOI into future trials will help establish its value in defining risk groups. CT# NCT02112916.

Improving infectious adverse event reporting for children and adolescents enrolled in clinical trials for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

Infections cause substantial morbidity for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Therefore, accurate characterization of infectious adverse events (AEs) reported on clinical trials is imperative to defining, comparing, and managing safety and toxicity. Here, we describe key processes implemented to improve reporting of infectious AEs on two active phase III Children's Oncology Group (COG) ALL trials. Processes include: (a) identifying infections as a targeted toxicity, (b) incorporation of infection-specific case report form questions, and (c) physician review of AEs with real-time data cleaning. Preliminary assessment of these processes suggests improved reporting, as well as opportunities for further improvement.

Children's Oncology Group Trial AALL1231: A Phase III Clinical Trial Testing Bortezomib in Newly Diagnosed T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To improve the outcomes of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL), the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was examined in the Children's Oncology Group phase III clinical trial AALL1231, which also attempted to reduce the use of prophylactic cranial radiation (CRT) in newly diagnosed T-ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children and young adults with T-ALL/T-LL were randomly assigned to a modified augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster chemotherapy regimen with/without bortezomib during induction and delayed intensification. Multiple modifications were made to the augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster backbone used in the predecessor trial, AALL0434, including using dexamethasone instead of prednisone and adding two extra doses of pegaspargase in an attempt to eliminate CRT in most patients. RESULTS: AALL1231 accrued 824 eligible and evaluable patients from 2014 to 2017. The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for arm A (no bortezomib) versus arm B (bortezomib) were 80.1% ± 2.3% versus 83.8% ± 2.1% (EFS, P = .131) and 85.7% ± 2.0% versus 88.3% ± 1.8% (OS, P = .085). Patients with T-LL had improved EFS and OS with bortezomib: 4-year EFS (76.5% ± 5.1% v 86.4% ± 4.0%; P = .041); and 4-year OS (78.3% ± 4.9% v 89.5% ± 3.6%; P = .009). No excess toxicity was seen with bortezomib. In AALL0434, 90.8% of patients with T-ALL received CRT. In AALL1231, 9.5% of patients were scheduled to receive CRT. Evaluation of comparable AALL0434 patients who received CRT and AALL1231 patients who did not receive CRT demonstrated no statistical differences in EFS (P = .412) and OS (P = .600). CONCLUSION: Patients with T-LL had significantly improved EFS and OS with bortezomib on the AALL1231 backbone. Systemic therapy intensification allowed elimination of CRT in more than 90% of patients with T-ALL without excess relapse.

Health-related quality of life after colorectal cancer in England: a patient-reported outcomes study of individuals 12 to 36 months after diagnosis.

PURPOSE: This population-level study was conducted to define the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of individuals living with and beyond colorectal cancer (CRC) and to identify factors associated with poor health outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All individuals diagnosed with CRC in England in 2010 and 2011 who were alive 12 to 36 months after diagnosis were sent a questionnaire. This included questions related to treatment, disease status, other long-term conditions (LTCs), generic HRQL (EuroQol-5D), and cancer-specific outcomes (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy and Social Difficulties Inventory items). RESULTS: The response rate was 63.3% (21,802 of 34,467 patients). One or more generic health problems were reported by 65% of respondents, with 10% of patients reporting problems in all five domains. The reporting of problems was higher than in the general population and was most marked in those age less than 55 years. Certain subgroups reported a higher number of problems, notably those with one or more other LTCs, those with active or recurrent disease, those with a stoma, and those at the extremes of the age range (< 55 and > 85 years). Of respondents without a stoma, 16.3% reported no bowel control. Reversal of a stoma resulted in fewer severe bowel problems but more moderate problems than those who had never had a stoma. A quarter of rectal cancer respondents (25.1%) reported difficulties with sexual matters (compared with 11.2% of colon cancer respondents). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the success of a national patient-reported outcomes survey. The results have the potential to support system-wide improvement in health outcomes through the identification of particular challenges faced by individuals after treatment for CRC.

Structure Activity Relationships of αv Integrin Antagonists for Pulmonary Fibrosis by Variation in Aryl Substituents.

Antagonism of αvß6 is emerging as a potential treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis based on strong target validation. Starting from an αvß3 antagonist lead and through simple variation in the nature and position of the aryl substituent, the discovery of compounds with improved αvß6 activity is described. The compounds also have physicochemical properties commensurate with oral bioavailability and are high quality starting points for a drug discovery program. Compounds 33S and 43E1 are pan αv antagonists having ca. 100 nM potency against αvß3, αvß5, αvß6, and αvß8 in cell adhesion assays. Detailed structure activity relationships with these integrins are described which also reveal substituents providing partial selectivity (defined as at least a 0.7 log difference in pIC50 values between the integrins in question) for αvß3 and αvß5.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of calaspargase pegol Escherichia coli L-asparaginase in the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results from Children's Oncology Group Study AALL07P4.

PURPOSE: Asparaginase is a critical agent used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Pegaspargase (SS-PEG), a pegylated form of Escherichia coli L-asparaginase with a succinimidyl succinate (SS) linker, is the first-line asparaginase product used in Children's Oncology Group (COG) ALL trials. Calaspargase pegol (SC-PEG) replaces the SS linker in SS-PEG with a succinimidyl carbamate linker, creating a more stable molecule. COG AALL07P4 was designed to determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparability of SC-PEG to SS-PEG in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) B-cell ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 165 evaluable patients were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to receive SC-PEG at 2,100 (SC-PEG2100; n = 69) or 2,500 IU/m(2) (SC-PEG2500; n = 42) versus SS-PEG 2,500 IU/m(2) (SS-PEG2500; n = 54) as part of an otherwise identical chemotherapy regimen. The groups were similar demographically, except more female patients received SC-PEG2500. RESULTS: The mean half-life of plasma asparaginase activity for both SC-PEG doses was approximately 2.5× longer than that of SS-PEG2500. The total systemic exposure, as defined by induction area under the curve from time 0 to 25 days, was greater with SC-PEG2500 than with SS-PEG2500 or SC-PEG2100. The proportion of patients with plasma asparaginase activity ≥ 100 mIU/mL and ≥ 400 mIU/mL was higher in patients who received SC-PEG as compared with SS-PEG2500. After one dose of pegylated asparaginase on induction day 4, plasma asparagine was undetectable for 11 days for SS-PEG2500 and 18 days for both SC-PEG groups. CONCLUSION: SC-PEG2500 achieves a significantly longer period of asparaginase activity above defined thresholds and asparagine depletion compared with SS-PEG2500 and has a comparable toxicity profile in children with HR B-cell ALL.

Functionality and feedback: a protocol for a realist synthesis of the collation, interpretation and utilisation of PROMs data to improve patient care.

INTRODUCTION: The feedback and public reporting of PROMs data aims to improve the quality of care provided to patients. Existing systematic reviews have found it difficult to draw overall conclusions about the effectiveness of PROMs feedback. We aim to execute a realist synthesis of the evidence to understand by what means and in what circumstances the feedback of PROMs data leads to the intended service improvements. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Realist synthesis involves (stage 1) identifying the ideas, assumptions or 'programme theories' which explain how PROMs feedback is supposed to work and in what circumstances and then (stage 2) reviewing the evidence to determine the extent to which these expectations are met in practice. For stage 1, six provisional 'functions' of PROMs feedback have been identified to structure our review (screening, monitoring, patient involvement, demand management, quality improvement and patient choice). For each function, we will identify the different programme theories that underlie these different goals and develop a logical map of the respective implementation processes. In stage 2, we will identify studies that will provide empirical tests of each component of the programme theories to evaluate the circumstances in which the potential obstacles can be overcome and whether and how the unintended consequences of PROMs feedback arise. We will synthesise this evidence to (1) identify the implementation processes which support or constrain the successful collation, interpretation and utilisation of PROMs data; (2) identify the implementation processes through which the unintended consequences of PROMs data arise and those where they can be avoided. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will not require NHS ethics approval. We have secured ethical approval for the study from the University of Leeds (LTSSP-019). We will disseminate the findings of the review through a briefing paper and dissemination event for National Health Service stakeholders, conferences and peer reviewed publications.

Mikrocytids are a broadly distributed and divergent radiation of parasites in aquatic invertebrates.

Microcell parasites have independently evolved in several eukaryotic lineages and are increasingly recognized as important and emerging pathogens of diverse hosts, including species of economic importance subject to international legislation concerning the trading of aquatic animals [1-3]. The microcell Mikrocytos mackini causes Denman Island disease of oysters and represents one of the most genetically divergent eukaryotes known. Mikrocytos has remained an isolated lineage with a limited distribution. We investigated two emerging diseases of juvenile crabs and oysters from the UK using massively parallel sequencing and targeted primer approaches to reveal that their causative agents are highly divergent lineages related to M. mackini (Paramikrocytos canceri n. gen. et n. sp. and M. mimicus sp. nov., respectively). We demonstrate a major new globally distributed parasite radiation (Mikrocytida ord. nov.) with phylogenetic affinities to the commercially important haplosporidian parasites of invertebrates. Mikrocytids have eluded detection because of their small size, intracellular habit, and extreme sequence divergence. P. canceri was frequently detected in a range of shoreline invertebrates, demonstrating that these newly recognized parasites are in fact common, diverse, and widespread and should be considered when assessing the risks of aquaculture activities, invasive species spread, and movements of ballast water and sediments with associated invertebrates.

The in utero programming effect of increased maternal androgens and a direct fetal intervention on liver and metabolic function in adult sheep.

Epigenetic changes in response to external stimuli are fast emerging as common underlying causes for the pre-disposition to adult disease. Prenatal androgenization is one such model that results in reproductive and metabolic features that are present in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We examined the effect of prenatal androgens on liver function and metabolism of adult sheep. As non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is increased in PCOS we hypothesized that this, and other important liver pathways including metabolic function, insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and steroid receptivity, would be affected. Pregnant ewes received vehicle control (C; n = 5) or testosterone propionate (TP; n = 9) twice weekly (100 mg; i.m) from d62-102 (gestation 147 days). In a novel treatment paradigm, a second cohort received a direct C (n = 4) or TP (20 mg; n = 7) fetal injection at d62 and d82. In adults, maternal TP exposure resulted in increased insulin secretion to glucose load (P<0.05) and the histological presence of fatty liver (P<0.05) independent of central obesity. Additionally, hepatic androgen receptor (AR; P<0.05), glucocorticoid receptor (GR; P<0.05), UDP- glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG; P<0.05) and IGF1 (P<0.01) expression were upregulated. The direct fetal intervention (C and TP) led to early fatty liver changes in all animals without differential changes in insulin secretion. Furthermore, hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) was up-regulated in the fetal controls (P<0.05) and this was opposed by fetal TP (P<0.05). Hepatic estrogen receptor (ERα; P<0.05) and mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4; P<0.05) were increased following fetal TP exposure. Adult liver metabolism and signaling can be altered by early exposure to sex steroids implicating epigenetic regulation of metabolic disturbances that are common in PCOS.

Higher dose imatinib for children with de novo chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia: a report from the Children's Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of imatinib in children with newly diagnosed chronic phase (CP) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). METHODS: This was an open label, multi-center phase II clinical trial. Courses were defined as consecutive 28-day intervals. Oral imatinib was administered daily at 340 mg/m² without interruption in the absence of toxicity. RESULTS: Fifty-one children received 978 28-day courses of imatinib. The most common toxicities encountered were hematologic. Forty-one patients (80%) achieved a complete hematologic response by the end of course 2. Nineteen children (38%) obtained a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at the end of course 3. Overall, 72% achieved CCyR at a median time of 5.6 months. The rate of complete molecular response (>3 log reduction) was 27%. Progression-free and overall survival at 3 years were 72% ± 6.4% and 92% ± 3.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Daily oral imatinib at a dose of 340 mg/m² is well tolerated in children. In addition, imatinib therapy is effective in inducing a high percent of hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular responses, comparable to adults with CML. (This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT00030394.).

A convenient catalyst for aqueous and protein Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

A phosphine-free palladium catalyst for aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling is presented. The catalyst is active enough to mediate hindered, ortho-substituted biaryl couplings but mild enough for use on peptides and proteins. The Suzuki-Miyaura couplings on protein substrates are the first to proceed in useful conversions. Notably, hydrophobic aryl and vinyl groups can be transferred to the protein surface without the aid of organic solvent since the aryl- and vinylboronic acids used in the coupling are water-soluble as borate salts. The convenience and activity of this catalyst prompts use in both general synthesis and bioconjugation.

Differential functions of tissue factor in the trans-activation of cellular signalling pathways.

In this study we examined the ability of tissue factor (TF) alone, or in conjunction with factor VIIa, factor Xa and TFPI in activating a number of key signalling pathways associated with cellular growth, stress and differentiation responses in human endothelial cells. We used luciferase reporter systems to demonstrate the activation of p42/44 MAPK by the TF-FVIIa complex, mediated via the PAR1 receptor. TF alone was capable of interacting with the cell surface and was sufficient to activate the JNK-SAPK pathway and subsequently AP-1, but the level of activation was enhanced by the activity of FXa on PAR1 and 2. Furthermore, the phosphorylated form of the transmembrane-cytoplasmic domain of TF was directly responsible for activation of these pathways. CREB activation occurred in response to TF-FVIIa in a non-protease dependent manner but was lowered on addition of FXa. Finally, NFkappaB activation occurred in response to FVIIa or FXa, with the latter exhibiting higher levels of activation. In conclusion, we have shown that TF is capable of activating differing signalling pathways, via more than one mechanism. The differential influence of TF is modified depending on the presence of other coagulation factors and ultimately acts as a deciding factor in the determination of cellular fate.

Healthy eating: perceptions and practice (the ASH30 study).

Perceptions of healthy eating may influence food intake. Anthropometric and dietary data were collected from 197 respondents (average age 32.5 years: 2000/2001) in Northumberland (78%) and elsewhere in the UK (22%). A questionnaire and two 3-day food diaries were completed. Foods consumed were assigned to one of five food categories from The Balance of Good Health. This paper explores respondents' concepts of 'healthy eating' and responses to the statement, 'My eating patterns are healthy' and compares responses with measured intakes for each of the five food categories. Fifty-three respondents disagreed, 62 neither agreed nor disagreed and 82 agreed with the statement. Intakes of foods containing fat and/or sugar, fruit and vegetables and meat, fish and alternatives were significantly different between the three response groups. The 'agree' group had the highest intake of fruit and vegetables and the lowest intake of foods containing fat and/or sugar and meat, fish and alternatives. A significantly higher proportion of individuals from the highest socio-economic group agreed with the statement. Significantly more individuals with Body Mass Indexes in the two lower quartiles agreed with the statement. This paper shows a relationship between perceptions of eating patterns and socio-economic status, adiposity and measured food intake.

Peer educators' perceptions of training for and implementing a community-based nutrition intervention for older adults.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of peer educators in nutrition interventions with older people. A sample of 22 people aged 60+ were recruited and trained using an accredited course for Community Nutrition Assistants which included basic nutrition and group skills. They were paid to work as peer educators in a 20-week food club intervention which ran in 13 sheltered accommodation schemes for older people in northeast England. Clubs ran for 2 hours each week and included food preparation, food tasting and sharing information and ideas about food and health. This paper reports key findings from qualitative interviews with peer educators on their perspectives on their motivation to participate, their training and their implementation of the food club intervention. It discusses some of the issues involved in the training and use of peer educators and presents lessons learned, particularly the need to target training, according to prior experience and skills.

Longitudinal dietary change from adolescence to adulthood: perceptions, attributions and evidence.

Dietary patterns and change in eating habits are influenced by multiple factors from an individual's internal and external environment. A longitudinal dietary survey study provided quantitative evidence of dietary change and investigated factors influencing dietary change from adolescence to adulthood, using sociodemographic data and participants' own perceptions of, and attributions for, their dietary change. Longitudinal dietary data were obtained in 1980 and 2000 (average age 11.6 and 32.5 years, respectively). Two questionnaires (2000) and 2 x 3-day food diaries (1980 and 2000) were collected from 198 participants. Foods consumed were assigned to one of the five food groups from The Balance of Good Health (a UK food guide). Questionnaire responses were used to examine how subjects perceived their own dietary change and the factors to which they attributed such change. Six key factors were identified from the questionnaire: parents, partners, children, nutritional awareness, employment and lack of time. Demographic and key factors were associated with degree of change in intake. The complex process of change in food consumption can be linked with an individual's attributions for change.