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1.
Lancet Haematol ; 2024 Jun 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38889737

BACKGROUND: A standard of care and optimal duration of therapy have not been established for patients with multiply relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate epcoritamab, a novel CD3 × CD20 bispecific antibody, in the third-line and later setting of follicular lymphoma. METHODS: EPCORE NHL-1 is a multicohort, single-arm, phase 1-2 trial conducted at 88 sites across 15 countries. Here, we report the primary analysis of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma in the phase 2 part of the trial, which included the pivotal (dose expansion) cohort and the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had relapsed or refractory CD20+ follicular lymphoma (grade 1-3A), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of up to 2, and had received at least two previous lines of therapy (including an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and an alkylating agent or lenalidomide). Patients were treated with subcutaneous epcoritamab 48 mg in 28-day cycles: weekly in cycles 1-3, biweekly in cycles 4-9, and every 4 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. To mitigate the risk and severity of cytokine release syndrome, in the pivotal cohort, cycle 1 consisted of a step-up dosing regimen of a 0·16-mg priming dose on day 1 and a 0·80-mg intermediate dose on day 8, followed by subsequent 48-mg full doses and prophylactic prednisolone 100 mg; in the cycle 1 optimisation cohort, a second intermediate dose of 3 mg on day 15, adequate hydration, and prophylactic dexamethasone 15 mg were evaluated during cycle 1 to further reduce risk and severity of cytokine release syndrome. Primary endpoints were independently reviewed overall response rate for the pivotal cohort and the proportion of patients with grade 2 or worse and any-grade cytokine release syndrome for the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. Analyses were done in all enrolled patients who had received at least one dose of epcoritamab. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03625037, and is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between June 19, 2020, and April 21, 2023, 128 patients (median age 65 years [IQR 55-72]; 49 [38%] female and 79 [62%] male) were enrolled and treated in the pivotal cohort (median follow-up 17·4 months [IQR 9·1-20·9]). The overall response rate was 82·0% (105 of 128 patients; 95% CI 74·3-88·3), with a complete response rate of 62·5% (80 of 128; 95% CI 53·5-70·9). The most common grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse event was neutropenia in 32 (25%) of 128 patients. Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome was reported in 83 (65%) of 128 patients; grade 3 cytokine release syndrome was reported in two (2%). Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was reported in eight (6%) of 128 patients (five [4%] grade 1; three [2%] grade 2). Between Oct 25, 2022, and Jan 8, 2024, 86 patients (median age 64 years [55-71]; 37 [43%] female and 49 [57%] male) were enrolled and treated in the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. The incidence of cytokine release syndrome was 49% (42 of 86 patients; eight [9%] grade 2; none of grade 3 or worse), with no reported immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. INTERPRETATION: Epcoritamab monotherapy showed clinically meaningful activity in patients with multiply relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, and had a manageable safety profile. FUNDING: Genmab and AbbVie.

2.
Gynecol Oncol ; 187: 221-226, 2024 May 30.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38821039

OBJECTIVE: Due to limited data on homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in older patients (≥ 70 years) with advanced stage high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), we aimed to determine the rates of HRD at diagnosis in this age group. METHODS: From the Phase 3 trial VELIA the frequency of HRD and BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (PVs) was compared between younger (< 70 years) and older participants. HRD and somatic(s) BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (PVs) were determined at diagnosis using Myriad myChoice® CDx and germline(g) BRCA1/2 PVs using Myriad BRACAnalysis CDx®. HRD was defined if a BRCA PV was present, or the genomic instability score (GIS) met threshold (GIS ≥ 33 & ≥ 42 analyzed). RESULTS: Of 1140 participants, 21% were ≥ 70 years. In total, 26% (n = 298) had a BRCA1/2 PV and HRD, 29% (n = 329) were HRD/BRCA wild-type, 33% (n = 372) non-HRD, and 12% HR-status unknown (n = 141). HRD rates were higher in younger participants, 59% (n = 476/802), compared to 40% (n = 78/197) of older participants (GIS ≥ 42) [p < 0.001]; similar rates demonstrated with GIS ≥ 33, 66% vs 48% [p < 0.001]. gBRCA PVs observed in 24% younger vs 8% of older participants (p < 0.001); sBRCA in 8% vs 10% (p = 0.2559), and HRD (GIS ≥ 42) not due to gBRCA was 35% vs 31% (p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: HRD frequency was similar in participants aged < 70 and ≥ 70 years (35% vs 31%) when the contribution of gBRCA was excluded; rates of sBRCA PVs were also similar (8% v 10%), thus underscoring the importance of HRD and BRCA testing at diagnosis in older patients with advanced HGSC given the therapeutic implications.

3.
J Clin Oncol ; 41(1): 107-116, 2023 01 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35867965

PURPOSE: In VELIA trial, veliparib combined with carboplatin-paclitaxel, followed by maintenance (veliparib-throughout) was associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with carboplatin-paclitaxel alone in patients with high-grade ovarian carcinomas. We explored the prognostic value of the modeled cancer antigen (CA)-125 elimination rate constant K (KELIM), which is known to be an indicator of the intrinsic tumor chemosensitivity (the faster the rate of CA-125 decline, the higher the KELIM and the higher the chemosensitivity), and its association with benefit from veliparib. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individual KELIM values were estimated from longitudinal CA-125 kinetics. Patients were categorized as having favorable (≥ median) or unfavorable (< median) KELIM. The prognostic value of KELIM for veliparib-related PFS benefit was explored in cohorts treated with primary or interval debulking surgery, according to the surgery completeness, the disease progression risk group, and the homologous recombination (HR) status (BRCA mutation, HR deficiency [HRD], or HR proficiency [HRP]). RESULTS: The data from 854 of 1,140 enrolled patients were analyzed (primary debulking surgery, n = 700; interval debulking surgery, n = 154). Increasing KELIM values were associated with higher benefit from veliparib in HRD cancer, as were decreasing KELIM values in HRP cancer. The highest PFS benefit from veliparib was observed in patients with both favorable KELIM and BRCA mutation (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.61) or BRCA wild-type HRD cancer (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.70), consistent with the association between poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor efficacy and platinum sensitivity. In contrast, seventy-four percent of patients with a BRCA mutation and unfavorable KELIM progressed within 18 months while on veliparib. The patients with HRP cancer and unfavorable KELIM might have benefited from the veliparib chemosensitizing effect. CONCLUSION: In addition to HRD/BRCA status, the tumor primary chemosensitivity observed during the first-line chemotherapy might be another complementary determinant of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor efficacy.


Ovarian Neoplasms , Ribose , Female , Humans , Carboplatin/therapeutic use , Ribose/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Paclitaxel , Adenosine Diphosphate/therapeutic use
4.
Gynecol Oncol ; 164(2): 245-253, 2022 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34906376

OBJECTIVE: In the Phase 3 VELIA trial (NCT02470585), PARP inhibitor (PARPi) veliparib was combined with first-line chemotherapy and continued as maintenance for patients with ovarian carcinoma enrolled regardless of chemotherapy response or biomarker status. Here, we report exploratory analyses of the impact of homologous recombination deficient (HRD) or proficient (HRP) status on progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rates during chemotherapy. METHODS: Women with Stage III-IV ovarian carcinoma were randomized to veliparib-throughout, veliparib-combination-only, or placebo. Stratification factors included timing of surgery and germline BRCA mutation status. HRD status was dichotomized at genomic instability score 33. During combination therapy, CA-125 levels were measured at baseline and each cycle; radiographic responses were assessed every 9 weeks. RESULTS: Of 1140 patients randomized, 742 had BRCA wild type (BRCAwt) tumors (HRP, n = 373; HRD/BRCAwt, n = 329). PFS hazard ratios between veliparib-throughout versus control were similar in both BRCAwt populations (HRD/BRCAwt: 22.9 vs 19.8 months; hazard ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-1.09; HRP: 15.0 vs 11.5 months; hazard ratio 0.765; 95% CI 0.56-1.04). By Cycle 3, the proportion with ≥90% CA-125 reduction from baseline was higher in those receiving veliparib (pooled arms) versus control (34% vs 23%; P = 0.0004); particularly in BRCAwt and HRP subgroups. Complete response rates among patients with measurable disease after surgery were 24% with veliparib (pooled arms) and 18% with control. CONCLUSIONS: These results potentially broaden opportunities for PARPi utilization among patients who would not qualify for frontline PARPi maintenance based on other trials.


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/drug therapy , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Recombinational DNA Repair/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Allelic Imbalance/genetics , CA-125 Antigen/metabolism , Carboplatin/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/genetics , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/metabolism , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/pathology , Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures , Female , Genes, BRCA1 , Genes, BRCA2 , Genomic Instability/genetics , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/genetics , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/metabolism , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/pathology , Humans , Induction Chemotherapy , Loss of Heterozygosity/genetics , Maintenance Chemotherapy , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Paclitaxel/administration & dosage , Progression-Free Survival , Proportional Hazards Models , Young Adult
5.
Gynecol Oncol ; 164(2): 278-287, 2022 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34930617

OBJECTIVE: In the Phase 3 VELIA trial (NCT02470585), veliparib added to carboplatin plus paclitaxel concomitantly and as maintenance for women with newly-diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus chemotherapy alone. Here we present exploratory analyses by paclitaxel dosing schedule and germline BRCA (gBRCA) status. METHODS: Women with untreated ovarian carcinoma were randomized (1:1:1) to: veliparib during chemotherapy and maintenance (veliparib-throughout), veliparib during chemotherapy followed by placebo maintenance (veliparib-combination only), or placebo during chemotherapy and maintenance (control). Chemotherapy included carboplatin plus dose-dense (DD; weekly) or every-3-week (Q3W) paclitaxel (a stratification factor at randomization), selected at the investigator's discretion pre-randomization. PFS was assessed by paclitaxel dosing schedule using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted by treatment arm and stratification factors; safety was analyzed based on paclitaxel dosing schedule and gBRCA status. RESULTS: 1132 patients were analyzed by paclitaxel schedule. Pooled treatment arms demonstrated longer median PFS with DD (n = 586) versus Q3W (n = 546) paclitaxel (ITT: 20.5 vs 15.7 months, hazard ratio [HR] 0.77; homologous recombination proficient cancer: 15.1 vs 11.8 months, HR 0.64; BRCAwt: 18.0 vs 12.9 months, HR 0.70). Comparison between arms favored veliparib-throughout versus control in both DD (PFS, 24.2 vs 18.3 months, hazard ratio 0.67) and Q3W (19.3 vs 14.6, hazard ratio 0.69) subgroups. DD paclitaxel was associated with higher incidence of Grade 3/4 neutropenia, fatigue, and anemia versus Q3W. There were no differences in toxicity between gBRCAm (n = 211) and gBRCAwt (n = 902) subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: DD paclitaxel was tolerable and associated with longer PFS in the HR proficient and gBRCAwt groups, versus Q3W. gBRCA status did not impact safety.


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage , Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/drug therapy , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/drug therapy , Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Paclitaxel/administration & dosage , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carboplatin/administration & dosage , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/genetics , Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/pathology , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Genes, BRCA1 , Genes, BRCA2 , Germ-Line Mutation , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/genetics , Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome/pathology , Humans , Induction Chemotherapy , Maintenance Chemotherapy , Middle Aged , Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/genetics , Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous/pathology , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Progression-Free Survival , Young Adult
6.
Lung Cancer ; 161: 180-188, 2021 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34607210

OBJECTIVES: Both combinations of the PARP inhibitor veliparib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy (CT), and the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor nivolumab plus CT have demonstrated encouraging efficacy for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This phase 1 dose-escalation study (NCT02944396) evaluated the quadruple combination of veliparib with nivolumab and doublet CT in patients with unresectable advanced/metastatic NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled into five dosing cohorts: patients received veliparib 120 mg twice daily (BID) combined with nivolumab 360 mg, carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL∙min, and paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 (C/PAC) or veliparib 80/120/200/240 mg BID in combination with nivolumab 360 mg, carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL∙min, and pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 (C/PEM). Primary objective was to identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of veliparib + nivolumab + CT. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of this combination were also assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled: 6 patients received veliparib 120 mg BID + nivolumab + C/PAC and 19 received veliparib (80-240 mg BID) + nivolumab + C/PEM. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported, and the RP2Ds were veliparib 120 mg BID + nivolumab + C/PAC, and veliparib 240 mg BID + nivolumab + C/PEM. The most common any-grade adverse events (AEs) were fatigue (56%), nausea (52%), and anemia (48%). Grade 3/4 AEs included anemia (32%) and neutropenia (24%), and the most frequent serious AE was malignant neoplasm progression (12%). Veliparib exhibited approximately dose proportional kinetics in the dose range 80-240 mg BID combined with nivolumab and C/PEM, with no effects on pemetrexed pharmacokinetics. Overall, the confirmed objective response rate was 40%, and best overall response was 64%. CONCLUSION: Veliparib combined with nivolumab and platinum doublet CT was tolerated in patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC, and no evidence of drug-drug interaction was observed. Although preliminary, this quadruple therapy may have promising antitumor activity.


Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Benzimidazoles , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Nivolumab/therapeutic use , Platinum/therapeutic use
7.
Mucosal Immunol ; 13(1): 118-127, 2020 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31619762

We compared outer and inner foreskin tissue from adolescent males undergoing medical male circumcision to better understand signals that increase HIV target cell availability in the foreskin. We measured chemokine gene expression and the impact of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on the density and location of T and Langerhans cells. Chemokine C-C ligand 27 (CCL27) was expressed 6.94-fold higher in the inner foreskin when compared with the outer foreskin. We show that the density of CD4+CCR5+ cells/mm2 was higher in the epithelium of the inner foreskin, regardless of STI status, in parallel with higher CCL27 gene expression. In the presence of STIs, there were higher numbers of CD4+CCR5+ cells/mm2 cells in the sub-stratum of the outer and inner foreskin with concurrently higher number of CD207+ Langerhans cells (LC) in both tissues, with the latter cells being closer to the keratin surface of the outer FS in the presence of an STI. When we tested the ability of exogenous CCL27 to induce T-cell migration in foreskin tissue, CD4 + T cells were able to relocate to the inner foreskin epithelium in response. We provide novel insight into the impact CCL27 and STIs on immune and HIV-1 target cell changes in the foreskin.


Bacterial Infections/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Chemokine CCL27/metabolism , Foreskin/metabolism , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV-1/physiology , Langerhans Cells/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Bacterial Infections/therapy , Cell Movement , Chemokine CCL27/genetics , Circumcision, Male , Foreskin/pathology , Gene Expression Regulation , HIV Infections/therapy , Humans , Male , Sexually Transmitted Diseases , South Africa , Young Adult
8.
N Engl J Med ; 381(25): 2403-2415, 2019 12 19.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31562800

BACKGROUND: Data are limited regarding the use of poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, such as veliparib, in combination with chemotherapy followed by maintenance as initial treatment in patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: In an international, phase 3, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the efficacy of veliparib added to first-line induction chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel and continued as maintenance monotherapy in patients with previously untreated stage III or IV high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive chemotherapy plus placebo followed by placebo maintenance (control), chemotherapy plus veliparib followed by placebo maintenance (veliparib combination only), or chemotherapy plus veliparib followed by veliparib maintenance (veliparib throughout). Cytoreductive surgery could be performed before initiation or after 3 cycles of trial treatment. Combination chemotherapy was 6 cycles, and maintenance therapy was 30 additional cycles. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival in the veliparib-throughout group as compared with the control group, analyzed sequentially in the BRCA-mutation cohort, the cohort with homologous-recombination deficiency (HRD) (which included the BRCA-mutation cohort), and the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: A total of 1140 patients underwent randomization. In the BRCA-mutation cohort, the median progression-free survival was 34.7 months in the veliparib-throughout group and 22.0 months in the control group (hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 0.68; P<0.001); in the HRD cohort, it was 31.9 months and 20.5 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95 CI, 0.43 to 0.76; P<0.001); and in the intention-to-treat population, it was 23.5 months and 17.3 months (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.83; P<0.001). Veliparib led to a higher incidence of anemia and thrombocytopenia when combined with chemotherapy as well as of nausea and fatigue overall. CONCLUSIONS: Across all trial populations, a regimen of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and veliparib induction therapy followed by veliparib maintenance therapy led to significantly longer progression-free survival than carboplatin plus paclitaxel induction therapy alone. The independent value of adding veliparib during induction therapy without veliparib maintenance was less clear. (Funded by AbbVie; VELIA/GOG-3005 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02470585.).


Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/drug therapy , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Benzimidazoles/adverse effects , Carboplatin/administration & dosage , Combined Modality Therapy , Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/genetics , Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/surgery , Double-Blind Method , Female , Genes, BRCA1 , Genes, BRCA2 , Humans , Intention to Treat Analysis , Maintenance Chemotherapy , Middle Aged , Mutation , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/surgery , Paclitaxel/administration & dosage , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/adverse effects , Progression-Free Survival , Quality of Life
9.
PLoS Pathog ; 11(3): e1004729, 2015 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25748093

To gain insight into female-to-male HIV sexual transmission and how male circumcision protects against this mode of transmission, we visualized HIV-1 interactions with foreskin and penile tissues in ex vivo tissue culture and in vivo rhesus macaque models utilizing epifluorescent microscopy. 12 foreskin and 14 cadaveric penile specimens were cultured with R5-tropic photoactivatable (PA)-GFP HIV-1 for 4 or 24 hours. Tissue cryosections were immunofluorescently imaged for epithelial and immune cell markers. Images were analyzed for total virions, proportion of penetrators, depth of virion penetration, as well as immune cell counts and depths in the tissue. We visualized individual PA virions breaching penile epithelial surfaces in the explant and macaque model. Using kernel density estimated probabilities of localizing a virion or immune cell at certain tissue depths revealed that interactions between virions and cells were more likely to occur in the inner foreskin or glans penis (from local or cadaveric donors, respectively). Using statistical models to account for repeated measures and zero-inflated datasets, we found no difference in total virions visualized at 4 hours between inner and outer foreskins from local donors. At 24 hours, there were more virions in inner as compared to outer foreskin (0.0495 +/- 0.0154 and 0.0171 +/- 0.0038 virions/image, p = 0.001). In the cadaveric specimens, we observed more virions in inner foreskin (0.0507 +/- 0.0079 virions/image) than glans tissue (0.0167 +/- 0.0033 virions/image, p<0.001), but a greater proportion was seen penetrating uncircumcised glans tissue (0.0458 +/- 0.0188 vs. 0.0151 +/- 0.0100 virions/image, p = 0.099) and to significantly greater mean depths (29.162 +/- 3.908 vs. 12.466 +/- 2.985 µm). Our in vivo macaque model confirmed that virions can breach penile squamous epithelia in a living model. In summary, these results suggest that the inner foreskin and glans epithelia may be important sites for HIV transmission in uncircumcised men.


Epithelial Cells/virology , Foreskin/virology , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV Infections/transmission , Animals , Cadaver , Circumcision, Male , Epithelial Cells/immunology , Female , Foreskin/immunology , HIV-1 , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Macaca mulatta , Male , Penis/immunology , Penis/virology
10.
PLoS One ; 7(7): e41271, 2012.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22815984

It has been hypothesized that increased HIV acquisition in uncircumcised men may relate to a more thinly keratinized inner foreskin. However, published data are contradictory and potentially confounded by medical indications for circumcision. We tested the hypothesis that the inner foreskin was more thinly keratinized than the outer foreskin using tissues from 19 healthy, HIV-uninfected men undergoing routine prophylactic circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. Sections from 3 foreskin anatomic sites (inner, outer, and frenar band) were snap-frozen separately. Two independent laboratories each separately stained, imaged, and measured keratin thicknesses in a blinded fashion. There was no significant difference in keratin thickness between the inner (mean = 14.67±7.48 µm) and outer (mean = 13.30±8.49 µm) foreskin, or between the inner foreskin and the frenar band (mean = 16.91±12.42 µm). While the frenar band showed the greatest intra-individual heterogeneity in keratin thickness, there was substantial inter-individual variation seen in all regions. Measurements made by the two laboratories showed high correlation (r = 0.741, 95% CI, 0.533-0.864). We conclude that, despite inter- and intra-individual variability, keratin thickness was similar in the inner and outer foreskin of healthy Ugandan men, and that reduced keratin thickness is not likely to make the inner foreskin more susceptible to HIV acquisition.


Circumcision, Male , Foreskin/physiology , Keratins/metabolism , Adult , Foreskin/metabolism , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Male , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Uganda
11.
Biol Reprod ; 86(2): 32, 2012 Feb.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21976595

Men and women differ in their susceptibility to sexually transmittable infections (STIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, a paucity of published information regarding the tissue structure of the human genital tract has limited our understanding of these gender differences. We collected cervical, vaginal, and penile tissues from human adult donors. Tissues were prepared with hematoxylin and eosin stains or immunofluorescence labeling of epithelial cell proteins and were analyzed for structural characteristics. Rhesus macaque genital tissues were evaluated to assess the use of this model for HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus transmission events. We found the stratified squamous epithelia of the male and female genital tract shared many similarities and important distinctions. Expression of E-cadherins, desmogleins 1/2, and involucrin was seen in all squamous epithelia, though expression patterns were heterogeneous. Filaggrin and a true cornified layer were markedly absent in female tissues but were clearly seen in all male epithelia. Desmogleins 1/2 were more consistent in the outermost strata of female squamous genital epithelia. Macaque tissues were similar to their respective human tissues. These initial observations highlight how male and female genital epithelia resemble and differ from one another. Further information regarding tissue structural characteristics will help to understand how STIs traverse these barriers to cause infection. This knowledge will be essential in future HIV pathogenesis, transmission, and prevention studies.


Cadherins/metabolism , Desmoglein 1/metabolism , Desmoglein 2/metabolism , Genitalia, Female/metabolism , Genitalia, Male/metabolism , Intermediate Filament Proteins/metabolism , Protein Precursors/metabolism , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/transmission , Animals , Disease Susceptibility , Epithelium/metabolism , Female , Filaggrin Proteins , Genitalia, Female/cytology , Genitalia, Male/cytology , HIV Infections/transmission , Humans , Macaca mulatta , Male , Models, Animal , Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/transmission
12.
Am J Reprod Immunol ; 65(3): 279-83, 2011 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21114567

HIV sexual transmission via the male genital tract remains poorly defined. Male circumcision was shown to reduce female-to-male transmission in Africa, providing a clue that the foreskin plays a role in the route of transmission. Scientific data in four categories relating to how the foreskin might affect HIV transmission is summarized: (i) surface area, (ii) microbiologic environment, (iii) HIV-1-susceptible cells, and (iv) tissue structure. The relative contribution of each of these areas is yet unknown, and further studies will be crucial in understanding how male circumcision affects HIV transmission in men.


Circumcision, Male , Foreskin/virology , HIV Infections/transmission , HIV-1 , Penis/virology , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Foreskin/anatomy & histology , Foreskin/microbiology , Genitalia, Male/virology , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Male , Penis/anatomy & histology , Penis/microbiology , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/microbiology , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/virology
13.
AIDS ; 24(6): 899-906, 2010 Mar 27.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20098294

OBJECTIVE: The theory that a more thinly keratinized inner foreskin leads to increased HIV-1 susceptibility has been based on relatively little published data. We sought to quantify the keratin thicknesses of the inner and outer foreskin to determine the plausibility of this hypothesis. DESIGN: We took repeated measurements of the keratin layer of 16 adult male foreskins to determine whether differences existed between the inner and outer foreskin. METHODS: Adult foreskins were collected from consenting donors undergoing elective male circumcision for unknown medical indications in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Specimens were processed, sectioned and stained for keratin using antifilaggrin fluorescent antibodies. Slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin were used as controls and compared with results from previously published studies using this method. Keratin layers were measured in a standardized fashion for each specimen. RESULTS: Comparing our fluorescence-based analysis with previously published immunohistochemical methods revealed that our method was highly accurate for measuring foreskin keratin thickness. There was significant heterogeneity in the keratin thickness of the inner and outer aspects of the male foreskin within and between the different donors. There was no significant difference between the inner and outer foreskin keratin thickness (25.37 +/- 12.51 and 20.54 +/- 12.51 microm, respectively; P = 0.451). CONCLUSION: We found no difference between the keratinization of the inner and outer aspects of the adult male foreskin. Keratin layers alone are unlikely to explain why uncircumcised men are at higher risk for HIV infection.


Foreskin/pathology , HIV Infections/pathology , HIV-1 , Keratins/metabolism , Adult , Circumcision, Male , Disease Susceptibility , Foreskin/virology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Keratins/analysis , Male
14.
AIDS Patient Care STDS ; 23(4): 227-30, 2009 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19265464

The incidence of Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, remains unaffected by immune reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals. We report a case of a 45-year-old patient with HIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) who presented with symptoms of rectal pain. After two misdiagnoses, a computed tomography (CT) scan showed marked rectal wall thickening and lymphadenopathy. A flexible sigmoidoscopy with biopsy of the rectum and peripheral blood smear with bone marrow examination revealed immunophenotypic and cytogenic findings diagnostic of Burkitt's lymphoma of the rectum. The patient has initiated an intensive chemotherapy regimen with good clinical response. There have been significantly fewer reports of colorectal lymphomas in the HAART era, although HIV-infected patients are still at higher risk for developing uncommon manifestations of these types of malignancies.


Burkitt Lymphoma/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , HIV Infections/complications , Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/diagnosis , Burkitt Lymphoma/pathology , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , HIV-1 , Humans , Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Rectum/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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