Hepatic arterial infusion of autologous CD34+ cells for hepatitis C virus-related decompensated cirrhosis: A multicenter, open-label, exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: In this multicenter clinical study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the transhepatic arterial administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized autologous peripheral blood (PB)-CD34+ cells compared with standard therapy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis type C. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to the CD34+ cell transplant (CD34+ cell) or standard-of-care (SOC) group and followed up for 52 weeks. The primary endpoints were the non-progression rate of Child-Pugh (CP) scores at 24 weeks post-enrollment and the safety of the protocol treatment. Results: Fourteen patients (CD34+ cell group: 10; SOC group: 4) were enrolled. CP scores at 24 weeks had a non-progression rate of 90% in the CD34+ cell group and 100% in the SOC group, with no significant difference between groups. Importantly, 4 out of 10 patients in the CD34+ cell group exhibited an improvement from decompensated to compensated cirrhosis, whereas all patients in the SOC group remained in decompensated cirrhosis. With regard to secondary endpoints, a trend toward increased serum albumin levels in the CD34+ cell group was noted. Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in three patients in the CD34+ cell group and in one patient in the SOC group. No causal relationship was observed between all SAEs and G-CSF, leukapheresis, or cell transplantation in the CD34+ cell group. No patients died and no hepatocellular carcinoma occurred within the study period. Conclusions: PB-CD34+ cell infusion therapy may have the potential to circumvent the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, thus avoiding the need for liver transplantation.

Efficacy and Safety of Switching from Sitagliptin to Ipragliflozin in Obese Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Single-Arm Multicenter Interventional Study.

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have limited efficacy in improving glycemic control for obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors are recommended for use in patients with type 2 diabetes with obesity. Nevertheless, there has been no previously published study on the effect of switching from dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on the systemic and organic effects in obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching from sitagliptin to ipragliflozin for 24 weeks in obese Japanese patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Fifty-one obese patients with type 2 diabetes (body mass index > 25 kg/m2) treated with sitagliptin (50 mg) and metformin but with inadequate glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] > 7.5% and < 9.0%) were enrolled. After a 4-week observation period, sitagliptin was switched to ipragliflozin (50 mg) for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of treatment. The secondary outcomes were changes in clinical characteristics and other biochemical variables. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients with an average HbA1c of 8.37 ± 0.48% and body mass index of 28.8 ± 3.8 kg/m2 were enrolled. Fifty patients completed the study, one patient stopped ipragliflozin at 4 weeks because of the development of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome. No significant change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of treatment was observed (- 0.02 ± 0.75%). However, fasting plasma glucose was reduced (- 16.2 ± 28.4 mg/dL, p < 0.001), and biochemical variables associated with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and hepatic and renal functions showed significant improvements. No severe adverse effects were observed, except in the one aforementioned case. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from sitagliptin to ipragliflozin did not alter HbA1c in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, while improving parameters related to organ homeostasis. These data provide novel information useful for selecting oral anti-diabetic agents for patients with type 2 diabetes with obesity, a risk factor for developing various complications of diabetes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: jRCT#031190022.

Phase II study of the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib for anaplastic thyroid cancer (HOPE).

PURPOSE: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and highly aggressive cancer for which effective systemic therapy has long been sought. Here, we assessed the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib in patients with unresectable ATC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was investigator-initiated and conducted under a multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized, phase II design. Eligibility criteria included pathologically proven ATC; unresectable measurable lesion as defined by RECIST 1.1; age 20 years or older; ECOG PS 0-2; and adequate organ function. The primary end-point was overall survival. Secondary end-points were progression-free survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, clinical benefit rate, and safety. RESULTS: Of 52 patients enrolled from 17 institutions, 42 patients who were confirmed to have ATC were included for efficacy analysis, and 50 patients were included for safety analysis. The estimated 1-year overall survival rate was 11.9% (95% CI, 4.4%-23.6%). One patient (2.4%) achieved complete response, four patients (9.5%) partial response, and 26 patients (61.9%) stable disease, including nine patients (21.4%) who demonstrated durable stable disease, giving an objective response rate of 11.9%, disease control rate of 73.8%, and clinical benefit rate of 33.3%. Adverse events of any grade were observed in 45 patients (90.0%), the most common of which of any grade included loss of appetite (48.0%), fatigue (48.0%), hypertension (44.0%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (26.0%). CONCLUSION: Lenvatinib treatment resulted in disappointing survival for unresectable ATC patients. Although the number of responders was small, responses were durable, indicating that lenvatinib may be beneficial for selected patients. Further investigation to identify suitable candidates for lenvatinib monotherapy is needed.

OPtical frequency domain imaging vs. INtravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary InterventiON in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A recent clinical trial demonstrated that optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) guidance in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is noninferior to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in patients with coronary artery disease with regard to target vessel failure (composed of cardiac death, myocardial infarction attributed to the target vessel, and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization) at 12 months. The impact of OFDI guidance in PCI for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains uncertain. METHODS: OPINION ACS is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, parallel group, non-inferiority trial in Japan. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive either OFDI- or IVUS-guided PCI. PCI is performed using the sirolimus-eluting stent in accordance with certain OFDI and IVUS criteria for optimal stent deployment. All patients will undergo follow-up angiography and OFDI imaging at 8 months. The primary endpoint is the minimum lumen area, as measured by OFDI at 8 months. CONCLUSION: The OPINION ACS trial outcomes will provide insights regarding the impact of OFDI-guided PCI on in-stent restenosis at 8 months in patients with ACS.

Autologous Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor-Mobilized Peripheral Blood CD34 Positive Cell Transplantation for Hemodialysis Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia: A Prospective Phase II Clinical Trial.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a devastating disease in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Based on the unsatisfactory results of autologous mononuclear cell transplantation for patients with CLI undergoing HD, we conducted a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood-derived autologous purified CD34 positive (CD34+) cell transplantation for CLI in patients undergoing HD. Six patients with CLI (two with Rutherford category 4 and four with Rutherford category 5) were enrolled. As for primary endpoint, there were no major adverse events related to this therapy. As for efficacy, the amputation-free survival rate was 100% at 1 year after cell therapy. Both rest pain scale and ulcer size were significantly improved as early as 4 weeks after therapy compared with baseline (p < .01), and three out of five ulcers completely healed within 12 weeks after cell transplantation. Clinical severity, including Fontaine scale and Rutherford category, significantly improved at 24 weeks after cell transplantation (p < .05), and further improved at 52 weeks (p < .01) compared with baseline. The improvement rate from CLI stage to non-CLI stage was 83.3% at 52 weeks. Toe skin perfusion pressure and absolute claudication distance were also significantly improved. In conclusion, G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cell transplantation was safe, feasible, and effective for patients with CLI undergoing HD. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:774-782.

Outcome From a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial　- Improvement of Peripheral Arterial Disease by Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor-Mobilized Autologous Peripheral-Blood-Mononuclear Cell Transplantation (IMPACT).

BACKGROUND: The clinical usefulness of peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cell (MNC) transplantation in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), especially in those with mild-to-moderate severity, has not been fully clarified.Methods and Results:A randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized PBMNC transplantation in patients with PAD (Fontaine stage II-IV and Rutherford category 1-5) caused by arteriosclerosis obliterans or Buerger's disease. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). In total, 107 subjects were enrolled. At baseline, Fontaine stage was II/III in 82 patients and IV in 21, and 54 patients were on hemodialysis. A total of 50 patients had intramuscular transplantation of PBMNC combined with standard of care (SOC) (cell therapy group), and 53 received SOC only (control group). PFS tended to be improved in the cell therapy group than in the control group (P=0.07). PFS in Fontaine stage II/III subgroup was significantly better in the cell therapy group than in the control group. Cell therapy-related adverse events were transient and not serious. CONCLUSIONS: In this first randomized, large-scale clinical trial of G-CSF-mobilized PBMNC transplantation, the cell therapy was tolerated by a variety of PAD patients. The PBMNC therapy was significantly effective for inhibiting disease progression in mild-to-moderate PAD.

Optical Frequency Domain Imaging Versus Intravascular Ultrasound in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (OPINION Trial): Results From the OPINION Imaging Study.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to clarify how intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography affect percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with current-generation drug-eluting stents in a pre-specified substudy of the OPINION (OPtical frequency domain imaging versus INtravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary interventiON) trial, a multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial comparing optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI)-guided PCI with IVUS-guided PCI. BACKGROUND: The impact of these 2 imaging modalities in guiding PCI remains unknown. METHODS: Of 829 patients enrolled in the OPINION trial, 106 were included in the present imaging substudy. Their PCI was guided by either IVUS or OFDI, but all patients were imaged by both modalities after PCI and by OFDI at 8 months. Angiographic, OFDI, and IVUS images were analyzed by independent core laboratories, and statistical analysis was done independently by a dedicated institution. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients underwent either OFDI-guided (n = 54) or IVUS-guided (n = 49) PCI. Immediately after PCI, OFDI-guided PCI was associated with a smaller trend of minimum stent area (5.28 ± 1.65 mm2 vs. 6.12 ± 2.34 mm2; p = 0.088), fewer proximal stent-edge hematomas (p = 0.04), and fewer irregular protrusions (p = 0.014) than IVUS-guided PCI. At 8 months, the neointima area tended to be smaller in the OFDI-guided PCI group than in the IVUS-guided PCI group (0.56 ± 0.30 mm2 vs. 0.80 ± 0.65 mm2; p = 0.057), although the percentage of uncovered struts was significantly higher in the OFDI-guided PCI group than in the IVUS-guided PCI group (6.97 ± 7.03% vs. 4.67 ± 6.43%; p = 0.039). The minimum lumen area was comparable in both groups (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: There were several differences in local findings between OFDI- and IVUS-guided PCI as expected given the different protocols for stent sizing in the 2 groups. The minimum lumen area at the 8-month follow-up was comparable, suggesting that OFDI- and IVUS-guided PCI are similarly feasible using the current-generation drug-eluting stents. (OPtical frequency domain imaging versus INtravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary interventiON; NCT01873222).

Optical frequency domain imaging vs. intravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary intervention (OPINION trial): one-year angiographic and clinical results.

AIMS: Optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is a recently developed, light-based, high-resolution intravascular imaging technique. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a widely used, conventional imaging technique for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of OFDI-guided PCI compared with IVUS-guided PCI in terms of clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We did a prospective, multicentre, randomized (ratio 1:1), active-controlled, non-inferiority study to compare head-to-head OFDI vs. IVUS in patients undergoing PCI with a second generation drug-eluting stent. The primary endpoint was target vessel failure defined as a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel related myocardial infarction, and ischaemia-driven target vessel revascularization until 12 months after the PCI. The major secondary endpoint was angiographic binary restenosis at 8 months. We randomly allocated 829 patients to receive OFDI-guided PCI (n = 414) or IVUS-guided PCI (n = 415). Target vessel failure occurred in 21 (5.2%) of 401 patients undergoing OFDI-guided PCI, and 19 (4.9%) of 390 patients undergoing IVUS-guided PCI, demonstrating non-inferiority of OFDI-guided PCI to IVUS-guided PCI (hazard ratio 1.07, upper limit of one-sided 95% confidence interval 1.80; Pnon-inferiority = 0.042). With 89.8% angiographic follow-up, the rate of binary restenosis was comparable between OFDI-guided PCI and IVUS-guided PCI (in-stent: 1.6% vs. 1.6%, P = 1.00; and in-segment: 6.2% vs. 6.0%, P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: The 12-month clinical outcome in patients undergoing OFDI-guided PCI was non-inferior to that of patients undergoing IVUS-guided PCI. Both OFDI-guided and IVUS-guided PCI yielded excellent angiographic and clinical results, with very low rates of 8-month angiographic binary restenosis and 12-month target vessel failure. CLINICAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01873027.

Evaluation of prognostic significance of granulocyte-related factors in cancer patients undergoing personalized peptide vaccination.

Since cancer vaccines do not always elicit beneficial effects in treated patients, identification of biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes would be highly desirable. We previously reported that abnormal granulocytes present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) may contribute to poor prognosis in advanced prostate cancer patients receiving personalized peptide vaccination (PPV). In the current study, we examined whether soluble factors derived from granulocytes, such as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and arginase 1 (ARG1), and inhibitory cytokine TGFß in pre-vaccination plasma were useful for predicting prognosis after PPV in advanced cancer patients. In biliary tract cancer (n=25), multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that patients with higher plasma MMP-9 levels had a significantly worse overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.637, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.670 - 12.877, P = 0.003], whereas MPO, ARG1, or TGFß levels were not correlated with OS. Similarly, patients with higher MMP-9 levels showed worse prognosis than those with lower MMP-9 levels in other types of advanced cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (n=32, P = 0.037 by log-rank test), and pancreatic cancer (n=41, P = 0.042 by log-rank test). Taken together, plasma MMP-9 levels before vaccination might be potentially useful as a biomarker for selecting advanced cancer patients who would benefit from PPV.

Combinational delivery of lipid-enveloped polymeric nanoparticles carrying different peptides for anti-tumor immunotherapy.

AIM: The authors aimed to investigate whether nanotechnology-based delivery of antigenic peptides is feasible for efficiently inducing anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses through vaccination. MATERIALS & METHODS: Three different murine melanoma antigens were entrapped in lipid-coated poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (NPs) by the double emulsion method. RESULTS: The loading efficiency of hydrophilic peptides was greatly improved when lipids were introduced to formulate lipid-coated NPs. The lipid-coated NPs carrying a single peptide and/or combinations of multiple lipid-coated NPs carrying antigenic peptides were characterized in vitro and in vivo in a C57/BL6 (B6) mouse model. Both the single melanoma antigen peptide-loaded NPs and combinational delivery of lipid-coated NPs carrying different peptides could induce antigen-specific T-cell responses. However, single peptide-loaded NPs failed to significantly delay the growth of subcutaneously inoculated B16 melanoma cells in a prophylactic setting. By contrast, the combinational delivery of lipid-coated NPs carrying different peptides significantly suppressed growth of inoculated B16 melanoma cells.

Personalized peptide vaccination for advanced biliary tract cancer: IL-6, nutritional status and pre-existing antigen-specific immunity as possible biomarkers for patient prognosis.

Considering that the prognosis of patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains very poor, with a median survival of less than 1 year, new therapeutic approaches need to be developed. In the present study, a phase II clinical trial of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV) was conducted in advanced BTC patients to evaluate the feasibility of this treatment and to identify potential biomarkers. A maximum of 4 human leukocyte antigen-matched peptides, which were selected based on the pre-existing host immunity prior to vaccination, were subcutaneously administered (weekly for 6 consecutive weeks and bi-weekly thereafter) to 25 advanced BTC patients without severe adverse events. Humoral and/or T cell responses specific to the vaccine antigens were substantially induced in a subset of the vaccinated patients. As shown by multivariate Cox regression analysis, lower interleukin-6 (IL-6) and higher albumin levels prior to vaccination and greater numbers of selected vaccine peptides were significantly favorable factors for overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=1.123, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.008-1.252, P=0.035; HR=0.158, 95% CI 0.029-0.860, P=0.033; HR=0.258, 95% CI 0.098-0.682, P=0.006; respectively]. Based on the safety profile and substantial immune responses to vaccine antigens, PPV could be a promising approach for refractory BTC, although its clinical efficacy remains to be investigated in larger-scale prospective studies. The identified biomarkers are potentially useful for selecting BTC patients who would benefit from PPV.

Personalized peptide vaccination in patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer.

Since the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor, the development of novel therapeutic approaches, including cancer vaccines, is highly desirable. In the current study, we conducted a phase II study of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV), in which a maximum of 4 peptides were selected based on pre-existing humoral immune responses and administered subcutaneously (weekly for 6 consecutive weeks and bi-weekly thereafter) in refractory NSCLC patients. Forty-one refractory NSCLC patients (4 stage IIIb, 22 stage IV and 15 recurrent), who had failed to respond to chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy (median number of regimens, 3; median duration, 10 months), were enrolled. Median overall survival (OS) was 304 days with a one-year survival rate of 42% in the enrolled patients. The main toxicity of PPV was skin reactions at the injection sites, but no serious adverse events were observed. In order to identify potential biomarkers for predicting OS, pre-vaccination and post-vaccination clinical findings and laboratory data were retrospectively assessed and evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Among the pre-vaccination factors examined, high C-reactive protein (CRP) level was a significant predictor of unfavorable OS [hazard ratio (HR)=10.115, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.447-41.806, P=0.001]. Among the post-vaccination factors, high CRP level and low frequency of CD3⁺CD26⁺ cells were significant predictors of unfavorable OS (HR=23.127, 95% CI=2.919-183.233, P=0.003; HR=0.952, 95% CI=0.917-0.989, P=0.012). Taken together, our results suggest the feasibility of PPV for the treatment of refractory NSCLC. Evaluation of the identified factors before or at an early stage of vaccination could be potentially useful for selecting NSCLC patients who would likely have better prognosis following PPV.

Immunological evaluation of personalized peptide vaccination in refractory small cell lung cancer.

Since the prognosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains poor, development of new therapeutic approaches, including immunotherapies, would be desirable. In the current study, to evaluate immunological responses in refractory SCLC patients, we conducted a small scale phase II clinical trial of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV), in which vaccine antigens are selected based on pre-existing host immunity. Ten refractory SCLC patients, who had failed to respond to chemo- and/or chemoradiotherapies (median number of regimens, 2.5; median duration, 20.5 months), were enrolled. A maximum of four human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched peptides showing higher antigen-specific humoral responses were subcutaneously administered (weekly for six consecutive weeks and then bi-weekly thereafter). PPV was terminated before the 3rd administration in four patients because of rapid disease progression, whereas the remaining six patients completed at least one cycle (six times) of vaccinations. Peptide-specific immunological boosting was observed in all of the six patients at the end of the first cycle of vaccinations, with their survival time of 25, 24.5 (alive), 10 (alive), 9.5, 6.5, and 6 months. Number of previous chemotherapy regimens and frequency of CD3(+) CD26(+) cells in peripheral blood were potentially prognostic in the vaccinated patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.540, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.188-5.431, P = 0.016; HR = 0.941, 95% CI = 0.878-1.008, P = 0.084; respectively). Based on the feasible immune responses in refractory SCLC patients who received at least one cycle (six times) of vaccinations, PPV could be recommended for a next stage of larger-scale, prospective clinical trials.

Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood as a biomarker in cancer patients receiving peptide vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Because only a subset of patients show clinical responses to peptide-based cancer vaccination, it is critical to identify biomarkers for selecting patients who would most likely benefit from this treatment. METHODS: The authors characterized the gene expression profiles in peripheral blood of vaccinated patients to identify biomarkers to predict patient prognosis. Peripheral blood was obtained from advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer patients, who survived for >900 days (long-term survivors, n = 20) or died within 300 days (short-term survivors, n = 20) after treatment with personalized peptide vaccination. Gene expression profiles in prevaccination and postvaccination peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed by DNA microarray. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical or pathological features between the 2 groups. Microarray analysis of prevaccination PBMCs identified 19 genes that were differentially expressed between the short-term and long-term survivors. Among the 15 up-regulated genes in the short-term survivors, 13 genes, which were also differentially expressed in postvaccination PBMCs, were associated with gene signatures of granulocytes. When a set of 4 differentially expressed genes were selected as the best combination to determine patient survival, prognosis was correctly predicted in 12 of 13 patients in a validation set (accuracy, 92%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that abnormal granulocytes present in the PBMC faction may contribute to poor prognosis in advanced prostate cancer patients receiving personalized peptide vaccination. Gene expression profiling in peripheral blood might thus be informative for devising better therapeutic strategies by predicting patient prognosis after cancer vaccines.

Induction of anti-tumor cytotoxic T cell responses through PLGA-nanoparticle mediated antigen delivery.

Nanotechnology-based antigen delivery has been developing as a vaccine strategy due to its dose-sparing and prolonged antigen presentation features. In the current study, we examined the feasibility of nanoparticle (NP)-mediated delivery of antigenic peptides to efficiently induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses against tumor-associated self-antigens in C57BL/6 mouse models. The biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticle (PLGA-NP) carrying murine melanoma antigenic peptides, hgp100(25-33) and TRP2(180-188), were prepared by double emulsion method. Efficient uptake of PLGA-NP by murine dendritic cells was shown in vitro and in vivo, using NP labeled with the fluorescent dye DiD. Intradermal injection of peptide-loaded PLGA-NP into mice induced antigen-specific T cell responses more strongly than the peptides mixed with Freund's adjuvant. More importantly, vaccination with PLGA-NP carrying both TRP2(180-188) and a toll-like receptor 4 agonist, monophosphoryl lipid A, significantly delayed growth of subcutaneously inoculated B16 melanoma cells in a prophylactic setting. Furthermore, the anti-tumor activity of NP-mediated peptide vaccination was significantly augmented by combined treatment with interferon-γ, which might prevent tumor escape through up-regulation of MHC class I expression on tumor cells. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of NP-mediated antigen delivery for cancer immunotherapy, in particular when immune escape mechanisms of tumor cells are blocked simultaneously.

Prefrontal brain function in children with anorexia nervosa: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.

To investigate the prefrontal hemodynamic response during a cognitive task in childhood anorexia nervosa (AN), we measured regional cerebral blood volume changes in terms of changes in hemoglobin concentrations [Hb], using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Sixteen females with AN (mean age 14.2 years old) and 12 age-matched healthy female control subjects (mean age 14.3 years old) participated in this study. Waveform patterns for [Hb] during the word fluency task differed between the two groups, although their task performances showed no significant difference. In the control group, the [total-Hb] and [oxy-Hb] immediately increased and the [deoxy-Hb] immediately decreased after the beginning of the task and gradually reached the baseline level after the end of the task. The patients with AN were consistently characterized by an unchanged or less fluctuating response pattern of [total-Hb], [oxy-Hb] and [deoxy-Hb] during the task and rest periods. In the AN group, subjects with higher Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) scores showed higher [oxy-Hb] during the task. On the other hand, in the control group, subjects with higher EAT-26 scores showed lower [oxy-Hb] during the task. The grand waveforms of each [Hb] during a motor activation task, which was applied as a control task, did not differ significantly between two groups. The different prefrontal hemodynamic responses might indicate that AN subjects might apply fewer brain circuits or fewer neurons per circuit during cognitive tasks and might use different brain circuits in relation to their preoccupation with eating behaviors.