RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The intestinal microbiome has been associated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in humans and causally implicated in ICI responsiveness in animal models. Two recent human trials demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from ICI responders can rescue ICI responses in refractory melanoma, but FMT has specific limitations to scaled use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an early-phase clinical trial of a cultivated, orally delivered 30-species microbial consortium (Microbial Ecosystem Therapeutic 4, MET4) designed for co-administration with ICIs as an alternative to FMT and assessed safety, tolerability and ecological responses in patients with advanced solid tumors. RESULTS: The trial achieved its primary safety and tolerability outcomes. There were no statistically significant differences in the primary ecological outcomes; however, differences in MET4 species relative abundance were evident after randomization that varied by patient and species. Increases in the relative abundance of several MET4 taxa, including Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium, taxa previously associated with ICI responsiveness, were observed and MET4 engraftment was associated with decreases in plasma and stool primary bile acids. CONCLUSIONS: This trial is the first report of the use of a microbial consortium as an alternative to FMT in advanced cancer patients receiving ICI and the results justify the further development of microbial consortia as a therapeutic co-intervention for ICI treatment in cancer.
Assuntos
Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico , Melanoma , Animais , Humanos , Inibidores de Checkpoint Imunológico/uso terapêutico , Ecossistema , Resultado do Tratamento , Transplante de Microbiota Fecal/métodos , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center of Excellence announced Project Optimus focusing on dose optimization for oncology drugs. The Methodology for the Development of Innovative Cancer Therapies (MDICT) Taskforce met to review and discuss the optimization of dosage for oncology trials and to develop a practical guide for oncology phase I trials. Defining a single recommended phase II dose based on toxicity may define doses that are neither the most effective nor the best tolerated. MDICT recommendations address the need for robust non-clinical data which are needed to inform trial design, as well as an expert team including statisticians and pharmacologists. The protocol must be flexible and adaptive, with clear definition of all endpoints. Health authorities should be consulted early and regularly. Strategies such as randomization, intrapatient dose escalation, and real-world eligibility criteria are encouraged whereas serial tumor sampling is discouraged in the absence of a strong rationale and appropriately validated assay. Endpoints should include consideration of all longitudinal toxicity. The phase I dose escalation trial should define the recommended dose range for later testing in randomized phase II trials, rather than a single recommended phase II dose, and consider scenarios where different populations may require different dosages. The adoption of these recommendations will improve dosage selection in early clinical trials of new anticancer treatments and ultimately, outcomes for patients.
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Antineoplásicos , Neoplasias , Humanos , Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Ensaios Clínicos Fase I como Assunto , Ensaios Clínicos Fase II como Assunto , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Oncologia , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Projetos de Pesquisa , Terapias em Estudo/métodosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Activation of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is linked to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), with a strong association between LIF expression and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). MSC-1 (AZD0171) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to LIF, promoting antitumor inflammation through TAM modulation and cancer stem cell inhibition, slowing tumor growth. In this phase I, first-in-human, open-label, dose-escalation study, MSC-1 monotherapy was assessed in patients with advanced, unresectable solid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using accelerated-titration dose escalation followed by a 3 + 3 design, MSC-1 doses of 75-1500 mg were administered intravenously every 3 weeks (Q3W) until progression or unmanageable toxicity. Additional patients were enrolled in selected cohorts to further evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics after escalation to the next dose had been approved. The primary objective was characterizing safety and determining the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Evaluating antitumor activity and progression-free survival (PFS) by RECIST v1.1, PK and immunogenicity were secondary objectives. Exploratory objectives included pharmacodynamic effects on circulating LIF and TME immune markers. RESULTS: Forty-one patients received treatment. MSC-1 monotherapy was safe and well tolerated at all doses, with no dose-limiting toxicities. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached and the RP2D was determined to be 1500 mg Q3W. Almost half of the patients had treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), with no apparent trends across doses; no patients withdrew due to TRAEs. There were no objective responses; 23.7% had stable disease for ≥2 consecutive tumor assessments. Median PFS was 5.9 weeks; 23.7% had PFS >16 weeks. On-treatment changes in circulating LIF and TME signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 signaling, M1:M2 macrophage populations, and CD8+ T-cell infiltration were consistent with the hypothesized mechanism of action. CONCLUSIONS: MSC-1 was very well tolerated across doses, with prolonged PFS in some patients. Biomarker and preclinical data suggest potential synergy with checkpoint inhibitors.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos , Neoplasias , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados , Humanos , Dose Máxima Tolerável , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ripretinib, a broad-spectrum KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor A switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor as ≥ fourth-line therapy. We present the efficacy and safety of ripretinib in patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma enrolled in the expansion phase of the ripretinib phase I study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma were enrolled and treated with ripretinib at the recommended phase II dose of 150 mg once daily in 28-day cycles. Investigator-assessed responses according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors version 1.1 were carried out on day 1 of cycles 3, 5, 7, every three cycles thereafter, and at a final study visit. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma (25 with KIT mutations, 1 with KIT-amplification) were enrolled. Patients had received prior immunotherapy (n = 23, 88%) and KIT inhibitor therapy (n = 9, 35%). Confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 23% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9%-44%; one complete and five partial responses] with a median duration of response of 9.1 months (range, 6.9-31.3 months). Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 7.3 months (95% CI 1.9-13.6 months). Patients without prior KIT inhibitor therapy had a higher ORR and longer mPFS (n = 17, ORR 29%, mPFS 10.2 months) than those who had received prior KIT inhibitor treatment (n = 9, ORR 11%, mPFS 2.9 months). The most common treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade in ≥15% of patients were increased lipase, alopecia, actinic keratosis, myalgia, arthralgia, decreased appetite, fatigue, hyperkeratosis, nausea, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome. There were no grade ≥4 treatment-related TEAEs. CONCLUSIONS: In this phase I study, ripretinib demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a well-tolerated safety profile in patients with KIT-altered metastatic melanoma, suggesting ripretinib may have a clinically meaningful role in treating these patients.
Assuntos
Melanoma , Naftiridinas , Ureia , Adulto , Tumores do Estroma Gastrointestinal , Humanos , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Naftiridinas/efeitos adversos , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases , Ureia/efeitos adversos , Ureia/análogos & derivadosRESUMO
AIMS: In the current eighth edition head and neck TNM staging, extranodal extension (ENE) is an adverse feature in oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OSCC). The previous seventh edition N1 with ENE is now staged as N2a. Seventh edition N2+ with ENE is staged as N3b in the eighth edition. We evaluated its potential impact on patients treated with surgery and postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: OSCC patients treated with primary surgery and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy between January 2005 and December 2014 were reviewed. Cohorts with pathological node-negative (pN-), pathological node-positive without ENE (pN+_pENE-) and pathological node-positive with ENE (pN+_pENE+) diseases were compared for local control, regional control, distant control and overall survival. The pN+ cohorts were further stratified into seventh edition N-staging subgroups for outcomes comparison. RESULTS: In total, 478 patients were evaluated: 173 pN-; 159 pN+_pENE-; 146 pN+_pENE+. Outcomes at 5 years were: local control was identical (78%) in all cohorts (P = 0.892), whereas regional control was 91%, 80% and 68%, respectively (P < 0.001). Distant control was 97%, 87%, 68% (P < 0.001) and overall survival was 75%, 53% and 39% (P < 0.001), respectively. Overall survival for N1 and N2a subgroups was not significantly different. In the seventh edition N2b subgroup of pENE- (n = 79) and pENE+ (n = 79) cohorts, overall survival was 67% and 37%, respectively. In the seventh edition N2c subgroups, overall survival for pENE- (n = 17) and pENE+ (n = 38) cohorts was 65% and 35% (P = 0.08), respectively. Overall, an additional 128 patients (42% pN+) were upstaged as N3b. CONCLUSIONS: When eighth edition staging was applied, stage migration across the N2-3 categories resulted in expected larger separations of overall survival by stage. Patients treated with primary radiation without surgical staging should have outcomes carefully monitored. Strategies to predict ENE preoperatively and trials to improve the outcomes of pENE+ patients should be explored.
Assuntos
Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço , Neoplasias Bucais , Humanos , Neoplasias Bucais/patologia , Neoplasias Bucais/radioterapia , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Prognóstico , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Deregulation of the PI3K signalling pathway is frequent in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and may be implicated in radioresistance. We report on the results from a phase I 3 + 3 dose escalation study of alpelisib, a class I α-specific PI3K inhibitor in combination with concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation (CRT) in patients with locoregionally advanced SCCHN (LA-SCCHN). METHODS: Eligible patients had previously untreated LA-SCCHN and were candidates for CRT. The primary objective was to evaluate safety and determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Alpelisib was given orally once daily at two dose levels: 200 mg and 250 mg. CRT consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 IV every three weeks and standard fractionation radiotherapy (IMRT) 70 Gy in 35 fractions. RESULTS: Nine patients were enrolled (six alpelisib 200 mg, three 250 mg). Oropharynx was the primary site in all patients (seven p16-positive; five T1-2N2M0, four T3-4N2-3M0 [AJCC 7th edition]). All patients completed CRT within seven weeks. Grade 3 alpelisib-related toxicities occurred in four patients. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed at 200 mg among three DLT-evaluable patients. Two of two DLT-evaluable patients treated at 250 mg experienced DLTs (inability to complete ≥75% alpelisib secondary to radiation dermatitis and febrile neutropenia). Thus, RP2D was declared at 200 mg. After median follow-up of 39.7 months, two patients developed pulmonary metastases despite locoregional control. Three-year overall survival was 77.8% (95% CI 36.5%-93.9%). CONCLUSION: Alpelisib at 200 mg has a manageable safety profile in combination with cisplatin-based CRT in LA-SCCHN.
Assuntos
Quimiorradioterapia/métodos , Cisplatino/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço/tratamento farmacológico , Tiazóis/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tiazóis/farmacologiaRESUMO
In epidemiologic studies, patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are classified mainly by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. However, some patients are of an unclear subsite, the "gray zone" cases, which could reflect ICD coding error, absence of primary subsite, or extensive primary tumors that cross over multiple subsites of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Patients with gray zone squamous cell carcinomas were compared with patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status that was determined by p16 immunostaining or HPV serology. Comparisons consisted of clinicodemographic features and prognostic outcomes presented by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models, reported as hazard ratios. There were 158 consecutive patients with gray zone HNSCC diagnosed at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center between 2006 and 2017: 66 had subsite coding discrepancies against the clinician's documentation ("discrepant" cases; e.g., the diagnosis by the clinician was OSCC, while the classification by ICD coding was OPSCC), while 92 were squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary of the head and neck (SCCUPHN) after complete diagnostic workup. Comparators included 721 consecutive OSCC and 938 OPSCC adult cases. All HPV-positive cohorts (OPSCC, discrepant, and SCCUPHN) had similar clinicodemographic characteristics and better 3- and 5-y overall survival and disease-free survival than their HPV-negative counterparts. In contrast, HPV-negative discrepant cases had prognostic outcomes most similar to HPV-negative OPSCC cases, while HPV-negative SCCUPHN had survival outcomes most similar to those of patients with OSCC in this study. HPV-positive status can improve the classification of patients with unclear or discrepant oral/oropharyngeal subsite, an improvement over classification systems that are solely clinician defined or conducted through ICD coding. However, due to clinical practice, we could not make definitive reclassification for patients with HPV-negative gray zone HNSCC.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/classificação , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/classificação , Neoplasias Orofaríngeas/classificação , Papillomaviridae , Infecções por Papillomavirus , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/virologia , Codificação Clínica , Feminino , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/virologia , Humanos , Classificação Internacional de Doenças , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Orofaríngeas/virologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy (IO) agents can cause late-onset immune-related adverse events (irAEs). In phase I trials, observation for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) is typically limited to the first cycle. The incidence of delayed-onset DLTs and their potential impact on dose determination have not been fully elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients enrolled in early phase IO trials at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between August 2012 and September 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, applying trial-specific definitions for DLTs. A clinically significant AE (csAE) was defined as a treatment-related adverse event requiring corticosteroids, hormone replacement, IO delay or discontinuation. RESULTS: A total of 352 consecutive trial enrolments in 21 early phase clinical trials were included. Two-hundred seventy-eight patients (79%) received monotherapy and 74 (21%) received combination IO. Two hundred sixty (74%) patients experienced irAEs. There were two protocol-defined DLTs. Twenty (5.7%) patients had 24 csAEs qualifying as DLTs except for occurrence after the protocol-specified DLT period. One-hundred and six (10%) of irAEs were csAEs, including endocrine (26%), respiratory (14%), gastrointestinal (11%), general (10%), dermatological (8%), hepatic (8%), musculoskeletal (6%), pancreatic (6%), haematological, metabolic, neurological, cardiac (each 2%), infective and ocular (each 1%) events. The highest risk of first-onset csAE was during the first 4 weeks compared with the period from 4 weeks to end of treatment (odds ratio 3.13, 95% confidence interval 1.95-5.02). The median time to first onset csAE was significantly shorter with combination than monotherapy IO (32 vs. 146 days, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our series of early phase IO trials, the risk of csAE was highest during the initial 4 weeks on IO treatment, supporting the use of the conventional DLT period for dose escalation decision. However, there were 24 clinically significant late-onset DLTs in 5.7% of patients. Combination IO was associated with greater risk of and also earlier onset for csAE, which may need to be considered for early phase trial design.
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Antineoplásicos Imunológicos/efeitos adversos , Efeitos Colaterais e Reações Adversas Relacionados a Medicamentos/diagnóstico , Imunoterapia/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Medição de Risco/métodos , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Efeitos Colaterais e Reações Adversas Relacionados a Medicamentos/etiologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Dose Máxima Tolerável , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/patologia , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) agents have become the standard of care for platinum-refractory recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and are currently being evaluated in various disease settings. However, despite the gain in overall survival seen in some of the clinical trials, the majority of patients display primary resistance and do not benefit from these agents. Taking into consideration the potentially severe immune-related toxicities and their high cost, the search for predictive biomarkers of response is crucial. Besides Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression, other biomarkers such as immune infiltration, tumor mutational burden or immune-gene expression profiling have been explored, but none of them has been validated in this disease. Among these, the microbiota has recently garnered tremendous interest since it has proven to influence the efficacy of PD-1 blockade in some tumor types. With the accumulating evidence on the effect of the microbiota in HNSCC tumorigenesis and progression, the study of its potential role as a predictive immune biomarker is warranted. This review examines the available evidence on emerging immune predictive biomarkers of response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in HNSCC, introducing the microbiota and its potential use as a predictive immune biomarker in this disease.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos Imunológicos/uso terapêutico , Antígeno B7-H1/antagonistas & inibidores , Biomarcadores Tumorais/antagonistas & inibidores , Pontos de Checagem do Ciclo Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço/tratamento farmacológico , Antígeno B7-H1/imunologia , Biomarcadores Tumorais/imunologia , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/imunologia , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/patologia , Humanos , Prognóstico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço/imunologia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeça e Pescoço/patologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Genomic alterations that activate the MAPK signaling pathway frequently occur in Type I Epithelial Ovarian Cancers (EOCs). We evaluated therapeutic response outcomes in patients with type I EOC treated with genotype-matched therapy on clinical trials enrolled in a prospective molecular profiling program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumor tissues were prospectively screened for genomic alterations using MALDI-ToF mass-spectrometry platform or targeted sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq TruSeq Amplicon Cancer Panel. Treatment outcomes on genotype-matched trials were retrospectively reviewed using RECIST version 1.1 and Gynecological Cancer Intergroup CA125 related-response criteria RESULTS: 55 patients with type I EOC underwent molecular profiling, 41 (75%) low grade serous (LGS), 9 (16%) clear cell (CC), and 5 (9%) mucinous (MC) histologies. Thirty-five patients (64%) were found to have ≥1 somatic mutations: 23 KRAS, 6 NRAS, 5 PIK3CA, 2 PTEN, 1 BRAF, 1 AKT, 1 TP53, and 1 CTNNB1. Fifteen patients were subsequently enrolled in genotype-matched phase I or II trials, including 14 patients with KRAS/NRAS mutations treated with MEK inhibitor targeted combinations. Among 14 RECIST evaluable patients, there were 7 partial responses (PR), 7 stable disease (SD) and 1 disease progression (PD). CA125 responses were observed in 10/10 evaluable KRAS/NRAS mutant patients treated with MEK inhibitor combinations CONCLUSIONS: Genotyping and targeted sequencing of Type I EOCs frequently identifies actionable mutations. Matched treatment with MEK-based combination therapy in KRAS and/or NRAS mutant type I EOC patients is an active therapeutic strategy.
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Neoplasias Epiteliais e Glandulares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Ovarianas/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Antígeno Ca-125/sangue , Carcinoma Epitelial do Ovário , Feminino , GTP Fosfo-Hidrolases/genética , Genes ras , Genótipo , Humanos , Proteínas de Membrana/sangue , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno/antagonistas & inibidores , Mutação , Neoplasias Epiteliais e Glandulares/sangue , Neoplasias Epiteliais e Glandulares/genética , Neoplasias Ovarianas/sangue , Neoplasias Ovarianas/genética , Estudos Prospectivos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas p21(ras)/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Heat-shock protein 990 (HSP990) is a potent and selective synthetic small-molecule HSP90 inhibitor. The primary objectives of this phase I first-in-human study were to determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives included characterisation of the safety profile, pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs). METHODS: Heat-shock protein 990 was administered orally once or two times weekly on a 28-day cycle schedule in patients with advanced solid tumours. Dose escalation was guided by a Bayesian logistic regression model with overdose control. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were enrolled. Fifty-three patients received HSP990 once weekly at 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 or 60 mg, whereas 11 patients received HSP990 two times weekly at 25 mg. Median duration of exposure was 8 weeks (range 1-116 weeks) and 12 patients remained on treatment for >16 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in seven patients and included diarrhoea, QTc prolongation, ALT/AST elevations and central neurological toxicities. The most common drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea, fatigue and decreased appetite. Further dose escalation beyond 60 mg once weekly was not possible owing to neurological toxicity. Rapid absorption, no drug accumulation and large interpatient variability in PK exposures were observed. No objective responses were seen; 25 patients had a best overall response of stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: Heat-shock protein 990 is relatively well tolerated, with neurological toxicity being the most relevant DLT. The single agent MTD/RP2D of HSP990 was declared at 50 mg once weekly.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Choque Térmico Pequenas/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Piridonas/administração & dosagem , Pirimidinas/administração & dosagem , Administração Oral , Adulto , Idoso , Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Antineoplásicos/farmacocinética , Progressão da Doença , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Feminino , Proteínas de Choque Térmico HSP90/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Choque Térmico Pequenas/efeitos adversos , Proteínas de Choque Térmico Pequenas/farmacocinética , Humanos , Masculino , Dose Máxima Tolerável , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias/patologia , Piridonas/efeitos adversos , Piridonas/farmacocinética , Pirimidinas/efeitos adversos , Pirimidinas/farmacocinética , Resultado do TratamentoAssuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidor p16 de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina/isolamento & purificação , Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço/tratamento farmacológico , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/tratamento farmacológico , Cetuximab , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
In a previous study, we reported the short- and long-term effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on rabbit sperm quality. This study was aimed at exploring the spermatogenesis of the rabbit model focussing on the possible damages occurring to the testis and ejaculated sperm. Twenty New Zealand White rabbit bucks were divided into two groups. One group was inoculated intra-peritoneally with LPS, the other group, considered as control, was treated under the same conditions with saline only. Semen samples were collected before LPS injection, the 7th, 14th, 21st, 30th, 45th, 60th and 90th day after LPS treatment. Semen parameters were evaluated following international guidelines. The kinetic characteristics of ejaculated sperm were analysed using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer and the ultrastructural characteristics were explored by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). On the 7th, 14th and 30th day, testis from treated rabbits and controls were obtained. Testis samples were analysed by light microscopy and TEM. The induced LPS lesions in the testis became evident the 7th day after treatment, with a decrease in germinal cells and with an increase in structurally altered Sertoli cells; normal spermatogenesis was restored on the 30th day. The testicular damages observed on day 7 were probably responsible for the reduction in sperm concentration and motility and the ultrastructural alterations that were detected in the ejaculated sperm on the 14th through the 30th days after treatment. In conclusion, rabbit buck treated with LPS could be a useful model for studying the effect of an induced systemic inflammation on spermatogenesis.
Assuntos
Lipopolissacarídeos/toxicidade , Coelhos , Espermatogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Testículo/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Masculino , Sêmen , Espermatozoides/ultraestruturaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an orphan disease that has an estimated prevalence of 0.3/100,000. The disease is caused by the lack of activity of homogentisic acid oxidase (HGO), an enzyme involved in tyrosine and phenylalanine metabolism. To date, there is only one drug, the nitisinone, with orphan designation authorised by both Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medical Agency (EMA) for AKU. A clinical trial on AKU patients using nitisinone has recently been completed but it needs further investigation for long-term therapy. In recent years our group has developed a series of AKU in vitro models using cell lines, primary chondrocytes and human plasma in order to test the efficacy of new substances, mainly antioxidant compounds, for AKU therapy. Herein, we report the optimisation of an ex vivo reproducible culture method exploiting cartilage slices in order to investigate the deposition of ochronotic pigment in this kind of connective tissue. METHODS: Human normal cartilage slices, obtained after surgery for prosthesis replacement, were cultured for several days in the presence of a sublethal concentration of homogentisic acid (HGA). RESULTS: After two months of incubation with HGA, the peculiar melanin-like ochronotic pigmentation can be observed into the cartilage tissue. CONCLUSIONS: This novel organo-typic ex vivo model could be extremely useful to investigate the efficacy of substances able to ameliorate the conditions of AKU patients. Moreover, it could be used for genetic and proteomic investigations to better define AKU pathophysiology.
Assuntos
Cartilagem/metabolismo , Ácido Homogentísico/metabolismo , Ocronose/metabolismo , Pigmentação , Alcaptonúria , Cartilagem/patologia , Humanos , Ocronose/patologia , Oxirredução , Fatores de Tempo , Técnicas de Cultura de TecidosRESUMO
This study was aimed at investigating whether semen characteristics in different clinical diagnoses of infertility are associated with PMN elastase, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1beta and TNFalpha levels detected in seminal plasma. Sixty-eight patients were divided into groups according to their clinical diagnosis: idiopathic infertility (group I), varicocele with infections (group II), varicocele (group III), infections (group IV), controls (group V). Physical examination and scrotal Eco-color Doppler was used to detect the varicocele. Patients with positive bacteriological semen analysis were considered as having an infection of the male reproductive tract. Samples were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were quantified with a mathematical formula furnishing a fertility index and the percentage of sperm apoptosis, immaturity and necrosis. PMN elastase/alpha1-PI complex levels were determined by ELISA and IL-6, IL-8, IL-1beta, TNFalpha by Bio-Plex Cytokine assay. Sperm concentration (I-II: p < 0.005; III-IV: p < 0.0001), motility (I-IV: p < 0.0001) and the fertility index (I: p < 0.005; II-IV: p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the groups vs. controls, whereas sperm pathologies, except for apoptosis, were significantly higher in group I and apoptosis and necrosis were higher in group III. An increase in immaturity (p < 0.005) with a decrease in necrosis (p < 0.005) were observed in group III vs. group IV. Significantly higher levels of inflammatory mediators were detected in groups III and IV vs. controls. Despite a broad relationship among different inflammatory mediators, no correlation was found among them and the semen parameters, including indices from TEM analysis. In conclusion, patients with idiopathic infertility showed altered semen quality and normal levels of inflammatory mediators. Genitourinary infection and varicocele induced an inflammatory effect which could play a detrimental role in spermatogenesis, revealed by a decrease in sperm motility and the fertility index, concomitant with an increase in immaturity mainly in varicocele and necrosis in infection.
Assuntos
Interleucina-6/imunologia , Análise do Sêmen , Sêmen/imunologia , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/imunologia , Adulto , Apoptose/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Fertilidade/imunologia , Humanos , Infecções/complicações , Infecções/imunologia , Inflamação/complicações , Inflamação/imunologia , Mediadores da Inflamação/imunologia , Interleucina-1beta/imunologia , Interleucina-8/imunologia , Elastase de Leucócito/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Necrose/complicações , Necrose/imunologia , Contagem de Espermatozoides , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/imunologia , Espermatogênese/imunologia , Espermatozoides/imunologia , Espermatozoides/patologia , Varicocele/complicações , Varicocele/imunologiaRESUMO
Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is a common and serious complication of prolonged systemic GC use. Bone loss with risk of fractures resulting from GC therapy is a relatively common disorder, and is the most prevalent form of secondary osteoporosis. It is generally accepted that GC can cause a rapid bone loss, decreasing bone formation and increasing bone resorption in vitro as well as in vivo. The decrease in bone formation has been mainly attributed to GC effects on osteoblastogenesis and osteocyte apoptosis, while the increase in bone resorption has been referred to an extension of the life-span of pre-existing osteoclasts. This article focuses on newer molecular aspects regarding the apoptotic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of GIO and is based on a presentation that was held at the 3rd Congresso Nazionale in Osteoporosi Secondarie e Endocrinopatie, in Ancona, Italy, October 2007.
Assuntos
Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Osso e Ossos/patologia , Glucocorticoides/efeitos adversos , Osteoporose/induzido quimicamente , Osteoporose/patologia , Animais , Osso e Ossos/efeitos dos fármacos , HumanosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To verify whether synthetic cannabinoids (CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2) are able to exert an anti-inflammatory effect on rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) by down-regulating cytokine production, and determine whether this effect could be mediated by CB1/CB2 cannabinoid receptors. METHODS: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were assayed in the supernatant from cultured FLS by ELISA method before and after 3 hours of incubation with CP55,940 (10 microM) and WIN55,212-2 (10 microM). Co-stimulation of cells with the cannabinoid receptor antagonists was performed to evaluate receptor involvement in cytokine modulation. All the experiments were conducted in basal conditions and after 1 hour pre-incubation with 0.1 ng/ml IL-1beta. FLS expression of CB1 and CB2 receptor was studied by Western Blot analyses. RESULTS: Both CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2 induced a potent and significant reduction in IL-6 and IL-8 secretion from IL-1beta. stimulated FLS. Although FLS express CB1 and CB2 receptor, cannabinoid receptor antagonists did not significantly modify the inhibition of cytokines secretion induced by CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro, CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2 exert a potent anti-inflammatory effect on rheumatoid FLS via a non-CB1/CB2 receptor mediated mechanism.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Artrite Reumatoide/imunologia , Benzoxazinas/farmacologia , Cicloexanóis/farmacologia , Fibroblastos/efeitos dos fármacos , Morfolinas/farmacologia , Naftalenos/farmacologia , Membrana Sinovial/efeitos dos fármacos , Idoso , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Artrite Reumatoide/metabolismo , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Fibroblastos/imunologia , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Osteoartrite do Joelho/metabolismo , Receptor CB1 de Canabinoide/metabolismo , Receptor CB2 de Canabinoide/metabolismo , Membrana Sinovial/imunologia , Membrana Sinovial/metabolismoRESUMO
The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between germline epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) variants involved in transcriptional regulation and overall survival in white patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, gefitinib. Of 175 consecutive patients treated with oral gefitinib (250 mg/day), 170 (median age: 67 years; 72% men) were evaluable for genotyping and survival. Fifty-five patients (33%) had stable disease and 17 (10%) had an objective response. The most common of four haplotypes was G-C (EGFR*1) at the EGFR -216G>T and -191C>A loci (frequency, 0.45). After adjusting for performance status, previous platinum-containing chemotherapy and occurrence of skin rash or diarrhea during the first treatment cycle in patients with performance status 0 or 1 (N=139), the absence of EGFR*1 was associated with significantly better survival (hazard ratio: 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.91; P=0.015). The results may help identify patients with NSCLC who can benefit from gefitinib treatment.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/mortalidade , Receptores ErbB/genética , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Quinazolinas/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/mortalidade , Neoplasias Encefálicas/secundário , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Receptores ErbB/antagonistas & inibidores , Feminino , Gefitinibe , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Taxa de Sobrevida/tendênciasRESUMO
The Ekbom syndrome or parasitosis delirium represents a rare mono-symptomatic psychosis characterized by the delirious firm belief of the patient, against all evidence, of being infested by cutaneous parasites. The syndrome affects in particular middle-aged women, and can be the single manifestation of psychological uneasiness or represent one of the aspects of a more complex psychiatric case, compromising almost totally any normal daily work and/or social activity. The authors present a recently observed clinical case and discuss the clinical-diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.
Assuntos
Delusões/psicologia , Ectoparasitoses/psicologia , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas/psicologia , Administração Cutânea , Administração Oral , Corticosteroides/administração & dosagem , Animais , Ansiolíticos/administração & dosagem , Anti-Infecciosos Locais/administração & dosagem , Antipsicóticos/administração & dosagem , Arritmias Cardíacas/complicações , Delusões/diagnóstico , Delusões/tratamento farmacológico , Dermatologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Quimioterapia Combinada , Ectoparasitoses/diagnóstico , Ectoparasitoses/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prurido/etiologia , Psiquiatria , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas/diagnóstico , Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas/tratamento farmacológico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate serum changes of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their association with main clinicopathological parameters during chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, consecutive patients with stage III and IV NSCLC were enrolled. Serum MMP2 and 9, VEGF and EGFR levels were monitored in blood samples taken on day 1 of starting chemotherapy (baseline 1st), and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy (2nd) using commercial sandwich ELISA method. RESULTS: 116 patients were evaluated. Males / females 100 / 6, ECOG performance status (PS) 0/1/2: 47/65/4, stage III / IV: 49/67, squamous /adeno/large cell carcinoma 41/31/19. Forty-two (36%) patients achieved partial response (PR), 32 (28%) stable disease (SD) and 42 (36%) showed progressive disease (PD). Mean serum values -/+ standard deviation (SD) of the analyzed markers at baseline/at response evaluation were: EGFR 86 -/+ 87/96 -/+ 47 fmol/ml; MMP9 236 -/+ 156/162 -/+ 133 ng/ml ; MMP2 525 -/+ 189/569 -/+ 201 ng/ml; VEGF 555 -/+ 476/599 -/+ 611 pg/ml; VEGF adjusted for platelets (PLT) 1.9 -/+ 1.45/2.4 -/+ 2.78 pg/10(6). In logistic regression model for response rate adjusted for stage, the increase in MMP9 levels during chemotherapy (mean = 74 ng/ml -/+ SD 140) was predictive for progression (p=0.041) with 5% increase in the odds of progression for an increase of 10 ng. CONCLUSION: MMP9 level increase was found to be predictive of disease progression. EGFR levels could refl ect extracellular domain (ECD) loss from resistant cells and its shedding into the circulation.