Selective activity over a constitutively active RET-variant of the oral multikinase inhibitor dovitinib: results of the CNIO-BR002 phase I-trial

Background: given our preclinical data showing synergy between dovitinib and paclitaxel in preclinical models we conducted this phase I trial aiming to define the recommended phase II-dose (RP2D) on the basis of toxicity and pharmacodynamic criteria while searching for genetic variants that could sensitize patients to the regimen under study. Patients and methods: a 3+3 escalation schedule was adopted. Seriated FGF23 and dovitinib and paclitaxel pharmacokinetic profiles were determined along a single-agent dovitinib 'priming-phase' followed by a dovitinib + paclitaxel combination phase. RECIST 1.1 criteria and NCI CTCAE V.4.0 were used. In fresh pre-treatment tumor biopsy samples, FGFR1, 2 and 3 amplifications were revealed by FISH probes; 32 missense variants were genotyped in tumors and peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Taqman genotyping assays (FGFR1-3 and RET). Constructs encoding for wild-type and variant genes associated with clinical benefit were transfected into HEK-293 cells for preclinical experiments checking constitutive activation and dovitinib sensitivity of the variants. Results: twelve patients were recruited in three dose-levels. At level 1B (200 mg dovitinib 5-days-on/2-days-off plus 60 mg/m 2-week of paclitaxel) more than 50% FGF23 upregulation was observed and no dose-limiting-toxicities (DLTs) occurred. The most frequent toxicities were asthenia, neutropenia, nausea/vomiting and transaminitis. Two patients with progressive disease prior to trial inclusion achieved prolonged disease stabilization. Both had the germline variant G2071A in the RET gene, which led to constitutive activation of the protein product and Y-905 phosphorylation, both in transfectants and in patients with the alteration. This variant was sensitive to dovitinib; in addition both patients experienced progression upon medication withdrawal. Conclusions: level 1B was the RP2D as it provided adequate pharmacodynamic exposure to dovitinib. The G2071A germline variant act as a genetic modifier that renders different tumors sensitive to dovitinib

An A91V SNP in the perforin gene is frequently found in NK/T-cell lymphomas

NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is the most frequent EBV-related NK/T-cell disease. Its clinical manifestations overlap with those of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH). Since PERFORIN (PRF1) mutations are present in FHLH, we analysed its role in a series of 12 nasal and 12 extranasal-NKTCLs. 12.5% of the tumours and 25% of the nasal-origin cases had the well-known g.272C>T(p.Ala91Val) pathogenic SNP, which confers a poor prognosis. Two of these cases had a double-CD4/CD8-positive immunophenotype, although no correlation was found with perforin protein expression. p53 was overexpressed in 20% of the tumoral samples, 80% of which were of extranasal origin, while none showed PRF1 SNVs. These results suggest that nasal and extranasal NKTCLs have different biological backgrounds, although this requires validation

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Most relevant immunohistochemical and clinical data of these series.

<p>NMF:No mutation found; M:Male; F:F; AD:Age at Diagnosis; LDD:Location of the disease at Diagnosis; N:Negative; P:Positive; NV: Not evaluable; HI: High-Intensity; LI:Low-Intensity; L:Low; Mo:Moderate; NP: Not present; NK: Not Known; PI:Perforin Intensity; PG: Perforin Granules; GR: Golgi Region; TC: Troughout the cytoplasm; A: Alive; D:Dead; OS: Overall Survival.</p

An A91V SNV-positive case (A-HE, staining, B-EBER-positive) showing negativity for p53 (C) and low-level of perforin expression (D).

<p>An A91V SNV-negative case (E-HE, staining, F-EBER-positive) showing intense expression of p53 (G) and perforin (H).</p

Tumor-associated macrophage-secreted 14-3-3ζ signals via AXL to promote pancreatic cancer chemoresistance

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an inherently chemoresistant tumor. Chemotherapy leads to apoptosis of cancer cells, and in previous studies we have shown that tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration increases following chemotherapy in PDAC. Since one of the main functions of macrophages is to eliminate apoptotic cells, we hypothesized that TAMs phagocytose chemotherapy-induced apoptotic cells and secrete factors, which favor PDAC chemoresistance. To test this hypothesis, primary human PDAC cultures were treated with conditioned media (CM) from monocyte-derived macrophage cultures incubated with apoptotic PDAC cells (MØApopCM). MØApopCM pretreatment rendered naïve PDAC cells resistant to Gemcitabine- or Abraxane-induced apoptosis. Proteomic analysis of MØApopCM identified YWHAZ/14-3-3 protein zeta/delta (14-3-3ζ), a major regulator of apoptotic cellular pathways, as a potential mediator of chemoresistance, which was subsequently validated in patient transcriptional datasets, serum samples from PDAC patients and using recombinant 14-3-3ζ and inhibitors thereof. Moreover, in mice bearing orthotopic PDAC tumors, the antitumor potential of Gemcitabine was significantly enhanced by elimination of TAMs using clodronate liposomes or by pharmacological inhibition of the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase, a 14-3-3ζ interacting partner. These data highlight a unique regulatory mechanism by which chemotherapy-induced apoptosis acts as a switch to initiate a protumor/antiapoptotic mechanism in PDAC via 14-3-3ζ/Axl signaling, leading to phosphorylation of Akt and activation of cellular prosurvival mechanisms. The data presented therefore challenge the idea that apoptosis of tumor cells is therapeutically beneficial, at least when immune sensor cells, such as macrophages, are presen