The effects of wet cupping on coronary risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

High serum cholesterol is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events. It has been reported that regular blood donation is associated with a reduction in serum cholesterol. This study aimed to determine the effects of wet cupping on lipid profiles and anthropometric characteristics of patients with metabolic syndrome. One hundred and thirty-six patients aged 18 65 years with metabolic syndrome were recruited to participate in this trial. Ten patients were excluded due to exclusion criteria. Patients (n = 126) were randomly assigned into the control (n = 63) and experimental (n = 63) groups. Patients in the experimental group were treated with wet cupping combined with dietary advice. The controls were given dietary advice only. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and at six and 12 weeks after treatment. The significance of the data was analyzed using a repeated measure ANOVA. The lipid profile status did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05) whereas there was a significant difference between the two time points within each group (p < 0.05). In addition, several anthropometric parameters improved in both groups, but this did not differ significantly between subject groups. Wet cupping does not have a significant effect on anthropometric or biochemical indices compared to the effect of dietary advice alon

PSMA and FDG-PET as predictive and prognostic biomarkers in patients given [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (TheraP) : a biomarker analysis from a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial

Background: Previously, results from the TheraP trial showed that treatment with lutetium-177 [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 improved frequency of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate and progression-free survival compared with cabazitaxel in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In this study, we aimed to analyse gallium-68 [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET (PSMA-PET) and 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET (FDG-PET) imaging parameters as predictive and prognostic biomarkers in this patient population. Methods: TheraP was a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 2 trial that recruited men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after treatment with docetaxel who were suitable for cabazitaxel from 11 hospitals in Australia. Participants were required to be 18 years old or older; have adequate haematological, renal, and liver function; and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) using a centralised system using minimisation with a random component and that stratified patients by disease burden, previous treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone, and study site. Patients were either given cabazitaxel (20 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks for up to ten cycles) or [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (6·0–8·5 GBq intravenously every 6 weeks for up to six cycles). The primary study endpoint, analysed previously, was PSA response rate. The prespecified tertiary study endpoint was association between total tumour quantitative parameters on PSMA-PET, FDG-PET, and baseline characteristics with clinical outcomes. A SUVmean of 10 or higher on PSMA-PET was evaluated as a predictive biomarker for response to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel. A metabolic tumour volume (MTV) of 200 mL or higher on FDG-PET was tested as a prognostic biomarker. Both cutoff points were prespecified. The analysis was intention-to-treat, using logistic regression. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03392428. Findings: 200 patients were randomly assigned between Feb 6, 2018, and Sept 3, 2019. 101 men were assigned to the cabazitaxel group and 99 were assigned to the [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 group. The median follow-up at data cutoff of July 20, 2020, was 18·4 months (IQR 12·8–21·8). 35 (35%) of 99 men who were assigned [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and 30 (30%) of 101 men who were assigned cabazitaxel had high PSMA uptake (SUVmean of ≥10). Odds of PSA response to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel were significantly higher for men with SUVmean of 10 or higher compared with those with SUVmean of less than 10 (odds ratio [OR] 12·19 [95% CI 3·42–58·76] vs 2·22 [1·11–4·51]; padj=0·039 for treatment-by-SUVmean interaction). PSA response rate for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 compared with cabazitaxel was 32 (91% [95% CI 76–98]) of 35 men versus 14 (47% [29–65]) of 30 men in patients with SUVmean of 10 or higher, and 33 (52% [39–64]) of 64 men versus 23 (32% [22–45]) of 71 men in those with SUVmean of less than 10. High-volume disease on FDG-PET (MTV ≥200 mL) was seen in 30 (30%) of 99 men who were assigned [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and 30 (30%) of 101 men who were assigned cabazitaxel. PSA response rate for both treatment groups combined for FDG-PET MTV of 200 mL or higher versus FDG-PET MTV of less than 200 mL was 23 (38% [95% CI 26–52]) of 60 men versus 79 (56% [48–65]) of 140 men (OR 0·44, 95% CI 0·23–0·84; padj=0·035). Interpretation: In men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, PSMA-PET SUVmean was predictive of higher likelihood of favourable response to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 than cabazitaxel, which provides guidance for optimal [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 use. High FDG-PET MTV was associated with lower responses regardless of randomly assigned treatment, warranting further research for treatment intensification. A strength of this analysis is the validation of pre-specified cutpoints within a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. Quantitative PET parameters used, however, require specialised software and are not yet routinely available in most clinics. Funding: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Endocyte (a Novartis Company), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Movember Foundation, It's a Bloke Thing, CAN4CANCER, The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride