22/Mar/2022

Alzheimer’s disease protease-containing plasma extracellular vesicles transfer to the hippocampus via the choroid plexus

BACKGROUND
Plasma extracellular vesicles (pEV) can harbor a diverse array of factors including active proteases and the amyloid-precursor-protein (APP) cleavage product Aβ, involved in plaque formation in Alzheimer`s diseases (AD). A potential role of such vesicles in AD pathology is unexplored.

METHODS
In a case-control study of randomly selected patients with AD and other neurological diseases (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 7), we systematically analyzed the content of pEV, using different assay systems. In addition, we determined their entry path into brain tissue, employing animal (mice) injection experiments with ex vivo generated EV that were similar to AD-pEV, followed by multi antigen analysis (MAA) of brain tissue (n = 4 per condition). The results were compared with an IHC staining of human brain tissue in a small cohort of AD patients (n = 3) and controls with no neurodegenerative diseases (n = 3).

FINDINGS
We show that pEV levels are considerably upregulated in AD patients. Besides numerous inflammatory effectors, AD-pEV contained α-, β- and γ-secretases, able to cleave APP in in target cells. In vitro generated EV with similar characteristics as AD-pEV accumulated in the choroid plexus (CP) of injected animals and reached primarily hippocampal neurons. Corroborating findings were made in human brain samples. An inhibitor of hyaluronic-acid-synthetase (HAS) blocked uploading of proteases and Hyaluronan onto EV in vitro and abolished CP targeting in animal injection experiments.

INTERPRETATION
We conclude that protease-containing pEV could be part of a communication axis between the periphery and the brain that could be become detrimental depending on pEV concentration and duration of target cell impact.

Jung-Hyun Lee, Christian Ostalecki, Timo Oberstein, Stefan Schierer, Elisabeth Zinser, Martin Eberhardt, et al.

Alzheimer’s disease

Joel Pedrosa

15/Mar/2022

THE (REAL) IMPACT OF RESEARCH ON THE PLANET

Although there is a general idea that the areas of Research are different, what is truly learned after years of research career is that, in fact, they are complementary. Despite the distinct characteristics they present, they all interconnect. For example, for several decades now, the field of Chemistry and Molecular Biology has been working side by side in the discovery of innovative treatments for numerous diseases that plague the human being. For example, in Molecular Biology many studies seek to find new ways to combat diseases such as cancer, which can be specifically focused on eliminating or at least preventing the rapid growth and spread that characterizes it. Considering this line of thought, a “symbiosis” was created with the area of Chemistry, where compounds that have characteristics that can act in these same pathways are (and were) developed and subsequently tested. In fact, many of the treatments that are commonly used in chemotherapy today resulted from this “symbiosis”. And this is just a small example of all the applications and efforts that researchers make daily with the same common goal: to promote and improve the sustainability of the lives of all beings on our planet. From studies of marine life and the impact of different components on their environment to the study of different pathways and mechanisms to control and eliminate the spread of cancer cells in humans, any researcher devotes their intelligence, resilience, and cunning to meeting this goal.

Joel Pedrosa

QA analyst, BIOLEGO

New Breathe – services

Susana Ferreira

08/Mar/2022

Integrative analysis from multi-center studies identities a consensus machine learning-derived lncRNA signature for stage II/III colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as essential biomarkers of cancer progression. However, studies are limited regarding lncRNAs correlated with recurrence and fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS
1640 stage II/III CRC patients were enrolled from 15 independent datasets and a clinical in-house cohort. 10 prevalent machine learning algorithms were collected and then combined into 76 combinations. 109 published transcriptome signatures were also retrieved. qRT-PCR assay was performed to verify our model.

FINDINGS
We comprehensively identified 27 stably recurrence-related lncRNAs from multi-center cohorts. According to these lncRNAs, a consensus machine learning-derived lncRNA signature (CMDLncS) that exhibited best power for predicting recurrence risk was determined from 76 kinds of algorithm combinations. A high CMDLncS indicated unfavorable recurrence and mortality rates. CMDLncS not only could work independently of common clinical traits (e.g., AJCC stage) and molecular features (e.g., microsatellite state, KRAS mutation), but also presented dramatically better performance than these variables. qRT-PCR results from 173 patients further verified our in-silico findings and assessed its feasible in different centers. Comparisons of CMDLncS with 109 published transcriptome signatures further demonstrated its predictive superiority. Additionally, patients with high CMDLncS benefited more from fluorouracil-based ACT and were characterized by activation of stromal and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, while patients with low CMDLncS suggested the sensitivity to bevacizumab and displayed enhanced immune activation.

INTERPRETATION
CMDLncS provides an attractive platform for identifying patient at high risk of recurrence and could optimize precision treatment to improve the clinical outcomes in stage II/III CRC.

FUNDING
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81,972,663); Henan Province Young and Middle‐Aged Health Science and Technology Innovation Talent Project (YXKC2020037); and Henan Provincial Health Commission Joint Youth Project (SB201902014).

Zaoqu Liu, ChunGuang Guo, Qin Dang, Libo Wang, Long Liu, Siyuan Weng, et al.

Colorectal Cancer

Susana Ferreira

15/Feb/2022

Adjuvant Olaparib for Patients with BRCA1– or BRCA2-Mutated Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND
Poly(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase inhibitors target cancers with defects in homologous recombination repair by synthetic lethality. New therapies are needed to reduce recurrence in patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline mutation–associated early breast cancer.

METHODS
We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, randomized trial involving patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative early breast cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants and high-risk clinicopathological factors who had received local treatment and neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to 1 year of oral olaparib or placebo. The primary end point was invasive disease–free survival.

RESULTS
A total of 1836 patients underwent randomization. At a prespecified event-driven interim analysis with a median follow-up of 2.5 years, the 3-year invasive disease–free survival was 85.9% in the olaparib group and 77.1% in the placebo group (difference, 8.8 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5 to 13.0; hazard ratio for invasive disease or death, 0.58; 99.5% CI, 0.41 to 0.82; P<0.001). The 3-year distant disease–free survival was 87.5% in the olaparib group and 80.4% in the placebo group (difference, 7.1 percentage points; 95% CI, 3.0 to 11.1; hazard ratio for distant disease or death, 0.57; 99.5% CI, 0.39 to 0.83; P<0.001). Olaparib was associated with fewer deaths than placebo (59 and 86, respectively) (hazard ratio, 0.68; 99% CI, 0.44 to 1.05; P=0.02); however, the between-group difference was not significant at an interim-analysis boundary of a P value of less than 0.01. Safety data were consistent with known side effects of olaparib, with no excess serious adverse events or adverse events of special interest.

CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with high-risk, HER2-negative early breast cancer and germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, adjuvant olaparib after completion of local treatment and neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with significantly longer survival free of invasive or distant disease than was placebo. Olaparib had limited effects on global patient-reported quality of life. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and AstraZeneca; OlympiA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02032823. opens in new tab.)

Andrew N.J. Tutt, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., Judy E. Garber, M.D., M.P.H., Bella Kaufman, M.D., Giuseppe Viale, M.D., Debora Fumagalli, M.D., Ph.D., Priya Rastogi, M.D., Richard D. Gelber, Ph.D., Evandro de Azambuja, M.D., Ph.D., Anitra Fielding, M.B., Ch.B., Judith Balmaña, M.D., Ph.D., Susan M. Domchek, M.D., Karen A. Gelmon, M.D., et al., for the OlympiA Clinical Trial Steering Committee and Investigators

This article was published on June 3, 2021, at NEJM.org.22

Breast Cancer

Susana Ferreira

08/Feb/2022

Duration of Adjuvant Aromatase-Inhibitor Therapy in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND
For postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer, the most effective duration for adjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor remains unclear.

METHODS
In this prospective, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer who had received 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy to receive the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole for an additional 2 years (2-year group, receiving a total of 7 years) or an additional 5 years (5-year group, receiving a total of 10 years). The primary end point was disease-free survival. The primary analysis included all the patients who were still participating in the trial and who had no recurrence 2 years after randomization (i.e., when treatment in the 2-year group had ended). Secondary end points were overall survival, contralateral breast cancer, second primary cancer, and clinical bone fracture.

RESULTS
Among the 3484 women who were enrolled in the trial, 3208 remained in the trial without disease progression after the first 2 years of extended anastrozole treatment following randomization. Among these women, disease progression or death occurred in 335 women in each treatment group in the primary-analysis set at 8 years (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.15; P=0.90). No between-group differences occurred in most secondary end points, and subgroup analyses did not indicate differences in any particular subgroup. The risk of clinical bone fracture was higher in the 5-year group than in the 2-year group (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.84).

CONCLUSIONS
In postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor–positive breast cancer who had received 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy, extending hormone therapy by 5 years provided no benefit over a 2-year extension but was associated with a greater risk of bone fracture. (Funded by AstraZeneca and the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group; ABCSG-16/SALSA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00295620. opens in new tab.)

Michael Gnant, M.D., Florian Fitzal, M.D., Gabriel Rinnerthaler, M.D., Guenther G. Steger, M.D., Sigrun Greil-Ressler, M.D., Marija Balic, M.D., Dietmar Heck, M.D., Raimund Jakesz, M.D., Josef Thaler, M.D., Daniel Egle, M.D., Diether Manfreda, M.D., Vesna Bjelic-Radisic, M.D., et al., for the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group

This article was updated on July 29, 2021, at NEJM.org.

Breast Cancer

Susana Ferreira

01/Feb/2022

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–targeted therapies have not been approved for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (formerly DS-8201), a HER2 antibody–drug conjugate, in patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC have not been investigated extensively.

METHODS
We conducted a multicenter, international, phase 2 study in which trastuzumab deruxtecan (6.4 mg per kilogram of body weight) was administered to patients who had metastatic HER2-mutant NSCLC that was refractory to standard treatment. The primary outcome was objective response as assessed by independent central review. Secondary outcomes included the duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Biomarkers of HER2 alterations were assessed.

RESULTS
A total of 91 patients were enrolled. The median duration of follow-up was 13.1 months (range, 0.7 to 29.1). Centrally confirmed objective response occurred in 55% of the patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 44 to 65). The median duration of response was 9.3 months (95% CI, 5.7 to 14.7). Median progression-free survival was 8.2 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 11.9), and median overall survival was 17.8 months (95% CI, 13.8 to 22.1). The safety profile was generally consistent with those from previous studies; grade 3 or higher drug-related adverse events occurred in 46% of patients, the most common event being neutropenia (in 19%). Adjudicated drug-related interstitial lung disease occurred in 26% of patients and resulted in death in 2 patients. Responses were observed across different HER2 mutation subtypes, as well as in patients with no detectable HER2 expression or HER2 amplification.

CONCLUSIONS
Trastuzumab deruxtecan showed durable anticancer activity in patients with previously treated HER2-mutant NSCLC. The safety profile included interstitial lung disease that was fatal in two cases. Observed toxic effects were generally consistent with those in previously reported studies. (Funded by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca; DESTINY-Lung01 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03505710. opens in new tab.)

Bob T. Li, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., Egbert F. Smit, M.D., Ph.D., Yasushi Goto, M.D., Ph.D., Kazuhiko Nakagawa, M.D., Hibiki Udagawa, M.D., Julien Mazières, M.D., Misako Nagasaka, M.D., Ph.D., Lyudmila Bazhenova, M.D., Andreas N. Saltos, M.D., Enriqueta Felip, M.D., Ph.D., Jose M. Pacheco, M.D., Maurice Pérol, M.D., et al., for the DESTINY-Lung01 Trial Investigators

This article was published on September 18, 2021, at NEJM.org.

Lung Cancer

Susana Ferreira

25/Jan/2022

MRI-Targeted or Standard Biopsy in Prostate Cancer Screening

BACKGROUND
High rates of overdiagnosis are a critical barrier to organized prostate cancer screening. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with targeted biopsy has shown the potential to address this challenge, but the implications of its use in the context of organized prostate cancer screening are unknown.

METHODS
We conducted a population-based noninferiority trial of prostate cancer screening in which men 50 to 74 years of age from the general population were invited by mail to participate; participants with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 3 ng per milliliter or higher were randomly assigned, in a 2:3 ratio, to undergo a standard biopsy (standard biopsy group) or to undergo MRI, with targeted and standard biopsy if the MRI results suggested prostate cancer (experimental biopsy group). The primary outcome was the proportion of men in the intention-to-treat population in whom clinically significant cancer (Gleason score ≥7) was diagnosed. A key secondary outcome was the detection of clinically insignificant cancers (Gleason score 6).

RESULTS
Of 12,750 men enrolled, 1532 had PSA levels of 3 ng per milliliter or higher and were randomly assigned to undergo biopsy: 603 were assigned to the standard biopsy group and 929 to the experimental biopsy group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, clinically significant cancer was diagnosed in 192 men (21%) in the experimental biopsy group, as compared with 106 men (18%) in the standard biopsy group (difference, 3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1 to 7; P<0.001 for noninferiority). The percentage of clinically insignificant cancers was lower in the experimental biopsy group than in the standard biopsy group (4% [41 participants] vs. 12% [73 participants]; difference, −8 percentage points; 95% CI, −11 to −5).

CONCLUSIONS
MRI with targeted and standard biopsy in men with MRI results suggestive of prostate cancer was noninferior to standard biopsy for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in a population-based screening-by-invitation trial and resulted in less detection of clinically insignificant cancer. (Funded by the Swedish Research Council and others; STHLM3-MRI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03377881. opens in new tab.)

This article was published on July 9, 2021, at NEJM.org.

Susana Ferreira

18/Jan/2022

MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease: A promising direction of therapeutic strategies

Among the popular animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) commonly used in research are those that employ neurotoxins, especially 1-methyl- 4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This neurotoxin exerts it neurotoxicity by causing a barrage of insults, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial apoptosis, inflammation, excitotoxicity, and formation of inclusion bodies acting singly and in concert, ultimately leading to dopaminergic neuronal damage in the substantia nigra pars compacta and striatum. The selective neurotoxicity induced by MPTP in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons of the mouse brain has led to new perspectives on PD. For decades, the MPTP-induced mouse model of PD has been the gold standard in PD research even though it does not fully recapitulate PD symptomatology, but it does have the advantages of simplicity, practicability, affordability, and fewer ethical considerations and greater clinical correlation than those of other toxin models of PD. The model has rejuvenated PD research and opened new frontiers in the quest for more novel therapeutic and adjuvant agents for PD. Hence, this review summarizes the role of MPTP in producing Parkinson-like symptoms in mice and the experimental role of the MPTP-induced mouse model. We discussed recent developments of more promising PD therapeutics to enrich our existing knowledge about this neurotoxin using this model.

Musa Mustapha, Che Norma Mat Taib

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License30

Parkinson’s disease

Susana Ferreira

11/Jan/2022

21-Gene Assay to Inform Chemotherapy Benefit in Node-Positive Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND
The recurrence score based on the 21-gene breast-cancer assay has been clinically useful in predicting a chemotherapy benefit in hormone-receptor–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative, axillary lymph-node–negative breast cancer. In women with positive lymph-node disease, the role of the recurrence score with respect to predicting a benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy is unclear.

METHODS
In a prospective trial, we randomly assigned women with hormone-receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, one to three positive axillary lymph nodes, and a recurrence score of 25 or lower (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a worse prognosis) to endocrine therapy only or to chemotherapy plus endocrine (chemoendocrine) therapy. The primary objective was to determine the effect of chemotherapy on invasive disease–free survival and whether the effect was influenced by the recurrence score. Secondary end points included distant relapse–free survival.

RESULTS
A total of 5083 women (33.2% premenopausal and 66.8% postmenopausal) underwent randomization, and 5018 participated in the trial. At the prespecified third interim analysis, the chemotherapy benefit with respect to increasing invasive disease–free survival differed according to menopausal status (P=0.008 for the comparison of chemotherapy benefit in premenopausal and postmenopausal participants), and separate prespecified analyses were conducted. Among postmenopausal women, invasive disease–free survival at 5 years was 91.9% in the endocrine-only group and 91.3% in the chemoendocrine group, with no chemotherapy benefit (hazard ratio for invasive disease recurrence, new primary cancer [breast cancer or another type], or death, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 1.26; P=0.89). Among premenopausal women, invasive disease–free survival at 5 years was 89.0% with endocrine-only therapy and 93.9% with chemoendocrine therapy (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.83; P=0.002), with a similar increase in distant relapse–free survival (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.87; P=0.009). The relative chemotherapy benefit did not increase as the recurrence score increased.

CONCLUSIONS
Among premenopausal women with one to three positive lymph nodes and a recurrence score of 25 or lower, those who received chemoendocrine therapy had longer invasive disease–free survival and distant relapse–free survival than those who received endocrine-only therapy, whereas postmenopausal women with similar characteristics did not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others; RxPONDER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01272037. opens in new tab.)

Kevin Kalinsky, M.D., William E. Barlow, Ph.D., Julie R. Gralow, M.D., Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D., Kathy S. Albain, M.D., Daniel F. Hayes, M.D., Nancy U. Lin, M.D., Edith A. Perez, M.D., Lori J. Goldstein, M.D., Stephen K.L. Chia, M.D., Sukhbinder Dhesy-Thind, M.D., Priya Rastogi, M.D., et al.

This article was published on December 1, 2021, at NEJM.org.

Breast Cancer

Susana Ferreira

04/Jan/2022

Adjuvant atezolizumab after adjuvant chemotherapy in resected stage IB–IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (IMpower010): a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND
Novel adjuvant strategies are needed to optimise outcomes after complete surgical resection in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to evaluate adjuvant atezolizumab versus best supportive care after adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy in these patients.

METHODS
IMpower010 was a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study done at 227 sites in 22 countries and regions. Eligible patients were 18 years or older with completely resected stage IB (tumours ≥4 cm) to IIIA NSCLC per the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer and American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (7th edition). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) by a permuted-block method (block size of four) to receive adjuvant atezolizumab (1200 mg every 21 days; for 16 cycles or 1 year) or best supportive care (observation and regular scans for disease recurrence) after adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy (one to four cycles). The primary endpoint, investigator-assessed disease-free survival, was tested hierarchically first in the stage II–IIIA population subgroup whose tumours expressed PD-L1 on 1% or more of tumour cells (SP263), then all patients in the stage II–IIIA population, and finally the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (stage IB–IIIA). Safety was evaluated in all patients who were randomly assigned and received atezolizumab or best supportive care. IMpower010 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02486718 (active, not recruiting).

FINDINGS
Between Oct 7, 2015, and Sept 19, 2018, 1280 patients were enrolled after complete resection. 1269 received adjuvant chemotherapy, of whom 1005 patients were eligible for randomisation to atezolizumab (n=507) or best supportive care (n=498); 495 in each group received treatment. After a median follow-up of 32·2 months (IQR 27·4–38·3) in the stage II–IIIA population, atezolizumab treatment improved disease-free survival compared with best supportive care in patients in the stage II–IIIA population whose tumours expressed PD-L1 on 1% or more of tumour cells (HR 0·66; 95% CI 0·50–0·88; p=0·0039) and in all patients in the stage II–IIIA population (0·79; 0·64–0·96; p=0·020). In the ITT population, HR for disease-free survival was 0·81 (0·67–0·99; p=0·040). Atezolizumab-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events occurred in 53 (11%) of 495 patients and grade 5 events in four patients (1%).

INTERPRETATION
IMpower010 showed a disease-free survival benefit with atezolizumab versus best supportive care after adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected stage II–IIIA NSCLC, with pronounced benefit in the subgroup whose tumours expressed PD-L1 on 1% or more of tumour cells, and no new safety signals. Atezolizumab after adjuvant chemotherapy offers a promising treatment option for patients with resected early-stage NSCLC.

FUNDING
F Hoffmann-La Roche and Genentech.

Prof Enriqueta Felip, MD , Nasser Altorki, Prof Caicun Zhou, MD, Tibor Csőszi, MD, Ihor Vynnychenko, MD, Oleksandr Goloborodko, PhD, et al.

Lung cancer

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Alzheimer’s disease protease-containing plasma extracellular vesicles transfer to the hippocampus via the choroid plexus

Alzheimer’s disease protease-containing plasma extracellular vesicles transfer to the hippocampus via the choroid plexus