Platanias, Leonidas C.

Abstract Although social determinants of health (SDoH) investigations have shown limited analyses of socioeconomic and race-ethnic status on certain hematologic malignancies, the impact of factors beyond those across a fuller scope of hematologic cancers remains unknown. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a tool for assessing varied US census–derived sociodemographic factors, allows for the specific quantification of SDoH in dynamic, regional contexts for their associations with hematologic malignancy inequities. To assess the summative influence of varied SDoH factors on hematologic malignancy outcomes and discern which SDoH factors contributed the largest associations toward disparities, 796 005 adults with hematologic malignancies between 1975 to 2017 were identified for this retrospective cohort study. Vulnerability in 15 SDoH factors was measured using composite and subcategory SVI scores geographically matched to patients. Regressions between SVI factors and follow-up time after diagnosis and survival period were performed. Increasing overall SVI correlated with significantly decreased surveillance period in 11 of 14 hematologic malignancies, with decreases upward of 33.4% (39.0-26.0 months for acute lymphocytic leukemia). Increasing SVI significantly associated with decreased survival period across 11 of 14 hematologic malignancies, with decreases upward of 47.2% (89.5-47.3 months for Hodgkin lymphoma). Socioeconomic status and housing and transportation vulnerabilities showed the largest magnitude of contributions, followed by minority language and household composition. Significant decreases in hematologic malignancy prognosis associate with increasing overall SDoH vulnerability in varied sociodemographic contexts in the United States. Furthermore, there are quantifiable differences in which types of SDoH contribute more to trends per malignancy type. These findings demonstrate specific SDoH targets for further research and policy initiatives to combat hematologic malignancy disparity more effectively.

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) presents as a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor with limited treatment options. Despite the availability of existing therapies, the invasive characteristics of GBM frequently result in tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. We previously developed a B-cell-based therapy (BVax) that has shown promising results in its ability to induce therapeutic responses in preclinical models of GBM. Our research revealed potency of BVax can be attributed to its robust antigen-presenting capability, cognate antigen specificity with T cells, and ability to generate tumor-reactive antibodies. The present study aims to characterize the unique antigenic reactivity of BVax-derived antibodies by evaluating their immunological effects and therapeutic potential in both murine models and GBM patient-specific samples. Leveraging CD45.1 and CD45.2 congenic mouse models, we first revealed that BVax preferentially migrated to glioma-bearing brains upon intravenous injection, resulting in a CD38+CD20-CD19+ plasmablast phenotype. To further characterize the reactivity of BVax-derived immunoglobulins (Ig), we utilized proteomic analysis and identified preferential targets of Gelsolin, Fibronectin, Versican, Fibrinogen, and collagen type IV alpha, commonly associated with cell motility and the extracellular matrix. Microdialysis data confirmed the increased presence of many of these BVax-derived Igs-recognized antigens in tumor regions compared to normal brain regions in GBM patients. Utilizing purified BVax-derived antibodies from patient specimen, in vitro cell motility assays demonstrated a significant prevention of the invasion and migration of cell lines from patient derived xenograft (PDX). In this study, we concluded that BVax elicits antitumor activity through targeted migration to tumor-bearing regions, differentiation into plasmablasts, and robust secretion of specific Igs that retain the ability to inhibit functionalities associated with cell invasion and migration. Here, we present the first in-depth study that characterizes GBM patients’ antibody reactivity, specifically a subset of inflammatory B cells (BVax) with therapeutic effects that offer an indication for a new direction of immunotherapies.

Abstract Background Advanced age is a major risk factor for the development of many diseases including those affecting the central nervous system. Wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase glioblastoma (IDHwt GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain cancer and accounts for ≥90% of all adult GBM diagnoses. Patients with IDHwt GBM have a median age of diagnosis at 68–70 years of age, and increasing age is associated with an increasingly worse prognosis for patients with this type of GBM. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, The Cancer Genome Atlas, and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases were analyzed for mortality indices. Meta-analysis of 80 clinical trials was evaluated for log hazard ratio for aging to tumor survivorship. Results Despite significant advances in the understanding of intratumoral genetic alterations, molecular characteristics of tumor microenvironments, and relationships between tumor molecular characteristics and the use of targeted therapeutics, life expectancy for older adults with GBM has yet to improve. Conclusions Based upon the results of our analysis, we propose that age-dependent factors that are yet to be fully elucidated, contribute to IDHwt GBM patient outcomes.

Abstract Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a clonal hematologic malignancy resulting from the transformation of a pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cell leading to increased hematopoiesis and overproduction of abnormal blood cells. PMF is characterized by bone marrow (BM) fibrosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, increased numbers of circulating CD34+ cells, splenomegaly, and a propensity to evolve to AML. Patients also display anemia and thrombocytopenia and harbor abnormal, immature megakaryocytes (Mks) in their BM and spleen. Numerous mutations are associated with PMF including JAK2, CALR, MPL, TET2, CBL, ASXL1, and IDH. The presence of abnormal Mks in the BM of PMF patients is an important characteristic of the disease, as these cells are believed to contribute to the fibrosis.Here, we performed an analysis of Mk differentiation from individuals with PMF compared to healthy individuals as a way to better understand the mechanism leading to their defects. CD34+ cells obtained from PMF and healthy donors were cultivated in presence of thrombopoietin to induce Mks differentiation. Under these conditions, we observed that the proliferative capacity of CD34+ cells from PMF patients was increased as compared to normal CD34+ cells. At the same time, the percentage of mature Mks obtained was reduced. Semi-solid culture conditions confirmed the proliferative advantage of the PMF CD34+ cells. To investigate the mechanism responsible for this phenotype, we performed genome wide expression analysis of sorted Mks from patients versus controls. Nine PMF patients with different mutations (5 JAK2V617F, 1 MPLW515L, 2 CALR and 1 triple negative) and 4 healthy donors were included in the study. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis revealed that the top scoring pathways included the RPS14 signature, ribosome biogenesis, rRNA metabolic process, and rRNA processing. We first studied the RPS14 geneset, which consists of a group of genes that were up-regulated in CD34+ cells after knock-down of RPS14, a component of the small ribosome subunit. Using shRNA against RPS14, we discovered that its knock down leads to a significant reduction in the development of mature Mks from normal CD34+ cells. The microarray data also revealed changes in the expression of several myeloid genes. CEBPa and GFI-1 were over-expressed in PMF Mks, whereas GFI-1b and PF4, which are associated with Mk differentiation, were down-regulated. Surprisingly the expression of GATA1, a master regulator of megakaryopoiesis, was not changed. However, consistent with previous report, we discovered that GATA1 protein level was reduced in PMF Mks. GATA1 deficient Mks are impaired in their maturation, so we reasoned that the reduction in GATA1 contributes to the defects in PMF. Indeed, we found that overexpression of GATA1 in PMF CD34+ cells rescued Mk differentiation. To understand how GATA1 protein but not mRNA, is reduced, we knocked down RPS14 in the JAK2 mutant SET2 megakaryoblastic cell line. As predicted, we observed a reduction in GATA1 protein, but not mRNA. By ribosomal profiling, we saw that the shRPS14 led to an abnormal ribosomal profile with a reduction of the 40s peak. Finally, by RT-PCR analysis of the ribosomal and polysomal fractions, we found that GATA1 mRNA was less abundant in the polysomal fraction in cells expressing the shRPS14. This finding is consistent with recent data showing that alterations in ribosomal genes cause a decrease in GATA1 protein in Diamond-Blackfan Anemia. Although we identified the RPS14 gene signature, we did not observe changes in RPS14 expression or in any of the ribosomal subunits. Since our GSEA analysis also identified deficiencies in three ribosomal biogenesis pathways, we looked for genes present in all three signatures. NOP58, a ribonucleoprotein required for ribosome biogenesis, was significantly reduced in all samples of PMF Mks. To link the reduction in NOP58 expression with PMF associated mutations, we expressed MPLW515L or the CALR type II mutant in hematopoietic progenitor cells and detected a reduction in NOP58 expression. Our findings suggest that the activation of JAK/STAT signaling leads to a reduction in NOP58, which contributes to defects in ribosome assembly, decreased GATA1 expression and subsequent impairment in Mk differentiation. This work reveals, for the first time, that defective ribosomes contribute to the pathogenesis of PMF and suggests new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Disclosures Stein: Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi Oncology: Honoraria.