Lazaridis, Konstantinos N.

11571 Background: Relapsed/refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) have a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. Our expanding knowledge of molecular alterations seen in R/R NHL allows identification of patients that potentially may benefit from a precision medicine approach. However, experience in routine clinical implementation of precision medicine has been limited. Here, we summarize our clinical experience in molecular characterization of RR NHL targeted therapy (TT) using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and selection of targeted therapy (TT) based on molecular profile. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in RR NHL through the Center for Individualized Medicine at Mayo Clinic. Consenting patients underwent NGS using FoundationOne Heme panel from biopsies done at time of relapse. Results of NGS were discussed at the Genomic Tumor Board and recommendations for TT were given based on matching specific molecular alteration(s) with potential agent(s) predicted to be active based on NGS. The agents could include FDA-approved, off-label use and clinical trial therapies. Results: 28 cases were enrolled: 18 aggressive NHL, 10 follicular lymphoma (FL). Molecular alterations were present in all cases. In aggressive B-cell NHL, CDKN2A/B gene cluster alterations were seen in 73% (8/11), while seen in only 1/7 T-cell lymphomas (TCL), and 1/10 FL. TP53 deletions were second most common genomic alterations in DLBCL (57%) and seen in 40% FL. JAK-STAT and ERBB pathways were altered in TCL (2/7 each). IGH-BCl-2 gene rearrangement were common in FL (70%), followed by MLL gene alterations (50%). Targetable mutations were present in 86% (24/28) of cases. A TT was recommended in all 24 cases, but received by 2 patients only. Remaining patients did not due to benefit from current therapy (10/24), ineligibility or lack of clinical trial (7/24) or interim clinical deterioration (5/24). Conclusions: Targetable mutations were identified in most cases of RR NHL with TT recommended for all cases. However, access to TT limits potential clinical benefit of molecular-based matching strategy. More studies are needed to assess impact on clinical outcomes.

Improved methods are needed to risk stratify and predict outcomes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Therefore, we sought to derive and validate a prediction model and compare its performance to existing surrogate markers. The model was derived using 509 subjects from a multicenter North American cohort and validated in an international multicenter cohort (n = 278). Gradient boosting, a machine‐based learning technique, was used to create the model. The endpoint was hepatic decompensation (ascites, variceal hemorrhage, or encephalopathy). Subjects with advanced PSC or cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) at baseline were excluded. The PSC risk estimate tool (PREsTo) consists of nine variables: bilirubin, albumin, serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) times the upper limit of normal (ULN), platelets, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hemoglobin, sodium, patient age, and number of years since PSC was diagnosed. Validation in an independent cohort confirms that PREsTo accurately predicts decompensation (C‐statistic, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84‐0.95) and performed well compared to Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (C‐statistic, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57‐0.84), Mayo PSC risk score (C‐statistic, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77‐0.92), and SAP <1.5 × ULN (C‐statistic, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.55‐0.73). PREsTo continued to be accurate among individuals with a bilirubin <2.0 mg/dL (C‐statistic, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82‐0.96) and when the score was reapplied at a later course in the disease (C‐statistic, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.64‐0.95). Conclusion: PREsTo accurately predicts hepatic decompensation (HD) in PSC and exceeds the performance among other widely available, noninvasive prognostic scoring systems.

The United Kingdom‐Primary Biliary Cholangitis (UK‐PBC) risk scores are a set of prognostic models that estimate the risk of end‐stage liver disease in patients with PBC at 5‐, 10‐ and 15‐year intervals. They have not been externally validated outside the United Kingdom. In this retrospective, external validation study, data were abstracted from outpatient charts and discrimination and calibration of the UK‐PBC risk scores were assessed. A total of 464 patients with PBC treated with ursodeoxycholic acid were included. The median diagnosis age was 52.4 years, and 88% were female patients. The cumulative incidence of events was 6%, 9%, and 15% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Concordance (c‐statistic) was 0.88, 0.85, and 0.84 using the 5‐, 10‐ and 15‐year risk scores, respectively, which was slightly lower than values observed in the United Kingdom validation cohort. Using the 5‐year risk score, more events were observed than predicted (25 versus 16.8; P = 0.046); using the 10‐year risk score, there was no difference between the observed and predicted number of events (35 versus 44.9; P = 0.14); conversely, using the 15‐year risk score, fewer events were observed than predicted (46 versus 67.5; P = 0.009). Limiting evaluation by the 15‐year UK‐PBC risk score to those with >10 years of follow‐up demonstrated no difference between observed and predicted events. Using the 5‐year risk score, patients within the highest quartile had statistically significant worse event‐free survival compared to the rest of the cohort: 82% versus 98% at 5 years, 73% versus 97% at 10 years, and 58% versus 93% at 15 years. Conclusion: In patients assessed at a North American tertiary medical center, the UK‐PBC risk score had excellent discrimination and was reasonably calibrated both in the short and long term. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:676‐682)

While previous work has demonstrated that monosaccharides can be absorbed from bile, studies of sugar transport by the biliary, epithelia (i.e., cholangiocytes) are lacking. Using a novel model of polarized rat cholangiocytes in primary culture, designated normal rat cholangiocytes (NRC), we examined directly the uptake and transcellular transport of a nonmetabolizable monosaccharide, methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (AMG). When the apical or basolateral domain of cholangiocytes was exposed to radiolabeled AMG or sucrose (control), only apical absorption of AMG was evident. This apical uptake was time dependent, saturable, and significantly inhibited (> or = 90%) by removal of Na+ or in the presence of phlorizin (0.1 mM), a competitive inhibitor of the Na(+)-glucose cotransporter. The transcellular flux of AMG was also polar (i.e., apical to basolateral). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the presence of the transcript for the specific Na(+)-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 in NRC and in freshly isolated cholangiocytes but not in purified hepatocytes; in contrast, the transcript for SGLT2 was absent in all liver samples. In situ RT-PCR on frozen sections of normal rat liver showed that SGLT1 was expressed exclusively in cholangiocytes. Immunoblot analysis using a specific polyclonal antibody for the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT1 demonstrated it to be present in vesicles derived from NRC enriched in basolateral plasma membrane domains. Our data are consistent with the concept that SGLT1 is present on the apical domain of biliary epithelia and, in conjunction with GLUT1 on the basolateral domain, accounts for glucose absorption from bile.

Objective Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a genetically complex, inflammatory bile duct disease of largely unknown aetiology often leading to liver transplantation or death. Little is known about the genetic contribution to the severity and progression of PSC. The aim of this study is to identify genetic variants associated with PSC disease progression and development of complications. Design We collected standardised PSC subphenotypes in a large cohort of 3402 patients with PSC. After quality control, we combined 130 422 single nucleotide polymorphisms of all patients—obtained using the Illumina immunochip—with their disease subphenotypes. Using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, we identified genetic variants associated with binary and time-to-event PSC subphenotypes. Results We identified genetic variant rs853974 to be associated with liver transplant-free survival (p=6.07×10–9). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a 50.9% (95% CI 41.5% to 59.5%) transplant-free survival for homozygous AA allele carriers of rs853974 compared with 72.8% (95% CI 69.6% to 75.7%) for GG carriers at 10 years after PSC diagnosis. For the candidate gene in the region, RSPO3, we demonstrated expression in key liver-resident effector cells, such as human and murine cholangiocytes and human hepatic stellate cells. Conclusion We present a large international PSC cohort, and report genetic loci associated with PSC disease progression. For liver transplant-free survival, we identified a genome-wide significant signal and demonstrated expression of the candidate gene RSPO3 in key liver-resident effector cells. This warrants further assessments of the role of this potential key PSC modifier gene.

AbstractEpigenomics, the study of modifications to genetic material that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence, is generating increasing interest as a means to help clarify disease pathogenesis and outcomes. Although genome-wide association studies have identified several potential candidate genes that may be implicated in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), it is estimated that these genes explain less than 20% of the heritability of these diseases. Thus, to date, the origins of “missing heritability” for PBC and PSC remain elusive. The epigenome may provide a potentially elegant solution to this phenomenon, as it can be modified by both internal and external exposures (coined the “exposome”). This may explain differences in disease presentation, treatment response, and rates of progression between individuals. Epigenetic changes may also provide a framework for discovering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and screening of PBC and PSC. Importantly, because the epigenome is modifiable, it may also highlight novel pathways for therapeutic discovery and interventions of these diseases.

AbstractBackgroundWe characterized the pharmacogenomics (PGx) results received by diagnostic odyssey patients as secondary findings during clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) testing as a part of their care in Mayo Clinic's Individualized Medicine Clinic to determine the potential benefits and limitations to this cohort.MethodsWES results on 94 patients included a subset of PGx variants in CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and VKORC1 if identified in the patient. Demographic, phenotypic, and medication usage information was abstracted from patient medical data. A pharmacist interpreted the PGx results in the context of the patients’ current medication use and made therapeutic recommendations.ResultsThe majority was young with a median age of 10 years old, had neurological involvement in the disease presentation (71%), and was currently taking medications (90%). Of the 94 PGx‐evaluated patients, 91% had at least one variant allele reported and 20% had potential immediate implications on current medication use.ConclusionDue to the disease complexity and medication needs of diagnostic odyssey patients, there may be immediate benefit obtained from early life PGx testing for many and most will likely find benefit in the future. These results require conscientious interpretation and management to be actionable for all prescribing physicians throughout the lifetime of the patient.