Citations

Inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) is the primary mode of action for 5-fluorouracil (5FU) chemotherapy. TS expression is modulated by a variable number of tandem repeats in the TS enhancer region (TSER) located upstream of the TS gene (TYMS). Variability in the TSER has been suggested to contribute to 5FU-induced adverse events. However, the precise genetic associations remain largely undefined due to high polymorphism and ambiguity in defining genotypes. To assess toxicity associations, we sequenced the TSER in 629 cancer patients treated with 5FU. Of the 13 alleles identified, few could be unambiguously named using current TSER-nomenclature. We devised a concise and unambiguous systematic naming approach for TSER-alleles that encompasses all known variants. After applying this comprehensive naming system to our data, we demonstrated that the number of upstream stimulatory factor (USF1-)binding sites in the TSER was significantly associated with gastrointestinal toxicity in 5FU treatment.

AbstractThis international multidisciplinary document intends to provide clinicians with evidence‐based practical patient‐centered recommendations for evaluating patients and decedents with (aborted) sudden cardiac arrest and their families. The document includes a framework for the investigation of the family allowing steps to be taken, should an inherited condition be found, to minimize further events in affected relatives. Integral to the process is counseling of the patients and families, not only because of the emotionally charged subject, but because finding (or not finding) the cause of the arrest may influence management of family members. The formation of multidisciplinary teams is essential to provide a complete service to the patients and their families, and the varied expertise of the writing committee was formulated to reflect this need. The document sections were divided up and drafted by the writing committee members according to their expertise. The recommendations represent the consensus opinion of the entire writing committee, graded by Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidence. The recommendations were opened for public comment and reviewed by the relevant scientific and clinical document committees of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); the document underwent external review and endorsement by the partner and collaborating societies. While the recommendations are for optimal care, it is recognized that not all resources will be available to all clinicians. Nevertheless, this document articulates the evaluation that the clinician should aspire to provide for patients with sudden cardiac arrest, decedents with sudden unexplained death, and their families.

8008 Background: Morphology remains the best biomarker for chemotherapy selection in NSCLC. Both bevacizumab and pemetrexed (in first line) are FDA indicated for non-SC histology only, making precise diagnosis key, although data are few on the reproducibility of their categorization. The standard of care, consensus-based World Health Organization diagnostic classification system, Ed. 4 (WHOC) includes 44 diagnostic categories (DC), does not include immunohistochemical (IHC) data, and is not independently validated. In this study, we estimate the reproducibility of SC versus non-SC classification to be only moderately precise. Methods: Pathologists (P) assigned WHOC diagnoses to virtual H&E slides from an incident surgical cohort of 96 primary lung tumors. At a power of 80% we estimated 24 P reviewing 48 slides each would allow for a reproducibility measure in the clinically useful range kappa=0.7, standard error=0.09. In addition to the 44 DC, we also considered the reproducibility of a simplified 10 category system and a chemotherapy-directed 2 class system. Results: 12 self-identified “lung experts” (E) and 12 community (C) P scored slides based on the 44 possible WHOC DC totaling 222 pathologist-pairs and 7130 slides-pairs. P rated confidence in their choices as: high 53%, somewhat 38%, and not confident 8%. 92% of slides were rated as having sufficient quality. Distribution of DC included SC 30% and adenocarcinoma 36%. Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the largest study ever performed of the WHOC, the only one to consider all 44 DC and to distinguish E vs C P. Although this model tests the reproducibility of the WHOC, not clinical lung cancer diagnoses, it shows that reproducible diagnosis of SC based on H&E morphology alone is inadequate. In the era of histology guided therapy, it highlights the need for strict diagnostic criteria and confirmatory IHC stains in the diagnosis of SC. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

AbstractNeuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative condition characterized by pathological intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions. A CGG repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC was recently identified to be associated with NIID in patients of Japanese descent. We screened pathologically confirmed European NIID, cases of neurodegenerative disease with intranuclear inclusions and applied in silico‐based screening using whole‐genome sequencing data from 20 536 participants in the 100 000 Genomes Project. We identified a single European case harbouring the pathogenic repeat expansion with a distinct haplotype structure. Thus, we propose new diagnostic criteria as European NIID represents a distinct disease entity from East Asian cases.

Background: Genetic variants in calsequestrin-2 ( CASQ2 ) cause an autosomal recessive form of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), although isolated reports have identified arrhythmic phenotypes among heterozygotes. Improved insight into the inheritance patterns, arrhythmic risks, and molecular mechanisms of CASQ2 -CPVT was sought through an international multicenter collaboration. Methods: Genotype-phenotype segregation in CASQ2 -CPVT families was assessed, and the impact of genotype on arrhythmic risk was evaluated using Cox regression models. Putative dominant CASQ2 missense variants and the established recessive CASQ2-p.R33Q variant were evaluated using oligomerization assays and their locations mapped to a recent CASQ2 filament structure. Results: A total of 112 individuals, including 36 CPVT probands (24 homozygotes/compound heterozygotes and 12 heterozygotes) and 76 family members possessing at least 1 presumed pathogenic CASQ2 variant, were identified. Among CASQ2 homozygotes and compound heterozygotes, clinical penetrance was 97.1% and 26 of 34 (76.5%) individuals had experienced a potentially fatal arrhythmic event with a median age of onset of 7 years (95% CI, 6–11). Fifty-one of 66 CASQ2 heterozygous family members had undergone clinical evaluation, and 17 of 51 (33.3%) met diagnostic criteria for CPVT. Relative to CASQ2 heterozygotes, CASQ2 homozygote/compound heterozygote genotype status in probands was associated with a 3.2-fold (95% CI, 1.3–8.0; P =0.013) increased hazard of a composite of cardiac syncope, aborted cardiac arrest, and sudden cardiac death, but a 38.8-fold (95% CI, 5.6–269.1; P <0.001) increased hazard in genotype-positive family members. In vitro turbidity assays revealed that p.R33Q and all 6 candidate dominant CASQ2 missense variants evaluated exhibited filamentation defects, but only p.R33Q convincingly failed to dimerize. Structural analysis revealed that 3 of these 6 putative dominant negative missense variants localized to an electronegative pocket considered critical for back-to-back binding of dimers. Conclusions: This international multicenter study of CASQ2 -CPVT redefines its heritability and confirms that pathogenic heterozygous CASQ2 variants may manifest with a CPVT phenotype, indicating a need to clinically screen these individuals. A dominant mode of inheritance appears intrinsic to certain missense variants because of their location and function within the CASQ2 filament structure.

5564 Background: Cabozantinib (C) may enhance response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) by promoting an immune-permissive microenvironment and has shown encouraging activity in combination with ICIs in tumor types including RCC and HCC. C and atezolizumab (A) have shown low objective response rates as monotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) (Smith JCO 2012; Kim JCO 2018). COSMIC-021 (NCT03170960), a multinational phase 1b study, is evaluating the combination of C + A in various solid tumors. We report results for Cohort 6 in mCRPC. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) were required to have radiographic progression in soft tissue after enzalutamide and/or abiraterone, measurable disease, and an ECOG PS of 0 or 1. Prior chemotherapy for mCSPC was permitted. Pts received C 40 mg PO QD and A 1200 mg IV Q3W. CT/MRI scans were performed Q6W for the first year and Q12W thereafter. The primary endpoint is ORR per RECIST 1.1. Other endpoints include safety, ORR per irRECIST, duration of response (DOR), PFS, and OS. Results are presented for the first 44 pts enrolled. Results: Median follow-up as of Dec 20, 2019 was 12.6 mo (range 5, 20) for the 44 mCRPC pts. Median age was 70 y (range 49, 90), 50% had ECOG PS 1, 34% had visceral metastases, and 61% had extrapelvic lymph node metastases. 27% had prior docetaxel and 52% had 2 prior novel hormonal therapies. The most common any grade treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were fatigue (50%), nausea (43%), decreased appetite (39%), diarrhea (39%), dysgeusia (34%), and PPE (32%). One grade 5 TRAE of dehydration was reported in a 90 y/o. Median duration of treatment was 6.3 mo. ORR per RECIST 1.1 among all 44 pts was 32% (2 CRs [4.5%] and 12 PRs [27%]); 21 (48%) pts had SD resulting in a disease control rate of 80% in all pts. One pt with PD per RECIST 1.1 had an irPR per irRECIST. ORR per RECIST 1.1 was 33% in 36 pts with high-risk disease (visceral and/or extrapelvic lymph node metastases). Median DOR for all pts with response per RECIST 1.1 was 8.3 mo (range 2.8, 9.8+). 17 (50%) of 34 pts with post-baseline PSA evaluation had a decrease in PSA. In 12 responders with post-baseline PSA evaluation, 8 (67%) had a PSA decrease ≥50%. Tumor PD-L1 expression will also be reported. Conclusions: The combination of C + A had a tolerable safety profile and demonstrated clinically meaningful activity with durable responses in men with mCRPC. Given the encouraging activity in these pts, especially in those with high-risk disease, further evaluation of C + A in men with mCRPC is being pursued. Clinical trial information: NCT03170960 .

5013 Background: Cabozantinib (C), an inhibitor of MET, AXL, and VEGFR, has been shown to promote an immune-permissive environment and has shown promising clinical activity in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in solid tumors including renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma (UC). ICI monotherapy is approved for patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic UC with disease progression after platinum-containing chemotherapy. COSMIC-021, a multi-center phase 1b study, is evaluating the combination of C with atezolizumab (A) in various solid tumors (NCT03170960). We report results from Cohort 2 in UC pts with prior platinum-containing chemotherapy. Methods: Eligible pts had ECOG PS 0-1 and had progressed on or after a platinum-containing chemotherapy (including pts with disease recurrences < 12 months after the end of perioperative chemotherapy). Pts received C 40 mg PO QD and A 1200 mg IV Q3W. CT/MRI scans were performed Q6W for first year and Q12W thereafter. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1 by investigator. Other endpoints include safety, duration of response (DOR), PFS, and OS. Results: As of Dec 20, 2019, 30 pts with advanced UC were enrolled with a median follow-up of 16.5 mo (range 12, 21). Median age was 66 yrs (range 44, 84), 73% were male, and 60% had ECOG PS 1. Primary tumor sites were bladder (80%), renal pelvis (10%), and ureter (10%); the most frequent metastatic sites included lung (40%) and liver (27%). Fourteen pts (47%) had received ≥2 prior systemic anticancer therapies. The most common treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) of any grade were asthenia (37%), diarrhea (27%), decreased appetite (23%), increased transaminases (23%), and mucosal inflammation (20%). Grade 3/4 TRAEs occurred in 57% of pts, with no grade 5 TRAEs. Confirmed ORR per RECIST v1.1 was 27% (8 of 30 pts), including 2 pts with CR. DCR (CR+PR+SD) was 64%. Median DOR was not reached, with the longest DOR ongoing at 14.3+ mos. Median PFS was 5.4 mo (range 0.0+, 17.3+). Conclusions: C in combination with A demonstrated encouraging clinical activity in pts with advanced UC with an acceptable safety profile. Additional cohorts of pts with advanced UC are being explored in the study. Clinical trial information: NCT03170960 .