Citations

Abstract Background: Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during treatment is crucial for improving outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study presents a pre-planned spatiotemporal analysis from a phase II trial evaluating neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX in resectable PDAC, aimed at elucidating treatment resistance mechanisms and identifying predictive biomarkers. Methods: This multi-institutional, single-arm phase II trial enrolled treatment-naïve patients with histologically confirmed resectable PDAC (NCT05066802) who underwent six cycles of neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX followed by surgery. The primary endpoint was the R0 resection rate. Matched pre-treatment tumor biopsies and post-treatment surgical specimens were analyzed from selected responders (R) and non-responders (NR) using high-resolution spatial transcriptomics (10X Genomics Visium). This approach enabled comprehensive mapping of TME evolution and treatment-induced changes. Results: Between May 2020 and February 2022, 27 patients were enrolled. Of these, 24 patients underwent surgery after neoadjuvant treatment (resection rate: 88.9%), and 23 achieved R0 resection (85.2%), meeting the primary endpoint. However, 20 resected patients (83.3%) recurred. Spatiotemporal analysis was performed on matched samples from four R and four NR. In pre-treatment samples from NR group, clusters dominated by fibroblasts (enriched for ECM, EMT, and CAF phenotypes) and B cell subtypes were distinct compared to R group, which exhibited elevated antibody responses and robust T cell and macrophage activity. NR samples showed increased IgM expression but lacked corresponding Fc receptors, suggesting limited immune effector function. Post-treatment NR surgical specimens displayed elevated expression of MUC5AC and CEACAM6 in malignant ductal cells, alongside genes promoting tumor growth. Neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX increased fibroblast, while reducing immune cell components. NR tumors formed distinct "resistance niches" after chemotherapy, marked by ECM production, CAF activation, and RTK signaling. Conversely, R tumors showed enhanced epithelial organization with increased type-I hemidesmosome complexes facilitating epithelial adhesion to the basement membrane. Conclusion: Three months of neoadjuvant mFOLFIRINOX was feasible and tolerable for resectable PDAC but associated with high recurrence rate, emphasizing the need for better patient selection. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed critical differences in TME dynamics according to treatment response, including the emergence of resistance niches and distinct pre-treatment spatial signatures. These findings support the integration of spatial biology into future pancreatic cancer trials to improve stratification and therapy. Citation Format: Choong-kun Lee, Changjin Hong, Ho Kyoung Hwang, Min Hwan Kim, Jean Rene Clemenceau, Seock-Jin Chung, Isabel Barnfather, Sumanth Reddy Nakkireddy, Jeong Hwan Park, Ji-Youn Sung, Minji Kim, Yooho Choi, Inyeop Jang, Sunho Park, Sung Hyun Kim, Chang Moo Kang, Hye Jin Choi, Tae Hyun Hwang. Spatiotemporal evolution of the tumor microenvironment predicts treatment response in phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 771.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the activated B cell–like subtype (ABC-DLBCL) is associated with particularly poor outcome. Many ABC-DLBCLs harbor gain-of-function mutations that cause inappropriate assembly of the CARMA1-BCL10-MALT1 (CBM) signalosome, a cytoplasmic complex that drives downstream NF-κB signaling. MALT1 is the effector protein of the CBM signalosome such that its recruitment to the signalosome via interaction with BCL10 allows it to exert both protease and scaffolding activities that together synergize in driving NF-κB. Here, we demonstrate that a molecular groove located between two adjacent immunoglobulin-like domains within MALT1 represents a binding pocket for BCL10. Leveraging this discovery, we performed an in silico screen to identify small molecules that dock within this MALT1 groove and act as BCL10-MALT1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. We report the identification of M1i-124 as a first-in-class compound that blocks BCL10-MALT1 interaction, abrogates MALT1 scaffolding and protease activities, promotes degradation of BCL10 and MALT1 proteins, and specifically targets ABC-DLBCLs characterized by dysregulated MALT1. Our findings demonstrate that small-molecule inhibitors of BCL10-MALT1 interaction can function as potent agents to block MALT1 signaling in selected lymphomas, and provide a road map for clinical development of a new class of precision-medicine therapeutics.

Abstract While tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells (TRM cells) provide superior frontline defense against pathogens, the molecular mechanisms governing their persistence and functional regulation remain poorly defined. Our study reveals that the costimulatory receptors CD27 and ICOS coordinately sustain PD-1high CD8+ TRM cell populations following resolution of acute influenza infection. These costimulatory signals serve as critical targets for PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, thereby facilitating the rejuvenation of PD-1high TRM cells and influencing the progression of fibrotic sequelae during the memory phase. Mechanistic dissection identifies the nuclear receptor Nur77 (NR4A1) as the convergent transcriptional hub downstream of CD27/ICOS, governing proliferative renewal and maintenance of PD-1high TRM cells. Therapeutic administration of a CD27 agonist not only amplified this TRM cell subset in late-stage memory but also conferred cross-protective immunity against heterosubtypic viral challenges. Clinically, the expression of CD27 and ICOS is enriched in CD8+ T cells within the lung tissues of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings establish the "CD27/ICOS-NR4A1-Proliferation" axis as a linchpin of PD-1/PD-L1-mediated TRM cell homeostasis, revealing druggable targets for intercepting infection-associated fibrotic progression.

Abstract Introduction: Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a complex procedure historically requiring inpatient stay. There is increased emphasis for these to be performed on an outpatient basis by insurance companies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proportion of various surgical listing classifications (outpatient, outpatient-overnight, inpatient), the incidence of subsequent denial/request for additional documentation for approval of inpatient stay, and to characterize the average length of stay (LOS) following PAO. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all PAOs, performed by four participating surgeons, at a single academic institution over a two-year period. The initial listing status as an outpatient-overnight or inpatient procedure was identified. Whether a preoperative peer review was required for approval of inpatient listings as well as if additional documentation was necessary to convert outpatient-overnight listings to inpatient stays were also recorded. Results: A total of 140 PAOs amongst 117 patients were performed with 25 (17.9%) initially listed as an inpatient stay and 115 (82.1%) listed as outpatient-overnight. Of the 25 PAOs listed as inpatient, 2 (8.0%) required a preoperative peer review process to justify or clarify listing status. The average LOS was 1.9 ± 1.4 days with 55.7% (78/140) of PAOs staying two or more nights in the hospital. Only 6 PAOs (4.3%) went home the same day as surgery. Of the 115 PAOs listed as an outpatient-overnight, 53 (46.1%) converted to an inpatient stay. Conclusion: Over half of PAOs performed required inpatient stay beyond outpatient-overnight status. Preoperative peer-to-peer review for inpatient stay approval was modestly frequent (8% of inpatient listings), and all conversions to inpatient required additional service documentation to support status conversion. Understanding trends in postoperative hospitalizations and LOS might allow for better informed partnerships between surgeons and insurance companies creating more efficient pre-authorizations, billing practices, and expected patterns of patient care and discharge.

Abstract Background: Osteochondral allograft and autograft transplantation for femoral head defects have emerged as promising treatments for concomitant cartilage and subchondral bone injuries in young patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent osteochondral allograft or autograft transplantation for femoral head defects and access any risk factors that may lead to conversion to THA. Methods: All patients who underwent osteochondral allograft or autograft transplantation for femoral head defects were analyzed. All patients had symptomatic femoral head osteochondral defects identifiable on advanced imaging such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical outcomes were assessed at final follow-up with the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score – Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score – Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12). Additionally, patients were assessed radiographically preoperatively and at a final postoperative visit using anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs for osteoarthritis using Tönnis grading. Results: A total of 27 patients were included in this study (19 osteochondral allograft transplantation, 8 osteochondral autograft transplantation). The overall mean follow-up was 4.7 years. The average mHHS, HOS-ADL, HOS-SSS, and iHOT-12 for the allograft cohort were 86.7, 92.8, 81.4, and 79.0, respectively, while for the autograft cohort it was 87.6, 92.7, 83.1, and 82.0, respectively. For the allograft cohort, there were a total of 5 reoperations (26.3%) consisting of 4 THA at a mean of 1.9 years and 1 trochanteric osteotomy nonunion at 0.7 year. For the remaining allograft patients who did not undergo treatment failure, only one (6.7%) had radiographic osteoarthritis progression. None of the patients in the autograft cohort underwent THA. Overall, conversion to THA was 14.8%. Conclusion: Osteochondral allograft and autograft transplantation for femoral head defects demonstrated overall favorable clinical outcomes and conversion to THA at mean 5-year follow-up and should be considered for patients with focal femoral head defects.

61 Background: 177 Lu-PSMA-617 was approved in March 2022 for patients with mCRPC pretreated with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) and a taxane. There are limited data on the effectiveness of treatments post- 177 Lu-PSMA-617. The aim of this study was to describe prostate-specific antigen (PSA) responses among patients with mCRPC receiving a guideline-recommended therapy as the next therapy after 177 Lu-PSMA-617 treatment. Methods: This retrospective, observational study used real-world data from the PRECISION data platform, a proprietary dataset developed by Novartis, comprised of patient-level electronic health record and claims data that represent the US advanced prostate cancer population in the community, academic, urology, and medical oncology settings. Patients with mCRPC who received any guideline-recommended therapy at least 14 days after treatment with 177 Lu-PSMA-617 between March 23, 2022 and July 31, 2024 were included. Guideline-recommended therapies included abiraterone, enzalutamide, darolutamide, apalutamide, cabazitaxel, docetaxel, pembrolizumab, sipuleucel-T, niraparib, olaparib, talazoparib, rucaparib, and radium-223. Patients’ PSA values while on 177 Lu-PSMA-617 treatment were compared with their PSA values during the subsequent therapy course. Proportions of patients achieving reductions in PSA levels ≥50% (PSA50) and ≥80% (PSA80) were estimated. All analyses were descriptive. Results: A total of 152 patients receiving any subsequent guideline-recommended therapy after 177 Lu-PSMA-617 were identified. Mean age was 72.1 years. Most patients received an ARPI (n=93, 61.2%) – abiraterone (n=38), enzalutamide (n=37), darolutamide (n=10), or apalutamide (n=8) – as their subsequent therapy. Of patients who received a taxane (n=42, 27.6%), 24 received cabazitaxel and 18 received docetaxel. Median time to initiation of subsequent therapy was 206 days (interquartile range [IQR] 101–301 days) from 177 Lu-PSMA-617 initiation and 44 days (IQR 17–119 days) from 177 Lu-PSMA-617 discontinuation. Overall, among patients with sufficient information for PSA evaluation (n=30), 46.7% achieved PSA50 and 40.0% PSA80 post- 177 Lu-PSMA-617. Among patients receiving an ARPI, PSA50 was observed in 11/18 (61.1%) and PSA80 in 10/18 (55.6%). Among patients receiving a taxane, PSA50 and PSA80 were seen in 3/12 (25.0%) and 2/12 (16.7%), respectively. Conclusions: In this real-world analysis, the majority of patients who received guideline-recommended therapies after 177 Lu-PSMA-617 achieved at least a PSA50 response, suggesting that 177 Lu-PSMA-617 treatment does not preclude response to other subsequent therapies.

59 Background: There are several real-world data sources for prostate cancer (PC), each with its own limitations; the most notable limitation is an incomplete picture of the multidisciplinary clinical management of PC. The PRECISION data platform, the largest, most comprehensive, and continually updated real-world evidence source on patients with advanced PC to date, tries to address this limitation and shed light on PC management in both urology and oncology practices in both academic and community settings in the US. The platform includes a wide variety of PC-specific data variables among patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive PC (mHSPC) and metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC) treated across the US. This study aims to provide an overview of the characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes among patients with mHSPC and mCRPC included in PRECISION to date. Methods: A retrospective cohort study that included patients with a diagnosis of mHSPC or mCRPC (index date) in PRECISION between 2018 and 2024 (cohorts could overlap). For each cohort, patient characteristics and treatment patterns were evaluated descriptively. Results: The PRECISION platform currently includes 72,855 and 33,538 patients with mHSPC and mCRPC, respectively. Among the mHSPC cohort, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 74.5±9.4 years; 67% and 33% were treated at oncology and urology centers, respectively; 40% and 60% were from academic and community settings, respectively. The average ± SD time from mHSPC to mCRPC was 11.2±11.7 months. Overall, 77.6% of patients were treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), of whom 64.7% had ADT combined with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) including abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, and apalutamide. Among the mCRPC cohort, the mean ± SD age was 74.1±9.3 years; similar treatment setting patterns as mHSPC were observed. Overall, 74.6% initiated a first-line (1L) therapy on/after mCRPC diagnosis; 52.1% had 1L ARPIs, 16.2% 1L immunotherapy, and 4.6% 1L taxane chemotherapy. In addition, 2.2% of patients received the recently US FDA-approved therapy, lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan, at some point during their mCRPC disease duration. Conclusions: This analysis provides key insights into the patients included in the PRECISION data platform. This multidisciplinary dataset provides a 70/30 split between oncology and urology centers, and a 40/60 split between academic and community settings. The observed clinical profile, treatment patterns, and outcomes comprise the most comprehensive representation of current treatment practice in the US. Future analyses of clinical outcomes with existing and novel therapies could contribute significantly to our understanding of opportunities to improve the treatment of patients with mHSPC and mCRPC in the US.

56 Background: The broad therapeutic arsenal for mCRPC, with overlapping indications, makes selecting the optimal treatment sequence challenging in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) responses and overall survival (OS) among patients with mCRPC receiving 177 Lu-PSMA-617 based on prior ARPI and taxane treatment exposure. Methods: This retrospective, observational study used real-world data from the PRECISION data platform, a harmonized dataset of advanced prostate cancer patients in the US from diverse clinical settings. Patients with mCRPC who had received ≥1 dose of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 between March 23, 2022 and July 31, 2024, after prior treatment with ≥1 ARPI and ≥1 taxane, were included. To assess PSA response, the baseline PSA value obtained within 90 days before starting 177 Lu-PSMA-617 was compared with the on-treatment PSA value obtained ≥28 days after 177 Lu-PSMA-617 initiation. The number of patients achieving PSA reductions ≥50% (PSA50) and ≥80% (PSA80) were estimated, with patients classified into two cohorts based on prior ARPI and taxane exposure: (1) prompt cohort: after only 1 ARPI and 1 taxane, and (2) deferred cohort: >1 ARPI and/or >1 taxane. Patient characteristics and treatment patterns were evaluated descriptively. OS from 177 Lu-PSMA-617 initiation was estimated using Kaplan–Meier methodology. Results: A total of 431 patients were included: 177 patients in the prompt cohort and 254 patients in the deferred cohort. Of patients in the deferred cohort, 185 (72.8%) received ≥1 ARPI and 1 taxane, 32 (12.6%) received 1 ARPI and ≥1 taxane, and 37 (14.6%) received ≥1 ARPI and ≥1 taxane. Median (interquartile range age was 73 (67–78) years and most demographic characteristics were balanced between groups. Patients in the deferred cohort had higher median PSA levels at baseline (63.1 ng/mL vs 25.2 ng/mL). PSA50 was observed in 18/33 (55%) patients in the prompt cohort vs 28/66 (42%) in the deferred cohort. PSA80 was observed in 13/33 (39%) patients in the prompt cohort vs 21/66 (31%) in the deferred cohort. Across both cohorts, median OS was 18.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.1 months–not reached [NR]). Median OS was NR in patients in the prompt cohort vs 15.1 months in patients in the deferred cohort (95% CI: 11.6 months–NR). Conclusions: In this large real-world study, prompt initiation of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 (after only 1 ARPI and 1 taxane) showed superior clinical outcomes versus deferred initiation of 177 Lu-PSMA-617. Patients were more likely to achieve a PSA reduction ≥50% and ≥80% and had longer OS with prompt initiation of 177 Lu-PSMA-617. These results may help to guide treatment sequencing in clinical practice.

Abstract Behavioral flexibility allows animals to adjust actions to changing environments. While the basal ganglia are critical for adaptation, the specific role of the external globus pallidus (GPe) is unclear. This study examined the contributions of two major GPe cell types—prototypic neurons projecting to the subthalamic nucleus (Proto GPe→STN neurons) and astrocytes—to behavioral flexibility. Using longitudinal operant conditioning with context reversals, we found that Proto GPe→STN neurons dynamically represent contextual information correlating with behavioral optimality. In contrast, GPe astrocytes exhibited gradual contextual encoding independent of performance. Deleting Proto GPe→STN neurons impaired adaptive responses to changing action-outcome contingencies without altering initial reward-seeking acquisition, highlighting their specific role in enabling behavioral flexibility. Furthermore, we discovered that Proto GPe→STN neurons integrate inhibitory striatal and excitatory subthalamic inputs, modulating downstream basal ganglia circuits to support flexible behavior. This research elucidates the complementary roles of Proto GPe→STN neurons and astrocytes in cellular mechanisms of flexible reward-seeking behavior.

Introduction: Four randomized clinical trials have not demonstrated the superiority of anticoagulation over antiplatelet therapy in the prevention of recurrent embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). In this multicenter observational cohort study, we evaluated long-term outcomes associated with various antithrombotic strategies according to potential embolic sources. Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational cohort of consecutive adult patients with ESUS was queried (n=27 sites). Comparisons were made between patients treated with single or combination antiplatelet therapy versus anticoagulation (direct oral anticoagulant, vitamin K antagonist, low molecular weight heparin) with or without antiplatelet therapy initiated within 7 days of stroke. The primary composite outcome of recurrent stroke, major bleeding, or death was assessed using unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression, with clustering by site. Causal inference was assessed using inverse probability of treatment weighted regression adjustment (IPTWRA), accounting for propensity for antiplatelet treatment, with effect estimates summarized as the average treatment effect (ATE) over time (in days). Adjusted models accounted for age, stroke severity, vascular risk factors, and major categories of potential embolic sources. Results: Of the 2201 included patients (n=218 treated with anticoagulation) followed over a median of 564 days (interquartile range [IQR] 154-1124), the median age was 65y (IQR 54-74) and 49.8% were female. Patients treated with anticoagulation were older with more frequent previous stroke, concomitant left ventricular dysfunction, and more severe deficits. Over 4541 person-years of follow-up, the annualized incidence rate of the primary outcome was 14.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.6%-15.8%). Compared to anticoagulation, antiplatelet(s) use was not associated with a lower risk of the primary outcome in the adjusted Cox model (HR 0.91, 95% CI, 0.64-1.29) or in the IPTWRA model (average treatment effect 0.14, 95% CI, -1376.6 to 1376.9). Major bleeding events trended toward significance in the adjusted Cox model (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.25-1.04) but were no different with IPTWRA (ATE 58.9, 95% CI, -125.4 to 243.2). Conclusions: These results validate the observations of randomized trials indicating a lack of benefit of anticoagulation over antiplatelet therapy in ESUS. A more detailed analysis of heterogeneity of treatment effect is under way.