Citations

Importance Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with or without prostate biopsy, has become the standard of care for diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer. Resource capacity limits widespread adoption. Biparametric MRI, which omits the gadolinium contrast sequence, is a shorter and cheaper alternative offering time-saving capacity gains for health systems globally. Objective To assess whether biparametric MRI is noninferior to multiparametric MRI for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective, multicenter, within-patient, noninferiority trial of biopsy-naive men from 22 centers (12 countries) with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (elevated prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level and/or abnormal digital rectal examination findings) from April 2022 to September 2023, with the last follow-up conducted on December 3, 2024. Interventions Participants underwent multiparametric MRI, comprising T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and dynamic contrast–enhanced (DCE) sequences. Radiologists reported abbreviated biparametric MRI first (T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted), blinded to the DCE sequence. After unblinding, radiologists reported the full multiparametric MRI. Patients underwent a targeted biopsy with or without systematic biopsy if either biparametric MRI or multiparametric MRI was suggestive of clinically significant prostate cancer. Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was the proportion of men with clinically significant prostate cancer. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of men with clinically insignificant cancer. The noninferiority margin was 5%. Results Of 555 men recruited, 490 were included for primary outcome analysis. Median age was 65 (IQR, 59-70) years and median PSA level was 5.6 (IQR, 4.4-8.0) ng/mL. The proportion of patients with abnormal digital rectal examination findings was 12.7%. Biparametric MRI was noninferior to multiparametric MRI, detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in 143 of 490 men (29.2%), compared with 145 of 490 men (29.6%) (difference, −0.4 [95% CI, −1.2 to 0.4] percentage points; P = .50). Biparametric MRI detected clinically insignificant cancer in 45 of 490 men (9.2%), compared with 47 of 490 men (9.6%) with the use of multiparametric MRI (difference, −0.4 [95% CI, −1.2 to 0.4] percentage points). Central quality control demonstrated that 99% of scans were of adequate diagnostic quality. Conclusion and relevance In men with suspected prostate cancer, provided image quality is adequate, an abbreviated biparametric MRI scan, with or without targeted biopsy, could become the new standard of care for prostate cancer diagnosis. With approximately 4 million prostate MRIs performed globally annually, adopting biparametric MRI could substantially increase scanner throughput and reduce costs worldwide. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04571840

1510 Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have emerged as leading cancer treatment guidelines in SSA. The NCCN-SSA guidelines, derived by adapting NCCN guidelines for the SSA context, offer standardized recommendations to guide cancer care and shape policy in SSA. This study examines the evidence cited in support of the NCCN-SSA guidelines, with a focus on population characteristics and generalizability to SSA. Methods: Two reviewers independently examined the NCCN-SSA guidelines for the eight most common cancers in SSA to identify all studies cited in support of treatment/management recommendations. Study selection discrepancies were resolved by discussion. Full-text articles were reviewed and data on age, sex, race, and recruitment geography were abstracted. Descriptive analyses were performed using R statistical software. Results: Overall, 4,589 citations were reviewed, and 2,938 (64.0%) studies with individual-level data were included, representing >10.4 million study participants. Of the 2,061 studies reporting geographic information (70%), 50 (2.4%) recruited in SSA; of these, 39 (83.0%) recruited from South Africa. Three studies (0.2%) recruited exclusively in SSA. Most studies (95.3%) recruited exclusively from high or upper-middle income countries. Only 29.2% of studies with race data included >10% Black study participants. Conclusions: Most studies cited in the NCCN-SSA guidelines were conducted in high-income countries outside SSA. A small minority of all study participants were Black. Our findings underscore potential limitations in the generalizability of the NCCN-SSA guidelines to SSA and highlight a pressing need to generate and incorporate context-specific data to guide care and inform policy. WHO region of recruitment, race, and country-level income of studies included in NCCN-SSA guidelines. Cancer type # (%) studies reporting geography # (%) studies by recruitment region*: Americas # (%) studies by recruitment region*: Europe # (%) studies by recruitment region*: Sub-Sah. Africa % participants, White % participants, Black % participants, Other race # (%) studies representing only HMIC (per World Bank) Overall 2061(70%) 1177 (57%) 921 (45%) 50 (2%) 79% 9% 11% 1964(95%) B-cell 325(57%) 173 (53%) 178 (55%) 5(2%) 82% 7% 10% 307(94%) Breast 206(44%) 123 (60%) 124 (60%) 12 (6%) 80% 9% 11% 179(87%) Cervical 163(90%) 100 (61 %) 44(27%) 3(2%) 64% 14% 22% 158(97%) Colorectal 584(82%) 278 (48%) 292 (50%) 11 (2%) 80% 10% 10% 571 (98%) Hepato-cellular 183(74%) 80(44%) 68(37%) 0(0%) 69% 9% 22% 169(92 %) Kaposi sarcoma 51(80%) 25 (49%) 19(37%) 5(10%) 38% 51% 10% 44(86%) Ovarian 115(56%) 76 (66%) 35 (30%) 0(0%) 83% 4% 13% 115(100%) Prostate 434(88 %) 322 (74 %) 161 (37%) 14 (3%) 79% 9% 12% 421(97%) HMIC = high and upper-middle income countries. *Percent of studies includes as the denominator only the number of studies with reported geographies.

Modulating immune function is a critical strategy in cancer and atherosclerosis treatments. For cancer, boosting or maintaining the immune system is crucial to prevent tumor growth. However, in vascular disease, mitigating immune responses can decrease inflammation and slow atherosclerosis progression. Anti-inflammatory therapy, therefore, presents a unique dilemma for cancer survivors: while it may decrease cardiovascular risk, it might also promote cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the immune response. Senescence presents a potentially targetable solution to this challenge; senescence increases the risk of both cancer therapy resistance and vascular disease. Exercise, notably, shows promise in delaying this premature senescence, potentially improving cancer outcomes and lowering vascular disease risk post-treatment. This review focuses on the long-term impact of cancer therapies on vascular health. We underscore the importance of modulating senescence to balance cancer treatment’s effectiveness and its vascular impact, and we emphasize investigating the role of exercise-mediated suppression of senescence in improving cancer survivorship.

Background: Dysfunction of systemic vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We sought to determine if organ-specific EC translational heterogeneity is present in HFpEF. Using a transgenic mouse model (RiboTag EC ), we analyzed the translatome (the mRNAs bound with ribosomes) of organ-specific ECs in a mouse HFpEF model induced by hypertensive/metabolic stresses. Methods: Six-month-old male RiboTag EC ( Cdh5 CreERT2+ / Rpl22 HA/+ ) mice, expressing a hemagglutinin tag in EC ribosomal protein Rpl22, were fed a high-fat diet and L-NAME water (N=4) or a normal diet and water (N=5) for 7 weeks. Organs were collected for Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification, RNA isolation, and RNA-seq. RNA-seq data were visualized using uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs; absolute fold change ≥ 2 and false discovery rate (FDR) adjusted p-value ≤ 0.05). Pathway enrichment analyses were conducted (Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA)). Results: In UMAP, the EC translatome clustered by organ (heart, lung, skeletal muscle, and liver) highlighting organ-specific EC heterogeneity and by disease (HFpEF) status with cardiac ECs showing the most dramatic changes with HFpEF (Fig A). Cardiac ECs in HFpEF (vs Control) had 283 downregulated and 23 upregulated DEG (Fig B) out of 14,923 genes identified. There were significant differences in 142 canonical pathways (16 upregulated, 126 downregulated), including LXR/RXR activation, DHCR 24 signaling, regulation of insulin-like growth factors, eNOS signaling, acute phrase response (all down regulated) and IL-1b-mediated inhibition of RXR and unfolded protein response (both up regulated) (Fig C). Conclusion: HFpEF induction caused extensive translational changes in EC but particularly cardiac ECs. In cardiac ECs, metabolism, anti-inflammatory, vasodilation, tissue repair, and angiogenesis pathways were inhibited, while pro-inflammatory response, insulin resistance, and proteostasis pathways were activated.

Background: D-flow’s impact on metabolic reprogramming, particularly glycolysis, needs reevaluation due to its conflicting role in atherosclerosis. We show that d-flow reduces LATS1/2 expression, leading to both EC proliferation and senescence. However, the exact molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: We utilized EC-specific Lats1 +/- /Lats2 -/- knockout (LATS1/2-EKO) mice in a partial left carotid ligation (PLCL) model under hypercholesterolemia with AAV-PCSK9 injection to mimic d-flow. Anti-CD38 antibody (Ab68) and IgG2a control were administered intraperitoneally every 5 days at a dose of 5 mg/kg starting one day before PLCL. Plaque characterization was performed using imaging mass cytometry and sequential immunofluorescence (COMET TM ), integrating spatial metabolite data from Bruker timsTOF Flex Mass Spectrometer, and spatial single-cell metabolite data via the Visiopharm platform. Results: EC LATS1/2 depletion induced a unique atherothrombosis lesion with induced EC proliferation and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Utilizing spatial single-cell metabolomics, we cataloged 134 distinct metabolites within the ECs. Subsequent overrepresentation analysis revealed that pathways related to glutamate and the citric acid cycle were enhanced in LATS1/2-EKO mice. Specifically, CD38-dependent downregulation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) substrate lipoamide decreased PDH enzymatic activity, linking to CD38 to senescence induction. This inhibition led to a metabolic shift towards YAP-dependent glutaminolysis, and upregulated the citric acid cycle. The use of a glutaminase 1 inhibitor (CB-839) significantly curtailed senescence-associated stemness (SAS), underscoring the pivotal role of CD38 in driving glutaminolysis that contributes to d-flow-induced SAS. Moreover, the application of Ab68 but not IgG2a control decreased atherothrombosis formation following PLCL in LATS1/2-EKO mice. However, the effectiveness of Ab68 in attenuating atherosclerosis in wild-type mice was less pronounced. Conclusions: In the presence of d-flow, upregulated CD38, resulting from reduced LATS1/2 expression, triggers EC responses characterized by increased glutaminolysis and the emergence of an EC SAS phenotype. These processes play a crucial role in a unique form of atherothrombosis. Additionally, CD38’s impact on reducing PDH activity, along with YAP and CD38-mediated enhancement of glutaminolysis, constitutes critical pathways for inducing EC SAS by d-flow.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques, especially high-risk ones, form in blood vessel regions exposed to d-flow. EC dysfunction induced by d-flow likely contributes to plaque development. In contrast, regions with laminar flow (l-flow) are less susceptible to plaque formation. Although the Hippo pathway is implicated in mechano-transduction, the exact role and molecular mechanisms of LATS1/2 in response to d-flow remain incompletely understood. Methods: We employed endothelial cell (EC)-specific Lats1 and Lats2 knockout mice within a partial left carotid ligation (PLCL) model to simulate disturbed flow conditions. We characterized plaques using imaging mass cytometry (IMC) and sequential immunofluorescence via COMET TM . Results: We investigated the effects of d-flow on YAP activity and LATS1/2 expression. While both l-flow and d-flow activate YAP activity, only d-flow leads to decreased LATS1/2 expression. We induced Lats1/2 deletion in tamoxifen-inducible Lats1 -/- /Lats2 -/- EKO mice. Within 14 days, all mice (27/27) died due to severe systemic edema and increased vascular permeability. In Lats1 +/- /Lats2 -/- EKO mice (LATS1/2-EKO), we observed atherothrombotic lesions characterized by increased EC proliferation and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in vivo . Mechanistically, d-flow reduces LATS1/2 expression, leading to increased CD38 expression. CD38 triggers not only SASP, but also senescence-associated stemness (SAS) via NAD + depletion, dependent on Lamin A but independent of YAP. We also explored the relationship between CD38 and Ki67 in plaques in vivo. We calculated the logarithm of the Ki67:CD38 expression ratio at the single-cell level using IMC/COMET data. Based on the trimodal density distribution of this parameter, we found that in one group, CD38 and Ki67 were linearly co-expressed, and the percentage of LATS1/2-depleted cells in this group exceeded that of wild type (WT) cells, suggesting that CD38’s pro-proliferative effects dominate under LATS1/2 depletion conditions, despite its role in inducing senescence. Lastly, inhibiting CD38 mitigated d EC SAS/SASP, and atherothrombosis under LATS1/2 depletion conditions. Conclusions: Reduced LATS1/2-mediated CD38 expression in response to d-flow leads to an EC response marked by increased SASP/SAS, ultimately contributing to atherothrombosis. While this phenomenon is common in human advanced coronary atherosclerosis, it is not observed in commonly used mouse models of atherosclerosis.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), characterized by cardiac diastolic dysfunction, leads to premature mortality with limited effective treatments. A recent study in HFpEF patients suggested neuropilin 1 (NRP1), an endothelial cell (EC) originated prognostic marker, might contribute to the pathogenesis of HFpEF. However, the functional role of NRP1 in the pathogenesis of HFpEF remains unclear. Purpose: To determine the functional role of NRP1 in the pathogenesis of HFpEF. Hypothesis: NRP-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of HFpEF, potentially mediated through chronic inflammation. Methods: HFpEF was induced by hypertensive and metabolic stresses in control (n=14) and tamoxifen-induced, endothelial cell-specific NRP1 knockout (NRP1 iEC-KO ) mice (n=13). We assessed cardiac diastolic function via echocardiography and pressure-volume loop through invasive catheters. To determine the inflammation level, we tested leukocyte adhesion, inflammatory marker vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA level in control and NRP1 shRNA knockdown (NRP1 KD) human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with a stimulation of TNF-α. Student t-test (two tailed) was used and the criterion level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: We found a significantly improved diastolic function in NRP1 iEC-KO mice, evidenced by a significantly reduced end diastolic pressure in NRP1 iEC-KO mice (8±2mmHg; n=7) compared to the controls (17±2mmHg; n=9; p=0.01) after HFpEF induction. E/A ratio was also significantly lower in NRP1 iEC-KO mice (2.0±0.2; n=10) compared to controls (2.7±0.3; n=12; p=0.04). Moreover, the isovolumic relaxation time was also significantly reduced in NRP1 iEC-KO mice (18±0.8ms; n=13) compared to controls (20±0.8ms; n=14; p=0.03). In addition, In HUVECs, NRP1 KD significantly reduced inflammatory marker VCAM-1 mRNA expression (95±16; n=5) compared to controls (293±36; n=5; p<0.01) upon TNF-α treatment. Similarly, NRP1 KD significantly reduced ICAM-1 mRNA expression (44±14; n=5) compared to controls (83±9; n=5; p=0.03) upon TNF-α treatment. Furthermore, leukocyte adhesion was significantly lower in the NRP1 KD group (57.0 ±8.6 cells/field) compared to the control group (90.8 ±9.1 cells/field; p=0.04). Conclusion: Endothelial NRP1 contributes to cardiac diastolic dysfunction and the pathogenesis of HFpEF, potentially mediated through the activation of chronic low-grade inflammation.

Despite major advances in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, the five-year survival rates for patients with non-oncogene-driven tumors remain low, necessitating combinatory approaches to improve outcomes. Our prior high-throughput RNAi screening identified Aurora kinase A (AURKA) as a potential key player in cisplatin resistance. In this study, we investigated AURKA’s role in platinum and radiation sensitivity in multiple NSCLC cell lines and xenograft mouse models, as well as its effect on immune checkpoints, including PD-L1, B7x, B7-H3, and HHLA2. Of 94 NSCLC patient tumor specimens, 91.5% tested positive for AURKA expression, with 34% showing moderate-to-high levels. AURKA expression was upregulated following cisplatin treatment in NSCLC cell lines PC9 and A549. Both AURKA inhibition by alisertib and inducible AURKA knockdown potentiated the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin and radiation, leading to tumor regression in doxycycline-inducible xenograft mice. Co-treated cells exhibited increased DNA double-strand breaks, apoptosis, and senescence. Additionally, AURKA inhibition alone by alisertib increased PD-L1 and B7-H3 expression. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that AURKA inhibition enhances the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC cells and modulates the expression of multiple immune checkpoints. Therefore, combinatory regimens with AURKA inhibitors should be strategically designed and further studied within the evolving landscape of chemo-immunotherapy.

Breast cancer is treated with a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget’s disease, Phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of systemic therapy (preoperative and adjuvant) options for nonmetastatic breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org .