Citations

AbstractBackgroundAs targeted treatments for amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy (ATTR‐CM) are becoming available, we aim to characterize the rates of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) utilization, and their impact on survival.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of 130 patients with ATTR‐CM diagnosed at Emory University's Cardiac Amyloidosis Center between April 2012 and September 2020. VAs were defined as nonsustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.ResultsOf 130 patients, 42 had wild‐type disease (wtATTR) and 88 had hereditary variants (hATTR), most commonly Val122Ile (89%). At ATTR‐CM diagnosis, 80 (62%) patients had EF ≤ 40% consistent with systolic heart failure. Of the 69 (53%) patients with documented VAs significantly higher rates occurred among those with EF ≤ 40% compared with EF > 40% (67% vs. 28%, p = .001). Thirty‐two patients (25 hATTR, 7 wtATTR) had primary prevention ICDs implanted. Eight (25%) of these patients received appropriate ICD therapy while two (6%) experienced inappropriate therapy. Comparing patients with EF ≤ 35% with and without ICDs did not reveal any survival difference (3.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.8 ± 0.4 years, p = .699).ConclusionsHigh rates of VAs and appropriate ICD therapy were found among a unique cohort of largely hereditary ATTR‐CM patients with a high rate of systolic heart failure.

Abstract Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side effect of antibiotics. We examined the gastrointestinal microbiota in children treated with β-lactams for community-acquired pneumonia. Data were from 66 children (n = 198 samples), aged 6–71 months, enrolled in the SCOUT-CAP trial (NCT02891915). AAD was defined as ≥1 day of diarrhea. Stool samples were collected on study days 1, 6–10, and 19–25. Samples were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to identify associations between patient characteristics, microbiota characteristics, and AAD (yes/no). Nineteen (29%) children developed AAD. Microbiota compositional profiles differed between AAD groups (permutational multivariate analysis of variance, P < .03) and across visits (P < .001). Children with higher baseline relative abundances of 2 Bacteroides species were less likely to experience AAD. Higher baseline abundance of Lachnospiraceae and amino acid biosynthesis pathways were associated with AAD. Children in the AAD group experienced prolonged dysbiosis (P < .05). Specific gastrointestinal microbiota profiles are associated with AAD in children.

Key points Persons with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) experience disparities in accessing and initiating cancer treatment The assertive community treatment (ACT) model promotes the integration of physical and mental health care and improves the quality of life for a patient diagnosed with cancer The ACT model is essential in promoting decisional capacity of those with SPMI and cancer diagnoses The ability to access 24‐h support from the ACT model provides psychological support to patients dealing with chronic physical health diagnoses Collaboration between cancer treatment teams and the multidisciplinary ACT team can improve treatment engagement and enhance a patient's natural support system

Large segmental osseous defects heal poorly. Recombinant, human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is used clinically to promote bone healing, but it is applied at very high doses that cause adverse side effects and raise costs while providing only incremental benefit. We describe a previously unexplored, alternative approach to bone regeneration using chemically modified messenger RNA (cmRNA). An optimized cmRNA encoding BMP-2 was delivered to critical-sized femoral osteotomies in rats. The cmRNA remained orthotopically localized and generated BMP locally for several days. Defects healed at doses ≥25 μg of BMP-2 cmRNA. By 4 weeks, all animals treated with 50 μg of BMP-2 cmRNA had bridged bone defects without forming the massive callus seen with rhBMP-2. Moreover, such defects recovered normal mechanical strength quicker and initiated bone remodeling faster. cmRNA regenerated bone via endochondral ossification, whereas rhBMP-2 drove intramembranous osteogenesis; cmRNA provides an innovative, safe, and highly translatable technology for bone healing.

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in breast cancer survivors. (2) Methods: This was a single-arm study of breast cancer survivors. Participants received three treatments of fractional CO2 laser therapy and returned for a 4 week follow-up. Participants were contacted for follow-up at annual intervals. The Vaginal Assessment Scale (VAS), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Female Sexual Distress Scare Revised (FSDS-R), the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI), and adverse events were collected and reported for the two-year follow-up. The changes in scores were compared between the four-week and two-year and the one-year and two-year follow-ups using paired t-tests. (3) Results: In total, 67 BC survivors were enrolled, 59 completed treatments and the four week follow-up, 39 participated in the one-year follow-up, and 33 participated in the two-year follow-up. After initial improvement in the VAS from baseline to the four week follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in the VAS score (mean Δ 0.23; 95% CI [−0.05, 0.51], p = 0.150) between the four week follow-up and the two-year follow-up. At the two-year follow-up, the FSFI and FSDS-R scores remained improved from baseline and there was no statistically significant change in the FSFI score (mean Δ −0.83; 95% CI [−3.07, 2.38] p = 0.794) or the FSDS-R score (mean Δ −2.85; 95% CI [−1.88, 7.59] p = 0.227) from the one to two-year follow-up. The UDI scores approached baseline at the two-year follow-up; however, the change between the one- and two-year follow-ups was not statistically significant (mean Δ 4.76; 95% CI [−1.89, 11.41], p = 0.15). (4) Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors treated with fractional CO2 laser therapy have sustained improvement in sexual function two years after treatment completion, suggesting potential long-term benefit.

596 Background: Genomic alterations (GA) that drive cancer development and predict therapeutic response remain elusive in patients (pts) with KRAS WT PDAC. We interrogated our institutional database to identify actionable GAs in pts with metastatic, KRAS WT PDAC and analyzed the therapeutic impact of matched TT. Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of KRAS WT PDAC pts (n=24) who underwent comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) utilizing Foundation One CDx (25.0%) or Tempus (75.0%) between 2015-2021. Duration of response (DOR) was calculated from date of treatment (Tx) initiation to Tx discontinuation. Overall survival (OS) was measured from the date of the diagnosis (Dx) of advanced disease (AD) to death or last follow-up. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with at-risk periods left-truncated at the time of CGP. The effect of covariates on survival was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Of the 24 KRAS WT pts, 14 (58%) had AD: 8 (57%) pts had metastatic disease at or shortly after Dx, 6 (43%) pts developed metachronous recurrence. Median age at Dx for pts with AD was 65, and 57% were female. Seven of 14 pts with AD (50%) had highly actionable GA (HAGA), (Table). Pts with HAGA demonstrated durable responses to TT (Table) with manageable toxicities. Pts with HAGA had a median OS of 28 mo compared to 5.9 mo for those without (Hazard Ratio = 0.47, p = 0.33). Conclusions: The sustained therapeutic benefit noted with TT matched to HAGA in pts with KRAS WT PDAC underscores the need for systematic interrogation of the somatic genome in PDAC pts. Optimal sequencing of cytotoxic therapy with TT and its impact on modulating clonal selection pressure in pts with KRAS WT PDAC merits prospective evaluation.[Table: see text]

427 Background: Derazantinib, a potent anti- FGFR1-3 oral kinase inhibitor, has shown clinically meaningful anti-tumor activity (21%), durable responses (median, 6.4 months), and progression-free survival (median, 8.0 months) in patients (pts) with FGFR2 fusion (FGFR2F)-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), and with a manageable toxicity profile. Herein, we report an interim analysis of the clinical efficacy data of derazantinib for pts with iCCA harboring FGFR2 mutations or amplifications (FGFR2M/A), a potential therapeutic option currently not addressed by FGFR inhibitors. Methods: Study FIDES-01 enrolls in a dedicated cohort pts with FGFR2M/A+ advanced iCCA who received previous chemotherapy. Pts receive 300 mg derazantinib daily until disease progression, death or intolerance. The primary endpoint is the proportion of pts alive and free of disease progression at 3 months (PFS3; RECIST 1.1, central imaging review) using a Simon’s two-stage sample-size minimizing statistical design. The interim analysis population comprises 23 pts dosed (intention to treat) who had at least one post-baseline tumor assessment (or clinical progression, or died) by June 3, 2021, using investigator assessments based on RECIST 1.1. Results: To date, 28 pts have been enrolled and dosed. FGFR2M/A observed in these pts included missense point mutations (78%), other short variants (11%) and amplifications (11%). Transition from stage 1 to stage 2 of the study was achieved earlier than planned after 8 (67%) of 12 pts were assessed as PFS3 based on central imaging review. In 23 pts included in this interim analysis for efficacy, the best overall response (investigator assessment) was confirmed partial response in two (8.7%) and stable disease in additional 15 pts (65.2%), resulting in a disease control rate of 73.9% (95% CI, 51.6–89.8). Using Kaplan-Meier analyses, the median PFS was 7.3 months (95%CI, 3.5–16.7) and the probability of being progression-free at 3 months and at 6 months were 76.3% (95%CI, 51.9–89.4) and 50.3% (95%CI, 21.7–73.4), respectively. Clinically meaningful anti-tumor efficacy was observed across all types of genetic aberrations. The safety profile of derazantinib in FGFR2M/A+ iCCA pts was consistent with that previously reported for FGFR2F+ iCCA pts. Conclusions: This interim data in study FIDES-01 suggest that derazantinib treatment provides clinical benefit to pts with advanced iCCA harboring FGFR2M/A who progressed after at least one line of standard chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of clinically meaningful anti-tumor efficacy in a prospectively planned cohort of iCCA pts harboring FGFR2M/A. The study is ongoing to accrue 43 patients, assessing derazantinib as a therapeutic option for FGFR2M/A+ iCCA pts after disease progression on first-line treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT03230318.

Pancreatic β cells secrete insulin in response to glucose, a process that is regulated at multiple levels, including a network of input signals from other organ systems. Impaired islet function contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and targeting inter‐organ communications, such as GLP‐1 signalling, to enhance β‐cell function has been proven to be a successful therapeutic strategy in the last decade. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in inter‐organ communication from the metabolic, immune and neural system to pancreatic islets, their biological implication in normal pancreas endocrine function and their role in the (mal)adaptive responses of islet to nutrition‐induced stress.