Citations

Abstract Purpose: In phase I testing, alisertib tablets with irinotecan and temozolomide showed significant antitumor activity in patients with neuroblastoma. This study sought to confirm activity of this regimen; evaluate an alisertib oral solution; and evaluate biomarkers of clinical outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted a two-stage phase II trial of alisertib tablets (60 mg/m2/dose × 7 days), irinotecan (50 mg/m2/dose i.v. × 5 days), and temozolomide (100 mg/m2/dose orally × 5 days) in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma. The primary endpoint was best objective response. A separate cohort was treated with alisertib at 45 mg/m2 using oral solution instead of tablets. Exploratory analyses sought to identify predictors of toxicity, response, and progression-free survival (PFS) using pooled data from phase I, phase II, and oral solution cohorts. Results: Twenty and 12 eligible patients were treated in the phase II and oral solution cohorts, respectively. Hematologic toxicities were the most common adverse events. In phase II, partial responses were observed in 19 evaluable patients (21%). The estimated PFS at 1 year was 34%. In the oral solution cohort, 3 patients (25%) had first cycle dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Alisertib oral solution at 45 mg/m2 had significantly higher median Cmax and exposure compared with tablets at 60 mg/m2. Higher alisertib trough concentration was associated with first cycle DLT, whereas MYCN amplification was associated with inferior PFS. Conclusions: This combination shows antitumor activity, particularly in patients with MYCN nonamplified tumors. Data on an alisertib oral solution expand the population able to be treated with this agent.

Background: To describe the baseline characteristics of patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in the PARAGON-HF trial (Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor With Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Global Outcomes in HFpEF) comparing sacubitril/valsartan to valsartan in reducing morbidity and mortality. Methods and Results: We report key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, and baseline therapies, of 4822 patients randomized in PARAGON-HF, grouped by factors that influence criteria for study inclusion. We further compared baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in PARAGON-HF with those patients enrolled in other recent trials of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Among patients enrolled from various regions (16% Asia-Pacific, 37% Central Europe, 7% Latin America, 12% North America, 28% Western Europe), the mean age of patients enrolled in PARAGON-HF was 72.7±8.4 years, 52% of patients were female, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 57.5%, similar to other trials of HFpEF. Most patients were in New York Heart Association class II, and 38% had ≥1 hospitalizations for heart failure within the previous 9 months. Diabetes mellitus (43%) and chronic kidney disease (47%) were more prevalent than in previous trials of HFpEF. Many patients were prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (85%), β-blockers (80%), calcium channel blockers (36%), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (24%). As specified in the protocol, virtually all patients were on diuretics, had elevated plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (median, 911 pg/mL; interquartile range, 464–1610), and structural heart disease. Conclusions: PARAGON-HF represents a contemporary group of patients with HFpEF with similar age and sex distribution compared with prior HFpEF trials but higher prevalence of comorbidities. These findings provide insights into the impact of inclusion criteria on, and regional variation in, HFpEF patient characteristics. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01920711.

Background Headache disorders comprise the three most prevalent medical disorders globally and contribute almost 20% to the total burden of neurologic illness. Although the experience of a recurrent headache disorder tends to be highly individualized, patient preferences tend to be a low priority in guidelines for the management of patients with headache. Methods In September 2017, the first Global Patient Advocacy Summit was convened, bringing together patients, patient advocates, patient advocacy organizations, healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, scientists, and regulatory agencies to advance issues of importance to patients affected by headache worldwide. Results Presentations and discussion covered multiple issues, such as improving access to appropriate medical care; incorporating the insights of independent patient advocates and advocacy organizations; leveraging the insights, experience and influence of leading health and neurological organizations; and raising awareness of the role of regulatory agencies in disease advocacy. Attendees agreed that it is important to understand and promote the global, regional, and local interests of people with headache disorders, as well as challenge the pervasive stigma associated with headache. They also agreed that those with severe, recurrent, or disabling headache disorders should have reliable access to competent medical care; healthcare professionals should have access to adequate training in Headache Medicine; global benchmarks should be established for accurate diagnosis and the use of evidence-based treatments in patients with headache; and that information is needed about consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of headache, particularly in regard to patient preferences. Conclusion Based on the group’s consensus around these issues, a series of statements was developed, and they are collectively presented herein as the Vancouver Declaration on Global Headache Patient Advocacy 2018.

ABSTRACTLocal, regional, and national registries have played an important role in the development of hip and knee arthroplasty and the treatment of patients with various maladies of these joints. Four arthroplasty registries stand out as leading forces behind the drive to popularize the use of registries and pursue the concept of evidence based medicine. The Mayo registry, started by Mark Coventry, is recognized as the oldest continuing registry for arthroplasty. The Harris Registry at Massachusetts General Hospital, along with the Mayo Registry, has greatly contributed to the advancement of arthroplasty surgery and have served an important role of identifying poorly performing implants and techniques in the United States. The Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Registry is the oldest national registry dedicated to joint arthroplasty and along with the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Registry have established the infrastructure, analysis and reporting mechanisms, and leadership that has enabled other countries to subsequently develop national registries around the world. As more countries have adopted the concept of national registries, a new area of research is possible by pooling the resources of large registries as is now occurring with the Nordic countries. Several international organizations have been formed to promote future collaboration and develop international standards. The process of globalization of registries is a result of continued efforts over the past 50 years in improving and disseminating the knowledge gained from the early registries. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2319–2330, 2018.

Abstract Background Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 42 loci (P < 5 × 10−8) associated with risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Expanded consortium efforts facilitating the discovery of additional susceptibility loci may capture unexplained familial risk. Methods We conducted a GWAS in European descent CRC cases and control subjects using a discovery–replication design, followed by examination of novel findings in a multiethnic sample (cumulative n = 163 315). In the discovery stage (36 948 case subjects/30 864 control subjects), we identified genetic variants with a minor allele frequency of 1% or greater associated with risk of CRC using logistic regression followed by a fixed-effects inverse variance weighted meta-analysis. All novel independent variants reaching genome-wide statistical significance (two-sided P < 5 × 10−8) were tested for replication in separate European ancestry samples (12 952 case subjects/48 383 control subjects). Next, we examined the generalizability of discovered variants in East Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics (12 085 case subjects/22 083 control subjects). Finally, we examined the contributions of novel risk variants to familial relative risk and examined the prediction capabilities of a polygenic risk score. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results The discovery GWAS identified 11 variants associated with CRC at P < 5 × 10−8, of which nine (at 4q22.2/5p15.33/5p13.1/6p21.31/6p12.1/10q11.23/12q24.21/16q24.1/20q13.13) independently replicated at a P value of less than .05. Multiethnic follow-up supported the generalizability of discovery findings. These results demonstrated a 14.7% increase in familial relative risk explained by common risk alleles from 10.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.9% to 13.7%; known variants) to 11.9% (95% CI = 9.2% to 15.5%; known and novel variants). A polygenic risk score identified 4.3% of the population at an odds ratio for developing CRC of at least 2.0. Conclusions This study provides insight into the architecture of common genetic variation contributing to CRC etiology and improves risk prediction for individualized screening.

Abstract Background Bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) is associated with inadequate empirical therapy and substantial mortality in neutropenic patients. Strategies are needed to identify neutropenic patients at high risk of these infections. Methods From April 2014 to September 2016, we collected perianal swabs, both at admission and weekly thereafter, from patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Patients received prophylactic levofloxacin while neutropenic. Swabs were plated onto selective agar, colonies were identified and underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and phenotypic ESBL testing and polymerase chain reaction for β-lactamase genes were performed on ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. We then determined the prevalence of pre-transplant ESBL-E colonization and risk of ESBL-E bacteremia. Colonizing and bloodstream isolates from patients with ESBL-E bacteremia underwent multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results We analyzed 312 patients, including 212 allogeneic and 100 autologous HSCT recipients. Ten percent (31/312) of patients had pre-transplant ESBL-E colonization. Susceptibility rates of colonizing ESBL-E were: levofloxacin, 25%; cefepime, 9%; piperacillin-tazobactam, 84%; and meropenem, 97%. Of 31 patients colonized with ESBL-E pre-transplant, 10 (32%) developed ESBL-E bacteremia during their transplant admission, compared to 1 (0.4%) of 281 patients not colonized with ESBL-E (P &lt; .001). All bloodstream ESBL-E were levofloxacin-resistant and colonizing and bloodstream isolates from individual patients had identical genotypic profiles. Conclusions HSCT recipients who are colonized with levofloxacin-resistant ESBL-E pre-transplant and receive levofloxacin prophylaxis have high rates of bacteremia from their colonizing strain during neutropenia. Assessing for ESBL-E colonization in neutropenic patients could lead to optimization of empirical antibacterial therapy.

Abstract Background: CALGB 40502/NCCTG N063H (Alliance) compared weekly NP or Ix to P; most patients received bevacizumab. Ix was inferior to P, and NP was not superior with a trend toward inferiority. Toxicity was increased in the experimental arms compared to P (Rugo et al, JCO 2015). We report long-term follow-up (FU) of this trial with an unplanned subset analysis in hormone receptor positive (HR+) and triple negative (TNBC) breast cancer. Methods: Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive P (90 mg/m2), Ix (16 mg/m2) or NP (150 mg/m2) on a 3 week (wk) on, 1 wk off schedule, stratified by prior adjuvant taxane use and hormone receptor status. B was initially given to all patients, but became optional in 3/2011 and was added to stratification. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included safety and overall survival (OS). With a target N=900 patients, the study was powered to detect a hazard ratio of 1.36 (median PFS 10 vs 13.6 months). Eligibility included no prior chemotherapy for MBC, &gt;12 mo from adjuvant P and measurable disease. Results: 799 patients were randomized between 11/08 and11/11 (283 to P, 271 to NP, 245 to Ix); 98% received bevacizumab. 68% (546) had HR+ disease, 25% (201) had TNBC. Median FU is 5 years. Median PFS is unchanged at 10.8, 9.2 and 7.4 mo for P, NP and Ix with hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 1.13 (0.94-1.34) and 1.44 (1.2-1.72) for NP and Ix to P, respectively. Median OS was 27.1, 24.2 and 23.6 months for P, NP and Ix with hazard ratios of 1.10 (0.91-1.34) and 1.3 (1.07-1.57) for NP and Ix to P, respectively. The effects of NP vs P on PFS and OS were significantly modified by subtype (interaction p=0.0018 and 0.0073), whereas Ix vs P was unchanged (interaction p's &gt; 0.9, Table). More patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events in the experimental arms (14 vs 27 vs 23% for P, NP and Ix). Table P (mo)NP (mo)NP to P; HR (95% CI)Ix (mo)Ix to P, HR (95% CI)TNBC, PFS6.47.40.79 (0.55-1.12)15.61.39 (0.99-1.96)3HR+, PFS12.29.61.29 (1.04-1.59)181.5 (1.21-1.86)3TNBC, OS15.3210.74 (0.51-1.07)215.11.28(0.9-1.82)4HR+, OS33.226.61.25 (0.99-1.58)225.41.35(1.07-1.714Interaction tests: 1. p=0.0018; 2. p=0.0073; 3. p=0.96; 4. p=0.92 mo: months; HR: hazard ratio·· Conclusion: In patients with chemotherapy-naive MBC, Ix was inferior to P for PFS, and P was better tolerated than either NP or Ix. In this retrospective subset analysis, Ix and NP were inferior to P in HR+ disease, with a suggestion of improved PFS and OS with NP in patients with TNBC. Further investigation is required to explain and validate the subtype specificity seen in this exploratory analysis. Support: U10CA180820, U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U10CA180888. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00785291 Citation Format: Rugo HS, Barry WT, Moreno-Aspitia A, Lyss A, Huebner L, Mayer EL, Naughton M, Layman RM, Carey LA, Somer RA, Toppmeyer D, Velasco M, Perez EA, Hudis CA, Winer E. Long-term follow-up of CALGB 40502/NCCTG N063H (Alliance): A randomized phase III trial of weekly paclitaxel (P) compared to weekly nanoparticle albumin bound nab-Paclitaxel (NP) or ixabepilone (Ix) +/- bevacizumab as first-line therapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr GS3-06.

AbstractTendon graft healing in bone tunnels for the fixation of intra‐articular ligament reconstructions may limit clinical outcome by delaying healing. This study assesses the effects of hydrogel‐mediated delivery of bone anabolic growth factors in a validated model of tendon‐to‐bone tunnel healing. Forty‐five Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups (BMP2‐treated, GSK126‐treated, and placebo). All animals underwent a tendon‐to‐bone tunnel reconstruction. Healing was evaluated at 4 weeks by biomechanical assessment, micro‐computed tomography (bone mineral density, bone volume, cross sectional area of bone tunnels), and traditional histology. Adverse events associated with the hydrogel‐mediated delivery of drugs were not observed. Results of our biomechanical assessment demonstrated favorable trends in animals treated with bone anabolic factors for energy absorption (P = 0.116) and elongation (P = 0.054), while results for force to failure (P = 0.691) and stiffness (P = 0.404) did not show discernible differences. Cross sectional areas for BMP2‐treated animals were reduced, but neither BMP2 nor GSK126 administration altered bone mineral density (P = 0.492) or bone volume in the bone tunnel. These results suggest a novel and positive effect of bone anabolic factors on tendon‐to‐bone tunnel healing. Histological evaluation confirmed absence of collagen fibers crossing the soft tissue‐bone interface indicating immature graft integration as expected at this time point. Our study indicates that hydrogel‐mediated delivery of BMP2 and GSK126 appears to be safe and has the potential to enhance tendon‐to‐bone tunnel healing in ligament reconstructions.