Citations

APOE4 exacerbates α-synuclein pathology in a synucleinopathy mouse model, and APOE4 genotype associates with increased α-synuclein pathology in humans.

Objective Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a prodromal synucleinopathy, as >80% will eventually convert to overt synucleinopathy. We performed an in‐depth analysis of the SNCA locus to identify RBD‐specific risk variants. Methods Full sequencing and genotyping of SNCA was performed in isolated/idiopathic RBD (iRBD, n = 1,076), Parkinson disease (PD, n = 1,013), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, n = 415), and control subjects (n = 6,155). The iRBD cases were diagnosed with RBD prior to neurodegeneration, although some have since converted. A replication cohort from 23andMe of PD patients with probable RBD (pRBD) was also analyzed (n = 1,782 cases; n = 131,250 controls). Adjusted logistic regression models and meta‐analyses were performed. Effects on conversion rate were analyzed in 432 RBD patients with available data using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results A 5′‐region SNCA variant (rs10005233) was associated with iRBD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, p = 1.1E‐08), which was replicated in pRBD. This variant is in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with other 5′ risk variants across the different synucleinopathies. An independent iRBD‐specific suggestive association (rs11732740) was detected at the 3′ of SNCA (OR = 1.32, p = 4.7E‐04, not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction). Homozygous carriers of both iRBD‐specific SNPs were at highly increased risk for iRBD (OR = 5.74, p = 2E‐06). The known top PD‐associated variant (3′ variant rs356182) had an opposite direction of effect in iRBD compared to PD. Interpretation There is a distinct pattern of association at the SNCA locus in RBD as compared to PD, with an opposite direction of effect at the 3′ of SNCA . Several 5′ SNCA variants are associated with iRBD and with pRBD in overt synucleinopathies. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:584–598

AbstractBackground: Patients with multiple myeloma often have Bence Jones proteins composed of free monoclonal light chains of the κ or λ type in their urine. Usually, these light chains exist as monomeric or dimeric forms, but rarely, larger molecules, such as tetramers, have been reported in the serum.Methods and Results: We report the presence of trimeric complexes of λ light chain dimers in a patient who was diagnosed with a free λ light chain multiple myeloma 2 years earlier and subsequently underwent a stem cell transplant. Recently, the patient presented with a large serum M-spike (23 g/L) by protein electrophoresis. The spike consisted of monoclonal λ light chains without a heavy chain. The urine contained only 8 mg of λ light chain in a 24-h specimen. Quantitative analysis of the serum and urinary free light chains (FLCs) indicated the probability of larger aggregates of FLCs. Size-exclusion chromatography, electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and mass spectrometric studies of the serum revealed almost exclusively the presence of trimolecular aggregates of λ light chain dimers without other multimeric species.Conclusion: Monoclonal λ light chains may present as hexameric aggregates that cannot be cleared by renal excretion.

Abstract Persons of African ancestry (AA) have a twofold higher risk for multiple myeloma (MM) compared with persons of European ancestry (EA). Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) support a genetic contribution to MM etiology in individuals of EA. Little is known about genetic risk factors for MM in individuals of AA. We performed a meta-analysis of 2 GWASs of MM in 1813 cases and 8871 controls and conducted an admixture mapping scan to identify risk alleles. We fine-mapped the 23 known susceptibility loci to find markers that could better capture MM risk in individuals of AA and constructed a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess the aggregated effect of known MM risk alleles. In GWAS meta-analysis, we identified 2 suggestive novel loci located at 9p24.3 and 9p13.1 at P < 1 × 10−6; however, no genome-wide significant association was noted. In admixture mapping, we observed a genome-wide significant inverse association between local AA at 2p24.1-23.1 and MM risk in AA individuals. Of the 23 known EA risk variants, 20 showed directional consistency, and 9 replicated at P < .05 in AA individuals. In 8 regions, we identified markers that better capture MM risk in persons with AA. AA individuals with a PRS in the top 10% had a 1.82-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.11) increased MM risk compared with those with average risk (25%-75%). The strongest functional association was between the risk allele for variant rs56219066 at 5q15 and lower ELL2 expression (P = 5.1 × 10−12). Our study shows that common genetic variation contributes to MM risk in individuals with AA.

Abstract Context Single-minded homologue 1 (SIM1) is a transcription factor with several physiological and developmental functions. Haploinsufficiency of SIM1 is associated with early-onset obesity with or without Prader-Willi–like (PWL) features and may exhibit incomplete penetrance. Case Description Next-generation sequencing was performed for 2 male patients with obesity, including 1 man presenting with intellectual disability (ID), body mass index (BMI) of 47.4, and impulse-control disorder, and the other man with early obesity (BMI of 36); sequencing revealed a missense variant in SIM1 (c.2144G>T; p.G715V) in both individuals. Previous studies have identified several disease-associated variants that fall near the p.G715V variant within the C-terminal domain of SIM1. We examined p.G715V variant stability and activity in a doxycycline-inducible stable cell line transfected with an artificial reporter construct and either ARNT or ARNT2 as a partner protein. Conclusions Functional testing of the p.G715V variant revealed a significant reduction in SIM1-mediated transcriptional activity. We also generated the first ab initio hybrid protein model for full-length SIM1 to show the predicted spatial relationship between p.G715V and other previously described variants in this region and identified a putative mutation hotspot within the C-terminus. Significant clinical heterogeneity has been observed in patients with SIM1 variants, particularly with regards to the PWL phenotype. In the patient with ID, a second variant of uncertain significance in CHD2 was identified that may contribute to his ID and behavioral disturbances, emphasizing the role of additional genetic modifiers.

Abstract Background Long-term outcomes from autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are significantly better in patients who achieve a complete remission (CR) from salvage chemotherapy prior to ASCT. However, standard salvage therapy produces variable CR rates (19%-60%) and is associated with significant toxicity. Brentuximab vedotin and bendamustine are highly active when administered as single agents to pts with R/R HL (34% and 33% CR rates, respectively) and have manageable safety profiles. This phase 1/2, single-arm, 2-stage, open-label study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in combination with bendamustine for the treatment of pts with primary refractory disease or in first relapse (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01874054). Methods Pts received an outpatient IV infusion of 1.8 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin on Day 1 with bendamustine on Days 1 and 2 of 3-week cycles for up to 6 cycles. Pts could undergo ASCT any time after Cycle 2 and post-transplant resume treatment with brentuximab vedotin as monotherapy for up to 16 total doses. Phase 1 was designed to determine the recommended dose of bendamustine, with an initial dose of 90 mg/m2 and a de-escalation scheme to be implemented if it exceeded the maximum tolerated dose. During phase 2, bendamustine was administered at the recommended dose in order to assess the CR rate of the combination. Response was assessed by the investigator per Cheson 2007. Enrollment is complete and long-term follow-up for PFS and OS continues. Results Fifty-five pts (56% female) with a median age of 36 yrs (range, 19-79) were enrolled. Fifty-one percent of pts had relapsed disease and 49% of pts had primary refractory disease after frontline therapy. A median of 13.8 mos (range, 3-98) had elapsed since initial diagnosis. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the safety cohort, thus the recommended dose of bendamustine in combination with brentuximab vedotin was 90 mg/m2. Pts received a median of 2 cycles (range, 1-6) of the combination and a median of 9 cycles (range, 1-14) of single-agent brentuximab vedotin. The main toxicity observed with the combination was infusion-related reactions (56% overall). The most common symptoms (≥10%) were pyrexia (26%), chills (20%), dyspnea and nausea (15% each), flushing (13%), and hypotension (11%). Premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines was instituted with a protocol amendment and appeared effective. Before the amendment, 6 pts (24% of treated pts) discontinued treatment prematurely because of IRRs; post-amendment, IRRs led to treatment discontinuation for 2 pts (7%). The CR rate of the combination was 74% (39/53 pts evaluable for response) and the overall objective response rate (CR and partial remission) was 93% (49/53 pts). The CR rate was 64% and 84% for refractory and relapsed pts, respectively. Stem cell collection after first-line mobilization (G-CSF± plerixafor) was successful in 93% of pts (37/40). Median number of CD34+ cells collected was 4.1 x106 (Q1, Q3: 3.0, 5.4) in a median of 2 (range, 1-5) apheresis sessions. Median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 11 days (range, 9-21) and 13 days (range, 9-39), respectively. Pts have been followed for a median of approximately 1 year from first dose (median = 418 days; range, 118-635) and approximately 10 mos (314 days; range, 13-553) from ASCT. To date, 12 progression events have been observed: 7 in the 40 pts who underwent transplant and 5 in the 13 pts who did not undergo transplant. The estimated 12-mos PFS is 80% for both the transplanted population (95% CI: 70%, 90%) and the overall population (95% CI: 60%, 90%). Three of the 12 progression events were deaths; 2 pts died from progression of their HL and 1 pt died from septic shock after transplant. Conclusions The outpatient regimen of brentuximab vedotin 1.8 mg/kg on Day 1 in combination with bendamustine 90 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 2 of 3-week cycles induced a very high CR rate that compares favorably with historical data. The regimen has a manageable safety profile, with the most significant side effect being IRRs that can be successfully managed by premedication. The estimated 12-mos PFS rate of 80% demonstrates response durability, making the combination a promising salvage regimen for pts with HL in the first relapse setting. Progression-Free Survival Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Off Label Use: Brentuximab vedotin is indicated in the US for treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of autologous stem cell transplant or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates and for the treatment of patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. This study evaluates brentuximab vedotin in HL patients with primary refractory disease or in first relapse. . Sawas:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Agura:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Matous:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Ansell:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding. Crosswell:KIYATEC (employment); Gilead (common stock ownership and research funding): Employment, Equity Ownership, Research Funding. Islas-Ohlmayer:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Behler:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding; Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Speakers Bureau. Cheung:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Forero-Torres:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Vose:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Josephson:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Advani:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding; Genetech: Consultancy.

Abstract Glioblastomas (GBMs) are known to be complex tumors comprising multiple subpopulations of genetically-distinct cancer cells; it is thought that this genetic variation is a major factor in the lack of observed survival benefit of treatment regimes that target one of these subpopulations. The field of radiogenomics seeks to study correlations between MRI patterns and genetic features of GBM tumors. Spatial radiogenomic maps produced using machine-learning (ML) methods that are trained against information from image-localized patient biopsies identify regions where particular cancer sub-populations are predicted to occur within a GBM, thus non-invasively characterizing the regional genetic variability of these tumors. These tumor subpopulations may also interact with one another, in ways which may be of a competitive or cooperative nature to varying degrees. It is important to ascertain the nature of these interactions, as they may have implications for treatment response to targeted therapies, and characterization of the spatio-temporal dynamics of these co-evolving sub-populations will shed light on why some therapies fail. Here we combine mathematical modeling techniques and spatially-resolved radiogenomic maps to study the nature of these interactions between molecularly-distinct GBM subpopulations. We model the interactions between cell populations using a partial differential equation based formalism. The model is parameterized using radiogenomic ML maps from which we infer the nature of interactions between subpopulations. Furthermore, using maps as inputs, the model turns static maps into dynamic information, thus providing insight into how these subpopulations composing the tumor change over time and the effect this has on observed treatment response for individual patients.