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9573 Background: Clinical Stage III (cSIII) melanoma patients are at high risk of recurrence following therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) and adjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy based regimens have shown promising results in this setting, with pathological response being the best predictor of recurrence free survival (RFS) and distant metastases free survival (DMFS). T-cell Receptor (TCR) abundance and clonality are being explored as biomarkers. Methods: In the phase II NeoACTIVATE (NCT03554083) trial, patients were treated based on BRAF status with 12 weeks of neoadjuvant atezolizumab, vemurafenib and cobimetinib (Arm A, BRAF-mutated) or atezolizumab and cobimetinib (Arm B, BRAF wildtype), followed by TLND and 6 months adjuvant atezolizumab. TCR sequencing (n=23) was performed on the pretreatment involved lymph node (iLN) and on the same node, along with an adjacent uninvolved node (uiLN) after TLND. The fraction productive of T cells (fpTC) was defined as the percentage of in-frame TCR sequences (capable of encoding a functional expressed receptor protein) of all TCR sequences identified. Simpson Clonality Index (SCI) was used to measure relative abundance of specific clones, with a higher score indicating a more monoclonal repertoire. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results: 30 patients were enrolled, 15 in each arm. 2 patients were not operated on, and one did not receive adjuvant treatment, leaving 27 patients for outcome analysis. 3-year RFS was 55.6% (95% CI 9.5%-77.8%), median of 62.2 months (95% CI 19-NR); DMFS was 64.3% (95% CI 48%-86.3%), median 62.2 months (95% CI 33.9-NR). The fpTC was higher in the pretreatment iLN for those without an RFS event (p=0.04) with a trend in the uiLN as well (p=0.06). Patients without a DMFS event had a higher fpTC in the uiLN (p=0.03) but not in the iLN. The SCI was significantly higher only in the post treatment iLN for patients without an RFS event (p=0.03) and was not significantly different when compared based on DMFS status. When performing pairwise comparisons of nodes based on recurrence status, we found that patients who did not suffer an RFS event had a significantly higher SCI in the post treatment iLN compared to the uiLN (p=0.02). Conclusions: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy and targeted therapy for cSIII melanoma can lead to durable RFS. Higher pretreatment fpTC as well as higher post-treatment iLN TCR clonality were both associated with improved RFS. These data indicate that TCR repertoire characteristics within iLN and uiLN may reflect differential immune responses to neoadjuvant therapy and could inform future studies evaluating biomarkers to stratify risk of recurrence and allow personalization of therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT03554083 . fpTC Simpson Clonality Index RFS event DMFS event RFS event DMFS event Pretreatment iLN 0.04 0.12 0.43 0.11 Posttreatment iLN 0.09 0.09 0.03 0.12 uiLN 0.06 0.03 0.79 0.48 Δ iLN (post-pre) 0.79 0.37 0.07 0.41 Δ posttreatment iLN – uiLN 0.21 0.21 0.02 0.08

7563 Background: Subcutaneous (SC) drug delivery options have become more widely available in multiple myeloma (MM). SC delivery of isatuximab (Isa), an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, has been investigated across clinical trials via a novel hands-free on-body injector (OBI). Isa SC OBI features a small, retractable needle, establishing the first device-enabled delivery of an oncologic treatment. The Phase 3 IRAKLIA, Phase 2 IZALCO, and Phase 1b (TCD15484) trials consistently demonstrated similar efficacy and safety of Isa SC OBI vs Isa IV in relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) patients (pts). Here, we present a cross-trial analysis exploring safety and reliability of Isa SC OBI in RRMM pts. Methods: Pts with RRMM in IRAKLIA (N=263) and the Phase 1b expansion cohort (N=22) received 1400 mg Isa SC OBI plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone (d). In IZALCO, RRMM pts (N=64) received 1400 mg Isa SC OBI + carfilzomib (K)-d. Pts were monitored for 4 hrs (IRAKLIA) or 1-2 hrs (IZALCO) following first administration and for 1 hr for the following cycle (C) 1 administrations to assess local tolerability. Pre-infusion medications included montelukast (C1), steroids, acetaminophen and H1 antihistamines. Pts without systemic infusion-related reactions (IRRs) after 4 consecutive administrations of Isa SC OBI had subsequent pre-medication reassessed at investigator’s discretion. Safety and device performance explored in this cross-trial analysis of company sponsored studies were assessed in the Isa SC OBI cohorts by the duration of injection, IRRs, local injection-site reactions (ISRs), and injection/device success, which were defined similarly across all trials. Results: The median duration of Isa SC OBI injection was 13 mins in IRAKLIA, 12 mins in IZALCO, and 10 mins in the Phase 1b trial (6426 total injections, N=349 pts). IRRs across trials occurred in 6/6426 (0.09%) injections and 4/349 (1.15%) pts. IRRs were mostly grade 1 (G; 3/6426, 0.05%) with 1 G3 (0.02%); none leading to discontinuation. In IRAKLIA, 80/263 (30.4%) pts did not require premedication (931/5145 injections, 18.1%); no IRRs occurred in this group. Across trials, ISRs occurred in 21/349 (6.02%) pts resulting in 35 (0.54%) ISR events. Most ISRs were G1 (33, 0.51%), the remaining were G2 (2, 0.03%) and generally occurred on the day of injection. 99.9% (6421/6426) of injections in 98.6% (344/349) pts were successful (completed without interruption) across all trials. Conclusions: These findings support overall low, self-limiting rates of IRRs and ISRs across trials, with >6000 (99.9%) Isa SC OBI injections successfully delivered. Isa SC OBI shows reproducible safety and reliability in IRAKLIA, IZALCO and Phase 1b trials, supporting it as a novel administration option for MM pts and its potential for future exploration in at-home administration. Clinical trial information: NCT04045795 , NCT05405166 , and NCT05704049 .

566 Background: Endocrine therapy (ET) resistance (ETR) remains a primary challenge in ER+ breast cancer. Analyzing pretreatment tumor transcriptomes across trials with early response endpoints can reveal shared and specific ETR signatures. This study utilizes baseline RNA data from the Phase III ALTERNATE trial (Alliance A011106, NCT01953588; Anastrozole [A], Fulvestrant [F], or AF) and the ACOSOG Z1031B trial (NCT00824941) to identify predictors of early Ki67 response in postmenopausal ER+/HER2– patients. Methods: ETR was defined as week-4 on-treatment Ki67 >10%. Baseline gene expression from ALTERNATE was analyzed to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes (Wilcoxon test, P<0.05) and Hallmark pathways associated with ETR, both across and within individual treatment arms. Feature selection was performed using mixOmics. A Pan-Endocrine Therapy Signature (PETS) was developed by uniting DE genes identified across all three ALTERNATE arms and Z1031B. All statistical analyses were conducted in R (P<0.05). Results: Overall ETR rate in the ALTERNATE RNA-seq cohort (n=733) was 26%. ETR was associated with high Risk of Recurrence (ROR), Oncotype RS, and Mammaprint scores (calculated from RNA-seq data in research setting). In luminal tumors (n=649), ETR was linked to chr 3q13.33, 8q24.13, and 20q13.12 cytoband upregulation and 17q21, 18q23, 3p21.1, and 10q24.32 cytoband downregulation. ETR tumors showed T-cell, E2F target, and interferon-γ enrichment; sensitive tumors favored early estrogen response and muscle differentiation. At individual gene level, high MYBL2 , PIF1 , TROAP and with low HJURP predicted ETR across all samples (AUC>0.70). A deep learning model using all protein-coding genes achieved AUC 0.82 (training) and 0.79 (test) in predicting ETR. Cross-trial integration identified ETR-associated PETS, enriched for genomic instability. PETS performed comparably to established signatures and strongly correlated with MYBL2 signature (r=0.93). Top ETR predictors were MYBL2 , AURKB , and EME1 for Arm A and IL4I1 , TNFAIP6 , and ANLN for Arm AF. AF-resistant tumors were enriched for systemic lupus and RIG-I–like receptor signaling; sensitive tumors favored PI3K–AKT, EGFR TKI resistance, AMPK, and insulin signaling. Conclusions: Baseline transcriptomics identify shared and therapy-specific ETR markers. The 15-gene PETS defines a convergent resistance signature, performing similar to established signatures in predicting ETR and correlating with MYBL2. Enrichment of cell-cycle and immune pathways in resistant tumors may suggest patient stratification approach for alternative or combinatorial strategies to overcome early ETR in ER+ breast cancer. Acknowledgement: https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA1. Clinical trial information: NCT01953588 .

BACKGROUND: Atherothrombosis, which underlies most acute coronary syndromes and is driven by intraplaque thrombosis, preferentially occurs in regions of disturbed blood flow (d-flow). Although LATS1/2 (large tumor suppressor kinases 1 and 2) are known regulators of endothelial mechanotransduction, the mechanisms by which d-flow connects endothelial senescence, proliferation, and intraplaque thrombosis remain poorly understood. METHODS: We investigated endothelial cell (EC)-specific roles of Lats1/2 using inducible EC-specific knockout mice in a partial carotid ligation model. Spatial multiomics of human and mouse plaques was performed using imaging mass cytometry, COMET sequential immunofluorescence, and spatial metabolomics. RESULTS: Tamoxifen-induced deletion of both Lats1 and Lats2 (homozygous) in ECs caused fatal edema and increased vascular permeability. In contrast, Lats1 het ( ± ) / Lats2 homo ( −/−) -EC-specific knockout mice survived and developed spontaneous atherothrombotic plaques with neovascularization. Spatial proteomics revealed that LATS1/2 loss induced a senescence-associated stemness phenotype driven by CD38 upregulation. Spatial metabolomics showed sulfite and taurine accumulation, indicating SUOX (sulfite oxidase) deficiency. CD38 suppressed SUOX, demonstrated a switch into the reverse mode of mitochondrial complex V, increased succinate dehydrogenase activity, and promoted ATP consumption. Despite ATP depletion, glutamate metabolism and the citric acid cycle flux increased, sustaining EC proliferation under energetic stress. This senescence-associated stemness state promoted both proliferation and senescence, leading to fragile, leaky neovessels and intraplaque thrombotic lesions. Pharmacological CD38 inhibition attenuated these phenotypes. Similar EC states were observed in human plaques. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of Lats1/2 in ECs induces a CD38-associated senescence-associated stemness-like phenotype that promotes intraplaque thrombosis through mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming, including changes consistent with reverse-mode operation of mitochondrial complex V. These findings define a mechanistic link between disturbed flow, endothelial metabolic reprogramming, and intraplaque thrombosis and hemorrhage.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a major global public health burden, is characterized by the presence of high circulating levels of non-infectious subviral particles (SVPs). These SVPs are mainly composed of small hepatitis B surface antigen (SHBs) and are associated with a dysfunctional HBV-specific immune response. Previous studies exploring the cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways by which SVPs are secreted from hepatocytes have utilized either non-hepatic cells or whole-genome HBV-integrated hepatoma cell lines in which SHBs can also be secreted as a component of the virion envelope. In this study, we provide a detailed examination of SHBs trafficking using biochemical approaches coupled with high-resolution confocal microscopy and live-cell imaging via a novel fluorophore-tagged SHBs probe in both HepG2 and primary human hepatocytes stably expressing SHBs. Our results provide evidence that SHBs utilize a modified ER-Golgi secretory pathway with transit from the ER to the multivesicular body and lysosomal/late endosomal compartments. Importantly, we identified the autophagy adapters ATG5 and LC3B, and the ER-phagy protein atlastin 3 (ATL3), central to mediating SHBs secretion. These findings suggest that SHBs is trafficked through a non-canonical path for secretion and provides new potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of CHB.

Abstract Background The Global Bipolar Cohort (GBC) was established to identify existing bipolar disorder (BD) cohorts worldwide and foster collaborations focused on descriptive and analytic outcomes relevant to BD. A distributed analytic framework has been implemented to engage multiple sites without the need for central data pooling. This report describes the GBC endeavor and global functional impairment patterns. Cross-cohort comparisons of functional correlates are limited by heterogeneous measures and data-sharing constraints. Large, culturally diverse comparisons are needed to distinguish broadly reproducible correlates from cohort-specific effects. Participating sites completed a 28-item descriptive survey covering diagnostic methods, cognition, genetics, treatment, functioning, and follow-up strategies. We implemented a harmonized local logistic regression model of dichotomized functional outcome and shared summary statistics only. Results We identified 69 cohorts across five continents. Thirty-seven cohorts contributed functional outcome analyses from 17,130 participants. Outcome measures included clinician-rated disability scales and social indicators such as employment and marital status. The proportion classified with poor functioning ranged from 16% to 77% (mean 50%). In 32 of 37 cohorts, the overall regression model significantly explained variance in functioning. Current depressive symptoms were the most robust and reproducible correlate of poor functional outcome: they were assessed in 29 cohorts, significant in 22 (75.8%), ranked among the top three correlates in 22, and were the top-ranked correlates in 19. Associations between depressive burden and poor functioning were observed across clinician-rated disability scales and work or social indicators, and across geographically diverse cohorts. Comorbid substance use disorder and medication-related variables were associated with poorer functioning in subsets of cohorts, whereas sex, ancestry, bipolar subtype, psychosis history, and premorbid IQ showed weak or inconsistent associations. Cognitive measures, available in a minority of regression models, showed modest and non-uniform effects. Conclusions Across heterogeneous international cohorts, current depressive symptom burden emerged as the most consistent correlate of poor functioning in bipolar disorder. These findings replicate earlier multisite work at a larger scale, show that protocol-based distributed analyses can identify reproducible clinical signals without sharing individual-level data, and support prioritizing detection and treatment of depressive symptoms when aiming to improve real-world functioning. Future work should expand longitudinal harmonization and representation of under-studied populations.

Summary Cancer genome sequencing is essential for understanding tumor evolution and advancing precision medicine. 1 However, reference gaps and germline variants obscure detection of small and large somatic variants and methylation in repetitive regions. 1–3 It is common for tumor cells to gain or lose chromosome arms due to somatic structural changes that occur inside highly repetitive satellite DNA sequences in the centromeres. 4 To identify the full spectrum of somatic variants, including complex rearrangements, we construct and curate near-complete, haplotype-resolved assemblies of the most recent common ancestor of an early-passage broadly-consented hypodiploid pancreatic cancer cell line and matched normal tissues. The tumor assembly completely recapitulates all 35 tumor chromosomes observed with karyotyping, with multiple translocation-induced hybrid chromosomes. The hybrid chromosomes contain putative functional dicentric and fused centromeres, nested foldback inversions causing 14 breakpoints with a haplotype switch in a single event, and centromeric satellite tandem duplications up to 136 kbp. Direct comparison of tumor and normal assembly haplotypes uncovers >7,000 variants altering >1 Mbp of sequence in repetitive regions that have been hidden by reference gaps and germline variants. 44 % of somatic small variants change representation because they alter germline variants on GRCh38, impacting mutational signatures and kataegis/omikli clusters. Most somatic LINE insertions originate from two hypomethylated non-reference germline LINE insertions, highlighting their impact on insertion mutation burden. These assemblies demonstrate that centromeric, acrocentric, and telomeric regions conventionally excluded from analysis harbor extensive somatic and epigenetic changes. Resolving complete tumor genomes enables a deeper understanding of cancer structural plasticity and the endpoints of breakage-fusion-bridge cycles. These assembled, curated paired normal-tumor benchmarks will serve as a critical foundation for developing future algorithms to characterize the most intractable regions of cancer genomes.

ABSTRACT Background Ab‐interno canaloplasty (ABiC) may be performed as a standalone procedure or in combination with phacoemulsification (ABiC+Phaco). This study aims to examine the comparative surgical outcomes of both procedures. Methods PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched for randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and retrospective case series published from inception to 31 March 2025 that compared outcomes of standalone ABiC and ABiC+Phaco in the treatment of open‐angle glaucoma (OAG). Random‐effects meta‐analysis was performed to pool the mean difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications compared to baseline. Results Eight studies with a pooled total of 663 eyes were included in final analysis. There was no significant difference in IOP‐lowering efficacy between ABiC+Phaco and standalone ABiC across all timepoints (6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years) with a mean difference of 0.25 mmHg (95% CI: −0.98 to 1.48) at 3 years. There was also no significant difference in glaucoma medication reduction between ABiC+Phaco and standalone ABiC across all timepoints, with a mean difference of 0.03 medication reduction (95% CI: −0.18 to 0.23) at 3 years. A small IOP‐lowering benefit of ABiC+Phaco versus standalone ABiC in primary OAG‐only studies (mean difference 0.75 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.03–1.47) was observed at 3 years. Conclusion Our meta‐analysis suggests that phacoemulsification may not offer significant additional IOP and glaucoma medication reduction to standalone ABiC. However, results should be interpreted with caution due to a moderate risk of bias across all included studies. Regardless, our findings are consistent with existing literature on the effect of adjunctive phacoemulsification on other ab‐interno MIGS.

Advances in oncology drug development are driving the emergence of novel therapies, challenging traditional dose-efficacy assumptions in dose-finding oncology trials. Traditional trial designs aim to identify a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) by assessing patients’ dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) – adopting traditional dose-efficacy paradigms that efficacy increases with treatment dose. With these new therapies in mind, emphasis should shift toward methodological advancements in trial designs aimed at identifying optimal doses, rather than solely determining MTDs. Incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) within dose-finding oncology trials is increasingly recommended to better understand treatments’ tolerability profiles, especially given the extended tolerability assessment windows for novel immunotherapies and targeted therapies. This article introduces PRO-ADD ( P atient- R eported O utcomes A ided D ose-optimisation D esign), a modular trial design framework for dose-optimisation. We leverage this framework to optimise dosage with respect to three key outcomes – clinician-assessed DLTs, PROs and preliminary efficacy. PRO-ADD performs well at identifying the optimal dose (both efficacious and tolerable) – successfully identifying the most tolerable effective dose and avoiding escalation to larger, safe doses offering no additional efficacy benefit. As the field evolves, patient-centric dose-finding approaches incorporating PROs are crucial in advancing our understanding of treatment tolerability, and in turn, shaping the future landscape of dose-finding oncology trials.