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Introduction Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutated TP53 (TP53MT) is resistant to chemotherapy and has a poor prognosis. Prior reports suggest that DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi), such as decitabine and azacitidine, form covalent DNA-DNMT1 adducts and invoke a DNA damage response (DDR) characterized by activation of the ATR-CHK1 pathway, including in TP53MT AML samples. This study evaluates whether decitabine exhibits cytotoxic synergy with replication checkpoint modulators (ATRi, CHK1/2i, WEE1i) in pre-clinical models of AML. Methods Parental cell lines (U937, KG1a, Molm13, MV-4-11) were obtained commercially and genomically validated. The Molm13 TP53-/- cell line was generated via CRISPR/Cas9 knockout. Cells were maintained in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% FBS, 2 mM glutamine, and antibiotics at 37 ºC, 5% CO2. Decitabine, ceralasertib (ATRi), prexasertib (CHK1/2i), MK-8776 (CHK1i), and adavosertib (WEE1i) were reconstituted at 10 mM in DMSO. For drug treatments, cells were cultured for 48 h in medium with 0.2% (v/v) DMSO or drug. Western blots were stained with commercial antibodies followed by peroxidase-coupled secondary antibodies and imaged by chemiluminescence. Apoptosis assays were performed via flow cytometry (BD FACSCanto II) with annexin V-APC (BD Biosciences) and/or propidium iodide (Sigma) staining. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were obtained from AML patients after informed consent at Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University. Mononuclear cells were isolated via Histopaque-1077 (Sigma) centrifugation and used immediately. Colony forming assays were performed in Methocult H4435 (Stem Cell Technologies) supplemented with vehicle or drug; leukemic colonies were counted after 12-16 days. Combination indices (CI) were determined by the Chou-Talalay method (CalcuSyn) where values <1 indicate synergy and >1 antagonism. This work was supported in part by R01 CA289285. Results Western blots of TP53MT AML cell lines (U937, KG1a) and primary samples treated with decitabine (≤200 nM) for 24 h demonstrated increased phosphorylation of H2AX and S296/S345 CHK1, consistent with activation of the ATR-CHK1 DDR pathway. These changes were less pronounced in TP53 wild type cell lines (Molm13, MV-4-11). In subdiploid (SubG1) assays, U937 cells exhibited resistance to monotherapy with decitabine (EC50 = 330 ± 200 nM) and variable sensitivity to ceralasertib (250 - 500 nM), prexasertib (1 - 10 nM), MK-8776 (250 - 1,000 nM), and adavosertib (50 - 400 nM). When combined, however, marked synergy was observed between decitabine and both ceralasertib (mean CI 0.15) and adavosertib (CI 0.59). Synergy was also observed with the selective CHK1i, MK-8776 (CI 0.56), but less-so with the dual CHK1/2i, prexasertib (CI 0.93), consistent with the hypothesis of an ATR-CHK1 DNA damage response. Similar results were obtained from decitabine (EC50 = 300 ± 100 nM) and ceralasertib (CI 0.54), adavosertib (CI 0.67), MK-8776 (CI 0.52), and prexasertib (CI 0.81) in annexin V assays. These combinations were further evaluated (SubG1 assays) in an isogenic pair of Molm13 and Molm13 TP53-/- cell lines. In Molm13 cells, decitabine (EC50 = 23 ± 11 nM) was again synergistic with adavosertib (CI 0.60), but not ceralasertib (CI 1.3) or prexasertib (CI 1.2). In Molm13 TP53-/- cells, however, very little synergy was observed between decitabine (EC50 = 53 ± 22 nM) and ceralasertib (CI 1.5), prexasertib (CI 4.3), or adavosertib (CI 1.0) except for at higher concentrations of adavosertib (400 nM, CI 0.89). Thus, while biallelic TP53 inactivation conferred resistance to DNMTi and checkpoint inhibitors, the degree of resistance was context-dependent and could be partially overcome by WEE1 inhibition. The combinations of decitabine with ceralasertib (n = 2), prexasertib (n = 4), or adavosertib (n = 3) were evaluated in colony forming assays using primary AML samples from newly-diagnosed patients with diverse clinicomolecular profiles. Combination treatment was antagonistic with ceralasertib (CI 2.2), additive with prexasertib (CI 1.0), and synergistic with adavosertib (CI 0.88). Conclusions In multiple cell lines and diverse primary AML samples, decitabine activated the ATR-CHK1 DDR pathway and synergized with ATRi, CHK1/2i, and WEE1i. Amongst these, only the combination of decitabine plus adavosertib exhibited synergy across all three models, highlighting WEE1 as a potential target in TP53MT AML.

ABSTRACT Background Immune exclusion inhibits anti-tumor immunity and response to immunotherapy, but its mechanisms remain poorly defined. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and generally immune-rich subtype, an immune-cold microenvironment predicts poor prognosis due to a limited response to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. This study aimed to identify mechanisms regulating immune infiltration in TNBC. Methods We performed spatial transcriptomic analysis comparing immune-enriched versus immune-cold treatment-naïve TNBCs. Functional analyses, including loss-of-function and reconstitution experiments, were conducted to investigate the role of Trophoblast Cell-Surface Antigen 2 (TROP2), a key target of anti-cancer Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), in promoting TNBC progression. A humanized TROP2 syngeneic TNBC model was used to assess the effects of TROP2-targeting in combination with anti-PD1 therapy. Additionally, data from patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade were used to test hypotheses from the preclinical findings. Results We reveal that TROP2 controls barrier-mediated immune exclusion in TNBC through Claudin 7 association and tight junction regulation. TROP2 expression is inversely correlated with T cell infiltration and predicts poor outcomes in TNBC. We demonstrate that TROP2 is sufficient to drive tumor progression in vivo in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner, while its loss deregulates expression and localization of multiple tight junction proteins, enabling T cell infiltration. We show that TROP2 targeting via hRS7, the antibody component of the ADC Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), enhances the anti-PD1 response and improves T cell accessibility and effector function. Correspondingly, TROP2 expression is highly associated with lack of response to anti-PD1 therapy in human breast cancer. Conclusions This study defines a new mechanism of barrier-mediated immune exclusion in cancer controlled by TROP2-dependent tight junctions. This mechanism drives tumor progression but can be targeted via TROP2-directed therapy to activate anti-tumor immunity and enhance immunotherapy response. What is already known on this topic Barrier-mediated immune exclusion is emerging as a mechanism of immune evasion in cancer such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but its molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood. TROP2 is a surface glycoprotein targeted by antibody-drug conjugates such as Sacituzumab govitecan, yet its functional role beyond drug delivery has been unclear. What this study adds This study identifies TROP2 as a key regulator of tight junction-mediated immune exclusion in TNBC, independent of its intracellular signaling function. TROP2 promotes an immune-cold tumor microenvironment by enforcing mechanical barriers that limit T cell infiltration. How this study might affect research, practice or policy These findings establish TROP2 as a functional driver of immune evasion and provide a mechanistic rationale for combining TROP2-targeting therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors to overcome resistance in immune-excluded tumors.

Introduction Linvoseltamab is an investigational, BCMA×CD3 bispecific antibody designed for the treatment of RRMM. High objective response rates (ORR) to linvoseltamab 200 mg in the LINKER-MM1 trial (NCT03761108) were demonstrated across high-risk subgroups, including patients aged ≥75 years, patients with high-risk cytogenetics, and patients with penta-class refractory status. The aim of this study was to compare ORR, overall and in key subgroups, between patients in Phase 2 of the LINKER-MM1 trial and patients in an international RW SOC external control arm (ECA). Methods The ECA was derived from a chart review of 16 academic sites across 10 countries that are part of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF)-International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) and 2 US electronic health record databases (COTA and Guardian Research Network [GRN]). Included patients initiated ≥1 anti-MM treatment after meeting key eligibility criteria of LINKER-MM1. Weighted random sampling and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to select 1 line of therapy (LOT) per patient and balance the overall ECA and trial populations on prespecified prognostic factors (Kumar S, et al. IMS 2023). For ORR assessment, LINKER-MM1 and IMF-IMWG used independent central review committees per IMWG criteria, COTA used algorithmic assessment based on IMWG criteria, and GRN used physician-assessed responses. Prior to conducting comparative analyses, an independent committee of epidemiology and oncology experts reviewed the comparability of the cohorts and endpoint assessments, and approved study continuation. ORR among patients in LINKER-MM1 and patients in the ECA was compared overall and across prespecified subgroups (≥10 patients per subgroup), including age, race, cytogenetic risk score, international Staging System (ISS), presence of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP), refractory class, bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) proportion, and number of prior LOTs. Results Median duration of follow-up was 14.3 months (data cut-off: January 6, 2024) for patients receiving linvoseltamab (n=105) and 13.6 months for the ECA (n=307; n=194, n=72, and n=41 from IMF-IMWG, COTA, and GRN, respectively). Following IPTW, 13 prognostic factors with <30% missingness were balanced between cohorts, with an effective sample size in the ECA of 197. After adjustment, ORR was significantly higher in patients who received linvoseltamab compared with patients in the ECA (69.5% vs 45.7%, odds ratio [OR] 2.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-4.1]) and in key subgroups with age 65-74 years (76.9% vs 48.3%, OR 3.6 [1.6-8.6]), age ≥75 years (72.4% vs 48.5%, OR 2.8 [1.1-7.4]), Black or African American race (82.4% vs 25.0%, OR 14.0 [3.0-85.4]), White race (68.9% vs 49.7%, OR 2.2 [1.3-4.0]), standard cytogenetic risk (72.3% vs 51.3%, OR 2.5 [1.3-4.8]), ISS stage III (58.8% vs 19.7%, OR 5.8 [1.5-25.2]), absence of EMP (71.6% vs 49.3%, OR 2.6 [1.5-4.6]), triple-class refractory status (68.2% vs 45.7%, OR 2.6 [1.5-4.4]), quadruple-class refractory status (66.7% vs 45.9%, OR 2.4 [1.3-4.3]), 4-5 prior LOTs (65.1% vs 40.4%, OR 2.8 [1.3-6.0]), and >5 prior LOTs (75.7% vs 36.1%, OR 5.5 [2.4-13.6]). Numerically higher (not statistically significant) or similar ORR was observed for patients receiving linvoseltamab compared with patients in the ECA with age <65 years (59.5% vs 46.8%, OR 1.7 [0.79-3.6]), high-risk cytogenetics (65.0% vs 63.1%, OR 1.1 [0.41-2.9]), ISS stage I (73.3% vs 64.6%, OR 1.5 [0.62-3.7]), ISS stage II (67.6% vs 53.5%, OR 1.8 [0.72-4.7]), presence of EMP (58.8% vs 56.9%, OR 1.1 [0.32-3.8]), penta-class refractory status (64.3% vs 48.5%, OR 1.9 [0.78-4.8]), BMPC <50% (77.0% vs 67.2%, OR 1.6 [0.61-4.3]), BMPC ≥50% (41.7% vs 36.0%, OR 1.3 [0.36-4.7]), and ≤3 prior LOTs (68.0% vs 66.4%, OR 1.1 [0.43-2.9]). Separate findings will be presented for IMF-IMWG and COTA/GRN data at the congress. Conclusions Linvoseltamab induced better ORR vs RW SOC treatments overall, and better or similar ORR in the key subgroups assessed, highlighting its therapeutic value across a range of patients with RRMM with heterogeneous risk profiles and levels of disease burden.

AbstractAimMinimally invasive transanal platforms are now the standard of care for select low‐risk rectal tumours. However, existing platforms come with persistent technical challenges. The da Vinci SP Surgical System™ offers a new alternative designed to work effectively in narrow spaces. This technology has the potential to enhance the feasibility and proximal extent of complex transanal resections. This study aimed to describe the morbidity and technical success in patients undergoing single‐port robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery (SPR‐TAMIS). Secondary outcomes include rates of local recurrence.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients who underwent SPR‐TAMIS at our institution between February 2019 and December 2023.ResultsThe study included 31 patients (19 men, 12 women) with a mean age of 61 ± 13.3 years. The average tumour distance from the anal verge was 10 cm. Thirty patients completed SPR‐TAMIS, with one patient requiring conversion to robotic sigmoidectomy due to location in the mid‐sigmoid colon. The mean operating time was 106 ± 42 min. Twenty‐eight out of 30 patients underwent full‐thickness excision and all but two were successfully closed. All specimens were resected intact, and margins were negative in 93.5% of cases. The average tumour size was 13 ± 34 cm2, with 13 lesions classified as adenomas and 16 as adenocarcinomas. All patients who did not undergo associated procedures were discharged on the day of surgery. Two patients experienced 30‐day morbidity. At a mean follow‐up of 18 months (± 13), no local or systemic recurrences were identified.ConclusionSPR‐TAMIS for excision of low‐risk rectal tumours is associated with high rates of technical success and low 30‐day morbidity. Further research is needed to compare SPR‐TAMIS with other techniques to determine potential advantages over current transanal platforms.

Abstract Background The phase III RxPONDER trial has affected treatment for node-positive (1-3), hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with a 21-gene recurrence score (RS) less than 26. We investigated how these findings apply to different racial and ethnic groups within the trial. Methods The trial randomly assigned women to endocrine therapy (ET) or to chemotherapy plus ET. The primary clinical outcome was invasive disease-free survival (IDFS), with distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) as a secondary outcome. Multivariable Cox models were used to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and survival outcomes, adjusting for clinicopathological characteristics, RS, and treatment. Results A total of 4048 women with self-reported race/ethnicity were included: Hispanic (15.1%), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) (6.1%), Native American/Pacific Islander (0.8%), Asian (8.0%), and non-Hispanic White (NHW) (70%). No differences in RS distribution, tumor size, or number of positive nodes were observed by race/ethnicity. Relative to NHWs, IDFS was worse for NHB participants (5-year IDFS 91.6% vs 87.1%, HR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.81) and better for Asians (91.6% vs 93.9%, HR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.46 to 0.91). Relative to NHW, DRFS was worse for NHB participants (5-year DRFS 95.8% vs 91.0%, HR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.17 to 2.32) and better for Asians (95.8% vs 96.7%, HR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.37 to 0.95). Adjusting for clinical characteristics, particularly body mass index, diminished the effect of race on outcomes. Chemotherapy treatment efficacy did not differ by race/ethnicity. Conclusions NHB women had worse clinical outcomes compared with NHWs in the RxPONDER trial despite similar RS and comparable treatment. Our study emphasizes the persistent racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes while highlighting complex interactions among contributing factors. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01272037.

Abstract Rationale Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a complex and heterogeneous disease. Given this, we reasoned that differences in genetic profiles may be associated with unique clinical and radiologic features. Computational image analysis, sometimes referred to as radiomics, provides objective, quantitative assessments of radiologic features in subjects with pulmonary fibrosis. Objectives To determine if the genetic risk profile of patients with IPF identifies unique computational imaging phenotypes. Methods Participants with IPF were included in this study if they had genotype data and computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest available for computational image analysis. The extent of lung fibrosis and the likelihood of a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern were scored automatically using two separate, previously validated deep learning techniques for CT analysis. UIP pattern was also classified visually by radiologists according to established criteria. Results Among 329 participants with IPF, MUC5B and ZKSCAN1 were independently associated with the deep learning–based UIP score. None of the common variants were associated with fibrosis extent by computational imaging. We did not find an association between MUC5B or ZKSCAN1 and visually assessed UIP pattern. Conclusions Select genetic variants are associated with computer-based classification of UIP on CT in this IPF cohort. Analysis of radiologic features using deep learning may enhance our ability to identify important genotype–phenotype associations in fibrotic lung diseases.

BACKGROUND The management of cystic brain metastases remains challenging, with high recurrence rates following treatment with resection and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Tumor resection and adjuvant radiation provide superior outcomes in comparison to those for each therapy alone, but large cystic tumor en bloc removal is difficult. Cyst aspiration can be used to decrease the radiation target volume, enabling safer delivery of a therapeutic radiation dose with improved local tumor control. However, cysts can rapidly recur following aspiration. Herein, the authors present a case in which cyst aspiration, radiation, and resection were combined within a single procedure. OBSERVATIONS During a single anesthesia episode, a 70-year-old female underwent stereotactic cyst aspiration, single-fraction SRS, and resection of a 3.7-cm cystic temporal lobe breast metastasis. The lesion volume exceeded 40 cm 3 before cyst aspiration, decreasing by 62.5% afterward. LESSONS Definitive management of large cystic brain metastases including aspiration, radiation, and resection is feasible under a single anesthesia session. This approach, compared to traditional management, could help minimize challenges associated with large cystic lesions, including recurrence and/or radiation necrosis. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24357

Objective: To compare target artery (TA) outcomes after fenestrated or branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) versus open surgical repair (OSR) of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs). Background: Few studies have compared TA outcomes after endovascular incorporation and open reconstruction. Methods: Among consecutive patients who underwent elective OSR or FB-EVAR of TAAAs (2008–2020), we reviewed those who had postoperative imaging studies evaluating TA. Data of FB-EVAR patients were obtained from a prospectively maintained institutional database. TAs included celiac, superior mesenteric, right, and left renal arteries treated during TAAA repairs. The primary endpoint was TA patency (primary and secondary). Results: There were 131 patients (487 TAs) treated by OSR and 350 (1300 TAs) by FB-EVAR. In the OSR group, 440 TAs (90.3%) were reconstructed by bypasses, and 47 (9.7%) by reimplantation. In the FB-EVAR group, 841 TAs (64.7%) were incorporated by fenestrations and 459 (35.3%) by directional branches. Thirty-day TA primary patency rates were not significantly different between FB-EVAR and OSR (99.4%% vs 99.0%, P = 0.36), but the secondary patency rate was higher after FB-EVAR (99.8% vs 99.0%, P = 0.02). Three-year primary patency rates were 95.9% (95% CI: 94.7%–97.2%) and 94.7% (95% CI: 92.2%–97.2%), respectively; secondary patency rates were 98.5% (95% CI: 97.7%–99.2%) and 94.7% (95% CI: 95.7%–99.2%), respectively. There were no significant differences in late primary patency and secondary patency between groups (each P < 0.05). Conclusions: TA primary and secondary patency rates following elective OSR or FB-EVAR were high. Endovascular repair was not associated with loss of primary patency and late secondary patency.

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee is a focal idiopathic alteration of subchondral bone and/or its precursor with risk for instability and disruption of adjacent cartilage. Treatment options focused on preventing premature osteoarthritis vary depending on multiple patient and lesion characteristics, including lesion mobility. Purpose: To differentiate lesion mobility before arthroscopy using a multivariable model that includes patient demographic characteristics and physical examination findings. Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Demographic, preoperative physical examination, and radiographic data were collected from a multicenter national prospective cohort of patients with OCD of the knee. Inclusion criteria included patients <19 years of age and patients with arthroscopically confirmed mobility status based on the Research on Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee arthroscopy classification. Multivariable logistic regression analysis using stepwise model selection was used to determine factors associated with the likelihood of a mobile versus an immobile lesion. A 75% partition of the data was used for model training, and 25% was used as a validation cohort. Quantitative model fit statistics were computed using the holdout data, including sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), along with the corresponding 95% CI. Results: A total of 407 patients in the prospective cohort met inclusion criteria, and 62% were male. The mean ± SD age was 13.7 ± 2.2 years, height 161.8 ± 5.3 cm, and weight 59.2 ± 42.2 kg. Arthroscopic evaluation yielded 235 immobile and 172 mobile lesions. Multivariable analysis determined that the best model to predict lesion mobility included chronologic age ≥14 years ( P < .001), effusion on physical examination ( P < .001), and any loss of range of motion on physical examination ( P = .07), while controlling for male sex ( P = .38) and weight >54.4 kg ( P = .12). In the 25% holdout validation sample (n = 102), a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 82%, and an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95) were achieved with these predictive factors. Conclusion: Age, effusion, and loss of motion can predict knee OCD lesion mobility at the time of arthroscopy. Education about lesion mobility can help with surgical planning and patient and family counseling.