Citations

Importance Oral tamoxifen citrate benefits women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but concern about toxic effects has limited acceptance. Previous pilot studies have suggested transdermal 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel has equivalent antiproliferative efficacy to oral tamoxifen, with low systemic exposure. Objective To demonstrate that 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel applied to the breast skin is noninferior to oral tamoxifen in its antiproliferative effect in DCIS lesions. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized, double-blind, phase 2 preoperative window trial was performed at multicenter breast surgery referral practices from May 31, 2017, to January 27, 2021. Among 408 women with estrogen receptor–positive DCIS who were approached, 120 consented and 100 initiated study treatment. The most common reasons for nonparticipation were surgical delay, disinterest in research, and concerns about toxic effects. Data were analyzed from January 26, 2021, to October 5, 2022. Intervention Random assignment to oral tamoxifen citrate, 20 mg/d, and gel placebo or 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel, 2 mg/d per breast, and oral placebo, for 4 to 10 weeks, followed by DCIS resection. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was absolute change in DCIS Ki-67 labeling index (Ki67-LI). Secondary end points included 12-gene DCIS Score, breast tissue tamoxifen metabolite concentrations, tamoxifen-responsive plasma protein levels, and patient-reported symptoms. Noninferiority of Ki67-LI reduction by 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel was tested using analysis of covariance; within- and between-arm comparisons were performed with paired t tests for mean values or the Wilcoxon rank sum test for medians. Results Of 90 participants completing treatment (mean [SD] age, 55 [11] years; 8 [8.9%] Asian, 16 [17.8%] Black, 8 [8.9%] Latina, and 53 [58.9%] White), 15 lacked residual DCIS in the surgical sample, leaving 75 evaluable for the primary end point analysis (40 in the oral tamoxifen group and 35 in the 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel group). Posttreatment Ki67-LI was 3.3% higher (80% CI, 2.1%-4.6%) in the 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel group compared with the oral tamoxifen group, exceeding the noninferiority margin (2.6%). The DCIS Score decreased more with oral tamoxifen treatment (−16 [95% CI, −22 to −9.4]) than with 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel (−1.8 [95% CI, −5.8 to 2.3]). The median 4-hydroxytamoxifen concentrations deep in the breast were nonsignificantly higher in the oral tamoxifen group (5.7 [IQR, 4.0-7.9] vs 3.8 [IQR, 1.3-7.9] ng/g), whereas endoxifen was abundant in the oral tamoxifen group and minimal in the 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel group (median, 13.0 [IQR, 8.9-20.6] vs 0.3 [IQR, 0-0.3] ng/g; P < .001). Oral tamoxifen caused expected adverse changes in plasma protein levels and vasomotor symptoms, with minimal changes in the transdermal group. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, antiproliferative noninferiority of 4-hydroxytamoxifen gel to oral tamoxifen was not confirmed, potentially owing to endoxifen exposure differences. New transdermal approaches must deliver higher drug quantities and/or include the most potent metabolites. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02993159

BACKGROUND: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is associated with significant functional limitations, yet treatments for improving exercise performance have been elusive. We sought to explore the association between prespecified patient characteristics and changes in 6-minute walk distance that constitute a clinically significant response to dapagliflozin. METHODS: We performed a responder analysis to understand patient characteristics associated with clinically meaningful improvement in 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance ≥15 m among patients randomized to 12 weeks of dapagliflozin versus placebo in the double-blind PRESERVED-HF trial (Effects of Dapagliflozin on Biomarkers, Symptoms and Functional Status in Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure). RESULTS: A total of 289 randomized patients had 6MWT distance completed at baseline and 12 weeks. Patients randomized to dapagliflozin improved walking distance by ≥15 m more frequently than those on placebo (n=64, 44% versus n=48, 34%). After adjusting for baseline covariates, patients randomized to dapagliflozin were more likely to experience a clinically meaningful improvement in 6MWT distance compared with those that received placebo (adjusted odds ratio, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.00–2.75]; P =0.05). Dapagliflozin-treated patients were also less likely to have a ≥15 m reduction in 6MWT distance compared with placebo-treated patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.33–0.94]; P =0.03). These results were consistent across all prespecified subgroups (all P values for interaction were not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with those on placebo, patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction randomized to dapagliflozin were more likely to experience a clinically meaningful improvement and less likely to experience a deterioration in physical function over 12 weeks as measured by 6MWT distance. Beneficial response to dapagliflozin was consistent across prespecified subgroups. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03030235.

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design, first invented by Zelig Eshhar, paved the way for the use of genetically modified T-cells in targeted therapy against cancer cells. Since then, it has gone through many generations, especially with the integration of co-stimulation in the second and third-generation CARs. However, it also mounts a hyperactive immune response named as cytokine release syndrome with the release of several cytokines eventually resulting in multiple end-organ toxicities. The severity of cytokine release syndrome depends upon certain factors such as the tumor burden, choice of co-stimulation, and degree of lymphodepletion, and can manifest as pulmonary edema, vascular leak, renal dysfunction, cardiac problems, hepatic failure, and coagulopathy. Many grading criteria have been used to define these clinical manifestations but they lack harmonization. Neurotoxicity has also been significantly associated with CAR T-cell therapy but it has not been studied much in previous literature. This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and treatment of CAR T-cell associated neurotoxicity.

ImportanceIncreased white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume is a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding in both autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) and late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD), but it remains unclear whether increased WMH along the AD continuum is reflective of AD-intrinsic processes or secondary to elevated systemic vascular risk factors.ObjectiveTo estimate the associations of neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis with WMH accumulation and investigate whether systemic vascular risk is associated with WMH beyond these AD-intrinsic processes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used data from 3 longitudinal cohort studies conducted in tertiary and community-based medical centers—the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN; February 2010 to March 2020), the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI; July 2007 to September 2021), and the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS; September 2010 to December 2019).Main Outcome and MeasuresThe main outcomes were the independent associations of neurodegeneration (decreases in gray matter volume), parenchymal amyloidosis (assessed by amyloid positron emission tomography), and vessel amyloidosis (evidenced by cerebral microbleeds [CMBs]) with cross-sectional and longitudinal WMH.ResultsData from 3960 MRI sessions among 1141 participants were included: 252 pathogenic variant carriers from DIAN (mean [SD] age, 38.4 [11.2] years; 137 [54%] female), 571 older adults from ADNI (mean [SD] age, 72.8 [7.3] years; 274 [48%] female), and 318 older adults from HABS (mean [SD] age, 72.4 [7.6] years; 194 [61%] female). Longitudinal increases in WMH volume were greater in individuals with CMBs compared with those without (DIAN: t = 3.2 [P = .001]; ADNI: t = 2.7 [P = .008]), associated with longitudinal decreases in gray matter volume (DIAN: t = −3.1 [P = .002]; ADNI: t = −5.6 [P < .001]; HABS: t = −2.2 [P = .03]), greater in older individuals (DIAN: t = 6.8 [P < .001]; ADNI: t = 9.1 [P < .001]; HABS: t = 5.4 [P < .001]), and not associated with systemic vascular risk (DIAN: t = 0.7 [P = .40]; ADNI: t = 0.6 [P = .50]; HABS: t = 1.8 [P = .06]) in individuals with ADAD and LOAD after accounting for age, gray matter volume, CMB presence, and amyloid burden. In older adults without CMBs at baseline, greater WMH volume was associated with CMB development during longitudinal follow-up (Cox proportional hazards regression model hazard ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.72-4.03; P < .001).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings suggest that increased WMH volume in AD is associated with neurodegeneration and parenchymal and vessel amyloidosis but not with elevated systemic vascular risk. Additionally, increased WMH volume may represent an early sign of vessel amyloidosis preceding the emergence of CMBs.

The NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic focus primarily on assessment of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer, including BRCA1 , BRCA2 , CDH1 , PALB2 , PTEN , and TP53 , and recommended approaches to genetic counseling/testing and care strategies in individuals with these P/LP variants. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize important updates regarding: (1) a new section for transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse people who have a hereditary predisposition to cancer focused on risk reduction strategies for ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer; and (2) testing criteria and management associated with TP53 P/LP variants and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Abstract Objectives Healthcare institutions implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes to optimize the use of antibiotics. The focus is often on inpatient rather than outpatient settings. We aimed to explore perceptions of AMS stakeholders on effective interventions for appropriate antibiotic use in outpatient settings, and the role of clinical pharmacists in the AMS multidisciplinary team. Methods A qualitative semi-structured interview study using thematic analysis by two researchers independently. Participants that practice AMS programmes were recruited from healthcare facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Interviews were conducted face to face or online and transcribed verbatim. Results Four themes emerged: (i) Perceived factors leading to unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and their impact on patients and the community; (ii) current outpatient AMS activities and perceived barriers and facilitators for their sustainability; (iii) suggested outpatient AMS strategies to be implemented in outpatient settings; and (iv) perceived future AMS implementation barriers and suggested mitigation strategies. Conclusions Several AMS interventions, together with the presence of a clinical pharmacist, may be effective in improving antibiotic use in UAE outpatient settings. Future research should investigate the most appropriate AMS strategy considering barriers and possible mitigation strategies to ensure sustainability.

Abstract Disclosure: B. Clarke: Advisory Board Member; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Takeda, Entera-Bio, Extend-Bio, Amolyt. Consulting Fee; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Takeda, Entera-Bio, Extend-Bio, Amolyt. Grant Recipient; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Takeda. Research Investigator; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Takeda. Other; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Takeda, Entera-Bio, Extend-Bio, Amolyt. A.A. Khan: Advisory Board Member; Self; Amgen Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ascendis Pharma, Takeda, Ultragenyx. Consulting Fee; Self; Amgen Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Amolyt, Ascendis Pharma, Ultragenyx. Grant Recipient; Self; Amolyt. Research Investigator; Self; Radius Health, Inc, Takeda, Ultragenyx, Amolyt, Ascendis Pharma, Chugai. Speaker; Self; Amgen Inc. Other; Self; Amgen Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ascendis Pharma, Takeda, Ultragenyx. M.R. Rubin: Research Investigator; Self; Chugai Pharma. P.E. Schwarz: Stock Owner; Self; Novo Nordisk, Genmab. T.J. Vokes: Consulting Fee; Self; Takeda, Ascendis Pharma. Research Investigator; Self; Ascendis Pharma, Radius Health, Inc. D.M. Shoback: Research Investigator; Self; Bone Health Tech. C. Gagnon: Advisory Board Member; Self; Novo Nordisk. Grant Recipient; Self; Shire, Takeda, Ascendis Pharma. Research Investigator; Self; Novo Nordisk. Other; Self; Amgen Inc. A. Palermo: Consulting Fee; Self; Theramex, Bruno, Farmaceutici, Amgen Inc. Grant Recipient; Self; Amgen Inc. Research Investigator; Self; Amgen Inc, Shire, Ascendis Pharma. Speaker; Self; UCB, Amgen Inc. L.G. Abbott: Advisory Board Member; Self; Ascendis. Research Investigator; Self; Takeda, Shire, Ascendis Pharma. Speaker; Self; Abbott Laboratories, Clarus. Other; Self; Ascendis. L.C. Hofbauer: Advisory Board Member; Self; Amgen Inc, UCB. Other; Self; Amgen Inc, UCB. L. Kohlmeier: Advisory Board Member; Self; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ascendis Pharma. Research Investigator; Self; Ascendis Pharma. Speaker; Self; Amgen Inc, Radius Health, Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ascendis Pharma. Other; Self; Amgen Inc, Radius Health, Inc, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ascendis Pharma, MediMaps. F. Cetani: None. S. Phil: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. X. An: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. A.R. Smith: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. B. Lai: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. J. Le: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. J. Ukena: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. C. Sibley: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. A. Shu: Employee; Self; Ascendis Pharma. L. Rejnmark: Advisory Board Member; Self; Takeda, Amolyt. Research Investigator; Self; Takeda, Kyowa Kirin International, Ascendis Pharma, Calcilytix Therapeutics. Other; Self; Calcilytix Therapeutics. Objective: Evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of TransCon PTH as a potential hormone replacement therapy for hypoparathyroidism. Methods: PaTHway is a phase 3 trial of TransCon PTH with a placebo (PBO)-controlled 26-week blinded period and a 156-week open-label extension (OLE) period. Results through Week 52 (26 weeks blinded + 26 weeks OLE) are reported. Three-component efficacy endpoint: normal serum calcium (8.3-10.6 mg/dL) and independence from conventional therapy (≤600 mg/day of elemental calcium and no active vitamin D). Other endpoints: Hypoparathyroidism Patient Experience Scale (HPES); 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36); bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); bone turnover markers (BTM) procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTx). Safety was assessed by 24-hour urine calcium and reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: Of the 82 participants given study drug, 79 completed blinded treatment and entered the OLE, and 78 (59 TransCon PTH/TransCon PTH, 19 PBO/TransCon PTH) completed Week 52. Overall at Week 52, 81% (63/78) met the efficacy endpoint, 95% (74/78) achieved independence from conventional therapy, and none required active vitamin D. Mean albumin-adjusted serum calcium was within the normal range at all time points in the OLE (8.9 mg/dL at Week 52). Mean Week 52 HPES scores showed sustained improvement from baseline in disease-related symptoms and the impact of hypoparathyroidism on physical functioning and daily life. Mean Week 52 SF-36 physical functioning scores also remained above baseline. In the TransCon PTH/TransCon PTH group, mean BMD corrected Z-scores trended toward norms from baseline to Weeks 26 and 52:1.5, 0.7, 0.7 at the lumbar spine (L1-L4); 0.8, 0.3, 0.3 at femoral neck; 0.9, 0.5, 0.4 at total hip; and 0.3, 0.3, 0.3 at distal 1/3 radius; P1NP peaked at Week 26 and CTx at Week 12. Smaller incremental changes were seen in BMD and BTM from Weeks 26 to 52 than baseline to Week 26. In the PBO/TransCon PTH group, changes in BMD and BTM from Week 26 to 52 resembled those in the TransCon PTH/TransCon PTH group from baseline to Week 26. Mean 24-hour urine calcium excretion decreased from 376 mg/day at baseline to 195 mg/day at Week 52. Most TEAEs were mild or moderate and none led to discontinuation of the study drug or trial. Conclusions: At Week 52 of the PaTHway trial, TransCon PTH showed a similar sustained efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile to that of Week 26, demonstrating its potential as a hormone replacement therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism. Indices of skeletal dynamics trended toward age- and sex-matched norms in the TransCon/TransCon PTH group. TransCon PTH treatment in the PBO/TransCon PTH group showed rapid improvement in all outcomes in the first 26 weeks of the OLE consistent with the pattern in the TransCon PTH group during the blinded period. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

AbstractQuantifying tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer tumors is a challenging task for pathologists. With the advent of whole slide imaging that digitizes glass slides, it is possible to apply computational models to quantify TILs for pathologists. Development of computational models requires significant time, expertise, consensus, and investment. To reduce this burden, we are preparing a dataset for developers to validate their models and a proposal to the Medical Device Development Tool (MDDT) program in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If the FDA qualifies the dataset for its submitted context of use, model developers can use it in a regulatory submission within the qualified context of use without additional documentation. Our dataset aims at reducing the regulatory burden placed on developers of models that estimate the density of TILs and will allow head‐to‐head comparison of multiple computational models on the same data. In this paper, we discuss the MDDT preparation and submission process, including the feedback we received from our initial interactions with the FDA and propose how a qualified MDDT validation dataset could be a mechanism for open, fair, and consistent measures of computational model performance. Our experiences will help the community understand what the FDA considers relevant and appropriate (from the perspective of the submitter), at the early stages of the MDDT submission process, for validating stromal TIL density estimation models and other potential computational models. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Abstract Rationale Constantly exposed to the external environment and mutagens such as tobacco smoke, human lungs have one of the highest somatic mutation rates among all human organs. However, the relationship of these mutations to lung disease and function is not known. Objectives To identify the prevalence and significance of clonal somatic mutations in chronic lung diseases. Methods We analyzed the clonal somatic mutations from 1,251 samples of normal and diseased noncancerous lung tissue RNA sequencing with paired whole-genome sequencing from the Lung Tissue Research Consortium. We examined the associations of somatic mutations with lung function, disease status, and computationally deconvoluted cell types in two of the most common diseases represented in our dataset, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; 29%) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; 13%). Measurements and Main Results Clonal somatic mutational burden was associated with reduced lung function in both COPD and IPF. We identified an increased prevalence of clonal somatic mutations in individuals with IPF compared with normal control subjects and individuals with COPD independent of age and smoking status. IPF clonal somatic mutations were enriched in disease-related and airway epithelial–expressed genes such as MUC5B in IPF. Patients who were MUC5B risk variant carriers had increased odds of developing somatic mutations of MUC5B that were explained by increased expression of MUC5B. Conclusions Our identification of an increased prevalence of clonal somatic mutation in diseased lung that correlates with airway epithelial gene expression and disease severity highlights for the first time the role of somatic mutational processes in lung disease genetics.

Abstract Background Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation (CA). However, the current data on weight loss interventions show inconsistent results in preventing the recurrence of AF after CA. Methods We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies that reported the outcome of recurrence of AF after CA in obese patients undergoing weight interventions. The subgroup analysis included: (1) Weight loss versus no weight loss, (2) >10% weight loss versus <10% weight loss, (3) <10% weight loss versus no weight loss, (4) Follow‐up <12 months, and (5) Follow‐up >12 months after CA. Mantel–Haenszel risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random effects model and for heterogeneity, I 2 statistics were reported. Results A total of 10 studies (one randomized controlled trial and nine observational studies) comprising 1851 patients were included. The recurrence of AF was numerically reduced in the weight loss group (34.5%) versus no weight loss group (58.2%), but no statistically significant difference was observed (risk ratio [RR] = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.49–1.18, p = .22). However, there was a statistically significant reduction in recurrence of AF with weight loss versus no weight loss at follow‐up >12 months after CA (RR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.32–0.68, p < .0001). At follow‐up >12 months after CA, both >10% weight loss versus <10% weight loss (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31–0.80, p = .004) and <10% weight loss versus no weight loss (RR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.31–0.49, p < .00001) were associated with a statistically significant reduction in recurrent AF. Conclusion In patients with AF undergoing CA, weight loss is associated with reducing recurrent AF at > 12 months after ablation and these benefits are consistently seen with both >10% and <10% weight loss. The benefits of weight loss in preventing recurrent AF after CA should be examined in larger studies with extended follow‐up duration.