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1430 citation(s) found for "Qi, Nathan".

The Efficacy of Bracing in Nonoperative Care of Medial Femoral Condyle Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Study From the Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) Study Group
Group, The ROCK, Nissen, Carl W. , Albright, Jay C. , Anderson, Christian N. , Busch, Michael T., Carey, James L. , Carlson, Cathy , Carsen, Sasha , Crepeau, Allison, Edmonds, Eric W. , Ellermann, Jutta , Ellis, Henry B. , Erickson, John B. , Godin, Jonathan , Ganley, Theodore J. , Grimm, Nathan L. , Heyworth, Benton E. , Po, James Hui Hoi, Kocher, Mininder S., Koehler, Ryan, Latz, Kevin, Loveland, Dustin M., Lyon, Roger M., Meenen, Norbert M., Milewski, Matthew D., Myer, Gregory D., Nelson, Bradley J., Nepple, Jeffrey, Nguyen, Jie C. , Paterno, Mark V. , Pennock, Andrew T. , Perkins, Crystal A. , Polousky, John D. , Riley, Pat, Saluan, Paul, Shea, Kevin G., Tompkins, Marc , Wall, Eric J. , Willimon, S. Clifton , Wright, Rick W. , Shea, Kevin G. , Edmonds, Eric W , Ellis, Henry B , Fabricant, Peter D , Ganley, Theodore J , Green, Daniel W , Heyworth, Benton E , Krych, Aaron J , Pace, J Lee , Pennock, Andrew T , Perkins, Crystal A , Tompkins, Marc A , Nissen, Carl , Busch, Michael T., Carlson, Cathy, Chambers, Henry G. , Godin, Jonathan, Hui, James Hoi Po, Kocher, Mininder Singh , Koehler, Ryan J. , Krych, Aaron J. , Lyon, Roger, Meenen, N. M., Milewski, Matthew D. , Myer, Gregory D. , Nelson, Bradley J. , Nepple, Jeffrey J. , Weiss, Jennifer M., Wilson, Philip L. , Kostyun, Regina O.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine | April 15, 2026 | Volume: 54 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 1415-1422

10.1177/03635465261429407 | PMID 41981903 Get It

Background: Stable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions are primarily treated nonoperatively. Nonoperative treatment includes several recommendations, including the use of an unloader brace. However, little is known about the clinical effectiveness of unloader bracing and its influence on OCD healing, return to sports, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of unloader bracing on patients with stable medial femoral condyle (MFC) OCD lesions treated nonoperatively. Purpose: To investigate the influence of valgus unloader bracing on the success of treating stable MFC OCD with nonoperative treatment strategies. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The authors used a prospective cohort of patients receiving nonoperative care for stable MFC knee OCD lesions. The primary variable of interest was the efficacy of bracing. The primary outcomes were transition from nonoperative care to surgical intervention, return-to-play (RTP) clearance, and PROs. Bivariate testing was used to determine if there were differences between groups. Chi-square testing was used to determine if there were differences in rates of transition to surgery by group. The timing of the transition by each group was assessed using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test, given the nonparametric nature of the data. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate time at risk, incidence rate, and survival times for each group. Results: A total of 185 knees (bracing group: 123 [66.5%] knees; no-bracing group: 62 [33.5%] knees) were analyzed. Overall, 142 (76.8%) knees were successfully treated nonoperatively. Transition to surgery occurred in 43 (23.2%) knees. There were no differences in transition to surgery by groups, with no differences seen by group. Of the knees that did not transition to surgical care, 65 (71.4%) in the bracing group and 38 (74.5%) in the no-bracing group received RTP clearance ( P = .693). PRO scores were similar between the 2 groups at the time of RTP clearance. Conclusion: The inclusion of an unloader brace in the nonoperative treatment for stable MFC OCD lesions did not decrease the likelihood of patients undergoing surgical intervention or improve their PRO scores at the time of RTP clearance. Registration: NCT02771496 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Induction Cisplatin, Docetaxel, and 5-Fluorouracil Versus Platinum Doublet in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Ganti, Ashwin , McGarrah, Patrick W. , Bayne, H. Fuentes, Fazer-Posorske, Casey , Baral, Binav, Ma, Daniel J., Neben-Wittich, M.A. , Wilson, Jessica , Moore, Eric J., Tasche, Kendall K. , Abel, Katie M. Van, Foster, Nathan R. , Price, Katharine A. , Daniel, J. , Fuentes, Harry E , Fuentes, Harry E , Baral, Binav , Ma, Daniel , Lester, Scott C. , Neben-Wittich, Michelle A, Wilson, Jessica M , Van Abel, Katie M, Price, Katharine A R , McGarrah, Patrick , Routman, David M. , Price, Daniel L. , Moore, Eric J. , Abel, Katie M. Van, Yin, Linda X.

Viruses | April 8, 2026 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 446

10.3390/v18040446 | PMID 42043235 Get It

Management of locoregionally advanced human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+) OPSCC) can include induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiation. The standard induction regimen of cisplatin, docetaxel, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) is associated with high toxicity. Given the chemosensitivity of HPV(+) OPSCC, platinum doublets are frequently used as induction therapy with potentially less toxicity. This retrospective study aimed to compare outcomes between treatment-naive HPV(+) OPSCC patients receiving induction TPF and those receiving an induction platinum doublet. Data collected included tumor characteristics, response after chemoradiation, hospitalization rates, and overall survival (OS). Fifty-five patients (18 TPF and 37 platinum doublet) were included. There was no significant difference in response after completion of definitive chemoradiation (TPF: CR 83.3%, PR 5.6%, progression or metastasis 11.1% vs. platinum doublet: CR 75.7%, PR 16.2%, progression or metastasis 8.1%; p = 0.5241). There were also no differences in hospitalizations for adverse events (38.9% in TPF vs. 40.5% in platinum doublet, p = 0.907) or recurrence (11.1% in TPF vs. 2.7% in platinum doublet, p = 0.198). The 5-year OS was 84.6% in the TPF group and 81.5% in the platinum doublet group (p = 0.581). Induction platinum doublet regimens offer comparable OS, response, and hospitalization rates to TPF in locally advanced HPV(+) OPSCC. Induction with a platinum doublet may be a viable de-escalation strategy for patients who are not candidates for TPF.
Risk Factors for Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Craniopharyngioma: A Multicenter Cohort Study with a Contemporary Surgeon Practice Survey
Celda, María Peris, Karsy, Michael, Evans, James J, Kim, Albert H, Kim, W, Bergsneider, Marvin , Pacione, Donato , Gardner, Paul A. , Mukherjee, Raj, Liu, Connor J. , Cheok, Stephanie , Zwagerman, Nathan T. , Christenson, Charles, Blackburn, Spiros, Kshettry, Varun R, Wu, Kyle C, Prevedello, Daniel, Barkhoudarian, Garni, Fernandez-Miranda, Juan C., Zada, Gabriel, Benjamin, Carolina , Catalino, Michael Paul, Mamelak, Adam N, Furlan, André Beer, Zenonos, Georgios, Mendoza, Michelle Magana, Little, Andrew S, Gompel, Jamie J., Karsy, Michael , Palit, Sandhya R. , Shinya, Yuki , Karsy, Michael , Evans, James J., Chicoine, Michael , Kim, Albert H , Patel, Bhuvic , Kim, Won Bae , Gardner, Paul, Mukherjee, Debraj , Liu, C P, Blackburn, Spiros , Kshettry, Varun R. , Rennert, Robert C , Couldwell, William T. , Morshed, Ramin A. , Barkhoudarian, Garni , Fernandez‐Miranda, Juan C. , Zada, Gabriel , BENJAMIN, CAROLINA, Mamelak, Adam N. , Zenonos, Georgios A. , Little, Andrew S. , Gompel, Jamie J. Van

No container title available | April 7, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.21203/rs.3.rs-9285619/v1 | PMID 41994110 Get It

Abstract Purpose: This multicenter, multi-surgeon retrospective study aimed to identify risk factors for postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak following endonasal resection of craniopharyngioma, while evaluating the "perception gap" through a surgeon survey. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 416 patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) for craniopharyngioma from 20 institutions. Factors were compared between patients with and without postoperative CSF leak, and between Early (2007-2015) and Late (2016-2025) Epochs. Complementing the clinical data, a survey of 19 neurosurgeons captured expert perspectives on risk stratification and management strategies. Results: Overall postoperative CSF leak rate was 13.5% (56/416 patients). Univariate analysis identified predominantly cystic tumors (34% vs. 21%, p = 0.034)and intraoperative lumbar drain (LD) use ( p < 0.028) as associated with postoperative CSF leak. BMI ( p = 0.587), prior surgery ( p = 0.576), and tumor size ( p = 0.363) were not significant. In the multivariable analysis, LD use was associated with a higher postoperative CSF leak rate (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.06–3.46; p = 0.030). Between Epochs, nasoseptal flap (NSF) utilization increased from 70.7% to 87.6% ( p <0.001). NSF was protective (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.07–0.92; p = 0.037) in the Early Epoch; no factors were significant in the Late Epoch. The surgeons’ survey identified prior surgery and intraoperative high flow leaks as primary risks; however, their LD protocols diverged from clinical data. Conclusion: Despite increased use of NSF, CSF leak persists. The study highlights a significant divergence between expert perception and clinical data regarding lumbar drains.
Toward actionable interventions in human aging (12th ARDD meeting, 2025)
Dekan, Aleksandr , Lore, Sierra , Yoon, Ye Eun, Sjöholm, Aisyah, Terskikh, Alexey V. , Cuervo, A. M., Georgievskaya, Anastasia , Heinz, Andrea , Adams, Andrew, Tsai, Andy P. , Murray, Anna, Brunet, Anne , Harten, Anne Marije van, Spier, Avi, Shenhar, Ben , Clasen, Berthil, Volbracht, Christiane , Kuppe, Christoph, Cookson, Clive, Banila, Cristiana , Cai, Daisy, Lamming, Dudley W. , Rudnic, Edward, Samra, Elias Bou , Verdin, Eric, Fagagna, Fabrizio d’Adda di, Zmudze, Garri, Jasper, Heinrich, Jang, In Hwa, Lemaitre, J. M., Betts-LaCroix, Joe , Newman, John C. , Kawamura, Kazuto , Schaal, Kennedy Matsagas, Egerton, Kitsu, Fortney, Kristen , Hartenstein, Lars, Niedernhofer, Laura, Katsimpardi, Lida , Melton, Lisa , Ferrucci, Luigi, Sylow, Lykke, Demaria, Marco , Guasch-Ferré, Marta, Borch-Jensen, Martin, Kholin, Maxim, Antonov, Michael, Deleidi, Michela , Mérad, Miriam , Meldal, Morten, Topors, Mourad, Venkatesan, Murali, LeBrasseur, Nathan K., Anzinger, Niklas, Fedichev, Peter O, Kohlhaas, Paul, Mullen, Peter J., Singhal, Priya , Cabo, Raquel, Montgomery, Rusty L. , Rosenzweig-Lipson, Sharon, Jakimov, Sergey, Austad, Steven N. , White, Todd, Zuber, Tom, Rozmaric, Tomaz , Wyss-Coray, Tony, Gladyshev, Vadim N., Sinatti, Vanessa V. C., Wang, Weilan, Harborne, William, Wang, Xing Li, Suh, Yousin , Lee, Y., Koch, Zane, Scheibye-Knudsen, Morten, Niedernhofer, Laura J. , Wyss‐Coray, Tony , Niedernhofer, Laura J , Lamming, Dudley W , Deleidi, Michela , Wyss-Coray, Tony , Bakula, Daniela , Tyshkovskiy, Alexander , Cuervo, Ana M , Seluanov, Andrei , Murray, Anna , Pedersen, Bente Klarlund , Schumacher, Björn , Kennedy, Brian Keith , Suetta, Charlotte , Kuppe, Christoph , Ewald, Collin Y. , Valenzano, Dario Riccardo , Rudnic, Edward M., Teeling, Emma C. , Verdin, Eric , Fang, Evandro Fei , Fagagna, Fabrizio d’Adda di , Galkin, Fedor , Jasper, Heinrich , Jang, In Hwa , Han, Jing‐Dong J. , Justice, Jamie N. , Hoeijmakers, Jan H.J. , Ramos, Javier María Peralta , Lemaı̂tre, Jean-Marc , Aerssens, Jeroen , Belmonte, Juan Carlos Izpisúa , Abdelmohsen, Kotb , Knudsen, Lotte Bjerre , Ferrucci, Luigi , Sylow, Lykke , Schafer, Marissa , Guasch‐Ferré, Marta , Levitt, Michael R. , Meldal, Morten , Fedichev, Peter O. , Mullen, Peter J. , Cabo, Rafael de, Houtkooper, Riekelt H. , Smith, Ryan , Rosenzweig‐Lipson, Sharon, Horvath, Steve , Rando, Thomas A. , White, Todd, Tammela, Tuomas , Gladyshev, Vadim N. , Sinatti, Vanessa V C , Liu, Xiaodong , Suh, Yousin , Koch, Zane , Zhavoronkov, Alex , Scheibye‐Knudsen, Morten

Aging | April 6, 2026 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 282-302

10.18632/aging.206368 | PMID 41944812 Get It

Abstract 3081: TEAD inhibition by IAG933 as a novel therapeutic strategy for cholangiocarcinoma
Nishi, Hidemi , Jessen, Erik , Carlson, Danielle M. , Abdelrahman, Amro , Ozmert, Enis H., Safi, J. Pedro Fincatto, Yee, Shelby K., Werneburg, Nathan W., Smoot, Rory L., Carlson, Danielle Marie , Safi, J. Pedro F., Wilbanks, Brandon , Sample, Jack W. , Smoot, Rory L.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 3081-3081

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-3081 Get It

Abstract Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive hepatobiliary malignancy with marked molecular heterogeneity, limited systemic treatment options, and poor prognosis. Chemoresistance and KRAS mutations remain major therapeutic challenges. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway, particularly YAP/TAZ hyperactivation, drives CCA progression and resistance. TEAD, the essential transcriptional partner of YAP/TAZ, represents a promising target. IAG933 is a novel oral pan-TEAD inhibitor designed to disrupt YAP/TAZ-TEAD interactions. RMC-6236, a pan-KRAS inhibitor, has also gained attention. Combined TEAD and KRAS inhibition may overcome resistance and improve efficacy in CCA. Methods: We evaluated IAG933 in human (HuCCT1, RBE) and murine (SB1, FAC) CCA cell lines. Cells were treated with IAG933 alone or in combination with GemCis or RMC-6236. Cell viability assays were used to determine IC50 values and calculate combination indexes (CI). TEAD activity was assessed by luciferase reporter and qRT-PCR of YAP/TAZ target genes (CTGF, CYR61, NUAK2). Transcriptomic alterations were analyzed by RNA sequencing. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in syngeneic orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Results: IAG933 suppressed TEAD-dependent transcription (IC50 ≈ 500 nM) and downregulated YAP/TAZ target genes. Combination with GemCis or RMC-6236 produced synergistic effects (CI &lt; 1) in all CCA lines. Transcriptomic analysis revealed activation of oxidative stress response pathways, particularly SOD2 upregulation. MitoSOX staining confirmed increased mitochondrial ROS after treatment. In vivo, IAG933 monotherapy suppressed tumor growth similarly to GemCis. Dual TEAD and KRAS inhibition achieved marked tumor regression and significantly delayed tumor regrowth after treatment cessation in KRAS-mutant PDX models. Conclusion: IAG933 effectively suppresses YAP/TAZ-TEAD signaling and inhibits CCA growth. While the combination with GemCis showed limited additional benefit due to strong single-agent efficacy, synergy with RMC-6236 produced durable antitumor effects, particularly in run-out studies, delaying regrowth in KRAS-mutant models. These findings highlight IAG933 as a promising therapeutic candidate targeting the Hippo-TEAD pathway, with potential benefit in KRAS-mutant CCA. Citation Format: Hidemi Nishi,Erik Jessen,Danielle M. Carlson,Amro M. Abdelrahman,Enis H. Ozmert,J. Pedro Fincatto Safi,Brandon A. Wilbanks,Shelby K. Yee,Jack W. Sample,Nathan W. Werneburg,Rory L. Smoot. TEAD inhibition by IAG933 as a novel therapeutic strategy for cholangiocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3081.
Abstract 2590: Urine cfDNA 4-mer end-motif signatures outperform other fragmentomic features for tissue-of-origin classification in genitourinary cancers
Linford, Jessica , Kim, Yohan, Panda, Arpit, Colon, Nathan, Mueller, Ryan , Qaium, Faridi , Reimers, Melissa A. , Smith, Zachary L. , Smelser, Woodson , Chaudhuri., Aadel A., Chauhan, Pradeep S. , Alahi, Irfan , Kim, Eric H. , Lucien, Fabrice , Chaudhuri, Aadel A.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 2590-2590

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-2590 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a promising ultra-noninvasive analyte for genitourinary cancers (GU) cancers. In this study, we investigated urine cfDNA fragmentomic features and evaluated their ability to predict the tumor tissue of origin. Methods: A total of 204 GU cancer patients and 34 healthy adults were enrolled in this prospective study. Preoperative urine was collected from 89 bladder cancer (BC) patients (64% muscle-invasive) undergoing cystectomy, 65 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients undergoing nephrectomy and 50 metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) patients. Urine cfDNA was isolated and sequenced at 5x genome-wide coverage on a NovaSeq S4 flow cell. To identify malignant tissue of origin, we analyzed somatic copy number alterations (CNAs), genome-wide fragment length ratios, and 4-mer end motifs. CNAs and tumor fraction (TFx) were quantified using ichorCNA in 1-Mb windows, while chromosome arm-level fragment count z-scores and fragment length ratios were calculated in 5-Mb bins across the genome. Relative frequencies of all 256 possible 4-mer end motifs were calculated for each sample. Individual logistic regression models were developed based on each fragmentomic feature using leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV). Outputs from these models were combined into multi-feature XGBoost models. Cohort-specific end-motif enrichments were identified using Kruskal-Wallis tests with FDR correction. Motifs were then hierarchically clustered based on their cohort-wise median frequencies to define groups of motifs with shared fragmentation patterns. Results: Across urine cfDNA in the GU cohort, BC showed the highest mean TFx at 10.0%, followed by mPC at 3.6% and RCC at 2.7%. A machine learning model based on 4-mer end motifs achieved a mean ROC AUC of 0.933 with classification accuracies of 63% for healthy, 87% for BC, 72% for mPC, and 83% for RCC. This model outperformed models based on ichorCNA (AUC = 0.767), chromosome arm fragment-count z-scores (AUC = 0.827), and fragment length ratios (AUC = 0.674). Combining end motifs with other fragmentomic features did not improve prediction accuracy. Multi-feature models incorporating end motifs with ichorCNA, chromosome arm-level z-scores, or fragment-length ratios yielded mean AUCs between 0.908-0.924, lower than the end-motif only model. Kruskal-Wallis tests identified 179 of 256 end motifs (79%) as significantly different across healthy, BC, mPC, and RCC. Hierarchical clustering of cohort-level median motifs revealed distinct end motif patterns: Motifs beginning with CT were enriched in RCC; AAAA was strongly enriched in BC; and motifs beginning with CA, AC, and AG were enriched in mPC. Conclusion: Urine cfDNA 4-mer end motifs capture GU cancer-specific biological patterns that enable accurate tissue-of-origin prediction, underscoring their promise as a diagnostic tool. Citation Format: Jessica Linford, Pradeep S. Chauhan, Irfan Alahi, Yohan Kim, Arpit Panda, Nathan Colon, Ryan Mueller, Faridi Qaium, Eric H. Kim, Melissa A. Reimers, Zachary L. Smith, Woodson W. Smelser, Fabrice Lucien-Matteoni, Aadel A. Chaudhuri. Urine cfDNA 4-mer end-motif signatures outperform other fragmentomic features for tissue-of-origin classification in genitourinary cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 2590.
Abstract 7935: Multimodal immunotherapy remodels the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: Integrative spatial and transcriptomic profiling from a Phase II trial
Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu, Hallemeier, Christopher L., Salem, Basim, Tkachuk, Arina , McCay, Kaitlynn, Wang, Panwen , Li, Ying, Atwell, Thomas D. , Krishan, Jethwa, Tran, Nguyen H., Washburn, Leslie, Wu, Melody Cai‐Syaun, Wu, Chen , Corraes, Andre De Menezes Silva , Graham, Rondell, Villasboas, Jose Caetano, Regan, Kevin M., Shao, Zuoyi, Kamal, Rayaan, Foster, Nathan R. , Dong, Haidong, Park, Sean S., Lin, Yi, Roberts, Lewis R. , Roberts, Lewis R , Fonkoua, Lionel Aurelien Kankeu , Hallemeier, Christopher Leigh , Conboy, Caitlin B.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 7935-7935

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-7935 Get It

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely refractory to immune checkpoint blockade due to immune exclusion, stromal barriers, and aberrant vasculature. We evaluated whether multimodal therapy - external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for antigen release, intratumoral dendritic cell (DC) vaccination for antigen presentation, PD-L1 blockade for immune activation, and VEGF inhibition for vascular normalization - could convert “cold” HCC tumors into sustained immune-inflamed states. Methods: Serial biopsies (baseline, post-EBRT, end-of-treatment [EOT], and progression [PD] when available) from three patients enrolled in an ongoing phase II trial (NCT03942328) underwent multiplex immunofluorescence, spatial neighborhood analysis, and transcriptomic profiling. Longitudinal changes in cellular composition, immune-stromal architecture, spatial contact networks, and pathway activity were compared. Results: Baseline tumor microenvironments (TMEs) were strongly immune-excluded, dominated by tumor (PanCK+60-70%) and stroma (SMA+/Vimentin+25-30%) with sparse immune infiltration (&lt;10-15%). Post-therapy, immune complexity and spatial connectivity increased 2-3-fold in all patients. Patient 1 showed robust cold-to-hot conversion with CD8+(3x), CD4+(2.2x), and DC (2.3x) expansion, increased CD8-DC interactions (2.5x), and reduced tumor fraction (-40%). Transcriptomics showed marked upregulation of IFN-γ (↑3.4x), HLA-DRA (↑2.7x), and reductions in VEGFR2 (↓50%) and HIF1A (↓40%), consistent with vascular normalization. Patient 2 exhibited stromal/vascular remodeling and improved T-cell infiltration but restricted immune diversity, with CD4+/CD8+ dyads (↑2.2x) and B/NK cells(↓ 60%). Neighborhood diversity rose (3→7 communities) and immune-tumor proximity improved (distance ↓ 35%). Patient 3 showed transient inflaming with CD8+(↑3x), DC(↑2x), and new CD4-CD20/CD4-CD56 interactions, followed by relapse marked by stromal/myeloid re-expansion (SMA+↑1.8x, CD14+↑2.5x), angiogenic resurgence (VEGFR2/CD34+↑2.2x), contraction of immune networks, and genomic shift from activating CTNNB1 mutation loss to ATM gain. DCs accumulated but localized mainly to DC-DC or DC-myeloid niches, indicating non-productive antigen presentation. Conclusions: Multimodal EBRT+DC+PD-L1/VEGF blockade induces four-sided synergistic TME reprogramming - antigen release, immune priming, checkpoint release, and vascular normalization - promoting cold-to-hot conversion in HCC. Durable inflaming correlates with sustained T-cell/DC expansion and vascular remodeling, whereas relapse reflects stromal/myeloid reinforcement and genomic adaptation. These findings define mechanistic trajectories of TME remodeling and highlight actionable barriers to sustained immunotherapy response in HCC. Citation Format: Lionel Aurelien Kankeu Fonkoua, Christopher L. Hallemeier, Basim Salem, Arina Tkachuk, Kaitlynn McCay, Panwen Wang, Ying Li, Thomas D. Atwell, Krishan R. Jethwa, Caitlin Conboy, Nguyen H. Tran, Leslie A. Washburn, Melody Wu, Chen Wu, Andre De Menezes Silva Corraes, Rondell P. Graham, Jose Caetano Villasboas, Kevin Regan, Zuoyi Shao, Rayaan Kamal, Nathan R. Foster, Haidong Dong, Sean Park, Yi Lin, Lewis R. Roberts. Multimodal immunotherapy remodels the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: Integrative spatial and transcriptomic profiling from a Phase II trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 7935.
Abstract 7124: Resistance to the SFK inhibitor NXP900 in cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by IL13RA2-AKT signaling and can be overcome by combination therapy
Yee, Shelby K., Carlson, Danielle M. , Ozmert, Enis H., Nishi, Hidemi , Jessen, Erik , Mun, Dong-Gi, Abeynayake, Aushinie, Abdelrahman, Amro , Werneburg, Nathan W., Li, B. , Truty, Mark J. , Ilyas, Sumera, Gores, Gregory J., Smoot, Rory L., Kuipers, Hendrien , Carlson, Danielle Marie , Sample, Jack W. , Mun, Dong‐Gi , Tomlinson, Jennifer L. , Borad, Mitesh J. , Ilyas, Sumera I. , Gores, Gregory J. , Smoot, Rory L.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 7124-7124

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-7124 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Src Family Kinases (SFKs) have a crucial role in tumor proliferation, survival, and metastasis. NXP900 is a highly selective SFK inhibitor with a novel mechanism of action that locks SFKs in a closed, inhibited conformation, providing sustained suppression of catalytic and non-catalytic functions, which is distinct from other SFK inhibitors like dasatinib. A phase I clinical trial of NXP900 in patients with advanced solid tumors is ongoing. Our preclinical studies showed therapeutic efficacy of NXP900 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) through decreased YAP, RAF-MAP and PI3K-AKT signaling. Multiomic profiling (RNA-seq, proteomics, phosphoproteomics) of CCA patient-derived xenografts implicated AKT pathway activation in primary NXP900 resistance. NXP900-resistant CCA cell lines generated via prolonged sublethal dose escalation showed a strong IL13RA2-AKT signature on multiomic analysis. Thus, we hypothesized that IL13RA2-AKT signaling was a mechanism of NXP900 resistance. We aimed to define this mechanism and demonstrate that the combinatorial targeting of IL13RA2 or AKT resensitizes to NXP900 treatment. Methods: HuCCT1 or HuCCT1-Resisant (HuCCT1-R) cells were injected bilaterally into the flanks of NOD/SCID mice and were allowed to grow for 3 months prior to tumor collection and analysis. Tumor engraftment and growth between HuCCT1 and HuCCT1-R groups were compared. To delineate the mechanisms for acquired NXP900 resistance, in-vitro treatment studies were performed using siRNAs targeting IL13RA2 as well as combination treatment with capivasertib, a pan-AKT inhibitor. Results: The HuCCT1-R cell line exhibited a higher rate of tumor engraftment and formed significantly larger tumors compared to the parental HuCCT1 cell line, indicating enhanced tumorigenic potential associated with acquired resistance. Silencing of IL13RA2 in HuCCT1-R cells resulted in pronounced reduction of cell proliferation and partially restored sensitivity to NXP900 treatment. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated a corresponding reduction in phosphorylated AKT (Thr308), consistent with suppression of downstream PI3K-AKT signaling. Furthermore, combination treatment of HuCCT1-R cells with the AKT inhibitor capivasertib, and NXP900 led to a significant increase in cell death and a greater inhibition in cell proliferation compared to either agent alone, indicating enhanced responsiveness and improved therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion: These findings confirm the central role of IL13RA2 signaling and the PI3K-AKT pathway in mediating acquired resistance to NXP900, consistent with our previous multiomics analysis. Importantly, this study identifies combination strategies that may be able to overcome NXP900 resistance, supporting the development of combinatorial approaches to restore therapeutic efficacy in resistant tumors. Citation Format: Shelby K. Yee, Hendrien Kuipers, Danielle M. Carlson, Jack W. Sample, Enis Ozmert, Hidemi Nishi, Erik Jessen, Dong-Gi Mun, Aushinie M. Abeynayake, Jennifer L. Tomlinson, Amro M. Abdelrahman, Nathan W. Werneburg, Binbin Li, Mitesh J. Borad, Mark J. Truty, Sumera I. Ilyas, Gregory J. Gores, Rory L. Smoot. Resistance to the SFK inhibitor NXP900 in cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by IL13RA2-AKT signaling and can be overcome by combination therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 7124.
Abstract 1133: Urine cell-free RNA captures tumor-reflective long intergenic noncoding and circular RNA programs in bladder cancer
Lin, Li Hung, Linford, Jessica , Hashmi, Ayesha , Viswanathan, Anushka , Colon, Nathan, Qaium, Faridi , Sheng, John, Orme, Jacob J. , Smith, Zachary L. , Smelser, Woodson , Maher, Christopher A. , Chaudhuri., Aadel A., Chauhan, Pradeep S. , Lin, Li, Alahi, Irfan , Greiner, Lilli , Harris, Peter K , Kim, Eric H. , Chaudhuri, Aadel A.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 1133-1133

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-1133 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) and circular (circ) RNAs have been shown to play key roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Urine represents a promising source of tumor-reflective signals shed directly from the urothelial microenvironment in bladder cancer (BC) patients. Here, we evaluate the urine cell-free (cf) RNA transcriptome in a cohort of 50 patients with localized BC. Methods: A total of 50 localized BC patients and 24 healthy adults were enrolled. Pre-operative urine (collected on the day of radical cystectomy) was processed to isolate cfRNA from urine supernatant. Libraries were prepared using an Illumina tagmentation-based RNA enrichment workflow and sequenced to 100M paired-end reads per sample on a NovaSeq X. FASTQ files were concatenated per sample and QC-checked with RNA-SeQC and Samtools. Reads were aligned to GRCh38/hg38 with STAR, and gene counts were generated using Feature Counts. Linear differential expression analysis (DEA) was performed with DESeq2. For discovery we used random halves of TCGA-BLCA and healthy urine cfRNA samples, alongside a second DEA with random halves of urine BC cfRNA vs. controls; overlapping upregulated genes were validated in the remaining samples. For circular (circ) RNAs, annotations from MiOncoCirc were used; junctions with ≥5 supporting reads were retained, and DEA was conducted with edgeR. Results: In this study, the median age was 68 years, and 80% (40/50) were male. Among the cohort, 66% (33/50) had muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), of whom 54% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Differential expression analysis of TCGA-BLCA tumors and BC urine cfRNA, identified 27 genes commonly upregulated, with 23 of the 27 shared genes strikingly being long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs). These BC/urine-specific lincRNAs—including LINC00930, LINC01004, DLG5-AS1, APTR, PSORS1C3, and SERPINB9P1—have known roles in proliferation, EMT, metabolism, and immune signaling. Outside of lincRNAs, tumor-reflective coding transcripts in BC/urine were enriched for autophagy, driven by MAP1LC3B2.TCGA-BLCA survival analysis showed that LINC00930 and PSORS1C3 were associated with worse overall survival. Expanding beyond linear RNA sequences, analysis of urine circRNAs from BC patients revealed a strong cancer-specific dysregulation pattern, with 77 circRNAs significantly upregulated compared with healthy controls. Upregulated urine circRNAs arose from host genes involved in BC-relevant pathways, including invasion (DOCK1, ARHGAP5), autophagy/ER stress (VMP1, ERN1), and luminal differentiation (GRHL2, ESRP1). Conclusion: Cell-free RNA profiling reveals a distinct transcriptomic signature including differential lincRNA- and circRNA-driven autophagy, EMT, proliferation, metabolic, differentiation, and immune signaling programs in the urine of bladder cancer patients. Citation Format: Pradeep Chauhan, Li Lin, Irfan Alahi, Jessica Linford, Lilli J. Greiner, Ayesha Hashmi, Anushka Viswanathan, Nathan Colon, Faridi Qaium, Peter K. Harris, John Sheng, Jacob J. Orme, Eric H. Kim, Zachary L. Smith, Woodson Smelser, Christopher A. Maher, Aadel A. Chaudhuri. Urine cell-free RNA captures tumor-reflective long intergenic noncoding and circular RNA programs in bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 1133.
Monte Carlo–based optimization of CTV‐to‐PTV margins for image‐guided VMAT prostate radiotherapy
Chen, Quan, Ammar, Ali, Yu, Nathan Y., Zhu, Libing, Vargas, Carlos E., Zhu, Libing , Yu, Nathan Y. , Rong, Yi , Vargas, Carlos E.

Medical Physics | March 31, 2026 | Volume: 53 | Issue: 4 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/mp.70415 | PMID 41912350 Get It

Abstract Background The van Herk margin formula, derived for 3‐D conformal radiotherapy with a uniform 3.2 mm dose penumbra and no intrinsic dose buffer, remains widely used to design CTV‐to‐PTV expansions in contemporary image‐guided prostate radiotherapy. However, coplanar VMAT techniques often feature broader penumbrae and explicit PTV–isodose clearances, potentially violating the assumptions underlying the original formulation and leading to overly conservative margins. Purpose We investigated whether the widely adopted van Herk margin formula overestimates clinical target volume (CTV)‐to‐planning target volume (PTV) expansions for contemporary coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) prostate treatments. Methods Fifty consecutive intact‐prostate VMAT radiotherapy plans (two coplanar arcs; clinical margins 3 mm, except for 2 mm posterior) were exported. Direction‐specific 90% isodose–to‐PTV gaps and penumbra widths were measured. Candidate anisotropic margins were tested by eroding the PTV to create CTV_eval. Monte‐Carlo simulations combined systematic (Σ) shifts with Gaussian random (σ′) blurring kernels of 0–2 mm were performed. Acceptability criteria of (i) CTV Dmin0.03 cc ≥ 90% Rx in ≥ 90% of simulated scenarios or (ii) population tumor‐control probability (TCP) loss < 1 % were used. Results VMAT plans exhibited intrinsic 90% isodose clearances of 3–5 mm laterally/anteriorly and 1–2 mm superior–inferiorly, while axial‐plane penumbras were up to fivefold broader than van Herk's assumption. With a [0, 0, 2] mm (LR/AP/SI) margin, ≥ 90% of patients maintained Dmin0.03 cc ≥ 90% Rx provided Σ lay within an ellipsoid of [2.0, 1.5, 1.8] mm and σ′ ≤ [1.5, 2.0, 1.5] mm. Under TCP criteria the safe Σ ellipsoid for high‐risk disease was [2.5, 1.9, 2.2] mm, while low‐intermediate risk was even less sensitive. Conclusions For image‐guided coplanar VMAT prostate radiotherapy, an anisotropic [0, 0, 2] mm CTV‐to‐PTV margin is sufficient for target coverage. A modified margin expression that subtracts the measured isodose–to‐PTV gap and uses reduced random‐error coefficients better reflects modern practice.