Citations

Abstract Background Abuse of fentanyl and its analogs is a major contributor to the opioid overdose epidemic in the United States, but detecting and quantifying trace amounts of such drugs remains a challenge without resorting to sophisticated mass spectrometry-based methods. Methods A sensitive immunoassay with a sub-picogram limit of detection for fentanyl and a wide range of fentanyl analogs has been developed, using a novel high-affinity antibody fused with NanoLuc, a small-size luciferase that can emit strong and stable luminescence. When used with human urine samples, the assay has a sub-picogram limit of detection for fentanyl, with results fully concordant with LC-MS. Results When applied to clinical samples, the novel chemiluminescence immunoassay can detect low positive fentanyl missed by routine screening immunoassays, with a limit of detection of 0.8 pg/mL in human urine. When applied to environmental samples, the assay can detect levels as low as 0.25 pg fentanyl per inch2 of environment surface. Assay turnaround time is less than 1 h, with inexpensive equipment and the potential for high-throughput automation or in-field screening. Conclusions We have established a novel assay that may have broad applications in clinical, environmental, occupational, and forensic scenarios for detection of trace amounts of fentanyl and its analogs.

4073 Background: Durvalumab and tremelimumab, investigational monoclonal antibodies against PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoints, respectively, have shown efficacy in monotherapy and offer promise in combination for patients (pts) with HCC. This is a phase I/II, open-label, randomized study of durvalumab combined with tremelimumab in unresectable HCC. Methods: Phase I part of this study is a safety run-in cohort treated at the recommended phase II doses of the durvalumab/tremelimumab combination (20 and 1 mg/kg IV Q4W respectively for 4 doses followed by 20 mg/kg Q4W durvalumab alone) in pts with unresectable HCC with or without concomitant HBV or HCV infection who progress on, are intolerant to, or have refused sorafenib therapy. Secondary objectives include evaluation of antitumor activity. Here we present results of a preplanned analysis from the completed phase I part of the study. Results: As of 10 January 2017, 40 pts have been enrolled (11 HBV+, 9 HCV+, 20 uninfected). 30% had no prior systemic therapy; 93% were Child Pugh Class A. 24 (60%) had ≥1 treatment-related AE; 20% had ≥1 grade ≥3 related AE. Most common (≥15%) treatment-related AEs: fatigue (20%), increased ALT (18%), pruritus (18%), and increased AST (15%). Most common grade ≥3 related AE was asymptomatic increased AST (10%). 24 pts have discontinued treatment: 3 due to treatment-related AEs (grade 3 pneumonitis, grade 3 colitis/diarrhea, asymptomatic grade 4 elevated AST and ALT), 16 due to progressive disease, 4 due to death unrelated to treatment (cardiac arrest, variceal bleed, progressive disease, probable HCC rupture), and 1 other (pt entered hospice care). 40 pts were evaluable for response at ≥16 weeks follow-up. Conclusions: No unexpected safety signals with durvalumab and tremelimumab were seen in this unresectable HCC population. Clinical activity observed predominantly in uninfected pts though interpretation limited by small subsets. Enrollment to the phase II portion of the study is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02519348. [Table: see text]

Abstract Background: PD-L1 blockade with durvalumab (D) is approved as second-line therapy in platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC). Adding CTLA-4 blockade with tremelimumab (T) may improve responses, particularly in pts with low PD-L1 expression. Here we report safety and efficacy in the mUC cohort of the dose-expansion phase of a phase I, multicenter, open-label study of D+T in pts with advanced solid tumors (NCT02261220). Methods: Pts with platinum-refractory mUC received D 20 mg/kg + T 1 mg/kg Q4W for 4 months, followed by D 10 mg/kg Q2W for a total of 12 months of treatment. The primary objectives were safety in the mUC cohort and antitumor activity in the subgroup with tumor cell and immune cell PD-L1 expression <25% (assessed by SP263 IHC assay). Secondary objectives included antitumor activity per RECIST v1.1 in other subgroups. Results: As of Oct 20 2017, 168 pts received treatment and had ≥24 weeks' follow-up. Median age was 65.5 yr (range, 35-85), 78.0% were male, 81.0% had visceral metastases (32.1% liver metastases) and 32.1% had received >1 prior line of chemotherapy. Median duration of follow-up was 11.6 mo. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 75.6% of pts and were Grade 3-4 in 28.6%. One pt died due to a treatment-related AE (pulmonary hemorrhage). Treatment-related AEs led to discontinuation of therapy in 11.9% of pts. Confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 35/168 (20.8%) including 4 CRs. Responses occurred early (median 1.8 mo) and are durable (median DOR not reached, range 1.9-24.9 mo). At 6 months, the PFS rate was 25.4% and the OS rate was 60.9%. Median PFS was 1.9 mo and median OS was 9.5 mo. Clinical activity was seen regardless of PD-L1 status, but patients with either tumor or immune cell expression ≥25% had numerically higher response rates (29.4% vs 15.1%) and 6-month OS rates than those with <25% expression (Table). Conclusions: D+T had a manageable safety profile and encouraging antitumor activity and survival rate in previously treated mUC regardless of PD-L1 status. Response and survivalPD-L1 ≥25% (n=68)PD-L1 <25% (n=86)PD-L1 unknown (n=14)Total (N=168)Confirmed ORR (CR+PR)(95% CI), %29.4 (19.0-41.7)15.1 (8.3-24.5)14.3 (1.8-42.8)20.8 (15.0-27.8)Ongoing ORR, %60.092.310074.3Disease control rate (CR+PR+SD≥24 weeks) (95% CI), %32.4 (21.5-44.8)24.4 (15.8-34.9)42.9 (17.7-71.1)29.2 (22.4-36.7)Median PFS, months (95% CI)3.5 (1.9-3.7)1.8 (1.8-1.9)4.9 (1.8-NE)1.9 (1.8-3.4)PFS 6-month rate, %26.122.638.525.4Median OS, months (95% CI)*18.9 (8.1-NE)8.0 (4.8-10.0)16.4 (7.3-16.4)9.5 (8.1-18.9)OS 6-month rate, %66.451.991.760.9NE, not estimable *Should be interpreted with caution due to limited follow-up at data cutoff Citation Format: Arjun V. Balar, Amit Mahipal, Enrique Grande, Victor M. Villalobos, Sebastien Salas, Taek Won Kang, Se Hyun Kim, Thomas Powles, Frank Tsai, Aung Naing, Albiruni Razak, Yohann Loriot, Ji Youl Lee, Sang Joon Shin, Rafael Morales-Barrera, Natasha Angra, Feng Xiao, Shaad Abdullah, Michiel S. Van der Heijden. Durvalumab + tremelimumab in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT112.

Abstract Background: This is an update of the safety and efficacy of durvalumab monotherapy in pts with locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) from an ongoing, phase 1/2 open-label study (NCT01693562). Methods: Pts received 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks up to 12 months or until unacceptable toxicity, progression, or starting another anticancer therapy. Pts were stratified by tumor PD-L1 expression (Ventana PD-L1 [SP263] Assay [PD-L1 cutoff: ≥25% of tumor cells and/or immune cells with membrane staining]) and treatment line. Results: As of the data cutoff (16Oct2017), 201 UC pts with Stage IV disease received treatment, with a median follow-up of 16.9 months (range, 0.4-37.7). Across treatment lines, objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review was 17.4% (95% CI, 12.4, 23.4) in all pts; 27.5% in the PD-L1 ≥25% group vs 5.8% in the PD-L1 <25% group. The responses have been durable regardless of PD-L1 status, with the median duration of response not yet reached in the PD-L1 ≥25% group and 12.2 months in the PD-L1 <25% group. Responses lasted ≥12 mo in 62.9% of responders (max 25.7+ mo). Overall, median OS was 10.5 months (95% CI, 6.9, 15.7); 19.8 months in the PD-L1 ≥25% group vs 4.8 months in the PD-L1 <25% group (Table). Pts previously treated with platinum based chemotherapy also reported similar durable responses. At least one treatment-related AE was reported in 120 pts (59.7%), including fatigue (39 [19.4%]), decreased appetite and rash (18 [9.0%] each), and diarrhea (16 [8.0%]). Grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 19 (9.5%) pts; 6 (3.0%) treatment discontinuations and 2 (1.0%) deaths were attributed to treatment-related AEs. Conclusions: With extended follow-up, durvalumab continues to show durable clinical activity in UC pts, especially in the PD-L1 ≥25% group with an acceptable toxicity profile. PD-L1 ≥25%PD-L1 <25%PD-L1 unknownTotalAll UCn=102n=86n=13N=201Confirmed ORR, %27.55.815.417.4(95% CI)(19.1, 37.2)(1.9, 13.0)(1.9, 45.4)(12.4, 23.4)CR, %7.83.57.76.0PR, %19.62.37.711.4Median DoR, monthsNR12.2NRNR(min, max)(2.7, 25.7+)(8.6, 21.7+)(14.5+, 14.6+)(2.7, 25.7+)Median PFS, months (95% CI)1.9 (1.4, 2.7)1.4 (1.3, 1.5)2.8 (1.4, NE)1.5 (1.4, 1.8)6-month PFS rate, %28.68.625.220.412-month PFS rate, %22.37.125.216.2Median OS, months (95% CI)19.8 (9.3, NE)19.8 (9.3, NE)4.8 (3.3, 8.1)NR (4.9, NE)10.5 (6.9, 15.7)6-month OS rate, %67.645.869.258.912-month OS rate, %57.629.561.546.6 Citation Format: Peter O'Donnell, Christophe Massard, Bhumsuk Keam, Sang-We Kim, Terry Friedlander, Myung-Ju Ahn, Michael Ong, Michael Gordon, Marcus Butler, Scott Antonia, Gerardo Colon-Otero, Martin Gutierrez, Sumati Gupta, Alexander Spira, Alexandra Drakaki, Michele Maio, Feng Xiao, Natasha Angra, Shaad Abdullah, Thomas Powles. Updated efficacy and safety profile of durvalumab monotherapy in urothelial carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT031.

AbstractAlthough hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a direct role for homocysteine (Hcy) in this disease remains to be shown. Whereas diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia promotes atherosclerosis in animal models, the effects of Hcy on atherogenesis in the absence of dietary perturbations is not known. We have generated double knock-out mice with targeted deletions of the genes for apolipoprotein E (apoE) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), which converts Hcy to cystathionine. ApoE−/−/CBS−/− mice developed aortic lesions even in the absence of dietary manipulation; lesion area and lesion cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglyceride (TG) contents increased with animal age and plasma Hcy levels. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly increased, whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and TG concentrations of apoE−/−/CBS−/− mice were decreased. Cholesterol esterification and activities of enzymes catalyzing CE or TG formation in the vessel wall and in peritoneal macrophages were not changed by hyperhomocysteinemia. However, uptake of human acetyl-LDL, but not native low density lipoprotein (LDL), by mouse peritoneal macrophages was higher in the presence of hyperhomocysteinemia. These results suggest that isolated hyperhomocysteinemia is atherogenic and alters hepatic and macrophage lipoprotein metabolism, in part, by enhancing uptake of modified LDL.