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OBJECTIVE Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) are rare tumors with heterogeneous presentations and natural histories that complicate their management. Standardized guidelines are lacking on when to surgically intervene and the appropriate aggressiveness of resection, especially given the risk of new neurological deficits following resection of infiltrative tumors. Here, the authors present the results of a modified Delphi method using input from surgeons experienced with IMSCT removal to construct a framework for the operative management of IMSCTs based on the clinical, radiographic, and tumor-specific characteristics. METHODS A modified Delphi technique was conducted using a group of 14 neurosurgeons experienced in IMSCT resection. Three rounds of written correspondence, surveys, and videoconferencing were carried out. Participants were queried about clinical and radiographic criteria used to determine operative candidacy and guide decision-making. Members then completed a final survey indicating their choice of observation or surgery, choice of resection strategy, and decision to perform duraplasty, in response to a set of patient- and tumor-specific characteristics. Consensus was defined as ≥ 80% agreement, while responses with 70%–79% agreement were defined as agreement. RESULTS Thirty-six total characteristics were assessed. There was consensus favoring surgical intervention for patients with new-onset myelopathy (86% agreement), chronic myelopathy (86%), or progression from mild to disabling numbness (86%), but disagreement for patients with mild numbness or chronic paraplegia. Age was not a determinant of operative candidacy except among frail patients, who were deemed more suitable for observation (93%). Well-circumscribed (93%) or posteriorly located tumors reaching the surface (86%) were consensus surgical lesions, and participants agreed that the presence of syringomyelia (71%) and peritumoral T2 signal change (79%) were favorable indications for surgery. There was consensus that complete loss of transcranial motor evoked potentials with a 50% decrease in the D-wave amplitude should halt further resection (93%). Preoperative symptoms seldom influenced choice of resection strategy, while a distinct cleavage plane (100%) or visible tumor-cord margins (100%) strongly favored gross-total resection. CONCLUSIONS The authors present a modified Delphi technique highlighting areas of consensus and agreement regarding surgical management of IMSCTs. Although not intended as a substitute for individual clinical decision-making, the results can help guide care of these patients. Additionally, areas of controversy meriting further investigation are highlighted.

Abstract Disclosure: R.S. Douglas: Consulting Fee; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc, Immunovant, Viridian. S. Couch: None. S.T. Wester: Advisory Board Member; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. Consulting Fee; Self; Immunovant, Sling. B. Fowler: Consulting Fee; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. C. Liu: Other; Self; Walter Kluwer Health. P. Subramanian: Consulting Fee; Self; Gensight, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Viridian. R. Tang: Consulting Fee; Self; Viridian, Alexion, Valenza. Research Investigator; Self; Viridian, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Novartis, Immunovant, Vasaragen. Speaker; Self; Serono Speaker Journal Club. Q.T. Nguyen: None. K. Hsu: Employee; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. Stock Owner; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. M. Karon: Employee; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. Stock Owner; Self; Horizon Therapeutics plc. M.N. Stan: Consulting Fee; Self; Immunovant, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Sling, Genentech, ArgenX. Background: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is characterized by expansion of peri- and retro-orbital fat and muscle, often resulting in disfiguring proptosis (eye-bulging) and diplopia (double vision) which may persist chronically. Teprotumumab, an inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, demonstrated improvements in proptosis, diplopia, inflammation and quality of life in clinical trials in patients with TED history of short duration (6-13 months), and active disease (clinical activity score [CAS] ≥4). In a published study of 31 patients with CAS≤3 and TED duration >2 years, teprotumumab reduced proptosis, diplopia and inflammation.1 We have undertaken the first randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial to evaluate teprotumumab in patients with chronic/inactive/low CAS TED. The trial has completed randomization with results available in May 2023. Here we report characteristics of the randomized patients. Methods: The trial (NCT04583735) is being conducted in 11 centers in the United States. Key inclusion criteria were age≥18 years, TED duration ≥2 years but <10 years and CAS≤1 in both eyes, ≥3mm proptosis from baseline and/normal for sex and race, or no progression in proptosis or diplopia or new inflammatory symptoms in the preceding year. Patients must have been euthyroid or mildly hypo/hyperthyroid, and not require surgical intervention through the trial. Patients could not have received teprotumumab previously, or steroids within 3 weeks before screening. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 8 infusions of teprotumumab (10 mg/kg for the first infusion and 20 mg/kg for the remaining 7 infusions) or PBO once every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint is improvement in proptosis (mm) as compared with PBO from baseline at Week 24. Other endpoints include percentage of proptosis responders (improvement of ≥2mm), diplopia responders (improvement of ≥1 grade in diplopia on the Bahn-Gorman scale, 0-3), and improvement in Graves’ Ophthalmopathy- Quality of Life (GO-QoL), all at Week 24. Adverse events (AE) and AE of special interest will be reported. Results: 62 patients were randomized. 80.6% are female, mean (SD) age was 48.7 (14.94) years. 54.8% are White, 24.2 %, Black or African American, and 12.9%, Asian. Mean (SD) TED duration was 5.2 (1.77) years. 87.1% are never/former smokers. At baseline, mean (SD) proptosis in the study eye was 24.4 (2.94) mm, and mean (SD) CAS was 0.4 (0.49). 27.4% had binocular diplopia with a mean diplopia score of 2. The mean overall GO-QoL score was 63.9 indicating similar disutility as observed in the acute trial population (previously published). Results from this 24-week trial will be presented. Conclusions: Despite a long duration of TED and low “activity”, patients enrolled in this trial have high levels of proptosis and impaired quality of life at baseline. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Abstract Disclosure: R.S. Douglas: Consulting Fee; Self; Horizon, Immunovant, Viridian. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. S. Couch: Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. S.T. Wester: Advisory Board Member; Self; Horizon. Consulting Fee; Self; Immunovant, Sling. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. B.T. Fowler: Consulting Fee; Self; Horizon. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. C. Liu: Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. Other; Self; Royalties from Wolters-Kluwer. P. Subramanian: Consulting Fee; Self; Horizon, Gensight, Viridian. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. R. Tang: Consulting Fee; Self; Viridian, Alexion, Valenza. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon, Viridian, Novartis, Immunovant, Vasaragen. Speaker; Self; Serono Journal Club. Q.T. Nguyen: Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. R.N. Maamari: Research Investigator; Self; Horizon. K. Hsu: Employee; Self; Horizon. Stock Owner; Self; Horizon. M. Karon: Employee; Self; Horizon. Stock Owner; Self; Horizon. M. Stan: Consulting Fee; Self; Septerna Inc, Third Rock Ventures LLC, Genentech, MedicXi Ventures, ArgenX US Inc, Tourmaline Bio, Lassen Therapeutics, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare, Tolmar Inc, OSE, Immunotherapeutics, Roivant Sciences. Research Investigator; Self; Horizon, Immunovant, ValenzaBio, Sling Therapeutics. Background: Early inflammatory thyroid eye disease (TED) gives way to chronic disease which may lead to long-term disfiguring proptosis (eye-bulging). Teprotumumab, an IGF-1 receptor inhibitor, significantly improved signs and symptoms of newly diagnosed TED (6-13 months) with active disease (clinical activity score [CAS] ≥4) in prior studies. We present data from the first randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial (NCT04583735) with teprotumumab in chronic/low CAS TED, where disease has not regressed. Methods: Pts met all following criteria: ≥18 yrs, TED 2-10 yrs, inactive disease or >1 yr without progression in proptosis/diplopia/new symptoms, baseline (BL) CAS≤1, increased proptosis ≥3mm before TED or from normal, euthyroid/mildly hypo/hyperthyroid, no prior teprotumumab and no steroids within 3 wks of screen. Pts received teprotumumab or PBO once every 3 wks for 21 wks. Primary endpoint was improvement in proptosis(mm) from BL at Wk 24 vs PBO. Secondarily proptosis responders (≥2mm improvement), diplopia responders (≥1 grade improvement on Gorman scale 0-3) with resolved diplopia (grade 0) and improvement in Graves’ Ophthalmopathy-QoL (GO-QoL) visual function (VF) and appearance (AP) subscales were assessed. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) and AEs of special interest are reported. Study was solely sized/powered for proptosis. Results: 62 pts were randomized 2:1 (ITT, teprotumumab:42; PBO:20), 80.6% were female, mean(SD) age was 48.7(14.94) yrs. Mean(SD) TED duration was 5.2(1.8) yrs. 87.1% were never/former smokers. At BL, mean(SD) proptosis was 24.4(2.94) mm, mean CAS was 0.4, and 29% (teprotumumab, n=14, PBO, n=4) had diplopia with a mean score ∼2. 93%(39) of teprotumumab pts completed the study. At Wk 24, proptosis improvements from BL were significantly greater in the teprotumumab group [2.41 (0.228) mm] vs PBO [0.92(0.323) mm], P<.001. Proptosis response was observed in 26/42 (62%) of teprotumumab pts vs 5/20 (25%) of PBO, P=.01. Diplopia improvement was observed in 6/14 (43%) teprotumumab pts with resolved diplopia in 4(29%) vs 2/4(50%) in PBO and 1(25%) resolved. Significantly greater improvement from BL was observed on GO-QoL-VF for teprotumumab (8.73) vs PBO (2.41), P=.03. Change from BL on AP was 10.03 vs 7.19, P= .65. TEAEs proportions were similar: 33/41(80.5%) of teprotumumab, and 16/20(80%) of PBO pts. Hyperglycemia was reported in 6(15%) vs 2(10%) and hearing impairment in 9(22%) vs 2(10%), respectively. There were two AE discontinuations: teprotumumab (left ear conductive hearing loss with congenital anomaly) and PBO (infusion related). Conclusions: For the first time in pts with longstanding TED and low CAS/inflammation, a medical therapy, teprotumumab, produced significant improvement in proptosis as compared with PBO supporting its use regardless of TED duration or activity. The safety profile was comparable to that previously reported. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

ImportanceSystematic data on the association between anticancer therapies and thromboembolic events (TEEs) in patients with COVID-19 are lacking.ObjectiveTo assess the association between anticancer therapy exposure within 3 months prior to COVID-19 and TEEs following COVID-19 diagnosis in patients with cancer.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis registry-based retrospective cohort study included patients who were hospitalized and had active cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were accrued from March 2020 to December 2021 and analyzed from December 2021 to October 2022.ExposureTreatments of interest (TOIs) (endocrine therapy, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors/tyrosine kinase inhibitors [VEGFis/TKIs], immunomodulators [IMiDs], immune checkpoint inhibitors [ICIs], chemotherapy) vs reference (no systemic therapy) in 3 months prior to COVID-19.Main Outcomes and MeasuresMain outcomes were (1) venous thromboembolism (VTE) and (2) arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Secondary outcome was severity of COVID-19 (rates of intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, 30-day all-cause mortality following TEEs in TOI vs reference group) at 30-day follow-up.ResultsOf 4988 hospitalized patients with cancer (median [IQR] age, 69 [59-78] years; 2608 [52%] male), 1869 had received 1 or more TOIs. Incidence of VTE was higher in all TOI groups: endocrine therapy, 7%; VEGFis/TKIs, 10%; IMiDs, 8%; ICIs, 12%; and chemotherapy, 10%, compared with patients not receiving systemic therapies (6%). In multivariable log-binomial regression analyses, relative risk of VTE (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.69) but not ATE (aRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.56-1.16) was significantly higher in those exposed to all TOIs pooled together vs those with no exposure. Among individual drugs, ICIs were significantly associated with VTE (aRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01-2.07). Also noted were significant associations between VTE and active and progressing cancer (aRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.03), history of VTE (aRR, 3.10; 95% CI, 2.38-4.04), and high-risk site of cancer (aRR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14-1.75). Black patients had a higher risk of TEEs (aRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.50) than White patients. Patients with TEEs had high intensive care unit admission (46%) and mechanical ventilation (31%) rates. Relative risk of death in patients with TEEs was higher in those exposed to TOIs vs not (aRR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.91-1.38) and was significantly associated with poor performance status (aRR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.30-2.40) and active/progressing cancer (aRR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.13-2.13).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, relative risk of developing VTE was high among patients receiving TOIs and varied by the type of therapy, underlying risk factors, and demographics, such as race and ethnicity. These findings highlight the need for close monitoring and perhaps personalized thromboprophylaxis to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19–related thromboembolism in patients with cancer.

Abstract Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are indispensable in anti-tumor immunity. Although CTLs are prone to exhaustion in patients with advanced cancer, T cell resiliency explains the presence of tumor-reactive CTLs that are less exhausted, capable of cytolytic function, expansion, and rebound in response to immunotherapy to reject metastatic malignancies. However, the features of resilient T cells have not been clearly defined. In this report, we demonstrate that peripheral CX3CR1+ CD8+ T cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential rebounded CTL function quickly after radiation therapy in patients with large tumor burden portraying their functional resiliency. Furthermore, CX3CR1+ CD8+ T cell with low, but not high, mitochondrial membrane potential are highly cytotoxic, accumulate less reactive oxygen species (ROS), and express more Malic enzyme 1 (ME1). ME1 overexpression increases ATP production in a glycolysis-independent manner while concurrently curtailing excessive ROS in activated CD8+ T cells; and expands CX3CR1+NKG7+ effector CD8+ T cells with enhanced cytotoxicity. Importantly, transfection of ME1 mRNA promotes tumoricidal activity in CD8+ T cells from patients with advanced cancers. Our study reveals a mechanism used by CTLs to balance excessive ROS via ME1 to maintain a metabolic and functional resiliency. Modification of ME1 expression in CTLs may be a novel method to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy by preventing T cell exhaustion. Supported by grants from Mayo Clinic Foundation and NIH (R01CA 256927-2)

Abstract Although immune checkpoint blockade that targets the PD-L1 has revolutionized the treatment of human cancers, only a small proportion of patients positively respond to this form of treatment. A limitation of these therapies is that they only target and inhibit PD-L1’s extracellular function, which is to bind its receptor on PD-1 on T cells and inhibit T cell cytotoxicity. Recent discoveries have shown that PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells can signal intrinsically and independently of PD-1 ligation to promote tumor cell survival. Besides tumor cells, host myeloid cells have been shown to have high expression of PD-L1, therefore contributing to the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor. However, PD-L1 intrinsic signaling in human myeloid cells has not been studied. Therefore, the purpose of our work is to determine the intrinsic functions of PD-L1 in myeloid cells and how this impacts anti-tumor immunity. To study this, we used a novel PD-L1 antibody (H1A) that does not block PD-L1’s binding with PD-1, but directs PD-L1 for degradation, thereby decreasing total PD-L1 expression. Additionally, we developed a chimeric mouse model in which the murine PD-1/PD-L1 has been replaced with the human version. This allows us to evaluate PD-L1’s intrinsic function in vivo. In our preliminary studies, the degradation of PD-L1 in human monocytes led to increased chemokine release as well as increased conversion of effector T cells. Additionally, H1A treatment of tumor-bearing mice led to lower tumor burden in a CD8 T cell dependent manner. Based on these results, PD-L1 intrinsic signaling has the potential to regulate the immune-stimulatory response of monocytes, thereby limiting effector T cell responses against cancer. Supported by grants from NIH (R0192389) and Mayo Clinic graduate school of biomedical sciences

Abstract Though anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy has demonstrated robust anti-tumor immunity in human patients with advanced cancers such as melanoma, only a fraction of patients achieved such durable anti-tumor responses. Among all the non-responders, some patients responded initially but developed resistance to the therapy in the later treatments. This reflects an urgent need to understand the role of PD-1 signals in CD8+ T cells at priming and at effector stages during tumor development for the benefit of immunotherapy. The controversy of rapid tumor progression in PD-1 conditional knockout in regulatory T cells and tumor regression in PD-1 targeted deletion in regulatory T cells indicated germline PD-1 knockout mice might not be sophisticated enough to study the role of PD-1 in CD8+ T cells during tumor development. Thus, we produced a CD8 T cell-specific PD-1 knockout mouse model (CD8 E8ICre-PD-1fl/fl, also called CD8-PD-1 cKO mice) in which PD-1 is deleted in CD8+ T cells in the peripheral tissues. When CD8-PD-1 cKO mice were challenged with B16-OVA mouse melanoma cells, we found a delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of CD8-PD-1 cKO compared to control mice. However, after 20 days of tumor challenge, the delayed tumor growth rebound in CD8-PD-1 cKO mice. In an OVA antigen immunization model, we found increased effector cells and tissue resident cells in the spleen of CD8-PD-1 cKO mice compared with control mice on day 7 after immunization. Taken together, our results suggest that PD-1 may restrain the expansion of effector T cells that contribute to the early phase of tumor control, but the augmented effector T cell response may cause an attrition of memory T cell pool that will be needed for long term protection. R01CA256927

Background: HER2 amplification (HER2+) occurs in approximately 3% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Despite the recent addition of HER2-directed therapies to treatment recommendations in the NCCN Guidelines, until more recently there were no FDA-approved treatments. This study examined real-world treatment patterns in patients with HER2+ mCRC in the United States before and after the emerging awareness of HER2-directed therapies in 2018. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with HER2+ mCRC from the GuardantINFORM database, which contains claims data for patients with Guardant360 genomic testing results. Patients were aged ≥18 years, were diagnosed with mCRC between January 2014 and September 2020, and had confirmed ERBB2 amplification via the blood-based Guardant360 test. Treatment patterns and real-world time to next treatment (rwTTNT) were evaluated. Results: This study included 142 patients with a median age of 59 years; 31 (21.8%) patients with ERBB2 amplifications also had ERBB2 mutations. Treatment patterns were heterogeneous and evolved over time; before 2018, the most common regimen prescribed after detection of ERBB2 amplification was anti-VEGF therapy with or without chemotherapy (31.6%; n=25), and after 2018, HER2-directed therapies were the most commonly prescribed (36.5%; n=23). Median rwTTNT among the overall cohort was 8.4 months (95% CI, 6.5–10.0); rwTTNT was numerically longer in patients who received HER2-directed therapy compared with those who received non–HER2-directed therapies (11.0 months [95% CI, 6.3–12.3] vs 7.2 months [95% CI, 5.8–9.6]). Conclusions: This real-world study of the largest clinically annotated dataset of patients with HER2+ mCRC showed that many patients do not receive HER2-directed therapy despite its inclusion in NCCN Guidelines, with heterogeneous treatment patterns suggesting that standard of care remains undefined and targeted therapy remains underutilized. Greater awareness of the unmet need in this patient population, together with new effective therapies, will facilitate strategies for improved, targeted treatment approaches.