Citations

Molecular mechanisms for the regulation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) gene expression remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of glucose and forskolin on IAPP gene regulation in the INS-1 islet β-cell line. Both glucose and forskolin increased the level of expression of this gene, as measured by Northern blot analysis, and increased IAPP gene transcription in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, as demonstrated in a reporter gene assay. Although inhibition of protein kinase A activity with H-89 eliminated the effect of forskolin on this gene, the glucose effect was unaffected. This supported the predominant use of a protein kinase A-independent signaling pathway for glucose regulation of the IAPP gene. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay further indicated that glucose and forskolin regulated expression of this gene by targeting different elements of the promoter. Mutation of the cAMP regulatory element flanking the IAPP coding region resulted in the loss of most of the forskolin-stimulated IAPP gene promoter activity, whereas glucose-enhanced IAPP gene transcription was unaffected. These results demonstrate parallel and distinct regulatory pathways involved in glucose- and forskolin-induced IAPP gene expression in this model β-cell system.

AbstractThe prevalence of liver dysfunction and its association with outcomes in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is unknown. Newly diagnosed (<12 months) previously untreated CLL patients seen at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN between 9/1993 and 4/2016 who had baseline assessment of at least one liver function test (LFT) were included in this analysis. The prevalence of liver dysfunction at baseline, proportion of patients who acquired LFT abnormalities, time to first therapy (TTFT) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. An abnormal LFT was present in 82/2336 (3.5%) patients at diagnosis and was associated with advanced Rai stage (Rai III–IV) (21% vs. 6%; P < .001), lower hemoglobin (13.1 g/dL vs. 13.9 g/dL; P < .001), and lower platelet count (187 × 109/L vs. 200 × 109/L; P = .03). Additionally, 236 patients with normal LFTs at diagnosis developed acquired liver dysfunction during follow‐up. Patients with abnormal LFTs at diagnosis had a shorter OS compared to those with normal LFTs (HR 1.80 95% CI 1.13‐2.87; P = .014, adjusted for age, sex, Rai stage, and treatment), although TTFT was not different. Of 52 patients who underwent a liver biopsy, CLL was present in liver tissue in 39/52 (73%) patients, with the portal tracts the most common region involved. Histopathology findings of liver involvement by CLL had limited correlation with choice of CLL therapy. In conclusion, approximately 1 of 25 newly diagnosed CLL patients has abnormal LFTs at diagnosis. Although the TTFT was not different among patients with abnormal LFTs, these patients have a shorter OS compared to those with normal LFTs.

Key Points Pembrolizumab was first shown to be clinically active in CLL patients with RT. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment are promising biomarkers to select RT patients for PD-1 blockade.

Akt is a downstream target of B cell receptor signaling and is a central regulator of CLL cell survival. We aim to investigate the safety and efficacy of the Akt inhibitor MK‐2206 in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) in relapsed and/or refractory CLL in a phase I/II study. A standard phase I design was used with cohorts of three plus three patients to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MK‐2206 in combination with BR in relapsed CLL. Single‐agent MK‐2206 (weekly dosed) was administered one‐week in advance before BR on cycle 1 and subsequently was given with BR at the same time for cycle 2‐6. Phase II employed the MTD of MK‐2206 with BR to evaluate safety and efficacy of this study combination. Thirteen relapsed/refractory CLL were treated for maximal 6‐cycle of therapy. The maximum tolerated dose of MK‐2206 was 90 mg by mouth once weekly. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (46%), febrile neutropenia (23%), rash (15%), diarrhea (15%), and thrombocytopenia (15%). Overall response rate was 92% with a median progression free survival and treatment free survival of 16 and 24 months, respectively. Five patients (38%) achieved complete remission or complete remission with incomplete count recovery, two of whom were MRD negative. The efficacy and tolerability of this combination indicates that Akt inhibition combined with chemoimmunotherapy is a promising novel treatment combination in CLL and deserves further prospective clinical trial.

SummaryCD49d is a surface integrin that is expressed on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells, and strongly correlates with more aggressive disease. Given its association with cell‐cell adhesion and leucocyte trafficking, we hypothesized that patients with high CD49d expression would experience a clinical course dominated by lymphadenopathy. CD49d expression was measured by flow cytometry and considered positive if expressed by ≥30% of CLL cells. The study included 797 newly diagnosed CLL/small lymphocytic leukaemia patients; 279 (35%) were CD49d positive. CD49d‐positive patients were more likely to present with lymphadenopathy (P < 0·001); a finding that persisted after adjusting for fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and IGHV mutation status [odds ratio (OR) 2·51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·64–3·83; P < 0·001]. Among CLL Rai 0 patients, CD49d positivity was associated with shorter time to development of lymphadenopathy (3·2 years vs not reached, P < 0·01). This association was maintained after adjusting for either FISH [hazard ratio (HR) 2·18; 95% CI 1·25–3·81; P = 0·006) or IGHV status (HR 2·02; 95% CI 1·11–3·69; P = 0·02) individually, but was attenuated when adjusting by both (HR 1·72; 95% CI 0·88–3·38; P = 0·11).These data demonstrate that CD49d‐positive CLL patients experience a disease course dominated by lymphadenopathy. These findings could have implications for therapy selection and disease monitoring.

Abstract Introduction. First-line chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) has significantly increased the complete remission (CR) rate for patients with CLL; however, relapse is a common event and strategies aimed at eradicating disease more effectively are needed. Vascular Epithelial Growth Factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in the cross talk between CLL B cells and their microenvironment. In addition low baseline VEGF levels predict a better response to CIT. Testing the combination of an anti-VEGF agent with CIT was therefore assessed by us in upfront CLL patients. Methods. Here we report the results of a phase II open-label randomized trial comparing the combination of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, with pentostatin, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (PCR-B) to PCR alone as front-line therapy in previously untreated patients with CLL. VEGF, b-fibroblast growth factor (FGF), thrombospondin (TSP)-1, chemokine ligand (CCL)-3 and CCL-4 plasma levels were measured at baseline and at time of response assessment. Results. Between 01/2009 and 01/2013, 62 patients were accrued in the study, 32 in the arm A (PCR-B) and 30 in arm B (PCR alone). A higher rate of grade 3-4 cardiovascular toxicity was observed with the use of PCR-B (34% vs 0%, p&lt;0.001): this included 7 cases of hypertension, 2 cases of congestive heart failure, 1 myocarditis, and 1 case of torsade de point. A higher CR rate (50% vs 33%, p = 0.21) and a significantly longer median progression-free (p = 0.04) and treatment-free (p = 0.05) survival were achieved with the use of PCR-B. No difference in chemokine kinetics was observed between the 2 arms, except for VEGF, which significantly increased after PCR-B. In the PCR-B arm, chemokine kinetics for CCL-3 (median drop 5.0 vs. median drop 31.8, respectively; p = 0.02) and CCL-4 (median drop 23.8 vs. median drop 120.9, respectively; p = 0.01) were significantly associated with achievement of CR. No significant correlations were found between cytokine plasma levels and responses for patients treated in the PCR only arm. Conclusions. The addition of bevacizumab to CIT is safe and effective, although associated with higher cardiovascular toxicity, in particular hypertension. The addition of bevacizumab produces higher CR rates, translating into improved progression-free survival, and is associated with decreased plasma levels of CCL-3 and CCL-4. Citation Format: PAOLO STRATI, TAIT D. SHANAFELT, BETSY LAPLANT, ADAM PETTINGER, CONNIE LESNICK, DANIEL NIKCEVICH, TIMOTHY CALL, WEI DING, CURTIS HANSON, NEIL KAY. The addition of bevacizumab to chemoimmunotherapy prolongs progression-free survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) through modulation of the microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1423.

Monocyte‐derived cells, constituents of the cancer microenvironment, support chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell survival in vitro via direct cell‐cell interaction and secreted factors. We hypothesized that circulating absolute monocyte count (AMC) reflects the monocyte‐derived cells in the microenvironment, and that higher AMC is associated with increased CLL cell survival in vivo and thus inferior CLL patient outcomes. We assessed the extent to which AMC at diagnosis of CLL is correlated with clinical outcomes, and whether this information adds to currently used prognostic markers. We evaluated AMC, clinically used prognostic markers, and time to event data from 1,168 CLL patients followed at the Mayo Clinic, the Duke University Medical Center, and the Durham VA Medical Center. Elevated AMC was significantly associated with inferior clinical outcomes, including time to first therapy (TTT) and overall survival (OS). AMC combined with established clinical and molecular prognostic markers significantly improved risk‐stratification of CLL patients for TTT. As an elevated AMC at diagnosis is associated with accelerated disease progression, and monocyte‐derived cells in the CLL microenvironment promote CLL cell survival and proliferation, these findings suggest that monocytes and monocyte‐derived cells are rational therapeutic targets in CLL. Am. J. Hematol. 91:687–691, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abstract Background: PI3K/Akt activation is downstream of the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling cascade and is critical to mediate the interactions between CLL B-cell and bone marrow stroma which support leukemic survival. MK-2206 is a potent oral allosteric Akt inhibitor and we have demonstrated in vitro synergism with bendamustine (B) to induce CLL apoptosis. MK-2206 selectively abolishes BCR-stimulated cytokines CCL3, CCL4, CCL2, and IL-2Ra and significantly inhibits the BCR signaling pathway (Ding, BJH, 2013). We sought to assess the safety, maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and efficacy of MK-2206 in combination with B-rituximab (BR) in relapsed and refractory CLL/SLL patients in a phase I/II trial (NCCTG N1087 Alliance). Methods: Previously treated symptomatic CLL/SLL patients with up to 3 prior lines of therapy and ECOG performance status of 0-2 were eligible. Patients with 17p deletion or prior treatment with B were excluded. A standard phase I design was used to determine the MTD of MK-2206 in combination with BR (B 70mg/m2 for 2 days per cycle; R cycle 1: 375 mg/m2, cycle 2-6: 500 mg/m2). Phase II employed the MTD to evaluate safety and efficacy of the combination. Response was evaluated 2 months after the last cycle of therapy per IWCLL 2008 criteria. Results: 13 patients with a median age of 68 years (range 44-75) and 1.2 prior lines of therapy were treated. CLL FISH showed: del(11q) in 4 (31%), trisomy 12 in 2 (15%), del(13q) in 3 (23%), del(6q) (8%), del(17cen) (8%) and normal results in 2 (15%). IGHV was unmutated in 10 (91%) and mutated in 1 patient (9%) and was missing in 2 cases. ZAP-70 was positive in 8 (73%) and negative in 3 patients (27%). CD38 was positive in 8 (62%) and negative in 5 patients (38%). 70% of patients had received prior chemoimmunotherapy. At 90 mg of MK-2206, 1/6 patients experienced a DLT of grade 3 febrile neutropenia and hemolysis. 2/6 patients on the 135 mg dose experienced a DLT. One patient had grade 3 febrile neutropenia and one patient had a grade 3 acneiform rash. MTD was determined to be MK-2206 90 mg. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (46%) including febrile neutropenia (23%), diarrhea (15%) and thrombocytopenia (15%). The most common all-grade toxicities were neutropenia (69%), thrombocytopenia (62%), anemia (54%), nausea (54%), diarrhea (39%), rash (38%), and hyperglycemia (31%). 10 patients were treated at 90 mg and 3 patients were treated at the 135 mg dose. The ORR was 92% (n=12). Responses were: 3 CR (23%), 2 CR with incomplete marrow recovery (CRi) (15%), 1 clinical CR (CCR) (8%) without marrow confirmation, 1 nodular partial remission (nPR) (8%), 5 PR (38%), and 1 progressive disease (8%). Median follow-up was 20 months (6-31 months). Median PFS in the CR/CRi group was not reached (NR) with 100% of patients progression free versus 12 months (95% CI 2 months-NR) if CR/CRi was not achieved (p=0.027). Median overall survival was NR in either the CR/CRi or non-CR/CRi groups but 2 deaths occurred in the latter group (p=0.44). One patient developed Richter transformation and died at 15 months and a second patient who had achieved PR died from autoimmune hemolytic anemia and fungal infection at 27 months. Two out of five patients who achieved CR or CRi had bone marrow MRD negative status at the final response evaluation. Conclusions: The Akt inhibitor MK-2206 administered at 90 mg once weekly in combination with BR is tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL and compares favorably to BR alone (59% ORR and 9% CR, Fischer, JCO, 2011). An ORR of 92% was observed with a 38% of patients achieving CR or CRi. The trial was terminated prematurely due to withdrawal of sponsor support, however further testing of Akt inhibition is needed given the promising results. Citation Format: Jeremy T. Larsen, Tait D. Shanafelt, Jose F. Leis, Betsy R. LaPlant, Timothy G. Call, Clive S. Zent, Curtis A. Hanson, Charles Erlichman, Thomas M. Habermann, Craig B. Reeder, Deborah A. Bowen, Michael Conte, Justin C. Boysen, Charla R. Secreto, Connie E. Lesnick, Renee C. Tschumper, Diane F. Jelinek, Neil E. Kay, Wei Ding. The Akt inhibitor MK-2206 in combination with rituximab and bendamustine demonstrates efficacy in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Updated results from the NCCTG N1087 Alliance study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Targeting the PI3K-mTOR Network in Cancer; Sep 14-17, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(7 Suppl):Abstract nr B02.