Citations

Background: Heterozygote carriers of potentially pathogenic variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator ( CFTR ) gene have increased asthma risk. However, the frequency and impact of CFTR variation among individuals with asthma is unknown. Objective: To determine whether potentially pathogenic CFTR variants associate with disease severity and whether individuals with two potentially pathogenic variants exist in a severe asthma-enriched cohort . Methods : We analyzed sequencing data spanning a 190.5Kb region of CFTR in participants from the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP1-3). Potentially pathogenic, rare CFTR variants (frequency<0.05) were classified as CF-causing or of varying clinical consequences (VVCC) (CFTR2.org). Regression-based models tested for association between CFTR genotypes (0-2 potentially pathogenic variants) and severity outcomes. Results: Of 1401 participants, 9.5% (134) had one potentially pathogenic variant, occurring more frequently in non-Hispanic white (NHW, 10.1% [84 of 831]) compared to African American individuals (AA, 5.2% [22 of 426]). We found ≥2 potentially pathogenic CFTR variants in 1.4% (19); 0.5% (4) of NHW and 2.8% (12) of AA. Potentially pathogenic CFTR variant genotypes (≥1 or ≥2 variants) were not cumulatively associated with lung function or exacerbations. In NHW, we found three F508del compound heterozygotes with F508del and a VVCC (two 5T;TG12[c.1210-11T>G] and one Arg1070Trp) and a homozygote for the VVCC, 5T;TG12. Conclusions: We found potentially pathogenic CFTR variants within a severe asthma-enriched cohort , including three compound heterozygote genotypes variably associated with CF in NHW individuals. These findings provide the rationale for CFTR sequencing and phenotyping of CF-related traits in individuals with severe asthma.

The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with MDS based on a review of clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts meets on an annual basis to update the recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on some of the updates for the 2022 version of the NCCN Guidelines, which include treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, emerging therapies, supportive care recommendations, and genetic familial high-risk assessment for hereditary myeloid malignancy predisposition syndromes.

Ibrutinib-based therapies are costly and require continuous administration. We hypothesized combining BTK inhibition with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies would yield deep remissions allowing discontinuation. We enrolled 32 therapy-naïve CLL patients to receive ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab, followed by single-agent ibrutinib. Patients could discontinue ibrutinib after 36 months with sustained complete response (CR). We evaluated treatment safety, efficacy, and outcomes after ibrutinib discontinuation. The overall response rate was 100%, 28% achieved a CR, and 12.5% achieved bone marrow undetectable minimal residual disease. At a three-year median follow-up, 91% remain in remission with 100% overall survival. Five patients in sustained CR stopped ibrutinib and have not progressed. Eight non-CR patients discontinued for other reasons, with only two progressing. The treatment was safe, with a lower IRR rate. All patients responded to treatment with longer time-to-progression after discontinuation of ibrutinib. Our data support the evaluation of ibrutinib discontinuation strategies in more extensive clinical trials (https://Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02315768).

Abstract Patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) typically have short survival times and their successful treatment represents one of most challenging aspects of patient care. This poor prognostic behavior is in part due to molecular features including increased tumor cell clonal heterogeneity, multiple drug resistance mechanisms, and alterations of the tumor microenvironment. The AURORA US Metastasis Project was established with the goal to identify molecular features specifically associated with metastasis. We therefore collected and molecularly characterized specimens from 55 metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients representing 51 primary cancers and 102 metastases. The 153 unique tumors were assayed using RNAseq, tumor/germline DNA exomes and low pass whole genome sequencing, and global DNA methylation microarrays. We found intrinsic molecular subtype differences between primary tumors and their matched metastases to be rare in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)/Basal-like subtype tumors. Conversely, tumor subtype changes were relatively frequent in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) cancers where ~30% of Luminal A cases switched to Luminal B or HER2-enriched (HER2E) subtypes. Clonal evolution studies identified changes in expression subtype coincident with DNA clonality shifts, especially involving HER2 amplification and/or the HER2E expression subtype. We further found evidence for ER-mediated downregulation of genes involved in cell-cell adhesion in metastases. Microenvironment differences varied according to tumor subtype where ER+/Luminal metastases had lower fibroblast and endothelial cell content, while TNBC/Basal-like metastases showed a dramatic decrease in B cells and T cells. In 17% of metastatic tumors, we identified DNA hypermethylation and/or focal DNA deletions near HLA-A that were associated with its’ significantly reduced expression, and with lower immune cell infiltrates. We also identified low immune cell features in brain and liver metastases when compared to other metastatic sites, even within the same patient. These findings have direct implications for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients with immune- and HER2-targeting therapies and suggest potential novel therapeutic avenues for the improvement of outcomes for some patients with MBC.

Abstract Context After a thorough evaluation most thyroid nodules are deemed of no clinical consequence and can be observed. However, when they are compressive, toxic, or involved by papillary thyroid carcinoma surgery or radioactive iodine (RAI) (if toxic) are the treatments of choice. Both interventions can lead to hypothyroidism and other adverse outcomes (eg, scar, dysphonia, logistical limitation with RAI). Active surveillance might be used for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) initially, but anxiety leads many cases to surgery later. Several ablative therapies have thus evolved over the last few years aimed at treating these nodules while avoiding described risks. Cases We present 4 cases of thyroid lesions causing concern (compressive symptoms, thyrotoxicosis, anxiety with active surveillance of PTMC). The common denominator is patients’ attempt to preserve thyroid function, bringing into focus percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and thermal ablation techniques (radiofrequency ablation [RFA] being the most common). We discuss the evidence supporting these approaches and compare them with standard therapy, where evidence exists. We discuss additional considerations for the utilization of these therapies, their side-effects, and conclude with a simplified description of how these procedures are performed. Conclusion Thermal ablation, particularly RFA, is becoming an attractive option for managing a subgroup of solid thyroid nodules, while PEI has a role in managing thyroid cysts and a select group of PTMC. Their role in the algorithm of thyroid nodule management is still being refined and technical expertise will be essential to reproduce the reported results into everyday practice.

Abstract Aims Accumulating evidence suggests that patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) can have pathologic accumulation of multiple proteins, including tau and TDP‐43. This study aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of concurrent tau pathology in FTLD with TDP‐43 pathology (FTLD‐TDP). Methods The study included 146 autopsy‐confirmed cases of FTLD‐TDP and 55 cases of FTLD‐TDP with motor neuron disease (FTLD‐MND). Sections from the basal forebrain were screened for tau pathology with phosphorylated‐tau immunohistochemistry. For cases with tau pathology on the screening section, additional brain sections were studied to establish a diagnosis. Genetic analysis of C9orf72 , GRN and MAPT was performed on select cases. Results We found 72 cases (36%) with primary age‐related tauopathy (PART), 85 (42%) with ageing‐related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG), 45 (22%) with argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) and 2 cases (1%) with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Patients with ARTAG or AGD were significantly older than those without these comorbidities. One of the patients with FTLD‐TDP and CBD had C9orf72 mutation and relatively mild tau pathology, consistent with incidental CBD. Conclusion The coexistence of TDP‐43 and tau pathologies was relatively common, particularly PART and ARTAG. Although rare, patients with FTLD can have multiple neurodegenerative proteinopathies. The absence of TDP‐43‐positive astrocytic plaques may suggest that CBD and FTLD‐TDP were independent disease processes in the two patients with both tau and TDP‐43 pathologies. It remains to be determined if mixed cases represent a unique disease process or two concurrent disease processes in an individual.

Abstract Introduction: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is the most common PTCL subtype, accounting for approximately 25% of all PTCL cases. The median age at diagnosis is 60 years and is more prevalent among males. Currently, most epidemiological data on T- and NK-cell lymphomas come from developed countries. Thus, very few data are available regarding this condition in Latin American countries, especially in those aged 60 years and older. The Latin American Group of Lymphoproliferative Disorders (GELL) has previously reported on the impact of serum albumin level in survival outcomes in PTCL-NOS. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the clinical, demographic, and outcome patterns of elderly patients with PTCL-NOS. Methods: We conducted an observational, retrospective study of newly diagnosed PTCL-NOS between January 2000 and December 2020. Patient must be aged 60 years and older. All clinical data were retrieved from clinical records at the different participating institutions. The study outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The International Prognostic Index (IPI), the Prognostic Index for T-cell lymphoma (PIT), and the NCCN IPI scores were used for risk stratification. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Outcomes with a p-value &lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 107 patients were included; median age at diagnosis was 72 years (range 60-92), 61% were male, 46% had an ECOG ≥2, 70% had stage III-IV, and 15% had more than one extranodal site. The IPI, PIT and NCCN-IPI scores stratified 51%, 69%, and 74% of patients as high- / high-intermediate risk, respectively. Seventy-four (69%) patients received first-line systemic therapy. Most patients (53%) were managed with CHOP/CHOP-like regimen, followed by CHOEP (19%). The overall response (OR) rate to first-line therapy was 61% (complete response, CR 41%). Salvage therapy was given to only 9 patients; the OR rate was 44% (CR 11%). With a median follow-up of 29 months (95% CI 13-45 months), the 2-year OS was 46% (95% CI 36-59), with median survival time of 16 months (95% CI 10-NR). In the multivariate analysis, patients with serum albumin levels &lt;3.5 g/dL had median survival of 7 months (95% CI 3-20) and 2-year OS rate of 24% (95% CI 13-46%), while patients with albumin ≥3.5 g/dL did not reach the median survival time and had a 2-yOS rate of 67% (95% CI 36-65%) (p&lt;0.0001) (Table 1, Figure 1). Patients with a lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) &gt;7.6 had a median OS of 8 months (95% CI 6-NR) and a 2-year OS of 10% (95% CI 2-65), while patients with a LMR ≤7.6 did not reach the median OS and had a 2-year OS of 57% (95% CI 45-72) (p = 0.0108) (Table 1, Figure 1). Conclusions: This large cohort of Latin American PTCL-NOS patients aged ≥60 years showed overall response rates comparable to previously published data. However, survival rates were shorter compared to those reported in developed countries. In this study, we again confirmed low serum albumin level (&lt;3.5 g/dL) as an adverse prognostic factor for OS in PTCL-NOS, and independent from the IPI, PIT and NCCN-IP scores. Additionally, we describe for first time in a Latin American cohort the impact of the LMR on survival, demonstrating poor outcomes in those with LMR &gt;7.6. We are currently validating our findings in a prospective cohort of Latin American PTCL patients and to improve clinical decision-making in those deemed at high-risk for early mortality. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Otero: Astra Zeneca: Current Employment. Castillo: Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding.