Citations

Abstract The link between bipolar disorder (BP) and immune dysfunction remains controversial. While epidemiological studies have long suggested an association, recent research has found only limited evidence of such a relationship. To clarify this, we investigated the contributions of immune-relevant genetic factors to the response to lithium (Li) treatment and the clinical presentation of BP. First, we assessed the association of a large collection of immune-related genes (4,925) with Li response, defined by the Retrospective Assessment of the Lithium Response Phenotype Scale (Alda scale), and clinical characteristics in patients with BP from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen, N = 2,374). Second, we calculated here previously published polygenic scores (PGSs) for immune-related traits and evaluated their associations with Li response and clinical features. We found several genes associated with Li response at p < 1x10− 4 values, including HAS3, CNTNAP5 and NFIB. Network and functional enrichment analyses uncovered an overrepresentation of pathways involved in cell adhesion and intercellular communication, which appear to converge on the well-known Li-induced inhibition of GSK-3β. We also found various genes associated with BP’s age-at-onset, number of mood episodes, and presence of psychosis, substance abuse and/or suicidal ideation at the exploratory threshold. These included RTN4, XKR4, NRXN1, NRG1/3 and GRK5. Additionally, PGS analyses suggested serum FAS, ECP, TRANCE and cytokine ligands, amongst others, might represent potential circulating biomarkers of Li response and clinical presentation. Taken together, our results support the notion of a relatively weak association between immunity and clinically relevant features of BP at the genetic level.

Background: Aesthetic soft-tissue filler injections for lip enhancement are popular and performed throughout the world. When injecting lips with a cannula, as the cannula is advanced, resistance is perceived in consistent locations, potentially indicating boundaries between intralabial compartments. Objective: We aimed to investigate whether intralabial compartments exist and, if so, to describe their volumes, location, boundaries, and dimensions. Methods: This cadaveric study investigated a total of 20 human body donors (13 male, seven female) with a mean (SD) age at death of 61.9 years (23.9) and body mass index of 24.3 kg/m2 (3.7). The investigated cohort included 11 White donors, eight Asian donors, and one Black donor. Dye injections simulating minimally invasive lip treatments were conducted. Results: Independent of sex or race, six anterior and six posterior compartments in the upper and lower lip were identified, for a total of 24 lip compartments. Compartment boundaries were formed by vertically oriented septations that were found in consistent locations. The anterior compartments had volumes ranging from 0.30 to 0.39 cc; the posterior compartment volume ranged from 0.44 to 0.52 cc. The compartment volumes were larger centrally and decreased gradually toward the oral commissure. Conclusions: The volume and size of each of 24 compartments contribute to the overall appearance and shape of the lips. To achieve a natural lip shape preserving aesthetic outcome it may be preferable to administer the volumizing product using a compartment-respecting injection approach.

7509 Background: Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an autologous CAR T approved for adult patients (pts) with r/r FL after ≥ 2 lines of systemic therapy. In the primary analysis of the pivotal ZUMA-5 trial, 94% of pts who received axi-cel to treat r/r FL achieved an objective response, with a 79% CR rate (Jacobson et al. 2022). Grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events occurred in 6% and 15% of pts, respectively. Here, we present the real-world outcomes of pts receiving axi-cel for r/r FL, including those who would have been ineligible for ZUMA-5. Methods: A total of 230 pts from 72 US centers receiving first axi-cel for r/r FL in the real-world setting between March 2021 and October 2022 were identified from the CIBMTR registry. The following pts were excluded: no consent, prior non-transplant cellular therapy, and FL grade 3b or 3a/3b unspecified. Of the 230 pts, 151 pts had post-infusion assessments and were included in the analysis of outcomes. Effectiveness outcomes were ORR, CR, DOR, PFS and OS. Adverse events included CRS, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and prolonged cytopenia. Results: Of the 230 pts, median age was 62 years and 60% were male. Prior to infusion, 98% had an ECOG performance score of 0-1, 33% had elevated LDH, and 66% were chemo-resistant. Clinically significant comorbidities were present in 74% of the pts. Ninety-two (40%) pts would have been ineligible for ZUMA-5, mainly due to comorbidities. Pts had a median of 4 (range 1-13) lines of prior therapy including 14% who also underwent prior ASCT. Median time from leukapheresis to infusion was 28 days (IQR 26-34). 9% of pts received bridging therapy. Outcomes were analyzed among the 151 pts with follow-up (median 6.2 mo). ORR and CR rates were 93% (95% CI 88-97%) and 84% (95% CI 77-89%), respectively. Estimated PFS and OS at 6 mo were 88% (95% CI 81-92%) and 96% (95% CI 91-98%), respectively. Grade ≥ 3 CRS (ASTCT consensus) and ICANS (ASTCT consensus) occurred in 2% (95% CI 0-6%) and 13% (95% CI 8-19%) of pts, respectively. Median cumulative incidence estimates of CRS resolution was 5 days and ICANS resolution was 4 days. Among pts alive at Day 30 (n = 150), 11% experienced prolonged cytopenia (4% neutropenia, 9% thrombocytopenia). PFS and OS at 6 mo were comparable regardless of ZUMA-5 eligibility, while pts eligible for ZUMA-5 had fewer Grade ≥ 3 ICANS (10% vs 16%) and more rapid ICANS resolution (92% vs 71% resolved within 2 weeks). Pts aged ≥ 65 vs < 65 years had comparable effectiveness and safety profiles. Conclusions: This is the first report on axi-cel to treat r/r FL in real-world settings. Despite a broader pt population, early results demonstrate effectiveness and safety profiles consistent with those observed in the ZUMA-5 trial. The intent is to present findings from an updated dataset with longer follow-up at ASCO. Overall, these findings support the continued broad use of axi-cel to treat r/r FL.

6551 Background: Despite recent advances in lung cancer therapeutics leading to considerable improvement in survival, disparities continue to persist among socially disadvantaged populations. Although the reasons underlying this phenomenon are uncertain, we posit that neighborhood-level factors could play a role. Furthermore, neighborhood disadvantage may lead to epigenetic changes which promote malignant progression. This study aimed to determine the effects of neighborhood-deprivation index (NDI), a validated 13-factor-based measure, that combines income, education, employment, and housing in a neighborhood, on lung cancer mortality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study assessed the relationship of NDI with survival weighted by age, stage, and DNA methylation among biopsy-proven lung cancer from two U.S. medical centers, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Illinois Chicago, between 2008-2020. In our analysis, U.S.-standardized NDI values for each year of sample collection were computed at the U.S. census tract level and categorized into quartiles. Participants’ residential addresses were geocoded to U.S. census tracts and linked to NDI quartiles. DNA extraction from liquid biopsy samples was performed for quantification of DNA methylation. Results: The study included 184 lung cancer patients, with 89 in the low-deprivation group and 95 in the high-deprivation group. The high-deprivation group had a higher percentage of females (57% vs. 48%), a higher percentage of African Americans (AA) (50% vs. 36%), a lower pack-year smoking history (30 vs. 39 median pack-years), and a higher percentage with stage IV disease (28% vs. 20%) than the low-deprivation group. Overall, NDI was significantly higher among AA when compared with Whites (p=0.003) and associated with lung cancer stage at diagnosis with an odds ratio of 1.17 (p=0.02). There was a significant correlation between DNA methylation and stage for HOXA7, SOX17, ZPF42, TAC1 and HOXA9. Only HOXA7 DNA methylation correlated with NDI (p=0.003).The high-deprivation group had a significantly shorter survival duration compared to the low-deprivation group, with a 1-year survival rate of 79% vs. 90%, a 2-year survival rate of 70% vs. 84%, and a 5-year-survival rate of 51% vs. 73% (p=0.02). After adjusting for age at diagnosis, stage, and DNA methylation status, belonging to the high-deprivation group was associated with a higher mortality risk with a hazard ratio of 2.02 (p=0.04). Conclusions: Neighborhood-level socioeconomic status and DNA methylation may be associated with late stage lung cancer at diagnosis; whereas NDI shows a potential association with shorter survival and increased mortality risk. Higher neighborhood deprivation among AA suggests that changes in health care policy that account for neighborhood-level indices of socioeconomic deprivation may enable more equitable improvement of lung cancer mortality.

3623 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence has steadily increased in adults younger than 50 years (EO-CRC) since the 1990s, with a predominance in the left colon and rectum. Precursor lesions of CRCs are adenomas, including advanced adenomas, and sessile serrated polyps. Given that neoplastic development is age-related, we hypothesized that patients with early-onset CRC (EO-CRC) may have fewer adenomas compared to patients with average-onset CRC (AO-CRC) at diagnosis. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of electronic health records at Mayo Clinic or Mayo Health System [2012 to 2021] and randomly selected 150 patients with EO-CRC who met eligibility criteria and matched them with 150 AO-CRC patients based on gender and colonoscopy indication. Known hereditary syndromes or inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. At colonoscopy where CRC was diagnosed, we recorded findings of adenomas, advanced adenomas (> 1 cm, villous histology, or high-grade dysplasia), and sessile serrated polyps (SSP). Results: Median age at diagnosis was 43 years for EO-CRC and 67 years for AO-CRC. No significant differences in BMI, family history of CRC, MMR, BRAFV 600E KRAS status or SSPs were found between groups (all p > 0.05). Among patients with colon cancer, no difference was found for adenoma number yet patients with EO-colon cancer (EO-CC) had larger polyps [median of 10 mm vs 5 mm, p = 0.001] (Table) compared with AO-colon cancer (AO-CC). At least 1 adenoma was found in 56% and 47% of patients with EO-CC and AO-CC, respectively. Moreover, advanced adenomas were significantly more common in the EO-CC group compared with the AO-CC group (42% and 14%, p < 0.001) [ Table]. Among patients with rectal cancer, non-advanced adenomas were less frequent and although advanced adenoma were similar in frequency, they were more commonly located in the rectum in EO-rectal compared to AO-rectal cancers (Table). Conclusions: Patients with EO-colon cancer had a significantly higher likelihood of a synchronous advanced adenoma in the colon compared to those with AO-CRC. Together, these data suggest accelerated carcinogenesis throughout the colorectum in early onset patients, with increased risk for development of synchronous and metachronous CRC. [Table: see text]

3542 Background: Solid tumors can be characterized by distinct immune phenotypes based on the level of T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment (TME) which may provide prognostic information and also inform strategies to restore the anti-tumor immune response. Immune phenotypes were determined using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm in digitized whole-slide images (WSI) of tumors with deficient (d) mismatch repair (MMR) vs proficient (p) MMR. Methods: Stage III colon carcinomas (N = 401; 393 met QC) from participants in a phase III trial of FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed including all available tumors with dMMR (n = 196) and a randomly selected cohort of pMMR tumors (n = 195). Using an AI algorithm (Lunit SCOPE) previously trained on solid tumors, digitized tumors were categorized into three immune phenotypes based on epithelial and stromal TIL data-driven cutpoints in dMMR and pMMR (inflamed: TIL high in epithelium (> upper 25%); excluded: TIL high in stroma (>lower 25%), low in epithelium; and desert: TIL low in epithelium and stroma). Phenotypes were then examined in relationship to disease-free survival (DFS) using Kaplan-Meier methodology. Results: Of the 3 immune phenotypes in dMMR tumors, 25% were inflamed, 50% were immune-excluded, and 25% were immune-desert. Based on univariate results, multivariable modeling was performed incorporating immune phenotype in addition to age, histological grade, N stage, T stage, performance status, treatment arm, BRAF and KRAS status and identified immune phenotypes and N stage to be significantly associated with DFS. Among dMMR tumors, immune desert phenotype was associated with the poorest DFS (Desert: HR adj 1.95, 95%CI (1.01, 3.80); Excluded: HR adj 0.89, 95%CI (0.47, 1.69); Inflamed: ref; p:0.01). When compared to immune desert tumors, immune-excluded tumors had significantly better DFS (HR adj 0.49, 95%CI (0.27, 0.88), p:0.01). At a median follow-up of 60 months, 3-year DFS of patients with dMMR was 71.2% with Immune inflamed, 78.5% with Excluded, and 54.5% with Desert phenotypes. In contrast to dMMR, univariate analyses of data-driven cutpoints in pMMR tumors was not prognostic. Using a different data-driven cutpoint (15%), the revised immune phenotypes remained non-significant for DFS within pMMR tumors. Conclusions: Distinct AI-derived immune phenotypes in the TME were identified that were significantly prognostic in patients with dMMR, but not pMMR colon cancers. A data-driven immune-desert phenotype was identified in dMMR tumors that was associated with significantly poorer survival. Further investigation of the potential predictive utility of these phenotypes for immunotherapy are planned. Support: https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00079274 .

3527 Background: Advances in deep learning may improve the ability to evaluate and quantify pathological features in solid tumors to improve prediction of patient disease-free survival (DFS). We used an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to quantify morphological features in the tumor microenvironment of stage III colon cancers. Methods: We analyzed digitized stage III colon carcinomas (N = 402; 382 met QC) from participants in a phase III trial of FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy that included all available tumors with dMMR and a randomly selected cohort of pMMR tumors (median follow-up 60 months) [NCCTG N0147; Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology]. Fifteen morphological features were extracted using the QuantCRC algorithm that segments images into carcinoma (low-grade, high-grade, signet ring cell), stroma (immature, mature, and inflammatory), mucin, tumor/stroma ratio, tumor budding/poorly differentiated clusters (TB/PDC), necrosis, smooth muscle, fat, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor area (mucin, epithelium and TB/PDC). Analysis of AI-derived features with clinical variables, molecular alterations ( BRAF/KRAS), and DFS were examined using Kaplan-Meier methodology and multivariable Cox regression. Results: Among the 15 AI-derived morphological features, the following differed significantly between dMMR (n = 191) and pMMR (n = 189) whereby dMMR tumors had lower mature stroma, but higher inflammatory stroma and tumor, higher tumor grade and increased mucin, TB/PDCs, signet ring cells, and TILs (all p< 0.05). Among dMMR tumors, multivariable analysis revealed that tumor area [mucin, epithelium and TB/PDC] (HR adj 0.45, 95%CI (0.24, 0.84), p:0.01, [Q2/3 vs Q1]) and N stage were the only significant and independent prognostic variables. Among pMMR tumors, multivariable analysis identified that tumor budding/poorly differentiated clusters (TB/PDCs) (HR adj 0.20, 95%CI (0.06, 0.61), p:0.01, [Q1 vs Q4]) was the strongest prognostic variable and the only morphological feature that was significantly associated with DFS along with age, N stage and T stage. Conclusions: Using AI, we can extract and quantify distinct morphological features in tumor sections that differ between dMMR and pMMR and multivariately, can significantly and robustly enhance prognostication within each MMR group. Among pMMR tumors, tumor budding/poorly differentiated clusters was the strongest predictor of DFS. Support: NIH U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA196171, R01 CA210509 (to FAS). Study NCCTG N0147 received funds from Sanofi https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00079274 Key words Artificial Intelligence; Tumor Microenvironment; Colonic Neoplasms; Disease-free survival.

Abstract Background Rifampin-resistant tuberculosis is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide; only one-third of persons start treatment, and outcomes are often inadequate. Several trials demonstrate 90% efficacy using an all-oral, 6-month regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL), but significant toxicity occurred using 1200-mg linezolid. After US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2019, some US clinicians rapidly implemented BPaL using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose adjusted by serum drug concentrations and clinical monitoring. Methods Data from US patients treated with BPaL between 14 October 2019 and 30 April 2022 were compiled and analyzed by the BPaL Implementation Group (BIG), including baseline examination and laboratory, electrocardiographic, and clinical monitoring throughout treatment and follow-up. Linezolid dosing and clinical management was provider driven, and most patients had linezolid adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring. Results Of 70 patients starting BPaL, 2 changed to rifampin-based therapy, 68 (97.1%) completed BPaL, and 2 of the 68 (2.9%) experienced relapse after completion. Using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose daily adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring and careful clinical and laboratory monitoring for adverse effects, supportive care, and expert consultation throughout BPaL treatment, 3 patients (4.4%) with hematologic toxicity and 4 (5.9%) with neurotoxicity required a change in linezolid dose or frequency. The median BPaL duration was 6 months. Conclusions BPaL has transformed treatment for rifampin-resistant or intolerant tuberculosis. In this cohort, effective treatment required less than half the duration recommended in 2019 US guidelines for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Use of individualized linezolid dosing and monitoring likely enhanced safety and treatment completion. The BIG cohort demonstrates that early implementation of new tuberculosis treatments in the United States is feasible.