Citations

Abstract Twenty percent of patients with follicular lymphoma relapse early with poor outcomes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this aggressive behavior are unknown. Using a multiomic approach, we show that patients with follicular lymphoma with elevated IRF4 expression (IRF4hi) have increased transformation risk, dysregulated immune signaling, and a suppressive tumor microenvironment. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments in IRF4hi lymphoma cells, along with chromatin profiling, demonstrate that IRF4 impairs their interaction with T cells by repressing antigen presentation and co-receptor gene modules while promoting the expression of cytokines that antagonize T-follicular helper cell and regulatory T-cell functions. Additionally, IRF4 rewires tumor metabolism and restricts glucose availability to immune cells. Silencing of IRF4 inhibits tumor cell growth and restores immune surveillance mechanisms, thus representing a promising target for therapy. Our data suggest that IRF4hi lymphoma cells co-opt a developmental mechanism used to exit the germinal center response in promoting a more aggressive cancer via engagement of multiple immune-evasive mechanisms. Significance: We show that IRF4 controls immune and metabolic signaling with functional effects on the cross-talk between B and T cells, resulting in a suppressive immune microenvironment when IRF4 is overexpressed in lymphoma. This underscores the importance of IRF4 as a pivotal therapeutic target to restore antitumor immunosurveillance for IRF4-associated lymphomas.

Background Prompt diagnosis of acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is crucial for therapeutic management and stroke prevention. However, most stroke centers lack onsite ophthalmic expertise before considering fibrinolytic treatment. This study aimed to develop, train, and test a deep learning system to detect hyperacute CRAO on retinal fundus photographs within the critical 4.5‐hour treatment window and up to 24 hours after visual loss to aid in secondary stroke prevention. Methods Our retrospective, cross‐sectional study included 1322 color fundus photographs from 771 patients with acute visual loss due to CRAO, central retinal vein occlusion, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and healthy controls. Photographs were collected from 9 expert neuro‐ophthalmology centers in 6 countries, including 3 randomized clinical trials. Training included 1039 photographs (517 patients), followed by testing on 2 data sets: (1) hyperacute CRAO (54 photographs, 54 patients) and (2) CRAO within 24 hours after visual loss (110 photographs, 109 patients). Results The deep learning system achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95–0.98), a sensitivity of 92.6% (95% CI, 87.0–98.0), and a specificity of 85.0% (95% CI, 81.8–92.8) for detecting CRAO at hyperacute stage, with similar results within 24 hours. The deep learning system outperformed stroke neurologists on a subset of hyperacute testing data set (120 photographs, 120 patients). Conclusions A deep learning system can accurately detect hyperacute CRAO on retinal photographs within a time window compatible with urgent fibrinolysis. If further validated, such systems could improve patient selection for fibrinolytic trials and optimize secondary stroke prevention. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT06390579.

Purpose: Guidelines recommend serum estradiol concentrations of 100–200 pg/mL for transgender women prescribed oral, subcutaneous, or transdermal estradiol with or without adjunct antiandrogen as gender-affirming feminizing hormone therapy (HT). The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate if the guideline range of 100–200 pg/mL for estradiol concentration is associated with indicators of adequate gender-affirming feminizing HT, specifically feminizing sufficiency, insufficiency, testosterone suppression, or toxicity in transgender women. Methods: The Populations/Intervention/Comparator/Outcome model was applied to the study question, whereby the target population included transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary adults using gender-affirming feminizing HT by any route of administration, with or without adjunct antiandrogen use. The comparator was defined as estradiol concentrations within (100–200 pg/mL or 367–734 pM) versus outside (</>100–200 pg/mL) the guideline range; evaluated outcomes were listed by the same clinical guidelines that recommend using the 100–200 pg/mL range. Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were queried over a 24-year time frame (January 1, 1999–April 20, 2023); the search was restricted to English. The extracted outcomes were categorized as indicators of therapeutic insufficiency, sufficiency, toxicity, or hormone concentration. Results: There were 49 studies that met the inclusion criteria, of which 9, 42, 25, and 5 studies included indicators of therapeutic insufficiency, sufficiency, toxicity, or hormone concentration, respectively. The search did not identify articles demonstrating that the 100–200 pg/mL guideline range provides optimal feminizing outcomes or reduces adverse events. Conclusions : Evidence does not support using the guideline range of 100–200 pg/mL to indicate sufficient feminization in transgender women using gender-affirming feminizing HT.

Importance Tau positron emission tomography (PET) allows in vivo detection of neurofibrillary tangles, a core neuropathologic feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective To provide estimates of the frequency of tau PET positivity and its associated risk of clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal study using data pooled from 21 cohorts, comprising a convenience sample of 6514 participants from 13 countries, collected between January 2013 and June 2024. Cognitively unimpaired individuals and patients with a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), AD dementia, or other neurodegenerative disorders were included. Exposures Tau PET with flortaucipir F 18, amyloid-β (Aβ) PET, and clinical examinations. Tau PET scans were visually rated as positive according to a US Food and Drug Administration– and European Medicines Agency–approved method, designed to indicate the presence of advanced neurofibrillary tangle pathology (Braak stages V-VI). Main Outcomes and Measures Frequency of tau PET positivity and absolute risk of clinical progression (eg, progression to MCI or dementia). Results Among the 6514 participants (mean age, 69.5 years; 50.5% female), median follow-up time ranged from 1.5 to 4.0 years. Of 3487 cognitively unimpaired participants, 349 (9.8%) were tau PET positive; the estimated frequency of tau PET positivity was less than 1% in those aged younger than 50 years, and increased from 3% (95% CI, 2%-4%) at 60 years to 19% (95% CI, 16%-24%) at 90 years. Tau PET positivity frequency estimates increased across MCI and AD dementia clinical diagnoses (43% [95% CI, 41%-46%] and 79% [95% CI, 77%-82%] at 75 years, respectively). Most tau PET–positive individuals (92%) were also Aβ PET positive. Cognitively unimpaired participants who were positive for both Aβ PET and tau PET had a higher absolute risk of progression to MCI or dementia over the following 5 years (57% [95% CI, 45%-71%]) compared with both Aβ PET–positive/tau PET–negative (17% [95% CI, 13%-22%]) and Aβ PET–negative/tau PET–negative (6% [95% CI, 5%-8%]) individuals. Among participants with MCI at the time of the tau PET scan, an Aβ PET–positive/tau PET–positive profile was associated with a 5-year absolute risk of progression to dementia of 70% (95% CI, 59%-81%). Conclusions and Relevance In a large convenience sample, a positive tau PET scan occurred at a nonnegligible rate among cognitively unimpaired individuals, and the combination of Aβ PET positivity and tau PET positivity was associated with a high risk of clinical progression in both preclinical and symptomatic stages of AD. These findings underscore the potential of tau PET as a biomarker for staging AD pathology.

Objective: To establish comprehensive recommendations on the management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) and to identify areas in need of future investigation. Summary Background Data: The lack of consensus in management of pCCA across institutions worldwide impairs optimal patient care and best-achievable oncological outcome. A holistic and critical assessment of the body of evidence and collaborative guidance are required. Methods: The Consensus4pCCA conference developed unbiased consensus using the Zurich-Danish model. An impartial and multidisciplinary jury adopted comprehensive recommendations grounded on the work of eight expert panels answering predefined clinical questions and considering the best-quality evidence through a systematic review. The development of recommendations complied with GRADE and SIGN50 methodologies. Results: Seventy-one international experts considered 570 studies. Ten jury members concluded 71 recommendations covering definition and diagnosis, preoperative assessment and optimization, surgical resection, liver transplantation, and outcome reporting for pCCA patients. The consensus underscored that making patients amenable to high-quality curative resection and reducing its associated morbidity must be of highest priority. As such, multidisciplinary expertise and centralized care at all stages of disease management are critical to ensure both safety and oncological adequacy. To overcome the evidence-gap for rare diseases like pCCA, the jury urged large-scale registries to address open questions across the disease continuum and highlighted priorities for future investigation. Conclusion: The Consensus4pCCA represents an unprecedented commitment to collectively harmonize global treatment strategies for pCCA. This collective effort bridges the gap between expert opinions and clinical evidence and holds great promise to improve patient outcomes in the future.

6506 Background: NPM1 -m drives leukemogenesis in ~30% of AML. Despite current risk stratification, nearly half will have R/R disease within a year, after which outcomes are poor with <10% complete response following chemotherapy. Ziftomenib – a potent, highly selective, oral, investigational menin inhibitor – has shown clinical activity as monotherapy and in combination for adults with R/R NPM1 -m and KMT2A -r AML, with 600 mg once-daily (QD) as the recommended phase 2 monotherapy dose for NPM1 -m. Here we present the primary analysis for NPM1 -m patients (pts) treated with ziftomenib 600 mg QD in the pivotal KOMET-001 study. Methods: KOMET-001 (NCT04067336) is a multicenter, open-label phase 1/2 study of ziftomenib in adults with R/R AML. In phase 2, pts with NPM1 -m R/R AML received ziftomenib 600 mg QD. Phase 2 primary endpoint: complete remission with full/partial hematologic recovery (CR/CRh); key secondary endpoints: composite complete remission (CRc), durations of CR/CRh and CRc, and safety. The analyses below include NPM1 -m pts pooled from phase 1b/2. Results: The phase 2 primary endpoint was met ( p =0.0058). As of 20 Dec 2024, 112 pts were enrolled (51% US/Canada, 49% Europe/UK) in phase 1b/2 and treated with ziftomenib 600 mg QD, with a median follow-up of 4.2 months. Median age was 69 yrs (range 22–86), 56% female, 83% ECOG PS 0–1, median of 2 prior therapies (range 1–7), including 60% prior venetoclax (VEN) and 23% prior transplant. CR/CRh rate in all phase 1b/2 pts was 25% (28/112; 95% CI 17–34) and overall response rate was 35% (39/112; 95% CI 26–44). In phase 2 pts, 23% (21/92; 95% CI 15–33) achieved CR/CRh (Table), with 67% (10/15) MRD negativity among CR/CRh responders tested (local). Comparable CR/CRh rates were observed in both VEN-naïve and exposed pts (21% vs. 24%). Ziftomenib was well tolerated with 3% (3/112) discontinuing due to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). 40% (45/112) of pts had Grade (Gr) ≥3 TRAEs, including 13% differentiation syndrome (all Gr3), ≤5% each anemia, febrile neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and 2% QTc prolongation (Gr3). Updated clinical activity and safety data will be presented. Conclusions: In the pivotal KOMET-001, the phase 2 primary endpoint was met: Ziftomenib achieved deep and durable responses in R/R NPM1 -m AML, regardless of prior VEN. Ziftomenib was well tolerated with limited myelosuppression and only 3% ziftomenib-related discontinuations. Taken together, these data support the potential use of ziftomenib monotherapy as a new treatment option for R/R NPM1 -m AML. Clinical trial information: NCT04067336 . Response, n (%) Phase 2600 mg QDN=92 Phase 1b/2600 mg QDN=112 CR 13 (14) 20 (18) CR/CRh 21 (23) 28 (25) CRc 24 (26) 32 (29) Median duration, months (95% CI) CR/CRh 3.7 (1.9–NE) 3.7 (1.9–7.7) CRc 4.6 (2.8–11.4) 5.1 (2.8–8.1) Restricted mean duration, months (95% CI) CR/CRh 4.3 (3.1–5.6) 5.2 (3.6–6.7) CRc 5.9 (4.0–7.7) 6.4 (4.6–8.1)