Main Endpoint Research Articles

Hydroxychloroquine in recurrent pregnancy loss: data from a French prospective multicenter registry.

What are the outcomes of pregnancies exposed to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and what factors predict the course of these pregnancies beyond the first trimester? In our cohort of pregnancies in women with a history of RPL exposed to HCQ early in pregnancy, we found that the only factor determining the success of these pregnancies was the number of previous miscarriages. Dysregulation of the maternal immune system plays a role in RPL. HCQ, with its dual immunomodulating and vascular protective effects, is a potential treatment for unexplained RPL. The FALCO (Facteurs de récidive précoce des fausses couches) registry is an ongoing French multicenter infertility registry established in 2017 that includes women (aged from 18 to 49 years) with a history of spontaneous RPL (at least three early miscarriages (≤12 weeks of gestation (WG)) recruited from several university hospitals. Spontaneous pregnancies enrolled in the FALCO registry with an exposure to HCQ (before conception or at the start of pregnancy) were included. Pregnancies concomitantly exposed to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, interleukin-1 and -2 inhibitors, intravenous immunoglobulin, and/or intravenous intralipid infusion, were excluded. Concomitant treatment with low-dose aspirin (LDA), low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH), progesterone, and/or prednisone was allowed. All patients underwent the recommended evaluations for investigating RPL. Those who became pregnant received obstetric care in accordance with French recommendations and were followed prospectively. The main endpoint was the occurrence of a pregnancy continuing beyond 12 WG, and the secondary endpoint was the occurrence of a live birth. One hundred pregnancies with HCQ exposure in 74 women were assessed. The mean age of the women was 34.2 years, and the median number of previous miscarriages was 5. Concomitant exposure was reported in 78 (78%) pregnancies for prednisone, 56 (56%) pregnancies for LDA, and 41 (41%) pregnancies for LMWH. Sixty-two (62%) pregnancies ended within 12 WG, the other 38 (38%) continuing beyond 12 WG. The risk of experiencing an additional early spontaneous miscarriage increased with the number of previous miscarriages, but not with age. The distributions of anomalies identified in RPL investigations and of exposure to other drugs were similar between pregnancies lasting ≤12 WG and those continuing beyond 12WG. The incidence of pregnancies progressing beyond 12 WG was not higher among pregnancies with at least one positive autoantibody (Ab) (i.e. antinuclear Ab titer ≥1:160, ≥1 positive conventional and/or non-conventional antiphospholipid Ab, and/or positive results for ≥1 antithyroid Ab) without diminished ovarian reserve (18/51, 35.3%) than among those without such autoantibody (18/45, 40.0%) (P = 0.63). Multivariate analysis showed that having ≤4 prior miscarriages was the only factor significantly predictive for achieving a pregnancy > 12 WG, after adjustment for age and duration of HCQ use prior to conception (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.13 [1.31-7.83], P = 0.01). Our study has limitations, including the absence of a control group, incomplete data for the diagnostic procedure for RPL in some patients, and the unavailability of results from endometrial biopsies, as well as information about paternal age and behavioral factors. Consequently, not all potential confounding factors could be considered. Exposure to HCQ in early pregnancy for women with a history of RPL does not seem to prevent further miscarriages, suggesting limited impact on mechanisms related to the maternal immune system. The research received no specific funding, and the authors declare no competing interests. clinicaltrial.gov NCT05557201.

Nephrotoxicity Associated with Cytoreductive Surgery Combined with Cisplatin-Based Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Malignant Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cisplatin is employed in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs). The main concern regarding intraperitoneal cisplatin administration is nephrotoxicity. Numerous reports in this context are available. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess cisplatin-based HIPEC-related nephrotoxicity (CHRN). Methods: A systematic literature review on CHRN after CRS for the treatment of PSMs was performed. The literature search was carried out using Medline, Cochrane, and Embase. The last day of the search was 23 October 2023. PRISMA guidelines were used. A meta-analysis was then conducted. The main endpoint was the incidence of acute and chronic renal impairment after CHRN. Secondary endpoints included the potential impact of several clinical variables on the primary endpoint and a critical appraisal of the different renal impairment scales employed. Results: Our study included 26 articles with a total sample of 1473 patients. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was 18.6% (95% CI: 13.6-25%, range of true effects 3-59%). For chronic kidney disease, it was 7% (95% CI: 3-15.3%, range of true effects 1-53%). The variables that statistically influenced these results were the scale used to measure renal insufficiency, the use of nephroprotective agents, and the presence of pre-existing renal disease. Conclusions: The reported incidence of renal impairment following cisplatin-based HIPEC is highly variable. The incidence of renal failure obtained in this meta-analysis should be used as a reference for subsequent reports on this topic. Further prospective studies are warranted to establish optimal and standardized management.

The Impact of Preoperative Combined Pectoserratus and/or Interpectoral Plane (Pectoralis Type II) Blocks on Opioid Consumption, Pain, and Overall Benefit of Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, and Triple-blinded Trial

ObjectiveAcute postoperative pain remains a major obstacle in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Evidence of the analgesic benefit of chest wall blocks is limited. This study aimed to assess the influence of combined pectoserratus-plane-block plus interpectoral-plane-block (PSPB+IPPB) on postoperative pain and overall benefit of analgesia compared to placebo. DesignProspective, randomized, triple-blinded. SettingThe operating room, intensive care unit of a university hospital Participants60 patients undergoing elective right-lateral MICS. InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to preoperative PSPB+IPPB with 30 ml ropivacaine 0.5% or saline. Measurements and Main resultsThe primary endpoint was total intravenous morphine milligram equivalents administered in the first 24 hours after extubation (24 h - ivMME). Secondary endpoints included the Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score (OBAS) at 24h after extubation and repeated visual analogue scale (VAS). 24 hours - ivMMEs were significantly lower (median (IQR): 4.2 mg (2.1 – 7.9) versus 8.3 mg (4.2 - 15.7); p = 0.025; mean difference: 6.7 mg (0.94-12 mg), p = 0.024; Cohen's d: 0.64 (0.09-1.2)). Moreover, OBAS at 24 hours and VAS after extubation were significantly lower (4.0 (3.0 – 6.0) versus 7.0 (3.0 – 9.0), p = 0.043; 0.0 cm (0.0 - 2.0) versus 1.5 cm (0.3 - 3.0); p = 0.030). VAS did not differ between groups at later points. ConclusionsPre-operative PSPB+IPPB reduced 24 hours post-extubation opioid consumption, pain at extubation and OBAS. Given its low risk and expedient placement, it could be a helpful addition to MICS protocols. Future studies should evaluate these findings in multicenter settings, and further elucidate the optimal timing of block placement.

Role of Acetazolamide in Traumatic CSF Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Untreated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and otorrhea can lead to adverse complications like meningitis and hence should not be overlooked. Acetazolamide reduces CSF production by 48%. The actual role of acetazolamide in the amelioration of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea is not clear as, till date, very few formal studies have been conducted. Aim of the study was to determine the role of acetazolamide in traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and otorrhea. Materials and Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 134 patients with head injuries presenting to the neurosurgery department of a tertiary care center in North India, with complaints of CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea within 72 hours of traumatic injury. One-hundred thirty-four patients were randomized into intervention and control group. Comparative analysis was not possible in 58 patients as in due course they were either operated for head injury or lumbar drain was put due to excessive CSF leak; hence, forth comparative analysis was done in 76 patients. Out of these 76 patients, 44 patients belonged to the intervention group (Acetazolamide given) and 32 belong to the control group (Acetazolamide not given). The day of the stoppage of CSF Leak was the main endpoint of this study. Result Majority of the patients were in the age group of 21 to 30 years and were predominantly males. Road traffic accident was observed in 84 (75%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference noted in the mean number of days of CSF leak whether acetazolamide was given or not ( p = 0.344). The complication associated with CSF leak was meningitis. The percentage of patients developing meningitis was more after lumber drain insertion. Conclusion In our study, there was no advantage of adding acetazolamide to the conservative management of traumatic CSF leak. Therefore, the practice of routinely giving acetazolamide should be reconsidered.

Prediction Value of Initial Serum Levels of SERPINA3 in Intracranial Pressure and Long-Term Neurological Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe neurological condition characterized by inflammation in the central nervous system. SERPINA3 has garnered attention as a potential biomarker for assessing this inflammation. Our study aimed to explore the predictive value of postoperative serum SERPINA3 levels in identifying the risk of cerebral edema and its prognostic implications in TBI. This study is a prospective observational study, including 37 patients with TBI who finally met our criteria. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Levels of Cognitive Functioning (LCF), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI) scores at six months after trauma were defined as the main study endpoint. We further calculated the ventricle-to-intracranial-volume ratio (VBR) at 6 months from CT scans. The study included patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores ranging from 3 to 8, who were subsequently categorized into two groups: the critical TBI group (GCS 3-5 points) and the severe TBI group (GCS 6-8 points). Within the critical TBI group, SERPINA3 levels were notably lower. However, among patients with elevated SERPINA3 levels, both the peak intracranial pressure (ICP) and average mannitol consumption were significantly reduced compared with those of patients with lower SERPINA3 levels. In terms of the 6-month outcomes measured via the GOS, LCF, DRS, and ERBI, lower levels of SERPINA3 were indicative of poorer prognosis. Furthermore, we found a negative correlation between serum SERPINA3 levels and the VBR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated the predictive performance of SERPINA3. In conclusion, incorporating the novel biomarker SERPINA3 alongside traditional assessment tools offers neurosurgeons an effective and easily accessible means, which is readily accessible early on, to predict the risk of intracranial pressure elevation and long-term prognosis in TBI patients.

Safety of an anchor-based device for sacrospinous ligament fixation: A pilot case-control study

Introduction and hypothesisSacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) is a popular surgical technique for treating apical prolapse. The use of suture-capturing devices (SCD), or the more recently introduced anchor-based device (ABD), is useful for a posterior approach but essential for an anterior one. The aim of our study was to assess the safety of the ABD, which was recently introduced to our unit, compared to the traditionally used SCD. MethodsThis was a pilot case-control study of 40 patients who had a SSLF, 20 of these represented all the patients who had the procedure with the aid of the ABD and 20 patients who had the procedure using the SCD over approximately the same duration. The main safety endpoints of this pilot study were patient reported postoperative pain scores and perioperative complications rate. ResultsThe population characteristics were similar. The mean postoperative pain scores differed significantly only on postoperative day 1 in favor of the suture capturing device (3.40 [2.60] vs 1.60 [1.64], p = 0.013). The mean highest pain score was similar in both groups. Peri-operative complications rates were low and comparable between both groups. According to POPQ at 6 weeks follow-up the median Ba point was higher in the ABD group and this difference was significant (−3.00 [-3.00; −2.25] vs. −2.00 [-3.00; −1.50]; p = 0.03). ConclusionThe anchor-based device for sacrospinal ligament fixation seems to have comparable safety profile to the traditionally used suture capturing devices.

PIPAC in patients with peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal tract (PIPOX01): An open label, non-comparative phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion trial

BackgroundDespite modern systemic chemotherapy, survival remains poor for patients with advanced isolated peritoneal metastases from the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) with oxaliplatin. Patients and methodsWe conducted a phase 1/2, open label, non-comparative, dose escalation and expansion trial of PIPAC with oxaliplatin in patients with a peritoneal cancer index (PCI) of more than 5, 13 and 15 for respectively a gastric, small bowel and colorectal primary cancer, and who had received at least three months of systemic chemotherapy. PIPAC cycle lengths were 4–6 weeks with systemic chemotherapy allowed 15 days after each PIPAC. PCI and oxaliplatin tumor concentration were assessed every PIPAC cycle. The main endpoints were tolerability, tumor response, and survival. ResultsBetween 2017 and 2020, 34 patients were enrolled in three centers, in this phase 1/2 study, of whom 25 were evaluable at the recommended dose determined in the phase I trial (90 mg/m2 plus systemic 5-FU). Before inclusion, patients received a median of 2 [1–4] chemotherapy lines and had a median PCI of 22.5 [7–29]. At this dose, the safety profile showed acceptable tolerability. Eight patients (32 %) had grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events. Minor (grade 1/2) adverse events were mainly abdominal pain (n = 19, 76 %) and nausea (n = 16, 64 %). Median PFS was 6.1 months and median OS was 13 months. ConclusionIn patients with advanced and refractory peritoneal metastasis, PFS of 6.1 months is encouraging. A prospective randomized phase II study is required.

Does Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components Have Prognostic Significance for Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in IgA Nephropathy?

Patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a chronic kidney disease (CKD), are significantly more likely to have cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity than the general population. The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic risk factors are independent risk factors for CV disease and renal progression. The purpose of this study was to determine how metabolic characteristics in a homogeneous population of CKD patients relate to prognosis. A total of 145 patients with CKD stages 1-4 diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (92 men and 53 women, aged 54.7 ± 13 years) were examined and monitored for a median of 190 months. All-cause mortality and any CV event, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, revascularization (CV), end-stage renal disease, and renal replacement therapy (renal), have been included in the composite endpoints (CV and renal). Patients with MetS had significantly more primary endpoint events (23/65 patients vs. 15/60 patients, p < 0.001) compared to the non-MetS group. The MetS group had a statistically significant increase in both primary renal and CV endpoints (18/65 vs. 10/60, p = 0.001), and in CV endpoint events (7/65 vs. 6/60, p = 0.029) among the secondary endpoints (CV and renal separately). Based on Cox regression analysis, the main endpoint independent predictors of survival were dyslipidemia, eGFR, hemoglobin, urine albuminuria, and diabetes mellitus. Independent predictors of secondary renal endpoints were dyslipidemia, hemoglobin, urine albumin, and eGFR. Predictors of secondary cardiovascular endpoints were gender, BMI, and diabetes. When Kaplan-Meier curves were analyzed at the combined endpoints (CV and renal) or each endpoint independently, significant differences were seen between MetS and non-MetS. With more MetS components, the primary endpoint rate increased significantly (MetS comp. 0 vs. MetS comp. 2+, primary endpoints, p = 0.012). Our results show that the metabolic profile has a prognostic role not only for renal endpoints but also for CV endpoints in IgAN. BMI, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and diabetes have a predictive value for the prognosis of IgA nephropathy.

PIPAC in patients with peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal tract (PIPOX): An open label, non-comparative phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion trial.

e15561 Background: Withmodern systemic chemotherapy, survival remain poor for patient withadvanced isolated peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of PIPAC to oxaliplatin in combination or not with systemic chemotherapy. Methods: We did a phase 1/2, open label, non-comparative, dose escalation and expansion trial of PIPAC to oxaliplatin forpatients with peritoneal cancer index (PCI) more than 5, 13 and 15 for respectively a gastric, small bowell and colorectal cancer primary; who had received at least three months of systemic chemotherapy. PIPAC cycle lengths was 4 to 6 weeks with systemic chemotherapy allowed 15 days after each PIPAC. PCI and oxaliplatin concentration tumor was assessed every PIPAC cycles. Main endpoints were, tolerability, tumor response and survival. Results: Between2017 to 2020, 34 for patients were enrolled in three centers, in this phase 1/2 study of whom 25 were evaluable at recommanded dose of phase I of 90 mg/m2 plus systemic 5-FU. At this dose, safety profile showed acceptable tolerability. 8 patients (32%) had grade 3/4 treatment related adverse event. Minors (grade 1/2) adverse events were mainly abdominal pain (n = 19, 76%) and nausea (n = 16, 64%). Before inclusion patients received a median of 2 [1-4] chemotherapy lines and had a median PCI of 22.5 [7-29]. Median PFS was 6.1 months and median OS was 13 months. Conclusions: In patients with advanced and refractory peritoneal metastasis, PFS of 6.1 months is encouraging. A prospective randomized phase II study is required. Clinical trial information: NCT03294252 .

Construction and validation of a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of patients with septic shock in department of emergency medicine

To construct a nomogram model for predicting the 28-day mortality of patients with septic shock in the emergency medicine department and to validate the predictive efficacy. Based on the database of the emergency medicine department of Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital and the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, the data of 913 patients with septic shock admitted to the emergency medicine department from January 2017 to October 2020 were collected, including baseline demographic information and clinical characteristics, laboratory indices, and the main endpoints (28-day mortality). The patients were divided into a training set and a validation set based on simple random sampling. All significant variables from the one-way binary Logistic regression analysis of the training set were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to analyze the risk factors for 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock and to construct a column-line graphical model. The predictive efficacy of the nomogram model was assessed using calibration curves and receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve). A total of 860 patients with septic shock meeting the criteria were finally enrolled, including 472 in the training set and 388 in the validation set. The 28-day mortalities were 52.5% (248/472) and 54.1% (210/388) for the training and validation sets, respectively. In the training set, age, respiratory rate (RR), the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet count (PLT) in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group, and the levels of base remaining (BE), lymphocyte count (LYM), hemoglobin (Hb) and the proportion of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) were significantly lower than those in the survival group (all P < 0.05). Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis showed that NLR [odds ratio (OR) = 0.023 0, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was -0.204 4 to 0.113 0], MPV (OR = 0.179 8, 95%CI was -0.877 6 to 0.172 7), Hb (OR = 0.007 8, 95%CI was 0.010 3 to 0.040 8), procalcitonin (PCT; OR = 1.957 0, 95%CI was 1.243 0 to 3.081 0), and D-dimer (OR = 0.000 1, 95%CI was -0.000 4 to 0.000 1) were independent predictors of 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock in the emergency department (all P < 0.05). A column-line graph model was established based on the above variables, and the ROC curves showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram model in the training set and validation set for predicting the 28-day mortality of patients with septic shock was 0.907 (95%CI was 0.864 to 0.940) and 0.822 (95%CI was 0.781 to 0.863), respectively. The calibration curves showed good agreement between the predicted and observed results for both the training and validation sets. The nomogram model constructed based on NLR, MPV, Hb, PCT and D-dimer has significant clinical value in predicting the 28-day mortality of patients with septic shock in the emergency medicine department.

ImmunoSarc II master trial (phase II of sunitinib and nivolumab): Results from the dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DDCS) cohort—A GEIS, ISG and UCL study.

11506 Background: Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DDCS) is a rare aggressive CS subtype with a dismal prognosis and no standard of care systemic therapy. For those with advanced, metastatic disease, retrospective chemotherapy studies demonstrate short-term median progression-free survival (PFS) of around 3 to 5.5 months. Benefit from checkpoint and tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been reported, however clinical trial data is scarce, and endpoints are not well defined, thus benchmarking outcomes is challenging. The IMMUNOSARC I master-trial exploring sunitinib plus nivolumab in multiple sarcoma subtypes, detected potential activity in DDCS leading to a specific cohort within the phase II trial IMMUNOSARC II (NCT03277924). Methods: Patients (pts) with ECOG 0-1, centrally confirmed and progressive, measurable DDCS were eligible and treated with sunitinib 37.5 mg/d for 14 days (induction phase), followed by 25 mg/d, in combination with nivolumab 240 mg every 2 weeks until progressive disease (PD) or intolerance. Imaging assessments were performed every 8 weeks. Main endpoint was 6-m PFSR with one-arm survival design (type I error α 0.05, power 0.90, H0 40%, H1 70%) and a Brookmeyer-Crowley like test was assumed with at least 14 of 23 pts required without progression at 6 months. Results: Between December 2019 and October 2023, 24 pts with a median age of 60 years (38-76) were enrolled in 7 centres. Sixteen pts (66%), were male. Pts had received a median of 1 (0-2) prior lines of therapy. In total, 23 pts were evaluable with a median follow-up of 20.1 months (95%CI: 11.6-28.6). Median PFS, according to local site assessment, was 5.6 months (95%CI: 4.5-6.7); the 6m-PFSR was 10 of 23 pts (46%); (95%CI: 23-66) and median overall survival 10.3 months (95%CI: 6.7-13.9). In 19 pts with RECIST measurable response, 5 pts (26.3%) achieved a partial response; 10 (52.6%) stable disease and 4 (21.1%) PD. End-of-treatment reasons were PD in 21 pts (87%), toxicity 1 pt (4.2%) with two pts (8.4%) ongoing. For safety population, the most relevant study drug-related G3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (20.9%), anemia (16.7%), and increased ALT (12.5%). Conclusions: Sunitinib and nivolumab demonstrated encouraging activity in advanced DDCS that did not meet the primary endpoint, but compares favourably with previous analyses of cytotoxic and targeted therapy. The combination is worthy of further exploration in conjunction with reaching a consensus on clinically meaningful endpoints in this challenging population. Translational studies to identify potential predictive biomarkers are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03277924 .

ADU-1604, a novel CTLA-4 blocking antibody, to modulate pharmacodynamic markers in patients with PD1 relapse/refractory melanoma.

9552 Background: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is a negative regulator of T-cell responses, also known as an immune checkpoint. The clinical relevance of CTLA-4 blockade was demonstrated by the approval of ipilimumab for the treatment of melanoma, both in the adjuvant as well as metastatic settings. ADU-1604 is a humanized hIgG1 CTLA-4 antagonist antibody. ADU-1604 binds a unique epitope on CTLA-4 demonstrating, in contrast to ipilimumab full blockade of both CD80 and CD86 interactions. In vitro and in vivo ADU-1604 demonstrates at least as potent efficacy as compared to ipilimumab, was well tolerated in non-human primates and demonstrated enhanced immunogenicity against hepatitis B vaccine in non-human primates. Methods: This is a phase 1, first-in-human (FIH), two-part, open-label clinical trial of intravenous (IV) administration of ADU-1604 given as monotherapy in subjects with advanced-stage, relapsed/refractory melanoma who relapsed or were refractory to a prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Main endpoints are safety of ADU-1604 monotherapy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (upregulation of ICOS and Ki-67 on circulation CD4+ T cells and ALC, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) as well as preliminary clinical efficacy. 20 subjects received escalating doses of ADU-1604 IV (25, 75, 225, 450 mg flat dose) Q3W. In the dose expansion part up to 20 additional patients will be treated with 225 mg dose to confirm recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). Safety and preliminary efficacy of ADU-1604 monotherapy in PD1 relapsed/refractory melanoma patients will be evaluated. The study was initiated in June 2022. Results: ADU-1604 was demonstrated to have a typical pharmacokinetic behavior for a human IgG1 antibody and similar exposure was observed as described for ipilimumab. Administration of ADU-1604 in cycle 1 and 2 showed a dose-dependent modulation of ICOS and Ki-67 on circulating CD4+ T cells. Similarly, in cycles 3 and 4 a dose-dependent increase of ALC and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was detected. Notably, no DLTs across the 25, 75, 225 and 450 mg dose level have occurred. Of the patients treated at 225 and 450 mg dose levels (N=6 at 225 mg and N=6 at 450 mg), two Grade 2 severe adverse events (both immune-related enterocolitis) and two Grade 3 AESIs (ALT elevation and immune-related gastritis) suggesting that ADU-1604 has a relatively mild safety profile. Two patients at 225 mg and one patient at 450 mg demonstrated clinical efficacy. Conclusions: ADU-1604 Phase 1 dose-escalation data indicates clinical activity in line with what has been observed with other CTLA-4 blocking antibodies. Importantly, no DLTs and very limited safety signals were reported during the study. Dose expansion at 225 mg dose is ongoing in subjects with advanced-stage, relapsed/refractory melanoma who relapsed or were refractory to a prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Clinical trial information: 2021-002623-38 .

Ethnic minorities treated with new-generation drug-eluting coronary stents in two European randomised clinical trials.

Several ethnic minorities have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, but previous European trials that investigated clinical outcome after coronary stenting did not assess the patients' ethnic background. To compare ethnic minority and Western European trial participants in terms of both cardiovascular risk profile and 1‑year clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention. In the BIO-RESORT and BIONYX randomised trials, which assessed new-generation drug-eluting stents, information on patients' self-reported ethnic background was prospectively collected. Pooled patient-level data of 5803 patients, enrolled in the Netherlands and Belgium, were analysed in this prespecified analysis. The main endpoint was target vessel failure after 1year. Patients were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority (n = 293, 5%) or of Western European origin (n = 5510, 95%). Follow-up data were available in 5772 of 5803 (99.5%) patients. Ethnic minority patients were younger, less often female, more often current smokers, more often medically treated for diabetes, and more often had apositive family history of coronary artery disease. The main endpoint target vessel failure did not differ between ethnic minority and Western European patients (3.5% vs 4.9%, hazard ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.38-1.33; p = 0.28). There was also no difference in mortality, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularisation rates. Despite the unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile of ethnic minority patients, short-term clinical outcome after treatment with contemporary drug-eluting stents was highly similar to that in Western European patients. Further efforts should be made to ensure the enrolment of more ethnic minority patients in future coronary stent trials.

A phase II study of cadonilimab plus mFOLFIRINOX as induction therapy for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC).

TPS4213 Background: Locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC) constitutes a significant proportion of pancreatic cancer, which ranks among the most lethal malignancies globally. Treatment options specifically tailored for LAPC patients (pts) are scarce, and chemotherapy alone yields limited efficacy. Various studies have provided supportive evidence for the synergistic effects of combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy in the context of pancreatic cancer. Cadonilimab, a novel recombinant humanized bispecific antibody, holds the capability to concurrently inhibit PD-1 and CTLA-4 pathways, thereby restoring T-cell immune response to the tumor. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of combining cadonilimab with modified FOLFIRINOX for the treatment of LAPC. Methods: This ongoing phase II trial is enrolling pts with histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable LAPC who have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) of 0-1 and have not previously received systemic anti-tumor therapy. Eligible pts will be administered cadonilimab (6mg/kg, intravenous drip, Day 1, every 2 weeks) plus mFOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin 85mg/m2, Day 2 + leucovorin 400mg/ m2, Day 2 + irinotecan 150mg/ m2, Day 2 + 5-fluorouracil 2,400mg/ m2, continuous infusion for 46 hours) for a total of 4 cycles (8 weeks). After the completion of every 4 treatment cycles, pts will undergo imaging examinations of tumor lesions. Pts will receive treatment continuously until surgical resection, disease progression, intolerable toxic reactions, initiation of new anticancer drug treatments, withdrawal from the study, death, or loss of follow-up. Following the 12th cycle of treatment, maintenance treatment will consist of capecitabine or S-1 in combination with cadonilimab. The primary endpoint of this study was the R0/R1 resection rate. The main secondary endpoints include the objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety assessments. Additionally, pts will undergo peripheral blood next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel analysis before and after treatment to investigate the correlation between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) changes, surgical decisions, and prognosis. Enrollment is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT06153368 .

A randomized, open-label phase II/III efficacy and safety study of atezolizumab in combination with FLOT versus FLOT alone in patients with gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction and high immune responsiveness: The IKF633/DANTE trial, a trial of AIO in collaboration with SAKK.

TPS4184 Background: Despite recent advances, long-term survival of patients with locally advanced, operable esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (EGA) is below 50%. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in the neoadjuvant setting of this tumor type have lately been shown to increase pathological responses in all comers (IKF633/DANTE pII, KEYNOTE-585, Matterhorn), but the effect on survival is still unknown. The IKF633/DANTE pIII trial evaluates the efficacy and clinical activity of atezolizumab (ATZ) with perioperative FLOT in patients (pts) with locally advanced, resectable EGA considered having an immune-responsive profile. Methods: IKF633/DANTE is conducted as a randomized, multinational, multicenter, prospective, investigator-initiated, open label phase II/III trial. For the phase III portion, pts with histologically confirmed EGA of a clinical stage ≥cT2 and/or cN+ without evidence of distant metastases and with at least one immune response criterium (MSI, PD-L1 CPS≥1, TMB ≥10/MB or EBV+) are eligible. Pts are stratified acc. to nodal stage (cN- vs. cN+), tumor site (GEJ type I vs. GEJ type II/III vs. gastric) and PD-L1 expression levels (CPS≥5 vs. CPS&lt;5). Pts are randomized 1:1 to receive 4 pre- and post-operative cycles FLOT/ATZ, followed by 8 cycles ATZ maintenance (Arm A) or 2x4 perioperative cycles FLOT alone (Arm B). In total, 556 pts will be enrolled, thereof 379 pts in phase III. This estimates to a recruitment time of 30 months plus 18 months follow-up for 80% statistical power and a significance level of p&lt;0.05 (two-sided log rank test). The primary endpoint is event-free survival (EFS) with a target hazard ratio of 0.72, reflecting a clinically relevant improvement to 41.65 months in arm A. Main secondary endpoints are pCR, overall survival (OS) also in high immune-responsive subgroups (CPS ≥5/ CPS≥ 10/ MSI), R0 resection rate and safety/tolerability. In addition, a prospective biomarker study with serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis accompanying therapy is performed to explore the prognostic impact of ctDNA on efficacy and survival parameters, as well as on relapse incidence. Recruitment of phase III started in Aug 2023 and is still ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03421288 .

Efficacy and safety of regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitors in patients with advanced hepatocellular beyond atezolizumab plus bevacizumab: A retrospective analysis of real-world evidence.

e16172 Background: In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progressing after atezolizumab and bevacizumab, the optimal therapy scheme is debatable and the efficacy of regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitors is still unclear. Methods: In this retrospective study, advanced HCC patients who received regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitors progressing after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab were consecutively enrolled from February 2022 to January 2024. Main efficacy endpoint was overall survival (OS), following progression free survival (PFS), evaluated in accordance with RECIST v1.1. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded according to CTCAE v5.0. Results: A total of 11 eligible patients were enrolled, with 8 in Child-Pugh A and 3 in Child-Pugh B7. All patients had hepatitis B infection by with tumor embolus. All patients were classified as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C. The AFP level is above 400ng/ml in all patients. At data cut-off at February 2024, the median OS was 16.9 months and the median PFS was 3.7 months. The 3-month and 6-month PFS rates were 70% and 35% , respectively. The 12-month OS rate was 71.4%. Grade≥3 TRAEs occurred in 9.1% (1/11) of the patients. Conclusions: Though application of regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitors progressing after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab present safe and effective in our cohort, these data need to be confirmed in prospective comparative studies. [Table: see text]

Efficacy and safety in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma between patients with negative and positive APF treated with targeted and immunotherapy.

e16162 Background: Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is widely accepted as a crucial tool for clinical diagnosis and screening of HCC. However, there are cases where patients test negative for AFP but are confirmed to have Hepatocellular Carcinoma through imaging or pathological examinations. Despite these findings, there is limited research focusing on the medicine selection for AFP-negative patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study, involving 223 untreated advanced HCC patients, and the first-line regimen consisted of targeted therapy and TKI+ICIs therapy. Patients are categorized into negative and positive AFP groups based on initial serum levels. Main efficacy endpoint was progression free survival (PFS), evaluated in accordance with RECIST v1.1. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded according to CTCAE v5.0. Results: According to the level of serum AFP, they were divided into negative group(100) and positive group(123). The two groups showed no statistically significant differences in age, gender, Child-Pugh score and other baseline clinical characteristics( P&gt; 0.05). At data cut-off at February 2023, median OS was not matured and mPFS in negative group was higher than positive group(8.2 vs 5.3months, P&lt; 0.0001). In the ICIs+TKI therapy cohort, mPFS in the negative AFP group(52) was significantly higher than in the positive AFP group(70) (10 vs. 5.8 months, P = 0.0021). Considering all patients in the negative AFP group as a subgroup, an analysis of survival benefits between those receiving targeted therapy and those receiving TKI+ICIs therapy revealed no significant difference in PFS( P&gt; 0.05). Moreover, AEs were compared between the negative and positive group, with no significant differences observed in Any Grade or Grade 3/4( P&gt; 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with negative AFP exhibited superior survival benefits compared to those with positive AFP in first-line therapy. Regarding PFS, the TKI+ICIS therapy did not demonstrate a better benefit over targeted therapy in the negative AFP subgroup.

Biosimilar Candidate CT-P42 in Diabetic Macular Edema: 24-Week Results from a Randomized, Active-Controlled, Phase III Study

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the therapeutic similarity of CT-P42 compared to reference aflibercept (Eylea®) in adult patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). DesignRandomized, active-controlled, double-masked, Phase III clinical trial ParticipantsPatients with a diagnosis of either type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with DME involving the center of the macula. MethodsPatients were randomized (1:1) to receive either CT-P42 or reference aflibercept (2 mg/0.05 mL) by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (5 doses) then every 8 weeks (4 doses) in the main study period. Results up to Week 24 are reported herein. Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary endpoint was mean change from baseline at Week 8 in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. Equivalence between CT-P42 and reference aflibercept was to be concluded if the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) (global assumptions) and two-sided 90% CI (US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] assumptions) for the treatment difference fell entirely within the equivalence margin of ±3 letters, as assessed in the full analysis set. ResultsOverall, 348 patients were randomized (CT-P42: 173; reference aflibercept: 175). BCVA improved from baseline to Week 8 in both groups, with a least squares mean (standard error) improvement of 9.43 (0.798) and 8.85 (0.775) letters in the CT-P42 and reference aflibercept groups, respectively. The estimated between-group treatment difference was 0.58 letters, with the CIs within the pre-defined equivalence margin of ±3 letters (95% CI −0.73, 1.88 [global]; 90% CI −0.52, 1.67 [FDA]). Through Week 24, other efficacy results for the two groups, in terms of change in BCVA and retinal central subfield thickness, as well as ETDRS Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale score, supported therapeutic similarity. Pharmacokinetics, usability, safety (including the proportions of patients experiencing at least one treatment-emergent adverse event [CT-P42: 50.3%; reference aflibercept: 53.7%]), and immunogenicity were also comparable between groups. ConclusionsThis study in patients with DME demonstrated equivalence between CT-P42 and reference aflibercept (2 mg/0.05 mL) in terms of efficacy, with similar pharmacokinetic, usability, safety, and immunogenicity profiles.

A retrospective study of first-line therapy and subsequent pyrotinib treatment in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with HER2 mutations.

HER2 is an infrequently mutated driver gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, there has been no comprehensive large-scale clinical study to establish the optimal first-line treatment strategy for advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with HER2-Mutant. Besides that, the effectiveness and safety of pyrotinib, a pan-HER inhibitor, in the context of NSCLC are still undergoing investigation. In this study, we conducted a retrospective data collection of HER2-Mutated advanced LUAD who received first-line treatment and pyrotinib between May 2014 and June 2023. Patients treated with chemotherapy, chemotherapy + immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chemotherapy + bevacizumab and pyrotinib in first-line treatment. Furthermore, we collected data on the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib in these patients after disease progression. The main endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS). In the final analysis, 89 patients were included in the first-line cohort and 30 patients were included in the pyrotinib cohort. In the first-line treatment cohort, chemotherapy + ICIs, chemotherapy + bevacizumab, and pyrotinib exhibited notable survival benefits compared to chemotherapy (median PFS: 9.87 vs. 7.77 vs. 7.10 vs. 5.40 months, p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with a first-line treatment PFS of less than 6 months may potentially benefit from subsequent treatment with pyrotinib (median PFS: 7.467 vs. 3.000, p-value = 0.0490). In the first-line treatment of HER2-Mutant LUAD, regimens involving combinations like chemotherapy + ICIs, chemotherapy + bevacizumab, and pyrotinib may confer enhanced survival advantages compared to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, no significant distinctions were observed among these three treatment strategies, underscoring the imperative to identify biomarkers for the discerning selection of suitable therapeutic modalities. Moreover, patients with suboptimal response to first-line treatment may potentially derive more benefit from pyrotinib.

Comparative analysis of the efficiency of the use of various types of conduits during coronary artery bypass grafting

The OBJECTIVE was to compare efficiency of the use of various types of conduits during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).METHODS AND MATERIALS. The retrospective study included 282 patients, who underwent CABG, performed with different types of conduits. The average age of the patients was 63.2±8.5 years; the majority of 231 patients (81.9%) were male. Patients were separated in 3groups depending on the use of conduits: the first one included patients after bimammary coronary artery bypass grafting (n=77); the second one involved coronary artery bypass grafting using radial artery(n=87); the third one included patients with venous conduits (n=77). The main endpoint of the study was the development of conduit dysfunctions in the long-term period according to diagnostic coronary artery bypass grafting.RESULTS. The average follow-up time in the long-term period was 44.9±39 months. During this period, 198 patients underwent diagnostic coronary artery bypass grafting. According to the results of the analysis, the greatest effectiveness was observed in groups using arterial conduits – the left internal thoracic artery and radial artery. For example, the incidence of dysfunction of the left internal thoracic artery in the anterior artery basin was 8.2%; the incidence of dysfunction of radial artery in the right artery basin was 12.5 %, and in the obtuse marginal branch basin – 11.5 %; while the incidence of venous conduits’ dysfunction varied, reaching its maximum of 42.8 %.CONCLUSIONS. Thus, the greatest efficiency was observed when using the left and the right internal thoracic arteries, thereafter by the radial artery. The results of using venous conduits were lower.