Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicities

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are molecules that increase the endogenous immune response against tumors. They have revolutionized the field of oncology. Since their initial approval for the treatment of advanced melanoma, their use has expanded to the treatment of several other advanced cancers. Unfortunately, immune checkpoint inhibitors have also been associated with the emergence of a new subset of autoimmune-like toxicities, known as immune-related adverse events. These toxicities differ depending on the agent, malignancy, and individual susceptibilities. Although the skin and colon are most commonly involved, any organ may be affected, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart. Most of these toxicities are diagnosed by excluding other secondary infectious or inflammatory causes. Corticosteroids are commonly used for treatment of moderate and severe immune-related adverse events, although additional immunosuppressive therapy may occasionally be required. The occurrence of immune-related toxicities may require discontinuation of immunotherapy, depending on the specific toxicity and its severity. In this article, we provide a focused review to familiarize practicing clinicians with this important topic given that the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors continues to increase.     

乳腺炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的研究进展

炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤（inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor，IMT）作为一种低度恶性潜能的间叶组织来源的肿瘤，病因及发病机制不明。主要见于儿童和青少年,最常见的部位是肺、肠系膜、网膜，发生于乳腺的比较罕见，且往往单发。乳腺炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤的临床症状及影像学特点均不典型，术前易造成误诊，本文复习国内外文献报道的乳腺炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤，从发病机制、临床表现、影像学特征、病理学特征、鉴别诊断、治疗及预后等方面作一系统综述。     

“Real life” polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures modulate hCG,hPL and hPLGF levels and disrupt the physiological ratio of MMP-2 to MMP-9 and VEGF expression in human placenta cell lines

Using JEG-3 and BeWo cells, we examined the effect of “real life” mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), at doses reported in maternal blood (Mix I) and in placental tissue (Mix II), on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), placental lactogen (hPL) and placental growth factor (hPLGF) secretion, protein expression and immunolocalization. Additionally, the action of PAH mixtures on basal and hormone-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression was evaluated. Under basal conditions, the PAH mixtures increased hCG and decreased hPLGF levels in both cell lines, while hPL expression was stimulated in JEG-3 and inhibited in BeWo. There was no effect on the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio or VEGF expression. In hormone-stimulated cells, PAH mixtures changed the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio in JEG-3 cells in favor of MMP-9, while in BeWo MMP-2 was favored. The effect on VEGF expression was cell specific and dependent on the mixture. In hCG-treated cells, only Mix II inhibited VEGF expression in JEG-3 cells. Neither PAH mixtures affected this protein in BeWo cells. In hPL-treated cells, Mix I had a stimulatory effect in JEG-3 cells, while Mix II exerted an inhibitory effect in BeWo cells. In hPLGF-treated cells, Mix II decreased in JEG-3 cells, but in BeWo cells, both mixtures increased VEGF expression. Considering that the evaluated protein hormones play crucial roles in angiogenesis and neovascularization in the placenta, “real life” PAH mixtures by disrupting protein hormones levels, the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio and VEGF expression can lead to insufficiency and many pregnancy-related disorders.     

Spondylodiscitis after transoral robotic surgery: Retrospective 7-case series from the GETTEC group

BackgroundCervical spondylodiscitis is a rare but severe complication of pharyngeal surgery.Material and methodsThis multicenter retrospective study reported all patients in the database of the French head and neck tumor study group (GETTEC) affected by cervical spondylodiscitis after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for malignant pharyngeal tumor from January 2010 to January 2017.ObjectivesTo describe cases of post-TORS cervical spondylodiscitis, identify alarm signs, and determine optimal management of these potentially lethal complications.ResultsSeven patients from 6 centers were included. Carcinomas were located in the posterior pharyngeal wall. Tumor stage was T1 or T2. All patients had risk factors for spondylodiscitis. Mean time to diagnosis was 12.6 days. The interval between surgery and spondylodiscitis diagnosis ranged from 20 days to 4.5 months, for a mean 2.1 months. The most common symptom was neck pain (87%). Infections were polymicrobial; micro-organisms were isolated in 5 cases and managed by intravenous antibiotics, associated to medullary decompression surgery in 3 cases. Follow-up found favorable progression in 4 cases, and 3 deaths (mortality, 43%).ConclusionThis French multicenter study found elevated mortality in post-TORS spondylodiscitis, even in case of limited resection. Surgeons must be aware of this complication and alerted by persistent neck pain, fever, asthenia, impaired or delayed posterior pharyngeal wall wound healing or elevation of inflammatory markers. MRI is the most effective diagnostic radiological examination.     

Racial differences in characteristics and prognoses between Asian and white patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer receiving atezolizumab: An ancillary analysis of the POPLAR and OAK studies

This study aimed to compare the differences in characteristics and prognoses between Asian and white patients receiving immunotherapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We studied 390 patients who received atezolizumab as part of the POPLAR or OAK trial, and analyzed the differences in baseline characteristics, outcomes and genetic mutations in blood samples between Asian and white patients. Overall survival (OS) was longer in Asian compared to white patients (median OS: 18.7 vs. 11.1 months; p = 0.005). Race was identified as an independent prognostic factor for OS (Asian vs. white: hazard ratio 0.647, 95% confidence interval 0.447–0.936, p = 0.021), together with performance status, histology, baseline sum of the longest tumor diameters (BLSLD) and number of metastatic sites. The two groups also differed in terms of characteristics including smoking history, BLSLD, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation frequency, programmed death-ligand 1 expression and blood-based tumor-mutation burden. Blood mutations of STK11, EGFR, KEAP1, POLE, GRM3, ATM and STAG2 were associated with treatment response, and TP53, KEAP1, APC, RB1, CREBBP, EPHA5 and STAG2 mutations were associated with OS. The blood-based mutation profiles differentiated between Asian and white patients, especially in relation to EGFR (23.8 vs. 8.5%), TP53 (30.2 vs. 46.9%) and STK11 (1.6 vs. 12.3%) mutations (all p < 0.05). The different clinicopathological features and mutation profiles in Asian and white patients may explain the superior outcome following atezolizumab treatment in Asian patients with NSCLC. The results of this study have important implications for further studies on racial disparities in relation to immunotherapy.     

PTPN6通过抑制SP1/p38 MAPK信号通路促进前列腺癌细胞的化疗敏感性

目的:研究PTPN6对前列腺癌细胞PC3的作用及其作用机制。方法:RT-PCR和Western blot实验检测前列腺癌组织和细胞以及癌旁组织和人前列腺上皮细胞中PTPN6的表达量；CCK-8和EDU染色实验检测PTPN6对前列腺癌细胞PC3增殖的影响；Western blot实验检测耐药相关蛋白P-gp和MRP-1的蛋白表达水平。结果:RT-PCR和Western blot结果显示，PTPN6在前列腺癌组织和细胞中的表达量显著低于癌旁组织和人前列腺上皮细胞中的表达量；过表达PTPN6显著抑制前列腺癌PC3细胞的增殖，并降低PC3细胞的耐药性；进一步的研究结果表明PTPN6可通过抑制SP1，并抑制p38 MAPK通路抑制PC3细胞的增殖和耐药。结论:PTPN6能够抑制前列腺癌细胞PC3的增殖和耐药，提高其化疗敏感性，作用机制是通过调控SP1/p38 MAPK信号通路来实现的，这一结果能够为临床上前列腺癌的诊断和治疗提供分子基础。     

超高CD34+采集的动员方案序贯二次自体造血干细胞移植治疗难治性 霍奇金淋巴瘤

目的:探讨超高CD34+采集的动员方案后序贯二次自体造血干细胞移植治疗难治性霍奇金淋巴瘤的疗效和安全性。方法:对1例经过多疗程一线、二线、新药、免疫等均难治的霍奇金淋巴瘤患者，予以IA+C方案化疗+G-CSF动员干细胞后采集出超高水平CD34+细胞，之后行自体造血干细胞移植，移植后获得完全缓解，再予序贯第二次自体造血干细胞移植进行巩固治疗。结果:总计输注单个核细胞数13.67×108/kg，CD34+细胞48.68×106/kg，第一次自体造血干细胞移植术后第7天造血功能恢复，复查全身PET-CT提示获得完全缓解，第二次自体造血干细胞移植术后第8天造血功能恢复，两次自体造血干细胞移植相关并发症均在可控范围内。结论:超高CD34+细胞采集的IA+C方案化疗+G-CSF动员可以让患者有机会进行多次自体造血干细胞移植，是临床动员的创新方案。对于难治性霍奇金淋巴瘤，序贯二次自体造血干细胞移植可达到更深层次缓解，且安全性较高，延长患者无疾病生存期及总生存期，为难治性霍奇金淋巴瘤治疗提供更多临床依据。