Atorvastatin Reduces Circulating S100A12 Levels in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques - A Link with Plaque Inflammation

Aims: Inflammation is involved in various processes of atherosclerosis development. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a predictor for cardiovascular risk, are reportedly reduced by statins. However, several studies have demonstrated that CRP is a bystander during atherogenesis. While S100A12 has been focused on as an inflammatory molecule, it remains unclear whether statins affect circulating S100A12 levels. Here, we investigated whether atorvastatin treatment affected S100A12 and which biomarkers were correlated with changes in arterial inflammation. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized open-labeled trial on whether atorvastatin affected arterial (carotid and thoracic aorta) inflammation using¹⁸fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT) and inflammatory markers. Thirty-one statin-naïve patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were randomized to either a group receiving dietary management (n=15) or one receiving atorvastatin (10mg/day,n=16) for 12weeks.¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were performed, the latter to evaluate endothelial function. Results: Atorvastatin, but not the diet-only treatment, significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C, -43%), serum CRP (-37%) and S100A12 levels (-28%) and improved FMD (+38%).¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT demonstrated that atorvastatin, but not the diet-only treatment, significantly reduced accumulation of¹⁸F-FDG in the carotid artery and thoracic aorta. A multivariate analysis revealed that reduction in CRP, S100A12, LDL-C, oxidized-LDL, and increase in FMD were significantly associated with reduced arterial inflammation in the thoracic aorta, but not in the carotid artery. Conclusions: Atorvastatin treatment reduced S100A12/CRP levels, and the changes in these circulating markers mirrored the improvement in arterial inflammation. Our observations suggest that S100A12 may be an emerging therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.     

Transfer profile of intramuscularly administered tetrodotoxin to non-toxic cultured specimens of the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was intramuscularly administered to non-toxic cultured specimens of the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes to investigate TTX transfer/accumulation profiles in the pufferfish body. In two groups of test fish administered either 50 MU/individual of TTX standard (purified TTX; PTTX) or crude extract of toxic pufferfish ovary (crude TTX; CTTX), TTX rapidly transferred from the muscle via the blood to other organs. The toxin transfer profiles differed between groups, however, from 4 to 72 h. In the PTTX group, little TTX was retained in the liver, and most (>96%) of the toxin remaining in the body transferred/accumulated in the skin after 12 h, whereas in the CTTX group, a considerable amount of toxin (15%-23% of the administered toxin or 28%-58% of the remaining toxin) was transferred/retained in the liver for up to 24 h, despite the fact that 89% of the remaining toxin transferred/accumulated in the skin at the end of rearing period (168 h). The total amount of toxin remaining in the entire body at 1-4 h was approximately 60% of the administered toxin in both groups, which decreased at 8-12 h, and then increased again to approximately 60%-80% at 24-168 h. Immunohistochemical observation revealed that the toxin accumulated in the skin was localized at the basal cells of the epidermal layer.     

Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Songjiang district,Shanghai between 2015 and 2017: Evaluation of participation rate and the associated factor

Little is known about the participation rate of newly implemented colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs in China. Our goals were to identify factors associated with nonparticipation for CRC screening in Songjiang District, Shanghai.We analyzed individuals included in an observational cohort study from 4 towns (Xin Qiao, She Shan, Mao Gang, and Zhong Shan) in Songjiang District. The participation rate was calculated for the CRC screening program based on a fecal immunochemical test and a risk assessment questionnaire between 2015 and 2017 inclusive.Of the 27,130 individuals eligible for inclusion in this study, 20,863 (76.9%) participated in CRC screening at least once during 2015 and 2017. The factors linked with nonparticipation were; being male (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82–0.93, P < .01), unmarried (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.64–0.80, P < .01), having a high education level (middle school, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.90, P < .01, high school or above, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.57–0.73, P < .01), absence of chronic disease (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85–0.96, P < .01), and living in 2 out of the 4 towns covered (Xin Qiao, OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.66–0.78, P < .01, Zhong Shan, OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.26–0.31, P < .01).The current study revealed several associated factors with nonparticipation for the CRC screening in Songjiang district. These findings will help identify target populations that require an individualized approach to increase the participation rate.     

Phase IIb study of pembrolizumab combined with S‐1 + oxaliplatin or S‐1 + cisplatin as first‐line chemotherapy for gastric cancer

The KEYNOTE‐659 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of first‐line pembrolizumab plus S‐1 and oxaliplatin (SOX) (cohort 1) or S‐1 and cisplatin (SP) (cohort 2) for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer in Japan. Herein, we update the results of cohort 1 and describe the results of cohort 2. This open‐label phase IIb study enrolled patients with advanced programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1)‐positive (combined positive score ≥ 1) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐negative G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The primary end‐point was the objective response rate (ORR). Other end‐points were duration of response (DOR), disease control rate (DCR), progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. One hundred patients were enrolled. In cohorts 1 and 2, median follow‐up time was 16.9 and 17.1 months; ORR (central review), 72.2% and 80.4%; DOR, 10.6 and 9.5 months; DCR (central review), 96.3% and 97.8%; median PFS (central review), 9.4 and 8.3 months; and median OS, 16.9 and 17.1 months, respectively. Treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in all patients, including peripheral sensory neuropathy (94.4%, cohort 1), decreased neutrophil count (82.6%, cohort 2), nausea (59.3% and 60.9% in cohorts 1 and 2), and decreased appetite (61.1% and 60.9% in cohorts 1 and 2). Grade 3 or higher TRAEs were reported by 59.3% (cohort 1) and 78.3% (cohort 2), including decreased platelet count (14.8%, cohort 1) and decreased neutrophil count (52.2%, cohort 2). Pembrolizumab in combination with SOX or SP showed favorable efficacy and safety in patients with PD‐L1‐positive, HER2‐negative G/GEJ adenocarcinoma.     

Quantitative Assay of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Human Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Oral Region by an Avidin-Biotin Method

A quantitative assay method for epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) of human tumor tissues was established, based on enzyme-labeled avidin-biotin (LAB) interaction with anti-human EGFR monoclonal antibody 52SIgG. A standard calibration curve for EGFR estimation in human tumor tissues was obtained with A431#8 cells cloned from A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell line. The coefficient of variance for the standard curve was below 35% in the application to tumor tissues from nude mice implanted with human tumor cell lines. The minimum tissue amount required for the quantitative assay was around 0.1 g (wet weight). Using the LAB method, the correlation between the level of EGFR number and tumor malignancy was examined for 14 human squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from the oral region. Seven of the SCCs showed a more than two-fold higher EGFR number compared to normal gingival tissues. Three highly aggressive carcinomas with poor prognosis possessed five to ten times higher levels of EGFR number than normal tissues. The elevated EGFR level in the SCCs seems to correlate to increasing tumor size and the stage of SCCs as clinically classified according to the 1987 UICC TNM system.     

Cetuximab delivery and antitumor effects are enhanced by mild hyperthermia in a xenograft mouse model of pancreatic cancer

Even with current promising antitumor antibodies, their antitumor effects on stroma‐rich solid cancers have been insufficient. We used mild hyperthermia with the intent of improving drug delivery by breaking the stromal barrier. Here, we provide preclinical evidence of cetuximab + mild hyperthermia therapy. We used four in vivo pancreatic cancer xenograft mouse models with different stroma amounts (scarce, MIAPaCa‐2; moderate, BxPC‐3; and abundant, Capan‐1 and Ope‐xeno). Cetuximab (1 mg/kg) was given systemically, and the mouse leg tumors were concurrently heated using a water bath method for 30 min at three different temperatures, 25°C (control), 37°C (intra‐abdominal organ level), or 41°C (mild hyperthermia) (n = 4, each group). The evaluated variables were the antitumor effects, represented by tumor volume, and in vivo cetuximab accumulation, indirectly quantified by the immunohistochemical fluorescence intensity value/cell using antibodies against human IgG Fc. At 25°C, the antitumor effects were sufficient, with a cetuximab accumulation value (florescence intensity/cell) of 1632, in the MIAPaCa‐2 model, moderate (1063) in the BxPC‐3 model, and negative in the Capan‐1 and Ope‐xeno models (760, 461). By applying 37°C or 41°C heat, antitumor effects were enhanced shown in decreased tumor volumes. These enhanced effects were accompanied by boosted cetuximab accumulation, which increased by 2.8‐fold (2980, 3015) in the BxPC‐3 model, 2.5‐ or 4.8‐fold (1881, 3615) in the Capan‐1 model, and 3.2‐ or 4.2‐fold (1469, 1922) in the Ope‐xeno model, respectively. Cetuximab was effective in treating even stroma‐rich and k‐ras mutant pancreatic cancer mouse models when the drug delivery was improved by combination with mild hyperthermia.     

Universal Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Children in Kagawa,Japan

Aim: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an underdiagnosed autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by high levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth. This study aimed to assess the genetic identification of FH in children with high LDL-C levels who are identified in a universal pediatric FH screening in Kagawa, Japan. Method: In 2018 and 2019, 15,665 children aged 9 or 10 years underwent the universal lipid screening as part of the annual health checkups for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in the Kagawa prefecture. After excluding secondary hyper-LDL cholesterolemia at the local medical institutions, 67 children with LDL-C levels of ≥ 140 mg/dL underwent genetic testing to detect FH causative mutations at four designated hospitals. Results: The LDL-C levels of 140 and 180 mg/dL in 15,665 children corresponded to the 96.3 and 99.7 percentile values, respectively. Among 67 children who underwent genetic testing, 41 had FH causative mutations (36 in the LDL-receptor, 4 in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, and 1 in apolipoprotein B). The area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic curve predicting the presence of FH causative mutation by LDL-C level was 0.705, and FH causative mutations were found in all children with LDL-C levels of ≥ 250 mg/dL. Conclusion: FH causative mutations were confirmed in almost 60% of the referred children, who were identified through the combination of the lipid universal screening as a part of the health checkup system and the exclusion of secondary hyper-LDL cholesterolemia at the local medical institutions.     

Absolute lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio can predict prognosis and adverse events in patients with recurrent esophageal cancer treated with nivolumab therapy

Predicting the prognosis and adverse events (AEs) of nivolumab therapy for recurrent esophageal cancer is very important. The present study investigated whether a simple blood biochemical examination could be used to predict prognosis and AEs following nivolumab treatment for relapse of esophageal cancer. A total of 41 patients who received nivolumab treatment for recurrent esophageal cancer after esophagectomy were analyzed. The absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR) were assessed at the time of nivolumab induction as indices that can be calculated by blood biochemical examinations alone. Median values were 1,015 for ALC, 3.401 for NLR, 242.6 for PLR, 0.458 for MLR and 0.119 for CAR, and patients were divided into two groups according to values. A high ALC, low NLR, low PLR, low MLR and low CAR were associated with a better response to nivolumab. In addition, patients with the aforementioned indices, with the exception of low PLR, or better response were more likely to develop AEs in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, a high ALC [odds ratio (OR): 4.857, P=0.043] and low CAR (OR: 9.099, P=0.004) were identified as independent risk factors for AEs. Survival analysis revealed that overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates after nivolumab treatment differed significantly between the high and low groups of ALC, NLR, PLR, MLR and CAR. The multivariate analysis identified a low ALC [hazard ratio (HR): 3.710, P=0.003] and high CAR (HR: 2.953, P=0.007) as independent poor prognostic factors of PFS. In conclusion, ALC and CAR have potential as biomarkers for outcomes of recurrent esophageal cancer following nivolumab treatment.     

Safe Concurrent Use of Anti-tuberculosis Drugs and Pembrolizumab in a Patient with Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Who Was Infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A 68-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma stage IVB. We introduced a first-line chemotherapy of four cycles of carboplatin and pemetrexed and pembrolizumab, followed by pemetrexed and pembrolizumab maintenance therapy. Approximately four months after anticancer therapy, a small nodule appeared in the right peripheral S3 lesion. After five months, the nodule was confirmed as a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) nodule. We initiated anti-TB therapy without stopping pembrolizumab, and the right S3 nodule shrank immediately. This report supports the concurrent use of anti-TB treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor when the TB infection area is limited.     

Distinct Recurrence Pattern and Outcome of Adenocarcinoma of the Gastric Cardia in Comparison with Carcinoma of Other Regions of the Stomach

Background Carcinoma arising in the cardioesophageal junction is a distinct clinical entity compared with tumors located in other regions of the stomach. The prognosis for adenocarcinoma of the upper stomach is considered to be relatively poorer than carcinomas of the more distal stomach. We have therefore investigated patients with carcinoma of the gastric cardia in order to evaluate the underlying cause of this poor prognosis. Materials and Methods Clinicopathologic features and postoperative prognosis of 101 patients with carcinoma of the cardia were evaluated and compared with findings on 1884 patients with tumors in other regions of the stomach. Results Tumors of the cardia had a mean size of 6.8 cm, which was significantly larger than the mean size of 5.9 cm for tumors found in the middle- and lower third of the stomach. The incidence of serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis, and lymphatic and blood vessel invasion was higher in association with adenocarcinoma of the cardia than with adenocarcinoma in remaining parts of the stomach. In the analysis of patients who had undergone curative resection, the 5-year survival rates were 61.6, 79.1, and 82.6% in patients with carcinoma of the cardia, upper one-third, and remaining middle- and lower one-third of the stomach, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant. Multivariate analysis indicated that adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia is an independent prognostic factor. With regard to the site of recurrence, both lymph node and hematogenous recurrence were observed more frequently in the cardia than in the remaining parts of the stomach. Conclusions Our data indicate that the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia is extremely poor. To improve their prognosis, new treatments in addition to gastrectomy with extensive lymph node dissection are needed.