CTLA4 antagonists in phase I and phase II clinical trials,current status and future perspectives for cancer therapy

Introduction: In cancer, the immune response to tumor antigens is often suppressed by inhibitors and ligands. Checkpoint blockade, considered one of the most promising frontiers for anti-cancer therapy, aims to stimulate the immune anti-cancer response. Agents such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors offer prolonged survival with manageable side effects.

Areas covered: We summarize the recent clinical successes of CTLA-4 inhibitors and place a strong emphasis on those in early phase clinical trials, often in combination with other immune check-point inhibitors, i.e., programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors.

Expert opinion: Recent phase I and phase II clinical trials confirm the efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 therapy for treatment of cancers such as renal cell carcinoma. These studies also indicated increased efficacy with combined immune checkpoint blockade with PD-1 or Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitors. Researchers must search for new immune targets that may enable more effective and safe immune checkpoint blockade and cancer therapy. This goal may be achieved by next-generation combination therapies to overcome immune checkpoint therapy resistance.     

Uterine PEComa with aggressive behavior: A review with an additional case of spontaneous vaginal expulsion

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare mesenchymal tumor originating from perivascular epitheloid cells showing melanocytic and smooth muscle differentiation. The uterus represents the second most common site of origin. A 49 years woman presented to our Hospital for a vaginal spontaneous expulsion of a mass suggestive for malignant mesenchymal tumor. The patient underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and the histopathological report was compliant with a PEComa with aggressive behavior. Medical Literature databases about PEComa were searched. The current literature identified near 90 cases of uterine PEComas and they are categorized as uncertain malignant potential or with aggressive behavior. Primary surgical excision represents the gold-standard treatment. Recently targeted therapy with mTOR inhibitors has been introduced with an important beneficial. In this paper we review the Literature about the uPEComa with aggressive behavior reporting the first case of spontaneous vaginal expulsion.     

滋阴清热方治疗对甲状腺功能亢进症阴虚火旺证患者疗效、血浆内皮素-1、炎症因子和免疫功能的影响

目的:研究滋阴清热方治疗对甲状腺功能亢进症阴虚火旺证患者疗效、血浆内皮素-1、炎症因子和免疫功能的影响。方法:将广州市花都区妇幼保健院收治的100例甲状腺功能亢进症阴虚火旺证患者分成观察组和对照组。对照组:给患者使用常规药物治疗;观察组:在对照组的基础上,给予滋阴清热方治疗。干预后,比较两组患者的临床疗效、血浆内皮素-1(Endothelin,ET)、炎症因子[白介素-2(Interleukin-2,IL-2)、白介素-8(Interleukin-8,IL-8)]及肿瘤坏死因子(Tumour Necrosis Factor-α,TNF-α)和免疫功能(CD3^+、CD4^+、CD8^+及CD4^+/CD8^+)。结果:干预前,两组患者IL-2、IL-8及TNF-α无变化,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);干预后,观察组患者的IL-2比对照组高,且对照组的IL-8及TNF-α比观察组的高,P<0.05,差异有统计学意义;干预前,两组患者的CD3^+、CD4^+、CD8^+及CD4^+/CD8^+与ET无变化;干预后,观察组的CD3^+、CD4^+、CD8+及CD4^+/CD8^+比对照组高,P <0.05,差异有统计学意义,且观察组的ET低于对照组且观察组总有效率明显高于对照组。结论:滋阴清热方治疗降低了血浆内皮素-1,减少炎症的出现,提高免疫功能。     

沙库巴曲缬沙坦在心力衰竭治疗中的应用

心力衰竭是一种慢性疾病，是心脏无法泵出足够的血液为其他身体器官提供氧气，从而引发呼吸短促、疲劳和水肿等症状。目前其治疗包括病因治疗、一般治疗、药物治疗及非药物治疗等，其中血管紧张素受体脑啡肽酶抑制剂（ARNI）是当前新研发出的一类抗心衰药物，沙库巴曲缬沙坦是其代表药物，具有阻断肾素-血管紧张-醛固酮系统（RAAS）及抑制脑啡肽酶（NEP）的双重作用，新的欧美指南均推荐用于射血分数降低心力衰竭（HFrEF）的治疗。本文现就沙库巴曲缬沙坦在心力衰竭治疗中的作用机理、临床试验、药物安全性作一综述，旨在为该病的临床治疗提供参考。     

miRNA93和miRNA192在H3N2亚型SIV病毒复制及宿主抗病毒免疫中的作用

目的 探讨分离于广西猪流感病毒SW/Guangxi/NS2783/2010和SW/Guangxi/NS650/2012跨种属感染人肺腺癌A549细胞的miRNA93和miRNA192对病毒复制及宿主抗病毒免疫的影响。方法 通过测定不同稀释浓度的病毒感染细胞HA滴度值,确定病毒最佳稀释浓度。荧光定量PCR检测病毒感染细胞后miRNA93和miRNA192表达,Western blot检测病毒NP和HA蛋白表达水平;转染miRNA93和miRNA192抑制剂后,重新检测miRNA93、miRNA192、IFN-β及病毒NP、HA蛋白表达水平。结果 不同稀释度病毒感染人A549细胞后HA滴度的结果显示病毒SW2783的最佳稀释度为10^-3,而SW650的HA滴度无明显变化趋势,提示病毒SW2783对人A549细胞具有较好的适应性和感染能力。荧光定量PCR和Western blot结果提示两株病毒感染细胞后病毒NP和HA蛋白表达均先升高后降低,加入miRNA93抑制剂,两株病毒NP和HA蛋白的表达均上调;加入miRNA192抑制剂,病毒SW2783的HA蛋白表达下调（P=2.10×10^-4）,而SW650的HA蛋白表达上调（P=5.45×10^-5）,NP蛋白反而下调（P=0.034）;ELISA结果提示病毒SW2783和SW650感染细胞后炎症因子IFN-β表达水平随感染时间延长而升高。结论 研究表明miRNA93和miRNA192的表达与SIV病毒增殖及宿主抗病毒免疫有关,可作为干预猪流感病毒跨种属感染的新靶点。     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

Improving medication adherence with adjuvant aromatase inhibitor in women with breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of short message service (SMS) reminder

BackgroundMedication adherence is crucial for improving clinical outcomes in the treatment of patients. We evaluate the effect of short message service (SMS) reminder on medication adherence and serum hormones in patients with breast cancer on aromatase inhibitors.MethodsAn open-label, multi-centre, prospective randomised controlled trial of SMS versus Standard Care was conducted. Medication adherence was assessed via self-report using the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire at baseline, 6 month, and 1 year. Androstenedione, estradiol, and estrone were measured at baseline and 1 year. The χ² test and mixed effects logistic regression was performed to compare medication adherence between groups. Difference in androstenedione and estrone levels were assessed using analysis of covariance, whereas χ² test and logistic regression was used for estradiol. Analysis was based on intention-to-treat.ResultsA total of 244 patients were randomised to receive weekly SMS reminder (n = 123) or Standard Care (n = 121) between May 2015 and December 2018. The odds of adherence was higher at 6-month in SMS (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.04–3.05, p = 0.034), and not significantly different at 1-year (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.67–1.96 p = 0.617). Mixed effects logistic regression analysis showed higher odds of adherence in SMS over the 1-year period (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.01–5.49, p = 0.048). There was no difference in serum hormone levels between groups.ConclusionSMS reminder improved medication adherence in the short-term but had no effect on serum hormones levels in the longer term. Future studies could investigate the use of tailored SMS intervention according to patient preference to improve its sustainability.     

Perioperative,short-, and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer surgery: Propensity score-matched analysis of patients with or without prior solid organ transplantation

BackgroundDetails of perioperative outcomes and survival after gastric cancer surgery in prior transplant recipients have received minimal research attention.MethodsWe performed an observational cohort study using the database of 20,147 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy at a single gastric cancer center in Korea. Forty-one solid organ recipients [kidney (n = 35), liver (n = 5), or heart (n = 1)] were matched with 205 controls using propensity score matching.ResultsOperation time, blood loss, and postoperative pain were similar between groups. Short-term complication rates were similar between transplantation and control groups (22.0% vs. 20.1%, P = 0.777). Transplantation group patients with stage 1 gastric cancer experienced no recurrence, while those with stage 2/3 cancer had significantly higher recurrence risk compared to the controls (P = 0.049). For patients with stage 1 cancer, the transplantation group had a significantly higher rate of non-gastric cancer-related deaths compared to the controls (19.2% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.001). For those with stage 2/3 cancer, significantly lower proportion of the transplantation group received adjuvant chemotherapy compared to the control group (26.7% vs. 80.3%, P < 0.001). The transplantation group had a higher (albeit not statistically significant) rate of gastric cancer-related deaths compared to the controls (40.0% vs. 18.0%, P = 0.087).ConclusionTransplant recipients and non-transplant recipients exhibited similar perioperative and short-term outcomes after gastric cancer surgery. From long-term outcome analyses, we suggest active surveillance for non-gastric cancer-related deaths in patients with early gastric cancer, as well as strict oncologic care in patients with advanced cancer, as effective strategies for transplant recipients.     

Optimizing Prescribing and Deprescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors

Prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has markedly increased since their inception more than 30 years ago. The increase is related to inappropriate and long-term prescribing of PPIs, associated with a lack of education and unclear prescribing and deprescribing guidelines. The implementation of prescribing stewardship programs influences the reduction and inappropriate use of this medication. The purpose of this review is to address the gaps that exist regarding the use of PPIs along with determining methods for deprescribing. Guidelines and stewardship programs, along with education, are needed to reduce the adverse health effects of long-term PPI therapy.