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Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins are transcriptional activators for multiple oncogenic processes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including MYC, BCL2, E2F, and toll-like receptor signaling. We report results of a phase 1b dose-escalation study of the novel, subcutaneous BET inhibitor RO6870810 (RO) combined with the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, and rituximab, in recurrent/refractory DLBCL. RO was delivered for 14 days of a 21-day cycle, whereas venetoclax was delivered continuously. A 3 + 3 escalation design was used to determine the safety of the RO+venetoclax doublet; rituximab was added in later cohorts. Thirty-nine patients were treated with a median of 2.8 cycles (range, 1-11). Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 febrile neutropenia, grade 4 diarrhea, and hypomagnesemia for the doublet; and grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia and grade 4 diarrhea when rituximab was added. The doublet maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined to be 0.65 mg/kg RO+600 mg venetoclax; for RO+venetoclax+rituximab, the MTDs were 0.45 mg/kg, 600 mg, and 375 mg/m2, respectively. The most frequent grade 3 and 4 adverse events were neutropenia (28%) and anemia and thrombocytopenia (23% each). Responses were seen in all cohorts and molecular subtypes. Sustained decreases in CD11b on monocytes indicated pharmacodynamic activity of RO. Overall response rate according to modified Lugano criteria was 38.5%; 48% of responses lasted for ≥180 days. Complete response was observed in 8 patients (20.5%). Optimization of the treatment schedule and a better understanding of predictors of response would be needed to support broader clinical use. This trial is registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03255096.

Increasing life expectancy has resulted in a growing number of individuals living with chronic, age-related conditions. This challenges healthcare systems worldwide and results in loss of quality of life in individuals living with chronic conditions. Strategies to promote healthy aging are thus gaining attention.Lifestyle factors such as caloric restriction, carbohydrate restriction and physical activity specifically modify a number of biological pathways associated with aging. One central shared mechanism seems to be the upregulating of maintenance pathways such as the AMPK signaling pathway, triggered by a low cellular energy status, as well as downregulation of anabolic pathways such as the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. The transient energy deficit evoked by (intermittent) caloric restriction or vigorous physical activity – or the phenotypic imitation of this physiological state by dietary carbohydrate restriction – might offer some biologic plausibility for the observation of the benefits of these lifestyle factors. Largely independent of these mechanisms, physical activity directly impacts on downstream adaptive cellular responses via muscle-tissue crosstalk through myokines, i.e. hormone-like substances secreted by skeletal muscle in response to exercise. It is worth noting that distinct pharmaceuticals such as metformin, SGLT2-inhibitors and statins have the potential to complement lifestyle factors by directly modifying these longevity-associated pathways.Lifestyle factors are relevant determinants of health- and potentially of lifespan. Recent findings have significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms involved. This narrative review provides a perspective on selected modifiable determinants of healthspan and furthermore elucidates therapeutic avenues that have the potential to attenuate premature aging and to refine personalized preventive care.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Change in lipids and lipoprotein subclasses in CCI at baseline, one and two years. Table S1. Baseline characteristics. Table S2. Adjusted means and changes in lipids, blood pressure and CIMT over time by treatment group among completers. Table S3. Lipid lowering and anti-hypertensive medication use over time among completers. Table S4. Adjusted means and changes in lipids, lipoproteins, apoproteins, blood pressure, and CIMT over time by treatment group (intent-to-treat analysis). Table S5. Principal Components and Respective Loading of Each Lipoprotein/Lipid from Baseline and Two-year Follow-up Data. Table S6. Estimated mean proportions and standard errors in the change of LDL phenotype patterns from baseline to two years. Table S7. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of lipoprotein subclasses in LDL-C hypo- versus hyper-responders. Table S8. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) of lipoprotein subclasses in ApoB hypo- versus hyper-responders. Table S9. Relationships between change in BMI and central abdominal fat with lipids and lipoproteins. Table S10. Association between frequency of participants reporting BHB ≥ 0.5mM with change in lipids and lipoproteins from baseline to 2 years. Table S11. LDL phenotype conversions and their associations with frequency of participants reporting BHB ≥ 0.5mM from baseline to 2 years.

Background Bevacizumab, a VEGF‐A inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy, has proven to increase progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival in multiple lines of therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The angiogenic factor angiopoetin‐2 (Ang‐2) is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers, including mCRC. Preclinical models demonstrate improved activity when inhibiting both VEGF‐A and Ang‐2, suggesting that the dual VEGF‐A and Ang‐2 blocker vanucizumab (RO5520985 or RG‐7221) may improve clinical outcomes. This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of vanucizumab plus modified (m)FOLFOX‐6 (folinic acid (leucovorin), fluorouracil (5‐FU) and oxaliplatin) versus bevacizumab/mFOLFOX‐6 for first‐line mCRC. Patients and Methods All patients received mFOLFOX‐6 and were randomized 1:1 to also receive vanucizumab 2,000 mg or bevacizumab 5 mg/kg every other week. Oxaliplatin was given for eight cycles; other agents were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity for a maximum of 24 months. The primary endpoint was investigator‐assessed PFS. Results One hundred eighty‐nine patients were randomized (vanucizumab, n = 94; bevacizumab, n = 95). The number of PFS events was comparable (vanucizumab, n = 39; bevacizumab, n = 43). The hazard ratio was 1.00 (95% confidence interval, 0.64–1.58; p = .98) in a stratified analysis based on number of metastatic sites and region. Objective response rate was 52.1% and 57.9% in the vanucizumab and bevacizumab arm, respectively. Baseline plasma Ang‐2 levels were prognostic in both arms but not predictive for treatment effects on PFS of vanucizumab. The incidence of adverse events of grade ≥3 was similar between treatment arms (83.9% vs. 82.1%); gastrointestinal perforations (10.8% vs. 8.4%) exceeded previously reported rates in this setting. Hypertension and peripheral edema were more frequent in the vanucizumab arm. Conclusion Vanucizumab/mFOLFOX‐6 did not improve PFS and was associated with increased rates of antiangiogenic toxicity compared with bevacizumab/mFOLFOX‐6. Our results suggest that Ang‐2 is not a relevant therapeutic target in first‐line mCRC. Implications for Practice This randomized phase II study demonstrates that additional angiopoietin‐2 (Ang‐2) inhibition does not result in superior benefit over anti–VEGF‐A blockade alone when each added to standard chemotherapy. Moreover, the performed pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis revealed that vanucizumab was bioavailable and affected its intended target, thereby strongly suggesting that Ang‐2 is not a relevant therapeutic target in the clinical setting of treatment‐naïve metastatic colorectal cancer. As a result, the further clinical development of the dual VEGF‐A and Ang‐2 inhibitor vanucizumab was discontinued., This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of vanucizumab plus mFOLFOX‐6 versus bevacizumab/mFOLFOX‐6 in the first‐line setting of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Mirtazapin ist ein noradrenerges und spezifisch serotonerges Antidepressivum, das seit seiner Erstzulassung im Jahre 1996 routinemäßig zur Therapie von schweren depressiven Störungen eingesetzt wird. Eine medikamentöse Behandlung mit Mirtazapin wird in vielen Studien mit Störungen der Appetitregulation, einer erheblichen Zunahme von Körpergewicht sowie Lipidstoffwechselstörungen in Verbindung gebracht. Da es durch die Einnahme von Mirtazapin meist zu einer erheblichen Gewichtszunahme kommt, bleibt unklar, ob Lipidstoffwechselstörungen erst sekundär durch die Gewichtszunahme entstehen oder primär als Medikamentennebenwirkung auftreten. Bis dato wurde noch kein gewichtsunabhängiger Effekt von Mirtazapin auf den Lipidstoffwechsel beschrieben. Dies hat uns dazu veranlasst zu prüfen, ob sich in einem hoch standardisierten Studiensetting in Bezug auf Ernährung, Bewegung und Schlaf-Wach-Rhythmus bei psychisch und körperlich gesunden Probanden durch eine 7-tägige Gabe von 30 mg/d Mirtazapin systematische Veränderungen des Lipoproteinprofils, des Körpergewichts, der Waist to Hip Ratio und des Appetits ergeben. In einer Längsschnitterhebung mit mehreren Messzeitpunkten wurde der Einfluss einer 7-tägigen oralen Einnahme von 30 mg/d Mirtazapin auf den Fettstoffwechsel, das Körpergewicht, die Waist to Hip Ratio sowie das Appetitempfinden von 12 gesunden, kaukasischen, männlichen Probanden im Alter zwischen 20 und 25 Jahren überprüft. Um die Einflussgrößen der Ernährung und Bewegung auf Fettstoffwechsel und Körpergewicht konstant zu halten, wurde diese Studie in einem hochstandardisierten Studiensetting durchgeführt. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte von Dezember 2008 bis April 2010. Die 7-tägige Einnahme von Mirtazapin verursachte in unserer Studienpopulation sowohl eine quantitative Veränderung des Gesamtcholesterins als auch erhebliche qualitative Veränderungen der einzelnen Lipidfraktionen. Das Gesamtcholesterin zeigte nach 7 Tagen eine statistisch signifikante Verminderung von 8%, das LDL-Cholesterin verminderte sich um statistisch signifikante 9% und das HDL-Cholesterin sank ebenfalls statistisch signifikant um 9%. Die Triglyzeride zeigten einen statistisch signifikanten Anstieg von 9%. Die Einzelverläufe der Lipidwerte zeigten in unserer Studienpopulation einen insgesamt sehr homogenen Verlauf. Unter Beibehaltung der standardisierten Diät der 3-wöchigen Vorbereitungsphase kam es durch die 7-tägige Einnahme von 30mg/d Mirtazapin zu einer statistisch signifikanten Abnahme des Körpergewichts. Die Waist to Hip Ratio nahm zu, jedoch ohne statistische Signifikanz. Hinsichtlich des subjektiven Hungergefühls zeigte sich ein statistisch höchst signifikanter Anstieg von 44% als akute Reaktion auf die Einnahme des Studienpräparats innerhalb von 12 Stunden. Am 3. Tag erreichte das Appetitempfinden ein Maximum, ebenso waren der Appetit auf süße sowie auf fettige Speisen an Tag 3 gegenüber dem Baselinewert statistisch signifikant erhöht. Insgesamt gesehen deuten die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie darauf hin, dass Mirtazapin zu einer Konstellation der Blutfettwerte führt, wie sie häufig im Rahmen des Typ 2 Diabetes mellitus beobachtet wird. Diese Konstellation eines erniedrigten HDL-Cholesterins sowie erhöhten Triglyzeridwerten scheint eine besonders aggressive endothelschädigende Potenz an den Blutgefäßen zu haben. Veränderungen des Lipoproteinprofils durch die Einnahme von Mirtazapin ergeben sich in der vorliegenden Studie unabhängig von Veränderungen des Körpergewichts. Dies steht im Gegensatz zu der bisher gängigen Theorie, dass Störungen im Lipidstoffwechsel nicht primär durch das Medikament, sondern eher durch die pharmakainduzierte Gewichtszunahme verursacht werden. Ein Erklärungsansatz hierfür könnte die, bisher nur in Zellkulturen beobachtete, mirtazapininduzierte Aktivierung von SREBP Transkriptionsfaktoren, die die Cholesterin- und Fettsäurebiosynthese kontrollieren, sein. Durch ein besseres Verständnis der Wirkmechanismen von Mirtazapin könnten die Ergebnisse dieser Studie klinische Auswirkungen auf dessen Anwendungsbereich haben. Bei bereits vorliegendem metabolischen Syndrom sowie dessen Einzelkomponenten sollte bei der Behandlung depressiver Sörungen von Medikamenten wie Mirtazapin, die sich nachteilig auf das kardiovaskuläre Risikoprofil auswirken könnten, möglicherweise besser abgesehen werden

vorgelegt von: Katharina Lechner Zsfassung in engl. Sprache FH Campus Wien, Fachhochschulstudiengang Sozialarbeit, Dipl.-Arb., 2010

Despite major efforts to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden with conventional risk factor control, significant residual risk remains. Recent evidence on non-traditional determinants of cardiometabolic health has advanced our understanding of lifestyle–disease interactions. Chronic exposure to environmental stressors like poor diet quality, sedentarism, ambient air pollution and noise, sleep deprivation and psychosocial stress affect numerous traditional and non-traditional intermediary pathways related to ASCVD. These include body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and functionality and the intestinal microbiome, which are increasingly recognized as major determinants of cardiovascular health. Evidence points to partially overlapping mechanisms, including effects on inflammatory and nutrient sensing pathways, endocrine signalling, autonomic function and autophagy. Of particular relevance is the potential of low-risk lifestyle factors to impact on plaque vulnerability through altered adipose tissue and skeletal muscle phenotype and secretome. Collectively, low-risk lifestyle factors cause a set of phenotypic adaptations shifting tissue cross-talk from a proinflammatory milieu conducive for high-risk atherosclerosis to an anti-atherogenic milieu. The ketone body ß-hydroxybutyrate, through inhibition of the NLRP-3 inflammasome, is likely to be an intermediary for many of these observed benefits. Adhering to low-risk lifestyle factors adds to the prognostic value of optimal risk factor management, and benefit occurs even when the impact on conventional risk markers is discouragingly minimal or not present. The aims of this review are (a) to discuss novel lifestyle risk factors and their underlying biochemical principles and (b) to provide new perspectives on potentially more feasible recommendations to improve long-term adherence to low-risk lifestyle factors.