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OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess patterns of care delivered to older patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), and to analyze the use of geriatric assessment (GA) and assessment of quality of life (QoL).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Members of the head and neck cancer group and the older task force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), members the European Head and Neck Society and members of national groups in Europe were asked to complete a questionnaire about treatment delivered, use of GA, and QoL assessment in older patients with LA-HNSCC.RESULTS: Investigators from 111 centers replied, including 90 (81.1%) academic centers, 16 (14.4%) community hospitals, and 5 (4.5%) private clinics. Large differences in treatment patterns were found. For instance, for oropharyngeal carcinoma, one third of the centers indicated that they treat 40% of older patients with chemoradiation. Fourteen centers (12.6%) routinely perform GA, while 43 centers (38.7%) never do, and 39 centers (35.1%) sometimes do. QoL is assessed on a routine basis in one fifth of the centers.CONCLUSIONS: Large differences exist across institutions in the patterns of care delivered to older patients with LA-HNSCC. Prospective studies are required to learn how GA can guide treatment decisions, and how QoL and treatment outcome can be improved. For that, consensus on standard of care is essential.

The molecular landscape of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and the neck (SCCHN) has been characterized and actionable or targetable genomic alterations have been identified. However, targeted therapies have very limited activity in unselected SCCHN, and the current treatment strategy is still based on tumor location and disease stage and not on tumor biology. Trying to select upfront the patients who will benefit from a specific treatment might be a way to improve patients' outcome. With the objective of optimizing the activity of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, we have designed an umbrella biomarker-driven study dedicated to recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN patients (EORTC-1559-HNCG, NCT03088059). In this article, we review not only the different trial designs for biomarker-driven studies with their respective advantages and opportunities but also the potential pitfalls that led to the design of the EORTC-1559-HNCG protocol. We also discuss the scientific and logistic challenges of biomarker-driven trials.

Delayed controlled release is an innovative strategy to locally administer therapeutic compounds (e.g. chemotherapeutics, antibodies etc.). This would improve efficiency and reduce side effects compared with systemic administration. To enable the evaluation of the efficacy of controlled release strategies both in vitro and in vivo, we investigated the release of contrast agents (19 F-FDG and BaSO4) to the intestinal tract from capsules coated with pH-sensitive polymers (EUDRAGIT L-100) by using two complementary techniques, i.e. 19 F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Using in vitro 19 F-MRI, we were able to non-destructively and dynamically establish a time window of 2 h during which the capsules are resistant to low pH. With 19 F-MRI, we could establish the exact time point when the capsules became water permeable, before physical degradation of the capsule. This was complemented by CT imaging, which provided longitudinal information on physical degradation of the capsule at low pH that was only seen after 230 min. After oral administration to hamsters, 19 F-MRI visualized the early event whereby the capsule becomes water permeable after 2 h. Additionally, using CT, the integrity and location (stomach and small intestines) of the capsule after administration could be monitored. In conclusion, we propose combined 19 F-MRI and CT to non-invasively visualize the different temporal and spatial events regarding the release of compounds, both in an in vitro setting and in the gastrointestinal tract of small animal models. This multimodal imaging approach will enable the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of further technical improvements to controlled release strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

TPS6095Background: The treatment of R/M SCCHN includes platinum-based chemotherapy, cetuximab, and anti-PD-1 compounds. Some genetic alterations have been identified, making SCCHN attractive for mo...

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by a chronic inflammation of the gut, partly driven by defects in the innate immune system. Considering the central role of inflammasome signaling in innate immunity, we studied inflammasome components in IBD mucosa. METHODS: Expression of genes encoding inflammasome sensor subunits was investigated in colonic mucosal biopsies from 2 cohorts of patients with IBD and controls. RESULTS: A significant upregulation (>2-fold change in expression, false discovery rate

Delayed controlled release is an innovative strategy to locally administer therapeutic compounds (e.g. chemotherapeutics, antibodies etc.). This would improve efficiency and reduce side effects compared with systemic administration. To enable the evaluation of the efficacy of controlled release strategies both in vitro and in vivo, we investigated the release of contrast agents ((19)F-FDG and BaSO4) to the intestinal tract from capsules coated with pH-sensitive polymers (EUDRAGIT L-100) by using two complementary techniques, i.e. (19)F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Using in vitro (19)F-MRI, we were able to non-destructively and dynamically establish a time window of 2 h during which the capsules are resistant to low pH. With (19)F-MRI, we could establish the exact time point when the capsules became water permeable, before physical degradation of the capsule. This was complemented by CT imaging, which provided longitudinal information on physical degradation of the capsule at low pH that was only seen after 230 min. After oral administration to hamsters, (19)F-MRI visualized the early event whereby the capsule becomes water permeable after 2 h. Additionally, using CT, the integrity and location (stomach and small intestines) of the capsule after administration could be monitored. In conclusion, we propose combined (19)F-MRI and CT to non-invasively visualize the different temporal and spatial events regarding the release of compounds, both in an in vitro setting and in the gastrointestinal tract of small animal models. This multimodal imaging approach will enable the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of further technical improvements to controlled release strategies.

Background Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs [ADAM(TS)s] and growth factors are involved in inflammation and tissue damage and repair, all occurring in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We studied the impact of anti-inflammatory therapy with infliximab on mucosal expression of these tissue remodeling genes in patients with IBD. Methods Mucosal gene expression of 23 MMPs, 4 TIMPs, 50 ADAM(TS)s, and 158 growth factors was investigated in 61 patients with IBD before and after the first infliximab therapy and in 12 controls, with microarrays and quantitative RT-PCR. Protein localization, mucosal gelatinase levels, and net gelatinolytic activity were investigated by immunohistochemistry, zymography analysis, and gelatin degradation assay, respectively. Results In patients with active IBD before infliximab versus controls, gene expression of many MMPs, TIMPs, ADAM(TS)s, and growth factors was upregulated, whereas colonic expression of MMP28 and TGFA and ileal expression of ADAMDEC1 and AGT were downregulated. After controlling inflammation with infliximab, most gene dysregulations observed at baseline were restored in responders. Increased ratio of MMP1/TIMP1 expression at baseline in active IBD was restored in responders with colonic mucosal healing. With immunohistochemistry, protein localization differences of MMP1, MMP3, REG1A, and TIMP1 were shown between active IBD and control mucosa. With zymography analysis and gelatin degradation assay, higher gelatinase levels and net gelatinolytic activity were measured before infliximab and levels normalized after infliximab. Conclusions Our data suggest that suppression of inflammation results in the arrest of epithelial damage and subsequent mucosal healing. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of agents targeting MMPs or growth factors as primary therapy seems rather complex.

Objective Altered microbiota composition, changes in immune responses and impaired intestinal barrier functions are observed in IBD. Most of these features are controlled by proteases and their inhibitors to maintain gut homeostasis. Unrestrained or excessive proteolysis can lead to pathological gastrointestinal conditions. The aim was to validate the identified protease IBD candidates from a previously performed systematic review through a genetic association study and functional follow-up. Design We performed a genetic association study in a large multicentre cohort of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and UC from five European IBD referral centres in a total of 2320 CD patients, 2112 UC patients and 1796 healthy controls. Subsequently, we did an extensive functional assessment of the candidate genes to explore their causality in IBD pathogenesis. Results Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four genes were significantly associated with CD: CYLD, USP40, APEH and USP3. CYLD was the most significant gene with the intronically located rs12324931 the strongest associated SNP (p(FDR)=1.74e-17, OR=2.24 (1.83 to 2.74)). Five SNPs in four genes were significantly associated with UC: USP40, APEH, DAG1 and USP3. CYLD, as well as some of the other associated genes, is part of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). We therefore determined if the IBD-associated adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) can modulate the UPS functioning. Infection of intestinal epithelial cells with the AIEC LF82 reference strain modulated the UPS turnover by reducing poly-ubiquitin conjugate accumulation, increasing 26S proteasome activities and decreasing protein levels of the NF-kappa B regulator CYLD. This resulted in I kappa B-alpha degradation and NF-kappa B activation. This activity was very important for the pathogenicity of AIEC since decreased CYLD resulted in increased ability of AIEC LF82 to replicate intracellularly. Conclusions Our results reveal the UPS, and CYLD specifically, as an important contributor to IBD pathogenesis, which is favoured by both genetic and microbial factors.

Summary Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine thought to contribute to the inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The specific receptor chain IL-15Rα can be expressed as a transmembranous signalling receptor, or can be cleaved by a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 17 (ADAM17) into a neutralizing, soluble receptor (sIL-15Rα). The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of IL-15Rα in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) patients before and after infliximab (IFX) therapy. Gene expression of IL-15Rα, IL-15 and ADAM17 was measured at the mRNA level by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in mucosal biopsies harvested before and after first IFX therapy. Concentrations of sIL-15Rα were measured in sera of patients by ELISA and IL-15Rα protein was localized in the gut by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Mucosal expression of IL-15Rα is increased in UC and CD patients compared with controls and it remains elevated after IFX therapy in both responder and non-responder patients. The concentration of sIL-15Rα in serum is also increased in UC patients when compared with controls and does not differ between responders and non-responders either before or after IFX. CD patients have levels of sIL-15Rα comparable to healthy controls before and after therapy. In mucosal tissues, IL-15Rα+ cells closely resemble activated memory B cells with a pre-plasmablastic phenotype. To conclude, IBD patients have an increased expression of IL-15Rα mRNA in the mucosa. Expression is localized in B cells, suggesting that IL-15 regulates B-cell functions during bowel inflammation. No change in release of sIL-15Rα is observed in patients treated with IFX.

OP19 Genetic and functional evidence for a role for CYLD in Crohn’s disease: Results from a European consortium I. Cleynen1 *, E. Vazeille2, M. Artieda3, M. Szczypiorska3, M.-A. Bringer2, H. Verspaget4, P. Lakatos5, F. Seibold6, K. Parnell7, R. Weersma8, J. Mahachie9, R. Morgan-Walsh10, D. Staelens1, I. Arijs1, S. Muller11, A. Tordai12, D.W. Hommes13, T. Ahmad14, C. Wijmenga15, S. Pender10, P. Rutgeerts16, D. Lottaz11, K. Van Steen9, S. Vermeire16, A. DarfeuilleMichaud2. 1Catholic University Leuven, Gastroenterology, Leuven, Belgium, 2Universite d’Auvergne, Inserm U1071, France, 3Progenika Biopharma, S.A., Derio, Spain, 4Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Leiden, Netherlands, 5Semmelweis University, 1st Department of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary, 6Spitalnetz Bern, Switzerland, 7Peninsula Medical School, United Kingdom, 8University Medical Center Groningen, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Groningen, Netherlands, 9University of Liege, Liege, Belgium, 10University of Southampton, United Kingdom, 11University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 12Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Molecular Diagnostics, Hungary, 13UCLA, Division of Digestive Diseases, Los Angeles, United States, 14Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Gastroenterology RM B205, Exeter, United Kingdom, 15University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, 16University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Department of Gastroenterology, Leuven, Belgium