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The status of the rare English endemic Centaurium tenuiflorum subsp. anglicum, English Centaury, has been assessed from field surveys in 2020 and compared against previous population counts. In Dorset, 16 populations with c.25,800 plants occurred and there was no evidence of overall decline. It was not refound in one site in the Isle of Wight. The IUCN threat status is ‘Least Concern’.

One-step deposition of photoelectrochemically active BiVO4 (monoclinic) from a polyethylene glycol (PEG300) precursor paint onto titanium substrates is demonstrated to lead to more complex multioxide phase films. Photocurrents in 0.5 M Na2SO4 remain relatively low when compared to those reported on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates, possibly due to the effect of detrimental underlying titanium oxide phases or mixed phases. For comparison, the one-step deposition is demonstrated also for the direct formation of V2O5 nanocrystalline films, which also exhibited low photoelectrochemical activity. Impregnation of nanocrystalline V2O5 with aqueous Bi3+ is shown to cause substantial recrystallization with formation of much more photoactive BiVO4. In particular, on low-temperature (high surface area) nano-V2O5 (400 °C) and after further mild annealing at 400 °C much improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation activity (ca. 0.3 mA cm−2 at 1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl (KCl (3 M) at 0.1-W cm−2 xenon lamp radiation) is observed. This opens up a new mild temperature two-step route for BiVO4 photocatalysts on practical titanium substrates.

2619 Background: The 90kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) participates in the folding, stabilization, activation, and proteolytic turnover of aberrant proteins that contribute to the growth and survival of cancer cells. HSP90 inhibition leads to degradation of these aberrant proteins through the ubiquitin-proteosome pathway, allowing for simultaneous targeting of multiple pathways. Inhibition of HSP90 alone stimulates a compensatory upregulation of HSP70. The transcriptional induction of HSP70 has been linked to the activity of CDK9. Combined inhibition of onalespib-mediated HSP90 inhibition and AT7519-mediated CDK9 inhibition has demonstrated synergistic anti-tumor activity in preclinical models at NOAEL doses, justifying a Phase 1 study. Methods: We conducted an open-label phase 1 study following a 3+3 trial design. Patients received a 1-week lead-in of onalespib alone (C0), followed by onalespib/AT7519M on days 1,4,8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle. Pharmacokinetic samples were obtained on C0D1 after onalespib alone, and on C1D1 and D11 with the combination. HSP70 protein levels were analyzed in PBMC and plasma samples collected at baseline, after onalespib alone, and after the combination, in order to demonstrate AT7519-mediated suppression of HSP70 expression. Patients enrolled to the expansion phase underwent optional paired tumor biopsies for assessment of proof-of-mechanism demonstration of modulation of client proteins. Results: Twenty-eight patients have been treated, 10 of whom were enrolled to the expansion cohort with optional tumor biopsies. The MTD is DL2: onalespib 80 mg/m2 IV + AT7519M 21 mg/m2 IV on days 1,4,8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle. At DL3, DLTs included Grade 3 troponin elevation and mucositis. Drug-related adverse events occurring in ≥ 30% of patients include diarrhea, fatigue, mucositis, nausea, and vomiting, consistent with known toxicities of these agents. Two patients with colorectal and endometrial cancer, respectively, remained on study for 10 cycles with SD as the best response. Modulation of HSP70 were demonstrated in patient plasma samples. Conclusions: The combination of onalespib and AT7519 is tolerable, although the doses of both agents were below the monotherapy MTDs. Prolonged disease stabilizations were observed. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses are ongoing, including assessment of HSP70 expression in plasma and tumor. Clinical trial information: NCT02503709.

Background: Both MEK and CDK4/6 have been investigated as therapeutic targets in preclinical models of RAS mutant solid tumors. Multiple mechanisms contribute to synergism including the development of MAP kinase-dependence in RAS mutant cells exposed to CDK4/6 inhibition, leading to increased apoptosis, as well as enhanced induction of senescence with combinatorial vs. monotherapy treatment. We conducted a Phase 1 study of combined palbociclib and PD-0325901 in patients with RAS mutant solid tumors to assess safety, tolerability, and MTD, as well as pharmacokinetic parameters, preliminary efficacy and effects on mutant RAS allelic burden in plasma. Methods: Patients with RAS mutant solid tumors were enrolled utilizing a 3 + 3 design. Palbociclib and PD-0325901 were given orally once and twice daily, respectively for three of every four weeks. The maximum planned administered doses were 125 mg palbociclib daily and 8 mg PD-025901 twice daily. Pharmacokinetic parameters were measured on cycle 1 day 21 and plasma samples to measure RAS allelic burden were serially collected. Results: Twenty-five patients (17 with KRAS mutant NSCLC) who received at least one dose of each study drug were enrolled over 5 dose levels including (palbociclib/PD-0325901) 75/2, 75/4, 100/4, 125/4 and 125/8. The maximum administered dose of 125 mg palbociclib daily and 8 mg twice daily PD-0325901 was tolerable. One DLT of pneumonitis occurred at the 100/4 dose level. The most frequent (>10%) drug-related toxicities were leukopenia (72%), anemia (72%), thrombocytopenia (72%), neutropenia (64%), acneiform rash (64%), diarrhea (52%), fatigue (44%), lower extremity edema (32%), vomiting (28%), nausea (28%), oral mucositis (24%), increased AST (20%), increased creatinine (12%), epistaxis (12%), and blurred vision (12%). The median number of cycles completed was 3 (range: 1 - 28+). Across all patients, 1 patient (4%) with KRAS mutant NSCLC achieved partial response and 18 (72%) had stable disease as the best response. Eleven patients were progression-free > 3 months, and 6 were progression-free > 6 months, including 5 with KRAS mutant NSCLC, two of whom received prior immune checkpoint blockade. Among patients with KRAS mutant NSCLC, clinical benefit was seen among those with tumors harboring KRAS mutation alone, as well as those with tumors demonstrating concomitant loss of TP53 or CDKN2AB. A dose-dependent decrease in plasma RAS allelic burden was observed across dose levels. Conclusions: Administration of combined palbociclib and PD-0325901 was tolerable and produced promising progression-free survival among patients with KRAS mutant NSCLC. Additional dose levels utilizing continuous MEK inhibition are being evaluated. Citation Format: Geoffrey I. Shapiro, John Hilton, Leena Gandi, Nicole Chau, James Cleary, Andrew Wolanski, Adrienne Anderson, Brian Beardslee, Faith Hassinger, Ketki Bhushan, Elizabeth Downey, Joseph Gibson, Solida Pruitt-Thompson, Alona Muzikansky, Suzanne Barry, Nora Feeney, Cloud Paweletz, Geoffrey Oxnard, Jeffrey Supko, Pasi Jänne, Kwok-Kin Wong, Bruce Johnson. Phase I dose escalation study of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib in combination with the MEK inhibitor PD-0325901 in patients with RAS mutant solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT046. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-CT046

Background: Although PARP inhibition is effective against HR repair-deficient cancers, efficacy is limited by HR proficiency, whether present de novo or as a result of acquired resistance, prompting HR disrupting strategies to sensitize tumor cells. Inhibition of CDK1 and CDK12 compromise HR by blocking BRCA1 phosphorylation, affecting recruitment to sites of DNA damage, and by reducing HR gene expression, respectively. Dinaciclib is a pan-CDK inhibitor that inhibits both CDK1 and CDK12 at nanomolar potency. We conducted a Phase 1 study combining dinaciclib and veliparib in patients with advanced solid tumors who are not germline BRCA carriers. Methods: A 3+3 design was utilized. Veliparib was administered twice daily continuously in 28-day cycles. Dinaciclib was administered intravenously on days 8 and 22. In part 1A, escalation followed a two-dimensional schema, utilizing doses of dinaciclib between 10 - 45 mg/m2 and veliparib between 20 - 120 mg. In part 1B, veliparib was escalated between 200 mg - 400 mg with dinaciclib maintained at 30 mg/m2. PK and PD assessments were performed at baseline, after veliparib, and after the combination. Preliminary Results: Sixty-three heavily pretreated patients were enrolled in part 1A (n = 39) and 1B (n = 24). Thirty-four patients had breast or gynecologic malignancies. The MTD was 400 mg twice-daily veliparib with dinaciclib at 30 mg/m2. DLTs included G4 neutropenia > 7 days (n =1), febrile neutropenia (n = 1), mucositis (n = 1) and fatigue (n = 1). Common drug-related toxicities were neutropenia (78%), nausea (75%), fatigue (67%), electrolyte abnormalities (59%), elevated liver function tests (57%), diarrhea (52%), lymphopenia (52%), anemia (43%), dehydration (37%), anorexia (30%), vomiting (29%), hypoalbuminemia (29%), dizziness (29%), headache (22%), mucositis (18%), elevated creatinine (16%), alopecia (16%), thrombocytopenia (14%), abdominal pain (13%), insomnia (13%), and dysgeusia (11%). The median number of cycles completed was 2 (r: 1 - 10). One patient with TNBC achieved complete resolution of axillary adenopathy lasting > 8 months. Twenty-four patients (38%) had stable disease as the best response, with 9 progression-free > 4 months (TNBC, gynecologic and thymic ca). Paired tumor biopsies from one patient demonstrated reduced Ki-67 and increased gamma-H2AX staining after combination treatment compared to after veliparib alone. Conclusions: Dinaciclib administered at doses known to produce PD effects is tolerable with full dose veliparib. Anti-tumor activity is limited in non-BRCA carriers, possibly related to intermittent administration of a CDK inhibitor with known short half-life. Additional patients are being enrolled utilizing dinaciclib in more dose-intense schedules. Citation Format: Geoffrey I. Shapiro, Khanh T. Do, Sara M. Tolaney, John F. Hilton, James M. Cleary, Andrew Wolanski, Brian Beardslee, Faith Hassinger, Ketki Bhushan, Dongpo Cai, Elizabeth Downey, Solida Pruitt-Thompson, Suzanne M. Barry, Bose Kochupurakkal, Joseph Geradts, Christine Unitt, Alan D. D'Andrea, Alona Muzikansky, Richard Piekarz, L. Austin Doyle, Jeffrey Supko. Phase 1 dose-escalation study of the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib in combination with the PARP inhibitor veliparib in patients with advanced solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT047. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-CT047

Interviews of 155 general assistance recipients aged 50 through 64 were con ducted in Maryland during 1983. Findings suggest that many have long term disabling conditions and cannot reasonably be expected to return to paid work. Implications, if substantiated by other studies, are that case advocacy on their behalf may increase the likelihood of receipt of federal disability benefits and that consideration should be given to liberalizing Supplemental Security Income disability criteria. LITTLE IS KNOWN about older per sons who receive general assistance benefits, in part because they are a difficult group to study systematically, and, in part because they are not a group that evokes much public sympathy or interest. This ar ticle presents findings from an exploratory study conducted in 1983 of a small group of older people aged 50 through 64 in Mary land's major general assistance program. The authors describe the health status and the employment and welfare histories of older general assistance participants, and discuss the extent to which general assistance is a short-term or long-term disability program for older recipients.