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Purpose Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis is a useful imaging modality for identifying origin and extent of ovarian cancer before primary debulking surgery. However, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging for ovarian cancer is determined based on surgico-pathological findings. The purpose of this study is to determine whether computed tomography staging can be the surrogate for surgico-pathological International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging in advanced ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods Computed tomography staging was compared with surgico-pathological International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging in primary debulking surgery arm patients in a randomized controlled trial comparing primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (JCOG0602). The cancer of primary debulking surgery arm was identically diagnosed regarding the origin and extent with the cancer of neoadjuvant chemotherapy arm before accrual, using imaging studies (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging), cytological examination (ascites, pleural effusion or tumor contents fluid) and tumor marker (CA125 > 200 U/mL and CEA < 20 ng/mL). Institutional computed tomography staging was also compared with computed tomography staging by central review. Results Among 149 primary debulking surgery arm patients, 147 patients who underwent primary debulking surgery immediately were analyzed. Positive predictive values and sensitivity of computed tomography staging for surgical stage III disease (extra-pelvic peritoneal disease and/or retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis) were 99%. Meanwhile, positive predictive values for the presence of small (≤2 cm) extra-pelvic peritoneal disease were low; Conclusions Preoperative computed tomography staging in each institution can be the surrogate for surgico-pathological diagnosis in stage III disease of ovarian cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy without diagnostic surgery, but reliability of diagnosis of stage IIIB disease is inadequate. Clinical trial registration: UMIN000000523(UMIN-CTR).

Background The expression of FZD5 distinguishes immature human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) in cultures, and the function of FZD5 is crucial for maintaining the proliferation and multilineage differentiation capacity of human MSC. We herein investigated whether Fzd5 expression also marks undifferentiated MSC in animals. Methods We generated a transgenic mouse strain (Fzd5-CreERT-tFP635) that expresses CreERT and the fluorescent protein, TurboFP635 (tFP635), under the transcriptional control of the Fzd5 gene using the BAC transgenic technique, and identified cells expressing tFP635 by flow cytometry. We also conducted lineage tracing with this strain. Results In the bone marrow of transgenic mice, tFP635 was preferentially expressed in MSC, Leptin receptor-expressing MSC (LepR+MSCs), and some Pdgfrα+ Sca1+ MSC (PαS). Inducible lineage tracing using the Fzd5-CreERT-tFP635; CAG-CAT-EGFP strain at the adult stage showed that Fzd5-expressing cells and their descendants labeled with GFP were progressively dominant in LepR+MSC and PαS, and GFP+ cells persisted for 1 year after the activation of CreERT. Adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs), osteoblast progenitor cells (OPCs), and Cd51+ stromal cells were also labeled with GFP. Conclusions Our transgenic mouse marks two different types of MSC, LepR+MSC and PαS.

Background and Methods: FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is a type of mutation present in approximately 20-30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. We performed a comprehensive genome profiling assay in patients with relapsed and refractory (R/R) AML, using the Foundation One Heme (F1H) panel, as a part of hematologic malignancies (HM)-SCREEN-Japan 01 (UMIN000035233), an actionable mutation profiling multicenter study. In this study, we analyzed the high frequency of FLT3 mutations in patients with R/R AML and found several patients who were positive for FLT3-N676K, a subclonal gene without concurrent ITD. Moreover, clonal evolution was observed in most patients who received kinase inhibitors, suggesting that mutations in signaling pathways downstream of FLT3 and activation of alternative pathways contribute to resistance mechanisms after FLT3 inhibitor treatment. Upon treatment failure during gilteritinib or quizartinib monotherapy, we can switch to another FLT3 inhibitor treatment in Japan. However, few reports have investigated clonal evolution after multiple FLT3 inhibitor treatment failure, and the mutational resistance profile remains unknown. Thus, we extended our investigation to examine clonal evolution during the progression of leukemia harboring FLT3-ITD and tyrosine kinase domain mutation (TKD) mutations. In this study, we performed serial comprehensive genome profiling analyses to evaluate time-dependent changes in genomic profiles of patients receiving the FLT3 inhibitors gilteritinib, and quizartinib in AML. Results: This study was initiated in January 2019, and 91 patients were recruited by March 2020. The median turnaround time between sending specimens and receiving results was 15 days (9 to 56 days). In this study, a higher incidence of FLT3 mutations was observed in patients with AML (28.6%, 26/91), and those with relapse/refractory (R/R) AML (64.8%, 59/91), FLT3-ITD (20.3%, 12/59), and FLT3-TKD (15.3%, 9/59), than previously reported in newly diagnosed patients. Particularly, FLT3 mutations were much more frequently observed in patients with R/R AML (35.6 %, 21/59), whereas those with newly diagnosed AML unfit for standard treatment (15.6 %, 5/32). Furthermore, FLT3-TKD mutations were found in 10 patients, who were potential candidates for treatment with FLT3 inhibitors, such as gilteritinib. The N676K mutation within the FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain 1, which is not detectable through conventional mutational analyses, was observed using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction in 19.2% (5 of 26) of patients who were FLT3mutation-positive, including those with subclonal mutations. Moreover, patients with RUNX1 mutation were present in this cohort, and this finding supports previous reports showing the association between the core binding factor protein complex and FLT3 N676K mutation in leukemia. Interestingly, FLT3-ITD mutations usually occur in the juxtamembrane domain, but we found three patients with other abnormalities, including ITDs in the tyrosine kinase domain, which are associated with poor prognosis. Meanwhile, during FLT3 inhibitor treatment, the resistant clonal expansion was observed due to activation of alternative pathways such as NRAS pathway or acquired FLT3 mutation. Not only activating these alternative pathways, but the cases in which TKD point mutation was added to FLT3-ITD, or new mutations were acquired without the additional mutation site among the cases showing FLT3 inhibitor resistance as the treatment progressed. Conclusions: We conclude that F1H mutational analyses for R/R AML harboring FLT3-ITD/TKD mutations may reveal novel therapeutic targets that are sensitive to FLT3 inhibitors. Moreover, improved biomarker analysis methods for detecting additional FLT3 alternations, like FLT3 N676K, could guide patient selection for the most suitable anti-FLT3 therapies. Furthermore, serial comprehensive genome profiling analysis at the time of AML progression, especially after tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, will provide valuable information for clinical decision-making. Table Disclosures Shibayama: Fujimoto: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Otsuka: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria; Chugai: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Nippon Shinyaku: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sumitomo Dainippon: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eisai: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Taiho: Research Funding; Shionogi: Research Funding; Teijin: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Mundi Pharma: Honoraria. Yamauchi:Otsuka: Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Chugai: Honoraria; Abbie: Research Funding; Solasia Pharma: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Gotoh:Eisai: Honoraria; Alexion pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Nippon Shinyaku: Honoraria; Takeda pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Taiho pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Chugai: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding. Yamamoto:Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria; Sumitomo Dainippon: Honoraria; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; IQIVA/HUYA: Honoraria; HUYA: Consultancy; IQIVA/Incyte: Research Funding; Solasia Pharma: Research Funding; SymBio: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Yakult: Research Funding; Zenyaku: Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Aichi Cancer Center: Current Employment; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria; Meiji Seika Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Mochida: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Nippon Shinyaku: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Fujishima:Pfizer: Speakers Bureau. Takahashi:Novartis Pharma KK: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer Japan Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria. Usuki:Apellis: Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Chugai: Research Funding. ONO:Astellas Pharma Inc.: Honoraria; TAIHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Research Funding; Mundipharma K.K.: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria; Novartis Pharma KK: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria; Pfizer Japan Inc.: Honoraria; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED.: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K: Honoraria; Eisai Co., Ltd.: Honoraria. Kuroda:Sysmex: Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Nippon Shinyaku: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Asahi Kasei: Research Funding; Shionogi: Research Funding; Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K: Consultancy; Eisai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Fujimoto Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Taiho Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Bristol-MyersSquibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding. Izutsu:Incyte: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Symbio: Research Funding; Solasia: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Yakult: Research Funding; HUYA Japan: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Bayer pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Research Funding. Minami:Novartis Pharma KK: Honoraria; Pfizer Japan Inc.: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria.

Background New Japanese ethical guidelines for medical researches and the Clinical Trials Act have come into effect and monitoring is mandated for intervention studies. Methods of monitoring can be modified according to a study risk, but there is no established method in Japan regarding how to assess a study risk. EORTC assesses a study risk using their own study risk calculator and classifies their trials into three categories. For each category, different levels of monitoring are applied. This project is aimed to assess the study risks of JCOG trials using the EORTC calculator. Methods We selected clinical trials open to patient recruitment in JCOG as of Nov 2014. Each trial was scored based on the EORTC study risk calculator and classified into three risk categories; low, medium and high. Results A total of 40 studies were included in the assessment. Twenty-seven studies (67.5%) were classified into low risk group, 12 (30%) in medium risk group, and only 1 (2.5%) in high risk group. Clinical trials evaluating multimodality therapy and/or using unapproved drugs tended to be scored higher and most of them were classified into medium or high risk group. Conclusions JCOG conducts central monitoring and site visit audit with sampling source data verification for every trial, which are almost compatible with the way in EORTC for the medium risk group. Because most of the JCOG studies were classified into low or medium risk group, the intensity of monitoring and audit in JCOG was considered as reasonable even from the EORTC perspective.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is the current standard treatment for stage III colorectal cancer after curative resection. However, the prognosis of stage III colorectal cancer is still poor even after curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. Several observational studies suggested that the anti-tumor effect of aspirin. Therefore, we planned a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase III trial, which commenced in Japan in March 2018, to confirm the superiority of aspirin over placebo added to adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) for stage III colorectal cancer patients after curative resection. A total of 880 patients will be accrued from 20 Japanese institutions within 3 years. The primary endpoint is DFS and the secondary endpoints are overall survival, relapse-free survival, relative dose intensity, adverse events, and serious adverse events. This trial has been registered at Japan Registry of Clinical Trials as jRCTs031180009 (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/detail/589).

The development of allogeneic hematopoietic-stem-cell transplantation has improved the prognosis of younger acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. However, the outcome of older AML patients remains poor. The majority of AML patients are elderly. For elderly AML patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy, less toxic single agent that targets a specific gene mutation or combination therapy with a single agent is needed. The role of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic mutations in leukemia has become more apparent, and detailed prognostic stratification based on the type of genetic mutation has been established. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used for gene analysis of AML. In the future, the evaluation of biologically homogeneous population on the basis of chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations will lead to a paradigm shift that will help in the development of optimized therapy. As rapid diagnosis of gene mutations is required by the clinical physicians to decide on induction therapy, it is important to have a swift turnaround time for comprehensive DNA sequencing to provide actionable data to clinical physicians. It is required to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the turnaround time from sending the specimens to receiving the results while maintaining the quality of the specimens contributing to gene analysis. To detect infrequent gene mutations, investigators need to perform multicenter studies and/or cooperative-group trials with a certain sample size to examine the frequency of the gene mutations in elderly AML patients, enabling sufficient statistical power for meaningful comparisons.

Introduction It is unclear if clinical trial results including patients who meet trial eligibility criteria, are applicable to actual patients in daily practice (generalizability). Moreover, the extent to which are trial participants different from patients seen in daily practice (representativeness) is also unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the representativeness of the patients registered in randomized clinical trials to patients in daily practice and examine the generalizability of trial results to daily practice. Methods We compared the results of surgical trials conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group with data from two Japanese cancer registries, representing patients seen in daily practice. We compared overall survival (OS) between trial participants and registry patients to evaluate representativeness of trial participants. We then compared the OS of registry patients who received open surgery (OP) and laparoscopic surgery (LAP) to evaluate the generalizability of trial results. Results We analyzed 3051 patients (701 in JCOG0212, 2350 registry patients) with rectal cancer and 3116 patients (1057 in JCOG0404, 2059 registry patients) with colon cancer. Trial participants tended to possess lower clinical stages. Multivariable analyses revealed registry patients with significantly worse survival compared with trial participants. The hazard ratio of LAP to OP among registry patients was 0.305 (95% CI; 0.048–2.188), which did not meet the prespecified generalizability criteria of 0.9. Conclusions Our results failed to ensure either the representativeness or generalizability of clinical trial results, compared to daily practice. Careful considerations are required when applying trial results to patients in daily practice.

Ponatinib (PON) is a key drug for patients with second tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant/intolerant Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia (Ph+ leukemia); however, the occurrence of vascular adverse events (VAEs) in patients treated with PON should be carefully monitored. A retrospective analysis involving seven patients treated with PON was conducted to elucidate the incidence rate and risk factor for the development of VAEs. In the present study, risk assessment and monitoring of VAEs were performed using SCORE Risk Chart and Suita Score (10-year risk for fatal cardiovascular event), respectively. Despite the prophylactic use of aspirin, cerebral infarction and unstable angina occurred in two patients. By contrast, deep vein thrombosis did not improve in a patient treated with edoxaban. Our data suggest that patients with Ph+ leukemia possessing risk factors, medical history of lifestyle diseases, and administration of long-term second TKI treatment require careful monitoring of VAEs and therapeutic intervention to lifestyle diseases.

A randomized phase III trial comparing watchful waiting with first-line rituximab for advanced stage follicular lymphoma commenced in Japan in December 2016. Watchful waiting is the current standard treatment for stages III and IV (Ann Arbor classification) follicular lymphoma with low tumour burden. This study aimed to confirm the superiority of early administration of first-line rituximab in terms of event-free survival to watchful waiting for stages III and IV follicular lymphoma with low tumour burden. A total of 290 patients will be accrued from 50 Japanese institutions within 5 years. The primary endpoint is event-free survival defined as the period from registration to diagnosis of high tumour burden, therapy using cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, or death. The secondary endpoints are overall survival, progression-free survival, cytotoxic chemotherapy/radiotherapy-free survival, histological transformation-free survival, response rate, adverse events and serious adverse events. This trial has been registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000025187 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm).

A randomized phase II selection design study (JCOG0904) was carried out to evaluate the more promising regimen between bortezomib (Bor) plus dexamethasone (Dex; BD) and thalidomide (Thal) plus Dex (TD) in Bor and Thal-naive patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Patients ≥20 and

Background:Recently, whole exome sequencing has been performed for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by next generation sequencing. The results revealed that certain gene mutations are identified in patients with AML. Among them,FLT3(28%),NPM1(27%),DNMT3A(26%), andIDH1/2(20%) mutations are observed in 20 to 30% of cases, while the frequencies of more than 10 other types of mutations are less than 10%. Some of these low frequency mutations are actionable mutations, which are defined as genetic DNA aberrations that are expected to elicit a response to an approved targeted therapy that is available for off-label treatment or available in clinical trials. Thus, the treatment strategies for leukemia are drastically changing with the rapid development of new drugs. Moving forward, the proper use of new agents is one of the major AML treatment issues. Especially, genome profiling analysis for newly diagnosed patients will be needed to select an optimal first line treatment. The HM-SCREEN-Japan 01 is an actionable mutation profiling multicenter study of patients with newly diagnosed AML who are unsuitable for the first standard treatment or have relapsed/refractory AML. The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of cancer-related genome alterations in AML using a comprehensive genome profiling assay (FoundationOne®Heme) and determine the quality of specimens that contribute to the gene analysis. Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board prior to starting patient accrual at each institution. This trial has been registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000035233. Methods:This study was conducted by 17 participating institutions, with a sample size of 200. The eligibility criteria were as follows: 1) histological diagnosis of AML through bone marrow aspiration; 2) either of the following conditions fulfilled, i) patients with newly diagnosed AML unfit for standard treatment or ii) patients with relapsed/refractory AML; 3) sufficient sample is collected by bone marrow aspiration; 4) age at registration is 20 years or older; 5) written informed consent is taken. The primary outcome was the frequency of each genomic alteration in leukemia using FoundationOne®Heme (F1H), which is a comprehensive genomic profile that applies next-generation sequencing. The secondary outcomes evaluated the association between each cancer genome alteration and clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, and quality of the specimens that contributed to the genetic analysis. In this study, we also performed serial genome profiling analyses to evaluate the time-dependent changes in genomic profiles in patients administered FLT3 inhibitors, gilteritinib, and quizartinib for AML. Results:This study commenced in January 2019, and 91 patients were recruited by March 2020. The median turnaround time between sending specimens and receiving results was 15 days (9 to 56 days). Of the 91 patients, 35.2% (32/91) were newly diagnosed with AML and unfit for standard treatment and 64.8% (59/91) had relapsed/refractory AML. Mutations were observed in the following genes in all 91 patients:FLT3(28.6%),RUNX1(25.0%),TP53(20.1%),DNMT3A(19.8%),NPM1(18.7%),IDH1/2(17.6%),CEBPA(16.5%),KMT2A(14.3%),NRAS(13.2%),TET2(12.1%),ASXL1(12.1%), and EZH2(2.2%). In 32 patients with newly diagnosed AML, mutations were observed in the following genes:FLT3(28.6%),RUNX1(20.3%),TP53(18.8%),DNMT3A(15.6%),NPM1(12.5%),IDH1/2(15.6%),CEBPA(15.6%),KMT2A(6.0%),NRAS(12.5%),TET2(9.0%),ASXL1(21.9%), and EZH2(6.3%). In 59 patients with relapsed/refractory AML, mutations were observed in the following genes:FLT3(28.6%),RUNX1(22.0%),TP53(22.0%),DNMT3A(22.0%),NPM1(22.0%),IDH1/2(18.6%),CEBPA(15.3%),KMT2A(18.6%),NRAS(13.6%),TET2(13.6%),ASXL1(6.8%), andEZH2(0%). In the FLT3 positive AML cohort, six patients were registered and one achieved remission by quizartinib after progression on gilteritinib. Conclusions:The evaluation of F1H for its use in HM-SCREEN-Japan 01 facilitates the analysis of leukemia-associated genes that can be used as therapeutic targets, which have rarely been identified in AML thus far. Figure Disclosures Shibayama: Shionogi:Research Funding;Taiho:Research Funding;Eisai:Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Celgene:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Ono:Honoraria, Research Funding;Takeda:Honoraria, Research Funding;Merck Sharp & Dohme:Research Funding;Sumitomo Dainippon:Honoraria, Research Funding;Nippon Shinyaku:Honoraria, Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Honoraria;Novartis:Honoraria, Research Funding;Janssen:Honoraria, Research Funding;Chugai:Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Kyowa Kirin:Honoraria;Otsuka:Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb:Honoraria;Pfizer:Honoraria;Fujimoto:Honoraria;AbbVie:Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;AstraZeneca:Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sanofi:Honoraria;Mundi Pharma:Honoraria;Teijin:Research Funding;Astellas:Research Funding.Yamauchi:Chugai:Honoraria;Pfizer:Honoraria, Research Funding;Ono Pharmaceutical:Honoraria;Otsuka:Research Funding;Astellas:Research Funding;Abbie:Research Funding;Solasia Pharma:Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Research Funding.Gotoh:Alexion pharmaceuticals:Research Funding;Eisai:Honoraria;Ono Pharmaceutical:Honoraria;Taiho pharmaceutical:Honoraria;Takeda pharmaceutical:Honoraria;Nippon Shinyaku:Honoraria;Chugai:Honoraria;Novartis:Research Funding.Yamamoto:Zenyaku:Research Funding;Yakult:Research Funding;Takeda:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;SymBio:Research Funding;Solasia Pharma:Research Funding;Stemline Therapeutics:Consultancy;Sumitomo Dainippon:Honoraria;Sanofi:Honoraria;Pfizer:Honoraria;Otsuka:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Ono:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis:Honoraria, Research Funding;Nippon Shinyaku:Honoraria, Research Funding;Mundipharma:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;MSD:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Mochida:Honoraria;Meiji Seika Pharma:Consultancy, Honoraria;Kyowa Kirin:Honoraria;Janssen:Honoraria;Gilead Sciences:Research Funding;IQIVA/Incyte:Research Funding;HUYA:Consultancy;IQIVA/HUYA:Honoraria;Daiichi Sankyo:Consultancy;Eisai:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Chugai:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Bristol-Myers Squibb:Honoraria;Bayer:Research Funding;Astra-Zeneca:Consultancy, Research Funding;AbbVie:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Aichi Cancer Center:Current Employment.Fujishima:Pfizer:Speakers Bureau.Takahashi:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company:Honoraria;Novartis Pharma KK:Honoraria, Research Funding;Pfizer Japan Inc.:Honoraria, Research Funding.Usuki:Novartis:Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Chugai:Research Funding;Apellis:Research Funding;Alexion:Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.ONO:TAIHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.:Research Funding;Mundipharma K.K.:Honoraria;DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED.:Honoraria;Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K:Honoraria;Eisai Co., Ltd.:Honoraria;Astellas Pharma Inc.:Honoraria;Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.:Honoraria;ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.:Honoraria, Research Funding;Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:Honoraria;Pfizer Japan Inc.:Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb Company:Honoraria;Novartis Pharma KK:Honoraria;Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:Honoraria, Research Funding;Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.:Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene:Honoraria, Research Funding.Kuroda:Astellas Pharma:Honoraria, Research Funding;Sanofi:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Honoraria, Research Funding;Shionogi:Research Funding;Nippon Shinyaku:Honoraria, Research Funding;Fujimoto Pharmaceutical:Honoraria, Research Funding;Sysmex:Research Funding;Eisai:Honoraria, Research Funding;Ono Pharmaceutical:Honoraria, Research Funding;Abbvie:Consultancy, Honoraria;MSD:Research Funding;Celgene:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Takeda:Honoraria, Research Funding;Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma:Honoraria, Research Funding;Chugai Pharmaceutical:Honoraria, Research Funding;Bristol-MyersSquibb:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K:Consultancy;Asahi Kasei:Research Funding;Taiho Pharmaceutical:Research Funding;Kyowa Kirin:Honoraria, Research Funding;Otsuka Pharmaceutical:Honoraria, Research Funding;Pfizer:Honoraria, Research Funding.Izutsu:Sanofi:Research Funding;Symbio:Research Funding;Solasia:Research Funding;Janssen:Research Funding;Yakult:Research Funding;HUYA Japan:Research Funding;Abbvie pharmaceuticals:Research Funding;Incyte:Research Funding;Eisai:Research Funding;AstraZeneca:Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Research Funding;Bayer pharmaceuticals:Research Funding;Ono Pharmaceutical:Research Funding;Novartis:Research Funding;Chugai:Research Funding;Celgene:Research Funding.Minami:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company:Honoraria;Pfizer Japan Inc.:Honoraria;Novartis Pharma KK:Honoraria;Takeda:Honoraria.

Classic hairy cell leukemia (classic HCL) is a rare disease associated with indolent mature B-cell lymphoma. A 50-year-old man presented with pancytopenia for 3 years and was diagnosed with classic HCL because his lymphoid cells showed a hairy morphology with oval nuclei and indistinct nucleoli both in the peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) smears. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these cells expressed CD11c, CD25, and CD103, and the Sanger sequence method detected BRAF V600E mutation. Cladribine (0.09 mg/kg/day) was initiated for 7 days via continuous intravenous injection. On day 13, the patient died from bloodstream infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Autopsy findings revealed BM necrosis without residual leukemia cells caused by classic HCL, severe infection, and agents, such as cladribine and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; however, its cause remained undetermined. Both early diagnosis and immediate clinical intervention are required to improve the clinical outcomes in classic HCL. The cause of hematopoiesis disturbance should also be identified using BM biopsy or magnetic resonance imaging before initiating treatment in classic HCL with severe pancytopenia.

This study compared the in vivo applicability of three-dimensional uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-d/l-lactide (3D-HA/PDLLA) with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). 3D-HA/PDLLA is a newly developed bioactive, osteoconductive, bioresorbable bone regenerative composite. We performed critical-defect surgery on the mandible body of rats; the defects were filled with one of two bone graft substitutes. After a 4-week follow-up period, the mandibular specimens were examined using hematoxylin and eosin (HE however, the osteocalcin IHC OD scores of the groups differed significantly (p

A novel three-dimensional (3D) porous uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite/poly-d/l-lactide (3D-HA/PDLLA) composite demonstrated superior biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, biodegradability, and plasticity, thereby enabling complex maxillofacial defect reconstruction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)—a type of adult stem cell—have a multipotent ability to differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, and osteocytes. In a previous study, we found that CD90 (Thy-1, cluster of differentiation 90) and CD271 (low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor) double-positive cell populations from human bone marrow had high proliferative ability and differentiation capacity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the utility of bone regeneration therapy using implantation of 3D-HA/PDLLA loaded with human MSCs (hMSCs) in mandibular critical defect rats. Microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT) indicated that implantation of a 3D-HA/PDLLA-hMSC composite scaffold improved the ability to achieve bone regeneration compared with 3D-HA/PDLLA alone. Compared to the sufficient blood supply in the mandibular defection superior side, a lack of blood supply in the inferior side caused delayed healing. The use of Villanueva Goldner staining (VG staining) revealed the gradual progression of the nucleated cells and new bone from the scaffold border into the central pores, indicating that 3D-HA/PDLLA loaded with hMSCs had good osteoconductivity and an adequate blood supply. These results further demonstrated that the 3D-HA/PDLLA-hMSC composite scaffold was an effective bone regenerative method for maxillofacial boney defect reconstruction.

This study was performed to examine the applicability of the newly developed nano-biocomposite, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/u-HA/poly-d/l-lactide (PDLLA), to bone defects in the oral and maxillofacial area. This novel nano-biocomposite showed several advantages, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and osteoconductivity. In addition, its optimal plasticity also allowed its utilization in irregular critical bone defect reconstructive surgery. Here, three different nano-biomaterials, i.e., β-TCP/PDLLA, β-TCP, and PDLLA, were implanted into critical bone defects in the right lateral mandible of 10-week-old Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats as bone graft substitutes. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) and immunohistochemical staining for the osteogenesis biomarkers, Runx2, osteocalcin, and the leptin receptor, were performed to investigate and compare bone regeneration between the groups. Although the micro-CT results showed the highest bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) with β-TCP, immunohistochemical analysis indicated better osteogenesis-promoting ability of β-TCP/PDLLA, especially at an early stage of the bone healing process. These results confirmed that the novel nano-biocomposite, β-TCP/PDLLA, which has excellent biocompatibility, bioresorbability and bioactive/osteoconductivity, has the potential to become a next-generation biomaterial for use as a bone graft substitute in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery.

We analyzed the effects of the initial approach to patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) on outcomes in order to investigate whether the watch and wait (WW) strategy is still an acceptable approach in the rituximab era. We retrospectively analyzed 348 patients who were initially diagnosed with FL between 2000 and 2012. We compared the clinical outcomes of the WW cohort and immediate treatment cohort. Among 348 patients (median age of 57 years, range: 19–85), 101 were initially managed with WW and 247 were immediately treated. The median follow-up duration was 75 months (range: 7–169). The estimated median time to treatment failure (TTF) in the treatment following WW cohort and immediate treatment cohort were 92 months (95 % CI, 60.1–NA) and 77 months (95 % CI, 65.1–107.6), respectively, which were not significantly different (P = 0.272) . In a multivariate analysis, clinical stage was identified as a predictive factor of TTF (HR 1.19, 95 % CI, 1.03–1.38, P < 0.05). Neither overall survival rate nor cumulative risk of transformation between the WW cohort and immediate treatment cohort was significant. The results of the present study suggested that the WW strategy is still an acceptable approach for selected FL patients in the rituximab era.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare subtype of malignant lymphoma in Japan, and there are few reports of HL in Japan in recent years. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 139 patients with HL who were diagnosed and treated at our institution between 1997 and 2011. The median age at diagnosis was 34 years with 83 male. Of these patients, 83 (60 %) were early stage and 56 (40 %) were advanced-stage. Seventy-three patients (88 %) with early stage disease received ABVd followed by irradiation. All of the 56 advanced-stage patients received chemotherapy, mainly ABVd. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates and overall survival rates were 90 and 94 % in patients with early stage disease, and 71 and 90 % in those with advanced-stage disease. The PFS of patients with advanced-stage disease was significantly lower than those with early stage (p = 0.014). In conclusion, the outcomes of Japanese patients with HL in recent years were not improved as compared with the results of previous reports. We confirmed that patients with advanced-stage disease have lower PFS than those with early stage disease. Prospective studies are needed to establish novel treatment strategies to improve the outcome of HL patients, especially those with advanced disease.

The C-MOPP regimen, consisting cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone and procarbazine, has been used for treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma; however, there are few reports of this therapy against aggressive lymphoma. We performed a retrospective analysis of previously treated 89 patients who had received C-MOPP therapy from 1999 to 2013 at our institution. Median age was 67 (range, 22-81) years. Twenty-eight patients obtained CR, 5 obtained PR, and overall response rate was 37% (33/89). The estimated 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 61 and 33%, respectively. Major grade > 2 toxicities were leucopenia (55%) and neutropenia (52%). Efficacy and toxicity were in line with other recent studies involving new agents, given that the subjects mainly consisted of elderly outpatients. These data provide a rationale for the use of C-MOPP as a current control treatment arm when the response to new cancer therapy agents is evaluated.

FUS-ERG gene fusion has not been reported in cases of myeloid sarcoma (MS), a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia involving extramedullary anatomic sites. Here, we report a case of a 48-year-old man with primary isolated MS of the anterior mediastinum, who later developed multiple extramedullary recurrences without bone marrow infiltration throughout the course. G-banding analysis of the cells in pericardial effusion at recurrence showed complex karyotypic abnormalities including t(16;21)(p11.2;q22). FUS break-apart fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed split signals in biopsy sections at initial diagnosis and recurrence. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing demonstrated the presence of the FUS-ERG chimeric gene transcript. The patient underwent cord blood transplantation, but died of pneumonia on day 64. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolated MS carrying FUS-ERG gene fusion. In future study, relationship between the fusion gene and uncommon clinical features should be investigated in isolated MS.

This study evaluated the feasibility of a novel three-dimensional (3D) porous composite of uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite (u-HA) and poly-d/l-lactide (PDLLA) (3D-HA/PDLLA) for the bony regenerative biomaterial in maxillofacial surgery, focusing on cellular activities and osteoconductivity properties in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, we assessed the proliferation and ingrowth of preosteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1 cells) in 3D-HA/PDLLA biomaterials using 3D cell culture, and the results indicated enhanced bioactive proliferation. After osteogenic differentiation of those cells on 3D-HA/PDLLA, the osteogenesis marker genes runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2), and Sp7 (Osterix) were upregulated. For the in vivo study, we evaluated the utility of 3D-HA/PDLLA biomaterials compared to the conventional bone substitute of beta-tricalcium phosphate (&beta, TCP) in rats with critical mandibular bony defects. The implantation of 3D-HA/PDLLA biomaterials resulted in enhanced bone regeneration, by inducing high osteoconductivity as well as higher &beta, TCP levels. Our study thus showed that the novel composite, 3D-HA/PDLLA, is an excellent bioactive/bioresorbable biomaterial for use as a cellular scaffold, both in vitro and in vivo, and has utility in bone regenerative therapy, such as for patients with irregular maxillofacial bone defects.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is effectively treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeted against BCR-ABL. We previously reported the investigation of residual CML diseases during TKI treatment using FACS-sorting and quantitative RT-PCR of BCR-ABL among each population; total mononuclear cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and myeloid progenitors. The observations also implied that the second-generation of ABL-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (2nd TKIs), dasatinib or nilotinib therapy can be more promising approach for efficient reduction of the CML stem cells. Moreover, we need to develop the evaluation method of the residual CML diseases to establish rational therapy-cessation strategies in CML.

This study aimed to indicate patient outcomes and pathological characteristics of follicular lymphoma (FL) with peripheral blood (PB) involvement. Of 533 patients with FL, 56 (11%) had PB involvement. Of the patients treated with rituximab, 39 patients with PB involvement had significantly shorter progression-free survival than 107 patients with stage IV disease without PB involvement (p = 0.021), but the overall survival was not different (p = 0.804). The histopathology of the primary sites was usually nodal (95%) low-grade (86%) FL with IGH/BCL2 fusion (75%). Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the incidence of CD10 positivity was lower in the bone marrow (55% and 58%) and PB (41% and not available) than in the primary site (86% and 93%) (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Therefore, even if small lymphoma cells in the bone marrow and PB are negative for CD10, FL cannot be ruled out.

To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of a nodular pattern and immunophenotypes in primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL), histopathological features, including a nodular pattern and immunophenotypes, were analyzed in 58 Japanese PMBL patients. The patients were 23 men and 35 women with a median age of 31 years. The 4-year progression free survival (PFS) rate was 78%, and the 4-year overall survival (OS) rate was 89%. Among the histopathological and immunohistochemical features, Bcl6(+) (P = 0.013), MUM1(+) (P = 0.091), and pale cytoplasm (P = 0.064) were favorable prognostic indicators of PFS, and Bcl6(+) (P = 0.051) and MUM1(+) (P = 0.07) were favorable prognostic indicators of OS. Patients with Bcl2 negativity (n = 11) had 4-year PFS and OS rates of 100%. Histologically, a nodular pattern, resembling nodular sclerosis classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), was observed in 22 patients (38%). However, this was not a significant prognostic indicator. In conclusion, Bcl6(+) , MUM1(+) , Bcl2(-) , and pale cytoplasm are candidate favorable prognostic indicators for PMBL and should be further examined in larger studies. We suggest that PMBL with a nodular pattern may belong to the same histological spectrum as nodular sclerosis CHL.

Introduction Recently, promising efficacy has been reported for cell therapies using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, and bispecific T-cell engager antibody (BiTE) - a complex formed with antibodies against CD3 and antibodies against tumor cell surface antigens. However, severe adverse events such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity result in the incidence of high mortality, which is difficult to predict before initiating these therapies. These symptoms rapidly advance to the severe stage; therefore, a multidisciplinary team management system across the organization is necessary. Method Our multidisciplinary team developed standard operating procedure for adverse events. 1)Preparation of a symptoms checklist and action manual: A symptoms observation checklist and action manual (preparation of the tratment drugs and the treatment flow) were prepared for early detection and to decide on the early treatment approach. 2)Cooperation system with the intensive care unit: Admission and discharge criteria based on symptom severity were laid down. 3)Advance education: Training sessions were held for the expected responders, including holiday/night medical examinations (physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and research coordinators). 4)Communication system and information sharing: The communication system at the time of an event’s onset was clarified, and patient information was shared. Results The actions decided could be implemented, and adverse events could be managed properly. Discussion The careful construction of the management system prior to treatment implementation enables rapid action for the management of adverse events. As many more drugs will introduce into clinical practice in the future, it should be important to continue the verification and improvement of our system.

TPS3623 Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy is the current standard treatment for stage III colorectal cancer after curative resection. However, the prognosis of stage III colorectal cancer is still poor even after curative resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. Recently, several observational studies suggested the anti-tumor effect of aspirin for advanced colorectal cancer. The main mechanism of the anti-tumor effect by aspirin may be to suppress cyclooxygenase activity in the arachidonic acid cascade and to inhibit the production of prostaglandins involved in tumor growth. So far, aspirin showed a prolongation of survival for colorectal cancer in several retrospective studies. However, in these studies, aspirin was given not to be evaluated the effect on prognosis of colorectal cancer in adjuvant setting but to prevent cardiovascular event. In addition, baseline patient characteristics were imbalanced between aspirin group and non-aspirin group and both dosage amount and dosing period of aspirin were different among patients. Methods: We planned a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase III trial commenced in Japan in March 2018 to confirm the superiority of aspirin in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) over placebo for stage III colorectal cancer patients after curative resection. Patients receive aspirin (100 mg/day) or placebo for 3 years with the standard adjuvant chemotherapy of mFOLFOX6, CAPOX or capecitabine until relapse or unacceptable toxicities. The primary endpoint is DFS and the secondary endpoints are overall survival, relapse-free survival, relative dose intensity, adverse events, and serious adverse events. We assumed the 3-year DFS of aspirin arm as 74% based on two previous trials conducted by JCOG and expected a 6% increase in the 3-year DFS with aspirin adding to standard adjuvant chemotherapy after curative surgery. A total of 880 patients will be accrued from 20 Japanese institutions within 3 years, and 47 patients were enrolled as of Jan 31, 2019. Both aspirin and placebo are provided by Bayer Yakuhin Ltd. This trial has been registered at Japan Registry of Clinical Trials as jRCTs031180009 (https://jrct.niph.go.jp/detail/589). Clinical trial information: jRCTs031180009.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of two free-breathing late gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) techniques (two-dimensional segmented navigator-gated [NAV-LGE] and single-shot [SS-LGE]) by comparing with breath-hold LGE-CMR (BH-LGE) as reference.A total of 200 consecutive patients underwent the three LGE-CMR imaging techniques. BH patterns were assessed with dynamic navigator MR imaging. Image quality was graded on a 5-point scale (4=optimal; 0=not assessable). In patients with sufficient BH capability (diaphragmatic movement with a deviation of3mm), hyperenhancement was scored with a 5-point scale, and global infarct size (%left ventricle) was quantified.Compared to free-breathing LGE-CMR, BH-LGE had higher image quality grade in patients with sufficient BH capability (P0.01 [vs. NAV-LGE]; P0.001 [vs. SS-LGE]) but poorer image quality in patients with insufficient BH capability (P0.001 [vs. NAV-LGE]; P0.01 [vs. SS-LGE]). NAV-LGE had higher sensitivity for infarct detection than SS-LGE (97.1% vs. 88.4%, P0.05), but specificity was not significantly different (97.3% vs. 94.7%, P=0.37). By Bland-Altman analysis, the average differences in global infarct size were 0.4% and 1.2%, and the limits of agreement were ± 4.0% and ± 5.9% for NAV- and SS-LGE, respectively.Although both NAV- and SS-LGE improve the image quality in patients with insufficient BH capability, NAV-LGE is superior to SS-LGE in infarct detection and infarct size measurement. NAV-LGE can be a possible first-line technique for patients with inability to perform sufficient BH.

To determine suitable food textures for videofluoroscopic study of swallowing (VFSS), in order to predict and prevent subsequent aspiration pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery.We evaluated 45 hospitalized esophageal cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2012 and December 2013. The control group consisted of 43 patients treatmed from January 2010 until December 2011 and were not examined by VFSS. Test foods, which were presented in order of increasing thickness, included thin barium sulfate (Ba) liquid (3 or 10 ml), slightly thickened Ba liquid (3 or 10 ml), a spoonful of Ba jelly, and a spoonful of Ba puree.Patients could most safely swallow puree, followed by jelly. The 3mL samples of both the thin and thick liquids put patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia, with incidence rates of 13% and 11%, respectively. While 64.4% of patients could swallow all test foods and liquids safely, 35.6% were at risk for aspiration pneumonia when swallowing liquids. Even though30% of patients were at risk, only 1 (2.2%) in the VFSS group developed aspiration pneumonia, which occurred at the time of admission. Following VFSS, no incidence of aspiration pneumonia was observed. However, aspiration pneumonia occurred in 4 (9.3%) control patients during hospitalization.Postoperative esophageal cancer patients were more likely to aspirate any kind of liquid than solid foods, such as jellies. VFSS is very useful in determining suitable food textures for postoperative esophageal cancer patients.

Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP)/CHOP-like chemotherapy has been mostly applied to patients with untreated peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). Because the long-term outcome of patients with PTCL, especially those achieving complete response (CR), has not been fully elucidated, we retrospectively analyzed 78 consecutive patients initially treated with CHOP/CHOP-like chemotherapy, without high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC/auto-SCT). Median overall and progression-free survivals in all 78 patients were 44 and 17 months, respectively, with a median follow-up of 62 months. In the 53 patients achieving CR, the median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 21 months, and 2-, 3-, and 5-year RFSs were 46, 45, and 36%, respectively. Although our results showed an unfavorable outcome for PTCL as a whole, those who achieved CR following CHOP/CHOP-like chemotherapy did not always have a poor outcome without the consolidation of HDC/auto-SCT; in particular, 45% of the 65 years or younger patients were alive without disease at 5 years.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) reside in the bone marrow and maintain their stemness under hypoxic conditions. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of hypoxia on MSCs remains to be elucidated. This study attempted to uncover the signaling pathway of MSC proliferation. Under low-oxygen culture conditions, MSCs maintained their proliferation and differentiation abilities for a long term. The Notch2 receptor was up-regulated in MSCs under hypoxic conditions. Notch2-knockdown (Notch2-KD) MSCs lost their cellular proliferation ability and showed reduced gene expression of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF)-1α, HIF-2α, and c-Myc. Overexpression of the c-Myc gene in Notch2-KD MSCs allowed the cells to regain their proliferation capacity. These results suggested that Notch2 signaling is linked to c-Myc expression and plays a key role in the regulation of MSC proliferation. Our findings provide important knowledge for elucidating the self-replication competence of MSCs in the bone marrow microenvironment.

To the Editor A key event during epidermal differentiation is the proteolytic breakdown of profilaggrin into “free” filaggrin monomers. A recent study has shown that the skin specific retroviral-like aspartic protease (SASPase) plays a key role in profilaggrin-filaggrin processing (Matsui et al., 2011). SASPase cleaves the linker peptide between the individual filaggrin monomers of profilaggrin and on a hairless mouse background, loss of SASPase leads to dry, scaly skin with reduced stratum corneum hydration accompanied by accumulations of profilaggrin-filaggrin intermediates but an absence of filaggrin monomers (Matsui et al., 2011). In this same study several missense mutations in the SASPase gene in atopic eczema patients and controls were identified, some of which were shown to have a detrimental effect on the ability of SASPase to cleave the profilaggrin linker peptide. Given the important role of filaggrin in skin barrier function and maintaining stratum corneum hydration (O’Regan and Irvine, 2010), these results prompted us to question whether aberrant profilaggrin-filaggrin processing due to altered SASPase activity could provide an alternative pathogenic mechanism for atopic eczema or clinically dry skin. To answer this question, the entire coding region of the SASPase gene, ASPRV1, was amplified by PCR in a single fragment and fully sequenced. To maximize our chances of finding mutations that might be associated with atopic eczema or clinically dry skin we sequenced ASPRV1 from three discovery cohorts; 96 paediatric atopic eczema cases from Ireland, 96 atopic eczema cases from the Cape Town region of South Africa (Xhosa people) and 99 cases of clinically dry skin from patients referred to dermatology clinics in Glasgow, Scotland. Atopic eczema in the Irish paediatric cases was diagnosed using the UK Diagnostic criteria (Williams et al., 1994); atopic eczema in the Xhosa people was diagnosed by experienced dermatologists. Clinically dry skin was defined using a previously published scoring system (Sergeant et al., 2009). Demographic and clinical data relating to the discovery cohorts are shown in Table 1. Table 1 Demographic and clinical data relating to eczema and dry skin cases and population controls Sequencing of the ASPRV1 gene in the discovery cohorts identified a total of 5 non-synonymous mutations and 2 synonymous mutations (Table 2). None of the ASPRV1 mutations identified in a previous Japanese study (Matsui et al., 2011) were detected in our discovery cohorts. We then investigated some of these mutations further by screening an additional 259 Irish atopic eczema cases and 167 Scottish dry skin cases (which included the original 93 cases from the discovery cohort) using custom-designed TaqMan® allelic discrimination assays for the mutations V74I, G87R and S333F (Supplementary Table 1). The G87R mutation was identified only in a single case of atopic eczema and the V74I and S333F mutations were not detected in any of these additional cases. In the 167 cases of dry skin, the G87R and S333F mutations were found only in single cases (ie. in the original discovery cohort) and the V74I mutation was not found in any of the cases. We then carried out two independent case-control studies to investigate any association between the T49A mutation and atopic eczema and clinically dry skin (Supplementary Table 2). 442 Irish atopic eczema cases (which included the original 92 cases from the discovery cohort) and 458 Irish population controls were screened using a TaqMan® allelic discrimination assay. There was no association between the T49A mutation and atopic eczema in the Irish study: chi-square p=0.415, odds ratio 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.81–1.18). Similarly, screening of 167 clinically dry skin cases and 100 Scottish population controls failed to reveal any association between the T49A mutation and dry skin: p=0.479, odds ratio 0.90 (0.63–1.28). Power calculations showed that the eczema case-control study had >80% power to detect an odds ratio of 1.5 or above and the dry skin case-control study study had >70% power to detect an odds ratio of 2.0 (Quanto 1.2.4, University of Southern California, http://hydra.usc.edu/gxe/). Since FLG null mutations are known to have such a strong effect on eczema risk, it is possible that the effect of ASPRV1 mutations may only be apparent in FLG wild-type individuals. Therefore the four most prevalent FLG null mutations (R501X, 2282del4, R2447X and S3247X) were screened in each of the cases and controls using methods described previously (Kezic et al., 2011; Sandilands et al., 2007). The statistical analyses for each study were repeated after excluding individuals carrying FLG null mutations, but there was still no evidence of association between ASPRV1 mutation T49A and eczema or clinically dry skin (Supplementary Table 3). Table 2 dbSNP minor allele frequencies of ASPRV1 polymorphisms identified in the discovery cohorts With the exception of T49A and to a lesser extent L325L, the remaining ASPRV1 mutations that we identified were rare (

ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to evaluate hyperenhanced regions on contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CE-CMR) imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between early contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (ECE) (2 min) and late contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LCE) (10 to 15 min) after gadolinium administration, and to compare the CE-CMR images with area at risk (AAR) derived from T2-weighted (T2W) CMR.BackgroundAlthough CE-CMR imaging can demarcate the infarcted myocardium, the value of hyperenhancement in AMI is still in dispute. The size of hyperenhanced regions may vary with time, and overestimation can be often observed with early acquisition.MethodsThirty-four patients with successfully reperfused AMI underwent CMR within 4 days after the event. Myocardial regions as percentage of left ventricular (LV) myocardium were quantified on CE and T2W images. Relative peri-infarct zone was calculated as the difference in hyperenhanced regions between ECE and LCE, normalized to the individual infarct size.ResultsBoth ECE and LCE images revealed hyperenhancement in the territory of the infarct-related artery in all patients. The hyperenhanced region on ECE extended transmurally and was consistently larger than that on LCE (39 ± 12% vs. 27 ± 12% of LV myocardium, p < 0.001). The relative peri-infarct zone was inversely correlated with the transmurality of infarction (r = −0.59, p < 0.001) and the time from symptom to reperfusion (r = −0.46, p < 0.01). The hyperenhanced region on ECE was correlated with the T2W CMR-derived AAR (r = 0.86, p < 0.001) with the average difference of −0.8% and the limits of agreement of ±11.9%.ConclusionsECE depicts ischemically injured but salvaged myocardium, as well as infarcted myocardium in patients with AMI. The myocardium at risk and infarcted myocardium after reperfusion can be retrospectively assessed by the combination of ECE and LCE.

5500Background: We conducted a phase III non-inferiority trial comparing upfront primary debulking surgery (PDS) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for stage III/IV ovarian, tubal and peritoneal ca...

TPS5603Background: Patients with metastatic or recurrent CC who are not amenable to curative treatment with surgery or radiation have a poor prognosis, and systemic chemotherapy is regarded as a st...