Faculty Bibliography

Background mRNA-2752 is a first-in-class mRNA-based therapeutic agent encoding T cell co-stimulator OX40L, and proinflammatory cytokines IL-23 and IL-36g. Preclinical data demonstrated activity in a range of tumor microenvironments (TMEs), including immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)- refractory cancer models, and synergy when combined with alpha-PDL1 antibodies. Data from the dose escalation phase of the study was previously reported and the recommended mRNA- 2752 dose for expansion (RDE) was up to 8mg ITu. Methods We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ITu mRNA- 2752 administered as monotherapy (Arm A; previously reported ASCO 2020) and in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab (Arm B) in patients (pts) with tumors that were palpable or accessible with image guidance. Here we report preliminary data for the expansion cohorts in TNBC, CPI-refractory melanoma, and HNSCC. Biomarker analyses included IHC/F-IHC of immune status markers and whole transcriptome assessments of paired tumor biopsies. Protein quantification of IL-23, IL-36g and other pro-inflammatory cytokines were performed in plasma and tumors. Results As of 01JUL 2022, 88 pts were treated, 69 in Arm B with mRNA-2752 dosed by tumor size ranging from 0.25-8 mg. The most common treatment related adverse events occurring in >= 10% of pts in Arm B included grade 1/2 injection site erythema/pain/swelling, fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, and flushing. Grade 3 events included injection site pain/erythema, and fever. There were no grade 4/5 related events. Objective responses were observed in immune refractory tumors by RECIST and iRECIST, including a confirmed PR in a PD-L1 low TNBC and confirmed iCR in an immune checkpoint- refractory melanoma pt, respectively. Biomarker analyses of plasma and tumor show mRNA-2752 treatment was associated with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL- 23, IL-36g, IFNgamma, and TNFalpha. F-IHC of paired tumor biopsies showed increase in proliferating CD8+ T cells. Transcriptional profiling of the TME demonstrates a pronounced immune response including dendritic cell recruitment and T cell activation, which remained elevated in longitudinal samples. The greatest increases in immune response and markers of cytolytic activity were observed in pts deriving clinical benefit. Conclusions ITu mRNA-2752 + IV durvalumab is safe, tolerable, and shows preliminary efficacy in immune refractory tumors, including TNBC and melanoma. Biomarker analyses indicate mRNA-2752 drives cytokine responses. Consistent with the expected mechanism of action, a productive and sustained inflammatory response is observed in the TME in response to treatment, including signatures of increased innate and adaptive immune cell abundance and effector response

OBJECTIVE:Aim of the manuscript is to discuss how to improve margins in sacral chordoma. BACKGROUND:Chordoma is a rare neoplasm, arising in half cases from the sacrum, with reported local failure in >50% after surgery. METHODS:A multidisciplinary meeting of the "Chordoma Global Consensus Group" was held in Milan in 2017, focusing on challenges in defining and achieving optimal margins in chordoma with respect to surgery, definitive particle radiation therapy (RT) and medical therapies. This review aims to report on the outcome of the consensus meeting and to provide a summary of the most recent evidence in this field. Possible new ways forward, including on-going international clinical studies, are discussed. RESULTS:En-bloc tumor-sacrum resection is the cornerstone of treatment of primary sacral chordoma, aiming to achieve negative microscopic margins. Radical definitive particle therapy seems to offer a similar outcome compared to surgery, although confirmation in comparative trials is lacking; besides there is still a certain degree of technical variability across institutions, corresponding to different fields of treatment and different tumor coverage. To address some of these questions, a prospective, randomized international study comparing surgery versus definitive high-dose RT is ongoing. Available data do not support the routine use of any medical therapy as (neo)adjuvant/cytoreductive treatment. CONCLUSION:Given the significant influence of margins status on local control in patients with primary localized sacral chordoma, the clear definition of adequate margins and a standard local approach across institutions for both surgery and particle RT is vital for improving the management of these patients.

Bendamustine (B) with rituximab (R) is a standard frontline treatment for medically fit follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. The safety and efficacy of maintenance rituximab (MR) after BR induction has not been formally compared to observation for FL, resulting in disparate practice patterns. Prospective trials have shown benefit of MR after R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) or R-CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone), yet recent data from the GALLIUM study comparing outcomes of patients treated with chemotherapy with R or obinutuzumab (G) showed higher than anticipated fatal adverse events with BR/BG. In order to assess the efficacy and tolerability of MR after BR, we retrospectively collected data on 640 newly diagnosed patients treated with FL. We found that patients who achieved partial remission (PR) after >=4 cycles of BR had improved duration of response (DOR) with MR vs. no maintenance, whereas those in complete remission did not. These findings were confirmed in a validation cohort. In the entire study population, the known fatal adverse event rate after BR was 2.5% and did not significantly differ in those receiving MR versus no maintenance. [Correction added on 14 January 2019, after online publication: The preceding sentence has been corrected in this current version.] Within the limitations inherent to retrospective analysis, these data suggest that FL patients with a PR to BR experience prolongation of remission with MR with an acceptable safety profile.XXCopyright

BACKGROUND AND AIMS/OBJECTIVE:Our goal was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FISH in the detection of malignancy compared with other standard diagnostic modalities, including brush cytology and biopsy specimens over a 10-year period of prospective data collection. METHODS:We conducted a review of all consecutive biliary strictures evaluated between 2006 and 2016. Patients with a final pathologic diagnosis or conclusive follow-up were included. We evaluated the performance of FISH polysomy (CEP 3, 7, and 17) and 9p21 deletion as well as cholangioscopic biopsy (CBx) and EUS-FNA. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS:Of 382 patients with indeterminate strictures, 281 met inclusion criteria. Forty-nine percent were malignant. Cytology, FISH polysomy, and FISH polysomy/9p21 showed a specificity of 99.3%. FISH polysomy/9p21 as a single modality was the most sensitive at 56% (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of FISH polysomy/9p21 and cytology was significantly higher than cytology alone at 63 versus 35% (p < 0.05). EUS-FNA for distal strictures and CBx for proximal strictures increased sensitivity from 33 to 93% (p < 0.001) and 48-76% (p = 0.05) in cytology-negative strictures. CONCLUSIONS:The high specificity of FISH polysomy/9p21 suggests that a positive result is sufficient for diagnosing malignancy in indeterminate strictures. The significantly higher sensitivity of FISH polysomy/9p21 compared to cytology supports the use of FISH in all non-diagnostic cases. Although both EUS-FNA and CBx were complimentary, our results suggest that distal strictures should be evaluated by EUS initially. Proximal strictures may be evaluated by FISH first and then by CBx if inconclusive.

Non-malignant oesophageal diseases are critical to recognize, but can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed radiologically. In this paper, we cover the salient clinical features and imaging findings of non-malignant pathology of the oesophagus. We organize the many non-malignant diseases of the oesophagus into two major categories: luminal disorders and wall disorders. Luminal disorders include dilatation/narrowing (e.g. achalasia, scleroderma, and stricture) and foreign body impaction. Wall disorders include wall thickening (e.g. oesophagitis, benign neoplasms, oesophageal varices, and intramural hematoma), wall thinning/outpouching (e.g. epiphrenic diverticulum, Zenker diverticulum, and Killian-Jamieson diverticulum), wall rupture (e.g. iatrogenic perforation, Boerhaave Syndrome, and Mallory-Weiss Syndrome), and fistula formation (e.g. pericardioesophageal fistula, tracheoesophageal fistula, and aortoesophageal fistula). It is the role of the radiologist to recognize the classic imaging patterns of these non-malignant oesophageal diseases to facilitate the delivery of appropriate and prompt medical treatment.