Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE:Provide real-world data regarding the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality in breast cancer (BC) patients on active cancer treatment. METHODS:Clinical data were abstracted from the 3778 BC patients seen at a multisite cancer center in New York between February 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020, including patient demographics, tumor histology, cancer treatment, and SARS-CoV-2 testing results. Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection by treatment type (chemotherapy [CT] vs endocrine and/or HER2 directed therapy [E/H]) was compared by Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting. In those diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, Mann-Whitney test was used to a assess risk factors for severe disease and mortality. RESULTS:Three thousand sixty-two patients met study inclusion criteria with 641 patients tested for SARS-COV-2 by RT-PCR or serology. Overall, 64 patients (2.1%) were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by either serology, RT-PCR, or documented clinical diagnosis. Comparing matched patients who received chemotherapy (n = 379) with those who received non-cytotoxic therapies (n = 2343) the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 did not differ between treatment groups (weighted risk; 3.5% CT vs 2.7% E/H, P = .523). Twenty-seven patients (0.9%) expired over follow-up, with 10 deaths attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chemotherapy was not associated with increased risk for death following SARS-CoV-2 infection (weighted risk; 0.7% CT vs 0.1% E/H, P = .246). Advanced disease (stage IV), age, BMI, and Charlson's Comorbidity Index score were associated with increased mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection (P ≤ .05). CONCLUSION:BC treatment, including chemotherapy, can be safely administered in the context of enhanced infectious precautions, and should not be withheld particularly when given for curative intent.

Eribulin inhibits microtubule polymerization and suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conventional pathology approaches have not identified a precise predictive biomarker for Eribulin. We performed qmIF on pre-treatment tissue from 11 patients (6 TNBC, 5 HGSOC) treated with Eribulin-LF. T-lymphocytes were the dominant immune-subset in TME, with higher levels detected in stroma vs tumor (9% vs 2%). Greater density of CD3+ (p = 0.01) and CD3 + CD8+ (p = 0.03) cells and closer proximity between CD3 + CD8+ and tumor cells was observed in the patients with disease control (PR + SD) vs. progressive disease. QmIF identified an association between TIL infiltration and eribulin-LF sensitivity, which should evaluated further in prospective studies.

The immune system encompasses a broad array of defense mechanisms against foreign threats, including invading pathogens and transformed neoplastic cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are critically involved in innate immunity, serving as pattern recognition receptors whose stimulation leads to additional innate and adaptive immune responses. Malignant cells exploit the natural immunomodulatory functions of TLRs, expressed mainly by infiltrating immune cells but also aberrantly by tumor cells, to foster their survival, invasion, and evasion of anti-tumor immune responses. An extensive body of research has demonstrated context-specific roles for TLR activation in different malignancies, promoting disease progression in certain instances while limiting cancer growth in others. Despite these conflicting roles, TLR agonists have established therapeutic benefits as anti-cancer agents that activate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and facilitate the expression of cytokines that allow for infiltration of anti-tumor lymphocytes and the suppression of oncogenic signaling pathways. This review focuses on the clinical application of TLR agonists for cancer treatment. We also highlight agents that are undergoing development in clinical trials, including investigations of TLR agonists in combination with other immunotherapies.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Late relapse with presentation of metastatic disease >5 years after nephrectomy with curative intent is a known behavior of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but data on outcomes, especially regarding targeted therapies, are limited. In this study, we analyze clinicopathologic features and response to targeted therapy in patients with late-relapse metastatic RCC (mRCC). Methods/UNASSIGNED:We retrospectively reviewed clinical data on consecutive patients treated with targeted therapy for mRCC diagnosed >5 years after nephrectomy with curative intent. Results/UNASSIGNED:A total of 24 patients (100% clear cell histology, median age 72 years, 83% males, all with prior nephrectomies) met inclusion criteria; 71% had favorable risk, and 25% had intermediate risk by International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium criteria. The estimated median overall survival for all patients was 60.5 months, and the 3-year overall survival rate was 71.78% (95% confidence interval, 47.98%-84.77%). All patients were treated with targeted therapy; first-line treatments included pazopanib (46%), sorafenib (25%), sunitinib (17%), and cytokine (13%), with no significant difference in time to treatment failure between therapies. Median time on first-line therapy was 19.7 months; 67% of patients received second-line treatment. Metastases were detected at considerable rates in sites considered historically uncommon, such as the pancreas, adrenal glands, and soft tissue. Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:Patients with late-relapse mRCC treated with targeted therapy had prolonged survival that compared favorably to historical controls, and metastases in uncommon sites were noted.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most immunoresponsive human cancers. High-dose IL-2 and Interferon-α were once the principle therapies for metastatic RCC, however they had harsh-tolerance profiles and limited response rates. In the last decade, targeted therapies have supplanted cytokine therapy due to higher response rates and more favorable toxicity profiles. Emerging immunotherapies targeting the PD-1 receptor and PD-L1 ligand have shown promising results. Likewise, other novel targeted immunotherapies are currently under evaluation. The safety profiles and response rates of new generation immunotherapies are encouraging and justify the progression of clinical trials. However, longer follow-up data are needed to confirm these promising results. In addition, it is still unclear if an optimal sequence or combinations of new immunotherapies paired with current targeted therapies will emerge.

BACKGROUND:The adoption of robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is increasing in Australia; however, to date no Australian RAPN series has been reported. This paper describes a single-surgeon initial experience with RAPN and evaluates perioperative, pathological and oncological outcomes. METHODS:Data on the first 50 consecutive patients to undergo RAPN by a single surgeon were reviewed. Demographic, perioperative, tumour characteristics and Clavien complications were collected in addition to oncological follow-up and renal function monitoring. RESULTS:Mean age was 58.2 ± 10.4 years, body mass index was 28.8 ± 4.5 kg/m(2) and Charlson Co-morbidity Index was 4.6 ± 1.2. Tumour diameter was 31 ± 13 mm and RENAL score was 6.8 ± 1.5. Average total operative time was 151 ± 32.7 min, estimated blood loss was 171.1 ± 185.8 mL, warm ischaemia time was 17.8 ± 6.7 min and length of hospital stay was 3 ± 0.9 days. There were seven Clavien complications and no deaths. Estimated glomerular filtration rate did not decrease significantly post-operatively (P = 0.8); and there was 14.6% upstaging of chronic kidney disease scoring although no patient required dialysis. There were no positive malignant surgical margins, and to date no patient has evidence of disease recurrence. Of 50 patients, 54% had a minimum follow-up of 6 months and 28% had a minimum follow-up of 1 year. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:We report the largest RAPN study in Australia or New Zealand to date. Initial results suggest that RAPN can be safely introduced into the Australian public and private health systems, and has been effective in oncologic control and renal function preservation.

The resolution of type 2 diabetes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) attests to the important role of the gastrointestinal tract in glucose homeostasis. Previous studies in RYGB-treated rats have shown that the Roux limb displays hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Here, we report that the Roux limb of RYGB-treated rats exhibits reprogramming of intestinal glucose metabolism to meet its increased bioenergetic demands; glucose transporter-1 is up-regulated, basolateral glucose uptake is enhanced, aerobic glycolysis is augmented, and glucose is directed toward metabolic pathways that support tissue growth. We show that reprogramming of intestinal glucose metabolism is triggered by the exposure of the Roux limb to undigested nutrients. We demonstrate by positron emission tomography-computed tomography scanning and biodistribution analysis using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose that reprogramming of intestinal glucose metabolism renders the intestine a major tissue for glucose disposal, contributing to the improvement in glycemic control after RYGB.

BACKGROUND:Gastrointestinal weight loss surgery, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. RYGB is associated with a remarkable decrease in the rate of death from obesity-related complications, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and cancer. Dissecting the mechanisms of RYGB effects could augment our understanding about the pathogenesis of obesity and its complications. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS/OBJECTIVE:In this study, we describe in detail a mouse model of RYGB that closely reproduces the surgical steps of the human procedure. RESULTS:We show that RYGB in mice has the same effects as in human patients, proving the high translational validity of this model system. We present an intraoperative video to facilitate the widespread use of this complex and difficult method. CONCLUSIONS:The study of the mechanisms of RYGB using this model system can greatly facilitate our understanding about the effects of RYGB in human patients. The reverse engineering of the physiological mechanisms of RYGB could lead to discovery of new, effective, and less invasive treatments.

Although the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically throughout the world during the last 25 yr, its long-term control remains poor. Currently, only gastrointestinal weight loss surgery, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), is associated with substantial and sustained weight loss and resolution or significant improvement of diabetes mellitus and other metabolic obesity-induced complications. Clinical observations and recent studies have suggested that RYGB induces its effects by changing the physiology of weight regulation. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these profound and sustainable effects could facilitate the development of novel and less invasive treatments against obesity and its complications. To study the physiological mechanisms of RYGB, we have developed a mouse RYGB model that replicates the human operation. The aims of this study were to develop a roadmap for assessing energy expenditure (EE) in animal models of weight loss surgery and to examine the effects of RYGB on EE. We first measured EE by indirect calorimetry in groups of animals that underwent RYGB or a sham operation. Calorimetry data were analyzed using three different methods: normalization by total body mass, allometric scaling, and analysis of covariance modeling. RYGB in mice induced a significant increase in EE that was independent of the method used. An energy balance analysis was then performed, which also confirmed that RYGB-treated animals have higher energy maintenance needs. Finally, we determined the EE components that account for the observed increase in EE, and we found that resting EE and postprandial thermogenesis are the major contributors to this increase.