BACKGROUND: In the ARIEL4 trial of rucaparib versus standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with relapsed BRCA-mutated ovarian carcinoma, the primary endpoint was met, showing improved investigator-assessed progression-free survival with rucaparib. Here, we present the final overall survival analysis of the trial and other post-progression outcomes. METHODS: This open-label, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial was done at 64 hospitals and cancer centres in 12 countries, including Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA. Eligible patients were women aged 18 or older with BRCA1 or BRCA2-mutated ovarian carcinoma and had received at least two previous chemotherapy regimens. Patients had to have evaluable disease as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST; version 1.1) criteria and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) using an interactive response technology and block randomisation (block size of six) and stratified by progression-free interval after the most recent platinum-containing therapy to receive oral rucaparib (600 mg twice daily administered in 28-day cycles) or chemotherapy on the basis of platinum-sensitivity status. In the chemotherapy group, patients with platinum-resistant disease (progression-free interval ≥1 to <6 months) or partially platinum-sensitive disease (progression-free interval ≥6 to <12 months) received weekly paclitaxel (starting dose 60-80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15). Patients with fully platinum-sensitive disease (progression-free interval ≥12 months) received the investigator's choice of platinum-based chemotherapy (single-agent cisplatin or carboplatin, or platinum-doublet chemotherapy), in 21-day or 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint (previously reported) was investigator-assessed progression-free survival, assessed in the efficacy population (all randomly assigned patients with deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations without reversion mutations) and in the intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned patients). Overall survival was a prespecified secondary endpoint and was analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of assigned study treatment. The cutoff date was April 10, 2022. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02855944; enrolment is complete and the study is closed. FINDINGS: Between March 1, 2017, and Sept 24, 2020, 349 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive rucaparib (n=233) or chemotherapy (n=116). 332 (95%) of 349 patients were white and 17 (5%) patients were other or of unknown race. In the chemotherapy group, 80 (69%) of 116 patients crossed over to receive rucaparib. Median follow-up was 41·2 months (IQR 37·8-44·6). At data cutoff for this final analysis (April 10, 2022), 244 (70%) of 349 patients had died: 167 (72%) of 233 in the rucaparib group and 77 (66%) of 116 in the rucaparib group. Median overall survival was 19·4 months (95% CI 15·2-23·6) in the rucaparib group versus 25·4 months (21·4-27·6) in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio 1·3 [95% CI 1·0-1·7], p=0·047). No new safety signals were observed, including during crossover to rucaparib. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events across treatment groups included anaemia or decreased haemoglobin (reported in 59 [25%] of 232 patients in the rucaparib group and seven [6%] of 113 in the chemotherapy group), and neutropenia or decreased neutrophil count (in 26 [11%] of 232 in the rucaparib group and 16 [14%] of 113 patients in the chemotherapy group). Serious adverse events were reported in 66 (28%) of 232 patients in the rucaparib group and 14 (12%) of 113 patients in the chemotherapy group. Ten treatment-related deaths were reported in the rucaparib group, two of which were linked to judged to be related to rucaparib (cardiac disorder and myelodysplastic syndrome), and one death related to treatment was reported in the chemotherapy group, with no specific cause linked to the treatment. INTERPRETATION: These data highlight the need for a better understanding of the most appropriate treatment for patients who have progressed on a poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, and the optimal sequencing of chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors in advanced ovarian cancer. FUNDING: Clovis Oncology.

• MeSH
• Progression-Free Survival MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Indoles * therapeutic use   administration & dosage   adverse effects   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local * drug therapy   genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Mutation * MeSH
• Ovarian Neoplasms * drug therapy   genetics   pathology   mortality   MeSH
• Paclitaxel administration & dosage   adverse effects   MeSH
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors therapeutic use   adverse effects   administration & dosage   MeSH
• BRCA1 Protein * genetics   MeSH
• BRCA2 Protein * genetics   MeSH
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols * therapeutic use   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Clinical Trial, Phase III MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

BACKGROUND & AIM: Dysfunction of skeletal muscle satellite cells might impair muscle regeneration and prolong ICU-acquired weakness, a condition associated with disability and delayed death. This study aimed to elucidate the distinct metabolic effects of critical illness and β-OH-butyrate on satellite cells isolated from these patients. METHODS: Satellite cells were extracted from vastus lateralis muscle biopsies of patients with ICU-acquired weakness (n = 10) and control group of healthy volunteers or patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery (n = 10). The cells were exposed to standard culture media supplemented with β-OH-butyrate to assess its influence on cell proliferation by ELISA, mitochondrial functions by extracellular flux analysis, electron transport chain complexes by high resolution respirometry, and ROS production by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Critical illness led to a decline in maximal respiratory capacity, ATP production and glycolytic capacity and increased ROS production in ICU patients' cells. Notably, the function of complex II was impaired due to critical illness but restored to normal levels upon exposure to β-OH-butyrate. While β-OH-butyrate significantly reduced ROS production in both control and ICU groups, it had no significant impact on global mitochondrial functions. CONCLUSION: Critical illness induces measurable bioenergetic dysfunction of skeletal muscle satellite cells. β-OH-butyrate displayed a potential in rectifying complex II dysfunction caused by critical illness and this warrants further exploration.

• MeSH
• Adenosine Triphosphate metabolism   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Energy Metabolism drug effects   MeSH
• Critical Illness * MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid * pharmacology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mitochondria drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species * metabolism   MeSH
• Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle * drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Muscle Weakness MeSH
• Mitochondria, Muscle drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The adenylyl cyclase (AC) signaling pathway is suggested to be a key regulator of immune system functions. However, specific effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on T helper (Th) cell differentiation and functions are unclear. The involvement of cAMP in the Th cell differentiation program, in particular the development of Th1, Th2, and Th17 subsets, was evaluated employing forskolin (FSK), a labdane diterpene well known as an AC activator. FSK mediated an elevation in Th1-specific markers reinforcing the Th1 cell phenotype. The Th2 differentiation was supported by FSK, though cell metabolism was negatively affected. In contrast, the Th17 immunophenotype was severely suppressed leading to the highly specific upregulation of CXCL13. The causality between FSK-elicited cAMP production and the observed reinforcement of Th2 differentiation was established by using AC inhibitor 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, which reverted the FSK effects. Overall, an FSK-mediated cAMP increase affects Th1, Th2 and Th17 differentiation and can contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of Th cell-related pathological processes.

• MeSH
• Lymphocyte Activation * MeSH
• Cyclic AMP * MeSH
• Cell Differentiation MeSH
• Th17 Cells MeSH
• Colforsin pharmacology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The incidence of cerebrovascular diseases increases significantly with aging. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that aging may influence the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent vasodilation via RyR/BKCa pathway in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (4-6 month-old) and aged (24-month-old) groups. The functions of MCA and ion channel activities in smooth muscle cells were examined using myograph system and patch-clamp. Aging decreased the isoproterenol/forskolin-induced relaxation in the MCA. Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated-K(+) (BKCa) channel inhibitor, iberiotoxin, significantly attenuated the forskolin-induced vasodilatation and hyperpolarization in the young group, but not in the aged group. The amplitude and frequency of spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were significantly decreased in the aged group. Single channel recording revealed that the mean open time of BKCa channels were decreased, while an increased mean closed time of BKCa channels were found in the aged group. The Ca(2+)/voltage sensitivity of the channels was decreased accompanied by reduced BKCa alpha and beta1-subunit, the expression of RyR2, PKA-Calpha and PKA-Cbeta subunits were also declined in the aged group. Aging induced down-regulation of PKA/BKCa pathway in cerebral artery in rats. The results provides new information on further understanding in cerebrovascular diseases resulted from age-related cerebral vascular dysfunction.

• MeSH
• Cerebral Arteries * physiology   MeSH
• Down-Regulation MeSH
• Colforsin MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley MeSH
• Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases * MeSH
• Aging MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

• MeSH
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma drug therapy   genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Acute Disease MeSH
• Cell Lineage genetics   MeSH
• Gene Rearrangement MeSH
• Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase genetics   MeSH
• Induction Chemotherapy methods   MeSH
• Kinesins genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 genetics   MeSH
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 genetics   MeSH
• Chromosome Painting methods   MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Leukemia, Myeloid genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Myosins genetics   MeSH
• Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein genetics   MeSH
• Translocation, Genetic * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Letter MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling disease that is associated with negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to reduced physical and psychosocial functioning. Cladribine tablets 10 mg (3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years) have been approved for the treatment of adult patients with highly active relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The ongoing CLARIFY-MS study (NCT03369665; EudraCT number: 2017-002632-17) aims to assess the effect of cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg on HRQoL of patients with highly active RMS. Objective To report on the design of the CLARIFY-MS study, baseline patient characteristics, and results of a pre-planned interim analysis focusing on treatment satisfaction, safety, and tolerability that includes all data reported till 6 months after start of treatment. Methods The CLARIFY-MS study is a 2-year, open-label, single-arm, prospective, multicenter, phase IV study. Eligible patients with highly active RMS were assigned to receive cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years. Treatment satisfaction was assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM, v1.4; scale range from 0 to 100, higher values indicating higher satisfaction). Safety assessments, including occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; any adverse event reported after drug administration), serious adverse events (SAEs), and lymphocyte counts, were summarized descriptively. Results A total of 482 patients from 85 sites in Europe were treated with cladribine tablets. Mean patient age was 37.4 years, 338 (70.1%) were women, median EDSS was 2.5, and 345 (71.6%) were prior users of disease-modifying therapy (DMT). During the first 6 months after the start of treatment, and before reaching the full dose of cladribine tablets, mean TSQM global satisfaction score for the overall population was 70.4 (standard deviation, ± 18.48). The side effects score was 91.9 (± 17.68), convenience scored 86.6 (± 13.57), and effectiveness was 65.8 (± 21.14). A total of 275 patients (57.1%) reported at least one TEAE and 9 patients (1.9%) had a SAE. The majority of observed lymphopenia cases were of grade 1 or 2; 33 (6.8%) of the total study cohort had grade 3 lymphopenia, and no grade 4 lymphopenia was reported. Conclusion Patients reported high treatment satisfaction (TSQM) with cladribine tablets in this pre-planned interim analysis at 6 months. Few serious, and no unexpected, adverse events were reported, and there were no instances of grade 4 lymphopenia over the first 6 months. These preliminary data indicate good tolerability and convenience of administration of cladribine tablets in patients with highly active RMS.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects   MeSH
• Cladribine adverse effects   MeSH
• Quality of Life MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local MeSH
• Personal Satisfaction MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting * drug therapy   MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis * MeSH
• Patient Satisfaction MeSH
• Tablets MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Clinical Trial, Phase IV MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH

BACKGROUND: To compare the effectiveness and treatment persistence of ocrelizumab, cladribine and natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis switching from fingolimod. METHODS: Using data from MSBase registry, this multicentre cohort study included subjects who had used fingolimod for ≥6 months and then switched to ocrelizumab, cladribine or natalizumab within 3 months after fingolimod discontinuation. We analysed relapse and disability outcomes after balancing covariates using an inverse-probability-treatment-weighting method. Propensity scores for the three treatments were obtained using multinomial-logistic regression. Due to the smaller number of cladribine users, comparisons of disability outcomes were limited to natalizumab and ocrelizumab. RESULTS: Overall, 1045 patients switched to ocrelizumab (n=445), cladribine (n=76) or natalizumab (n=524) after fingolimod. The annualised relapse rate (ARR) for ocrelizumab was 0.07, natalizumab 0.11 and cladribine 0.25. Compared with natalizumab, the ARR ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 0.67 (0.47 to 0.96) for ocrelizumab and 2.31 (1.30 to 4.10) for cladribine; the hazard ratio (95% CI) for time to first relapse was 0.57 (0.40 to 0.83) for ocrelizumab and 1.18 (0.47 to 2.93) for cladribine. Ocrelizumab users had an 89% lower discontinuation rate (95% CI, 0.07 to 0.20) than natalizumab, but also a 51% lower probability of confirmed disability improvement (95% CI, 0.32 to 0.73). There was no difference in disability accumulation. CONCLUSION: After fingolimod cessation, ocrelizumab and natalizumab were more effective in reducing relapses than cladribine. Due to the low ARRs in all three treatment groups, additional observation time is required to determine if statistical difference in ARRs results in long-term disability differences.

• MeSH
• Fingolimod Hydrochloride therapeutic use   MeSH
• Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects   MeSH
• Cladribine therapeutic use   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Natalizumab adverse effects   MeSH
• Withholding Treatment MeSH
• Recurrence MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting * drug therapy   MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis * drug therapy   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prevention of disability over the long term is the main treatment goal in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, randomized clinical trials evaluate only short-term treatment effects on disability. This study aimed to define criteria for 6-month confirmed disability progression events of MS with a high probability of resulting in sustained long-term disability worsening. METHODS: In total, 14,802 6-month confirmed disability progression events were identified in 8741 patients from the global MSBase registry. For each 6-month confirmed progression event (13,321 in the development and 1481 in the validation cohort), a sustained progression score was calculated based on the demographic and clinical characteristics at the time of progression that were predictive of long-term disability worsening. The score was externally validated in the Cladribine Tablets Treating Multiple Sclerosis Orally (CLARITY) trial. RESULTS: The score was based on age, sex, MS phenotype, relapse activity, disability score and its change from baseline, number of affected functional system domains and worsening in six of the domains. In the internal validation cohort, a 61% lower chance of improvement was estimated with each unit increase in the score (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.52; discriminatory index 0.89). The proportions of progression events sustained at 5 years stratified by the score were 1: 72%; 2: 88%; 3: 94%; 4: 100%. The results of the CLARITY trial were confirmed for reduction of disability progression that was >88% likely to be sustained (events with score ˃1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicodemographic characteristics of 6-month confirmed disability progression events identify those at high risk of sustained long-term disability. This knowledge will allow future trials to better assess the effect of therapy on long-term disability accrual.

• MeSH
• Cladribine therapeutic use   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Disability Evaluation * MeSH
• Disease Progression MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Human Precision-cut intestinal slices (hPCIS) are used to study intestinal physiology, pathophysiology, drug efficacy, toxicology, kinetics, and metabolism. However, the use of this ex vivo model is restricted to approximately a 24 h timeframe because of declining viability of the hPCIS during traditional culture. We hypothesized that we could extend the hPCIS viability by using organoid medium. Therefore, we cultured hPCIS for up to 72 h in organoid media [expansion medium (Emed) and differentiation medium (Dmed)]. After incubation, we assessed culture-induced changes on viability markers, specific cell type markers and we assessed the metabolic activity of enterocytes by measuring midazolam metabolite formation. We show that the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/protein ratio of Emed-cultured hPCIS and morphology of both Emed- and Dmed-cultured hPCIS was improved compared to WME-cultured hPCIS. Emed-cultured hPCIS showed an increased expression of proliferation and stem cell markers, whereas Dmed-cultured hPCIS showed an increased expression of proliferation and enterocyte markers, along with increased midazolam metabolism. Using the Emed, the viability of hPCIS could be extended for up to 72 h, and proliferating stem cells remained preserved. Using Dmed, hPCS also remained viable for up to 72 h, and specifically rescued the metabolizing enterocytes during culture. In conclusion, by using two different organoid culture media, we could extend the hPCIS viability for up to 72 h of incubation and specifically steer stem cells or enterocytes towards their original function, metabolism, and proliferation, potentially allowing pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies beyond the 24 h timeframe.

• MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Inactivation, Metabolic MeSH
• Midazolam * pharmacology   MeSH
• Organoids MeSH
• Intestines * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in incidence and/or presentation of schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP) are pervasive. Previous evidence for shared genetic risk and sex differences in brain abnormalities across disorders suggest possible shared sex-dependent genetic risk. METHODS: We conducted the largest to date genome-wide genotype-by-sex (G×S) interaction of risk for these disorders using 85,735 cases (33,403 SCZ, 19,924 BIP, and 32,408 MDD) and 109,946 controls from the PGC (Psychiatric Genomics Consortium) and iPSYCH. RESULTS: Across disorders, genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphism-by-sex interaction was detected for a locus encompassing NKAIN2 (rs117780815, p = 3.2 × 10-8), which interacts with sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) enzymes, implicating neuronal excitability. Three additional loci showed evidence (p < 1 × 10-6) for cross-disorder G×S interaction (rs7302529, p = 1.6 × 10-7; rs73033497, p = 8.8 × 10-7; rs7914279, p = 6.4 × 10-7), implicating various functions. Gene-based analyses identified G×S interaction across disorders (p = 8.97 × 10-7) with transcriptional inhibitor SLTM. Most significant in SCZ was a MOCOS gene locus (rs11665282, p = 1.5 × 10-7), implicating vascular endothelial cells. Secondary analysis of the PGC-SCZ dataset detected an interaction (rs13265509, p = 1.1 × 10-7) in a locus containing IDO2, a kynurenine pathway enzyme with immunoregulatory functions implicated in SCZ, BIP, and MDD. Pathway enrichment analysis detected significant G×S interaction of genes regulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling in MDD (false discovery rate-corrected p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest genome-wide G×S analysis of mood and psychotic disorders to date, there was substantial genetic overlap between the sexes. However, significant sex-dependent effects were enriched for genes related to neuronal development and immune and vascular functions across and within SCZ, BIP, and MDD at the variant, gene, and pathway levels.

• MeSH
• Bipolar Disorder genetics   MeSH
• Genome-Wide Association Study MeSH
• Depressive Disorder, Major * genetics   MeSH
• Endothelial Cells MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease MeSH
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Sex Characteristics * MeSH
• Psychotic Disorders * genetics   MeSH
• Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor MeSH
• Schizophrenia genetics   MeSH
• Sulfurtransferases MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH