Practitioners Speak Out

The agricultural economy of Iowa is undergoing rapid changes. The trend seems to be toward larger economic units and more specialization. The livelihood of the large animal practitioner is dependent on the economics of the agricultural community. Being concerned with the role of the large animal practitioner in the agri-business industry of Iowa, it was decided to send out a questionnaire to various practitioners in the state

A Canadian paediatric brain tumour consortium (CPBTC) phase II molecularly targeted study of imatinib in recurrent and refractory paediatric central nervous system tumours

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of imatinib in children with recurrent or refractory central nervous system (CNS) tumours expressing KIT and/or PDGFRA. METHODS: Nineteen patients aged 2-18 years, with recurrent or refractory CNS tumours expressing either of the target receptors KIT and/or PDGFRA (by immunohistochemistry) were eligible. Participants received imatinib orally at a dose of 440 mg/m(2)/day and toxicities and tumour responses were monitored. Serial blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples for pharmacokinetics were obtained in a subset of consenting patients. Frozen tumour samples were analysed retrospectively for KIT and PDGFRA gene amplification in a subset of patients for whom samples were available. RESULTS: Common toxicities were lymphopaenia, neutropaenia, leucopaenia, elevated serum transaminases and vomiting. No intratumoural haemorrhages were observed. Although there were no objective responses to imatinib, four patients had long-term stable disease (SD) (38-104 weeks). Our results suggest a possible relationship between KIT expression and maintenance of SD with imatinib treatment; KIT immunopositivity was seen in only 58% (11/19) of study participants overall, but in 100% of patients with SD at 38 weeks. All patient tumours showed PDGFRA expression. Pharmacokinetic data showed a high interpatient variability, but corresponded with previously reported values. CONCLUSIONS: Imatinib at 440 mg/m(2)/day is relatively safe in children with recurrent CNS tumours, but induced no objective responses. Demonstration of SD in previously progressing patients (KIT-expressing) suggests cytostatic activity of imatinib.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Practitioners Speak Out

The agricultural economy of Iowa is undergoing rapid changes. The trend seems to be toward larger economic units and more specialization. The livelihood of the large animal practitioner is dependent on the economics of the agricultural community. Being concerned with the role of the large animal practitioner in the agri-business industry of Iowa, it was decided to send out a questionnaire to various practitioners in the state.</p

Phase I study of REGN421 (R)/SAR153192, a fully-human delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) monoclonal antibody (mAb), in patients with advanced solid tumors.

2502 Background: Dll4, a Notch receptor ligand, may have a role in tumor angiogenesis and is an emerging anticancer target. REGN421 (R) is a fully human IgG1mAb that binds human Dll4 and disrupts Notch-mediated signaling. Methods: Primary objectives of the dose escalation (3+3 design) trial were to determine safety and a recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of R in patients (pts) with advanced cancer. R was given IV at doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) or 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 3mg/kg every 2 weeks (Q2W). Secondary objectives were PK, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity. Results: 53 pts (M/F=22/31, ECOG 0/1=18/35) were enrolled; 31 pts were treated Q3W at doses of 0.25 - 4 mg/kg; 22 pts were treated Q2W at doses of 0.75 - 3 mg/kg. Two DLTs occurred: Grade 3 (Gr3) nausea (0.5mg/kg Q3W) and Gr3 abdominal pain (1 mg/kg Q2W). A maximum tolerated dose was not reached on either schedule. Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 29 pts; nausea, abdominal pain, dyspnea, hypoxia, and hypertension (HTN) were reported in ≥ 5%. Most frequent treatment related AEs were fatigue (30%), headache (26%), HTN (26%), and nausea (15%). Six treatment related SAEs (all reversed off treatment) were reported in 4 patients: BNP increase (0.25mg/kg, Gr1), troponin I increase (4mg/kg, Gr3), right ventricular dysfunction (1.5mg/kg, Gr3), left ventricular dysfunction (3mg/kg, Gr3) and 2 events of pulmonary HTN (1.5mg/kg, Gr 3, and 3mg/kg Gr3). Laboratory abnormalities (≥ Gr3) were neutropenia (3) and anemia (2), and elevated ALP (7), ALT (3), bilirubin (3), AST (2), and decreased albumin (1). Anti-tumor activity included 2 PRs (NSCLC BAL-type with a beta-catenin mutation and ovarian cancer [OvCa]), and 16 pts with SD (3 pts had SD &gt; 6 months). Two of 8 pts with OvCa had CA125 responses. R had non-linear target-mediated PK without accumulation. The half-life of R at 3mg/kg Q2W was 7 days. No immunogenicity was observed. Conclusions: REGN421 had an acceptable safety profile, and RP2Ds of 4mg/kg Q3W and 3mg/kg Q2W. Responses and prolonged SD were noted in OvCa pts and other solid tumors. Dose escalation has concluded and disease specific expansion cohorts are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT00871559. </jats:p

Canadian Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Standards of Practice

Primary CNS tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in pediatrics. It is essential to understand treatment trends to interpret national survival data. In Canada, children with CNS tumors are treated at one of 16 tertiary care centers. We surveyed pediatric neuro-oncologists to create a national standard of practice to be used in the absence of a clinical trial for seven of the most prevalent brain tumors in children. This allowed description of practice across the country, along with a consensus. This had a multitude of benefits, including understanding practice patterns, allowing for a basis to compare in future research and informing Health Canada of the current management of patients. This also allows all children in Canada to receive equivalent care, regardless of location.</jats:p

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Derived Linoleic Acid Oxylipins, Small Vessel Disease Markers, and Neurodegeneration in Stroke

Background Cerebral small vessel disease is associated with higher ratios of soluble-epoxide hydrolase derived linoleic acid diols (12,13-dihydroxyoctadecenoic acid [DiHOME]&nbsp;and 9,10-DiHOME) to their parent epoxides (12(13)-epoxyoctadecenoic acid [EpOME]&nbsp;and 9(10)-EpOME); however, the relationship has not yet been examined in stroke. Methods and Results Participants with mild to moderate small vessel stroke or large vessel stroke were selected based on clinical and imaging&nbsp;criteria. Metabolites were quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Volumes of stroke, lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, magnetic resonance imaging visible perivascular spaces, and free water diffusion were quantified from structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (3 Tesla). Adjusted linear regression models were used for analysis. Compared with&nbsp;participants with large vessel stroke (n=30), participants with small vessel stroke (n=50) had a higher 12,13-DiHOME/12(13)-EpOME ratio (β=0.251, P=0.023). The 12,13-DiHOME/12(13)-EpOME ratio was associated with more lacunes (β=0.266, P=0.028) but not with large vessel stroke volumes. Ratios of 12,13-DiHOME/12(13)-EpOME and 9,10-DiHOME/9(10)-EpOME were associated with greater volumes of white matter hyperintensities (β=0.364, P&lt;0.001; β=0.362, P&lt;0.001) and white matter MRI-visible perivascular spaces (β=0.302, P=0.011; β=0.314, P=0.006). In small vessel stroke, the 12,13-DiHOME/12(13)-EpOME ratio was associated with higher white matter free water diffusion (β=0.439, P=0.016), which was specific to the temporal lobe in exploratory regional analyses. The 9,10-DiHOME/9(10)-EpOME ratio was associated with temporal lobe atrophy (β=-0.277, P=0.031). Conclusions Linoleic acid markers of cytochrome P450/soluble-epoxide hydrolase activity were associated with small versus large vessel stroke, with small vessel disease markers consistent with blood brain barrier and neurovascular-glial disruption, and temporal lobe atrophy. The findings may indicate a novel modifiable risk factor for small vessel disease and related neurodegeneration