ABSTRACT
Background: Gal-3 is a protein that binds specifically to N-acetylglucosamine-expressing carbohydrates, which are upregulated on key tumorigenic cell surface proteins. Gal-3 is widely over-expressed in the tumor microenvironment and is generally linked to poor outcomes. Gal-3 regulates immune cell function of T cells and macrophages, and promotes neovascularization and fibrosis [Peng Cancer Res 2008;Markowska J Biol Chem 2011;Kouo Cancer Immunol Res 2015]. Gal-3 sequesters interferon gamma, reduces T-cell influx, and contributes to tumor cell evasion of the immune system via LAG-3 activation [Chen PNAS 2009;Gordon-Alonso Nat Commun 2017]. Gal-3 has been identified as a marker of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs);patients with stage IV NSCLC with high Gal-3 levels (> 70% Gal-3 immunohistochemical staining) have been shown to be resistant to the CPI pembrolizumab [Capalbo Int J Mol Sci 2019]. Animal data indicate synergy between CPI therapy and Gal-3 inhibition [Vuong Cancer Res 2019;Zhang FEBS Open Bio 2021]. Thus, inhibiting Gal-3 together with CPI-based immunotherapy may enhance tumor-specific immune responses, and overcome CPI resistance. Methods: GALLANT-1 (NCT05240131) is a 3-part, placebo-controlled phase Ib/IIa trial that will investigate safety and efficacy of GB1211 (a Gal-3 inhibitor) + atezo vs placebo + atezo in patients with advanced NSCLC. Part A will include 8-12 patients and study safety and tolerability of 200 mg and 400 mg GB1211 twice-daily + atezo (open-label). Primary endpoint is number of adverse events (AEs) after 12 weeks' treatment and will determine the dosage for Part B. Part B will include 75-94 patients, and is a randomized, double-blind study of GB1211 + atezo or placebo + atezo. Primary endpoints are safety (number of AEs) and efficacy (percentage change from baseline in the sum of longest diameter of target lesions after 12 weeks' treatment). Part C is an expansion study including patients from Parts A and B, with safety and efficacy assessments. Eligibility criteria: advanced or metastatic stage IIIB or IV NSCLC adenocarcinoma;measurable disease per RECIST v1.1;expression of programmed death ligand-1 on ≥50% of tumor cells;eligible for 1200 mg atezo every 3 weeks. Exclusion criteria: symptomatic, untreated, or actively progressing central nervous system metastases;prior systemic chemotherapy for treatment of recurrent advanced or metastatic disease, except if part of neoadjuvant/ adjuvant therapy;prior treatment with immune CPIs and/or GB1211;presence of EGFR mutation and ALK, ROS1, and RET alterations;treatment with antineoplastic or systemic immunotherapeutic agents prior to first GB1211 dose;severe infectious disease < 4 weeks prior to first GB1211 dose;active hepatitis B or C, HIV, or COVID-19. The study is being initiated;updated enrollment status will be presented at the meeting.
ABSTRACT
Creators and performing artists have been severely impacted by the health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent statistics show that the Quebec's arts and culture sector suffered the most important losses in terms of employment rates and income. This article analyzes and discusses the effects of lockdown and other public health measures, including the prolonged closure of artistic venues, on performing and visual artists' activity conditions. The diagnosis put forward highlights how the public action dedicated to supporting the arts and culture sector has been partly disconnected from their realities and the specific issues they encounter. The effects of this mismatch can be observed on three levels, which are conceptualized as three invisibility zones of artistic labour. These three zones take, respectively, the form of (1) a weakening of the functional interdependencies in which artistic labour is embedded, (2) a reinforcement of the precarity processes impacting artistic professions and (3) other effects on their representation and identity registers.