Trastuzumab deruxtecan versus treatment of physician's choice in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (DESTINY-Breast02): patient-reported outcomes from a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: In DESTINY-Breast02, patients with HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer who received trastuzumab deruxtecan demonstrated superior progression-free and overall survival compared with those receiving treatment of physician's choice. We present the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and hospitalisation data. METHODS: In this randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial conducted at 227 clinical sites globally, enrolled patients had to be aged 18 years or older with HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer that had progressed on trastuzumab emtansine and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) using block randomisation (block size of 3) to receive trastuzumab deruxtecan (5·4 mg/kg intravenously once every 21 days) or treatment of physician's choice by an independent biostatistician using an interactive web-based system. Patients and investigators remained unmasked to treatment. Treatment of physician's choice was either capecitabine (1250 mg/m2 orally twice per day on days 1-14) plus trastuzumab (8 mg/kg intravenously on day 1 then 6 mg/kg once per day) or capecitabine (1000 mg/m2) plus lapatinib (1250 mg orally once per day on days 1-21), with a 21-day schedule. The primary endpoint, which was progression-free survival based on blinded independent central review, has previously been reported. PROs were assessed in the full analysis set (all patients randomly assigned to the study) using the oncology-specific European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), breast cancer-specific EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast 45 (QLQ-BR45), and the generic HRQoL EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Analyses included change from baseline and time to definitive deterioration for PRO variables of interest and hospitalisation-related endpoints. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03523585, and is closed to recruitment. FINDINGS: Between Sept 6, 2018, and Dec 31, 2020, 608 patients were randomly assigned to receive either trastuzumab deruxtecan (n=406; two did not receive treatment) or treatment of physician's choice (n=202; seven did not receive treatment). Overall, 603 patients (99%) were female and five (<1%) were male. The median follow-up was 21·5 months (IQR 15·2-28·4) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group and 18·6 months (IQR 8·8-26·0) in the treatment of physician's choice group. Median treatment duration was 11·3 months (IQR 6·2-20·5) in the trastuzumab deruxtecan group and approximately 4·5 months in the treatment of physician's choice group (4·4 months [IQR 2·5-8·7] with trastuzumab; 4·6 months [2·1-8·9] with capecitabine; and 4·5 months [2·1-10·6] with lapatinib). Baseline EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status (GHS) scores were similar with trastuzumab deruxtecan (n=393) and treatment of physician's choice (n=187), and remained stable with no clinically meaningful change (defined as ≥10-point change from baseline) over time. Median time to definitive deterioration was delayed with trastuzumab deruxtecan compared with treatment of physician's choice for the primary PRO variable EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS (14·1 months [95% CI 10·4-18·7] vs 5·9 months [4·3-7·9]; HR 0·5573 [0·4376-0·7099], p<0·0001) and all other prespecified PROs (EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales, EORTC QLQ-BR45 arm and breast symptoms, and EQ-5D-5L visual analogue scale). Patient hospitalisation rates were similar in the trastuzumab deruxtecan (92 [23%] of 406) and treatment of physician's choice (41 [20%] of 202) groups; however, median time to hospitalisation was 133 days (IQR 56-237) with trastuzumab deruxtecan versus 83 days (30-152) with treatment of physician's choice. INTERPRETATION: Overall, GHS and quality of life were maintained for both treatment groups, with prespecified PRO variables favouring trastuzumab deruxtecan over treatment of physician's choice, suggesting that despite a longer treatment duration, there was no detrimental impact on patient health-related quality of life with trastuzumab deruxtecan. When considered with efficacy and safety data from DESTINY-Breast02, these results support the overall benefit of trastuzumab deruxtecan for patients with HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab emtansine. FUNDING: Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca.

Expand available targets for CAR-T therapy to overcome tumor drug resistance based on the "Evolutionary Traps".

Based on the concept of "Evolutionary Traps", targeting survival essential genes obtained during tumor drug resistance can effectively eliminate resistant cells. While, it still faces limitations. In this study, lapatinib-resistant cells were used to test the concept of "Evolutionary Traps" and no suitable target stand out because of the identified genes without accessible drug. However, a membrane protein PDPN, which is low or non-expressed in normal tissues, is identified as highly expressed in lapatinib-resistant tumor cells. PDPN CAR-T cells were developed and showed high cytotoxicity against lapatinib-resistant tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that CAR-T may be a feasible route for overcoming drug resistance of tumor based on "Evolutionary Trap". To test whether this concept is cell line or drug dependent, we analyzed 21 drug-resistant tumor cell expression profiles reveal that JAG1, GPC3, and L1CAM, which are suitable targets for CAR-T treatment, are significantly upregulated in various drug-resistant tumor cells. Our findings shed light on the feasibility of utilizing CAR-T therapy to treat drug-resistant tumors and broaden the concept of the "Evolutionary Trap".

Laminin I mediates resistance to lapatinib in HER2-positive brain metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro.

The role of extracellular matrix (ECM) prevalent in the brain metastatic breast cancer (BMBC) niche in mediating cancer cell growth, survival, and response to therapeutic agents is not well understood. Emerging evidence suggests a vital role of ECM of the primary breast tumor microenvironment (TME) in tumor progression and survival. Possibly, the BMBC cells are also similarly influenced by the ECM of the metastatic niche; therefore, understanding the effect of the metastatic ECM on BMBC cells is imperative. Herein, we assessed the impact of various ECM components (i.e., Tenascin C, Laminin I, Collagen I, Collagen IV, and Fibronectin) on brain metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines in vitro. The highly aggressive TNBC cell line was minimally affected by ECM components exhibiting no remarkable changes in viability and morphology. On the contrary, amongst various ECM components tested, the HER2-positive cell line was significantly affected by Laminin I with higher viability and demonstrated a distinct spread morphology. In addition, HER2-positive BMBC cells exhibited resistance to Lapatinib in presence of Laminin I. Mechanistically, Laminin I-induced resistance to Lapatinib was mediated in part by phosphorylation of Erk 1/2 and elevated levels of Vimentin. Laminin I also significantly enhanced the migratory potential and replicative viability of HER2-positive BMBC cells. In sum, our findings show that presence of Laminin I in the TME of BMBC cells imparts resistance to targeted therapeutic agent Lapatinib, while increasing the possibility of its dispersal and clonogenic survival.

Lapatinib antitumor effect is associated with PI3K and MAPK pathway: An analysis in human and canine prostate cancer cells.

The aberrant activation of HER2 has a pivotal role in bone metastasis implantation and progression in several tumor types, including prostate cancer (PC). Trastuzumab and other anti-HER2 therapies, such as lapatinib, have been used in human breast cancer HER2 positive. Although HER2 overexpression has been reported in PC, anti-HER2 therapy response has revealed conflicting results. We investigated the potential of lapatinib in inhibiting cell migration and inducing apoptosis in two human (LNCaP and PC3) and two canine PC cell lines (PC1 and PC2). Cell migration and apoptosis were evaluated by Annexin V/PI analysis after lapatinib treatment. The transcriptome analysis of all cell lines before and after treatment with lapatinib was also performed. We found increased apoptosis and migration inhibition in LNCaP cells (androgen-sensitive cell line), while PC1, PC2, and PC3 cells showed no alterations after the treatment. The transcriptome analysis of LNCaP and PC3 cell lines showed 158 dysregulated transcripts in common, while PC1 and PC2 cell lines presented 82. At the doses of lapatinib used, we observed transcriptional modifications in all cell lines. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were enriched in human PC cells, while canine PC cells showed enrichment of tyrosine kinase antitumor response and HER2-related pathways. In canine PC cells, the apoptosis failed after lapatinib treatment, possibly due to the downregulation of MAPK genes. Prostate cancer cells insensitive to androgens may be resistant to lapatinib through PI3K gene dysregulation. The association of lapatinib with PI3K inhibitors may provide a more effective antitumor response and clinical benefits to PC patients.

Targeting HER2 in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Molecular Features and Updates in Clinical Practice.

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) is one of the principal causes of death related to cancer globally. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a tyrosine kinase receptor which is found to be overexpressed or amplified in approximately 20% of GEA cases. In GEA, the identification of HER2-positive status is crucial to activate a specific anti-HER2 targeted therapy. The landmark ToGA trial demonstrated the superiority of adding trastuzumab to platinum-based chemotherapy, becoming the first-line standard of treatment. However, unlike breast cancer, the efficacy of other anti-HER2 drugs, such as lapatinib, pertuzumab, and T-DM1, has failed to improve outcomes in advanced and locally advanced resectable GEA. Recently, the combination of trastuzumab with pembrolizumab, along with chemotherapy, and the development of trastuzumab deruxtecan, with its specific bystander activity, demonstrated improved outcomes, renewing attention in the treatment of this disease. This review will summarise historical and emerging therapies for the treatment of HER2-positive GEA, with a section dedicated to the HER2 molecular pathway and the use of novel blood biomarkers, such as circulating tumour DNA and circulating tumour cells, which may be helpful in the future to guide treatment decisions.

Lapatinib combined with doxorubicin causes dose-dependent cardiotoxicity partially through activating the p38MAPK signaling pathway in zebrafish embryos.

Because of its enhanced antitumor efficacy, lapatinib (LAP) is commonly used clinically in combination with the anthracycline drug doxorubicin (DOX) to treat metastatic breast cancer. While it is well recognized that this combination chemotherapy can lead to an increased risk of cardiotoxicity in adult women, its potential cardiotoxicity in the fetus during pregnancy remains understudied. Here, we aimed to examine the combination of LAP chemotherapy and DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in the fetus using a zebrafish embryonic system and investigate the underlying pathologic mechanisms. First, we examined the dose-dependent cardiotoxicity of combined LAP and DOX exposure in zebrafish embryos, which mostly manifested as pericardial edema, bradycardia, cardiac function decline and reduced survival. Second, we revealed that a significant increase in oxidative stress concurrent with activated MAPK signaling, as indicated by increased protein expression of phosphorylated p38 and Jnk, was a notable pathophysiological event after combined LAP and DOX exposure. Third, we showed that inhibiting MAPK signaling by pharmacological treatment with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or genetic ablation of the map2k6 gene could significantly alleviate combined LAP and DOX exposure-induced cardiotoxicity. Thus, we provided both pharmacologic and genetic evidence to suggest that inhibiting MAPK signaling could exert cardioprotective effects. These findings have implications for understanding the potential cardiotoxicity induced by LAP and DOX combinational chemotherapy in the fetus during pregnancy, which could be leveraged for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Human Blood Serum Counteracts EGFR/HER2-Targeted Drug Lapatinib Impact on Squamous Carcinoma SK-BR-3 Cell Growth and Gene Expression.

Lapatinib is a targeted therapeutic inhibiting HER2 and EGFR proteins. It is used for the therapy of HER2-positive breast cancer, although not all the patients respond to it. Using human blood serum samples from 14 female donors (separately taken or combined), we found that human blood serum dramatically abolishes the lapatinib-mediated inhibition of growth of the human breast squamous carcinoma SK-BR-3 cell line. This antagonism between lapatinib and human serum was associated with cancelation of the drug induced G1/S cell cycle transition arrest. RNA sequencing revealed 308 differentially expressed genes in the presence of lapatinib. Remarkably, when combined with lapatinib, human blood serum showed the capacity of restoring both the rate of cell growth, and the expression of 96.1% of the genes expression of which were altered by the lapatinib treatment alone. Co-administration of EGF with lapatinib also restores the cell growth and cancels alteration of expression of 95.8% of the genes specific to lapatinib treatment of SK-BR-3 cells. Differential gene expression analysis also showed that in the presence of human serum or EGF, lapatinib was unable to inhibit the Toll-Like Receptor signaling pathway and alter expression of genes linked to the Gene Ontology term of Focal adhesion.

Recurrent severe hypocalcemia following chemotherapy regimen changes in advanced breast cancer: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: As an oncologic emergency related to abnormalities in calcium metabolism, hypercalcemia associated with paraneoplastic syndrome and bone metastases is well known. Meanwhile, the incidence of hypocalcemia is low, except in cases associated with bone-modifying agents used for bone metastases. Hypocalcemia induced by bone-modifying agents typically occurs early after the initial administration, and its incidence can be significantly reduced by preventive administration of calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. CASE REPORT: We report two cases of recurrent severe hypocalcemia occurring during chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer with multiple bone metastases. Case 1: A 35-year-old Japanese woman developed metastases in the bone, liver, and ovaries during postoperative endocrine therapy for invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. She underwent chemotherapy and treatment with denosumab. She experienced recurrent episodes of severe hypocalcemia subsequent to a change in the chemotherapy regimen. Case 2: A 65-year-old Japanese woman encountered multiple bone metastases after postoperative anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 therapy and during endocrine therapy for invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. She underwent anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 therapy and treatment with denosumab. She experienced recurrent severe hypocalcemia subsequent to a change in the chemotherapy regimen to letrozole + lapatinib, trastuzumab emtansine, and lapatinib + capecitabine. CONCLUSIONS: We observed two cases of recurrent severe hypocalcemia in patients with advanced breast cancer and bone metastases after modifications to their therapy regimens. These cases differed from the typical hypocalcemia induced by bone-modifying agents. It is possible that antitumor drugs affect calcium and bone metabolism associated with bone metastases. While these cases are rare, it is crucial for oncologists to be aware of hypocalcemia not only at the initiation of bone-modifying agents but also throughout the entire antitumor therapy, as hypocalcemia can lead to fatal outcomes.

Factors associated with overall survival in breast cancer patients with leptomeningeal disease (LMD): a single institutional retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related leptomeningeal disease (BC-LMD) is a dire diagnosis for 5-8% of patients with breast cancer (BC). We conducted a retrospective review of BC-LMD patients diagnosed at Moffitt Cancer Center from 2011 to 2020, to determine the changing incidence of BC-LMD, factors which are associated with the progression of BC CNS metastasis to BC-LMD, and factors which are associated with OS for patients with BC-LMD. METHODS: Patients with BC and brain/spinal metastatic disease were identified. For those who eventually developed BC-LMD, we used Kaplan-Meier survival curve, log-rank test, univariable, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model to identify factors affecting time from CNS metastasis to BC-LMD and OS. RESULTS: 128 cases of BC-LMD were identified. The proportion of BC-LMD to total BC patients was higher between 2016 and 2020 when compared to 2011-2015. Patients with HR+ or HER2 + BC experienced longer times between CNS metastasis and LMD than patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Systemic therapy and whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) was associated with prolonged progression to LMD in all patients. Hormone therapy in patients with HR + BC were associated with a delayed BC-CNS metastasis to LMD progression. Lapatinib treatment was associated with a delayed progression to LMD in patients with HER2 + BC. Patients with TNBC-LMD had shorter OS compared to those with HR + and HER2 + BC-LMD. Systemic therapy, intrathecal (IT) therapy, and WBRT was associated with prolonged survival for all patients. Lapatinib and trastuzumab therapy was associated with improved OS in patients with HER2 + BC-LMD. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing rates of BC-LMD provide treatment challenges and opportunities for clinical trials. Prospective trials testing lapatinib and/or similar tyrosine kinase inhibitors, IT therapies, and combination treatments are urgently needed.

Unlocking apoptosis in triple negative breast cancer: Harnessing "glutamine trap" to amplify the efficacy of lapatinib-loaded mixed micelles.

Certain aggressive cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), heavily bank on glutamine for their proliferation and survival. In this context, TNBC functions as a "glutamine trap," extracting circulating glutamine at a rate surpassing that of any other organ. Moreover, the overexpression of Alanine, Serine, Cysteine Transporter 2 (ASCT2), a key player in glutamine uptake, further underscores the significance of targeted therapy to enhance TNBC treatment. This led to the exploration of a novel approach involving hydrophobized Pluronic-based mixed micelles achieved through the use of docosahexaenoic acid and stapled with glutamine for displaying inherent ASCT2 targeting ability-a formulation termed LPT G-MM. LPT G-MM exhibited optimal characteristics, including a size of 163.66 ± 10.34 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.237 ± 0.083, and an enhanced drug loading capacity of approximately 15 %. Transmission electron microscopy validated the spherical shape of these micelles. In vitro release studies demonstrated drug release in a sustained manner without the risk of hemolysis. Importantly, LPT G-MM displayed heightened cellular uptake, increased cytotoxicity, a lower IC50 value, elevated reactive oxygen species, induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and a greater apoptosis index in TNBC cell lines compared to free LPT. The pharmacokinetic profile of LPT G-MM revealed a substantial rise in half-life (t1/2) by approximately 1.48-fold and an elevation in the area under the curve [AUC(0→∞)] by approximately 1.19-fold. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of tumor volume by approximately 7.26-fold, along with decreased serum toxicity markers compared to free LPT. In summary, LPT G-MM demonstrated promising potential in boosting payload capacities and targeting specificity in the context of TNBC treatment.

EB1089 Increases the Antiproliferative Response of Lapatinib in Combination with Antiestrogens in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells.

HER2-positive breast cancer is associated with aggressive behavior and reduced survival rates. Calcitriol restores the antiproliferative activity of antiestrogens in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells by re-expressing ERα. Furthermore, calcitriol and its analog, EB1089, enhance responses to standard anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate EB1089 effects when added to the combined treatment of lapatinib and antiestrogens on the proliferation of HER2-positive breast cancer cells. BT-474 (ER-positive/HER2-positive) and SK-BR-3 (ER-negative/HER2-positive) cells were pre-treated with EB1089 to modulate ER expression. Then, cells were treated with EB1089 in the presence of lapatinib with or without the antiestrogens, and proliferation, phosphorylation array assays, and Western blot analysis were performed. The results showed that EB1089 restored the antiproliferative response to antiestrogens in SK-BR-3 cells and improved the inhibitory effects of the combination of lapatinib with antiestrogens in the two cell lines. Moreover, EB1089, alone or combined, modulated ERα protein expression and reduced Akt phosphorylation in HER2-positive cells. EB1089 significantly enhanced the cell growth inhibitory effect of lapatinib combined with antiestrogens in HER2-positive breast cancer cells by modulating ERα expression and Akt phosphorylation suppression. These results highlight the potential of this therapeutic approach as a promising strategy for managing HER2-positive breast cancer.

Simultaneous determination of 11 oral targeted antineoplastic drugs and 2 active metabolites by LC-MS/MS in human plasma and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring in cancer patients.

Interindividual exposure differences have been identified in oral targeted antineoplastic drugs (OADs) owing to the pharmacogenetic background of the patients and their susceptibility to multiple factors, resulting in insufficient efficacy or adverse effects. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can prevent sub-optimal concentrations of OADs and improve their clinical treatment. This study aimed to develop and validate an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 11 OADs (gefitinib, imatinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, everolimus, osimertinib, sunitinib, tamoxifen, lapatinib, fruquintinib and sorafenib) and 2 active metabolites (N-desethyl sunitinib and Z-endoxifen) in human plasma. Protein precipitation was used to extract OADs from the plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was performed using an Eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) column with a gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of 2 mM ammonium acetate with 0.1 % formic acid in water (solvent A) and methanol (solvent B) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Mass analysis was performed using positive ion mode electrospray ionization in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The developed method was validated following FDA bioanalytical guidelines. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 2-400 ng/mL for gefitinib, imatinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, and everolimus; 1-200 ng/mL for osimertinib, sunitinib, N-desethyl sunitinib, tamoxifen, and Z-endoxifen; and 5-1000 ng/mL for lapatinib, fruquintinib, and sorafenib, with all coefficients of correlation above 0.99. The intra- and inter-day imprecision was below 12.81 %. This method was successfully applied to the routine TDM of gefitinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, osimertinib, fruquintinib, and sorafenib to optimize the dosage regimens.

A comprehensive clinical evaluation of HER2-TKIs in patients with previously treated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (HER2-TKIs) have been extensively utilized for treating HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), with numerous clinical trial reports available. We aim to systematically perform a comprehensive clinical evaluation on HER2-TKIs, provide a reference for the clinical rational use of drugs, and serve for the decision-making of the national drug policy. We performed comprehensive clinical evaluation in six dimensions including safety, effectiveness, economy, suitability, accessibility, and innovation through meta-analysis, literature review, drug administration websites, and other relevant medication data to analyze HER2-TKIs in treating HER2-positive MBC. For safety, the risk of ≥ grade 3 adverse events among pyrotinib, lapatinib, and neratinib is not significantly different. Furthermore, pyrotinib and neratinib were found to be higher in the risk of ≥ grade 3 diarrhea than lapatinib, however the risk could be reversed and prevented with loperamide. Regarding effectiveness and economy, pyrotinib was confirmed to have the best efficacy and cost-utility value, neratinib the second, and lapatinib the third. As regards innovation and suitability, pyrotinib showed better than other HER2-TKIs. In addition, pyrotinib received a higher recommendation than other HER2-TKIs in patients with HER2-positive MBC. The accessibility of pyrotinib was found to be the best with better urban, rural, and national affordability and lower annual treatment costs. Pyrotinib is more valuable in clinics with better safety, effectiveness, economy, suitability, accessibility, and innovation in HER2-positive MBC. This study could provide references for the clinical application of HER2-TKIs in treating HER2-positive MBC.

Unveiling the therapeutic prospects of EGFR inhibition in rotenone-mediated parkinsonism in rats: Modulation of dopamine D3 receptor.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and treatment of PD. Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) inhibits signaling mediated by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) and dopamine D3 receptors in the brain are directly associated with PD, both in terms of its development and potential treatment. Therefore, we investigated the impact of modulating the EGFR, a member of the RTKs family, and the dopamine D3R, a member of the GPCR family. In the present study, 100 mg/kg of lapatinib (LAP) was administered to rotenone-intoxicated rats for three weeks. Our findings indicate that LAP effectively alleviated motor impairment, improved histopathological abnormalities, and restored dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. This restoration was achieved through the upregulation of dopamine D3R and increase of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression, as well as boosting dopamine levels. Furthermore, LAP inhibited the activity of p-EGFR, GRK2, and SCR. Additionally, LAP exhibited antioxidant properties by inhibiting the 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and PLCγ/PKCßII pathway, while enhancing the antioxidant defense mechanism by increasing GSH-GPX4 pathway. The current study offers insights into the potential repositioning of LAP as a disease-modifying drug for PD. This could be achieved by modulating the dopaminergic system and curbing oxidative stress.

Efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors examined by a combination of Raman micro-spectroscopy and a deep wavelet scattering-based multivariate analysis framework.

HER2 is a crucial therapeutic target in breast cancer, and the survival rate of breast cancer patients has increased because of this receptor's inhibition. However, tumors have shown resistance to this therapeutic strategy due to oncogenic mutations that decrease the binding of several HER2-targeted drugs, including lapatinib, and confer resistance to this drug. Neratinib can overcome this drug resistance and effectively inhibit HER2 signaling and tumor growth. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of lapatinib and neratinib using breast cancer cells by Raman microscopy combined with a deep wavelet scattering-based multivariate analysis framework. This approach discriminated between control cells and drug-treated cells with high accuracy, compared to classical principal component analysis. Both lapatinib and neratinib induced changes in the cellular biochemical composition. Furthermore, the Raman results were compared with the results of several in vitro assays. For instance, drug-treated cells exhibited (i) inhibition of ERK and AKT phosphorylation, (ii) inhibition of cellular proliferation, (iii) cell-cycle arrest, and (iv) apoptosis as indicated by western blotting, real-time cell analysis (RTCA), cell-cycle analysis, and apoptosis assays. Thus, the observed Raman spectral changes are attributed to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. The results also indicated that neratinib is more potent than lapatinib. Moreover, the uptake and distribution of lapatinib in cells were visualized through its label-free marker bands in the fingerprint region using Raman spectral imaging. These results show the prospects of Raman microscopy in drug evaluation and presumably in drug discovery.

Tumor Intrinsic Subtypes and Gene Expression Signatures in Early-Stage ERBB2/HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of CALGB 40601, NeoALTTO, and NSABP B-41 Trials.

Importance: Biologic features may affect pathologic complete response (pCR) and event-free survival (EFS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus ERBB2/HER2 blockade in ERBB2/HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC). Objective: To define the quantitative association between pCR and EFS by intrinsic subtype and by other gene expression signatures in a pooled analysis of 3 phase 3 trials: CALGB 40601, NeoALTTO, and NSABP B-41. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective pooled analysis, 1289 patients with EBC received chemotherapy plus either trastuzumab, lapatinib, or the combination, with a combined median follow-up of 5.5 years. Gene expression profiling by RNA sequencing was obtained from 758 samples, and intrinsic subtypes and 618 gene expression signatures were calculated. Data analyses were performed from June 1, 2020, to January 1, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: The association of clinical variables and gene expression biomarkers with pCR and EFS were studied by logistic regression and Cox analyses. Results: In the pooled analysis, of 758 women, median age was 49 years, 12% were Asian, 6% Black, and 75% were White. Overall, pCR results were associated with EFS in the ERBB2-enriched (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.70; P < .001) and basal-like (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86; P = .03) subtypes but not in luminal A or B tumors. Dual trastuzumab plus lapatinib blockade over trastuzumab alone had a trend toward EFS benefit in the intention-to-treat population; however, in the ERBB2-enriched subtype there was a significant and independent EFS benefit of trastuzumab plus lapatinib vs trastuzumab alone (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.83; P = .009). Overall, 275 of 618 gene expression signatures (44.5%) were significantly associated with pCR and 9 of 618 (1.5%) with EFS. The ERBB2/HER2 amplicon and multiple immune signatures were significantly associated with pCR. Luminal-related signatures were associated with lower pCR rates but better EFS, especially among patients with residual disease and independent of hormone receptor status. There was significant adjusted HR for pCR ranging from 0.45 to 0.81 (higher pCR) and 1.21-1.94 (lower pCR rate); significant adjusted HR for EFS ranged from 0.71 to 0.94. Conclusions and relevance: In patients with ERBB2/HER2-positive EBC, the association between pCR and EFS differed by tumor intrinsic subtype, and the benefit of dual ERBB2/HER2 blockade was limited to ERBB2-enriched tumors. Immune-activated signatures were concordantly associated with higher pCR rates and better EFS, whereas luminal signatures were associated with lower pCR rates.

Artemisia argyi extracts overcome lapatinib resistance via enhancing TMPRSS2 activation in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Breast cancer stands as the predominant malignancy and primary cause of cancer-related mortality among females globally. Approximately 25% of breast cancers exhibit HER2 overexpression, imparting a more aggressive tumor phenotype and correlating with poor prognoses. Patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (HER2 TKIs), such as Lapatinib, develop acquired resistance within a year, posing a critical challenge in managing this disease. Here, we explore the potential of Artemisia argyi, a Chinese herbal medicine known for its anti-cancer properties, in mitigating HER2 TKI resistance in breast cancer. Analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed diminished expression of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), a subfamily of membrane proteolytic enzymes, in breast cancer patients, correlating with unfavorable outcomes. Intriguingly, lapatinib-responsive patients exhibited higher TMPRSS2 expression. Our study unveiled that the compounds from Artemisia argyi, eriodictyol, and umbelliferone could inhibit the growth of lapatinib-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, they suppressed HER2 kinase activation by enhancing TMPRSS2 activity. Our findings propose TMPRSS2 as a critical determinant in lapatinib sensitivity, and Artemisia argyi emerges as a potential agent to overcome lapatinib via activating TMPRSS2 in HER2-positive breast cancer. This study not only unravels the molecular mechanisms driving cell death in HER2-positive breast cancer cells induced by Artemisia argyi but also lays the groundwork for developing novel inhibitors to enhance therapy outcomes.

Development of a vestibular schwannoma tumor slice model for pharmacological testing.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to develop a 3D tumor slice model, replicating the individual tumor microenvironment and for individual pharmaceutical testing in vestibular schwannomas with and without relation to NF2. METHODS: Tissue samples from 16 VS patients (14 sporadic, 2 NF2-related) were prospectively analyzed. Slices of 350 µm thickness were cultured in vitro, and the 3D tumor slice model underwent thorough evaluation for culturing time, microenvironment characteristics, morphology, apoptosis, and proliferation rates. Common drugs - Lapatinib (10 µM), Nilotinib (20 µM), and Bevacizumab (10 µg/ml) - known for their responses in VS were used for treatment. Treatment responses were assessed using CC3 as an apoptosis marker and Ki67 as a proliferation marker. Standard 2D cell culture models of the same tumors served as controls. RESULTS: The 3D tumor slice model accurately mimicked VS ex vivo, maintaining stability for three months. Cell count within the model was approximately tenfold higher than in standard cell culture, and the tumor microenvironment remained stable for 46 days. Pharmacological testing was feasible for up to three weeks, revealing interindividual differences in treatment response to Lapatinib and intraindividual variability in response to Lapatinib and Nilotinib. The observed effects were less pronounced in tumor slices than in standard cell culture, indicating the model's proximity to in vivo tumor biology and enhanced realism. Bevacizumab had limited impact in both models. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a 3D tumor slice model for sporadic and NF2-related VS, demonstrating stability for up to 3 months, replication of the schwannoma microenvironment, and utility for individualized pharmacological testing.

Mechanistic Investigation of Thiazole-Based Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibitor Causing Tumor Regression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a deadly breast cancer with a poor prognosis. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a key rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, is abnormally highly expressed in TNBC. Overexpressed PKM2 amplifies glucose uptake, enhances lactate production, and suppresses autophagy, thereby expediting the progression of oncogenic processes. A high mortality rate demands novel chemotherapeutic regimens at once. Herein, we report the rational development of an imidazopyridine-based thiazole derivative 7d as an anticancer agent inhibiting PKM2. Nanomolar range PKM2 inhibitors with favorable drug-like properties emerged through enzyme assays. Experiments on two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, lactate release assay, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated 7d preclinically. In vivo, 7d outperformed lapatinib in tumor regression. This investigation introduces a lead-based approach characterized by its clear-cut chemistry and robust efficacy in designing an exceptionally potent inhibitor targeting PKM2, with a focus on combating TNBC.