HLA genotyping in Japanese patients with multiple myeloma receiving bortezomib: An exploratory biomarker study of JCOG1105 (JCOG1105A1).

Bortezomib (Btz) shows robust efficacy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM); however, some patients experience suboptimal responses and show specific toxicities. Therefore, we attempted to identify specific HLA alleles associated with Btz-related toxicities and response to treatment. Eighty-two transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed MM enrolled in a phase II study (JCOG1105) comparing two less intensive melphalan, prednisolone, plus Btz (MPB) regimens were subjected to HLA typing. The frequency of each allele was compared between the groups, categorized based on toxicity grades and responses to MPB therapy. Among 82 patients, the numbers of patients with severe peripheral neuropathy (PN; grade 2 or higher), skin disorders (SD; grade 2 or higher), and pneumonitis were 16 (19.5%), 15 (18.3%), and 6 (7.3%), respectively. Complete response was achieved in 10 (12.2%) patients. Although no significant HLA allele was identified by multiple comparisons, several candidates were identified. HLA-B*40:06 was more prevalent in patients with severe PN than in those with less severe PN (odds ratio [OR] = 6.76). HLA-B*40:06 and HLA-DRB1*12:01 were more prevalent in patients with SD than in those with less severe SD (OR = 7.47 and OR = 5.55, respectively). HLA-DRB1*08:02 clustered in the group of patients with pneumonitis (OR = 11.34). Complete response was achieved in patients carrying HLA-DQB1*03:02, HLA-DQB1*05:01, and HLA-DRB1*01:01 class II alleles. HLA genotyping could help predict Btz-induced toxicity and treatment efficacy in patients with MM, although this needs further validation.

Comparison of the developmental/reproductive toxicity and hepatotoxicity of phthalate esters in rats using an open toxicity data source.

Phthalate esters (PEs) are widely used as plasticizers in various kinds of plastic products. Some PEs have been known to induce developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) as well as hepatotoxicity in laboratory animals. In some cases of DART, the strength of toxicity of PEs depends on the side chain lengths, while the relationship between hepatotoxicity and side chain length is unknown. Therefore, in this study, we compared DART and hepatotoxicity in rats, focusing on 6 PEs with different side chains. We collected toxicity data of 6 PEs, namely, n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), from open data source, then, we constructed the toxicity database to comprehensively and efficiently compare the toxicity effects. When we compared DART using the toxicity database, we found that BBP, DBP, and DEHP with short side chains showed strong toxicities against the reproductive organs of male offspring, and the No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Levels (NOAELs) of BBP, DBP, and DEHP were lower than DIDP, DINP, and DNOP with long side chains. Comparing hepatotoxicities, the lowest NOAEL was shown 14 mg/kg/day for DEHP, based on liver weight gain with histopathological changes. However, as BBP and DBP showed higher NOAEL than the other 3 PEs (DIDP, DINP, and DNOP), we conclude that hepatotoxicity does not depend on the length of side chain. Concerning side chain length of PEs, we effectively utilized our constructed database and found that DART and hepatotoxicity in rats showed different modes of toxicities.