Publications by authors named "Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou"

Purpose: OBI-888 is a humanized, monoclonal IgG1 antibody specific to the tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen Globo H. We conducted a phase I-II study of OBI-888 in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: Patients were treated with OBI-888 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg IV weekly in Part A ("3 + 3" design) and 20 mg/kg IV weekly in Part B (Simon's 2-stage design) (1 cycle = 28 days).

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Article Synopsis
  • Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults, with a survival rate of less than 2 years and very low rates of extraneural metastasis.
  • A unique case is presented where extensive metastasis occurred outside the brain, diagnosed through next-generation sequencing (NGS) rather than traditional histology.
  • The molecular analysis revealed key alterations shared between the original tumor and the metastatic sites, highlighting the critical role of NGS in identifying and understanding rare cases of extraneural glioblastoma metastasis.
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Choosing the right drug(s) for the right patient via advanced genomic sequencing and multi-omic interrogation is the sine qua non of precision cancer medicine. Traditional cancer clinical trial designs follow well-defined protocols to evaluate the efficacy of new therapies in patient groups, usually identified by their histology/tissue of origin of their malignancy. In contrast, precision medicine seeks to optimize benefit in individual patients, i.

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We performed a literature search in PubMed to identify phase I/II clinical trials with immunotherapy drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (labeled, off-label, and/or combined with investigational immune checkpoint inhibitors or other treatment modalities) from 2018 to 2020. We used the following key words: clinical trials, phase 1, Phase 2; and the following filters: cancer, humans; and selected the checkpoint inhibitors that had been approved by the FDA by March 2021, i.e.

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Background: Many immuno-oncology (IO) trials are conducted without biomarker selection. We performed a meta-analysis of phase I/II clinical trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to determine the association between biomarkers and clinical outcomes, if any.

Methods: A PubMed search for phase I/II clinical trials with drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (labelled, off-label, combined with investigational ICIs or other treatment modalities) from 2018 to 2020 was performed.

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Purpose: Aberrant alterations of ERBB receptor tyrosine kinases lead to tumorigenesis. Single agent therapy targeting EGFR or HER2 has shown clinical successes, but drug resistance often develops due to aberrant or compensatory mechanisms. Herein, we sought to determine the feasibility and safety of neratinib and trametinib in patients with EGFR mutation/amplification, HER2 mutation/amplification, HER3/4 mutation and KRAS mutation.

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Background: Report of a Phase 1 dose-escalation study of OBI-3424 monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors (NCT03592264).

Methods: A classic 3 + 3 design was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of OBI-3424 administered intravenously, as a single agent, at doses of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 mg/m (days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle, Schedule A) or 8, 10, 12, or 14 mg/m (day 1 of a 21-day cycle, Schedule B).

Results: Dose-limiting hematologic toxicities at 12 mg/m in Schedule A led to dose and schedule modifications (Schedule B).

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Article Synopsis
  • - OBI-999 is a new type of cancer treatment that combines a targeted antibody with a toxic drug, showing strong tumor growth inhibition in various cancer models, including breast and pancreatic cancers.
  • - In a phase I trial involving 15 patients, OBI-999 was administered in increasing doses, with 1.2 mg/kg found to be the highest safe dose, while common side effects included neutropenia and anemia.
  • - The results led to the conclusion that 1.2 mg/kg every three weeks is the recommended dose for future studies, which will focus on patients with cancers that show high levels of the Globo H target.
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We investigated the challenges of conducting IMPACT2, an ongoing randomized study that evaluates molecular testing and targeted therapy (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02152254). Patients with metastatic cancer underwent tumor profiling and were randomized between the two arms when eligibility criteria were met (Part A).

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Patients with rare solid tumors treated on early phase trials experience toxicities from their tumors and treatments. However, limited data exist to describe the detailed symptom burden suffered by these patients, particularly those with rare solid tumors treated with immunotherapy. We performed a prospective longitudinal study to capture patient-reported symptom burden.

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Cyclin E is frequently encoded by CCNE1 gene amplification in various malignancies. We reviewed the medical records of patients with solid tumors displaying CCNE1 amplification to determine the effect of this amplification for future therapeutic development. We reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced solid tumors harboring CCNE1 amplification who were seen at the phase I clinic between September 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019.

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Background: Changes in the expression and activity of the AKT oncogene play an important role in psychiatric disease. We present translational data assessing the role of AKT in psychiatric symptoms.

Methods: (1) We assessed the protein activity of an AKT3 mutant harboring a PH domain mutation (Q60H) detected in a patient with schizophrenia, the corresponding AKT1 mutant (Q61H), and wild-type AKT1 and AKT3 transduced in AKT-null mouse fibroblasts and modeled the Q61H mutation onto the crystal structure of the Akt1 PH domain.

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: BBI608 is an investigational reactive oxygen species generator that affects several molecular pathways. We investigated BBI608 combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced cancers. : BBI608 (orally twice daily) was combined with ipilimumab (3 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks); pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks); or nivolumab (3 mg/kg IV every 4 weeks).

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  • Arginine depletion affects pyrimidine metabolism and DNA repair, and this study investigates the safety of a combination treatment of ADI-PEG 20 and liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with advanced solid tumors lacking argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1).* -
  • In a phase 1 trial with 15 enrolled patients, the treatment showed no severe toxicities or treatment-related deaths, and 9 patients observed stable disease with a median progression-free survival of 3.95 months.* -
  • The combination of ADI-PEG 20 and PLD was well tolerated, prompting discussions for further evaluation of this treatment approach in the future.*
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Background: The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) pathway is a key regulator of tumor therapy resistance. We investigated M2698, an oral p70S6K/AKT dual inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer who failed standard therapies.

Methods: M2698 was administered as monotherapy (escalation, 15-380 mg daily; food effect cohort, 240-320 mg daily) and combined with trastuzumab or tamoxifen.

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T-cell receptor (TCR)-based adoptive therapy employs genetically modified lymphocytes that are directed against specific tumor markers. This therapeutic modality requires a structured and integrated process that involves patient screening (e.g.

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Background: Patients with advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors have limited treatment options. Mutations that serve as biomarkers of carcinogenesis can be found in cell-free DNA of patients' plasma. Analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was developed as a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to tumor biopsy when such biopsy is not technically feasible or it is associated with high risk for complications.

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The expanding targeted therapy landscape requires combinatorial biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment selection. This requires simultaneous exploration of multiple genes of relevant networks to account for the complexity of mechanisms that govern drug sensitivity and predict clinical outcomes. We present the algorithm, Digital Display Precision Predictor (DDPP), aiming to identify transcriptomic predictors of treatment outcome.

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The development of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has transformed the medical oncology armamentarium. But despite its favorable impact on clinical outcomes, immunotherapy benefits only a subset of patients, and a substantial proportion of these individuals eventually manifest resistance. Serious immune-related adverse events and hyperprogression have also been reported.

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Precision medicine is associated with favorable outcomes in selected patients with cancer. Herein, we report an interim analysis of IMPACT2, an ongoing randomized study evaluating genomic profiling and targeted agents in metastatic cancer. Patients with metastatic cancer underwent tumor genomic profiling (ClinialTrials.

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Background: Arginine depletion interferes with pyrimidine metabolism and DNA damage-repair pathways, and pairing arginine deiminase pegylated with 20,000-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (ADI-PEG20) with platinum enhances cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in arginine auxotrophs.

Methods: This single-centre, Phase 1 trial was conducted using a 3 + 3 dose escalation designed to assess safety, tolerability and determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of ADI-PEG20.

Results: We enrolled 99 patients with metastatic argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) deficient malignancies.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Among the patients, three achieved stable disease for durations of 10.9, 5.5, and 4.5 months, but there were no objective responses observed, and the median progression-free survival was only 2.4 months.
  • * The limited success of pembrolizumab in this context is likely linked to the tumors' biology, such as low mutation burden and PD-1 expression, indicating the need for improved understanding and innovative trial designs for better outcomes.
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Aim: Preclinical evidence suggests that oxidized macrophage migration inhibitory factor (oxMIF) may be involved in carcinogenesis. This phase 1 study (NCT01765790) assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antitumour activity of imalumab, an oxMIF inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer using '3 + 3' dose escalation.

Methods: In Schedule 1, patients with solid tumours received doses from 1 to 50 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks.

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Background: In 2007, we initiated IMPACT, a precision medicine program for patients referred for participation in early-phase clinical trials. We assessed the correlation of factors, including genomically matched therapy, with overall survival (OS).

Patients And Methods: We performed molecular profiling (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) (genes ≤ 182) for patients with lethal/refractory advanced cancers referred to the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program.

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Precision medicine incorporates information regarding tumor biology involved in patients' carcinogenesis and individualized treatment of patients using drugs that inhibit the molecular basis of their disease. Implementation of precision medicine accelerated the drug approval process, translating discoveries in basic science and biotechnology into patient care. Clinical trials with innovative or adaptive design including "basket" and "umbrella" trials explore personalized therapies against in selected tumor types and/or across tumor types.

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