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IntroductionInflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Studies in preclinical models have demonstrated that an increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs), which have a potent immune modulatory action, led to a regression of atherosclerosis. The Low-dose InterLeukin 2 (IL-2) in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes (LILACS) study, established the safety of low-dose IL-2 and its biological efficacy in IHD. The IVORY trial is designed to assess the effects of low-dose IL-2 on vascular inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).Methods and analysisIn this study, we hypothesise that low-dose IL-2 will reduce vascular inflammation in patients presenting with ACS. This is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial. Patients will be recruited across two centres, a district general hospital and a tertiary cardiac centre in Cambridge, UK. Sixty patients with ACS (unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction or ST elevation myocardial infarction) with high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels >2 mg/L will be randomised to receive either 1.5×106 IU of low-dose IL-2 or placebo (1:1). Dosing will commence within 14 days of admission. Dosing will comprise of an induction and a maintenance phase. 2-Deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) scans will be performed before and after dosing. The primary endpoint is the change in mean maximum target to background ratios (TBRmax) in the index vessel between baseline and follow-up scans. Changes in circulating T-cell subsets will be measured as secondary endpoints of the study. The safety and tolerability of extended dosing with low-dose IL-2 in patients with ACS will be evaluated throughout the study.Ethics and disseminationThe Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales, UK (19/YH/0171), approved the study. Written informed consent is required to participate in the trial. The results will be reported through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.Trial registration numberNCT04241601.

Background Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficient wild-type Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (wtGIST) are a rare GIST subtype with limited treatment options. Gallium-68 labelled Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRPR) antagonist NeoB has shown promise in PET imaging for multiple primary malignancies. This investigation sought to assess the biodistribution of [ 68 Ga]NeoB via PET/CT imaging in metastatic wtGIST patients and aimed to evaluate GRPR expression in lesions to determine the ligand’s potential for patient selection in future therapeutic trials. Results Twelve patients with histologically confirmed metastatic wtGIST were enrolled. [ 68 Ga]NeoB PET/CT imaging was conducted for lesion segmentation and analysis of uptake characteristics. 8 of 12 (66.7%) patients exhibited intense but heterogeneous [ 68 Ga]NeoB uptake in lesions, with variable tracer uptake both within and between lesions. Physiological uptake was highest in the pancreas, liver, and spleen. Four patients (33.3%) displayed minimal or no uptake in tumour lesions. Conclusions The majority of wtGIST patients in this small cohort show lesions with intense [ 68 Ga]NeoB uptake. Heterogeneity of uptake indicates GRPR has highly variable inter- and intralesional expression. NeoB has potential for theranostic application in wtGIST, with limited effective standard of care treatments available. Ongoing trials are investigating the therapeutic use of [ 177 Lu]NeoB in this setting. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma is a common cause of hypertension. This can be cured, or greatly improved, by adrenal surgery. However, the invasive nature of the standard pre-surgical investigation contributes to fewer than 1% of patients with PA being offered the chance of a cure. The primary objective of our prospective study of 143 patients with PA ( NCT02945904 ) was to compare the accuracy of a non-invasive test, [ 11 C]metomidate positron emission tomography computed tomography (MTO) scanning, with adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in predicting the biochemical remission of PA and the resolution of hypertension after surgery. A total of 128 patients reached 6- to 9-month follow-up, with 78 (61%) treated surgically and 50 (39%) managed medically. Of the 78 patients receiving surgery, 77 achieved one or more PA surgical outcome criterion for success. The accuracies of MTO at predicting biochemical and clinical success following adrenalectomy were, respectively, 72.7 and 65.4%. For AVS, the accuracies were 63.6 and 61.5%. MTO was not significantly superior, but the differences of 9.1% (95% confidence interval = −6.5 to 24.1%) and 3.8% (95% confidence interval = −11.9 to 9.4) lay within the pre-specified −17% margin for non-inferiority ( P  = 0.00055 and P  = 0.0077, respectively). Of 24 serious adverse events, none was considered related to either investigation and 22 were fully resolved. MTO enables non-invasive diagnosis of unilateral PA. Comparison of non-invasive [ 11 C]metomidate PET-CT with adrenal vein sampling for predicting biochemical remission of primary aldosteronism showed non-superiority, suggesting that the non-invasive method is suitable for the diagnosis of unilateral primary aldosteronism.

Inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Studies in preclinical models have demonstrated that an increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs), which have a potent immune modulatory action, led to a regression of atherosclerosis. The Low-dose InterLeukin 2 (IL-2) in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes (LILACS) study, established the safety of low-dose IL-2 and its biological efficacy in IHD. The IVORY trial is designed to assess the effects of low-dose IL-2 on vascular inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In this study, we hypothesise that low-dose IL-2 will reduce vascular inflammation in patients presenting with ACS. This is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial. Patients will be recruited across two centres, a district general hospital and a tertiary cardiac centre in Cambridge, UK. Sixty patients with ACS (unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction or ST elevation myocardial infarction) with high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels >2 mg/L will be randomised to receive either 1.5×10  IU of low-dose IL-2 or placebo (1:1). Dosing will commence within 14 days of admission. Dosing will comprise of an induction and a maintenance phase. 2-Deoxy-2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-D-glucose ( F-FDG) positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) scans will be performed before and after dosing. The primary endpoint is the change in mean maximum target to background ratios (TBR ) in the index vessel between baseline and follow-up scans. Changes in circulating T-cell subsets will be measured as secondary endpoints of the study. The safety and tolerability of extended dosing with low-dose IL-2 in patients with ACS will be evaluated throughout the study. The Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales, UK (19/YH/0171), approved the study. Written informed consent is required to participate in the trial. The results will be reported through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. NCT04241601.

Disclosure: E. Goodchild: None. R. Senanayake: None. X. Wu: None. W. Bashari: None. J. Salsbury: None. G. Argentesi: None. S.M. O'Toole: None. J. McFarlane: None. K. Laycock: None. D. Gillett: None. I. Boros: None. A. Sahdev: None. N. Bird: None. S. Hader: None. V. Warnes: None. K. Cruickshank: None. F. Aigbirhio: None. H. Cheow: None. W. Drake: None. M. Gurnell: None. M.J. Brown: None. Introduction: Our MATCH study demonstrated 11-C ligand MTO was non-inferior to adrenal vein sampling in predicting adrenalectomy outcomes in patients with PA.1 The 20-minute half-life of 11-C imposes major logistic constraints. We investigated an 18-F ligand, CETO; its 2 hour half-life permits use in anywhere with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan facilities. Objective: To determine whether molecular adrenal imaging, using CETO, is as accurate as MTO in predicting which patients with PA will achieve biochemical and/or clinical remission after unilateral adrenalectomy. Methods: This was an extension to the MATCH study (clinical trial number NCT02945904). All patients had an AVS and MTO scanning,1 and in 31 patients, a second (CETO) scan was performed and interpreted in ignorance of the AVS results. Results: The probability of unilateral APA was in agreement in 27/31 patients (Kappa= 0.76). The number of APAs detected by CETO (18 on the left side, 19 on the right) was similar to MTO (21 left, 19 right) (Wilcoxon P=0.424 and P=0.773). The mean tumour maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), by time of flight (TOF), did not differ between CETO (21.9 on the left side, 22.6 on the right) and MTO (22.8 on the left, 24.1 on the right) (Wilcoxon P=0.142). The probability of an adenoma identified by CETO or MTO was very similar: CETO, low 48.4%, medium 22.6%, high 29.0% on the left; low 48.4%, medium 12.9%, high 38.7% on the right; MTO, low 38.7%, medium 19.4% and high 41.9% on left; low 48.4%, medium 16.1%, high 35.5% on the right (Kappa 0.765 for the left and 0.833 for the right). Analysis of scans by SharpIR gave similar probabilities as thee TOF analyses. There was less liver uptake measured by CETO than MTO, (CETO mean 3.7, MTO mean 14.5, Wilcoxon P<0.001). Conclusions: There is no significant difference in the primary outcome of CETO and MTO scans in the investigation of PA. CETO has the potential to be a more favourable ligand, for clinical use, due to its longer half-life, and consequent potential for greater geographical distribution. 18-F CETO PET-CT imaging has the potential to increase lateralisation rates in PA. References: 1)11C-metomidate PET CT versus Adrenal Vein Sampling for diagnosing surgically curable primary aldosteronism. Nature Medicine https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02114-5. In press. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Primary aldosteronism (PA) due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma is a common cause of hypertension. This can be cured, or greatly improved, by adrenal surgery. However, the invasive nature of the standard pre-surgical investigation contributes to fewer than 1% of patients with PA being offered the chance of a cure. The primary objective of our prospective study of 143 patients with PA ( NCT02945904 ) was to compare the accuracy of a non-invasive test, [11C]metomidate positron emission tomography computed tomography (MTO) scanning, with adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in predicting the biochemical remission of PA and the resolution of hypertension after surgery. A total of 128 patients reached 6- to 9-month follow-up, with 78 (61%) treated surgically and 50 (39%) managed medically. Of the 78 patients receiving surgery, 77 achieved one or more PA surgical outcome criterion for success. The accuracies of MTO at predicting biochemical and clinical success following adrenalectomy were, respectively, 72.7 and 65.4%. For AVS, the accuracies were 63.6 and 61.5%. MTO was not significantly superior, but the differences of 9.1% (95% confidence interval = -6.5 to 24.1%) and 3.8% (95% confidence interval = -11.9 to 9.4) lay within the pre-specified -17% margin for non-inferiority (P = 0.00055 and P = 0.0077, respectively). Of 24 serious adverse events, none was considered related to either investigation and 22 were fully resolved. MTO enables non-invasive diagnosis of unilateral PA.Primary aldosteronism (PA) due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma is a common cause of hypertension. This can be cured, or greatly improved, by adrenal surgery. However, the invasive nature of the standard pre-surgical investigation contributes to fewer than 1% of patients with PA being offered the chance of a cure. The primary objective of our prospective study of 143 patients with PA ( NCT02945904 ) was to compare the accuracy of a non-invasive test, [11C]metomidate positron emission tomography computed tomography (MTO) scanning, with adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in predicting the biochemical remission of PA and the resolution of hypertension after surgery. A total of 128 patients reached 6- to 9-month follow-up, with 78 (61%) treated surgically and 50 (39%) managed medically. Of the 78 patients receiving surgery, 77 achieved one or more PA surgical outcome criterion for success. The accuracies of MTO at predicting biochemical and clinical success following adrenalectomy were, respectively, 72.7 and 65.4%. For AVS, the accuracies were 63.6 and 61.5%. MTO was not significantly superior, but the differences of 9.1% (95% confidence interval = -6.5 to 24.1%) and 3.8% (95% confidence interval = -11.9 to 9.4) lay within the pre-specified -17% margin for non-inferiority (P = 0.00055 and P = 0.0077, respectively). Of 24 serious adverse events, none was considered related to either investigation and 22 were fully resolved. MTO enables non-invasive diagnosis of unilateral PA.

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of vascular leak are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to induce barrier dysfunction in vitro and vascular leak in vivo, independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-β signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-β signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Notably, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused leak in vivo, which was reduced by inhibiting integrins. Our findings offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2-triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction, however, the molecular pathways resulting in endothelial barrier dysfunction and vascular leakage are only sparsely understood. Here, Biering et al. show that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is sufficient to induce barrier dysfunction and vascular leak. They show a role for integrins, TGF-beta, ECM remodeling enzymes, and glycosaminoglycans in this S-mediated barrier dysfunction.

IntroductionMesothelioma remains a lethal cancer. To date, systemic therapy with pemetrexed and a platinum drug remains the only licensed standard of care. As the median survival for patients with mesothelioma is 12.1 months, surgery is an important consideration to improve survival and/or quality of life. Currently, only two surgical trials have been performed which found that neither extensive (extra-pleural pneumonectomy) or limited (partial pleurectomy) surgery improved survival (although there was some evidence of improved quality of life). Therefore, clinicians are now looking to evaluate pleurectomy decortication, the only radical treatment option left.Methods and analysisThe MARS 2 study is a UK multicentre open parallel group randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of surgery—(extended) pleurectomy decortication—versus no surgery for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. The study will test the hypothesis that surgery and chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone with respect to overall survival. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, progression-free survival, measures of safety (adverse events) and resource use to 2 years. The QuinteT Recruitment Intervention is integrated into the trial to optimise recruitment.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics approval was granted by London – Camberwell St. Giles Research Ethics Committee (reference 13/LO/1481) on 7 November 2013. We will submit the results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numbersISRCTN—ISRCTN44351742 and ClinicalTrials.gov—NCT02040272.

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of this pathology are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to trigger barrier dysfunction and vascular leak , independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-β signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-β signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Our findings suggest that S interactions with barrier cells are a contributing factor to COVID-19 disease severity and offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2 triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19 pathogenesis.