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Itolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the CD6-ALCAM pathway. This article reports on the safety and efficacy of itolizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a clinical study conducted in Cuba in the setting of an expanded-access program (EAP). The study included 84 patients who had previously received conventional anti-psoriatic systemic therapies but were either intolerant, had an inadequate response, or had contraindications to these therapies. It consisted of multiple phases, including a 12-week induction phase, a 40-week maintenance phase, and a 24-week off-treatment follow-up phase, using either a 0.4 or 1.6 mg/Kg dose. The results showed that itolizumab monotherapy was safe and effective during 52 weeks of continuous treatment and the subsequent 24 follow-up weeks. Itolizumab treatment resulted in a significant improvement (PASI 75) in 80 % of patients at the end of the induction phase, and this effect was sustained till week 52 during the maintenance phase. Moreover, 24 weeks after treatment stopped nearly two-thirds of patients still showed a PASI ≥ 75. The observed effects were dose-dependent, with 1.6 mg/kg being the most convenient dose. This study further supports the strategy of targeting the CD6-ALCAM signaling pathway for the treatment of psoriasis and the use of itolizumab as a valuable asset in the armamentarium of anti-psoriasis drugs.
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Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados , Psoríase , Humanos , Psoríase/tratamento farmacológico , Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto , Resultado do Tratamento , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Idoso , CubaRESUMO
Centenarians are the best example of successful aging in humans. This work aimed to understand if immune status is associated with survival in Cuban centenarians. In a previous study, our group enrolled 43 centenarians and evaluated their immune status and functional capacity. 41 out of 43 recruited centenarians received follow-up phone calls, during a period of 2 years. Absolute CD4 + T cell count was higher among survivors, while the frequency of CD8 + CCR7-CD45RA + , CD8 + CD45RA + CD28-, and CD4 + CD28- T cells was higher among non-survivors. We also found that higher frequencies of terminally differentiated T cells were related to a higher risk of death, while centenarians with higher frequencies of T cells were more likely to survive. Surprisingly, neither serum inflammatory markers nor frailty/dependency was associated with survival. Our preliminary study suggests that immuno-senescence markers, but not inflammaging or functional capacity, are associated with survival beyond 100 years in a small group of Cuban centenarians.
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Imunossenescência , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Humanos , Antígenos CD28 , Centenários , Linfócitos T , Envelhecimento , BiomarcadoresRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Centenarians are considered a model of successful aging. Cuba exhibits one of the oldest populations in Latin America with more than two thousand centenarians. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the immune phenotype of forty-three Cuban centenarians, their clinical characteristics such as comorbidities, frailty, body mass index, and some hemochemical parameters. RESULTS: Centenarians had normal body mass indexes, relatively good health status, and 21.95% of them had no comorbidities; 53.6% were classified as frail, and 7% were classified as robust. In addition, 17% of centenarians were independent, and 41.46% were moderately dependent. The seroprevalence against cytomegalovirus was 100%. Concerning pro-inflammatory markers, the majority of them had very low cytokine levels and serum C-reactive protein around the normal limit. We also found the predominance of memory subsets over naive compartments in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Terminally differentiated CD8+CD28- T cells were higher in frail centenarians than in pre-frail, while CD8+CD57+ and CD8+EMRA T cells were higher in moderately and severely dependent individuals than in independent individuals. Severely dependent centenarians had a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio. CONCLUSION: This study describes for the first time the predominance of memory subsets over naive compartments in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as its relation to frailty and/or dependency in a group of Cuban centenarians. Further studies are needed to continue understanding the natural biological aging mechanism and the relationship between terminally differentiated lymphocytes and inflammaging in the context of extreme longevity.
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Fragilidade , Humanos , Centenários , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Envelhecimento , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/metabolismoRESUMO
EGFR signaling is an important regulator of SARS-CoV induced lung damage, inflammation and fibrosis. Nimotuzumab is a humanized anti-EGFR antibody registered for several cancer indications. An expanded access study was conducted to evaluate the safety and recovery rate of severe and critical patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, treated with nimotuzumab in combination with the standard of care in the real-world scenario. The antibody was administered as an intravenous infusions every 72 h, up to 5 doses. In order to assess the impact of nimotuzumab, the recovery rate was compared with a paired retrospective cohort. Control patients received standard treatment according the national protocol but not nimotuzumab. Overall, 1,151 severe or critical patients received nimotuzumab in 21 hospitals of Cuba. Median age was 65 and 773 patients had at least one comorbidity. Nimotuzumab was very well-tolerated and mild or moderate adverse events were detected in 19 patients. 1,009 controls matching with the nimotuzumab patients, were selected using a "propensity score" method. The 14-day recovery rate of the nimotuzumab cohort was 72 vs. 42% in the control group. Controls had a higher mortality risk (RR 2.08, 95% CI: 1.79, 2.38) than the nimotuzumab treated patients. The attributable fraction was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.44%; 0.58), and indicates the proportion of deaths that were prevented with nimotuzumab. Our preliminary results suggest that nimotuzumab is a safe antibody that can reduce the mortality of severe and critical COVID-19 patients.
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Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Estudos de Coortes , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
Lung cancer is the second cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy represent the current standard of care for advanced NSCLC. Platinum-based chemotherapy expands late-differentiated T cell populations. Therefore, immune restoration after chemotherapy to adjuvate the immunotherapeutic potential could be crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Biomodulina T (BT), a thymic polypeptide fraction, on peripheral lymphocytes subpopulations in the context of cancer disease. Additionally, whether these effects might induce a better response to CIMAvax-EGF, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) depleting immunotherapy. Eighteen advanced NSCLC patients were evaluated after being treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. We found that the frequency of terminally differentiated effector T cells re-expressing CD45RA (EMRA) CD4+ (p=0.0031) and CD8+ (p=0.0372) T cells decreased with the administration of BT, whereas CD4+ naive T cells increase in more than 70% of the patients. Remarkably, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD1) significantly decreased after BT administration (p=0.0005 and p<0.0001, respectively). We also found an enhancement of the anti-EGF antibody response with a large percentage of patients treated with CIMAvax-EGF reaching the good antibody response condition after four vaccine doses. Moreover, the median overall survival of patients treated with CIMAvax-EGF was 16.09 months. In conclusion, our results suggest that the immunorestoration generated by the administration of BT after first-line chemotherapy may induce a better immune response to CIMAvax-EGF that could translate into the clinical benefit of patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC.
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RESUMEN Introducción: La pandemia por la COVID-19 fue declarada emergencia de salud pública internacional. El conocimiento de los síntomas, comorbilidades y el riesgo según el tratamiento recibido puede contribuir a una mejor clasificación y atención de los pacientes. Objetivo: Caracterizar clínicamente a los pacientes de COVID-19 atendidos en las unidades de terapia intensiva cubanas. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de todos los pacientes atendidos en las unidades de terapia intensiva de Cuba en el periodo comprendido entre el 11 de marzo y el 30 de julio de 2020. Se recolectaron datos demográficos, clínicos y de resultados. Se compararon los pacientes fallecidos y recuperados de acuerdo a la prevalencia de las covariables a través de una prueba estándar de chi-cuadrado. Se realizó regresión logística para evaluar las variables predictoras de la mortalidad hospitalaria. Resultados: Se atendieron 175 pacientes, de ellos 106 graves y 69 críticos. Predominó el sexo masculino (52,0 %), mayores de 60 años (67,2 %) con hipertensión arterial (57,0 %). La edad (mayores de 80 años, OR= 9,62, IC95%: 3,16-29,2), el estado al ingreso (OR= 8,32, IC95%: 2.30-30,10) y la inestabilidad hemodinámica (OR=6,9, IC95%:2,96-16,37), se asociaron a un mayor riesgo de fallecimiento. Los pacientes tratados con kaletra, cloroquina, itolizumab o jusvinza incrementaron la supervivencia. El riesgo de fallecimiento en los críticos disminuyó de 80 a 25% con el uso de jusvinza. Conclusiones: La caracterización clínica realizada demuestra la efectividad de los protocolos clínicos empleados en las unidades de terapia intensiva del país.
ABSTRACT Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic was declared an international public health emergency. The knowledge of the symptoms, comorbidities, and the risk associated with the treatment received could contribute to better classification and care of patients. Objective: To clinically characterize COVID-19 patients admitted to the Cuban intensive care units Methods: A retrospective observational study of all patients treated in the Cuban intensive care units from March 11 to July 30, 2020. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected. The prevalence of fatal and recovery cases was compared by covariables using the standard chi-square test. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the predictor variables for in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 175 patients were treated, including 106 acutely ill and 69 critically ill. Patients were predominantly male (52.0%), over 60 years old (67.2%) and had hypertension (57.0%). Age (over 80 years old, OR= 9.62, 95% CI: 3.16-29.2), health status at admission (OR= 8.32, 95% CI: 2.30-30.10), and hemodynamic instability (OR=6.9, 95% CI: 2.96-16.37) were associated with an increased risk of death. Patients treated with Kaletra, chloroquine, Itolizumab, or Jusvinza increased survival. Mortality risk in critically ill patients decreased from 80% to 25% with the use of Jusvinza. Conclusions: The clinical characterization performed demonstrates the effectiveness of the clinical protocols used in the country's intensive care units.
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Aging is considered the single most significant risk factor for the majority of common malignances including lung cancer. Together immunosenescence, changes occurring with aging in the immune system, and inflammaging, characterizes by a chronic, subclinical accumulation of pro-inflammatory factors, are suggested to stand at the origin of most of the diseases of the elderly, such as cancer. The aim of this study was to determine associations among lymphocyte subpopulations, pro-inflammatory cytokines and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Forty-six advanced NSCLC patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients with newly diagnosed and before treatment and 30 patients after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Peripheral blood subpopulations were studied by flow cytometry and serum concentrations of soluble factors by ELISA. The frequency of naïve CD4+ T cells, naïve B cells and central memory CD8+ T cells were significantly lower in NSCLC patients after chemotherapy, while effector memory CD4+ T cells and terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells were significantly higher. IL-1ß and TNFα significantly correlated among them before and after platinum-based chemotherapy. Terminally differentiated T cells expressing CD57+ significantly correlated with TNFα and IL-1ß. For the first time, associations between EGF serum levels and terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells, and memory B cells were detected. This study confirms the association among terminally differentiated lymphocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients diagnosed with lung cancer, reinforcing the interconnection between terminally differentiated lymphocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Clinical trial registration number: RPCEC00000205, http://registroclinico.sld.cu/.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Biomarcadores Tumorais/análise , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/patologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Fator de Crescimento Epidérmico/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Subpopulações de Linfócitos/imunologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/imunologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/metabolismo , Ensaios Clínicos Fase IV como Assunto , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , PrognósticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In Cuba, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 11, 2020. Elderly individuals with multiple comorbidities are particularly susceptible to adverse clinical outcomes in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the outbreak, a local transmission event took place in a nursing home in Villa Clara province, Cuba, in which 19 elderly residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Based on the increased susceptibility to cytokine release syndrome, inducing respiratory and systemic complications in this population, 19 patients were included in an expanded access clinical trial to receive itolizumab, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: All patients had underlying medical conditions. The product was well tolerated. After the first dose, the course of the disease was favorable, and 18 of the 19 patients (94.7%) were discharged clinically recovered with negative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results at 13 days. After one dose of itolizumab, circulating IL-6 decreased within the first 24-48 h in patients with high baseline values, whereas in patients with low levels, this concentration remained over low values. To preliminarily assess the effect of itolizumab, a control group was selected among the Cuban COVID-19 patients that did not receive immunomodulatory therapy. The control subjects were well matched regarding age, comorbidities, and severity of the disease. The percentage of itolizumab-treated, moderately ill patients who needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit was only one-third of that of the control group not treated with itolizumab. Additionally, treatment with itolizumab reduced the risk of death 10 times as compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates that the timely use of itolizumab in combination with other antivirals reduces COVID-19 disease worsening and mortality. The humanized antibody itolizumab emerges as a therapeutic alternative for patients with COVID-19. Our results suggest the possible use of itolizumab in patients with cytokine release syndrome from other pathologies.
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Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/uso terapêutico , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Cuba , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immunosenescence biomarkers and peripheral blood parameters are evaluated separately as possible predictive markers of immunotherapy. Here, we illustrate the use of a causal inference model to identify predictive biomarkers of CIMAvaxEGF success in the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. METHODS: Data from a controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of CIMAvax-EGF were analyzed retrospectively, following a causal inference approach. Pre-treatment potential predictive biomarkers included basal serum EGF concentration, peripheral blood parameters and immunosenescence biomarkers. The proportion of CD8 + CD28- T cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and CD19+ B cells. The 33 patients with complete information were included. The predictive causal information (PCI) was calculated for all possible models. The model with a minimum number of predictors, but with high prediction accuracy (PCI > 0.7) was selected. Good, rare and poor responder patients were identified using the predictive probability of treatment success. RESULTS: The mean of PCI increased from 0.486, when only one predictor is considered, to 0.98 using the multivariate approach with all predictors. The model considering the proportion of CD4+ T cell, basal Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) concentration, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, Monocytes, and Neutrophils as predictors were selected (PCI > 0.74). Patients predicted as good responders according to the pre-treatment biomarkers values treated with CIMAvax-EGF had a significant higher observed survival compared with the control group (p = 0.03). No difference was observed for bad responders. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood parameters and immunosenescence biomarkers together with basal EGF concentration in serum resulted in good predictors of the CIMAvax-EGF success in advanced NSCLC. Future research should explore molecular and genetic profile as biomarkers for CIMAvax-EGF and it combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. The study illustrates the application of a new methodology, based on causal inference, to evaluate multivariate pre-treatment predictors. The multivariate approach allows realistic predictions of the clinical benefit of patients and should be introduced in daily clinical practice.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administração & dosagem , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Vacinas Anticâncer/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/terapia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/terapia , Modelos Estatísticos , Idoso , Biomarcadores Tumorais/imunologia , Contagem de Linfócito CD4 , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/sangue , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/imunologia , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/mortalidade , Ensaios Clínicos Fase III como Assunto , Terapia Combinada/métodos , Fator de Crescimento Epidérmico/sangue , Fator de Crescimento Epidérmico/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imunossenescência , Neoplasias Pulmonares/sangue , Neoplasias Pulmonares/imunologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disease characterized by an overexpression and mislocalization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to the apical membranes of cystic epithelial cells. Nimotuzumab is a humanized antibody that recognizes an extracellular domain III of human EGFR. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic behavior of nimotuzumab in patients with ADPKD given as a single dose. A phase I, single-center, and noncontrolled open clinical study was conducted. Five patients were enrolled at each of the following fixed-dose levels: 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg. Intravenous continuous infusions of nimotuzumab were administered every 14 days during a year, except the first administration, when blood samples were drawn during 28 days for pharmacokinetic assessments. Subjects were closely monitored during the trial and at completion of the administration of nimotuzumab, including the anti-idiotypic response. For the first time, nimotuzumab was used for treating a nononcological disease. The administration of nimotuzumab showed dose-dependent kinetics. Nimotuzumab does not develop anti-idiotypic response against the murine portion present in the hypervariable region of the antibody present in the serum of the patients treated. No significant differences were found in the systemic clearance between the 100- and 400-mg dose, which indicates that the optimal biological dose is in this range of dose.