Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis), which is a nonpathogenic and fast-growing mycobacterium, is a potential vaccine vector capable of expressing heterologous antigens. Spontaneous humoral and cellular immune responses have been demonstrated against cancer/testis antigens (CTA), including melanoma-associated antigen A (MAGEA) and SSX. In the present study, recombinant plasmids expressing MAGEA3 and SSX2 were constructed. The recombinant plasmids were transferred into M. smegmatis to generate the novel antitumor DNA vaccine. As MAGEA3 and SSX2 were in different ligation sequences, the two DNA vaccines were recombinant M. smegmatis MAGEA3-SSX2 (rM.S-MS) and recombinant M. smegmatis SSX2-MAGEA3 (rM.S-SM), respectively. The expression levels of Fusion proteins were assessed by western blotting. BALB/c mice were immunized with rM.S and western blot analysis was used to determine whether antibodies against MAGEA3 or SSX2 were produced in immunized mice. EC9706 cells were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice and the mice were maintained until an obvious visible tumor appeared on the back. Subsequently, the blood from the rM.S immunized BALB/c mice was injected into the BALB/c nude mice via the tail vein. In order to evaluate the antitumor effect of the vaccines, tumor volume and weight were measured 5 to 21 days after injection. Mice were euthanized on day 21 of tumor growth, and the tumor was dissected and weighed. The two fusion proteins were expressed in the rM.S and the specific fusion protein antibodies were expressed in the blood of immunized BALB/c mice. The tumor volumes and weight in the recombinant M. smegmatis MAGEA3 (rM.S-M) and recombinant M. smegmatis SSX2 (rM.S-S) groups were significantly reduced compared with the control group. Furthermore, the decrease in tumor volumes and weight in the rM.S-MS and rM.S-SM groups was more severe than in the rM.S-M or rM.S-S groups. There was no significant difference in the antitumor effect of the rM.S-MS and rM.S-SM groups. The present findings suggest that this rM.S may be a potential candidate therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of cancer.
Sustainably sourced engineered wood products (EWP) such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels are viable alternatives to conventional concrete and steel, however their inherent natural variability increases perceived risks and limits wide-spread adoption. The reliability index (β) is the metric used by design standards to communicate allowable structural risk. Although not included directly in any structural capacity equations, it governs all the partial resistance factors and load amplification factors that inform those design code calculations. CLT floors have significant partial resistance factors due to the natural variability of the material that effectively penalise the calculated design strength of those products. By exploring their reliability there is the potential to allow these products to be designed more efficiently, leading to increased competitiveness among traditional materials and less waste. A novel statistical capacity prediction model that goes beyond a simple averaged-value strength assumption to include consideration of the variability between individual boards within a panel was validated against experimental data. A CLT database of 237 out-of-plane bending test results was collected for the first time to inform an appropriate model error factor. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) approaches were adopted to predict the reliability levels of CLT panels by defining the material, geometrical and loading parameters as random variables and assigning each a mean, coefficient of variation and appropriate distribution. The target and calculated reliability levels were compared across both Eurocode 5 and the North American codes ANSI/APA PRG 320 and CSA O86 as the preeminent CLT design codes internationally. This study found that the calculated reliability levels met or exceeded both codes in most scenarios. The impacts of width, load ratio, material strength distribution, and CLT layups on the expected failure probabilities were explored with sensitivity analyses. The MCS framework was also applied to the calibration of an appropriate resistance factor for CLT design to inform the potential creation of an Australian CLT design code. A resistance factor of 0.85 was calibrated which falls between the equivalent European and North American code resistance factors.
<div>AbstractPurpose:<p>This study explored the combination of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) IL2 variant (FAP-IL2v), a novel immune-cytokine, with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced and/or metastatic melanoma.</p>Patients and Methods:<p>This open-label, multicenter, phase Ib clinical study (NCT03875079) evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of FAP-IL2v (simlukafusp alfa, RO6874281) in combination with pembrolizumab. Patients with advanced and/or metastatic melanoma were either checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-naïve or CPI-experienced. Patients received 10 mg FAP-IL2v either continuously once every 3 weeks (Q3W) or in an induction/maintenance setting consisting of a 3-week induction phase with weekly (QW) dosing followed by continuous Q3W dosing. Pembrolizumab was dosed Q3W at 200 mg.</p>Results:<p>Eighty-three patients were treated: 16 patients in two safety run-in cohorts and 67 patients in two extension cohorts; 75 (90.4%) patients were CPI-experienced. The pharmacokinetics of FAP-IL2v in combination with pembrolizumab was similar to that after administration as monotherapy. Consistent with the proposed mode of action, FAP-IL2v preferentially expanded NK and CD8 T cells. The most common FAP-IL2v–related grade 3/4 adverse events were lymphopenia (23%), elevated γ-glutamyltransferase (8%), elevated alanine aminotransferase (6%), and infusion-related reaction (6%). A response was observed in 5 of 75 (6.7%) CPI-experienced patients (all partial responses) and 2 of 8 CPI-naïve patients (one complete response and one partial response). The median progression-free survival was 3.1 months.</p>Conclusions:<p>The safety profile of FAP-IL2v in combination with pembrolizumab was manageable and consistent with the known safety profile. However, further exploration of FAP-IL2v and pembrolizumab was precluded in patients with melanoma with prior CPI due to the lack of clinical activity.</p>Significance:<p>In this phase Ib study, the combination of FAP-IL2v, an immune-cytokine developed to overcome the limitations of wild-type IL2, with the CPI pembrolizumab did not show meaningful antitumor activity in patients who had progressed on prior CPI therapy, suggesting that FAP-IL2v alone cannot overcome CPI resistance or unresponsiveness.</p></div>
Here, we provide evidence for a functional role of artemin (ARTN) in progression of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Increased ARTN protein expression was observed in EC compared with normal endometrial tissue, and ARTN protein expression in EC was significantly associated with higher tumor grade and invasiveness. Forced expression of ARTN in EC cells significantly increased total cell number as a result of enhanced cell cycle progression and cell survival. In addition, forced expression of ARTN significantly enhanced anchorage-independent growth and invasiveness of EC cells. Moreover, forced expression of ARTN increased tumor size in xenograft models and produced highly proliferative, poorly differentiated, and invasive tumors. The ARTN-stimulated increases in oncogenicity and invasion were mediated by increased expression and activity of AKT1. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion or antibody inhibition of ARTN significantly reduced oncogenicity and invasion of EC cells. Thus, inhibition of ARTN may be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy to retard progression of EC.