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Neuro-oncology Advances 2023Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain cancer with a poor prognosis. Despite numerous studies in the past 17 years, effective treatment options for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain cancer with a poor prognosis. Despite numerous studies in the past 17 years, effective treatment options for glioblastoma remain limited. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare phase III clinical trials for glioblastoma in terms of efficacy and baseline characteristics.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify phase III clinical trials for glioblastoma in adult patients. The target population included adult patients aged 18 years and above (younger cohort) and patients ≥60 years of age (elderly cohort). The search results were screened based on predefined inclusion criteria, and the included trials were analyzed for their study design, baseline characteristics, and survival results.
RESULTS
Eleven trials met the inclusion criteria in the younger cohort. Of these, three reported a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS), including the EORTC/NCIC study (NCT00006353), EF-14 (NCT00916409), and CeTeG (NCT01149109). Of the 11 trials, eight were open-label randomized trials, including all of the positive ones, while three negative trials employed treatment blinding and a placebo control. The baseline characteristics of the trials [such as extent of resection, age, gender, and (6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status] did not significantly differ between positive and negative trials. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status was analyzed in only two trials, with a small percentage of IDH-mutated tumors in each. Additionally, three more trials in the elderly cohort showed a statistically significant improvement of OS, the NOA-08 trial, the ISRCTN81470623-trial by Malmström et al. and NCT00482677-trial by Perry et al. Their baseline characteristics and implications are also analyzed.
CONCLUSION
This analysis of phase III clinical trials for glioblastoma conducted since 2005 showed that the majority of trials did not result in a significant improvement in OS. Among the trials included in this analysis, only the EORTC/NCIC, EF-14, and CeTeG studies demonstrated a positive OS outcome in the younger cohort.
PubMed: 37811538
DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad105 -
Journal of Comparative Effectiveness... Aug 2022To assess the clinical efficacy and safety profile of opicapone (25 and 50 mg once daily) versus placebo. Levodopa-treated adults with Parkinson's disease. A... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
To assess the clinical efficacy and safety profile of opicapone (25 and 50 mg once daily) versus placebo. Levodopa-treated adults with Parkinson's disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Opicapone provided a greater reduction in the absolute OFF-time, increased the chances of ≥1-h reduction in the OFF-time and ≥1-h increase in the ON-time compared with placebo. Receiving opicapone more often facilitated levodopa dose reduction versus placebo. There were no differences in the occurrence of adverse events (severe and leading to drug discontinuation), but receiving opicapone increased the frequency of dyskinesia. Opicapone demonstrated superior clinical efficacy to placebo, with a comparable general safety profile.
Topics: Adult; Antiparkinson Agents; Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Levodopa; Oxadiazoles; Parkinson Disease
PubMed: 35758044
DOI: 10.2217/cer-2022-0031 -
Cancer Management and Research 2017O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is an independent predictor of therapeutic response and potential prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).... (Review)
Review
Is the prognostic significance of O6-methylguanine- DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation equally important in glioblastomas of patients from different continents? A systematic review with meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is an independent predictor of therapeutic response and potential prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, its significance of clinical prognosis in different continents still needs to be explored.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
To explore the effects of MGMT promoter methylation on both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among GBM patients from different continents, a systematic review of published studies was conducted.
RESULTS
A total of 5103 patients from 53 studies were involved in the systematic review and the total percentage of MGMT promoter methylation was 45.53%. Of these studies, 16 studies performed univariate analyses and 17 performed multivariate analyses of MGMT promoter methylation on PFS. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) estimated for PFS was 0.55 (95% CI 0.50, 0.60) by univariate analysis and 0.43 (95% CI 0.38, 0.48) by multivariate analysis. The effect of MGMT promoter methylation on OS was explored in 30 studies by univariate analysis and in 30 studies by multivariate analysis. The combined HR was 0.48 (95% CI 0.44, 0.52) and 0.42 (95% CI 0.38, 0.45), respectively.
CONCLUSION
In each subgroup divided by areas, the prognostic significance still remained highly significant. The proportion of methylation in each group was in inverse proportion to the corresponding HR in the univariate and multivariate analyses of PFS. However, from the perspective of OS, compared with data from Europe and the US, higher methylation rates in Asia did not bring better returns.
PubMed: 29033608
DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S140447 -
Medicine Mar 2017Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used and considered a first-line disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, 10%... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used and considered a first-line disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, 10% to 30% of patients discontinue therapy within a year of starting the treatment, usually because of undesirable side effects. Many of the relevant genes have been investigated to estimate the association between gene polymorphisms and MTX toxicity in RA patients, although inconsistent results have been reported.
METHODS
We searched EMBASE and PubMed in February 2016 for polymorphisms and pharmacogenomics study of the toxicity of MTX monotherapy in RA patients. The meta-analysis was stratified by whether genetic variants associated with MTX toxicity.
RESULTS
A total of 42 publications that included 28 genes with 88 gene SNPs associated with the transporters, enzymes, and metabolites of MTX or the progression of RA were included in the SR, and 31 studies were included in 7 meta-analyses. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between the toxicity of MTX and the RFC-1 80G > A (rs1051266) polymorphism in the European RA patients.
CONCLUSION
RFC-1 80G > A (rs1051266) polymorphism was associated with MTX toxicity, and larger and more stringent study designs may provide more accurate results for the effect of these SNPs on the MTX toxicity.
Topics: 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Biomarkers; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase; Humans; Hydroxymethyl and Formyl Transferases; Methotrexate; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); Multienzyme Complexes; Nucleotide Deaminases; Pharmacogenetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Replication Protein C
PubMed: 28296761
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006337 -
PloS One 2016The silencing of the tumor suppressor gene O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) by promoter methylation commonly occurs in human cancers. The relationship... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The silencing of the tumor suppressor gene O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) by promoter methylation commonly occurs in human cancers. The relationship between MGMT promoter methylation and gastric cancer (GC) remains inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the potential value of MGMT promoter methylation in GC patients. Electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used to evaluate the effects of MGMT methylation on GC risk and clinicopathological characteristics. In total, 31 eligible studies including 2988 GC patients and 2189 nonmalignant controls were involved in meta-analysis. In the pooled analysis, MGMT promoter methylation was significantly associated with GC risk (OR = 3.34, P < 0.001) and substantial heterogeneity (P < 0.001). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses based on the testing method, sample material and ethnicity failed to explain the sources of heterogeneity. Interestingly, MGMT methylation showed a trend associated with gender, and methylation is lower in males compared with females (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.56-1.03). We did not find a significant association in relation to tumor types, clinical stage, age status or H. pylori status in cancer (all P > 0.1). MGMT promoter methylation may be correlated with the prognosis of GCs in disease free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) for univariate analysis. MGMT promoter methylation may play a crucial role in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of GC. MGMT methylation was not correlated with tumor types, clinical stage, age status, H. pylori status. However, the result of the association of MGMT methylation and gender should be considered with caution.
Topics: DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Female; Humans; Male; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Sex Factors; Stomach Neoplasms; Tumor Suppressor Proteins
PubMed: 27824946
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165509 -
Current Neuropharmacology 2017Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem among soldiers with combating experience difficult to treat. The pathogenesis is still not fully understood at... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem among soldiers with combating experience difficult to treat. The pathogenesis is still not fully understood at the psychological level. Therefore, genetic research became a focus of interest. The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may help to predict, which persons are at high risk to develop PTSD as a starting point to develop novel targeted drugs for treatment.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review on SNPs in genes related to PTSD pathology and development of targeted pharmacological treatment options based on PubMed database searches. We focused on clinical trials with military personnel.
RESULTS
SNPs in 22 human genes have been linked to PTSD. These genes encode proteins acting as neurotransmitters and receptors, downstream signal transducers and metabolizing enzymes. Pharmacological inhibitors may serve as drug candidates for PTSD treatment, e.g. β2 adrenoreceptor antagonists, dopamine antagonists, partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists, dopamine β hydroxylase inhibitors, fatty acid amid hydrolase antagonists, glucocorticoid receptor agonists, tropomyosin receptor kinase B agonists, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors, gamma-amino butyric acid receptor agonists, glutamate receptor inhibitors, monoaminoxidase B inhibitors, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists.
CONCLUSION
The combination of genetic and pharmacological research may lead to novel targetbased drug developments with improved specificity and efficacy to treat PTSD. Specific SNPs may be identified as reliable biomarkers to assess individual disease risk. Focusing on soldiers suffering from PTSD will not only help to improve treatment options for this specific group, but for all PTSD patients and the general population.
Topics: Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Military Personnel; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 27834145
DOI: 10.2174/1570159X15666161111113514 -
JAAD International Dec 2022Systemic glucocorticoids are first-line treatment options for autoimmune blistering diseases; however, their long-term use is associated with significant toxicities. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Systemic glucocorticoids are first-line treatment options for autoimmune blistering diseases; however, their long-term use is associated with significant toxicities.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the side effects of steroid-sparing agents and compare them with those of steroids.
METHODS
We searched Cochrane Reviews, Embase, MEDLINE, and Scopus between October 1978 and May 2020 using the keywords "bullous pemphigoid," "pemphigus," "autoimmune blistering diseases," and "side effects." A total of 31 randomized controlled trials and retrospective case series were critically appraised.
RESULTS
This review includes a total of 1685 patients with autoimmune blistering diseases, of whom 781 had bullous pemphigoid and 904 had either pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigus foliaceous.
LIMITATIONS
A major limitation is that because adjuvants are generally used in combination with steroids, only 12 of the studies reviewed included a "steroid-only" arm to allow for a direct comparison of side effects. Additionally, there is inadequate literature and lack of standardized grade reporting of specific side effects of each steroid-sparing agent.
CONCLUSION
In the future, researchers should consider implementing the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0, for reporting of all side effects to allow for consistency and standardization. It would be useful to have an index similar to the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index to quantify these side effects.
PubMed: 36089938
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2022.07.005 -
Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2022Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors as adjuvant therapy.
OBJECTIVE
We provide pooled scientific evidence highlighting the efficacy and safety of opicapone, a newly approved COMT inhibitor, as an adjuvant to levodopa.
METHODS
We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant reports. Efficacy and safety were evaluated as off-time reduction and risk ratio (RR) of dyskinesia, respectively. Data were independently extracted using predefined criteria. Selected placebo-controlled trials were divided into double-blind and open-label periods. Using a random-effects model, the mean difference (MD) of the off-time reduction (efficacy), RR for the occurrence of dyskinesia, and on-time without/with troublesome dyskinesia (TD; safety assessment) were compared between opicapone and placebo groups.
RESULTS
Five studies from three randomized controlled trials were included, and a meta-analysis was performed with 407 patients receiving opicapone 50 mg and 402 patients receiving placebo. Compared with the placebo, opicapone (50 mg) reduced off-time by 49.91 min during the double-blind period (95% confidence intervals [CIs] = -71.39, -28.43; I2 = 0%). The RR of dyskinesia was 3.43 times greater in the opicapone 50 mg group than in the placebo group (95% CI = 2.14, 5.51; I = 0%). Compared with the placebo, opicapone increased the on-time without TD by 44.62 min (95% CI = 22.60, 66.64; I2 = 0%); the on-time increase with TD did not differ between treatments.
CONCLUSION
Opicapone can play a positive role as an adjuvant to levodopa in patients with PD by reducing off-time and prolonging on-time without PD.
Topics: Antiparkinson Agents; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; Dyskinesias; Humans; Levodopa; Oxadiazoles; Parkinson Disease; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35180134
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-213057 -
Oncology Research 2016Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor that nearly always results in a bad prognosis. Temozolomide plus radiotherapy (TEM+RAD) is the most... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor that nearly always results in a bad prognosis. Temozolomide plus radiotherapy (TEM+RAD) is the most common treatment for newly diagnosed GBM. With the development of molecularly targeted drugs, several clinical trials were reported; however, the efficacy of the treatment remains controversial. So we attempted to measure the dose of the molecularly targeted drug that could improve the prognosis of those patients. The appropriate electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for relevant studies. A meta-analysis was performed after determining which studies met the inclusion criteria. Six randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) were identified for this meta-analysis, comprising 2,637 GBM patients. The benefit of overall survival (OS) was hazard ratio (HZ), 0.936 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.852-1.028]. The benefit with respect to progression-free survival (PFS) rate was HZ of 0.796 (95% CI, 0.701-0.903). OS benefit of cilengitide was HZ of 0.792 (95% CI, 0.642-0.977). The adverse effects higher than grade 3 were 57.7% in the experimental group and 44.1% in the placebo group (odds ratio, 1.679; 95% CI, 1.434-1.967). The addition of molecularly targeted drugs to TEM + RAD did not improve the OS of patients with GBM; however, it did improve PFS in patients treated by cilengitide who could not get improvement in OS. The rate of adverse effects was higher in the experimental group than in the placebo group.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Brain Neoplasms; Chemoradiotherapy; Combined Modality Therapy; DNA Methylation; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Glioblastoma; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Odds Ratio; Publication Bias; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Suppressor Proteins
PubMed: 27296952
DOI: 10.3727/096504016X14612603423511 -
European Psychiatry : the Journal of... Nov 2021Mental disorders in comorbidity with chronic skin diseases may worsen disease outcome and patients' quality of life. We hypothesized the comorbidity of depression,...
BACKGROUND
Mental disorders in comorbidity with chronic skin diseases may worsen disease outcome and patients' quality of life. We hypothesized the comorbidity of depression, anxiety syndromes, or symptoms as attributable to biological mechanisms that the combined diseases share.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement searching into PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus databases. We examined the literature regarding the comorbidity of psoriasis (Ps), atopic dermatitis (AD), or hidradenitis suppurativa with depression and/or anxiety in adults ≥18 years and the hypothetical shared underlying biological mechanisms.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies were analyzed, mostly regarding Ps and AD. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways arose as shared mechanisms in Ps animal models with depression- and/or anxiety-like behaviors. Activated microglia and neuroinflammatory responses emerged in AD depressive models. As to genetic studies, atopic-dermatitis patients with comorbid anxiety traits carried the short variant of serotonin transporter and a polymorphism of the human translocator protein gene. A GA genotype of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene was instead associated with Ps. Reduced natural killer cell activity, IL-4, serotonin serum levels, and increased plasma cortisol and IgE levels were hypothesized in comorbid depressive AD patients. In Ps patients with comorbid depression, high serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-18, as well as IL-17A, were presumed to act as shared inflammatory mechanisms.
CONCLUSIONS
Further studies should investigate mental disorders and chronic skin diseases concurrently across patients' life course and identify their temporal relation and biological correlates. Future research should also identify biological characteristics of individuals at high risk of the comorbid disorders and associated complications.
Topics: Animals; Anxiety; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Comorbidity; Depression; Dermatitis, Atopic; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Humans; Psoriasis; Quality of Life
PubMed: 34819201
DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2249