Immunoassay measurements of serum alpha-gal (AG) specific IgE (sIgE) enable antibody detection and quantification with high sensitivity and specificity and are essential for AG syndrome diagnosis and patient management. We here present and analyze results from over 15 000 patient serum samples tested using the ImmunoCAP (Thermo/Phadia) assay. AG-sIgE levels and positivity rates were correlated to patient age, gender, geographic location, repeat testing results, sIgE levels to co-tested red meat whole allergen extracts, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) serology performed on a subset of patient samples. Of the tested samples, 36.7% contained detectable (>0.1 KUA/L) AG-sIgE. Antibody levels were higher in patients of older age, in samples submitted from lower midwestern and southern states, and during the June-December period of the year. Specific IgE to co-tested red meat whole allergens showed moderate to strong correlation to AG-sIgE and were of lower levels. Samples with positive RMSF IgG titers (≥1:64) were of overall higher AG-IgE levels. Findings are consistent with the role of lone star ticks in AG syndrome pathogenesis. Levels of measured sIgE to AG are higher than co-tested sIgE to red meat whole allergen, consistent with the improved diagnostic performance of component-resolved testing.
Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners •
Hypersensitivity reactions to platinum-based chemotherapies are well documented and are often a limiting factor in treating a variety of cancers. Allergy skin testing has been used to determine if repeat exposure is safe. We report a case of a false negative skin allergy test in an atypical presentation of cisplatin hypersensitivity reaction. A 64-year-old male diagnosed with stage IVa squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx who developed a delayed reaction of face swelling and dysphagia following exposure to a single dose of cisplatin. Skin allergy testing performed and was negative. On second dosing of cisplatin, the patient developed an immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Cisplatin was discontinued, and the patient was transitioned to cetuximab. The rest of chemoradiation therapy was completed without further incident. This case demonstrates the limited efficacy of skin allergy testing for cisplatin. Furthermore, it is an atypical presentation of cisplatin-related hypersensitivity as it occurred following the patient's first dose despite no prior exposure to platinum-based chemotherapy. Skin allergy testing has limited sensitivity for platinum-based chemotherapy and caution should be exercised in weighing risk and benefits of re-exposure. Although rare, cisplatin hypersensitivity can present after first exposure.
Hussain M, Daignault S, Agarwal N, Grivas PD, Siefker-Radtke AO, et al.
Cancer •
Epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression is associated with poor outcomes in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Cetuximab (CTX) exhibited an antitumor effect in in vivo UC models. The efficacy of gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) with or without CTX in patients with advanced UC was evaluated. Patients with advanced UC, measurable disease, and adequate organ function were randomized 1:2 to cisplatin (70 mg/m(2) ) on day 1 plus gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) ) on days 1, 8, and 15 (arm A) or GC plus CTX (500 mg/m(2) ) on days 1 and 15 (arm B). The primary endpoint was the overall response rate. The secondary endpoints were the response duration, safety, progression-free survival, overall survival, determination of whether or not CTX sensitized nonresponders to GC, and exploratory biomarker analysis. The accrual targets were 27 and 54 patients for the 2 arms, respectively. The overall response rate was reported by arm with binomial confidence intervals (CIs). Kaplan-Meier methods were used for time-to-event endpoints. Eighty-eight eligible patients were randomized; 87 were toxicity-evaluable, and 85 were response-evaluable. The overall response rates were 57.1% for arm A (95% CI = 37%-76%) and 61.4% for arm B (95% CI = 48%-74%). The median progression-free survival times were 8.5 months for arm A (95% CI = 5.7-10.4 months) and 7.6 months for arm B (95% CI = 6.1-8.7 months). The median overall survival times were 17.4 months for arm A (95% CI = 12.8 months to unreached) and 14.3 months for arm B (95% CI = 11.6-22.2 months). The most common grade 3/grade 4 adverse events in both arms were myelosuppression and nausea. Thromboembolism, acneiform rash, fatigue, pain, hypersensitivity reactions, elevated transaminases, hyponatremia, and hypomagnesemia were more common in arm B; 3 grade 5 adverse events occurred in arm B. The presence of primary disease significantly correlated with thromboembolism. An increased soluble E-cadherin level after cycle 2 correlated with a higher risk of death. GC plus CTX was feasible but was associated with more adverse events and no improvements in outcomes.
The binding of Na (+) to arabinose (Ara), xylose (Xyl), glucose (Glc), and galactose (Gal) is examined in detail by studying the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the four sodiated monosaccharide complexes with Xe using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer (GIBMS). Analysis of the energy-dependent CID cross-sections provides 0 K sodium cation affinities for experimental complexes after accounting for unimolecular decay rates, internal energy of reactant ions, and multiple ion-neutral collisions. Quantum chemical calculations for a number of geometric conformations of each Na (+)(L) complex with a comprehensive analysis of the alpha and beta anomeric forms are determined at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level with single-point energies calculated at MP2(full), B3LYP, and B3P86 levels using a 6-311+G(2d,2p) basis set. This coordinated examination of both experimental work and quantum chemical calculations allows for determination of the bond energy for both the alpha and beta forms of each monosaccharide studied here. An understanding of the energetic contributions of individual structural characteristics as well as the energetic trends in binding among the monosaccharides is developed. Structural characteristics that affect the energetics of binding involve multidentate sodium cation coordination, ring sterics, and hydrogen bonding schemes. The overall trend in sodium binding affinities for the eight ligands follows beta-Ara < alpha-Ara < beta-Xyl < beta-Glc < alpha-Glc < alpha;-Xyl < alpha-Gal < beta-Gal.
