A hallmark feature of tumorigenesis is uncontrolled cell division. Autophagy is regulated by more than 30 genes and it is one of several mechanisms by which cells maintain homeostasis. Autophagy promotes cancer progression and drug resistance. Several genes play important roles in autophagy‐induced tumorigenesis and drug resistance including Beclin‐1, MIF, HMGB1, p53, PTEN, p62, RAC3, SRC3, NF‐2, MEG3, LAPTM4B, mTOR, BRAF and c‐MYC. These genes alter cell growth, cellular microenvironment and cell division. Mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and drug resistance include microdeletions, genetic mutations, loss of heterozygosity, hypermethylation, microsatellite instability and translational modifications at a molecular level. Disrupted or altered autophagy has been reported in hematological malignancies like lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma as well as multiple solid organ tumors like colorectal, hepatocellular, gall bladder, pancreatic, gastric and cholangiocarcinoma among many other malignancies. In addition, defects in autophagy also play a role in drug resistance in cancers like osteosarcoma, ovarian and lung carcinomas following treatment with drugs such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, gemcitabine and etoposide. Therapeutic approaches that modulate autophagy are a novel future direction for cancer drug development that may help to prevent issues with disease progression and overcome drug resistance.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in elderly patients, affecting individuals older than 60 years. It is a complex degenerative brain disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. AD constitutes a major global health concern. A central role for inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Despite the understanding of multiple molecular pathways in the pathophysiology of AD, novel treatment agents with a possible role in modifying the disease activity are still lacking. Our article provides a comprehensive review of various observational studies and randomized trials encompassing the use of anti-inflammatory agents in the management of AD patients and utilizes the conclusions derived therefrom to give recommendations in this regard.

Introduction Bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibodies represent a novel therapeutic option for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). BiTE antibodies lack Fc region, and have variable domain only, they can simultaneously bind to two different epitopes i.e. cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) molecules on tumor-specific T cells, and a specific antigen on myeloma cells, which leads to T-cell dependent destruction of myeloma cells. Currently, blinatumomab, specific for CD3 and CD19 is the only Food and Drug Administration FDA approved BiTE antibody for clinical use in patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, several similar BiTE antibodies are under development. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed comprehensive literature on 4/15/19 cross-referencing the terms "bispecific antibodies" and "multiple myeloma" using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov and review of international medical meeting abstracts. Initially, 256 articles were identified and after detailed scrutiny, one phase 1 clinical trial with prelim results, 4 preclinical and 4 ongoing clinical trials were included. Results Preclinical trials: Anti-BCMA x Anti-CD3 Bispecific Antibody: BiTE antibodies are still in early development in MM, and most of the published data is about the pre-clinical phase. In preclinical trials, Hipp et al. 2017 and Cho et al. 2018 reported that AMG 420 (BI 836909) and AMG 701, which are anti CD3 and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), are highly efficacious in vitro in the killing of myeloma cells and potently induces autologous tumor cell lysis in patients with both newly diagnosed and RRMM regardless of their disease status. In mouse xenograft models reconstituted with human T cells, in vivo efficacy of AMG 420 was reported with an overall response in 6 of 10 animals, with all 6 responders became tumor-free at the end of the study. In an orthotopic L-363 xenograft model, treatment with AMG 420 resulted in prolonged median survival of 43-43.5 days. Dilillo et al. 2018 and Ji Li et al. 2017 reported similar in vivo results for REGN5458 and BFCR4350A respectively. Clinical trials: Currently, there are 5 phase 1 ongoing clinical trials (Table 1). Updated results of only first in human phase I AMG 420 are available. Forty-two MM patients with a high tumor burden and four prior lines of therapy were given 2.5 treatment cycles with AMG 420. Overall thirteen (31%) patients responded to AMG 420 therapy, with complete response (CR) in 6 (14.2%) patients, very good partial response (VGPR) in 2 (5%) patients and partial response (PR) in 2(5%) patients. Eleven of these patients responded in the first treatment cycle, with a median response time of 1 month. Twenty-five (57.1%) patients discontinued treatment due to progressive disease. Four deaths were reported; 2 from disease progression and 2 due to adverse events; neither of them was treatment-related. Serious adverse events were reported in twenty-one (50%) patients, the infection was reported in twelve (29%) and polyneuropathy in three (7%), eighteen (43%) required hospitalization. Treatment-related serious adverse events included three (7%) patients with grade 2-3 cytokine release syndrome, three (7%) with polyneuropathy and one (2.3%) with edema. Conclusion After the success of naked antibodies like daratumumab and elotuzumab for MM, there is a need to develop immunotherapy using conjugated antibodies and BiTE antibodies to overcome the challenge of MM resistance and relapse to prior therapies. Preclinical data with BiTE antibodies are promising; AMG 420 anti-CD3/BCMA BiTE has already been granted fast track status by the FDA. We anticipate that drug will enter phase 2 clinical trials for drug development against RRMM Other BiTE antibodies with strong preclinical efficacy are under development and data from larger prospective clinical trials is needed to explore their efficacy in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Table 1 Disclosures Anwer: In-Cyte: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Introduction: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a rare low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by CD20 expression on malignant cells and produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM). Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20 antigen and the most widely used therapeutic agents in WM. Rituximab works by adhering to CD20, causes B-cell lysis mainly through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent binds to DNA. Its cytotoxic effect is mainly due to cross-linking of strands of DNA and RNA, and to inhibition of protein synthesis. Our objective is to analyze and summarize the published literature for the efficacy of regimens containing both rituximab and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Methods:We performed a comprehensive literature search on articles following PRISMA guidelines. Beginning with articles published after January 2005, we used databases like PubMed, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A total of 585 articles were identified initially, and after a detailed screening, we finalized 10 studies involving 425 WM patients. Results:The total number of patients were 425. The dose was 375 mg/m2. The complete response (CR) ranged from 3-19%, very good partial response (VGPR) ranged from 4-22%, and the partial response (PR) ranged from 8-82%. The overall response rate (ORR) ranged from 79-95%. Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisone (R-CHOP): In a retrospective study by Ioakimidis et al., included 23 WM patients were given R-CHOP. The ORR was 95%, with 69% achieving a major response, 43%, PR, and VGPR OF 9%. In a randomized control trial by Buske et al., N=23, the major response rate was 91%, and PR was 82%. Treon et al. (N=13) observed a major response rate of 27%. (Table 1). Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab (FCR): In a retrospective study by Peinert et al., involving 29 patients receiving the FCR regimen, the ORR was 90%, with 79%, 3%, and 10% of patients achieving PR, CR, and NR, respectively. In a study by Tedeschi et al., involving 40 patients, ORR was 80%, and the major response rate was 80%. Souchet et al., N=82 reported an ORR of 84% and a PR of 46%. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 51.2 months for Tedeschi et al. Dexamethasone, Rituximab and Cyclophosphamide (DRC) In study Paludo et al., (N=50), receiving the DRC regimen, the highest ORR was 87%, PR 64%, and major response was 68%. In a phase II study by Dimopoulos et al., (N=72), the ORR of 82% and PR of 67% was observed. PFS was 24 months in this study. (Table 1) 4.Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and Prednisone (R-CVP) In study Ioakimidis et al, N=16, the ORR was 87%, the major response rate was 62%, and the PR was 43%. Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, and Prednisone (RCP) Ioakimidis et al., reported 19 patients who were given RCP. The ORR, PR, and the major response rate was 94%, 73%, and 73%, respectively.Lenalidomide, Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone (LR-CD) A study by Rosenthal et al., 15 patients were given LR-CD. ORR was 80%, with a major response rate in 80% and PR in 73% of patients. PFS was 38 months. Conclusion: Rituximab and cyclophosphamide, in combination regimens for the treatment of WM showed the overall response rate of 95%. Neutropenia was the dominant side effect reported in these regimens. There is a paucity of phase 3 randomized trials demonstrating a clinical benefit of anyone regimen over another. We recommend future randomized prospective trials better to understand the efficacy and safety profile of regimens containing both rituximab and cyclophosphamide base combinations. Disclosures Anwer: Incyte, Seattle Genetics, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Celegene, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.:Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.