Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) belong to a new class of oral targeted disease-modifying drugs which have recently revolutionized the therapeutic panorama of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other immune-mediated diseases, placing alongside or even replacing conventional and biological drugs. JAKi are characterized by a novel mechanism of action, consisting of the intracellular interruption of the JAK-STAT pathway crucially involved in the immune response. The aim of this narrative review is to globally report the most relevant pharmacological features and clinical outcomes of the developed and incoming JAKi for RA, based on the available preclinical and clinical evidence. A total of 219 papers, including narrative and systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, case reports, guidelines, and drug factsheets, were selected. The efficacy and safety profile of both the first generation JAKi (baricitinib and tofacitinib) and the second generation JAKi (upadacitinib, filgotinib, peficitinib, decernotinib and itacitinib) were compared and discussed. Results from RCTs and real-life data are encouraging and outline a rapid onset of the pharmacologic effects, which are maintained during the time. Their efficacy and safety profile are comparable or superior to those of biologic agents and JAKi proved to be efficacious when given as monotherapy. Finally, the manufacturing of JAKi is relatively easier and cheaper than that of biologics, thus increasing the number of compounds being formulated and tested for clinical use.

Pre‐therapeutic DPYD pharmacogenetic test to prevent fluoropyrimidines (FL)‐related toxicities is not yet common practice in medical oncology. We aimed at investigating the clinical validity of DPYD genetic analysis in a large series of oncological patients. Six hundred three cancer patients, treated with FL, have been retrospectively tested for eight DPYD polymorphisms (DPYD‐rs3918290, DPYD‐rs55886062, DPYD‐rs67376798, DPYD‐rs2297595, DPYD‐rs1801160, DPYD‐rs1801158, DPYD‐rs1801159, DPYD‐rs17376848) for association with Grade ≥3 toxicity, developed within the first three cycles of therapy. DPYD‐rs3918290 and DPYD‐rs67376798 were associated to Grade ≥3 toxicity after bootstrap validation and Bonferroni correction (p = 0.003, p = 0.048). DPYD‐rs55886062 was not significant likely due to its low allelic frequency, nonetheless one out of two heterozygous patients (compound heterozygous with DPYD‐rs3918290) died from toxicity after one cycle. Test specificity for the analysis of DPYD‐rs3918290, DPYD‐rs55886062 and DPYD‐rs67376798 was assessed to 99%. Among the seven patients carrying one variant DPYD‐rs3918290, DPYD‐rs55886062 or DPYD‐rs67376798 allele, not developing Grade ≥3 toxicity, 57% needed a FL dose or schedule modification for moderate chronic toxicity. No other DPYD polymorphism was associated with Grade ≥3 toxicity. Our data demonstrate the clinical validity and specificity of the DPYD‐rs3918290, DPYD‐rs55886062, DPYD‐rs67376798 genotyping test to prevent FL‐related Grade ≥3 toxicity and to preserve treatment compliance, and support its introduction in the clinical practice.

Palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib belong to the third generation of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors (CDKis), an established therapeutic class for advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Interindividual variability in the therapeutic response of CDKis has been reported and some individuals may experience increased and unexpected toxicity. This narrative review aims at identifying the factors potentially concurring at this variability for driving the most appropriate and tailored use of CDKis in the clinic. Specifically, concomitant medications, pharmacogenetic profile, and pathophysiological conditions could influence absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination pharmacokinetics. A personalized therapeutic approach taking into consideration all factors potentially contributing to an altered pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile could better drive safe and effective clinical use.

Although the clinical validity of a number of pharmacogenetic markers is nowadays a matter of fact, and led authoritative scientific consortia as the Dutch Pharmacogenetic Working Group (DPWG) and the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) to publish pharmacogenetic guidelines, the clinical implementation in real life remains challenging. Ubiquitous Pharmacogenomics (U-PGx) program is a coordinated effort that put together scientific and clinical expertise in the pharmacogenomic field, to implement the pre-emptive pharmacogenomic approach in the clinical practice in Europe, and to demonstrate its benefit in both patients’ clinical outcome and quality of life, with an economic advantage for the healthcare system. The project is conceived as a clinical trial that will compare 4,000 patients, pre-emptively genotyped for a panel of pharmacogenes included in the DPWG guidelines, and treated accordingly, with 4,000 controls treated with the standard of care. All the genetic data will be prospectively collected and fully embedded into the patient’s clinical record. An electronic clinical decision support system will be developed to alert physicians and pharmacists when a drug is being prescribed or dispensed to a patient with a risky genotype. U-PGx will test and harmonize this approach in seven healthcare environments (The Netherlands, Spain, UK, Italy, Austria, Greece, Slovenia) to set the basis for a future European healthcare system where an ‘effective treatment optimization will be accessible to every European citizen’ (www.upgx.eu).

Cisplatin (CDDP) is commonly used to treat a multitude of tumors including sarcomas, ovarian and cervical cancers. Despite recent investigations allowed to improve chemotherapy effectiveness, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of CDDP resistance remain a major goal in cancer research. Here, we show that mitochondrial morphology and autophagy are altered in different CDDP resistant cancer cell lines. In CDDP resistant osteosarcoma and ovarian carcinoma, mitochondria are fragmented and closely juxtaposed to the endoplasmic reticulum; rates of mitophagy are also increased. Specifically, levels of the mitophagy receptor BNIP3 are higher both in resistant cells and in ovarian cancer patient samples resistant to platinum-based treatments. Genetic BNIP3 silencing or pharmacological inhibition of autophagosome formation re-sensitizes these cells to CDDP. Our study identifies inhibition of BNIP3-driven mitophagy as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract CDDP resistance in ovarian carcinoma and osteosarcoma.

Liver lipid accumulation is a hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), broadly associated with insulin resistance. Inositols (INS) are ubiquitous polyols implied in many physiological functions. They are produced endogenously, are present in many foods and in dietary supplements. Alterations in INS metabolism seems to play a role in diseases involving insulin resistance such as diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. Given its role in other metabolic syndromes, the hypothesis of an INS role as a supplement in NAFLD is intriguing. We performed a systematic review of the literature to find preclinical and clinical evidence of INS supplementation efficacy in NAFLD patients. We retrieved 10 studies on animal models assessing Myoinosiol or Pinitol deficiency or supplementation and one human randomized controlled trial (RCT). Overall, INS deficiency was associated with increased fatty liver in animals. Conversely, INS supplementation in animal models of fatty liver reduced hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol accumulation and maintained a normal ultrastructural liver histopathology. In the one included RCT, Pinitol supplementation obtained similar results. Pinitol significantly reduced liver fat, post-prandial triglycerides, AST levels, lipid peroxidation increasing glutathione peroxidase activity. These results, despite being limited, indicate the need for further evaluation of INS in NAFLD in larger clinical trials.