Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations

Background: Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (<i>CFTR</i>) gene, encoding a chloride and bicarbonate channel widely expressed in epithelia. Loss of CFTR function leads to dehydration of the epithelium...

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Main Authors: Francesca Lucca, Sonia Volpi, Mirco Ros, Benedetta Fabrizzi, Ilaria Meneghelli, Marica Bordicchia, Francesca Buniotto, Alessia Lancini, Cecilia Brignole, Francesca Pauro, Valentino Bezzerri, Marco Cipolli
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8937/5/1/11
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author Francesca Lucca
Sonia Volpi
Mirco Ros
Benedetta Fabrizzi
Ilaria Meneghelli
Marica Bordicchia
Francesca Buniotto
Alessia Lancini
Cecilia Brignole
Francesca Pauro
Valentino Bezzerri
Marco Cipolli
author_facet Francesca Lucca
Sonia Volpi
Mirco Ros
Benedetta Fabrizzi
Ilaria Meneghelli
Marica Bordicchia
Francesca Buniotto
Alessia Lancini
Cecilia Brignole
Francesca Pauro
Valentino Bezzerri
Marco Cipolli
author_sort Francesca Lucca
collection DOAJ
description Background: Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (<i>CFTR</i>) gene, encoding a chloride and bicarbonate channel widely expressed in epithelia. Loss of CFTR function leads to dehydration of the epithelium surface with thicker mucus secretions from tissues. The lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, and sweat glands are the most common affected organs. However, pulmonary disease remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy is showing unprecedented clinical benefits in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carrying at least one F508del mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (<i>CFTR</i>) gene. However, almost 35% of the CF population living in the Mediterranean area still lacks effective CFTR modulator therapies because of the elevated incidence of patients with (pw)CF harboring <i>CFTR</i> rare mutations (RMs), different from F508del. Methods: Twenty-three pwCF harboring RM including the N1303K underwent off-label ETI treatment for 6-12 months. Respiratory function in terms of FEV1 and FVC was measured after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. In addition, we analyzed sweat chloride concentration, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life before and after treatment. Possible adverse effects were recorded. Results: All patients included in this off-label program displayed a substantial improvement in respiratory function. In particular, patients carrying the N1303K mutation showed an improvement in FEV1 and FVC similar to that observed in subjects harboring the F508del mutation, although sweat chloride concentration was not significantly decreased. No severe adverse effect was reported. Conclusions: This study strengthens the clinical efficacy of ETI in pwCF harboring the N1303K and other <i>CFTR</i> rare variants. Since these <i>CFTR</i> RMs have not been approved for ETI therapy in Europe, this study may promote the inclusion of these variants in the list of <i>CFTR</i> mutations responsive to ETI.
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spelling doaj-art-d15e0860995740dabf9c80fc2f3d19d42025-08-20T02:11:17ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Translational Medicine2673-89372025-03-01511110.3390/ijtm5010011Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare MutationsFrancesca Lucca0Sonia Volpi1Mirco Ros2Benedetta Fabrizzi3Ilaria Meneghelli4Marica Bordicchia5Francesca Buniotto6Alessia Lancini7Cecilia Brignole8Francesca Pauro9Valentino Bezzerri10Marco Cipolli11Cystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Support Center, Ca’ Foncello Hospital, 31100 Treviso, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, 60126 Ancona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, 60126 Ancona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyCystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, 37126 Verona, ItalyBackground: Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (<i>CFTR</i>) gene, encoding a chloride and bicarbonate channel widely expressed in epithelia. Loss of CFTR function leads to dehydration of the epithelium surface with thicker mucus secretions from tissues. The lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, and sweat glands are the most common affected organs. However, pulmonary disease remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy is showing unprecedented clinical benefits in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carrying at least one F508del mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (<i>CFTR</i>) gene. However, almost 35% of the CF population living in the Mediterranean area still lacks effective CFTR modulator therapies because of the elevated incidence of patients with (pw)CF harboring <i>CFTR</i> rare mutations (RMs), different from F508del. Methods: Twenty-three pwCF harboring RM including the N1303K underwent off-label ETI treatment for 6-12 months. Respiratory function in terms of FEV1 and FVC was measured after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. In addition, we analyzed sweat chloride concentration, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life before and after treatment. Possible adverse effects were recorded. Results: All patients included in this off-label program displayed a substantial improvement in respiratory function. In particular, patients carrying the N1303K mutation showed an improvement in FEV1 and FVC similar to that observed in subjects harboring the F508del mutation, although sweat chloride concentration was not significantly decreased. No severe adverse effect was reported. Conclusions: This study strengthens the clinical efficacy of ETI in pwCF harboring the N1303K and other <i>CFTR</i> rare variants. Since these <i>CFTR</i> RMs have not been approved for ETI therapy in Europe, this study may promote the inclusion of these variants in the list of <i>CFTR</i> mutations responsive to ETI.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8937/5/1/11elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftorCFTR modulatorscystic fibrosisN1303Koff-label use
spellingShingle Francesca Lucca
Sonia Volpi
Mirco Ros
Benedetta Fabrizzi
Ilaria Meneghelli
Marica Bordicchia
Francesca Buniotto
Alessia Lancini
Cecilia Brignole
Francesca Pauro
Valentino Bezzerri
Marco Cipolli
Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
International Journal of Translational Medicine
elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor
CFTR modulators
cystic fibrosis
N1303K
off-label use
title Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
title_full Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
title_fullStr Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
title_full_unstemmed Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
title_short Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Efficacy in a Cohort of Italian Patients with CFTR Rare Mutations
title_sort elexacaftor tezacaftor ivacaftor efficacy in a cohort of italian patients with cftr rare mutations
topic elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor
CFTR modulators
cystic fibrosis
N1303K
off-label use
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8937/5/1/11
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