SummaryBackgroundInfections acquired in hospital are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Several small trials have suggested that supplementing the enteral diet of very preterm infants with lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein processed from cow's milk, prevents infections and associated complications. The aim of this large randomised controlled trial was to collect data to enhance the validity and applicability of the evidence from previous trials to inform practice.MethodsIn this randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited very preterm infants born before 32 weeks' gestation in 37 UK hospitals and younger than 72 h at randomisation. Exclusion criteria were presence of a severe congenital anomaly, anticipated enteral fasting for longer than 14 days, or no realistic prospect of survival. Eligible infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either enteral bovine lactoferrin (150 mg/kg per day; maximum 300 mg/day; lactoferrin group) or sucrose (same dose; control group) once daily until 34 weeks' postmenstrual age. Web-based randomisation minimised for recruitment site, gestation (completed weeks), sex, and single versus multifetal pregnancy. Parents, caregivers, and outcome assessors were unaware of group assignment. The primary outcome was microbiologically confirmed or clinically suspected late-onset infection (occurring >72 h after birth), which was assessed in all participants for whom primary outcome data was available by calculating the relative risk ratio with 95% CI between the two groups. The trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number 88261002.FindingsWe recruited 2203 participants between May 7, 2014, and Sept 28, 2017, of whom 1099 were assigned to the lactoferrin group and 1104 to the control group. Four infants had consent withdrawn or unconfirmed, leaving 1098 infants in the lactoferrin group and 1101 in the sucrose group. Primary outcome data for 2182 infants (1093 [99·5%] of 1098 in the lactoferrin group and 1089 [99·0] of 1101 in the control group) were available for inclusion in the modified intention-to-treat analyses. 316 (29%) of 1093 infants in the intervention group acquired a late-onset infection versus 334 (31%) of 1089 in the control group. The risk ratio adjusted for minimisation factors was 0·95 (95% CI 0·86–1·04; p=0·233). During the trial there were 16 serious adverse events for infants in the lactoferrin group and 10 for infants in the control group. Two events in the lactoferrin group (one case of blood in stool and one death after intestinal perforation) were assessed as being possibly related to the trial intervention.InterpretationEnteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin does not reduce the risk of late-onset infection in very preterm infants. These data do not support its routine use to prevent late-onset infection and associated morbidity or mortality in very preterm infants.FundingUK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme (10/57/49).

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Standardisation of grade boundaries has allowed us to combine data from multiple studies and amass a body of evidence linking Ki-67 and survival.

3018 Background: Since publication of the registration trial in 2010 (Hodi et al, NEJM 2010;363:711-23), real world use of ipilimumab (Ipi) in previously treated advanced melanoma patients has extended beyond the specific trial entry criteria of ECOG PS 0-1. We undertook a review of UK patients (pts) treated in the international EAP prior to European licensing of Ipi in August 2011, to compare real world survival outcomes. Methods: UK clinicians registered in the EAP provided anonymised data using pre-specified variable fields for all pts. The EAP stipulated pts should have previously treated, unresectable stage III or IV metastatic melanoma and receive Ipi 3 mg/kg, 3 weekly IV, for up to 4 cycles. Response using RECIST criteria was assessed 12 weekly. Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) using CTCAE v3.0 were collected. Results: To date, information on 162 pts has been received from 16 UK sites. Primary sites were: 78% cutaneous, 4% ocular, 1% mucosal, 17% unknown. 78% pts had M1c disease, 14% had brain metastases. No prior therapies ranged from 0-4, 72% pts received 1 prior therapy. Median age was 60 years, men>women (1.6:1). ECOG PS was: 38% 0, 47% 1, 14% 2, 1% 3. BRAF status was known in 38% cases and WT in 75% of these. 19% pts were on steroids at baseline. No cycles delivered was 4 in 52%, 3 in 13%, 2 in 16%, 1 in 17% pts. Most frequent reason for stopping early was clinical evidence of disease progression (71%), death (16%) or unacceptable AE (12%). 32% pts experienced a grade ≥3 AE, the most common being diarrhoea (13%) and fatigue (8%). Complete and partial responses were reported in 1% and 21% of treated pts. At median follow-up of 17 months, median progression free survival and overall survival (OS) were 2.8 and 5.7 months, 1 year OS was 30%. Comparing outcomes of various pt subgroups, the strongest prognostic factor for OS was ECOG PS at the start of treatment (p<0.0001). For pts with PS 0 or 1, median OS was 8.8 months (compared with 10 months in the registration trial). More detailed safety and efficacy data on pt subgroups will be presented. Conclusions: This review, representing the largest Ipi EAP UK dataset, reports overall poorer survival outcomes than in the registration trial, but pts with similar characteristics to the trial population lived longer.

SUMMARY The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting the progress in physical abilities and activities of daily living of patients admitted to a stroke unit. A series of 70 patients admitted consecutively were assessed on a series of tests of motor, functional and cognitive abilities at admission. They were assessed for level ofmotor abilities and activities ofdaily living at discharge and 9 months after stroke. Predictive equations were developed which account for between 61% and 33 % of the variance in motor abilities and activities of daily living at discharge and at 9 months after stroke. The most important factor influencing outcome was the degree of motor loss.