9021 Background: An escape room is a team-based activity in which participants collaborate to solve puzzles within a fixed time limit and escape. Prior studies demonstrate high learner satisfaction and improved teamwork and communication with medical education escape rooms. To date, no published reports describe an escape room designed specifically for hematology/oncology (hem/onc) fellows. As part of Hem/Onc Curriculum, we designed and implemented a hem/onc-focused escape room and evaluated learner satisfaction and perceived learning impact. Methods: The escape room was designed using evidence-based learning science principles (Table 1). Teams worked to solve sequential puzzles, centered on a patient case, addressing key hem/onc concepts, including transfusion medicine, peripheral blood smears, lymphoma classification, and coagulation disorders. Each solved puzzle revealed additional patient laboratory and pathology data. Successful completion required teams to diagnose the patient and select appropriate treatment. Following the activity, teams participated in a facilitator-led debrief focused on team dynamics, communication, and problem solving. Teams observed each other and shared feedback. A larger group debrief co-led by chief fellows and faculty reviewed learning objectives and key takeaways. Learner outcomes were assessed using a post-activity survey evaluating satisfaction, engagement, and impact on learning. Results: Eighteen learners participated, including 14 hem/onc fellows, 1 APP hem/onc fellow, and 3 internal medicine residents. Three of four teams escaped within 1 hour (mean completion time, 52 minutes). All participants provided positive verbal feedback. Fifteen learners completed the post-activity survey, and all respondents reported satisfaction with the activity and would recommend it for future fellows. One-word descriptors included “engaging,” “fun,” and “challenging.” Most respondents (93.3%) agreed that the activity reinforced key hem/onc concepts and improved confidence in clinical problem-solving. All learners felt the activity supported learning, and 93.3% reported that collaboration enhanced the learning experience. Participants identified team-based problem solving, clinical application, and interactive puzzles as the most effective components. Conclusions: A hem/onc escape room resulted in high learner satisfaction and reinforced hem/onc knowledge and clinical problem-solving. This feasible, fun, and innovative activity complements traditional fellowship education by leveraging adult learning principles through gamified, team-based learning and should be incorporated into training programs’ curriculum. Learning science principles applied in a hem/onc escape room. Active Learning Belonging Contrasting Cases Debriefing Deliberate Practice Elaboration Generation Listening and Sharing Reward Worked Examples
Assessing the true burden of immune-related colitis in lung cancer through large language model–enabled clinical phenotyping.
1615 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized lung cancer treatment but cause adverse events, including immune-related colitis (ir-colitis). Accurate identification of ir-colitis is critical for improving patient outcomes and clinical research. However, current methods relying on ICD codes have substantial limitations: non-specific categories that fail to capture the cases or distinguish cases from infectious or ischemic etiologies, as well as incomplete coding that leads to missed cases. Large language models (LLMs), with advanced natural language understanding capabilities, offer a scalable approach for automated phenotyping using unstructured clinical notes. We aimed to develop and evaluate an LLM-based approach for identifying ir-colitis in patients with lung cancer receiving ICIs and compare it with ICD code based method. Methods: We identified 5,278 lung cancer patients with ICI administration at Mayo Clinic (2012-2025). To investigate ir-colitis occurrence within two years after ICI initiation, patients were stratified into three ICD-based cohorts: (1) IR-Colitis, with clinician-assigned ir-colitis-specific diagnosis codes; (2) Non-IR Colitis, with colitis diagnosis codes excluding ir-colitis; and (3) No-Colitis, absent of any colitis-related codes. We used three open-source LLMs to process clinical notes : Llama4, MedGemma, and Qwen. Prompts were designed to extract both gold standard evidence (explicit ir-colitis terminology, such as "immune-mediated colitis" and "checkpoint inhibitor colitis") and supportive evidence (such as pathology and lab results). Results: Llama4 demonstrated superior accuracy among three LLMs in manual evaluation and was thus selected for all cohort analyses. Among ICD-based IR-Colitis patients (n = 339), 82.0% had confirmatory evidence while 18% lacked evidence, suggesting potential false-positive coding. In the Non-IR Colitis cohort (n = 297), LLM-based extraction identified 43.8% patients in fact had ir-colitis, demonstrating substantial misclassification. In the No-colitis cohort (n = 4,642, random sample of 996 for analysis), the LLM identified 10.7% with documented ir-colitis, revealing substantial missing by administrative coding. Conclusions: LLM-based phenotyping demonstrates superior sensitivity for identifying ir-colitis compared to ICD codes alone, successfully uncovering cases missed by administrative coding. This scalable approach enables more comprehensive case identification for immunotherapy safety research and clinical surveillance. ICD-Based Cohorts LLM-Identified ir-Colitis Gold Standard Evidence Supportive Evidence Any Evidence ir-Colitis (n = 339) 277/339 (81.7%) 275/339 (81.1%) 278/339 (82.0%) Non-ir-Colitis (n = 297) 129/297 (43.4%) 126/297 (42.4%) 130/297 (43.8%) No Colitis (n = 996) 106/996 (10.6%) 104/996 (10.4%) 107/996 (10.7%)
Real-world outcomes comparing the use of GLP-1 agonists in patients with colon cancer and comorbid obesity: A propensity score matched analysis from Global Federated Health Research Network.
83 Background: Colon cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality globally, with an increasing incidence observed in younger populations. Lifestyle and metabolic risk factors seem to play an important role in this rising incidence. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that these agents may have potential anti-tumor activity as GLP-1 signaling may influence pathways involved in cell proliferation and inflammation. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on outcomes among patients with colon cancer with comorbid obesity, exploring potential interactions between metabolic modulation and disease behavior. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the US Collaborative Network TriNetX, covering January 2000 to December 2023, encompassing data from 105 global healthcare organizations. Adult patients aged 18 and above with colon cancer and comorbid obesity were identified and then stratified into two groups based on treatment with GLP-1 agonists or not. The two groups were then propensity-matched based on age, sex, race, and common comorbidities. We followed these patients for 5 years to assess outcomes, including overall mortality, myocardial infarction, sepsis, acute pancreatitis, need for mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. Results: We identified 1986 patients with colon cancer and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists, and 16384 patients with colon cancer and obesity who did not receive GLP-1 therapy. The average age was 68.8 years in the first cohort and 74.3 years in the second cohort. After propensity matching, each cohort consisted of 1983 patients with similar baseline characteristics and ethnicity distribution. Our analysis found that over 5 years, patients with colon cancer and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of overall mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.461, 95% CI: 0.401 to 0.532, p-value < 0.001), myocardial infarction (HR: 0.827, 95% CI: 0.668 to 0.993, p-value =0.005), sepsis (Risk Difference: -3.48%, 95% CI: -4.774 to -2.185, p-value < 0.001), and need for mechanical ventilation (HR: 0.486, 95% CI: 0.321 to 0.739, p-value = 0.037). There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of acute pancreatitis and need for hemodialysis between the two subgroups. Conclusions: Our study revealed that patients with colon cancer and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, sepsis, and need for mechanical ventilation. Further longitudinal cohort studies are imperative to better understand these associations and guide evidence-based clinical practice in this population.
Real world outcomes comparing the use of GLP-1 agonists in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and comorbid obesity: A propensity score matched analysis from Global Federated Health Research Network.
517 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with increased incidence in patients with chronic liver disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Of note, increasing burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and non-alcoholic fatty livery disease (NAFLD) has contributed to increased incidence of cirrhosis and progression to HCC. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Their pleotropic benefits including improved insulin sensitivity, potential anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory benefits may significantly benefit these patients by potentially reduced hepatic inflammation and steatosis. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on outcomes among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with comorbid obesity, exploring potential interactions between metabolic modulation and disease behaviour. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the US Collaborative Network TriNetX, covering January 2000 to December 2023, encompassing data from 105 global healthcare organizations. Adult patients aged 18 and above with HCC and comorbid obesity were identified and then stratified into two groups based on treatment with GLP-1 agonists or not. The two groups were then propensity-matched based on age, sex, race, and common comorbidities. We followed these patients for 5 years to assess outcomes, including overall mortality, myocardial infarction, acute pancreatitis, sepsis, need for mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. Results: We identified 401 patients with HCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists, and 3974 patients with HCC and obesity who did not receive GLP-1 therapy. The average age was 63.7 years in the first cohort and 61.4 years in the second cohort. After propensity matching, each cohort consisted of 399 patients with similar baseline characteristics and ethnicity distribution. Our analysis found that over 5 years, patients with HCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of overall mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.48, 95% CI: 0.371 to 0.623, p-value = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the risk for myocardial infarction, acute pancreatitis, sepsis, need for mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis between the two subgroups. Conclusions: Our study revealed that patients with HCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of mortality. Further longitudinal cohort studies are imperative to better understand these associations and guide evidence-based clinical practice in this population.
Applying learning science principles (LSP) through a simulation session (SIM) for oncology trainees (OT) about fertility preservation (FP) in patients (pts) with cancer and treatment (tx) of pregnant pts (TPP) with cancer.
9029 Background: Addressing guideline concordant FP and TPP with cancer is challenging, especially for OT. SIM, a well-known education tool, has not been traditionally used to teach these topics. As part of the hematology/oncology fellowship curriculum, we designed a SIM applying LSP to bridge this educational gap. Methods: Applying LSP of contrasting cases, elaboration, feedback, generation and just-in-time telling, chief OTs and faculty designed a SIM with 3 clinical scenarios (CS) and 3 standardized pts (SP): FP for a female pt hospitalized for acute lymphoblastic leukemia tx, FP for a male pt in clinic for germ cell tumor tx, and breast cancer tx for a pregnant pt in 2 nd trimester. OT received written educational materials (WEM) and attended a lecture 1 week and 1 day pre SIM, respectively. OT were split into 2 groups; 1 started in the FP CS and 1 in the TPP CS, and then they switched. To reduce cognitive overload, each OT participated in 1 of 2 FP CS: half in the female FP CS and half in the male. Faculty and chiefs led debriefing sessions after all CS. The FP debrief ended with a special “learner as a teacher” part, where OT who attended the female CS taught those from the male CS about their topic and vice versa. The SIM concluded with "take-home" points. Pre (after having WEM) and post SIM anonymous surveys and verbal feedback assessed OT comfort, perceptions, and knowledge. Results: A 3 hour SIM with 14 OT and 5 faculty was completed successfully. SIM ended with all OT verbally sharing a learning point and positive feedback. All OT filled pre and post SIM surveys. Pre SIM, 17% reported having prior FP education, and 42% had prior TPP education. However, only 8% and 25% felt adequately prepared for FP and TPP discussions, respectively. Post SIM survey showed major improvement in comfort and knowledge about FP and TPP (see table 1). 75% of OT favored a combination of SIM and learning by teaching over other SIM formats. 83% supported having a TPP lecture before SIM. 100% reported satisfaction with FP and TPP SIM’s quality and wanted similar activities in the future. 92% were satisfied with the learner as a teacher tool. 100% felt education about FP and TPP with cancer should be part of fellowship training. Moral/cultural concerns were discussed as possible challenges in FP education. Conclusions: The application of LSP through SIM significantly increased OTs’ comfort discussing FP and TPP with cancer, and objectively enhanced their knowledge on these topics compared to after reading WEM. The SIM was largely perceived as a successful activity to educate about challenging topics and should become part of fellowship curriculum. Pre SIM % Post SIM % Comfortable addressing FP 17 92 Comfortable addressing TPP 8 100 Correct answers about female FP 63 83 Correct answers about male FP 67 94 Correct answers about TPP with cancer 68 98
Incidence of infections, cardiac events, neurological toxicity and cytokine response syndrome (CRS) in patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy: A 3-year nationwide analysis.
7018 Background: CAR-T cell therapy represents a notable advancement in treating relapsed/refractory (R/R) hematological malignancies. Adverse events include CRS, infections, and neurological and cardiac complications. While there are reports from major academic institutions on the adverse effects of CAR-T therapy, we used data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to gather national estimates of complications related to CAR-T therapy. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze patients who underwent CAR-T cell therapy by utilizing appropriate ICD-10-PCS procedure codes (XW033C3, XW043C3, XW23346, XW24346, XW23376, and XW24376) from NIS 2019 to 2021. Data regarding infections, toxic encephalopathy (a surrogate for neurological toxicity), and adverse cardiac events were extracted using relevant ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes. Patients experiencing various grades of CRS were identified through specific ICD-10 codes available in 2021 (Grades 1-5: D89.831-D89.835). Results: This study analyzed 6515 patients who underwent CAR-T cell therapy from January 2019 to December 2021. Among them, 60.7% were male. 74.6% were Caucasian, 11.7% were Asian and 6.7% were African American. 49.8% of patients had private insurance, 36.2% had Medicare, and 8.6% had Medicaid. 6.8% of patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, while sepsis occurred in 7.4% of patients and 3% experienced septic shock. 19.4% of patients experienced cardiac arrhythmias, and major cardiovascular events were recorded in 4.7% of the cohort. Acute myocardial infarction and stroke were documented in 0.6 and 1.2% of patients, respectively. Toxic encephalopathy was reported in 19.7% of patients. Among 2235 patients identified to have received CAR-T in 2021, 59.7% developed CRS. Grade 1 and grade 2 CRS were reported in 32% and 21% of patients, respectively, while grade 3 and grade 4 reactions were noted in 4.7% and 2% of patients, with no cases of grade 5 identified. The mean total cost of hospitalization was 308,364$, and the mean length of hospital stay was 19.5 days. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 3.4%. Conclusions: Our study describes real-world outcomes from a large dataset of CAR-T patients. Infections pose a significant challenge with CAR-T therapy, highlighting the importance of early detection and timely antimicrobial treatment. CRS is common, with a 60% incidence, similar to previous clinical trials (55%). Immediate management is crucial for addressing CRS toxicity. Adverse neurological and cardiovascular incidents are often reported, emphasizing the need for meticulous monitoring and coordinating multidisciplinary care plans. The financial burdens also bear mentioning: CAR-T therapy costs significantly higher than autologous stem cell transplants. Further studies to address these issues are warranted.
Impact of Evusheld monoclonal antibodies on incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients with cancer: A retrospective cohort study
Abstract Introduction COVID-19 infection is associated with an increased risk of complications, prolonged hospitalization, and mortality despite vaccination in patients with cancer. Evusheld (tixagevimab-cilgavimab) was granted emergency use approval in December 2021 for pre-exposure prophylaxis based on preliminary results from the PROVENT trial. However, studies evaluating the impact of Evusheld in cancer patients in the real-world are limited. In this study, we assessed the impact of Evusheld on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients at our institution. Methods and Materials We conducted a retrospective descriptive study at our institution on patients with current and prior history of cancer diagnosis regardless of treatment history who received Evusheld between December 2021 and March 2022. The primary outcome was incidence of COVID-19 during a 6 month follow up period. Secondary outcomes included rate of hospitalization related to COVID-19 and associated mortality. Results A total of 228 patients were included, 43% of which received 2 doses of Evusheld during the study period. Twenty-nine patients (12.7%, 95% CI 9.4% – 18.7%) developed COVID-19, with an average time to diagnosis of 2.5 months (SD 1.6) from receiving Evusheld. Most had hematologic malignancies (68.4%) and were receiving active chemotherapy (71.5%) at the time of diagnosis. Five (17.2%) patients were hospitalized for COVID-19, of whom 4 had hematological malignancy. One patient with hematological malignancy required mechanical ventilation and died. Conclusion Overall, the incidence of COVID-19 following Evusheld was higher than in the PROVENT trial. Infections appeared to be more common and severe in patients with hematologic malignancies.