Goldberger, Sara

Abstract Background: Phlebotomy is a common and established treatment in patients diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV) to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events, in both acute and chronic settings. However, phlebotomy may not alleviate all PV-related symptoms and its frequent application can cause moderate to profound iron deficiency, which may worsen PV-related symptoms. This analysis of MPN Landmark survey data examined patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and productivity outcomes in patients with PV based on phlebotomy treatment history. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) were recruited to participate in the MPN Landmark survey in the US (fielded May - July 2014). This analysis describes responses from patients with PV on questions regarding PV-related symptom burden, QoL, and productivity. Patient responses were analyzed based on phlebotomy treatment history and included patients who were actively receiving phlebotomy within the last 3 months (≥1 per month, every other month, and every 3 months or longer), had discontinued phlebotomy, or were phlebotomy-naive. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to evaluate these outcomes based on phlebotomy frequency, as appropriate. Results: Overall, 813 patients completed the Landmark survey, and 274 out of the 380 patients with PV who completed the survey were evaluable for this analysis. Mean age ranged from 61.6-65.4 years among phlebotomy subgroups (Table 1). The average duration of PV was longest among patients with PV who had discontinued phlebotomy (12.0 years) compared with phlebotomy-naive patients (6.3 years) and patients actively treated with phlebotomy (5.9-8.9 years). The percentage of patients diagnosed within 1 year of the survey ranged from 4.1% to 11.5% among the patients who had been treated with phlebotomy and was 15.4% in the phlebotomy-naive subgroup. Most patients reported PV-related symptoms; symptom burden was similar in all phlebotomy subgroups. Fatigue was the most common symptom reported in all subgroups (range, 71.4%-80.8%). QoL measures were generally worse with higher phlebotomy frequency (Table 1). Similarly, more frequent phlebotomy procedures was found to be associated with reduced productivity: patients who received ≥1 phlebotomy per month had the highest mean number (in the preceding 30 days) of sick days (among patients employed), days spent in bed, and days with plans canceled. Of note, approximately one third of patients receiving more frequent phlebotomy procedures were also receiving concomitant hydroxyurea to manage their PV (≥1 per month, 38.5%; every other month, 36.4%). Conclusion: Patients with PV may experience disease-related symptoms and reductions in QoL and work productivity. Frequent phlebotomy procedures were associated with increasingly worsened QoL and decreased work productivity. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of phlebotomy on patient-reported outcomes in patients with PV. Disclosures Fazal: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Miller:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mascarenhas:Promedior: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Kalobios: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Thyne:Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Paranagama:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Parasuraman:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Naim:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mangan:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Promedior: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding.

Abstract Background: Patients with the myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) polycythemia vera (PV) require treatment to manage blood cell counts and reduce the risks of cardiovascular/thromboembolic events. Hydroxyurea (HU) is a common cytoreductive treatment; however, some patients discontinue HU treatment because of resistance, intolerance, or frequently a combination of both limitations. Patients may also continue to receive HU despite diminishing or nonexistent clinical benefit, sometimes in combination with persistent need for phlebotomy procedures. This analysis of MPN Landmark survey data examined patient-reported quality of life (QoL) outcomes in patients with PV who were naive to HU (HU-N), were continuing HU (HU-C), or had discontinued HU (HU-D). Methods: Patients with an MPN under active management in the US were eligible to complete an online survey (fielded May - July 2014). This is a report of responses given by patients with PV to questions about symptom burden, QoL, activities of daily living (ADL), and work/productivity. PV-related effects on patients feeling depressed/discouraged, patients feeling anxious/worried, or interference with ADLs were considered to be at high levels if the patient-reported score was ≥4 on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (a great deal). Symptom severity was rated on a scale of 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable). Results: The survey respondents included 380 patients with PV (HU-N, n=159; HU-C, n=181; HU-D, n=40). Mean age was 62.2 years, 65.1 years, and 64.2 years in the HU-N, HU-C, and HU-D groups, respectively. Mean duration of PV was 8.3 years, 10.3 years, and 13.9 years in the HU-N, HU-C, and HU-D groups, respectively. Patients who had not received HU were currently or previously treated with phlebotomy (87.4%), interferon (11.3%), or anagrelide (9.4%); 66.0% of HU-N patients were classified as high-risk based on information provided by the patients in the survey (ie, age 60 or older or history of thrombosis). Among HU-C and HU-D patients, treatment history included phlebotomy (89.5% and 100%, respectively), interferon (7.2% and 52.5%), or anagrelide (15.5% and 35.0%); 79.6% and 82.5%, respectively, were classified as high-risk. Ruxolitinib was not FDA-approved for PV at the time of this survey. Patients reported high levels of feeling anxious/worried and depressed/discouraged as a result of their PV across all subgroups: HU-N, 27.7% and 15.1%, respectively; HU-C, 22.7% and 15.5%; HU-D, 32.5% and 22.5%. Many patients also experienced a high level of PV-related interference with ADLs, which was more common in the HU-D group (30.0%) than the HU-N (11.3%) or HU-C (18.2%) groups. HU-D patients were more likely to have reported ever reducing their work hours (54.2% of the patients who responded) compared with the HU-N (33.3%) and HU-C groups (36.8%). Among all patients, HU-D patients reported a mean of 8.3 doctor visits in the past 12 months, compared with 5.6 in the HU-N group and 6.6 in the HU-C group. Most patients had experienced PV-related symptoms in the past 12 months (Table 1), particularly fatigue, itching, and day/night sweats; fatigue was ranked first as the symptom that patients would most like to resolve. Conclusion: Patients with PV in a large retrospective real-world survey across the US are found to experience burdensome PV-related symptoms and reduced QoL. The findings from this study also show that standard treatments do not address these aspects of PV in many patients, and patients who have discontinued HU may experience an even greater disease burden, possibly because of a lack of effective and/or safe alternative treatment options. Importantly, while 66.0% of the patients in the HU-N group were classified as high-risk, the majority of the high-risk patients in the HU-N group (81.0%) were not treated with cytoreductive agents, suggesting a potential knowledge deficit regarding recommendations for PV management. Collectively, these results illustrate the adverse impact of PV-related symptom burden on patient QoL and reinforce the importance of unmet control of PV-related symptoms in choosing PV therapy. Disclosures Mesa: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Miller:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mascarenhas:Promedior: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Research Funding; Kalobios: Research Funding. Thyne:Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Paranagama:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Parasuraman:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fazal:Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Naim:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mangan:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: Myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Patients across all 3 MPNs experience marked disease burden in terms of symptoms and negative effects on quality of life (QoL), productivity, and activities of daily living (ADL). To improve the lives and health of patients with MPNs, it is also important to have a current understanding of these burdens from a financial standpoint. This analysis of MPN Landmark survey data examined the financial burden of patients who reported that their MPN affected their employment (ie, reduced work hours, discontinued employment, or went on medical disability) or experienced no such effects on their employment. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MF, PV, or ET were recruited to participate in a real-world retrospective study (MPN Landmark survey) in the US (fielded May - July 2014). Only respondents who were diagnosed before 2013 and were 16 to 65 years of age at the time of diagnosis were eligible for this analysis. Participants were asked if their MPN had an impact in terms of reduced work hours, discontinued employment, medical disability, or no impact; the first 3 categories were not mutually exclusive. Participants provided information on their annual household income in 2013 before taxes by selecting from the following categories: ≤$15,000, $15,001-$25,000, $25,001-$35,000, $35,001-$50,000, $50,001-$75,000, $75,001-$100,000, and >$100,000. The mid value of each range was used to calculate mean income levels within each subgroup evaluated. Results: A total of 813 patients completed the web-based Landmark survey and 369 eligible patients were included in this analysis (MF, 85; PV, 172; ET, 112). Median age among patients with ET was slightly lower than among patients with MF and PV at time of MPN diagnosis (ET, 48 years; MF, 56 years; PV, 53 years). The majority of respondents were women (MF, 62%; PV, 52%; ET, 75%). Almost all patients (99%) had health insurance, primarily group commercial insurance through an employer (MF, 46%; PV, 53%; ET, 57%) and Medicare (MF, 40%; PV, 34%; ET, 24%). Most patients had at least some college education (ie, some college, 4-year degree, or postgraduate degree): MF, 86%; PV, 90%; ET, 88%. The mean 2013 household income of patients with MF, PV, and ET were similar to each other ($79,800, $80,200, and $80,400, respectively) and slightly higher than the total 2013 US mean household income of $75,839. A notable proportion of patients in each MPN group reported that their disease led to reduced work hours, discontinued employment, and medical disability: MF, 38%, 35%, and 33%, respectively; PV, 33%, 28%, and 15%; ET, 28%, 21%, and 4%. Patient demographics, such as age and health insurance status, were similar among patients who reported MPN-associated effects on employment and patients who did not within each MPN. In each MPN group, the mean percentage household income loss in patients with reduced work hours, discontinued employment, and medical disability were: MF, 16%, 18%, and 28%, respectively; PV, 15%, 24%, and 17%; and ET, 0%, 24%, and 37%, compared with patients who did not experience any effects of their MPN on employment (Figure 1). Discontinued employment and medical disability tended to have a greater impact compared with reduced work hours across MPNs. Conclusion: Patients withMPNs may experience a considerable negative impact on their employment status, which in turn may be associated with reduced annual household income. Therefore, across all MPNs, forestalling or reversing discrete aspects of the diseases that negatively impact individual productivity is an important factor in the management of these chronic neoplasms. Disclosures Parasuraman: Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Naim:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Paranagama:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thyne:Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Mascarenhas:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Kalobios: Research Funding. Mangan:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fazal:Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Miller:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mesa:Promedior: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding.

Abstract Background: Myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET), are chronic MPNs associated with a broad array of symptoms that may negatively impact patients’ quality of life (QoL). To enhance patient care, it is important to have a current and clear understanding of how MPNs affect the overall health and daily lives of patients. The MPN LANDMARK SURVEY was developed to examine patients’ perceptions of these MPNs related to disease burden, QoL, productivity, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Methods: Eligible patients diagnosed with an MPN were recruited to participate in an online survey conducted from May–July 2014in the US. Patients were asked about the overall burden of disease and impact of symptoms on their QoL, productivity, and ADLs. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess these outcomes and examined by calculated (not reported) prognostic risk score (MF - DIPSS: Passamonti, Blood 2010; PV: Tefferi, Leuk 2013; ET - IPSET: Passamonti, Blood 2012) and symptom severity quartiles, which were determined using the MPN Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) total symptom scores. Results: 813 patients (MF=207; PV=380; ET=226) responded to the survey. A majority of patients were female (MF, 54%; PV, 62%; ET, 72%), approximately half were aged 60–74 years (MF, 55%; PV, 51%; ET, 46%), and most were covered by health insurance (>98%). Nearly half (48%) were diagnosed within the last 5 years and average time to diagnosis from first symptoms was >2 years. A high proportion of patients had intermediate to high prognostic risk scores (MF, 94%; PV, 87%; ET, 44%). The majority of patients reported feeling anxious or worried about their MPN (MF, 91%; PV, 78%; ET, 74%). Among all groups, fatigue was the most severe symptom reported (mean MPN-SAF score=6.0–6.4 on a scale of 0–10). A subset of patients in each group described their symptoms as very severe (severity score ≥7 on a scale of 0–10; MF: fatigue [59%], problems with sexual desire [49%], inactivity [46%]; PV: inactivity [48%], fatigue [49%], problems with sexual desire [49%]; and ET: problems with sexual desire [49%], fatigue [50%], headaches [40%]). The majority of patients reported that MPN-related symptoms reduced their QoL (MF, 81%; PV, 66%; ET, 57%); this was reported in all risk groups but more frequently by patients with a high risk score vs a low risk score in MF and ET (MF, 89% vs 69%; PV, 63% vs 65%; ET, 71% vs 59%). A more substantial QoL impact was reported by patients in high vs low symptom quartiles (MF, 95% vs 51%; PV, 94% vs 33%; ET, 93% vs 15%). Similarly, MPNs also had a marked negative impact on reduced work hours, sick days, voluntary job termination, receipt of medical disability, early retirement, and ADLs (Table 1). For example, among patients employed, approximately one fourth reported missing ≥1 day of work (MF, 29%; PV, 19%; ET, 23%) in the last 30 days before the survey. Even patients with low prognostic risk scores often reported missing ≥1 day of work (MF, 33%; PV, 23%; ET, 22%) or cancelling ≥1 day of planned activities (MF, 46%; PV, 35%; ET, 34%). Patients in the high vs low symptom quartiles were more likely to call in sick to work (MF, 48% vs 0%; PV, 52% vs 4%; ET, 38% vs 0%) or cancel ≥1 day of planned activities (MF, 77% vs 5%; PV, 56% vs 7%; ET, 67% vs 3%). Conclusion: The findings from this large, first-of-its-kind survey demonstrate a marked burden of disease across all 3 MPNs that is not limited to symptoms but extends to QoL, productivity, and ADLs. Although high prognostic risk scores have long been associated with a significant burden of disease, in this study, patients with a low risk score also reported significant burden. The symptom burden reported is consistent with previous studies, thus validating the present dataset. MPN treatment considerations should include reducing the symptom burden and improving QoL and productivity to enhance the overall health and lives of MPN patients. Disclosures Mesa: Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; CTI: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Miller:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Thyne:Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Mangan:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Goldberger:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fazal:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Ma:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy. Wilson:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria. Dubinski:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Boyle:ICF International: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mascarenhas:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Research Funding.

Abstract Background : Patients diagnosed with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET), experience disease burdens that can negatively affect their quality of life. Disconnects between patient and physician perceptions of disease burden or poor patient-physician communication may delay or prevent achievement of treatment goals. The MPN LANDMARK SURVEY is the first large US-based survey designed to evaluate disease burden and patient-physician communication in MPN disease settings. Methods : All eligible patients diagnosed with 1 of the 3 MPNs and physicians treating patients with MPNs that were recruited were surveyed in the US during May-July 2014.The surveys included ≤67 questions (depending on the type of MPN and respondent) and required approximately 20–25 minutes to complete. Descriptive analyses were conducted to identify gaps in perceptions of disease burden and patient-physician communication. Results : The MPN LANDMARK SURVEY was completed by 813 patients (MF=207; PV=380; ET=226) and 457 physicians. Approximately half of the patients were 60–74 years of age (MF, 55%; PV, 51%; ET, 46%), the majority were female (MF, 54%; PV, 62%; ET, 72%) and had a degree from a 4-year college or postgraduate institution (MF, 65%; PV, 65%; ET, 58%), and >98% had health insurance. The majority of physicians graduated from medical school 5–24 years before the survey (67%) and practiced in outpatient settings (single specialty groups, 42%; academic hospitals, 31%). Patient-physician communication gaps were identified in several important areas: (1) Prognostic assessment: most patients did not recall receiving a prognostic risk score, but most physicians reported classifying patients by prognostic risk (Table 1). (2) Symptom assessment: physicians were more likely than patients to report that physicians ask about patients' most important disease-related symptoms or about a full and comprehensive list of symptoms (Table 1). (3) Treatment goals: the most important treatment goals were different in MF (patients: delay disease progression; physicians: improve symptoms) and PV (patients: delay disease progression; physicians: prevent vascular/thrombotic events) settings (Table 2). Patients and physicians in the ET setting both reported that prevention of vascular/thrombotic events was the most important treatment goal. Patients and physicians in the MF and PV settings reported fatigue as the most pressing disease manifestation that patients would like to resolve (MF: patients, 47%; physicians, 65%; PV: patients, 33%; physicians, 31%), whereas patients and physicians differed in the ET setting (patients: fatigue, 33%; physicians: stroke, 29%). Most patients reported a desire to be ≥50% responsible for their treatment decisions (MF, 72%; PV, 71%; ET, 75%). Physicians reported that most patients sometimes or often did not wish to comply with their primary treatment recommendation (MF, 77%; PV, 84%; ET, 79%). (4) Treatment satisfaction: overall, more than one third of patients were “somewhat satisfied” or “dissatisfied” with their physician's communication about their condition and treatment (MF, 34%; PV, 43%; ET, 45%) and with their physician's overall management of their disease (MF, 36%; PV, 40%; ET, 42%). Among patients who changed their MPN doctor (MF, 47%; PV, 46%; ET, 56%), dissatisfaction with prior care received was the most frequently reported reason for the change (MF, 40%; PV, 37%; ET, 33%). Approximately one fifth to one fourth of patients included their doctor's office among the most helpful sources of information about their diagnosis (MF, 27%; PV, 22%; ET, 20%), and most patients included the internet among the most helpful sources (MF, 90%; PV, 87%; ET, 89%). Conclusion : Important disconnects exist between patients' and physicians' perceptions in MPN disease settings. In addition, the majority of physicians report classifying patients by prognostic risk, including PV and ET settings, which do not have widely accepted prognostic risk scores. Although physicians generally appreciate the burden that MPNs have on patients, patient management may be enhanced with improved elucidation of patient symptoms and clear communication regarding the goals and potential benefits of interventions. Disclosures Mesa: Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; CTI: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Miller:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Thyne:Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Mangan:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Goldberger:Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fazal:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Ma:Incyte Corporation: Consultancy. Wilson:Incyte Corporation: Honoraria. Dubinski:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Boyle:ICF International: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mascarenhas:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding.

BACKGROUNDThis analysis of the myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) Landmark survey evaluated gaps between patient perceptions of their disease management and physician self‐reported practices.METHODSThe survey included 813 patient respondents who had MPNs (myelofibrosis [MF], polycythemia vera [PV], or essential thrombocythemia [ET]) and 457 hematologist/oncologist respondents who treated patients with these conditions.RESULTSGreater proportions of physician respondents reported using prognostic risk classifications (MF, 83%; PV, 59%; ET, 77%) compared with patient recollections (MF, 54%; PV, 17%; ET, 31%). Most physician respondents reported that their typical symptom assessments included asking patients about the most important symptoms or a full list of symptoms, whereas many patient respondents reported less specific assessments (eg, they were asked how they were feeling). Many patient respondents did not recognize common symptoms as MPN‐related. For example, approximately one‐half or more did not believe difficulty sleeping resulted from their MPN (MF, 49%; PV, 64%; ET, 76%). Physician respondents underestimated the proportion of patients who had symptomatic PV or ET at diagnosis compared with patient respondents. There was discordance regarding treatment goals: among patient respondents with MF or PV, “slow/delay progression of condition” was the most important treatment goal, whereas physician respondents reported “symptom improvement” and “prevention of vascular/thrombotic events,” respectively. Finally, more than one‐third of patient respondents were not “very satisfied” with their physician's overall management/communication.CONCLUSIONSThe care and satisfaction of patients with MPN may be improved with increased patient education and improved patient‐physician communication. Cancer 2017;123:449–458. © 2016 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society.