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165 citation(s) found for "Na, Caleb".

Insurance status and survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A National Cancer Database study before and after the Affordable Care Act.
Andrade-Gonzalez, Xavier , Hampel, Paul J. , Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Bock, Allison M. , Scheckel, Caleb , Thanarajasingam, Gita , Thompson, Carrie A. , Bennani, Nabila Nora, Saliba, Antoine N. , Xie, Zhuoer , Bezerra, Evandro D. , Fuentes, Harry E , Villasboas, José C. , Paludo, Jonas , Wang, Yucai

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 6539-6539

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.6539 Get It

6539 Background: The impact of insurance status on survival in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common aggressive lymphoma, has not been evaluated after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The aim of this study is to compare overall survival (OS) in patients across insurance status groups and in the periods before and after the ACA. Methods: Adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were identified from the National Cancer Database. The analysis was restricted to patients 64 years of age or younger as most patients 65 years or older are eligible for Medicare under the ACA. The 2004-2017 period was chosen to represent the immunochemotherapy era preceding and following the ACA. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between abstracted variables and insurance status groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used for survival analysis. Results: 93,692 adults (age < 64 years) with newly diagnosed DLBCL and known insurance status were identified (41.3% female, median age 54 years [range: 18 – 64], 81.8% White and 12.1% Black). 7,211 (7.7%) patients were uninsured, 64,744 (69.1%) had private insurance, 11,936 (12.7%) had Medicaid, and 9,801 (10.5%) had Medicare. When compared to insured patients (private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare), uninsured patients were more likely to have a median household outcome of < $38,000 [OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.79-2.07)], less likely to receive chemotherapy [OR 0.69 (0.64-0.77)], more likely to be male [OR 1.14 (1.07-1.21)], more likely to be non-White [OR 1.30 (1.20-1.40], and more likely to present with stage III or IV disease [OR 1.24 (1.16-1.32)]. Uninsured patients had an inferior OS [HR 1.21 (95% CI 1.15-1.27)] when compared to insured patients after adjustment for baseline comorbidity (Charlson-Deyo score ≥2), advanced stage, treatment with chemotherapy, and sociodemographic factors including sex, age, race, household income, facility type (academic/community), and location (urban/rural). With a median follow-up time of 14.8 years (95% CI 14.6-not reached), median OS was lower in uninsured patients [13.4 years (12.3-not reached) vs 14.8 years (14.7-not reached); p < 0.0001]. Despite the lack of major changes in DLBCL therapies, a diagnosis after the implementation of the ACA (in 2010 or later) was associated with a superior OS when compared with the outcomes of patients diagnosed in 2010 or earlier [HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.90-0.95)]. Similarly, five-year OS was superior in the insured group [HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.89-0.96)]. Conclusions: Uninsured patients with DLBCL and < 64 years old had inferior OS when compared with insured patients, and uninsured status emerged as an independent risk factor for inferior OS. Our data highlight the independent effect of insurance disparities - a potential indicator of variations in access to health care - on survival in DLBCL.
Tumor Burden Limits Bispecific Antibody Efficacy through T-cell Exhaustion Averted by Concurrent Cytotoxic Therapy
Meermeier, Erin W. , Welsh, Seth J. , Sharik, Meaghen E. , Du, Megan T. , Garbitt, Victoria M. , Shi, Chang‐Xin, Bergsagel, Marco, Chau, Bryant, Wheeler, Matthew L. , Bezman, Natalie, Wang, Feng, Strop, Pavel , Bergsagel, P. Leif , Chesi, Marta , Bergsagel, P. Leif , Riggs, Daniel L. , Chesi, Marta , Meermeier, Erin W , Stein, Caleb K.

Blood Cancer Discovery | May 5, 2021 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 354-369

10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-21-0038 | PMID 34258584 Get It

Abstract BCMA/CD3-targeting bispecific antibodies (BsAb) are a recently developed immunotherapy class that shows potent tumor killing activity in multiple myeloma. Here, we investigated a murine BCMA/CD3-targeting BsAb in the immunocompetent Vk*MYC model and its immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD)–sensitive derivative Vk*MYChCRBN model of multiple myeloma. The BCMA/CD3 BsAb was safe and efficacious in a subset of mice but failed in those with high tumor burden, consistent with clinical reports of BsAb in leukemia. The combination of BCMA/CD3 BsAb with pomalidomide expanded lytic T cells and improved activity even in IMiD-resistant high–tumor burden cases. Yet, survival was only marginally extended due to acute toxicity and T-cell exhaustion, which impaired T-cell persistence. In contrast, the combination with cyclophosphamide was safe and allowed for a tempered proinflammatory response associated with long-lasting complete remission. Concurrent cytotoxic therapy with BsAb actually improved T-cell persistence and function, offering a promising approach to patients with a large tumor burden. Significance: BCMA-targeted therapy induces deep but transient clinical responses. We developed an immunocompetent, IMiD-sensitive genetically engineered mouse model and show that IMiDs potentiate T-cell activation, increasing short-term efficacy of anti-BCMA/CD3 BsAb, but exacerbate T-cell exhaustion. Surprisingly, by reducing tumor burden and depleting regulatory T cells, cyclophosphamide prevents BsAb-induced T-cell exhaustion and promotes long-term multiple myeloma control. See related commentary by Louvet et al., p. 297.
Transcriptional Plasticity Compensates for Ikaros and Aiolos Proteasomal Degradation and Mediates Resistance to IMiDs in Multiple Myeloma (MM)
Tagoug, Inès , Maity, Ranjan , Kong, Madison, Soong, David, Neri, Paola , Stein, Caleb K. , Keats, Jonathan J. , Chiu, Christopher, Bergsagel, P. Leif , Bahlis, Nizar Jacques

Blood | April 6, 2021 | Volume: 130 | Issue: Suppl_1 | Pages: 63-63

10.1182/blood.v130.suppl_1.63.63 Get It

Abstract Background: Immunoglobulin (IGH, IGL, IGK) and non-immunoglobulin (PVT1, TXNDC5, FAM46C, DUSP22, etc.) enhancers hijacking by variable genes (MYC, MAF, MAFB, CCND1/2/3, MMSET, IRF4) is a recognized oncogenic driver event in MM. However, the identity of the transcription factors (TFs) or transcriptional regulatory complexes binding and regulating the activity of these enhancers remains to be fully elucidated and may yield valuable therapeutic targets. As such the discovery of the BET family member BRD4 as the master histone acetyl mark reader at enhancers loci regulating MYC lead to promising therapeutic developments in MM and numerous other cancers. Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) promote the proteasomal degradation of IKAROS (IKZF1) and AIOLOs (IKZF3) leading to the transcriptional repression of MYC and the suppression of MM cells survival and proliferation. However, acquired resistance to IMIDs and the loss of the transcriptional repression of MYC are nearly universal and occur in spite of sustained IKZF1/3 degradation suggesting that transcriptional rewiring may be sustaining hijacked enhancers activity and transcription of driver oncogenes. Methods and Results: In order to define how IMiDs repress MYC transcription, we first defined IKZF1, BRD4, the lysine acetyl transferase P300 and the mediator complex subunit MED1 mapping within the MM genome using ChIPseq. In MM cell lines (MM1S, RPMI8226, ARP1 and AMO1), IKZF1 predominantly mapped to intronic and intergenic loci which are typically enriched with enhancer and superenhancer elements. Indeed, IKZF1 mapping to the genome nearly completely (96.5%) overlapped that of P300, MED1 and BRD4 co-occupied enhancer and superenhancer loci. We also confirmed that in the MM1S sensitive cell lines IMiDs (lenalidomide 10 μM, 24h) exposure efficiently depleted IKZF1, BRD4, P300 and MED1 at enhancer loci with ensuing MYC (and MAF) downregulation. In contrast, in resistant cell lines (RPMI8226) and in spite efficient IKZF1 displacement, BRD4, P300 and MED1 were retained at the oncogenic enhancer (IGLL5) driving MYC (and MAF). These findings lead us to postulate that in IMiDs resistant cells retention of BRD4 and MED1 at oncogenic enhancers in the absence of IKZF1 likely results from rewiring of the TFs regulating MYC. To identify TFs that may co-localize with BRD4 and IKZF1, we analyzed the enrichment of DNA motifs at IKZF1and BRD4 co-occupied enhancers using the MEME suite motif-finding algorithms. This computational analysis revealed a strong enrichment at these MM enhancers of the GGAA motif recognized by the ETS family of TFs (P= 3.2 e-743) and other motifs boxes for the RUNX (P= 9.6 e-725), MYC/MYB ( P= 8.8 e-52) and interferon regulatory (IRF) (P= 3.1 e-293) TFs. We next confirmed that the ETS family TF ETV4 was indeed expressed in IMiDs resistant, but not sensitive, MM cell lines. ChiPseq occupancy profiles in IMiDs resistant RPMI8226 cell line revealed co-localization of ETV4 with IKZF1, P300 and BRD4. As predicted, lenalidomide treatment induced global depletion of IKZF1 but not ETV4 at BRD4 occupied enhancers in resistant cell lines (RPMI8226 and ARP1). Importantly, Cas9-mediated knock out of ETV4 in RPMI8226 cells sensitized them to lenalidomide with ensuing MYC downregulation and cell death. Confirming its role in MM, ETV4 transcript was indeed detectable in primary patients' samples in the CoMMpass data repository (ETV4 FPKM &gt;1.0 in 112/724) and its expression was associated with significantly reduced survival outcomes (HR 0.64; P=0.0008). Similarly, high expression (top quartiles) of RUNX2 or MYB, TFs with enriched motifs at IKZF1 co-occupied enhancer loci, was also associated with decreased survival. Of note RNAseq analysis of paired patient samples pre- and post-IMiDs treatment (n=14 pairs) revealed significant upregulation of ETV4 at the time of acquired IMiDs resistance (7/14). Lastly transcriptome analysis of 101 patients enrolled in the RD arm (lenalidomide and dexamethasone) of the POLLUX trial (NCT02076009) confirmed the reduced survival of patients with top quartiles expression of ETV4 as well as MYB and RUNX2 (Fig.1) Conclusion: Transcriptional plasticity with expression of extra-lineage TFs such as the ETS family member ETV4 sustains oncogenic enhancers in MM overcoming IKAROS and AIOLOS dependency and promoting IMiDs resistance. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Neri: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Soong: Jannsen: Employment. Chiu: Janssen: Employment. Bahlis: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.
Level of Scientific Evidence Underlying Recommendations from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hematologic Malignancies: Are We Moving Forward?
Tella, Sri Harsha , Scheckel, Caleb , Poonacha, Thejaswi , Desai, Aakash , Fuentes, Harry E , Go, Ronald S.

Blood | February 8, 2021 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 32-32

10.1182/blood-2020-138376 Get It

Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines are the most comprehensive and widely used standard for clinical care in malignant hematology by clinicians and payers in the US. The level of scientific evidence in NCCN guidelines for malignant hematological conditions has not been recently investigated. We describe the distribution of categories of evidence and consensus (EC) among the 10 most common hematologic malignancies with regard to recommendations for staging, initial and salvage therapy, and surveillance. Methods: NCCN uses a system of guideline development distinct from other major professional organizations. The NCCN definitions for EC are: category I, high level of evidence such as randomized controlled trials with uniform consensus; category IIA, lower level of evidence with uniform consensus; category IIB, lower level of evidence without a uniform consensus but with no major disagreement; and category III, any level of evidence but with major disagreement. We compared our results with previously published results from 2011 guidelines. Results: Total recommendations increased by 16.6% from 1160 (2011) to 1353 (2020). Of the 1353 recommendations, Category 1, 2A, 2B and 3 EC were 5%, 91%, 4%, 1% while in 2011 they were 3%, 93%, 4% and 0% respectively. Recommendations with category 1 EC were found in all guidelines, except for Burkitt's Lymphoma. 6.3% of therapeutic recommendations were category 1 EC with the majority (56.4%) pertaining to initial therapy. Guidelines with highest proportions of therapeutic recommendations with category 1 EC were Multiple Myeloma (12.4%), CLL/SLL (6.9%) and AML (5.6%). Between 2011 and 2020, the proportion of category I recommendations increased significantly only in Follicular lymphoma and CLL/SLL. No category 1 EC recommendations existed in staging or surveillance. Conclusion: Recommendations issued in the 2020 NCCN guidelines are largely developed from lower levels of evidence but with uniform expert opinion. Despite the major advances in hematology in the past decade, this is largely unchanged. Our study underscores the urgent need and available opportunities to expand the current evidence base in malignant hematological disorders which forms the platform for clinical practice guidelines. Figure Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Population-Based Study of Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia, and Primary Myelofibrosis in the United States from 2001-2015
Smith, Caleb J. , Ruan, Gordon , Thomas, John W., Tefferi, Ayalew , Goyal, Guarav, Go, Ronald S. , Shah, Meera

Blood | February 8, 2021 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 48-48

10.1182/blood-2020-137611 Get It

Introduction: Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF) are BCR/ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) that are associated with morbidity and increased mortality. Limited data regarding population-based outcomes for these MPNs have been reported. Our aim was to use the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry to investigate population based outcomes for PV, ET, and PMF. Methods: The SEER 18 registries were used to identify patients with ICD-O-3 diagnosis codes for PV (9950/3), ET (9962/3), and PMF (9961/3) from 2001-2015. For ET and PMF, histologic diagnosis was required for inclusion. Incidence was age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Causes of death were obtained and MPN-related death was defined as death from any myeloid disorder (ET, PV, PMF, acute myeloid leukemia [AML], acute monocytic leukemia, other myeloid/monocytic leukemia, and aleukemic, subleukemic and NOS). Relative survival (RS) was defined as the ratio of the proportion of observed survivors in a cohort of PV, ET, PMF patients to the proportion of expected survivors in a comparable set of individuals that did not respectively have PV, ET, or PMF, adjusting for the general survival of the US population for race, sex, age, and time when the diagnosis was established. Time to leukemic transformation was calculated using the left-truncated life tables session with a 3-month latency period used to prevent misattribution. Overall survival (OS) was calculated between the date of diagnosis and the date of death, date last known to be alive, or date of the study cut-off (31 December 2018). Variables significant in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS), and Cox regression model was used to identify predictors of survival. Statistical analyses were performed using JMP version 14.0. Results: 10,988 patients with PV, 9,146 with ET, and 4,022 with PMF were identified in SEER. The median age of diagnosis (interquartile range [IQR]) was 65 years (IQR 54-76), 67 years (IQR 54-77), and 69 years (IQR 60-78) for PV, ET, and PMF respectively. Overall incidence rates (cases/100,000) were 0.86 for PV, 0.72 for ET, and 0.30 for PMF. With a median follow up (in years, 95% confidence interval [CI]) of 7.6 (7.4-7.8), 7.9 (7.8-8.2), and 7.25 (7.0-7.5), the median OS was 11.4 (11.2-11.7), 11.75 (11.3-12.0), and 3.5 (3.3-3.7), for PV, ET, and PMF respectively. RS was better than expected survival for PV and ET, while less than expected survival for PMF (Figure 1). 3853 of PV patients died (35.1%) by the end of the study period, with 4.1% and 34.1% of deaths from PV-related and cardiovascular disease respectively (Table 1). 3142 of ET patients died (34.4%), with 7.2% and 32.2% of deaths from ET-related and cardiovascular disease respectively. 2578 patients with MF died (64.1%), with 13.2%, and 51.9% of deaths from PMF-related and other malignancies respectively. 106 patients (1.0%) with PV, 135 patients (1.5%) with ET, and 127 patients (3.2%) with PMF transformed to AML. Median time to transformation was 4.8, 6.3, and 2.3 years for PV, ET, and PMF respectively. Factors indicating inferior OS on multivariate analysis (Table 2) included age ≥ 65, female sex, and year of diagnosis for PV, age ≥ 65, male sex, and year of diagnosis for ET, and age ≥ 65, and male sex for PMF. Conclusion: Incidence rates for PV, ET, and PMF were similar to previous reports. RS was better than expected survival for PV and ET, while less than expected survival for PMF. The majority of deaths in ET and PV occurred from cardiovascular disease; a finding likely related to these MPNs. Patients with PMF were more likely to die from their disease or a subsequent malignancy. Transformation to AML occurred less frequently than prior large case series, noting a limitation in the current study. Patients with PMF were more likely to transform to AML with a shorter time interval. Older age was associated with worse OS in all patients. Male sex was predictive of worse survival for ET and PMF, while female sex was associated with worse survival in PV. Over the years, survival has improved for PV and remained essentially unchanged for ET and PMF. Figure Disclosures Shah: Dren Bio: Consultancy.
The Role of Staging Evaluation at Initial Diagnosis of Adult Patients with Clinically Isolated Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Ruan, Gordon , Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Scheckel, Caleb , Bennani, Nabila Nora, Hazim, Antonious , Ravindran, Aishwarya , Vassallo, Robert , Ryu, Jay H. , Tobin, W. Oliver , Koster, Matthew J. , Rech, Karen L. , Young, Jason R. , Shah, Meera , Goyal, Gaurav , Go, Ronald S.

Blood | February 7, 2021 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 45-45

10.1182/blood-2020-136861 Get It

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytic disorder that is now recognized as a neoplasm by the World Health Organization. It is generally classified based on the site and extent of disease involvement (single system or multisystem). Pulmonary LCH (pLCH), an uncommon interstitial lung disease associated with smoking, often presents as isolated pulmonary disease. It is unclear whether patients with clinically isolated pLCH have extra-pulmonary lesions at diagnosis or during the course of their disease. The role of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) in the staging of pLCH remains unclear. Our study aims to better characterize the utility of radiographic staging studies at time of diagnosis and prevalence of extrapulmonary disease at follow up in pLCH. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients presenting with clinical findings consistent with isolated pLCH seen at the Mayo Clinic from January 2000 to January 2020. All patients had a diagnosis of pLCH determined by chest imaging studies [computed tomography (CT) or high-resolution CT (HRCT)] or by histopathologic findings from surgical or transbronchial lung biopsy. Histopathologic findings for the diagnosis of pLCH required the presence of Langerhans cells (S100+/CD1a+/Langerin+). Patients were excluded if they had clinically apparent extra-pulmonary organ involvement at the time of diagnosis. BRAF V600E mutation was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Staging was defined as FDG-PET-CT or whole body CT imaging obtained within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH. Extra-pulmonary LCH involvement was determined by imaging characteristics or by histopathologic findings. Descriptive statistics and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with JMP software, version 14 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results: A total of 112 patients with clinically isolated pLCH were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 45 years (range 21-73), and 48 (43%) were male. The majority (n=110, 99%) were former or current smokers with a median pack year of 25 (range 1-57). Three (3%) patients were noted to have occupational industrial exposure. Nine patients had a history of another cancer prior to their diagnosis and staging of pLCH [lung (n=4), breast (n=2), neuroendocrine (n=2), thyroid (n=1)]. Presenting symptoms included dyspnea on exertion 49 (44%), cough 18 (16%), chest pain 14 (13%), and 29 (28%) were incidentally discovered on imaging studies. On HRCT, the following characteristics were observed: 42 (38%) cystic, 32 (29%) cystic and nodular, 37 (33%) nodular, 1 (&lt;1%) ground glass opacities. Seventy (63%) patients had lung biopsy confirmation, of which 11 (16%) patients underwent BRAF V600Emutation testing (7 by IHC, 4 by cfDNA). Six (55%) of these 11 patients were positive for BRAF V600E mutation. 34 (30%) patients underwent radiographic staging studies within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH (25 FDG-PET-CT and 9 whole-body CT), and none of these imaging studies showed evidence of extra-pulmonary disease. Of the patients who had at least one year of follow-up (n=52), one (2%) developed extra-pulmonary disease. This patient did not undergo initial staging studies, developed headaches and was found to have a large calvarial lytic lesion within 2 months of pLCH diagnosis (BRAF V600E+). Among those who did not undergo staging at diagnosis (n=78), long term (&gt;5 years) follow up data were available for 23 (29%), and none developed extra-pulmonary disease as determined by clinical notes or imaging studies. No patient had evidence of new extra-pulmonary involvement or second malignancy at the time of last known follow-up. After a median follow-up duration of 2.4 years (95% CI: 1.5-3.6, range: 0.1-17) ten (9%) patients died, of which 5 died of pLCH related complications. The median OS for entire cohort was 15 years (95% CI 9.1-not reached, Figure 1). Conclusion: Our study shows that adult patients with clinically isolated pLCH rarely present with extra-pulmonary manifestations at diagnosis or at follow up. These findings suggest a limited role of routine radiographic staging studies in pLCH unless clinically indicated. Studies on longer follow up of this cohort would provide further insights into the natural history of pLCH and are underway. Disclosures Bennani: Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding. Shah:Dren Bio: Consultancy.
Nanoliposomal irinotecan-based chemotherapy after regular irinotecan-based chemotherapy in patients with pancreas cancer.
Smith, Caleb J. , Cook, Kathryn , Hanna, Mina, Jin, Zhaohui , Jochum, Jacob A., Mitchell, Jessica L. , Pitot, Henry C., Jatoi, Aminah , Jin, Zhaohui , Bekaii‐Saab, Tanios , Eiring, Rachel A. , Hálfdánarson, Þorvarður R. , Wee, Wen

Journal of Clinical Oncology | January 22, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 3_suppl | Pages: 402-402

10.1200/jco.2021.39.3_suppl.402 Get It

402 Background: Pancreas cancer is an aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Nanoliposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI) is a preferred second-line treatment, and current guidelines recommend its use in the absence of prior irinotecan. This study aimed to assess whether patients who had received regular irinotecan derive benefit from Nal-IRI. Methods: Medical records of metastatic pancreas cancer patients who had received regular irinotecan and then Nal-IRI were reviewed. The following information was extracted from each medical record: patient demographics, confirmation of a diagnosis of exocrine pancreas cancer, initial cancer stage, dates of administration of the drugs of interest, adverse events that occurred with Nal-IRI treatment, reasons for stopping regular irinotecan, and reasons for starting and stopping Nal-IRI. The primary endpoint was overall survival after the initiation of Nal-IRI (an a priori threshold of > 4 months defined success). Survival data were censored based on date of last follow up. Direct quotes from the medical record were documented to provide insight on prescribing Nal-IRI when guidelines advised the contrary. Results: Sixty four patients met eligibility criteria with a median age of 65 years (range: 36, 80 years). Prior to Nal-IRI, 61 patients had received FOLFIRINOX, and 3 FOLFIRI. Of these, 32 patients manifested progressive disease on regular irinotecan-based therapy. Nal-IRI was prescribed with a fluoropyrimidine; only one patient received monotherapy. At time of analysis, 54 patients had died. Median overall survival from initiation of Nal-IRI was 5.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.6, 4.3, months). An exploratory comparison, based on no cancer progression with regular irinotecan versus progression, showed improved survival with Nal-IRI in the former group: 6.1 months (95% CI: 9.3, 5.1 months) versus 4.3 months (95% CI: 4.8, 2.3 months); p=0.0006. Nal-IRI adverse events occurred as expected. Qualitative data illustrated several themes, including “limited treatment options,” which appeared to drive the decision to prescribe Nal-IRI. Conclusions: Nal-IRI might be considered in pancreas cancer patients who had received regular irinotecan, particularly in the absence of disease progression with the latter.
A Workshop on Cognitive Aging and Impairment in the 9/11-Exposed Population
Daniels, Robert D. , Clouston, Sean , Hall, Charles B. , Anderson, Kristi , Bennett, David A. , Bromet, Evelyn J. , Calvert, Geoffrey M. , Carreón, Tania , Diminich, Erica D. , Kreisl, William Charles, Kritikos, Minos , Kubale, Travis L. , Mielke, Michelle M. , Peskind, Elaine R. , Raskind, Murray A. , Richards, Marcus , Sano, Mary , Santiago‐Colón, Albeliz , Sloan, Richard P. , Spiro, Avron , Vasdev, Neil , Reissman, Dori B. , Clouston, Sean A P , Anderson, Kristi R , Kritikos, Minos , Mielke, Michelle M , Santiago-Colón, Albeliz , Spiro, Avron , Vasdev, Neil , Bennett, David A. , DeKosky, Steven T. , Finch, Caleb E. , Gandy, Sam , Luft, Benjamin J.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | January 14, 2021 | Volume: 18 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 681

10.3390/ijerph18020681 | PMID 33466931 Get It

The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 potentially exposed more than 400,000 responders, workers, and residents to psychological and physical stressors, and numerous hazardous pollutants. In 2011, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was mandated to monitor and treat persons with 9/11-related adverse health conditions and conduct research on physical and mental health conditions related to the attacks. Emerging evidence suggests that persons exposed to 9/11 may be at increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. To investigate further, the WTCHP convened a scientific workshop that examined the natural history of cognitive aging and impairment, biomarkers in the pathway of neurodegenerative diseases, the neuropathological changes associated with hazardous exposures, and the evidence of cognitive decline and impairment in the 9/11-exposed population. Invited participants included scientists actively involved in health-effects research of 9/11-exposed persons and other at-risk populations. Attendees shared relevant research results from their respective programs and discussed several options for enhancements to research and surveillance activities, including the development of a multi-institutional collaborative research network. The goal of this report is to outline the meeting’s agenda and provide an overview of the presentation materials and group discussion.
Stereotactic radiosurgery with versus without prior Onyx embolization for brain arteriovenous malformations
Ding, Dale , Lee, Cheng‐Chia , Kearns, Kathryn N. , Pomeraniec, I. Jonathan , Cifarelli, Christopher P. , Arsanious, David, Liščák, Roman , Hanuška, Jaromír, Woo, Shiao Y. , Ironside, Natasha , Burke, Rebecca M. , Warnick, Ronald E. , Mathieu, David , Mureb, Monica , Benjamin, Carolina , Feliciano, Caleb , Rodríguez‐Mercado, Rafael, Cockroft, Kevin M. , Simon, Scott D. , Mackley, Heath B., Zammar, Samer G. , Patel, Neel, Padmanaban, Varun , Beatson, Nathan, Saylany, Anissa , Lee, John Y. K. , Sheehan, Jason P. , _, _, May, Jaromír , Ding, Dale , Mathieu, David , Chen, Ching‐Jen , Williams, Brian J. , Yusuf, Mehran Behruj , Trifiletti, Daniel M. , Kondziolka, Douglas , _, _

Journal of Neurosurgery | December 11, 2020 | Volume: 135 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 742-750

10.3171/2020.7.jns201731 | PMID 33307527 Get It

OBJECTIVE Investigations of the combined effects of neoadjuvant Onyx embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have not accounted for initial angioarchitectural features prior to neuroendovascular intervention. The aim of this retrospective, multicenter matched cohort study is to compare the outcomes of SRS with versus without upfront Onyx embolization for AVMs using de novo characteristics of the preembolized nidus. METHODS The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation AVM databases from 1987 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized based on AVM treatment approach into Onyx embolization (OE) and SRS (OE+SRS) or SRS alone (SRS-only) cohorts and then propensity score matched in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was AVM obliteration. Secondary outcomes were post-SRS hemorrhage, all-cause mortality, radiological and symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RICs), and cyst formation. Comparisons were analyzed using crude rates and cumulative probabilities adjusted for competing risk of death. RESULTS The matched OE+SRS and SRS-only cohorts each comprised 53 patients. Crude rates (37.7% vs 47.2% for the OE+SRS vs SRS-only cohorts, respectively; OR 0.679, p = 0.327) and cumulative probabilities at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years (33.7%, 44.1%, 57.5%, and 65.7% for the OE+SRS cohort vs 34.8%, 45.5%, 59.0%, and 67.1% for the SRS-only cohort, respectively; subhazard ratio 0.961, p = 0.896) of AVM obliteration were similar between the matched cohorts. The secondary outcomes of the matched cohorts were also similar. Asymptomatic and symptomatic embolization-related complication rates in the matched OE+SRS cohort were 18.9% and 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pre-SRS AVM embolization with Onyx does not appear to negatively influence outcomes after SRS. These analyses, based on de novo nidal characteristics, thereby refute previous studies that found detrimental effects of Onyx embolization on SRS-induced AVM obliteration. However, given the risks incurred by nidal embolization using Onyx, this neoadjuvant intervention should be used judiciously in multimodal treatment strategies involving SRS for appropriately selected large-volume or angioarchitecturally high-risk AVMs.
Non-Squamous, Non-Basal Cell Cancers of the Skin: Exploring Associations Between Site of Disease and Depression
Almodallal, Yahya , Lee, Minji K. , Smith, Caleb J. , Carroll, Jamie L., Jatoi, Aminah , Smith, Caleb , Jatoi, Aminah , Le‐Rademacher, Jennifer , Carroll, Jamie M. , Robinson, Steven I.

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® | November 16, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 979-982

10.1177/1049909120969605 | PMID 33191782 Get It

Background: Earlier studies report a direct association between diseases of the skin—particularly those on the face—and depression. However, to our knowledge, such associations have not been examined in patients with non-squamous, non-basal call skin cancers. Methods: The primary goal was to assess whether malignant skin disease—specifically on the face as opposed to other sites—was associated with depression. The medical records of patients with cutaneous cancer (either primary or metastatic but non-squamous, non-basal cell) were reviewed for the relevant data. Results: One hundred and sixty-five patients were studied. Only 23 patients (14%) had metastases to the face, and 115 (70%) had a readily viewable skin cancer. Twenty-one patients (13%) developed depression after a diagnosis of cutaneous cancer (of note, the rate of missing data for depression was 37%). Only one patient with facial cutaneous cancer manifested depression, yielding an odds ratio for not developing depression (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 4.4 (0.5,35); p = 0.13. Depression appeared to occur more often in women (62% versus 43%), patients with a history of depression (52% versus 6%), and younger patients (median age with and without depression 55 years and 67 years, respectively). Conclusion: In contrast to other cutaneous diseases, no association was found between cutaneous cancer to the face and depression. Nonetheless, high rates of missing data underscore the need to focus on depression in patients with cutaneous cancers in the future.