Citations

Abstract Aims Syncope remains a diagnostic challenge despite advancements in testing and treatment. Cardiac syncope is an independent predictor of mortality and can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC). This paper explores whether artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the evaluation and management of patients with syncope. Methods and results We conducted a literature review and incorporated the opinions of experts in the fields of syncope and AI. The cause of TLOC is often unclear, hospitalization criteria are ambiguous, diagnostic tests are frequently non-informative, and assessments are costly. Patients are left with unanswered questions and limited guidance. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to optimize syncope evaluation by processing large data sets, detecting imperceptible patterns, and assisting clinicians. However, AI has limitations, including errors, lack of human empathy, and uncertain clinical utility. Liability issues further complicate its integration. We present three viewpoints: (i) AI is crucial for advancing syncope management; (ii) AI can enhance the patient experience; and (iii) AI in syncope care is inevitable. Conclusion Artificial intelligence may improve syncope diagnosis and management, particularly through machine learning–based test interpretation and wearable device data. However, it has yet to surpass human clinical judgment in complex decision-making. Current challenges include gaps in understanding syncope mechanisms, AI interpretability, generalizability, and clinical integration. Standardized diagnostic approaches, real-world validation, and curated data sets are essential for progress. Artificial intelligence may enhance efficiency and communication but raises concerns regarding confidentiality, bias, inequities, and legal implications.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Neurofilament light chain (NfL) quantification aids in diagnosing and predicting neurological disorders, but clinical and laboratory practices vary across centers. Differences in result interpretation and reporting further challenge test commutability. This study aimed to review the global analytical and post‐analytical methods used for NfL measurement in routine clinical practice across different contexts. METHODS We established an international working group (WG) and distributed a survey to its members to gather information on context of use (COU), (pre) analytical methods, cutoff usage, as well as the interpretation and reporting of NfL measurements. RESULTS Among the centers, 63% measured NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 87% in blood, and 53% in both. COU was widespread, with 50% defining pathological cutoffs based on publications and 42% considering age. Reporting was primarily done through numeric results (95%). DISCUSSION Harmonizing cutoffs, reporting, and interpretation across various clinical contexts will facilitate the incorporation of this biomarker into routine clinical practice. Highlights Unique international overview of current analytical and post‐analytical methods for neurofilament light chain (NfL) measurement in routine clinical practice. Tailored sheets for each neurological application. Strategies to harmonize cutoffs, reporting, and interpretation of NfL's measurement.

ABSTRACT Background Over the years, prognostic indexes have been developed to help clinicians stratify patients with biliary tract cancers (BTC) into risk groups. This study aims to identify a new prognostic index for patients with BTC treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine and durvalumab (CGD) in the first‐line setting. Patients and Methods The study population consisted of patients with BTC from 11 Eastern and Western Countries. Using multivariate analysis for overall survival (OS), we identified 5 baseline statistically significant variables: stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, albumin levels, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Metastatic disease is a prognostic factor with a superior weight considering the HR of 3.62, while all the others can be considered prognostic factors with equivalent weight as the HRs are quite similar (HRs between 1.55 and 1.92). Based on these reasons, we developed a prognostic model called the MAGIC‐D index by assigning a score of 2 for metastatic disease, and a score of 1 for CEA increased levels, albumin decreased levels, GGT increased levels, NLR ≥ 3. Patients were stratified into three risk groups as follows: low‐risk group (Score from 0 to 2), intermediate‐risk group (Score from 3 to 4) and high‐risk group (Score from 5 to 6). At the first data cutoff (April 2024), these data were available for 319 patients that composed the training cohort used for the analysis. At the second data cutoff (May 2025), 79 patients were further enrolled and composed the validation cohort. Results Median progression‐free survival was 11.7 months in low‐risk group (20.7%), 8.7 months in intermediate‐risk group (46.4%) and 5.4 months in high‐risk group (32.9%) [low‐risk hazard ratio (HR): 0.27, intermediate‐risk HR: 0.55, high‐risk HR: 1, p < 0.0001]. Median OS was 18.4 months in low‐risk group,15.9 months in intermediate‐risk group and 7.8 months in high‐risk group (low‐risk HR: 0.17, intermediate‐risk HR: 0.43, high‐risk HR: 1, p < 0.0001). There was no difference in overall response rate (low‐risk: 31.8%, intermediate‐risk: 36.5% and high‐risk: 25.7%; p = 0.0718), while disease control rate was significantly different across the three risk groups (low‐risk: 83.3%, intermediate‐risk: 70.9% and high‐risk: 60.9%; p < 0.0001) as well as the rate of patients receiving a second‐line therapy (low‐risk: 54.5%, intermediate‐risk: 48.6% and high‐risk: 25.7%; p = 0.0061). Finally, the prognostic role in terms of OS and PFS of the MAGIC‐D index was confirmed in a validation cohort of 79 patients. Conclusion The MAGIC‐D index is an easy‐to‐use tool able to stratify patients with BTC with different prognoses undergoing first‐line therapy with CGD.

Abstract Aim Growing evidence suggests that immune/inflammatory pathways play a crucial role in the persistence of symptoms in diverticular disease (DD). We hypothesize that chronic diverticulitis triggers a self‐sustained inflammatory status which can be detected by measuring the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). The aim of this study was to investigate the systemic levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 before and after elective surgery in patients with DD, and their relationship with the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) score. Method This prospective multicentric study enrolled patients from the Diverticular Disease Registry (DDR‐Trial, NCT04907383). All adult patients diagnosed with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD), uncomplicated recurrent diverticulitis (URD) and smouldering diverticulitis (SmD) between 1st December 2022 and 31st December 2023 were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: no surgery, a concurrent chronic immunomodulated systemic disease, a SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive test in the previous 12 months, a history of cancer in the previous 5 years, patients treated with immunomodulators, an American Society of Anesthesiologists category of class IV, and complicated acute diverticulitis. Results Seventy‐two patients were included: 52 (72%) with URD, 11 (15%) with SUDD, and nine (13%) with SmD. The median postsurgery – presurgery (Δ)IL‐6 and ΔTNF‐α levels were −16.8 and −17.3 pg/mL, respectively ( p < 0.001 for both; Wilcoxon test). Spearman correlation revealed a significant, negative association between the ΔGIQLI and the ΔIL‐6, as well as the ΔTNF‐α ( p < 0.001 for both). Greater reduction in the levels of IL‐6 and TNF‐α following surgery are associated with higher GIQLI scores postoperatively. Conclusion Patients with chronic diverticulitis may experience persistent systemic inflammation driven by a colonic trigger. Surgical removal of this trigger appears to enhance GIQLI outcomes reducing IL‐6 and TNF‐α across surgery.

Despite significant improvements in survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), outcomes remain heterogeneous, and a significant proportion of patients experience suboptimal outcomes. Importantly, traditional prognostic factors based on data from patients treated with older therapies no longer capture prognosis accurately in the contemporary era of novel triplet or quadruplet therapies. Therefore, risk stratification requires refinement in the context of available and investigational treatment options in routine practice and clinical trials, respectively. The current identification of high-risk MM (HRMM) in routine practice is based on the Revised International Staging System, which stratifies patients using a combination of widely available serum biomarkers and chromosomal abnormalities assessed via fluorescence in situ hybridization. In recent years, a substantial body of evidence concerning additional clinical, biological, and molecular/genomic prognostic factors has accumulated, along with new MM risk stratification tools and consensus reports. The International Myeloma Society, along with the International Myeloma Working Group, convened an Expert Panel with the primary aim of revisiting the definition of HRMM and formulating a practical and data-driven consensus definition, based on new evidence from molecular/genomic assays, updated clinical data, and contemporary risk stratification concepts. The Panel proposes the following Consensus Genomic Staging (CGS) of HRMM which relies upon the presence of at least one of these abnormalities: (1) del(17p), with a cutoff of >20% clonal fraction, and/or TP53 mutation; (2) an IgH translocation including t(4;14), t(14;16), or t(14;20) along with 1q+ and/or del(1p32); (3) monoallelic del(1p32) along with 1q+ or biallelic del(1p32); or (4) β2 microglobulin ≥5.5 mg/L with normal creatinine (<1.2 mg/dL).

Abstract Background High-grade gliomas (HGG) have a poor prognosis despite aggressive treatment. Severe, persistent lymphopenia occurring in HGG patients after concurrent chemoradiation is associated with worse survival. NT-I7, a long-acting interleukin-7 analog, has been shown to increase CD4 and CD8 counts in healthy, septic, and HIV-positive adults. This multi-institutional, NCI-funded dose-escalation trial is the first to evaluate NT-I7 safety and activity in HGG patients with severe treatment-related lymphopenia (TRL) and the effect of co-administered glucocorticoids. Methods Eligible HGG patients had CD4 counts &lt;300 cells/mm3 after 5 weeks of standard chemoradiation and were receiving either ≤0.75 or ≥4 mg/day of dexamethasone. Patients received a single intramuscular dose of NT-I7 (60 or 360 µg/kg) post-chemoradiation, followed by safety evaluation and multi-parameter, longitudinal monitoring of lymphocyte populations and immunologic function. Results NT-I7 was well tolerated in all 12 patients (median age 64; median CD4 count 161 cells/mm³) before the study closed prematurely. Absolute lymphocyte counts doubled in 83% (10/12; 95% CI: 51.6%-97.9%) of patients, and CD4 counts doubled in 42% (5/12; 95% CI: 15.2%-72.3%) of patients. Glucocorticoid use did not significantly affect CD4 or lymphocyte increases. Correlative immune profiling revealed increased Ki67 expression in CD4 (P &lt; .005) and CD8 (P &lt; .05) after one week, along with the expansion of CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets and CD56 + natural killer cells. Conclusions NT-I7 is well tolerated and effectively increases lymphocyte and CD4 counts in severe TRL patients, regardless of glucocorticoid use, suggesting its potential to mitigate TRL and improve outcomes in HGG.

Abstract Most myelofibrosis (MF) drug approvals by Health Authorities are based on 1 or 2 outcome measures such as spleen volume reduction and/or improved quality-of-life. This 1–2 dimensional approach fails to capture the clinical complexity of MF. A European LeukemiaNet (ELN) taskforce developed a composite endpoint which allows multiple outcomes to be simultaneously measured. The panel used the Desirability-Of-Outcome-Ranking (DOOR) method to assign 25 outcomes into 4 quartiles based on a multi-dimensional desirability score and build a 5-layer composite outcome named Desirability-of-Myelofibrosis-Outcomes (DEMYO). Outcome operational definitions were tested by Delphi consensus and correlations with survival validated by a literature review. The outcomes assigned to the first two quartiles were negatively correlated with leukemia-free survival and survival. DEMYO comprehensively captures relevant MF clinical features and meaningful endpoints. Despite DEMYO requires validation based on available trial data, it is expected to improve the quality of Health Authority approvals for new drugs for MF.

Objective: To establish comprehensive recommendations on the management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) and to identify areas in need of future investigation. Summary Background Data: The lack of consensus in management of pCCA across institutions worldwide impairs optimal patient care and best-achievable oncological outcome. A holistic and critical assessment of the body of evidence and collaborative guidance are required. Methods: The Consensus4pCCA conference developed unbiased consensus using the Zurich-Danish model. An impartial and multidisciplinary jury adopted comprehensive recommendations grounded on the work of eight expert panels answering predefined clinical questions and considering the best-quality evidence through a systematic review. The development of recommendations complied with GRADE and SIGN50 methodologies. Results: Seventy-one international experts considered 570 studies. Ten jury members concluded 71 recommendations covering definition and diagnosis, preoperative assessment and optimization, surgical resection, liver transplantation, and outcome reporting for pCCA patients. The consensus underscored that making patients amenable to high-quality curative resection and reducing its associated morbidity must be of highest priority. As such, multidisciplinary expertise and centralized care at all stages of disease management are critical to ensure both safety and oncological adequacy. To overcome the evidence-gap for rare diseases like pCCA, the jury urged large-scale registries to address open questions across the disease continuum and highlighted priorities for future investigation. Conclusion: The Consensus4pCCA represents an unprecedented commitment to collectively harmonize global treatment strategies for pCCA. This collective effort bridges the gap between expert opinions and clinical evidence and holds great promise to improve patient outcomes in the future.

LBA3500 Background: BREAKWATER (NCT04607421) is an open-label, global, randomized, phase 3 study evaluating first-line (1L) encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) ± chemotherapy (chemo) vs standard of care (SOC; chemo ± bevacizumab) in BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The study previously met one of its dual primary endpoints (EPs) demonstrating clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in confirmed objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review (BICR) in the ORR subset. These results were the basis for the FDA accelerated approval of EC+mFOLFOX6 for BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC, including in the 1L, under Project Frontrunner. Here, we report the primary analysis of progression-free survival (PFS) by BICR, updated interim analysis of OS, updated safety, and other analyses. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) with untreated BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC were randomized 1:1:1 to receive EC, EC+mFOLFOX6, or SOC; EC arm enrollment was closed after a protocol amendment. Dual primary EPs: ORR and PFS by BICR (EC+mFOLFOX6 vs SOC); key secondary EP: OS (EC+mFOLFOX6 vs SOC). Results: 637 pts were randomized to EC, EC+mFOLFOX6, or SOC. Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were generally balanced between arms. EC+mFOLFOX6 (data cutoff: Jan 6, 2025) demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant PFS improvement vs SOC, meeting the other dual primary EP; HR=0.53 (95% CI 0.407, 0.677; P<0.0001); median PFS 12.8 vs 7.1 mo. OS was clinically meaningful and statistically significant vs SOC; HR=0.49 (95% CI 0.375, 0.632; P<0.0001); median OS 30.3 vs 15.1 mo. Median PFS and OS in the EC arm were 6.8 and 19.5 mo. These data and response data for all randomized pts are shown in the table. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 30%, 46%, and 39% of pts in the safety analysis set. Safety was consistent with that known for each agent. Conclusions: BREAKWATER demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant PFS and OS improvements with EC+mFOLFOX6 vs SOC and manageable toxicities. EC+mFOLFOX6 is potentially practice changing as the new SOC. Clinical trial information: NCT04607421 . ECn=158 EC+mFOLFOX6n=236 SOCn=243 EC+mFOLFOX6vs SOCHR (95% CI)P-value a Median PFS b , mo (95% CI) 6.8(5.7, 8.3) 12.8(11.2, 15.9) 7.1(6.8, 8.5) 0.53 (0.407, 0.677) <0.0001 Median OS, mo (95% CI) 19.5(17.6, 22.5) 30.3(21.7, NE) 15.1(13.7, 17.7) 0.49 (0.375, 0.632)<0.0001 ORR, b % (95% CI) 45.6(38.0, 53.3) 65.7(59.4, 71.4) 37.4(31.6, 43.7) Median DOR b , mo (95% CI) c 7.0 (4.2, 11.6) 13.9 (10.9, 18.5) 10.8 (7.6, 13.4) DOR b ≥6 mo, n (%) c 29 (40.3) 110 (71.0) 38 (41.8) DOR b ≥12 mo, n (%) c 15 (20.8) 54 (34.8) 16 (17.6) Median time to response, b wk (range) c 6.6(4.3-86.4) 7.0(5.1-103.6) 7.3 (5.4-48.0) a 1-sided stratified log rank test. b By BICR. c Responders: n=72, n=155, and n=91. DOR, duration of response.