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Background: The COVID pandemic has resulted in significant changes many aspects of daily living. To understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on the myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patient population, we conducted an internet based survey. Methods: Survey: This survey was hosted Mayo Clinic's secured REDCap system for online surveys with a link to the survey alongside a brief description posted via the www.mpnqol.com website, as well as other MPN organizational partners. Survey responses were completely anonymous. Questions included MPN-Total symptom score (TSS), NCCN distress thermometer (NCCN-DT), questions regarding impact on medical care, and questions from CDC COVID-19 community survey question bank regarding the impact of social distancing as well as changes in health behaviors. Distress thermometer, MPN-TSS, and/or questions related to the impact of COVID-19 on MPN treatment were analyzed by: MPN diagnosis, among those with ET, PV, or MF diagnoses; medication status; stay at home order; community spread; and country. Associations were tested using Kruskal-Wallis or Wilcoxon rank sum tests (for continuous variables) or Fisher Exact tests (for categorical variables). Analysis: Results: Patient Demographics (Table 1): 1560 people responded to the survey, 1217 were eligible for analysis. Median age was 62 (range: 21-93), and 298 (24.6%) respondents were male. There were respondents from USA, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, and UK. 233 patients (19.2%) have myelofibrosis, 419 (34.6%) polycythemia vera and 543 (44.8%) essential thrombocythemia. At the time of the COVID outbreak, 1026 (84.3%) were on MPN directed medical therapy, including ruxolitinib (15.3%), interferon (14.7%), hydroxyurea (42.7%) and ASA (47.7%). 165 (13.6%) respondents received COVID testing, of which 5 had positive tests. Impact on MPN Care (Table 2): We sought to understand how patient's clinical care changed. Over half respondents who spoke to their MPN doctor had a telemedicine visit after COVID19 (57.1%). 422 (36.5%) patients spaced out visits, of which 99 (22.7%) felt there were consequences. A change in therapy due to COVID-1 occurred in only 5.4% of patients. MPN Symptom Burden and QoL: Data captured on the NCCN-DT had a median of 4 (0-10). MPN-SAF-TSS composite score was collected in 1150 respondents, median score was 26 (0-90). These scores are higher than those previously reported. Pandemic Impact on Lifestyle (Table 1): 595 (49.5%) of patients report living in a community where there is significant COVID-19 spread. 946 (78.9%) reported that COVID-19 has impacted their day to day life. 198 (17.2%) of patients agreed, or strongly agreed that COVID had a significant impact on their finances. 799 (67.8%) had a stay at home order. Of those who quarantined (112), the median duration was 30d (1-120). The majority of people increased hand-washing, and cleaning habits. 954 (81.7%) respondents reported wearing masks in public. 908 (76.8%) reported increased stress from social distancing. The majority of respondents report using healthy coping habits, such as reaching out to friends/loved ones, breathing and relaxation, as well as healthy diet. Less than 15% of patients report unhealthy coping strategies, such as use of opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or cannabis Factors associated with response: There were no differences in responses based on type of MPN. If a patient was on medication, they were more likely to have spoken to their provider (p<0.001). If there was a stay at home order in place, there was a higher MPN-TSS score (p<0.001). If the respondent lived in an area of high community spread, they had a higher NCCN-DT score (p<0.001). Patients in the USA had a higher NCCN-DT score (p=0.001), were more likely to stretch out the duration of time between visits (p<0.001) and less likely to have a telemedicine visit (p<0.001). Although fewer respondents in the USA thought COVID-19 was a serious disease (p=0.02), a higher percentage of respondents wore masks (p <0.001). Conclusions: In our survey of MPN patients, there were many changes noted in clinical care. The use of telemedicine was common, and at least a third had significant changes in their care. Most experienced increased stress, however, employed healthy coping strategies. Only a minority of patients had a COVID test, and only 5 were positive, further data will be needed to understand the impact of COVID infection. Figure 1 Disclosures Harrison: Roche: Honoraria; Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sierra Oncology: Honoraria; Promedior: Honoraria; Shire: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; CTI Biopharma Corp: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Pemmaraju:Affymetrix: Other: Grant Support, Research Funding; Plexxikon: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria; Roche Diagnostics: Honoraria; Blueprint Medicines: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; SagerStrong Foundation: Other: Grant Support; DAVA Oncology: Honoraria; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; MustangBio: Honoraria; LFB Biotechnologies: Honoraria; Pacylex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Vannucchi:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Gupta:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol MyersSquibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy. Mascarenhas:Celgene, Prelude, Galecto, Promedior, Geron, Constellation, and Incyte: Consultancy; Incyte, Kartos, Roche, Promedior, Merck, Merus, Arog, CTI Biopharma, Janssen, and PharmaEssentia: Other: Research funding (institution). Shimoda:Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc.: Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Perseus Proteomics: Research Funding; PharmaEssentia Japan: Research Funding; AbbVie Inc.: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Merck & Co.: Research Funding; CHUGAI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire plc: Honoraria; Asahi Kasei Medical: Research Funding; Japanese Society of Hematology: Research Funding; The Shinnihon Foundation of Advanced Medical Treatment Research: Research Funding. Kiladjian:AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Komatsu:AbbVie: Other: member of safety assessment committee in M13-834 clinical trial.; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shire Japan KK, Novartis Pharma KK, PharmaEssentia Japan KK, Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutica: Research Funding; Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd.: Patents & Royalties: PCT/JP2020/008434, Research Funding; PPMX: Consultancy, Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., PharmaEssentia Japan KK, AbbVie GK, Celgene KK, Novartis Pharma KK, Shire Japan KK, Japan Tobacco Inc: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Novartis Pharma KK, Shire Japan KK: Speakers Bureau. Abello:Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dr. Reddy's: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding. Gomez-Almaguer:Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Scherber:Incyte Corporation: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Mauro:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Sun Pharma/SPARC: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation, Expenses, Research Funding. Mesa:Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; CTI BioPharma: Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy; LaJolla Pharmaceutical Company: Consultancy; Promedior: Research Funding.

Background Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are faced with severe disease-related fatigue among a range of other constitutional and spleen-related symptoms. The MPN-Symptom Assessment Form (SAF) is recommended for use to characterize symptom burden (Scherber R, et al. Blood 2011). Within the SAF, a profile of 18 symptom items are evaluated ranging in severity from 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable). The SAF is often summarized to the MPN-SAF Total Symptom Score (TSS) for analysis purposes - a single computed sum of the 10 most clinically meaningful symptom scores, including fatigue (Emanuel R, et al. J Clin Oncol 2012). Though the SAF includes a fatigue item, initial deployments of the MPN-SAF TSS incorporated a 0-10 scaled fatigue item taken from the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI; Mendoza T, et al. Cancer 1999). A subsequent version of the MPN-SAF TSS for use within myelofibrosis clinical trials (called the MFSAF v4; Gwaltney C, et al. Leuk Res 2017) employed a harmonized fatigue item. This analysis employing data from two studies was carried out to assess the use of the SAF fatigue item within the MPN-SAF TSS for consistency with the MFSAF v4. Methods Both BFI and SAF fatigue items were included in an initial online survey evaluating disease burden among patients with MPNs. Participants were assigned to survey variants as a function of their age. Survey variants included those to receive 1 instance of either the BFI or SAF fatigue item, instances of both BFI and SAF, or 2 instances of the same fatigue item. Surveying was aimed to assess the worst symptom experience in the patient's last 24 hours. Additionally, an independent survey assessing the impact of COVID-19 among MPN patients was deployed using the SAF fatigue item for the MPN-SAF TSS. This modified version was then used to test internal validity. Pearson correlation (r) and t-tests were used to assess association, Bland-Altman methods were used to evaluate systematic agreement between BFI and SAF fatigue scores, and Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency. Results There were 229 participants assigned both BFI and SAF fatigue items within the same survey. Among them, 51% (n=117) received the BFI item first and 49% (n=112) the SAF item first. No difference was seen between first and second fatigue scores (mean difference [first-second] = 0.00; 95%CI -0.18, 0.17). BFI and SAF fatigue scores were highly correlated (r=0.88, p<0.001) and showed 88.7% agreement in categorizing severe versus non-severe fatigue (score ≥ 7 versus < 7). Overall concordance in severity category was 73.4% (category [score range]: absent [0]; mild [1-3]; moderate [4-6]; severe [7-10]). Constructing the MPN-SAF TSS using the BFI and SAF fatigue components separately, the original and modified MPN-SAF TSS were nearly identical (r=0.997, p<0.001), and had equivalent internal consistency (both Cronbach's alpha=0.88). The Bland-Altman plot further indicates the 2 fatigue measures have high agreement with no evidence of directional bias and negligible overall bias (Figure 1: regression slope = -0.04, p=0.25; mean difference=0.22; 95%CI 0.05, 0.39). Within the COVID-19 survey (n=1217), the modified version of the MPN-SAF TSS was consistent with known correlates among disease characteristics (Emanuel R, et al. J Clin Oncol 2012). For example, more severe MPN-SAF TSS scores were highly correlated with low quality-of-life (n=1156, r = -0.50, p<0.001), and associated with those reporting spleen enlargement (n=301) versus not (n=617) (p<0.001; mean difference=7.7; 95%CI 5.4, 10.1). Conclusion The BFI and SAF fatigue items are highly consistent in raw score, severity category, and in contribution to the MPN-SAF TSS. There was no order effect seen in which fatigue item was asked first. The independent COVID-19 survey using the modified MPN-SAF TSS was validated and shows high internal consistent. In the ongoing development to capture the symptom experience, this analysis shows disease-related fatigue is equivalently measured using the SAF fatigue survey item in harmonization with the MFSAF v4. Disclosures Mesa: Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; CTI BioPharma: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; LaJolla Pharmaceutical Company: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy.

Abstract Objective. —To characterize laboratory practices for neonatal bilirubin testing and to identify opportunities for improvement. Design. —A voluntary self-assessment questionnaire was used to assess the laboratory practices of 312 laboratories subscribing to the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Excel Chemistry Proficiency Testing Program. Results. —A range of preanalytic and analytic practices were reported. The most notable problems identified were the use of overly long capillary puncture devices (17.8%), failure to protect the specimen from light prior to analysis (3.4%), failure to use a control containing >171 μmol/L bilirubin (26.1%), use of single-level control (4.2%), and lack of established linearity limits (7.0%). Conclusion. —Opportunities exist to improve specimen collection, processing, and analysis for some physician-office and small-hospital laboratories.

Abstract Hashimoto encephalopathy, also known as steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis, has been defined by sub-acute onset encephalopathy, with elevated thyroid antibodies, and immunotherapy responsiveness, in the absence of specific neural autoantibodies. We aimed to retrospectively review 144 cases referred with suspected Hashimoto encephalopathy over a 13-year period, and to determine the clinical utility of thyroid antibodies in the course of evaluation of those patients. One hundred and forty-four patients (all thyroid antibody positive) were included; 72% were women. Median age of symptom onset was 44.5 years (range, 10–87). After evaluation of Mayo Clinic, 39 patients (27%) were diagnosed with an autoimmune CNS disorder [autoimmune encephalopathy (36), dementia (2) or epilepsy (1)]. Three of those 39 patients had neural-IgGs detected (high glutamic acid decarboxylase-65, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor-receptor and neural-restricted unclassified antibody), and 36 were seronegative. Diagnoses among the remaining 105 patients (73%) were functional neurological disorder (n = 20), neurodegenerative disorder (n = 18), subjective cognitive complaints (n = 14), chronic pain syndrome (n = 12), primary psychiatric (n = 11), sleep disorder (n = 10), genetic/developmental (n = 8), non-autoimmune seizure disorders (n = 2) and other (n = 10). More patients with autoimmune CNS disorders presented with sub-acute symptom onset (P < 0.001), seizures (P = 0.008), stroke-like episodes (P = 0.007), aphasia (P = 0.04) and ataxia (P = 0.02), and had a prior autoimmune history (P = 0.04). Abnormal brain MRI (P = 0.003), abnormal EEG (P = 0.007) and CSF inflammatory findings (P = 0.002) were also more frequent in the autoimmune CNS patients. Patients with an alternative diagnosis had more depressive symptoms (P = 0.008), anxiety (P = 0.003) and chronic pain (P = 0.002). Thyoperoxidase antibody titre was not different between the groups (median, 312.7 versus 259.4 IU/ml; P = 0.44; normal range, <9 IU/ml). None of the non-autoimmune group and all but three of the CNS autoimmune group (two with insidious dementia presentation, one with seizures only) fulfilled the autoimmune encephalopathy criteria proposed by Graus et al. (A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Lancet Neurol 2016; 15: 391–404.) (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 100%). Among patients who received an immunotherapy trial at our institution and had objective post-treatment evaluations, the 16 responders with autoimmune CNS disorders more frequently had inflammatory CSF, compared to 12 non-responders, all eventually given an alternative diagnosis (P = 0.02). In total, 73% of the patients referred with suspected Hashimoto encephalopathy had an alternative non-immune-mediated diagnosis, and more than half had no evidence of a primary neurological disorder. Thyroid antibody prevalence is high in the general population, and does not support a diagnosis of autoimmune encephalopathy in the absence of objective neurological and CNS-specific immunological abnormalities. Thyroid antibody testing is of little value in the contemporary evaluation and diagnosis of autoimmune encephalopathies.

Abstract Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus (BE), have uncovered significant genetic components of risk, but most heritability remains unexplained. Targeted assessment of genetic variation in biologically relevant pathways using novel analytical approaches may identify missed susceptibility signals. Central obesity, a key BE/EAC risk factor, is linked to systemic inflammation, altered hormonal signaling and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis dysfunction. Here, we assessed IGF-related genetic variation and risk of BE and EAC. Principal component analysis was employed to evaluate pathway-level and gene-level associations with BE/EAC, using genotypes for 270 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near 12 IGF-related genes, ascertained from 3295 BE cases, 2515 EAC cases and 3207 controls in the Barrett’s and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON) GWAS. Gene-level signals were assessed using Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation (MAGMA) and SNP summary statistics from BEACON and an expanded GWAS meta-analysis (6167 BE cases, 4112 EAC cases, 17 159 controls). Global variation in the IGF pathway was associated with risk of BE (P = 0.0015). Gene-level associations with BE were observed for GHR (growth hormone receptor; P = 0.00046, false discovery rate q = 0.0056) and IGF1R (IGF1 receptor; P = 0.0090, q = 0.0542). These gene-level signals remained significant at q < 0.1 when assessed using data from the largest available BE/EAC GWAS meta-analysis. No significant associations were observed for EAC. This study represents the most comprehensive evaluation to date of inherited genetic variation in the IGF pathway and BE/EAC risk, providing novel evidence that variation in two genes encoding cell-surface receptors, GHR and IGF1R, may influence risk of BE.

AbstractBackgroundThe NIA‐AA Research Framework on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents an important advance in the biological characterization of the AD spectrum. While this framework predicts disease progression, definitions of amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration positivity based on cut‐scores may limit the performance of predictive models.Method252 cognitively normal (CN), 424 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 128 AD participants were included in this study. aMCI participants at baseline were classified using 2 different methods: 1) Using conventional AT[N] criteria based on proposed cut‐offs in CSF or brain imaging measures: participants were classified on the AD continuum (A+T‐N‐, A+T+N‐, A+T‐N+, A+T+N+) and non‐AD continuum (all other subgroups); and 2) using a machine learning (ML) based method (ensemble linear discriminant model built using CN and AD participants) to classify MCI participants as CN‐like or AD‐like based on continuous CSF biomarkers, regional amyloid PET, FDG‐PET, and volumetric MRI (variables contributing to AT[N] classification; Table 1). Predictive performance of AT[N]‐based classification and ML‐based classification were assessed using clinical outcomes at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of follow‐up.ResultA total of 414 aMCI participants had at least one wave of follow‐up (N of 397, 400, 346, 297, 238, and 93 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively). The progression rate from aMCI to AD was 5.8% at 6m, 9.5% at 1y, 17.9% at 2y, 19.9% at 3y, 20.2% at 4y, and 15% at 5y of follow‐up. Presence of AD pathology at baseline (AT[N]‐based AD continuum) predicted progression to AD with high sensitivity but modest specificity during follow up (Table 2). ML‐based classification was less sensitive but substantially more specific. ML‐based classification models were significantly more accurate than AT[N]‐based classification at all follow‐up periods (McNemar test, p‐value<0.001 for all).ConclusionA single cut‐point approach used in AT[N] classification lacks accuracy when research questions require high diagnostic or prognostic certainty. A multivariate approach using ML methods can improve accuracy of prediction of disease progression. PPVs were higher at all follow‐up time points for ML‐based classification, indicating that progression to AD occurs at a higher rate in persons identified by ML.

AbstractBackgroundRecent studies suggest that lifestyle changes (physical exercise, Mediterranean diet adherence, cognitive stimulation, vascular risk management) may protect against cognitive decline and reduce AD pathophysiology. The U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) is a 2‐year randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether lifestyle interventions can protect cognitive function in older adults (60‐79 years) who are at increased risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. The POINTER Imaging ancillary study will assess effects of the POINTER lifestyle interventions on neuroimaging biomarkers of AD and cerebrovascular pathophysiology, and whether baseline neuroimaging measures predict cognitive responses to the interventions.MethodThe POINTER Imaging ancillary study aims to enroll 1250 participants from the five U.S. POINTER sites. Ancillary study participants will undergo PET imaging (Baseline, Month 24) to measure Aβ ([18F]Florbetaben) and tau ([18F]MK‐6240) burden, and MRI (Baseline, Months 12 & 24) to measure brain morphometry, white matter (WM) hyperintensities and microstructure, and cerebral blood flow. U.S. POINTER provides standardized cognitive, clinical, genetic (e.g. APOE), and lifestyle activity assessments, and demographics for integration with neuroimaging data.ResultThe study design and methods for the POINTER Imaging ancillary study will be presented. The study will examine whether: (1) neuroimaging biomarkers at baseline (Aβ, tau, hippocampal volume, WM hyperintensities) predict intervention‐related cognitive changes and (2) biomarker outcomes are differentially modified by participation in lifestyle interventions. It will also examine changes in exploratory biomarkers (tensor‐based morphometry, microstructural integrity, microbleeds, cerebral blood flow).ConclusionThe POINTER Imaging study aims to address gaps in our understanding of how a variety of lifestyle practices (diet, exercise, cognitive stimulation and vascular risk management) influence brain health. In particular, the study will determine whether imaging measurements of AD and cerebrovascular pathophysiology are amenable to improvement with the POINTER lifestyle interventions. It also aims to determine pathological profiles of individuals who benefit most from such interventions.

I. Executive Summary Background The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS.

Abstract Genome wide association studies (GWAS) in 9,013 pancreatic cancer patients and 12,452 controls of European ancestry have discovered over 20 risk loci in the human genome. Here, we fine mapped one such locus on chromosome 16q23.1 in the vicinity of two Chymotrypsinogen precursor genes, CTRB1 and CTRB2. We fine-mapped this locus to rs72802365 (P=2.51x10-17, OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.31-1.40) and identified colocalization (PP=87%) with aberrant exon 5→7 CTRB2 splicing in pancreatic tissues. Imputation of a 584 bp insertion/deletion variant overlapping exon 6 of CTRB2 into the GWAS datasets resulted in a highly significant association with pancreatic cancer risk (P=2.83x10-16, OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.31-1.42), indicating that it may underlie this signal. Exon skipping attributable to the deletion (risk) allele introduces a premature stop codon in exon 7 of CTRB2, yielding a truncated chymotrypsin B2 protein that lacks chymotrypsin activity, is poorly secreted, and accumulates intracellularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The intracellular accumulation of a nonfunctional chymotrypsinogen B2 protein may lead to ER stress and pancreatic inflammation, which in turn, may explain the increased pancreatic cancer risk in carriers of CTRB2 exon 6 deletion alleles. Citation Format: Ashley Jermusyk, Jun Zhong, Naomi Gordon, Katelyn Connelly, Sumeth Perera, Ehssan Abdolalizadeh, Tongwu Zhang, Aidan O'Brien, Jason Hoskins, Irene Collins, Daina Eiser, Chen Yuan, Harvey Risch, Eric J. Jacobs, Donghui Li, Mengmeng Du, Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, Alison P. Klein, Jill P. Smith, Brian M. Wolpin, Stephen J. Chanock, Jianxin Shi, Gloria M. Petersen, Christopher Westlake, Laufey T. Amundadottir. An exception to the rule: A coding functional variant at a pancreatic cancer GWAS locus [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2020 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA-11.