Citations

Key PointsCandidate SNP associations with survival outcomes after URD transplant are most likely false-positive findings. Over 85% of candidate SNPs are not linked to a biochemical function; of those that are, about half are not linked to the candidate gene.

AbstractBackgroundUnilateral radiotherapy (RT) of oropharyngeal carcinomas is accepted for patients with lateralized primary and low‐volume nodal disease. Utilizing prospectively defined criteria of laterality and staging positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, we studied outcomes in patients with advanced‐stage oropharyngeal cancer undergoing unilateral RT.MethodsThirty‐seven patients with oropharyngeal tumors >1 cm from midline regardless of node status underwent unilateral RT and were followed prospectively. Patient characteristics: T1 = 11; T2 = 22; T3 = 4; N0 = 3; N1 = 9; N2a = 3; N2b = 21; and Nx = 1. Dosimetry were determined and weekly National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer data were collected.ResultsAt median follow‐up of 32 months, 3‐year locoregional control, contralateral regional failure, distant metastasis‐free survival, and disease‐free survival were 96%, 0%, 7%, and 93%, respectively.ConclusionLow rates of contralateral neck failure are demonstrated utilizing prospectively defined criteria for unilateral RT. The tolerances of contralateral organs are respected and patients report low to moderate levels of distress throughout treatment.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the impact of depression before autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) on clinical outcomes post‐transplantation.METHODSWe analyzed data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research to compare outcomes after autologous (n = 3786) or allogeneic (n = 7433) HCT for adult patients with hematologic malignancies with an existing diagnosis of pre‐HCT depression requiring treatment versus those without pre‐HCT depression. Using Cox regression models, we compared overall survival (OS) between patients with or without depression. We compared the number of days alive and out of the hospital in the first 100 days post‐HCT using Poisson models. We also compared the incidence of grade 2‐4 acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic HCT.RESULTSThe study included 1116 (15%) patients with pre‐transplant depression and 6317 (85%) without depression who underwent allogeneic HCT between 2008 and 2012. Pre‐transplant depression was associated with lower OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04‐1.23; P = 0.004) and a higher incidence of grade 2‐4 acute GVHD (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.14‐1.37; P < 0.0001), but similar incidence of chronic GVHD. Pre‐transplant depression was associated with fewer days‐alive‐and‐out‐of‐the hospital (means ratio [MR] = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95‐0.99; P = 0.004). There were 512 (13.5%) patients with Pre‐transplant depression and 3274 (86.5%) without depression who underwent autologous HCT. Pre‐transplant depression in autologous HCT was not associated with OS (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.98‐1.34; P = 0.096) but was associated with fewer days alive and out of the hospital (MR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97‐0.99; P = 0.002).CONCLUSIONPre‐transplant depression was associated with lower OS and higher risk of acute GVHD among allogeneic HCT recipients and fewer days alive and out of the hospital during the first 100 days after autologous and allogeneic HCT. Patients with pre‐transplant depression represent a population that is at risk for post‐transplant complications. Cancer 2017;123:1828–1838. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Febrile infection‐related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a devastating epileptic encephalopathy with limited treatment options and an unclear etiology. Anakinra is a recombinant version of the human interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist used to treat autoinflammatory disorders. This is the first report of anakinra for treatment of a child with super‐refractory status epilepticus secondary to FIRES. Anakinra was well tolerated and effective. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis revealed elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines before treatment that normalized on anakinra, suggesting a potential pathogenic role for neuroinflammation in FIRES. Further studies are required to assess anakinra efficacy and dosing, and to further delineate disease etiology. Ann Neurol 2016;80:939–945

BACKGROUND The Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was a National Institutes of Health‐funded initiative to develop measures of symptoms and function. Responsiveness is the degree to which a measure can detect underlying changes over time. The objective of the current study was to document the responsiveness of 8 PROMIS measures in a large, population‐based cancer cohort. METHODS The Measuring Your Health study recruited 2968 patients who were diagnosed with 1 of 7 cancers between 2010 and 2012 through 4 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. Participants completed a baseline survey (6‐13 months after diagnosis) and a 6‐month follow‐up survey. Changes in 8 PROMIS scores were compared with global ratings of transition, changes in performance status, and clinical events. RESULTS Measures were responsive to 6‐month declines and improvements in performance status with small to large effect sizes (ES) (Cohen d = 0.34‐0.71; P < .01). Mean changes and effect sizes were larger for participants who reported declines compared with those who reported improvements. Small‐to‐medium ES were observed in patients who reported being “a little” worse (d = 0.31‐0.56), and medium‐to‐large ES were observed in those who reported being “a lot” worse (d = 0.53‐0.72). Hospitalized participants reported significant score increases, resulting in worsening of pain (d = 0.51), fatigue (d = 0.35), and depression (d = 0.57; all P < .01). Cancer recurrence and progression were associated with smaller increases in pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance (d = 0.22‐0.27). CONCLUSIONS The current results indicated that all 8 PROMIS measures were sensitive to patient‐perceived worsening and improvement and to major clinical events. These findings will be able to inform the design and interpretation of future research studies and clinical initiatives administering PROMIS measures. Cancer 2017;123:327–335. © 2016 American Cancer Society .

Abstract Context: Type VIII osteogenesis imperfecta (OI; OMIM 601915) is a recessive form of lethal or severe OI caused by null mutations in P3H1, which encodes prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1. Objectives: Clinical and bone material description of non-lethal type VIII OI. Design: Natural history study of type VIII OI. Setting: Pediatric academic research centers. Patients: Five patients with non-lethal type VIII OI, and one patient with lethal type VIII OI. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical examinations included bone mineral density, radiographs, and serum and urinary metabolites. Bone biopsy samples were analyzed for histomorphometry and bone mineral density distribution by quantitative backscattered electron imaging microscopy. Collagen biochemistry was examined by mass spectrometry, and collagen fibrils were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Results: Type VIII OI patients have extreme growth deficiency, an L1–L4 areal bone mineral density Z-score of −5 to −6, and normal bone formation markers. Collagen from bone and skin tissue and cultured osteoblasts and fibroblasts have nearly absent 3-hydroxylation (1–4%). Collagen fibrils showed abnormal diameters and irregular borders. Bone histomorphometry revealed decreased cortical width and very thin trabeculae with patches of increased osteoid, although the overall osteoid surface was normal. Quantitative backscattered electron imaging showed increased matrix mineralization of cortical and trabecular bone, typical of other OI types. However, the proportion of bone with low mineralization was increased in type VIII OI bone, compared to type VII OI. Conclusions: P3H1 is the unique enzyme responsible for collagen 3-hydroxylation in skin and bone. Bone from non-lethal type VIII OI children is similar to type VII, especially bone matrix hypermineralization, but it has distinctive features including extremely thin trabeculae, focal osteoid accumulation, and an increased proportion of low mineralized bone.