Citations

Abstract To address acute vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs), the leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits among individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), we conducted the clinical study, ALIGN (An Individualized Pain Plan with Patient and Provider Access for Emergency Department care of SCD), across 8 sites. We hypothesized an improvement of 0.5 standard deviations in perceived quality of ED pain treatment of a VOE after implementing individualized pain plans (IPPs) accessible to both patients and providers. Patients with SCD were aged 18 to 45 years, owned a cell phone, and had an ED VOE visit within 90 days prior. Patients completed the perceived quality of care surveys at baseline and within 96 hours after an ED VOE visit. Providers completed surveys regarding comfort managing VOEs at baseline and after managing an enrolled patient. Most of the 153 patients were African American (95.4%), female (64.7%), and had Hb SS/Sβ0 genotype (71.9%). The perceived quality of ED pain treatment was high at both baseline and after implementation of IPPs; our primary outcome hypothesis was not met, because no statistically significant change in the patient-perceived quality of ED treatment occurred. A total of 135 providers completed baseline and follow-up surveys. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being extremely comfortable managing VOEs, 60.5% reported a score ≥6 after IPP implementation vs 57.8% at baseline. Almost all (97.6%) ordered the recommended medication, and 94.7% intended to use IPPs. In this implementation protocol, all sites successfully implemented IPPs. Patients and ED providers both endorsed the use of IPPs. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as # NCT04584528.

Abstract Medical researchers are increasingly prioritizing the inclusion of underserved communities in clinical studies. However, mere inclusion is not enough. People from underserved communities frequently experience chronic stress that may lead to accelerated biological aging and early morbidity and mortality. It is our hope and intent that the medical community come together to engineer improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Here, we introduce Health Equity Engineering (HEE), a comprehensive scientific framework to guide research on the development of tools to identify individuals at risk of poor health outcomes due to chronic stress, the integration of these tools within existing healthcare system infrastructures, and a robust assessment of their effectiveness and sustainability. HEE is anchored in the premise that strategic intervention at the individual level, tailored to the needs of the most at-risk people, can pave the way for achieving equitable health standards at a broader population level. HEE provides a scientific framework guiding health equity research to equip the medical community with a robust set of tools to enhance health equity for current and future generations.

Introduction Subjectively experienced cognitive difficulties are common in youth with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The pathophysiological and psychological contributions of these cognitive impairments remain unclear. Method Participants were 96 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and admitted to an intensive pain treatment program. Participants completed cognitive assessment and measures of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome symptoms, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, and functional disability. Results Self-reported autonomic symptom intensity, but not severity of heart rate change, was associated with cognitive performance. Symptoms of depression were associated with decreases in most measures of cognitive functioning. Pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and depression but not cognitive scores and physiological measures, were significant predictors of disability. Conclusion Depression appears to be a significant contributor to the cognitive difficulties in youth with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating affective symptoms in this population along with medical and lifestyle approaches to treating postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome symptoms.

The emergence of CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for R/R B-cell NHLs. However, challenges persist in accurately evaluating treatment response and detecting early relapse, necessitating the exploration of novel biomarkers. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via liquid biopsy is a non-invasive tool for monitoring therapy efficacy and predicting treatment outcomes in B-NHL following CAR-T therapy. By overcoming the limitations of conventional imaging modalities, ctDNA assessments offer valuable insights into response dynamics, molecular mechanisms of resistance, and early detection of molecular relapse. Integration of ctDNA monitoring into clinical practice holds promise for personalized therapeutic strategies, guiding the development of novel targeted therapies, and enhancing patient outcomes. However, standardization of assay methodologies and consensus on clinical response metrics are imperative to unlock the full potential of ctDNA in the management of B-NHL. Prospective validation of ctDNA in clinical trials is necessary to establish its role as a complementary decision aid.

Abstract B7-H3 (CD276) is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the B7 immune checkpoint superfamily that has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. To better understand the applicability of B7-H3–directed therapies, we analyzed 156,791 samples comprising 50 cancer types to interrogate the clinical, genomic, transcriptomic, and immunologic correlates of B7-H3 mRNA expression. DNA (592-gene/whole-exome) and RNA (whole-transcriptome) sequencing was performed from samples submitted to Caris Life Sciences. B7-H3 high versus low expression was based on top and bottom quartiles for each cancer type. Patients’ overall survival was determined from insurance claims data. Pathway analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analyses. Immune cell fractions were inferred using quanTIseq. B7-H3 is expressed across several human malignancies including prostate, pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers. High B7-H3 expression is associated with differences in overall survival, possibly indicating a prognostic role of B7-H3 for some cancers. When examining molecular features across all cancer types, we did not identify recurrent associations between B7-H3 expression and genetic alterations in TP53, RB1, and KRAS. However, we find consistent enrichment of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, Wnt, TGFβ, and Notch signaling pathways. In addition, tumors with high B7-H3 expression are associated with greater proportions of M1 macrophages, but lower fractions of CD8+ T cells. We have begun to define the genomic, transcriptomic, clinical, and immunologic features associated with B7-H3 expression in 50 cancer types. We report novel clinical and molecular features of B7-H3–high tumors which may inform how current B7-H3 therapeutics should be deployed and prioritized. Significance: B7-H3–targeting therapeutics have shown promising results in initial clinical trials. In this pan-cancer analysis of B7-H3 mRNA expression, we found that B7-H3 exhibits robust expression in many common cancer types. These results may inform further development of B7-H3–targeting therapeutics and may guide clinical decisions for patients with limited treatment options.

Abstract Background Rural family caregivers (FCGs) in the United States often experience high economic costs. This randomized controlled trial compared a transitional palliative care intervention (TPC) to support FCGs of seriously ill care recipients (CRs) to an attention control condition. We evaluated the TPC's effect on healthcare use and out‐of‐pocket spending for both FCGs and CRs. Methods TPC FCGs received teaching, guidance, and counseling via video calls for 8 weeks following CR discharge from the hospital. After discharge, a research assistant called all FCGs once a month for up to 6 months or CR death to collect self‐reported healthcare utilization (e.g., outpatient, emergency department, and hospital), out‐of‐pocket healthcare spending (e.g., deductibles and coinsurance), and health‐related travel costs (e.g., transportation, lodging, food) for FCGs and CRs. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using negative binomial regressions. Results The study included 282 FCG–CR dyads across three U.S. states. Follow‐up over the 6‐month period was shortened by high CR mortality rates across both arms (29%), but was similar across arms. TPC reduced nights in the hospital for CR (IRR = 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56–0. 99). Total out‐of‐pocket spending was not significantly different for TPC versus control. Across both groups, mean out‐of‐pocket spending for dyads was $1401.85, with healthcare payments contributing $1048.58 and transportation expenses contributing $136.79. TPC dyads reported lower lodging costs (IRR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.56–0.89). Conclusions This study contributes to evidence that palliative care interventions reduce the number of nights in the hospital for seriously ill patients. Yet, overall rural FCGs and seriously ill CRs experience substantial out‐of‐pocket economic costs in the 6 months following hospitalization. Transitional care intervention design should consider impacts on patient and caregiver spending. Clinicaltrials.gov # is NCT03339271.

Abstract Abstract Title: Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 Background: KEYNOTE-522 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial which resulted in the FDA approval of pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Despite the significant improvement in pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival rates across all patients, the landmark trial included only 4.5% Black patients. It is essential to assess outcomes in representative treatment populations. We assessed real-world toxicity and treatment outcomes across Black and White patients who received standard-of-care treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we examined patients with early-stage TNBC who received planned treatment per KEYNOTE-522 as standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. 16 sites were included in the analysis. IRB approval was obtained from each participating site. Number and length of treatment delays, treatment-related toxicities (both chemotherapy and immune-related) of all grades, and pCR rate were collected from the electronic medical record of each participating site, and deidentified data were shared for central analysis. Results: Of the 577 patients who initiated treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, 534 patients were included in this analysis with 105 patients who self-identified as Black (19.7%) and 429 who self-identified as White (80.3%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups. White women were more likely to have grade 3+ immune-related adverse events (irAEs) compared to Black women (33.8% vs 20.9%, P=0.011). There was no significant difference across Black and White patients with respect to grade 3+ chemotherapy-related adverse events. Out of the 444 patients who have completed surgery, no difference in pCR rate was observed between Black and White women (45/86 52.3% vs 200/358 55.9%) (p = 0.6). The authors also saw no difference in the rates of hospitalizations between Black and White women (39% vs 36% p = 0.5), and rates of acute care utilization (38% vs 38% p = 0.9). Conclusions: We report safety and efficacy across Black and White women in a real-world analysis of patients who received treatment per KEYNOTE-522. Notably, White patients had a significantly higher frequency of grade 3+ irAEs, although the reason for this finding is unclear based on this analysis. Black patients had similar pCR rates and rates of treatment-related hospitalizations compared to White patients. Assessment of outcomes and toxicity by race in clinical trials and real-world analyses are critical in drug development. Citation Format: Mara Hofherr, Andrew Davis, Spenser January, Emily Owen, Farah Raheem, Lida A. Mina, Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, Lauren Lyons, Meredith Watson Rose, Katherine Madden, Jerline Hsin, Aimee Keegan, Wai Yu, Shawna Kraft, Allison Schepers, Emily Armgardt, Douglas Mazewski, Alison Svoboda, Kayla Harwood, Jodi Taraba, Yonatan Resnick, Shelly Hummert, Lisa Grate, Sidney Keisner, Jacob Hobbs, Todd Davis, Kristin Bastian, Dawn Minikel, Wiliam Adler, Traci White, Avneek Singh Sandu, Fouad Boulbol, Kelsey Finch, Katherine Clifton. Real-world analysis comparing Black and White patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-02.

Abstract Title: Real-world analysis of adverse events in patients with triple-negative breast cancer receiving therapy per KEYNOTE-522 Background: KEYNOTE-522 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial which resulted in the FDA approval of pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients (pts) with newly diagnosed, high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Given the improvement in pathological complete response (pCR) and event-free survival rates, this regimen has emerged as standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. To date, real world outcome analyses are limited. Methods: In this retrospective, multicenter study, we examined pts with early-stage TNBC who received planned treatment per KEYNOTE-522 as SOC. 16 sites were included in the analysis. IRB approval was obtained from each participating site. Number and length of treatment delays, treatment related toxicities (both chemotherapy and immune-related) of all grades, and pCR rate were collected from the electronic medical record of each participating site, and deidentified data were shared for central analysis. Results: 577 pts were included in this analysis. The median age of the cohort was 52 [range 27-77]. 457 pts had T1-2 disease and 139 had T3-4 disease. 316 pts had N0 disease and 261 had N1-3 disease. 506 pts had baseline ECOG 0, 62 had ECOG 1, and 9 had ECOG 2-3. Of the 482 patients who had surgery at the time of this analysis, 219 patients had pCR (54.5%) and 192 pts were still receiving treatment. 217 patients (37%) had an adverse drug event (ADE) causing dose reductions and 228 patients (39.5%) had to discontinue treatment early. There were 360 unplanned care visits, with 91 patients having 2+ visits. 66 patients had hospitalizations due to the regimen with 102 total hospitalizations. 179 (31%) of patients had grade 3+ immune related adverse events (irAEs), including many that are rare and potentially serious. 317 (54%) had an immune related adverse effect (see Table 1). There was no significant difference in the frequency of grade 3+ irAE based on age or body mass index. We observed no difference in residual disease between patients who discontinued treatment early and those who did not. However, if patients had an ADR causing a dose reduction, pts were significantly more likely to have residual disease (P=0.039) Conclusions: In a multicenter real-world analysis, the KEYNOTE-522 regimen was associated with a high frequency of dose reductions, early treatment discontinuations, ER visits, and hospitalizations. This may have accounted for a lower pCR rate than observed in the landmark clinical trial. Most grade 3+ irAEs occurred at greater frequency in our real-world analysis. Providers should carefully monitor for toxicity to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Table 1 Citation Format: Mara Hofherr, Katherine Clifton, Spenser January, Emily Owen, Farah Raheem, Lida A. Mina, Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, Lauren Lyons, Meredith Watson Rose, Katherine Madden, Jerline Hsin, Aimee Keegan, Wai Yu, Shawna Kraft, Allison Schepers, Emily Armgardt, Douglas Mazewski, Alison Svoboda, Kayla Harwood, Jodi Taraba, Yonatan Resnick, Shelly Hummert, Lisa Grate, Sidney Keisner, Jacob Hobbs, Todd Davis, Kristin Bastian, Dawn Minikel, Traci White, William Adler, Avneek Singh Sandu, Fouad Boulbol, Kelsey Finch, Andrew Davis. Real-World Analysis of Adverse Events in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer Receiving Therapy per KEYNOTE-522 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS14-06.