Citations

Abstract Background Staging disease severity in dementia research requires input from an informant. The Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR) is the most used instrument for staging in Alzheimer's Disease (AD); but has been expanded to stage patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with the CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD. An informant effect on the CDR has been reported in AD. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether informant characteristics influence the CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD in a large cohort of participants with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Method We included participants with a FTLD‐related syndrome from the ALLFTD study. We included participants with a CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD higher than 0, information on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q). We performed a conditional growth model using multilevel linear regression analysis. We performed an exploratory stratified analysis by patient sex. Result We included 1411 participants, totalling 2063 visits. The patient's age at the initial visit was 64.7±9.4 years and 44.0% were females. Females were 69.2% of the informants, and the relationship was 79.1% spouse or partner, 10.6% children, 4.1% were siblings and 6.2% other. The CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD scores were affected by informant characteristics. The CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD scores were 0.41 (CI 95%:0.08 to 0.75) higher with female informants. The frequency of visits was associated with a CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD score 0.86 higher (CI 95%:0.17 to 0.56) when visiting at least once a week, 1.46 higher (CI 95%:0.46 to 2.47) when visiting daily, and 0.83 higher (CI 95%:0.06 to 1.60) when living with the patient compared with visiting less than once a week. As expected, CDR‐FLTD scores increased with lower MoCA and higher NPI‐Q scores. In the stratified analysis by sex, we found that female informant was associated with higher CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD scores only when patients were male. Conclusion We found that the CDR PLUS NACC‐FTLD is influenced by informant sex and frequency of visits in patients with FTLD‐related syndromes. These results are similar to those observed in AD patients and underscore the need to recognize that informant characteristics may impact dementia severity scales.

Abstract Background The National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Family Based Study (NIA‐ AD FBS) is a multi‐site, longitudinal study aimed to be a data and bio sample resource for investigators worldwide. Since its inception in 2002 the FBS goal has been to promote greater cooperation and sharing of clinical and biological resources among researchers. Methods The focus of the Family Based Study (FBS) has been the recruitment of families with at least two affected individuals and a third first degree relative with or without dementia and willing to participate. Participants are from different ethnic backgrounds including Caucasian, African American and Hispanics. The FBS study is actively recruiting both late onset (LOAD) and early onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) families as well as conducting follow up evaluations every two years, approximately. Uniform assessments are completed across all sites and include DNA, Plasma, PaXgene and PBMC samples collection and brain autopsies whenever possible. We conduct both in person and remote evaluations and use the services of a mobile phlebotomy company to collect bio samples. In addition, we’ve created a protocol for genetic testing on the proband for EOAD families where an additional sample is sent to a CLIA approved lab and after genetic counseling, the presence or not of AD related mutations is disclosed to the families. Results To date, this cohort has recruited 1,756 families and acquired data from 9,682 family members. Families are from Caucasian, African Americans and Hispanics ethnic groups. The cohort has longitudinal clinical data, cognitive assessment, family history and bio samples available for sharing. Genotype data includes APOE, GWAS, WES, WGS, brain methylation, RNA sequencing and biomarkers data. Conclusion The NIA‐LOAD FBS study is the largest collection of familial Alzheimer's Disease worldwide and many genetic studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have included cases and controls from this dataset. Over 140 publications have used data and/or samples from FBS to address the genetics of Alzheimer's Disease. The enriched resources provided by this cohort are invaluable to the scientific community.

Importance Molecular analyses of biospecimens collected from study participants are essential for identifying biomarkers that can tailor treatments to specific subsets of patients who are most likely to benefit. Sharing of data and biospecimens from clinical trials enables personalized, patient-centric use of cancer therapies and accelerates the development of new treatments. Objective To describe obstacles to sharing data and biospecimens and to propose strategies to enhance access and collaboration. Evidence Review This is a Special Communication authored by 53 academic investigators and patient representatives from the breast cancer community with extensive experience in conducting clinical and translational research. The article also evaluates the impact of biomarker research on specifying responsive subpopulations in the 29 registrational clinical trials that have led to approval of a new drug for treatment of breast cancer between 2017 and 2024. Findings Clinical trial participants are increasingly asked to provide tissue and/or body fluid biospecimens for biomarker research that is typically controlled by the sponsoring pharmaceutical company, but published biomarker studies are rare. Among 29 breast cancer registrational studies reported in the past 8 years, none resulted in biomarker research that restricted a drug’s approved indication. Herein, strategies to maximize the value of clinical data and biospecimens contributed by participants are proposed, thereby supporting the shared goals of the pharmaceutical industry and academia to improve patient care. These strategies include (1) establishing coleadership structures involving academia and patients in clinical trial design and conduct, (2) ensuring that informed consent forms state that data and biospecimens will be shared with academia for future research, (3) requiring the sharing of clinical data as a condition for regulatory approval, and (4) enabling access to biospecimens and translational research data for independent studies on biomarkers that may indicate drug efficacy and toxicity. Conclusions and Relevance Data and biospecimen sharing from registrational trials has been suboptimal. Improving clinical data, biospecimens, and biospecimens’ related data sharing requires concrete actions and a multidimensional stakeholder approach to accelerate the impact of clinical cancer research on the quality of patient care.

Abstract Introduction: Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are caused by germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in telomere maintenance genes and result in multisystem manifestations, including impaired bone health. Patients with TBDs experience reduced bone mineral density (BMD), avascular necrosis, and increased rates of fragility fractures. However, the underlying mechanisms of these bone complications remain poorly understood, and no TBD-specific treatments for bone health currently exist. Our objective was to characterize the clinical features, management, and outcomes of TBD-related bone health issues, including fractures and reduced BMD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, international cohort study using data from 232 patients with TBDs enrolled across 12 centers participating in the Clinical Care Consortium of Telomere-Associated Ailments. Medical records were reviewed for fracture history and BMD assessments by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The primary endpoint was fracture incidence; secondary endpoints included BMD assessment and fracture management. Data were stratified by pediatric (≤18 years) and adult (>18 years) age groups. Analyses were based on data availability; specific denominators are provided where applicable. Result: Data were available for 53 (23%) pediatric and 179 (77%) adult patients. TERT mutations were the most frequently identified variants in both groups (28% pediatric, 23% adult). Fractures occurred in 25% (13/53) of pediatric patients and 35% (62/178) of adults. In contrast, fractures are estimated to occur in 10-15% of the general pediatric population. The median age at first fracture was 8.2 years (range 2.5–17) in children and 29.2 years (range 18.3–66.9) in adults. Among those with fracture data (n=20 pediatric, n=22 adult), fragility fractures were more common in adults (57%) versus predominantly traumatic fractures in children (61%). Multiple fractures occurred in 65% of affected pediatric patients and 45% of affected adults. Fracture management also differed: non-surgical treatments were used in 60% of pediatric fractures (n=12/20) versus 36% (n=8/22) of adult fractures; surgical interventions were more common in adults (36%). The inheritance pattern (autosomal dominant versus recessive or X-linked) was not associated with fracture risk but the subset of patients with CTC1 mutations were associated with increased fracture risk (n=5 of 124 patients with fracture history, 4% vs n=2 of 247 patients with no fracture history, 0.8%; p=0.04). We also assessed whether vascular manifestations were associated with fracture risk comparing patients with and without fractures. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were significantly more common in patients with fractures (17%, 7/42) versus those without (5.4%, 6/112; p=0.04). No significant differences were found in rates of retinal vasculopathy or hemorrhage (13% vs 7.2%, p=0.23) or gastrointestinal bleeding (22% vs 16%, p=0.35). DXA data were available for 171 patients (22 pediatric, 149 adult). The median age at first DXA was 11.4 years (range 4–17.7) for children and 58.2 years (range 20.8–79.4) for adults. Among pediatric patients, the median lumbar spine Z-score was –1.2 (IQR –3.0 to –0.2, n=18), with 39% (7/18) showing a Z-score < –2. Among adults, the median femoral neck T-score was –1.1 (IQR –1.7 to –0.5, n=118), with 21% (29/138) demonstrating T-scores < –2, indicating low BMD. Conclusions: Fractures and reduced BMD are common in both pediatric and adult patients with TBDs, with a substantial burden of early-onset and recurrent fractures. Our findings underscore the importance of early bone health screening and surveillance in TBDs and suggest a possible link between vascular abnormalities and skeletal fragility in this population that requires further study.

Abstract Introduction: T-PLL is a rare, aggressive leukemia with poor prognosis and limited therapies. Previous studies on T-PLL patients receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) are limited by small numbers with limited data on disease and transplant characteristics. Further, recent data from our large national cohort of patients demonstrated significant survival difference between TCL1A+ and TCL1A- T-PLL, and CD8+ T-PLL vs CD8- T-PLL. In this large multi-center series, utilizing comprehensive disease subtype and alloSCT clinical data, we evaluated prognostic and survival therapeutic outcomes in T-PLL patients that had an alloSCT with a particular focus on T-PLL disease subtypes. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 572 diagnosed with T-PLL at 21 academic cancer centers throughout the USA between 2000-2023, of which we performed a further evaluation on the169 that proceeded with alloSCT. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Among n=169 alloSCT recipients with T-PLL, the median follow-up time was 20.9 months post-alloSCT (range: 0.2-182.9), the median age at transplant was 59 years (range: 35-77) and 52% were male. In evaluated patients (n=109), TCL1A was positive by cytogenetics or FISH in 69%. As our recent analysis demonstrated significant differences in survival among specific subtypes of T-PLL, we evaluated outcomes in patients with CD4+CD8- T-PLL (n=90, 53%), CD4-CD8+ (n=17, 10%) T-PLL, and CD4+CD8+ T-PLL (n=52, 31%). 53% (87/164) had known nodal involvement at diagnosis identified by PET or CT scan and 45% (43/96) of known patients had minimal residual disease (MRD) at the time of transplant [defined as <5% T-PLL in marrow by flow, or +cytogenetics (e.g. TCL1A)] prior to alloSCT. At the time of alloSCT, 136 (80%) patients were in CR and 23 (14%) patients were in PR. Forty-nine (30%) had a myeloablative (MAC)conditioning regimen and 114 (70%) had a reduced intensity chemotherapy (RIC) conditioning regimen. Eighty (49%) patients had TBI as part of their regimen. The most common regimens were fludarabine (flu)/melphalan based regimens (n=44; 26.0%), flu/cyclophosphamide (cy) based regimens (n=33; 19.5%), flu/busulfan based regimens (n=22; 13.0%), flu/total body irradiation (TBI) (n=8; 4.7%), and cy/TBI (n=4; 2.4%). Across the whole cohort, the median OS and PFS post-alloSCT was 32.6 months (95% CI: 21.0-41.9) and 20.8 months (95% CI: 14.4-30.5) months while the 1-year cumulative incidences (CI) of NRM and relapse were 17% and 20%, respectively. The incidences of grade II-IV acute GVHD and cGVHD were 19% and 23%. There was no difference between patients with myeloablative conditioning (MAC) (n=49, 29%) when compared to patients that received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) (n=114, 67%) in OS (33.1 vs 29.2; p=0.68) and PFS (20.2 vs 20.8; p=0.97). Patients that were MRD+ (n=31) had worse OS (22.2 vs 48.6; p=0.1) and PFS (14.1 vs 32.5; p=0.04) and higher rates of relapse (1-year relapse 20% vs 8%; p=0.08) than patients that were MRD- (n=50). PFS was improved in those who received alloSCT though only trended towards significance due to low numbers (HR 0.76, p=0.09). In subtype analysis, TCL1A+ T-PLL had significantly worse outcomes compared to TCL1A negative T-PLL. TCL1A+ disease had significantly worse OS (21.6 vs 63.1; p=0.01) and PFS (12.4 vs 50.7; p=0.01) compared to TCL1A-. Additionally, in TCL1A+ disease CI of NRM (24% vs 3%; p=0.02) and relapse (25% vs 12%; p=0.86) was higher vs TCL1A- PLL. CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+, and CD4+CD8+ disease had no difference in survival via either OS (28.0 vs 34.4 vs 21.0; p=0.17) or PFS (29.4 vs 23.5 vs 13.6; p=0.09) as well as no difference 1-year CI of NRM ( 11.6 vs 23.5 vs 26.2; p=0.35) and relapse (18.5 vs 23.5 vs 20.0; p=0.67).Conclusions: AlloSCT significantly improved outcomes for patients with T-PLL compared to those who did not proceed to alloSCT and remains he only curative therapy for those with T-PLL. OS, PFS, and CI relapse were significantly worse for patients with TCL1A+ subtype of T-PLL, or those with MRD positivity or PR prior to alloSCT. Novel strategies to decrease relapse such as post-alloSCT maintenance therapy to improve outcomes are urgently needed in these patients.

Importance Observational studies have associated use of aspirin and selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors with decreased recurrence and improved survival in patients with colon cancer. While randomized clinical trials have not shown benefit across all patients, these findings suggest that select subgroups may benefit from their use. Despite the well-established prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), its role in guiding treatment remains unclear. Objective To investigate the predictive value of postoperative ctDNA for survival outcomes with adjuvant celecoxib alongside conventional chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 Cancer and Leukemia Group B (now Alliance)/Southwest Oncology Group 80702 randomized clinical trial (2010-2015) assessing adjuvant celecoxib vs placebo and 3 vs 6 months of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin for stage III colon cancer. Patients consented to biospecimen collection and had ctDNA analysis performed. Data analysis was performed from September 2024 to June 2025. Exposures Postoperative ctDNA positivity was determined using a clinically validated, tumor-informed 16-plex-polymerase chain reaction-next-generation sequencing assay (Signatera; Natera Inc) performed between surgery and initiation of adjuvant therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Survival by ctDNA status and adjuvant celecoxib use were assessed as part of a post hoc companion study with prespecified statistical analysis plan. Results Among 940 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.9 [10.8] years; 426 female [45.3%] and 515 male [54.7%] individuals; 222 [23.6%] with prior low-dose aspirin use; and median follow-up of 6.0 [95% CI, 6.0-6.0] years), 767 (81.6%) were ctDNA negative and 173 (18.4%) were ctDNA positive. ctDNA positivity was highly prognostic of worse DFS (reference, ctDNA negativity; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 6.12; 95% CI, 4.66-8.03) and OS (aHR, 5.86; 95% CI, 4.19-8.19). In patients with ctDNA positivity, celecoxib was associated with improved DFS (aHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42-0.89) and OS (aHR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40-0.96) compared to placebo. Among patients with ctDNA negativity, celecoxib did not provide survival benefit (DFS: aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.53-1.09; OS: aHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.54-1.36), although the interaction was not significant ( P for interaction, .41 and .33 for DFS and OS, respectively). These findings persisted when stratifying patients by microsatellite instability status and PIK3CA mutational status. Conclusion and Relevance The findings of this post hoc analysis suggest that ctDNA status has the potential to inform clinical decision-making among patients with stage III colon cancer who should consider adjuvant celecoxib in addition to conventional chemotherapy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01150045

Abstract BACKGROUND Awake craniotomy with speech mapping remains a gold standard for achieving maximal safe resection of diffuse gliomas located in eloquent cortex. Significant practice variability exists with regards to patient selection, speech mapping paradigms, aggressiveness of resection, and use of other adjuncts. We report our experience with speech mapping procedures for patients with diffuse gliomas, comparing cases performed with and without intraoperative MRI. METHODS A single-surgeon retrospective review of 148 consecutive awake craniotomy procedures, from 2008-2024, was performed. We recorded baseline patient characteristics, speech mapping findings, post-operative course, and volumetric extents of resection. Multivariate regression analyses were performed for factors predictive of permanent aphasia and residual tumor volume. RESULTS Speech mapping was performed in 95% of cases, with positive speech areas found in 49% of cases. Intraoperative MRI cases (75% of total) had significantly greater extent of resection (87.4% vs. 78.6%, p=0.03) despite equivalent pre-operative volumes. Post-operative new/worsened aphasia was 15% for mild and 5% for moderate symptoms, and this was associated with reduced rates of return to work (54% vs 78%, p=0.04). Predictors of recovery from aphasia were extent of resection (OR 1.1, p=0.006) and 90-day disease progression (OR 0.06, p=0.04). Predictors of residual tumor volume were pre-operative tumor volume (β 0.3, p<0.001), identification of after-discharge potentials during speech mapping (β -9.7, p<0.001), and pre-operative functional status (β -0.3, p=0.02). Overall survival was impacted by presence of contrast enhancement (p=0.0002), tissue diagnosis (p<0.0001), and WHO grade (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Awake craniotomy with speech mapping remains a valuable strategy for achieving maximal safe resection of diffuse gliomas, with the majority of patients returning to baseline level of functioning. New/worsened aphasia is the biggest risk of surgery, which significantly impacts patient quality of life. Intraoperative MRI can be considered as an adjunctive tool for awake speech mapping during glioma surgery.