Citations

Background: Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is an effective but highly underutilized treatment for heart disease. Prior studies have demonstrated that the use of strategies such as systematic referral (as part of an order set that does not depend on physician initiative or memory, usually with an opt-out option), liaison facilitated referral (a specific staff member who discusses the program, encourages attendance, and facilitates referral), an early appointment (< 2 weeks), and telephone appointment reminder calls can all improved enrollment rates. However, it is unclear how frequently these strategies are utilized across the United States, how often CR programs monitor their participation rates, and how often quality improvement (QI) projects designed to improve participation rates are performed. Methods: We surveyed all CR program directors in the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation’s (AACVPR) database. We assessed basic program features, use of systematic referral, liaison facilitated referral, early appointments, and telephone reminder calls and QI projects. We also assessed self-reported referral, enrollment, and completion rates. Results: Response rate was 36% (290/812). Non-response bias analysis showed reasonable survey representativeness. Over the past 5 years, 49% of programs measured hospital referral, 21% office/clinic referral, 71% program enrollment, and 74% program completion rates. Self-reported rates (interquartile range) were 68 [32 to 90]% for hospital referral, 35 [15 to 60]% for office/clinic referral, 70[46 to 80]% for program enrollment, and 75[62 to 82]% for program completion. Programs reported utilizing a hospital-based systematic referral, liaison facilitated referral, or inpatient CR program 64%, 68%, and 60% of the time, respectively. Early appointments (< 2 weeks) were utilized by 35% and consistent phone call appointment reminders were utilized by 50%. Over the past 5 years, the percent or programs performing QI projects were 62% for hospital referral, 42% for clinic referral, 60% for program enrollment, and 57% for program completion. Measurement of participation rates was highly correlated with performing QI projects (p < 0.0001.) Conclusions: Although programs are aware of participation rate gaps, the monitoring of participation rates is suboptimal, quality improvement initiatives are infrequent, and proven strategies for increasing patient participation are inconsistently utilized. Awareness in outpatient clinical settings is particularly low. These issues likely contribute to the national CR participation gap and may prove to be useful targets for national QI initiatives.

Introduction: The benefits of optimal medical therapy (OMT) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have been evaluated in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) but analyses have not been stratified by detailed angiographic CAD burden or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: A patient-level meta-analysis was undertaken among T2DM patients enrolled in COURAGE, BARI 2D and FREEDOM to assess the impact of randomization to OMT, PCI + OMT, or CABG + OMT on a composite end-point of Death/MI/Stroke and stratified by LVEF (≥ 50%, < 50%), 1, 2 or 3 vessel disease (VD) (% diameter stenosis ≥ 50%) and presence or absence of proximal left anterior descending (pLAD) disease. Hazard ratios (HR) for treatment groups were calculated from Cox regression models including all patients adjusting for trial and revascularization stratum in BARI 2D. Multivariable adjustment for risk factors was performed as a sensitivity analysis. Results: There were 5,034 patients included in the analysis (BARI 2D: n=2,368, COURAGE: n=766, FREEDOM: n=1,900) of whom 17% had LVEF < 50%, 29% had pLAD, and 77% had 2 or 3 VD. A total of 1,591 patients were randomized to OMT alone, 2,118 to PCI + OMT, and 1,325 to CABG + OMT. There were 1,116 events during a median 4.5 year follow-up. There was no significant effect on outcomes with OMT vs PCI + OMT irrespective of LVEF, presence/absence of pLAD and number of VD. By contrast, CABG + OMT significantly reduced the risk of Death/MI/Stroke in patients with 2 or 3 VD, irrespective of LVEF and presence/absence of pLAD (see Table). Results were similar with multivariable adjustment. Conclusions: In patients with T2DM and stable CAD, OMT alone appears to be as effective as PCI + OMT while CABG + OMT significantly reduces cardiovascular events in those with multivessel CAD, irrespective of LVEF or presence of pLAD.

Insulin resistance increase with age but it is uncertain whether it is related to age or other factors. We measured insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp in 48 men and women −12 each of young lean (YL) and obese (YO) as well as old lean (OL) and obese (OO) groups. OL (69.9±1.4 years), OO (71.0±1.5 years), YL (22.8±1.0 years) and YO (24.2±0.6 years) were matched for BMI. Older groups had lower peak VO 2 (32.4±1.3 ml/kg FFM) than young (46.9±1.0)(p<0.01) but no differences noted among the two older and younger groups. Similar glucose levels (90.4 to 91.4 mg/dL) were maintained during the glucose clamp. The glucose infusion rate (GIR) at steady state, was similar in the YO (38.7±5.4 mmol/kgFFM/min) and OO (43.0±2.4) where as YL (55.5±3.7) and OL (54.2±3.4) were higher (p<0.02) than obese groups. GIR was significantly correlated to fasting insulin levels (R 2 =0.32, p<0.001). Energy expenditure per FFM, was not different amongst the 4 groups. Adiponectin levels were higher in the older groups (12526±1109 ng/mL) than in the younger (8640±392, p<0.01). A trend toward lower adiponectin levels was seen in OO (10394 ± 1187 ng/ml) than OL (14657 ±1705, p=0.05). A similar trend was not seen comparing the YO to YL. However, the OL had a significantly higher adiponectin level than the YL (9023.8 ± 595 ng/mL, p<0.01). GIR was not significantly correlated to age (R 2 =0.00005, p=NS) nor to peak VO2 (R 2 =0.007, p=NS) but was significantly correlated to truncal fat (R 2 =0.17, p<0.01) and BMI (R 2 =0.25, p<0.001). The age‐related decline in insulin sensitivity is not accounted for by fitness levels or age per se. The results demonstrated that insulin resistance in aging is explained by change in body composition rather than age.

Despite the importance of the vasculature during tumorigenesis and during antiangiogenesis treatment, there are few methods available to visualize conveniently the three‐dimensional microvascular structure of tumors. Micro‐computed tomography provides a means to visualize conveniently and quantitatively the three‐dimensional tumor microvascular architecture during tumorigenesis and treatment. In the present study, micro‐computed tomography was utilized to visualize the vasculature of hepatic tumors in SV‐40 transgenic rats. The rats were anesthetized and the vasculature of the livers was infused via an aortic cannula, first with heparinized 0.9% saline, then with 10% buffered formalin and finally with radiopaque silicone rubber (Microfil 122). The livers were first scanned by micro‐CT to visualize the microvasculature and then prepared for histology to visualize the parenchyma. At 10 months of age, all transgenic rats developed gross tumors in their livers. Histological examination revealed that the malignant hepatic lesions in the livers displayed mixed structures resembling hepatoblastoma, cholangiocellular or hepatocellular differentiation in human. Various sized vessels were visible extending to the tumors. Three‐dimensional micro‐computed tomography showed that those vessels were disorganized and tortuous with atypical branching patterns. Often vascular “lakes” were found in the mass of the large tumors. These results show the utility of micro‐computed tomography for studying tumor vasculogenesis. Supported in part by NIH grant EB 000305.

Abstract Most patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have mild to moderate illness not requiring hospitalization. However, no study has detailed the evolution of symptoms in the first month of illness. At our institution, we conducted remote (telephone and video) visits for all adult outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 within 24 h of a positive nasopharyngeal polymerase chain test for SARS-CoV-2. We repeated regular video visits at 7, 14, and 28 days after the positive test, retrospectively reviewed the prospective data collected in the remote visits, and constructed a week by week profile of clinical illness, through week 4 of illness. We reviewed the courses of 458 symptomatic patients diagnosed between March 12, 2020, and June 22, 2020, and characterized their weekly courses. Common initial symptoms included fever, headache, cough, and chest pain, which frequently persisted through week 3 or longer. Upper respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms were much shorter lived, present primarily in week 1. Anosmia/ageusia peaked in weeks 2 to 3. Emergency department visits were frequent, with 128 visits in the 423 patients who were not hospitalized and 48 visits among the 35 outpatients (7.6%) who were eventually hospitalized (2 subsequently died). By the fourth week, 28.9% said their illness had completely resolved. After the 4-week follow up, 20 (4.7%) of the 423 nonhospitalized patients had further medical evaluation and management for subacute or chronic COVID-19 symptoms. Mild to moderate outpatient COVID-19 is a prolonged illness, with evolving symptoms commonly lasting into the fourth week of illness.

11503 Background: EHE is a rare vascular cancer arising in liver, lung, soft tissue and bone. The natural history of metastatic disease varies considerably from indolent growth over years to rapid growth with fatal outcome in months. Treatment of patients (pts) with metastatic EHE with antiangiogenic therapy induces tumor response in a minority of pts, and median PFS is 6-12 months. TAZ-CAMTA1 translocation results in activation of MAPK pathway and is an oncogenic driver in EHE. We sought to evaluate the effect of MEK inhibition using trametinib in pts with unresectable EHE. Methods: A phase 2 trial of trametinib 2 mg daily was conducted in pts with EHE though the Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network supported by NCI in collaboration with SARC. Additional support was provided by the EHE Rare Cancer Charity and the EHE Foundation. Pts had to have evidence of objective tumor progression or EHE-related pain requiring narcotics for relief prior to enrollment. Presence of TAZ-CAMTA1 translocation was analyzed by fusion-FISH after enrollment. Primary trial endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST1.1 with at least 1 objective response required in the 1st 13 pts to expand enrollment to 27. The trial was amended after stage 1 to continue enrollment to 27 pts with TAZ-CAMTA1 detected by FISH with goal of >4 objective responses in this group. Secondary objectives were PFS and OS rates, safety and change in pt-reported global health and pain scores per PROMIS questionnaires. Results: 43 pts were enrolled between 6/2017 – 9/2020 across 10 sites and 41 started therapy. TAZ-CAMTA1 fusion was detected in 26, not detected in 7, test failed in 5 and was not performed due to insufficient tumor in 5. Median pt age was 54 (range 22-81 yrs) and 11 were >65 yrs; 25 were female; ECOG was 0 in 23, 1 in 16 and 2 in 3 pts. Most pts experienced reduction in tumor size. ORR per RECIST was 7% (3/41); in pts with TAZ-CAMTA1 detected, the ORR was 0% (0/26). Mean pain intensity and interference scores had a statistically significant improvement and global quality of life scores did not statistically change after 4 weeks of therapy. 17 pts remained on treatment > 6 months and 7 > 12 months. 25 pts stopped trametinib due to EHE progression, 6 died during treatment, 6 withdrew from treatment, 3 stopped drug due to adverse event and 1 is on treatment. The most common AEs related to trametinib were rash, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia and edema; Grade >3 AEs included anemia, dyspnea, hypoxia, hypotension, syncope and dermatitis. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest prospective clinical study focused on pts with EHE. Although the trial did not meet the ORR goal, stable disease > 6 months was seen in 40% of pts, and EHE-related pain improved on treatment. Trametinib was associated with expected cutaneous and GI adverse effects. Additional pt-reported outcomes and biomarkers of inflammation are undergoing analysis. Clinical trial information: NCT03148275.

5040 Background: PARPi have shown promise in mCRPC pts with mutations in DNA repair, but ATM- and BRCA2-altered pts may respond differently to PARPi. We hypothesized that differences may also exist for taxane therapy, aiding in treatment sequencing decisions. Methods: mCRPC pts (N = 137) with deleterious ATM or BRCA2 mutations who received taxanes, PARPi, or both were identified from 8 US academic centers. Demographic, treatment, and survival data were collected. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed for time-to-treatment-discontinuation (TTD), as well as overall survival (OS), from time of first taxane or PARPi therapy. Cox hazard ratio (HR) regression analyses were performed, adjusting for Gleason sum (≤7 vs. 8-10). For OS, receipt of subsequent therapies following first taxane or PARPi was also included as a covariate. Results: 50 ATM- and 87 BRCA2-mutated pts were identified. 40/50 (80%) of ATM-mutated pts received taxane only or taxane prior to PARPi, while 10/50 (20%) received PARPi only or PARPi prior to taxane. ATM-mutated pts showed a trend towards longer TTD when taxane was given first vs PARPi given first (P = 0.08, adjusted HR for taxane treatment 0.50 [95% CI: 0.24–1.08]). Considering all pts who received taxane first, ATM-mutated pts had longer TTD than BRCA2-mutated pts who received taxane first ( P= 0.04, adjusted HR for ATM 0.61 [CI: 0.37–0.99]). Among ATM-mutated pts, OS was longer in those receiving taxane first ( P= 0.06, adjusted HR for taxane treatment 0.33 [CI: 0.10–1.05]). Among BRCA2-mutated pts, 43/87 (49%) received taxane first and 44/87 (51%) received PARPi first. BRCA2-mutated pts had longer TTD when PARPi was given first vs taxane given first ( P< 0.0001, adjusted HR for PARPi treatment 0.32 [CI: 0.19–0.56]). Considering all pts who received PARPi first, BRCA2-mutated pts also had longer TTD than ATM-mutated pts who received PARPi first ( P= 0.0031, adjusted HR for BRCA2 0.29 [CI: 0.12–0.66]). There was no significant OS difference in BRCA2-mutated pts regarding which treatment was given first ( P= 0.63, adjusted HR for PARPi treatment 1.18 [CI: 0.59–2.35]). Conclusions: Our data in ATM- and BRCA2-mutated mCRPC pts suggests a trend towards improved clinical outcomes when taxanes are used prior to PARPi in ATM-mutated pts, while the reverse sequence appears to be better for BRCA2-mutated pts.[Table: see text]

2051 Background: GSK-3β, a serine/threonine kinase, is a key regulator of metabolism and glycogen biosynthesis. GSK-3β aberrant overexpression promotes tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance through NF-κB and p53-mediated apoptotic pathways. GSK-3β inhibition impacts immunomodulation through downregulation of checkpoints, such as PD-L1 and LAG-3, and increasing NK and T-cell mediated killing of tumor cells. 9-ING-41 is a small-molecule potent selective GSK-3β inhibitor with preclinical antitumor activity against several tumor types. In chemoresistant PDX models of glioblastoma (GBM), 9-ING-41 enhanced the antitumor effect of CCNU and CPT-11. Methods: In the first-in-human study (NCT03678883), patients (pts) with refractory malignancies received 9-ING-41 monotherapy (n = 65) or in combination with one of 8 cytotoxic regimens after prior treatment with the same chemotherapy (n = 162). We report the subset of pts with recurrent gliomas treated with 9-ING-41 monotherapy IV twice a week in 21-day cycles at different dose levels (3.3, 5, 9.3, 15mg/kg), or in combination with lomustine 30 mg/m² orally once weekly in 84-day cycles. Primary objective was safety and tolerability. Results: An RP2D of 15mg/kg IV was confirmed across all 9 regimens, no accentuation of chemotherapy-related toxicity noted. Of 18 glioma patients enrolled, 13 were GBM, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, 1 diffuse astrocytoma, and 1 anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Four patients received single agent 9-ING-41, 14 treated concurrently with lomustine. Demographics: 6 female, 12 male; median age 52 (30-69) years; median ECOG was 1 (0-2). All received first-line radiation and temozolomide (18/18), prior therapies for recurrences included nitrosoureas (15/18), bevacizumab (8/18), TTFields (6/18), immune checkpoint inhibitor (4/18). Median recurrences 3 (1-6). Genomic alterations from available NGS reports included: IDH WT (11), IDH mutation (3), MGMT promoter unmethylated (11), MGMT promoter methylated (1), 1p19q co-deletion (10), EGFR amplification (6), EGFR v3 mutation (3), TERT promoter mutation (6), PTEN loss (3), NF1 rearrangement (2), ATRX loss (2), TP53 mutated (4), CDKN2A deletion (2), RB1 loss (1), PALB-2 mutation (10). No SAEs or grade 3/4 AEs attributed to 9-ING-41 were noted; AEs included G1/2 transient vision changes (9/18, 50%), infusion reactions (4/18, 22%). Side effects from lomustine included: G3/4 thrombocytopenia (3/14, 21%), and G1/2 fatigue (4/14, 28%). Best overall response: 1 minimal response (-43%) after 2 cycles of 9-ING-41 and lomustine. Median days on therapy was 55 (4-305), 4/18 (22%) were stable for 20 weeks or longer. Conclusions: These results show 9-ING-41 alone or in combination is safe and warrants further study in glioma patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03678883.

2000 Background: Craniopharyngiomas, a rare brain tumor along the pituitary-hypothalamic axis, can cause significant clinical sequelae. Surgery and radiation, the only effective treatments, can cause significant morbidity. Genetic analysis of craniopharyngiomas revealed that 95% of papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCP) have BRAF V600E mutations (Brastianos et al. Nature Genetics 2014). We evaluated the efficacy of BRAF/MEK inhibition in patients (pts) with previously untreated PCP. Methods: Eligible pts without prior radiation whose PCP screened positively for BRAF mutations were treated with oral vemurafenib/cobimetinib in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint of response rate (RR) based on centrally determined volumetric data was evaluated in 16 pts, where a partial response was defined as >20% decrease in volume. This single arm, Simon two-stage phase 2 trial had 89% power to detect a true RR of at least 30% (vs. the null RR 5%; alpha=0.04). In this design, 3 or more observed volumetric responses in 16 evaluable pts would be considered promising activity. Results: In the 16 pts evaluated, 56% were female, and the median age was 49.5 years. Median follow-up was 22 months (95% CI: 16-26.5) and median number of treatment cycles was 8. Three patients progressed after therapy was discontinued and none have died. Based on volumetric response criteria, 14 of 15 pts with volumetric data available for central review had response to therapy (93%; 95% CI: 68% to 99.8%). Of 16 patients evaluable based on local review, 15 had response to therapy (93.75%; 95% CI: 70% to 99.8%). The median tumor reduction was -83% (range: -52% to -99%). The one nonresponder received 2 days of treatment before coming off therapy due to toxicity. Median progression-free survival was not reached. Grade 3 toxicities at least possibly related to treatment occurred in 12 pts (rash in 6 pts). Grade 4 toxicities were observed in two pts: hyperglycemia (n=1) and increased CPK (n=1). Three pts discontinued treatment for adverse events. Conclusions: Vemurafenib/cobimetinib resulted in an objective response in all pts who received 1 or more cycles of therapy. Our study indicates that BRAF/MEK inhibitors could be a powerful tool in the treatment of previously untreated PCP and warrants further evaluation in larger studies. A second arm of this study is enrolling pts with progressive PCP after prior radiotherapy. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882; U24CA196171, U10CA180868 (NRG); Genentech; https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org. Clinical trial information: NCT03224767.