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Importance The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale is the most common scale used to represent outcomes of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM); however, it lacks consideration for neck pain scores and neglects the multidimensional aspect of recovery after surgery. Objective To use a global statistical approach that incorporates assessments of multiple outcomes to reassess the efficacy of riluzole in patients undergoing spinal surgery for DCM. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a secondary analysis of prespecified secondary end points within the Efficacy of Riluzole in Surgical Treatment for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM-PROTECT) trial, a multicenter, double-blind, phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted from January 2012 to May 2017. Adult surgical patients with DCM with moderate to severe myelopathy (mJOA scale score of 8-14) were randomized to receive either riluzole or placebo. The present study was conducted from July to December 2023. Intervention Riluzole (50 mg twice daily) or placebo for a total of 6 weeks, including 2 weeks prior to surgery and 4 weeks following surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was a difference in clinical improvement from baseline to 1-year follow-up, assessed using a global statistical test (GST). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Score (SF-36 PCS), arm and neck pain numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, and Nurick grade were combined into a single summary statistic known as the global treatment effect (GTE). Results Overall, 290 patients (riluzole group, 141; placebo group, 149; mean [SD] age, 59 [10.1] years; 161 [56%] male) were included. Riluzole showed a significantly higher probability of global improvement compared with placebo at 1-year follow-up (GTE, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00-0.16; P = .02). A similar favorable global response was seen at 35 days and 6 months (GTE for both, 0.07; 95% CI, −0.01 to 0.15; P = .04), although the results were not statistically significant. Riluzole-treated patients had at least a 54% likelihood of achieving better outcomes at 1 year compared with the placebo group. The ASIA motor score and neck and arm pain NRS combination at 1 year provided the best-fit parsimonious model for detecting a benefit of riluzole (GTE, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.16; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance In this secondary analysis of the CSM-PROTECT trial using a global outcome technique, riluzole was associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with DCM. The GST offered probability-based results capable of representing diverse outcome scales and should be considered in future studies assessing spine surgery outcomes.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and a leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) in many countries, including the United States. However, LT for ALD is a complex and evolving field with ethical, social, and medical challenges. Thus, it requires a multidisciplinary approach and individualized decision-making. Short-term and long-term patient and graft survival of patients undergoing LT for ALD are comparable to other indications, but there is a continued need to develop better tools to identify patients who may benefit from LT, improve the pretransplant and posttransplant management of ALD, and evaluate the impact of LT for ALD on the organ donation and transplantation systems. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on LT for ALD, from alcohol-associated hepatitis to decompensated alcohol-associated cirrhosis. We discuss the indications, criteria, outcomes, and controversies of LT for these conditions and highlight the knowledge gaps and research priorities in this field.

Abstract BACKGROUND Treatment and clinical management decisions for children with NF1-OPGs remain challenging as most existing data are retrospective and have not included standardized visual outcomes. In this study, we prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed NF1-OPGs and performed standardized neuro-oncology and ophthalmology assessments in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for monitoring and treatment. METHODS Children with NF1-OPG on MRI who were evaluated by both a study ophthalmologist and neuro-oncologist/NF1 expert within 1 month of radiologic diagnosis were eligible for enrollment. All subjects attempted quantitative visual acuity using Teller acuity cards (TAC) as well as ATS-HOTV testing. The neuro-oncologist/NF1 expert provided reasons for obtaining the MRI as well as initiating treatment, if applicable. Descriptive statistics calculated the success rate of acquiring TAC and reasons to obtain the MRI. RESULTS Two-hundred fifty subjects from 22 institutions were enrolled and had at least one visit beyond baseline (Median age 3.1 years, range 0.1–16.8; 53% female). TAC was successfully acquired in both eyes (N=195, 78%) and at least one eye in (N=206, 82%). ATS-HOTV was successfully acquired in both eyes (N=97, 39%) and at least one eye in (N=98, 39%). The two most common reasons to obtain an MRI were screening due to a diagnosis of NF1 (N=99, 39%) and ophthalmologic concern (N=81, 32%). At enrollment, continued observation occurred in a majority of subjects (N=221, 88%) while treatment with chemotherapy was initiated in only 11% (N=29). Twenty-nine (11%) subjects initially observed transitioned to treatment after enrollment (range: 2.5–25 months) thus far. DISCUSSION We present a prospective multicenter study of children with newly diagnosed NF1-OPGs. The ability to acquire quantitative visual acuity was higher than anticipated. The frequency of NF1-OPGs requiring treatment is lower than previously reported. Regression models of clinical and MRI features that prompted immediate treatment with chemotherapy versus observation will be discussed.

Abstract BACKGROUND NF1-OPGs are amorphous tumors involving either single or multiple locations (optic nerve, chiasm, tract) along the anterior visual pathway (AVP). In this prospective study, we investigated how volumetric MRI measures of the AVP as well as other clinical variables are associated with treatment decisions in children with newly diagnosed NF1-OPGs. METHODS Children with newly diagnosed NF1-OPG whose MRI included a T1-weighted volumetric sequence without significant artifact at their enrollment visit were eligible for inclusion. All subjects underwent a quantitative ophthalmic exam to determine if visual acuity (VA) was normal. The neuro-oncologist/NF1 expert determined whether the subject would be observed or undergo treatment at that baseline visit. Volumetric MRI analysis was automatically performed using a deep learning network that measured AVP volume (mm3). Non-parametric group comparisons and multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the impact of age at enrollment, sex, NF1 inheritance type, AVP volume, and VA on the decision for immediate treatment with chemotherapy versus observation. RESULTS One-hundred twenty-three subjects met inclusion criteria. Subjects assigned to observation (N=112, 44% female) and subjects immediately treated with chemotherapy (N=11, 80% female) at enrollment were of similar age (2.7 and 2.8 years, respectively) and inheritance (p > 0.05). Abnormal VA was present more often in the treatment group (46%) compared to the observation group (17%, p <0.001). AVP volume was significantly greater in the treatment group (4,181.1mm3) compared to the observation group (1,819.8mm3, p <0.001). AVP volume, sex, and VA reached significance in univariable regression, however, in the multivariable regression model only the AVP volume (p < 0.001) was significantly associated with treatment initiation. DISCUSSION Children with greater NF1-OPG AVP volumes are treated more often compared with those with lower volumes. Volumetric measures of NF1-OPGs are a valuable metric in understanding treatment patterns and are positioned to help inform clinical decision making.

4136 Background: NAPOLI 3 (NCT04083235, N = 770), a global, randomized, open-label phase 3 study, demonstrated that NALIRIFOX significantly improved overall survival (OS, primary endpoint) and progression-free survival compared with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with untreated mPDAC. Here, we report an updated analysis of OS. Methods: Eligible patients with histopathologically/cytologically confirmed untreated mPDAC were randomized (1:1) to receive liposomal irinotecan 50 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 + leucovorin 400 mg/m2 + 5-fluorouracil 2400 mg/m2 (NALIRIFOX, n = 383) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (Gem+NabP, n = 387) on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Randomization was stratified by ECOG performance status, geographic region and presence/absence of liver metastases. An updated OS analysis (data cutoff: 3 October 2023) was conducted. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to estimate median (95% confidence interval [CI]) OS and hazard ratios (HRs [95% CI]) were estimated using stratified Cox proportional hazard models. The difference between groups was tested using a stratified log-rank test. Results: The median follow-up for OS was 28.7 months in the NALIRIFOX arm and 29.7 months in the Gem+NabP arm. At data cutoff, 11 patients were still receiving study treatment, all of whom were in the NALIRIFOX arm. With a total of 673 OS events (NALIRIFOX, n = 328; Gem+NabP, n = 345), median OS was 11.1 months (95% CI 10.0–12.1) in the NALIRIFOX arm compared with 9.2 months (8.3–10.6) in the Gem+NabP arm (HR 0.84 [95% CI 0.72–0.98]; nominal p = 0.026). At 12 months and 18 months, survival rates were 45.6% (95% CI 40.5–50.5) and 26.6% (22.2–31.1), respectively, in the NALIRIFOX arm and 39.6% (34.7–44.5) and 20.0% (16.1–24.1), respectively, in the Gem+NabP arm. Conclusions: In this 29-month follow-up of NAPOLI 3, NALIRIFOX continued to demonstrate improved OS compared with Gem+NabP, with 11 patients still receiving the NALIRIFOX regimen. These data confirm NALIRIFOX as a new possible standard of care and reference regimen for the first-line treatment of patients with mPDAC. Clinical trial information: NCT04083235 .

Abstract Alpha-tubulin 4A encoding gene (TUBA4A) has been associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, based on identification of likely pathogenic variants in patients from distinct amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia cohorts. By screening a multicentric French cohort of 448 unrelated probands presenting with cerebellar ataxia, we identified ultra-rare TUBA4A missense variants, all being absent from public databases and predicted pathogenic by multiple in silico tools. In addition, gene burden analyses in the 100 000 Genomes project (100KGP) showed enrichment of TUBA4A rare variants in the inherited ataxia group compared to controls [odds ratio: 57.0847 (10.2−576.7); P = 4.02 ×10−7]. Taken together, we report 12 patients presenting with spasticity and/or cerebellar ataxia and harbouring a predicted pathogenic TUBA4A missense mutation, including five confirmed de novo cases and a mutation previously reported in a large family presenting with spastic ataxia. Cultured fibroblasts from three patients harbouring distinct TUBA4A missense showed significant alterations in microtubule organization and dynamics, providing insight of TUBA4A variants pathogenicity. Our data confirm the identification of a hereditary spastic ataxia disease gene with variable age of onset, expanding the clinical spectrum of TUBA4A associated phenotypes.

e20012 Background: PM 2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, is a major contributor to lung cancer and associated mortality. Epidemiological studies reveal a concerning trend, with each 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM 2.5 associated with a 15% higher risk of lung cancer and a 13% increase in mortality rates, underscoring the significant burden it imposes on public health systems globally. We aimed to evaluate the odds of association between environmental exposure to PM 2.5 and the risk of lung cancer and associated mortality. Methods: We performed a systematic review and umbrella meta-analysis using studies containing quantitative data on PM 2.5 and lung cancer. We used PRISMA guidelines and the MOOSE protocol using PubMed and MeSH terms like PM 2.5, non-small cell cancer, lung cancer, pollutants, particulate matter 2.5, and environmental factors. We had excluded non-full-length articles, non-meta-analysis studies, and non-human studies. RavMan 5.4 was used, and generic inverse variance methods with mixed effect models were applied to identify a pooled risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Forest plots were obtained, and sensitivity analysis was performed based on funnel plots and I2 (heterogeneity) values. Results: Of the 245,529 articles evaluated for the quality of the data, 99 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 99, we used six articles to derive the quantitative data. In umbrella meta-analysis, PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a 1.16 times higher risk (95%CI: 1.1-1.22, p<0.00001, I2=0%) of lung cancer and a 1.22 times higher risk of non-lung cancers (95%CI: 1.15-1.30, p<0.00001, I2=0%). PM 2.5 was associated with non-significant higher mortality (RR: 1.06, 95%CI: 0.99-1.13, p=0.09, I2=97%) with leave-on-out analysis (excluding Chen et al.) significant association between mortality and PM 2.5 (RR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.06-1.10, p<0.00001, I2=0%). Conclusions: Our umbrella meta-analysis shows a significant risk of lung cancer and mortality from PM 2.5 exposure. Further investigation and increased consciousness are necessary to mitigate the risk of lung cancer associated with this pollutant.

7522 Background: Elranatamab (ELRA) is a humanized BCMA-CD3 bispecific antibody. In the phase 2 registrational MagnetisMM-3 (MM-3) trial, SC ELRA was given as 2 step-up priming doses (12 mg on C1D1 and 32 mg on C1D4) followed by 76 mg QW in patients (pts) with RRMM. Overall, 56.3% of pts had CRS (grade 2, 14.3%; no grade ≥3). Most events occurred after doses 1 (44.5%), 2 (20.2%), and 3 (5.9%); 0.8% (1 pt) had CRS with doses 4+. Recurrent CRS (>1 event) occurred in 15.1% of pts (Lesokhin Nat Med 2023). Methods: MagnetisMM-9 (MM-9; NCT05014412) is a phase 1/2, open-label, nonrandomized study of ELRA examining an alternative 2-dose step-up priming regimen (4 and 20 mg on C1D1 and C1D4, respectively). Eligible pts had RRMM and were refractory to ≥1 IMiD, ≥1 PI, and ≥1 anti-CD38 antibody. After the priming doses, ELRA 76 mg was given QW for 6 cycles (Part 1) or for 1 cycle followed by 116 or 152 mg Q2W for 5 cycles (Part 2A). The RP2D from Part 2A (152 mg) was evaluated in Part 2B (dose expansion). The rate of grade ≥2 CRS per ASTCT criteria during C1 is the primary endpoint for both parts. Secondary endpoints include evaluation of AEs and PK. Here, we report the overall safety and CRS profile associated with the 4/20 mg priming regimen. Results: For 85 treated pts, median age was 64.0 y; 49.4% were male; 23.5% had EMD; 31.8% had high-risk cytogenetics. Pts had a median of 5.0 (range, 1-12) prior LOTs; 85.9% had triple-class refractory disease. After a median follow-up of 7.4 mo, the most common (>50%) AEs were CRS (63.5%; grade ≥2, 15.3%) and neutropenia (54.1%; all grade ≥2). ICANS occurred in 4.7% of pts (all grade ≤2). The grade ≥2 CRS rate in C1 was 14.1% (90% CI, 8.4-21.9). CRS rates after the first 3 doses are in the the table. For doses 4+, any grade (grade ≥2) CRS was observed in 10.6% (3.5%) of pts overall, 12.1% (3.0%) of pts continuing to receive 76 mg (n=33), 25.0% (0%) of pts receiving 116 mg (n=12), and 5.0% (5.0%) of pts receiving 152 mg (RP2D; n=40). Overall, recurrent CRS was observed in 20.0% of pts. The geometric means (CV%) of free ELRA concentrations 24 h (Cmax-24h) after step-up doses 1 and 2 were 85.64 (48%) and 242.8 (55%). Conclusions: The 4/20 mg step-up priming regimen and alternative dosing schedules resulted in similar safety and incidence of overall and grade ≥2 CRS events vs the regimen used in MM-3 (12/32 mg), with no new safety signals identified. However, the CRS profile in this study differed, with more CRS after doses 2, 3, and 4+ and a higher prevalence of recurrent CRS. The Cmax-24h of free ELRA (CV%) after the priming doses were lower than those in MM-3 (107.4 [47%] and 405.1 [72%], respectively). Thus, the priming regimen used in MM-3 remains the optimal regimen for mitigating CRS. Future analyses of ongoing studies will be used to confirm these results. Clinical trial information: NCT05014412 . [Table: see text]

2008 Background: For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases (BM) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the current preferred therapy. Due to frequent intracranial failures, there is a high unmet need for salvage therapies. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) reduces intracranial failure but used less frequently due to cognitive consequences. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that disrupt cancer cell division and have shown improved survival and safety in patients with glioblastoma and metastatic NSCLC. Phase 3 METIS trial [NCT02831959] aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TTFields therapy in NSCLC patients with BM treated with SRS, specifically in terms of lengthening time to intracranial progression without cognitive decline. Methods: Mutation negative (M-) NSCLC patients with 1–10 BM were randomized 1:1 to receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) followed by Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; 150 kHz) therapy with best supportive care (BSC) or SRS followed by BSC. Patients with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥70, newly diagnosed with one inoperable or 2–10 supra-/infratentorial brain metastases suitable for SRS and receiving optimal extracranial disease therapy were included. Exclusions were prior WBRT and single operable or recurrent brain metastases. Primary endpoint was time to first intracranial progression (RANO-BM) based on cumulative risk. Patients were followed every two months until second intracranial progression. Cognition and patient quality of life (QoL) were evaluated. Results: Between July 2016 and September 2022, 298 patients were randomized. Baseline characteristics were balanced: median age was 63.5 (range 37-84) years, 37.6% females, majority of patients had a KPS ≥ 80, median time from initial NSCLC diagnosis was 1.8 months (range: 0.2-55.7), 77% had adenocarcinoma. Median treatment duration of TTFields was 16 weeks, with a median usage time of 67%. Primary endpoint, time to intracranial progression from SRS, was significantly prolonged with SRS followed by TTFields therapy with BSC vs. BSC alone arm (median of 21.9 vs. 11.3 months); HR=0.67 [0.48-0.93], p=0.02. TTFields-related AEs were mainly dermatological, and Grade ≤2. TTFields therapy also improved deterioration-free survival of global health status, physical functioning, and fatigue according to QoL, and did not negatively impact cognition. Conclusion: METIS study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that TTFields therapy following SRS in mutation negative NSCLC patients with BM, significantly prolongs time to intracranial progression and could postpone WBRT, without QoL and cognition decline. Clinical trial information: NCT02831959 .

11059 Background: Some opioid stewardship policies could negatively affect patients with cancer pain. However, patients with cancer are also at risk for opioid related harms, especially with persistent use. We assessed opioid prescribing trends in the context of cancer treatment and patient reported pain in a large health system in Connecticut. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of opioid-naïve adult patients with solid tumor malignancies diagnosed from 2016 through 2020 within the Yale New Haven Health System. We identified new (≥1 opioid prescription in 0-6 months following diagnosis) and additional (0-6 and 6-9 months) opioid prescriptions. The analysis evaluated all eligible patients as well as two clinical cohorts: patients treated surgically and patients with metastatic cancer. For patients with metastatic cancer and a documented pain score in the electronic health record flowsheet data, we further stratified by any (any score≥1) or no (all scores=0) pain in the 6 months since diagnosis and prior to first opioid, if given. For these patients, we noted therapeutic class of the first opioid. We used a logistic model adjusted for patient demographics to calculate predicted probability of opioid prescription and change over time. Results: A total of 10,868 patients met study criteria. Overall, we observed a decline in new opioid prescribing from 69.0% to 62.7% (p<.001) (Table). Additional opioid use also declined from 23.4% to 20.2% (p=.02). In the surgery cohort, new opioid prescribing fell from 95.7% to 88.2% (p<.001), while additional opioid use was stable over time (approximately 12%). For patients with metastatic cancer with any documented pain, new opioid prescribing was stable over time (approximately 56%). For those with documented pain scores=0, new opioid prescribing declined from 59.7% to 34.2% (p<.001). In these patients, the class listed on the first opioid prescription was analgesia in 86.6% and cough in 13.4%. Conclusions: Overall, and in patients treated with oncological surgeries, our study in a single large US health system suggests a modest, gradual decline in opioid prescribing for patients with cancer over time. On the other hand, among patients with metastatic cancer, opioid prescribing remained stable for those with documented pain and declined steeply for those without documented pain. [Table: see text]