Citations

Abstract The results from the RATIFY trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00651261; CALGB 10603) showed that midostaurin combined with standard chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)–mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), compared with placebo. In this post hoc subgroup analysis from the trial, we evaluated the impact of midostaurin in 163 patients with FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations. At a median follow-up of 60.7 months (95% CI, 55.0-70.8), the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was significantly higher in patients treated with midostaurin than in those treated with placebo (45.2% vs 30.1%; P = .044). A trend toward improved disease-free survival was also observed with midostaurin (67.3% vs 53.4%; P = .089), whereas overall survival (OS) was similar in the 2 groups. Patients with AML and NPM1mut/FLT3-TKDmut or core binding factor (CBF)–rearranged/FLT3-TKDmut genotypes had significantly prolonged OS with or without censoring at hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), compared with NPM1WT/CBF-negative AMLs. The multivariable model for OS and EFS adjusted for allogeneic HCT in first complete remission as a time-dependent covariable, revealed NPM1 mutations and CBF rearrangements as significant favorable factors. These data show that NPM1 mutations or CBF rearrangements identify favorable prognostic groups in patients with FLT3-TKD AMLs, independent of other factors, also in the context of midostaurin treatment.

Abstract Background: There are many treatment options for patients who have osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and management strategies vary widely both among and within individual countries. Although many researchers have attempted to elucidate the optimal strategies for managing this disease, the lack of large-scale randomized control trials and the lack of agreement on disease staging have curtailed the development of clear-cut guidelines.Methods: The Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) group sought to address three questions for the management of patients who have ONFH: (1) What imaging studies are most sensitive and specific for the diagnostic evaluation of patients who have ONFH?; (2)What is the best treatment strategy for preventing disease progression in patients who have pre-collapse lesions?; and (3) What is the best treatment strategy for patients who have post-collapse disease? The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) format was used to formulate the search strategy for each research question. A systematic review will be performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. ARCO participants have been allocated to three groups, each representing one of the PICO questions. After qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data extracted from studies pertaining to each of the three research questions, a set of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines will be proposed for the management of patients who have ONFH. Discussion: It is not always clear which treatment method is optimal for the management of ONFH. Thus, many surgeons have developed and performed various procedures based on various patient-specific factors. As there is no consensus on the optimal treatment for various stages of disease, it was clear that developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines would provide more structure and uniformity to management of these patients. Therefore, the results of this systematic review will lead to the development guidelines that may improve patient-care strategies and result in better outcomes for patients who have ONFH.Systematic Review Registration: Registration with PROSPERO has been submitted and is pending.

PurposeIn quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) using magnetic resonance imaging, image reconstruction methods usually aim at suppressing streaking artifacts. In this study, a streaking detection method is proposed for evaluating and optimizing quantitative susceptibility maps.MethodsNine healthy subjects participated in this study and underwent three‐dimensional multi‐echo gradient echo scans. Regularized iterative algorithm was used for reconstruction of tissue susceptibility maps in all subjects. Streaking detection was applied to evaluate streaking artifact in tissue susceptibility maps. In addition, an optimization process for QSM reconstruction by streaking detection was applied and was compared with matching noise level method.ResultsIt is shown that the proposed streaking detection technique effectively delineates streaking artifact in tissue susceptibility maps. In QSM reconstruction, optimization by streaking detection successfully determines the regularization factor that balances between streaking artifact suppression and tissue texture preservation. ROI analyses of brain tissue susceptibility show that optimization by streaking detection achieves results in good agreement with that from matching noise level method.ConclusionsStreaking detection enables direct visualization of streaking patterns in tissue susceptibility maps. It can be applied both for evaluating QSM reconstruction quality and for comparing different reconstruction algorithms. Furthermore, streaking detection can be incorporated into an optimization process of QSM reconstruction. Therefore, we conclude that the proposed method will add value to reconstruction of QSM.

PURPOSE Conventional wisdom has rendered patients with brain metastases ineligible for clinical trials for fear that poor survival could mask the benefit of otherwise promising treatments. Our group previously published the diagnosis-specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA). Updates with larger contemporary cohorts using molecular markers and newly identified prognostic factors have been published. The purposes of this work are to present all the updated indices in a single report to guide treatment choice, stratify research, and define an eligibility quotient to expand eligibility. METHODS A multi-institutional database of 6,984 patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases underwent multivariable analyses of prognostic factors and treatments associated with survival for each primary site. Significant factors were used to define the updated GPA. GPAs of 4.0 and 0.0 correlate with the best and worst prognoses, respectively. RESULTS Significant prognostic factors varied by diagnosis and new prognostic factors were identified. Those factors were incorporated into the updated GPA with robust separation ( P < .01) between subgroups. Survival has improved, but varies widely by GPA for patients with non–small-cell lung, breast, melanoma, GI, and renal cancer with brain metastases from 7-47 months, 3-36 months, 5-34 months, 3-17 months, and 4-35 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Median survival varies widely and our ability to estimate survival for patients with brain metastases has improved. The updated GPA (available free at brainmetgpa.com) provides an accurate tool with which to estimate survival, individualize treatment, and stratify clinical trials. Instead of excluding patients with brain metastases, enrollment should be encouraged and those trials should be stratified by the GPA to ensure those trials make appropriate comparisons. Furthermore, we recommend the expansion of eligibility to allow for the enrollment of patients with previously treated brain metastases who have a 50% or greater probability of an additional year of survival (eligibility quotient > 0.50).

Abstract Background: IMpower133 (NCT02763579), a global Phase I/III, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial, showed that the addition of atezo (anti-PD-L1) to CE for 1L ES-SCLC led to statistically and clinically significant OS and PFS improvement vs CE alone. Here we report updated OS and exploratory analyses. Methods: Pts with untreated ES-SCLC were randomized 1:1 to receive four 21-day cycles of E (100 mg/m2 IV, days 1-3) + C (AUC 5 mg/mL/min IV, day 1) with atezo (1200 mg IV, day 1) or PBO, followed by maintenance therapy with atezo or PBO until intolerable toxicity, progression or loss of clinical benefit. PD-L1 testing was not required for enrollment. Coprimary endpoints were investigator-assessed PFS (RECIST 1.1) and OS. Interim and final OS analyses were planned for ≈240 and ≈306 events, respectively. OS was significant at the interim analysis. Updated OS, exploratory biomarkers and patterns of disease progression were analyzed. Results: 201 and 202 pts were randomized to receive atezo+CE and PBO+CE, respectively. The median follow-up was 22.9 mo and 302 deaths had occurred. Median OS for the atezo and PBO arms was 12.3 and 10.3 mo, respectively (HR, 0.76 [95% CI: 0.60, 0.95]; descriptive P = 0.0154). At the 18-mo landmark, the OS rate was 13% higher with atezo+CE than with PBO+CE (Table). Exploratory analyses showed treatment benefit with atezo+CE regardless of biomarker status. 181 (90.0%) And 194 (96.0%) pts in the atezo+CE and PBO+CE arms, respectively, had RECIST-defined disease progression. Progression at existing, new or existing and new lesions was numerically lower with atezo+CE than with PBO+CE. Common sites of new lesions included the CNS, lung, lymph node and liver, with similar incidences between arms. Conclusion: Adding atezo to CE continued to provide OS improvement for 1L ES-SCLC in an all-comer population. The updated results of IMpower133 further support this regimen for untreated ES-SCLC. Landmark OSAtezo + CE, n = 201PBO + CE, n = 20212 Mo, n (%)93 (51.9)74 (39.0)18 Mo, n (%)61 (34.0)39(21.0)Median OS in biomarker subgroupsAtezo + CEPBO + CEITT (N = 403), mo12.310.3HR (95% CI)0.76 (0.61, 0.96)aITT-BEP (n = 137), mo9.98.9HR (95% CI)0.70 (0.48, 1.02)Non-BEP (n = 266), mo14.611.2HR (95% CI)0.81 (0.61, 1.08)PD-L1 expression, 1% TC or IC&lt; 1% (n = 65), mo10.28.3HR (95% CI)0.51 (0.30, 0.89)≥ 1% (n = 72), mo9.710.6HR (95% CI)0.87 (0.51, 1.49)PD-L1 expression, 5% TC or IC&lt; 5% (n = 108), mo9.28.9HR (95% CI)0.77 (0.51, 1.17)≥ 5% (n = 29), mo21.69.2HR (95% CI)0.60 (0.25, 1.46)Disease progression at sites, n (%)Atezo + CEPBO + CEExisting116 (57.7)131 (64.9)New86 (42.8)99 (49.0)Existing and new42 (20.9)57 (28.2)BEP, biomarker-evaluable population; ITT, intention-to-treat population.a Stratified HR. BEP included pts evaluable by PD-L1 IHC using the VENTANA SP263 assay. Citation Format: Leora Horn, Stephen V. Liu, Aaron S. Mansfield, Tony Mok, Arnaud Scherpereel, Niels Reinmuth, Marina Chiara Garassino, Javier De Castro Carpeno, Raffaele Califano, Makoto Nishio, Francisco Orlandi, Jorge Arturo Alatorre Alexander, Ticiana Leal, Ying Cheng, Jong-Seok Lee, Sivuonthanh Lam, Mark McCleland, Yu Deng, See Phan, Martin Reck. IMpower133: Updated OS and exploratory analyses of first-line (1L) atezolizumab (atezo) + carboplatin (C) + etoposide (E) in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT220.

Abstract BACKGROUND Prior comparisons of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) treated using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with or without embolization were inherently flawed, due to differences in the pretreatment nidus volumes. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of embolization and SRS, vs SRS alone for AVMs using pre-embolization malformation features. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed International Radiosurgery Research Foundation AVM databases from 1987 to 2018. Patients were categorized into the embolization and SRS (E + SRS) or SRS alone (SRS-only) cohorts. The 2 cohorts were matched in a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores. Primary outcome was defined as AVM obliteration. Secondary outcomes were post-SRS hemorrhage, all-cause mortality, radiologic and symptomatic radiation-induced changes (RIC), and cyst formation. RESULTS The matched cohorts each comprised 101 patients. Crude AVM obliteration rates were similar between the matched E + SRS vs SRS-only cohorts (48.5% vs 54.5%; odds ratio = 0.788, P = .399). Cumulative probabilities of obliteration at 3, 4, 5, and 6 yr were also similar between the E + SRS (33.0%, 46.4%, 56.2%, and 60.8%, respectively) and SRS-only (32.9%, 46.2%, 56.0%, and 60.6%, respectively) cohorts (subhazard ratio (SHR) = 1.005, P = .981). Cumulative probabilities of radiologic RIC at 3, 4, 5, and 6 yr were lower in the E + SRS (25.0%, 25.7%, 26.7%, and 26.7%, respectively) vs SRS-only (45.3%, 46.2%, 47.8%, and 47.8%, respectively) cohort (SHR = 0.478, P = .004). Symptomatic and asymptomatic embolization-related complication rates were 8.3% and 18.6%, respectively. Rates of post-SRS hemorrhage, all-cause mortality, symptomatic RIC, and cyst formation were similar between the matched cohorts. CONCLUSION This study refutes the prevalent notion that AVM embolization negatively affects the likelihood of obliteration after SRS.

Abstract Mutation of Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) impairs the response of microglia to amyloid‐β (Aβ) pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the mechanism governing TREM2‐regulated microglia recruitment to Aβ plaques remains unresolved. Here, we confirm that TREM2 mutation attenuates microglial migration. Then, using Trem2 −/− mice and an R47H variant mouse model for AD generated for this study, we show that TREM2 deficiency or the AD‐associated R47H mutation results in inhibition of FAK and Rac1/Cdc42‐GTPase signaling critical for cell migration. Intriguingly, treatment with CN04, a Rac1/Cdc42‐GTPase activator, partially enhances microglial migration in response to oligomeric Aβ 42 in Trem2 −/− or R47H microglia both in vitro and in vivo. Our study shows that the dysfunction of microglial migration in the AD‐associated TREM2 R47H variant is caused by FAK/Rac1/Cdc42 signaling disruption, and that activation of this signaling ameliorates impaired microglial migration response to Aβ 42 , suggesting a therapeutic target for R47H‐bearing patients with high risk of AD.

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible virus that can infect healthcare personnel (HCP) and patients in healthcare settings. Specific care activities, in particular, aerosol-generating procedures, may have a higher risk of transmission. The rapid emergence and global spread of SARS-CoV-2 has created significant challenges in healthcare facilities, particularly with severe shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to protect HCP. Evidence-based recommendations for what PPE to use in conventional, contingency, and crisis standards of care are needed. Where evidence is lacking, the development of specific research questions can help direct funders and investigators. Objective Our objective was to develop evidence-based rapid guidelines intended to support HCP in their decisions about infection prevention when caring for patients with suspected or known coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included front-line clinicians, infectious diseases specialists, experts in infection control, and guideline methodologists with representation from the disciplines of preventive care, public health, medical microbiology, pediatrics, critical care medicine, and gastroenterology. The process followed a rapid recommendation checklist. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes. Then, a systematic review of the peer-reviewed and gray literature was conducted. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations. Results The IDSA guideline panel agreed on 8 recommendations and provided narrative summaries of other interventions undergoing evaluations. Conclusions Using a combination of direct and indirect evidence, the panel was able to provide recommendations for 8 specific questions on the use of PPE for HCP who provide care for patients with suspected or known COVID-19. Where evidence was lacking, attempts were made to provide potential avenues for investigation. Significant gaps in the understanding of the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 remain, and PPE recommendations may need to be modified in response to new evidence.

Abstract BACKGROUND Embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) embolization may influence the treatment effects of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) differently than other embolysates. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of pre-SRS AVM embolization with vs without Onyx through a multicenter, retrospective matched cohort study. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed International Radiosurgery Research Foundation AVM databases from 1987 to 2018. Embolized AVMs treated with SRS were selected and categorized based on embolysate usage into Onyx embolization (OE + SRS) or non-Onyx embolization (NOE + SRS) cohorts. The 2 cohorts were matched in a 1:1 ratio using de novo AVM features for comparative analysis of outcomes. RESULTS The matched cohorts each comprised 45 patients. Crude AVM obliteration rates were similar between the matched OE + SRS vs NOE + SRS cohorts (47% vs 51%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.837, P = .673). Cumulative probabilities of obliteration were also similar between the OE + SRS vs NOE + SRS cohorts (subhazard ratio = 0.992, P = .980). Rates of post-SRS hemorrhage, all-cause mortality, radiation-induced changes, cyst formation, and embolization-associated complications were similar between the matched cohorts. Sensitivity analysis for AVMs in the OE + SRS cohort embolized with Onyx alone revealed a higher rate of asymptomatic embolization-associated complications in this subgroup compared to the NOE + SRS cohort (36% vs 15%; OR = 3.297, P = .034), but the symptomatic complication rates were similar. CONCLUSION Nidal embolization using Onyx does not appear to differentially impact the outcomes of AVM SRS compared with non-Onyx embolysates. The embolic agent selected for pre-SRS AVM embolization should reflect both the experience of the neurointerventionalist and target of endovascular intervention.