Citations

638 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular subtypes in part based on RAS mutational status. It is plausible that RAS mutations are differentially distributed between CC and AA and may contribute to poor outcomes in AAs with CRC. Methods: We did a retrospective analysis of CALGB/SWOG 80405 trial patients. We divided the entire cohort into 2 groups: a) Common RAS: mutation in KRAS exon 2, codon 12 or 13; b) Extended RAS: any NRAS mutations or mutation in KRAS except those listed above. We then analyzed these two subgroups for association between RAS mutations and race (3 categories: Caucasian, AA, Others) using chi-square test for univariate analyses and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. We also analyzed the effect of extended RAS testing on prognosis of metastatic CRC by estimating the overall survival (OS) using Kaplan-Meier method and 95% confidence interval (CI). Cox proportional-hazard model was used for multivariate analyses. Results: There were 1729 CRC patients in common RAS group of which 357 (20.6%) had mutations present. Extended RAS group had 621 patients of which 95 (15.5%) had mutations present. There was no significant difference in the rate of common RAS mutations between CC and AA (20.5% vs. 24%, p=0.22). However, extended RAS mutations were significantly more in AA as compared to CC (25% vs. 14%, p=0.02). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, prior adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiation confirmed higher odds of extended RAS mutation in AA compared to CC (adjusted OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.23; p=0.02). The median OS in patients with an extended RAS mutation was shorter as compared to those without extended RAS mutation (25.3 vs. 31.9 months; HR 1.26; 95% CI 0.99-1.62; p=0.05). Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, gender, race, prior adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiation showed a trend towards longer OS in patients without extended RAS mutation as compared those with extended RAS mutation (adjusted HR= 1.24, 95% CI, 0.97-0.1.58, p=0.08). Conclusions: Extended RAS mutations are significantly more common in AA as compared to CC. Additionally, presence of extended RAS mutation may confer a poor prognosis in CRC patients.

The prevalence, clinicopathologic correlates, and outcomes of previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with IGH‐BCL2 and IGH‐BCL3 translocations are not well known. Using the Mayo Clinic CLL database, we identified patients seen between March 1, 2002 and September 30, 2016 who had FISH testing performed within 3 years of CLL diagnosis. The prognostic profile, time to first therapy (TTT), and overall survival (OS) of patients with IGH‐BCL2 and IGH‐BCL3 translocation were compared to patients without these abnormalities (non‐IGH group). Of 1684 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 38 (2.2%) had IGH‐BCL2, and 16 (0.9%) had IGH‐BCL3 translocation at diagnosis. Patients with IGH‐BCL3 translocation were more likely to have high and very‐high CLL‐International Prognostic Index, compared to patients with IGH‐BCL2 translocation and the non‐IGH group. The 5‐year probability of requiring therapy was significantly higher for IGH‐BCL3 compared to IGH‐BCL2 and non‐IGH groups (84% vs 33% vs 29%, respectively, P < 0.0001). The 5‐year OS was significantly shorter for IGH‐BCL3 compared to IGH‐BCL2 and non‐IGH groups (45% vs 89% vs 86%, respectively, P < 0.0001). On multivariable analyses, IGH‐BCL3 translocation was associated with a shorter TTT (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7; P = 0.005) and shorter OS (HR = 5.5; P < 0.0001); IGH‐BCL2 translocation did not impact TTT and OS. In conclusion, approximately 3% of all newly diagnosed CLL patients have either an IGH‐BCL2 or IGH‐BCL3 translocation. Patients with IGH‐BCL3 translocations have a distinct prognostic profile and outcome. These results support the inclusion of an IGH probe during the routine evaluation of FISH abnormalities in newly diagnosed CLL.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has established a comprehensive Code of Ethics for its members. The Code is a formal part of AAPM governance, maintained as Professional Policy 24, and includes both principles of ethical practice and the rules by which a complaint will be adjudicated. The structure and content of the Code have been crafted to also serve the much broader purpose of giving practical ethical guidance to AAPM members for making sound decisions in their professional lives. The Code is structured in four major parts: a Preamble, a set of ten guiding Principles, Guidelines that elucidate the application of the Principles in various practice settings, and the formal Complaint process. Guidelines have been included to address evolving social and cultural norms, such as the use of social media and the broadening scope of considerations important in an evolving workplace. The document presented here is the first major revision of the AAPM Code of Ethics since 2008. This revision was approved by the Board of Directors to become effective 1 January 2019.