Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam

Purpose Neutropenic diet (ND) has historically been recommended to reduce infectious complications in patients with cancer. Although its use has declined over the past decade, recent studies, particularly in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), have renewed concern regarding the safety of a liberalized diet (LD). We performed a meta-analysis of studies comparing ND with LD in patients with cancer. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception through January 2026. Comparative studies evaluating ND versus LD in adults or children with cancer were included. Primary outcomes were major infections and bacteremia/fungemia; secondary outcomes were pneumonia, diarrhea, and mortality. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs. Results Fifteen studies including 4,320 patients met criteria for analysis. ND was not associated with significant differences in major infections (RR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.88 to 1.18]; P = .795), bacteremia/fungemia (RR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.78 to 1.22]; P = .805), pneumonia (RR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.59 to 1.63]; P = .933), diarrhea (RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.96 to 1.31]; P = .159), or mortality (RR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.15]; P = .632). Sensitivity analyses restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were consistent. In hematologic malignancy/HSCT studies (9 studies; 1,769 patients), no differences were observed across outcomes. In RCTs limited to these patients (6 studies; 855 patients), ND was associated with lower bacteremia/fungemia risk (RR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.47 to 0.95]; P = .023), with no differences in other outcomes. Conclusion ND was not associated with reductions in major infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, or mortality compared with LD. These findings do not support routine implementation of ND for patients with short-term neutropenia or lower-risk cancer populations although selected high-risk patients, particularly those undergoing HSCT or experiencing prolonged neutropenia related to hematologic malignancies, may still warrant cautious dietary practices.

Abstract Background Optimal treatment following first-line immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. This study evaluated futibatinib, a pan-FGFR inhibitor, combined with pembrolizumab in previously treated patients with FGF19-expressing HCC. Methods Eligible patients were ≥18 years old with advanced HCC, prior systemic therapy, Child-Pugh A-B7 liver function, ECOG 0–2, and FGF19 overexpression. Patients received futibatinib 20 mg orally daily plus pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), quality of life, and safety. Results Between August 2021 and March 2024, 14 patients enrolled and 13 were evaluable. Median age was 72 years (range, 60–87), 53.8% were male, 92.3% had Child-Pugh A liver function, and all had received prior immunotherapy. Median progression-free survival was 15 weeks (95% CI, 9.0–NE), with a PFS6 rate of 23.1% (95% CI, 8.6–62.3%). ORR was 0% (95% CI, 0–24.7%), while stable disease was observed in 53.9% of patients. Median OS was 55.7 weeks (95% CI, 47.3–NE). Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred in 69.2% of patients, and grade ≥4 adverse events in 15.4%. One grade 5 event (acute-on-chronic kidney injury) was deemed unrelated to treatment. Common adverse events included hyperphosphatemia, fatigue, diarrhea, elevated transaminases, dry eye, nail changes, rash, and oral mucositis. Conclusions Futibatinib plus pembrolizumab demonstrated an acceptable safety profile but did not meet efficacy thresholds supporting further study in FGF19-expressing HCC. Effective post-immunotherapy treatment strategies remain an unmet need.

Abstract Incretin‐based therapies, including glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RA) and dual incretin agonists, are increasingly used for the management of diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease. Although their systemic benefits are well established, uncertainty remains regarding their safety in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a biologically heterogeneous group of tumors with diverse molecular profiles. Preclinical studies suggest that GLP‐1 receptor activation may promote tumor growth in select receptor‐expressing models, although receptor expression varies widely across NEN subtypes and is often absent in common tumors such as ileal neuroendocrine tumors. Population‐level and retrospective clinical data have not demonstrated a consistent increase in oncologic risk but are limited by methodological constraints. In this expert consensus statement, the authors synthesize current evidence and provide a practical framework for the use of incretin mimetics in patients with NENs. The authors emphasize individualized risk assessment, shared decision‐making, and multi‐disciplinary collaboration, balancing potential but unquantified oncologic risks against substantial cardiometabolic benefits. Until prospective data are available, careful patient selection, dose optimization, and close clinical and radiologic surveillance remain essential to guide safe and effective use of these agents in this population.

PURPOSE Deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability (dMMR, MSI-H) in biliary tract cancers (BTCs) is observed in 1%-5% of tumors. MSI-H across solid tumors has demonstrated durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) regardless of the anatomic location. Here, we describe clinical outcomes and surgical conversion of MSI-H BTC treated with ICIs. Patients and Methods We conducted a multicenter, retrospective analysis of BTC patients with dMMR/MSI-H between 2017 and 2024 at Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Outcomes of interest were surgical resection rate, rate of pathologic response, 2-year overall survival (OS; time from initiation of treatment to death/last follow-up), and time to treatment discontinuation (TTD; time from initiation of treatment to cessation because of any cause). Analyses were descriptive. RESULTS Thirty patients with MSI-H BTC were identified: 19 with cholangiocarcinoma, three with gallbladder cancer, and 8 with BTC undefined. The median age at diagnosis was 61.5 years (range, 26-86). Twenty-six (86.7%) patients had advanced stage at diagnosis. Twenty-seven patients (90%) received first-line systemic therapy, and 13 (48.1%) continued onto second line. Six patients (23.1%) were restaged to resectable from advanced disease after ICI therapy and underwent resection; all remained recurrence-free at last follow-up. Of these six patients, 3 (50%) achieved a pathologic complete response. Among those receiving first-line therapy, the median TTD was 9.9 months (95% CI, 5.7 to 14.5 months) and the 2-year OS was 73% (95% CI, 56% to 94%). CONCLUSION ICI therapy in patients with MSI-H BTC demonstrated durable response and downstaged some BTC to a resectable stage. dMMR/MSI-H should be performed up-front to guide treatment decisions.

Background: Colorectal neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), including small cell (SCNEC) and large cell (LCNEC) subtypes, are rare but aggressive malignancies with limited population-level data. Moreover, prior studies have limited stratification by histologic subtype and anatomic location, despite evidence of disease heterogeneity in colorectal malignancies. This study aimed to characterize the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of colorectal NEC by histologic subtype and tumor location, and to compare them with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and adenocarcinomas (ACs). Methods: A retrospective cohort review was conducted utilizing the SEER database from 2000 to 2022 to identify patients with colorectal SCNEC, LCNEC, NET, and AC. Demographic, clinical, therapeutic and survival data were analyzed and compared using Kaplan–Meier methods, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 790 SCNEC, 498 LCNEC, 31,200 NET, and 638,898 AC cases were identified. SCNEC and LCNEC were associated with advanced stage at diagnosis (66% and 55% stage IV, respectively) and inferior survival outcomes compared to NET and AC (median OS (mOS) of 7 and 8 months for SCNEC and LCNEC, respectively, p = 0.0002). Stratified by location, colonic SCNEC had the poorest survival (mOS 5 months), worse than rectal SCNEC (mOS 9 months); this pattern was not observed in LCNEC. Surgical resection was associated with improved OS in both NEC subtypes (HR range 0.25–0.56, all p < 0.012). Radiation therapy was associated with improved survival in NEC overall (SCNEC HR 0.58; LCNEC HR 0.71, both p < 0.05), with the observed benefit appearing greatest in rectal NEC. Demographic factors were associated with survival in NET and AC but had no significant impact in NEC. Conclusions: Colorectal SCNEC and LCNEC are highly aggressive malignancies with poor outcomes, with SCNEC demonstrating modestly inferior outcomes compared to LCNEC. This study demonstrates that both histologic subtype and anatomic site of disease are important determinants of prognosis and treatment response. This supports the concept that colorectal NEC represents a biologically heterogeneous disease, with colonic SCNEC showing the worst outcomes and rectal NEC associated with a potential enhanced response to radiation. These findings support the need for further prospective and molecular studies to better define treatment approaches and targeted therapies for these rare malignancies.

Purpose: Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are increasingly recognized to have a hereditary predilection, yet the prevalence and clinical relevance of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in unselected patients with NEN remain poorly defined. This prospective, multicenter study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical utility of PGVs through universal multigene panel testing in a diverse cohort of patients with NENs. Patients and Methods: Between 2018 and 2024, we enrolled unselected patients with NENs from 3 Mayo Clinic Cancer Centers. Germline genetic testing was performed using a next-generation sequencing panel of up to 84 cancer predisposition genes. Patients were not selected based on age, disease stage, ethnicity, or family history. Variants were classified as PGVs, variants of uncertain significance (VUS), or negative. Clinical and demographic data were analyzed descriptively. Results: Among 88 patients, PGVs were identified in 15.9% (n=14), most frequently in high- or moderate-penetrance genes including MEN1 , CHEK2 , MITF , and MUTYH . PGVs were most commonly found in pancreatic NENs [n=12/55 (21.8%)], followed by small bowel NENs [n=2/20 (10%)], with no PGVs detected in lung NENs. Mismatch repair (MMR) gene alterations were identified in 5.7% of patients, including 1 MLH1 PGV and 4 MSH2/MSH6 VUS, 2 of which demonstrated MMR deficiency by protein testing. VUS were reported in 34.1% of patients. Notably, 35.7% of PGV-positive patients did not meet current NCCN or ACMG testing criteria, and 53.9% had PGVs in genes outside of cancer-specific guideline recommendations. Conclusions: Universal germline testing in unselected patients with NEN identified clinically relevant PGVs in over 15% of cases. These findings support broader genetic testing approaches to guide treatment, enhance familial risk assessment, and inform cascade testing—regardless of traditional clinical selection criteria.

e18574 Background: ND has historically been recommended to reduce infectious complications in cancer patients (pts). While the adoption of ND has declined over the last decade, recent studies - particularly in pts undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) - have raised uncertainty regarding the safety of LD. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis of studies directly comparing ND with LD in pts with cancer. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception through January 2026. Comparative retrospective and prospective studies were included if they were comparing ND with LD in adults or children with cancer. Primary outcomes were major infections and bacteremia/fungemia. Secondary outcomes were pneumonia, diarrhea, and all-cause mortality. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Results: Fifteen studies enrolling 4,320 patients were included in the primary analysis. Six studies enrolled only adult patients, three were restricted to pediatric populations, and six included mixed adult and pediatric cohorts. Across these studies, ND was not associated with a significant reduction in major infections (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.88–1.18; p=0.795), bacteremia/fungemia (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.78–1.22; p=0.805), pneumonia (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.59–1.63; p=0.933), diarrhea (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.96–1.31; p=0.159), or all-cause mortality (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.77–1.15; p=0.632). Sensitivity analyses restricted to RCTs showed consistent results. Subgroup analysis of hematological/HSCT studies (9 studies; 1,769 pts) also showed no differences across outcome. Analysis restricted to RCTs in hematologic/HSCT pts (6 studies; 855 pts) showed no differences in major infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, or mortality; however, ND was associated with a lower risk of bacteremia/fungemia (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47–0.95; p=0.023). Heterogeneity across studies was low to moderate. Conclusions: ND was not associated with reductions in major infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, or mortality compared with LD. A reduction in bacteremia/fungemia was observed in RCTs of hematologic malignancy and HSCT pts. Overall, these findings suggest that routine ND implementation is unnecessary for most cancer pts, although cautious dietary practices may remain reasonable in selected high-risk hematologic malignancy/HSCT populations.

e16323 Background: Advanced EP-NEC are typically treated with the combination of platinum plus etoposide. Despite therapy, outcomes remain poor, with reported median overall survival (OS) of 12-13 months. Early initiation of systemic therapy is commonly practiced given the aggressiveness; however, recent data from small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) suggest that shorter TTI does not necessarily improve OS. The impact of TTI on outcomes in EP-NEC has not been well studied. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study across three Mayo Clinic sites including adults with biopsy-confirmed stage IV EP-NEC diagnosed between 2005 and 2025. TTI was defined as days from pathologic diagnosis to initiation of first-line systemic therapy. A binary cutoff (≤14 vs > 14 days) was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and TTI was also analyzed as a continuous variable. OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, ECOG performance status, presence of liver metastases, and first-line treatment strategy (chemotherapy alone vs chemotherapy plus immunotherapy). Results: Among 248 pts, median age was 61 years. Median OS for the cohort was 13.9 months (95% CI, 11.7–16.7), and median PFS was 5.7 months (95% CI, 5.3–6.3). Pts with TTI > 14 days had longer median OS compared with those treated within ≤14 days (16.4 vs 10.1 months), with improved OS on unadjusted analysis (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.96; p = 0.028), though this association was not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.53–1.05; p = 0.097). Pts with TTI > 14 days also had longer median PFS compared with ≤14 days (6.5 vs 4.8 months), with improved PFS on unadjusted analysis (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51–0.88; p = 0.0038). On multivariable analysis, TTI > 14 days remained independently associated with improved PFS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56–1.00; p = 0.047). However, when analyzed as a continuous variable, TTI was not independently associated with OS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00; p = 0.173) or PFS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00; p = 0.089). Conclusions: In this multicenter cohort of pts with metastatic EP-NEC, earlier initiation of systemic therapy (≤14 days) was not associated with improved overall survival, and longer time-to-treatment was independently associated with improved PFS. However, when TTI was analyzed as a continuous variable, no statistically significant associations were observed, suggesting that the observed benefit with delayed treatment may reflect pt selection or clinical context rather than a direct biological effect. These findings may provide reassurance in scenarios where short delays are necessary—for biomarker testing or clinical trial enrollment—and highlight the need for further investigation in the era of precision oncology.

e15501 Background: CP is the backbone of first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic ASCC. In practice, Q3-week CP has been explored as a potential alternative to the standard (d1,8,15 Q28-day cycle) dosing, though its efficacy is not known. This study evaluated CP scheduling and clinical survival associations in metastatic ASCC. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with metastatic ASCC treated with first-line CP, identified using the Mayo Data Explorer database. Electronic health records were reviewed to collect baseline clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient demographics. Survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier methods. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare survival by dosing schedule, adjusting for age, ECOG performance status, HPV (p16) status, liver metastasis, and prior chemoradiation. Results: 54 patients treated between 2020-2025 with first-line CP for metastatic ASCC were included. Baseline patient demographics were balanced between dosing groups (Table 1). Median follow-up time was 26.2 months. For Q3-week CP (n = 21), median PFS and OS were 9.8 (95% CI 8.1, NR) and 27.0 (95% CI 15.7, NR) months, respectively, while median PFS was 6.5 (95% CI 4.5,15.3) months with standard CP (n = 33) and median OS was not reached (95% CI 11.2, NR). Response rate was 76% with Q3-week and 60.6% with standard CP (p = 0.23) dosing. Survival outcomes were similar when comparing Q3-week CP relative to standard CP dosing using multivariable analysis (PFS HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.33–1.41; OS HR 1.67, 95% CI 0.67–4.14). Higher ECOG and liver metastasis were independently associated with inferior outcomes, while HPV was associated with improved survival. Subsequent therapy patterns were similar between CP schedule groups. Ten patients (16.9%) received local therapy, and 24 of 28 patients with progression received further systemic therapy, including 21 (87.5%) treated with immunotherapy. Conclusions: Survival outcomes were similar across dosing schedules, suggesting Q3-week CP may be a reasonable alternative to standard CP, with potential to reduce treatment-related burden in metastatic ASCC. Future analysis will compare toxicity profiles between CP dosing schedules, including in combination with PD1 inhibitors given the results of the POD1UM-303 trial. Patient demographics (n=54). Variable Q3-week CP (n=21) Standard CP (n=33) p-value Sex Female 16 (76.2%) 24 (72.7%) 0.77 Male 5 (23.8%) 9 (27.3%) Age Median (Q1, Q3) 62 (50.5, 69) 64 (55.5, 70) 0.57 BMI Median (Q1, Q3) 27.1 (21.9, 34.4) 27.4 (22.5, 31.7) 0.72 ECOG 0 9 (42.9%) 11 (34.4%) 0.53 ≥ 1 12 (57.1%) 21 (65.6%) Confirmed HPV (p16) Positive 16 (76.2%) 24 (72.7%) 0.77 Prior chemoradiation Yes 17 (81.0%) 21 (63.6%) 0.17

e13635 Background: Melanoma is an aggressive skin malignancy with rising global incidence, for which checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) and BRAF-targeted therapies are standard of care in advanced disease. However, access to molecular diagnostics and CPI remains limited in conflict-affected regions such as Syria. Real-world data describing melanoma management in this setting are scarce. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with melanoma between 2022 and 2024 at Al-Bairouni University Hospital (ABUH), Syria’s primary oncology referral center. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed for the entire cohort, and patients with advanced disease were evaluated for molecular testing and treatment patterns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a mixed advanced cancer subset (N = 35) to explore barriers to immunotherapy access. Results: Among 115 patients with melanoma, the median age at diagnosis was 57 years (IQR 44.5–67), and 54.7% were male. At presentation, 18.3% had stage I disease, 1.7% stage II, 2.6% stage III, and 40.9% stage IV disease; staging was unavailable in 36.5%. Among patients with advanced melanoma (n = 47), BRAF testing was performed in 17 (36.2%), with targeted therapy administered to 5/16 BRAF-positive patients. Only 7/47 patients (14.9%) received CPI, primarily as monotherapy. In the qualitative subset (predominantly lung cancer), five major barriers to immunotherapy access emerged: financial toxicity (n = 22), limited drug availability (n = 9), limited patient awareness (n = 8), geographic/logistical challenges (n = 5), and system delays (n = 4). Conclusions: Despite a substantial burden of advanced melanoma, access to molecular testing, targeted therapy and CPI in Syria remains limited. Qualitative findings highlight financial and structural barriers as primary drivers of limited access, underscoring the need for improved drug availability, diagnostic infrastructure, and patient education in conflict-affected settings.