Carabenciov, Ivan D.

Abstract Low-grade meningiomas with subtotal resection carry significantly shorter recurrence-free survival rates than those with gross total resection. We report the natural history of a case of low-grade meningioma after subtotal resection and review the literature. We aim to highlight known global health disparities in oncology treatment by describing a case of meningioma progression following subtotal resection. A 40-year-old Kenyan woman presented locally with headache, nausea, and vision loss over approximately a six month time period. A 5 cm olfactory groove meningioma was discovered, and she subsequently underwent subtotal resection that was likely limited due to hemorrhagic complications. Over the following two years, she developed progressive dizziness, nausea, gait instability, difficulty performing tasks, and visual loss prompting medical evaluation at our institution. Physical examination demonstrated blindness, bilateral proptosis with severe vertical gaze palsy, and prominent frontal bossing. MRI Brain revealed a 9 cm enhancing mass arising from the cribriform plate with elevation of an ununited overlying frontal craniotomy flap and apparent meningoceles extending through the presumed osteotomy bilaterally. She underwent successful resection with pathology demonstrating CNS WHO Grade 1 meningioma. Her postoperative neurologic exam showed subtle improvement, specifically in regards to orientation questions. In this patient, bone flap displacement from prior craniotomy allowed significant interval tumor growth while minimizing mass effect on brain parenchyma. This case highlights global health disparities in low-grade meningioma management related to appropriate healthcare access in underserved patients.

Abstract BACKGROUND Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is commonly considered when patients present with meningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), even without a known primary malignancy. In practice, some clinicians advocate for early meningeal biopsy to expedite diagnosis, citing lack of specificity of other testing, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. METHODS We identified a cohort of patients with meningeal enhancement that underwent biopsy for diagnostic purposes between 2010 and 2022. Presenting symptoms, physical exam, enhancement pattern on MRI, other imaging findings, CSF parameters, other laboratory results, final diagnosis, and recommended treatment were recorded when available. RESULTS Out of nearly 100 cases included, the majority were autoimmune or inflammatory in etiology. Only 13 patients were diagnosed with malignancy-related enhancement, and 10 of these cases were felt to be true carcinomatosis. Nine out of the 13 patients were diagnosed with lymphoma. Four of these lymphomas were diagnosed on systemic biopsy, with meningeal biopsies negative for malignant cells. The other malignancies included systemic adenocarcinoma, oligodendroglioma, and a rare hematologic cancer. Nearly all 13 patients had abnormal CSF parameters, notably pleocytosis, but none had malignant cells in the fluid. Most frequent presenting symptoms were encephalopathy, vision changes, and strength/sensory changes. MRI often showed cranial nerve or general cerebral and cerebellar involvement, and physical exam often showed cranial nerve, strength, and sensory deficits. All patients proceeded with chemotherapy after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS When leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is considered based on MRI enhancement, the clinical approach should continue to revolve around indirect testing such as CSF analysis, serum studies, and other imaging techniques to consider alternative biopsy sites before pursuing direct sampling with meningeal biopsy. With this approach, many patients with suspected carcinomatosis can avoid undergoing meningeal biopsy and decrease the chance of treatment delay.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Medulloblastomas (MB) are embryonal tumors arising in the cerebellum, predominantly affecting pediatric patients. Recognition of molecularly defined subgroups has advanced management. Factors influencing the prognosis and management of adult MB patients remain poorly understood. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed our experience with adult (> 18 years at initial diagnosis) MB patients, diagnosed between 1992-2020. Molecular subtyping corresponding to the 2021 WHO Classification was performed. Kaplan-Meier estimates (Log-rank test assessing for group differences) were performed for univariate survival analysis with cox regression used for multivariate (subgroup, age, gender, disseminated disease, extent of resection) analyses. RESULTS Our cohort included 76 adult MB patients (62% male), with a median age of 31.7 years (range: 18-66) at diagnosis, and median follow-up of 7.7 years (range: 0.6-26.9). 58 patients had sufficient tissue for molecular characterization by immunohistochemistry and corresponded to the SHH-activated (n=37; 64%), non-WNT/non-SHH (n=12; 21%), WNT-activated (n=9; 15%) subgroups. At initial diagnosis, all patients underwent radiotherapy, with 97% (n=66) receiving craniospinal irradiation with a boost either to the posterior fossa (75%) or tumor bed (22%); and underwent gross total resection (n=51; 67%) and chemotherapy (n=56; 75%). Median overall survival (OS) for the whole cohort was 14.8 years (93% 2-year OS; 86% 5-year OS; 64% 10-year OS) and was longer for younger patients (< 30: > 15.4 years, > 30: 9.9 years; Log-rank p< 0.001). No significant OS difference was identified by MB molecular subgroup (SHH, TP53-wt: 14 years, WNT: 11.4 years, non-WNT/non-SHH: > 14.8 years; Log-rank p=0.1167) or extent of resection. Only age at diagnosis remained significant in multivariate survival analyses. DISCUSSION We report one of the largest retrospective cohorts in adult MB patients with molecular subtyping. Survival and molecular subgroup frequencies were similar to previous reports. Survival was longer for younger patients and was not significantly different by MB molecular subgroup or extent of resection.

Background: Survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) increased in the 2000s, most prominently after the addition of temozolomide to the standard-of-care treatment protocol. The reason for subsequent improvements in survival in the late 2000s and early 2010s was less clear, with explanations including the introduction of bevacizumab, better surgical methods, and advances in supportive care. It is uncertain whether the trend of improving population-level survival has continued. Materials and Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program was analyzed comparing survival of adult GBM patients diagnosed in consecutive 3-year periods from 2000 to 2017. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results: A total of 38,352 patients diagnosed with GBM between 2000 and 2017 met inclusion criteria. Median survival and percent survival to 12 and 24 months all progressively increased between 2000 and 2011. There were no significant differences in survival comparing 2009-2011 with 2012-2014 or 2015-2017. During the 2015-2017 period, median survival was 11 months, with 12 and 24-month survival proportions of 45.7% (95% confidence interval, 44.5-47.0) and 19.0% (95% confidence interval, 18.6-21.2), respectively. Conclusions: After a period of progressive improvement in GBM survival between 2000 and 2011, survival plateaued. Subsequent advances since 2011 have not yet been translated to improved survival on the population-level as of 2017.

e19556 Background: CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy possesses unique side effects including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Age is a major risk factor for ICANS. However, whether ICANS in older patients is different compared to younger patients is unknown. Herein, we report clinical course, outcomes and risk factors for ICANS in older patients with large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel). Methods: We comprehensively reviewed detailed clinical courses of ICANS in 78 adult patients with LBCL treated with axi-cel between June 2016 and October 2020. Incidence, manifestation, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of ICANS were compared between patients age ≥60 (n=32) and <60 (n=46) years old. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between older and younger patients except higher proportion of high international prognostic index and underlying cerebral microvascular disease in older patients. ICANS was observed in 16 patients in the older and 24 patients in the younger age group, with a 30-day incidence of 52% and 50%, respectively. Median time to CRS and ICANS were similar between 2 age groups. The most common initial neurological findings included aphasia, dysgraphia and encephalopathy in both age groups. Table summarizes the characteristics, clinical course and interventions of ICANS in older and younger patients. In Cox regression model, the presence of CRS was the only factor associated with ICANS in both age groups. Age, history of central nervous system involvement and cerebral microvascular disease were not associated with ICANS. Importantly, all patients had complete resolution of ICANS. No elderly patients in our cohort experienced seizure as a manifestation of ICANS. Conclusions: In our study, older age was not a risk factor for ICANS. CRS was the only factor associated with ICANS in both younger and older patients. Incidence, clinical course and neurological outcomes of ICANS in older patients treated with axi-cel were comparable to younger patients. [Table: see text]

Abstract Study Objective To determine whether there is a drug‐drug interaction precluding the concomitant use of levetiracetam and high‐dose methotrexate (HDMTX). Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Large academic tertiary care medical center. Patients Adult lymphoma patients who received HDMTX as a 4‐h infusion with or without concomitant levetiracetam. Measurements and Main Results Generalized estimating equations clustered on patient were used to assess each outcome. The primary outcome was the incidence of delayed MTX elimination (MTX level >1 µmol/L at 48 h). Secondary outcomes included incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and hospital length of stay (LOS). The 430 included patients receiving 1993 doses of HDMTX had a median (IQR) age of 66 (57.5, 72.6) years, 88 (20.5%) received concomitant levetiracetam with at least one dose of MTX, 267 (62.1%) were male, and 397 (92.3%) were Caucasian. HDMTX doses ranged from 1 to 8 g/m 2 . The most common lymphoma diagnoses were systemic diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 58.5%) and systemic DLBCL with central nervous system (CNS) involvement (32.8%). Rates of delayed elimination with and without levetiracetam were 13.4% and 16.3%, respectively (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.47–1.34, p = 0.39). AKI occurred in 15.6% and 17.0% of patients with and without concomitant levetiracetam, respectively (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.52–1.33, p = 0.28). The median LOS with and without levetiracetam was 4.2 and 4.1 days, respectively ( p = 0.039). On multivariable analyses, only age, body surface area, diagnosis of systemic DLBCL with CNS involvement, serum creatinine, hemoglobin, total bilirubin, and dose of HDMTX were associated with delayed elimination. Conclusions High‐dose methotrexate administered with concomitant levetiracetam was not associated with increased risk for delayed MTX elimination or AKI. These results support that levetiracetam and HDMTX are safe for coadministration.