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Importance The emergency department (ED) offers an opportunity to initiate palliative care for older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Objective To assess the effect of a multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, and survival in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Design, Setting, and Participants Cluster randomized, stepped-wedge, clinical trial including patients aged 66 years or older who visited 1 of 29 EDs across the US between May 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, had 12 months of prior Medicare enrollment, and a Gagne comorbidity score greater than 6, representing a risk of short-term mortality greater than 30%. Nursing home patients were excluded. Intervention A multicomponent intervention (the Primary Palliative Care for Emergency Medicine intervention) included (1) evidence-based multidisciplinary education; (2) simulation-based workshops on serious illness communication; (3) clinical decision support; and (4) audit and feedback for ED clinical staff. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was hospital admission. The secondary outcomes included subsequent health care use and survival at 6 months. Results There were 98 922 initial ED visits during the study period (median age, 77 years [IQR, 71-84 years]; 50% were female; 13% were Black and 78% were White; and the median Gagne comorbidity score was 8 [IQR, 7-10]). The rate of hospital admission was 64.4% during the preintervention period vs 61.3% during the postintervention period (absolute difference, −3.1% [95% CI, −3.7% to −2.5%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.14]). There was no difference in the secondary outcomes before vs after the intervention. The rate of admission to an intensive care unit was 7.8% during the preintervention period vs 6.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.83 to 1.15]). The rate of at least 1 revisit to the ED was 34.2% during the preintervention period vs 32.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.09]). The rate of hospice use was 17.7% during the preintervention period vs 17.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.16]). The rate of home health use was 42.0% during the preintervention period vs 38.1% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of at least 1 hospital readmission was 41.0% during the preintervention period vs 36.6% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of death was 28.1% during the preintervention period vs 28.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.18]). Conclusions and Relevance This multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED did not have an effect on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, or short-term mortality in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03424109

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from oxaliplatin and taxane drugs is a bothersome toxicity. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been reported to improve myelinated nerve fiber function in patients experiencing painful CIPN. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of PEA in patients with established CIPN. Methods: Eligible patients were adults who had pain, numbness, tingling, or other symptoms of CIPN for at least three months following completion of paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Study patients were randomized to one of the two treatment groups (PEA versus placebo, both administered either once or twice daily). The CIPN20 questionnaire was assessed weekly. Results: A total of 17 males and 71 females participated in the study; most had neuropathy from paclitaxel. Most (85%) finished 8 weeks of treatment. There was no suggestion that either of the PEA arms did any better than the combined placebo arms. There was no signal of significant toxicity differences between the three study arms. Quality of life outcome measures were similar between the study arms, as were cognitive function evaluations. Discussion: PEA failed to improve established CIPN. Future trials might explore whether PEA may be effective in preventing CIPN or cognitive changes based on data that suggest it may be helpful in this situation. Conclusions: PEA failed to improve established chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Background: Patients have been known to use cannabinoids for treating established chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) based on anecdotal information and retrospective reports suggesting that such might be beneficial. In response, a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, pilot clinical trial was developed to evaluate whether resultant data would support a phase III trial for testing whether a cannabidiol (CBD) cream might improve CIPN. Methods: Forty patients with established CIPN were randomized, in a double-blinded manner, to topical CBD or a placebo cream. The study product was applied for 2 weeks, followed by a crossover for 2 weeks. Neuropathy was evaluated using the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)–CIPN20, the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool, and the Global Impression of Change instruments. Side effects were recorded by symptom diaries. Results: The EORTC-CIPN20 scores were similar in the patients receiving CBD versus the placebo. Likewise, the toxicity scores were similar in patients who received the CBD versus the placebo. Conclusions: This pilot trial did not support that the studied CBD isolate cream improved painful established CIPN. It was well tolerated overall. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05388058

12079 Background: Many troublesome symptoms experienced by men with prostate cancer are not specific to a particular disease state or treatment modality. As such, these issues' scope is neither fully appreciated nor characterized in the reporting of clinical trial data. A modern accounting of poorly controlled symptoms is needed to better inform survivorship and supportive care efforts. Methods: Data are drawn from the Enhanced, EHR-facilitated Cancer Symptom Control (E2C2) study, a cluster-randomized stepped wedge trial examining the effectiveness of routine symptom assessment and management on patient-centered outcomes and healthcare utilization (NCT03892967). This is a population-level study supporting patients with cancer, who are cared for in medical oncology clinics across the Midwest United States. The trial utilizes an automated symptom monitoring system with EHR-enabled algorithms for symptom triage and intervention. The current analysis focuses on pre-intervention surveys. The cohort includes E2C2 participants with prostate cancer (as determined by the Mayo Clinic Cancer Registry) receiving curative or palliative-intent therapies, along with prostate cancer survivors who previously completed their treatment. The prevalence of SPPADE symptoms (sleep disturbance, pain, impaired physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue [low energy]) was assessed using 0 to 10 numerical rating scales (NRS), with scores of 4-6 indicating moderate symptoms and 7-10 indicating severe symptoms. Results: A total of 1,388 men with prostate cancer completed a pre-intervention survey between March 2019 and January 2023. The median age at completion of first survey was 74 years. The cohort includes patients living in diverse settings, including urban (n=718, 52%), micropolitan (n=250, 18%), small town (n=218, 16%), and rural (n=200, 14%) environments. The proportion of patients experiencing moderate-to-severe symptoms (NRS score ≥4) was 47% for fatigue, 40% for impaired physical function, 32% for sleep disturbance, 27% for pain, 22% for anxiety, and 20% for depression/emotional distress. The three domains with the highest prevalence of severe symptoms (NRS score ≥7) were fatigue (17%), impaired physical function (12%), and sleep disturbance (10%). Conclusions: Proactive symptom monitoring identifies a high overall burden of moderate-to-severe symptoms, particularly fatigue and impaired physical function, among prostate cancer patients and survivors. Collaborative care approaches and symptom control trials are needed to mitigate and manage these burdensome symptoms. Clinical trial information: NCT03892967 . [Table: see text]

LBA12004 Background: Hot flashes are among the most common adverse events impacting quality of life reported by patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for the treatment of prostate cancer. Oxybutynin is an effective therapy for reducing frequency and severity of hot flashes in women. Pilot information supports that this drug may also benefit men with hot flashes related to ADT. Methods: Patients with prostate cancer receiving a stable regimen of ADT with at least 28 hot flashes per week were randomized to receive either oral oxybutynin 2.5 mg twice a day, oxybutynin 5 mg twice a day, or matching placebo doses for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in patient-reported hot flash scores (determined by multiplying the number of hot flashes by the mean hot flash severity [grade 0: none, 1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: severe, and 4: very severe]) from baseline to 6 weeks, as measured by a daily hot flash diary. A total of 87 patients provided 76% power to reject the null hypothesis of no between-arm mean difference in hot flash score reduction from baseline to 6 weeks, when comparing each oxybutynin arm to the combined placebo arms. This was based on a two-sided contrast estimated from a generalized linear mixed model, α= 0.10, intraclass correlation of 0.50, population standardized mean difference of 0.50, and 10% missing data rate. Results: 88 patients were accrued between 10/28/21 and 12/02/23. Six patients cancelled before starting treatment and one was ineligible, leaving 81 analyzed patients with a median age of 68. Baseline characteristics were balanced between arms with patients reporting an average of 10.15 (SD = 5.55) hot flashes per day and an average daily hot flash score of 18.23 (SD = 13.48) at enrollment. On average, patients on the placebo arm, low dose oxybutynin arm, and high dose oxybutynin arm had reductions of 2.15, 4.77, and 6.89 hot flashes/day, respectively. Compared to placebo arm patients, high dose oxybutynin arm patients had a greater reduction in hot flashes/day (p < 0.001), as did low dose oxybutynin arm patients (p = 0.02). Daily hot flash scores for the same three protocol arms reduced by an average of 4.85, 9.94, and 13.95 points, respectively. Compared to placebo arm patients, high dose oxybutynin arm patients had a greater reduction in daily hot flash scores (p = 0.002), as did low dose oxybutynin arm patients (p = 0.07). No treatment-related grade 3+ adverse events occurred. The most commonly reported oxybutynin-related grade 2 adverse event was dry mouth. Conclusions: Oxybutynin is superior to a placebo for the management of hot flashes in men associated with androgen deprivation therapy and appears to be well tolerated. Support: UG1CA189823; https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . Clinical trial information: NCT04600336 .

12048 Background: Playing music has been an important part of human culture for millennia. Today more than half of American households have at least one person who plays music, and in the UK 43% of adults play an instrument. Despite the overlap between musicians and people diagnosed with cancer, the effect of cancer treatment on musicianship has not been well-studied. We previously reported that 26% of a musician breast cancer survivor cohort reported difficulty with musicianship after treatment, and here we conduct further analysis to identify treatment and disease factors associated with this difficulty, termed acute musical toxicity (AMT). Methods: The Musical Toxicity Questionnaire was distributed to participants who had previously enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Registry. PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) scores were available through the Registry and treatment details were collected retrospectively. Due to the inter-dependency and high correlation between treatment and disease-related variables, a classification tree analysis (CTA) was performed to identify the combination of variables that most accurately classified patients by AMT. Sixteen variables were analyzed by the algorithm. Logistic regression was utilized for examining associations between AMT and continuous variables. Results: Of the 4075 surveys distributed, 1871 were returned and 535 respondents identified as musicians. Median time from diagnosis was 5.2 years, respondents were mostly stage I or II (71%), and 32% were node positive (N+). Over a quarter (26% or 144 respondents) reported AMT. In the final CTA model, being N+ was strongly associated with AMT (42% of those N+ had AMT, 20% of those not N+ had AMT). For respondents who were N+, those who received endocrine therapy were more likely to have AMT than those who did not (46% vs 21% respectively). Subsequent leaves identified not undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and receiving chemotherapy as associated with AMT. For respondents who did not receive chemotherapy, breast reconstruction was associated with AMT (60% vs 19%). Variables such as mastectomy, radiation volume, specific chemotherapies, and stage of disease were not selected by the algorithm. The odds of having AMT decreased by 9.7% and 17% with each additional point in the composite mental health (p=0.003) and physical health (p<0.001) PROMIS scores, respectively. The odds of having AMT increased by 3.5% with each lymph node removed (p=0.001). Conclusions: The final model suggests that the group with the largest proportion of AMT was N+, received endocrine therapy, did not have ALND, and received chemotherapy. Both physical and mental health PROMIS scores were associated with AMT, although the directionality of this relationship requires more study. Care teams should counsel patients on potential musical toxicity and engage in shared decision making with musical patients.

Abstract Background: Eyebrow and eyelash loss, known as madarosis, can occur secondary to breast cancer-directed therapy. However, the incidence and predictors of this phenomenon are not well-known. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the proportion of breast cancer survivors who experience madarosis, potential contributing factors to eyebrow and eyelash loss, and associations between this symptom and mental health. Methods: Breast cancer survivors were invited to participate in an ongoing longitudinal cohort study, the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR), after having been seen at least once for breast cancer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Those who consented were mailed a survey approximately one year after diagnosis. Respondents were asked to report their degree of eyebrow and eyelash loss experienced since their diagnosis on a 4-point scale of “no loss” (0) to “complete loss” (3). The proportions of participants who reported eyebrow and eyelash loss were evaluated overall and according to treatment type by descriptive statistics. Relationships between eyebrow and eyelash loss and mental health scores collected using the PROMIS-10 project scales (ranging from 0-20), with the poorest mental health indicated by scores under 8, were explored. Results: 838 registry participants responded to the year 1 survey’s alopecia questions. The median age of breast cancer survivors was 59.4 years (range 22-100 years). The majority were diagnosed at stage I-II (69%). 315 (37%) had received chemotherapy (+/- endocrine therapy), 415 (50%) had received endocrine therapy only, and 108 (13%) had received neither. Nearly half reported eyebrow loss (49%) or eyelash loss (49%). Eyebrow loss was reported by 89% of chemotherapy recipients, 27% of endocrine therapy only recipients, and 19% of those not treated with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. 102 (32%) of those with chemotherapy-associated eyebrow loss reported that it was complete. Eyelash loss was reported by 274 (87%) of chemotherapy recipients, 112 (27%) of endocrine therapy only recipients, and 23 (21%) of those who received neither. Although no formal statistical testing was performed, there was a numerically higher proportion of patients with eyebrow and/or eyelash loss who reported poor mental health. Conclusions: Madarosis is a bothersome symptom in cancer survivors, particularly after chemotherapy. Future investigation into the incidence, predictors, and treatment of anti-neoplastic medication-related madarosis is needed. Table. Global mental health scores on PROMIS scale for eyebrow and eyelash loss Citation Format: Sarah Premji, Kathryn Ruddy, Nicole Larson, Charles Loprinzi, Brittany Dulmage, Maryam Lustberg, Fergus Couch, Janet Olson, Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake. Eyebrow and eyelash loss in breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-12-10.

Abstract Background: Retrospective studies suggest that breast cancer survivors report treatment-associated hair loss or thinning years after their initial diagnosis. This study investigates patient perceptions of alopecia persisting 6 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods: Breast cancer survivors who had signed informed consent for participation in a prospective longitudinal cohort study, the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry (MCBDR), after diagnosis of breast cancer approximately six years prior, were mailed a survey. This survey asked about degree of bother from hair thinning and hair loss on a scale from 0 “not at all” to 4 “extremely” and about use of hair thickening/regrowth products. PROMIS-10 project scales assessed global mental health (5: worst mental health, 20: best mental health). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 969/1476 participants responded (response rate 65.7%); 819 participants were available for analysis. Participant median age was 65.7 years (range 34 -100 years). 604 (73%) had been diagnosed with stage I-II breast cancer, 248 (30%) had received chemotherapy (+/- endocrine therapy), 365 (45%) had received only endocrine therapy, and 206 (25%) had received neither. Nearly half (381, 47%) reported hair loss and over half (468, 57%) reported hair thinning. 155 (19%) used hair regrowth products. Amongst the 526 who were 55 years and older, 270 (51%) reported hair loss and 323 (61%) hair thinning; 111 (38%) of the 291 women under 55 years reported hair loss and 145 (50%) hair thinning. Twenty-eight percent of chemotherapy recipients, 18% of patients who did not receive chemotherapy but received endocrine therapy, and 14% of patients who had received neither reported continued difficulty with moderate to extreme hair loss. Moderate to extreme bother from hair thinning was reported by 34% of chemotherapy recipients, 22% of endocrine therapy-only recipients, and 18% of those who had received neither. See the table for associations between mental health scores and hair loss/thinning. Use of hair growth products was reported by 29% of chemotherapy recipients, 14% of endocrine therapy-only recipients, and 15% of those who had received neither oncologic therapy. Conclusions: Hair loss and thinning are frequently reported as persistently bothersome symptoms from breast cancer survivors. Future investigations into the incidence, predictors, and treatment of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy-associated alopecia are needed. Global mental health scores on PROMIS scale for hair loss and hair thinning Citation Format: Sarah Premji, Kathryn Ruddy, Nicole Larson, Charles Loprinzi, Brittany Dulmage, Maryam Lustberg, Fergus Couch, Janet Olson, Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake. Delayed alopecia among breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-13-09.

Abstract Purpose: Aromatase inhibitor (AI)–associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) are common and frequently lead to AI discontinuation. SNPs in candidate genes have been associated with AIMSS and AI discontinuation. E1Z11 is a prospective cohort study designed to validate the association between 10 SNPs and AI discontinuation due to AIMSS. Patients and Methods: Postmenopausal women with stage I to III hormone receptor–positive breast cancer received anastrozole 1 mg daily and completed patient-reported outcome measures to assess AIMSS (Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire) at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. We estimated that 40% of participants would develop AIMSS and 25% would discontinue AI treatment within 12 months. Enrollment of 1,000 women with a fixed number per racial stratum provided 80% power to detect an effect size of 1.5 to 4. SNPs were found in ESR1 (rs2234693, rs2347868, and rs9340835), CYP19A1 (rs1062033 and rs4646), TCL1A (rs11849538, rs2369049, rs7158782, and rs7159713), and HTR2A (rs2296972). Results: Of the 970 evaluable women, 43% developed AIMSS and 12% discontinued AI therapy within 12 months. Although more Black and Asian women developed AIMSS than White women (49% vs. 39%, P = 0.017; 50% vs. 39%, P = 0.004, respectively), the AI discontinuation rates were similar across groups. None of the SNPs were significantly associated with AIMSS or AI discontinuation in the overall population or in distinct cohorts. The OR for rs2296972 (HTR2A) approached significance for developing AIMSS. Conclusions: We were unable to prospectively validate candidate SNPs previously associated with AI discontinuation due to AIMSS. Future analyses will explore additional genetic markers, patient-reported outcome predictors of AIMSS, and differences by race.