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Background: Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal bone marrow disorder characterized by a constitutional symptoms, splenomegaly, anemia, elevated WBC and bone marrow fibrosis. Ruxolitinib is a JAK2 inhibitor approved for patients with Intermediate-2 (INT-2) or high risk disease based on dynamic international prognostic scoring system (DIPSS), however, there are limited options for patients with early disease. Interferon alpha (IFNa) is a cytokine therapy that has been used in treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and polycythemia vera (PV). In these diseases, there can be a reduction in the clonal burden in addition to a hematologic response. Therefore, we sought to use this therapy in patients with MF. Methods: Patients who had MF were enrolled on an IRB approved clinical protocol in a single arm, single institution study. Patients were stratified to either an early disease arm (characterized by intermediate 1 (INT-1) risk or advanced disease (Int-2 or high-risk disease based on DIPSS). Patients were started on ropeginterferon (interferon-alpha 2b) at 50 ug every two weeks, and the dose was titrated up to either 300 ug every other week, or until unacceptable toxicity. Patients were monitored for response based on IWG criteria. Results: Ten patients with MF have been enrolled on the study to date (Early: 3, Int/High: 7). Median age was 69.5 (39 - 88), four patients were female. Five patients had primary MF (PMF), 4 had post-essential thrombocythemia and 1 post PV MF. Five patients had previous treatment for their disease. Four patients continue to receive active treatment (2 early disease, and 2 advanced disease). Reasons for stopping include disease progression (3), toxicity (1), alternate treatment (1) and lack of benefit (1). The median number of cycles for those who ended treatment was 7.5 (4-47), and for those who remain on treatment, they range from 16 - 46 cycles. Five patients achieved a clinical improvement, 3 had a spleen response, and 2 had a symptom response. A grade 3 adverse event (AE) potentially attributable to the treatment occurred in 6 patients (60%), 4 (40.0%) patients had anemia, and 2 (20.0%) patients had lymphopenia. Only one patient discontinued therapy due to AEs (dizziness, atrial fibrillation). One death has occurred to date, due to an unrelated cause. Discussion: Ropeginterferon is a well-tolerated therapy that results in clinical improvement in half the patients, and appears to be well tolerated. These results, along with historic data suggesting possible reduction in clonal burden, suggest that ongoing studies are warranted to further understand the clinical benefit of ropeginterferon. Disclosures Zimmerman: Pharmaessentia: Current Employment. Mesa:Incyte: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy; CTI BioPharma: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; LaJolla Pharmaceutical Company: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Clinical trial

Allocation of the initial doses of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines should account for epidemiology, vaccinology, bioethics, and racial disparities. Our priority tiers for vaccination are critical infrastructure, those at highest medical benefit, and those chosen by a weighted Area-Deprivation Index lottery.

An estimated 1.4 million transgender adults live in the United States; this equates to approximately 0.6% of the U.S. population (Lane et al., 2018). Clinical focus on gender dysphoria has significantly increased over the past 30 years (MacCarthy, Reisner, Nunn, Perez-Brumer, & Operario, 2015), with burgeoning evidence from across disciplines documenting the positive outcomes associated with gender-affirming interventions. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how RNs optimize psychosocial, hormonal, and surgical gender-affirming care through performing comprehensive assessments, coordinating care, and providing education and health coaching.

8514 Background: MLN9708 is an investigational, orally bioavailable, potent, reversible, specific inhibitor of the 20S proteasome that has demonstrated antitumor activity in in vivo models of MM. We report safety, activity and pharmacokinetics (PK) of weekly oral MLN9708 in a phase 1 trial in patients (pts) with relapsed and/or refractory MM after full enrollment (NCT00963820). Methods: Pts received MLN9708 (days 1, 8, 15; 28-day cycles) at 0.24–3.95 mg/m2 (dose-escalation phase) and at the MTD, 2.97 mg/m2, in relapsed and refractory (RR), bortezomib (btz)-relapsed, PI-naïve, and prior carfilzomib (CZ) expansion cohorts. Adverse events (AEs) were graded by NCI-CTCAE v3.0. Response was assessed by IMWG uniform criteria. Results: 60 pts (33 male, median age 64 yrs [40–79]) were enrolled, 32 in the dose-escalation phase and 31 to the expansion cohorts (11 RR, 10 btz-relapsed, 6 PI-naïve, 4 CZ; 2 RR and 1 btz-relapsed pts included from MTD dose-escalation cohort). Median time from MM diagnosis was 4.9 yrs (1.5–18.8). Median number of prior regimens was 6 (2–18), including btz, lenalidomide, thalidomide, and CZ in 83%, 95%, 52%, and 13%, respectively; 76% were refractory to last therapy (17% btz-refractory). At data cut-off (Nov 29, 2012) pts had received a median of 2 cycles (1–11); 5 pts remained on treatment. All-grade/grade ≥3 drug-related AEs were seen in 83%/52% of pts; common drug-related grade ≥3 AEs were thrombocytopenia (33%), diarrhea, neutropenia (17%), decreased appetite, fatigue, and lymphopenia (8%). 6 pts (10%) had drug-related PN (no grade ≥3). 5 pts discontinued due to drug-related AEs; 1 pt died on study due to an unrelated AE. By investigator assessment in 41 evaluable pts, responses included1 VGPR, 5 PR, 1 MR, and 15 with SD. MLN9708 was rapidly absorbed, with a terminal half-life of 4–12 days (supporting weekly dosing) and a proportional increase in plasma AUC with dose (0.8–3.95 mg/m2). PK data were similar across expansion cohorts. Conclusions: Current data suggest weekly oral MLN9708 is generally well tolerated with infrequent PN, and shows activity in this heavily pretreated population with prior exposure to immunomodulatory drugs and btz. Clinical trial information: NCT00963820.

6108 Background: This pilot study evaluated whether providing clinicians with patient(pt) QOL results and symptom management pathways linked to QOL domains at the time of clinical appointment would result in improvement in QOL and treatment (tx) satisfaction. The objective was to obtain preliminary effect size estimates and logistical evidence for design of a larger, definitive trial. Methods: Oncology pts receiving 5-7 weeks of radiotherapy (RT) electronically completed QOL assessments (LASA) at baseline and biweekly prior to seeing clinicians. Was It Worth It (WIWI) and Interpersonal Patient-Provider Relationship (IPPRS) were measured at tx end. Pt endpoints (pro-rated primary endpoint LASA area under the curve (AUC), LASA changes from baseline, and WIWI responses) and clinician endpoints (IPPRS) were compared between the control group (Phase 1: no QOL feedback) and the intervention group (Phase 2: QOL feedback) via Wilcoxon, Chi-square and Fisher Exact tests. There was 80% power to detect a 10 point difference in average AUC. Results: 148 pts enrolled (79 Phase 1, 69 Phase 2) from 11/28/2008 to 09/20/2011 (sites GI (27%), Lung (22%) and Head and Neck (52%)). 68% received RT and chemo. There were consistently moderate effect sizes observed but no statistically significant differences in any AUC nor end of tx change from baseline scores. 20% fewer pts in phase 2 reported clinical deficits in overall QOL (pain). In pts receiving 7 weeks of RT, end of tx average overall QOL, mental well-being (WB), physical WB and pain severity were significantly better in Phase 2 pts. WIWI results showed 76% found participation worthwhile, 95% would participate again, and 92% would recommend the study to others. No differences between groups were found in communication between clinicians and pts (IPPRS). Conclusions: Preliminary estimates indicate potentially clinically significant improvements of moderate effect size in mental and physical WB and pain severity when clinicians received QOL real time with symptom management pathways. Further study is warranted in larger trial setting.

8034 Background: Phase 1 studies are evaluating IV and oral dosing of the reversible proteasome inhibitor MLN9708 in multiple tumor types. We report the safety, MTD, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and preliminary responses with weekly oral MLN9708 in pts with relapsed/refractory MM (NCT00963820). Methods: Pts aged ≥18 yrs received MLN9708 on d 1, 8, and 15 of 28-d cycles. In the dose-escalation phase, pts required ≥2 prior therapies (including bortezomib, thalidomide/lenalidomide, and corticosteroids). At the MTD, pts were to be enrolled to relapsed and refractory (RR), bortezomib-relapsed (VR), proteasome inhibitor (PI) naïve, and carfilzomib (CZ) expansion cohorts. Results: 36 pts have been enrolled to date (data cut-off: Dec 1, 2011), 32 in the dose-escalation phase (0.24–3.95 mg/m2) and 8 to expansion cohorts (2 RR, 5 VR, 1 PI naïve; RR and VR cohorts each include 2 pts from MTD dose-escalation cohort). Median age was 64.5 yrs (range 40–79), 53% were male, and median number of prior lines of therapy was 3.5 (range 1-13), including 92%, 92%, 56%, and 8% who had prior bortezomib, lenalidomide, thalidomide, and carfilzomib, respectively. Pts have received a median of 2 cycles (range 1–11); 5 pts remain on treatment. Among 24 DLT-evaluable pts, 3 DLTs were seen: 2 at 3.95 mg/m2 (1 grade 3 rash, 1 grade 3 GI AEs) and 1 at 2.97 mg/m2 (grade 3 GI AEs). The MTD was determined as 2.97 mg/m2. Overall, 69% of pts had drug-related AEs, and 28% had related grade ≥3 AEs, including thrombocytopenia (17%), diarrhea (11%), nausea, neutropenia, and fatigue (each 8%). Only 3 (8%) pts had drug-related peripheral neuropathy (PN; no grade ≥3). 2 pts discontinued due to AEs. In 18 response-evaluable pts, 1 had a VGPR at 3.95 mg/m2, 1 had a PR at 2.97 mg/m2, and 8 have achieved SD durable for up to 9.5 mos. PK analyses showed linear plasma PK (0.8–3.95 mg/m2), Tmax of 0.5-2 hr, and terminal half-life of 7 d for MLN2238 (biologically active hydrolysis product). There was a trend for a dose-dependent increase in whole blood 20S proteasome inhibition. Conclusions: Current data suggest weekly oral MLN9708 is generally well tolerated with infrequent PN, and shows early signs of antitumor activity.

Background and Aims The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network recently approved liver transplant (LT) prioritization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond Milan Criteria (MC) who are down‐staged (DS) with locoregional therapy (LRT). We evaluated post‐LT outcomes, predictors of down‐staging, and the impact of LRT in patients with beyond‐MC HCC from the U.S. Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium (20 centers, 2002‐2013). Approach and Results Clinicopathologic characteristics, overall survival (OS), recurrence‐free survival (RFS), and HCC recurrence (HCC‐R) were compared between patients within MC (n = 3,570) and beyond MC (n = 789) who were down‐staged (DS, n = 465), treated with LRT and not down‐staged (LRT‐NoDS, n = 242), or untreated (NoLRT‐NoDS, n = 82). Five‐year post‐LT OS and RFS was higher in MC (71.3% and 68.2%) compared with DS (64.3% and 59.5%) and was lowest in NoDS (n = 324; 60.2% and 53.8%; overall P < 0.001). DS patients had superior RFS (60% vs. 54%, P = 0.043) and lower 5‐year HCC‐R (18% vs. 32%, P < 0.001) compared with NoDS, with further stratification by maximum radiologic tumor diameter (5‐year HCC‐R of 15.5% in DS/<5 cm and 39.1% in NoDS/>5 cm, P < 0.001). Multivariate predictors of down‐staging included alpha‐fetoprotein response to LRT, pathologic tumor number and size, and wait time >12 months. LRT‐NoDS had greater HCC‐R compared with NoLRT‐NoDS (34.1% vs. 26.1%, P < 0.001), even after controlling for clinicopathologic variables (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.33, P < 0.001) and inverse probability of treatment‐weighted propensity matching (HR = 1.82, P < 0.001). Conclusions In LT recipients with HCC presenting beyond MC, successful down‐staging is predicted by wait time, alpha‐fetoprotein response to LRT, and tumor burden and results in excellent post‐LT outcomes, justifying expansion of LT criteria. In LRT‐NoDS patients, higher HCC‐R compared with NoLRT‐NoDS cannot be explained by clinicopathologic differences, suggesting a potentially aggravating role of LRT in patients with poor tumor biology that warrants further investigation.

This study was conducted in treatment-naive adults with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assess the safety, bactericidal activity, and pharmacokinetics of nitazoxanide (NTZ). This was a prospective phase II clinical trial in 30 adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. Twenty participants received 1 g of NTZ orally twice daily for 14 days. A control group of 10 participants received standard therapy over 14 days. The primary outcome was the change in time to culture positivity (TTP) in an automated liquid culture system.